Cub Scout Pack 403 and Boy Scout Troop 403 in New Bethlehem are well underway. Please contact Alex Callenburg at 814-229-7816 or Tim Dixon at 814-457-5036 if you have any questions. Information was presented to the elementary schools in January 2011. Cub Scout Pack 403 held its inaugural Roundup at 7 pm on Monday, January 31, the first Scout Sunday was held on March 13th and a pine wood derby on March 5th. An inaugural camping event was held in April and several outdoor camping events were held during the Summer and Fall. The pack is now up to 23 and the boy scouts up to 4. More are welcomed.
All boys in grades 1st through 5th are invited to come and join this great tradition. More information about Cub Scouts and Pack 403 and their current schedule can be found at http://www.cubscoutpack403.org. The cub scouts will meet each Monday evening from 6 to 8 PM at the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church unless otherwise posted on their website or on the Redbank Renaissance Community Calendar at www.redbankren.org.
--------
Church Weather News - In the event of such bad Winter weather that Sunday AM services or other events or activities are cancelled, we will try to post that information here as soon as a decision is made.
Weather Reminder: On those rare occassions when the New Bethlehem fire sirens sounds in a long steady manner, take cover immediately. A steady siren signifies an imminent threat such as a tornado or flood.
As I write this, the world is still gearing up for celebrating Christmas. Lights are twinkling, baked goodies are still warm from the oven and gifts are still multiplying under trees all over town. In the glowing atmosphere of my own home, I ponder what words of wisdom I have to offer this month and realize that all of my words at the moment are those of thanks; thanks to all of you for the gifts and warm wishes that you have extended to my family, thanks to all of the folks all over town who are working so hard to make sure that our neighbors near and far are able to find joy in the season. And in this season with all of its obvious reminders, words of thanks are easy to find and offer up to our loving God whose gifts know no end.
So, first and foremost, I thank God and I thank you all so very, very much.
By the time you read this, however, Christmas will be just another yesterday; the shreds of its wrappings the only evidence of its passing. The trees that remain stand alone once more, save for the random ornament that could hold on no longer and that last gift marked for the acquaintance you didn’t happen to see over the holidays. The tree is soon to be taken down anyway, and that stray gift will have to find a new home until, maybe, it will make its way to its intended.
What a sad, disheartening picture; one as gray as the sky outside that is no longer dotted with glittering lights, one that would offer nothing remotely encouraging and certainly nothing for which to offer words of thanks.
Unless, of course, we remember…
“What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” John 1:4-5
These words are those familiar, comforting, astounding, eternal words that begin the Gospel according to John. They are those that poetically and succinctly summarize the whole of God’s good news to all of creation. And they are those that pour out hope, for they are not words of endings. They begin the story of God’s greatest gift. They begin the awakening of God’s children. They begin the restoration of a world in which even gray sky and discarded ribbons are aglow with the light of God’s presence and love. And they are words that can begin, once more, the renewal of our promise, our commitment to God who gives us all, to celebrate the gift of this season all year long, to find joy in giving every day, to spread the good news that there really is no such thing as ‘the last present’ and to live with prayers of thanksgiving perpetually on our lips.
Today and every day, I give God thanks for all of you. And I wish you a Merry Christmas, even in this, the brand new year.
Women's Prayer Breakfast - 1st Thursdays at 7:30 AM - all women are welcomed to hear a special message from a guest speaker.
January 22, 2012 Installation of New Officers during the 11 AM service. Annual Congregational Meeting - following the service.
Next Session Meeting - Fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, except no meeting in July.
Please check the Redbank Renaissance Community Calendar at www.redbankren.org for other events in the community.
Members of New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church participated in the Redbank Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4th and then the Redbank Valley Church Association's Live Nativity in the Church Parking Lot.
