The Light of Meridian Meridian Presbyterian Church 4150 Highland Ave. Butler, PA 16001 724.482.2630 www.meridianpres.org Pastor Rev. Dr. Stephen Franklin [email protected]Dir. of Youth & Family Min. Mike Barton [email protected]Secretary TBD Treasurer Honey Royer [email protected]Media Director Laura Franklin Choir Director Vicki Georgic Musician Debbe Picerno Custodian Rob Murtha Nursery Coordinator Sarah Murtha The Lens & Mirror “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV) Our oldest is preparing to head off to Kindergarten this fall. This marks a new era in the Franklin house, one with mixed emoons. On one hand it is hard to accept that our lile, innocent ones are growing up. On the other hand, our lives are crazy and chaoc. Geng one of our kids out of the house and on the bus gives us some relief. Our emoons range from sad to happy, all in a good way. Our kids are growing up, it’s inevitable, and this is just the beginning of new milestones. There are 2 ways for us to respond to these kinds of situaons in our lives. We could live in the negave and think about what we’re losing, or we can focus on the posives and the wonderous possibilies of what’s next. Joy is not about being happy all the me. Joy is about hope. Joy is about perspecve, that even in the difficult moments, or sad mes in our lives, we have hope about what is ahead. My joy is not that my son is geng on the bus and out of the house. My joy is that my son is growing up and a world of possibilies are in front of him. Yes, there is a healthy dose of fear of what all of that means, but ulmately, our hope gives us joy. This month we start a new sermon series on reclaiming joy. Joy can be an allusive thing in our lives. The culture teaches us that joy is found when we find ourselves. However, the gospel teaches us that joy is found when we lose ourselves in Christ. If we want to find joy in our lives we will do so only when we return our hearts to the joy of our salvaon. Friends, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In Christ, Pastor Steve September 2019
The Lens & Mirror “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Our oldest is preparing to head off to Kindergarten this fall. This marks a new
era in the Franklin house, one with mixed emotions. On one hand it is hard to
accept that our little, innocent ones are growing up. On the other hand, our
lives are crazy and chaotic. Getting one of our kids out of the house and on the
bus gives us some relief. Our emotions range from sad to happy, all in a good
way. Our kids are growing up, it’s inevitable, and this is just the beginning of
new milestones.
There are 2 ways for us to respond to these kinds of situations in our lives. We
could live in the negative and think about what we’re losing, or we can focus
on the positives and the wonderous possibilities of what’s next. Joy is not
about being happy all the time. Joy is about hope. Joy is about perspective, that
even in the difficult moments, or sad times in our lives, we have hope about
what is ahead. My joy is not that my son is getting on the bus and out of the
house. My joy is that my son is growing up and a world of possibilities are in
front of him. Yes, there is a healthy dose of fear of what all of that means, but
ultimately, our hope gives us joy.
This month we start a new sermon series on reclaiming joy. Joy can be an
allusive thing in our lives. The culture teaches us that joy is found when we find
ourselves. However, the gospel teaches us that joy is found when we lose
ourselves in Christ. If we want to find joy in our lives we will do so only when
we return our hearts to the joy of our salvation. Friends, “May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow
with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In Christ,
Pastor Steve
September 2019
Sunday Morning Services
September
Completing
The Minor Prophets
Grace: The Ultimate Outcome
September 1 “Malachi: He’s Coming”
Focus Passage: Malachi 4:5-6
Secondary Passage: Mark 1:1-8
Synopsis: After the prophet Malachi speaks, it will
be 400 years until Jesus arrives. Malachi reminds the
people that when they believe their faith is strong,
they are at risk of becoming proud and ritualistic.
God requires a sincere heart and a humble walk. Pre-
pare the way, for the Lord is coming.
New Sunday Morning Services
September
Reclaiming Joy
Joy can be an allusive thing in our lives. The culture
teaches us that joy is found when we find ourselves;
however, the gospel teaches us that joy is found
when we lose ourselves in Christ. If we want to find
joy in our lives, we will do so only when we return
our hearts to the joy of our salvation
September 8th
“Restoring Joy”
Focus Passage: Psalm 51:1-13
Secondary Passage: 2 Romans 15:13
Synopsis: Our sin is not a reason for shame for the
promise of the gospel is that we’ve been made clean
by the blood of the lamb. If we’re gong to reclaim
our joy, it begins with repenting of our sins. May our
prayer forever be, “Create in me a clean heart and
renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy
of your salvation.”
September 15th
“Joyful in Hope”
Focus Passage: Romans 12:12-18
Secondary Passage: Proverbs 10:28
Synopsis: Hope is really only hope when
things are hopeless. We always hope for
better things. How we associate with the
world around us and how we live our lives
tells everyone about the joy within us. Re-
claiming joy is about being at peace with
everyone and joyful in hope.
September 22nd
“Rejoice Always”
Focus Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Secondary Passage: Isaiah 12
Synopsis: Scripture teaches us multiple
times that we should ‘rejoice always.’ For
many of us that seems like something easier
said than done. Life is a series of endless
tasks, commitments, and challenges. Life is
filled with moments that just seem like occa-
sions for joy. So what does it really mean
when the Bible tells us to rejoice always. It
means we have to live with joy in all circum-
stances.
September 29th
“Glorious Joy”
Focus Passage: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Secondary Passage: Psalm 30:1-5
Synopsis: We live in a world that teaches us
that the next thing will deliver the joy we de-
sire; however, the gospel teaches us that joy
is already within us. The greatest gift we can
ever receive is the salvation of our souls. For
this reason, we are filled with inexpressible
and glorious joy.
YOUTH GROUP KICK OFF!
Join us September 8th for
a quick parent and youth
meeting at 6:00 PM,
followed by a youth kick
off event until 7:30 PM.
Our youth group ministry
is open to anyone 6th
grade - 12th grade!
Come get the scoop on the
new youth ministries year!
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29th we kick off
CLUB 35! Its back to school
but don’t let that get you
down! Come on out 6-7:30 PM!
There will be lots of fun games
and some food too! Club 35 is
our 3rd—5th grade ministry!
Back to school means we are kicking off a lot of
children and youth ministry activities! So mark your
calendars and get ready for a fun year!
Keep up to date on our web page:
www.meridianpres.org
Youth Group September Calendar:
Sunday, 9/8 6 PM Youth Group Kick Off
Sunday, 9/15 8:45 AM Pack Community
Lunches and pass
them out after
church!
Sunday, 9/22 6 PM Youth Group
Sunday, 9/29 12 PM Fun event after
Sunday School is BACK!
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM There are Sunday
school classes for all ages!
9:45 AM Ages Preschool - 5th Grade will
start with singing with Debbe and Vicki!
They will begin practicing songs for this
years Christmas Pageant right away! The
pageant will be the Family Christmas Din-
ner Entertainment this year!
September Celebrations Happy Birthday
9/2 Evan Palmiero 9/5 Bernie Baker Jim Preston Deklan Raddatz Ken Wehr 9/6 Susan Mossgrove 9/7 MacKenna Wickline 9/8 Barbra Karner 9/9 George Cygan Michelle Doutt 9/11 Quinn Rishor 9/13 Alaina Shiever 9/14 Sarah Preston 9/17 Karen Laughner 9/20 Ed Gilliland Jackie Wells 9/24 Bob Orsborn 9/29 Evan Mikan Mark Monnie Kurt Rishor
Happy Anniversary
9/7 Todd & Katie Schultz 9/12 Cole & Kala Siefker 9/14 Randy & Karen Laughner 9/17 Kurt & Elizabeth Rishor 9/18 Steve & Katie Rauschenberger 9/21 Bill & Gail Raley 9/27 Mark & Ann Marie Monnie Dan & Carla Rearick If your birthday or anniversary is missing or incorrect, please call the office (724-482-2630) so it can it can be corrected. Thank you!
July 2019
Giving 19,591.28
YTD Actual 149,911.94
YTD Budget 165,284.00
Over (Under) 15,372.06
.
Notes from the Session:
• Approved the baptisms of Levi and Ryan
McGeeney
• Continued to meet with our vision team for
Flourishing Church
• Will resume monthly meetings in September.
Thank you and farewell:
Thank you to so many who have been kind and
friendly to me during my time as Church Secre-
tary. I will miss seeing you. Stop in at Rep. Mus-
tello’s office , where I will be working part time,
to say hello.
Fondly, Jean Garrett
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 9:45 AM Sun-
day School
11 AM Worship
2 3 12 Noon--
Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
6:30 PM Deacons
and Trustees meet
4 8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
5
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
6 7
8 9:45 AM Sun-
day School
11 AM Worship
9
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
1012 Noon--
Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
6:30 PM Session
meets
11
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
12
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
13 14
15 9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
Community Lunch
16 17 12 Noon--
Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
18
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
Community
Dinner
19
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
20 21
22 9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
23
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
24 12 Noon--
Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
25
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
26
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
27 28
29 9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
30
10 AM—2 PM
Sewing Group
September 2019
Meridian Presbyterian Church 4150 Highland Avenue Butler, PA 16001
