A Message From Pastor Cynthia …

I received an invitation in the mail today for a family graduation party. My niece, Kelly Grouss and my nephew, Trevor Grouss (who are cousins) are graduating from high school and are having a graduation party together. Two other nieces, Katie Grouss and Lisa Romeo recently graduated from VTech and Loyola. June is a time of transition with the end of another school year, with graduations, weddings, and more.

We will be celebrating graduations on June 28^th during worship. Nate Close and Morgan McNeal are graduating from high school and will be heading off to college soon. I spoke with Terry McNeal about Morgan’s graduation and she admitted to having mixed feelings about Morgan going off to college: joy (pride) and sadness. Feeling happy and sad at the same time is really not that unusual!!

Most of us have seen people crying at happy events like graduations and weddings. I tell people it’s okay to feel sad while they’re feeling happy! It’s normal to have conflicted feelings. Think about it. Most high school kids are thrilled to be graduating and at the same time, many are sad to be leaving friends and leaving the school that they grew up in.

Retirees who decided to sell their homes and move to warmer climates often feel that same mixture of joy and sorrow as they leave behind friends and family. Many of you know what I am talking about because some of you too are going through times of transition and experiencing feelings of happiness and sadness (stress and relief!) at the same time. One chapter ends. Another begins. Most of our feelings of sadness center around loss. We miss important relationships that are ending or have ended. We miss the people we love and care about. Some of us are missing friends and family who have moved out of the area. Some are mourning the passing of those they love. Some are mourning the loss of health. Others, the loss of independence. As I write this, I am dealing with the end of a thirty-year marriage.

There are many losses in life and living with loss can be hard. Jesus understood this. On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus spoke to his disciples. He wanted to prepare them for the days ahead: days without him. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

In the midst of uncertainty, in times of trouble and transition, we need to remember that we are not alone. God will give us the strength and courage we need to go on. God will give us the strength and courage to face a new day without the one(s) we love.

Instead of focusing on our loss, we need to focus on our gain: on the gift of a new beginning. So let us face the future not with fear and sorrow, but with anticipation and joy. We don’t have to be afraid because we worship the God of resurrection. God will help us through the times of transition to new beginnings. There is life beyond life, though our Lord Jesus Christ. Let not your hearts be troubled. Neither let them be afraid.

Lots of love! Blessings and peace!

Pastor Cynthia

FLAG DAY …

Sunday, June 14^th is Flag Day. The Sayre Elks Club has invited Pastor Cynthia to be the guest speaker at the Flag Day ceremony. The ceremony will be held in Howard Elmer Park in Sayre at 7:00 p.m. All are invited.

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A BIG THANK YOU TO:

Connie Ellis, Marj Twining,
Lois Shadduck and Betty Pettit.

At the end of each month they all get together and
fold, label, sticker, stamp, staple and mail the Church Windows.
Just say thanks to them.

Also … thank you to all those who helped with the Choir Loft Project …
it’s fantastic.

And … all those who helped with Clean-up Day! Thanks for helping to make the building and grounds look so terrific.

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“DID YOU KNOW” … (Stewardship Committee)

DID YOU KNOW The Stewardship Committee would like to help you with your vacation check off list for this summer’s vacation?

THE BRIDGE … This is the second in the series of monthly articles highlighting The Bridge and its various ministries. It is our hope that you will find them both informative and helpful.

Gwen Montz, Bridge Representative

Helping Hands …

Helping Hands, the furniture ministry of The Bridge, is skillfully coordinated by Charlie Hammond and his crew, John Simonds and Bob Thurston. Charlie has been providing this service for ten to twelve years, while John and Bob have been volunteering seven to ten years. They do an excellent job, and use their own vehicles to transport the furniture. They are reimbursed gas mileage. Beds, mattresses, sofas, and wooden dressers, table and chairs in good condition are the items most often requested. Some are donated by businesses; others by individuals. When they are available, they are picked up and taken to a storage warehouse, a building very generously donated by Alice Bustin in Milan. Vouchers are issued to those in need and the item(s) is (are) delivered to their home. This is the usual routine at least twice a week. It is not unusual for over 300-400 calls to be handled annually.

To make arrangements to donate items, please call the Clearinghouse from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday @ 570­-888-8826. To volunteer, call Charlie Hammond at 570-888-5161.

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Could I climb to the highest place in Athens, I would lift my voice and proclaim, "Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth and take so little care of your children to whom one day you must relinquish it all?" -- Socrates

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CONFIRMATION SUNDAY …

The Big Picture Youth class culminated in the confirming of faith on Sunday, May 31^st. Nine young people have been meeting since the beginning of March and were confirmed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, promising to follow him all of their days. What a great joy this was! What could possibly be more important than knowing our children are placing themselves in the hand of GOD? As generations rise and fall before the GOD of eternity, to know our children will carry the faith into the next generation should give us great hope and comfort.

Those being confirmed were: Elizabeth Cascio, Douglas Dabroski, Harold Gann, Zachary Gann, Jeff Mastrantuono, Ann Miller, Fred Miller and Larisa Pachuta. CONGRATULATIONS!

The life of the class didn’t end then. We look forward to seeing the youth involved in serving God in the summer worship services, participating in a K-Team service weekend in Harrisburg, and joining us in our walk of faith.

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CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL …

The children are practicing their parts for Children and Youth Sunday, June 14^th! All children are invited. There will be some sign language, hand bells, singing, and presentation of the Heifer Project animal, which will be purchased. Come at 9:45 a.m. Sunday mornings to get in on the fun!

K-TEAM WEEKEND …

On Friday, July 10^th through Sunday, July 12^th, teens from Waverly Pres and Westminster Pres, Elmira will take part in a K-Team weekend in Harrisburg, PA. Accompanied by four adults from Waverly Pres, the youth will be serving Christ by serving those in need in the city. They will be staying in a training center for young adults who are preparing for overseas ministry with Eastern Mennonite Missions. Part of the weekend will also be learning how to be a disciple of Christ. Please surround this group with your prayers as they prepare for service.

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ADULT EDUCATION …

The adults are embarking on a journey to deepen their walk of faith and explore what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Using the R12 curriculum, based on Romans chapter 12, presented by Chip Ingram, the class is enjoying the dynamic speaker and then discussing what they’ve heard and what they see in Scripture. 9:45 a.m. in the chapel. Stop in any week! Schedule for summer hours will be announced.

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CAMP E.D.G.E. … VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL ITEMS NEEDED …

Waverly Pres is joining together with the Waverly Methodist Church in planning VBS for this summer – Monday, July 27^th through Friday, July 31^st. Pre-K through sixth graders (going into sixth) are invited to come to a week of adventure! (If you would like to pre-register, please see Stephanie for a VBS Registration form.) If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie or any CE member.

The following are the items we are collecting for VBS. Please contact CE if you can loan a big item: Pup Tents; Artificial Christmas Trees; Camping Supplies (sleeping bags, backpacks, canteens, portable chairs, firewood, water bucket for fire circle, etc.); Butcher Paper (brown and white); Tarps (brown, green, blue and white); stuffed animals (the kind you would see in the woods); and any other materials or items we could use to make outdoor scenes. All items can be left at the First Methodist Church office between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday as soon as possible. Please label each item clearly with your name. If you have questions, please call Stephanie at 607-734-0428 or email emerald0city@stny.rr.com. Thank you!

We can start gathering up these items right away, so that we can get started with the decorations, and determine other items we may need.

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SUMMER CAMP …

There is still time to sign up for camp! Brochures and scholarship money are available for Camp Lackawanna and Camp Whitman. Information is also available for Camp Susquehanna.

Camp can be a wonderful place for learning new skills, meeting new friends, having a ton of fun, and discovering that God is real and lives outside of the four walls of the church. See Stephanie or any CE committee member for information. (Camps are available June through August)

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The Reverend Richard Wright will be our worship leader on June 7^th. Richard Wright is a native of Bethlehem, PA and is a graduate of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary and also Dubuque Theological Seminary. He was ordained in the Moravian Church in 1960 and transferred his membership to the Presbyterian Church in 1972. He has served as a pastor of churches in NC, MN, NJ and PA. He is married to Barbara Frantz and they have four children. He retired in 2000 and lives in Susquehanna County, PA near the village of Jackson. Rev. Wright will be at both the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. Please welcome him warmly.

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HAPPY JUNE ANNIVERSARIES TO …