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Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring is preparing to welcome secondary students who need access to the internet in order to complete class assignments. We have ample room in our Fellowship Hall to host individuals or small groups. At this time, we have set specific hours, because we need to hear from students what time of day and day of the week will best suit them. Students will be asked to sign an internet use agreement, which must also be signed by a parent or guardian. The guidelines for use are following those set by the...
Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring will continue its monthly Manna on Main Street as a drive-through, take-out-only service Saturday, Oct. 10 Attendees can drive or walk up to the doors of fellowship hall located at the end of the alley to pick up their meals between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The menu for this month will consist of ham, parsley potatoes, green beans and cake. This meal is free to the community and all are welcome....
Yesterday we had a thorough fall cleaning at the church office. Things got washed that hadn't been washed in years. (The windows.) Things were found that I didn't even know we had. (A potpourri burner.) Things got thrown away, washed, scrubbed, vacuumed, bleached, dusted and swept. We even located the source of that strange armpit smell. (The plastic around the shower in the bathroom. There's nothing we can do about it, but at least we know it isn't any of us.) It was the kind of work that most...
Scriptures to Read Ephesians 6:10-13 Ephesians 6:10-13 Genesis 2:8-9; 15-17 Genesis 2:20-25 Genesis 3:1-7 Genesis 3:8-13 Genesis 3:14-19 I want to spend some of the next 'Thoughts' considering the troubles we face. God created angels. I suppose it was before He created the universe we live in, but I just don't know. At any rate, one of those angels, Satan/Lucifer by name, opposed God, exalted himself, attempted to usurp God's majesty and dominion, and became the enemy of God. He hates God and...
Some weird things happen to me almost every day in my ministry as a hospice chaplain. People stare at me and folks eavesdrop on my conversations. There are other unique things that go on as well, but I will spare you those details. I often visit patients in lounge areas in facilities where folks are very close together. It is possible that people are simply staring and thinking, "Who is that masked man?" One can smile until being blue in the proverbial face but when wearing a mask no one can be...
Scriptures to Read Acts 7:8-15 Acts 7:54-60 Acts 19:23-29 St. Matthew 27:19-25 St. Mark 14:55-65 Genesis 37:18-24 Ephesians 4:25-32 When you read this, we will be a little more than one month from the national elections. We gave up television a little more than a year ago and so have not been watching the political ads. Perhaps you are tired of them, too. I hope you are planning to vote, but I am not planning to make this a political column. You might have noticed the question marks in the title...
Saint Francis University will host a Zoom version of its latest lecture in the T.O.R. Franciscan Endowment series, "An Im-perfect Storm: Catholicism and Democracy in Times of Political and Ecclesial Division." The public is invited to this free virtual webinar at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, to explore the intersection of faith and culture, including such topics as: religious freedom, identity politics and the church with porous boundaries. Attendees need to preregister at www.francis.edu/imperfectstorm/ to receive a link to log-in. Dr. Massimo...
"Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: 'Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.'" – Exodus 1:22, NIV Have you ever paused to consider what it would have felt like to be a mother in the days when Moses was born? If you are a parent, imagine that moment when your child was born. Imagine the joy that is felt when that baby is placed in your arms for the first time. Imagine the emotions that wash over you as you look at their tiny hands and feet and f...
Scriptures to Read St. Matthew 6:16-189 Zechariah 7:4-7 Zachariah 8:18-19 Isaiah 58:3-7 St. Matthew 4:1-4 Acts 13:1-3 Nehemiah 1:3-11 I shared last week about abstaining from evil things. But there is a second side to this issue. Sometimes Christians are to deny themselves of good things. We call this fasting. Fasting was practiced by Hebrews for a long time. But it is also a practice that has come into the Christian Church. Jesus said, "when you fast..." (See St. Matthew 6:16-18.) He here is te...
Pete and Carol Imler of Roaring Spring have invited all singles who enjoy gospel music to attend their Christian Singles meeting anytime between 6 and 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at their barn room. Local gospel singer Phil McCaulley will bring a mixture of music, prayer and a message from God’s Word. Those who plan to attend may bring a favorite dish to share. Years have passed since the Imlers have been welcoming their friends to their barn room. It is their wish that this invitation be open to anyone who enjoys an evening of music, praise a...
The Mines and Royer Churches will hold a revival or awakening from 7 to approximately 9 p.m. Sept. 21 through Sept. 23 at the Springfield Estates, 3733 Piney Creek Road, Williamsburg. Pastor Eric Poteat, pastor at both Waterside and Koontz Churches of the Brethren, will be the speaker for all three nights. His topic will be “The God Who Desires to Include You.” The praise team will be Heritage Baptist from McConnellstown. There will be a free-will offering that will go to mission projects. For more information, contact Pastor Gordon Trimer at...
Last night I drove my car in a strange manner and it malfunctioned. I ended up safely at the airport, only to realize I did not have my passport or driver's license. I searched frantically for my license as people around me laughed. Thankfully the kind woman at the gate said I could take the flight using my rewards card from a popular convenience store that rhymes with "beats." Why did she allow that? Beats me. After all, it was just a dream. Lately I have been having vivid nightmares and dreams...
Scriptures to Read: Acts 15:6-11 Acts 15:19-23 Colossians 3:1-10 I Thessalonians 4:1-7 I Peter 2:11-16 Ephesians 5:11-21 I Corinthians 10:23-32 I want to think about abstinence today. It means to renounce or at least deny one's self of certain things. The Bible speaks about this. When the Church began to grow beyond the bounds of Hebrew Christianity and to reach into the Gentile world there were some conflicts. The Jews were used to abstaining from some things as the Law given by God to Moses...
Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring will continue its monthly Manna on Main Street as a drive-through, take-out-only service Saturday, Sept. 12. Attendees can drive or walk up to the doors of fellowship hall located at the end of the alley to pick up their meals between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The menu for this month will consist of lasagna, salad, garlic bread and a cookie. This meal is free to the community and all are welcome....
Rosh Hashanah is an important holiday on the Jewish calendar. According to the Jewish National Fund, Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year and is a celebration of the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Adherents to the Jewish faith wish each other a good, sweet year ahead on Rosh Hashanah, a day that is steeped in tradition. One such tradition is the sounding of the shofar, which the JNF notes is representative of the trumpet blast that sounded the coronation of kings. The sounding of the shofar also symbolizes a call to...
Dear August, You are getting old. The crickets are singing away your last full night. Cradled in the lap of summer, your days are too soon gone. Our little grandchildren ran barefoot in all your weeks. If they wore shoes in your few chilly mornings, they were soon kicked aside. Clouds laughed across your sky and the sun blazed from it. In your days, the chattering of purple martins and barn swallows quieted as they took to the sky for migration to a land where heat like yours never goes away....
In the last article we talked about Daniel, but I had also mentioned reading the book of Esther. Well guess what was next on the recommended daily readings? Yep, it was Esther. Now I know that many folks prefer not to read their Bibles for some reason, but you really need to read the whole book of Esther yourself. It is so riveting and action packed that I can't even begin to go over the whole exciting thing in the detail it deserves. In it we meet Hadassah, a.k.a. Esther, an orphan who was...
Scriptures to Read: Nehemiah 4:7-22 II Thessalonians 3: 6-13 Hebrews 3:9-11 Ephesians 4:25-28 Philippians 2:14-18 St. John 6:26-27 St. Matthew 11:28-30 We celebrate "Labor Day." For many of us it is simply a day off from work. But I think it should be more. I know it is a secular holiday, not a spiritual one. Still, I think we can give it a higher purpose. I am thinking about the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah the Prophet of God. The first thing I see is there...
As the unique summer of 2020 winds down, I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to contribute to this space for over three years. It is challenging to me that it cannot be more of a conversation. I have no way of knowing if my readers number a handful or hundreds. No matter, I will keep thinking and writing if you keep reading...whoever you are! In the paragraphs ahead I will continue with the series on Proverbs as I examine and reflect on random ones that the Lord impresses me with. We...
Scriptures to Read: Exodus 20:1-7 & 23 Deuteronomy 13:1-5 I Corinthians 6:9-11 Acts 17:16-23 Acts 17:24-34 I Kings 14:21-30 Jeremiah 30:1-10 I know we have been looking at Israel's relationship with God. God made His promises to Solomon, the third king of Israel. We have tried to claim some of that legacy by understanding that as the people of God, God continues to relate to His people as He always has. You have likely heard, "History repeats itself." We either learn the lessons history wants...
Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring wrapped up its annual free summer lunch program Friday, Aug. 21. Lunch was served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday since June. Meals were free for all children under the ages of 18. Adults were charged a cost per meal. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the program celebrated a milestone, as it served its 10,000th take-out meal for the summer. Houston Herbaugh (above) of Roaring Spring was the lunch program's 10,000th customer this summer. He...
"There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." ~Daniel 3:12 (KJV) Every time the book of Daniel rolls around on my daily Bible reading schedule, it makes me happy. If you've not taken the time yet to read the book of Daniel, go ahead and try it. It's one of those books that I like to circle back to...
Scriptures to Read: Exodus 20:1-11 II Chronicles7:11-16 Judges 6:25-32 I Kings 18:22-29 I Kings 18:30-39 Isaiah 44:6-8 & 21-23 I Corinthians 10:1-14 We are looking at Number 4, "Turn from their (our) wicked way." in the list of things God's people are responsible for when they have broken God's covenant with them. Last week we spent time looking at the sins we commit in relationship to our fellow man. It is most certainly a requirement for God's children to live well as they relate to other...
Pete and Carol Imler of Roaring Spring will host a cookout and a time of Christian fellowship with Tom Smith of Everett for the Christian Singles group at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. The evening will include hot dogs, desserts, and attendees may bring friends and a dish to share. Although this will be the last cookout of the year, the group will continue to meet on the third Friday of every month at the Imlers’ residence. The Imlers live at 1271 Spang St. Extension, behind Spring Plaza. For more information, call Pete at (814) 934-3192 or C...
El Departamento de la Salud de Pensilvania confirmó que hasta las 12:00 a.m., el lunes, 18 de agosto, hay 735 adicionales casos positivos de COVID-19 en el estado. Los casos nuevos aumentan el total estatal a 125,579. Todos los 67 condados de Pensilvania han reportado casos de COVID-19. Filadelfia reportó 208 casos – un total para los dos días del 17 y 18 de agosto. El número de pruebas hecho dentro de los últimos 7 días – entre el 11 y el 17 de agosto – es 162,293, con 5,992 resultados positivos. Se reportaron 18,926 resultados de la prueba a...
I thought I would take a break from my series of columns from the Proverbs to reflect on my recently completed hurricane-shortened, mask-wearing vacation. I can still remember the vacations of my childhood. Neither of my parents grew up in a home where they could go to another state for a getaway. However, from the time I could remember they made sure their family of seven would have vacations to remember. I recall my Dad carrying me out to the family station wagon in the wee early hours of the...
Scriptures to Read: Galatians 5:19-26 Galatians 6:2-10 Colossians 3:8-17 I Corinthians 5:1-6 St. Luke 3:7-14 St. Matthew 5:21-26 Exodus 20:12-17 The II Chronicles 7:14 passage lists four things God's people are responsible for when they have broken God's covenant with them. We have looked at 1. "Humble themselves (ourselves). 2. Pray. and 3. Seek My face. Today we look at 4. "Turn from their (our) wicked way." Certainly this would mean individual and specific sins: acts of disobedience and failu...
What I am about to tell you is true and factual. It's also an amazing example of the greatness and deliberateness of God. Before we start, we need to know some history. I'll do my best to make the history brief so no one falls asleep. If one were to look up the terrible and hopeless things that have happened to the Jewish people throughout their existence, one would discover that there is a particular date on which all these disasters seem to occur. It is the 9th of Av. Av is the name of a...
Scriptures to Read: Psalm 34:15-18 Psalm 139:15-18 Isaiah 55:6-9 Isaiah 65:24 & Daniel 9:20-23 St. Luke 19:41-44 St. Luke 18:15-17 St. John 14:1-11 In my last "Thought" I lumped together prayer and seeking the face of God. That probably was not fair. Each deserved its own space. Actually, each could well have covered several "Thoughts." I want to reopen the idea of "seeking the face of God." Two stories: A father saw his son earnestly drawing on a piece of paper and was struck by the child's...
Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring will resume its monthly Manna on Main Street as a drive-thru take-out only service on Saturday, Aug. 8. Attendees can drive or walk up to the doors of the fellowship hall located at the end of the alley to pick up their meals between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The menu will consist of ham loaf balls, noodles with browned butter, cabbage salad and a brownie. This meal is free to the community and all are welcome....
If you have adult children you can probably relate to what I have been experiencing over the past several years. My sons are 17 and 18. They are not children anymore. And though they want to be treated as adults they are not showing a lot of signs of being ready to be on their own. They may be taller and physically stronger than me. Yet they are somewhat lacking in the wisdom and maturity department. One even said he could probably be fine without his parents besides the money thing. It...
Scriptures to Read: II Corinthians 5:11-19 Proverbs 28:13 I John 1:8-10 Psalm 51:1-19 Romans 7:18-25 St. Luke 15:11-24 II Chronicles 7:11-20 From II Chronicles 7:14, the second requisite is for us to pray. How shall we pray? For what shall we pray? It would seem to me that if we are coming to God from a humble position, we should pray for forgiveness with an attitude of genuine sorrow. We have sinned against The Holy God. He is perfect. He has done nothing wrong. We are the ones who have done...
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12 (CJB) This has been a year of hope deferred. All the plans and dreams we had at the beginning of the year were thrown into the trash like common garbage: proms, graduations, family vacations, community events. Even mourning was taken from us. There were no goodbyes and no funerals allowed. Every shred of light that was shining its way to us was shut off. All this deferral of hope, week after week,...
Scriptures to Read: Exodus 10:1-3 & 12:29-31 Deuteronomy 8:1-6 II Chronicles 34:21-28 St. Matthew 18:1-4 St. Matthew 23:1-12 I Peter 5:1-8 II Chronicles 12:1-7 Ever since the 9/11 crisis America faced, there has been one verse that seems to surface with frequency. It is II Chronicles 7:14: "If my people who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their...
Pete and Carol Imler of Roaring Spring will host a cookout and a time of Christian fellowship with Tom Smith of Everett for the Christian Singles group at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24. The evening will include hot dogs, desserts, and attendees may bring friends and a dish to share. “It’s a wonderful way to give God the praise and glory by just being together to sing, pray and enjoy the evening,” Carol Imler said. The Imlers live at 1271 Spang St. Extension, behind Spring Plaza. For more information, call Pete at (814) 934-3192 or Carol at (8...
As we are now midway through the hot summer, I thought it would be cool to continue looking at the Proverbs. I know some folks read a Proverb a day to keep foolishness away. I have at times prayed some Proverbs. Whatever approach we take it is certainly beneficial to read and apply God's wisdom in these troubled times. According to Proverbs 3, we should not forget his teaching, but keep his commands in our hearts. What if we do that? It will result in a prolonged life, peace, and prosperity...
Scriptures to Read: Acts 15:27-29 St. Matthew 15:8-11 Romans 1:21-27 Romans 1:28-32 I John 3:1-3 II Timothy 2:20-22 I Thessalonians 4:1-8 I wrote July 2 about purity. I want to continue in that vein. I have a continuing burden on my heart. I would like to solicit your help here. I serve on the advisory board of an organization called "My Brothers' Keeper" (MBK). MBK operates primarily in the nation of Romania. It is a multi-faceted work. One of those facets involves a Crisis Pregnancy Center....
If you had asked me a few years ago what I thought of reading the prophets in the Old Testament, I would have made a face. If you ask me that same question today, you will get a completely different answer. In my daily Bible readings, the book of Isaiah has been especially intriguing. New things and passages have been popping out at me. It might be the new translation I've been using this year. To be honest, I'd like to put it all here for you, but there is just too much. It's also difficult to...
Scriptures to Read: St. Luke 6:27-31 St. Luke 3:10-14 Ephesians 4:29-32 Jonah 42 St. Luke 10:30-37 St. Matthew 5:43-48 St. Matthew 7:15-23 We celebrated a national holiday on July 4. We call it "Independence Day." It has a lot of meaning. My dictionary gives 11 definitions for the word. There is one that gives me pause to think: "without restraint." My dad had his own definition for freedom. He said, "The freedom to swing my fist ends where your nose begins." I like my dad's definition better....
Weddings celebrate the joining together of hearts, families and homes. The unification of a couple pledging vows to each other is the key component of the ceremony, and unity rituals are common during both traditional and nontraditional weddings. Unity ceremonies represent the magic of two people coming together as one. Unity rituals may be built into certain religious or cultural weddings as a normal part of the festivities. Other couples may want to embrace the idea of a unity ceremony to add...
As hospice chaplain of almost two years I have grown accustomed to the challenges of ministering to dear folks who have dementia. Just today I visited with someone I have seen for over a year. She held my hand for quite a while and said, "I never met you before, but I like you." In her defense, it had been a few months since I had been allowed in the facility due to pandemic concerns. I was also wearing a mask. However, despite all the conversations and laughs we had enjoyed together it was as...
Scriptures to Read: Psalm 24:3-6 St. Matthew 5:8 Hebrews 13:4 I Timothy 5:22c I Corinthians 6:15-20 I Corinthians 7:1-10 I Thessalonians 4:1-8 Today, I have chosen to write about purity. Purity partly defined is: "Freedom from filth, guilt, defilement, evil"; also "Clean in every way." I want to focus specifically on sexual purity. This would mean to abstain from or not be involved in either fornication (sexual involvement without being married to the partner) or adultery (sexual involvement...
"Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." ~Ephesians 6:10-12 (CJB) Hey there. How are you? Are you having a good week? Answers may vary...
Scriptures to Read: Ephesians 5:19-20 Colossians 3:12-17 Isaiah 42:10-12 Psalm 40:1-6 Psalm 96:1-6 Psalm 98:1-6 Revelation 5:8-14 I really enjoy music. When there are vocal parts, I want them to be understandable. Of course some operas are in foreign languages, those give me trouble. Other music has words I cannot understand. Those pieces go lower on my lists of favorites. The other day, I heard a hymn that I really appreciated. I had not heard it before but hopefully will hear it again. I am su...
The Women's Guild of St. John’s Reformed Church of Loysburg will hold its annual Discarded Treasure Sale (formerly the Rummage Sale) on June 26 and 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church basement and pavilion, 1698 Woodbury Pike. The committee is asking church members for donations of slightly used items to sell. Three things cannot be accepted – clothing, shoes and stuffed animals. All other items will be received in the church pavilion on Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Per...
When I was 18 years old I did something for the first time. I became friends with a black man. In fact, in my freshman year of college there were two African American guys who I got to know. The one was on the basketball team and planning to become a pastor. The other ran against me for class chaplain. He won. While we had little in common they were really sharp guys. While we never became close friends, I have positive memories of them. I also got to know an Asian girl. Even though my college...
Scriptures to Read: I Thessalonians 5:17 Ephesians 6:18 Philippians 4:6-8 I Timothy 2:1-4 & 8 St. Matthew 26:41 Romans 8:26 St. Matthew 7:7-8 When I was young, I was somewhat baffled by I Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing." I could not think how a person could be constantly in prayer, like 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It simply seemed impossible. I also did not believe it was a suggestion but rather a command. God wanted me to pray. I could believe that. I watched adults around...
Pete and Carol Imler of Roaring Spring will host a cookout and a time of Christian fellowship with Tom Smith of Everett for the Christian Singles group on Friday, June 19. The evening will include hot dogs, desserts, and attendees may bring a dish to share and friends. “We will give God the praise and glory for another wonderful time to enjoy the evening,” Carol Imler said. “This will be a wonderful evening of being together after missing our previous monthly meetings.” The Imlers live at 1271 Spang St. Extension, behind Spring Plaza. For mor...
Pastor Jim Spivey preaches to a large crowd of parishioners during Sunday's service at the Grace Pointe Community Church of God in Williamsburg. This was the first service held inside since the COVID-19 pandemic began....
One thing is for certain, it has been an exhausting year. I think we could all do with a little rest and relaxation. I think we're all sick and tired of hearing words like social distancing, "in these uncertain times," sheltering in place, "the new normal," "stay home-stay safe," CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, mitigation, and anything that involves the word "mask." Yes. I'm done with those things. Now we've added the next layer of fun to our hot fudge sundae – rioting. Oh goodie. J...
