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PRESBYTERY UPDATES!! Information can be found on the Ministries page. The 2026 per capita is $48.00 per each active role member.
Celebrating The Church’s Birthday
Sevenfold Flame Wear Red on Pentecost Sunday, May 24TH To symbolize the “tongues, as of fire” (Acts 2:3, NRSV) that came upon the people present at Pentecost, liturgical churches display the color red in their worship services on Pentecost Sunday.
DISASTER RECOVERY -- The PC(USA) works with mid councils and churches to provide immediate support after natural and human-caused disasters. It also assists with long-term recovery efforts, connecting mid councils and churches with resources to help them rebound and thrive. This emergency ministry enables our congregations and mission partners to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic event. International Response -- Ukrainian Refugees in Moldova YMCA Moldova is one of several partners working to respond to needs caused by the Russia/Ukraine war. Projects include services for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, such as mental health, employment service, and legal support for more than 9,000 beneficiaries, and establishing a safe and inclusive space for youth and refugees with a hub for personal development and a wide range of free services to support education, digital skills, mental health and employability. National Response -- Southern California Wildfires Southern California faced multiple fires, exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions. More than 35,000 acres burned and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. An initial grant from the PC(USA) provided immediate support for urgent needs. National Response Team was deployed to provide a ministry of presence, assist with ongoing assessments and help match identified needs with appropriate resources to expedite recovery resources.
National Nurses Week in 2026 is observed from May 6 to 12. This week-long celebration honors the contributions of nurses and is part of the larger National Nurses Month, which runs from May 1 to May 31. Specifically, May 6th is National Nurses Day, and May 12th is Florence Nightingale's birthday.
Just For Pun! • Every calendar's days are numbered.
National Day of Prayer - Thursday, May 7th
Every year we pray and seek the Lord for the National Day of Prayer theme that will guide our year and unite the tens of thousands of prayer gatherings we host from coast to coast. This year on May 7, 2026, we will unite and pray as our new 2026 theme calls us to: “Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations.”
In 2026, our theme is inspired by a passionate prayer of Thanksgiving, prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16 after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This chapter records Israel celebrating the return of the Ark after being separated for 70 years earlier. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo-Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.
The 2026 NEPA Armed Forces Day Parade in Scranton is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 11:00 AM. The parade honors military members, starting at the Gino Merli Veterans Center and ending at Courthouse Square. Events include a Heroes of All Kinds 5K at 9:00 AM and an Armed Forces Day Luncheon on May 14, 2026. Let those in military service know that you appreciate their service and sacrifice on behalf of America. Pray for them, speak appreciatively to them and let them know of your support.
Rain: A Gentle Reminder of God’s Care A rainy day can be many things ... — Jeanne D. Birrell Volunteer Perks Celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19-25 this year) by meeting a need in your church or community. Volunteering not only helps the people we serve. It also has surprising benefits for the volunteer. Serving others builds social and relational skills, increases self-confidence and boosts physical health. Studies show that volunteering can even ease chronic pain and heart disease.
Do Your Part at Church Volunteer to do the job most people shun. After most people have left a church dinner, remain behind to help clean up and put things in order. When a campaign is held to raise funds for a church project, be among the first to give time, talent and resources to show your support and enthusiasm. Occasionally give something or do something anonymously. If it's spectacular enough, the church will go "bananas" trying to figure out who did it.
“It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
In Memory of Rev. Rebecca Tanner a cloth in beautiful fall colors, which she had said was her favorite season, was placed on our communion table. It had been in her office -- she had made the purchased to support The SHE project: (Sanitation, Hygiene And Empowerment) The program is committed to empowering underprivileged girls and women by improving their access to sanitation, hygiene, education, and skills, enabling them to reach their full potential. SHE ensures that girls stay in school and receive quality education, while also equipping women with the tools to achieve financial independence. The Presbyterian Education Board manages 26 schools and 6 boarding houses. The SHE project strives “to develop culturally and religiously appropriate mechanisms of mediation and intervention for children and women victims/survivors of violence in its various forms in different areas of Punjab, particularly where PEB already has a presence.” The program is so effective and so critically needed that programs are now being offered in 20 communities. The Presbyterian Education Board is an autonomous Board under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan and is supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other churches and organizations worldwide.
IN GOOD HANDS As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure, they were full of questions — “Where are you going? How will we know the way there? Would you please just show us the Father?” — and not very satisfied with his answers. So Jesus promised to send them “another Helper” (John 14:16, ESV). And we can almost hear them protesting, like kids bemoaning a favorite coach’s retirement or church members grieving a beloved pastor’s call to serve elsewhere: “Oh, great. Someone new for us to get to know. It won’t be the same. It won’t be you.” Decisions Matter Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible. —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Do Your Part at Church Volunteer to do the job most people shun. After most people have left a church dinner, remain behind to help clean up and put things in order. When a campaign is held to raise funds for a church project, be among the first to give time, talent and resources to show your support and enthusiasm. Occasionally give something or do something anonymously. If it's spectacular enough, the church will go "bananas" trying to figure out who did it.
It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
A POSITIVE PRAYER “Please help me with NOTS that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots… erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart. And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life, all of the AM nots that I have allowed to hold me back… especially the thought that I am not good enough.” Author Unknown
Would you not agree that NOT is not a word we should choose to employ… unless utterly necessary? May every positive prayer be answered this week, Godwink, after Godwink, after Godwink!
Both the regular and large print editions of Our Daily Bread are now available – if you you would like one, contact the office and we will be sure you receive it.
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