PASTOR'S MESSAGE AND HERITAGE HAPPENINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 22

Let’s say you see a pallet of candy bars fall off a delivery truck and go spilling onto the road.  You decide not to call the candy company but instead you pick up all the candy bars and keep them for yourself.  Later, through reports of eyewitnesses you are caught.  You appear before the judge on charges of theft.  Standing before the judge you claim you are innocent because everyone else’s guilt cancels yours.  The judge is intrigued and asks you to explain yourself.  You tell the judge that the driver of the truck was negligent in securing his load of candy.  By not reporting the incident to the candy company, you saved the driver from being reprimanded or even losing his job.   You saved city workers the time and mess of picking up melted candy bars off the street (you got to them quick before they melted).  And the eyewitnesses, fellow citizens, were quick to condemn but did nothing to help clean up the mess on the street.  In all, you saved someone’s job, helped the city reduce time and labor, cleaned up the street yourself without any offers from bystanders whose only act was to rat on you without seeing all the good you were going.  The judge agrees with your quick-witted story and drops the charges against you.     Were you really a good citizen?  Should you have paid for your crime of taking what wasn’t yours?  We have a similar story this week in the gospel of Luke called “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager.”  It’s a puzzling story because Jesus tells his disciples that they should act in similar ways when it comes to securing their future.  This Sunday, we will take a look at the parable and try to find some honest answers.           

SUNDAY SCHOOL AT A NEW TIME!  Our worship service remains at 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship at 10:30 a.m.  Sunday School begins at 10:45 a.m. for Pre-Kindergarten thru 6th grade, Junior & Senior High, and Adults.  The nursery is available for children 3 and under during the worship service and classes. Following is our program for the 2019-2020 school year. Nursery – Music, Play & Stories.  Kindergarten-6th Grade – Living Waters: Bible lessons with stories of countries around the world in need of clean water with different activities each week. Jr. & Sr. High – Interactive Bible lessons for today’s youth.

 

ADULT BIBLE STUDY meets each week at 10:45 a.m. for different classes or Bible studies.  This week is “How to Relieve Stress Thru Prayer”. Learn how to seek relief with Pastor Karen.

 

THE ALL-CHURCH POTLUCK is next Sunday, September 29th after worship.  Bring a dish to share and enjoy fellowship with one another. No Sunday School will be held.

 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BLESSING & WALL SIGNING for the Cadenas family new home is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th at 8:00 a.m., 8470 W. Madison St., Peoria.  Pastor Karen will deliver the prayer of blessing.  Come and be a part of the blessing.

 

NEXT VOSH WORKDAY is this Saturday, September 21st.  Join us as we continue to sort, count and package eyeglass readers for VOSH (Volunteer Optometrists Serving Humanity)  The next workday is October 12th   from  9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Monterey Tile Company, 401 E. Ray Rd., Chandler, AZ  85225. Drive through the gates and follow signs to “Granite Slabs Warehouse”.  It is a working warehouse, children must be 7 years or older.  Look for a sign-up sheet on the information table in the narthex.  It is not required to sign up but it helps to know how many to expect for snacks and pizza.  For more info contact Roni Kozlowski at 858-344-7397 or email rkoz543@gmail.com

 

THE AGUA FRIA FOOD BANK is stocking up now for the distribution of holiday food boxes.  Most needed items: stuffing mix, canned gravy, cranberry sauce, instant potatoes and canned vegetables. This year they are expecting to fill 300 Thanksgiving and 615 Christmas boxes. The next collection is Sunday, October 6th.

 

NEED HELP TO FILL THE COOKIE JAR for fellowship time.  The Deacons are asking for help to fill the cookie cupboard with packages of cookies for the congregation to enjoy during fellowship on Sundays.  Please no cookies with nuts.

 

HART PANTRY has a new wish list for OCTOBER. Pudding cups (all flavors), ramen noodle packs, hot chocolate packets, 100% juice cups, Ritz cheese & cracker packets, raisins (small lunchbox size), men’s & women’s regular size no show socks.  Thank you for all your support.

 

OUR DAILY BREAD devotionals for September/October/November are available on the information table.

 

HOMELESS?  NEED TO WORK?  Information cards to help direct those in need are on the table in the narthex compliments of Phoenix Rescue Mission and the City of Glendale.  Take a few to hand out when you encounter someone who is homeless and needs work. 

 

PER CAPITA is the first envelope in your offering box. Per Capita is a set amount of money (apportionment) per member that congregations pay to the larger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for their Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly operating budgets.   Your contribution to Per Capita helps Heritage to pay it’s per capita apportionment of $5,365.00 in 2019. This year per capita is $36.25 for each member.  To date members have given $2,801.50 towards our per capita payment. 

 

SERVING OUR CONGREGATION brochures are available in the narthex to inform church members about pastoral services, deacon and other ministries at Heritage that serve one another in love.   

 

NEW BOOKS for “Take-A-Book, Leave-A-Book” are on the top of the members’ mail file cabinet in the narthex.

 

WHAT’S ON TAP TUESDAY?   Men’s fellowship meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Dubina’s Brewery, 67th Ave., just north of Bell Rd.  Bring your Bible.  Next meeting is October 8th.

 

BIBLE & BRUNCH meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Next meeting is October 9th at 10:00 a.m. Bring a dish to share.  All are welcome.

 

THE PRAYER SHAWL GROUP meets at PuraTea Water, 3515 W. Union Hills Dr. #101 every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to knit, crochet items for those who need to be wrapped in prayer.  Beginners are welcome.

 

COFFEE sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex to order JUSTO CAFÉ from a coffee farm co-op in Mexico to support workers and their families.  Each bag is $10.00 and includes cost of shipping.  

 

EYEGLASSES NEEDED for the Lions Club Foundation Eyeglass Program. Look for the box in the Narthex to make your donation.  

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