Each year, as November approaches, I start to think about thankfulness and that is exactly what our sermons will be focusing on this month. We will start our month of thankfulness on November 2 when we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday. It will be a full service with communion and a time of remembrance for members and friends who have passed away in the last year. This meaningful Sunday is one where we remember with gratitude the people who have gone before us. It is a wonderful way to start off this month focused on thankfulness.

On the second Sunday of the month (November 9), we will pause to remember and honor the veterans from our congregation. We will also explore what it means to be thankful by looking at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17.

On Sunday, November 16, we will welcome a guest preacher, Rev. Rebecca Young. Rev. Young is a Presbyterian minster currently serving in chaplaincy.

November 23 is Christ the King Sunday. What could be a better way to kick off Thanksgiving week than focusing on our thankfulness for Jesus?

On Wednesday, November 26, we will be participating in the Community Thanksgiving Service at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church. I hope to see you there!

On Saturday, November 29, we will do our annual Hanging of the Greens. This is always a fun morning getting the church ready for the Season of Advent.

The final Sunday of the month (November 30) begins the new church year with the first week of Advent. This year, our Advent journey will be shaped by Our Dear Christ Enters In developed by Creative Communications for the Parish. We will have Advent devotionals available in the narthex, as well as bookmarks with daily reading suggestions. I can’t wait to welcome Christ into our hearts and homes this Advent season.

Blessings,

Pastor Emily

Our friends at the Bread of Life Food Pantry are planning for the Christmas season. Again this year, they are going to distribute toys and gift cards to at least 45 qualified families. They would really love to have the children in the community experience an enchanted Christmas.

With this in mind, the Bread of Life Food Pantry is requesting the following donations:

• Gifts cards (in any amount) to Walmart, Dick’s, Target, Kohl’s or Five Below or any other store where parents can use the cards to purchase toys or clothing items for their children
• Boxes or bags of candy and small items for stocking stuffers
• Toys for children 1 month old through 15 years old
• Wrapping paper and gift bags
• Monetary gifts (checks should be made out to Glenshaw Presbyterian Church with “Santa Shop” in the memo line)

Please bring your donations to GPC by Sunday, December 7.  The collection box is in the narthex by the Christmas tree.  We will deliver them to the food pantry in time for their Santa Shop in mid-December.

Thank you in advance to each of you whose generosity and kindness will bring happiness, smiles, and joy to all these children and their parents on Christmas morning.

The GPC Deacons are planning to hold a Christmas Bake Sale in the church parlor immediately following worship on Sunday, December 14.  Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to support their ongoing work at GPC and in the surrounding community.

In the lead-up to this event, we are calling all our expert bakers who would love to share their holiday culinary masterpieces with the congregation.  If you have any questions, please contact Darlene Hills at 412-486-8076 or by e-mail.

Thank you in advance for your support.