Category Archives: News

Pastor’s Pen

Christmas is known as a gift giving holiday and, even though the season of Christmas is brief and it ends on Epiphany, we are going to be thinking about gifts that keep on giving throughout the month of January.

On the first Sunday of the month, January 4, we will celebrate Epiphany and continue the tradition of choosing Epiphany words or star words to guide us in the upcoming year. Our passage for this Sunday is Matthew 2:1-12 which tells of the Magi who bring Jesus some unexpected gifts.

On Sunday, January 11, we will make a big jump in Jesus’ story. Our passage, Matthew 3:13-17, shows an adult Jesus being baptized by John. We know that baptism is an important step in our faith journey. This week, we’ll look at the gift of a committed community, which is what we enter into when we are baptized.

We will continue our exploration of gifts that keep on giving on January 18 when we will turn to John 1:29-42. In this passage, we find John explaining that he is preparing the way for someone even greater than himself — Jesus. There is a gift in being willing to ask questions and let your curiosity guide you as you explore God’s will and way.  

Finally, I will be away on Sunday, January 25. Once we have confirmed who will be leading us in worship that Sunday, we will share the information with you all.

I hope that you will join us for worship this month. It is a wonderful way to start the New Year focused on God’s guiding light and the gifts that keep on giving.

Pastor Emily

Adult Education Classes

The Wired Word

Our Adult Education classes meet each Sunday morning, from September through May, in the church parlor from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM.

This January, starting on the 11th, we are trying something new for Sunday School. We will be using The Wired Word curriculum. According to their website, the mission of The Wired Word is to supply churches with solid scriptural material to help facilitate group discussions about important matters of faith raised by news of the week.

Have you ever been watching the news or reading an article and thought “What’s the Christian perspective on this?” Or have you ever wondered if the Bible addresses some of the things happening in the world around us? Each week, we will attempt to do just that with the help of the resources provided by The Wired Word.

Pastor Emily will be leading the class as we explore a variety of topics. Each Thursday, she will send out the lesson to folks who would like to receive it ahead of time. If you would like to be included on that e-mail (even if you can’t attend Sunday School), just let her know.

We hope to see you there!

The Neighborhood Table

The Neighborhood Table

The Neighborhood Table, founded and organized as a part of the Roots of Faith Ministry, is a free community dinner in Sharpsburg. It is not a soup kitchen or a handout, but a place for the Sharpsburg community to gather to support, encourage, and serve one another in the name of Jesus Christ. For the past 8 years, GPC members and friends have served fried chicken dinners there to approximately 100-150 people on the second Thursday of every month.

We are thankful for the many people who are working together to help feed hungry people in our local communities. The Giant Eagle Express in Harmarville is excited to be working with GPC in this ministry and to know that their food is helping others. GPC in turn is thankful to our team leaders, our many volunteers, the GPC Deacons, and the GPC Mission and Outreach Ministry who gave monetary donations.

Finally, we are thankful that God is guiding us.  Being a Christian brings with it the duty and the privilege of a lifetime of service. Service allows us to practice doing what Jesus would do. It connects us to those we serve and gives us a kind of satisfaction that self-interest can never offer.

Our next GPC mission service event at the Neighborhood Table will be held on Thursday, January 8 from 5:30 to 7:15 PM.  How can you help? Consider volunteering as a server.  We need about 12 to 16 people each month to help with the dinner. We welcome all who are interested in greeting, meeting, serving, and eating with our neighbors in Sharpsburg.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Larry or Cindy Bock, Henry or Diana Long, or Pastor Emily.  Thanks!