My childhood autumns in Pennsylvania hold precious memories - jumping in piles of leaves that I had just raked (much to my mother's chagrin), dipping apples into a pot of melted caramel and waiting what seemed like forever before I could eat one, and best of all, Penn State football!

The autumn of life is a strange mixture of nostalgia, blessings, and potential. It yields the harvest of seeds we've sown throughout life and braces us for colder days to come. When life's autumn arrives, we look back and better understand the way God led us; but we still have work to do-the best and fullest. It's a good transition time.

Autumn, surprisingly, only occurs once in the Bible. In Jude 1:12, false teachers are compared to "autumn trees without fruit," implying that autumn should be a fruitful season, the most abundant of the year. How can we take advantage of the "autumn of life"?

The seasons come and go, so we need to focus on the God who remains unchanged and unchanging. "LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Psalm 90:1-2). There's a lot of unwelcome change in our world. Moral and societal changes bother us most when we turn on our television or glance at the magazines. We're painfully aware our children and grandchildren are growing up in a world far different from the one we knew as children. And personal changes may be the hardest - children leaving home, the passing of dear friends, and the slow, steady decline in our vitality and health. Sometimes we feel outdated at work. But amid all the changes, one thing never changes - our eternal God.

Remember this verse from "Abide with Me"?

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
--Henry F. Lyte

God does not change. His life is always the same. His character is always dependable. His truth, ways, and purposes do not change. His Son does not change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

We, His children, will enjoy His love a million years from now. The world may fade, the stars may fall, the seasons may change, and winter may come. But the God who has been our help in ages past is our hope for years to come. In Him we have permanence, stability, joy unshakable, and life unending. Hallelujah!

Our Holiday Boutique will be Saturday, November 7, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Sign up sheets will be on the narthex table, if you can help with set up or clean up, or if you are bringing a baked item. We are also collecting baskets for our basket raffle-we ask that the value of the  baskets not exceed $25.   Anyone having new or almost new items to donate (please NO flea market items!), should contact Rose Wales 586-2063 or Gloria Hanewald 528-0511, or bring the items to the church office.  

The United Presbyterian Women will hold their monthly circle meeting at 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 3rd, in Fellowship Hall.  There will be coffee and fellowship followed by our Bible study.  We will be discussing chapter 3, "Absence of Water - Thirst and Longing" in our book,  Come to the Waters .  After our Bible study, we will hold our business meeting.  Our circle meeting will end about 12 noon and then those who want to will go to a local restaurant for lunch.  All women are invited to join us!

UPW CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

 

The United Presbyterian Women are having a Christmas Luncheon on Sunday, December 6th, at 1:00 pm at Tessara Restaurant, 812 Route 33, Hamilton. The luncheon will include a House Salad, a choice of Chicken Marsala; Grilled Sirloin; or Broiled Tilapia; Vanilla Ice Cream and Coffee, Tea or a Soft Drink.  The price will be $24.00 per person.  Please register on the form below and give your form and payment to either Gloria Hanewald or Lois Dixon.

 

All women are cordially invited to come to the Christmas Luncheon.  We are purposely having it on a Sunday so those women who work outside the home and aren't usually able to join us at the monthly circle meetings might be able to join us for this Christmas event.  Please come and start the Christmas season off with good food, fun and fellowship!

 

 

Name:  _________________________________Phone number:__________________

 

Choice of Entrée: 

 

Chicken Marsala _____              Grilled Sirloin______               Broiled Tilapia _____  

Breast of chicken sautéed           8oz charcoal broiled NY          Served with potato 

with fresh mushrooms                 Strip Steak,  served with          and green beans

and pimentos in a marsala           potato and green beans

wine sauce, served with

rice and green beans

 

Amount enclosed:  ________________

The Survivors Senior Group will meet in the church parking lot on Wed., Nov.  11, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. to carpool to the Cranbury Museum, Cranbury, NJ.  We will be given a tour of the museum and following our tour we will enjoy lunch at the Cranbury Inn, Cranbury. The cost per is $5.00 per person (to be paid the day of the tour). We are limited to 20 persons on the tour, due to the size of the museum, so if you plan to attend please let me know ASAP to make your reservation with Rita Peterson 259-7256 or email [email protected]. All seniors of the church and their friends are welcome to join the Survivors for a great tour, lunch and wonderful fellowship.

The United Presbyterian Men's Group will meet for breakfast on November 21st at 9:00 am at the Golden Dawn Diner, White Horse-Mercerville Road, Mercerville.  Let Jim Dixon know if you will attend, 609-298-3398; or email [email protected] .

UNWRAPPED New Items for Infants to 10-year-olds:

American Girl Dolls	Clothes-Jeans All Sizes	Remote control cars
Lego sets for older children	Playschool toys for newborn - age 3	Trucks, cars, trains
Bikes/Riding Toys/Skateboards	Jewelry/Special things boxes	No Puzzles
Playdough & accessories	Interactive games & board games	Etch-A-Sketch
Basketballs & Soccer Balls	Dolls (especially African-American and Latina)	Journals, pens & pencils
Craft & paint kits	*Snow boots, Slippers - all sizes	*New sneakers
*Sleepwear (especially size 4T-5)	*All clothing -(sizes 4T-16)	*Underwear -all sizes

UNWRAPPED New Items for Boys and Girls age 11-16

*Sleepwear, Slippers	*Underwear -all sizes, Gloves, hats & scarves	iPods, MP3's, Nintendo DS
*All clothing -(sizes 4T-16)	*New sneakers -all sizes	*Snow boots - all sizes
Cameras/Watches	Hand held video games & cartridges	*Sweat suits and jeans
*Winter & Spring coats	Play Station 3/Play Station 3 Games	Electronic games
Basketballs & Soccer Balls	Dolls (especially African-American and Latina)	Journals, pens & pencils
Modeling clay, Model Kits	Non-violent theme games only please	Ribstick Skate Boards
Earphones, Tablet PC,	Board games, Interactive games, X-Box & Wii	Drawing paper & kits

* These items are our greatest needs at this time.     ** Wrapping paper, scotch tape, gift bags, ribbon and gift tags are also needed. Please do not gift wrap presents. Bring your presents to the church by Sunday, December 13.   

For Healing of: Bill Carpenter; Sue Lanning (cancer); Dan Rose; Joe Mason; Karl Franzoni (chemo for brain tumor); Tony Cipploni (heart attack, heart surgery and pneumonia); Angela Guerds (cancer); Robert Neuman (in RWJ ICU with COPD and lung cancer); Kenny Reamer (cancer); Michelle (cold); Bob Machin (starting chemo); Maria, Melissa, Louise, and Dottie (cancer); an unspoken request for healing; Vickie Rupert (breast cancer); and Patty (breast cancer); Baby Carter; Nick LaBella (bone cancer surgery on his back); Megan Tilsun; Judy (cancer); Kali, Mark, and Phil (eyesight); David Geijer (sciatica); Stu Barney (heart attack); Bob Mathieson's brother, Jack Mathieson (lung cancer); Irene Worek's mother, Irene Morrow (breast cancer); Jessica Tuccillo (respiratory issues); Jim Drayton; Jan (auto accident); Betty Lou Dolci; Jess (postpartum lung clots); Jack Hoff (that chemo continue to shrink his brain tumor); Rudy Lehner (intestinal surgery); Judy Brown (high blood pressure and high blood sugar); Colton Thibodeau (virus with a fever); Ginny Demeter (hospitalized with blood clots); Debbie Conrad (motor neuron disease);

 

With Concern for: Jim Rupert's care while wife Vickie is undergoing cancer treatments; those dealing with cancer, especially young adults (1st time and recurrences); David Geijer that he might work at Barnes and Noble; Sharon (for clean tests); Bob (for successful heart procedure on 10/26); Kali to find the right path; Mark/Phil to find work; the upcoming Kenosis Retreat at Garden State Correction Center; those facing breast cancer; Rebecca and Chris, that God will bring them back together; Bobbi Merce recovering from a stroke; Judy; Danielle Conner's mom; Mary Palmer - 95 years old and having her pacemaker battery replaced; Jen driving to the Thewes' home; and Hamilton Fire Districts as they come together as one.

 

For Comfort for : the bereaved family (Pat, Mark and Tina) and friends of Fred Bitner.  

With Thanksgiving for: Jennifer doing so well; Joan Sol's 41st birthday; the birth of Peter James Savelli; baby Nicholas moving out of NICU (and prayers for continued progress); Ken's good results; and the birth of daughter Regan to Jason and Katie Bloodgood, and granddaughter to Karen and Steve Ashe.

All are welcome to join the choir as we present our Christmas cantata "Touched By a Child, Touched By a King" on Sunday, December 13th during the 11 a.m. worship service.  Weekly rehearsals began on Thursday, Oct. 1st (7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary).  There will be a dress rehearsal on Sat. Dec. 5th at 10 a.m. There are listening CDs available to assist in learning the cantata.  The theme of this cantata is being touched in a life-changing way by the Christ child.  The cantata follows the experiences of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and finally all those who believe today all touched by a child, touched by a king.  New music is combined with familiar Christmas music making this an exciting Christmas experience for choir and congregation alike.  This new cantata was made possible through donations to the memorial fund in memory of Dorothy E. Payne.

   1  Elisabeth Mucha

   2  Gary Cattley, Corlies Rentner, Jr.     

   3  Terry Wagner      

   6  Thomas Anthony, Paul Miller, Emily Ramos,

                                              7  Jack Klein

                                              8  Navin Richard Gomez

                                            11  Liam Timothy Galvin

                                            12  Dylan Carbone

                                            13  Paul Minore, Sr.

                                            14  Giovanni Hendrickson, Benita Rommel

                                            15  Warren Briggs

                                            16  Barbara Demarest

                                            20  Edna Friman, Anthony Nami, Jr.

                                            21  Kaitlyn Bernhard, Laura Kavalek,

                                                  Ashley Lynn Martino

                                            23  Brian Wagner

                                            24  Guy Hendrickson, III

                                            29  Simon Gadsby, Ian McAnlis, Danielle Morolda