Schedule
January 24, 2024
Ad Team Meeting
7:00 PM Second Tuesday of every month
A meeting of any person attending Pathways will happen on November 12 to discuss the business of the church. All are welcome.
February Mission Trip 2020
February 15-22 2020
During the high school break
Pathway's annual mission trip to the south during the school February break will return to the Morning Star Orphanage in Georgia. The activities have included daily devotions, painting, light construction and drywall work.All individuals are welcome to join the group. Cost is about $300. Scholarships are available.
Recent Newsletter
News of Pathways
We know the schedule: four Sundays...the first is Faith, second Hope, the third one is for Joy or Love. Or is it the other way around? And then comes the one before the Christ candle on Christmas Eve. Whew. Checked all of those boxes. Now we are ready for Christ's coming.
This year our Advent will focus on "place." Geographic and personal place. We start on a high mountain looking at the landscape for signs.
In this week's readings, Jesus tells us that we might disregard the usual because the new world is coming at "an unexpected hour" (Matthew 24:36-44). This is not Orange Alert in fear; it is rather glad expectation. This reading and that from Isaiah 2:1-5 force us to think about both preparation and expectation. And this is what we are to do during Advent.
Advent is not about passive waiting but active preparation. Creating peace in our social, spiritual and personal relationships is itself a form of awareness, a symbol that we are alive and active participants in God's incarnation. This week we are called out of the audience and onto the stage to participate in our own salvation and the salvation of the world. For the next four weeks, we become the main actors in bringing the promise of peace, the Incarnate God, to the world.
Let us prepare ourselves. See you Sunday.
Frank Cerny, MDiv, PhD
Home: 194 Walnut Street
Work: 730 Olean Road
East Aurora, NY. 14052
716-474-4194 cell
716-240-2220 work
* Wreaths for sale: Doug and Tammy Almeter are selling wreaths, with profits to benefit the lunch program for Upper Caldwell, Liberia's school children. They are making them and selling them for $28 without a bow and $32 with a bow. Please e-mail or contact Pastor Frank (his info immediately above) if you would like to help out by purchasing one or more wreaths.
* Speaking of the Liberia lunch program, Pathways has a special collection on the first Sunday of the month, which is this upcoming one, Dec. 1. Please consider an extra offering above your normal giving so together we can keep providing lunches for the children, which has had the effect of increasing their enrollment substantially. Thank you!
* Regarding missions, following worship this Sunday, again Dec. 1, we will have a brief meeting to discuss possible fund-raisers to help with our main mission obligations - Liberia lunches for their school children, Pathways' mission trip to Georgia in February, and the Rural Outreach Center. Your ideas are welcome. For those who wish at any time to make a specific donation to one of our missions, your check can be mailed to Pathways Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 447, East Aurora, NY. 14052 and specify your desire on the check memo line.
*. December 1 is the first Sunday in Advent so our worship service will include the "Hanging of the Greens" to decorate the auditorium for the Christmas season.
* Pathways' adult Sunday school class begins "Light of the World" this Sunday, a four week Advent series written and produced by Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish theology professor. A book is complimented by DVD teaching which we'll watch and discuss in class. Professor Levine begins her series with this statement - "I love Christmas!" Her knowledge, passion, wit and deep respect for the biblical writings of Matthew and Luke are in full display throughout the series. The book is available in class or from Ralph Lowe,
472-2161. All are encouraged to participate on Sundays at 9:00 AM in our worship space.
* Looking ahead, Pathways and I-61 Church will share in a combined brunch on Sunday, December 8. All are invited, our congregants are being asked to bring a dessert to share. I-61 folks are providing main courses. Contact Lynn Carlson, 472-5387 if you have questions.
* Our Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24 will be at 4:30 pm at Southside Municipal Center, 300 Gleed Avenue auditorium. Look for the Pathways sign on the corner of the building if you're coming for the first time.
* Holland Community Choir presents "What Kind of Throne"
In celebration of the birth of our blessed Savior, the Holland Community Choir invites you to this year's Christmas production, "What Kind of Throne." Shows are Friday, December 6 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, December 7 at 1 PM and 4 PM; and Sunday, December 8 at
3 PM. All shows are at Hope on the Hill Church, 10039 Savage Road in Holland. Tickets are $8. Advance ticket purchases can be made online at www.hollandcomunitychoir.org or by contacting Terry Trometer at (716) 652-3514. Tickets are also available at the door.
This presentation explores the perfect plan of God who sent His only son to be born as a man in order to save and redeem us all. The combination of traditional and contemporary numbers will leave you encouraged, yet challenge you to consider God's goodwill toward men and the wisdom of His perfect plan of redemption.
Included by request this year will be a good old fashioned Christmas carol sing-along. Please join us for an uplifting and meaningful start to your Christmas Season.
The Holland Community choir is an interdenominational Christian singing and drama group under the direction of our very own Brenda Hartley that has provided two productions annually since 2001. What began as a dream by a teen Sunday school class is now a full production company with members of all ages from several Southtowns communities.
This program is funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature (administered by Arts Services Initiative of Western New York).
For additional information please contact Brenda Hartley at (716) 913-3351.
* From Judy Pangborn: Pathways is responsible for providing Snack Packs for children on Dec. 6, Dec. 13, and Dec. 20. These snack packs go home with the children on Friday to help give them food on the weekend. We send 2 breakfasts, 2 drinks, 2 main meals, 2 fruits or puddings, and 2 snacks fo each child in the family. Right now that is about 15 children. The list is below of things we usually pack:
Breakfasts: Instant oatmeal pkgs., single cereal boxes, Pop Tarts, Cereal bars
Main Meals: Individual cups of Macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles, dry soup pkgs., individual cups of Spaghettios, ravioli, etc. Tuna and cracker pkgs.
Drinks: Hot chocolate pkgs., healthy juice boxes
Fruit cups and pudding cups
Snacks: Raisins, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, microwave popcorn, fruit snacks
These can be brought to church or dropped off at my house, 371 Sycamore St., East Aurora. Call me at 652-6445 if you have any questions.
Thank you for helping!
Judy
* Building Plans! The first permanent building, we're calling it Building A, on our 730 Olean Road property is coming closer to reality. This will be the home of New Paths distribution, and a large multi-use space that will be used for a couple years for events and Rural Outreach center programs, and our worship, until the larger building is constructed (Building B). The plans are in the final phases of layout and architectural rendering, with application for permits to follow. If all goes according to plan, construction of the road/driveway/parking and Building A could begin in June of next year, 2020, with about a seven month construction period. Please keep these projects in your prayers.
* It's A Wrap!
Thank you to everyone who participated in "Operation Christmas Child" this year. The kindness you have shown to God's children around the world will have a positive impact on their lives and lead to eternal life with Christ for many of them. What a powerful gift you have given them - the road to salvation can begin with the receipt of your simple shoebox gift!
This year we delivered 171 boxes with a record number of 64 boxes having been packed by our young people after brunch on Nov. 17. Special thanks go out to Calvin Roberts who came home from college to pack boxes and brought a lovely friend with him. Also to Greg and Mackenzie, Jack, Tyler, Henry and Emmalee who all worked very hard on the project, and to Sandy for her adult help that day. We are also very grateful to the generous donors who made certain the $9 shipping charge was fully covered for all 64 of the youth boxes! And of course, thanks to Karen for her expert shopping and donation of goods which make the group packing event possible.
Once sorted, inspected and packaged, the boxes will begin their journeys to over 100 countries around the globe. The logistics on delivery are truly amazing. Some will sit in the belly of large cargo planes flying off to far away lands while others will fill container ships and bring salvation over the waves. There are many hands that will touch these boxes as they make their way to their final destinations so keep all those involved in the distribution in your prayers. And of course, remember to pray for the special child or children who will receive your boxes.
Again, I thank you on behalf of Samaritan's Purse and on behalf of the children to whom you are sending the greatest gift of all! God bless you for your faithful support of this ministry.
Barb Lowe
* Thank you note from Sandra Haskell: Sandy, Susan Jones' mother, recently moved to East Aurora from New Hampshire,' a major uprooting. The Pathways family welcomed her to our church home. Sandy expressed her thanks as follows:
"Dear Pathways Family of God and Pastor Frank,
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and warm and loving welcome. The welcome card I received from all of you was a wonderful surprise. So happy to see so many names. It made my day extra special. The welcoming basket was filled with much love and special items. The mum blossomed and the hand towels and place mats will be put to good use. Everything in the basket has already been put to good use.
I look forward to worshipping together for God's glory. In Christ's name and in Jesus' loving ways, God's blessings to all.
Sandy"
* George Hunt, Ruthie's husband, has experienced many health set-backs while in Arizona and he will be there several more weeks. He is just beginning rehab and would appreciate a card or two; sent to their daughter's address:
George Hunt, c/o Dr. Judy Hunt, 917 S. Mudsprings Rd., Payson, AZ. 85541
Please continue to keep your church family, and all God's people in your prayers. So many have health and other issues, others have experienced loss of a loved one. This joyful season is not joyful for everyone. God knows our concerns and hears our prayers, He is the source of much comfort.....and healing.
Finally, see you in church Sunday......10:15 AM.....it's not the same without you.
God is good....amen? AMEN!!!
"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:14-17
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