What's Happening at Heckathorn UMC

Get Out of the Boat

2008-04-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

April promises to be an exciting month as we continue our series of special services built around the theme "Get Out of the Boat". As with the first in our series of 5 special Sundays (our March 30th event with Rev. Sharon Schwab featuring special music by Shane Oschman), these special events will take place at Heckathorn Church and will include a time for fellowship, special music, and guest speakers. The evenings will be casual and will take place in the church social rooms (basement). Each evening will start off with a light supper at 6:00 and the service will conclude at 7:30. All are invited. Bring family and friends. Here's what's coming up in April.

April 6 - Rev. John Bower, pastor at Hasson Heights Presbyterian Church
Special music by Debbie Bower

April 13 - Rev. Dave Hampson. Pastor at Galloway UM Church
Special music by Kari Simmons

April 20 - Rev.Christine Rogan, Western PA Conference Evangelist
Special music by Dave Miller

April 27 - Rev. Bud Anthony, retired pastor of Mt. Carmel Church of Sandycreek Township
Special music by Heckathorn Quartet

There will be a separate special fellowship time for the children.
Please come, bring a friend, and join in the fellowship and worship.

Serving the Church - Serving Christ

2008-04-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

Those serving in March:

Greeters

6 Bev Zipfel

13 Linda & Grant Carner

20 Mary Hoover, Paige & Caylee Beshaw

27 Wayne & Sandy Perry

Scripture Reader/Liturgist

6 Linda Carner

13 Carol Karns

20 Ann Lowrey

27 Ferne Campbell

Acolytes

6 Seth Harry

13 Paige & Sarah Powers

20 Paige & Caylee Beshaw

27 Paige & Sarah Powers

Nursery

6 Kathy Johnson

13 Ann Lowrey

20 Deb Black

27 Margie Hart

Greetings from Pastor Pat

2008-04-01T04:41:00.000-07:00

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord! As we begin the month of April, we have already had our First Special Event. What an exciting time in the life of the Church! We have heard the story of the Resurrection and now we are beginning to take a step of faith, to make a choice in our desires, to commit to get out of the boat. As we continue through this month with our Special Events, let us commit to seek the presence of the Holy Spirit by putting aside the following four Sunday evenings to be able to:

1. Pray

2. Attend

3. To Be Open To The Holy Spirit

4. To Commit

5. To Live A Life Of Christ

I believe we as a church, we as people, must find out what God wants us to do and to do it. We need to listen to God and then respond to God's call. We as people of God must listen to the Holy Spirit for ourselves and then to move forward in the ministry of the Risen Christ. We need to strive for a deeper relationship with Christ and to seek the qualities like Trust, Connection, Support and Understanding. I believe that it is important that we listen to one another. As a church, we must be the ones setting what and how we can work together in sharing the Easter Message.

My questions to each of you are:

1. What is your deepest passion? What really satisfies and fulfills you?

2. What energizes you? What drains your energy?

3. What legacy do you want to leave as a Church? What do you want to be remembered for as a Church?

4. What are your strengths? Where are you gifted?

5. What's one thing you would like to change about yourself?

Please prayerfully answer these questions, and then after prayerfully answering these questions, ask God to guide and direct you in assisting our Church in the Mission and Ministry that we need to be about, and then let us do it. Let us all get out of the boat, let us all move forward, and let us all work together and share the Good News! Jesus Christ is Risen and He is Alive!

Pastor Pat

Youth Happenings

2008-04-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, everybody.

The youth will meet at the church Sunday, April 20, for a short lesson. Then we'll assist with preparations for the light dinner before the evening's program.

We have some really exciting things coming up this summer. We will have a BMX demo in June or July. Details as soon as we nail them down. And Bible School is the week of July 13! You all have been a huge help in the past and we look forward to it again this year.

And the really huge news is that Todd Agnew will be in concert at the Oil City High School on August 22nd and 23rd. Our youth group is assisting in sponsorship of this event and the group will pay for your admission. Also, an outdoor concert is planned for September 5th.

See you in worship.

Ann

Prayer Concerns from Sunday, 2/24/08

2008-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Check out our list of Prayer Concerns and Praises from Sunday, 2/24/08 at heckathornumcprayerconcerns.blogspot.com/. If you have needs that you would like us to add to our list of prayer concerns, drop us a note at HeckathornUMCPrayerConcerns@Yahoo.Com.

Church Calendar

2008-03-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

Check out Heckathorn's new Online Church Calendar. Just click here...

Heckathorn Photos... Check Them Out...

2008-03-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the people of Heckathorn, both present and past.

See if you can find yourself or family and friends from years gone by.

Warning: Some of you may look a little younger in some of the older photos.

Check them out in our HeckathornUMCPhotos area. Enjoy them and share them with others.

Greetings from Pastor Pat

2008-03-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Church Family,

Hello everyone! As we come into what I believe to be the most holy of all our seasons, I reflect upon what Easter means to me. For me the celebration of this beautiful time is one that means a great deal to me. As as I look back over my own life, I recall a time when I was that lost soul, the blind person who was wandering around this world and attempting to live within the realm of the darkness of our society.

I remember that time so real that as I take tally of it I am so thankful that God touched my heart. I can still see the events that started this experience that changed my life for good. I remember working at the local hospital within our community and going into work early one morning to do the duties that I was required to do. After completing many of them, I decided that I would go to have breakfast and on the way something pulled me into the chapel within the hospital. I remember standing in the room and just looking around. I believe that it was like 20 minutes but in all reality it was only a few minutes. I truly did not understand what was happening. I just did not know why I was in the chapel and did not know why I was just standing there. I suddenly heard someone at the door of the chapel and heard the lock on the door being locked. I was scared and turned and went to the door right away. I did not want to be locked in no chapel for any time. I hurried so quickly out the door that if someone was near I would have run them over. Later, I then remembered calling and talking with my wife and told her what had happened. She then asked if perhaps I wanted to talk to someone about it. I must be honest and tell you at first I wasn’t sure if I wanted anyone to know what had taken place. As I look back over these times, I believe it was because I wasn’t sure if anyone would believe me. Before long, I said yes. Later that night as I knelt on the bedroom floor, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and to forgive me of all my sins. From that moment on, my life was changed, my heart belonged to God. The things that I enjoyed and the things that I thought brought me the greatest comfort were nothing compared to the joy of knowing that Christ lived within my heart.

I am sharing this with each of you because, for me, Easter truly is the Celebration of the Resurrection. For one time I was dead and when I committed my life to Christ, I now had new life. I was a new person, behold the old past away. But what about you? Do you know Jesus? Do you realize that He died and rose again for you, for me, for all of us? All we have to do is to accept Jesus Christ into our hearts and believe. So during this Easter Season, let your hearts receive Christ. Let your life be changed and made into something beautiful. I remember one of our songs in our United Methodist Hymnal titled "Because He Lives". The song goes like this:

God sent his Son, they called him Jesus;
he came to love, heal, and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
The Chorus
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living just because he lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
and feel the pride and joy he gives;
but greater still the calm assurance,
this child can face uncertain days because he lives.
The Chorus
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living just because he lives.
And then one day I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
and then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know he reigns.
The Chorus
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living just because he lives.

So in closing, do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you do not, please allow me the honor of sharing what Christ has done in my own life and what I know He can and will do in your life. Make this Easter be the best that you have ever had. Happy Easter and may the Lord bless you and all of your family.

In God’s Service,

Pastor Pat, & Renee’,
Chris & Michele,
Nicole, Bailey & Jason
Tabitha, McKaylah, Bradley & Ryan

Special Services

2008-03-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM
We will have our Maundy Thursday Service.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be served.

On Friday, March 21, 2008 at 7:00 PM
We will have our Good Friday Worship Service.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be served.

Our Children’s Easter Program will be held
on Sunday, March 23, (Easter Sunday), 2008.
The program will take place during our Sunday School Hour.
Children will practice during the Children’s Fellowship Time

Step Out Of The Boat

2008-03-01T06:05:00.000-08:00

Set aside the 5 Sunday evenings after Easter to “continue the Easter story”
With guest speakers, special music, supper, and fellowship
Those dates are:
March 30, April 6, April 13, April 20, April 27

Plan to attend as many services as possible

You will be hearing much more about this in the upcoming weeks

Let George Do It!

2008-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

George Washington, that is. Let George Washington ($1), Abraham Lincoln ($5), Alexander Hamilton ($10), and Andrew Jackson ($20) do Your Mission work. Instead of getting hot and sweaty, working hard, standing on the street and preaching, let YOUR MONEY leave your footprints all over the world, OUR PARISH.
Missions needing your $ and prayers are:

PPC-Violence Free Network (Family Crisis Center and Shelter)
Joetta Lehman, missionary administrative assistant
HASP=Heckathorn Area Service Project
ASP=Appalachian Service Project
WAWN Christian Radio
Camperships
Mission Share
Redbird Missionary Conference and School
Good Samaritan Fund=local area help with food, gasoline, and other needs

SO LET’S SEND GEORGE, ALEX, ABE AND ANDY ON A WORLDWIDE TRIP!

IHS,

Faye

God Calling On Line One!

2008-03-01T06:03:00.000-08:00

Is God calling you to work for and with Him?
Does He want you to:
Teach a class at a mission school in the “hollers of Kentucky?
Drive a bookmobile down steep, twisting roads and maybe ford a shallow creek and
drive through a barn and its pasture, remembering to close doors and gates?
Help staff in a much needed medical clinic in those remote “hollers” of Kentucky?
Protect, Prevent, Cherish those who are in abusive, unsafe situations?
Be a camp counselor at Wesley Woods, Jumonville, or Camp Allegheny?
Be an administrative assistant in comfortable USA while your heart lies with the people of Haiti?
Feed a hungry neighbor or speed them on their way to Erie or Pittsburgh for medical care?
IS GOD CALLING YOU OR YOUR MONEY? Consider your mission commitment prayerfully. Give Faye your yellow card.First Quarter Installment will be due March 1st to April 15th.

New Youth Blog Site

2008-03-01T06:01:00.001-08:00

Click here to check out the new Heckathorn UMC Youth Blog Site. It's still a work in progress. Your suggestions are welcome at HeckathornUMCYouth@Yahoo.Com.