Churches

On Sunday, June 15, the Right Rev. Kevin Nichols, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, PA will visit Christ Church, 700 Delaware Street. Annually, the Bishop visits the church congregations in the Diocese to meet the congregants, review programs and understand the concerns of the congregation. The service will begin at 9:00am. The bishop will welcome two new congregants into the Episcopal church while at Forest City.

The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols was ordained and consecrated as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Prior to his election, he was chief operating officer and canon for mission resources in the Diocese of New Hampshire, a position he held since 2014. Nichols was formerly president of the Diocese of New Hampshire's Standing Committee and a member of the church-wide Task Force to Reimagine the Episcopal Church.

A former Roman Catholic priest who received his Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland Nichols was received into the Episcopal priesthood in 1999 and has served as rector of St. Stephen's in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and St. Andrew's in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. He is married to Patti, a licensed clinical social worker. They have four adult children, Graham, Lindsay, Bryan, and Keaton; and three grandchildren.

Nichols succeeds the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, who had served as bishop provisional from March, 2014 to September 15, 2018. The Diocese of Bethlehem includes more than 9,000 Episcopalians in fifty-eight congregations across northeastern and central eastern Pennsylvania.

The Bishop and the Diocese have the following five priorities: vibrant and stable congregations; racial justice and advocacy for the most vulnerable; lay and clergy formation; creating new faith communities; Diocesan partnerships.

Our "Little Stone Church," made of native quarried stone, broke ground in August, 1891 and has never looked back. Christ Church welcomes the community to discover the church and its community outreach. We welcome all to our family, which extends beyond the church building and the service on Sundays. Following each Sunday Mass, the congregants enjoy sharing coffee hour. Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on the journey of faith, know that you are welcome here.

We welcome and serve all in Christ's name. Consider visiting Sundays at 9:00am for faith, food and fun!

Good day dear hearts, I love you. Wow! Summer came like a car that can do 0 to 60 in 3 seconds. We went from the wood burner stove to the air conditioner in 24 hours. For now, the heat feels good but some of us, including me will be complaining about the heat. I have to admit I like the cooler weather.

On Sunday, June 8th Christian churches around the world will be celebrating the day of Pentecost. Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit filled the hearts of the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. This gave them the boldness to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, thus the beginning of the Christian church. We hear the term Catholic but that is a term for universal believers. At that time, there was only one church known as the Catholic Church; however, it would take pages to explain why and how we are in the Christian faith today with so many denominations. I think it's sad for our faith to have so many different denominations, it discourages people and sometimes it may look like we don't know what we are talking about. Despite that we are all in agreement that our Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ and we all celebrate the Holy Spirit who blesses us with gifts and talents to serve God, which we don't often do. Each gift has something unique and special to it which may lead us to the question, what is my purpose in life?

When we think of that question, many times we look at it from the point of view of the world. What can I accomplish while here on earth, what or whom can I impact, what can I discover, where can I leave my mark? And along those thoughts we seek a big purpose, that big moment when we are ready to make a big impact on the world. And while most of us strive for that big moment, it doesn't happen. We turn out to be plain ordinary Jack and Jills.

God works in the small and ordinary ways just as powerfully. From God's perspective, purpose is deeply rooted in faith, obedience and reflecting His image. This is what we are created for. The Bible teaches us that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God and be in relationship with Him. Many of you do not recognize this or are unaware of this, which is why I write this column every week. Judgement time will come for all of us and that's when God will reject those who rejected Him. But for now, it's His love, grace and offer of Salvation which is on the table for us. Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Let's not get this call to do good works confused with our Salvation. Christ is the only way to Salvation. It is the holy Spirit who fills us after we accept Christ that calls us to do good works. Each one of us has a unique calling, shaped by the gifts bestowed on us.

Many biblical figures were shaped by what seemed like insignificant acts. I will give you one example from the Bible and one example of today. David eventually became one of the greatest kings of Israel. Before He became king, he was a shepherd who tendered his father's flocks. As a shepherd David learned how to live in the fields and forests and was able to kill a lion once. This prepared him for the next step by standing up for God, as young boy, to defeat Goliath in battle and from there he did a steady progress of small and ordinary things and later became king. Look at our Vice President JD Vance. I'm not referring to his politics but his life. He grew up in poverty, his mother was an alcoholic and he was raised by his grandmother who also raised him in the ways of God. He took that faith and turned his life into a good life and has dedicated his life to God and public service.

I'm not saying do something small and you could become a king or a vice president. That is not something you need to accomplish. God meets us in the ordinary, whether it's in daily conversations, acts of kindness, or even in quiet solitude. Each moment is an opportunity to grow, serve and reflect His love. Maybe purpose isn't always about chasing the extraordinary, but embracing the sacred in every day life. God Bless.

Father, we ask your blessing upon our little town. Send your Spirit and touch the broken-hearted, give peace to the sick, bless the poor. Please join us on Saturday, June 21st for a complimentary dinner from 12:00 to 1:00pm of taco rice casserole with tortilla chips and desert.

Contact me anytime. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988, Susquehanna Christian Community Church, 1361 Main Street, clearmountain2158@gmail.