Pine Grove Christian Fellowship

 NEW!  PGCF Annual Meeting November 15! NOTE: This is a change from what was previously announced.) We'll be electing elders, deacons, trustees, and committee heads. Before then, all chairs need to get a written report in to Pastor Steve, so that we can prepare our annual review booklet. Also, nominations must be in to Steve so that a ballot can be prepared.

The morning sermon will be on Christ's committment to the church, from Matthew 16:13-26.

 NEW!    Movie Night Saturday, October 24! We're getting together to watch "The Hiding Place," the true story of a family that fought Nazi madness with the only weapon they had… LOVE. Based on the book that has captivated over 8,000,000 readers, it is one of the most extraordinary stories to come out of WW II. In the face of monstrous cruelty and suffering, an imprisoned family faces the greatest test of their faith in God and the ability to love mankind.

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom are middle-aged sisters working in their father's watchmaker shop in pre-WWII Holland. Their uneventful lives are disrupted with the coming of the Nazis. Suspected of hiding Jews & caught breaking rationing rules, they are sent to a concentration camp, where their Christian faith keeps them from despair and bitterness. Betsie eventually dies, but Corrie survives, and after the war, must learn to love and forgive her former captors.

If you've seen "The Hiding Place," you know it's worth seeing again -- especially in this day when the terrible events of the 1940s are being denied. This is the most popular movie ever produced by World Wide Pictures, the motion picture ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It's probably also their most important work. 

Come at 6:30 and share soup and a dessert. (The movie is rated PG and lasts 146 minutes.)

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Concert coming! Plan on attending the concert at Calvary Chapel in Russell (right next to our future location) by the Smyrna Band. The Smyrna Band plays a variety of styles, including blues, pop, fold rock, worship music and country. They're known for their three-part harmonies and rich acoustic sounds. The band consists of two acoustic guitars and an electric bass. The Smyrna band appeals to a wide audience and every age  group from children to seniors. Check out their website for more!

On the recommendation of the Building Committee, the Church Council has voted to hire R. W. Larson Associates to meet with the Committee, review our building needs, sketch preliminary site and building design plans, outline building code and permit requirements, recommend a project schedule, and estimate the costs of completion. If we can put together adequate funding for a second phase of design development to follow, and a first phase of construction, we will be breaking ground next spring.

Please be in prayer for God¹s wisdom and oversight and provision. Sunday school “Fall Cleaning” work bee, from 9:00 AM to Noon. We need volunteers to help clean and reorganize rooms to be ready for the first cay of the fall schedule. Don’t let a few do all. Please see Marcia if you can help.

This is a big step -- We’ll be reviewing a preliminary drawing on Tuesday evening, September 15, 7:00 at the church. CLICK HERE to see the drawing of a 120-seat sanctuary with several classrooms.

Saturday, September 12 -- Sunday school “Fall Cleaning” work bee, from 9:00 AM to Noon. We need volunteers to help clean and reorganize rooms to be ready for the first cay of the fall schedule. Don’t let a few do all. Please see Marcia if you can help.

Sunday, September 13 -- We return to our regular schedule of Sunday school at 9:00 AM and morning worship at 10:00 AM.

Have you read The Shack? Read Pastor Steve's review of the book HERE.

Trenton Roberts has another gig! TONIGHT, he's playing the national anthem at the Jamestown Jammers game. Game time is 6:05. If you missed his performance in Erie a few weeks ago, here's your chance.

All-Church Picnic -- This Sunday, August 16 at the McFarlands', 2090 Fox Hill Road. Bring a tureen. The forecast calls for nice weather, but there will be a tent for shelter just in case of rain. Come one and all -- this is always a great time. 

Backyard Bible Club is being held this week (August 10-13, 10:00-11:30 AM) at the home of Ruthie Gray. Click here for photos of the fun and for more information. If you know any children who'd like to be a part of this, please get in touch with Ruthie. 

Doug Sorensen and Rachel Aversano left from Philadelphia on Tuesday, August 4, to spend a year in South Korea teaching English there. After a layover in Chicago (where Doug's sister Jill met them and helped them make their way from the United terminal to the International terminal at O'hare Airport), they arrived in Seoul at the end of an 18-hour flight. They went through customs like veterans and were met by someone from the Avalon school where they will be teaching.

Keep them in your prayers as they get accustomed to new apartments, a new culture, a new language, new people, new food and whatever Jesus does in their lives to make them new. Pray that the adjustment will be smooth, and that they'll quickly find a good church to get involved in Pray also that they'll have a positive impact in their work, create a support network of good people, and have a great cross-cultural experience. (And pray for their parents who miss them already.)

Update! (Friday, 4:00 PM) Doug began teaching Thursday! Imagine arriving in Korea and beginning to teach English the next day! His school is understaffed, so he's jumping right into the deep end of the pool. Rachel begins on August 17th. So far, they've learned a few Korean words:  gamsahamnida is thank you... annyeong haseyo is hello... and annyeonghi gyeseyo is good-bye. (Never mind the Korean alphabet -- those words are simply transliterated with the Arabic alphabet. English seems so simple in comparison -- such a mouthful to say "Hi" and "Bye!" 

NEW! Family of the month (this time, a "person of the month") is Mark Seekings. As many of us as can, let's show Mark how important he is to us!

Congratulations to Graham Johnson on winning the senior division of the Northern Area Punt, Pass, and Kick competition. Story in Warren Times Observer. 

Kudos also go to Allison and Lauren Blanco and their basketball team "Victorious Secret" for winning the Barnyard Classic basketball tournament in the 15-16 year old girls bracket on Saturday, June 27.

Trenton Roberts (son of Jim and Darla, twin brother of Alexis) played the National Anthem at the Erie Seawolves game on July 2 versus (believe it or not) the Trenton Thunder! Several folks from the church went to support Trenton and his family. It was a flawless performance. See the story about Trenton in the Warren Times Observer. Click on Photo Gallery to view some photos.

Scott Angove was featured in the Warren Times Observer in an article on Adventure Racing. Check it out: Adventure Racing is Growing in Warren.

EFCA Annual Conference news -- Just concluded in Minneapolis. Pastor Matt Mitchell (Lanse, PA) made a few notes about it on his blog. Check it out: Hot Orthodoxy. For more, click on EFCA conference website. (The 2010 conference is near us, in Columbus, Ohio, June 15-17.)

Summer Sunday School -- The response to our appeal for teachers in the summer Sunday school program has been overwhelming. Only one opening is still available -- August 9. If you are willing to teach a lesson that day, please see Marcia Harrington -- she has the materials already prepared.

Nick Thomas graduated from Eisenhower High School on Friday night, June 5, and won the Lions/Lioness Scholarship at the senior awards assembly. Nick plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and study pre-dentistry.

Congratulate Nick when you see him. (But don't look as surprised as he does!) And don't miss his graduation party on Saturday, July 11 -- open house at the Thomas's from 1 pm to 5 pm (cookies and fruit) with a cookout at 6 pm. Hot dogs provided; bring a dish to pass. (RSVP 757-5478.) 

Look who got hitched! Make sure you congratulate Andrew and Darbee Harrington, united in holy matrimony on May 23 at Chautauqua Institution. 

Wanna see some great wedding photos? Go to Rob Sigler Photography and enter the code 052309.

We're doing a feasibility study of putting a building on our property on Route 62 a half mile north of the blinker light  on the right. Watch for details!