Pine Cone Press
Pine Tree Cumberland Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 5340
1805 Pine Tree Road
Longview, Texas 75608
(903) 759-2685
Rev. Cindy Barton, Pastor
(442) 235-1393
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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From the Pastor’s Desk:
“Pondering Love…”
This month let us ponder the hymn of love offered in the writing of Paul to the church in Corinth. The passage from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 both demands and guides our self-examination. What is love? Where does it come from? Why do we need it? Can we see it manifested in our relationships with God and with other people? Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. According to Paul, it is the greatest gift, having its source in God alone. Believers may possess a number of spiritual gifts by virtue of the Spirit of God within us, but if those gifts are not accompanied by love, they are of no use. Paul lists many characteristics of Christian love, all of which we struggle to demonstrate: Love is patient and kind. Love knows no envy, conceit, or pride. Love is not self-seeking but puts the concerns of others first. Love is not easily angered. Love is full of grace and keeps no record of wrongs. Love is not happy with evil but rejoices in truth. Love never gives up; love endures. It always protects; always trusts; always hopes; always perseveres. Love never fails. How can we demonstrate these “absolutes” in our human lives? Love is absolutely permanent and eternal in God. Love is absolutely complete in Christ. Love is absolutely supreme in the Spirit, kindling faith and hope. We have love for God and for one another only through the power and Spirit of God, active and living in us! Pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in our hearts, transforming us little by little, until we are free to love as Jesus loved. This is a prayer for each one of us, for our church, for our nation, and for our world.
February 2 is Denomination Day!
The Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination was founded on February 4, 1810, at a cabin in Dickson County, Tennessee. Reverends Samuel McAdoo, Finis Ewing, and Samuel King, and probationer Ephraim McLean met, seeking to repair five years of turmoil in the Presbyterian Church of Tennessee and Kentucky. Through fervent prayer on the night of February 3, God led the men to begin a new presbytery, which became the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This year we celebrate Denomination Day on February 2, praising God for the work of the Holy Spirit, past and present, and renewing our dedication to extend the love, grace, and salvation of Christ to “whosoever will” hear and respond.
Important Dates to Remember
Sunday, February 2 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Communion
Denomination Day
Historical Foundation Offering
Saturday, February 8 Pine Tree CPWM
10:30 A.M.
Sunday, February 9 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Noon Meal
OUO Sunday
Thursday, February 13 Session Meeting - 1:00 P.M.
Friday, February 14 Valentine’s Day
Sunday, February 16 Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Guest Minister – Rev. Rusty Rustenhaven
Monday, February 17 Presidents’ Day
February 21 & 22 Trinity Presbytery
Bertram CP Church
Bertram, Texas
Sunday, February 23 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Trinity Presbytery Spring Meeting
The Spring Meeting of Trinity Presbytery will be held on February 21 and 22, 2025 at Bertram CP Church. The business meeting, which begins at 1:00 PM Friday, will be followed by a meal and a worship service. Pastors, elder delegates, and visitors are encouraged to attend.
February Noon Meal
The Noon Fellowship Meal for February will be held following worship on February 9, 2025. Please join us to share a traditional “covered dish” meal in fellowship with the family of God. We will make handcrafted Valentines in support of KVNE’s project to bring a message of love to children in hospitals and seniors in care facilities.
Trinity North CPWM Meeting
The Spring Presbytery Meeting of the Trinity North Region Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry will be held on March 8 at Pine Tree CP Church in Longview. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM.
Pine Tree CPWM Making Cards for Valentines’ Day
The Pine Tree CP Women’s Ministry will meet on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 10:30 AM for a regular business meeting, to plan and prepare for hosting the upcoming meeting of the Trinity North Region CPWM, and to make Valentines! All are invited to join us as we prepare homemade Valentine cards to be donated to KVNE radio station. The cards will be distributed by KVNE staff and volunteers to children in hospitals and seniors in nursing homes. There are many in our community who need to know they are loved! Please join us as we share the love of Christ in fun and creative ways!
Welcome Our Presbyterial Pastor
The Presbyterial Pastor for northern Trinity Presbytery, Rev. Rusty Rustenhaven, will fill the pulpit at Pine Tree CP Church on February 16, 2025. Please join us for worship at 10:30 AM, finding blessing in the proclamation of God’s Word and welcoming our pastoral visitor warmly. Sunday School will be cancelled for that day, as the regular pastor travels to visit family.
Youth Winter Retreat: “Fear Not”
Trinity Presbytery invites all youth in grade levels 6th through 12th to come to Camp Gilmont on March 14-16, 2025, for a Winter Youth Retreat. The weekend of adventure, Bible study, worship, and fun will include archery, axe-throwing, canoeing, and crate-stacking! The cost is $50 per participant. Registration deadline is February 28, 2025. Contact the church for more information.
