Pine Cone Press
January 2025
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
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: https://www.pinetreecpchurch.org
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From the Pastor: Growing and Living in Christ Together
As the old year ends, it is our human habit to review our recent past: What did we do, learn, or experience in the past year? We reflect on our accomplishments and failures, our victories and challenges. For Christians, this is a time to revisit our beliefs and to plan for spiritual growth. How will we draw closer to God and become more like Jesus in 2025? In the book “Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ”, author Randy Frazee teaches that “the Christian life is not primarily an intellectual pursuit; nor is it about doing good or engaging in spiritual activities. The Christian life is about becoming more like Jesus for the sake of others, according to God’s great plan. God’s passion is for the virtues of Jesus to appear and be active in our lives.” If we would live our beliefs in Christ, we must learn to think, act, and be like Jesus, taking on the attributes of Christ and putting them to work in our lives. An example of this is in Colossians 3:12-14, in which we are called to live as God’s chosen people by clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We are called to put on love first, and to forgive others in the same grace that Christ forgave us. What will these characteristics look like in our daily lives? These are not attributes that have much meaning in a solitary life: they take on vibrance as we use these traits to flesh-out our relationships with others. What a challenge for the New Year! Each year, I try to choose a focus for the year’s sermons, study, and work of ministry. This year, I am leaning toward the focus of “Growing and Living in Christ”. Brothers and sisters redeemed by Jesus, let us explore together how to become more Christlike, bearing the Fruits of Righteousness in Him, and sharing those fruits in every relationship. Let us “grow and live in Christ” in our families, our church, and our community. Our work in the new year is not a solitary endeavor, but one we will undertake in community with one another!
Pine Tree CPWM Projects Delivered
The Pine Tree CP Women’s Ministry met on December 14, 2024, to prepare trays of cookies to share with those who are currently unable to join worship or fellowship activities. Cookie gifts were delivered in the weeks before Christmas; through the visits we renewed ties with those we have not seen recently and encouraged those who are healing from injury or illness. Crocheted gifts crafted by member Helen Nunn also were delivered locally, and included ten chemo-caps for Texas Oncology, and five baby blankets with a variety of baby caps for Hannah’s House in Gilmer. We are truly blessed by the beautiful workmanship and generous giving that provided these gifts for women who endure challenges in our community. Our next meeting will be February 15, 2025. Please join us!
Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, January 1 New Year’s Day
Sunday, January 5 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Communion
Monday, January 6 Epiphany of the Lord
Thursday, January 9 Session Meeting – 1:00 P.M.
Saturday, January 11 Presbyterial Board Meetings
Huntsville – 9:00 A.M.
Sunday. January 12 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Noon Meal
Baptism of the Lord
Sunday, January 19 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Third Sunday after Christmas
Monday, January 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Sunday, January 26 Sunday School – 9:30 A.M.
Worship – 10:30 A.M.
Family Sunday
Giving to Denominational Projects
At Thanksgiving, our collection for the annual Loaves and Fishes Offering provided $185 for the denominational Hot Lunch Program serving children in Guatemala. The Gift to the King Offering, collected in December, provided $285, which will be used to complete construction of a Cumberland Presbyterian church building in the rural area of Nan Akou, Haiti. We are grateful for prayers and financial support for these outreach projects of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
January Noon Meal
The Noon Fellowship Meal for January will be held following worship on January 12, 2025. All are invited to bring your favorite soup, salad, or desserts to share with others as we welcome the New Year in fellowship with the family of God.
New Bible Study for Sunday School
The Pine Tree CPC Sunday School class, which includes both adults and youth, has completed our 2024 Bible study curriculum entitled “The Story”, which presented narrative stories of the Old and New Testaments as one continuing work of God to save his people in grace and love. Our new Bible study curriculum is entitled “Believe: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus”. Written by Randy Frazee as a sequel to “The Story”, this book encourages spiritual growth by exploring the key ideas and beliefs that form the core of Christian faith. Grounded in scripture from the NIV translation, this 31-chapter book teaches us how to think, act, and be more like Jesus. It is not too late to join us for this churchwide, multigenerational discipleship program. Please join us for Bible Study at 9:30 AM each Sunday, and stay for worship at 10:30!
