October 2018

Newsletter of The Hill United Presbyterian Church Butler, PA

Rev. Dr. William Jackson

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

Elder Louise Evans
10:30 A.M.—Worship Service
11:30 A.M.—Coffee and Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
Jenny Martin, Choir Director

Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell

Director and Organist

Kathleen Davis

Elean Heist, Administrative Assistant

and Financial Secretary
Elean.hillup@zoominternet.net

Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

John D. Whittington

Willing Workers crafts for Meals on Wheels Recipients

501 Second Street

Butler, Pennsylvania 16001
724-287-5427
E-mail: hillup@zoominternet.net
www.hillup.org
 WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MORNING
WORSHIP SERVICES
10:30 - 11:30 A.M.
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 7, 2018
20th Sunday After Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
Lord’s Supper - Traditional

Sermon: “Taking Jesus Seriously”

Rev. Dr. William Jackson

Scripture: Matthew 25: 31-40; John 1: 35-41

OCTOBER 14, 2018
21st Sunday After Pentecost
PresbyterianWomen Thank Offering

Sermon: TBA

Rev. Tega Swann

Scripture: TBA
OCTOBER 21, 2018
22nd Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon: TBA

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: TBA
OCTOBER 28, 2018
23rd Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon: TBA

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: TBA
Dear Friends,

It seems like only yesterday when on a very slippery and snowy evening in January the
Session and I agreed that I would become the Interim Pastor at Hill U. P. Church and now,
eight months later, we are about to complete that call.

It has been a privilege and a blessing to share with you in the ministry of this special
church. My affection and respect has grown for you, and I sincerely and gratefully thank
you for your prayers, friendship, encouragement, love, and support during my time with
you.

Especially, I will be forever grateful to the staff; for Elean Heist for her efficiency and
commitment with multiple tasks in the church office, and her cooperation and commitment
in our work together personally. Her knowledge of all the facets of the church’s life is and
will continue to be an important asset in the congregation. The Bible Study and creative
work with the children by Kathleen Davis has been a joy to observe and share. Nancy
Slezak has blessed me with her warm friendship and cooperation and her dedication to
help provide meaningful and inspiring worship. I have appreciated Jenny Martin’s good
work in her first year with us, and for John Whittington and his sincere desire to keep Hill
looking good, clean, and ready for action.

From the beginning, Louise Evans, our Clerk of Session, and the Session along with
the deacons, have been responsible, faithful, and efficient officers. Compassionate, caring,
and creative, they have been a source of great pleasure, support, and encouragement for
me. All of these officers and staff members I am sure will provide a good base of support
for Pastor Leigh Benish when she arrives and begins a new chapter at Hill U. P. Church.

Last week a member of the Presbytery said to me, “Well, in 2 or 3 more weeks, and all
will be said and done!”, to which I replied, “Oh no, because of my trust in God’s faithful
promises I firmly believe there is still more to be said, and much more to be done, just not
by me.”

And so, I now leave with many pleasant memories of you and high hopes for the future
for you all, using the words of the Apostle Paul; “I thank my God every time I remember
you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your
sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who
began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus
Christ.” (Philippians 1: 3-6) I hope and pray that you will continue to be just as prayerful,
encouraging, supporting, loving, and faithful with Leigh, David, and Gabriel as you have
been for Vail and me.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory!)

William Jackson
Interim II

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 S.N.A.P.P.P. Out of the Old and into the New
We are very pleased and excited to welcome Rev. Leigh A. Benish and her family to our church! As
we all prepare for their arrival from Temple, TX in October there are a few helpful tips for
members to help smooth their transition and make them feel welcome in their new home.

Support Leigh as she acclimates to a new town, new church, and new job position. Allow her time
to learn about the inner workings of our church and trust in God as she begins her work at Hill.
Change can sometimes be difficult, but have faith and let God do as God intended.

Names are important and Leigh wants to learn them all, but there is one of her and many of us.
Remind Leigh and her family of your name each time you meet.

Assist and Encourage our pastor. Find positive ways to encourage Leigh and her family when they
arrive. Offer a helping hand whenever it may be needed or even send them a personal note.
Anything you think will make them feel welcome will be much appreciated.

Pray daily for not only Leigh’s transition, but also our transition as a church family. Having the
knowledge that the whole congregation is thinking of and praying for them is surely a meaningful
and comforting gesture to the Benish family.

Pace yourself is a phrase we often hear and this applies to our new pastor as well. It’s important
that we let Leigh set the pace of this transition and give her time to find her stride, especially in the
early days.

Prejudgment is something that we want to avoid. Mistakes happen to us all, pastors are no
exception. This is a fresh start for Hill Church and a step of growth and new beginnings for Leigh
and her family as well. Let’s forget any previous mistakes and look to the future and be open to
what lies ahead.

PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

There is a new voice in town. Come and be an active part of your church. By
God’s grace and all of your prayers, Reverend Leigh Benish and her family will usher
in a change, another new beginning for the Hill Church. Leigh’s first official Sunday
will be October 21st. Come and hear Jesus proclaimed. Come and welcome a new
family to our community. Come and worship the Lord, our God with enthusiasm,
energy, and love.

The PNC gives thanks to each one of you for your support of our efforts over these
past 14 months. Feel free to ask us of our experiences on your behalf.

The next newsletter deadline is

OCTOBER 15, 2018!
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 BIBLE READING S FOR OCTOBER

Date Morning Evening

1 Isa. 11, 12, 13 Eph. 4
2 Isa. 14, 15, 16 Eph. 5: 1-16
3 Isa. 17, 18, 19 Eph. 5: 17-33
5th - Bethany Sowa 4 Isa. 20, 21, 22 Eph. 6
5 Isa. 23, 24, 25 Phil. 1
6th - Austin McElhaney 6 Isa. 26, 27 Phil. 2
7 Isa. 28, 29 Phil. 3
7th - Dennis King 8 Isa. 30, 31 Phil. 4
9 Isa. 32, 33 Col. 1
8th - Marilyn Blair 10 Isa. 34, 35, 36 Col. 2

10th - Deborah Ihlenfeld 11

12
Isa. 37, 38
Isa. 39, 40
Col. 3
Col. 4
12th - Susan Catanzarito 13
14
Isa. 41, 42
Isa. 43, 44
I. Thes. 1
I. Thes. 2
13th - William Raabe 15
16
Isa. 45, 46
Isa. 47, 48, 49
I. Thes. 3
I. Thes. 4
17th - Peggy Brewster 17
18
Isa. 50, 51, 52
Isa. 53, 54, 55
I. Thes. 5
II. Thes. 1
18th - Timothy Moses 19
20
Isa. 56, 57, 58
Isa. 59, 60, 61
II. Thes. 2
II. Thes. 3
20th - Phyllis Lane and Janet Edinger 21 Isa. 62, 63, 64 I. Tim. 1
22 Isa. 65, 66 I. Tim. 2
21st - Lauren Nace 23 Jer. 1, 2 I. Tim. 3
24 Jer. 3, 4, 5 I. Tim. 4
23rd - Lynda Lavorini 25 Jer. 6, 7, 8 I. Tim. 5
26 Jer. 9, 10, 11 I. Tim. 6
25th - Keith Swank and Sue McKnight 27 Jer. 12, 13, 14 II. Tim. 1
28 Jer. 15, 16, 17 II. Tim. 2
27th - Jared Rogerson 29 Jer. 18, 19 II. Tim. 3
30 Jer. 20, 21 II. Tim. 4
30th - Juliet Miller and Luke Montag 31 Jer. 22, 23 Titus 1

Fifteen volunteers served a picnic-style dinner to 75 guests on September

12th. The menu was fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, rolls, and
cake. Thanks to the deacons whose generous donation helped to cover
the cost of the chicken this month. To find out how you can help, call
Barb or Jim Kamerer at 724.283.2248.
WORSHIP
Session Notes
The Session held its regular monthly meeting on September 10. ATTENDANCE
IN AUGUST AND
The following actions were approved: SEPTEMBER

++ To sponsor a coat drive (new or used) to benefit "Bundle Up Butler" on Sunday

October 7, 14. 8/5 64
++ Approved the session minutes of August 13, 2018 and congregational minutes
of September 9, 2018. 8/12 76
Nurture will hold the annual all-church Christmas event as a luncheon on Sunday, 8/19 46
December 16 following worship. 8/26 - Not Recorded
At the congregational meeting on September 9, 2018, the congregation approved the 9/2 83
call of Rev. Leigh Benish as solo pastor to Hill Church, and Rev. Benish accepted this
call. 9/9 118
9/16 84
Respectfully submitted,
Louise Evans 9/23 68
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 Reservation form
SENIOR NIGHT OUT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 at 5:30 P.M.

I / We will attend Senior Night Out:

Name(s)_______________________________________
#Attending _________ # Gluten Free _________
Ride Needed? _________ # Dairy Free _________
Donations accepted
DEADLINE for RESERVATIONS: Wednesday, October 10th at noon.

Senior Night Out will be held on TUESDAY, October 16th at 5:30 p.m. The meal will be catered by
Simply Catered and will be beef pot roast with potatoes and carrots, coleslaw, biscuits, plain green
beans, and fruited jello dessert. This ministry is for those ages 50 and over to enjoy fellowship, a
catered dinner, and a special program. Please mark your calendars and use the reservation form
above! Put your reservation form in the collection plate or turn it in to Elean in our Church Office on
or before Wednesday, October 10th at noon. Please let us know if you have to cancel the day of the
dinner.

Presbyterian Women’s Thank Offering Sunday will be held on Sunday, October 14th. Rev. Tega
Swann is from Refreshing Springs Ministry and will be our guest pastor for the day.

Presbyterian Women will be hosting a Fall Luncheon on Saturday, October 20th. Pastor Kathleen
Davis will be the guest speaker. Please use the reservation form here in the newsletter or in your
bulletin to sign up to attend.

Mark your calendars so you don’t miss these upcoming events!

Presbyterian Women Fall Luncheon

Please join us in the Fellowship Hall
Saturday, October 20th at noon
Name(s) ________________________________________________
Number Attending ________Ride Needed (if yes, provide phone number)_______________
I will bring a salad ________________________________________
Speaker for the afternoon will be Pastor Kathleen Davis.
Donations accepted. Reservations due Sunday, October 14th.

8
 The Mission Support Committee is sponsoring a coat drive called “Bundle Up
Butler” which is being held by the Center For Community
Resources and Butler Health Systems.

We are collecting new and gently worn winter coats for men, women, and
children of all ages.

Coats will be collected on October 7th and 14th. Look for the donation table in
the Sanctuary opposite the organ console. Coats will be distributed in the Farm
Market building on Chestnut Street on Friday, October 26th.

Volunteers are needed at CCR to help sort, pack, and transport coats.
See Dale Anderson or Barb Kamerer for details.

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN 2018

FULL DREAM AHEAD

Our stewardship theme for 2018 is based upon the words from the Prophet Joel which
Peter quoted at Pentecost at the birthday of the church “‘In the last days it will be, God
declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts
2:17)

Please pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you consider how, as a good steward, you
will provide your support (time, talent, and treasure) to help our dream and vision come true!

9
 IN
Another great opening night for Wednesdays on the Hill is in the books! So good to see kids and
volunteers coming together again to enjoy music, study, fun and friends. We are a little short handed
this fall as several faithful volunteers are dealing with family situations. If you can lend a hand, for even
one night, please let Kathleen Davis know. October 10th and November 14th will be especially difficult
as some of our crew will be helping with Community Dinner. Everyone misses “Mister Jim” at
recreation time and wishes him a speedy recovery from his surgery. Watch for the green footprints!
Each week the kids in grades 1 and up are learning about the journey God's people took to the
Promised Land. We are thinking a lot about how we journey with God too. Each week we have a
special word from the lesson written on a green footprint. By the end of the session, there will be 10
footprints posted in various location around Hill Church. See if you can find them all to you can fill
out the puzzle that will be included with the November 18 bulletin. Caution! Some are going to be
tricky!

Speaking of Community Dinner, three of our teens, Emily, Grace and Lydia, went to St. Andrews to
help out last week and did a great job! Meanwhile Jordan, Cora and Bethany were here leading our Silly
Songs segment with the younger students. Thanks, ladies! All your help at both venues is much
appreciated.

The Tuesday morning Bible Study for Women has just a couple of seats left! Get there by 9:30 sharp
to grab one. We are studying the Book of Esther, particularly the theme: How do we live faithfully in a
secular culture? We are finding astonishing parallels between Esther’s time and our own!

NEWS FROM GHANA

Josh Heikkila, the Mission co-worker serving West Africa writes about the difficulty of life in the
Sahel region of West Africa which includes parts of Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Ghana. This area has
a long and hot dry season that lasts nine months and is intensely rainy in June, July, and August.
Only these three months are ideal for growing crops. Survival is a challenge in the other nine “dry”
months. In this dry landscape, trees are few and far between, and the little water that’s found is deep
in the ground. Wells are often dug by hand and it is common for these wells to be 100 feet deep.
For people who cook over open fires and for whom water comes from a well, this means a lot of
time is spent walking…..walking to forage for wood and fetch water. It is the women who usually
forage for wood. They can spend one whole day every week just collecting wood for cooking. The
task of fetching water falls to children of the household. They carry large jugs on their heads. In
situations such as this, many children in these rural areas are not being schooled. Out in the
countryside there are many organizations working to make water more accessible. In these rural
areas people are beginning to devise ways to plant more trees and to make stoves more efficient.
You can see how life is more difficult in rural areas. Our mission dollars for education mostly go to
young women in non-rural areas, but the rural areas certainly have great needs.

PRAYER CONCERNS CONTINUE

Please continue to keep the Bubiashie District Churches, Bernard Daddy, chairperson of the
Bubiashie Scholarship Committee, as well as the students, and Joshua Heikkila, the West Africa
Liaison for the PC (USA), in your prayers. Also for Dr. McWilson ‘Koku’ Atakro, the Executive
Presbyter and Moderator for the West Volta Presbytery.
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 VOLUNTEERS FOR
OCTOBER 2018
CHURCH
USHER GREETERS COUNTING FELLOWSHIP
TEAM BEFORE ELDERS LITURGIST ACOLYTE OPENER/ HOUR
POWERPOINT

Deacon Pam Lentz Elder Elder

OCTOBER Ladies’ Seth Volunteer
Elean Jack Tom
7 Team Barb Heist Needed
Heist Barkley Graham
Kamerer
Steve Arn Elder Elder
OCTOBER Ladies’ Maddy Presbyterian
Bea Welch Terre Bob
14 Team Marcia Hall Women
Patterson Kennedy
McCaw
Terre
Deacon Elder Elder Deacon
OCTOBER Men’s Patterson Bella
Kyle Patti Alan Cheryl
21 Team Alan Heist
Nevel Donaldson Milanovich Milanovich
Milanovich
Becky
Elder Elder
OCTOBER Men’s Audrey Plymale Ben Volunteer
Jami Lyn Pete
28 Team Nossokoff Pete Huba Needed
Brady McElhaney
McElhaney

Communion Team – Team A

Newsletter Team in OCTOBER (for November) – Team A
(The Hoover Family)
Sunday morning ride service driver for OCTOBER - Keith Swank (724-282-6546)

PULPIT FLOWERS
OCTOBER 7 OCTOBER 14 OCTOBER 21 OCTOBER 28
Donated with love in Donated with love in
Donated in loving Donated with love in
memory of honor of and welcome
memory of memory of
Raymond to Leigh, David, and
David Keith McCaw Michael Moses by the
Daubenspeck Gabriel Benish
by Marcia McCaw Puente-Moses Family
by Linda Smialowski by Kip and Anne Miller

PEW GREETERS
Hill Church for many years was known as “The Glad Hand Church.” The Nurture
Committee wants to continue this tradition. Pew Greeters will now welcome visitors,
encourage them to sign the guest registry, and invite them to Fellowship Hour on Sunday.

MIDDLE SECTION—BRADY STREET SECTION PEARL ST. SECTION—OVERFLOW AREA

OCTOBER 7 Sharon Montag, 724-285-3231 Karen Shultz, 724-283-2413
OCTOBER 14 Nancy Daugherty, 724-285-1013 Janet Edinger, 724-282-7782
OCTOBER 21 Lois Minich, 724-283-1875 Volunteer Needed
OCTOBER 28 Volunteer Needed Volunteer Needed
 SUN MON TUES WED THU
20th Sunday After
Pentecost
7 Lord’s Supper -
Traditional
10:30am - Worship Rev. Dr.
William Jackson preaching
11:30am - Fellowship Hour
11:30am - Handbell Practice
12:15pm - Women’s Book
Club
21st Sunday
After
14 Pentecost
Presbyterian Women’s
Thank Offering Sunday
9:30am - Community
Lunches
10:30am - Worship - Rev.
Tega Swann preaching
11:30am - Fellowship Hour
“Let the heavens
be glad, and let the 22nd Sunday
After
earth rejoice; let 21 Pentecost
10:30am - Worship - Rev.
Leigh Benish preaching
the sea roar, and11:30am - Fellowship Hour
11:30am - Handbell
Practice
all that fills it; let
12:00pm - Yarn Group
the field exult, and
everything in it.
Then shall all the 23rd Sunday
After
Pentecost
trees of the forest 28
10:30am - Worship - Rev.
Leigh Benish preaching
11:30am - Fellowship Hour
sing for joy before
11:30am - Handbell
Practice
the Lord”
Psalm 96: 11-13a
October 2018
Cut out the picture and Bible verse and use it as your bookmark for your Bible for the month of October!
FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
9:30-11:00am - Women’s 8:00am - Women’s 9:30am - Willing Workers 9:00am - Hill Quilters 11am - AA Meeting
Bible Study Fellowship Breakfast at
7:00pm - Deacons’ Mac’s Café
Meeting 5-7:00pm - Wednesdays
On The Hill
7:00pm - Choir Practice
8 9 10 11 12 13
6:45pm - Session 9:30-11:00am - 8:00am - Women’s 11:00am - AA Meeting
Meeting Fellowship Breakfast at
Women’s Bible Study
Mac’s Café
5:00pm - Community
Dinner
5-7:00pm - Wednesdays
On The Hill
7:00pm - Choir Practice
15 16 17 18 19 20
6:45pm - Session Mtg. 8:00am - Women’s 11:00am - AA Meeting
9:30-11:00am - Fellowship Breakfast at 12:00pm - Presbyterian
Women’s Bible Study Mac’s Café Women Fall Luncheon
1:00pm - Betsy 9:30am - Willing Workers in Fellowship Hall
McCormick Circle 12:30pm - Mary Lou
5:30pm - Senior Night Boyer Circle
Out 5-7:00pm - Wednesdays
On The Hill
7:00pm - Choir Practice
22 23 24 25 26 27
9:30-11:00am - Women’s 8:00am - Women’s
Bible Study Fellowship Breakfast at
Mac’s Café
5-7:00pm - Wednesdays
On The Hill
7:00pm - Choir Practice
29 30 31
9:30-11:00am - 8:00am - Women’s
Women’s Bible Study Fellowship Breakfast at
Mac’s Café