Welcome to the website for the Central Presbyterian Church of Tarentum! This website is a digital representation of the ongoing activities of our church. Whether you are an active member of Central, or a friend or neighbor, or simply someone considering moving to our community, I hope that you will be able to use this website to make contact or keep in touch with our church.
In a November 17 article in the Valley News Dispatch, Mary Bowlin, the president of the Allegheny Valley Chamber of Commerce, is quoted as saying “Based on the trend from the past few years, it seems that people [sap: Perhaps the “people” she is talking about are the store-owners.] feel that they have to get their punch in before the whole Black Friday thing. I think it is just a trend that keeps spinning in an early direction.” The article seems to be based on the assumption that the holidays are only about shopping. But they don’t have to be.
Holiday creep can work at both ends of the season. If the stores started putting out their “Christmas” stuff way back before Halloween, a prudent consumer might reasonably ask: “Isn’t the beginning of December the right time for the stores to start their post-Christmas sales?” The stores have invested so much in ratcheting up the anxiety about the commercial holiday season, telling us not to be late with our shopping. Can’t consumers turn the tables on them, and ask why the stores are so behind schedule now?
If we commit ourselves to giving the stores time to catch up with the inhuman schedule they created for themselves, I think we’ll find the time to read and meditate on the Bible stories about the God who so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son. I think we will find that there is plenty of time to do our Christmas pageants, to tell the Christmas story to our children and let them tell it back to us. And there will be time to praise the wondrous God who gave the world such an amazing gift.
Just tell the stores that now that they’ve done their Black Friday thing, you are in the official season for paying off the shopping bills. Ask them why they don’t have their New Year’s decorations out yet. And, by the way, how long do they expect you to wait for the Presidents’ Day sales? Tell them their Easter displays are already long overdue.
Meanwhile, back at the church, we have plans for spiritual and fellowship events that go along with the church’s calendar -- the schedule we have followed for centuries. And on that schedule there is plenty of time for acts of love, deeds of service and charity, and occasions for fellowship together with others who celebrate the birth of the One who has transformed our lives. Take advantage of those opportunities.
December 1 Hanging of the Greens
December 2 First Sunday of Advent; Children’s Christmas Program and Tureen Dinner
December 9 Second Sunday of Advent
December 16 Third Sunday of Advent
December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent; Christmas Party
December 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
These are great times to gather with other members and friends of Central Presbyterian Church in celebration of the birth of our Lord. See you in Church.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Stewart Pollock
P.S. These are also good times to wish WalMart a Happy Independence Day!
