The middle-school students of The Branches were given a task by Pastor Peggi--put together the Christmas presentation for the First Presbyterian Church.  After many weeks of brainstorming, producing, and practicing (with an extra week due to weather), the result was a new take on the Last Supper performed on December 23, 2007.

Each of The Branches created a character involved in the preparation of the meal, described their individual, and then read an associated Scripture.  Various parts of Jesus' life (e.g. birth and miracles) were included--giving a picture of Christ beyond that of a normal nativity play.

Pictured here is the wrap-up to the presentation, where each made a statement about Jesus (e.g. "Jesus is the light of the world") connected to their character's experience with Christ.

If you are interested in reading the presentation, please sign into our web site (you can create an account if you don't already have one) and use the "Downloads" menu item and then:

The Branches -> Youth Presentations -> 2007 The Branches Christmas Presentation.

When Pastor Peggi felt the time was right in Antrim for an event to remember pets that moved on during the past year (and to bless those that are still with us)--little did she know what would be in the selection of pets to visit her!

Along with the usual collection of cats, dogs, and birds were a pair of llamas--seen here edging out Peggi in the height contest.

Peggi blessed various critters on the front lawn of the church from noon until 4PM, and then led a service of thanksgiving in the sanctuary.

God's blessings on all animals in Antrim--whether they were able to spend time with our pastor or not...

Choose "Read more" and then "Next" to go to the next page if you would like to see large versions of the images above (warning--they are pretty large)...

Natasha’s Tale… a Parable not yet finished

Rescued!
Being Rescued can be traumatic… pulled out of darkness, fear, and pain… carried in a strangers’ arms to a new place without being consulted… moved from one place to another… then once again kenneled in fear for long hours, surrounded by strangers… then again bright lights and new smells and voices and faces… not knowing that each new place takes me one step further away from the abuse and closer to the home that is being prepared for me… knowledge comes later; now there is confusion and fear… but also a new experience of “nice” that I don’t trust yet, but Oh! I want to trust it.
       __Natasha

Even though we like to deny that we have been abused or neglected, that we have been sinned upon or have become the ‘collateral damage’ of the sin-full-ness of the human race, when we are honest about our lives we  know, at some level, that “sin is real” and “sin is pervasive”.  When we experience, for the first time, the truth of the Cross, the reality of God’s Grace, the freedom that comes from coming Home to God, … that’s when we can write “Rescued!” in our Diaries.

Too often, we sit down at that point, and take a deep breath, and refuse to move on.  “After all, God has forgiven me and saved me and I am OK!  So that’s DONE.  We don’t have to keep harping on it, do we?”
If the story stops there, the healing and the recovery don’t happen.  If the work stops there, we (humans) can fall into the traps of complacency, of arrogance about our own rescue, and of contempt for those who have not yet found their rescuers. 
       __Peggi

Nashville recording artist JJ Heller performed a Home and Harvest Day concert at First Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 21, 2007. JJ performed with her husband, Dave Heller, who is not only her guitarist—he is her manager and co-writer.

Opening for JJ was church member Don Readel. Don proved he is pretty handy with a guitar himself (not to mention his great voice).

JJ and Dave were a perfect kick-off for the Home and Harvest Day weekend, entertaining all who attended with a combination of youthful energy, thoughtful lyrics, godly commitment, and incredible talent. They have released three CDs and two EPs (the most recent are the CD, “The Pretty and the Plain,” and the Christmas EP, “Wake up the World"--both released in October).