Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: October 2025

Friday, October 31, 2025

Mission Yearbook: Young Presbyterians take part in U.N. sustainability gathering

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Mission Yearbook: Young Presbyterians take part in...: Image Young adult delegates participate in a prayer walk through United Nations-related sites during the U.N. High-Level Political Forum on ...

Prayer Requests to be shared during Sunday’s service

On Sunday, November 2, Sligo Presbyterian Church will lift to God the needs below:

Adam & Shaina Hile
Antonio Jimenez
Angel Wright
Angela Zitman
Barbara Yarchuk
Bennett Ray Hagan
Betty Phillips
Betty Terwint
Bade Mohn
Bob Varner
Butch, Cass's brother
Cara Maguire Defibaugh
Cathy Hale
Corbin
Dan Kemp
Dan Wallace
Denny Myers
Duane Quinn
Gabe
Gavin Blazosky
Jane
Jason
Jayden Shorts
Jeb Rapp
Jim Mahle
Jim Mason
Joann Klamer
Joe Rainey
Kaylyn Bashline
Lana Todd
Landdon Chalmers
Len Gaulin
Levi Jack
Libby Miller
Lori Myers
Mark Dell
Mason Martin
Matt
Michael Curran
Nancy Blauser
Nancy Wilson
Patty Divins
Ron & Shelly Haines
Ron Lerch
Rowan Pinson
Rudy
Ryan Cornecki & Family
Sam & Carol Mason
Tadd French
The Milanovich Family
TJ
Tyler & Tamlynn
Van Watkins
Wes Summerville
Zach Schieberl

The Bulletin for the SPC Worship Service - Sunday, November 2, 2025

November is a special time to focus on giving thanks. With that in mind, during the four Sundays before Thanksgiving Day, we'll consider how we might effectively use this time to consider why we might offer our thanks to God. We'll consider the following:

November 2 - A Time to Be Thankful for Our God
November 9 - A Time to Be Thankful for Our Savior
November 16 - A Time to Be Thankful for the Bible
November 23 - A Time to Be Thankful for the Church

On Sunday, we’ll begin this series by looking at how this might be a perfect time to be thankful for our God. We'll also gather around the Lord's Table to share communion. Below is the bulletin for the service. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Bible Readings for October 31, 2025

Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for October 31, 2025: Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Lamentations 4:1–5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; and Prover...

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Mission Yearbook: North Carolina group extends love and aid to flooded Texas

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Mission Yearbook: North Carolina group extends lov...: A grassroots organization known for being instrumental in helping the people of western North Carolina to recover from Hurricane Helene is g...

Remembering our Sister Betty Milanovich

Below is the obituary that appeared on the Buzard Funeral Home website.

Betty Jane Milanovich, 100, of Rimersburg, passed away Monday, October 27, 2025, at Quality Life Services in Chicora.

Born October 7, 1925, in Miola, she was the daughter of Edgar and Willard McClain McCleary. She graduated from Clarion High School and was a member of the Rimersburg Presbyterian Church.

On November 19, 1945, Betty married Raymond Milanovich, who died on December 20, 1997. She was a seamstress out of her home for many years while raising her family.

Betty is survived by three sons, Gary and his wife, Penny of Butler; Alan and his wife, Cheryl of Butler; and Ron and his wife, Amy of Rimersburg and grandchildren, Michelle(Matt) Straka, Scott(Jaime) Milanovich, Matt(Christal) Milanovich, Jeff(Shelly) Milanovich, Jami Milanovich, Beth Milanovich, Sarah(Andy) Tarr, Adam Brianne) Milanovich, and great grandchildren, Anna, Isabel, Nicholas and William Straka, Macall(Ben) Drexel and Maggie Milanovich, Maya, Connor and Sophia Milanovich, Rylie and Bailey Milanovich, Molly, Sadie and Emily Tarr and August and Jude Milanovich.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Raymond, as well as three brothers and three sisters.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Concord Presbyterian Church, near Parker, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, with visitation at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. A luncheon will be held immediately following the service in the church dining room. Betty will be laid to rest at the Miola Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home of Parker.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

On the Road from Jerusalem: A Study of Acts (The Work Begins - Acts 3:1-26)

Join us as we use the Acts of the Apostles to discuss the growth of the earlier church from its birth in the city of Jerusalem to Paul’s arrival in Rome. During our time together, we’ll look at the following:

Session 1 - Preparing for the Journey (Acts 1:1-2)
Session 2 - Transition (Acts 1:3-26)
Session 3 - Birth (Acts 2:1-47)
Session 4 - The Work Begins (Acts 3:1-26)
Session 5 - When Faced with Opposition (Acts 4:1-26)
Session 6 - But... (Acts 5:1-42)
Session 7 - Problem Solved (Acts 6:1-15)
Session 8 - When Something Bad Happens (Acts 7:1-60)
Session 9 - Step Two (Acts 8:1-40)
Session 10 - Saul (Acts 9:1-43)
Session 11 - Clean People (Acts 10:1-48)
Session 12 - Phase Three Begins (Acts 11:1-30)
Session 13 - Even Above Kings (Acts 12:1-25)
Session 14 - The New Kid Takes the Stage (Acts 13:1-52)
Session 15 - Approaching a New Community (Acts 14:1-28)
Session 16 - Issue Resolved (Acts 15:1-41)
Session 17 - A New World (Acts 16:1-40)
Session 18 - Know Your Audience (Acts 17:1-34)
Session 19 - The Big Time (Acts 18:1-28)
Session 20 - Christ and Culture (Acts 19:1-41)
Session 21 - Farewell (Acts 20:1-38)
Session 22 - Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-40)
Session 23 - A Personal Testimony (Acts 22:1-30)
Session 24 - The Plot Thickens (Acts 23:1-35)
Session 25 - The Way Continues (Acts 24:1-27)
Session 26 - Different Singer, Same Song (Acts 25:1-27)
Session 27 - A Message to God’s People (Acts 26:1-32)
Session 28 - Will He Make It (Acts 27:1-44)
Session 29 - Without Hindrance (Acts 28:1-31)

In our third session, we looked at Acts 3:1-26 and discussed the beginning of the church's witness. The discussion and passage are below.

Acts 3:1-26 [New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition]

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “Fellow Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the holy and righteous one and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Bible Readings for October 29, 2025

Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for October 29, 2025: Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Lamentations 1:1–2:19; Philemon 1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; and Proverbs...

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, October 26, 2025

During the sermon series I Believe: Exploring the Apostle's Creed, the congregation of Sligo Presbyterian Church is using The Apostles Creed to discuss some basic Christian beliefs. We’ll also take those beliefs and apply them to our daily living. This includes talking about why they're important and how they might shape our thoughts, feelings and faith. Below are the topics we'll cover:

August 10 - I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
August 17 - I BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
August 24 - I BELIEVE in Jesus Christ,...who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
August 31 - I BELIEVE...he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
September 7 - I BELIEVE...he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.
September 14 - I BELIEVE...he ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
September 21 - I BELIEVE...from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
September 28 - I BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit,
October 5 - I BELIEVE in...the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
October 12 - I BELIEVE in...the forgiveness of sins,
October 19 - I BELIEVE in...the resurrection of the body,
October 26 - I BELIEVE in...and the life everlasting. Amen.

On Sunday, October 26, we concluded this series by looking at the meaning and significance of saying, "I BELIEVE in...and the life everlasting. Amen." Below is a video recording of the service, the video presentation of the sermon, and the service bulletin. You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Sunday's Message - I BELIEVE in...and the life everlasting. Amen.

On Sunday, October 26, we continued this series by looking at the meaning and significance of saying, "I BELIEVE in...and the life everlasting. Amen." Below is the text and a video presentation of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Now, I think we can all agree that we have entered the Fall season, haven’t we? Of course, I understand that unofficially, Fall sort of began after Labor Day, you know, when you cover up the pool and put away the white shoes. And officially, the autumnal equinox was September 22, at 2:19 in the afternoon, the time when the sun crossed the celestial equator heading south. But I’ve got to tell you, in the last week, man, for the first time this year, it’s really started to feel like Fall, with the temperature dipping to around 40 at night and around 60 during the day.

And you know, every year when this happens, it always makes me smile, because as a kid, good night nurse, for me, this was the very best time of year, especially with Halloween on the horizon. You see, this was the week to carve the pumpkin and to get the costume and to anticipate the candy that would be pouring into the Rudiger house in just a few days. I mean, this was all happening right now, and that was great. But I’ve got to tell you, even better than that was all the stuff that was going to happen after Halloween. I mean, you’ve got Thanksgiving in a little over three weeks and then the granddaddy of all holidays when you’re a kid, and of course, I’m talking about Christmas itself. You see, as the temperature started to drop and the world became orange and brown, reality became really sweet and the promise of more, even sweeter.

And I’ll tell you, that’s sort of what we’re going to be talking about in our last message dealing with The Apostles Creed. Now, to this point, we’ve looked at the following:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

Now, that’s where we’ve been.

And this morning, we’re going to talk about the very last affirmation made in the creed: I BELIEVE in...life everlasting, a statement that I think offers something that we can sort of hang on to as we deal with a present that appears to be chocked full of all kinds of problems and pain and look into a future that often seems to offer just more of the same. Specifically, we’re going to use the Bible to consider three aspects of everlasting or eternal life that just might help us not only hang on but also move forward.

For example, first, I believe that life everlasting is a promise. In other words, it’s something that we can look forward to receiving some time in the future. And you know, I think that’s what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote this to Titus, a protégée about whom Paul wrote, “because of our faith, you are like a son to me.” [Titus 1:4, CEV] To this believer, Paul said,

I encourage God's own people to have more faith and to understand the truth about religion. Then they will have the hope of eternal life God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie! So, at the proper time, God our Savior gave this message and told me to announce what he had said. [Titus 1:1b-3, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul wrote.

And I’ll tell you, that just makes sense. I mean, based on the words themselves, everlasting life must involve the future, and I’m talking about that time after we leave behind this mortal toil and enter into a new reality. You see, since Jesus broke the power of sin through his death on the cross and since we can get a glimpse of what’s going to happen because of the empty tomb, we have good reason to believe that the old has died and a new reality has begun. And we can have faith that the time is coming when the dead will be raised, sort of like what we talked about last week, and we’ll enter into a recreated universe where pain and suffering and death will be a thing of the past. And we can trust that in this new heaven and new earth, we’ll not only see God and everyone who’s gone before us, we’ll have the opportunity to spend eternity with them, because time itself is one of those things that have been left behind. And since it’s grounded in a message announced by God our savior, we can be confident that it’s going to happen. I mean, everlasting life was promised by God, and as Paul wrote, “God never tells a lie!” [Titus 1:2b, CEV]

And because of that, man, we can have hope. I mean, just think about it. The time is coming when all the pain and all the trouble and all the conflict we face right now will not only end, but be replaced by a world of peace and tranquility and comfort. That’s our hope. And in that new world, we’ll not only be in the presence of God, we’ll also be with all those who’ve gone before us in this recreated reality. That’s our hope. And in that place, in that Kingdom we pray for each and every Sunday morning, we’ll be able to live in that presence and to enjoy that fellowship but not for an hour or a day or a year. Man, we’re talking about eternity, because in this rebirthed universe, time will no longer have meaning. I’m telling you, that’s our hope too. And at that time, that glorious time, using the words of Paul, we’ll be able to say,

The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true,

“Death has lost the battle!

Where is its victory?

Where is its sting?”

Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! [1 Corinthians 15:54-57, CEV]

I’m telling you, I think we can feel hope, because, first, we believe life everlasting is a promise. But that’s not all it is.

Because second, everlasting life is also a reality. You see, it’s not just a promise for the future; rather, it’s something that’s alive and real and present right here and now. And I’ll tell you, I think that was something Jesus understood when he made this prayer to God right before he was lifted up on the cross. Jesus prayed,

Father, the time has come for you to bring glory to your Son, in order that he may bring glory to you. And you gave him power over all people, so he would give eternal life to everyone you give him. Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. I have brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do. Now, Father, give me back the glory I had with you before the world was created. [John 17:1b-5, CEV]

Now that’s what Jesus said.

And let me tell you why I think it’s important. Since he believed that eternal, everlasting life involved knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, the one who was sent, in other words, that the knowledge which leads to faith was and is eternal life, this wasn’t something people had to wait to receive. Instead it was something that they could claim right now. You see, that’s how Jesus defined eternal life; therefore, when he said that “...everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life,” [John 3:15, CEV] he was talking about a relationship with God they could enjoy right now. And when he said, “Even now the harvest workers are receiving their reward by gathering a harvest that brings eternal life. Then everyone who planted the seed and everyone who harvests the crop will celebrate together,” [John 4:36, CEV] he was referring to something that was happening right here. And when he said “I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand,” [John 10:28, CEV] he was talking about a sense of safety, a sense of certainty, a sense of security that cannot be lost. You see, this reality is also everlasting life.

And because it is, not only can we experience hope, man, we can only experience joy. You see, we can experience joy knowing that for reasons we may never understand, God wanted a relationship with us so badly that he entered our time and space in a way we could understand. In other words, he found us, not the other way around. And we can experience joy knowing that the God who loved us before he created the universe wants us to be part of his work, you know, to be laborers in his field and to gather the harvest that he’s caused to grow. And brothers and sisters, we can experience joy just knowing that we will never be lost. No matter what happens to us, we’re always going to be part of his flock and no matter where we go we can never, and I mean never be snatched out of his hand. I'm telling you, along with hope, we can feel joy, because, second, we also believe life everlasting is a reality. But again, even that's not all it is.

Because, third, it’s also a gift. In other words, this wonderful promise that offers so much hope and this incredible reality that can fill us with so much joy, eternal life itself is a gift given to us by God. I mean, just listen to what Paul wrote to the Romans:

When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 6:20-23, CEV]

Let me say that again: But God’s gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 6:23b, CEV]

In other words, everlasting life isn’t something that God expects us to deserve and earn. I mean, it’s not a reward that we deserved for being good enough or righteous enough or spiritual enough. And it’s certainly not a wage that we earn, because we’ve said all the right words and prayed all the right prayers and made all the right promises. Man, it’s not anything like that, and I’ll tell you, that’s a good thing, because, since we were slaves to sin, deserving and earning everlasting life is way beyond our ability. Man, eternal life is not God’s payment for services rendered. Instead it’s a gift. It’s based on God’s grace and not our effort. And it becomes real to us, not because we’re worked hard and earned it, instead, because we’ve simply trusted that it was given. You see, that’s what faith is all about. It’s simple trust. And that’s how we experience the promise and reality of eternal life.

And you know, when we realize that, I think we’re going to feel all kinds of peace. I mean, just think about it, what we didn’t get, we can’t lose, can we? Our salvation is secure. And even if, for whatever reason, we don’t appreciate it for time and even if we choose to wander away from the one who found us and even if we decide to believe that God doesn’t exist, the gift is still there. God doesn’t take it back; that’s something we would do, but not God. No, the promise is still valid. And the reality remains the same. And the gift, man, the gift is always there to be claimed. No wonder the Apostle Paul told the Romans that “nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” [Romans 8:39b, CEV] I'm telling you, along with hope and joy, we can feel peace, because, third, we also believe life everlasting is a gift.

And so ends The Apostles Creed, almost. You see, after affirming this wonderful promise and reality and gift we call everlasting life, there’s one more word: Amen. Now, in case you don’t already know, ἀμήν is a Greek word that means “truly” or “so be it.” But what’s interesting, in the Bible it can be used in two ways. On one hand, it can be used at the end, particularly of prayers, to show that you’ve finished praying. But, on the other hand, it can also come at the beginning of a statement to show just how important it is. And so, as we say the creed one last time together, at least for a while; let’s think of the word “amen” appearing at both the beginning and the end, because as we’ve seen, this relatively brief statement is an important summation of the Christian faith. And so, together, let’s say what we believe:

Monday, October 27, 2025

Bible Readings for October 27, 2025

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Sunday, October 26, 2025

Bible Readings for October 26, 2025

Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for October 26, 2025: Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Jeremiah 49:23–50:46; Titus 1:1-6; Psalm 97:1–98:9; and Proverbs ...

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

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Bible Readings for October 25, 2025

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Friday, October 24, 2025

Minute for Mission: United Nations Day

Witness, Share and Evangelize: Minute for Mission: United Nations Day: Image The Presbyterian young adult delegation to this year’s U.N. High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which took place in...

The Bulletin for the SPC Worship Service - Sunday, October 26, 2025

During the sermon series I Believe: Exploring the Apostle's Creed, the congregation of Sligo Presbyterian Church is using The Apostles Creed to discuss some basic Christian beliefs. We’ll also take those beliefs and apply them to our daily living. This includes talking about why they're important and how they might shape our thoughts, feelings and faith. Below are the topics we'll cover:

On Sunday, we’ll finish this series by looking at the meaning and significance of saying, "I BELIEVE in...the life everlasting. Amen." Below is the bulletin for the service. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community