News

Sharing a meal is one of the best ways to connect with people. So, we are organizing dinner groups consisting of 8 people.  Here’s how it works: Members or friends of the congregation tell us that they would like to participate in a dinner group by completing a dinner group sign up form.  Hopefully at least 24 to32 people agree to participate.  The dinner group coordinator, Nancy Blethen, divides the full group into smaller groups, hoping for some diversity of male/female, young/senior, married/single, etc. 

Each sub group will have a captain who organizes the first dinner at a time and place convenient to all in that group.  Thereafter the groups organize themselves (host, time, dish to share). The goal of each dinner group is to meet 3 or 4 times between November and June. The idea is to share a meal with someone you may not know that well. Simple food is welcome and you get to decide what part of the meal you want to provide.  Non-cooks can bring bread or wine! 

If you are interested in participating in a dinner group, please complete a dinner group sign up form BY 0CTOBER 12^TH.  Sign up forms are available on the office counter or you can ask the church office to email you a form. If you have a question, Nancy can be reached at 215-340-1254 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Pleasantville Supper Club will kick off the new church year on Saturday, October 10 at 6 p.m. Supper Club gatherings are an opportunity to share a meal, converse, and meet members of Pleasantville Church. All we ask is that you bring a dish to share. Good simple food is welcome. Don’t think you have to be a gourmet cook to participate. If you are interested, sign up by yourself or with a cooking/dinner partner. We are also looking for hosts that can seat 8 to 14 people. It can be at separate tables! New members to the church or to the Supper Club are always welcome! To sign up for October 10, please call or email Rob Scarrow by October 4 at 215-793-9673 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at Pleasantville on Wednesday, December 30 from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.  This is a special Holiday Blood Drive.  You will be contacted by the Red Cross or you can access their website at www.givelife.org to sign up for this drive.

Don’t be afraid. And try to have fun.

Six years ago I received a precious gift: an 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of faded grey construction paper with a cross traced in pencil right in the middle of the page. Scrawled across the top of the paper, in a child’s hand, were these words:

These words of wisdom were offered to me by the 5^th and 6^th grade church school class in 2003. They were trying to encourage and prepare me for my new work of becoming Senior Pastor. It’s the best personal and professional advice I have ever received.

I know I’ve shared these words with you before, but they come back to me now as we move into exciting days of change. Even as I write this, the sound of earthmovers is plainly heard outside my office window. They are tearing up the old parking lot, moving dirt, and creating a new landscape for the future of our church. We are in the midst of change and it is exciting.

And yet, with all times of excitement and change, there is bound to be some nervousness and fear. We worry about losing what we love. We don’t want to change the things we cherish. We are afraid of damaging what we value so highly about Pleasantville.

In times like these, it’s good to listen to the wisdom which comes to us "out of the mouths of babes" (or at least 5^th & 6^th graders):

By God’s grace, the vision we have crafted and the work we are about have been carefully and faithfully conceived. Many prayerful hearts have brought us to this day. They have leaned upon one another for support, insight and discernment, and the building project we have labored upon for so long is finally really starting to happen. You know, the truth is – this is beginning to be kind of fun.

The God who brought us to this day will surely see us through it.

Don’t be afraid, because God is with us. And try to have fun, because God really is in charge.

Blessings, Pastor Hilary

The Board of Christian Educators is sponsoring a Hayride on Friday, October 16 at 6:45 p.m. at Winding Brook Farm on Bristol Road in Warrington. The cost is $7 per person. This includes the hayride, hot dogs, drinks, and s’mores. We will meet there at 6:00 p.m. Please bring your own sticks to roast marshmallows. Any questions, please contact Teresa Wilhelm at 215-361-8141.