PINE STREET LIFE The Newsletter of Pine Street Presbyterian Church
Volume 37 | Issue 10 | October 2017
Fanfare!
IN
Featuring the Philadelphia Brass Kicking off MAPS’ 2017-2018 Season
October 1
Friday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. Free parking in the South Street Garage. Free admission. Reception to follow. The Philadelphia Brass, one of the world’s leading brass quintets, presents a diverse program of music ranging from J.S. Bach to Duke Ellington. Composer Daniel Pinkham praises them as “the most artistic brass quintet before the public today” and the International Trumpet Guild Journal heralds their performances as being “full, stylistically impeccable, and well-balanced, showing of consummate technical ability…sounding incredibly effortless…always musical.” Join us! All are welcome.
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World Communion Bagels and Belief October 4 John Ricca series Begins October 10 Offices Closed October 14 Men’s Breakfast October 15 Potluck Luncheon October 16-20 DDB Open House October 17 Trustees Session October 21 Pres. Women Group DDB Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast October 27 Sound the Trumpet! MAPS Concert featuring The Philadelphia Brass For a complete calendar, please visit www.pinestreet.org
I N T H I S I S S UE Music at Pine Street
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DDB Open House
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New PSL Timeline
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Insight Forums
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Boyd Memorial Center
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Peace Offering
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Stephen Ministry
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Theatre at DDB
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DDB Angels
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Thank You Corner
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Daily Lectionary
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Downtown Daily Bread Open House Monday, October 16 – Saturday, October 21 Pine Street members have served many meals at Downtown Daily Bread over the years. Most often, these Pine Street volunteers served lunch on a Sunday. On Saturdays and Sundays at Downtown Daily Bread no staff is present other than the weekend cook, and there are no showers, mail delivery, locker access, counseling, or drop-in-center. On the weekends, lunch is the only activity. If you have volunteered on a Sunday, then your view of Pine Street’s ministry at Downtown Daily Bread might not be complete. Because there is so much more to share about Downtown Daily Bread, an open house is scheduled for the week of October 16 – 20, culminating in a volunteer appreciation breakfast on Saturday, October 21. In order to truly understand what our ministry to the hungry and homeless looks like, you must get inside it, be present when our clients are here. I often hear Pine Street members claim they do not know what really happens at Downtown Daily Bread. Reading about it in Pine Street Life does not really do it justice. That is like hearing about what it feels like to ride a roller coaster, but never actually feeling the wind whip through your hair when you are rocketing along the tracks. In addition, there have been many changes at Downtown Daily Bread over the past nine months. Even if you have visited in the past, there are many features you will not recognize, the Drop-in-Center and Life Skills Classes among them. The open house will run from Monday through Friday with tours each day at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. there will be a volunteer appreciation breakfast. All of the Downtown Daily Bread volunteers will be invited, including those from the 20 or so churches, synagogues, and mosques that serve lunch to our clients on weekdays, and including all Pine Street members. Some of these volunteers have been serving lunch since Downtown Daily Bread opened in 1983. It is definitely time to say “thank you” to them! You will hear more about the open house in the coming weeks. Please plan to support this ministry by stopping by for the open house. Pine Street should be proud of Downtown Daily Bread, as it performs very valuable and necessary community services. Come and see how we provide for the hungry and homeless in Harrisburg. You will be amazed! Anne E. Guenin
New PSL Timeline We are slowly going to move the article submission deadline from the 15th of the month to the 1st of the month. For example, if you have an article or information you would like to appear in the December issue, try to send it to Anne Guenin by November 1 if you can. Thank you for your assistance in helping streamline the PSL production process.
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Insight Forums: Decoding The Da Vinci Code Over a decade ago, Dan Brown created a sensation with the publication of The Da Vinci Code. Hopefully, by now you have read the book in preparation for the Sunday morning Insight Forums on October 1, 8, and 15. No spoiler alerts here! It’s a sensational yarn that allegedly is based on an accurate presentation of history. Brown claims on page 1 of the book that “all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” Well … I am not so sure about that. He bases his work on a conspiracy surrounding Christ, Mary Magdalene, and the church, and along the way he makes claims about the books of the New Testament, the divinity of Christ, and feminine aspects about God. It’s not without controversy. So why read The Da Vinci Code for a church class? Well, first, it’s a fun read, but more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to explore church history, theology, and the Bible, and to unfold the true story about our tradition and its development. And the truth is really more fascinating than any conspiracy theory that Dan Brown could create. I promise you that it will be a great romp through church history, as we separate fact from fiction, historical realities from literary flights of fancy. We’ll engage many of the questions Brown raises: Did the Emperor Constantine compile the Bible? Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene? Was Jesus divine? How do we understand Jesus’ humanity? Does God have a feminine dimension? Did the church conspire to hide the truth about Jesus? That’s a lot to unpack over three weeks, but it will be worth it to know in a deeper way the truth about the beginnings of Christianity. So, plan to join me on those Sundays at 8:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with eager hearts and minds. Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor
Boyd Memorial Center Turns 100: 1916 –2016 Part VII – The 1970’s and Beyond Programs and activities at the Boyd Memorial Center were numerous and varied throughout the tenure of Director Rose Levonian (1967-late 1970’s). In addition to the programs described in Part V of this series, the Boyd Memorial Center was used by the church for activities such as Youth Club and Youth Fellowship programs. The gym was rented out to various adult basketball teams on certain evenings and to the private schools of Saint Stephen Episcopal Cathedral and the Cathedral of Saint Patrick for their physical education classes. Sunday
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School classes also met in the building, most notably the Boyd, Century, Ekklesia, and Koinonia Classes. Fred Anderson became Pine Street’s Pastor in 1978, and while a number of activities continued, some were discontinued. This was particularly true of senior citizen programs, especially after the departure of Rose Levonian. The following information regarding the founding and early years of Downtown Daily Bread is excerpted in part from Pine Street’s 150th Anniversary Booklet published in 2008: In the spring of 1981, Pine Street Church initiated a new program of mission to the homeless and disadvantaged of Harrisburg. According to Fred Anderson, the idea had its genesis in a weekly staff meeting in 1980, following a National Public Radio broadcast of a story dealing with the rise of homelessness and hunger. Deacon Judy Bryan was drawn into the planning of the unnamed soup kitchen, which was to offer congregant meals at noon, seven days a week, to anyone who came in off the streets of the city. Before a paid staff was in place, Bryan did all the public relations work and the purchasing, and church member Honor Jane VanNest did the cooking. Food preparation took place on the top floor of the Boyd Memorial Center, and the food had to be carried to the basement by the janitors where the meals were served in the former coffeehouse space. There was no elevator in the building at that time. There were lockable cupboards on the stage in the gym for storing the food. The Session and Pastor Fred Anderson had general oversight of the program. The meals were planned to serve one hundred people with two servings apiece. In the first three months of operation, 3000 meals were served. Honor Jane would make the meals ahead for use on the weekend, and the janitors would reheat them for serving. The first volunteers were recruited from Pine Street Sunday School classes. Soon thereafter, additional churches from various denominations provided volunteers to assist with the serving of the meals. Very soon into the operation of Downtown Daily Bread, food was received from the government consisting of canned pork, tuna, and canned vegetables. Brenda Ervin, who was a Pine Street custodian and had been helping with the program, became the cook when Honor Jane took other employment. Kenneth C. Hays
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Peace Offering The Peace and Global Witness Offering of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is received during the Season of Peace, which ends on World Communion Sunday, this year falling on October 1. Congregations are encouraged to give 25% of the offering to a local project which gives witness to Christ's peace. Our Extending God's Love Team has chosen for our local emphasis the Community Responders Network, a grassroots coalition committed to confronting and preventing incidents of bias in Central Pennsylvania. Of special concern are marginalized groups such as Muslims, African Americans, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. CRN has a Rapid Response Team, a Prevention and Education Team, a Communications Team, and a Building Bridges Team. You may have read or heard about CRN's responding to gatherings of hate groups on our Capitol steps by sponsoring services of unity and fellowship. The group has organized dinner meetings providing conversation with persons of different faiths and with immigrants. They are currently proposing a "Meet Your Neighbors" project among faith groups. Susan Washinger, a faculty member of Temple University, Harrisburg, will present a focus talk about CRN in our worship service September 24. Please plan to support this timely organization with your offering on October 1 and with your interest and prayers. Barbara Taylor
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Stephen Ministry Plans New Training Class Stephen Ministry has been a valuable one-to-one care giving ministry in this congregation since 2009. To maintain this ministry, we need to continue to train men and women who are willing to answer Jesus’ call to serve. A training class will begin soon. Stephen Ministers are individuals who care about others. Scripture describes their service well: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). Stephen Ministers use both words and deeds to express Christ’s care for others. They listen and comfort using the training they receive and employing the tools of faith. If you can drive, commit to the initial training, keep confidences, and want to do more as a Christian caregiver, consider Stephen Ministry. For more information, speak with any Stephen Minister or contact Rev. Heather Sigler. We can provide information about the application and interview process to help you determine whether being a Stephen Minister is right for you. Please prayerfully consider this valuable ministry. Rev. Heather Sigler
Drama at Downtown Daily Bread The Drop-in-Center at Downtown Daily Bread will be turned into a theater on October 5th at 1:45 p.m. The True North Theater Company will bring its production of An Iliad, the Obie winning play by Denis O'Hare and Lisa Peterson, to our clients and friends. This company presents quality, professional theater directly to audiences, especially those with little access to the arts. The production will be performed with live music, all the lights on, and minimal sets and costumes, bringing the story to life right in front of and around the audience. The war in Troy is over – and the Poet saw it all. Back from the front lines, he spins a tale of unquenchable rage, disputatious gods, and grieving widows. An Iliad weaves humanity's unshakeable attraction to warfare with the music of the muses, capturing the contradictory conditions of glory and violence with spellbinding modernity. It will feature local actor Thomas Weaver with original music performed by Colin Holter. All are invited. Plan to arrive any time after 1:00 p.m. to enjoy some pre-show refreshments. The production will last approximately 100 minutes. It should be an engaging and thoughtprovoking experience for everyone.
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Downtown Daily Bread Angels Recently, on a rainy morning, an older gentlemen and long-term client hobbled in and asked if we had any shoes. The ones on his feet were in shreds, full of holes so that his filthy socks were soaked. On that particular day, we gave him some clean socks, but there were no shoes to offer him. As the winter months approach, we need you to become a Downtown Daily Bread Angel. The Downtown Daily Bread Angels are a group of individuals who support and supply Downtown Daily Bread with basic need items for our clients. DDB counselors relay requests to the DDB Angels, who then bring what they can donate to the church, personally deliver items to DDB with prior arrangement, or send donations directly through third party vendors such as Amazon. The biggest needs are men’s and women’s underwear and socks, basic toiletries such as razors and hand sanitizer, and sugar, creamer, and seasoning salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Colder weather will require heavier and warmer clothing such as hoodies, coats, and gloves. And shoes. These simple items really do make a difference in the lives of our clients. If you would like to become a DDB Angel, please contact Linda Gzehoviak at (717) 238-9304 (ext. 105), or email her at lgzehoviak@pinestreet.org.
Thank You Corner Thank you to Jeff Himes, Bill Mader, Betty Rader, and everyone else who helped, for the fabulous ants-free picnic following the worship service on Rally Day. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and friends – it doesn’t get much better! Thank you to Jennifer Gardner for the beautiful flowers that have graced the pots in front of the church along Third Street this summer. Thanks also for maintaining the colorful display of blooming plants in our Urban Garden. Jennifer made our little corner of the world just a little bit brighter every day! Thank you to Bill and Pam Bauer for their generous contribution of socks, underwear, t-shirts, and caps through the Downtown Daily Bread Angels program. As word gets out about the simple yet overwhelming needs of our DDB clients, church members have historically answered the call for help, and Bill and Pam have proved this to be true once again. Thank you from the entire staff at DDB, as well as from the men and women who visit us. Downtown Daily Bread offers showers to its clients every day of the week. Clients are usually provided with clean underwear and socks following a shower. If 25 people shower every day, you can see that the needs are great. Thank you, again, Bill and Pam, for touching the lives of our clients in this way.
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Pine Street Life (USPS 574-510) is published monthly by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Periodicals Postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105. Postmaster: Send address changes to Pine Street Life, Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
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www.pinestreet.org | (717) 238-9304 Sunday, October 1 17th Sun. after Pent. Psalms 108; 150 2 Kings 17:1–18 Acts 9:36–43 Luke 5:1–11 Monday, October 2 Psalms 62; 145 2 Kings 17:24–41 1 Cor. 7:25–31 Matt. 6:25–34 Tuesday, October 3 Psalms 12; 146 2 Chron. 29:1–3; 30:1 (2–9) 10–27 1 Cor. 7:32–40 Matt. 7:1–12 Wednesday, October 4 Psalms 96; 147:1–11 2 Kings 18:9–25 1 Cor. 8:1–13 Matt. 7:13–21 Thursday, October 5 Psalms 116; 147:12–20 2 Kings 18:28–37 1 Cor. 9:1–15 Matt. 7:22–29 Friday, October 6 Psalms 84; 148 2 Kings 19:1–20 1 Cor. 9:16–27 Matt. 8:1–17 Saturday, October 7
Psalms 63; 149 2 Kings 19:21–36 1 Cor. 10:1–13 Matt. 8:18–27 Sunday, October 8 18th Sun. after Pent. Psalms 103; 150 2 Kings 20:1–21 Acts 12:1–17 Luke 7:11–17 Monday, October 9 Psalms 5; 145 2 Kings 21:1–18 1 Cor. 10:14–11:1 Matt. 8:28–34 Tuesday, October 10 Psalms 42; 146 2 Kings 22:1–13 1 Cor. 11:2 (3–16) 17–22 Matt. 9:1–8 Wednesday, October 11 Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11 2 Kings 22:14–23:3 1 Cor. 11:23–34 Matt. 9:9–17 Thursday, October 12 Psalms 97; 147:12–20 2 Kings 23:4–25 1 Cor. 12:1–11 Matt. 9:18–26 Friday, October 13 Psalms 51; 148
2 Kings 23:36–24:17 1 Cor. 12:12–26 Matt. 9:27–34 Saturday, October 14 Psalms 104; 149 Jer. 35:1–19 1 Cor. 12:27–13:3 Matt. 9:35–10:4 Sunday, October 15 19th Sun. after Pent. Psalms 19; 150 Jer. 36:1–10 Acts 14:8–18 Luke 7:36–50 Monday, October 16 Psalms 135; 145 Jer. 36:11–26 1 Cor. 13:(1–3) 4–13 Matt. 10:5–15 Tuesday, October 17 Psalms 123; 146 Jer. 36:27–37:2 1 Cor. 14:1–12 Matt. 10:16–23 Wednesday, October 18 Psalms 15; 147:1–11 Jer. 37:3–21 1 Cor. 14:13–25 Matt. 10:24–33 Thursday, October 19 Psalms 36; 147:12–20 Jer. 38:1–13 1 Cor. 14:26–33a
(33b–36) 37–40 Matt. 10:34–42 Friday, October 20 Psalms 130; 148 Jer. 38:14–28 1 Cor. 15:1–11 Matt. 11:1–6 Saturday, October 21 Psalms 56; 149 Jer. 52:1–34 1 Cor. 15:12–29 Matt. 11:7–15 Sunday, October 22 20th Sun. after Pent. Psalms 67; 150 Jer. 29:1, 4–14 Acts 16:6–15 Luke 10:1–12, 17–20 Monday, October 23 Psalms 57; 145 Jer. 44:1–14 1 Cor. 15:30–41 Matt. 11:16–24 Tuesday, October 24 Psalms 54; 146 Lam. 1:1–5 (6–9) 10–12 1 Cor. 15:41–50 Matt. 11:25–30 Wednesday, October 25 Psalms 65; 147:1–11 Lam. 2:8–15 1 Cor. 15:51–58 Matt. 12:1–14
Thursday, October 26 Psalms 143; 147:12–20 Ezra 1:1–11 1 Cor. 16:1–9 Matt. 12:15–21 Friday, October 27 Psalms 88; 148 Ezra 3:1–13 1 Cor. 16:10–24 Matt. 12:22–32 Saturday, October 28 Psalms 122; 149 Ezra 4:7, 11–24 Philem. 1–25 Matt. 12:33–42 Sunday, October 29 21st Sun. after Pent. Psalms 108; 150 Hag. 1:1–2:9 Acts 18:24–19:7 Luke 10:25–37 Monday, October 30 Psalms 62; 145 Zech. 1:7–17 Rev. 1:4–20 Matt. 12:43–50 Tuesday, October 31 Psalms 12; 146 Ezra 5:1–17 Rev. 4:1–11 Matt. 13:1–9