P INE S TREET L IFE
Strategic Planning
An Update
The final version of Pine Street’s Strategic Plan has been approved by Session. Following a 16-month process, a Strategic Plan has been completed that provides a path to grow our congregation, engage Sunday morning experiences, renew our commitment to serving others through our mission programs, and develop fellowship and educational experiences that extend throughout the week. The journey exceeded the work of the sevenmember committee! In two focus group meetings, the first held in April, 2016, and the second in May, 2017, a total of 100 church members presented ideas and passions for our church. Thank you for your participation!
The Strategic Plan includes Pine Street’s new purpose statement:
Pine Street is a welcoming church, glorifying God through worship, fellowship, and service in the world. It also sets forth goals and strategies to support this statement. The plan is now moving into the implementation stage during which a few strategies will be the primary focus. Implementation of the following strategies will be a priority:
November
November 21 Trustees Session
November 28 Hanging
Develop an “Engage Harrisburg!” program that reaches out to downtown organizations, groups, and residents, participates in community events to advertise and market the church, and creates Pine Street-sponsored events for our neighbors.
Re-vitalize our membership’s engagement with Downtown Daily Bread and the Adult Learning Center through acti ve recruitment and advertisement in Pine Street media. Create a small team to focus on ministry to families with children and youth. Create a team to empower people to start mission groups, projects, and teams, and give them the necessary support and resources to accomplish their dreams of how they can participate in God’s renewal of the world.
Copies of the entire Strategic Plan are available at the Welcome Center. When you are called to help set this Strategic Plan into motion, please say yes!
by Stevi Sharp, Chair, Strategic Planning
November MAPS Concerts
UNO + ONE: Italia Nostra featuring TENET
Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Preëminent New York City-based early music ensemble TENET celebrates its ninth season in 2017-18. Under Artistic Director Jolle Greenleaf, TENET has won acclaim for its innovative programming, virtuosic singing, and command of repertoire that spans the Middle Ages to the present day. Highlights of recent seasons include performances of J.S. Bach’s motets, a three-year cycle of Carlo Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, a medieval survey series called The Sounds of Time led by Robert Mealy, and original theatrical performances highlighting works composed by, for, and about women in 17th century Italy. Renowned for their interpretations of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, TENET’s distinguished soloists have been praised for their pristine onevoice-to-a-part singing “to an uncanny degree of precision” ( The Boston Globe). TENET sponsors the highly praised Green Mountain Project, giving annual performances of Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, as well as other Vespers that have been newly reconstructed by the project’s musical director, Scott Metcalfe, including music by Monteverdi, Giovanni Gabrieli, Antoine Charpentier, and their contemporaries.
Soprano Jolle Greenleaf is one of today’s foremost figures in the field of early music. Ms. Greenleaf has been hailed by The New York Times as a “golden soprano” and “a major force in the New York early music -scene.” She is a celebrated interpreter of the music of Bach, Buxtehude, Handel, Purcell and, most notably, Claudio Monteverdi. She has performed as a soloist in venues throughout the U.S., Scandinavia, Europe, and Central America for important presenters i ncluding Vancouver Early Music Festival, Denmark’s Vendsyssel Festival, Costa Rica International Music Festival, Puerto Rico’s Festival Casals, Utrecht Festival, at Panama’s National Theater, and San Cristobal, the Cathedral in Havana, Cuba.
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Honoring Our Vietnam Veterans
On Sunday, November 12, we will honor our Vietnam veterans in worship that morning. Our guest preacher is Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lawson, a chaplain in ser vice to the Pennsylvania National Guard. Peter and I were in seminary together. In addition to his service as a chaplain, Peter was also a Presbyterian pastor to congregations. I look forward to his presence with us and our remembrance of those who served their country during that era.
On Saturday, November 11, Pine Street veterans and their friends and families are invited to a breakfast hosted by the Pine Street Men. Veterans from all branches of service are welcome. Plan to arrive by 8:00 a.m. for coffee and conversation. Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. If you need a ride to the breakfast, call the church office at 717-238-9304, or email office@pinestreet.org.
by Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor
The Enneagram Workshop
Saturday, November 18, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The enneagram is an ancient system that can help us understand human behavior. Having been used by spiritual guides for over 2000 years, this system describes nine personality styles with many variations. Although it is first and foremost a journey of self-discovery, learning this model can also increase understanding and harmony in our family relationships and with our work colleagues. It explores what motivates us, what we tend to avoid, how we react to stress, and when we are at our best. It challenges us, shows us our strengths and weaknesses, and offers a path for personal and spiritual growth.
Our presenters for this workshop are Ellen Kanagy, LCSW, and Rhonda Myers, LPC. Both are therapists at Samaritan Counseling Center in Lancaster, PA. Both have studied and learned from the enneagram for many years and found it to be a helpful tool personally and relationally. Ellen is also a former staff member of Kairos: School of Spiritual Formation in Wernersville, PA, and a certified spiritual director through Kairos.
There is a $15.00 charge for the workshop. Register at the Welcome Center, or e -mail the church at office@pinestreet.org. Mail your check to Pine Street and annotate it “Enneagram Workshop.”
POINSETTIA ORDER FORM
If you would like to purchase a poinsettia that will be used for decorating the sanctuary for Christmas, please complete this form. There are no longer automatic renewals for ordering poinsettias.
This form can either be mailed in or put in the box in the Gather ing Place along with your check made payable to Pine Street Presbyterian Church (please specify in the memo that this is for poinsettias). The cost of the poinsettias is $8.00 each. Deadline for orders is December 10, 2017.
WORDING OF DEDICATION
In Memory of In Honor of
Given by
Amount Enclosed* $
*Payment is due when order form is submitted.
Mailing address:
Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
The church office must receive this form by December 10 for your dedication to appear in the Christmas bulletins.
November Insight Forums
Rendering to Caesar: Christ, Culture, and Public Life
Dr. Dean C. Curry, Professor of Politics, Messiah College
November 5
Dr. Curry concludes this three-part series in which he examines the different ways Christians have understood what it means to be a citizen of God’s kingdom as well as a citizen of the world.
The State of Hate in PA … And the Good News!
Anne Van Dyke, The Community Responders Network
November 12
Recently retired from the Pennsylvania Human Resources Commission, Ms. Van Dyke is an expert on extremist groups operating in Pennsylvania. Who are they? How do we respond?
Policing in Harrisburg
Thomas Carter, Harrisburg Police Chief
November 19
Chief Carter will share with us his vision of compassion and policing in our city.
Gospel Overture: The Christmas Story According to Matthew
Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor, Pine Street Presbyterian Church
November 26
Themes found in the infancy narrative in Matthew are restated and reinforced throughout the body of the Gospel. As a result, the Christmas story can be understood as an overture to the Gospel, in much the same way that the music at the beginning of an opera introduces the themes that will be repeated in the body of the opera. Find out in Matthew’s version of Jesus’ birth what his main purpose is.
Grief Share: Surviving the Holidays
This program is a warm, encouraging, and helpful event for anyone dealing with the pain of grief and loss during the upcoming holiday season. It will be led b y the Rev. Heather Sigler, with support from Stephen Ministers and Deacons. Plan to join her on Monday, November 6, from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
The evening features a video presentation and group discussion. The video provides practical tips on dealing with emotions and expectations triggered by the approaching holiday season.
Conversation with others in the group will allow you to share (if you choose) how grief affects you during the holidays. You will receive a personal copy of the Holiday Survival Guide. Holiday refreshments will be served!
Comments from previous participants attest to the significance of this program: “It gave me “permission” to take care of myself before all perceived social obligations.” “There was such a sense of hope and healing.”
This event is open to the community, so please share this information with your friends and family. Registration is not required but it would help us plan to know how many are coming. A sign-up sheet is available at the Welcome Center or you may ca ll the church office at 717-2389304.
by The Rev. Heather Sigler, Parish Associate
Stewardship Celebration and Consecration Sunday
On November 19 Pine Street will hold its annual Stewardship Celebration and Consecration Sunday. The theme for this year is “Where is your Treasure?”20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:20 -21). These familiar verses are part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and our study of stewardship. This fall we will consider the “Treasure” portion of the trinity of stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. As we prayerfully consider our plans to financially support Pine St reet in the coming year, we need to consider where our treasure truly is found. According to the well -known biblical study source, Wikipedia, “This verse states that if one places one's treasure in heaven that is where one's heart or attention will be.” Does your checkbook reflect your faith?
This is the beginning of a yearlong focus on stewardship, not just of financial giving, but of our time and talents. The first part of the yearlong event is our annual stewardship campaign. and 2018 will be an exciting one for Pine Street as we begin to implement the new Strategic Plan recently adopted by Session. There will be challenges as we put our ideas into action. Pine Street will need each and every person to give of their time, talents and imagination, an d finances to make the Strategic “PLAN” a reality.
This year there are three challenges to the congregation for the fall Stewardship Campaign:
1) Everyone increase your giving – even by a little bit
2) Let’s increase the number of pledging members and friends
3) Let’s increase the number of E-tithers
The Stewardship Committee will let you know how we did early in 2018. On Consecration Sunday you will have opportunity to make your own estimate of giving for the coming year. The financial commitment you make will support the ministry and mission of Pine Street in the community and around the world. Mark your calendar now and be present on November 19 for worship and a special Stewardship Celebration Coffee Hour following the service.
by Chantal Atnip, Chair, Stewardship Committee
Peacemaker Award
Pine Street is a 2017 Award Recipient
Pine Street recently received one of the 2017 Peacemaker in Our Midst awards from the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg. The award was presented on September 17 to representatives Barbara Taylor, Beth Alwine, and Stevi Sharp of Pine Street’s Extending God’s Love Core Team at the 2017 International Peace Symposium at Elizabethtown College. Pine Street was recognized because of its sponsorship through a portion of the 2016 Peacemaking Offering of the Peacemaker Scholarship program at Harrisburg High School. Since 1997, scholarships of $1,000 have been awarded to two or three senior students. Criteria used for selection include significant action in opposing bigotry and intolerance, and conflict resolution as an alternative to confrontation and violence. Thank you to Pine Street’s members for their continued support of the Pea cemaking Offering.
by Stevi Sharp
Boyd Memorial Center Turns 100: 1916 – 2016
Part VIII – DDB and ALC Ministries to Harrisburg
The October issue of Pine Street Life pointed out that the Downtown Daily Bread ministry began in 1983 and was housed in the lower level of the Boyd Memorial Center. During the first twelve years of its existence, DDB served primarily as a soup kitchen, providing hot and hearty meals on a daily basis at noontime to anyone who showed up hungry - no questions asked and no one turned away.
Elaine Strokoff was hired in June 1995 as Coordinator of DDB. She later became the Executive Director and soon extended the programs through the involvement of more churches and synagogues. In addition to serving as many as one hundred meals on a daily basis, the many clients could now receive free clothing, telephone and mail service, shower facilities, 55 lockers, and counseling. Portions of the Boyd building were redesigned and modernized in 2003-2004 to better accommodate DDB. An elevator was added to the building at this time and, in 2009, additional storage space was created to house food and supplies. Elaine served at Downtown Daily Bread for twenty-two years until the reorganization of DDB in December 2016.
In 2014, Session created a new mission for Pine Street, the Adult Learning Center, to function as a congregational education mission initiative. Computers, teaching materials, and equipment were purchased and housed on the first floor of Boyd Memorial Center. Tutoring and classes began on October 20, 2014. Pine Street Church partnered with Tri -County OIC in this endeavor. Kathleen White is the Director of the Adult Learning Center, and instructors ar e volunteers from Pine Street Church and the Greater Harrisburg community.
by Kenneth C. Hays, Church Historian
Christmas Giving Tree 2017
Let the Light Shine
The 2017 eclipse brought awe and amazement to Americans from coast to coast. The brilliance of the sun’s rays emerging from the passing of the moon exhibited the fine -tuning of God’s creation. While the sun is the source of our natural light, it is Jesus who is the true light of the world, the light that is the source of life itself. As we celebr ate the birth of Jesus, the Christmas season brings us hope and happiness in a world where sometimes divisiveness and disasters seem to overshadow goodness. How can we shine a ray of hope on those that may find themselves in the dark?
The tradition of Pine Street’s Giving Tree gives us the opportunity. The needs are many. Within our community, these needs can be met directly.
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The Mission Team asks you to extend God’s love by supporting one or more of the following:
Delta Community: This agency strengthens families with children by providing affordable, transitional housing, life skills education, and supportive services to homeless families. You will be able to see the age, gender, and requests from each child.
Community Check-up Center: The Hall Manor Health facility works in partnership with the community to improve the health and wellness of low - income women and their children. After a visit, a child may choose a book to take home. If you have gently used children’s books, p lease consider donating them to the CCC.
HELP Ministries: The Christian Churches United program provides one -time assistance to those needing fuel oil. To donate to this worthwhile case, monetary donations may be made to HELP.
Downtown Daily Bread: Right before Christmas, Pine Street members will again set up a table at DDB to provide a gift give-away to clients. A list and display of requested items will be available.
Adult Learning Center: Providing educational mentoring to prepare students for GED and HiSET testing, the ALC is in need of some foreign language dictionaries, notebooks, and various items such as a globe.
Sign up in the Gathering Place on November 19, November 26, and Decembe r 3 at the Garden of Gifts Table. Return gifts on December 3 and December 10. You can serve as a reflection of God’s light and shine brightly this season by helping serve the needs of others right here in our local community.
by Laura Messner
Shawl Ministry
God’s Comfort, God’s Healing, God’s Peace
The following article will appear in the 2018 Presbytery Mission Yearbook. It was written by Lauren Logan.
On May 14, 2006, Shawl Ministry co-founder Deb Olson delivered a Minute for Mission at Pine Street that touched the hearts of congregants that morning. Those hearts were grieving the untimely death of a son and brother, the loss of a mother or father. Those hearts were celebrating the birth of a first child or grandchild, the settling of a young adul t in her freshmen college dorm. Those hearts were filled with fear and anticipation as surgery or a prognosis awaited. Those hearts were filled with hope for a mental or physical recovery, a new beginning. Those hearts began Pine Street’s Shawl Ministry, a monthly prayer gathering of women (and an occasional Continued on next page.
man) spanning the ages of 15 to 90 years young to create shawls, chemo caps, baptismal blankets, and scarves, that bring the wearer God’s comfort, God’s healing, and God’s peace which passes all our human understanding. The beautiful creations take countless hours to make, hours the creator often spends in prayer, needles and yarn in lively motion. As of this date, there are at least 420 recipients of these tokens of God’s love, and they are members of Pine Street, friends of members, people in the Central PA community, and individuals around the world whom we will never meet. Most of the time the recipient is known to us, their name and a prayer specific to their situation is written on a card that shares the blessing and identifies the creator. Sometimes we receive cards of thanks. Sometimes we hear nothing. Always though, we are a little changed, drawn closer to God’s vision, through this work.
by Lauren Logan
Thank You Corner
Thanks for the Bells
Our sincere thanks to all the generous donors of the new handbells!
Jack and Shirley Leisure, Bill and Pam Bauer, Estelle Hartranft, Robert and Chantal Atnip, Jane and David Freet, Kenneth and Joan Hays, Bill and Barbara Neff, Jeffrey and Stephanie Sharp, Pat Hartranft, Lisa Milletics, Bob and Jane McCutcheon, Paul and Joan Rice, Alan and Gwendolyn Schreur, Sue Stecher, Jacqueline Young, Heather Sigler, Jesse Weigel, and Richard and Arletta Gregg.
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third Street POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, PA 17101 AT HARRISBURG, PA 17105
Wed., November 1
All Saints’ Day
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
Isa. 26:1–4, 8–9, 12–13, 19–21
Rev. 21:9–11, 22–27
Matt. 5:1–12
Thursday, November 2
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
Neh. 1:1–11
Rev. 5:11–6:11
Matt. 13:18–23
Friday, November 3
Psalms 84; 148
Neh. 2:1–20
Rev. 6:12–7:4
Matt. 13:24–30
Saturday, November 4
Psalms 63; 149
Neh. 4:1–23
Rev. 7:(4–8) 9–17
Matt. 13:31–35
Sunday, November 5 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Psalms 103; 150
Neh. 5:1–9
Acts 20:7–12
Luke 12:22–31
Monday, November 6
Psalms 5; 145
Neh. 6:1–19
Rev. 10:1–11
Matt. 13:36–43
Tuesday, November 7
Psalms 42; 146 Neh. 12:27–31a, 42b–47
Rev. 11:1–19
Matt. 13:44–52
Wed , November 8
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
Neh. 13:4–22
Rev. 12:1–12
Matt. 13:53–58
Thursday, November 9
Psalms 97; 147:12–20
Zech. 1:7–17
Rev. 14:1–13 Matt. 14:1–12
Friday, November 10
Psalms 51; 148
Ezra 7:27–28; 8:21–36
Rev. 15:1–8
Matt. 14:13–21
Saturday, November 11
Psalms 104; 149
Ezra 9:1–15
Rev. 17:1–14
Matt. 14:22–36
Sunday, November 12 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Psalms 19; 150
Ezra 10:1–17
Acts 24:10–21
Luke 14:12–24
Monday, November 13
Psalms 135; 145
Neh. 9:1–15 (16–25)
Rev. 18:1–8
Matt. 15:1–20
Tuesday, November 14
Psalms 123; 146
Neh. 9:26–38
Rev. 18:9–20
Matt. 15:21–28
Wed , November 15
Psalms 15; 147:1–11
Neh. 7:73b–8:3, 5–18
Rev. 18:21–24
Matt. 15:29–39
Thursday, November 16
Psalms 36; 147:12–20
Neh. 6:1–19
Rev. 19:1–10
Matt. 16:1–12
Friday, November 17
Psalms 130; 148
Neh. 12:27–31a, 42b–47
Rev. 19:11–16
Matt. 16:13–20
Saturday, November 18
Psalms 56; 149
Neh. 13:4–22
Rev. 20:1–6
Matt. 16:21–28
Sunday, November 19 24th Sunday after Pentecost
Psalms 67; 150 Ezra 7:(1–10) 11–26
Acts 28:14b–23
Luke 16:1–13
Monday, November 20
Psalms 57; 145 Ezra 7:27–28; 8:21–36
Rev. 20:7–15
Matt. 17:1–13
Tuesday, November 21
Psalms 54; 146 Ezra 9:1–15
Rev. 21:1–8
Matt. 17:14–21
Wed., November 22
Psalms 65; 147:1–11 Ezra 10:1–17
Rev. 21:9–21
Matt. 17:22–27
Thursday, November 23
Psalms 143; 147:12–20
Neh. 9:1–15 (16–25)
Rev. 21:22–22:5
Matt. 18:1–9
Friday, November 24
Psalms 88; 148 Neh. 9:26–38
Rev. 22:6–13
Matt. 18:10–20
Saturday, November 25
Psalms 122; 149 Neh. 7:73b–8:3, 5–18
Rev. 22:14–21
Matt. 18:21–35
Sunday, November 26
Christ the King Psalms 108; 150 Isa. 19:19–25
Rom. 15:5–13
Luke 19:11–27
Monday, November 27
Psalms 62; 145 Joel 3:1–2, 9–17
1 Peter 1:1–12
Matt. 19:1–12
Tuesday, November 28
Psalms 12; 146 Nahum 1:1–13
1 Peter 1:13–25
Matt. 19:13–22
Wed., November 29
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
Obad. 15–21
1 Peter 2:1–10
Matt. 19:23–30
Thursday, November 30
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
Zeph. 3:1–13
1 Peter 2:11–25
Matt. 20:1–16