Pine Street Life - January 2010

January 1, 2010 PSL Deadline

Articles for the next issue of Pine Street Life are due by Jan. 15 for the February issue. They can be e-mailed to Shekeja@ptd.net or sstallsmith@pinestreet.org

Downtown group to celebrate Christian unity

By The Rev. Russell Sullivan

The downtown congregations, representing Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, United Church of Christ, and Unitarians will come together for an Ecumenical Celebration of our Unity in Christ at 4 p.m. on Jan. 24.

The service, which will be held as part of the area's observance of the annual

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will take place at Market Square Presbyterian Church at 20 Second Street in Harrisburg.

Begun in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated each year in cities and towns across the country and around the world.

The theme for the 2010 observance is "You Are Witnesses of These Things." (Luke 24:48) The (Continued on page 2)

Don’t forget Initial Offering

By Diana Robertson

An Initial Offering envelope can be found in your box of 2010 Offering envelopes, which can be picked up in the Gathering Place. The initial offering helps to pay for the giving envelopes to be bought and the per capita expense we pay to the denomination for each member. Together this cost runs around $25 per member. Please contribute as soon as possible to help defray this early expense.

Use the Initial Offering envelope and place it in the offering plate or note “initial offering” on the check and mail it to the Church Office

As we journey through the season of Epiphany in January, we are going to be focusing on mission and our outreach to the world. Here are our mission highlights for our Sundays in January:

On Jan. 10, Chantal Atnip, one of our trustees and the Treasurer of the Synod of the Trinity will deliver a focus on presbytery and synod mission giving. Hear about the great things God is doing through our governing bodies.

On Jan, 17, the Mission Committee is hosting a Mission Fair following the second service in the Fellowship Hall. Coffee and Fellowship will also take place there after the 11 a.m. Service, instead of in the Gathering Place. (Refreshments will follow, however, the 8:30 a.m. service in the Gathering Place.) Plan to check out (Continued on page 2)

Points of Financial Interest

This can be found above in this issue.

Pine Street hosts Jon Chapman

Born July 30, 1946, in Knoxville, Tenn. Jon Chapman received his elementary and secondary education in a variety of locations from Okinwa, Japan (K-2) to Indianapolis, Ind. (5 – high school).

He received his A.B. Degree from Knoxville College, having spent his third year of college studying at University College in Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa). His M.Div. Degree was attained from Princeton Theological Seminary. Chapman is a member of the CayugaSyracuse Presbytery, having been ordained by the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley in October 1979. He speaks French and a “smattering” of Swahili.

Jon has served as executive director of the Campus Christian Foundation, a United Ministries in Higher Education affiliate providing chaplaincy services to three institutions

UNITY

(Continued from page 1)

of Higher Education in Newark, N.J.

From 1975 to 1992, Chapman served as associate executive for Racial Ethnic and Public Issue Ministries with the Synod of the Northeast. He has traveled extensively in Africa, Europe and Latin America and led mission study visits to various countries in each.

Having served as the area coordinator for East and Southern Africa for 14

theme and text for each year's observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are chosen and prepared by representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and representatives of the World Council of Churches.

The international texts are developed, adapted and published for use in the USA by

years, Chapman commenced his work as area coordinator for Europe and Ecumenical Councils in 2006, the position he presently holds with the World Mission Program Unit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Chapman describes his task with the Presbyterian World Mission Program as that of helping U.S. Presbyterians and Ecumenical Partners to “maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3 RSV) and to witness to Christ’s redeeming love through service to people of all backgrounds.

Chapman is an avid reader and a sports enthusiast. He enjoys murder mysteries, basketball and football; and he likes to travel by automobile and air … still.

About himself, he says: “I’m seldom down in the dumps, I celebrate each

the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute. At the service on Jan. 24 the focus will be on our common mission to the community, and this mission will be represented by various groups whose mission the downtown churches support. The service of worship will be a festive celebration with special music and the leadership of the churches.

The Harrisburg service is sponsored by the Downtown Ministerium of Harrisburg. All are welcome.

PARSON

(Continued from page 1)

the various mission groups we support at Pine Street.

Elder Deb Olson, chair of the mission committee, will present a focus at both services of worship on the subject of world mission and our special offering to be collected on Jan. 31.

On Jan. 24, our missionaries to Lithuania, Eric and Becky Hinderliter, will lead an adult forum that morning in the Fellowship Hall. The Arizona Mission Team will be commissioned during the 11 a.m. worship ser-

vice.

On Jan. 31, the Rev. Jon Chapman, area coordinator for Europe and Ecumenical Councils of Presbyterian World Mission Program will be our guest preacher at both services of worship and will also lead us in an adult forum that morning. We will collect that morning a special offering dedicated to the support of Presbyterian World Mission.

A great teacher once said, "The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.” Let’s use the month of January to delve deeply into mission and to catch on fire for God’s work in his beloved world.

new turn of life and thank God for the many blessings and opportunities to experience and serve in God’s diverse creation.”

Lent right around the corner

By Bob Kerr

Christmas is just over, the Christmas season is still here since we are in Epiphany, and now it is time to start thinking about Lent!

During Lent, we are going to offer something new! We will be having several small group Bible studies at members’ homes during the five weeks of Lent. “Angels Point the Way to Easter” was written by our own Heather Sigler just for our use. More on that in the next issue of PSL.

Right now, we are looking for hosts who will volunteer their home for a group to meet for each of the five weeks of Lent. We are going to try and keep the groups to no more than 10 people. The host will get to decide what day and time the meetings will be held.

We are also looking for session leaders. Heather has agreed to provide some training for the leaders prior to the start of Lent so we will help you prepare to lead the sessions.

Individuals can agree to just host, just lead, or both. Anyone who is willing to agree to do one or both can contact Bob Kerr at 856-1693 or at robskerr@aol.com. They can also sign up at the Welcome Center starting Jan. 10.

New season brings new events

Pine Street will be a busy place in January. Here’s what’s on tap for the coming weeks:

Sunday, Jan. 3

Sundays at Five is hosting an Epiphany Party. We will begin with dinner at 5 p.m. and an epiphany cake. We will watch the movie, “The Fourth King” (runs approximately 30 minutes) and have crafts of stars, and crowns available to make. The evening will end in Worship.

Saturday, Jan. 23

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Please join us in dismantling the Greens/ church decorations for the season. Remember what goes up, must come down! We will begin at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy light refreshment with an Epiphany cake and coffee. Sign up at the Welcome Center if you are available!

Saturday, Jan. 9

Men’s breakfast will meet again in Fellowship Hall for a good hearty breakfast and fellowship. See you at 8a.m.! Please sign up at the Welcome Center.

The Presbytery of Carlisle hosts the Saturday Seminar for Presbyterians from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church. There will be workshops for Elder training, Deacons and Clerks of Sessions training. Other workshops will include, Youth ministry, Safe Sanctuaries, Missional Church, Sunday School Curriculum, Stephens Ministry, Evangelism, Our Reformed Tradition and Understanding 20Somethings. Registration is helpful for planning and you may find these forms at the Welcome Center.

Please be looking for information on the upcoming five-week, Lenten in home small groups Bible study. The study will focus on “Angels point the Way to Easter.” The curriculum was written for this study by our own Heather Sigler. Sign ups will begin on Jan. 10 at the Welcome Center for people who are interested in hosting, and for those who may want to lead. You may also contact Bob Kerr at 856-1693 or Robskerr@aol.com if interested.

Help Pine Street save a buck

Pine Street is looking for ways to trim the budget. An easy way to help is by signing up to get Pine Street Life electronically.

All it takes is a computer and e-mail address. The newsletter will be sent to your e-mail as a PDF, which can be viewed on any computer regardless of platform or operating system.

A bonus: Many of the photos and graphics used are actually in color, which can’t be seen on the paper version.

Once you get the issue, you have the choice of printing it out on your own printer, or saving the trees by reading it on the computer. Then if you see something you want to share with others, it’s as easy as forwarding the e-mail.

If you own a computer, please give this careful consideration. There is no cost involved to you, but it could save Pine Street plenty in the long run. You can ask to receive this at any time. Just send a note to psl@pinestreet.org.

Expanding church by tapping into culture

Note: The following was written by freelancer Toya Richards Hill for the Presbyterian News Service. It is part of a series of stories about congregations engaged in significant outreach and evangelism ministries.

LOUISVILLE — Natural life changes and unforeseen circumstances weighed heavily on San Antonio’s Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church over the years, resulting in a congregation somewhat disconnected from its community.

Yet in recent years the church has redirected its efforts and renewed its commitment, making its neighborhood the focus of ministry in order to grow the church deep and wide.

“Divine Redeemer’s mission is to re-establish ourselves as a congregation of our neighborhood,” said the Rev. Rob Mueller, pastor of Divine Redeemer. In the past six or seven years, “we’ve really taken seriously the call to reconnect with our neighborhood.”

Begun as a mission project of the former United Presbyterian Church, Divine Redeemer formed in 1915 and grew to become a self-supporting congregation fully entrenched in its largely first-generation immigrant community.

In addition, since 1928 the House of Neighborly Services, a community center initiated by the former Board of National Missions and now supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA), has operated in the same location as the church.

Mueller said over the years “several positives resulted in negatives for the church,” including the fact that as families got better educated and gained more economic mobility they moved to other parts of the city.

Leadership of the House of

munity is through four community worship celebrations held during the year, Mueller said.

In the fall a blessing for children, parents and teachers is a way to collaboratively celebrate the start of the school year and has “become a wonderful rite,” he said. A Thanksgiving celebration also is held during the fall season.

In the winter, the church holds a Christmas posada that includes retelling the Christmas story, hymns and an outdoor fiesta complete with some 1,200 tamales for the crowd, Mueller said. Two-thirds to three-quarters of attendees are not church members.

Neighborly Service also changed from Presbyterian missionaries, who once provided a direct link to the church, to staff more reflective of the community, who ended up being Hispanic Catholics, Mueller said.

Divine Redeemer was approached a few years after Mueller became pastor in 1994 about merging with a dying white congregation located in a growing Latino community elsewhere in San Antonio.

In many ways “it made some sense,” Mueller said, noting that many members of Diving Redeemer lived in the neighborhood where the church was considering moving.

“The congregation said no, we belong in this neighborhood,” Mueller said. Yet the members also acknowledged that Diving Redeemer would not survive trying to draw in congregants from other parts of San Antonio, he said.

“We made the decision that our long-term well-being as a congregation … was going to be connected to the longevity and vitality and quality of life in the neighborhood around us.

“Today we have many, many of the congregation who are actively engaged in direct ministry with people from the community,” Mueller said, adding that a good number of those in the community are new arrivals to the United States.

A plethora of programs and activities have evolved, including vibrant youth and women’s ministries.

A ministry called the House of Teens includes an after-school program, teen night and a leadership program. Youth mission trip and retreats, among other things, also enhance the church’s outreach efforts.

Divine Redeemer also has a women’s empowerment program called Aero Dance. The group, which first came together for dance aerobics, provides support around issues of emotional and social well-being such as domestic violence and depression.

In 2006 Aero Dance received a $15,000 grant from the Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People.

Among the largest ways Divine Redeemer connects with its com-

In the spring there is a Way of the Cross observance on Good Friday that helps remember Jesus’ suffering, but also connects with issues in the life of the community, Mueller said.

Elder Rueben P. Armendariz, church development consultant for the PC (USA)’s Mission Presbytery, said what’s happening at Divine Redeemer is a model for other congregations.

“They have opened themselves to … the needs of the community and to share the facility with the community,” he said.

Sometimes when churches decline, the tendency is to close up the church and begin protecting its assets, Armedariz said. What Divine Redeemer has done is open itself up and build upon the culture of the community, he said.

“They have taken advantage of the Hispanic culture,” which is typically centered on Catholicism, said Armendariz, who was pastor of the church in 1992. Using traditions like the posada, for example, they are able to invite “the whole community to participate.”

Downtown Daily

By Elaine Strokoff

Downtown Daily Bread has been recognized as a finalist in the 2010 Nonprofit Innovation Awards.

The judges sifted through the large number of outstanding nominations and narrowed the field to seven finalists in each of five categories:

Nonprofit Leadership Excellence

DDB has been named one of the finalists in the Programs category for the “Ride to Work Initiative.” This innovation was selected because of its originality, effectiveness and measurability.

organization categories will receive a check for $2,000. The award recipient in the Nonprofit Leadership Excellence category will receive a check made payable to his/her organization for $1,000.

Winter items, including:

 Hats, gloves, coats;

 Old sleeping bags or bed rolls;

 Men’s underwear, socks and clothing;

 Toiletries, including toothpaste and deodorant.

And don’t forget, Entertainment Books are available for $30 from the church and DDB offices.

Brand Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign

Collaboration

Programs

Management Operations

The award recipients in each category will be revealed at a breakfast and ceremony on Feb. 24. They will be presented with the Nonprofit Innovation Award and the winner in each of the four

The Nonprofit Innovation Awards are presented by Highmark Blue Shield and sponsored by Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz, Metro Bank, Suasion LLC, Temple University Harrisburg, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Reager & Adler PC,

Schaedler Yesco Distribution and Harsco Corporation.

It is a Central Penn Business Journal program in cooperation with the Lancaster Country Community Foundation, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities and the York County Community Foundation.

Pine Street collecting food for pantry

From the Mission Committee

During the Christmas season, the news media seem to focus on the great travails of the world — environmental crises, unemployment, fiscal woes, disasters … and rampant famine.

A recent PCUAS publication contained a report with a frightening statistic: Only 10 percent of the world’s population enjoys the luxury of three meals a day!

income elderly, and the physically or mentally challenged. All struggle to pay the monthly mortgage or rent, the utility bills, the taxes, the medical bills, with little or nothing left to purchase food.

meals!

Unfortunately, the Harrisburg area is not immune to this phenomenon. It, too, has a large population of the unemployed, the underemployed, the fixed-

The Ecumenical Food Pantry, housed in the Messiah Lutheran Church at Seventh and Forster streets, provides grocery bags of food sufficient to feed a family of four for three days. On Nov. 30, the EFP served 507 clients — or provided food for more than 2,000 people for three days — 18, 252 individual

The EFP has exhausted its fiscal reserves and can no longer purchase food to give to its clients. They will start turning away clients in early 2010 unless donations of canned goods or money are received.

The EFP can purchase food from the Central Pa. Food Bank at 10 cents a pound. A donation of $100 can purchase 1,000 pounds of food.

bring five nonperishable food items (vegetable or fruit canned goods, pasta, rice, beans, cereals, etc.) to the food barrel in the Gathering Place during these first three Sundays in January so that on CAN-DO Sunday we can deliver a bounteous provision to the Ecumenical Food Pan-

Pine Street has designated Sunday, Jan. 17, as CAN-DO Sunday. Each member, adult and child, is asked to

Feeding the poor is one of the principal ‘charges’ by Christ to his followers. We can and must respond to the needs of those in our community.

Please give generously to those in need.

Women’s retreat returns in 2010

The 2010 Ladies Retreat will be held at Camp Hebron in Halifax from March 12-14. The theme for the retreat is God’s Promises.

We are still in the process of securing a

speaker. Optional activities include hiking, horseback riding, crafts, and of course, those wonderful massages. Due to the number of women put on the waiting list last year,

Camp Hebron has promised us space this year to accommodate 50 women. We promise another year of meaningful worship, great fellowship, fun and food. Of course, snacking is optional.

See you at the retreat!

Scripture Readings for January

Friday, Jan. 1

Isaiah 62:1-5, 10-12

Psalm 98; 148

Matthew 1:18-25

Saturday, Jan. 2

1 Kings 19:1-8

Psalm 48; 149

John 6:1-14

Sunday, Jan. 3

1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm 111; 150

Ephesians 4:17-32

John 6:15-27

Sermon: The Rev. Russell Sullivan,preaching

Monday, Jan. 4

Joshua 3:14-4:7

Psalm 20; 145

John 9:1-12, 35-38

Tuesday, Jan. 5

Jonah 2:2-9

Psalm 99; 146

John 11:11:17-27, 38-44

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Isaiah 49:1-7

Psalm 72

Matthew 12:14-21

Thursday, Jan. 7

Deuteronomy 8:1-3

Psalm 46

John 6:30-33, 48-51

Friday, Jan. 8

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 46

John 7:37-52

Saturday, Jan. 9

Isaiah 45:14-19

Psalm 46 or 97

John 8:12-19

Sunday, Jan. 10

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Psalm 104

Ephesians 1:3-14

John 1:29-34

Sermon: The Rev. AlexanderLang,preaching

Monday, Jan. 11

Genesis 2:4-9 (10-15) 16-25

Psalm 5

John 1:1-18

Tuesday, Jan. 12

Genesis 3:1-24

Psalm 42

John 1:19-28

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Genesis 4:1-16

Psalm 89:1-18

John 1:(29-34) 35-42

Thursday, Jan. 14

Genesis 4:17-26

Psalm 97

John 1:43-51

Friday, Jan. 15

Genesis 6:1-8

Psalm 51

John 2:1-12

Saturday, Jan. 16

Genesis 6:9-22

Psalm 104

John 2:13-22

Sunday, Jan. 17

Genesis 7:1-10, 17-23

Psalm 19

Mark 3:7-19

Sermon: The Rev. Russell Sullivan,preaching

Monday, Jan. 18

Genesis 8:6-22

Psalm 135

John 2:23-3:15

Tuesday, Jan. 19

Genesis 9:1-17

Psalm 123

John 3:16-21

Wednesday, Jan. 20

Genesis 9:18-29

Psalm 15

John 3:22-36

Thursday, Jan. 21

Genesis 11:1-9

Psalm 36

John 4:1-15

Friday, Jan. 22

Genesis 11:27-12:8

Psalm 130

John 4:16-26

Saturday, Jan. 23

Genesis 12:9-13:1

Psalm 56

John 4:27-42

Sunday, Jan. 24

Genesis 13:2-18

Psalm 67

Galatians 2:1-10

Mark 7:31-37

Sermon: The Rev. Russell Sullivan,preaching

Monday, Jan. 25

Genesis 14:(1-7) 8-24

Psalm 57

John 4:43-54

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Genesis 15:1-11, 17-21

Psalm 54

John 5:1-18

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Genesis 16:1-14

Psalm 65

John 5:19-29

Thursday, Jan. 28

Genesis 16:15-17:14

Psalm 143

John 5:30-47

Pastor

Russell C. Sullivan Jr.

Associate Pastor

Alexander Lang

Organist/Choir Master

Thomas Clark-Jones

Director of Family and Lay Ministry

Cheryl A. Goode

Parish Associate for Visitation

Heather M. Sigler

Friday, Jan. 29

Genesis 17:15-27

Psalm 88

John 6:1-15

Saturday, Jan. 30

Genesis 18:1-16

Psalm 122

John 6:16-27

Sunday, Jan. 31

Genesis 18:16-33

Psalm 108

Galatians 5:13-25

Mark 8:22-30

Sermon: The Rev. Jon Chapman,preaching Staff

PINE STREET LIFE (USPS 574-510) is published monthly by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North 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 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101

Worship, 8:45 a.m.; Staff meeting, 9:10 a.m.; Trustees meeting, Noon

Of Interest to Pine Street Church

Breaking the fast

Men, Make that New Year Resolution now to have breakfast with Pine Street Men on the second Saturday of the month. You are invited to breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 9. Great time of fellowship, discussion and dinning.

The best way to start the weekend is by having a great breakfast with other Pine Street men. We meet at 8 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Come early to assist in preparation and stay for a bit to help clean up or just for conversation.

Dress warm, walk briskly

Celebrate the New Year. Get up and move around. Do one of your New Year’s resolutions to get more exercise and join the Pine StreetWalkers on Jan. 10 for a short walk in the woods at Boyd Big Tree Preserve.

We will meet at the pavilion at Boyd Big Tree. Direction: West on 22/322 to Fishing Creek Valley Road (Pa. Route 443), right onto Pa. Route 443, go 2.5 miles, the entrance to Boyd Big Tree is on the right, under the power line.

Sign up at the Welcome Center. Hike day telephone number is 580-3012. More information, direction and trails of Boyd Big Tree available on the Web at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ parks/boydbigtree.aspx.

THE PINE STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

310 NORTH THIRD STREET

HARRISBURG, PA 17101

Mark your calendars now for Feb. 14, when we will walk another jewel of the Greenbelt, Reservoir Park. For more information, visit the Greenbelt on the Web at www.caga.org. Join us, you will be glad you did.

Huge Thanks

To the Pine Street Peg-A-Way and Century Sunday school classes for their donations to DDB.

Periodicals

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Harrisburg, PA 17105