Pine Street Life - January 2011

Pine Street Life

Teens’ FaiTh

By Rev� Alexander L� Lang

January Scripture 8 January Dates at a Glance

Jan 2 Bagels & Belief (p.2)

Jan 8 Men’s Breakfast (p. 3)

Jan 16 Tickets on sale for Valentine Cabaret (p.4)

Jan 16� � � Pine StreetWalkers (p. 4)

Jan 17 Office/Boyd Closed for MLK Holiday

PSL deadline

Articles, photos and items of interest for the February issue of Pine Street Life are due by January 15, 2011 Please e-mail to Sue Black at BL3COL@aol.com

Kendra Dean, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, just released a new book entitled Almost Christian that documents the faith of the most recent generation of young Christians� Dean interviewed more than 3300 American youth ages 13-17 and asked them one simple question: “Can you describe your faith?” What Dean found both shocked and depressed her� Although three out of every four American teenagers claim to be Christian, the majority are indifferent and inarticulate about their faith� This includes teens from all walks of life — Catholic to Protestant, liberal and conservative, poor and wealthy� The most common answer given by teens when asked to articulate their faith is that God wants them “to feel good and do good�” Kendra calls this “moralistic therapeutic deism�” In other words, God is not very involved in

the world, but desires that people act morally and enjoy the fruits of a comfortable life� Critics of Dean’s study retort that teenagers are not very articulate about any subject, so faith should not be highlighted as something out of the ordinary However, Dean found that the same teens who could barely utter a coherent sentence about their faith were able to speak very intelligently concerning politics, money, sex and family issues� Thus, Dean concluded that faith was something of anomaly in the lives of American teens — they know faith should be important, but they don’t know why faith is important� What Dean has observed in teens is something that I have known for many years now� The majority of teenagers and most adults lack a coherent understanding of their faith� I would argue, however, that this is nothing new� In the late 1600’s, when the Protestant Reformation had fully taken root in the majority of eastern

(See Teens on page 2)

KOALA

by Cheryl A Goode

KIDS

— kids were special to Jesus� We read in Matthew 19:13-15 that children were being brought to him so that he might pray for them The disciples scolded the parents bringing them and, in essence, wanted them to take the children away from Jesus� Jesus knew that children were the future, and could pass on the faith to others as well as adults could� He gathered the children around him and prayed for them� As adults we tend to think of children as little people who can’t contribute to the adult world� Children are open, honest and have many talents to offer Therefore, as Christians and members of the faith community we need to help children grow into their faith�

(See Koala on page 4)

In mid-December, the 2011 stewardship campaign stood at $521,574 with commitments from 159 pledging units� The final tally isn’t expected until March, since not all Pine Street members were at November’s Consecration Sunday celebration�

If you have not yet pledged, we urge you to do so for the sake of the spiritual and financial well-being that comes from regular contributions� The convenience of electronic E-tithing is also possible� Contact the church office at 238-9304 for further information

John Goodrich, Stewardship Committee

What is Per Capita?

By John Goodrich

Every January Pine Street’s congregation hears about per capita giving� It comes at the time our church budget has been finalized, and here’s why it’s important for us to know more about it

“Per capita” — or “per person” — is an apportionment that our congregation pays as a set amount to support the greater good of the Presbyterian Church (U S A ) As part of a connective, Reformed belief, our annual contribution of $22�50 per member goes toward the national and international ministries that the broader church sponsors to further God’s presence in our world The per capita money also backs the work of the General Assembly and its synods and presbyteries�

The Rev George Hollingshead of the Presbytery of Philadelphia compares per capita to a utility bill He writes, “Just as we pay for heat, water, light and phone to remain connected to vital systems in our home, we also pay so that the Presbyterian system can function on behalf of all of us It is a necessary linkage in our connectional system ”

The funds we send to the greater church, in addition to backing mission, also underwrite the ecclesiastical, legislative and judicial functions that identify a Reformed belief�

Some of these costs are obvious There are salaries for the clerks of the General Assembly, the Synod of the Trinity and the Carlisle Presbytery� And there are expenses for the huge work of the office of the stated clerk, transportation of delegates to General Assembly, the accounting office and the process of organizing and holding Presbytery meetings�

I mentioned at the beginning that it’s important to understand the per capita apportionment Each member of our congregation is recorded by the clerk of Session, which is reported to Presbytery� That means an assessment is made multiplied by the total number of our members

By providing an extra $25 to our giving at the beginning of the year, we can better come together with a like purpose to serve God�

Session Notes for December

The session did not have a regular meeting in December

Financial Picture as of December 15, 2010

Year-to-Date Pledges Received $ 541,605

Year-to-Date Budgeted Pledges $603,162 Pledges in Arrears $61,557

Men’s Breakfast

Pine Street Men will meet for breakfast on Saturday, January 8, 2011� Make that New Year Resolution right now to join in with other Pine Street Men for breakfast on the second Saturday of the month� There is no better way to start the New Year and your Saturday than with a hearty breakfast and great fellowship Breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m., conversation and fellowship will follow Sign up at the Welcome Center

Love Songs for Valentines … a Cabaret!

By Tom Clark-Jones

On Friday evening, February 11 at 7:30 p.m�, the Pine Street Choir and soloists will be joined by some of their friends to present love songs from both the Broadway stage and the movie studios of Hollywood for Valentine’s Day Celebrate a few days early with your best gal or significant other … or even your wife! There will be gourmet desserts and coffee around the tables as the music surges to life The chefs will work their magic with chocolate and cream to delight your palette The price of the ticket is considerably less than either a Broadway show or a movie … just $10.00 for a great evening! Tickets for this evening will be available at the Welcome Center beginning on January 16 Plan now to be with us as we explore the great music of American theatre and movies! Free parking is available in the South Street garage� x

Continued from page 1

How do we do this? Learning happens by the examples adults show� Learning happens at home with parents, at church with their peers and teachers By being in the community of faith, it nurtures growth�

LIFELONG

— It is never too soon to begin the process of learning Learning begins in the womb when mothers and fathers talk to their child or sing to them� It continues into childhood and throughout our adult lives� When children are brought to church they begin to feel a sense of belonging and of being an important part of the church community

Children in first and second grade recognize they are an important part of the church through praying, singing and hearing Bible stories� They recognize the church as people who love God, and can recognize basic symbols of the faith They are able to associate prayer with certain fixed times of the day and can relate to God as a friend�

Third and fourth graders are curious, able to read the Bible and can identify books, chapter and verses They are learning roles in groups and can sense inclusion/exclusion in the worshiping community� They also recognize cultural diversity in music, liturgy and music�

Fifth grade students recognize there are a variety of religions Students of this age can use what they read to relate to self and others� They begin to accept differences in others and can resolve conflict by relating to Christian principles, ethics and teachings

ADVENTURE

— The KOALA Club adventure began on October 6, 2010 We began the program with only four students and have grown to a group of ten� The evening is full of fun, energy and learning As students arrive they are checked in and we begin games� Some of the favorites have been the obstacle course, scooter relay, and the parachute games� We move from that into handbook time� Each student has a KOALA handbook filled with scripture verses surrounding the topics of Jesus, Love, Morals, Salvation, Service, and Stewardship� They have fifteen minutes with an adult each week to recite and memorize verses When a student has completed one section of the book (there are twelve verses on each grade level) they receive a Bible badge for their sash� After handbook time we jump right into music with Mr. Hartman and Ms. Chelsea� We have had lots of fun learning new songs and hand motions that go along with the songs! Lesson time is a great time to relax and refocus our energy� We begin this time with prayer and then have our mini lesson

To end the evening, we have awards time� Each student is recognized for their accomplishments of the evening� The students are asked to stand up, as we applaud and shout in honor of their accomplishment If a student has completed the requirement of Bible verses they receive their Bible badge during awards time�

This program is a wonderful opportunity for children in first through fifth grade to have fun playing games, to learn, to build friendships and most importantly grow in their faith We encourage you to come and see the program firsthand, and students can bring their friends! x

You are invited to join the Pine StreetWalkers for a stroll in the woods after worship on Sunday, January 16, 2011� We will “walk” on the trails of the Fort Hunter Conservancy� This is a difficult trail at the start but will level out into a nice walk� There will be no hike if it is icy but it can be done in the snow There is very little parking so meet at the church after the 11 a�m� service to car pool to the trail head� This is another hidden “jewel” close to home� Check it out on the Web at http://www.dauphincounty.org/parks-recreation/ parks/fort-hunter-conservancy/

by Elaine Strokoff

Thank you to Cheryl Goode, Joanne Alwine and friends for decorating the Christmas tree for DDB Thank you, too, to Cheryl and her mom, Audrey Bell, for baking pumpkin pies for DDB’s Thanksgiving feast� Elaine

Handbags for the Homeless

Just in time for Thanksgiving, clients of DDB were treated to 60 bags of hygiene items courtesy of Handbags for the Homeless Handbags for the Homeless is a student‐initiated community outreach project designed to help meet some of the immediate tangible needs of the homeless population in Harrisburg and surrounding areas� Handbags for the Homeless accepts donations of:

• gently used backpacks, shoulder bags or gym bags,

• ready-to-eat foods (beef jerky, pop-top soups/meals, small servings of snacks, etc)

• water bottles,

• feminine hygiene items,

• sample size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, etc ,

• toothbrushes, combs, hairbrushes,

• small tissue packs, washcloths,

• scarves, gloves, hats, socks,

• chewing gum, candy, mints, paperback books, crossword puzzle or game books, magazines, deck of cards, portable (lightweight) games

• your time to help fill and/or deliver bags to emergency shelters/soup kitchens�

In its first year (2009) graduate students in Shippensburg’s counseling program conceived the idea for Handbags for the Homeless as a class project and collected enough items to hand out over 300 bags� The success of this project has inspired these students to continue it this year with the help of the Upsilon Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International

DDB would like to thank Monique Talton and the Upsilon Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota for their service to our clients� For more information or to make a donations, you can contact Monique Talton at mt8053@ship.edu or chisigmaiota@ship.edu.

Dear Pine Streeters:

Most of you know that I have been out of work since March 2010. Thanks to all of your prayers and combined thoughts, I have been offered and accepted the position of Director of Development for the Salvation Army, Carlisle Barracks. I am thrilled to be back working but even more thrilled to work for such an awesome organization.

I want you to know how much I have appreciated your kind words, thoughts and prayers during this very long and stressful time. I know that everything happens for a reason but having you all behind me as support has been truly a blessing.

Many, many thanks. May the New Year bless you all as you have blessed me. Jeanne Troy

ASK ALEX ANYTHING

By Christine Ewing

Ask Alex Anything is a new video blog that will be part of our new web page that’s being completely revamped and going live in early 2011� It’s your opportunity to ask about religion, the church or a general question about the faith���Alex will do his best to enlighten you and entertain at the same�

Ask Alex Anything either by submitting your question to Alex by

• placing it in the box located at the Welcome Center and/or

• emailing it to Alex at: alang@pinestreet.org�

Join Alex online as we celebrate our new web page in early 2011�

Pine Street – A Safe Church

by Diana Robertson and Cheryl Goode

In today’s environment we have reason to be concerned for our safety� By a church’s very nature we tend to be more vulnerable than other organizations and institutions due to the following components:

• TRUST— Churches are composed of kind and trusting Christians among whom a predator could easily blend in and be undetected� Congregations give people the benefit of the doubt, particularly when they are “church goers ”

• LACK OF SCREENING — Institutions that serve children (such as schools and scouts) have implemented policies such as background checks� Unprotected churches provide a place where predators can slip in undetected�

• OPPORTUNITY— Churches provide acceptance, comfort and an assumed sense of safety to all kinds of people: people who are hurting, people who are disenfranchised, people who are seeking, people who want to serve, and people who are vulnerable�

• ACCESS — Churches have a myriad of groups, activities and events that draw all kinds of children and adults, providing a great pool of potential victims�

• NEED — Churches need and love volunteers� Very often the only thing required is a willing heart to be signed up for any variety of duties or responsibilities, with very few questions asked�

A Safe Church committee was formed late in 2008, consisting of John Van Allen, Mike Baker, Diana Robertson and Cheryl Goode� The committee began discussions at that time to establish guidelines that would work to ensure the safety of the children and youth entrusted to our care, as well as the church as a whole�

To protect ourselves the Session of Pine Street Presbyterian Church adopted the policy “Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Children and Youth Abuse Prevention Policy” as of September, 2010 If you would like to view a copy of this policy, or have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation please contact Cheryl Goode or Diana Robertson Please look for continuing information in future issues of Pine Street Life x

Inclement Weather Policy

In the case of inclement weather please tune into any of the following television stations: WHTM-TV Channel 27, WHPTV Channel 21, or WLYH-TV Channel 15, or their websites for up to date information on closings or delays�

News From Our Church Family

New Members

December 5, 2010

Kathy Davis

Ted Davis

Mikell Worley

Ben Youell

Deaths

November 25, 2010

Mary Ann Beckley

Rebekah Anderson was invited to dance The Nutcracker as a guest performer for the Virginia Regional Ballet in Williamsburg, Virginia, on December 16 –19� She performed the Snowflakes and Waltz of the Flowers

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�

January, 2011

5 6 :0 0 P M J Y FBo y d 6 :0 0 P

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1 6 8 :3 0 A M W o rs h i pS a n c t u a ry 9 :3 0 A M C h i l d r e n ' s C h o i r Pr a c t i c e ( PreK5

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1 1 : 0 0 A M W o rs h i p –Sa n c t u a ry

C h u rc h & B o y d O f f i c e s C l o s e d

4 :0 0 P M Yo u t h H a n d b e l l C h o i r Be l l R o o m

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2 6 1 2 : 0 0 PM R e v e l a t i o n Bi b l e St u d y –R o o m 3 0 8 6 :0 0 P M J Y FBo y d 6 :0 0 P M KO AL A 7 :3 0 P M Ad u l t H a n d b e l l C h o i rB e l l R o o m

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2 4 6 :3 0 P M S t e p h e n M i n i s t ry S u p e rv i s i o n –R o o m 1 0 2

5 :0 0 P M SYF –F e l l o w s h i p H a l l & B o y d

2 3 8 :3 0 A M W o rs h i pS a n c t u a ry

9 :3 0 A M C h i l d r e n ' s C h o i r Pr a c t i c e ( PreK5

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5 :0 0 P M SYF –F e l l o w s h i p H a l l & B o y d

3 0 8 :3 0 A M W o rs h i pS a n c t u a ry

9 :3 0 A M C h i l d r e n ' s C h o i r Pr a c t i c e ( PreK5

Saturday January 1

Psalm 98, 149

Genesis 17:1–12a, 15–16

John 16:23b–30

Sunday January 2

Psalm 147:12-20

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

John 1:(1-9) 10-18

Monday January 3

Psalm 111, 145

Genesis 28:10–22

John 10:7–17

Tuesday January 4

Psalm 20, 146

Exodus 3:1–5

John 14:6–14

Wednesday January 5

Psalm 99, 147:1–11

Joshua 1:1–9

John 15:1–16

Thursday January 6

Psalm 72, 147:12–20

Isaiah 52:7–10

Matthew 12:14–21

Friday January 7

Psalm 46 or 97, 148

Isaiah 52:3–6

John 2:1–11

Lectionary Readings for January

Saturday January 8

Psalm 46 or 47, 149

Isaiah 59:15b–21

John 4:46–54

Sunday January 9

Psalm 29:1-11

Isaiah 42:1-9

Acts 10:34-43

Matthew 3:13-17

Monday January 10

Psalm 5, 145

Isaiah 40:12–24

Mark 1:1–13

Tuesday January 11

Psalm 42, 146

Isaiah 40:25–31

Mark 1:14–28

Wednesday January 12

Psalm 89:1–18, 147:1–11

Isaiah 41:1–16

Mark 1:29–45

Thursday January 13

Psalm 97, 147:12–20

Isaiah 41:17–29

Mark 2:1–12

Friday January 14

Psalm 51, 148

Isaiah 42:(1–9) 10–17

Mark 2:13–22

Saturday January 15

Psalm 104, 149

Isaiah (42:18–25) 43:1–13

Mark 2:23–3:6

Sunday January 16

Psalm 40:1-11

Isaiah 49:1-7

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

John 1:29-42

Monday January 17

Psalm 135, 145

Isaiah 44:6–8, 21–23

Mark 3:7–19a

Tuesday January 18

Psalm 123, 146

Isaiah 44:9–20

Mark 3:19b–35

Wednesday January 19

Psalm 15, 147:1–11

Isaiah 44:24—45:7

Mark 4:1–20

Thursday January 20

Psalm 36, 147:12–20

Isaiah 45:5–17

Mark 4:21–34

Friday January 21

Psalm 130, 148

Isaiah 45:18–25

Mark 4:35–41

Saturday January 22

Psalm 56, 149

Isaiah 46:1–13

Mark 5:1–20

Sunday January 23

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Isaiah 9:1-4

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

Monday January 24

Psalm 57, 145

Isaiah 48:1–11

Mark 5:21–43

Tuesday January 25

Psalm 54, 146

Isaiah 48:12–21 (22)

Mark 6:1–13

Wednesday January 26

Psalm 65, 147:1–11

Isaiah 49:1–12

Mark 6:13–29

Thursday January 27

Psalm 143, 147:12–20

Isaiah 49:13–23 (24–26)

Mark 6:30–46

Friday January 28

Psalm 88, 148

Isaiah 50:1–11

Mark 6:47–56

Saturday January 29

Psalm 122, 149

Isaiah 51:1–8

Mark 7:1–23

Sunday January 30

Psalm 15:1-5

Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12