Christian Witness
Becky & Eric Hinderliter, PCUSA Mission Co-workers
Happy New Year and Greetings from Lithuania! Becky and I are beginning our 14th year of mission service as teachers at LCC International University, in Klaipeda, Lithuania. LCC is a long-standing mission partner of our church, the Presbyterian Church (USA). LCC aspires to be a model of Christian witness in this former Soviet space of Eastern Europe. It has been our privilege—with God’s grace and your prayers and support—to be part of this witness. We pray that we will be found worthy of this high calling.
greetings (you can see it at http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd_qHyvfoQ&feature=c4-overview&li st=UUI7clCUwpXBwyToUtj_V_XQ)
Our calling is to be teachers in the classroom—and to live a life worthy of the hope the Gospel promises us in our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2013 we taught six different classes from basic accounting to political economy. We also participated in the recruitment of new students through classroom visits, presentations, and even a trip to high schools in Russia. We also were part the LCC Christmas video
This summer we were in the US on “IA”—‘itineration assignment’ as it is now called. We had the opportunity to meet with 12 supporting churches, two presbytery gatherings (Carlisle and Donegal) as well as to attend the PCUSA ‘Big Tent’ events in Louisville, Kentucky. We offered our story in sermons, Sunday School programs, and even key-note addresses. We especially enjoyed spending time with those of you who have written to us or have come to visit us. And we were indeed uplifted by the continuing support from Pine Street and all its members. We’ll be on IA again in the spring and summer of 2015 as we strive to engage Presbyterian congregations in the ‘larger work’ of the church.
WITNESS on page 4
MAPS looks forward into 2014 by
Tom Clark-Jones, Organist/Choirmaster
As you receive this edition of Pine Street Life, you will also be receiving the brochure for the second half of the 2013 – 2014 season of Music at Pine Street in the mail. Please read the brochure carefully, and plan to attend the various events listed. All are worthy of your time and effort.
We have planned two events to coincide with the Lenten observance … another appearance on the series by PresbyBop,
MAPS on page 2
and items of interest for the March, 2014 issue of Pine Street Life are due by February 15, 2014. Please e-mail to Sue Black at
February 2, 2014
What is the Cradle to Prison Pipeline?
Can We Stop It?
Rev. Sandra Strauss
March 2, 2014
A Bible Study: Is God Violent?
Rev. Russell Sullivan
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
the wonderful jazz quartet led by the Rev. Bill Carter from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. They will present a program of ‘blues for Lent’. Later in the same season, the Chamber Singers present another of their beautiful services of Choral Evensong, this time followed by the performance of two Bach Cantatas appropriate to the season, complete with chamber orchestra.
Each year, we look forward to a major concert organist, and this season we are hosting Dr. James Kibbie, co-chair of the Organ Department at the University of Michigan and one of the finest players of our time. And then, we end the season with the music of Mozart: Louise Poorman plays the Piano Concerto Nr. 19 in F Major, K.459 and the Choir sings the glorious Requiem with soloists and orchestra.
Session & Trustee Notes
Session and Trustees did not meet in December.
The brochure will give you all the dates and times, and we will remind you of them in Pine Street Life as each one comes up. This is just a reminder to be thinking about the next few months and to ask you to plan to attend. The best support one can give to this wonderful series is to be present! Just come and enjoy. All of us who make the music and do the support jobs that make it possible find our greatest reward in your presence with us.
Lenten Study Groups
by Bob Kerr
Once again, Pine Street is organizing Lenten home study groups. As we have in the past, there are five members who have graciously offered their homes to host a small group that meet each week during Lent to study a topic that helps us prepare for the Easter celebration.
This year, the groups will study Forgiveness by Marjorie J. Thompson. Some may recognize her as the author of Soul Feast, a book on spiritual practices that a number of Pine Streeters have read and have used as a guide for personal devotions. Forgiving others and asking for forgiveness are central disciplines for all Christians. During this Lent, it is appropriate for us to deepen our understanding and practice of forgiveness. Among the topics to be discussed are:
Is forgiveness a Christian duty under all circumstances?
How does forgiveness work in the context of communities?
How do we get past emotional barriers to real forgiveness?
The groups will start meeting the week of March 10 on a day that is convenient for the hosts. They will then meet during the next five weeks, through the week of April 7.
Sign ups will start in mid-February at the Welcome Center so sign up to attend at a location convenient for you. Books will be available for $7.00 when you register.
I would like to give a big thank you to all the volunteers who helped decorate the church for the Advent and Christmas season. I would especially like to thank John Hertzler for donating the beautiful tree that stood in the transcept this past season, and for taking the time to place the tree and take it down!
Cheryl A. Goode
A thank you to Margaret Mielke, Loretta Smith and Marna Holt for a total of $1100 for DDB from Bears for Bread.
Elaine Strokoff
Mission committee sends gratitude to all of you who branched out to help a neighbor by donating to the Giving Tree this Christmas. Tracking down and buying some of these gifts was somewhat like a scavenger hunt. What is a GO phone card anyhow?
Thanks to all the Pine Street members who helped with sign-ups, checked in gifts, organized items, and delivered presents. You met the challenge of weekend snow and ice to bring these packages to the local agencies. We can imagine the hope and happiness of those who benefited from these gifts.
Thanks to Sarah and Larry Pearce and Sue Stecher who handed out items at DDB. The comfort of receiving warming gifts could be seen on many faces.
Gifts included
HELP Ministries: $835 including generous checks for heating vouchers
Delta Community: Toys and gifts for 20 families, wrapped and tied with brightcolored ribbon
Promise Place: Gifts for 15 individuals, including handmade coverlets
Community Check-Up Center: A box overflowing with more than 100 books
Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Center: Supplies of pants, socks, underwear and knitted scarves for tots in daycare
Downtown Daily Bread: $50 and over 200 items, including bags of warm gloves, scarves, socks, hats and washcloths
Eileen Kunkle and Bonnie Peckham check in gifts
Jo Dolbin and Kathleen White check in gifts
Pine Street’s membership directory is on the Pine Street website. The directory is private and only accessible through using your user name and password. Your user name is your FirstLast name together and your password is your envelope number. The membership directory will be updated quarterly and then posted to the website. If there are any changes to the directory, or if you have a problem logging into the website, please contact Michelle Kennedy by calling the church office at (717) 238-9304 or by email at mkennedy@pinestreet.org
Witness
Continued from page 1
Student comments are very important to us. Here’s a sampling: A 2009 graduate from Russia reported, “I am working where I am thanks to you for the most part! Just wanted to express my gratitude in helping to define my life’s direction.” A recent LCC graduate from Belarus writes, “I’m staying in Belarus, and getting married in September. My future husband is determined to stay in Belarus, because his ministry and Church are here, and we both know that God needs us where we are.” Another graduate from Albania sent this note,” I was immensely touched by what you had shared in the (PCUSA) mission prayer book and the Bible study on work. I would like to ask you if I may share them… I found the prayer of the teacher really beautiful and encouraging. I have often thought if God is calling me to teach (especially in Albania, where teaching has completely taken another meaning these days)….”
The apostle Paul speaks frequently about meeting believers ‘face to face’ (I Thessalonians 2:17). We share his desire: “I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face” (3 John 13).
With God’s grace and your support we look forward to four more years as mission workers in Lithuania. We think this is God’s intention for us at this point in our lives. We know there will be many challenges, but we trust that God will provide. Thanks for remembering us—and the students at LCC.
Grace and peace, Eric & Becky Hinderliter
Special Offering Update
In October 2013, $1,055 was collected for the Peacemaking offering. 25% of this offering stays locally. This year $265 will be donated to Growing Strong, a newly formed local nonprofit group that is working with Harrisburg residents to grow nutritious fruit and vegetables in raised garden beds.
In December 2013 Pine Street members generously gave $2,525 to the Christmas Joy offering. This money will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA) and to support education at three Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
Deaths
Mary Angeli
July 10, 1929 –December 20, 2013
WOMEN’S RETREAT
Last day to sign up is February 14!
Speaker: Rev. Deborah McKinley
Topic: “Hitting the Pause Button-Sabbath Rest”
March 14, 15, 16, 2014 Friday 6:30 PM until Sunday 1:00 PM
Camp Hebron, Halifax, PA
Cost: $175 including 2 nights, 5 meals
Motel-like accommodations
We love becauseHe first loved us
1 John 4:19
February, 2014
www.pinestreet.org
Saturday, February 1
Psalms 122; 149
Genesis 18:1–16
Hebrews 10:26–39
John 6:16–27
Sunday, February 2
4th Sunday after Epiphany
Psalms 108; 150
Genesis 18:16–33
Galatians 5:13–25
Mark 8:22–30
Monday, February 3
Psalms 62; 145
Genesis 19:1–17 (18–23) 24–29
Hebrews 11:1–12
John 6:27–40
Tuesday, February 4
Psalms 12; 146
Genesis 21:1–21
Hebrews 11:13–22
John 6:41–51
Wednesday, February 5
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
Genesis 22:1–18
Hebrews 11:23–31
John 6:52–59
Thursday, February 6
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
Genesis 23:1–20
Hebrews 11:32–12:2
John 6:60–71
Lectionary Readings for February
Friday, February 7
Psalms 84; 148
Genesis 24:1–27
Hebrews 12:3–11
John 7:1–13
Saturday, February 8
Psalms 63; 149
Genesis 24:28–38, 49–51
Hebrews 12:12–29
John 7:14–36
Sunday, February 9
5th Sunday after Epiphany
Psalms 103; 150 Genesis 24:50–67
2 Timothy 2:14–21
Mark 10:13–22
Monday, February 10
Psalms 5; 145 Genesis 25:19–34
Hebrews 13:1–16
John 7:37–52
Tuesday, February 11
Psalms 42; 146
Genesis 26:1–6, 12–33
Hebrews 13:17–25
John 7:53–8:11
Wednesday, February 12
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
Genesis 27:1–29
Romans 12:1–8
John 8:12–20
Thursday, February 13
Psalms 97; 147:12–20
Genesis 27:30–45
Romans 12:9–21
John 8:21–32
Friday, February 14
Psalms 51; 148
Genesis 27:46–28:4, 10–22
Romans 13:1–14
John 8:33–47
Saturday, February 15
Psalms 104; 149
Genesis 29:1–20
Romans 14:1–23
John 8:47–59
Sunday, February 16
6th Sunday after Epiphany
Psalms 19; 150
Genesis 29:20–35
1 Timothy 3:14–4:10
Mark 10:23–31
Monday, February 17
Psalms 135; 145
Genesis 30:1–24
1 John 1:1–10
John 9:1–17
Tuesday, February 18
Psalms 123; 146
Genesis 31:1–24
1 John 2:1–11
John 9:18–41
Wednesday, February 19
Psalms 15; 147:1–11
Genesis 31:25–50
1 John 2:12–17
John 10:1–18
Thursday, February 20
Psalms 36; 147:12–20
Genesis 32:3–21
1 John 2:18–29
John 10:19–30
Friday, February 21
Psalms 130; 148
Genesis 32:22–33:17
1 John 3:1–10
John 10:31–42
Saturday, February 22
Psalms 56; 149 Genesis 35:1–20
1 John 3:11–18
John 11:1–16
Sunday, February 23
7th Sunday after Epiphany
Psalms 67; 150
Proverbs 1:20–33
2 Cor. 5:11–21
Mark 10:35–45
Monday, February 24
Psalms 57; 145
Proverbs 3:11–20
1 John 3:18–4:6
John 11:17–29
Tuesday, February 25
Psalms 54; 146
Proverbs 4:1–27
1 John 4:7–21
John 11:30–44
Wednesday, February 26
Psalms 65; 147:1–11
Proverbs 6:1–19
1 John 5:1–12
John 11:45–54
Thursday, February 27
Psalms 143; 147:12–20
Proverbs 7:1–27
1 John 5:13–21
John 11:55–12:8
Friday, February 28
Psalms 88; 148
Proverbs 8:1–21
Philemon 1–25
John 12:9–19
