MAPS Begins the Spring Season
by Tom Clark-Jones, Organist/Choirmaster
After refraining from programming in January and February, for concerns about weather which turned out to be well founded, Music at Pine Street continues the 2013 – 2014 season with two Lenten events.
On March 21, Friday evening at 7:30 , Bill Carter and his PresbyBop Quartet return to Pine Street for the fourth season to observe a Lenten Vesper service we are calling “Lenten Blues.” The
March 2, 2014
A Bible Study: Is God Violent?
Rev. Russell Sullivan
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
Mark the date of June 7 on your calendars because the Congregational Life Committee is planning a progressive dinner, one of the most popular events, again this year. We all meet at a host’s home for appetizers, then move in smaller groups to individual hosts’ houses for a main course. Then we all meet together again for a desert course. It is always a very enjoyable time with lots of opportunity for casual fellowship. So, SAVE JUNE 7 on your calendar for this year’s dinner. We
See DINNER on page 3
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for leading us into that life. So, in addition to the Sunday morning topic, you are invited each week in Lent to share in a small group study of Marjorie Thompson’s beautiful work Forgiveness: A Lenten Study. Sign-ups are underway already. If you haven’t signed up yet, call me in the church office, and I will be glad to place you in a group. Small groups are a great way both to have fellowship with each other and also to experience God’s loving presence.
I hope you will partake of this unique Lenten journey this year and discover the amazing grace of a loving God who has gone at great lengths to free us and to redeem us. It is a joy to be your pastor and friend. I look forward to seeing you this Lent.
MAPS
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language of jazz speaks eloquently to faith, particularly when the Rev. Bill Carter is in charge of the combo. Bill’s superb musicianship combines with his profound understanding of the faith to produce a musical experience that must be experienced to be believed. The music presented will be wrapped in a service of scripture and prayer all dealing with the season of Lent. This is a wonderful experience. If you have not attended one of these concerts, you need to do so this time, and bring a friend or two who appreciate jazz. An offering will be received at the door.
Then on April 4, the Chamber Singers gather in the choir loft in a service of Choral Evensong, sung evening prayers. The group will present Canticles by Murrill as well as other beautiful service music. The service of prayers, scripture and music is followed by a performance of two of the church cantatas of J.S. Bach. Cantata 78, Jesu, der du Meine Seele and Cantata 6, Bleib bei uns will be sung by the group under the direction of Thomas Clark-Jones. A chamber ensemble accompanies, just as Bach intended. Soloists for the evening are Peggy Zirkle, soprano; Beverly Hudson, alto; Jonathan Hudson, tenor and John Sharpe, bass. Bach poured is heart and soul into the 198 church cantatas he wrote, and you will be moved and inspired by the beauty of this great music. Set the date aside now: April 4, Friday at 7:30 pm.
Both of these events provide child care for young children. The South Street garage will be available for off-street parking if you so desire. Plan now to join us for these two devotional events!
Session Notes
The annual joint meeting of Session, Deacons, and Trustees took place on February 4.
Financially, 2013 ended with a slight positive balance while the value of investments has risen considerably along with the Market. DDB had a good fund raising year and has received a substantial bequest to initiate a special veterans program. Deacons are coordinating their traditional care and compassion roles with emerging new initiatives.
Trustees provided a detailed presentation on the challenges presented by deteriorating heating system in the main building and steps under consideration to determine appropriate remediation. Session approved pursuing availability of grants to cover anticipated costs and approved securing of services of an engineer to provide detailed system requirements and alternatives.
Session revised the annual operating budget following conclusion of the Stewardship Campaign and Fiscal Year 2013 results.
Purchase and installation of carillon was approved to be paid by contributions.
DInner
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are looking for a volunteer to host the appetizer course, so if you are willing and have a home that would accommodate approximately 80 people, please contact the church office. We will also asking people to provide and host the entrée course for approximately 6 to 10 guests as part of the sign up process. Sign ups will start in late April and will be announced in the bulletin.
You are invited to join the Pine Street Men for “the best breakfast in town” on Saturday, March 8, 2014 What a great way to start the day. Breakfast at 8:00am, Fellowship Hall.
Deaths
Lucille Nast
May 19, 1928 –February 2, 2014
My Mom & DDB
by Elaine Strokoff
I want to thank those of you who sent me cards and notes of sympathy after my mother passed away in January. I appreciate your acknowledgement of this sad time in my life. You may not know this, but Mom had a special connection with Downtown Daily Bread.
After I started working at Pine Street, my mother and father were very supportive of my work at Downtown Daily Bread. Having never been to a soup kitchen, they came for the tour. They were immediately impressed and thereafter supported every fundraiser, luncheon, brunch, and award ceremony that involved DDB.
When my father passed away five years ago, my mother began to spend weekends with my husband Elliot and me. One early Sunday morning when both the weekend cook and Brenda were sick, my mother, a volunteer, and I prepared the noonday meal. My mom was 91 years old at the time. After we prepped and cooked for hours, I had to push mom out of the kitchen as she continued to clean until the room was spotless. When Mom visited the DDB kitchen, she would ask if she could help with either cleaning or cooking. She and Brenda became an “item.”
On many Sundays, Mom would accompany me to area churches and Sunday school classes and listen to me speak about Downtown Daily Bread. She would always enjoy my “preaching” and the social hour that followed. She made friends wherever we went. Often Mom would stay at our house through Monday and join me in the office in the afternoon. On those occasions, she would be happiest if she could help me in some way. Early on, she would stuff and address envelopes, check the mailing list, proofread the newsletter, and help with filing. Mom was an excellent proofreader, finding grammatical mistakes that the computer overlooked and suggesting different ways of expressing an idea. She was not shy in telling me that a particular DDB newsletter was “not as good as your last” or that it was “one of the best!” Mom was delighted when she learned a new task such as operating the office copier. DDB staff would stop in the office and jokingly ask Mom if she would help them with their work. Mom always replied “Yes,” without hesitation.
I was always amazed by the actions and reactions of DDB clients towards my mother. They treated her with respect and warmth, often calling her “Mom” or “Grandma.” They admonished me if they thought I was not holding her arm tightly enough while crossing the street or going up the stairs. They rushed to get the
Trustee Notes
Our investments did well this year due to a healthy increase in the value of stocks
Progress on the installation of a new heating/cooling system continues.Within the next several weeks we will have two, and possibly three, bids to consider.
door for us. They asked about her health and were curious about her age. They thought it cute that she came to work with me. I think it brought out tender feelings particularly in some very tough men reminding them of their parents or grandparents and perhaps of kinder, gentler times.
The last DDB function my mother attended was the 30th Anniversary Celebration on October 6, 2013. Mom was not her usual vivacious self that evening. She had been in the hospital the day before but insisted on coming to the celebration. Mom knew how long and hard I had worked on DDB’s 30th Anniversary project and she was determined to share the evening with all of us. The next day, Mom had a cardiac episode and was admitted to the hospital.
I lost my mother, my cheerleader, my friend. DDB lost a friend as well.
Upcoming Sermons
by Dr. Russell Sullivan
March 2
Transfiguration Sunday “Transfigured Leadership”
Lenten Series: "The Seven Deadly Sins"
March 5
Ash Wednesday “Primal Pride”
Genesis 3:1-7; Philippians 2:3-11; Luke 18: 11-14
March 9
First Sunday in Lent "The Price of Greed" I Chronicles 4: 9-10; Mark 10:25
March 16
Second Sunday in Lent "Untangling Envy"
Genesis 4:1-8; Ephesians 2: 6-7; Matthew 20
March 23
Third Sunday in Lent "Prodding our Inner Sloth" Ecclesiastes 1:1-9; Rev 3: 15-16; Matthew 25: 26-28
March 30
Fourth Sunday in Lent "Lust or Settling for Sex" 2 Samuel 11:1-17; John 4: 16-18
April 6
Fifth Sunday in Lent "Gluttony, or Oops, I Ate the Whole Bag!"
Proverbs 23: 1-3; Philippians 3:17-21; Mark 6: 41-42
April 13
Palm Sunday Guest preacher
April 18 Good Friday "Anger: Let God Fight Your Battles!"
Luke 23:34
April 20
Easter Sunday
"Celebrate: It's an Easter World!"
LILIES ORDER FORM – 2014
If you would like to purchase a lily that will be used for decorating the sanctuary for Easter, please complete the form below.
The form can be either mailed or put in the box in the Gathering Place along with your check made payable to Pine Street Presbyterian Church (please specify in the memo that this is for lilies). The cost of the lilies is $8.00 each. Deadline for orders is April 13, 2014.
WORDING OF DEDICATION:
In Memory of In Honor of Given by Amount Enclosed*___________________
You are encouraged to take your plant following the 11:00 am worship service.
*Payment is due when order form is submitted.
Mailing address is: Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
WE MUST HAVE THE ABOVE FORM FILLED OUT AND PUT IN THE BOX IN THE GATHERING PLACE (BOX IS MARKED). IF YOU DO NOT FILL OUT THIS FORM, YOU WILL NOT HAVE YOUR MEMORIAL LISTED IN THE EASTER BULLETIN, EVEN IF YOU HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT DONE AUTOMATICALLY FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
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www.pinestreet.org
Saturday, March 1
Psalms 122; 149
Proverbs 8:22–36
2 Timothy 1:1–14
John 12:20–26
Sunday, March 2
Transfiguration of the Lord
Psalms 103; 150
Malachi 4:1–6
2 Corinthians 3:7–18
Luke 9:18–27
Monday, March 3
Psalms 5; 145
Proverbs 27:1–6, 10–12
Philippians 2:1–13
John 18:15–18, 25–27
Tuesday, March 4
Psalms 42; 146
Proverbs 30:1–4, 24–33
Philippians 3:1–11
John 18:28–38
Wednesday, March 5
Ash Wednesday
Psalms 5; 147:1–11
Amos 5:6–15
Hebrews 12:1–14
Luke 18:9–14
Thursday, March 6
Psalms 27; 147:12–20
Habakkuk 3:1–10 (11–15) 16–18
Philippians 3:12–21
John 17:1–8
Friday, March 7
Psalms 22; 148
Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32
Philippians 4:1–9
John 17:9–19
