It has often been said that the Christian faith is only one generation away from extinction. For a city church with no housing nearby, Pine street is blessed with many children and youth participating in worship, education, and fellowship programs. These activities assure that faith is being passed on to our children and grandchildren.
each time a child is baptized you respond to this question:
This fall you will have opportunity to fulfill that commitment in a very tangible way and help keep the faith alive by sharing it with the next generation.
Do you, the members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture [name] by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging him/her to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of his church?
1) sunday school teaching teams are being formed for fall (14 weeks), winter (13 weeks) and spring (11 weeks). Devona Van Nest, Jackie Sastre and Lisa Milletics plan to again serve as lead teachers.
You are invited to assist on one of these teams working either with pre-school children or in our multi-age classroom serving K thru grade 4. Classes meet sunday morning from 9:40 – 10:40 am.
Coming this September: Kerygma –The Bible in Depth
Dr. Russell C. sullivan, jr.
As human beings, we have all kinds of need – food, clothing, and shelter are the basics. But we have something essential to our make-up as God’s people: we have a need for spiritual nurture and fellowship. God’s Word in scripture is one of the greatest gifts God has given us for our growth and development as Christians. I am pleased to offer to Pine street and its friends this fall a comprehensive 34 week Bible study, Kerygma: the Bible in Depth. This is a comprehensive exploration of the Bible as a whole and its meanings for life today. It is organized around ten themes that trace related stories and events through both old and New Testaments. No previous Bible knowledge is required, but you will need to purchase the resource book ($25), engage in home study,
July 5
How Does the Bible Have Authority?
July 12 some Challenging Passages: God’s Violence in the Bible
July 19 some Challenging Passages: Christianity and judaism
All forums are held at 9:40am in Fellowship Hall
2) Creating teaching teams opens the door for more members to participate in our education ministry. Do you ski or go south after Christmas? Then volunteer for the fall or spring team.
3) maybe your skill is storytelling, but you are all thumbs when it comes to crafts. That’s fine, volunteer to be a story teller. Another member may love to work with Play Dough.
4) Both men and women of all ages are welcome. Perhaps your grandchildren live miles away, so come and share yourself with our children. Be a classroom grandparent. It will keep you young at heart and enhance our education program.
5) Also, to be in compliance with Pennsylvania’s new Child Protection legislation and our own “safe sanctuaries” policy there must be at least two leaders present in each classroom. That means more volunteers are needed this year to assure that classes can meet each week.
Now that you are ready to volunteer, please indicate your interest on sign-up sheets at the Welcome Center. There will be an organizational meeting in early August and Rally Day, the first Sunday of the Church School year, will be September 13.
Thanks for considering this opportunity to help our children grow in grace and gratitude.
Session notes
Welcomed Brett Terry, our new Minister of Music and Worship, to his first Session meeting.
Reviewed a draft proposal to reorganize the current committee structure into a team ministry system. Session generally approved the approach, but additional work and review will go into refining the proposal before any formal action.
Approved moving forward with engaging professional mediation services to work with staff, Session, and members of the congregation to help with various unresolved issues within the church.
Members and Friends of Pine Street,
Thank you for a splendid reception August 31 — a memorable finish for my final Sunday as organist/director. I shall cherish my ten months of work at Pine Street. Rehearsing with THE CHOIR, singing with the children on Sunday mornings, attending planning sessions with the staff, and experiencing worship on Sundays and special occasions will be pleasant memories of PS. Thank you all for your friendship and generosity.
Ellen Hunt
Appointed Elder eileen Kunkle, with assistance from Elders Chantal Atnip and Sarah Pearce, to coordinate preparations for hosting the next Presbytery meeting on September 22.
Approved Personnel Committee evaluating current staffing needs to determine if additional professional staff should be hired.
Approved hiring a new weekend Downtown Daily Bread cook.
Approved he appointment of Elder Robert Kerr as Clerk for the coming year as a non-voting member of Session.
A Tribute to Elaine Strokoff
elaine strokoff, the executive Director of Downtown Daily Bread, recently celebrated her 20th anniversary of working at Pine street on behalf of the homeless in Harrisburg. elaine has been instrumental in bringing the issues of poverty and homelessness to the forefront in our community and of raising the consciousness of all Pine streeters to this issue. she has led this Pine street ministry with enthusiasm and professionalism, with a sense of purpose and pride. she is the face of Downtown Daily Bread in the community, and her fundraising efforts have been incredibly successful. We are thankful for elaine’s efforts and for her longevity and dedication to Downtown Daily Bread. Congratulations and thank you, elaine!! Both Pine street and the clients you serve are so very grateful to you!
You Never Know What the Future Will Bring
by elaine strokoff, executive Director, DDB
sometimes when I look back, it helps me to look forward. such is the case as I reflect upon my 20 years at Pine street. I have learned much over those years and I expect to learn much more. We never really know what the future will bring. If I had been asked in the summer of 1995, how long I expected to work at DDB, I might have answered five years. By then I would have had two children in college and two more in middle school. I had expected to return to work at state government or to teaching. It did not happen.
Almost immediately, I was smitten by Downtown Daily Bread.
I was in awe of the soup kitchen and at the same time, shocked by the need for its services. I was impressed by Pine street Presbyterian Church and its mission to feed the hungry and help the poor of the city. As I continued to work at DDB and take on more responsibilities, I saw a need for more services. I was encouraged to explore the possibilities, discuss the practicalities, and when approved, to execute a plan. This led to the lunch Plus Program, the mental Health Program, the Veterans Program, and others. The DDB kitchen and dining room underwent renovations, and the DDB staff grew along with church and community support. I am pleased to report that DDB continues to grow.
just when I thought DDB was “doing it all,” we were asked to do more. I was asked by other service providers in the city to consider adding a Drop In Center for the homeless as an extension of lunch Plus. This came as no surprise after listening to discussions on the topic for many years. Following months of planning and discussion with the church, the Drop In Center was approved. Pine street will house the first Drop In Center in Harrisburg. It is scheduled to open this july in the Boyd Building (more about the Center to follow.)
DDB has an excellent reputation for “getting things done.” It also has a reputation for collaboration, creativity, and solid management practices. “just when I thought DDB was ‘doing it all,’ we were asked to do more.” And, just as I expected, Pine street accepted the challenge and is leading the way. You never know what the future will bring.
Best wishes and stay cool! Elaine
Note: more about the Drop In Center, volunteer opportunities, and wish list in future editions of PSL
Donations needed for start-up: board games, books, magazines, towels, and soap. Also needed: compact and lightweight chairs (preferably covered in vinyl or leather for easy cleaning); card table and matching chairs; snack items such as cookies, pretzels, and crackers; coffee, sugar, and creamers.
For more information, please contact elaine by phone at 717-238-4717 or by email estrokoff@pinestreet.org Thank you!
First Annual “5K to Educate” Race
– It’s a Win…Win!!!
by Chris ewing
THANK You, THANK You, THANK You to each and every one who helped make the first annual 5K to educate Run/Walk a success. Whether you were a race day participant, pre-race or race-day volunteer, a friend, a patron or one of our generous sponsors, your interest and support of the work being done by the Adult learning Center (AlC) in the greater Harrisburg community was evident on race day, may 30, 2015. We could not have done this without you.
more than 50 volunteers completed myriad prerace and race day assignments too numerous to mention, and 95 runners/walkers traversed the course on a beautiful, sunny day. In an upcoming issue of Pine Street Life, we will list Pine streeters who became involved in many ways to help make this event such a success, and we’ll add photos to bring the story to life.
Almost a year prior to the event, the evangelism Committee asked for and received session approval to hold this 5K to educate to benefit the AlC. subsequently, we formed a small team of wellorganized people to coordinate — getting the job done. The coordinators were: Sue Black, graphics, printing and t-shirts; Chris Ewing, overall event coordinator, finances and fundraising; Joan Hays and Debbie Olson, volunteers, pre-race and race day activities, race participants refreshments, etc., etc., etc.; Steve McMullen assisted by Bob and Sue Wilson, publicity and marketing; and last, but not least, Jose Sastre who was the race coordinator and the creative thinker who proposed doing the race. We only had one meeting of this group and maintained excellent, open lines of communication throughout many months of planning. KuDos To All !!!
Kerygma
Continued from page 1
and come to class ready to discuss and share. study and participation is expected, but the payoff will be great: increased knowledge of the Bible, greater awareness of God’s love for you and the world, growth as a Christian, and closer fellowship with one another. This is an exciting course of study for adults who are ready to reflect deeply on the scriptures, faith, and life.
We begin on Monday evening, September 14, at 6:00pm, in the church’s fellowship hall. (I am also planning a daytime option at another location; details will follow.) each class session is about two hours in length, and I will run the course over two years (a total of 34 classes) with a segment of classes each fall and each winter. Signup begins on Sunday, July 12 at the Welcome Center and on Pine street’s web site. Please call me if you have questions. You will be seeing throughout the summer displays and promotions about this course. mark your calendar. make it a priority. You will not want to miss this incredible opportunity.
Deaths
Alice Jane Bucher october 26, 1932 –june 1, 2015
Summer Art Display
The watercolor artwork on display in the Gathering Place was painted by Pine streeter Jane Walker McCutcheon. The show will be there through the summer months. Thank you, jane, for sharing your gifts!
8:30
Pine street Presbyterian Church
310 North Third street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
www.pinestreet.org (717)238-9304
Wednesday, July 1
Psalms 65; 147:1–11
1 samuel 12:1–6 (7–15) 16–25
Acts 8:14–25 luke 23:1–12
Thursday, July 2
Psalms 143; 147:12– 20
1 samuel 13:5–18 Acts 8:26–40 luke 23:13–25
Friday, July 3
Psalms 88; 148 1 samuel 13:19–14:15 Acts 9:1–9 luke 23:26–31
Saturday, July 4
Psalms 122; 149 1 samuel 14:16–30 Acts 9:10–19a luke 23:32–43
Sunday, July 5
6th sunday after Pentecost Psalms 108; 150 1 samuel 14:36–45
Romans 5:1–11 matthew 22:1–14
Monday, July 6
Psalms 62; 145 1 samuel 15:1–3, 7–23
Acts 9:19b–31 luke 23:44–56a
Tuesday, July 7
Psalms 12; 146 1 samuel 15:24–35 Acts 9:32–43 luke 23:56b–24:11 (12)
Lectionary Readings for July
Wednesday, July 8
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
1 samuel 16:1–13
Acts 10:1–16 luke 24:13–35
Thursday, July 9
Psalms 116; 147:12– 20
1 samuel 16:14–17:11
Acts 10:17–33 luke 24:36–53
Friday, July 10
Psalms 84; 148 1 samuel 17:17–30
Acts 10:34–48 mark 1:1–13
Saturday, July 11
Psalms 63; 149 1 samuel 17:31–49
Acts 11:1–18
mark 1:14–28
Sunday, July 12
7th sunday after Pentecost Psalms 103; 150 1 samuel 17:50–18:4
Romans 10:4–17
matthew 23:29–39
Monday, July 13
Psalms 5; 145 1 samuel 18:5–16 (17–27a) 27b–30
Acts 11:19–30
mark 1:29–45
Tuesday, July 14
Psalms 42; 146 1 samuel 19:1–18 (19–24)
Acts 12:1–17
mark 2:1–12
Wednesday, July 15
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
1 samuel 20:1–23
Acts 12:18–25
mark 2:13–22
Thursday, July 16
Psalms 97; 147:12–20
1 samuel 20:24–42
Acts 13:1–12
mark 2:23–3:6
Friday, July 17
Psalms 51; 148 1 samuel 21:1–15
Acts 13:13–25
mark 3:7–19a
Saturday, July 18
Psalms 104; 149 1 samuel 22:1–23
Acts 13:26–43
mark 3:19b–35
Sunday, July 19
8th sunday after Pentecost Psalms 19; 150 1 samuel 23:7–18
Romans 11:33–12:2
matthew 25:14–30
Monday, July 20
Psalms 135; 145 1 samuel 24:1–22
Acts 13:44–52
mark 4:1–20
Tuesday, July 21
Psalms 123; 146 1 samuel 25:1–22
Acts 14:1–18
mark 4:21–34
Wednesday, July 22
Psalms 15; 147:1–11
1 samuel 25:23–44
Acts 14:19–28
mark 4:35–41
Thursday, July 23
Psalms 36; 147:12–20
1 samuel 28:3–20
Acts 15:1–11
mark 5:1–20
Friday, July 24
Psalms 130; 148 1 samuel 31:1–13
Acts 15:12–21 mark 5:21–43
Saturday, July 25
Psalms 56; 149 2 samuel 1:1–16
Acts 15:22–35 mark 6:1–13
Sunday, July 26
9th sunday after Pentecost Psalms 67; 150 2 samuel 1:17–27
