Summer Forums
August 3
Heeding God’s Call
The Rev. Ron Tilley
August 10
Pentecost: Season of Growth
The Rev. Heather Sigler
August 17
Baltic Mission Trip Highlights Bill Bauer
August 24
New Orleans Youth Mission Trip
The Senior High Youth Fellowship
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somewhere away from Harrisburg, and we could live on the salary, we would go. I was dead serious about that promise when I made it, and I’m glad I did. But, I didn’t quite realize how difficult it would be to leave here. The regret is that Pine Street is a wonderful place to be for a musician such as myself. The resources of this congregation are immense. There is so much to work with, not just a well funded program, generous donors, magnificent pipe organ and a church room so beautiful as to take your breath away when you first walk in, but also wonderful people who give of their time and energy to sing in the choir or ring bells, or play an instrument when called upon. Those are the blessings from which I am to walk away at the end of August.
Session Notes
Session does not meet in July or August
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
Yet, after close to seventeen years here, it is perhaps time for a change for all of us. New challenges are good for the soul. For me, it is stepping out into the truly unknown. When I came to Harrisburg, I had a job in hand, and had a pretty good idea it was a great one. And I was right! Now, I will learn how to follow along and help my wife reach for her dream. She did this for me twice, uprooting three children and doing it with grace and aplomb. Now, I struggle to do the same for her — and I shall. It is where we believe God is leading us at this point in our lives. Following in faith, like Abraham of old, is not new to those who are serious about being servants. But God didn’t promise it would be easy, just that he would be with us — and I do believe that with all my heart.
I pray that as I take leave of Pine Street that you will know it is with both sorrow and joy. Sorrow to lose
Thank You For Your Donations
The special offering taken in June for the Ecumenical Food Pantry totaled a very generous $584. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The Mission Committee decided to help the Food Pantry with a monetary gift this year. This way the Food Pantry can purchase the food items that are needed. They are also able to purchase a lot more food than by relying on food donations alone.
such good friends and wonderful music-making partners. But joyful to be able to be a part of the calling of my wife to a new place of service, and for me to learn more about trusting God for the future.
I know my struggle is not a singular one. All of us have our own ways of needing to follow in faith. Pray for both of us as we move forward … and you will always be in our prayers, too.
Pledged giving is more than $12,000 behind budget
MAPS Schedule
The Music at Pine Street committee has been busy putting together an exciting 2014-2015 season! Look for a full listing of events from the choir, chamber singers and others in the September issue of Pine Street LIfe.
DDB Laundry Program
by Christine Patrick, DDB Client Counselor
Downtown Daily Bread’s Laundry Program has gotten off to a great start! The “laundry run” is scheduled for every other Wednesday, with six clients going each time. In collaboration with the YWCA, transportation is provided. A driver picks up DDB clients at 4:45pm and transports them to the laundromat. After about an hour, the van goes back to the laundromat and brings these clients back to DDB.
The Morris Laundromat on State Street has agreed to partner with us on our new service for our clients. The laundromat mails laundry cards to DDB after payment for services. The DDB counselor then gives each person doing their laundry a $10.00 card. This allows each person to do two loads of wash. Downtown Daily Bread also gives each person two small boxes of laundry soap.
We have had such great feedback from our clients. They are quick to tell us how grateful they are for this new program. Clients say that they feel so fresh and clean in their own clothes and that they appreciate not having to walk to a laundromat carrying heavy bags. They also feel the burden has been lifted from having to pay for the laundry service out of their meager finances. DDB is happy to alleviate that stress. Everyone feels good about this new service that DDB is offering those in need.
Heeding God’s Call
by Barb Taylor
Heeding God’s Call is a faith-based movement with the goal of inspiring hope, raising voices, and taking action to prevent and end gun violence in local communities. Modeling a parent organization in Philadelphia, the Harrisburg chapter began five years ago and functions actively. Rev. Belita Mitchell and Rev. Ron Tilley are leaders, and eight Harrisburg faith communities are committed partners. Presbyterians have been active participants from the start.
The stated ministry of Heeding God’s Call is to “raise moral and social barriers to handgun trafficking and to inspire hope by giving people the ability to do something that makes a real difference.” A public prayer vigil is held within 24-72 hours whenever there is a local homicide. Gun shops are asked to adopt a code of conduct to deter illegal purchasing (straw purchasing)
Trustee Notes
Trustees do not meet in July or August
You can help! Please consider donating the following items needed for the Laundry Program:
• Large or small boxes of laundry soap
• Laundry bags
Please feel free to deliver items to DDB or you may leave them in the church office. Many thanks for your help!!
and illegal trafficking of handguns. Connections are made with efforts of police and other organizations to support violence prevention in local neighborhoods and among young people.
On Sunday, August 3, at 9:40am, in Fellowship Hall, you are invited to hear about the work of Heeding God’s Call, review its purposes and materials, and ask questions of Rev. Tilley, the group’s current organizer. Pine Street chose this organization to receive the 2011 local portion of our Peacemaking Offering. Our Mission Committee has been considering whether to recommend to Session that we, a downtown city church, should become a partnership faith community with this group. It is important that you attend on August 3, and that each of us prayerfully considers our opinion on this matter.
Staff Contact Info
Main Number 238-9304
Senior Pastor
Russell Sullivan ext.101 rsullivan@pinestreet.org
Organist/Choirmaster
Tom Clark-Jones . ext.107 tjones@pinestreet.org
Director of Children and Family Ministry
Cheryl Goode ext.105 cgoode@pinestreet.org
Office Manager
Michelle Kennedy . ext.112 mkennedy@pinestreet.org
Church Administrator
Anne Guenin ext.108 aguenin@pinestreet.org
Buildings & Grounds
Manager
Brad Wise ....... ext.114 bwise@pinestreet.org
DDB Director
Elaine Strokoff ext.123 estrokoff@pinestreet.org
General Voice Mail . ext.111
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it ripples throughout the rest of the body. It’s like that when a beloved member of our staff leaves. It’s sad. When people with whom we have worked and shared in the joy of ministry leave, people feel it.
Thomas Clark-Jones’ announcement of his retirement has had that effect. Over 16 years ago Tom came to us as our Organist/Choirmaster. Throughout his career here, his love of Pine Street, his devotion to traditional and eucharistic worship, and his prayerfulness have enriched our life as a congregation. Now any preacher with half a brain knows that preaching by itself cannot carry a worship service. Word and song need to mesh and mold. It’s one of the great blessings as a minister to have a musician who can find the right music and hymns to go with the texts of the day. One of the most fun things I did with Tom was to develop a series of sermons based on the oratorio Elijah. Text and song came together during those weeks. But it was the music that made scripture soar on those mornings. In truth, it takes music to embed texts in our hearts. Music becomes the wings of the Holy Spirit, sealing in our hearts and minds, the promises of God. Tom was instrumental in directing music to bring that result about. He had a unique way of working with the choir and shaping the music first in the hearts of our choir members. Every Sunday I sit below and listen to what pours out of the choir loft — and I may be an amateur musician, but I listen carefully — and I have never failed to be inspiried at the passion and musicianship so evident in our choir. We owe that to Tom, and we owe him gratitude for a job well done.
Plan to attend a reception in Tom’s honor following the 11:00 worship service on Sunday, August 24. As you may know, Tom’s retirement was prompted by the decision of his wife, the Rev. Denise Clark-Jones, to accept a call to be the pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois. We pray together for their time of transition and their new beginning in Peoria.
While Tom’s departure leaves us sad, a new beginning is unfolding. The Personnel Committee interviewed and offered Ellen Hunt the position of Interim Organist and Choir Director. She begins her work among us on August 1, which means she will overlap Tom’s remaining time with us. This is good for an orderly transition from one staff member to another. Her first time on the organ bench is August 31. A graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton where she
Births
June 17, 2014
Scarlet Grace Marchand daughter of Jennifer & Christopher Marchand ~ Deaths
Janet Carson
October 10, 1933 –June 21, 2014
John Goughenour May 10, 1958 –June 23, 2014
majored in church music and organ performance, Ellen has served churches in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. For 19 years she was the organist at Market Square Presbyterian Church. She is exceptionally talented, and her skill as a musician and her warm personality will captivate you.
Change and transition are never easy, but I want to assure you that Session and I are committed to the development of a beautiful music ministry at Pine Street. We have a legacy that has enriched our community and drawn people to us. We are grateful to Tom today for his contribution to that ongoing legacy, and we are hopeful for the future that God is even now preparing for us.
www.pinestreet.org
8:30
8:30
August, 2014
www.pinestreet.org
Friday, August 1
Psalms 88; 148
Judges 5:1–18
Acts 2:1–21
Matthew 28:1–10
Saturday, August 2
Psalms 122; 149
Judges 5:19–31
Acts 2:22–36
Matthew 28:11–20
Sunday, August 3
8th Sunday after Pentecost
Psalms 108; 150
Judges 6:1–24
2 Corinthians 9:6–15
Mark 3:20–30
Monday, August 4
Psalms 62; 145
Judges 6:25–40
Acts 2:37–47
John 1:1–18
Tuesday, August 5
Psalms 12; 146
Judges 7:1–18
Acts 3:1–11
John 1:19–28
Wednesday, August 6
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
Judges 7:19–8:12
Acts 3:12–26
John 1:29–42
Thursday, August 7
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
Judges 8:22–35
Acts 4:1–12
John 1:43–51
