Pine Street
MUSIC AT PINE STREET OFFERS ALTERNATIVE WORSHIP!
by Thomas Clark-Jones
Music at Pine Street is pleased to announce the return of the nationally recognized jazz quartet, Presbybop, presenting Jazz Vespers on Friday evening, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. Last season this superb group of musicians opened our series with a concert, and this year they will present a full Vesper Service in the language of Jazz. In addition, at the conclusion of the service, they will continue with another full set so we can enjoy this wonderful reflection of faith in a truly worthy contemporary idiom.
Binghamton University. Beginning with original lineup of drummer Tom Whaley and bassist Tony Marino, the band has evolved into a consort of musicians who have been turning heads on the musical scene — and adding new dimensions to the faith and worship of the Christian church.
Jazz Vespers
Friday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m., featuring Presbybop Jazz Quartet
Presbybop is a venture of Bill Carter, jazz pianist and Presbyterian minister. After years of pretending to split the life of faith from the music of jazz, Bill has been trying to find links between the two halves of his brain. Presbybop is his attempt to integrate his strong Presbyterian faith with the rhythms of jazz. In 1993 he formed the Presbybop Quartet with Al Hamme, his college music professor from
Based in northeastern Pennsylvania, this group of consummate professionals has presented concerts and jazz worship services in churches around the country. Their music has been widely acclaimed. To date, Bill's Presbybop Quartet has recorded seven compact discs.
Bill Carter spends most of his time as a busy pastor in a bustling church. Yet he keenly senses that God wants him to use his musical gifts as a means of reaching people with the good news of God's grace, peace, and joy. His jazz ministry has received national recognition, and has served as a model for integrating the arts in Christian ministry.
See MAPS on page 2
Rethinking Retirement Workshop
David Rich, a retired Presbyterian minister with many years of experience as a teacher and a life/work planning facilitator, will be leading a workshop here at Pine street on Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m (coffee and registration at 8:30 a.m.) on the subject of Rethinking Retirement. This workshop will not deal with financial planning; instead it will look at other questions that retirement raises. Topics include:
Articles, photos and items of interest for the December issue
Bagels & Belief
November 6
“God Called a Party, but Nobody Came”
Rev. Heather Sigler
January 8
“The Timid Soul”
Rev. Alex Lang
February 5
“Seasons of the Soil”
Rev. Russell Sullivan
March 4
“The Sad Story of the Embarrassed Farmers”
Rev. Alex Lang
April 1
“Loves Always Wins . . . Sometimes”
Rev. Heather Sigler
May 6
“Why Doesn’t God Like Religious People”
Rev. Alex Lang
June 3
“Pardon My Insistence”
Rev. Russell Sullivan
All forums are held in Fellowship Hall at 9:40 a.m.
POINSETTIAS ORDER FORM – 2011
If you would like to purchase a poinsettia that will be used for decorating the sanctuary for Christmas, please complete the form below. There will no longer be automatic renewals for ordering poinsettias.
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 poinsettias). The costs of the poinsettias are $8.00 each. Deadline for orders is December 11, 2011.
WORDING OF DEDICATION: In Memory of In Honor of Given by Amount Enclosed*___________________
*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 CHRISTMAS BULLETIN, EVEN IF YOU HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT DONE AUTOMATICALLY FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
MAPS
Continued from page 1
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and since this is an official service of worship, no donation is required, but a free will offering will be received. Please come and bring your friends to this continuing venture in jazz with Music at Pine Street.
As always, the South Street Garage will be open. Please do not enter before 7:00 p.m., but plenty of free parking is available. Child care is also provided for all Music at Pine Street events.
THANK YOU, members of Pine Street, for your continuing stewardship. Being a Steward of God’s gifts to each of us is far more than contributing “money,” however. As defined in Webster’s, being a steward is “one who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.”
By any definition, Pine Street continues to be a faithful steward in God’s work. A substantial portion of Pine Street’s annual money goes towards helping others. Not only here in the greater Harrisburg area, but also in others states and around the world. We are very involved with Downtown Daily Bread (DDB) where those in need are provided a substantial hot meal, availability of showers and assistance to seek work and counsel to adjust to the complex world around them. Great mission work has continued in Arizona on an Indian Reservation, in Lithuania, in West Virginia, and the list continues. Your Church has implemented Stephen Ministry to provide help to those in our congregation who may have needs not being met.
Pine Street members need to recognize their money is being faithfully managed in support of God’s work, as God has instructed us and expects us to help our fellow human being. Could we do more if we had more resources? Of course, but then that’s always the situation regardless of monies available. Important is the responsible utilization of resources at hand, and we amplify that measurement. In addition to money as a measure of our stewardship, we are also called to serve through one’s donation of time and talent to assist others. Examples include: volunteering to provide a ride to church, helping to deal with daily needs of those temporarily incapacitated with ill health or from medical procedures, providing meals of pre-prepared food to lessen inconvenience due to current life’s situations, and remaining in regular contact with members of our Church to provide care, social contact, and a listening ear for those who may be in need. The “list goes on!”
For those interested and able to become more involved, please let us know (Mission Committee, Deacons, the Ministers or Church and Staff). There continues to be much we can accomplish to fulfill the directive of God to “SERVE.” Remember, that includes a plethora of “opportunities,” not limited to money donations, despite its significance in maintaining Pine Street’s physical structures and flexibility to provide for others in our world!
David E. Freet, Chair Stewardship Committee & Elder
Grief Share: Surviving the Holidays
On Monday, November 14, 7:00 –9:00 p.m. Pine Street will again offer Grief Share: Surviving the Holidays. This is a warm encouraging and helpful event for anyone, including young adults, who are dealing with the pain of grief and loss during the upcoming holiday season. The evening, led by Dr. Sullivan and Rev. Sigler, will feature a video presentation and group discussion. The video provides practical tips on how to survive the holidays and conversation with others in the group will allow you to share (if you choose) how grief affects you during the holidays. You will receive a personal Holiday Survival Guide. Holiday refreshments will be served!
Comments from previous participants attest to the significance of this program:
• “It gave me “permission” to take care of myself above all perceived social obligations.”
• “There was such a sense of hope and healing.”
Did you know. . .? You can watch each week's sermon and check out the current bulletin on Pine Street's web site. Links are on the home page http://www.pinestreet.org/home-page/
Sign up now at the Welcome Center. Guests and other family members are welcome.
Annual Women's Retreat
Women — Keep these dates open: March 16, 17, and 18, 2012. This will be another weekend of spiritual growth, laughter, and quality time with other women. WHAT COULD BE BETTER??? Sign-ups start on Sunday, November 20. Stay tuned for more information as the retreat committee puts the finishing touches on the plans for the weekend.
Food Pantry
Volunteers Needed
We need volunteer(s) to deliver the food from the food barrel to the Ecumenical Food Pantry. Usually this needs to be done only once / month. The Food Pantry is located at the Lutheran Church on the corner of Forster and 6th Streets. Delivery takes only 15 to 30 minutes – gather the items from the food barrel into your vehicle, call the pantry to tell someone you are making a delivery, drive to the pantry, and unload the items from your vehicle. Ideally, several members of Pine Street will volunteer to do this and the effort can be shared month to month. With so many more people using the pantry every day, this is an extremely important mission of Pine Street Church. If you are interested in knowing more, call Debbie Olson at 533-4548. We’re not asking you for more money – just some of your time. THANKS.
RETIREMENT
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Who am I and who does God call me to be in my later years of life? What are my gifts and talents gleaned from my life and work? How will I utilize my time? Does my work have to be my identity? Where will I/we live and what kind of living space is needed? What support network (family friends, and community) will I need?
The workshop costs $25 per person, which includes lunch and materials. Pick up a brochure and register at the Welcome Center or by calling the church office at 717-238-9304. Free parking is available in the South Street Garage.
Giving Tree 2011 A Pine Street Christmas Tradition
by Eileen Kunkle
The news is full of stories of difficult times people are facing worldwide and in our own community. This year the Mission Committee has decided to focus 100% on local needs during our annual Giving Tree Project. It is a wonderful opportunity to do something for others in grateful appreciation for all God has done for us. It is an easy way to make this Christmas season one where we think and do more for those groups for whom Christ showed special compassion. Please include this important project on your Christmas shopping list.
How do you participate??
1. Sign-up on November 20, November 27, or December 4th in the Gathering Place at the special table set up for this purpose.
2. Return gifts or checks to the sign-up table on December 4th or 11th so that they can be delivered in time for Christmas.
The following agencies have been chosen this year.
d Delta Community — assists homeless parents
• Gifts for individuals
d HELP Ministries — provides emergency services such as shelter, rent assistance, and heating fuel
• Money for vouchers which are sent directly to landlords or fuel vendors
d Promise Place — a living facility for women just out of prison who are trying to turn their lives around
• Gifts for individuals
d Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Center — provides child care
• Basic goods and supplies to be distributed to persons
d Community Check-up Center — provides compassionate and caring medical services
• New or gently used children’s books
d Downtown Daily Bread
• Hats, scarves, gloves
A "bear hug" and a "thank you" with all my heart to everyone for your efforts! The total $ from this endeavor will help pay for 500 meals!
DDB clients offer “Bear Hugs” as well. Elaine
BEARS DID IT AGAIN
by Loretta Smith and Margaret Mielke
Bears for Bread, the teddy bear fund-raising effort for DDB, had a booth at the East Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest on October 8 and 9. Bears were given as a thank you gift to people who donated $10 or more to DDB. After all the pennies, nickles, dimes, and folding money were counted and turned into a cashier's check, Elaine Strokoff was presented with checks totaling $909.66!
Special thanks for their assistance in this effort go to Marna and Roger Holt, Carolyn and Lydia Humphrey, Jane McCutcheon, Betty Rader and Laura Messner. Without their help, DDB would not be receiving all this money.
Several friends of DDB delighted the booth officials by showing up and offering money and words of encouragement. They included Jane and Bob McCutcheon, Sue and Bill Black, Elaine Strokoff, Rich Blessing, and Peggy Purdy's grandson, who thinks his bear is great. Many thanks!
Dining Groups
The Congregational Life Committee would like to invite everyone to sign up for the Dining Groups. Sign ups will run through November 6th, 2011. At that time, groups will be formed and will begin to meet once a month at a place of your choosing. It is a fun way to meet new people and enjoy the fellowship of your fellow Pine Streeter’s. It's one of our most popular events and we encourage everyone to sign up. Please indicate when you sign up if you'd like to be a group leader.
Pine StreetWalkers
Estelle Hartranft, Gayle Goepfert, Debbie Gruver, Marty Gruver, and Doug Goepfert (not pictured) enjoy a beautiful Sunday hike on the Appalachian Trail to Table Rock.
A Christmas Story
The Congregational Life Committee would like to invite everyone to enjoy an afternoon of fun and fellowship with us. We will be attending the original “Christmas Story” on Sunday November 6th, 2:00 p.m., at the Whitaker Center. The cost per person is $15 for the show. Betty Rader is preparing a light lunch at the church before the show at a nominal cost (If you are interested in lunch, please indicate as you sign up). Sign ups are already under way at the Welcome Center.
Pine StreetWalkers
Join the Pine Streetwalkers for a climb to the top of Pole Steeple on Sunday, November 13. Pine Street Church has its steeple and Pine Grove Furnace State Park has its steeple. The hike is a steep but short climb to a quartzite rock outcropping along the ridge of Piney Mountain in the South Mountains of Michaux State Forest.
The reward for the climb is a magnificent view of the valley to the west and north. The effort is worth the view. Carpool from the church will leave at 12:30 p.m. for those on the east shore. Meet at the Pole Steeple Trail Head parking lot along Railroad Bed Road by Laurel Lake at 1:30 p.m.
Directions: From I-81, old exit #37, Newville, PA -233, go left 8 miles to Pine Grove Road, turn left, go 1.5 miles to Railroad Bed Road just beyond Laurel Lake, turn right. In a short distance, the parking area will be on the right.
If you have questions, contact Mary Gruver at 545-1204 or check out the DCNR website http://www.dcnr. state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ pinegrovefurnace/
