A Journey Through Prayer
Jane Edgar-Freet will be teaching three classes on the subject of prayer. Jane is a trained spiritual director and brings a lot of insight into Christian spirituality and prayer. This class will meet Wednesday evenings November 6, 13, and 20, 6:00 to 7:00pm in Room 102. Please sign up at the Welcome Center.
Then, the following Sunday, December 15 at 6:30pm, the Choir and Handbell Choir join in presenting the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This is a celebrated service made famous by the choir of King’s College in Cambridge, England and now used across the English-speaking world to celebrate the season. The Choir and Chamber Singers present music of John Tavener, Andrew Carter, Peter Kneale, Jackson Berkey, Harold Darke and others with the assistance of Elizabeth Etters-Asmus, harpist. The readings begin with Genesis and the fall of mankind and reach into the New Testament to celebrate the birth of the Savior in the poetic language of the King James Bible. The highlight of the evening is the singing of all the favorite carols by the congregation and choir. Don’t miss this extraordinary event that has become a Pine Street favorite. This is an excellent service with which to introduce your friends to the beauty of worship here at Pine Street. So set the date aside, and join us and bring your friends!
I have not stopped gIvIng thanks for you, rememberIng you In my prayers.
ephesIans 1:16
Session Notes for October
Session met three times in October to continue dealing with both current issues and with Pine Street Forward.
Approved roster of Christian education teachers for 2013-14.
Approved plans for 2013-14 Commissioning Class.
Noted that grants have been received for the Adult Learning Ccenter project support. Continuing efforts are being made to secure the needed funds.
Approved the Core Values and Mission statements for the Strategic Plan
Approved proposal to establish a prayer chain for members who are ill or otherwise need our prayers
Approved serving gluten free wafers along with the bread in communion.
Approved continued planning for extended communion teams to take communion to those who are homebound.
Approved establishment of committee to study the new Presbyterian hymnal with a recommendation by May 2014.
Approved outsourcing payroll and rebuilding and integration of the current deficient accounting and reporting system.
(Continued on page 3)
Welsh Hymn Fest Reminder
Just a reminder that Sunday afternoon, November 3 at 6:00pm Music at Pine Street presents an authentic Welsh Hymn Festival, Cymanfa Ganu in Welsh. Come sing the great hymns of Wales under the direction of Welsh conductor, Mari Morgan. Also featured are selections by Cor Cymreg Rehoboth (Rehoboth Welsh Choir) from Delta, Pennsylvania and music of celebrated Welsh composer, William Mathias sung by our own choir. Suggested donation is $10 at the door. Free parking in the South Street garage, and free child care is available.
Most of the singing will be in English, and maybe a few verses in Welsh just to keep your Welsh sharp! We are expecting groups from Welsh coal country to join us, and you just don’t want to miss the thrill of hearing the Welsh sing and being a part of this glorious experience!
An Awesome Place
by Elaine Strokoff, DDB Executive Director
The 30th Anniversary Celebration for Downtown Daily Bread took place on October 6, 2013 at the Harrisburg Hilton. It was an overwhelming success. Over 350 guests attended. The Reverend Fred Anderson spoke along with Judy Bryan, Kobie White, a DDB client, and I. A DDB video was shown and a silent auction added to the excitement. The evening was festive, filled with fellowship, good food, beautiful table settings, and lovely music.
I would like to share a portion of my comments from the evening with you:
“When I first came to Downtown Daily Bread 18 years ago, I was interviewed for a part time position and given a tour of the soup kitchen. I had never been in a soup kitchen. I had never heard of Downtown Daily bread or of Pine Street Presbyterian Church. I had never been around so called street people, I had never been around poor people, and I had never been around minorities. I had led a pretty sheltered life. My world changed that day, and I remember thinking: this Downtown Daily Bread is an awesome place!
This is a place in downtown Harrisburg where people can come for a hot, nutritious meal every day of the week, 365 days of the year for no cost to themselves. And, what was even more amazing to me was that there were no questions asked, no requirements to be met except that you come hungry. The dining room was open to people of every color, every religion, every culture and background. It was open to men, women and children of all ages and sizes, shapes and forms. And, all broke bread beside one another in harmony. I also thought to myself this Downtown Daily Bread is the best kept secret in the city! Tonight, I think we can safely say that the secret is out!
SeSSion noteS cont’d
Established a Lay Visitation Committee to coordinate home vists, hospital visiites, and posthospitalization visits.
Requested Presbytery assign and commission Elder Craig Kegerise as Commission Ruling Elder at Pine street to provide worship assistance, provision of communion to homebound, and to administer the Adult Learning Center (ALC), and otherwise assist the Pastor.
Session approved actions to create an Interim Business Administrator position following the departure of Diana Robertson and appointed Anne Guenin to fill this position. Session also approved outsourcing of payroll processing and construction of an integrated accounting and reporting system.
Approved recommendation from deacons that greeter function in sanctuary be resumed by deacons and greeter teams be oriented to post-service fellowship periods.
Downtown Daily Bread was an impressive place from the beginning, 30 years ago, and it is even more impressive today. The core of our mission is still to feed the hungry, which we do 7 days of the week, sometimes serving as many as 150 meals a day. But, we have also added to our mission to include providing services for the homeless. Our Lunch Plus Program provides clothing, lockers, mailing address, showers, haircuts, transportation, counseling, and many other services to help those in need. Please read about them in this evening’s brochure. I promise that you will be impressed. “
I wish that you all could have been with us on that special Sunday evening. It was a night to be proud of Pine Street, proud of DDB, and proud of 30 years of service to the community in which we live.
Continued from page 1
Writing to the church at Philippi, Paul the Apostle began his letter with these magnificent words: “I thank my God every time I remember you ….” (Philippians 1:3) Paul knew intuitively that the way to lead people was to begin with gratitude for their gifts and support of his ministry. As we enter into the season of thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to look around Pine Street and begin to formulate your prayers with those words, “I thank my God.” Imaginative and gifted people have been putting their noses to the grindstone and caring for our ministry and mission at Pine Street. We can be confident with Paul that God will bring to fulfillment the blessed work in which we have been engaged. (1:6) We can indeed be grateful for everything.
It is a joy to be your pastor and friend and to be part of this ministry of continued thanksgiving!
Don’t
forget. . .
Pledge cards are due on Consecration Sunday, November 10, 2013.
The Giving Tree 2013 Branches Out
by Laura Messner
The Pine Street Mission Committee is continuing the tradition of the Christmas Giving Tree by branching out to those in need of help and hope. As we prepare for the joy of Jesus’s birth, it is important to remember those less fortunate, those who live as our neighbors in the Greater Harrisburg area.
The Mission Committee asks for your generosity in supporting the following agencies chosen for 2013:
Delta Community — strengthens families with children by providing life-skill services and transitional housing
Gifts for individuals
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
Promise Place — provides housing for women who are just out of prison who are trying to turn their lives around
Gifts for individuals
Downtown Daily Bread — provides hot, nourishing meals for the poor and homeless in downtown Harrisburg
Personal care items and cold weather accessories (socks, hats, gloves, scarves) to donate to clients
Community Check-Up Center — provides compassionate and caring medical services
New or gently-used books to be distributed to families to encourage reading
Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Center — provides an educational and nurturing environment for a diverse population of children in the Harrisburg area
New and lightly-used clothing items for young children
These agencies present a variety of giving opportunities. In the Gathering Place, a table will be set up with visuals to show the various groups being sponsored. Let us not only branch out to others, but also help us grow the numbers of Pine Street members who share in this worthwhile program.
To participate:
1. Sign up in the Gathering Place on November 24th, December 1st, and December 8th at the table set up for this purpose.
2. Return gifts on December 8th and 15th so they can be delivered in time for Christmas.
POINSETTIAS ORDER FORM – 2013
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 15, 2013.
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.
Trustee Notes for October
Approved a motion to outsource our payroll preparation which is becoming more complex due to health care legal issues.
Approved a motion to engage TFEC (The Foundation for Enhancing Communities) to consolidate our accounting processes.
Approved a motion to accept the contracts offered by Bahret Interiors to construct the transcept chapel. An additional $6,000 was approved for 40 chairs for the chapel, a reduction from 80, with the understanding that no more pews would be removed from the sanctuary.
Approved a motion of $800 to repair the plaster around the handicapped entrance and the windows in Fellowship Hall.
Decided to register the church with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations at the Department of State.
Tasked the Property Committee to reply to our insurance company on our progress in correcting the safety issues they noted in their last inspection.
By consensus, agreed to send the name of Bob Wilson to session as the Trustee nomination for that position.
Staff Contact Info
Main Number 238-9304
Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. 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
Interim 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
We Thank You For Your Service
Pine Street veterans, their families and friends are invited for breakfast on Saturday, November 9, 2013 hosted by the Pine Street Men. Veterans from all branches of service are invited. Arrive by 8am for coffee and conversation. Breakfast will be served at 8:30am.
Veterans, call the church office at 238-9304 if you need a ride for breakfast. We will be providing rides for anyone that is in need of a way to get to Fellowship Hall that morning. Any veteran, male or female, is invited. It does not matter when you served. Those who are currently in the service are also welcome.
Questions? Please contact Marty Gruver at 545-1204.
“Can
Hunger” A Success
Did you know. . .?
You can access Pine Street’s library catalog online at www.librarything.com/ catalog/ pinestreet
Thank you Pine Street for supporting the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s “Can Hunger” event. Your donations exceeded our target goal!
On a beautiful September day, Kathleen White, Pam and Bill Bauer, and Norriene and Jim Koozer placed the 270 Pine Street donated cans along the median in the 200 block of State Street. After that, we joined other volunteers and completely circled the block with additional canned goods donated by other individuals. By the end of the day over 2,000 cans lined the State Street median from the Capitol to Front Street.
The Mission Committee thanks you for again helping those in need.
The Congregational Nominating Committee would like your suggestions for church officers for the 20142016 term of office. After completing the form found in the bulletin and Gathering Place, please insert it in the box marked “Nominating Committee” also located in the Gathering Place. Recommendations will be accepted until Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 following the 11:00am worship service.
To those called to exercise special functions in the church, — deacons, ruling elders and teaching elders — God gives suitable gifts for their various duties. In addition to possessing the necessary gifts and abilities, those who undertake particular ministries should be persons of strong faith, dedicated discipleship and love of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel in the church and in the world. They must have the approval of God’s people.
Recommendations will be accepted from October 20 until Sunday, November 17, 2013 following the 11am worship service.
November, 2013
Friday November 1
All Saints’ Day
Psalms 84; 148
Isaiah 26:1–4, 8–9, 12–13, 19–21
Revelation 21:9–11, 22–27 (22:1–5) or Hebrews 11:32–12:2
Matthew 5:1–12
Saturday November 2
Psalms 63; 149
Nehemiah 4:1–23 or Lamentations 5:1–22
Revelation 7:(4–8) 9–17
Matthew 13:31–35
Sunday November 3
Psalms 103; 150
Nehemiah 5:1–9 or Ezra 1:1–11
Acts 20:7–12
Luke 12:22–31
Monday November 4
Psalms 5; 145 Nehemiah 6:1–19 or Ezra 3:1–13
Revelation 10:1–11
Matthew 13:36–43
Tuesday November 5
Psalms 42; 146
Nehemiah 12:27–31a, 42b–47 or Ezra 4:7; 11–24
Revelation 11:1–19
Matthew 13:44–52
Wednesday November 6
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
Nehemiah 13:4–22 or Haggai 1:1—2:9
