Pine Street Life

PINE STREET LIFE

Session Hires Church Consultant

Dr. John Wimberley to Visit in April Jesus once said that you can’t put new wine into old wineskins. The Gospel – the Good News of God’s love for us and the world – requires from time to time new structures to carry it to others, new ways of living into a changing world, and new dreams and possibilities for God’s people. Churches need to bless current structures and forms that bring vitality to them, but also churches need to be open to new approaches to ministry that reinvigorate congregational life. Some time ago I wrote that the time had come for Pine Street to engage the services of a church consultant who would bring insight into Pine Street and its ministry. I am pleased to announce that Session has hired the Rev. Dr. John Wimberly, a prominent pastor and consultant in the Presbyterian Church (USA), to help us achieve several goals that will include:

1. Revisiting our strategic plan to fine tune our mission statement and prioritize strategies;

2. Develop a plan for congregational growth;

3. Work with leaders to align our vision with our resources;

In the Life of the Church

Apr. 3 Bagels & Belief, 9:40 a.m.

Apr. 6 Rise and Shine, 7:00 a.m.

Apr. 9 Men’s Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. Kitchen Maintenance, 9:30 a.m. Shawl Ministry, 10:00 a.m.

Apr. 10 Congregational Meeting, 12:20 p.m.

Apr. 12 Team Night, 7:15 p.m.

Apr. 17 New Officer Orientation I, 9:40 a.m.

Apr. 19 Trustees, 12:00 p.m.

Apr. 24 New Officer Orientation II, 9:40 a.m.

Apr. 26 Session, 7:15 p.m.

Apr. 30 Five Senses Gardens, 9:00 a.m. Leadership Retreat, 9:00 a.m.

Visit www.pinestreet.org/calendar for the complete church schedule.

In This Issue

▪ Church Consultant, 1

▪ Five Senses Gardens, 2

▪ Condolences, 3

▪ Presbyterian Apartments, 3

▪ DDB and Mother’s Day, 4

▪ Rise and Shine for DDB, 4

▪ Drop-In Center, 5

▪ Pine Street Cares, 6

▪ Session Notes, 6

▪ Thanks to the Musicians, 7

▪ Giving Tree of Spring, 7

▪ Daily Lectionary, 8

Consultant,

continued

4. Analyzing our organizational structure with the goal of increasing the number of people willing to serve on our boards and in other ways in the life of the church; and

5. Developing strategies to identify Christian education, faith formation, and worship experiences that will serve current and potential members.

John has served congregations for 38 years, thirty of those years at Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Holding both a Ph.D. in systematic theology and an executive MBA, John comes to us with many gifts to share and insights that could help us in our planning. He specializes in helping congregations create goals and strategies that align a congregation’s staff, volunteer, financial, and building resources with its vision. He also has a passion for congregational growth, and he has a keen ability in analyzing congregational systems.

Our boards and a Planning Team that I have recruited will begin working with John at a leadership retreat on Saturday, April 30. At some point our members will be invited to participate in a focus group. We need your feedback and participation. For the moment keep John, your Session, and the leadership of the church in your prayers as we embark on this journey of listening to God’s Spirit and seeking new directions for our life at Pine Street.

Always it is a joy to be your pastor and friend!

By The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr.

Five Senses Garden

The Extending God's Love Mission Team invites the members of Pine Street to participate in the annual spring clean-up of the Five Senses Garden. The garden is located between Paxton Street and Route 441 along the Capital Area Greenbelt. The parking area for the garden is along Route 441 between Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (formerly Dauphin County Home) and the Dauphin County Prison. This Annual Event Day, to be held on Saturday, April 30, is sponsored by Rebuilding Together Greater Harrisburg. Plan to arrive at 9 a.m., and be prepared to get dirty! Bring your favorite garden and yard tools and give them a work out. Many Pine Streeters have participated in this event in the past and have found it to be very rewarding. Sign up at the Welcome Center desk beginning Sunday, April 3. For more information view the Five Senses Garden website: http:// www.caga.org/the-trail/ garden/

By Marty Gruver

Mother’s Day: Helping DDB

This year for Mother’s Day please consider honoring your mother or the special woman in your life with a donation to Downtown Daily Bread. DDB will happily mail a Mother’s Day certificate of appreciation when you submit a minimum donation of $20 payable to Downtown Daily Bread. You can mail your information along with a check to Downtown Daily Bread, 310 N. Third St., Harrisburg, PA 17101. Please be sure to submit your donation before April 29, 2016, to ensure that your gift certificate arrives before Mother’s Day. Thank you for your generosity and caring for those in need with this meaningful holiday gift.

Best Wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day!

By Elaine Strokoff

Rise and Shine!

A Friendly Neighborhood Breakfast for Downtown Daily Bread

The DDB Advisory Board and Pine Street volunteers are hosting a “Friendly Neighborhood Breakfast” for DDB on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. The location is Fellowship Hall and breakfast will be served from 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Our goal is to have neighbors (people living or working in downtown Harrisburg) gather for a good meal and learn more about DDB. All are welcome! A minimum donation of $10 to DDB will be your ticket. All proceeds will support DDB’s kitchen, drop-in-center, and other programs.

In 1983, Pine Street began DDB to serve meals each day to the homeless and needy in downtown Harrisburg.

Located across the street from the Capitol, DDB now provides a wide array of services such as mail, lockers, showers, clothing, health checks, legal advice, job readiness, and counseling. Recently, DDB opened a Drop -in-Center where the homeless can gather in the afternoons in a sheltered, safe space. Please check: www.downtowndailybread.org or www.facebook.com/DowntownDailyBread).

Help us spread word of this breakfast to family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, and all people you know who live downtown or are regularly downtown for work, educational pursuits, or other activities. Even though we have a good core of volunteers contributing time, effort, money, and in-kind donations, there is always need and room for more hands to help. If you are willing and able to assist with set-up, decorations, preparing food, cooking, serving, or clean up on April 5 and 6, you are more than welcome to join us. We are also accepting breakfast foods, condiments, and beverages donations. Please contact DDB Executive Director Elaine Strokoff (estrokoff@pinestreet.org) or John Jewett (jjewett@verizon.net) for more information about tickets or volunteering for the breakfast.

By John Jewett

The Drop-In Center at DDB

The First Six Months

The Drop-in-Center of Downtown Daily Bread opened on September 8, 2015, on the third floor of the Boyd Memorial Building. Its hours are Mondays through Fridays (except holidays) from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. During the first three months of its operation, most of the local homeless shelters were filled. This meant that men and women were turned away from shelters because there were no beds, forcing folks to find shelter on their own somewhere in the city. During the winter months, however, seasonal emergency overnight shelters were made available by other agencies, providing some beds during the cold weather. Those winter shelters closed on March 1, 2016. For all of these reasons, the opening of the Drop-in-Center was especially timely.

Since the Drop-in-Center opened, it has been a place where the homeless can go during the afternoons to find a warm, dry, friendly, and peaceful gathering place, rather than remain outdoors with nowhere to go and nothing to do. The Drop-in-Center has already provided 147 homeless individuals (116 males and 31 females) a safe place to take a nap, charge a cell phone, read a paper, or do a crossword puzzle. Many clients, after walking the streets most of the night and morning, come to the Drop-in-Center just to sleep on a cot. This is especially important to those who travel with their belongings, always keeping one eye open when they sleep outside. One young female client, unable to get into a shelter, thanked us for “just watching me as I slept, after staying awake all night trying to protect myself.” Men who work the night shift at various places of employment also appreciate the opportunity to sleep in a protected environment during the day.

Other homeless men and women “drop in” to use the restrooms or to work on one of the laptop computers to check emails, conduct job searches, or to apply for jobs and housing. Some folks enjoy a game of chess, checkers, and various board games. Soon, they will be able to watch educational programs on TV. Homeless men and women also come just to see a friendly face or to have a conversation with a caring individual. They may come from outside or from the DDB dining room just after lunch. “It sure beats walking the streets,” they report.

Two experienced counselors, assisted by several activity aides and volunteers, provide the daily staffing. These counselors assist clients with case management services and provide a listening ear, and hopefully help guide the homeless on a path to self-sufficiency. The Drop-inCenter at DDB is the first of its kind in the city. It is providing a much needed service to the people and businesses of the community, and with everyone’s help, it will continue to grow in the future.

By Elaine Strokoff

Thanks for the Blankets! Thanks to all those who attended the Women’s Retreat at Camp Hebron and helped make the beautiful blankets. Barbara Neff took these 18 blankets to the Harrisburg YWCA on Monday,March21. The blankets will be used for the kits that are given to incoming families in their domestic violence program fornaptimeat the childdevelopmentcenter.

Many thanks to Anne Guenin who provided all the content editing for this edition of Pine Street Life.

The deadline for submissions for next month is Friday, April 15.

Please send articles to Michelle Kennedy in the church office at:

mkennedy@pinestreet.org

Pine Street Cares

Being an Earth Care Congregation

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is concerned with stewardship of our earth! Since 2010 there has been a program for churches to evaluate their efforts in the area of concern for the environment to qualify them to be Earth Care Congregations. In 2011 the Mission Committee of our Session was made aware of this program and asked the Session to commit to becoming an Earth Care Congregation.

The Pine Street Session adopted the Earth Care Pledge: peace and justice is God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth.

The application focuses on four different areas of church life: worship, education, facilities, and outreach. Detailed questions about these areas concern such things as recycling, relevant sermons, programs emphasizing stewardship of the earth, energy-saving light bulbs, and the use of eco-friendly cleaning agents. We have scored many points in several of these areas over the years and are always exploring ways to add more methods to care for our little corner of the earth. Each year we seek to re-qualify for this distinction. For example, the Property Committee and Trustees are constantly investigating energysaving measures to reduce the cost of maintaining and improving our building. In fact, Pine Street's point scores in the facilities area are the highest of the four areas. Each year 50 points overall are required for re-certification as an Earth Care Congregation, and each year our efforts have resulted in over 200 points!

Our group is always looking for ideas from the rest of the congregation to improve our leadership in this area. There are 181 Earth Care Congregations in the United States, and we are one of only nine in Pennsylvania. We assisted the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church in Mechanicsburg to qualify as an Earth Care Congregation, and we continue to share ideas. Maybe you have been doing things at home to improve your carbon footprint that we could adopt at the church or give other families ideas for their homes. Is there an eco-justice program about which you would like more information? If you have suggestions for us, there is a gold box in the Gathering Place where you can submit them.

By Carol Putt

Session Notes

Session met on Tuesday, February 23 for both its state meeting and for the joint board meeting. January’s stated meeting of Session was cancelled because of the weather.

At the meeting the Boards heard reports from Moderator Judy Himes of the Deacons, President Dr. Jesse Weigel of the Trustees, Minister of Music & Worship Brett Terry, a financial report prepared by Church Administrator Anne Guenin and presented by Dr. Russell Sullivan, and a pastor’s report from Dr. Sullivan.

Moderator Himes reported that the Deacons are small but mighty, performing a variety of duties in the church. President Weigel reported that there are some building issues, particularly in the Boyd Building, that are being addressed or will be addressed in the near future.

Financially, the church ended 2015 in very good shape with a $20,000 surplus. This resulted primarily from lower than anticipated staffing, and savings of utility and general maintenance expenses. Downtown Daily Bread ended 2015 with a large surplus of $125,000 due to very generous giving at its fundraisers. For 2016 Pine Street has 110 pledging units.

Dr. Sullivan reported that there are five members of the confirmation class that will join the church on Palm Sunday. He also gave an extensive report on his ministry in 2015.

The remainder of the meeting consisted of routine reports, and the meeting adjourned at 8:40PM. The next stated meeting will be on Tuesday, March 29.

Church Staff

The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr. Pastor

The Rev. Heather R. Sigler

Parish Associate

Brett A. Terry

Minister of Music & Worship

Anne Guenin | Church Administrator

Michelle Kennedy | Office Manager

Brad Wise | Facilities Manager

Matthew MacAuley | Custodian

Downtown Daily Bread Staff

Elaine Strokoff | Executive Director

Christine Patrick | Client Counselor

Cynthia Swanson | Mental Health

Kobie White | Kitchen Supervisor

Additional Missions

Eric L. and Rebecca A. Hinderliter Missionaries to Lithuania

Dr. Kathleen White

Site Coordinator for Tri-County OIC at the Adult Learning Center

Thanks to our Musicians

For Their Work in Lent and Holy Week

We began Lent with two beautiful services on Ash Wednesday this year. At the second, the choir sat with the congregation. We were not a large congregation that night, but there was a lovely, warm atmosphere that invited a holy experience with which to begin our Lenten journey. Throughout all the Sundays of Lent, all the organ and piano music was part of a series of “Brett Plays Bach.” I am so grateful for the positive response from those who were interested in letting Bach take us through the Lenten season in a variety of styles, somehow saying something different with each composition.

Palm Sunday was a joy with the children enthusiastically leading the congregation in singing All Glory, Laud, and Honor. A special thanks to Lisa Milletics, Jennifer Garmen, and Barbara Neff for leading the children. We also brought back an old Pine Street tradition, which is to sing The Palms. Ken Hays did a great job as soloist.

Maundy Thursday was a reflective service in which we examined the amazing message of Jesus’ act of foot washing, and that by being fed we might feed, and use our feet to take us into the work of the ministry of Christ.

Good Friday’s service of Tenebrae was beautiful. The choir sang four anthems including the Palestrina Sicut Cervus; the Mozart Ave Verum; the Kedrov setting of The Lord’s Prayer; and the Stainer God So Loved the World.

Easter Sunday brought true resurrection joy. Our Easter brass players Aaron Magaro, Michael Collins, William Black, Sam Martin, and Tim Stephen all did great work. The choir passionately sang their anthems of The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune, Worthy Is the Lamb and Amen from the Messiah, and new congregational versions of The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah.

Many thanks to all who gave so generously of themselves to make all these things – and so much more – both meaningful and delightful in these Lenten and Easter seasons.

By Brett A. Terry

Giving Tree of Spring

Revitalizing our Kitchen

Every year during the Christmas season Pine Street has a Giving Tree. Various agencies are represented and we all delight in purchasing “wishes” for others. This spring season, we would like to purchase necessary items for our own kitchen here at Pine Street.

Our kitchen is well-used for Advent and Lenten breakfasts, Bagels and Belief, Bread Ministry, breakfasts for college students and our choir, dinners for our youth, lunches prior to plays and other special programs, coffee hour every Sunday, and wedding and funeral receptions. Seventeen years ago our kitchen committee, headed by Marilyn Miller and Audrey Bell, made a concerted effort to update, refurbish, and organize the kitchen. The committee then asked groups of 3-4 volunteers to commit to one Saturday during one month a year for the purpose of cleaning earmarked areas of the kitchen. This has proven to be a great plan! I personally have worked in other church kitchens and I am here to tell you…there have been NONE as clean and well-organized as Pine Street’s kitchen!

Of course, over the years, kitchen equipment has worn out and some is ready for replacement. This is where the Giving Tree of Spring comes in! Marilyn and Audrey compiled a list of items which may be purchased for the Pine Street kitchen. Monetary gifts will also be especially welcomed.

Collections of purchased items will take place on Sunday mornings beginning Sunday, May 1 and ending May 29, 2016. There will be a table in the Gathering Place where you may sign up to give the gift of a needed item or a monetary gift for our kitchen. All purchased items must be brought to the church by Sunday, May 29. If you cannot bring the item on a Sunday, please call the church office to make arrangements.

Thank you, congregation, for coming together for our Giving Tree of Spring!

By Deb Gruver

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

310 N. Third St. Harrisburg, PA 17101

Friday, April 1

Psalms 96; 148

Exod. 13:1–2, 11–16

1 Cor. 15:51–58

Luke 24:1–12

Saturday, April 2

Psalms 92; 149

Exod. 13:17–14:4

2 Cor. 4:16–5:10

Mark 12:18–27

Sunday, April 3

2nd Sunday of Easter

Psalms 93; 150

Exod. 14:5–22

1 John 1:1–7

John 14:1–7

Monday, April 4

Psalms 97; 145

Exod. 14:21–31

1 Peter 1:1–12

John 14:(1–7) 8–17

Tuesday, April 5

Psalms 98; 146

Exod. 15:1–21

1 Peter 1:13–25

John 14:18–31

Wednesday, April 6

Psalms 99;

147:1–11

Exod. 15:22–16:10

1 Peter 2:1–10

John 15:1–11

Thursday, April 7

Psalms 47; 147:12–20

Exod. 16:10–22

1 Peter 2:11–3:12 John 15:12–27

Friday, April 8

Psalms 96; 148 Exod. 16:23–36

1 Peter 3:13–4:6

John 16:1–15

Saturday, April 9

Psalms 92; 149 Exod. 17:1–16

1 Peter 4:7–19

John 16:16–33

Sunday, April 10

3rd Sunday of Easter

Psalms 93; 150 Exod. 18:1–12

1 John 2:7–17

Mark 16:9–20

Monday, April 11

Psalms 97; 145

Exod. 18:13–27

1 Peter 5:1–14

Matt. (1:1–17) 3:1–6

Tuesday, April 12

Psalms 98; 146

Exod. 19:1–16

Col. 1:1–14

Matt. 3:7–12

Wednesday, April 13

Psalms 99; 147:1–11

Exod. 19:16–25

Col. 1:15–23

Matt. 3:13–17

Thursday, April 14

Psalms 47; 147:12–20

Exod. 20:1–21

Col. 1:24–2:7

Matt. 4:1–11

Friday, April 15

Psalms 96; 148 Exod. 24:1–18

Col. 2:8–23

Matt. 4:12–17

Saturday, April 16

Psalms 92; 149 Exod. 25:1–22

Col. 3:1–17

Matt. 4:18–25

Sunday, April 17

4th Sunday of Easter

Psalms 93; 150 Exod. 28:1–4, 30–38

1 John 2:18–29

Mark 6:30–44

Monday, April 18

Psalms 97; 145 Exod. 32:1–20

Col. 3:18–4:6 (7–18)

Matt. 5:1–10

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT HARRISBURG, PA 17105

Tuesday, April 19

Psalms 98; 146 Exod. 32:21–34

1 Thess. 1:1–10

Matt. 5:11–16

Wednesday, April 20

Psalms 99; 147:1–11

Exod. 33:1–23

1 Thess. 2:1–12

Matt. 5:17–20

Thursday, April 21

Psalms 47; 147:12–20

Exod. 34:1–17

1 Thess. 2:13–20

Matt. 5:21–26

Friday, April 22

Psalms 96; 148 Exod. 34:18–35

1 Thess. 3:1–13 Matt. 5:27–37

Saturday, April 23

Psalms 92; 149 Exod. 40:18–38

1 Thess. 4:1–12 Matt. 5:38–48

Sunday, April 24

5th Sunday of Easter Psalms 93; 150 Lev. 8:1–13, 30–36 Heb. 12:1–14

Luke 4:16–30

Monday, April 25

Psalms 97; 145 Lev. 16:1–19

1 Thess. 4:13–18 Matt. 6:1–6, 16–18

Tuesday, April 26

Psalms 98; 146 Lev. 16:20–34

1 Thess. 5:1–11 Matt. 6:7–15

Wednesday, April 27

Psalms 99; 147:1–11

Lev. 19:1–18

1 Thess. 5:12–28 Matt. 6:19–24

Thursday, April 28

Psalms 47; 147:12–20

Lev. 19:26–37

2 Thess. 1:1–12 Matt. 6:25–34

Friday, April 29

Psalms 96; 148 Lev. 23:1–22

2 Thess. 2:1–17 Matt. 7:1–12

Saturday, April 30

Psalms 92; 149 Lev. 23:23–44

2 Thess. 3:1–18 Matt. 7:13–21