OCTOBER 2018
the gateway
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE CHEVY CHASE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WHAT SHALL I RETURN TO THE LORD FOR ALL GOD’S BOUNTY TO ME? PSALM 116: 12
#GRATEFUL
We don’t often think about our financial giving as a spiritual practice. Yet along with prayer, singing, Bible study, and working for justice are spiritual, so is financial giving. Jesus, our spiritual mentor, talked about money a lot. In fact, Jesus talked about money more than any other topic except the Kingdom of God. The stakes are high. This is about the quality of our spiritual lives. Giving money to God opens us up to God’s love. It deepens our spiritual vitality. Giving stretches us. It grows our hearts and expands our capacity to live and love and make a difference in the world. As we stretch and grow our spirits we become richer and richer in compassion and generosity. We become rich in helping and healing. We live a life overflowing with meaning, purpose, and joy. WHY MAKE A PLEDGE • Deepen your spirituality. Get closer to God. Grow your soul. Make a commitment to do it. • When we love someone, we give them gifts, just because we love them. Give a gift to God. • Gratitude. We live by the grace of God who gives us life. Give in gratitude. • Support your spiritual home, your “God place,” your family of faith. This church exists because you give. You are our source of income. Without everyone’s financial support, we can’t have a church. • Share God’s love. In your spiritual home, we help the poor, we welcome refugees and give a family a fresh start on life. We work for justice, we bless children, we pray, we care for each other, we offer a healing place for people. The Stewardship committee is asking you to prayerfully consider your commitment to give this coming year. If you have never made a pledge, start now. If you give already, make an increase. Grow your spirit. Deepen your faith. Increase your spiritual vitality and the quality of your spiritual life.
the Gateway | October 2018
'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
NAVIGATING NEW ROADS BY REV. MOLLY BLYTHE TEICHERT Navigating new roads is never easy. Unfamiliar road signs can be difficult to read. Exits can be easily missed. Even with maps, a new way can be hard to decipher. Sometimes we have to stop and get more directions. We are driving on some new roads here at CCPC. We are trying some new ways of doing ministry and being the church. Our guide book is the strategic plan “Going Deeper”. We are going deeper into our spirituality, deeper into church relationships, and deeper into our own calling to spiritual leadership. Still, even with a guidebook, finding our way can be confusing. As we try new things, we need clear directions that are easily accessible and simple to understand. Here a few traveling tips I hope will help: • The first Sundays of the month are All Church Together Sundays. Everyone is invited to gather in Chadsey Hall for a joint coffee hour. On these ACTSundays there will be no programs between the services. No scheduled meetings. Only fellowship and eating together at the church family table. Being together at the table is one of the best ways to build and keep a church healthy. Come to the family table! • What about Open Forum? Open Forums can take place on other Sundays. What is different this year is that the church staff does not have a preplanned calendar of topics and speakers. Open Forums will happen when church members have an idea and take leadership. When three people come together with an idea, the staff will provide support. • Look for more One service 10:00 a.m. Sundays. Many people have enjoyed one service Sundays and even asked if we could move to having one service every Sunday. While we have not made any decisions, we are trying to have a few more one service Sundays. Look for one service 10:00 a.m. Sundays on 10/7, 11/18, 12/23, 12/30, 1/6, 2/24, and 4/7. Don’t worry, we will give you plenty of notice and many reminders! • Redesigned Website with New Calendar: Communication Coordinator David Higgins has redesigned the website and resolved our calendar problems. All information should be easy to find, up to date and accurate. Our first One Service Sunday of the Fall is October 7th, World Communion Sunday. We will worship together at 10:00 a.m. and then enjoy a time of food and fellowship at our one coffee hour. And remember – it’s a first Sunday – an ACTSunday – so everyone comes to the church table together at 11:00 after worship. I hope these traveling tips will help you navigate the new roads at CCPC. And if you do get lost, remember to ask for directions. We are all members of Jesus’ flock. As Jesus’ followers we have to look out for one another; we have to help each other find our way. Like Jesus, we must seek for any who wander away until all are found. Being found and all together is great cause for rejoicing! God's Blessings,
Molly
the Gateway | October 2018
OCTOBER 7 | One Service @ 10am The f i rst Sunday i n October i s desi gnated as Worl d Communi on Sunday, whi ch cel ebrates our oneness i n Chri st wi th al l our brothers and si sters around the worl d. Worl d Communi on Sunday (ori gi nal l y cal l ed Worl d Wi de Communi on Sunday) i s a gi f t of the Presbyteri an Church to the l arger ecumeni cal church. The f i rst cel ebrati on occurred at Shadysi de Presbyteri an Church i n Pi ttsburgh, PA, i n 1933. Cel ebrati on of Worl d Wi de Communi on Sunday was adopted as a denomi nati onal practi ce i n the Presbyteri an Church (US) i n 1936. Today, Worl d Communi on Sunday i s cel ebrated around the worl d. At CCPC we wi l l cel ebrate wi th one worshi p servi ce at 10: 00 a. m. f ol l owed by our Al l Church Fel l owshi p, whi ch i ncl udes breads f rom around the worl d. We hope to see you there!
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Sunday, October 14, 2018 3:00 PM -4:00 PM
The unconditional love we give and receive from our pets can draw us more deeply into our understanding of God’s Grace. The animals we love can help us see the wonder of God’s creation. Let’s show our gratitude to God for our little bundles of love and bless them! Please bring your pets (or picture or stuff animal) and come join us for a special blessing.
QUESTIONS: ERIC@CHEVYCHASEPC.ORG OR 202-363-2202
the Gateway | September 2018
OPEN FORUM: PEW REMVOAL
OCTOBER 14 | 10:20 -11:05 a.m.
GOING DEEPER 2018 STRATEGIC PLAN OF CHEVY CHASE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
We believe that God is calling us to go deeper in our faith, our relationships, and with our God. Spirit Practice Focus: Make it a practice to include time for prayer, spiritual reflection, and/or sharing of joys and concerns among members at team meetings, committee meetings, and all other church activities. Do you ever get so intent on getting a church meeting going and over on time that you forget to pray? Or connect with each other? Or expect God to be present? As we consider practical ways to deepen our spirituality, the simple act of opening and closing our meetings with prayer is a good place to start. Maybe you already do this. Great! Maybe you don’t but are too embarrassed to admit it. Or you don’t like praying in front of people, or you simply don’t know how to pray. It’s OK. We are all trying to help each other. To remember to include an opening prayer and time for some joys and concerns, put it on your agenda. Have a prayer with you. Keep it simple. Ask God to be with you as you meet. Ask God to bless your time together. At the end, ask God to bless the decisions you have made and give thanks to God for the privilege of serving. Give it a try! Make it a holy habit.
MORE BOOKS FROM PASTOR LYNN’S COLLECTION, THIS TIME FOR CHILDREN Noah’s Ark, illuminated by Isabelle Brent A lovely book with jewel-like illustrations
The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story by Judy Sierra The traditional fairy tale told from an Indonesian perspective Water, Come Down!: The Day You Were Baptized by Walter Wangerin, Jr. A book on the ritual of baptism for you to share with your child Let’s Make A Garden by Tamara Awad Lobe Children from around the world join together to make a garden for all A Packet of Seeds by Deborah Hopkinson A garden brings comfort to a family in their new home Wings from the Wind, An Anthology of Poems selected and illustrated by Tasha Tudor From Mother Goose to Shakespeare, uplifting poems from all times and places
Join us for our first Open Forum of the season. During this meeting we will discuss removing certain pews in the sanctuary. Removing these pews is helpful because it creates more room in the sanctuary and it makes more space for entry and exit. It would also create more space for young children and their families. We hope that you join us on October 14 to hear the discussion and bring your input and ideas. See you there!
THE MIDDLE EAST LECTURE SERIES
October 17 | 7pm Topic: Jerusalem – The Holy City for three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This edition of the series will feature a panel discussion of three speakers representing the three religions. They will discuss the significance of the Holy City of Jerusalem to their various faiths. The panel members are; Rabbi Gerald Serotta who is the - Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC), The Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington, DC, and Imam Yahya Hendi of Georgetown University.
the Gateway | October 2018
The annual Peace & Global Witness offering supports the peacemaking efforts of the church. It gives us the opportunity as Christians to provide a tangible witness to God’s peace in the community and the world. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. We see this every day as we experience our world’s need for Christ’s reconciling love, peace, and justice. We feel this as we long to know God’s peace in our hearts and relationships. The promise of Jesus – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9) – is both a comfort and a challenge. It reminds us that the path of peace is something we both follow and forge. The Peace & Global Witness Offering will be received this year on World Communion Sunday, October 7th, and throughout October. Each year, 25% of this offering is directed to help the work of a local peacemaking organization. Our 2018 local offering will support the National Capital Presbytery’s Disaster Relief Network (NCPDRN), in its current work to assist in Puerto Rico’s recovery from last year’s Hurricane Maria. You can join this work in person, as well as by your special offering, by coming on the NCP mission trip to Puerto Rico from December 31, 2018 to January 9, 2019. More information and an online registration form are available at https://ncpdrn.carrd.co/ . The Peace & Global Witness Offering also enables the Presbyterian Church (USA), at the national (50%), Synod and Presbytery (25%) levels to promote peacemaking and reconciliation. Your funds will counters systems that perpetuate violence, including, among others, through the PC(USA)’s Freedom Rising initiative – a churchwide effort to address the worsening plight of African American men in our culture. The initiative includes pilot programs in 5 cities (including Pittsburgh and Baltimore) to curb persistent problems experienced by African American males, such as high unemployment, mass incarceration and substance abuse. Please give generously to support NCPDRN’s Puerto Rico assistance work and the peacemaking programs of the broader PC (USA). You can make your contributions (1) by check payable to “CCPC”, with “Peacemaking” in the memo line, (2) by using the special envelopes in the pew, or (3) by credit card by signing in on the “Give” tab of the CCPC website (chevychasepc.org/give), and indicating “Peacemaking” on the “Other” line of the donation page. Thank you for being a peacemaker.
The 48th Season
CHEVY CHASE CONCERTS October 28 Phantom of the Opera 4:00 PM The season is opened, not by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but the classic Lon Chaney silent movie “The Phantom of the Opera” with an improvised organ accompaniment by Jackson Borges. Experience this classic film in its original style with theater organ accompaniment. November 11 Left Bank String Quartet 4:00 PM Formed under the auspices of the Theater Chamber Players, the Left Bank Quartet is now the faculty string quartet at the University of Maryland School of Music. Their program will range widely from Schubert’s lyrical “Rosamunde” Quartet to Janáček’s “Kreutzer Sonata” quartet and Mark Wilson’s exciting new “Dream-Crossed Twilight” quartet. December 9 Christmas Concert 4:00 PM This annual concert by the Chancel Choir of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church will feature Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata” for choir, organ and brass quartet. The Junior Choristers are also singing, the bells are ringing and carol singing will set all in the joyous holiday spirit. January 20 The Apollo Orchestra 4:00 PM In a concert made possible through the generosity of the Downing Family Foundation, the Apollo Orchestra returns in a program highlighted by the 3rd movement of Ottorino Respighi’s “Suite in G” for organ and strings as well as the “Variations on a Rococo Theme” of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with Michal Balas, Cello, Co-winner of the 2018 Johansen Competition. February 17 Peter & Will AndersonTrio 4:00 PM The Anderson twins, Peter and Will, jazz virtuosos of the clarinet and saxophone, grew up in Bethesda, attended Walt Whitman High School, and then Julliard. Now based in New York, they travel the world playing “with a passion, unpredictability, and sense of discovery.” (All About Jazz) They are joined by guitarist Felix Lemerle. March 24 42nd Annual Bach Marathon 2:00 PM -7:00 PM This beloved Washington tradition presents ten organists in half-hour programs on our wonderful 3manual, 50-rank, 2,500-pipe Rieger tracker organ. The theme this year will be the “Schübler Chorales.” Come when you can; leave when you must. The concert is followed by a traditional German dinner. April 28 Eric Owens 4:00 PM We are excited to present world-renowned bass-baritone Eric Owens, international star of the Metropolitan Opera and other houses. You will experience an artist with exceptional ability and desire to communicate through song. We are honored to present him in a recital accompanied by Mark Markham. June 2 CCPC Chancel Choir and Orchestra 4:00 PM Join us as the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir presents an afternoon of music for choir, organ and instruments. All events are admission-free, donations gratefully accepted. A reception to meet the artists and to greet one another takes place following each concert.
the Gateway | October 2018
PARTY AT THE PELTZ'S | OCTOBER 6 | 3:00 - 7:00 PM WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY | ONE SERVICE AT 10AM- OCT 7 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS | OCT 14 | 3PM STEWARDSHIP SEASON KICK OFF | OCT 14 NOVEMBER GATEWAY DEADLINE | OCT 17 HUNGER OFFERING | OCT 21 YOUTH LOCK-IN | OCT 27-28 | 7PM-9AM CHEVY CHASE CONCERT | OCT 28, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA CHEVY CHASE CONCERT | NOV 11, THE LEFT BANK (STRING) QUARTET STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY | ONE SERVICE AT 10 AM - NOV 18 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT FEATURING PINKHAM'S CHRISTMAS CANTATA - DEC 9 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - DEC 16 AT 9:15 AM ONE SERVICE AT 10 AM - DEC 23 ONE SERVICE AT 10 AM - DEC 30 NATIONAL CAPITAL PRESBYTERY DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE PUERTO RICO MISSION TRIP | DEC 31 - JAN 9 APOLLO ORCHESTRA - JAN 20, 2019 THE ANDERSON TRIO | FEB 17, 2019 THE 42ND BACH MARATHON | MARCH 24, 2019 BASS BARTIONE ERIC OWEN OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | APRIL 28 CHOIR SPRING CHORAL CONCERT | JUNE 2, 2019
OCTOBER WORSHIP SCHEDULE October 7 | World Communion Sunday Service at 10:00 am Preaching: The Rev. Molly Blythe Teichert Mark 10:2–16 October 21 Services at 9:15 & 11:15 am Preaching: The Rev. Eric Peltz Mark 10:35–45
facebook.com/ChevyChasePC/
The Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church One Chevy Chase Circle, NW Washington, DC 20015 office@chevychasepc.org 202-363-2202
October 14 Services at 9:15 & 11:15 am Preaching: The Rev. Molly Blythe Teichert Mark 10:17-31 October 28 Services at 9:15 & 11:15 am Preaching: The Rev. Molly Blythe Teichert Mark 10:46–52
ChevyChasePC