The Heart of Stephen Ministry
by Courtney Lang
I often find myself contemplating those moments in Jesus’ life when he must have felt acutely human. In his final hours in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus feels overwhelming sorrow and grief as he anticipates his path to the cross. He asks his disciples to sit and keep watch with him, but they are unable to stay awake beside him, even for one hour. Amidst his immense suffering, Jesus is well aware that the disciples cannot take his burden from him; he cries out to God in that grief. Yet, he longs for human presence, companionship, and the listening ear of his disciples to help ease his suffering.
Herein lies the premise of Stephen Ministry: to provide distinctively Christian care through the ministries of presence, companionship and listening to individuals in the midst of loss, hardship, and transition. Our pastors alone, with their multifaceted
responsibilities, could never perfectly address all of the caring needs at Pine Street. It is at such times that the pastors will refer individuals to a Stephen Minister; other times, individuals refer themselves. The Stephen Minister provides a consistent, caring presence, meeting with his or her care receiver once per week for approximately one hour. These sessions occur at a mutually agreeable location and the core purpose is for the Stephen Minister to serve as a trained listener to allow the care receiver a safe, confidential space to talk, reflect, process, be listened to, and as desired, pray or discuss scripture or spiritual resources. Sometimes this caring relationship lasts for a few months; often, it spans longer term.
See Stephen on page 4
MAPS Closes Season With Two Events in May
by Tom Clark-Jones
May is an especially rich month musically at Pine Street Church this year. There are two events that will bring you inspiration and pleasure as you listen to great music in the wonderful space of the Pine Street sanctuary
On Friday evening, May 10 at 7:30pm, the Chamber Singers will present Choral Evensong for Ascension. The Feast of the Ascension occurs forty days after Easter and actually falls on May 9, but we will celebrate on May 10. The Prelude for the service will be the opening
Stephen Ministry was founded in 1975 and now has over 11,000 See MAPS on page 2
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
Bagels & Belief
May 5
Gun Control: Beyond the Myths
Pastor Sullivan
June 2 Is it the End of Marriage as We Know It?
Pastor Sullivan
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
Continued from page 1
movement of The Ascension Suite by Olivier Messaien (1908 – 1992) offering wonderful contrast to a set of Preces and Responses by John Reading (1645 – 1692). Add to these, an anthem by Gerald Finzi (1901 – 1956) and a psalm setting by American composer, Theodore Snyder (1924 – 2001) and you get a truly interesting mix of styles and musical expression to grace this lovely service. Oh yes, did I mention that the Canticles are composed by Lee Hoiby (1926 – 2011) another wonderful American composer who has created music for Evensong. In all, it should be an evening filled with musical delight. The service is followed by a short recital by Thomas Clark-Jones, Pine Street’s organist who will play works of Flor Peeters (1903 – 1986) and César Franck (1822 – 1890). Join us in celebration of the Ascension of our Lord and enjoy the great music created for this major feast of the church. Admission is free.
Session Notes for April
Appointed Session Commission to meet with confirmands on April 13, 2013 at 8:15 in Fellowship Hall.
Approved a revised Recognition policy for In Memoriam gifts including a new and updated Memorials Register to be placed in the Memorial Hallway.
Youth Mission Fundraiser
by Sue Black
A huge thank you to everyone who heped make the youth mission fundraiser a success. Between ticket sales and cash donations, we were able to raise $7,250 during the four weeks of the “Pick-a-Prize” auction. The support and generosity of Pine Streeters is truly amazing. Thank you for supporting our youth.
Then, on Friday evening, May 31 at 7:30pm, the Choir, Festival Orchestra and soloists, with guest soloists Jonathan Hudson, countertenor and Beverly Hudson, soprano will present music of Antonio Vivaldi (1678 –1741) the prolific Italian Baroque master. Included will be settings of the Credo (the Nicene Creed), the Gloria (Introduction and Gloria, not the well-known Gloria, but another wonderful setting of this text) and the dramatic Stabat Mater for solo countertenor and orchestra. Vivaldi is always exciting and entertaining music, even when it is deeply religious. The “Red Priest” never ceases to amaze concert audiences with the depth and beauty and sheer excitement of his music. This will be the final concert of the season, and the close of the choir year. Please come and enjoy this grand music in the beautiful surroundings of the Pine Street sanctuary. Suggested donation of $10.00 at the door.
For both events, child care is provided and free parking is available in the South Street Garage. Further information may be had by calling Tom ClarkJones in the music office or going to our webpage at www.pinestreet.org. Thanks to all for supporting Music at Pine Street over the 2012 – 2013 season. Come and enjoy these two great offerings and help us finish the season on a triumphant note.
Amended the 2013 budget to increasing authorized expenditure for streaming of worship services on Internet by $900.
Invited Elder Craig Kegerise to preach at both services on April 28, 2013.
Reviewed Annual Statistical Report provided to Office of General Assembly.
Spent a period of study discussing portions of a study text concentrating on decline of Christianity’s preeminence and increased secularization of society as we move into the 21st century and implications for Pine Street.
Summer Sermon Series
by Rev. Alex Lang
Beginning on May 26th, Dr. Sullivan and Rev. Lang will embark upon two sermon series that will last for the duration of the summer. Dr. Sullivan’s series Good News for Relationships will deal with the complexity of relationships in our present world. He will be preaching 10 sermons beginning with “A Person Is a Person Because of Other Persons” where he will explore how our understanding of God as a community of relationships (the Trinity) impacts how we live in our relationships. Then in June and July he will focus on some specific challenges we face: marriage, hyperparenting, the song of sex (stay tuned for that one!), building relationships that last, and other relationship topics.
Rev. Lang’s series Mythical Truths will begin
See SERIES on page 5
Elaine Strokoff Receives
Kathryn Towns Founder’s
Award
by Rev. Russell Sullivan
I was privileged to attend on March 22 the 35th Anniversary Breakfast of P.R.O.B.E. (Potential Reentry Opportunities in Business and Education) at the Hershey Country Club, and to witness Elaine Strokoff receive the Kathryn Towns Founders Award.
Founded in 1978 by Kathryn Towns, P.R.O.B.E.’s primary goal is to enable displaced homemakers to enter and remain in the workforce. P.R.O.B.E. provides intensive career counseling, career readiness classes, new skills training, child care, and transportation resources. Its counseling process is specifically designed for displaced homemakers and single parents to achieve economic independence for themselves and their families. Additional support services also continue throughout placement in training or jobs.
As a graduate of the program following a period of her life as a homemaker, Elaine credits P.R.O.B.E. with giving her the skills and motivation to re-enter the job market and to discover a vocation in non-profit public service. Thank goodness for an organization like this that inspired Elaine to a career in public service and that led her to her current work as Executive Director of Downtown Daily Bread! The qualifications for the award are that the recipient demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in pursuit of personal and professional goals; provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others; and capture Kathryn Town’s vision of empowerment of others and promoting equality in the development of human potential.
Congratulations to Elaine for this award and for her commitment to service!
Trustees Notes for March
Researching the feasibility of a service contract on the sound system. The performance has not been satisfactory.
Final repairs for the compressor (steam heat) are being made.
Insurance is being updated—new policy to be out in May.
The leak in the basement of the education wing has been located and bids are out for repairs.
Summer Sunday School
Sunday school during the summer for elementary students will not be held during the usual 9:30 -10:30am time. Beginning June 16th parents and grandparents are asked to bring their child to the library on the upper level of the church building at 11:00am (room 308). Our time together will be an extended Wonder of Worship with lessons, music, crafts and learning about prayer and worship. We will come back to the Sanctuary for communion and you may pick up your child at the front of the church at the conclusion of the service as usual.
Progressive Dinner Returns
by Bob Kerr, Chair, Congregational Life Committee
If you have been paying attention to the bulletin announcements, you already know that we are having a progressive dinner on June 1. This has been a very popular event in the past, but it has been a few years since we had one.
At the progressive dinner, we all meet at one person’s house for an appetizer course, then break into small groups to have the entrée and salad at another member’s home. Then we come back together at a yet another member’s home for dessert. It is an excellent opportunity to get to see old friends and make new ones. We also encourage you to invite and bring along any of your friends that are not connected with Pine Street so they can get to know us better. We do not expect guests to bring any food, but we will need to know in advance that they are coming so the hosts can plan for them.
Sign up sheets are at the Welcome Center and you will need to choose to be a host (and provide the entrée), bring a salad to the entrée location, bring an appetizer, or bring a dessert. We are asking that those attending sign up by May 19 so that we can complete the arrangements and let everyone know the final plans before June 1. We hope that as many of you as possible can join us that night for fellowship and fun and good food.
Stephen
Continued from page 1
participating congregations from over 150 different denominations. To begin a Stephen Ministry program, as Pine Street did in 2009 under the leadership and direction our beloved friend Carol Mader, a group of Stephen Leaders (Carol Mader, Robert Daub, Jane Edgar Freet, Judy Hall and Dr. Russell Sullivan) attended a weeklong leadership conference, after which they trained the first group of Stephen Ministers at Pine Street. A second group was trained in 2011 and the current Pine Street Stephen Ministers include Edward Gerst, Marty Gruver, Courtney Lang, Margaret Mielke, Sarah Pearce, Peggy Purdy, and Jess Weigel Bonnie Peckham was also trained as a Stephen Minister and thereafter attended the Stephen Ministry leadership conference and joined the Stephen Leader team.
To become trained as a Stephen Minister, each of us underwent 50 hours of classroom training — lecture, discussion and skill practice — and completed the at-home study of two handbooks of Stephen Ministry materials and various supplemental readings on topics ranging from coping with grief to providing distinctively Christian care. This training instills in all Stephen Ministers an acute awareness of what our role is and what our role is not. We are ready to listen. We are slow to speak. We are non-judgmental. We are caregivers. We are not the cure givers. God is. We are not trained professionals. We are trained active
listeners. We are not setting goals or achievements for our care receiver to accomplish. We are accompanying the care receiver along the journey of healing and growth. We are, as disciples of Christ, in the unique position to share a spiritual perspective and insight to the extent it is welcomed by the care receiver. We are consistent, meeting regularly with our care receivers and attending bimonthly meetings with Stephen Leaders to confidentially discuss our caregiving relationships and receive continuing education.
The Stephen Minister’s “caregiver’s compass”, which we discussed at the end of each of our training sessions, reminds us of the character values we aspire to as Stephen Ministers: to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled, and trustworthy. At the center of the compass is the cross, reminding us that all of our Christian caregiving derives from our own relationship with Christ. Indeed, as we know from Jesus’ path to the cross, we have a God who is intimately knowledgeable and experienced in the sufferings and struggles of the human existence.
Should you desire more information about Stephen Ministry, please do not hesitate to talk to any of the Stephen Leaders or Ministers identified above or to Dr. Russell Sullivan. Stephen Ministry looks forward to publishing additional content in Pine Street Life over the course of the upcoming year, both for the purposes of our ministry and as a support to all those providing and receiving care in your daily life.
Series
Continued from page 3
on August 4th and will be a series of four sermons based on the mythological stories from Genesis 1-11. Each of these stories is primarily based on myth, and yet, they convey deep truths about humanity, even thousands of years after they were written. The first sermon will focus on the Adam and Eve story in the Garden of Eden and will explore the plight of human suffering. The second sermon will delve into the story of Cain and Abel, addressing the inescapable realities of violence in our world. The third sermon will cover the story of Noah and the Ark and peel away some of the layers that comprise our dualistic understanding of the nature of God as being both loving and vengeful. The final sermon will discuss the story of the Tower of Babel and how innovative technology created by human hands always has the potential to place us at odds with our creator.
These will both be excellent sermon series that will inspire your faith and provide you with an opportunity to examine your beliefs. We look forward to having the opportunity to preach these sermon series and look forward to your presence in worship over the summer as we take you through these important topics that impact our lives.
Forming our Faith
by Cheryl Goode
In recent months I have met with moms from our church. Our focus each month was to talk about Christian parenting and how we can be the best parent possible. As parents, we want the best for our children. I started to think about children in worship, and how we share our faith with our children. But the bigger question is, do we let our children form their faith on there own, or do we guide them to be open to a spiritual path?
An article I read in “Brain Child” magazine provided two points of view. The first comes from Dr. Tim Kimmell. “Dr. Tim” has a masters in theology and is the founder of the Family Matters ministry in Phoenix. Having authored numerous parenting books, his view is that we should take the spiritual lead in our children’s lives and guide them to faith. He says, “Just as we feed our children healthfully and without allowing them to binge or starve, and just as we monitor and nurture their intellectual and emotional lives, so too we have the responsibility to address their spiritual needs.”
The second view comes from Dale McGowan, author of the book, Parenting Beyond Belief: On raising ethical, caring kids without religion. McGowan believes in religion neutral parenting. In other words, we should allow children to find their own answers about religion/spirituality in their own time. He does not feel that kids need definitive answers to their spiritual questions to guide them. What I think he is saying is that the uncertainty of not knowing all the answers is not detrimental to a child’s spiritual well being. He does say, however, that secular parents still need to instill values in their children. McGowan cites a study done in 2010 from Harvard and the University of Wisconsin. It states that people who go to church rated themselves as happier than those who didn’t. He says the data shows this to be true only for those who had friends in the church. Hence, it seems the connection to other people is what made them happy and not necessarily religion. I believe our connection to one another grows when we worship as a community.
As a Christian educator and a mother, I would argue that without a support system, whether it is secular, or within the church community we would all struggle to find faith, and begin our faith journey. But more than that, I believe our children learn by our example and by our guidance. If we want our children to learn how to read, we allow them to see us reading, we read to them and we teach them how to read. If we want our child to learn how to sing and to learn music we expose them to music, give them a musical instrument and lessons. If we want our children to learn to be kind and loving towards others we model this kind of behavior and teach them to be respectful to others.
My point is that, just as Dr. Kimmell stated, we need to take the lead in guiding our children to faith and we need to depend on our church community for support in this journey. Do we want to take the risk that they may or may not get there? We need to choose to lead our children to faith. We need to lead them to the kind of love and peace that cannot be found anywhere else.
Reading Rocks
The summer reading program at the Hansel and Gretel Early Childhood Center will continue this summer as in the past two summers. More details will follow as the time for the program gets closer. Stay tuned . . .
Interfaith Prayer Service
On Monday, May 6, at 5:30pm Pine Street will open its sanctuary once again to people of many faiths who will gather to pray for peace. Among the faiths represented at the service in the past are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Native American,Christian, Hindu.
Following the service, the Mission Committee will sponsor a lovely reception in the Gathering Place, offering traditional Middle Eastern and good old American desserts. Please plan to come to this most interesting service and share a time of fellowship with people of different faiths over a cup of coffee or tea and some dessert.
First in an occasional series
Meet June Holbert Baker
by Debbie Gruver
Perhaps you have had the pleasure of knowing or meeting June Baker, a member who has attended Pine Street Church since her birth on June 8, 1921. If not, may this be an introduction to this remarkable woman.
Marriages
Linda Scott & John McKillop
April 4, 2013
New Members
Rebekah Anderson
Deaths
Frank Angeli
June’s father, Benjamin Holbert, came to Pine Street Church as a young man with his friend Eugene Miller. He joined Pine Street and became a member of the Hick-a-Thrift Class. According to June, “My father used to carry me, as an infant, from our home above my grandfather’s grocery store on Berryhill Street over the Mulberry Street Bridge to church.” In those days, elderly ladies were working in the church nursery, and “my father was not ready to entrust the care of his baby to someone else so he kept me in Sunday School with him.”
June 30,1925 –March 25, 2013
Helen MacMurray
July 21, 1910 –March 18, 2013
As a young woman, June joined Pine Street Church on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. On June 2, 1942, she married Raymond Baker, presided by C. Ralston Smith, pastor of Pine Street Church at the time. They were married at that time because Raymond was in the Army and had to be back in camp on her birthday.
During the years, as June had her three children (Lynn, James, and Dana), she taught Sunday School with Emma McLaughlin in the Beginner’s Department. “It was televised on local TV one Saturday of the month. This was when television was in its infancy, so it was a big thrill for the children and the teachers!”
June had joined the Peg-A-Way Sunday School class as a young woman and continued to attend throughout her whole life. With an eye to the importance of attending church, June says “We made it a point to be in Sunday School and church every Sunday morning. My husband Ray was a member of the Hick-A-Thrift class. . . I can remember all throughout my life conversations about Pine Street Church and the Hick-A-Thrift Class from my Daddy.” Proudly, June has the distinction and honor to be the only Hick-A-Thrift daughter, wife, and mother. She was voted “Mother of the Year” by the class in 1976.
Currently, June and Dana (sometimes accompanied by Lynn, Christie and her children, Devin and Duane) only get to church occasionally. If you happen to be there on that particular Sunday, you will know who she is. She’s the beautiful 91-year-old surrounded by Pine Streeters who are thrilled to see her, although it is we who will leave the sanctuary blessed by knowing her. If you haven’t had the pleasure, introduce yourself! You, too, will be blessed.
June speaks fondly of her years at Pine Street and of her spiritual growth. “I received my salvation through the Lord speaking through the pastors and the Sunday School teachers. My church has been a force for good and for learning about Christ throughout my life.”
Pine Street Life (USPS 574-510) is published monthly by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Periodicals Postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105. Postmaster: Send address changes to Pine Street Life, Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
www.pinestreet.org
Wednesday May 1
Psalms 99; 147:1–11
Jeremiah 32:36–44
Romans 13:1–14
Luke 8:16–25
Thursday May 2
Psalms 47; 147:12–20
Jeremiah 33:1–13
Romans 14:1–12
Luke 8:26–39
Friday May 3
Psalms 96; 148
Deuteronomy 31:30— 32:14
Romans 14:13–23
Luke 8:40–56
Saturday May 4
Psalms 92; 149
Deuteronomy 32:34–41 (42) 43
Romans 15:1–13
Luke 9:1–17
Sunday May 5
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Psalms 93; 150 Deuteronomy 15:1–11
1 Timothy 3:14―4:5
Matthew 13:24–34a
Monday May 6
Psalms 97; 145
Deuteronomy 8:1–10 or 18:9–14
James 1:1–15
Luke 9:18–27
Tuesday May 7
Psalms 98; 146
Deuteronomy 8:11–20 or 18:15–22
James 1:16–27
Luke 11:1–13
Lectionary Readings for May
Wednesday May 8
Psalms 99; 147:1–11
Deuteronomy 19:1–7
James 5:13–18
Luke 12:22–31
Thursday May 9
Ascension of the Lord
Psalms 47; 147:12–20
Ezekiel 1:1–14, 24–28b
Hebrews 2:5–18
Matthew 28:16–20
Friday May 10
Psalms 96; 148
Ezekiel 1:28—3:3
Hebrews 4:14—5:6
Luke 9:28–36
Saturday May 11
Psalms 92; 149 Ezekiel 3:4–17
Hebrews 5:7–14
Luke 9:37–50
Sunday May 12
Seventh Sunday of Easter Psalms 93; 150 Ezekiel 3:16–27
Ephesians 2:1–10
Matthew 10:24–33, 40–42
Monday May 13
Psalms 97; 145
Ezekiel 4:1–17
Hebrews 6:1–12
Luke 9:51–62
Tuesday May 14
Psalms 98; 146
Ezekiel 7:10–15, 23b–27
Hebrews 6:13–20
Luke 10:1–17
Wednesday May 15
Psalms 99; 147:1–11
Ezekiel 11:14–25
Hebrews 7:1–17
Luke 10:17–24
Thursday May 16
Psalms 47; 147:12–20
Ezekiel 18:1–4, 19–32
Hebrews 7:18–28
Luke 10:25–37
Friday May 17
Psalms 96; 148
Ezekiel 34:17–31
Hebrews 8:1–13
Luke 10:38–42
Saturday May 18
Psalms 92; 149
Ezekiel 43:1–12
Hebrews 9:1–14
Luke 11:14–23
Sunday May 19
Day of Pentecost
Psalms 104; 150
Isaiah 11:1–9
1 Corinthians 2:1–13
John 14:21–29
Monday May 20
Psalms 5; 145
Ruth 1:1–18
1 Timothy 1:1–17
Luke 13:1–9
Tuesday May 21
Psalms 42; 146
Ruth 1:19—2:13
1 Timothy 1:18—2:8
Luke 13:10–17
Wednesday May 22
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
Ruth 2:14–23
1 Timothy 3:1–16
Luke 13:18–30
Thursday May 23
Psalms 97; 147:12–20
Ruth 3:1–18
1 Timothy 4:1–16
Luke 13:31–35
Friday May 24
Psalms 51; 148 Ruth 4:1–22
1 Timothy 5:17–22 (23–25)
Luke 14:1–11
Saturday May 25
Psalms 104; 149 Deuteronomy 1:1–8
1 Timothy 6:6–21
Luke 14:12–24
Sunday May 26
Trinity Sunday
Wednesday May 29
Psalms 15; 147:1–11
Deuteronomy 4:25–31
2 Corinthians 1:23—2:17
Luke 15:1–2, 11–32
Thursday May 30
Psalms 36; 147:12–20
Deuteronomy 4:32–40
2 Corinthians 3:1–18
Luke 16:1–9
Friday May 31
Psalms 130; 148
Deuteronomy 5:1–22
2 Corinthians 4:1–12
Luke 16:10–17 (18)
Psalms 103; 150 Deuteronomy 6:1–9 (10–15)
Ephesians 4:1–16
John 1:1–18
Monday May 27
Psalms 135; 145 Deuteronomy 4:9–14
2 Corinthians 1:1–11
Luke 14:25–35
Tuesday May 28
Psalms 123; 146 Deuteronomy 4:15–24
2 Corinthians 1:12–22
Luke 15:1–10
