Pine Street to Create New Chapel
by Ron Poorman
Some of you may not know that Pine Street Church had a chapel at one time. The chapel was named for one of the founding members of the church, J. F. Seiler, who served as Superintendent of the Sunday School for 50 years, from 1858 until 1908. Seiler Chapel occupied the space that is now known as our Gathering Place, directly behind the chancel of the church. When the chapel was demolished to create the Gathering Place in the 1990s, the Pulpit and Communion Table were placed in the current Third Street Transept in the hope that this space would function as a new chapel. This dream never came to fruition, and the space has often been cluttered with tables and pews as the sanctuary is re-arranged to accommodate special events. In reality, the Seiler Chapel furniture, as placed, did not provide for a space that “felt” like a chapel.
Last fall, an expanded Worship and Arts Committee began investigating ideas for creating a welldesigned chapel that could be an area open for daily prayer, space for alternative worship services (Taize, Celtic Worship), small weddings, small funerals, prayer groups, teaching space, location for prayers for wholeness and healing, and a place for individual prayer before worship. Such chapels are common in gothic style buildings.
We began the project with certain parameters. To the extent it was possible we wanted to use materials that we have on hand, rather than purchase new furniture. We agreed the space should be completely flexible, while at the same time providing a focus for worship or prayer. We would re-orient the focus
MAPS Welcomes Cor Cymraeg
by Tom Clark-Jones
Our next event is a real Welsh Hymn Sing taking place on November 3 at 6:00pm. Joining us will be the award winning Cor Cymraeg Rehoboth (Rehoboth Welsh Choir) from Delta, Pennsylvania. They have sung throughout North American and Great Britain and were invited to sing at the New York wedding of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. They will be singing two sets of great Welsh anthems. Our own choir joins with a celebrative anthem from William Mathiasm, Let the People Praise, originally written for the
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
Bagels & Belief
October 6
Taking Steps to Reach Out
Alison Siewert
November 3
The Invitation of God
Alison Siewert
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
MAPS
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wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The congregational singing, about 75 percent of the program, will be led by Mari Morgan, a Welsh expat who lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania and directs Welsh singing events across the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. Tom Clark-Jones accompanies on the great Pine Street organ. If you’ve never experienced Welsh folk singing the hymns of their native land, you are in for a great treat. Come and enjoy Welsh hymns you know, and some that may be new to you! It will be a great evening of song! Suggested donation at the door is $10. Child care will be provided for the event, and the South Street garage will be open for your convenience. Mark your calendar now!
SAVE THE DATE: Women’s Retreat March 14-16, 2014
It is time to get this important date on your calendar, start saving money if necessary (or put it on your Christmas wish list), and look forward to a fabulous retreat. The speaker this year will be Deb McKinley, a former Associate Pastor at Pine Street. Her topic will be Sabbath Rest: the Gift of Sabbath in Today’s World. It will be an inspiring, restful retreat with opportunities for learning, relaxation, and fellowship with other women.
Once again, the retreat will be held at Camp Hebron, Halifax, PA which is about a 30 minute drive from the church. The cost will be $175 for a double room. If a single room is desired there is an additional charge of $45. This includes all presentations, five meals, and lodging for two nights in comfortable, spacious, motellike accommodations.
Signups will begin in December, but it is time to decide to make this worthwhile event a part of your schedule for 2014. If you have participated in retreats before, invite someone new to come this year. If you have never been to a retreat, consider doing so for the first time. You will be glad you did.
Your retreat committee this year is Cheryl Goode, Eileen Kunkle, Pam Bauer, Sondra Fertig, Carol Putt, Jo Dolbin, and Stevi Sharp. Please speak to one of us if you have any concerns or questions.
Session Notes for September
Discussed possible ideas for targeted print advertising.
Discussed plans being developed for Elder participation in taking communion to members who are not able to attend regularly.
Set various planning dates for congregational meetings, etc
Set November 10 as Consecration Sunday.
Approved plans to repurpose the 3rd Street transept as a multi-purpose chapel, teaching, and worship space. Existing but unused stained glass panels will be mounted and flexible seating will be added.
Session spent time in study of demographic data for our immediate neighborhood and the larger Harrisburg area. This data was originally prepared for the last Mission Study and some changes between then and now were noted.
Approved plans for ensuring opportunities for broad membership input to the process of discerning our future.
Trustees Notes for September
The annual financial audit Greenawalt & Company was completed with no major issues.
Evaluations for a new heating system continue with a final decision expected late this fall on how many zones, etc.
Pine Street Outreach to College Students
by Stevi Sharp
Each November, Pine Street’s Deacons are in contact with our members who are attending college. Early in the month, the students are sent a “goody” package and greeting letting them know they are in our thoughts and prayers and that their presence is missed. In the mailing, they also receive the latest copy of Pine Street Life and an invitation to the College Student/Senior High Youth Holiday Brunch which is normally is held on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The freshman students receive a cozy scarf (in their school colors) knitted by our Shawl Ministry!
The Deacons request your help in gathering small items to include in the care packages. We are seeking donations of pens, pencils, 3x5 note cards, pocket tissue packs, chewing gum, hard candy, tea bags, cocoa, etc. A sign-up sheet with a list of requested items will be placed in the Gathering Place by September 29 for members willing to help with this ministry. Items should be given to Stephanie (Stevi) Sharp or Cheryl Goode by Sunday, October 27.
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of the chapel to the Third Street wall, using the stained glass window, Scenes in the Life of our Lord, as the focal point. We would continue to use the space for the Christmas Tree during Advent and a place to display John Hertzler’s magnificent sculpture, Jesus on the Cross, during Lent. We decided that it would be necessary to purchase Sanctuary Chairs for use in the space to provide flexible, stackable seating.
Another issue to be dealt with was that, at Christmas and Easter, it is our custom to remove three pews from the front of the Sanctuary. This allows placement of the platform used for poinsettia and lily displays and the expanded table for celebrating the Lord’s Supper. This also occurs during the year if the choir is performing a work with orchestra. We have been recently cautioned, though, that movement of the pews places a continuing strain on this old furniture. As an alternative, the committee has proposed removing the first three rows of pews and replacing them with Sanctuary Chairs matching those in the chapel. The chairs will closely match the existing pew cushions and can easily be moved and stacked for special occasions.
A local church design firm, Bahret Church Interiors, offered to provide a free consultation and discuss our design ideas. After an initial meeting with Joe Bahret and his designer, Jan Bahret, we agreed to move into a design phase with the project. After discussing various options, Bahret presented us with a design that was approved by the committee.
The new chapel would be created by using two wood pews and modesty panels (currently unused) to create wainscoting on the Third Street wall. Wood from the Seiler Chapel pulpit will be used to create a moveable decorative screen to cover the heating grate on that wall. The Seiler Chapel communion table will be re-worked to create a lectern for teaching or placement of a Bible. Pine Street’s original communion table, now in Memorial Hallway, will be used as Communion Table and placed on an oriental-style rug in the center of the space. The memorial plaques currently on the South Street wall will be refurbished and placed at another place in the Sanctuary so that they can be better seen.
The final design element of the space will use two stained glass windows that are in the door at the end of Memorial Hallway. The windows cannot
normally be seen, because the door is open and there is no light behind them. The windows are of the two reformers, John Knox and John Calvin, the fathers of Presbyterianism. These two windows will be combined with a trefoil shaped window of Jesus and the Children. The trefoil was at one time above that door with the reformers and led to an outdoor courtyard – before Memorial Hallway was built. The windows will be placed in light boxes, placed on the Third Street wall below the existing window, and backlit so that they can be seen.
The project was presented to Session on September 3, 2013 and was approved. The total cost of the project will be $25,744 and will be paid from Expendable Funds available for use.
The committee is suggesting, however, that the cost of the sanctuary chairs be underwritten by memorial contributions @$130.00 per chair. A pledge of 10 chairs has already been made. Memorial Gifts will be recorded on a brass plaque hanging in Memorial Hallway. Please consider this as an opportunity to help move Pine Street Forward and offer to purchase a chair. Additional donations may be made for the project, as well. Contact Ron Poorman, Worship and Arts Committee Chair for more information: 652-8735 or ronpoorman@verizon.net.
A design drawing can be seen in the new chapel space.
The Chapel Project Committee: John Cameron, John Hertzler, Sondra Fertig, Tom Clark-Jones, Russell Sullivan, Craig Kegerise, Peggy Purdy, Joanne Alwine, George Kunkle, Ken Hays, and Ron Poorman.
Designs for the New Chapel Area
IRA Charitable Rollover Act
by
Diana Robertson
Congress passed legislation on January 2, 2013 approving an extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover Act for this year. You may recall that this provision permits a donor to transfer funds directly from an IRA account to a charitable organization, such as Pine Street Presbyterian Church, without recognizing that distribution as income. In the right circumstance, a donor can realize significant tax benefits when giving in this way.
In order to qualify, specific guidelines must be followed, including:
• The donor must be 70 ½ years of age or older at the time of the transfer.
• The transfer must pass directly from the IRA custodian to Pine Street Presbyterian Church and is limited to $100,000.
• The Act applies only to traditional, rollover, and Roth IRAs, not to other types of plans, such as a 401(k), 457, 403(b), etc.
If you are interested in this IRA charitable distribution alternative, you should speak with your financial advisor to determine if this strategy might work for you. Keep in mind that you will forego the charitable deduction if you contribute in this way and that the transfer cannot be used to fund a charitable gift annuity.
The window sections from the door to the memorial hallway and the window currently stored in the Pastors office would be used in the center and either side of the center area. These stained glass windows would be back lit and on dimmer switches. The door where the two windows were removed will be replaced with clear glass to give a more welcoming feeling.
The central area would be dignified with a 4’ x 6’ oriental rug to complement the stained glass and other finishes in the chapel
Recommendation to use the pew front screens as wainscot panels on either side of the existing pulpit.
A new pulpit would be constructed from one section of the existing communion table using the Bible rest and moving recessed panel to front.
The existing historic communion table would be offset to one side, along with the exiting table-top cross.
Bagels and Belief is Back
Reaching Out in Faith
by Ron Poorman
The theme for this year’s Bagels and Belief monthly study is “Reaching Out in Faith.” Some might call this “Evangelism,” but talking about the “E” word doesn’t seem to get at the whole meaning. Evangelism, after all, IS sharing the good news of the Gospel to the world, but the good news has more to it than the message of salvation and forgiveness. After a good bit of discussion, the Adult Education and Spiritual Formation Committee decided that we want to explore many ways to share the Gospel, and that “Reaching Out in Faith” says what we believe. For, if the news is indeed good, our healing, helping hands will be extended to those around us.
We began the discussion on Rally Day, with Alison Siewert helping us to see that reaching out is part and parcel of what it means to be Christian and is in fact a way that we come to know God more deeply and see him work through us. Jack Shepley then shared with us his vacation faith experience, where he unknowingly took a leap of faith into a different cultural worship experience and came away energized by the vitality and joy of that experience.
We will gather together for our first Bagels and Belief on October 6, 2013. Ms. Siewert will be with us again to talk about “Taking Steps to Reach Out.” We will learn what it means to rethink the size of our lives as we get to know others and how to do that practically. We’ll talk a bit about how to get into conversations. There will be some folks who have taken steps to build relationships, and how those relationships can help us to love someone and see God at work.
On November 3, 2013, we will examine “The Invitation of God.” We will talk about how we can help people see the practical opportunity to offer holiday faith connections to people they have already met. We’ll talk about how we might invite someone to a Pine Street service or activity. We will also listen to some stories about a church that invited friends into Christmas celebrations as a way of sharing the faith.
In both sessions we will talk about the what and how, covering some Biblical material and have a story that illustrates the main ideas we are getting at. The stories will help people gain courage and focus on the joy of such sharing and not the obligation.
Bagels and Belief has not disappointed us in the past. Be with us for the new season. Come and be nourished at our table.
Update on Pine Street’s Adult Learning Center
by Kathleen White
Baptisms
Callie Elizabeth Garman
infant daughter of Jennifer and Nathan Garman
September 15, 2013
Deaths
Betty Barnes
February 10, 1923 –September 5, 2013
Cleo Henry
November 11, 1920 –September 5, 2013
The plans for Pine Street's mission for community outreach in the form of establishing an Adult Learning Center have not been abandoned as a result of the recent departure of the Rev. Alex Lang. The committee has been meeting regularly and working diligently to secure funding and make other preparations for the project.
In the meantime Tri-County OIC, which will be our partner in this venture and who will refer selected students to our Center, is very much in need of volunteers now to help at their Maclay Street site. Because the GED program will be completely changed beginning January 1, 2014, students who are already in the pipeline are scrambling to finish their work and take their remaining GED exams before the end of the year, and many are in need of extra tutoring in order to meet the deadline. Anyone who has already completed the Tri-County OIC orientation and training and is interested in volunteering at the uptown campus between now and January should contact Annette Reiff at 238-7318 or areiff@tricountyoic.org Do be sure to let her know you are from Pine Street.
Training is also still available to other Pine Streeters who would like to be part of this exciting mission. It only requires 4 to 5 hours of your time to complete the OIC orientation. Contact either Kathleen White at 7374073 or Sue Black at 975-0964 if you are interested or have questions.
www.pinestreet.org
Tuesday October 1
Psalms 12; 146
2 Chronicles. 29:1–3, 30:1 (2–9) 10–27
1 Corinthians. 7:32–40
Matthew 7:1–12
Wednesday October 2
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
2 Kings 18:9–25
1 Corinthians. 8:1–13
Matthew 7:13–21
Thursday October 3
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
2 Kings 18:28–37
1 Corinthians. 9:1–15
Matthew 7:22–29
Friday October 4
Psalms 84; 148
2 Kings 19:1–20
1 Corinthians. 9:16–27
Matthew 8:1–17
Saturday October 5
Psalms 63; 149
2 Kings 19:21–36
1 Corinthians. 10:1–13
Matthew 8:18–27
Sunday October 6
Psalms 103; 150
2 Kings 20:1–21
Acts 12:1–17
Luke 7:11–17
Monday October 7
Psalms 5; 145
2 Kings 21:1–18
1 Corinthians. 10:14—11:1
Matthew 8:28–34
Lectionary Readings for October
Tuesday October 8
Psalms 42; 146
2 Kings 22:1–13
1 Corinthians. 11:2 (3–16) 17–22
Matthew 9:1–8
Wednesday October 9
Psalms 89:1–18; 147:1–11
2 Kings 22:14—23:3
1 Corinthians. 11:23–34
Matthew 9:9–17
Thursday October 10
Psalms 97; 147:12–20
2 Kings 23:4–25
1 Corinthians. 12:1–11
Matthew 9:18–26
Friday October 11
Psalms 51; 148
2 Kings 23:36—24:17
1 Corinthians. 12:12–26
Matthew 9:27–34
Saturday October 12
Psalms 104; 149
Jeremiah 35:1–19
1 Corinthians. 12:27—13:3
Matthew 9:35—10:4
Sunday October 13
Psalms 19; 150
Jeremiah 36:1–10
Acts 14:8–18
Luke 7:36–50
Monday October 14
Psalms 135; 145
Jeremiah 36:11–26
1 Corinthians. 13:(1–3) 4–13
Matthew 10:5–15
Tuesday October 15
Psalms 123; 146
Jeremiah 36:27—37:2
1 Corinthians. 14:1–12
Matthew 10:16–23
Wednesday October 16
Psalms 15; 147:1–11
Jeremiah 37:3–21
1 Corinthians. 14:13–25
Matthew 10:24–33
Thursday October 17
Psalms 36; 147:12–20
Jeremiah 38:1–13
1 Corinthians. 14:26–33a (33b–36) 37–40
Matthew 10:34–42
Friday October 18
Psalms 130; 148
Jeremiah 38:14–28
1 Corinthians. 15:1–11
Matthew 11:1–6
Saturday October 19
Psalms 56; 149
Jeremiah 52:1–34
1 Corinthians. 15:12–29
Matthew 11:7–15
Sunday October 20
Psalms 67; 150
Jeremiah 29:1, 4–14 or Jeremiah 39:11—40:6 Acts 16:6–15
Luke 10:1–12, 17–20
Monday October 21
Psalms 57; 145
Jeremiah 44:1–14 or Jeremiah 29:1, 4–14
1 Corinthians. 15:30–41
Matthew 11:16–24
Tuesday October 22
Psalms 54; 146 Lamentations 1:1–5 (6–9) 10–12 or Jeremiah 40:7—41:3
1 Corinthians. 15:41–50
Matthew 11:25–30
Wednesday October 23
Psalms 65; 147:1–11
Lamentations 2:8–15 or Jeremiah 41:4–18 1 Corinthians. 15:51–58
Matthew 12:1–14
Thursday October 24
Psalms 143; 147:12–20
Ezra 1:1–11 or Jeremiah 42:1–22 1 Corinthians. 16:1–9
Matthew 12:15–21
Friday October 25
Psalms 88; 148 Ezra 3:1–13 or Jeremiah 43:1–13 1 Corinthians. 16:10–24
Matthew 12:22–32
Saturday October 26
Psalms 122; 149 Ezra 4:7; 11–24 or Jeremiah 44:1–14 Philemon 1–25
Matthew 12:33–42
Sunday October 27
Psalms 108; 150 Haggai. 1:1—2:9 or Jeremiah 44:15–30 Acts 18:24—19:7 Luke 10:25–37
Monday October 28
Psalms 62; 145 Zechariah 1:7–17 or Jeremiah 45:1–5
Revelation 1:4–20
Matthew 12:43–50
Tuesday October 29
Psalms 12; 146 Ezra 5:1–17 or Lamentations 1:1–5 (6–9) 10–12
Revelation 4:1–11
Matthew 13:1–9
Wednesday October 30
Psalms 96; 147:1–11
Ezra 6:1–22 or Lamentations 2:8–15
Revelation 5:1–10
Matthew 13:10–17
Thursday October 31
Psalms 116; 147:12–20
Nehemiah 1:1–11 or Lamentations 2:16–22
Revelation 5:11—6:11
Matthew 13:18–23
