THANKSGIVING
by Cheryl A. Goode
4
When we think of Thanksgiving we typically think of a day to get together with loved ones, eat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie and ridiculously large amounts of food. We watch football, and last but not least give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. We also think of the feast the pilgrims had with the Wampanoag Indians as being the first Thanksgiving. But was it in fact the first Thanksgiving?
Bagels & Belief
January 6
The Pornography Effect: How Pornography is Changing Our Understanding of Sexuality
Pastor Lang
February 3
Human Trafficking: The Modern Slave Trade
Pastor Lang
March 3 Why Evolution Won’t Go Away
Dr. Ted Davis
April 7
The Culture of Disbelief
Dr. Ted Davis
May 5
It’s the Economy (again), Stupid!
Pastor Sullivan
June 2
Is it the End of Marriage as We Know It?
Pastor Sullivan
All forums are held at 9:40 a.m. in Fellowship Hall
Stewardship Breakfast
“One heart and soul” – This phrase in Acts 4:32 describes the unity of the early church as all of its members shared their resources to care for one another and to support the vital mission to which God had called the church.
In the fall we give special attention to discerning what God is calling each of us to give financially to the ministry and mission of the church for the new year. Your Session and program committees have spent time and prayer in considering new directions and costs for our mission in 2013. This is a great opportunity for us to be of “one heart and soul.”
You are invited to attend a breakfast on Sunday, November 4, 2012, at 9:40 am, in the Fellowship Hall and to hear a presentation of our Ministry/Mission Budget for 2013. The budget has been written as a narrative with detailed explanations of what we believe God is leading us to do in 2013. At the breakfast you will be given a pledge packet which includes a copy of the narrative budget, a pledge card (on which you indicate your financial commitment), and a return envelope. We are asking you to attend worship on Sunday, November 18, and to bring your completed pledge card to be consecrated in worship. If you can’t attend the worship on the 18th, you can, of course, mail the pledge card back to the church.
We hope you can attend to hear the presentation on November 4. So please sign up today at the Welcome Center in the Gathering Place for the breakfast, or you may register on-line at www.pinestreet.org. Let’s join together, with one heart and soul, to support our mission and ministry for 2013.
Session Notes for October
Heard plans for Family Retreat and Cookie Bazaar. Also, that this year’s KOALA program is going well. Adult education program was also reviewed.
Approved a Youth Mission trip (and two fundraising efforts) to Haiti on June 22 – 29, 2013.
Heard plans for two information meetings on the new mission direction for Pine Street on October 15th at 7:00pm and October 28th at 12:15pm.
Reviewed plans for this year’s financial campaign. A breakfast presentation is scheduled for November 4 at 9:40am. This will be a presentation of the budget and what it will allow Pine Street to do in worship, ministry, and mission in 2013.
Called a meeting of the Congregation for January 13, 2013 to consider terms of call for pastors and revised bylaws required by recent changes to the Book of Order.
Thank you Loretta Smith and friends who, despite the weather and parking issues, were able to raise $1000 for DDB through their Bears for Bread stand at Pennsboro’s Pumpkin Fest.
Thanksgiving
Continued from page 1
Trustees Notes for September
Approved the audit of the church and DDB done by Greenawalt and Company. There were no major issues.
Approved a policy clarifying how receipts/ disbursements of small groups (10 or less) will be processed. For events with more than 10 participants the standard church accounting methods are to be used.
During the first winter after the pilgrims landed there was no harvest, and many were sick and died. But the following year the harvest was plentiful. This was due to the help of Samoset and Squanto of the Wampanoag Indians. They taught the pilgrims how to trap animals for food and clothing, and how to plant crops. Because the harvest was plentiful they decided to celebrate with a feast. Their feast included wild game, turkey, corn and pumpkin.
The first actual mention of the word Thanksgiving in colonial history was not associated with the first feast of the Pilgrims. The first time the term “Thanksgiving” was associated as a feast or celebration came in 1623. During this year there was a terrible drought. The pilgrims prayed for rain and it came, as well as additional supplies that settlers brought from the Netherlands. The Governor at that time proclaimed it a day of Thanksgiving to offer prayers and thanks to God. Unfortunately, the day of prayer and thanks was not a yearly occurrence.
Throughout the mid-1600’s the thanksgiving celebration began to take shape. In Connecticut towns there are records, although not complete, showing proclamations of Thanksgiving for the years 1639, 1644, and 1649. These years were set aside as an annual holiday. One of the first recorded celebrations commemorating the feast in Plymouth in 1621 occurred in Connecticut in 1665. Over the time span of one hundred years, each colony had different traditions and dates for celebrations.
George Washington was the first president to issue a proclamation for the celebration of Thanksgiving. Interestingly though some of the future presidents did not agree to resolutions for a national day of Thanksgiving. They felt it was not in their constitutional power. Over the years thanksgiving was celebrated in many states, on different dates, and was typically celebrated in the month of November.
See NOVEMBER on page 4
Decided to seek approval from Session to sell the pews made redundant by the recent resetting of the pews.
Approved a request from the Property Committee to purchase a new ice maker for the kitchen.
Approved a request from the Property Committee for $6,000 to re-point the stonework above the Third Street entrance.
Expressed appreciation for the contribution of Estelle Hartranft for the restoration of the outdoor church signs.
Bears for Bread: Marna Holt, Roger Holt, Loretta Smith
The Giving Tree 2012 Reaches for the Star
The Giving Tree has long been a Christmas tradition at Pine Street. This year, the Mission Committee continues to sponsor this opportunity to give to others in remembrance of the birth of Jesus, with gratitude and love for the bounty which God has given to us. Your contributions to the Giving Tree will focus 100% on local groups that need help in these tough economic times.
The Magi were guided by the shining Christmas star, bringing gifts to the Messiah. Look for the Stars in the Gathering Place to find details and sign-ups to bring your gifts of hope to our community.
How do you participate??
Sign-up on November 25th, December 2nd or Dec. 9th in the Gathering Place at the special table set up for this purpose.
Return gifts or checks to the sign-up table on December 9th or 16th so that they can be delivered in time for Christmas.
The following agencies have been chosen this year.
Delta Community — assists homeless parents
• 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 — a living facility for women just out of prison who are trying to turn their lives around
• Gifts for individuals
Downtown Daily Bread
• T-shirts, warm gloves (especially men’s), socks, razors
Community Check-up Center — provides compassionate and caring medical services
• New or gently used books to be used at the center as well as distributed to families to encourage reading
Advent
Continued from page 1
haunting fact. But the great and glad news is that God has done something for the sake our world. God has redeemed it in Christ and entered into this world – and God is coming. We have no idea when history and creation will reach its appointed end. Instead, we are to live as if the end is around the corner and to live expectantly and with hope. Prepare your hearts and minds this Advent for God’s amazing arrival!
November
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Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer, lobbied for the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. She had written editorials in her magazine and written letters to the governors in every state and territory. She also wrote a letter to President Abraham Lincoln asking for an annual day of thanksgiving. On October 3, 1863, Lincoln proclaimed the nationwide Thanksgiving Day as the last Thursday of each November.
After 1869 the president proclaimed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. But there was contention over the actual date. Each year individuals would try to change the date for one reason or another. Finally, although the confusion over the date continued through 1940 and 41, President Roosevelt announced that the traditional date of the last Thursday in November would be the official Thanksgiving Day. A bill was signed into effect of this on November 26, 1941 and has been followed by every state since 1956.
This year as you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal take time to reflect on the fact that we, as a nation, took a great deal of time to have an “official” day to celebrate being thankful. Reflect on the many things that God has provided us with and think of those who are not as fortunate as we are. And as you pray remember what it says in Colossians chapter 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
POINSETTIAS ORDER FORM – 2012
Can you give an occasional ride to a member living in the Union Deposit area who would like to attend the 11:00 service? If you can help, please contact Kris Dormuth at 9380935 or kdormuth1@ comcast.net.
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 16, 2012.
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.
Cookie/ Craft Bazaar
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, December 8, 2012 from 10:00am – 12:30pm Bring a friend and join us for our Christmas Cookie/ Craft Bazaar. We will be offering cookies and fudge for $6.00 per pound, and sweet breads to be priced separately. We will also be offering a selection of craft items that could easily provide you with a gift for that special someone this Christmas!
All proceeds from this event will benefit the upkeep of our church kitchen.
Please feel free to contact Cheryl Goode at the church, 2389304 x105 or cgoode@ pinestreet.org with any questions.
Pine Street Book Club
Novermber 11
Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me by Ian Morgan Cron
Barb Neff, Hostess
Reviewed by Joan Landis
January 13, 2013
Red Azlea by Anchee Min
Sandy Allen, Hostess Reviewed by Cynthia Hertzler
February 10, 2013 Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank
Pam Bauer, Hostess Reviewed by Pam Bauer
March 10, 2013
If You Ask Me by Betty White
Sondra Fertig, Hostess Reviewed by Rita Falk & Barb Taylor
April 14, 2013 Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz
Estelle Hartranft, Hostess Reviewed by Eileen Kunkle & Estelle Hartranft
May 19, 2013
The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
Doris Coyne, Hostess Reviewed by Edna Andrews
Book Club always meets at 7:00 pm. Sign-up at the Welcome Center.
What Are Your Gifts?
Back in September Pine Street members were mailed a questionnaire asking you to “consider what skills or abilities you possess that are, in reality, spiritual gifts that can be put to use in the work of the church in building the Kingdom of God, right here in Harrisburg.”
Understanding the gifts of our members is vital as we explore various opportunities for a new mission project for Pine Street. Please return your completed questionnaire as soon as possible.
Pine Street Walkers
Enjoy the fall weather with the Pine Streetwalkers at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary on Sunday, November 11, 2012 Meet at 1:00 pm at the Olewine Nature Center parking lot. This is a three mile loop hike mostly on blacktop with some gravel and wood chip trail along the canal tow path. This is also part of the Capital Area Greenbelt. Get this section in so you can work on the remaining sections in the future. Wildwood Lake Sanctuary is located off of Wildwood Park Drive/Industrial Road which is accessible off Cameron Street (by the Farm Show) or off of Linglestown Road to the North.
For more information on Wildwood Lake Sanctuary go to: http://www.wildwoodlake.org/
Births
September 23, 2012
Korynn Alivia Gerst daughter of Cynthia and Edward Gerst
Men’s Breakfast
Pine Street veterans, their families and friends are invited for breakfast on Saturday, November 10, 2012 hosted by the Pine Street Men. Veterans from all branches of service are invited. Arrive by 8:00 am for coffee and conversation. Breakfast will be served at 8:30 am
Veterans, call the church office at 238- 9304 if you need a ride tobreakfast. 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.
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
Thursday November 1
all SaintS’ Day
Psalms 116, 147:12–20
Nahum 1:15—2:12
Revelation 12:7–17
Luke 11:53—12:12
Friday November 2
Psalms 84, 148
Nahum 2:13—3:7
Revelation 13:1–10
Luke 12:13–31
Saturday November 3
Psalms 63, 149
Nahum 3:8–19
Revelation 13:11–18
Luke 12:32–48
Sunday November 4
twenty-thirD SunDay after pentecoSt
Psalms 103, 150
Zephaniah 1:1–6
1 Corinthians 12:27— 13:13
Matthew 18:21–35
Monday November 5
Psalms 5, 145
Zephaniah 1:7–13
Revelation 14:1–13
Luke 12:49–59
Tuesday November 6
Psalms 42, 146
Zephaniah 1:14–18
Revelation 14:14—15:8
Luke 13:1–9
Wednesday November 7
Psalms 89:1–18, 147:1–11
Zephaniah 2:1–15
Revelation 16:1–11
Luke 13:10–17
