This Christmas Eve will be one of the strangest Christmas Eves for me ever. My family will be thousands of miles away in the country of Lebanon. On Christmas Day, I will then be flying to the Middle East to join them. Flying on Christmas Day! I’ve never done that before, and then I actually arrive on the 26th when all the festivities have concluded. Lately, the farthest I have ever traveled on Christmas Day is from the couch to the dinner table. Not much effort there or personal growth (except around the girth).
Christmas EvE sErviCEs
6:00pm
Family Service with communion and candlelight 11:00pm Service oF communion and candlelight
Sermon by dr ruSSell Sullivan the choir with carolS oF the holy night
Mary and Joseph were also travelers on Christmas Eve, and travelers everywhere in every time and place face the same struggles. Ours are compounded by modernity and technology. Waiting in airport
lines, taking shoes off at checkpoints, paying extra for luggage — all of that gives us some empathy into the plight of Mary and Joseph as they were herded down the road to Bethlehem at a very inconvenient time in their lives. Can you imagine a modern Mary struggling to take her shoes off from feet made swollen by pregnancy? Or Joseph accidentally throwing away the baby oil and Mary’s favorite hand lotion that she had packed for the journey? Or imagine modern Mary and Joseph being told that they just missed their flight and there is no room at the Holiday Inn?
Communication Center by
Eileen Kunkle
Many church members attended a special church forum recently to discuss ideas to help the church boards and staff as we enter a special period of prayerful study and discernment concerning the future and direction of Pine Street. Studies and discussions like these are important when major staff changes occur.
Bagels & Belief
January 5, 2014
Education Crisis?
Or is Poverty the Real Problem?
Rev. Sandra Strauss
All forums are held at 9:40 am in Fellowship Hall
Continued from page 1
It may be a tired cliché, but all of life is a travel narrative, a journey somewhere and hopefully into becoming something. I met a veteran of Afghanistan recently, maimed and injured by war. He has a tough journey ahead of him, but with the love of people and the support of his country and the surprising grace of God, he is on a journey to becoming something whole and new. It’s not easy. Just like the conversation I had with one of our Downtown Daily Bread clients. It’s not easy being hungry or homeless, but our support of that ministry gives people the confidence that their journey will come to an end with food on the table, an apartment, and a new life. Or maybe your journey is like that of the man who told me that his faith made no sense to him anymore. His journey was going to require some re-thinking, and that is a challenge too. Like Mary and Joseph, and countless other pilgrims in life, we are trying to make our way in the world, squeezed by family demands, weary from personal and professional struggles, and hoping that somewhere along our way someone will see us as precious and beloved.
All journeys come to an end. Mary and Joseph’s travel ended in the birth of Christ, the source of hope, forgiveness, and all new beginnings. And if your journey is weary and heavy, know that you have a lot of pilgrims traveling with you on Christmas Eve. The longing of all of our hearts is to arrive at the place where we are welcomed, not as strangers, but as expected guests of this Christ. May your Advent journey not be too inconvenient, and may it lead you to Christ, our hope and our destination.
Add this to your Christmas List!
Women’s Retreat: March 14-16, 2014
by Eileen Kunkle
This retreat is a wonderful gift for a woman to give to themselves or a man or children to give to a wife, mother, or other woman in their life. The speaker this year will be the Rev. Deborah A. McKinley, a former Associate Pastor at Pine Street. Her topic will be Hitting the Pause Button: Sabbath Rest. 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
Session Notes for November
Elected Robert Wilson as congregation treasurer for 2014.
Elected Elders Alwine and Cameron to represent Pine Street at Presbytery meeting, December 3, 2013.
Approved and forwarded to Presbytery a Covenant Agreement for Pastoral Relationships between the Presbyter, Elder Craig Kegerise, and Pine Street Church for the purpose of providing temporary, nonsalaried pastoral services beginning January 1, 2014 and in effect for three years, renewable.
Approved agreement with Rev Heather Sigler as non-salaried Parish Associate at Pine Street.
Approved budget for 2014 of Income of $790,311.00 and expenses of $827,124.00.
charge of $45. This includes all presentations, five meals, and lodging for two nights in comfortable, spacious, motel-like accommodations.
Signups begin this month at the Welcome Center in the Gathering Place. 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.
Continued from page 1
In an attempt to give members a way to easily communicate ideas to the staff and boards, a communication system has been set up. There are two wooden boxes — one on a table in the narthex (back of the church) and one in the Gathering Place on a ledge near the parking ticket table. There are forms there which may be taken home, completely completed, and returned to those the locked boxes. You may also fill in this form online under the Get Involved tab on the church website. These comments will be routed to the correct board, committee, or staff person by a group of one or two church members. These comments will remain confidential. Your name and other identifying information will be removed from them before they are forwarded if you request it. You will receive a response to your comment or concern.
These comments and concerns may be personal or church issues. Remember staff and board members are occupied by many things on Sunday and at church events. This will insure that your thoughts are in writing and can be considered when there is time to pay full attention to them. Please take advantage of this opportunity.
The Giving Tree
by Laura Messner
This year, remember to “branch out” to our neighbors in need by supporting Pine Street’s annual Giving Tree. You can sign up at a table in the Gathering Place where details about agencies and gifts will be displayed. Sign-ups began on November 24th and will continue on December 1st and 8th. Gifts should be returned to the table on December 8th and 15th Individual presents can be put in gift bags or wrapped. All other items should be unwrapped.
All monetary contributions should be made out to individual agencies. This year’s agencies:
Delta Community — strengthens families with children by providing life-skill services and transitional housing
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 — provides housing for women who are just out of prison who are trying to turn their lives around
Gifts for individuals
Downtown Daily Bread — provides hot, nourishing meals for the poor and homeless in downtown Harrisburg
Personal care items and cold weather accessories (socks, hats, gloves, scarves) to donate to clients
Community Check-Up Center — provides compassionate and caring medical services
New or gently-used books to be distributed to families to encourage reading
Hansel and Gretel Early Learning Center — provides an educational and nurturing environment for a diverse population of children in the Harrisburg area
New and lightly-used clothing items for young children
Trustee Notes for November
Bob Wilson agreed to continue to serve as Treasurer until May 2014. Would welcome volunteers.
Property Committee is continuing work to eliminate deficiencies in the building in hopes we may again get insurance.
Trustees approved funding for the construction of the Transcept Chapel less the funds needed to remove, and replace with chairs, the front three rows of pews in the main sanctuary.
The Women’s Retreat Planning committee is looking for memorabilia from previous women’s retreats at Pine Street. We would like to begin a scrapbook to record the history of this popular event. If you have photos, newsletters, mailings, or other items that might be of use please give them to Carol Putt or Eileen Kunkle. The items will be returned if you would like them to be. If you have any questions please call Eileen Kunkle at 717652-5060.
Lay Visitation Ministry and Prayer Chain
by Heather Kegerise & Ron Poorman
It is no secret that Pine Street is experiencing some new and exciting changes. Staff, Session, the Board of Deacons and our members are doing a great job coming up with new and different ideas to reach out to each other and to the community.
You may have heard that a new Lay Visitation Ministry is being developed at Pine Street. This ministry is designed to build relationships within our congregation as well as assist Dr. Sullivan with his visitation duties. The committee currently consists of five current or past Deacons and Elders and Dr. Sullivan Heather Kegerise is the Chair of the committee with Christine Ewing assisting as the Session liaison. The intent of the committee is to work closely with the Pastor, Elders, Board of Deacons and various committees to try to assure all within our walls feel valued and cared for.
There is no concern too small to go unnoticed
pastor, the remaining prayer cards will be given to the lay visitation team. The prayer chain will be activated by having the chair send an email to all Elders. Upon receipt, each Elder will contact the person assigned to him/her and communicate the information contained in the email. Those participating in the Prayer Chain will then pray for those on the list. Sign up for the prayer chain in the Gathering Place because prayer matters.
Music for Advent and Christmas
by Tom Clark-Jones
Last month’s Pine Street Life carried a full article about the Advent and Christmas music coming in December. So this is just a quick follow up to make sure you don’t forget to be with us for these special holiday events.
As a visitation need arises, or if you would just like to talk about something that concerns you, we encourage members to call the church office and make the need known. The message will then be given to Dr. Sullivan (of course, any confidential concerns would only be handled by Dr. Sullivan himself). If Dr. Sullivan is unable to visit in person, he will pass the need on to the chair of the committee and a member of the committee will call to schedule a visit with you within a few days. The hope of the committee is also to perform visits or phone calls after a hospital stay, illness, or simply a follow up phone call regarding a concern you may have had.
Another aspect of the initiative to care for each other is the placement of prayer cards in the pews. Each Sunday, you may place a prayer card into the offering plate, and they will be given to Dr. Sullivan after the service. On the card, you can name a personal concern or someone who you know is in need of prayer, whether they are members or friends of Pine Street. During the following week, the Pine Street Prayer Chain will be activated. This means that anyone who volunteers to pray for those in need will be alerted and prayers will begin. Participants will be assigned to an Elder and a “chain” will be constructed. With confidential prayer requests being handled by the
Please take advantage of these wonderful opportunities to share, visit, pray and care for each other. There is no concern too small to go unnoticed. By building deeper relationships with each other, we can experience blessings beyond our imagination. Praise be to God our Father each and every day for our faith, our church, our world and each and every person we encounter as we travel through this life together.
On December 8, the second Sunday of Advent, at the 11:00am worship hour, the Chamber Singers, present Richard Shephard’s cantata Welcome All Wonders, a work commissioned by the choir and congregation in honor of Minister of Music Emeritus, Donald Clapper. This wonderful set of texts drawn from the English Mystical poets and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow brings together the joy of the season in distinguished poetry accompanied by glorious music. Jonathan Hays is our guest soloist. There will be a full worship service with the music serving as the proclamation of the Word with communion following.
Then, the following Sunday, December 15 at 6:30pm, the Choir and Handbell Choir join in presenting the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons
See Music on page 5
POINSETTIAS ORDER FORM – 2013
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 15, 2013.
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.
MUSIC
Continued from page 4
and Carols. The music of John Tavener, Andrew Carter, Peter Kneale, Jackson Berkey, Harold Darke and others is featured, with the assistance of Elizabeth Etters-Asmus, harpist. The highlight of the evening is the singing of all the favorite carols by the congregation and choir. Don’t miss this extraordinary event that has become a Pine Street favorite. This is an excellent service with which to introduce your friends to the beauty of worship here at Pine Street. So set the date aside, and join us and bring your friends!
Christmas Joy Offering
Presbyterian Apartments
Christmas Party
You are invited!
When: Wednesday, December 4 at 12:00 noon.
Where: Top floor of the Presbyterian Apartments (take elevator to the top!!!)
What: Scripture reading, carol singing, fellowship, hot meal (meat, side dishes, desserts, coffee/tea/cold drinks), fellowship with residents of Presbyterian Apartments and other Pine Streeters.
PLEASE JOIN US as we share a lovely time with some of Pine Street’s neighbors. For more information, call Debbie Olson at 5334548 or ask any Mission Committee member.
The Christmas Joy Offering will be collected on December 22, 2013. Your gift to this offering will support past, present and future leaders of the Presbyterian Church through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, as well as the development of racial-ethnic church leadership. Whether providing financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families or providing opportunities for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools, your generous gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will shine the One True Light of Christ’s Love.
The Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions provides critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the PC(USA) and their families, and to qualifying retired church workers and their families. The Assistance Program also sponsors grants for vocational training of clergy. This program is nearly 300 years old and relies on voluntary gifts, legacies, endowments, and ½ of the Christmas Joy Offering. Assistance is granted for needs that lie beyond the scope of the Benefits Plan — a safety net when financial needs exceed personal and other available resources.
Presbyterian Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges have provided quality education to people who have contributed immeasurably to the church at large and to the world. Students are educated for the professions of their choice in an environment which supports and nurtures racial and ethnic heritage. Many of the students return to their native countries and become leaders in their multicultural and multilingual communities. ½ of the Christmas Joy Offering will be used for this purpose.
PLEASE give generously to this PC(USA) Special Offering.
Gleaning At Strites Orchard
Ten people, members and friends of Pine Street, gathered at 9:00am on Saturday, October 19 to glean apples at Strite’s Orchard. Within 2 hours we had gleaned more apples than on any previous gleaning outing. Three bags of apples were delivered directly to DDB. The rest went to the Central PA Food Bank. Thanks to Bill and Pam Bauer, John Hertzler, Cheri and Kailynn Koozer, Laura Messner, Barb and Terry Seaton, Raja Tatipelli, and Debbie Olson.
Front row: Bill Bauer, RajaTatipelli, Pam Bauer, John Hertzler, Kailynn Koozer
Back Row: Roger, Terry Seaton, Barb Seaton, Cheri Koozer
