Around the Church for March 16, 2022

OVERDUE Welcome for Matt –
THIS SUNDAY – REALLY!! After Worship
With the lifting of the COVID restrictions that kept us from enjoying coffee and snacks together after worship, we have decided it is time to slice up the cakes that were meant for Matt’s welcome reception! Please join us this Sunday in the gathering place directly following the worship service to enjoy cake, coffee, and fellowship.

Adult Forum Tonight at 7 pm via Zoom
Join Matt Drumheller for the second session in his series on Grace and Gratitude. “These two words have important history within our tradition; and they live on in vigorous ways today,” according to author and theologian Charles Wiley. Come explore the rich meanings of “Grace and Gratitude” as the story of your Christian life in the church. Let the depth and power of this image shape your identity as a Presbyterian Christian and provide the heartbeat of your faith every day!

Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87307514626?pwd=eTJURWtaYzdCb3BnSEV2Rm1MdTRJdz09

Meeting ID: 873 0751 4626
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First Transition Team Roundtable
Discussion this Sunday

Invitation from the Transition Team

Please plan to attend one or more of the three roundtable discussions hosted by Pine Street’s Transition Team from March 20 to 27. Many members attended informational sessions about the Congregational Assessment Tool that was completed last Fall. The upcoming roundtable discussions will create opportunities for further discussion about the priorities that were named in the CAT survey.
A variety of questions will help us discern “why” we exist as a congregation at 3rd and Pine. Conversations will focus on faith community, our love for one another, our hopes for our future, and opportunities to witness to our community. These conversations will provide members with a valuable opportunity to invest in the transition process and add their voices to the mission statement and future pathway. March 20 and 27 discussions will be held in Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service. The discussion on Wednesday, March 23 will be held at 7:00 PM via Zoom. If you have any questions about these roundtable sessions, please don’t hesitate to contact David Colestock at dmcolestock.dc@gmail.com or 717-645-6174.

Lily orders begin this Sunday
Please look for a lily donation form in the Sunday bulletin this week. Completed forms may be placed in the box at the welcome desk along with your check or may be mailed to the church office. Lilies are $14 this year and donation forms must be received by April 8th for inclusion in the easter bulletin.
Steps of the Installed Pastor Search
Pine Street is in the midst of an intentional time of transition. Since last summer, leaders of the church have been taking important steps to guide the church. A primary goal for transition time is to reset ourselves and take a breath as an organization before our next pastor. It is important for us to move intentionally through this liminal time so that we are truly ready for the next thing that God has prepared.
We want to keep you updated on our progress. This is a general list, not provided by the presbytery, so there may be some additional steps. If you don’t see new items being quickly crossed off, don’t worry. There is a lot of work going on! Please be in prayer for our congregation as we continue our important ministry during this transitional time.
Here are some helpful abbreviations for you to know:
COM = Committee on Ministry
PNC = Pastor Nominating Committee
MIF = Ministry Information Form (church’s resume)
PIF = Personal Information Form (candidate’s resume).
And here are the steps of the Installed Pastor Search:
1. Interim Pastor Called
2. The Presbytery’s COM approves the formation of the PNC.
3. The Nominating Committee selects a PNC which is approved by the congregation.
4. A COM liaison conducts orientation/training of the PNC.
5. The PNC creates an MIF.
6. The MIF is approved by the Session of the church and by the COM to determine that it accurately reflects who the congregation is and the nature of the call.
7. The MIF is posted on the PC(USA) Church Leadership Connection.
8. The PNC reviews and interviews potential candidates. The COM meets with the candidates to determine if their skills and the church’s needs “fit”.
9. The PNC selects a final candidate and extends a call.
10. The PNC works with the Session to set a congregational meeting to vote on their recommendation.
11. The congregation votes on the candidate.
12. The new pastor is installed.

Community Mission Opportunity –
Summer Food Project
At its meeting Monday evening, Session heard from the Engaging Our Neighbors and Extending God’s Love teams which are jointly working on a “food security” project. This project would entail Pine Street serving as a food distribution site for K-12 school children during the summer recess. This effort would partner with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, who would prepare the lunches and deliver them to our location. Session authorized the groups to continue to explore and work out necessary details and logistics. Proceeding with this project will require volunteers from partnering organizations to work alongside Pine Streeters to help hand out bagged lunches at Pine Street on designated days over the summer, so please consider volunteering for a few hours this summer!

Pine Street Walkers
Knock those cobwebs off your walking shoes and enjoy a pleasant afternoon walk with the Pine Street Walkers at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary on Sunday, March 20, 2022. The hike will begin at 2 P.M. at the Olewine Nature Center parking lot. Wildwood Lake Sanctuary is located off of Wildwood Park Drive/Industrial Road which is accessible off of Cameron Street (by the Farm Show Building) or off of Linglestown Road to the North.

This section of the Capital Area Greenbelt is a three mile loop hike mostly on blacktop with some gravel and wood chip trail along the canal tow path. We have done this section before, but we hope to see some signs of spring, and see the site of Pine Street’s coming “Art in the Wild” installation along the Tow Path!
Please invite a friend or friends to join us, and RSVP to Sue Wilson at cacsue@gmail.com, so we can share any updates.

For more information on Wildwood Lake Sanctuary see their web site link: http://www.wildwoodlake.org/

Pine Street Book Club
Pine Street Book Club will meet via Zoom on Sunday, March 20 at 7 PM via Zoom. Sarah Pearce will lead a discussion of The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple. All are welcome to attend.

Here is the Zoom link for the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85636899988?pwd=MU1KanJZVlpRK2FyREVmTitUSmxkUT09

Meeting ID: 856 3689 9988

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Time to Sing Together Again!
Choir practice IN-PERSON will begin on March 24 at 7 pm. Please plan to rehearse each Thursday evening going forward.
Name Change
Kerry’s last name will be changing this week from Drown to MacDearmid. This represents a positive change for Kerry and a further step into her sense of belonging here in Pennsylvania. Her office email address will change but all other contact information will remain the same.
Current COVID Procedure
Pine Street Presbyterian Church will follow CDC guidelines to ease masking requirements and allow in-person gatherings, including food. While Dauphin and Cumberland Counties are in the low or medium community levels (according to the CDC’s “COVID-19 by County” page found at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html), masks will be optional for all Pine Street events, including worship. Session and staff will monitor the community levels and change health and safety guidelines if the local counties are high. Worshipers are welcome to wear masks if that helps them feel comfortable in worship.

Dates for your Calendar
Wednesday, March 16 -7:00 pm Adult Forum via Zoom – Grace and Gratitude hosted by Matt Drumheller
Sunday, March 20 – 8:45 am Sunday School | 10:00 am Worship – Heather Sigler Preaching – Wonder of Worship children’s church available for children ages 3rd grade and below, Lisa Milletics leading | 11:45 am First of Three “Roundtable Discussions” by Transition Team
Wednesday, March 23 -7:00 pm Second of Three “Roundtable Discussions” by Transition Team. Online Only
Saturday, March 26 – 7:00 pm Pianist Amy Yang
Sunday, March 27 – 8:45 am Sunday School | 10:00 am Worship – Matt Drumheller Preaching – Wonder of Worship children’s church available for children ages 3rd grade and below, Marna Holt leading | 11:45 am Last of Three “Roundtable Discussions” by Transition Team
Wednesday, March 30 -7:00 pm Adult Forum via Zoom – Grace and Gratitude hosted by Matt Drumheller

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