Around the Church for October 13, 2021

 

 

Adult Forum – RESUMES THIS WEEK FOR 4 WEEKS
During the past several weeks the Follow Me curriculum has emphasized the church’s ministry of hospitality and welcome. Our new four-week series of programs will equip us to better understand and show hospitality to our LGBTQIA+ neighbors.

Our guest presenter is the Rev. Alex McNeil, Executive Director of More Light Presbyterians, a national organization working to assure all are welcome in the PC(USA). He will Zoom in with us tonight and November 3 to lead our discussion and respond to your questions. On October 20 and 27 we will be watching the connecting the dots webinar offered by More Light Presbyterians.
The Zoom link for all forums is:
https://zoom.us/j/94544371015
Meeting ID: 945 4437 1015
Dial by your location +1 646 876 9923

Pine Street Book Club – This Sunday 7:00 pm
Pine Street Book Club will meet on Sunday, October 17 at the home of Sandy Allen. Sandy lives at 990 Oak Oval, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Deane Sharp will review “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead. Please let Sandy know if you plan to attend (717)-791-0116.

Friday, October 15 at 7:00 pm
Happy Hour Concert – Wine and Snacks precede the concert at 5:30.

Seipp & Sheets Trumpet and Organ Duo
The Seipp/Sheets Trumpet & Organ Duo is unlike any ensemble performing today. Custom musical arrangements of virtuoso, beautiful, entertaining, humorous, and patriotic selections enhance the exquisite blend of their instruments. Coupled visually with specialized videos, Seipp and Sheets craft a unique and engaging concert experience for all ages, creating an extraordinary connection with their audiences. The duo’s thoughtful programming, artistic arrangements, and powerful, innovative, and interactive video presentations make the Seipp/Sheets Duo today’s musicians to watch.

Trumpeter Chuck Seipp and organist Randall Sheets are two performers at the top of their craft. Both are high-profile musicians in their own right. Dr. Sheets is Ceremonial Organist for Arlington National Cemetery, and Dr. Seipp is Sergeant Major (retired) from The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. For the past several seasons, the Seipp/Sheets Duo has performed as many as 25 programs yearly to enthusiastic audiences across America for church concert series, universities, organ guild chapters, and featured at the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Organ Festival. In addition to the music they produce, Chuck and Randall regularly commission new arrangements, compositions, and videos.

Click the link below to hear a preview https://youtu.be/HrXOj5-lThU

Preparing the Path to the Future – Updates from the Transition Team and Interim Search Committee
Last week the Pine Street Transition Team as well as teams from nine other churches in the Presbytery, attended an orientation meeting with Michelle Snyder, the PneuMatrix consultant. We began to learn about the adaptive change process that our team, church leaders, and congregation will be working through to prepare the pathway to our future. When the Interim Pastor arrives at Pine Street, he or she will join us in preparing this pathway together.

The Transition Team will be meeting with Michelle again in the next few weeks, and from there we will be looking to other members of the congregation to join the team. It is expected that the expanded team be comprised of a broad band of folks that reflect the diversity of Pine Street’s membership. We hope that if asked, others will be eager to join us in this important work.

This week the Interim Search Committee has been holding a second round of Zoom interviews with several candidates. Following those interviews, we will be reaching out to references to learn even more about the candidates’ leadership experience, manner of pastoral care, and style of worship among other things. In the next few weeks, we will be bringing candidates to visit Pine Street and meet the staff. The committee is encouraged by the caliber of candidate that we have followed through the interview process to this point, and we look forward to these next steps in discerning who is called to serve Pine Street in this time of transition.

If you have questions or concerns about the interim search committee or transition team, please do not hesitate to contact David Colestock at 717-645-6174 or dmcolestock.dc@gmail.com

Please continue to keep the Transition Team, Interim Search Committee, staff, officers, and congregation in your prayers as we continue to prepare this path to our future together.

Transition Team Interim Search Team
Beth Alwine David Colestock
Amy Chick Kenneth Hays
David Colestock Alicia McDonald
Audrey Light Keith Perago

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS – Saturday, November 6 10:00 – 11:30 am
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This time of year, and especially this year, many of us are experiencing a sense of grief or loss as the holiday season approaches. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the holidays this year may be particularly difficult. Surviving the Holidays is a program designed to give you comfort, coping skills, and hope for the busy weeks ahead. This clergy-led event includes a 45 minute video presentation followed by group conversation. Surviving the Holidays is sponsored by the Deacons and Stephen Ministers. It is open to the community, so please save the date and tell your neighbors and friends.

This is an “in person” event held in the church’s Fellowship Hall with masks and distancing required. A sign-up sheet is available at the Welcome Center or call 717-238-9304.

Pine Street Walkers – This Sunday 1:00 pm
Come join Pine Street walkers and friends at Harrisburg’s City Island at 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 17. Fall’s colors should be in full bloom and all are welcome to participate! We will meet on City Island at the base of the staircase leading up to the paved .8 mile trail. Additional distance can easily be added to the walk by venturing across the walking bridge into Harrisburg to view more of Fall’s beauty and perhaps some of the city’s beautiful architecture! Please RSVP to Stevi Sharp at (717)919-2149 by October 16. As always, participants will decide to enjoy refreshments together at a local restaurant following the walk.

Upcoming Trip to the Susquehanna Stage Company in Marrietta!
The Show, Cabaret, Directed by Keifer Kemmerly, is set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English performer Sally Bowles. Cabaret is a fierce, meaty musical that pushes the boundaries of the form and literally holds “the mirror up to society.”

When: October 24th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $25 plus handling. Please sign up at the welcome center. Any questions can be directed to Betty Rader.

Rev. Dr. Kent Carter
Dr. Carter will be preaching at Pine Street for the next two Sundays. Dr. Carter currently serves as a full-time chaplain with Asana Hospice in Harrisburg, PA. Before joining this hospice team, Kent served the Progress-Immanuel Presbyterian Church for almost 12 years. Kent celebrated 25 years of ordained ministry last month. Kent enjoys being married, dad to three children, hiking, biking, gardening, traveling, BBQing, and brewing.

Around the Church Email Information and Notices
Things are really starting to get “back to normal” and that means many more events and notices are being added to the Around the Church Email. In order to make sure we have plenty of time to prepare the email for Wednesday delivery, please make sure to have any notices to the office by Tuesday evening. All information or notices to be included in the Around the Church Email can be sent to kdrown@pinestreet.org. Thanks for your cooperation!

October Dates for your Calendar

Wednesday, October 13 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum via zoom – Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill will introduce and facilitate our learning about the LGBTQIA+ members of our community.
Friday, October 15 – 7:00 pm Seipp/Sheets Trumpet and Organ Duo Happy Hour Concert – wine and snacks beginning at 5:30 pm.
Sunday, October 17 – 8:45 am Church School for All Ages – 10:00 am Worship, The Rev. Kent Carter, Preaching – 1:00 pm Pine Street Walkers meet at City Island. – 7:00 pm Pine Street Book club meets at the home of Sandy Allen.
Wednesday, October 20 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum via zoom – we will view part one of the Connecting the Dots webinar.
Sunday, October 24 – 8:45 am Church School for All Ages – 10:00 am Worship, The Rev. Kent Carter, Preaching.
Wednesday, October 27 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum via zoom – we will view part two of the Connecting the Dots webinar.
Sunday, October 31 – 8:45 am Church School for All Ages – 10:00 am Worship, The Rev. Heather Sigler, Preaching.

Remember in Prayer
Chris Earhart, Interim Pastor Search Committee

COVID-19 – Mask Recommendation
In the past few weeks, Central Pennsylvania counties have reached a high positivity rate of COVID 19 transmission. This week, Session responded to this news by reviewing and supporting the CDC and Carlisle Presbytery recommendations that all individuals, no matter their vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings where there is a substantial or high transmission rate. Session asks worshipers to comply with these guidelines in consideration of the well-being of children, the immunocompromised, and any others who are not eligible to receive the vaccine.

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