Around the Church

Around the church for September 27, 2023

Posted on by [email protected]

 

Food, Fellowship, and Learning!
An evening with Matilda Parker

Wednesday, October 4, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.
Pine Street’s Mission Committee, Christian Ed Committee, and Market Square’s Peacemaking Committee are hosting an evening with Matilda Parker. Matilda is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church of Liberia, who is visiting the US with the International Peacemaking Program of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Matilda will be speaking about her life in Liberia and her work connecting low-income people with needed resources, including conflict resolution skills.
Please join us for a simple supper, time of fellowship, hospitality, and learning about the Presbyterian Church in Liberia. Make sure to bring a friend!
Please register by Monday Oct 2nd by emailing [email protected] or call (717)238-9304.
Hope to see you there!

Lunch after Church

Join us Sunday, October 1, at 12:30 pm for lunch at Luna Italian Restaurant, 100 Legacy Pk Dr #102, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Please RSVP to Betty Rader no later than Thursday, September 28.

Thank you from Svyati Duo

Cellist Rebecca Hepplewhite and Organist Julian Collings

Thank you so much for the most wonderful welcome- your congregation is one of the kindest and warmest we have ever met and the post-concert reception was an absolute joy. Best wishes, Rebecca

MAPS

MAPS 2023-2024 Concert Series. Please mark your calendars for the following dates. It’s going to be a great series!

October 29th  Organist Eric Plutz – 4:00 pm
December 10th Lessons and Carols – 4:00 pm
March 10th John Stoudt, trumpet, and Joseph Garrison, organ – 4:00 pm
April 14th  Pine Street Chancel Choir Concert – 4:00 pm
May 5th Nathan Laube, organ – 4:00 pm
May 12th Messiah University Concert Choir – 4:00 pm

Adult Forum

October. 1, 11:30 a.m. led by Lee Barrett:

Revitalizing the Faith through Reclaiming Wisdom from Kierkegaard:
In our time together, we will explore some of the more unconventional ways Christianity can be revitalized. To do this, we will look through the lens of the maverick Danish thinker Soren Kierkegaard, whose writings continue to challenge and unsettle the church. We will look at his unusual life, context, and his thoughts to discern bits of wisdom that may be helpful to our current religious environment.
Lee C. Barrett is the Henry and Mary Stager Professor of Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Before this, he taught at what is now Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. He is the author of several books and articles on the thought of Soren Kierkegaard and also on Reformed theology and popular culture. In his spare time, Lee enjoys oil painting. Please join us via Zoom if you are unable to attend in person. Please contact the church office for meeting code.

October Giving Barrel
Hansel and Gretel Learning and Daycare Center

Most of us have experienced the uptick of inflation as we shop for needed food items or gas, and pay for utilities.  For families with very young children, there is another budget-stressing daily need:  DIAPERS.   Depending on the age of children and brand names of diapers, parents scramble to afford between $50 and $80 dollars a month for one child.  Although diaper banks may help some eligible families, these banks are unable to keep up with demand.
To ease this diaper distress locally, October’s Barrel collection will help families at the Hansel and Gretel Learning and Daycare Center on Walnut Street in Harrisburg.  This center serves a diverse population open to children from six months to kindergarten. Although any sizes would be welcome, these are the details about the most needed items:

  • Diapers (any brand) sizes 2, 3, and 4, especially size 3 and 4
  •  Fragrance-free wipes; the center uses Natural Care Sensitive and Fragrance Free (Huggies Brand)

For parents who hustle to feed, dress, and transport children to daycare, an extra supply of diapers is a welcome blessing. Contact Laura Messner with any questions.

2nd Annual Rock N Roll Halloween Concert and Costume Party

It is time to dust off your favorite Halloween Costume and your dancing shoes because you are invited to the 2nd Annual Rock N Roll Halloween Concert and Costume Party!  All proceeds from the event go towards the many services provided at Pine Street’s mission partner, Downtown Daily Bread.

The event is Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, at the Englewood in Hershey, and once again features:
Tom Slick and the Converted Thunderbolt Greaseslappers

Tickets are $30 general admission, and $70 for the VIP section.  Costume parade and contest with cash prizes for the winners!

For general admission, buy your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rock-and-roll-halloween-dance-tickets-687238658327?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

For VIP tickets or group reservations, contact Sue Wilson

Peace and Global Witness Offering

The first touch of autumn reminds us of many wonderful things. Hopefully, one of them is the Peace and Global Witness Offering of the PCUSA which falls on the first Sunday in October, and World Communion Sunday. Our Peacemaking offering is 40 years old, having been established as Peacemaking: The Believer’s Calling by the 192nd General Assembly. The words Global Witness were added along the way to emphasize the international scope of the efforts.

You will recall that 25% of the offering remains with us for a local program reflecting peacemaking. This year, the Mission Committee has selected the International Service Center (ISC). Pine Street has worked with the ISC and Market Square Presbyterian Church to support one, then two, and now three Afghani families, currently numbering 16 individuals.

The job of the ISC is to accept the government’s assignment of individuals and families who are approved for immigration to the USA. They to find a sponsoring group to commit to providing help with housing, learning our language, their children’s education, furnishings and supplies, and emotional as well as practical support. The immigrants commit to finding employment and paying their way almost immediately. Your offering will assist the ISC to continue its life-changing support of those “yearning to breathe free.”

An additional 25% of the offering will support peace projects within our Carlisle Presbytery, with the remainder allocated to PC(USA) national and world-wide efforts. During September and up to  October 5, you can receive a daily devotion called Season of Peace by accessing //PCUSA.org/subscribe SOP. Remember: Peacemaking is a noun, but it is also a verb: in action.

Updates from the Pastoral Nominating Committee

September 20, 2023
Over the summer, PC(USA) updated the Church Leadership Connect (CLC) system, and all searching churches and pastors have had to become oriented to this new platform.  For the past few weeks, the Pastoral Nominating Committee has been focused on integrating Pine Street’s Ministry Information Form into the updated CLC pastoral search system.  Of course, as with any new technology, there has been a learning curve that all of us have been working through.
The good news is that the new system has generated almost three dozen new referrals for the PNC to screen and review.  We have refocused our energy on the processes that we will use to engage with those candidates by reviewing their Pastor Discernment Profiles and inviting them for interviews.
We ask that the congregation continue to support the work of the Pastoral Nominating Committee and keep the PNC in your prayers as we continue this journey toward new pastoral leadership at Pine Street.  If you have any questions, you can contact David Colestock.
David Colestock, PNC Chair
Amy Chick, PNC Vice Chair
Jennifer Garman
Jay Himes
George Kunkle
Elyse Rogers
Isaiah Shu

Pastor Search Process Checklist

  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 a MIF.
  6. The MIF is approved by the Session of the church and 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.

Dates for your Calendar

Wednesday, October 4
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm- International Peacemaking visitor, Presbyterian Elder Matilda P. of Liberia.

Sunday, October 15
9:00 am- Café Conversations- Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Worship- 18th Sunday after Pentecost- Rev. Kelly Wiant Preaching
11:30 am- Adult Forum led by Lee Barrett

Sunday, October 22
11:30 am- 2:00 pm- Pine Street’s Architecture: Lunch and Learn presented by Kenneth Hays