Around the Church

Around the church for September 13, 2023

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Downtown Daily Bread Presentation


Sunday September 24 8:45 am Fellowship Hall
I am so excited for Downtown Daily Bread (DDB) to host a breakfast this Sunday morning at PSPC to meet and discuss the great work being done here at DDB. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing more with you about what’s happening here and how we can continue to collaborate with you all in the beautiful mission of DDB. We have launched a new monthly newsletter. If you’d like to be subscribed to this newsletter, please visit our website. Again, I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday. As always, thank you for your support and prayers.
Corrie Lingenfelter, Executive Director

Lunch after Church

Join us Sunday, September 24th, at 12:15 pm for lunch at El Rancho Restaurante y Pupuserial, 771 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Please RSVP to Betty no later than Thursday, September 21.

Woofstock “bark you”

Members of Pine Street’s Engaging Our Neighbors Team once again participated in Harrisburg’s WoofStock. Volunteers shared information about Sunday services, MAPS, and volunteer opportunities with pet owners. Also offered were special origami dogs, pets blessings, and biscuits.
The festival is organized by the Central PA Animal Alliance and has been held for 18 years!  It is considered the largest festival for dogs and their humans on the East Coast.
Special thanks to our volunteers: Sue, Bob, Brad, Sharon, Emma, Peyton, Amy, and Stephanie.

MAPS

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

September 24th  Svyati Duo – 4:00 pm
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

September 24, 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.

September Giving Barrel

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry (HAFP)

Last Friday, donations collection through September 15 were delivered to the Harrisburg Area Food Bank by members of the Mission Committee.  The donations included: 22 boxes of tissues, 17 rolls of paper towels, and 96 rolls of toilet paper.
Harrisburg Area Food Bank (HAFB) representatives said the paper products will be very appreciated by their clients as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Awareness Programs) funds only pay for food.
It is not too late to contribute! Collections will continue through the end of September.  Thank you to all Pine Street members and friends who have supported this project!

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

Sunday, September 24
8:45 am- 9:45 am Downtown Daily Bread program and breakfast, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Worship- 17th Sunday after Pentecost- Rev. Matt Drumheller Preaching
11:30 am- Adult Forum led by Lee Barrett
4:00 pm MAPS concert Svyati Duo

Sunday, October 1

9:00 am- Café Conversations- Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Worship- 18th Sunday after Pentecost- Rev. Matt Drumheller Preaching
11:30 am- Adult Forum led by Lee Barrett