Around the Church

Around the Church for September 1, 2021

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RALLY DAY – September 12 – SIGN UP NOW
Join us for a Rally Day (indoor) picnic scheduled for Sunday, September 12, in Fellowship Hall following worship. Please bring a salad or dessert to share. Main dish meat will be provided. Sign up today at the Welcome Center or call the church at 717-238-9304, ext. 111 or email [email protected].
COVID-19 – NEW 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. Session will continue to monitor regional data in order to make decisions on behalf of the health and safety of our Pine Street community.
PACK A BACKPACK – an Outreach Project for the Whole Church
Today a backpack and school supplies are necessary to be a successful student. Pine Street’s Extending God’s Love Core Team has consulted local organizations serving children and youth and learned many students do not have the resources to purchase backpacks and the classroom supplies they need. Here’s your chance to help by donating any of the following items:

  • New or gently used backpacks
  • Spiral notebooks and paper
  • Folders
  • Pencils, markers, pens, and highlighters
  • Glue sticks
  • Rulers
  • Individual hand sanitizer

Bring the backpack and supplies to the church on Rally Day, September 12, and a blessing will be offered during worship. The backpacks will then be distributed to school students in the Harrisburg area. If you do not attend worship in person or are not able to shop but want to participate, please send a check to Pine Street Presbyterian Church noting BACKPACKS on the memo line.
Important Information from the Pine Street Transition Team
In July, Session met with leaders of the Carlisle Presbytery and voted to participate in an amazing leadership opportunity designed for churches navigating the pastoral transition process. The Presbytery has engaged PneuMatrix consulting group to collaborate with several churches in the Presbytery that are in this liminal time of preparation for the search for a new Pastor. A Transition Team works in tandem with the Temporary/Interim Pastor and Michelle Snyder, PneuMatrix consultant. This week, Session approved the following members of Pine Street’s Transition Team:  Beth Alwine, Amy Chick, David Colestock, and Audrey Light.

The first step in the Transition Team process is to conduct a congregational assessment. This assessment will provide a clear picture of who we are as a church and what directions are most important for our future. The tool we will use is the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT), which will provide key indicators of our congregational health along with areas of challenges and potential growth. It will help us to collect and understand the range of views that exist at Pine Street and the possibilities, willingness, capacity, and energy for moving our ministry into the future.

If you are on the church’s email list, within the next few days, you will receive a unique web link to complete the assessment online. The survey will only be open for a few weeks, so please complete it at your earliest convenience.  If you are unable to take the survey online and wish to take the assessment on paper, you can pick up a paper copy at the Welcome Center or contact the church office.

NOTE:  If there is only one email address for all members of your household, it may be tempting to have one person take the survey on behalf of the family. However, please be sure that all adults living in your home have an opportunity to complete the survey. Individual input is key to gaining insight into the congregation’s overall perceptions and experiences.

Please set aside enough time to answer all the questions in one sitting.  It will take about 25-30 minutes to complete the survey.  All survey responses are strictly anonymous.

Thank you for your willingness to be a part of this congregational assessment and for helping to build Pine Street’s future.If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact David Colestock at [email protected] or 717-645-6174, or any member of the Transition Team.
3rd in the BURG – SEPTEMBER 17
After months of being closed, our Gathering Place will again be open for 3rd in the Burg events starting on Friday, September 17, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. We will present a showing of Pine Street’s own Estelle Hartranft’s photography. Estelle shared that her passion for photography began at a young age when she went from a box camera to a slide camera which she was given for high school graduation. When younger, she attended many art classes which halted upon entering high school as life became “consumed” by her music. She confided it was a toss up what career path to follow because she also wanted to be a fashion designer.  She spent many hours designing clothes for paper dolls for which her junior high art teacher held  an exhibit  featuring her fashion creations. Many talents, Estelle!

Please join us for this event and others to follow in the coming months. Also note, a sign up will be available in the Gathering Place for persons interested in hosting upcoming 3rd in the Burg events.  Greeting visitors to our church is what many of you do well, so please extend your “talents” and join us!
Adult Forums Set for Wednesday Evenings in September via Zoom – Plan to join us on Sept 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 7:00 pm. Watch for a Zoom link next week. 
Presenter: Dr. Lee C. Barrett
The religious environment of the United States is changing rapidly and dramatically. Affiliation with religious institutions is declining, dipping below fifty percent. Pollsters discover that a pervasive lack of interest in spirituality is increasing in younger generations. Protestantism is divided along “red state/blue state” lines. Consumerism, self-advancement, and worldly success appear to have become the effective religion of large portions of the population. In this environment of accelerating polarization, secularism, and religious indifference, many of the faithful are worried about the future of the church. We will explore the ways in which new styles of being the church may be necessary to grapple with our shifting cultural context.
SEPTEMBER DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
As we enjoy the last days of summer, please mark your calendars for a host of church activities scheduled for September.

Sunday, September 5 – 10:00 am Worship – The Pine Street Thespians will proclaim the Word, making their first and only appearance in Harrisburg.

Wednesday, September 8 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum on Zoom – Dr. Lee Barrett will lead this study, exploring ways in which new styles of being the church may be necessary to grapple with our shifting cultural context.

Sunday, September 12 – RALLY DAY – 10:00 am Worship,  The Rev. Heather M. Sigler, Preaching:  Sermon “Welcome All” –  3rd grade students receive Bibles – backpacks will be blessed – INDOOR PICNIC follows worshipWednesday, September 15 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum on Zoom – Dr. Lee Barrett

Friday, September 17 – 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – 3RD IN THE BURG – Gathering Place Gallery featuring the photography of Estelle Hartranft

Sunday, September 19  –  8:45 am Church School Classes begin for children, youth, and adults – 10:00 am Worship, The Rev. Paul Burkhart, Preaching

Wednesday, September 22 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum on Zoom – Dr. Lee Barrett

Sunday, September 26 –  8:45 am Church School Classes – 10:00 am  Worship, The Rev. Paul Burkhart, Preaching – 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Woof-Stock, Riverfront Park, Blessing of the Animals

Wednesday, September 29 – 7:00 pm Adult Forum on Zoom – Dr. Lee Barrett

Remember in Prayer

  • Henry Grissinger
  • David Freet
  • Chris Earhart

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