April Newsletter - Newtown Square Presbyterian Church
Transcription
April Newsletter - Newtown Square Presbyterian Church
NEWTOWN SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3600 Goshen Road - Newtown Square, PA 19073 Office: 610-356-8063 Fax: 610-356-3758 www. nspconline.org Rev. Dr. Jeanne Thomas - Pastor NSPC e-Connections April 2014 Inside this Issue: From your Pastor April Sermons Birthdays Help Needed Mother-Daughter Dinner Presbyterian Women Lenten Soup & Study Mother-Daughter Dinner Conference Room Memorial Gift Church School Chatter Blood Drive Aid For Friends Easter Flowers Snoe Removal Welcome Melanie Henderson "Granny's Attic Building & Grounds Thank you Ellis Athletic Center April Calendar Editor: Bob De Young Proofreader: Lynne Corle Dear Family of Faith, The season of Lent is nearing its climax: Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, April 13. Perhaps no other day in the liturgical year symbolizes our deep ambivalence towards God in the same way that Palm Sunday does. In fact, on the liturgical calendar, it is referred to as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Why? Because the day is wrought with paradox. The crowd lines the street to wave palm branches and welcome their king, shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" And yet, moments later it disperses in fear and confusion. Jesus is not who they want him to be, nor expect him to be. They want a conqueror; instead, they are given a Savior. How about us? Where do we stand? Are we as fickle as those who line the streets of Jerusalem - one day ready to praise and worship our King of Kings; the next day turning our backs on our only hope of salvation? On the one hand, we know that human fulfillment is found in God alone. On the other hand, we know that God represents the deepest threat to many of our plans, schemes, and dreams. Are we ready to lay our lives before the One who comes in the name of the Lord? These are the questions we, too are asked as we make the journey through Holy Week…from our place in the parade outside the city walls, to the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, to the foot of the cross at Calvary, and ultimately to the empty tomb on Easter morning. What are our answers? During the week that marks the Passion of God's only Son, God seeks our passion, too. May we find the time and space to walk beside our Savior as he walks towards Sermons for the Month April 4/6 Fifth Sunday in Lent Rev. Jeanne Thomas Ezekiel 37:1-14 ; John 11:1-45 "Wake Up!" Holy Communion 4/13 Palm/Passion Sunday Rev. Jeanne Thomas Matthew 21:1-11 "Hosanna!" 4/17 Maundy Thursday/Service of Tenebrae - 7:30 PM Rev. Jeanne Thomas John 13:1-17; 31b-35 "How About Love?" 4/20 Easter Rev. Jeanne Thomas Matthew 28:1-15 "When Our Plans Are Interrupted" 4/27 Second Sunday of Easter Rev. Jeanne Thomas John 19:38-42 "Another Dimension of Discipleship" JOIN US! Worship Service - 10:00 AM continued on page 2 Page 1 (continued from page 1) Calvary, not just going-through-the-motions as observers from afar, but entering fully into the depths of despair as well as the sheer joy in knowing "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!" In Christ, Jeanne April Birthdays Come join us for our Holy Week services: April 13: Palm/Passion Sunday. Children line up at 9:45 AM with palms and enter the sanctuary to "All Glory, Laud, and Honor." April 17: Maundy Thursday and Service of Tenebrae. "Tenebrae" is Latin for "shadows." As the candles are extinguished, they symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples and portray the waning of the light of the world as Jesus was betrayed and crucified. Dating back to the eighth century, the service provides a gripping experience of the darkness of life without Christ and helps us to prepare for the full impact of his resurrection on Easter morning. April 20: Easter Sunday. Childcare provided for infants and younger children. NSPC Trio; Chancel Choir; Will Gregory, trumpet; Skip Rohrich, timpani. The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah will conclude the service. Calling All Men to help with the Mother-Daughter dinner If you can help wait tables or help in the kitchen the evening of Monday April 28th please call Bob Bechtold at 610-353-2682 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Thanks in advance for your consideration! 04/02 04/04 04/05 04/06 04/07 04/08 04/11 04/12 04/13 04/13 04/16 04/16 04/19 04/20 04/21 04/21 04/22 04/22 04/23 04/23 04/24 04/25 04/27 04/28 04/28 04/29 04/30 McDonald, Amy Cooper, Liz Kosturos, Alexi Schauer, Jerry Reinersmann, Bill Park, Jackson Wellington, Marian Burns-Collins, Lois Ashman, Bill Huston, Erin Moore, Jay Villano, Debbie Corle, Allen McDavitt, Bill Hewes, Becky Villano, Brent Hudson, Will Rich, Rebekah Sampson, Dave Rustam, Len Snyder, Grant Speidel, Eva Collins, Gordon Speidel, John Williar, Carroll Peoples, Tom Kucker, Dolores Bob Bechtold Miriam Circle Phoebe Circle Date: April 14 th Time: 12:15 PM Hostesses: Trudy Holden Toni Sichel Lesson: "Devotional for April" Don't forget your lunch and 2 bags of individually wrapped Easter candy for "The Village". Date: April 14 th Time: 7:00 PM Hostesses: Debbie Villano Devotions: Marge DeYoung Lesson Six: "Becoming a Holy People" Dolores Hart All are welcome! Page 2 Lenten Soup & Study Lent is a season of adventure and discipline, of commitment and challenge. Every year, we are invited to walk with Jesus towards the cross. This year, once again the Adult Nurture Commission is offering soup and a study during Lent. The purpose of the study is to contemplate the sacrifice Jesus made for our sake, and the difference his life, death, and resurrection have made for us now and for all eternity. The last two sessions of our Lenten Soup & Study will take place on Monday evening, March 31 and April 7, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Social Hall. Childcare will be provided if you sign up in advance. March 31: Wake Up! Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:1-45 April 7: Hosanna! Psalm 118 and Matthew 21:1-11 E BIG H T R E TO D P UN COME ONE, COME ALL COME ONE, COME ALL to the annual Mother-Daughter dinner All women and girls of NSPC and their female relatives and friends are invited to the annual MotherDaughter dinner to be held on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 6:15 PM in the Social Hall. Tickets will be sold during fellowship hour following the worship services and throughout the week in the church office. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for girls under 12, and $3 for girls age 4 and under. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AFTER April 24th. Come and enjoy this special evening of fun and socialization. We will be entertained by the “Merrimaker Clown Ministry” from the Aldergate United Methodist Church of Wilmington. The clowns will offer an interactive program with skits, songs (like "Old McDonald had a Zoo") and a few tricks. Girls, bring your favorite stuffed animal for the parade of animals. The Khaki Krew will serve us dinner, so just sit back and enjoy. The mission focus for the evening is “Joy of Socks.” You can bring new pairs of socks for children, women or men. Lois Peck Page 3 Thank You Most of you have been watching the progress of our Conference Room over the last several weeks. I got to see the progress on a daily basis since I teach at the Nursery School. Pre-project preparation, carpentry work, supply purchase, painting, finishing, cleaning, furniture moved in and out, curtains laundered and hung, all took place mostly on week days and evenings. From beginning to end many people were involved. I'm sorry if I miss someone, but I think the Corles, Bob DeYoung and Paul Holden did the lion's share of the work. Others helped but the long term efforts were from those mentioned. Thank you, thank you to all. Memorial Gift For the last few years, NSPC has been attempting to display a calendar in the conference room with weekly/monthly activities posted. Different systems have been discussed and a "makeshift" system was developed. At the time, the system was calendar sheets covering the badly cracked wall. Now the room is lovely with new walls and fresh paint. Last September, Janet Neilson Adams passed away. She was one of our Charter Members. Jan raised her family at NSPC and was an involved member, as is her daughter, Lynne Corle. Lynne and her family decided to present a Memorial Gift in her mother's honor and that gift is now being used in the newly renovated conference room. It is a very nice wipe off/magnetic white board. This type of calendar management system is used in school districts, hospitals, etc. Along with the gift of this calendar management system, the Corles installed it and Bob DeYoung and Lynne organized the set-up. Take a peek and if you are responsible for calendar events, please use it as directed. Our thanks to the Neilson/Corle family for this very useful gift in honor of Jan. Many might remember Jan as active at NSPC and part of our PW and Deacons, prior to moving to Granite Farms Estates. Sue Bechtold Page 4 CHURCH SCHOOL CHATTER Christian Education Our Spring quarter is well underway. Let's hope the cold and snowy weather is well behind us. April truly brings new life with all the blessings the Lord has provided and what a busy month it will be celebrating Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, and our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Palm Sunday Our Palm Sunday Procession by the Church School Students will take place on Sunday, April 13. The children will meet in the coat room around 9:45 AM to line up before worship begins. They will be dismissed to their classes with their teachers after the children's message. Easter Egg Hunt Our annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at 10:00 AM. Light refreshment and fun is planned for all, so tell your friends and neighbors and bring your children or grandchildren for a really good time. Donations of candy We would greatly appreciate donations of wrapped candy for our Easter Egg Hunt. The candy will be hidden in all the very colorful eggs for the children to find. Please leave your candy donation in the church office during the week or in the church school office on Sundays. Thank you so much for your kind generosity. Easter Sunday Nursery and church school will be provided for children through grade 3. We encourage children in grades 4 and above to attend Easter worship with their parents. Won't You Please Volunteer The current school year is quickly coming to an end. Summer is just around the corner. Summer Sunday School will begin on June 15. Please think about volunteering just one Sunday in June, July or August. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for a sign-up poster in the lounge. Nancy Gingras American Red Cross MONDAY, APRIL 14TH SAVE THE DATE Due to back-to-back winter storms forcing the cancellation of so many blood drives, there is a shortage of blood, the "Gift of Life." Your blood donation is vitally important for the well-being of someone. Please plan on being a blood donor at our upcoming blood drive on Monday, April 14. Lindy Rustam Page 5 AID FOR FRIENDS - SPECIAL INTERGENERATIONAL EVENT On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014, immediately following coffee hour and Children's Choir practice, please plan on coming downstairs to the kitchen and participating in the preparation of meals for Aid for Friends. We are hoping that this will be an event (a mission within the church) that can be shared by all generations of the church. The younger children will be packing Breakfast Bags under the supervision of Megan Kazanjian, Laurie Falcon and Lauren Snyder. The teenagers can help in the kitchen and will be eligible to acquire hours for community service. There are tasks that are suitable for all ages, whether you need to sit or can stand. Plan on spending an extra hour to an hour and a half after coffee in the lounge, to better understand and be a part of this commitment that NSPC has made to Aid for Friends. Aid for Friends provides frozen meals for those people in Delaware County who are infirm, homebound and have no family who can help them. Please mark this date on your calendar. It would be helpful if you could RSVP to Marg MacDonald 610-353-8297 or [email protected] if you or anyone in your family will be able to help. Easter Flowers Orders must be received by Wednesday, April 16th. Please return this form along with your payment to the church office, or place in the offering plate. Please make checks out to NSPC, with "Easter Flowers" in the memo section. Tulips - $6.00 Daffodils - $7.00 Lilies - $8.00 Please include your "in memory" or "in honor" information below. Given by: In memory of: OR In honor of: Tulips Daffodils Lilies $6.00 $7.00 $8.00 Total Enclosed $ Please indicate the quantity beside your flower choice. If you are NOT planning on picking up your flowers after the 10:00 AM Easter service, please check the box below and plan to pick up your flowers the following week. I will pick up my flowers the week after Easter. Order yours today! Page 6 Welcome - Melanie Henderson Session has unanimously--and enthusiastically--endorsed Melanie Henderson as our next Office Associate AND our Children & Youth Director! Both positions are 20 hours/week and we are excited about the gifts and energy Melanie brings to both positions. She will begin her employment on April 7. Melanie is a 2007 graduate of Ridley High School and a 2011 graduate of Temple University's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. She graduated summa cum laude and was commencement speaker for her graduating class. Melanie has been employed by the University of Pennsylvania's Bon Appetit catering management company, where she has helped to plan events for the university. For the past two years she has also co-led a girls ministry at Media Presbyterian Church for girls in sixth through twelfth grades. In addition, she has taught first grade Sunday school, a "children's church" program for preschoolers and younger elementary children, and has been involved for a number of years with Vacation Bible School. Melanie currently resides in Prospect Park. She and her fiancé, Jake, love taking their Black Lab Mix, Charlee (short for Charlotte) to John Heinz Wildlife Refuge for long walks and want to try hiking this summer. As much as she loves the outdoors, Melanie also loves reading and watching movies. She is known to use movie quotes in daily conversation and names Forrest Gump as her favorite film. Melanie and Jake are so excited to join the Newtown Square Presbyterian Family and thank God for bringing them closer to Him with this opportunity! "God has answered my prayers by leading me to serve at NSPC. A child's understanding of God, Jesus Christ and Faith is honest, pure and simple. I believe that is how all Christians should approach their faith on a daily basis." Melanie at desk "I am so excited to join a growing church with enthusiastic children, youth and adults. I respect the passion and loyalty the members of this church possess and I look forward to developing and directing programs that will strengthen these assets." Jake & Charlee Melanie “STAY TUNED” Limited Granny's Attic coming on September 27th. Save your treasures Watch for details Page 7 A Message from Your Building and Grounds Commission The Winter of 2013-2014 has challenged us all. Our homes and families have been hit with the emotional and financial burden related to experiencing the 2nd snowiest winter in the history of Philadelphia. No one has been immune to the effects of this winter's extreme weather. Your church home has also felt the repercussions of the snow, ice, and wind. In order to keep our parking lot safe for worship, weekly meetings, and our nursery school, it has been imperative to plow and salt the blacktop and sidewalks, far more frequently than ever expected. As of mid-February, our parking lot has been plowed over 25 times and over 16,500 pounds of salt have been spread to melt the ice that threatens our safety. The cost to our church family is a staggering $17,000. Our budget for snow and ice removal this winter is $5,000. The winter is not over, don't forget that we still have December of 2014, and we are already $12,000 over budget. In addition, our church grounds are riddled with excessive tree damage resulting from the numerous ice storms. That clean-up will begin as soon as we have a thaw.This too, however, will cost our church far more money than we budgeted for this year. It has been quite a winter! Please help! Consider making a special gift to the church that is above and beyond your normal giving and mark it "snow removal" in the memo portion of your check. Many thanks to Newtown Square Presbyterian Nursery School, who has started us off with a very sizable gift of $1,000. Your generosity will also be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU - Ellis Athletic Center Thanks to the generosity of the Ellis Athletic Center at the Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square our church hosted a "Let's Get Physical Game Night" the end of March. Everyone who attended had a great time. CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 610.355.7360 Ellis Fitness Center is offering our members and guests a SEVEN DAY FREE PASS and/or a $50 Gift Card towards the purchase of a 1-year Membership or Personal Training Package (new clients only). If you would like a Pass and/or Gift Card, they will be available in a basket in the West Narthex or Lounge. Ellis Athletic Center is nestled on the grounds of Ellis Preserve Corporate Center Membership programs are tailored to suit your needs Short term and month to month memberships are available Bob Bechtold page 8 April - 2014 Monday Sunday Tuesday 2 1 Nest in Lounge 9-1:15 B&G 6 Jubilate Singers Coffee/Coat Room Worship Sunday School Fellowship Hour Junior Choir Webelos meet 13 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 7:00 PM Palm/Passion Sunday Jubilate Singers Coffee/Coat Room Worship Sunday School Fellowship Hour Junior Choir 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM Aid For Friends - Intergenerational KITCHEN (After Fellowhip) 20 Easter Sunday Jubilate Singers 9:15 AM Coffee/Coat Room 9:30 AM Worship 10:00 AM One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Received Sunday School 10:00 AM Fellowship Hour 11:00 AM Webelos meet 7:00 PM 27 Jubilate Singers Coffee/Coat Room Worship Sunday School Fellowship Hour Junior Choir Fellowship/Membership Meeting 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 7 Knitting for Peace 8 10: 00 AM Soup & Study Lenten Series 6:30 PM B&G Meeting 7:00 PM 14 Knitting for Peace Nest in Lounge 9-1:15 Nest in Lounge 9-1:15 10: 00 AM 12:15 PM Phoebe 7:00 PM 21 10: 00 AM PW Board 10:00 AM Nest in Lounge 9-1:15 29 28 9-11 AM Yoga - in SH 6:00 PM 9 Nest in Lounge 9-11 AM Yoga - in SH 6:00 PM 16 Nest in Lounge 9-11 AM Yoga - in SH 6:00 PM Session Meeting 7:00 PM 22 Knitting for Peace 3 Nest in Lounge AA Mtg. Bell Choir Chancel Choir 10 AA Mtg. Bell Choir Chancel Choir Saturday Friday 4 5 11 12 6:00 PM 6:45 PM 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:45 PM 8:00 PM EASTER EGG HUNT 10:00 AM Deacon's Meeting 7:00 PM 15 Miriam Lounge Knitting for Peace 7:00 PM Thursday Wednesday 23 Nest in Lounge 9-11 AM Yoga - in SH 6:00 PM Social Hall 6:15 PM 6:00 PM AA Mtg. 18 19 25 26 Maundy Thursday and Service of Tenebrae 7:30 PM 24 AA Mtg. Bell Choir Chancel Choir 6:00 PM 6:45 PM 8:00 PM Mom's Group 7:00 PM 30 GFWC NS Board Meeting 10:00 to 12:00 PM in Lounge 10: 00 AM Mother-Daughter Dinner 17 Bible Study 10:00 AM in Conference Room 11:15 AM SESSION/BOARD OF TRUSTEES Moderator: Rev. Dr. Jeanne Thomas Class of 2016 Class of 2015 Class of 2014 Allen Corle Ginni Condo Sue Bechtold Rick Weiss Jim Hitchens Joe Falcon Marcia Heumann James Kucera Micki Digby Buff Biddle Janet Prevost Meghan Kazanjian CHURCH STAFF Pastor ................................................... Clerk of Session ................................... President, Board of Trustees ................ Treasurer .............................................. Head Usher .......................................... Children and Youth Director .................... Director of Music .................................. Office Associate ................................... Children's Ministry Coordinator ............. The Sacristy Guild of St. Martha .......... Presbyterian Women ............................ Church Office and Study Phone ........... Church Office Fax ................................. Jeanne Thomas (cell) ........................... Jeanne Thomas (home) ....................... Jeanne Thomas (email) ........................ BOARD OF DEACONS Moderator: Lindy Rustam Class of 2014 Bob Bechtold Elsie Oreski Chosa "Molly" Whayo Paula Landrum The Rev. Dr. Jeanne Thomas Sue Bechtold Allen Corle Dave Sampson Grant Snyder Melanie Henderson Dawn C. Stevens Melanie Henderson Lauren Snyder Buff Biddle Marge De Young 610-356-8063 610-356-3758 610-368-1637 610-565-9788 [email protected] Class of 2015 Lindy Rustam Marg MacDonald Flossie Barnes Debbie Weiss Class of 2016 Ginny Berman Hugh Bullard Mary Burgess Jane Fioravanti 2014 NOMINATING COMMITTEE Jim Shea Buff Biddle Grant Snyder Lynne Corle Fay Weeks Cheryl Koch Pastor Emeritus .................................... Rev. Dr. Jack M. Maxwell Page 9