July/August Harbor Light 2016 - Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor
Transcription
July/August Harbor Light 2016 - Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor
Harbor Light Pcph.org Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor July/August 2016 Reflections from Pastor Penny Hello PCPH friends, When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by talking about it – instead, he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door. Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully and religiously lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. People wandering about on the dark street saw Franklin’s light a long way off, and came under the influence of its friendly glow with grateful hearts. It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes; soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and considered the matter with interest and enthusiasm. It’s the power of example. Children learn to walk, talk, eat, argue, love, and more from their parents – and they don’t miss anything! So parents must choose what they want to teach their children – how will they guide, mold, and shape their tiny students? Will they model integrity, honesty, kindness, and compassion? Jesus taught by example again and again in the Gospels. He went to great lengths to prepare his disciples for their role as healers and evangelists after he was gone. Hey disciples, pay attention! Watch, listen, and learn, said Jesus. Today we are all disciples – and the best way to teach the good news of Jesus Christ is to live in the joy and love that bless us as Christians. To live the Gospels is both a privilege and a responsibility for us as followers of Christ. It’s a powerful message. Blessings on the journey! A Safe Harbor where the Light of Christ Jesus directs all who are adrift to anchor themselves in Him. Pastor Penny Creating Connections Through Christ Creating Connections Through Christ July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 2 Fall Registration The Growing Tree has openings for all ages for the 2016-2017 school year. The Growing Tree is a nationally accredited preschool. Please let your family, friends and neighbors know! Sign up information is on our website: www.gtpreschool.org. The Growing Tree seeks to provide sound educational experiences within an environment of Christian faith and love. We are committed to developing your child’s sense of identity as a unique and special person. Our students engage in a variety of activities which encourage cognitive development, emotional growth and kindergarten readiness. If you know of anyone interested, please spread the word! CHURCH LIBRARY NEWS The library committee wishes everyone a safe and happy summer. Even though schools are closed, our church library remains open, so come on in to browse anytime. Just sign, date, and put your phone number on the check out card that is found in the back of the books. Put the card in the container on the counter. That is it! No one has to be there with you when you check out a book. Harbor Light Deadlines August 17 September 21 6:00pm - 7:00pm October 19 Bulletin Deadline Please submit your bulletin announcement by 1:00pm on Tuesday afternoon. If not received by then, your announcement may not appear in the Sunday bulletin. July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 3 Call for Growing Tree Board Members! The Growing Tree Board of Directors is now recruiting new members for the 2016-2017 school year! The Growing Tree, a ministry of PCPH, seeks to provide sound educational experiences within an environment of Christian faith and love. We have a wonderful staff who do an amazing job achieving this mission but also need board members to provide administrative guidance and leadership. The board oversees the finances of the school, contracts for teachers and staff and other business items. No previous experience is needed and Board Members carry no liability on behalf of the school. Requirements are the ability to attend our 45-minute meetings (typically 9:45am-10:30am) 8 times over the school year, an interest in helping the Growing Tree achieve its mission and goals, and the ability to offer your ideas and suggestions. The total time commitment for the school year is 6-10 hours. We are a fun and collaborative board where all ideas are welcome and we treat each other with respect and dignity. In addition to needing members-at-large, we need to fill the officer positions of Vice President and Secretary. The VP’s main task is to be available in the event the President is not and the Secretary records and distributes the minutes. Officers must be members of PCPH while members-at-large do not. Meeting dates for the 2016-2017 school year are: August 18 September 8 October 13 November 10 January 12 March 9 April 13 May 11 This is a wonderful way to support the development of our young children in both their education and their faith! Please contact Cathy Driscoll, Growing Tree Director at [email protected] or Leslie Fann, GT Board President at [email protected] for more information. July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ 1 Betty Johnson 23 Jon Sjostedt 2 Kaye Pollock 25 Larry Hayward 4 Rey Xaxni 25 Patricia Hoover 5 Linda McGlone 26 Dean Milliron 5 Amanda Smith 27 Brian Chaulk 8 Peggy Berge 27 Ken Ray 10 Helen McAllister 27 Pat Schneck 14 Margaret Beem 29 Delores Abell 14 John Hackett 29 Kate DeVault 16 Donald Crombie 29 Jane Klaebel 17 Richard Zirk 29 Madison Smith 23 John Gordon 30 Carol Anne Haslam 2 Iris & Dick Thomas 20 Nancy & Lee Lahr 7 Mindy & Rick Bacon 27 Darlene & Scott Maze 7 Brenda & Tom Collias 28 Elizabeth & Ken Hahn 8 Pat & Rick Whissel 31 Lori & Rick Gottlieb Page 4 July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ 1 Anna Bauer 11 Helen Crombie 1 Wenda Behm 14 Jan Harding 1 Clyde Roper 15 Ginny Sewell 4 Diane Farrel 19 Louis Almendarez 4 Judy Gammonley 19 Jeff Drain 4 Samuel Horste 23 Angela Ashe 4 Rose Hough 23 Charlotte Hendricks 7 Larry DeVault 23 Sandra Salinas 9 Arden Bradshaw 26 Bob Greenleaf 9 Laura Davis 30 Heidi Wingard 11 Mellie & John Gordon 18 Deborah & Brian Sawyer 12 Ann & Larry Hayward 20 Cathy & Doug Driscoll 13 Laurie & Theodore Prindle 24 Corinne & Tom Krisa 14 Mechelle & Ritchie Henley 28 Jenn & Rob Saner 17 Vance & Cynthia Dill 30 Doris & William Harting 17 Joan & Art Ruddle Page 4 July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 5 May Year to Date Income and Expenses Income: $117,077 Expenses: $107,661 Net Profit: $9,416 Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Pastor Penny and the Session are moving forward in our journey toward calling an installed pastor. Our next step is to hold small group meetings of the congregation. We’re using a Wizard of Oz theme, to make things more interesting and possibly spark some new ideas. Our goal is to listen to the desires and opinions of the church family by asking a few key questions. Then we will compile the results and form a mission statement and our vision for our future. We need your input, so please consider attending the following group. Wednesday, July 6th Jon and Gail Schier 3:00pm at St. Mark Village, Village Room Thank you to Marty Platt for stepping up to send out birthday cards to our PCPH congregation! We know you will do a wonderful job and we are so happy that you volunteered! Thank you for the generous gifts and thoughtfulness that you displayed. We can’t wait to meet our new arrival and are blessed by our family at PCPH. July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 6 Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor Children’s Ministry Pre-School - 5th Grade Summer Sunday School Summer has arrived, and our Children’s Sunday School program will take a twist during these hot summer months! Each week our Sunday school children will meet in one classroom, (Room 112) where they will alternate between a Summer Science Sunday school lesson, and Biblical movie “Adventures in Odyssey”! On movie weeks popcorn and water will be provided, and our Sunday School classroom will be set up like a movie theatre! If you have any questions, please contact Malissa Garcia or Huiran Xaxni! Sunday School Teaching Schedule Children’s Sermon Schedule July 3rd — NO SUNDAY SCHOOL July 3rd - July 10th - July 10th - Bianca Cathy and Bianca Huiran Xaxni July 17th – Carrie and Bianca July 17th - Pastor Penny July 24th – Huiran and Bianca July 24th - Huiran Xaxni July 31st - Lori and Bianca July 31st - Noisy Bucket July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 8 STUDENT MINISTRY Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor Southwind Summer Camp 2016 Cost: $250.00 Who: 6th - 8th Grade nd th When: August 2 - 6 Be sure to register for Southwind Summer Camp, 2016 spots are limited! Middle School Youth Summer Pool Party! Where: Hardaker House When: Monday July 11th Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm Dinner, Bible Study, Fellowship Find Malissa for all details! High School Ministry at PCPH 9th - 12th Grades Please be in prayer for our 10 high school students who will be serving over 300 plus middle school students at Southwind Summer July 27th - August 6th May they be the hands and feet of Jesus! July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 9 Middle and High School Annual Fall Kick Off September 9th-11th Rock the Universe All students who are in grades 6th-12th, we welcome you to join us for our annual fall kick off to Rock the Universe! We will rock, ride and rejoice at Rock the Universe® only at Universal Studios®. Experience two nights of soul-stirring songs from Christian music’s hottest stars, alongside awesome rides and attractions. It’s an unforgettable weekend of faith, fun, and fellowship Cost: $85.00 - Payment Due September 1st Park Ticket to Universal and Islands of Adventure Friday - Sunday Hotel Stay (2 nights) Transportation Breakfast Saturday and Sunday Morning July/August 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 9 General Assembly Notes The Assembly took several historic actions — choosing female co- moderators; adding the Confession of Belhar from South Africa to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Confessions; and electing the PC (USA)’s first African-American stated clerk — this felt to many like a time of turning for the church. Themes of reconciliation and justice — particularly racial justice — were woven through the week. Plenary sessions began with personal testimonies — for example, Therese Taylor-Stinson, moderator of National Capital Presbytery, describing her rise in leadership in her church and then hearing someone say: “The little colored girl is in charge today.” Participants recited together almost as a litany sections from the Belhar confession, affirming the biblical mandate of unity won for us in Jesus Christ. Some highlights of the assembly: BELHAR. It took the PC(USA) two tries and more than six years to adopt Belhar — which was written in the heart of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid. It becomes the first PC(USA) confession from the global south. Godfrey Betha, vice moderator of the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa, told the assembly: “Your decision affirms you say to your children, you say to all, ‘When you come to us looking for a glimmer of racism, don’t come to our church.’” NEW AND DIVERSE LEADERSHIP. This assembly marked an historic change in leadership. On June 24, the assembly elected J. Herbert Nelson II, a third-generation Presbyterian pastor and the director of the denomination’s Office of Public Witness, to a four-year term as stated clerk, replacing Gradye Parsons, who is retiring. Nelson becomes the PC(USA)’s first African-American stated clerk. The assembly also made history in choosing T. Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston, both teaching elders, as its comoderators. It’s the first time an assembly has elected co-moderators (rather than a moderator and vice moderator) and the first all-female moderatorial team; Anderson — who is African-American — is, at 37, the youngest moderator ever elected. 2020 VISION TEAM. Responding to an idea from its The Way Forward committee, the assembly voted to create a 15-person “2020 Vision Team” to set a new vision for the denomination by 2020. The vision team will draft a guiding statement to “help us to name and claim our denominational identity as we seek to follow the Spirit into the future.” ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION. Responding in part to concerns raised by review committees for the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the Office of the General Assembly, the assembly voted to create a 12member administrative commission with the power to determine the structure and function of General Assembly agencies. MIDDLE EAST. The assembly adopted an amended version of a report called “For Human Values in the Absence of a Just Peace” — which addresses Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights. The assembly also reaffirmed the PC(USA)’s long-standing call for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine. FOSSIL FUELS. Choosing an approach some described as a “middle way,” the assembly voted 391-161 to pursue a process of trying to influence energy companies through stockholder engagement rather than divesting comprehensively from fossil fuel companies. Some commissioners contended Presbyterians have a moral obligation to act swiftly and boldly to reduce their carbon footprint. APOLOGY. By a vote of 463-51, the assembly stopped short of issuing an outright apology to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer or questioning — but voiced the church’s deep “regret that, due to human failings, any person might find cause to doubt being loved by God” and the denomination’s “deep sorrow” over members and congregations who have left over disagreements regarding sexual orientation. HOPE. The new leaders both challenged the PC(USA) to become more diverse and engaged with a hurting world, and sounded a theological vision of hope. Edmiston called on Presbyterians to “look at what breaks God’s heart in your neighborhood,” and then to act. “We are not dead. We are alive,” Nelson said of the PC(USA). Led by God, “we are transforming the world, one person at a time.” BY LESLIE SCANLON, Outlook national reporter