June 2015 Vol. LXXXVIII No. 6. Summer Sizzle at the Corner Place. Special Gift Completes Chancel Furnishings

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1 June 2015 Vol. LXXXVIII No. 6 Special Gift Completes Chancel Furnishings Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; Here are table, font, and pulpit; here the cross has central place (from hymn, God is Here by Fred Pratt Green) At Third Church, we are the beneficiaries of generations of persons who have provided us with inspiring worship spaces in our sanctuary and chapel, full of splendid liturgical art. This sacred art includes stained glass windows, delicate wood carvings, and the architecture itself. Recently, we were able to commission several additional pieces of liturgical art that were envisioned as part of the Faith for the Future campaign several years ago that resulted in the renovation of large portions of our building, including the sanctuary. A generous gift from Janet Reed and the Janet S. and David B. Reed Fund helped us to realize the final pieces of the furnishings to make the vision for the worship space a reality. As part of the original design by renowned liturgical architect Terry Byrd Eason, plans were drawn for a suspended cross, and floor-based candles as part of the chancel design. At the time, funds were not available to complete this, but we are most grateful to Janet Reed and the Reed Fund for making this final step possible. In keeping with Presbyterian practice, nothing other than the communion elements is to be placed upon the communion table, so it was our goal to fulfill the plan to have a cross and candles that would not be placed on the table. This goal has been realized with the exquisite addition of the suspended cross and floor-based candles. Both the beautiful hand-carved cross and the candle stands were crafted by New Holland Church Furnishings of New Holland, Pennsylvania, who also created the new baptismal font and restructured the pulpit, lectern, communion table and pews. This is all in keeping with the original design from the Faith for the Future campaign. Now future generations of worshipers at Third Church will appreciate these wonderful additions. Summer Sizzle at the Corner Place Do you like serving the community and working with children who seek to be enriched and engaged? Are you prepared to seek personal enrichment and engagement from those you lead? The Corner Place, sponsored by Third Church, which serves as an afterschool program, is seeking to pilot a summer program that meets two evenings a week in the Upper Monroe Area. The mission is to provide additional enrichment when school is not in session and positive activities locally after 6:00pm. These enrichment activities are artistic, academic, civic and cultural. If you like working with children and can spare three to seven hours twice a week, consider this rewarding experience. Our program will likely meet on Mondays and Thursday nights. As a volunteer, you may have the option to serve one day a week, or miss one week due to travels if compatible to scheduling. If you are interested, for application materials please e- mail : ingoodcompanyarts@gmail.com. Given the nature of the assignment, all prospective volunteers will be required to pass a criminal background check. Together, let s make this summer sizzle for our youth. Find your place at the Corner Place. It s time for the annual BIG LUNCH on June 7, again with a mission to help feed the kids at Cameron Community Ministries! Enjoy a cookout on the lawn hot dogs and ice cream, and outdoor fun. And, help Put a Fork in Hunger by collecting food items served by Cameron. Please bring one of the following items listed below to share (monetary donations also accepted!). If you can t be here on June 7, you may bring your contributions to the church earlier in the week. Cereal: Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat Pasta &Pasta Sauce

2 THIRD VOICE Dear Friends, I have been using our current Presbyterian hymnal, the new hymnal, for 25 years. In addition to Sunday mornings, I turn to it every week for worship planning, for reference, for inspiration of one kind or another. It has been a trusted companion in my ministry. I am very familiar with it. I know page numbers of most hymns and the texts themselves on top of that. It will take me a little while (I hope not 25 years!) to achieve the same familiarity with our new hymnal, Glory to God. The page numbering is different, of course. Some of my favorite texts have slightly different wordings, or musical arrangements. Most of those venture back to older versions Be Thou My Vision, for example. There are a few hymns that I will miss singing. All Beautiful the March of Days is one of them. You can look it up. It always felt like a good hymn to sing on the first Sunday of the year as we mark the passage of time. It also spoke of ice and snow in a positive way, a reminder we Rochesterians all need! At the same time, I am looking forward to welcoming new hymns into our communal repertoire. In fact, since the time we began reviewing the new hymnal, I can t seem to get one particular hymn out of my mind. It is a new hymn that sounds like an old hymn, written in Dutch and translated into English. It is called What Is This Place. We will sing it on May 31 when we dedicate the new hymnals, and I am sure it will pop up regularly in our rotation. I hope you like it. Here are the words: What is this place, where we are meeting? Only a house, the earth its floor. Walls and a roof, sheltering people, Windows for light, an open door. Yet it becomes a body that lives When we are gathered here, And know our God is near. Words from afar, stars that are falling. Sparks that are sown in us like seed; Names for our God, dreams, signs and wonders Sent from the past are all we need. We in this place remember and speak Again what we have heard: God s free redeeming word. And we accept bread at his table, Broken and shared, a living sign. Here in this world, dying and living, We are each other s bread and wine. This is the place where we can receive What we need to increase: Our justice and God s peace. In its very first line, it offers a simple, profound question that I take as an invitation to complete. What is this place We answer that question in worship, in learning, in service. We answer it in this place, and we answer it in all the places this place leads us. Faithfully, WORSHIP SCHEDULE JUNE 7 Communion at both worship services 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary Outreach Recognition Lynette Sparks preaching JUNE 14 8:30am Worship in Chapel Martha Langford preaching 10:00am Intercessory Prayer Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary Children Leading Worship John Wilkinson s reflections on Sowing Seeds JUNE 21 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary Reception of New Members John Wilkinson preaching JUNE 28 (Summer Worship Begins) 9:15am Intercessory Prayer Chapel 10:00am Worship in Sanctuary John Wilkinson preaching 6:00-6:45pm Third Church Chapel June 3 Lynette Sparks leading June 10 John Wilkinson leading June 17 Martha Langford leading 2 The Messenger

3 Milestones Joys Born Owen Hunter Fetterman on March 14, to Barbara and Lance Fetterman, grandson of Diane Davison- Jannerone (C Northeast Parish) Kara Pritchard Dolohanty, born May 14, 2015, to Kevin and Lindsey (E East Parish) Jacob Michael White on May 15, to Brad and Sara (Out of Town); Grandparents Rob White and Cecil Buchinger (L West Parish) along with brother Lucas rejoice in his arrival! Concerns We express sympathy to Homer Marple (B Northwest Parish) and Taimi Marple (K West Southwest Parish) on the death of his wife and her mother, Ellen Wilson Marple, on April 18 Bunny Goldsmith on the death of her husband, James E. Goldsmith, on April 19. He served as Property Manager at Third Church from the family of Taylor H. Keller ( Tay ) on April 20. A service is planned for later in the summer. The family of C. Joseph Wright on his death May 6 Mary Leist (J Southeast Parish), Jeff, Kay and Kendall, Jason and Alex (I South Central Parish) on the death of William B. Leist on May 16 Eco-Tip of the Month Save money, save energy, save the planet Are you recycling all your paper, cans, glass, plastic, and composting kitchen waste? To reduce junk mail, visit and return envelopes which are selfaddressed. One less 30 gallon can a week can save 3,120 lbs. of CO2. Third Church Connections Happy Bunch Third Sunday Event Sunday, June 21 Out to Lunch NAPA Wood Fired Pizza (573 S. Clinton Avenue). Contact Karen Anne Bills at karenannebills@gmail.com. Shawl Knitting Ministry Wednesdays, June 3, 17 5:00pm, Parlor Contact Sue Spaulding at Sisters in Spirit Friday, June 5, 9:30am, Parlor The group is exploring the ideas presented in Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace, by Anne Lamott. Watch the August Messenger for the Fall agenda. New Group! Mother s and Young Children Friday, June 12, 7:00pm Boulder Coffee, 100 Alexander Street Mothers of Young children (as you define that term!) are invited to join us for an evening of fellowship and brainstorming as we consider launching a new fellowship group. Our hope is to provide one to two activities a month both during the day and in the evenings. Please come and help us start the ball rolling! If you cannot attend, feel free to send your ideas on to us. For more information, to RSVP or to share ideas, contact Becky D Angelo-Veitch at rveitch@thirdpresbyterian.org or ext Men s Reconnection Tuesday, June 9 6:30pm, Whitney Room Men s Reconnection is a monthly opportunity for the men of the church to get together on an informal basis. Each month there will be a theme and a time of discussion, sharing and listening to the things that drive our lives, both at church and at home. Our first opportunity will be on June 9 in the Whitney Room. Please join us for an hour of fellowship, relaxing and reconnection with each other. Contact Jeremy Peters at psbfan6@gmail.com Evening at the Ball Park Friday, June 19 at 7:05pm The Congregational Fellowship Committee is sponsoring an evening at the Red Wings. Tickets are $9.50 each and can be purchased on Sundays in coffee hour (5/31, 6/7 and 6/14) or by Contacting Becky D Angelo- Veitch at rveitch@thirdpresbyterian.org or , ext The Messenger 3

4 Spiritual Formation Sunday Seminar and Growing in the Word Johnston Hall, 9:30am The Parables of Jesus Barbara Brown Taylor and Amy Jill Levine: The Power of Disturbing Stories, with Jim Stewart Jesus was a provocative and prophetic story teller, yet the meaning of his parables have been domesticated over centuries of re-telling. With the help of two prominent contemporary commentators, we will look at these stores for their original edge and fresh meanings for our day. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest, renowned preacher, professor of religion, and best-selling author of more than a dozen books, is admired for her original insights into the Gospel story. Amy Jill Levine is a selfdescribed Yankee Jewish feminist who is a professor of New Testament and Judaic studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her books include The Misunderstood Jew and Short Stories by Jesus. June 7 God is not Fair (Matthew 20:1-16) June 14 Poor Man, Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31) June 21 The Priest, the Levite, and the Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37) Growing in the Word Growing in the Word will join the Sunday Seminar for Jim Stewart s presentation during June. Thursday Voices Johnston Hall, 12:00pm Engage with the pastors favorite theologians and writers June 4 Christ s Offices Reconsidered by Joerg Rieger, with Lynette Sparks June 11 Plain Old Sloth: A Case of Soul-Weariness by Kathleen Norris, with John Wilkinson June 18 Experiencing God Physically by Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, with Martha Langford Dear Fellow Third Church Members, As of this May, I will be embarking on a year of service through the Young Adult Volunteer program. This program serves to help communities in need around the country and world through volunteers ages I will be moving to Asheville, North Carolina this August to work with the Hands-and-Feet of Asheville organization. Although the Presbyterian Church USA supports each YAV through a housing and food stipend, we are asked to help contribute to the expenses of our year through fund raising. Please help support me in my year of service as I work with individuals in the heart of Asheville! Emily Stevens As part of a Young Adult Volunteer s commitment, they are responsible for raising funds to support their work. Members wishing to contribute to this effort may send checks to the church office marked Emily Stevens support in the memo line. Summer Reading Suggestions Whether you are traveling, or staying right here in Rochester, here are some suggestions for summer reading. Remember, books in our church library may be borrowed for any reasonable amount of time. Robert McAfee Brown: Reflections Over the Long Haul: A Memoir (yellow section, biography) Wendell Berry: Life Is a Miracle and In the Presence of Fear. (light blue and yellow sections) Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and For the Time Being (yellow section) Norman Maclean: A River Runs Through It (yellow section) Lynn Sherr: Failure is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words (yellow section, biography) Rachel Reman, MD: Kitchen Table Wisdom. (red section) And, just for fun: Robert Short s: Parables of Peanuts (red section) 4 The Messenger

5 Children s Ministry News Contact: Becky D Angelo-Veitch, Children s Ministry Coordinator, , ext. 118, rveitch@thirdpresbyterian.org or Mary Ann Rutkowski, Associate Director of Music, , ext. 101 or mrutkowski@thirdpresbyterian.org Dates to Note on Your Calendar As our program year is winding down, please make note of the following June dates: Sunday, June 7 Regular Sunday Schedule with Junior Choir Rehearsal at 9:30am and Sunday School at 11:00am Saturday, June 13 Book sorting/worship rehearsal (see below) Sunday June 14 Children Lead Worship (see article); Sixth Grade graduation lunch Sunday June 21 Last week of regular service time. No Junior Choir Broadly graded Sunday School for children in pre-school-6 th grade (specific room locations noted in the education building) Sunday June 28 one Worship service at 10:00am. The Children s worship table will be available for school aged children under the Arnold Park Balcony in the Sanctuary all summer. This table is staffed by Children s Ministry and will have simple craft supplies, books and activities related to the scripture theme of the morning. See the Children s page of the website for more details. The nursery will continue to provide child care for infants and preschoolers. Book Drive Collecting Sundays, through Sunday, June 7 Sorting on Saturday, June 13 at 8:45am The Children s Ministry Committee invites you to look through your bookshelves for children s books to donate to the children in our tutoring programs and Cameron The B.E.A.T. Box Building Excitement at Third Community Ministries. We will collect books through Sunday, June 7. We will then gather the next Saturday to sort them just prior to the rehearsal for children leading worship, and dedicate them at the children-led worship service on June 14. Give the books that you have enjoyed a new life with another student! Children to Lead Worship On Sunday, June 14, the children of the Sunday School will lead the 10:45am service. Our theme is, the parable of the mustard seed. Sunday school classes will prepare and create the morning s liturgy and children will be invited to lead the service as speakers and readers. All children participating in a speaking role will need to attend a mandatory one hour practice on Saturday, June 13 at 9:30am in the sanctuary. Heifer Fair & Presbyterian Mission Agency Auction The Sixth Grade class would like to thank the congregation for their enthusiastic support of the Heifer Auction. With the hard work of the class and the generosity of the congregation, over $1300 was raised for Heifer Project International and Presbyterian Missions. Thanks be to God! Contact: Jane Carden, Youth Ministry Coordinator , ext. 107 or jcarden@thirdpresbyterian.org. Youth Revisioning Implementation Team Update Saturday, June 13, 9:30-11:00am, Johnston Hall Attention all youth and parents of youth! Your Youth Ministry Implementation Team has been hard at work identifying actions to improve the sustainability and relevancy of the youth program. The team will host an initial overview session for you on Saturday, June 13, from 9:30 11:00am in Johnston Hall. General concepts, timelines, and resource requirements will be reviewed, and you will have the opportunity to provide feedback. Snacks and coffee service will be available. ~ Jim Pochodylo, Roxanne Boyer, David Stimson, Sue Lipari, Peg Rachfal and Lauren Rye One, Two, Three Strikes you re Out July 9, July 22, Aug. 2 and Aug. 15 Come to a Red Wings game and support Third Church Youth. We will be working the concession counters once again this summer! Look for us at Rohrbach s on July 9 & July 22, MaMa Mittsy s on August 2, and Popn-Hots on August 15. See you at Frontier Field. With Appreciation and Gratitude! Third Church youth programs would not happen if it were not for our dedicated volunteers sharing their time and talents with our awesome teens. They love and respect each and every one, caring and sharing from their hearts. Thank you to Jenny Bay, Bill Bay, Paul Bishop, Therese Owen, Bruce Peachey, Gretchen Young- Zeh, Pati Primerano, Meaghan Held, Becky Wiggins, Lori Gilley, Jane Dickinson, Mary DuBois, Sandy Gianniny and countless others for all the ways you ve contributed to this year! New Commissioning Class Joins Third Church welcomed this year s commissioning Class in to membership in May. Congratulations to Sky Crain, Celia Fox, Andy Hutkowski, Jonathan Lutzer, Greg Monrad, Olivia Rye, Tessa Vasta, and Audrey Vinton. Your boundless energy and enthusiasm along with the many gifts and talents you each possess will surely bless the mission and ministry of Third Church. Welcome! The Messenger 5

6 Stewardship News Two pieces of good news! 416 members and friends have pledged $901,070. That is four more pledges than last year, and the highest pledge dollars ever (back in 2006, we reached $900,995).The Stewardship Committee is still working on ideas to further increase the number of pledges for My mother-in-law, an Elder in her Presbyterian Church, had a unique approach to pledging; she would not do it. Her thought was that pledging made the church feel too much like a business. There may be others in Third Church who feel the same. Unfortunately, in a way, the church is a business God s business. We are incorporated, as a non-profit. We have a Board of Trustees that administers our business. We have a Joint Budget and Finance Committee that assists in the process. Pledging is one way we estimate what our income will be so that we can form an income and expense budget for the current year. We are aware that unknown circumstances may interfere with making payments on a pledge. That is why, in budgeting, we include a shrinkage allowance. We hope that fear of the unknown is not a reason to forgo pledging. This month, we highlight the Membership and Evangelism Committee. Chaired by Bob Swensen this past year, they are responsible for the Exploring Membership dinners, conducting the New Members class, and all the advertising in the local papers. Their 2015 budget is $4,500. This is your pledge dollars at work. Bill Coons, Stewardship Chair About Our Worship: Weddings as Worship From the Worship, Music and Arts Committee Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the wellbeing of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community. In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges. (Presbyterian Book of Order, W ; March 17, 2015) The Christian marriage ceremony is a service of worship, and should be celebrated in a place where the community gathers for worship. Traditionally, weddings take place in a special service focusing on marriage as an expression of the Christian life. Weddings at Third Presbyterian Church take place in either the sanctuary or the chapel, and are celebrated with scripture, prayer, music and vows. Scripture, prayers and other liturgical elements are chosen in consultation with the officiating minister. Music that is suitable for a service of worship is selected in consultation with one of Third Church s organists, and may include organ, instrumental and vocal selections. Visual elements of the service, including flowers, and other adornment should be appropriate for the worship space, and reflect the sacred nature of the ceremony. The assembled congregation and guests play an important role in the service of Christian marriage by committing to love, encourage, and support the couple in their covenant with God and each other. Hymns give us the opportunity to praise God for God s love to us, and to offer sung prayers for the couple being married. Corporate prayer allows us to publicly support them as they begin a new chapter of their life together. The love and happiness that we share with them reminds us all that we are sisters and brothers in Christ! Do you have a question about our worship at Third Presbyterian Church? jefisher100@gmail.com and we ll include it in an upcoming newsletter. 6 The Messenger

7 Each year in June, as the Board of Deacons welcomes new members, we update the Deacons assigned to care for each of our congregation s 12 parishes. Beginning June 16, the following Deacons will work within the parishes listed below. We encourage you to call your Deacon or one of the pastors whenever you have a prayer concern or joy; when you or a family member face a hospital stay; if there is a death in the family; if a meal or visit would help you through a difficult time. Look for deacon postcards in late June, with contact information for your parish. PARISH A CARL WHEELER, SARAH COHEN PARISH B LAURA LOGGI PARISH C FRED RICH PARISH D SUSAN CARTER, RENEE CLARKE-PETERS 14609, 14617, 14621, PARISH E VICKY AUSTIN, TIM BROSHEARS 14420, 14468, 14559, 14606, 14612, 14613, 14615, 14616, PARISH F SUE LEDNAR, TINA JONES 14526, 14568, PARISH G BETSEY WHEELER, CAMILLE CLAYTON (E of Winton and N of 490), PARISH H PEG STRITE, CINDY CAPPS 14424, 14425, 14450, 14502, 14512, 14527, PARISH I MIRIAM GALE, JUDY GORDON PARISH J CAROL CRAIN, DIANA PHILLIPS 14534, 14454, 14469, 14472, 14485, 14487,14506, PARISH K JANET CURRY, MARY DUBOIS PARISH L KAY RAMSAY, SUE JOSEPH (East of Clover and East of HWY 31), PARISH Y MICHAEL GORMAN, MAISIE MERZ 14467, 14586, (N of 590, W of Winton and S of Elmwood), 14428, 14546, 14602, 14604, 14605, 14607, 14608, 14611, 14614, 14619, Youth in 9th through College Sophomores

8 THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF John Wilkinson, Pastor Martha C. Langford, Associate Pastor (Congregational Care) Lynette K. Sparks, Interim Associate Pastor (Outreach and Evangelism) Peter A. DuBois, Director of Music/Organist Mary Ann Rutkowski, Associate Director of Music Caroline Robinson, Assistant Organist Rebecca D Angelo-Veitch, Coordinator of Children s Ministry and Congregational Life Jane S. Carden, Coordinator of Youth Ministry Roderic P. Frohman, Pastor Emeritus To reach any of our staff, call Third Presbyterian Church at (585) The monthly church calendar is available at Members of the 2015 Commissioning Class