The APC Corner-stone

Transcription

1 Ardmore Presbyterian Church The APC Corner-stone We are members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19b-20) December 2014 From Our Pastor James Hodsden: Salt on the Streets When Michael Palin isn t making people laugh with his Monty Python friends, he has been traveling the world. Since 1998, he has been making documentaries of his wanderings. The travelogues don t simply hit the highlights. Instead, Palin takes the time to meet people and hear their stories. I remember one particular episode when he visited Japan. Mr. Watanabe is the proprietor of a restaurant in Tokyo. Every morning, the man places three piles of salt in the street in front of his restaurant. Apparently, the practice dates back over a hundred years. When farmers would bring their cows to town, the cows would stop to lick the salt. The farmer, having extra time on his hands, would notice the restaurant. Thus, sales were increased. One hundred years ago, it was a clever marketing tool. Today, in hyper urban Tokyo, it is merely habit or a tradition. Call me crazy, but I think such traditions are a good thing. Traditions help us maintain connections to people and places long gone. They suggest that life is more than our moment in time. I would guess that most Americans would probably disagree with me. Pouring salt in the street seems a waste of time and salt. Instead, we are wired to focus on the new and improved. Still, even Americans find ourselves sentimental at a time like this. During the Christmas season, our minds turn to habits and patterns long established. This is the one time a year that we don t mind sharing our lives with the past. One tradition prevalent for many at this time of the year is attending worship. We come back to church, and we hear ancient stories and sing old songs. For once, we aren t embarrassed that things look the same as they did when we were children. I would never trade the tradition of the holidays, but I wonder if we are missing something. Is it possible that we have fallen in love with the things of God, rather than God himself? In the poetry of Luke s gospel, in the familiarity of Silent Night, and in the pageantry of the candlelight service, we sometimes forget the real purpose. Christmas is about a God who entered history, and nothing, not even death, could stop him. Our traditions point to a reality beyond sentimentality. Our worship does not venerate the dead who remain safely dead. In fact, we worship a living God who claims our very lives. Discipleship is more than putting salt on the streets. Grace and Peace,

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4 December Birthdays 1 Daniel Sullivan 2 Dottie Gray 2 Janet Reeder 3 Christy Brennan 5 Kantha Kandula 5 Sarah Kozak 6 Mary Spencer 8 Ruby Rogers 9 Bruce Kozak 10 Anne Foote 11 Jon Harris 11 Nate Frank 12 Josephine Sedzro 12 Michael Potter 12 Kristi Taverno 12 Joshua Moore 13 Bill Toal 13 Benjamin Nierenberg 15 Gary Garletts 15 Laurel Yurchak 16 Peter Corle 17 Twila Garletts 18 Katarina Sheronas 19 Bonnie Cook 20 Newt Spencer 22 Herb Randall 24 Mary Raiken 25 Dorothy Osborne 25 Luke McCluskey 27 Jackson McKeon 28 Erin Corle 28 Karen Davey 29 Paul Whitaker 29 Peter Sheronas 31 Kossi Sedzro We d like to list all of our members and friends birthdays & can only do so if we know when it is. Please admin@ardmorepres.org or call and leave a message. 4 ONGOING PRAYERS FOR: Katie Brennan, Kate Brooks, Skip & Mary Ellison, Rosemary Fischer, Sandy Foote, Gary Garletts. Twila Garletts, Ruth Jenkins, Wally and Louise McLean, Julia Park, Mary Quigley, Mary Schreiber, Jean Shrader, Mary Lee Straub (Beaumont, Nursing Unit Room B 26), Don Tokash, Mary and Ray VanLeeuwen Anne Warner s Aunt Mary Jo and others who struggle daily because of difficult health issues. 100th Anniversary and Stained Glass Window Books Are there any extra (or not needed) 100th Anniversary and or Stained Glass Window Books that can be donated to the church? It would be nice to have copies for our archives and library. ADVENT DEVOTIONALS Are available on tables in the sanctuary and office area. Please take one for your Advent prayers. Family Devotionals and Activity Books will be distributed in Sunday School. My family and I would like to thank our many friends at APC who kept us in their prayers during the time my husband had surgery. He is doing well while recuperating and we are very appreciative of the many blessings of support and kindness that you ve expressed. Best Regards, Raelyn

5 5 Movie Night ~ Save the Date: Friday, January 9th, Dinner (5:30-6:30) and a movie (6:30-8:30). NEW! APC double feature. Theatre 1 (a.k.a. Fellowship Hall) is a kid friendly, 10 and under movie to be named later. Theatre 2 (a.k.a. Mill Creek Room) is a big kid, 10 and over movie, also, to be named later. Bring the popcorn! Bring the kids! APC friends of all ages are welcome!!! Coats Needed Ardmore Presbyterian Church is collaborating with CertaPro Painters of the Main Line to collect new and gently used coats for Impact Services Philadelphia. Coats can be deposited in the box located in the narthex. Both adult and children sizes are needed. The coat drive will run through February. For any questions, please contact Sarah Schreiner, smschreiner@yahoo.com. This is an update on the request for items (such as: socks; snack bars; candies; lotions; foot powder; & paper gift bags), which are being collected for Christmas gifts for people who are experiencing homelessness, who are a part of the Welcome Church. Please bring donations to Ardmore Presbyterian Church and leave in the Fax Room (or give directly to Schaunel Steinnagel). Requested deadline for donations: Thursday, December 18. Goal: 100 gift bags! All are welcome to join in the assembly of the gift bags. In Fellowship Hall, 7:00 8:30 p.m., on Sunday, December 21 st! (The Welcome Church Christmas Party/Teatime is on Monday, December 22 nd.) Donations of Cookies for Tea Time at the Welcome Church would be most welcome. Dates of special need for cookies include: January 26 th, February 23 rd, March 30 th. (Often, people will give the cookies to me at church on the Sunday before the Tea Time, and it works great!) Thank you, Schaunel Steinnagel GOD BLESS AND GODSPEED Rev. Marianne Unger joined the staff of the Ardmore Presbyterian Church in April 2013 as our Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries. Since that time, she has been excited to work with our little ones, sharing with them her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In her time with us, she has organized our Sunday School program, led Vacation Bible Schools, and recently developed a series of children s worship services. We have benefited from her talents in puppetry, dance, and videography. For this and much more, we are grateful to God. Marianne has now completed her time with us, and we look forward to hearing about her next ministry. We wish Marianne God s blessings and Godspeed.

6 6 GET TO KNOW AND WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO APC Diana Brown 503 Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA, Diana grew up in Berwyn. Earlier in her life she attended Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Diana went to Woodlynde School and studied Communications at Randolph Macon Women s College in Virginia and Colby Sawyer College in New Hampshire. She spent many years as a Design Consultant and furniture sales person for Crate and Barrel. For the past two years Diana has been a companion to a 99 year old woman being very involved in many aspects of her life. Diana enjoys gardening and generally being outdoors. She loves the arts and culture particularly visiting museums and taking in independent films. Diana first came to APC as a friend of Katarina Sheronas and attended Peter and Kim Sheronas wedding, followed by the Christmas Eve service. She was impressed by the warm and welcoming personality of Pastor James. She appreciates the kind gestures and individual hospitality of the pastor and congregation. She also feels the sermons and music are outstanding. Diana has lost her parents fairly recently and is interested in looking into the Grief Support Group. She is also considering attending the Thursday Small Group Bible Study. Kerstin Hoeldtke 237 W. Montgomery Ave., #1J Haverford, PA 19041, Kerstin was born, raised and educated in Gothenberg, Sweden. She grew up in the Lutheran Church and attended college in Sweden and also in the United States studying Liberal Arts. She moved to Washington, DC when she married and she spent many years as a housewife before becoming a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway in Haverford Station. She was an active volunteer for Trevor s Place, driving the van, giving out sandwiches and serving on the board. Kerstin is also involved in a worldwide organization, Swedish Women s Education Association, which offers hospitality to Swedish women abroad in many countries. She is involved with the American Swedish Historical Museum and travels to Sweden at least once a year. Kerstin enjoys walking, reading and being with friends. Kerstin has been in regular attendance at APC for many years and is happy to have made the decision to join. She appreciates the worship and friendliness of the members. Kerstin is looking forward helping APC when time allows.

7 7 Ashley and Nathan Stanley 210 Lee Circle, Bryn Mawr, PA Ashley grew up in Devon, PA. She was raised in the Catholic Church and graduated from Notre Dame Academy. She received a BA in Communications from Villanova University and moved to Manhattan after graduation where she worked in advertising for Young and Rubicam. She met her future husband who was also working there. They moved to Old City Philadelphia and then to Bryn Mawr. Ashley has been employed for the past four years by Vynamic, a health care management consulting firm which specialized in many health care issues for businesses. Daughter, Emma was born on January 14, 2014 and is the light of their lives. Ashley loves running, traveling and baking. When Ashley and Nathan were visiting churches, they immediately felt a good vibe with family atmosphere at APC. Ashley would like to help with child care in the future. Nathan was born in Raleigh, NC and grew up in the Baptist Church. He is a graduate of North Carolina State holding a BA in Business. After working at Young and Rubicam with Ashley and moving to Bryn Mawr, he is now working at CMG Partners, a marketing consulting company based in Durham. His main client is Comcast in the area of Xfinity Wifi services. Nathan is passionate about NC sports, loves playing golf and traveling. Nathan also enjoys working with his hands inside and outside the house. He also immediately felt at home at APC and believes that the Presbyterian Church is a good mix for their religious backgrounds. Nathan considers that being an usher and working with accounting would be a possible way to become involved at APC. Lindsey Sullivan (Justin Marlow) 1427 Wynnewood Road, Ardmore, PA Lindsey grew up in Long Beach, CA and was a member of Lakewood Village Community Church. She came to this area as a student at Haverford College where she graduated with a BS in Chemistry and met her husband, Justin. She was strongly involved in Varsity softball while at Haverford. Justin was on the baseball team. Upon graduation, she joined a start up company developing software for clinical trials for the pharmaceutical industry. She stayed with the company through two acquisitions, but recently joined Suvoda in Conshohocken, a software company also involved in clinical trials. She loves athletic activities, especially golf, softball and snow boarding. Lindsey also enjoys reading nonfiction especially business and personal development books. She hopes to start her own business someday. Lindsey originally lived in an apartment across from the church and from her first day in worship she was impressed by the friendliness of the church family and immediately felt at home. Lindsey is part of APC s visitation ministry, plans to volunteer for Shine Up Saturday, hopefully join the APC softball team and build relationships with God and folks at APC.

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9 9 All Church Christmas Caroling There are many folks who are unable to sing carols with us in worship this Christmas season so we've decided to take the carols to them! On Wednesday, December 17th, there will be two locations and times to choose from. You have the option of either going to... The Quadrangle 3300 Darby Rd, Haverford, PA Meet at the front entrance of the Oak Building at 4:50 p.m. We will sing at the Oak Building and then sing in the Holly Building at 5:45 p.m. OR Rosemont Presbyterian Village 404 Cheswick Place, Bryn Mawr, PA Meet there at 4:50 p.m. outside the front entrance. At Rosemont we will split into two groups. One group will go sing in the Personal Care Lobby (1st floor) and the second group will go to the Independent living dining room (2nd floor). They will be having dinner when we sing. We will sing well-known Christmas carols and bless our friends and neighbors with the gift of music. We welcome children, youth and adults, no matter what your singing ability. Please sign up and choose a location by contacting Anna Poorman anna.louise.poorman@gmail.com or by calling the church office (610) It is VERY important to sign up so we have enough people at each location. Thank You!

10 DON T FORGET: 2014 Pledges must be received by Dec. 31st in order to get tax deduction in UPDATE: As of 12/3/14 we have received 66% of the no. of pledges we received in 2014, pledge cards are located in the back of the Sanctuary. Thank you to all who have already submitted their pledge cards. ************ 2015 Pledge Envelopes will soon be ready to be picked up at the back of the Sanctuary. ************ 10 Please complete the red card in the pew rack to dedicate a poinsettia plant to a loved one or in commemoration of a special occasion. ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEE MODERATORS: ANNUAL REPORTS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 20, 2015, PLEASE SEND TO RAELYN AT ADMIN@ARDMOREPRES.ORG SAVE THE DATE: 7 TH Annual Spiritual Enrichment Retreat (SER). January 30 Feb. 1, 2015 Theme: Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling In January we welcome the author, Andy Crouch who will lead the S.E. R. on this topic. The book is available in paperback from the church office for $14 or you can purchase it online as a digital download.

11 From the desk of the Director of Music, Gary Garletts December, 2014 On Sunday, November 30, the First Sunday of Advent, we began a new liturgical year. We sang or heard some of the Church s most ancient texts and tunes, including Creator of the Stars of Night, Savior of the Nations, Come, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. We celebrated the Lord s Supper, recalling that Christ came ultimately to die and rise again, providing a single, perfect atonement for the sins of the world. How true and appropriate are Charles Wesley s words: Born to raise them from the earth, Born to give them second birth. The celebration continues through December! Advent Family Night is Sunday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. We begin the evening with The Animals of Christmas, a musical program in the sanctuary. A Bell Fanfare; Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (Handbell Choir) The Friendly Beasts (Combined Choirs) Prepare the Royal Highway (Youth Choir) Carol of Prophecy (Children s Choir) Away in a Manger; What Shall I Give Him (Cherub Choir) Camel, Kneel Softly (Children s Choir) Shepherd s Medley (Youth Ringers) So Gentle the Donkey (Youth Choir) 11 All church caroling is Wednesday, December 17, 5:00 p.m. This year we will travel directly to the Quadrangle and Rosemont Presbyterian Home all are welcome! Please contact the Deacons in advance so they can assign you to either group. Chancel Choir Cantata is Sunday, December 21 at 10:30 a.m. Gloria (Antonio Vivaldi) with string quartet. On the Fourth Sunday of Advent our Chancel Choir will sing one of the most beloved and oft performed settings of Gloria in excelsis, Glory to God in the highest. Vivaldi divides the text into twelve brief movements which contrast in tempo, texture, color, and mood. The work features soprano Christine DeVault and mezzo soprano Courtney Capriotti. Chester County Choral Society s 42 nd Year Concerts, December Miracles at Midnight, Saturday at 7:30 PM (Avondale) & Sunday at 3:00 PM (Paoli). The centerpiece of this year s concert is Charpentier s Midnight Mass for Christmas, a most charming setting of the traditional Mass text, with melodies based on French Noels popular in his day. The second half continues the midnight theme with carols both wellknown and newer, accompanied by string quartet and flutes. Tickets are discounted when purchased in advance. See for all details. And please remember, as last year, Christmas Eve service times are now earlier! 5:00 PM Family Service 10:00 PM Lessons and Carols

12 12 ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5 West Montgomery Avenue Ardmore, PA Phone: admin@ardmorepres.org Please notify the office if you prefer to get your newsletter via . Celebrating Our 107th Year of Service to the Lord Jesus Christ A R D M O R E P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H James Hodsden, M.Div., Pastor (pastor@ardmorepres.org) Sturgis Poorman, M.Div., Parish Associate (sspjrp@yahoo.com) Gary Garletts, M.M., AAGO, Director of Music/Organist (music@ardmorepres.org) Michelle Butera, Interim Director of Weekday Preschool (preschooldirector@ardmorepres.org) Pearlie Diesinger, Preschool Administrator/Church Secretary (preschool@ardmorepres.org) Raelyn Harman, Church Administrator (admin@ardmorepres.org) Don Tokash, Finance (finance@ardmorepres.org) Jim Moore, Custodian