V OLUME 25, ISSUE 9 O CTOBER 2017 Good Tidings... Darnestown Presbyterian Church Address: CHURCH INFORMATION 15120 Turkey Foot Road Darnestown, MD 20878 Phone: 301-948-9127 FAX: 301-948-9135 E-mail: dpchurch@comcast.net Website: www.darnestownpc.org Neill S. Morgan, Interim Pastor, 903-814-9343 Tamara Leonard Lara, Associate Pastor Eric Waggoner, Director of Music Henry J. Postel, Pastor Emeritus Wishing Reverend Tamara Leonard Lara Godspeed October 15 will be Reverend Tamara s last Sunday with us here at Darnestown, and I hope you can come as we express our deep appreciation for the many years of ministry she has shared with this Congregation. Having recently arrived as the Interim Pastor, I have had all too brief a time to know and work with Tamara, but in these two months I have come to know her as a dedicated, skilled, and caring pastor and colleague. It has truly been a blessing to be a partner in ministry with her, and I know that the Beth-el Presbyterian worshiping community near Tampa, and the Tampa Bay Presbytery, will be equally blessed in the coming years. As she exercises her gifts of compassion, insight, and bringing the Gospel in deed, sacrament, and word in two languages, Tamara will bring joy, hope, and courage to a place recovering from a hurricane and a community of people who praise God while they struggle to provide for their families even as they provide the food we eat. We will miss Tamara deeply, but we will lift her in prayer as she answers this high calling to serve the same Lord among a different congregation. Reverend Tamara Leonard Lara will preach both services October 15, and we will hold a reception in her honor in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the 11:00 service. I hope you will join us. Neill S. Morgan A Farewell to Tamara, October 15, 12 noon in Fellowship Hall Please come and say goodbye to Tamara and her family! The Board of Deacons will provide a luncheon buffet, beverages, and a cake. The Congregation is invited to bring cards and/or personal gifts to wish Tamara well. Contact Sue Ciolorito (ciolorito@comcast.net, 240-750-8950. SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Sunday, October 1, 5 pm, Pop-Up Coffee House Sunday, October 15, 12:15 pm, Reception for Tamara Leonard Lara Sunday, October 22, 4:15 pm, Youth Group Hayride Sunday, October 29, 12:30 pm, NAMI Program DPC's Pop-up Coffee House Making music to make a difference Sunday, October 1, 5:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall DPC would like to offer you the opportunity to help with Disaster Relief as we launch the DPC Pop-up Coffee House to raise funds for those in areas with needs, both now and in the future. This event is for all of you to enjoy local talents for a great cause, while savoring some freshly brewed coffee and dinner. We ll have coffee and beverages, sloppy joes, pulled chicken with barbecue sauce on the side, vegetarian chili, salads, cornbread and desserts. Donations from a free-will offering will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to help ongoing support of those suffering from the recent disasters in our part of the world. Come Join Us!!
Page 2 GOOD TIDINGS... September 24, 2017 Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 The Way Forward In our planning meeting of September 9, the Session outlined a timeline for the interim period. We set a goal date of June 1, 2018 to break ground for the BEAR project and June 10, 2018 to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. The amount of time it will take for the Pastor Nominating Committee to carry out its work cannot be predicted with any accuracy, but I am committed to serving as your Interim Pastor for as long as it takes. On our way to those goal dates, we have much to accomplish in the way of mission clarification. We will engage the Congregation in a process that will assess the energy for and satisfaction with the ministry and mission of the church. That assessment will help us discern a clear vision of mission and ministry for the future and prepare us to address the structural questions: How do we staff for this vision? How do we budget for it? Our immediate next step in this process is to get clarity on the financial resources we will have available to carry out ministry and mission in the coming year. A strong, joyful, and enthusiastic response to the fall financial campaign will set us up for joyful ministry and effective mission together in the year that lies ahead. Nancy and I thank you for the warm welcome we continue to receive. We look forward to broadening and deepening our relationships throughout the Congregation in the coming months. Blessings, Neill Morgan 903-814-9343 (Put my number in your phone in case you need to call me directly.) The Session calls for a Meeting of the Congregation at noon on October 8, 2017, in order to concur with Tamara Leonard Lara s request that National Capital Presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship with Darnestown Presbyterian Church in order for her to accept the call serve as the pastor of the Presbyterian worshiping community with Beth-El Farmworker Ministries, Inc., near Tampa, Florida. Join us Sunday, October 29 at Darnestown Presbyterian Church for a presentation by NAMI Montgomery County on mental health resiliency and protective factors! NAMI MC will present the Sources of Strength program, talking about the sources of strength we have in our own lives that help us manage stress and hardships. The experience will be positive, fun, engaging, and discussion-style, with takeaway materials on available mental health resources in the community. We will have two programs going on simultaneously one open to adults, and one open to middle and high school youth. Light refreshments provided from 12:00-12:30 pm, with the program running from 12:30-2:00 pm.
V OLUME 25, I SSUE 9 Page 3 DPW Update Plan to be there on Saturday, November 4-8:30 am 3:00 pm! Silent Auction This has always been a very popular part of the Bazaar and is only possible with the donations of the Congregation. We all have special talents to share or unique items to give. If you find yourself short of ideas, how about these: Do you have extra tickets to a sporting event or a theatrical performance? What about authentic signed sports items? Do you have a talent you would like to share? Lessons for music and voice, dog training, career counseling, home design, and physical fitness have been popular in the past. Do you have a special signature item that you bake? What about a unique craft or painting that you've created that can only be purchased as a one-of-a-kind item at the Silent Auction? No item or talent is too big or small and is greatly appreciated! **Also, the next time you re in your favorite restaurant or shop, ask for a gift certificate/card donation. The Bazaar is great advertising for businesses. Please contact Tina Petzold through email at trpetzold@gmail.com, or call 301-960-4247 with donations and questions. Bazaar Craft Day Our next day of fun fellowship, lunch and creativity is Saturday, October 14 from 10-3 at Kathy Kurkjian s house (12830 Talley Lane, Darnestown, 20878). Please RSVP to Kathy if you ll be there so that we have a count for lunch and craft materials. As always, think about bringing a friend! Also needed for the Bazaar: Costume jewelry, pictures (take a look at the pictures on your walls tired of it? Donate it to the Bazaar and let someone else enjoy!); used books, antiques, and nearly new toys and sporting goods. Plan ahead for the baked goods you plan to donate for the Country Store. Retreat 2018 The next Retreat is in the planning stage, and we welcome your ideas on theme, leadership and location. Please let any of our DPW board members hear from you. Christmas Tea This year the date will be Sunday, December 3. Planning is continuing, and we can use your help. Please check our DPW pages on the WEB (www.darnestownpc.org). We are keeping it current if not, let me know. Judith Wenig, DPW President Volunteers needed for the Junior Church program during the late service We are in need of volunteers to help with the Junior Church program during the 11:00 service every Sunday. This is an invitation to ALL church members, not only parents of children participating in this program. We hope to have enough volunteers so that each one will only need to help once or twice a year. Please see or email Kelvin Choi, kelvin.choi.tc@ gmail.com, to sign up. Mary Lydia Circle: Our Circle has started with the Bible study leadership once again in the capable hands of Ruth Sweet. We are using the Horizons study: Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews. It is not too late to join. The gathering is on the 1st Thursday of each month in the Parlor at 10 am. Bible Study books are available in class. Please remember to check the resource in your Horizons magazine each month for each lesson. This month it is titled "On the Cloud of Unknowing" by Patricia K. Tull.
Page 4 GOOD TIDINGS... October is Pastor Appreciation Month Take a moment to thank our Pastors for all that they do!! Youth at DPC Welcome! We re off to a great start this program year! We look forward to seeing youth at our October activities. You may bring a friend to all events. All youth in 6 th through 12 th grade are invited to join Youth Group activities. Check your DPC Youth Group GroupMe for updates. October 8 Dinner & Scavenger Hunt at 5 pm at the Garretson s home October 22 Hayride and campfire at the Daughtry Farm, leave DPC at 4:15 pm October 29 NAMI Event ( Sources of Strength ) at 12:00 pm, Fellowship Hall Help Needed! On Sunday, October 1, we will go to the Germantown HELP Food Pantry at 1:00 p.m. to package food boxes for needy families. We will meet at the Germantown Methodist Church if you can help, please contact Rob Garretson (rgarretson@gmail.com). Volunteers are needed! Youth and adults are welcome to join us (students can earn community service hours at the Pantry. Lunch Bunch: Fun Food Fellowship Great Programs Too!! DPC and St. Nick s and Visitors You are Welcome To join us!! 3rd Tuesday every month Join us for lunch, fellowship, and good times! October Program - October 17th, 11:30 at St. Nick s As you know, we had to postpone the September program because Rev. Beth became very ill. Thus the October program will be either the original September program or the originally planned October program. Original September Program An Episcopal Priest aka St. Nick s Rector aka Rev. Beth will answer any question you would like to ask her, yes!, any question! Yeah, there are lots of questions she doesn t know the answer the answer to; but those she does know the answer to, she will answer in a group discussion called ask the priest. Original October Program Either bring a picture or trinket of some memorable occasion (first date, special vacation, special happening, or etc.) and tell us about it, or tell us about a unique autumn experience or vista. Adult Sunday Class: 9:30 am in the Parlor. We are exploring the biblical view of racial relationships, and how to live out our faith in a world that has complicated racial relationships. We will start with examining the Confession and go on to racial relationships in daily life. All adults are welcome! Newsletter Deadline: October 20 for the November issue. Articles may be emailed to pchurch@comcast.net. Men s Breakfast Saturday, October 21 Neill Morgan invites you to our next Men s Breakfast on Saturday, October 21, at 8:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Mark the date, and we hope you will join us. Please RSVP to the church office if you can attend. All men are welcome!
1. Read your Bible. 2. Think about God s words. 3. Pray every day. 4. Pray for others. 5. Do at least one loving thing for someone each day. 6. Try to please God in everything you do. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 1:00 Food Pantry trip 5:00 Pop-Up Coffee House 2 3 4 5 10 Mary Lydia Circle 6 7 8 12 Congregational Mtg. 12:30 Outreach Comm. 5:00 Youth Group 9 7:30 Mission 7:30 C Ed. Comm. 10 7:00 DPW Board Mtg. 11 12 10 Bible Study 13 14 10:00 Craft Workshop 15 12:15 Reception for Tamara Leonard Lara 16 7:00 Session 17 11:30 VIPS to St. Nick s 7:00 Stewardship 18 19 20 21 8:00 Men s Breakfast 22 4:15 Youth Group s Hayride 23 7:30 Deacons 24 7:00 Building & Grounds 25 No s 26 10 Bible Study 27 28 29 12:30 NAMI Program 30 31