Avondale Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 446 Avondale, PA 19311 DOVE NEWS August 2008
Avondale Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 446 Avondale, PA 19311 DOVE NEWS Volume XIII, Issue 6 August 2008 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastor s Pen 1-2 Moms In Touch Christmas Bazaar Media Ministry Team New Website Copy Editor Grocery Totals Prayer Ministry Women s Circle Prayer Conference Concert of Prayer Church Picnic 6 Music Ministry 7 Church Family News 8 The Parish Paper 9-10 August Calendar 11 Dove News Distributed 10 months/yr. Editor: Kathy Coyle E-mail: avondale.pcoffice@ verizon.net To Contribute: Send DOVE NEWS articles & calendar info via e-mail to editor. Articles due by 8/13/08. Please include name & contact info with ALL submissions. Please type and e-mail your articles if possible. Church Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30-3:30 Friday 8:30-2:30 Office Phone: 610-268-2919 3 4 5 PASTOR S PEN First Experience of General Assembly This is my first newsletter opportunity to report on the 218 th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I was not a voting commissioner to GA yet I played a unique role as an Overture Advocate. Other than that I was officially an Observer. We landed in San Jose, CA, very late on a Friday night and got started right into things on Saturday morning. That was a day for registration and getting my bearings. San Jose is a very pretty city right smack in the middle of Silicon Valley. That is funny because we had technological problems all through the week. The Saturday evening of GA is always exciting as the Moderator is selected. The Rev. Bruce Reyes- Chow was elected and will serve for the next two years. He is from San Francisco and is known for being in the emergent stream of Christian expression and understanding. To describe just what the emergent movement is cannot be done in a short piece. It is hard to define and pin down. It is rooted in post-modernism. It is a close cousin to another new focus which many call the missional church movement. I find much good in both of these streams of Christian understanding. Sunday morning was a very stirring and powerful worship experience. We found a seat in the arena across the street from the Convention Center. Worship occurred at two sites and we were linked by television hook-up. Worship lasted for a solid two hours. A full ensemble accompanied worship with a strong brass section. I had goose-bumps all through worship. It was also moving to see that the bulletin was actually a booklet about a quarter inch think because all of the ordained clergy that died since the last General Assembly were listed. Our past Moderator preached. Communion was celebrated. Missionaries were commissioned. It was very inspiring. And guess who I picked out sitting all the way across the vast arena but our own Elder Dave Schramm. (Continued on page 2)
Dove News Page 2 (Continued from page 1) Dave and I were not together very much because he was a Commissioner and they were much tied down to their committee work and to their seat in the conference. Being a Commissioner is a marathon. I know Dave will tell you that it was very exhausting. But when I saw him he had a smile on his face and took his role very seriously. He served our Lord and our church very well. I am proud of him as we all should be! I spent a great deal of time working with the committee considering the proposed new form of government. This would replace the entire Government section of the Book of Order. I served as an Overture Advocate. I worked with all of the other Advocates and in cooperation with the committee leadership to prepare for the work of the committee. This committee was 68 people in number. As an Overture Advocate I spoke for the Overture that was sent up by our Session and then by our Presbytery. We asked that this GA not take any action on the proposed new form of government so that the whole church would have ample time to study the changes that are being proposed. In the end this is what did occur. Over these next two years the church needs to study and prepare to decide whether or not to accept the new G section of our Book. I have to say that I was very impressed with the whole General Assembly process. I had some disappointments through it but believe that the majority of what happened and what was decided will bring pleasure to our Lord. We have a strong and devoted mission outreach. We gave a very great amount of money to disaster relief efforts and pledged much more. There were reports from restaurants and businesses that those Presbyterians are polite people. Our Presbyterian heritage is highly valued and treasured at this highest level of our church in my observation. No church is perfect. For the most part I came away from San Jose feeling good. My favorite part was in making connections with people. The Presbyterian world is really small. I found all kinds of connections with friends from the past and various surprising connections. A real treat was in meeting up with the pastor I served with in Pittsburgh and his wife, Don and Ginny Dawson. Nancy, Mindy, and I joined them for dinner one night. The reunion was rich. One night I got off of the train with a number of other Presbyterians. I overheard a fellow talking about golf and the snowbirds that come south in the winter. I asked him where he lived and it turned out that he lives right around the block from my parents in Florida. The Presbyterian world is small, even at the national level. I was able to attend this GA because of being the Moderator of Donegal Presbytery. I now would like to serve as a Commissioner, even at the next one, having had a taste of it this year. Thank you for your prayers as we were out there. I think we are a vital and important wing of the universal church of Jesus Christ.
Dove News Page 3 CALLING ALL MOMS TO PRAY! You re invited to become part of a ministry that God is using to change lives The lives of children,their schools And their families. Mom s In Touch Southwest chester County Please Contact: Dawn Jones 610-857-2011 Jcakehope@msn.com About Moms In Touch International... Moms In Touch International is two or more moms who meet for one hour each week to pray for their children, their schools, their teachers, and administrators. Mothers, grandmothers, or anyone who is willing to pray for a specific child and school. Moms who believe that prayer makes a difference. Christmas Bazaar & CraftShow Saturday, November 22 nd We are looking for volunteers and outside crafters! Please notify Kathy Barto, Betsy Eastburn or Judy Young for information. *Kathy Barto will be hosting an evening workshop at her home for the Bazaar, please contact her to sign-up. Have you ever wanted to learn recording, Power Point, or sound mixing? We are looking for volunteers to create a Media Ministry Team. Training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact: Jan Ramberger @ 610-268-3852. Grocery Totals as of 7/31/08 Acme Receipts: 447.84 Acme Cards: 703.75 Giant Foods: 1,170.00 Perkins: 814.00 Redner s: + 55.88 YTD Totals: 3,191.47 Kathy Barto is our new copy editor for the church website. Everyone should insure that our website is always up-to-date by contacting Kathy at kathy.barto@verizon.net with new information for posting by our webmaster Lou Tranchitella. Next Perkins Night is Monday, September 8th between 4 & 8 save the date! Now that we are worshiping in the Great Room, the Acme receipts bag has moved to the lobby coat rack. Keep your receipts for Acme and Redner's coming. As you can see, they add up over time. * Most importantly, if you shop at Acme or Giant, you should be purchasing the gift cards. The church purchases the cards at a 5% discount. This is a return of $5 for every hundred dollar spent. All money goes towards the Building Fund. Any questions or if you are interested in participating in this free program, please contact Joan Rosazza. The Session Class of 2009 John Marble Tim Rupard Dave Schramm Class of 2010 Charles Patton Jan Ramberger Will Wallace Class of 2011 Betsy Eastburn Pat Kimmel Marge Pickel Mattie Peck Mod: Ray Meute, Jr. Clerk: Rici Harden Deacons Class of 2009 Bob Hart Lynne McMullen Kathy Reidinger Wendy Thorngate, President Class of 2010 Sally Carroll Ginny Peck Ginger Schramm Joyce Swisher Class of 2011 Sandy Speakman Cordelia Rosazza Rebecca Rosazza Irene Taylor Margie Worthington Trustees Class of 2008 Fred Burkhart Bruce Thorngate III President Tom Young Class of 2009 Mike Carroll Kevin Peck Joan Rosazza Class of 2010 Ross Lloyd Jerry McMullen Nicole Tranchitella Nominating Committee Members-At-Large (1 year term) Cary Lambert Carolyn DiCecco Judy Young
Dove News Page 4 PRAYER MINISTRY B Y MARGE PICKEL School Prayer Very soon, our schools will open for the 2008/2009 school year. It is very important for us to keep these schools in prayer. PRAYER WALK Avon Grove Schools, Avon Grove Charter School and St. Mary s BVM May I suggest that you develop a habit of praying over your kids as they leave for school. Put the FULL armor of God on them. (Ephesians 6) We cannot think that nothing will happen to our children while in school. It is a reality that we need to be conscious of on a daily basis. I ask you to consider joining a team to pray over our schools on Wednesday, August 20th at 9:30 am. We will meet in the Avon Grove High School lobby to choose what school you will pray over, and to receive badges identifying yourself. We have prayed over the schools for several years now. We are truly blessed to be able to do this since many schools do not allow any religious activity to take place in the schools. I believe God honors our prayers! Women s Circle will be meeting again in September. More information to follow... Wednesday, AUGUST 20, 2008 Meet at 9:30 AM in lobby of Avon Grove High School to receive ID tag and choose school assignment Anyone is invited to participate For more information call Marge Pickel or Church Office 610-268-2919
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Dove News Page 6 Sunday, August 24, 2008 Noon 5 PM Rain or shine! (Eating at 1 PM) Black Rock Retreat Center 1345 Kirkwood Highway, Quarryville, PA (Rt. 472 between Oxford & Quarryville) Sign-up on the list in the lobby of our new building or call Betsy Eastburn. Bring a covered dish for 8-10 people or 3 dozen cookies (only 10 people need to bring cookies), lawn chairs, walking shoes & a smile! Meat, beverage, watermelon & place settings will be PROVIDED. Lots of Fun water slide, swimming, games, fellowship, play area for children! (Please not bikinis or men s Speedos.) Black Rock Retreat RULES 1. Lifeguards must be present for all swimming activities. Swimming is absolutely prohibited without the presence of a certified Black Rock Retreat lifeguard. 2. To ensure safety in a lake setting where the lifeguard cannot see the bottom, every swimmer must have a buddy to be responsible for. 3. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for watching them. 4. There is to be no throwing of sticks, stones, sand, or other foreign objects into or out of the water. 5. The safety equipment, life rings, ropes, etc. are to be used only for rescue procedures by authorized persons. 6. Anyone who wishes to swim in the deep end must be a good swimmer. This means you must be able to swim from the shallow end ropes to the deep end raft and return without stopping. A test may be required at the discretion of the lifeguards. Children 10 and under must have permission from the adult who is watching them swim, in order to enter the deep end or attempt the test. 7. Do not dive off the dock. The water is too shallow. All inner tubes and flotation objects are to stay in the shallow end. 8. There is no rough play on the raft or inner tubes. All inner tubes and flotation objects are to stay in the shallow end. 9. Boating and fishing are prohibited while people are swimming. 10. We require women to wear modest one-piece bathing suits (no bikinis) and men to wear modest swimming trunks (no bikinis or Speedo style suits). 11. Please be respectful of the lifeguards. They are there for your safety and have the authority to stop a situation, which they deem unsafe. They also have the authority to ask someone to leave the lake area this is not following the guidelines. Be courteous and help them put equipment away.
Dove News Page 7 Praise God from whom ALL Blessings flow. How wonderful it is that our new building is now a reality. We can see it, walk around in it and see it as a light and testimony to the goodness of God for His people and our surrounding community. As we worship each Sunday within its walls, let us continue to give God all of our praise and thanksgiving for it. Now while we await the restoration and completion of our main worship Sanctuary, we can be about the Kings business of inviting new friends to join along with us for worship in the Great Hall while we wait for the sanctuaries completion. On this Note, we will be starting up our adult choir, handbells and various instrumental rehearsals soon. These will be resuming toward the end of August and into September. There will be announcements to when all of the various rehearsal will be starting up, so be looking for them in our bulletin. Thought for the Day What we give, we receive, and what we receive, we freely give! What a WIN WIN situation! With this said, I would like to invite those of you who have not been involved in our music program, to give it some heartfelt thought to what extent you would like to be involved. We have a great time in preparing for worship each week and would like to see some new faces to come in and join us. If you are an instrumentalist, we would like to have you to consider being a part of our instrumental team of players. If you are interested in our handbells ministry, please see and or contact Peggy Watkins our wonderful bell director. She would love to have new folks join in and enjoy the fun and blessing of ringing. Our Hand bell groups are a lot of fun and all ages are able to be involved. If you would like to be a part of our Adult choir or instrumental groups, please see me and or call me or e-mail me at whcpiano@verizon.net. I sincerely trust that you will give being a part of our music ministry some real thought. Even if you can only be involved a little bit, I can promise you that you will enjoy it. Thanks for all who have been a part of our special music during the summer. It has been great to have you all share with us your talents. I m looking forward to hearing from you throughout the year as well. As the choir has sung, We will be Your Church we truly are! Let us jump in with both feet and see God work through us all as we continue to grow His church in our community. Our best! For His highest, Wayne H. Carr Organist/Director or Choral and Instrumental Music APC Music is the best solace for a sad and sorrowful mind; by it the heart is refreshed and settled again in peace. Martin Luther
Dove News Page 8 Avondale Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 446 Avondale, PA 19311 Phone: 610-268-2919 Fax: 610-268-1646 avondale.pcoffice@verizon. net Avondale Presbyterian Church exists to connect people to the Lord Jesus Christ, to contribute to growth in His body, and to commit to serving Christ in the world. We re on the Web! www.avondalepc.org Help Us Save Expenses! Choose to receive a copy via e-mail. Let us know if you no longer want to be on our mailing list. For either choice, contact the secretary @ avondale.pcoffice@verizon.net or 610-268-2919 Our Deepest Sympathy to: Anna Peterson and family in the passing of her husband Pete Peterson. Recently Hospitalized and/or Recovering: Bob Hart, Eleanor Scott (Helen Lynam s sister). EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP Personnel, Leadership Training Elder John Marble GIFT-ORIENTED MINISTRY Mission, Stewardship Elder Laurie Dillon PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY Christian Education, Prayer Ministry Elder Dave Schramm MEMORIALS Elder Charles Patton BUDGET Elder Charles Patton BUILDING Elder Phil Hertzog NOMINATING Elder Charles Patton LOVING RELATIONSHIPS Church Life Elder Judy Young PRAYER MINISTRY Elder Marge Pickel INSPIRING WORSHIP Worship Elder Jan Ramberger HOLISTIC SMALL GROUPS Unassigned NEED-ORIENTED EVANGELISM Evangelism Elder Will Wallace CHURCH PUBLIC RELATIONS (CPR) Elder Will Wallace YOUTH DIRECTOR Elder Tim Rupard