Published: May 23, 2018 Sunday June 10, 2018 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Reception of New Members High School Graduate Recognition & Scholarship Presentation Congratulations Class of 2018!
Dearest friends, Pastor s Pen It is with mixed emotion that I write to you today and I want to tell you why. During the May Session meeting, your MPC Session unanimously voted to approve a job description for a fulltime, called and installed, Associate Pastor for Lifelong Faith Formation and Mission. And they also unanimously voted to request that the Nominating Committee begin their work to form an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC). I strongly believe this is an exciting and Spirit-led step for MPC. Conversations around these topics began last fall among your Session, and together we have prayerfully sought God s leading and guidance for the next chapter of our life together. There is much to celebrate and I am extremely proud of the faithful work of our MPC Session! However, with the formation of an APNC, comes the inevitable reminder that our beloved Pastor Debbie is an Interim Associate Pastor, and thus, will not be with us forever. To be fair, no pastor is ever with us forever, but the title of Interim means that the nature of the relationship between church and pastor is intended to be temporary. It is extremely rare that an interim relationship would last five years, but given the pastoral circumstances here at MPC for the past few years, it has been a gift from God that Debbie has been willing to serve so faithfully for so long in a temporary position. Debbie has served this flock with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love, and she has certainly found a home in the hearts of this congregation. Though I am confident that God is at work, writing the next chapter of our life together, it will certainly be with deep sadness that we say goodbye to one beautiful chapter in order to open our hearts to a new one. For the time being, Debbie isn t going anywhere. She will remain in her position as Interim Associate Pastor until the time comes for either Debbie or MPC to begin a new chapter. As many of you know, the search for a pastor can be a long one, and we really don t expect a new Associate Pastor to be starting before Spring or Summer of 2019. And even this plan we hold loosely, not knowing what God has in store for us in the year to come. But regardless of the timeline that lies ahead, please continue to care for Debbie as you always have, and remind her what a gift she has been, and continues to be, to MPC. And please know that when the time comes, we will celebrate her very well, thankful to God for the incredible ways that Debbie has ministered among us. And perhaps most importantly friends, please remember to pray. Pray for Debbie, pray for our church. Pray for our Nominating Committee as they seek to discern who it is that God is calling to serve on this APNC. Pray for the hearts of those whom God is calling to serve on this APNC pray that they might embrace this call with humility and faithfulness and joy. Pray for the person who God is already preparing to be our next Associate Pastor. And pray that in the midst of this next season of life, we might open ourselves more fully to the movement of God s Spirit, reminded that wherever the winds of God s Spirit may lead, we never journey alone. Friends, if you would like to speak with me about these next steps, I invite you to reach out to me directly. My door is always open. I am so grateful for all of you! Blessings and Peace, Rachel 2
OUR CHURCH FAMILY Sacrament of the Lord s Supper The next celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper will occur on Sunday, June 3 (pew style), during the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Sacrament of Baptism Adults wishing to be baptized or parents requesting baptism for their child are asked to call the church office at 215-295- 4191. Remembering our Identity The fish represents the first disciples, who were fishermen, and the feeding of the 5, 000 with a boy s lunch of five loaves and two fishes. It serves as a reminder of the mission opportunities that are continually available to MPC members and staff. EXPLORING ACTS TOGETHER Submitted by Pastor Rhodes This past year our Brown Bag & Bible Study group studied the book of Acts alongside a commentary written by Matthew Skinner titled, Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts. The book of Acts is a unique book in the New Testament and one worth exploring in our life together as God s people. It is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke and continues the narrative account of the early church, from the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth (1:8). Over the course of the summer months, we will be journeying together through the book of Acts in our worship life and preaching, exploring the ways that God upsets the status quo for those first believers and calls us to enter into similar reflection in our own lives today. It is our hope that this study will spark conversation, questions, and prayer, as we continue to follow the Spirit s guidance in our life together at MPC. TAKING STOCK IN YOUTH IN MISSION Youth in Mission will return to Appalachia for a week beginning July 14. We are selling stock in the Communication Center. Stock is an opportunity to invest in our youth and in their spiritual journey as they prepare to reach out to the community in Pipestem, West Virginia to do God s work. Stock can be purchased by making a donation in any amount you choose. With your investment, you will receive a magnet of a picture from the porch of our location with an inspirational thought. Additionally, you ll receive a postcard of a West Virginia landscape, and upon our return, you will have the opportunity to hear about our trip. 3
SCENES FROM THE MAY 12 POSTAL FOOD DRIVE THANK YOU TO POSTAL FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS Submitted by Jack Glock Twenty two volunteers, consisting of church members and pantry volunteers, gave many hours of their time on Saturday, May 12, to sort donated food and transport it to MPC. Our Food Center was one of the four participating organizations at the Morrisville YMCA building. As a result, we received 6,875 pounds of food for the food pantry. We also want to thank Boy Scout Troop 3 for their help. Thank you all for participating! 4
YOUTH CLUB HONORS ITS GRADUATES Submitted by Amy Nolan MPC Youth Club closed out its year with a celebration to honor our graduating seniors: Joely Gardner, James Gilbride and Brandon Schnurr. The evening included a delicious dinner, festivities to honor our seniors, and a wonderful communion service in our chapel. We wish them much love and success as they graduate from high school and the MPC Youth Club! Stay tuned in September for details about next year's Youth Club. We are off for the summer months, but look forward to an exciting next year! MPC CLOTHING CENTER CLOSING FOR THE SUMMER Submitted by Betsy Jurey The MPC Clothing Center would like to express appreciation to all those who helped support the Clothing Center with either donations and/or purchases. We will be having a bag sale on our last day, June 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you can, please come in and fill a bag for $2 or $4. Also, please do not leave any donations over the summer months but keep us in mind when you are cleaning out those closets. Thank you again. STROKE PREVENTION WORKSHOP & SCREENINGS Submitted by Nancy Kernan Congregational Ministry invites you to an important opportunity on June 10, following morning worship. Dr. Emil Matarese, Capital Health Institute of Neurosciences in Hopewell, NJ, will provide a workshop on Stroke Prevention and Head Trauma. Lunch, workshop, screenings and gospel music will be provided free of charge. Registration will take place on June 3 in the Communication Center or by calling the church office. Deadline for registration is Tuesday, June 5. Join us and protect yourself from a stroke. Save the Date Youth in Mission Car Wash & Bake Sale Sunday, June 10, 2018 starting after Worship Service Benefits this summer s Youth in Mission Trip to Pipestem, WV. Help us help others in West Virginia 5
CARPENTER S CORNER Submitted by Tim Carpenter Music as a model for the Kingdom I could make a case for a musical composition as a paradigm for the Body of Christ, but I d rather focus on musical groups who rehearse and present music in worship or elsewhere as that model. Paul, in his first letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 12, verses 12 to 27, puts forth the conviction that everyone in the congregation is important because everyone has something to contribute. In any church choir, even the largest of them, the addition or deletion of any single voice changes the character of the sound, even if only slightly. This dependence on one another and the contribution of each member to the whole is even more important in a bell choir. Because each member is responsible for a unique set of bells, each member is crucial to the presentation of any piece. What makes an effective bell presentation? All members are on the same page (literally!), each member knows the part she plays and its importance to the whole, everyone works cooperatively and supports those they play alongside, and all members strive to be better as individual players to better support the group. Most importantly, all members have a common goal and vision for what they want to accomplish. Sounds like Paul s idea of the Body of Christ to me. SPOTLIGHT ON MPC FLOWER MINISTRY Submitted by Lisa Zazzu Each Sunday, as you look toward the front of the church, you will see two beautiful flower arrangements. These not only add to the beauty of our worship service, but they also serve as an outreach ministry to our members. After the worship service, the flowers are given to members who are unable to attend worship, have recently lost a loved one, or may have done something for which we wish to express our gratitude. Although it seems a simple gesture, each bouquet represents multiple personal contacts among our church family. Our flower ministry coordinator, DeeAnn Martin, first contacts people who have asked to give flowers on a particular Sunday. Several of these contacts are conversations with members who are no longer living in the area, or who may not attend regularly, but have continued to ask to give flowers in memory of a loved one. Each week our staff or members of the Congregational Care Committee pass on to DeeAnn the names of those whom they wish to receive flowers. She then contacts those persons, and often this turns into a wonderful conversation of caring and sharing. Then DeeAnn contacts those who have volunteered to deliver the flowers on a particular Sunday. There is a sign up poster just outside the choir room, next to the coat rack, and more volunteers are always needed and welcomed. This year our Visitation Committee has participated in the Flower Ministry, bringing bright floral bouquets on their visits to homebound members. These volunteers, who deliver the flowers, provide the in person contact that completes this ministry, letting those unable to be with us in church know that they are remembered. Through the 100 flower arrangements that adorn our sanctuary for 50 Sundays (Easter tulips and Christmas poinsettia complete the year), approximately 200 phone contacts and 100 personal visits take place. It is a quiet, seemingly small ministry that reaches out to many of our members and embraces our Mission Statement s phrase scattered to serve and to love. If you wish to be a part of this ministry by giving an arrangement ($30 each) or delivering one, please contact Dee- Ann Martin at 215-493-3865 or email deemar918@aol.com. 6
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2018 Submitted by Paster Debbie Heffernan Once again this summer, Morrisville Presbyterian Church, Morrisville United Methodist Church and St John Lutheran Church are joining forces to offer the community an expanded Vacation Bible School experience. Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible School will be held at Morrisville United Methodist Church at 501 W. Maple Ave, Morrisville, PA from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. starting Sunday, July 22, through Thursday, July 26. At Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible School, the children will discover an interactive, energizing, Bible-based program that will give them an opportunity to experience the ride of a lifetime with God. During VBS at Rolling River Rampage, our students will become Rafters and explore how to serve God and God s mission for their lives. After dinner the Rafters make their way to the Bible Story Station. Interactive Bible lessons reveal Rapid Reminders to equip Rafters for an active life with God. Rafters will discover a Rafting Ready Verse that will remain with them in their faith long after VBS. The students will expand on what they ve discovered by participating in a variety of activities: making art projects at the Craft Station; singing new music at the Music Station; exploring at the Science Station and participating in recreational activities at the Recreation Station. Along the way, the Rafters will hear about our mission project and respond to a call for action! To register or to find out more about VBS Rolling River Rampage, call the MPC church office at 215 295-4191 or visit the Morrisville United Methodist Church website at www.mumcpa.org for electronic registration. Sincerely, Your Rolling River Rampage Team, Morrisville United Methodist Church, Morrisville Presbyterian Church and St John Lutheran Church Like us on Facebook! You ought to be in pictures! MPC is on Find us at Morrisville Presbyterian Church Follow us @MorrisvillePresbyterian. Designate MPC as the Charitable Organization for Amazon Smile Just go to smile.amazon.com, select Account and Lists, Your Account, Your Amazon Smile to designate Morrisville Presbyterian Church as the charity. It costs the Amazon user nothing, and it will earn 0.5% from every purchase for the Deacons' Food Basket Program. 7
MORRISVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 771 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Morrisville, PA 19067 Phone: 215-295-4191 web: www.mpcusa.net Staff E-mail RachelRhodes@MPCusa.net DebbieHeffernan@MPCusa.net JackMcAnlis@MPCusa.net TimCarpenter@MPCusa.net GeoffreyShoffstall@MPCusa.net RichDrabb@MPCusa.net DianeToner@MPCusa.net LaurieJacobson@MPCusa.net DamonMiller@MPCusa.net Morrisville Presbyterian Church Currents (USPS#204-040), is published monthly except for July. Periodical mail postage paid at Levittown, PA 19055. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Morrisville Presbyterian Church, 771 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Morrisville, PA 19067. C OMING EVENTS JUNE 3 10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Pew Commuion 11:30 a.m. Youth in Mission Pre-Trip Meeting 10 10:30 a.m. Worship Service, Reception of New Members, H.S. Graduate Recognition & Scholarship Presentation 11:30 a.m. Youth in Mission Car Wash and Bake Sale 16 6:45 a.m. Prep & Serve Breakfast at FPC of Trenton 17 10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Baptism 24 10:30 a.m. Worship Service JULY 1 10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Communion 4 Independence Day - Church Office Closed 8 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 14-21 Youth in Mission Trip 15 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 21 6:45 a.m. Prep & Serve Breakfast at FPC of Trenton 22 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 22-26 Vacation Bible School at Morrisville United Methodist Church 29 Youth in Mission Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship Service The Evangelism & Communications Committee is committed to keeping church news up to date. It is our goal to print and distribute Currents within the last week of the month. Therefore we ask that you please submit articles for the July/August 2018 Currents by June 10th to Currents@MPCusa.net Pastoral Care Reminder Members of the staff truly want to be attentive when members or friends of MPC are experiencing health difficulties. If you (or a family member) have been admitted to a hospital, please let us know by contacting the church office, and one of the pastors will be pleased to visit. You may also reach Pastor Rachel Rhodes at 267-793- 0232, or Pastor Debbie Heffernan at 267-342-0089. Thank you for your assistance.