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Pine Street LifeVolume 30, Issue 12

December 1, 2010

Advent & Christmas Music at Pine Streetby Tom Clark-Jones

Inside This Issue

Session Notes . . . . . . . . . .3Financial Picture . . . . . . .3Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4DDB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Church Family . . . . . . . . .6December Calendar . . . . .7December Scripture . . . . .8

DecemberDates at a Glance

Dec 5 � � � � � � Bears for Bread(p.5)

Dec 5 & 12 � � � � Giving Tree(p.2)

Dec 12 � � � �Lessons & Carols(p.2)

Dec 12 � � � Christmas Dinner(p.2)

Dec 17 � � � �Presbyterian Apts(p.2)

Dec 24 � � � � � � Christmas Eve(p.2)

Dec 26 � � � Student Breakfast (p.4)

PSL deadlineArticles, photos and items of interest for the January issue of Pine Street Life are due by December 15, 2010� Please e-mail to Sue Black at

BL3COL@aol.com

Advent ResolutionsThe Rev� Dr� Russell C� Sullivan, Jr�, Pastor

The Christmas Season always brings with it special musical offerings that bring special joy to the season� This year the Chamber Singers provide the sermon in song on December 5, with a beautiful work entitled The Mystery of Bethlehem, by the distinguished Canadian composer, Healey Willan� Although not often performed because of greater interest in some of his larger choral works, this gem sets a beautiful mood for the season� Jonathan Hays and Courtney Gray join the group as soloists for this work�

(See Music on page 2)

“Advent” – that’s the name of the liturgical season which is the prelude to Christmas� As ancient Israel looked forward to the coming of Christ, the Messiah, so we in the church look forward to Christ’s return and the New Creation that God has promised� That is truly heady stuff, all of this thinking about the future, but the promise of Christ’s return raises a significant point: we are to live our lives now as if Jesus Christ were coming back tomorrow, as if we were to meet Christ face to face tomorrow� This is the central question that Advent poses to us: if Jesus Christ were coming back tomorrow, what would you do today? Would your living be any different? Living in the light of God’s awesome future led me to make some Advent

resolutions for this new Christian year that Advent brings� I think I am going to spend more time with those I love� Each

day will be a surrender of anxiety and a journey into trust� I think I will spend some time each day making the world

better for others, doing things that are signposts of God’s future� I am going

to communicate some of my more deeply held values� I want to see

each human being as God’s child and suspend my judgments

about others so that I can see God’s presence in that

person� I want to cultivate some inner peace and

take more walks and enjoy the wonders

of God’s creation� How about you? If you’d like,

share with me over the holidays your Advent

resolutions� Keep on the journey! The promise of Christmas is that God is with us even now to prepare us for his future�

December 124:00 p.m.

Festival of Lessons & Carols

6:00 p.m. Christmas Dinner

Christmas Eve6:30 p.m. Family Service

11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service

Volume 30, Issue 12Page 2

Bagels and Belief Topics & Speakers

January 2, 2011What we believe about the

Holy SpiritRev� Heather Sigler

February 6, 2011What we believe about the

TrinityDr� Lee Barrett

March 6, 2011What we believe about God’s Ultimate Purpose

Rev� Russell Sullivan

April 3, 2011What we believe about the

ChurchRev� Heather Sigler

May 2, 2011What we believe about Evil

Rev� Alex Lang

June 5, 2011What we believe about Christianity and Other

ReligionsGuest Presenter

Bagels & Belief meets in Fellowship Hall

at 9:40 a�m�

MusicContinued from page 1

On December 12 at four in the afternoon, the Festival of Lessons and Carols fills the church with joyful sounds of the season from both congregation and choir� Several new carols grace the service this season and the reprise of several that have not been heard in more than five years� That service is followed by our annual Christmas Dinner, again catered by Stock’s on Second, and planned and executed by their Executive Chef, Matthew Poorman� It is a great delight to have Matt in so prominent a place in Harrisburg’s culinary world!

Christmas Eve is always special and our youth and children will have a large part in the 6:30 p�m� service as the Choir brings its usual inspiration to the eleven o’clock hour� Beautiful carols of Malcolm Williamson, Herbert Howells, R.R. Terry and William Mathias all help to set the mood culminating in the singing of “O Holy Night” during communion� We in the music department are all working hard to enrich your season … come and enjoy this Holytide!

Christmas at Presbyterian Apartments

If you are interested in being part of a Christmas celebration at the Presbyterian Apartments on the afternoon of Friday, December 17 please contact Debbie Olson at 533-4548� We will plan some Bible readings, singing of traditional Christmas hymns and carols, and sharing fellowship while eating some Christmas goodies� The Mission Committee is attempting to keep an open relationship with the apartments and would encourage anyone in the congregation to share this time with our fellow Christians at the Apartments�

The Giving TreeRemember to sign up in the Gathering Place for

ways to share our blessings with those who are less fortunate than most of us at Pine Street� If you signed up, remember that your gifts for the Giving Tree are due into the church on December 5 and December  12� For more info on The Giving Tree and this year’s agencies, check out the November, 2010 issue of Pine Street Life at http://www.pinestreet.org/pinestreetlife.html�

Annual Christmas DinnerFollowing the Festival of Lessons and

Carols on Sunday, December 12, we will enjoy our annual Christmas dinner, again catered by Stock’s on Second� Cost will remain at $25 this year, and it will be sumptuous� Choices of Marinated Sliced Bistro Steak or Lemon Crusted Flounder are the entrees and accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, salad and dessert� For those with children, there will be Chicken Fingers and chips for a cost of $6�00� It’s a great deal for a modest price� Tickets are now on sale at the Welcome Center�

Pine Street Life Page 3

T

Session Notesfor November

The Triennial Visit from the Presbytery of Carlisle was held .

Approved two upcoming Youth trips . The first on December 19, 2010 to Maryland, to hear Tony Campolo speak . The second a mission trip to rural West Virginia, June 25 - July 2, 2011 .

Approved a Pine Street sponsored mission trip to the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation in Arizona, February 12 -19, 2011 .

Financial Picture as of November 15, 2010

Year-to-Date Pledges Received

$ 443,760

Year-to-Date Budgeted Pledges

$ 472,136

Pledges in Arrears$ 28,376

Time, Talents and TreasureBy John Goodrich, Chair, Stewardship Committee

In November Pine Street concluded our church’s annual stewardship drive� Because of the mid-November deadline for articles to appear in Pine Street Life,

we’ll have to wait until the January issue to give you a more accurate indication of the success of our campaign� Preliminary figures show a pledge commitment so far of $403,960�

Sure, December is a busy time of the year� But this fund drive is a vital element in Pine Street Presbyterian’s economic and spiritual health� If you’ve been away or otherwise unable to attend church, there’s still time to make your annual consideration for the General Fund that is important to our continued operations as a faithful community�

As most of you know by now, for the past several years the Stewardship Committee has followed a different path for encouraging financial giving� This method calls for us to be faithful disciples in every aspect of life� Proper stewardship involves a grateful response to God’s grace and goodness�

Part of the change in methods for conducting the stewardship campaign includes a promise that members won’t be pestered by phone or personal visits� The upshot is that as individuals we have an opportunity to consider our financial giving, and reach our tithing goal as Christians through a gradual increase in pledging commitments step by step, year by year�

As an indication of what your giving means to the church, I took a look recently at the Pine Street budget� It takes about $231 daily just to cover our utility costs� That doesn’t include maintenance costs or improvements to our beautiful, but elderly, church building� Our church needs are ongoing, and the challenge for us as Pine Streeters is to continue growing as spiritual, caring individuals�

Here are some further ideas from the General Assembly Mission Council to answer the question, “What is Stewardship?”:

“Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and in community� It is more than giving money to the church� Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for and managing all that God has given us�

“Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship; it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life�

“Stewardship is the grateful response to God’s grace and goodness� It requires a consideration of how our choices affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world and of how we can best serve God as disciples of Christ�”

. . .the challenge for us as Pine

Streeters is to continue growing as spiritual, caring

individuals

Pledge envelopes for

2011 are now available for pick up in the Gathering Place.

☞

Volume 30, Issue 12Page 4

CONGREGATIONAL CARE MEAL PROGRAM

The Congregation’s Care Team is ready to make and deliver four meals to your home after a stay in the hospital� Two things are needed for this very valuable program: people who have been hospitalized and people to prepare and deliver the meals� Volunteers will be asked occasionaly to prepare and deliver a meal to those in need of some food assistance� The volunteers will be called on a rotating basis� Meals do not have to be elaborate� To those who can benefit from this service, once we are notified of your need, you will be called to arrange for convenient delivery times� If you have any questions, or would like to be a volunteer, please sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Sondra Fertig at 545-4865 or at sondrafertig@comcast.net� This is very rewarding, for not only the recipient, but also the giver� Please consider being part of our team�

Goodie BoxesPine Street college

students recently received “Goodie Boxes” sent to them by the Congregational Care Team� The high school students helped pack the boxes that contained pens, pencils, highlighters, tape, glue, paper clips, tablets, popcorn, hot chocolate, fruit and nut bars, gum, Tic Tacs, Tootsie Pops, lip balm, candy bars, Pine Street Life, and an invitation to the College/High School holiday breakfast to be held on December 26th at 9:40 a.m� All freshmen also received a scarf in their school colors made by members of the Shawl Ministry�

You are invited to gather in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 26, 2010 from 9:40 – 10:40 a.m. for a home cooked breakfast, and a time of fellowship� Please RSVP to Sondra Fertig no later than December 14, 2010 at sondrafertig@comcast.net or call the church office 238-9304� Please mark your calendars� We’re looking forward to seeing you�

Attention All High School &

College Students

ARIZONA 2011The Papago Presbyterian

Church in Sells, AZ, will again host a group of missioners from February 12 to February 19, 2011� This will be the 20th trip to serve this church on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation� This year we plan to paint and do some minor repairs to the manse� There is sleeping space for eighteen people in the trailers we use for eating, sleeping, and fellowship� The cost of the trip is $250 for ground expenses (this money is used to rent vans to travel from the airport to Sells and to make the many necessary trips to Tucson for supplies during the week, gas for the vans, and money for food)� Each person must also pay for transportation to AZ� There is a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center�

MISSION POSSIBLE FUNDThe current balance in the Mission Possible Fund is

$550�94� AND we already used about $235 to pay for the supplies we used at the Camp Hill home for our Rebuilding Together day on October 2, 2010� THANKS to all who have contributed to this fund� Having money available in this fund enables us to begin new mission projects without wondering whether there is any money in the church budget for such things� If you are interested in volunteering at HersheyPark or the GIANT Center in order to have more money deposited into this account (and earn a voucher for free admission to HersheyPark), please contact Debbie Olson at 533-4548 or sign up at the Welcome Center�

“Bears for Bread” bring smiles to Sells L – Corky & Margarita, our friends on the Tohono O’odham Indian

Reservation � Above – The beautiful landscape of southwestern AZ

Pine Street Life Page 5

by Elaine Strokoff

from the DDB counselor

Good news to report: First Spring Creek Nursing Home has provided a bed for “ Robert” our wheelchair bound client� � �Four of our clients are getting housing through the Project Connect for the homeless� DDB is working with the YWCA and the Firm Foundation to house these clients� I am working with Mission Central to get blankets, hats, and gloves for our clients for the winter� This is something Pine Street folks can help us collect for clients.

• I did 21 intakes last month�

• The barbers did 23 hair cuts�

• All 33 lockers are in use and we have a waiting list�

• We do about 60 showers per week�

• We have about 75 people getting mail here

Peace and Blessings this holiday season! Please help us help those in need�

Chris

More Opportunities to Help DDB

For Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners: holiday napkins & hot cups; table decorations; little gift bags; holiday music, (carolers?? musicians??) Other special touches to make the Holiday Season festive at the soup kitchen� Please call 238-4717 if you have questions or other suggestions� Thanks,

Elaine

Thanks to all of our DDB volunteers and supporters and Best Wishes for

a Happy, Healthy Holiday season.

As you sit down to your holiday meal with family and friends, 150 people will be sitting down to their holiday meal at Downtown Daily Bread� As you slice into your turkey or ham, men, women, and children will be doing the same at Downtown Daily Bread� As the cook in your family put his/her best effort to make the meal special, so did the cook at Downtown Daily Bread� As guests arrive and your home begins to take on that festive mood, so does the dining room begin to buzz at Downtown Daily Bread� As your decorations enhance the holidays, so will ours “deck the halls and walls” at Downtown Daily Bread� When greetings begin and good wishes are exchanged, so too will they be expressed at Downtown Daily Bread with volunteers and clients alike�

We hope that you are fortunate to spend the holidays with your family and friends� At Downtown Daily Bread, 150 people, homeless or living in poverty, are fortunate to celebrate their holidays at their Downtown Daily Bread home� Clients know that Downtown Daily Bread is a special place� We hope you would agree� If so, kindly consider making a donation to your soup kitchen� A contribution of $50 will feed 25 people; $100 will feed 50 people, $200 will feed 100 people, etc� Please know that Downtown Daily Bread is grateful for your partnership and your generosity�

From our DDB family to yours, we wish you a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy New Year�

Best Wishes from Elaine, Brenda, Blondie, & Chris�

Bears for BreadCuddly, handmade teddy bears will be available

in the Gathering Place between services on November 28 and December 5, or until they are gone�

A $10 donation is requested, with all proceeds going to DDB� The bears are kid-safe, machine washable

and dryable, and make great Christmas gifts� After December 5, Loretta Smith asks that

you check with her for availability� She can be found Sunday mornings

in the Ekklesia room�

Volume 30, Issue 12Page 6

News From Our Church Family

Pine Street Life (USPS 574-510) is published monthly by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101�Periodicals Postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105�Postmaster: Send address changes to Pine Street Life, Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101�

BirthsOctober 6, 2010

Hayden Alexander Crossely, son of Hilary

& John Crossley

October 8, 2010 Nicholas James

Cameron, son of Jonathan & Angela

Cameron

Baptisms October 31, 2010

Cameron Guy Winters, son of

John Guy Winters, Jr., & Jennifer Staub

Weddings October 2, 2010

Megan Ngomo to Alfonso Vides

DeathsOctober 8, 2010

Paul F. Hungerford

October 13, 2010G. Nelson Higley

Chantal Atnip has been re-elected as treasurer of the Synod of the Trinity� The term runs from February 9, 2011 – February 10, 2016�

Jean Lonie succeeds Angela Zook as Pine Street’s liaison to DDB�

Aaron Davis recently earned his Eagle Scout award� His project was a winding wooded pathway connecting an upper patio with the lower level memorial walkway behind the Carolyn Croxton Slane Hospice residence on Linglestown Road�

2011 Family Retreat ScheduledThe family retreat was held November 5th and 6th

at Camp Hebron with eight families in attendance� The weekend taught us about following the Good Shepherd (God), and we as his sheep� One highlight of the weekend was the live sheep� We were able to see it, touch it and learn the characteristics of it� Everyone in attendance agreed they would like to have another family retreat� We are booked for the first weekend in November next year, so please keep this weekend in your thoughts and on your calendars�

Kids On A Lifelong Adventure Program is Growing

KOALA Club is every Wednesday evening from 6- 7:15p�m� This program has grown in the short time since its beginning� We began with only four students in attendance and have grown to ten� The students are enjoying the evening with games, handbook time, music and lesson� To conclude the evening we have an awards ceremony to recognize accomplishments of the day� We love to be loud and cheer for our fellow students! Please invite anyone you know with children in first through fifth grade to join us�

Pine Street’s Veterans HonoredOn November 13, Pine Street’s military veterans were

honored during the Men’s Breakfast� Patriotic table decorations and cards made by children in Sandy Wood’s classes at Linglestown Middle School helped to express Pine Street’s gratitude to the veterans for their service�

Veterans John Hertzler, Charles Falk, Ted Dolbin, Mel Songy,Ben Youell, Sarah Songy, Loretta Smith, Richard Gregg, Arlo Rader, Jack Taylor

Volume 30, Issue 12

Page 7December 2010

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

28 First Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 9:30 AM Advent Breakfast

11:00AM Worship Sanctuary 4:00 PM Youth Handbell Choir – Bell Room

5:00 PM SYF – Fellowship Hall & Boyd

29

30 8:45 AM Staff Worship

9:15 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Hanging of

the Greens

1 6:00 PM JYF – Boyd 6:00 PM KOALA

7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir - Bell Room

2

6:30 PM Chamber Singers Rehearsal - Rm.

303 7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Rm. 303

3

4

5 Second Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Worship - Word in Music: The

Mystery of Bethlehem (H. Willan)

9:30 AM Children's Choir Practice (Pre-K-5 Grade) - Rm. 108

9:40 AM Church School – All Ages 11:00 AM Worship - Word in Music: The

Mystery of Bethlehem (H. Willan) 4:00 PM Youth Handbell Choir – Bell Room 5:00 PM SYF - Fellowship Hall & Boyd

6 7 8:45 AM Staff Worship 9:15 AM Staff

Meeting 7:30 PM Called Session Meeting –

Boyd Lounge

8 6:00 PM JYF - Boyd 6:00 PM KOALA 7:30 PM Adult Handbell

Choir - Bell Room

9

6:30 PM Chamber Singers Rehearsal - Rm. 303

7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Rm. 303

10

11

12 Third Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 9:30 AM Children's Choir Practice (Pre-K-5 Grade) - Rm.

108 9:40 AM Church School - All Ages

11:00 AM Worship -Sanctuary 4:00 PM Lessons & Carols

13

14 8:45 AM Staff Worship 9:15 AM Staff

Meeting

15 6:00 PM JYF - Boyd 6:00 PM KOALA 7:30 PM Adult Handbell

Choir - Bell Room

16

6:30 PM Chamber Singers Rehearsal - Rm. 303

7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Rm. 303

17 18 9:00 AM Set-up Poinsettia’s 5:00 PM Practice for

Pageant – Fellowship Hall

19 Fourth Sunday of

Advent 8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 9:40 AM Pageant – Sunday School Hour

11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary 4:00 PM Youth Handbell Choir

Bell Room

5:00 PM SYF – Fellowship Hall & Boyd

20

21 8:45 AM Staff Worship 9:00 AM Staff

Meeting

22

23

24

6:00 PM Family

Christmas Eve Service 11:00 PM Candlelight

Christmas Eve Service

25

26 8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary

9:30 AM Children's Choir Practice (Pre-K–5 Grade) – Rm. 108 9:40 AM Church School – All Ages

9:40 AM College Breakfast – Fellowship Hall 11:00 AM Worship – Sanctuary

27

Church & Boyd Offices Closed

28

29

30

31 1

PeriodicalsPostage Paid At

Harrisburg, PA 17105

Pine Street Life Page 8

Lectionary Readings for December

Wednesday, December 1 Psalm 50; 147:1-11Isaiah 2:1-4Luke 20:19-26

Thursday, December 2 Psalm 18:1-20; 147:12-20 Isaiah 2:5-22Luke 20:27-40

Friday, December 3 Psalm 102; 148Isaiah 3:1–4:1Luke 20:41–21:4

Saturday, December 4 Psalm 90; 149Isaiah 4:2-6Luke 21:5-19

Sunday, December 5 Psalm 72:1-7,18-19Isaiah 11:1-10Romans 15:4-13Matthew 3:1-12

Monday, December 6 Psalm 122; 145Isaiah 5:8-17Luke 21:20-28

Tuesday,December 7 Psalm 33; 146Isaiah 5:18-25Luke 21:29-38

Wednesday, December 8 Psalm 50; 147:1-11Isaiah 6:1-13John 7:53–8:11

Thursday, December 9 Psalm 18:1-20; 147:12-20Isaiah 7:1-9Luke 22:1-13

Friday, December 10 Psalm 102; 148Isaiah 7:10-25Luke 22:14-30Psalm 130; 16

Saturday, December 11 Psalm 90; 149Isaiah 8:1-15Luke 22:31-38

Sunday, December 12 Psalm 146:5-10Isaiah 35:1-10James 5:7-10Matthew 11:2-11

Monday, December 13 Psalm 122; 145Isaiah 8:16–9:1Luke 22:39-53

Tuesday, December 14 Psalm 33; 146Isaiah 9:2-7Luke 22:54-69

Wednesday, December 15 Psalm 50; 147:1-11Isaiah 9:8-17Mark 1:1-8

Thursday, December 16 Psalm 18:1-20; 147:12-20 Isaiah 9:18–10:4Matthew 3:1-12

Friday, December 17 Psalm 102; 148Isaiah 10:5-19Matthew 11:2-15

Saturday, December 18 Psalm 90; 149Isaiah 11:1-9John 3:16-21

Sunday, December 19 Psalm 80:1-7,17-19Isaiah 7:10-16Romans 1:1-7Matthew 1:18-25

Monday, December 20 Psalm 122; 145Isaiah 28:9-22Luke 1:5-25

Tuesday, December 21 Psalm 33; 146Isaiah 29:9-24Luke 1:26-38

Wednesday, December 22 Psalm 50; 147:1-11Isaiah 31:1-9Luke 1:39-48a (48b-56)

Thursday, December 23 Psalm 18:1-20; 147:12-20Isaiah 33:17-22Luke 1:57-66

Friday, December 24Psalm 102; 148Isaiah 35:1-10Luke 1:67-80

Christmas EveIsaiah 59:15b-21Philippians 2:5-11Psalm 132; 114

Saturday, December 25 Christmas DayPsalm 2; 149Zechariah 2:10-13John 3:31-36

Sunday, December 26 Psalm 148Isaiah 63:7-9Hebrews 2:10-18Matthew 2:13-23

Monday, December 27 Psalm 34; 145Proverbs 8:22-30John 13:20-35

Tuesday, December 28 Psalm 2; 146Isaiah 49:13-23Isaiah 54:1-13Matthew 18:1-14

Wednesday, December 29 Psalm 96; 147:1-11Isaiah 12:1-6John 7:37-52

Thursday, December 30 Psalm 93; 147:12-20Isaiah 25:1-9John 7:53–8:11

Friday, December 31 Psalm 98; 148Isaiah 26:1-6John 8:12-19