WEEK TWELVE! We hope you’re enjoying MPCThisWeek, a forum for topics and ideas affecting the life of our congregation. Each weekly installment includes some thoughts from one of our church leaders and a brief summary of upcoming events. Easy "one-click links" will take you to information, registration forms, etc. on our website.
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Are We There Yet?
Every parent has heard that question while driving to a family outing. Sometimes it’s an expression of impatience, sometimes simply a need to know “where we are.” The question is as old as humankind, reflected in the irritability of the Israelites as Moses led them through the wilderness, and in the frustration of disciples who didn’t understand Jesus’ journey to the cross. And it’s still a very “real and present” question for Media Presbyterian Church today.
Where are we? The answer is starting to unfold. Next Saturday (9/6), Ruling Elders and Deacons and other leaders in our congregation will be hearing some preliminary insights from our Noah Team, and the Team will present its full report to the Session on September 23. After Session approval, the report will be submitted to the Presbytery of Philadelphia and posted on our website for your review.
Meanwhile, we’ll be prayerfully considering our response to the larger church – particularly the actions taken by our General Assembly in June. If you’d like to learn more about churchwide matters like a new Confession of Faith and the church’s position on same-sex marriage, I encourage you to attend the forums arranged by our Presbytery on Wednesday, September 17or Saturday, October 11. The latter event will feature the Rev. Jack Haberer, who has served for 9 years as Editor in Chief of The Presbyterian Outlook, a well-respected, independent Presbyterian publication. Jack has recently been called to be Senior Pastor of Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL.
Another way to stay informed about the Presbyterian Church is to read Presbyterians Today, and you can do so for the next 12 months at no cost! The official magazine of the Presbyterian Church has recently been revamped and they’re offering an introductory subscription to all Presbyterians. Simply email Cathy Brod in our church office and ask to be added to the subscription list.
Happy reading, and may God bless you,
Stu
SUMMER SUNDAYS AT MPC
Our 12-week “Family Reunion” ends this Sunday!
Hymn-sing starting at 9:30 a.m.
Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Stay for our SUNDAY SOCIAL on the front lawn after the service!
NOAH TEAM UPDATE
The Noah Team would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who participated in one of our gatherings this summer. There were 12 gatherings in total, attended by almost 200 MPC members and friends. Each gathering made for lively, informative and formative conversations that have continued in the weeks and months following the 90-minute sessions. We all say, “Well done!”
The Noah team is currently analyzing and summarizing your considered thoughts and your expressed visions for MPC at its very best. Remembering the excitement generated in the gatherings, we have challenged ourselves to move forward as quickly as possible and create MPC’s Mission Study for September submission to session and the Presbytery. Let me assure you, we all feel the collective anxiety of our brothers and sisters to get the job done and elect a Pastor Nominating Committee ASAP.
If it’s any consolation, some Noah Team members were skeptical at the beginning of this summer-long process. Now, as we see the light at the end of the tunnel, we feel confident that our next senior pastor will have a good understanding of who we are as a church and where God is leading us. We feel confident that we are headed in the right direction, i.e. MPC Session, Deacons, Members and Staff will be a dynamic and united community of faith collectively sharing in God’s plan for our church.
Please continue to support us in prayer. It is essential!
On behalf of your Noah team,
Kathryn Belville
SUNDAYS THIS FALL
WEDNESDAYS THIS FALL
Beginning Wednesday, September 17
CONNECT
with friends and family while renewing your
commitment to Christian Education!
BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. FOR EVERYONE:
DINING UNDER THE STEEPLE
Meet us on the front lawn!
B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Sandwich)
Desserts and drinks will be provided.
THEN, FROM 7:00-8:00 P.M.
FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS:
Room 102: This is a new program being introduced with a renewed commitment to Christian Education. This curriculum will present foundational teaching that every Christian should know. Are you someone who seeks to learn more about God, Jesus Christ, and the Christian faith?
Join us for our autumn course, "Journey through The Bible."
FOR CHILDREN PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE:
This fall, children will discover what worship is all about. We will be discussing The Lord’s Prayer, the Doxology, the Kyrie, The Apostles’ Creed, the Gloria Patri, and much more. What are we saying? Why do we say it? All these questions will be answered so children can worship and not just endure the hour of “Big Church”. For further information, contact the Directors of Children’s Ministries, Heidi Powell and Danielle Kauffman at 610-566-3944, ext. 12, or email Heidi or Danielle.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Annual Back to School Drive The Deacons invite you to participate in their annual Back-to-School Drive to benefit children from the Second Time Around Parents Organization, Family & Community Service and T. M. Thomas. These supplies will help area families prepare their children for the beginning of the new school year.
You can drop off your donations in the designated containers in the cloakroom at the back of the sanctuary through August 31. Thank you for your support!
School Supply List:
No. 2 pencils, Rulers, Pocket Folders & Report Covers, Book Covers, Calculators, Spiral bound notebooks – 1, 3 or 5 subject, Erasers, Scissors, White glue or glue sticks, Hand Sanitizer, Pencil cases, Black & White Composition Notebooks, Colored pencils, Erasable pens, Washable Markers – thick or thin, Black or Blue pens, Tissues, Crayons – chunky or thin, Red pencils & red pens, Filler paper, 3-ring notebooks (1½” or 2”).
PRAYER MINISTRY
This Week:
“We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there's nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all. " Oswald Chambers
And, what do we say when we pray before we do anything at all? O Lord, be with me? He already is. Help me? He will. Is this the time for acknowledging God for Who He is and for His amazing love and care for us? The writer of Proverbs ( Proverbs 3:6) says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Walk in the light of that promise today and every day.PRAYER ROOM Jesus told us to go into our closet and pray rather than make a spectacle of ourselves in public oration. Well, here at MPC, we do have something a little bigger than a closet especially set aside for prayer. The half of Room 101 closest to Church Street has been designated a prayer room. Anyone who wishes a little quiet space for conversing with the Father is welcome to use it.
It is our desire to provide an opportunity for you to have prayer in the Prayer Room with someone after the morning worship services about anything on your heart and mind. To make that desire a reality, we need pray-ers. Ideally, we would like to have a man and a woman available in the Prayer Room after each service, beginning September 7.
If you would like to bless people and, in turn, be blessed by praying with others, please contact Renee Erickson or Kim Schultz with your name, your normal service, phone number and email address..
THANK YOU
"Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. My eye is recovering and the second (cataract) surgery is postponed for a later date." Lou Powell
SUMMER REFLECTIONS
WILDERNESS ESCAPE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2014
With almost 130 kids and over 70 volunteers throughout the summer,
this year’s VBS was an amazing time of sharing God’s love!
Through stories of Moses, kids learned all about how God
guides and provides.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a success!
This year’s summer mission trip to Banner Elk was the 19th trip for members and friends of Media Presbyterian Church. This year found 35 adults, and35 youth and children making the drive to Banner Elk, North Carolina to stay at the Holsten Presbytery Camp. Work was done at sites located in Boone and Avery County, NC and Unicoi County, TN. There were roles for everyone – from the children who baked cookies for the Hunger Coalition and painted flowerpots for homeowners to the youth and adults who worked on the various work sites. We gathered for dinner and worship in the evenings, sharing fellowship and stories from the day.
Our work made a real difference for the agencies and families we served. Work at Hospitality House and The Hunger Coalition in Boone improved the facilities to make their operations more efficient and more welcoming to the families they assist. In Avery County, our crews completed the siding and roofing at the Clark home and took the home under construction for the Hanick family from foundation to framed interior and exterior walls, ready for roof trusses and two weeks ahead of schedule. In Boone, a badly damaged roof was repaired and replaced for an elderly homeowner, improving her home to prevent further damage and making it safer. In Erwin, TN, one crew completed a ramp and built a small porch to provide a second means of entry and exit to make the home safer and more comfortable for Ms. Walker. A second crew scraped, primed, and painted the home of the Moshiers, an elderly couple in poor health with few resources or social support.
The work of our hands allowed us to share the peace of Christ and His healing love with families who are in need of assistance, who are hurting and suffering in so many ways, and there is no doubt that this was the true mission for our trip. But there was also another aspect to the mission, and this was to provide encouragement to the leaders of the agencies with whom we work. For most of these agencies, finding local volunteers can be a real challenge. The dedication of MPC’s volunteers to travel more than 500 miles to serve their communities really makes a difference. As our friends at Unicoi County Habitat for Humanity shared in their letter of thanks, “thank you so much for the continuation of the ministry and Godly example you bring to our area. We have been blessed with getting to know you and sharing our time together.” And the blessings of serving others in the name of Christ are ours as well.
Mondays in Dale Hall: Chair: 6:15-7:05 pm Hatha: 7:15-8:15 pm
August 4, 18, 25 (no class 8/11); September 8, 15, 22, 29 (no class 9/1)
7 classes for $35
Thursdays in The Post Relaxing Flow: 6:30 pm Hatha (Int.): 7:30 pm
August 21 (no class 8/28) September 4,11,18 (no class 9/25)
4 classes for $20
(Checks payable to "Media Presbyterian Church")
To sign up, please contact Lisa Dombroski, RYT, at l.dombroski@yahoo.com.
PROGRAM HIGHIGHTS
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Summer BLOC through August 31. Join us each Sunday through August 31 as we learn about being “Bucket Fillers”. All children will begin in worship service with their families and be escorted to the BLOC room after the children’s message each week. BLOC is for children age 3 (and potty trained) through kids entering 2nd grade in the fall.
Children's Sunday School begins September 7!
What is Sunday School all about?
MPC's Sunday school program is held for children age 3 by September 1st, and potty trained, through 5th grade. It is staffed with loving teachers who explore stories of the Old and New Testament with the children, hoping to lead them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
When is Sunday School? Sundays from 9:30 am - 10:30 am.
Where is Sunday School located?
Sunday School takes place downstairs under Hassler Chapel & Dale Hall. If you come in the back entrance to the church (Franklin St), take the steps downstairs and make a right following the hallway to the registration table outside The Post. There is also another set of stairs at the entrance to Dale Hall (on Baltimore Pike side). Follow the steps down and you will see the registration table.
How do I sign my child up for Sunday School?
Please fill out a registration form at the registration table outside of the Post or click here for an online form.
All children, Beginners through 5th grade, are to be dropped off in The Post room for a time of singing and fellowship before heading to their classroom with their teachers!
Nursery
The nursery is available, for infants through 3 years of age, on Sunday mornings during our 9:30 and 11:00 services. It is also available during most of our adult education classes throughout the week.
Building Lives On Christ (BLOC)
Children 3 years old (and potty trained) - 2nd grade are invited to the BLOC room for a Book and Bible craft. All children begin in the sanctuary with their families during the 11:00 service. After the children’s message, younger children will be dismissed to BLOC with their teachers. Parents pick their children up right after service in the BLOC room.
For further information, contact the Directors of Children’s Ministries, Heidi Powell and Danielle Kauffman at 610-566-3944, ext. 12, or email Heidi or Danielle.
YOUTH MINISTRY
Sunday School begins on September 7 at 9:30 a.m. with a combined gathering of Middle School & High School in the Youth Room!
Then, weekly beginning September 21: For Middle School: 9:30 a.m. in the Youth Room. In preparation for Confirmation Class in 9th grade, we will begin an in-depth, three-year curriculum to ensure that each lesson of the Bible is different and covers an important part of our faith. For High School: 9:30 a.m. in Room 103. For 10-12th graders (and for 9th graders who choose to not be in the Confirmation Class.) Last spring, we brought members of the church together with HS youth to share their experiences with their faith. This proved to be a fantastic, honest, and real time that allowed for dialogue of the faith between different demographics of the church. There will be discussion questions provided and NO HOMEWORK. Just show up and be ready to talk about your faith and hear from others about theirs!
Confirmation Class for 9th graders begins on September 7 at 11:00 a.m. in the Youth Room. Confirmation is not a full-year curriculum like the MS or HS classes, but is instead geared toward igniting a passion for learning and questioning the faith. Once the class is finished, we provide youth with the opportunity to join MPC as a full-fledged, voting member of the church community who is then eligible to be nominated as a Deacon or Elder in the future!
The 2014 MPC Youth Kickoff will be Sunday, September 21 at 6:00 p.m. in Dale Hall. This is a combined event for middle school and high school youth. Anyone who wants to be involved in the youth program is also invited - older adults, younger adults...not just parents! You can sign up for specific roles after learning more that night. The evening will begin with a potluck dinner.
Last names:
A-H bring a side dish
I-Q bring a main dish
R-Z bring a dessert.
Adults and youth will separate after dinner for different activities. Come see what's in store for this year, enjoy fellowship and food, and bring a friend!
Everyone is welcome to these events! Contact Director of Youth Ministries, John Chaffee, at 610-566-3944, ext. 13 or by email.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Sanctuary Choir: Rehearsals resume on Thursday, September 4 from 7:30-9:00 p.m.
MS and HS Praise Teams: Rehearsals will be on Sunday evenings starting September 14. Specific times to be announced. Questions? Email Larisa Forest for more information.
NEW HANDBELL CHOIR THIS FALL! We need 10-12 players for our exciting new, four-octave handbell choir beginning rehearsals in September. No previous musical experience needed! Please contact Larisa Forest or Sue Hare for more information.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY & FELLOWSHIP
Sundays 9:00 am - Men’s Bible Study in Room 103
Tuesdays 6:30 am - Men’s Bible Study in Hassler Chapel
Thursdays 6:30 am - Men’s Bible Study at the Court Diner 10:00 am - Women's Bible Study in Room 102 Philippians. Childcare provided.
MOYC’s Bible Study: Moms of Young Children (MOYC). Our next meeting will be on September 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 102. Please email Lexie Archer more information.
OLDER ADULT MINISTRIES
Lima Estates:
Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month for Bible Study in the chapel, and then on the 3rd Thursday of every month for lunch. Both of these monthly events are hosted by Rev. Nikki Passante. Lima residents and any who wish to come are welcome to attend these fellowship events!
-Thursday, September 11, Bible Study (Genesis) at Lima at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel.
-Thursday, September 18, Lunch in the Café at 12 noon.
White Horse Village: Rev. Passante is leading a Bible study on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Next meeting is on September 17 at 10 a.m.
BOOK CLUBS
Women’s Book Club: 4th Monday, 7:30 p.m., Room 103 Our next meeting will be on September 22, when we will be discussing The Handmaid’s Tale.
Men’s Book Discussion: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:00 pm, Rm. 101
Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 9: Clay, by Ned Erickson
Clay tells what happens on the journey toward meaning and purpose. What happens to Clay will surprise and shock you, and may even reshape how you see things, including yourself. Clay explores whether there is something more to life and what it may be.
HOME STUDY-FRIEDMAN'S FABLES
Last meeting will be on September 3.
The Member Care committee is providing members an opportunity to join a Home Study group this summer in which they will discuss faith-based issues in the warmth of the home environment. The group will meet 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights on a weekly basis. If you are interested, please contact Bruce Saybolt at 610-892-9288.
GETWORKS
GetWorks provides information, guidance and emotional support to job seekers and career changers. To learn more about GetWorks, go to www.mediapresbyterian.org. You can also call the hotline at 610-873-7117.
CHURCH CALENDAR Week of August 31 - September 7
Sunday 8/31
9:00 am Prayer, Room 101
No Men’s Bible Study (Resumes September 7)
9:30 am Hymn Sing, Sanctuary
10:00 am Worship Service, Sanctuary
BLOC, The BLOC Room
Monday 9/1
Labor Day, Church Office Closed
No Chair Yoga
No Hatha Yoga
Tuesday 9/2
6:30 am Men’s Bible Study, Hassler Chapel
7:00 pm Circle 1, Room 103
7:00 pm Mothers of Young Children (MOYC), Room 102
Wednesday 9/3
7:00 pm Noah Team Meeting, Room 102
7:00 pm Home Study: Friedman’s Fables
(Contact Bruce Saybolt at 610-892-9288)
Saturday, 9/6
9:00 am-12:00 pm Church Leadership Retreat, off premises
3:00 pm Henderson/Sotherden Wedding
Sunday 9/7 8:15 am Traditional Worship
8:30 am Men’s Bible Study, Room 103 9:30 am Contemporary Worship (Communion)
Children’s Sunday School, The Post
Middle & High School Sunday School, Youth Room 11:00 am Traditional Worship
Confirmation Class, Youth Room
BLOC, The BLOC Room 12:30 pm Worship Committee Meeting, Room 102
Another way to stay informed about the Presbyterian Church is to read Presbyterians Today, and you can do so for the next 12 months at no cost! The official magazine of the Presbyterian Church has recently been revamped and they’re offering an introductory subscription to all Presbyterians. Simply email 
