Renewing our minds at MPC This Week!

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For the week of October 23, 2016
23rd Sunday after Pentecost

MPC This Week
is a weekly publication of The Media Presbyterian Church

Our Mission
is to love God and love our neighbor.
Our Vision
is to be a Christian Community that worships together,
serves together, and grows together in faith.

SUNDAY WORSHIP
9:30 a.m. Traditional
11:00 a.m. Non-Traditional
Learn more

This past Sunday we began a new sermon series on Thanks-Living. We began by examining Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Here we are instructed to offer our whole lives as a living sacrifice in response to God's incredible mercy.

As a practical step toward the renewing of our minds, I encouraged you to include the Prayer of Examen in your week. This prayer first described by St. Ignatius of Loyola more than 400 years ago is an incredibly powerful tool for renewing our minds.

It is my hope that you have been doing that. However, I recognize that not only do we have busy schedules, but that we regularly need to be reminded of the things that are important and not just urgent.

Here's a quick reminder of what the prayer is and how it works. It is a prayerful reflection on the events of your day in order to discern where God has been present - and where we might have resisted or participated with His Kingdom coming in us and through us. There are several formats in which you can encounter this prayer. If it would help you pray (but not as a substitute for praying), a quick Google of the phrase "prayer of examen" provides several more formats than the one I am about to describe.

1. Stop. Acknowledge that God is always present. He called himself, "I am" with Moses and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

2. Thank God for His presence.

3. Ask. Ask God to help you remember your day. Ask God to highlight moments of consolation which gave life and desolation which drained life.

4. Listen. Be still and know that God is God. Pay attention to what memories and thoughts rise up within you.

5. Thank God for the moments of consolation. Thank God for his presence in your moments of desolation. Remember God promises to never leave us or forsake us. (Psalm 138, Matthew 25)

As is the case in most things worth doing, the best time to start them was yesterday. The next best time is today.

May God bless you as you seek His face!

In Christ,

Over three years ago, Heidi Powell agreed to serve as a six-month Interim
Co-Director of Children's Ministries. This coming Sunday, October 23, will be Heidi's final Sunday in that particular role.

After the 23rd, Heidi will continue to share her spiritual gifts as a volunteer at MPC, serving in several capacities. Danielle Kauffman has agreed to continue as the Director of Children’s Ministries.

To express our love and gratitude to someone who has enriched the lives of not only our children, but to countless members of our congregation, I invite you to write a note to Heidi, if you feel so led. You may bring it on Sunday or mail it to her directly at:
100 Whispering Brook Way
Media, PA 19063
(corrected from previous communication)

Heidi will be present after both services to greet everyone!

In Christ,
Jonathan Fettig
Senior Pastor, Media Presbyterian Church

Session Highlights for September 2016

•             Elders and Deacons held an Officer Retreat on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Franciscan Spiritual Center. Reverend Fettig led the retreat as officers focused on living a balanced life as disciples of Jesus, practicing active listening, cultivating a new culture at MPC, plans for Consecration Sunday.
•             Session accepted a $100,000 bequest from the estate of John Clement as a “Fund for Urban Mission.”
•             On the recommendation of the Worship Committee, Session approved communion at both services through the summer.
•             On the recommendation of the Administration Committee, Session approved requesting donations from the congregation to give Christmas gifts to the staff.
•             Administration updated Session on progress with the staffing model with particular discussion about the youth director position.

Greetings to you, my beloved church family. I wish to thank you for your tender love shown to me with flowers, food and many cards during my confinement. Your prayers gave me courage, and I shall always be thankful for each of you.
~Nancy Storm

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

All ages welcome! Join us at 8:45 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts in the kitchen. Then, help us rake leaves, prune shrubs and clean flower beds. If you have the following items (but not necessary), please bring them: leaf rake, leaf blower, clippers, shears, tarp. Please sign up in the kitchen.

DEACON COAT DRIVE - DEADLINE OCTOBER 30
It is time for our Annual Coat Drive for the families we support of STAP (Second Time Around Parents) through Family and Community Services in Media. We are collecting new or gently-used coats and jackets for adults and children, especially toddler sizes (3T or 4T) and boys size 16/18, although all sizes, male or female, are welcomed and needed.

We will be collecting for the next few weeks, until Sunday, October 30. Kindly hang or place your items clearly marked for the “Deacon Coat Drive” in the cloak room on or under the coat rack. Thank you in advance for your kind contributions. Please feel free to email Cornelia Vieira at with any questions.

Middle School Retreat - November 11- 13, 2016
High School Retreat - January 27-29, 2017
We will be going to the Pocono Mountains (Fairview Lake in Tafton, PA).
Details to follow.

SUNDAYS AT MPC!

SUNDAYS AT MPC
9:30 and 11:00 Worship Services

CHILDREN
Fall Nursery Care & Sunday School
Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Beginners (age 3 and potty trained) through 5th grade meet together in Room 206 for a time of singing and prayer before dismissing to individual classrooms.

BLOC - Toys & Tales!
During the 11:00 worship service, children age 3 (and potty trained) through 2nd grade meet for our BLOC program - TOYS & TALES! Come and learn about the Bible through play! Each week, a new Bible story and new toys will bring it to life. Children are dismissed to BLOC after the children's blessing, and parents may pick up children in Room 201.

Through play and Play-Doh, BLOC kids learn more about Jeremiah 18:6:
“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand."

YOUTH
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Middle School students meet in the Youth Room and High School students meet in the Stephen Ministry Classroom in Dale Hall.

Confirmation Class: Sunday mornings at 9:30 in Room 103.

Youth Group: Sunday evenings from 6:00-7:30. High School and Middle School meet in the Youth Room, then separate for different actvities. If you would like to receive the Youth newsletter, please let us know: youth@mediaprebyterian.com. Then, join us weekly at 6:00 p.m. in the youth room.

Praise Teams:
Middle School will practice on the first and third Sundays at 5:30.
High School will practice on the second and fourth Sundays at 5:30.

ADULTS
Men’s Small Group Fellowship - 8:15 a.m., Room 103. A gathering for Bible study, prayer, encouragement and fellowship. For information, contact Rob MacPherson.

Prayer Ministry - Join us for a prayer meeting at 9:00 a.m. in the Prayer Room (back of Room 101).

DANIEL - 9:30 a.m. in Room 102 through December 11. A study of the supernatural, weird and inspirational Book of Daniel.

WALKING LIKE JESUS DID - 11:00 a.m. in Room 102 through December 11. A challenging study that helps Christians better understand what it means to walk as Jesus did.

NEW MEMBERS' CLASS - 11:00 a.m. in Room 103. Contact Becky Bailey if interested in joining MPC!

MOYC - A Beautiful Mess: Motherhood for Every Moment! MOYC (Mothers Of Young Children) meets for a book study on the first Sunday morning of each month in Room 205 from 9:30-10:30. Please contact Danielle Kauffman if you are interested in joining our journey of A Beautiful Mess: Motherhood for Every Moment!

WEDNESDAYS

MPC MINISTRIES

View our latest Youth Newsletter .

Our next volunteer day is November 26 at 9:30 a.m.,
the fourth Saturday of the month.

Since our volunteer day is after Thanksgiving, we invite you to donate winter gloves, mittens, hats and scarves for Christmas!

Thank you to all who continue to support the food bank with time and donations! For information about this ministry, please contact Deacon Holly Gaffney at (610)761-2814 or by email.

Click here to learn more about our prayer ministry.

Jonathan spoke to us on Sunday about St. Ignatius's prayer of examining. If you are like me, you need a little more guidance. Here is some information that I am going to try to use in my own prayer life this week.

How Can I Pray?
A great way to pray is to look for God’s presence in your life. More than 400 years ago St. Ignatius Loyola encouraged prayer-filled mindfulness by proposing what has been called the Daily Examen. The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. Try this version of St. Ignatius’s prayer.

1. Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

2. Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.

3. Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?
God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her in some way.

4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

5. Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. End the Daily Examen with a conversation with Jesus. Ask forgiveness for your sins. Ask for his protection and help. Ask for his wisdom about the questions you have and the problems you face. Do all this in the spirit of gratitude. Your life is a gift, and it is adorned with gifts from God. End the Daily Examen with the Our Father.

Sewing Sessions to make Pillowcase Dresses

Do you like to sew? Help us sew pillowcases into dresses, which Compassion Corps will give to orphan girls in Uganda and Liberia. Our sewing session is on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm at Betty Luzier’s home. The next session is November 10. For more information, contact Betty at (610) 357-1523 or by email.

MISSION SUPPORT

Enjoy delicious coffee at home as well as at church.*

Cup of Compassion is a unique enterprise that gives indigenous coffee farmers in Africa a fair price, a renewed hope, and a promise for the future. This ministry is sponsored by MPC mission partner Compassion Corps. We contract directly with farmers in Liberia and Uganda who grow, pick, and sort coffee beans. The green beans are shipped to the USA where we continue the hand-processing in Chester, PA until the final product is ready for you.

You may purchase either whole bean or ground coffee in 12-ounce bags for $10.00 at MPC or on the web. The following blends are available: Liberia Light (Light/Medium Roast); Pearl of Africa (Medium Roast); Justice Java (Medium/Dark Roast); and Promise Perk (Dark Roast).

For more information, visit their website or contact Chris Blidan by email or call
610-566-0937.

*The regular coffee on Sundays in Dale Hall is Justice Java.

YOGA AT MPC

Mondays in Dale Hall
Chair Yoga: 6:15-7:05 p.m.
Hatha Yoga: 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Current session: October 3, 10, 17, 24 (no class 10/31); November 7, 14, 21, 28.
8 classes for $40

Thursdays in The Post (Room 206):
Relaxing Flow Yoga: 6:30 p.m.
Hatha Yoga (Intermediate): 7:30 p.m.
Current session: October 6, 13, 27 (no class 10/20); November 3, 10, 17 (no class 11/24).
6 classes for $30

Cash or checks made out to "Media Presbyterian Church"
Email Lisa Dombroski, RYT.

FIND A JOB!

Joseph's People Central Delco (formerly GetWorks) is a program of Media Presbyterian Church that provides information, guidance and emotional support to job seekers and those who want to change careers, without regard to religious affiliation. Click the logo for details.

November 1: Job Search 101: Expert Shares His Tips

useful links:

our website
our calendar
our staff and contact information
our ruling elders
our board of deacons

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