Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
“The Pastor’s Page”
Pastoral Care & Visitation at GPC
With multiple people on our staff sharing the
pastoral care load, I thought it might be helpful for
people to know how these things work! Lou and I
provide a variety of types of pastoral care to our
members and members of the community, including
pre-marital counseling, weddings, funerals, spiritual
direction, preparation for communion and baptism, and
general counseling.
June 3, 2015
Inside
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Leadership
needed for
Young at Heart
Summer Sermon
Series
VBS Personnel
and Supplies
Needed
Contemporary
Worship and
Picnic Outdoors
Items needed for
South Dakota
Mr. G’s Benefit for
Meals & More
Blessing of the
Animals
Each Tuesday morning, Lou and I meet with Harry 
Winsheimer and Phyllis Dowd, who are on staff part-time
to assist with pastoral visitation and calls. We work

through a list (currently over 100 people) in need of
pastoral care. The list includes those facing illness or

grief, homebound people, and those who have family
members in crisis. We determine which ones need
attention in a given week, and then divide up calls and
visits to be made. So, if you are in the hospital, or facing
some other kind of crisis, you may be contacted by any one of us.
Generally, whoever is preaching in a given week does less visitation.
In addition, our Deacons & Stephen Ministers provide ongoing care
and supported members in need. Even in a church this size, we work
hard to make sure no one “slips through the cracks”. You can help, by
letting us know if you desire a phone call or visit, or if you know someone
else who does!
Dave
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Many thanks to the Youth
Bells and Youth Choir members for their special music
on Youth Sunday, and
throughout this year: Lydia
Casteel, Jennifer Tassin,
Joy Tushek, and Alex Nyiri.
Attention all GPC Musicians,
Space is available for special music in worship this
summer, and GPC services need your singing and
playing abilities! Please contact Emily Koons at [email protected] if you would like to meet with
her to discuss your idea for your musical offering to
worship this summer.
Young at Heart: Thank you and a Plea for Help
We would like to thank Dick and Pam Wisor, who have provided leadership to the YAH group for over eight
years! They have done a wonderful job, but are stepping down from a leadership role after our gathering in
June. We are extremely grateful for your wonderful service!
That brings us to our plea! We need someone to step up to continue to lead this ministry. He or she
could work as part of a team or do the work on their own. Please contact Dick or Pam, or Pastor Dave to learn
more! Let’s be sure that this vital ministry continues!
Congratulations to John & Corena Harman
who celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6
CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts and prayers are with
Jerry & Sharon Martin on the recent
death of his mother.
NEED A RIDE?
If you are having trouble attending
church services and/or church
functions due to not having transportation, let
the Deacons help you. We are only a phone call
away. The transportation Deacon for June is
Benjy Conover at 359-7475
We Want Your Input This
You can help shape our summer worship in two ways!
First, many of us have favorite Bible stories from our childhood. Tell us your favorites and your
pastors will select eight of them and preach on them in July and August. Submit them during worship on
May 31 and June 7 or send them to [email protected]
Second, we will have a sermon talk-back time following the 10:30AM service each Sunday in July
and August. It’s an opportunity for you to ask questions and react to the sermon you’ve just heard with
the preacher of the day! No need to sign-up in advance; just show up in the Sewing Room (3rd floor)
following worship!
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Vacation Bible School — June 15 - 18
“Water, Water Everywhere!” will be our theme for Vacation Bible School this year.
The program is open to all children ages 3 through Grade 5 (completed). It will be held
on June 15-18 from 9:00 a.m. —12:15 noon. Registration begins May 10 and deadline is
June 7. (Registration forms are included in this newsletter.) Fee will be $5.00 /child or
$10.00 / family. Below you will find a list of personnel and supplies needed. Contact Cheryl
at 334-1235, ext. 5 or [email protected], when you know how you can be part of our
program. Thanks for all your help.
PERSONNEL—WE NEED LOTS OF HELP!!!
20 Volunteers needed for “Water World” - help children complete a craft or
water experiment for 1 hour each morning
GAME COORDINATOR NEEDED!
Woodworking Coordinator
Childcare (for leaders’ children)
Drama Participants (non-speaking) - middle, high school
Teen Aides (completed Grade 6 or older)
Supplies Needed:
baby food jars with lids
small clay pots
meat or veggie small square/rectangle trays
color streamers (rolls)
mason jars pint or half-pint glass jars with lids
2 or 5 pound bags of flour
food dye – primary, neon colors.
battery tea lights
balloons
color tissue paper
quart size Ziploc with tab bags
blue dish detergent (any kind)
ADDITONAL SUPPLIES NEEDED:
New or Old clean socks (adult size, any type)
Empty water bottles (prefer Pods, but will take any)
McDonald’s straws
Rubberbands (various sizes)
Colorful duct tape
Elmer’s glue
Pipe cleaners
We are anticipating about 110 children at VBS. Thank you for helping us by bringing
any of these items to Cheryl’s office.
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Disciple Bible Study
The Disciple Bible Studies for fall will be:
Disciple I – facilitated by Randy Parmentier, will meet at 5:00 PM on Sunday Evenings.
This 34-week course will move through the biblical story from Creation to the New Jerusalem.
Disciple II – facilitated by Cheryl Betts, will meet on Monday mornings from 10-12.
This 32-week study examines the connection between memory and identity as the people of
God. We will examine Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts, emphasizing the rhythm of coming to
God and going for God…approaching all experiences of life as opportunities for faithful
witness and service.
Disciple IV – facilitated by Marion Lambert-Hollowell, will meet at 5 PM on Sunday Evenings.
The phrase “under the tree of life” conveys the promise of finding shelter, security, and rest in
God’s love. In this 32-week study of the Old Testament Writings, the Gospel of John, The
Epistles of John, James, Jude and finally Revelation, we will see the entire process of living
toward final completion of rest and reward.
Fall Disciple Bible Study groups are forming now. Please stop by the Christian Education table in Fellowship
Hall or contact Cheryl Betts at [email protected] or 334-1235, ext. 5. This is a wonderful way to get
to know a small group of people and study God’s Word together.
Study Guides are $40.00 with scholarship help available.
PW CIRCLES
** Note time change for
Elizabeth & Mary Martha**
Elizabeth Circle
Monday, June 15, NOON
Hostess: Joan Pore
755 McClellan Dr.
RSVP to Joan Pore
337-1718
Take a sandwich
Mary Martha Circle
Monday, June 15, 5:30 p.m.
Picnic at Nancy Cook’s
465 Goldenville Rd.
337-1454
Esther Circle
Will NOT meet in June
“Calendar of Giving”
The Calendar of Giving is an
opportunity for our congregation to support numerous local
organizations. Through this
program, we identify local organizations that are in need of
smaller donations. Each
month, we will be collecting
specific items for the identified organization.
For the month of:
June
We are collecting items for
Tender Care
Pregnancy
Center
Baby Supplies – new
hooded baby towels;
Good Start Formula; Diapers size 4, 5, 6; New
Spring & Summer outfits;
baby wipes, wash & lotion; diaper cream.
From July 1
to August 31
Penny
Messinger,
GPC’s
Administrative
Assistant,
is on
“summer
hours”
which are:
Mon. - Thurs.
8:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
&
off on
Fridays.
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Going on a Family Road Trip?
Does your family plan to travel this summer? The Christian Education Family Ministry would like
to help families nurture their children’s faith while on the road. Beginning June 7 th, “Family faith
bags” will be available at the Christian Education table for checkout. These bags will be filled
with Bible travel games and activities, as well as family discussion cards. Plan to stop by and get
yourself a bag. Please stop by the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to “pin” your destination on
our map so that your GPC family may pray for you. Then pick up your Family faith bag to take on
your journey!
Blessing the Animals
CHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Upcoming games are as follows:
Date
Field
Thursday, June 11
First Baptist Church - 1015 Chambersburg Rd.
Tuesday, June 16
Freedom Valley Worship Center - 3185 York Rd.
Tuesday, June 23
First Baptist Church - 1015 Chambersburg Rd.
Tuesday, June 30
First Baptist Church - 1015 Chambersburg Rd.
Warm ups at 6:00 p.m. / First pitch at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Brandon Dillon: 717-870-7546 or [email protected]
All skill levels welcome. All fans welcome (bring a lawn chair).
GPC will be hosting a
Blessing of the Animals
service on Sunday afternoon,
June 18 at 4PM at the rec
park in the Kiwanis pavilion.
Please bring lawn chairs.
This is designed to be an
outreach event, so think
about friends and neighbors
who have and love animals
and bring them (with their
animals) along to this brief
service. It’s a great way to
introduce them to GPC!
Hope to see you there!
Contemporary Worship and Picnic Outdoors
June 28th, 9:30 a.m.!!
The Contemporary Worship Service will be held outdoors from
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Gettysburg Rec Park’s Kiwanis and
Lion’s Club Pavilions (south end of the Rec Park) on June 28. There will
be a pot-luck picnic lunch and games afterwards. Please bring lawn
chairs for the worship service. If you are staying for the picnic, which will begin at 11:00
a.m., please bring your place settings and a dish to share. Also bring family and
friends! We will provide the meat and drinks!
Families whose last names begin with A-M, please bring dessert.
Families whose last names begin with N-Z, please bring a side dish or salad.
If staying for the picnic, please RSVP to Libby Crowe at
334-1235 ext.7 or [email protected]
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GPC
Book
Corner
“to hurt someone who has done no wrong”. This is the definition of to kill a mocking-
bird. I have been reading about the newly-discovered manuscript written by Harper
Lee prior to her blockbuster bestselling novel To Kill A Mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird is the June selection for my Thursday evening book club and I thought what a
wonderful classic novel to discuss.
I hope you have all read it. I know we all probably did in high school. Probably didn’t
want to read it but did and realized what a truly magnificent book it was and still is.
What lessons we learned from Atticus, Jem, Scout, and Dill and, of course, the housekeeper, Calpurnia. I especially relate to Scout as we are about the same age (no calculators, please).
This book was truly before its time. For example, topics covered included a single parent, alleged
sexual assault involving a black man and white woman. These are things we talk about freely now
but in the early 1960’s were very taboo subjects. But even though these were subjects that we did not
discuss openly, we can now learn fundamental lessons about human nature and how to live in a
civilized society. We learned about life, death, hardships, first days of school, bullying, friendship and
love. What more could we want from a novel?
This book was also made into a motion picture and was cast very much like Gone With The Wind, with
exceptional actors who were very believable as the characters. Every time I reread this novel, I can’t
imagine anyone else but Gregory Peck as Atticus. Kind of like Clark Gable as Rhett Butler!
I remember about 8 years ago, when our son came home from school and said that they were about to
read To Kill A Mockingbird and he didn’t know anything about it. His teacher had them choose a
character, come to class dressed as that character, and discuss a part of the novel that the character
was involved in. What fun it was for me to help with his costume. He chose the character Sheriff
Heck Tate. I can still picture it. That’s what makes such a great novel, when you can get teenagers involved and they realize they like the book. Reading always takes me back to some time in my own life,
good or not so good, and that is what makes it so worthwhile!
This is a literary classic but I also think we can use it in our religious life. It is very basic: Good vs.
Evil, the Golden Rule, and love. It is also about the South, where I get my roots. The longer I am
away from it, the stronger it becomes part of my makeup, as it is where I got my religious beliefs. I
realize that not all of it is good but I think we are a part of where we grow up. That can definitely be
said about the characters in this book.
I hope you take time this summer to relax and reread a classic. It doesn’t have to be this one, butut let
me assure you that it will take you back. Oh, the newly discovered manuscript written by Harper Lee
is titled, Go Set A Watchman. I have no idea what that means but it sure will be fun to find out. It
comes out in mid June. I will get it for the library. Just a hint: it is supposed to be a follow up to the
original novel. We’ll see.
Happy Summer and if you decide to reread or newly read a classic this summer, let me know what you
read, I am always interested. Keep on Reading!!
Cathy
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ITEMS NEEDED FOR SOUTH DAKOTA
Preparations are underway for our South Dakota Mission Trip from July 17 - 27 and the excitement is building!
Thank you to all for the contributions made so far.
We are still in need of some very important items which we give out as prizes at the Festival. If you can donate
any of the following “new or nearly new” items, please bring them to the church office:
Sheets or Sheet Sets
Box Fans
Fabric (cotton or satin ONLY)
Towels
Tool Sets
Fix-A-Flat
Blankets
Tire Plugs
School Supplies
Backpacks
Jar Candles (ONLY)
Flashlights
Thanks for all your prayers and support as we return to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation this summer.
— Penny Messinger (334-1235)
USED CLOTHING NEEDED
FOR S. DAKOTA
(Deadline June 30)
We will again be taking a tractor trailer filled with
donations to the Cheyenne River Lakota Reservation
in July.
Please bring in used clothing of all shapes and sizes. We do ask that the clothes be washed, stain-free, with no
tears. We can also take shoes, purses, and prom dresses. Bring
them to the inside corner of Fellowship Hall - marked for S. Dakota.
Deadline for donations is June 30. No donations will be taken
after that date, and please do not drop them off at Paideia House
entrance.
Thanks again for all your support and participation for this very
important mission of our church.
~Mr. G’s Community Day/Night~
June 7th, 2015 from 12PM-10PM
You are invited to Mr. G’s Community
Night on June 7th, 2015!!! 20% of your total
purchase will be donated to the Gettysburg
Meals & More Program!
Please present this coupon at the register to
help support the Meals & More Program and enjoy some delicious ice cream and music provided by the band Seven Mile Road, who will be
there from
6PM-8PM!
Meals & More
Save Your Furniture for
South Dakota!
You have some very nice
furniture you no longer need?
Is it cluttering up your house? Well, we’ve
got the answer for you! We are again
taking furniture to the Cheyenne River
Lakota Reservation on our South Dakota
mission trip this summer. Because we will
again have a tractor trailer
and driver provided for us,
we will have plenty of
room to take furniture.
It must be in very good
condition, and can be dropped off in
Fellowship Hall from July 8-15. Any questions, call Penny in the church office at
334-1235. Thanks!
Church Parking Lot
CLOSED
on July 15
Again this year a tractor-trailer will be
taking all of the clothing, toys, linens,
etc. that you have donated to the Lakota Reservation in South Dakota. Our
packing day is Wednesday, July 15. In
order to accommodate the tractortrailer that day, the church parking lot
will be closed to all vehicles (except the
staff). Thank you for understanding,
and thank you for giving so generously
to this mission project.
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Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
208 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Office: (717) 334-1235
Fax: (717) 334-0666
www.gettysburgpresbyterian.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Permit No. 198
***********************
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church Mission Statement
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church believes that God calls us to
invite people to faith in Jesus Christ, and equip them to grow
as His fully devoted followers. As disciples we:
* study regularly
* pray daily
* witness boldly
* live faithfully
* serve passionately
* give generously
* worship weekly
GPC
Serving God for 275 years
Next Newsletter Deadline:
Noon, Thursday, June 18 2015
Summer Worship Schedule
Summer is coming
and that means it will soon be time
for our Summer Worship Schedule!
In July and August,
this will be our worship schedule:
June 2015
GPC WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Traditional Worship @ 8:15 & 11:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship @ 9:30 a.m.
June 7
Sean & Bethany Walker
Lord’s Supper
June 14
“Who Cares?”
Honduras Commissioning
Recognition of Stephen Ministers
Confirmation
June 21
When Youth Get It Right
Workcamp Commissioning
June 28
The Plumb Bob
9:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship
@ Rec Park
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
10:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
See you in worship this Summer!