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 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 Page 2 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! Page 3 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. Page 4 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. Page 5 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] Page 6 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 Page 7 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. Page 8 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!
© Copyright 2024