News from the
Crossroads
OVERBROOK
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
6376 CITY
AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19151
215-877-2744 – 610-642-1051
Fax: 215-877-0523
www.overbrookpresb.org
September, 2008
Dear Friends,
It is difficult to believe, but it has been a year…a year since I began as your Interim Pastor, a year since the start of the last church school year, a year since your Pastor Nominating Committee began meeting to select a new permanent pastor. What a difference a year can make!
During that time, we have welcomed twenty-four new members; introduced a thriving new monthly program for families, Second Fridays; and conducted a successful pre-capital campaign and used those funds to repair the roof, light the memorial stained glass window, air condition the sanctuary, and repair the organ. In addition, we grew spiritually through worship, Bible study, and Christian education; financially through a successful stewardship campaign; and we have continued to reach out to our community through our wonderful preschool and by opening our doors to various support groups and organizations. Overbrook is truly the “church at the crossroads” in every sense of the word—a beacon of light and hope to the Overbrook community at a time when light and hope are increasingly difficult to find in the world.
And now your PNC has selected a pastoral candidate who they believe has been called to lead you into the future—with your help, of course! I am not only impressed with the candidate's training and experience, but with his love of God and his enthusiasm for this community of faith. And I trust that your future is secure with God’s guidance. That means I must begin to say “Goodbye,” as difficult as that will be for me to do. But until the new pastor arrives in November, we continue to move forward in faith, ministry, and mission.
Homecoming Sunday, September 7, marks the beginning of our new church school year, and Sunday school begins for all children and youth (the Adult Forum begins September 21). The choir will begin enhancing our worship on that morning, and after worship there will be cake, goodies, and beverages for all, with the opportunity to explore our new Sunday school curriculum and other Sunday morning programs for children, youth, and adults.
On Sunday, September 7, let us celebrate what we accomplished during the past year and what God has in store for Overbrook Presbyterian Church this coming year…and in the years to come!
Your Pastor for a Season,
Jeanne
September
7, 2008: 23rd Sunday in
Ordinary Time; Communion
Scripture: Luke 15: 11-32
Sermon: There’s No Place Like Home, Jeanne Thomas, preaching
First Hymn #473 For the Beauty of the Earth
Reader – Bob Bevan
Refreshment hosts – Christian Education – “HOMECOMING SUNDAY”
Flower giver – Nickie Stokes
Deacons delivering flowers – Brad Biedermann and Ken Carroll
September 14, 2008: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture: Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 25: 6-9
New Testament Lesson John 2: 1-11
Sermon: Grace by the Gallon, the PNC’s candidate for OPC’s next pastor, preaching
Reader – Robert Harden, Jr.
Flower giver – The Subramanian Family
Deacons delivering flowers – Rachel Carnahan and Donya Coldwell
September 21, 2008: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 20: 1-16
Sermon: When Life Isn’t Fair, Jeanne Thomas, preaching
First Hymn #483 Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
Reader – Susy Brandt
Deacons delivering flowers – Vince Gilhool and Stephanie Kindt
September 28, 2008: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 13: 54-58; 21: 23-27
Sermon: Preconceptions, Jeanne Thomas, preaching
First Hymn #485 To God Be the Glory
Reader – Ray Johnston
Flower giver – Nickie Stokes
Deacons delivering flowers – Miriam Harden and Stephanie Kindt
Congregational
meeting immediately following worship on September 14, 2008
for the purpose of voting the call of the new pastor.
Music Notes from the Choral Room
Choirs at Overbrook to Begin New Fall Season
The Choirs at Overbrook Church will begin rehearsals for the fall season in early September. If you or your child are interested in joining a choir, you are invited and encouraged to attend a rehearsal (choir’s schedule listed below), or speak with the Minister of Music, Dennis Elwell, and Junior Choir Director, Margene Biedermann. They can answer questions and provide more details. There are no auditions for the choirs, just the anticipation, desire and expectation of a commitment to enjoy a wonderful musical community which shares in exciting music-making, worship leadership and friendship.
THE OVERBROOK CHOIR - A college age and adult singing choir, which rehearses on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. in the Choral Room on the first floor beginning September 4th. The choir sings weekly in Sunday worship services, special events, and concert opportunities throughout the year. Dennis Elwell, Director.
THE OVERBROOK JUNIOR CHOIR – A singing choir for children grades 2-5, which rehearses on Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. in the Choral Room beginning September 14th. The choir sings in worship approximately once a month, and at additional seasonal worship services. Margene Biedermann, Director.
THE OVERBROOK WESTMINSTER HANDBELL CHOIR – A teenage and adult ringing ensemble, which rehearses on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Bell Room on the second floor, beginning September 11th. Though not mandatory, a basic music reading ability is helpful. The choir rings in worship approximately once a month and at seasonal worship services. Dennis Elwell, Director.
___________________________________________________
Minister of Music, Dennis Elwell to Perform
at the Kimmel
Center Verizon Hall for the
“International
Year of the Organ Spectacular”
2008-2009 has been declared the “International Year of the Organ” by the American Guild of Organists. Throughout the year, organ recitals and concerts will celebrate the “King of Instruments,” with October 19, 2008, being designated as “Organ Spectacular Day,” when organ performances will take place in the United States and in five continents around the world.
Overbrook Minister of Music, Dennis Elwell, is honored to have been invited to perform in the afternoon of October 19th at the “Organ Spectacular” on the Dobson Organ in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, the largest concert hall organ in the country, along with several other organists from the Philadelphia area. The time of Mr. Elwell’s performance is to be determined. Watch for more information in October.
Music Series, 2008-2009
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2008 - 4:00 p.m.
For All the Saints – Past and Present
Featuring
The Overbrook Choir and Chamber
Ensemble
with
Organists Jeffrey DeVault, Dennis
Elwell, and Ethel Geist
Program to Include
Organ Concerto No. 4, Op. 4 in F Major George Frideric Handel
Pie Jesu
Lili Boulanger
Ornament of Grace Bernard Wayne Sanders
Blithely Breezing Along (Baronian Suite) Stephen Paulus
Requiem, Op. 48 Gabriel Fauré
(Dedicated to the memory of The Overbrook Choir member, W. Robert Swartz)
A concert in the Overbrook Church Sanctuary, celebrating the completion of the first stage of restoration work on the Clarence H. Geist, M.P. Moller Memorial Organ, combined with the celebration of the International Year of the Organ, 2008-2009 and Organ Spectacular, with thanksgiving for past and present musical saints and generous living angels.
Proceeds from this concert via a free-will offering will benefit the restoration of the Clarence H. Geist Memorial Organ. If you would like to be a financial angel in advance of the concert, you may send a donation to church and indicate on your envelope or cheque: “Organ Restoration.”
____________________________________________________
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2008 - 3:00
p.m.
The 14th Annual Handel’s
Messiah Sing
Featuring
The Overbrook Quartet
Iris Fairfax, Soprano Lois Babbitt, Alto
Toffer Mihalka, Tenor James Kirk, Bass
Paul Fleckenstein, Organist
Dennis Elwell, Conductor
and
The Assembled Congregation
Wednesday mornings, 10-11:30. Begins Sept.
17
Led
by Jeanne Thomas
Interested in delving further into Scripture? Curious about what Jesus really meant when he told a certain parable or responded as he did? Do you wonder how what happened 2,000 years ago can impact your life right now? If so, come join in a study of the Gospel of Matthew that will meet from 10-11:30 every Wednesday in Jeanne Thomas’ study. We’ll explore together what Christ did and said and how we can learn and grow as Christians in the 21st century.
Sunday, September 21 after worship
Led by Phil Sheau and Dick Williamson
Interested in serving as an usher? It is a wonderful way to meet members of the church and is an important ministry of Overbrook Presbyterian Church. Members who are high school age or older are welcome to participate. All current and prospective ushers are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. Meet in the sanctuary.
Lay
Worship Leader Training
Tuesday,
September 30 at 6:30 PM—dinner included!
Led by Jeanne Thomas
Now is your chance to serve in an important ministry of Overbrook—lay worship leadership. Members who are high school age or older are welcome to participate. All current lay worship leaders and prospective worship leaders are encouraged to attend the training. Meet in the sanctuary.
Second Friday: The
Animals of the Bible
6:30 PM on October 10, 2008
Wistar Morris Room
Everyone is familiar with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, but are you aware that the Bible also mentions bats, rats, and gnats? Did you know that Scripture contains a story about a talking donkey? Who is the leviathan? Who is the behemoth? Come be enlightened and entertained by this informative slide presentation given by Chris Jacobsen, a docent with the Philadelphia Zoo and Elder at Wallingford Presbyterian Church. Dinner is served at 6:30, followed by Chris’ presentation at 7:15. The program is geared to adults and older youth, and separate children’s activities will take place upstairs.
Sunday School will officially begin on Sunday,
September 7 with Homecoming Sunday! Here is a listing of the children’s classes
for each Sunday:
·
Infants
through age three will be in the nursery with Connie, Leslie and other able
assistants.
·
PreK (threes
and fours) will be with Miss Carol in the upstairs Barnes room classroom. They will again be using the LIVE Big
curriculum. Parents of this age group
need to pick up their children as promptly as possible after worship.
·
Kindergarten
through fifth grade are entering year three of the Workshop Rotation Curriculum;
this year we will go through seven rotations of four weeks each. New this year will be a fifth Sunday where
the children will meet in the Chapel for a special child-centered worship
experience. And, this year, each child
will receive a spiritual journal that will stay with them through their grade
school years. Parents of children in Kindergarten and First grade should pick
their children up promptly after worship upstairs outside the Barnes PreK
classroom.
·
Middle School
students will stay in worship for Communion and Healing Sundays. Sunday school is held in the youth room and
this year we will be starting a new life-to-bible series called Faith in
Motion.
·
High School
students will stay in worship for Communion and Healing Sundays. Sunday school is held in the Williamson room
and this year we will be using resources from Faith Findings and The
Thoughtful Christian.
Don’t forget about our
annual Pencil Project! We will be donating much needed school
supplies to one of our neighboring Philadelphia schools. Pick up some lined paper, copy paper,
pencils, tissues and wipes to put in the Pencil Project box during September.
Just as the wise men brought
gifts to Jesus, the children’s offering each week goes to Lamin Ceesay, in
Gambia. Through the Christian Children’s Fund, we help to fund Lamin’s healthcare and
education. Have your child use a pew
envelope or pick up a box of offering envelopes during Homecoming Sunday.
As usual, we will be collecting pennies for Cents-a-bility. Pick up a can at Homecoming Sunday, collect
two cents per meal, bring it in the first Sunday of each month during ‘time for
children’. You’ll be helping to fight
hunger and poverty through the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
What: A wonderful gathering of God’s people who are interested in discovering God’s message for us within the context of everyday living. It includes everything from Bible study, to movies, to examination of contemporary literature and Christian literature.
When: Sunday mornings 9am to 10:15 – it is ok to leave early if you have “other duties” such as choir, coffee hour or Sunday school!
Where: Usually we meet in the chapel
The fall line-up includes:
September 21, 28, October 5, 12, 19 – Peg Papsch will lead us in a study named Theology as if creation mattered. Through this 5-week study, we will explore how our lives would be different, and how we might live differently if the elements of God’s creation such as water and wind really mattered to us. Come for one week, come for all!
October 26, November 5, 12, 19 – We will be using the Thoughtful Christian curriculum entitled Religion and Politics. We will explore the themes of “how should Christians vote”, “separation of church and state” and “Christians and patriotism”. Come join us for a thought-filed way to prepare for the upcoming Presidential elections.
November 26 – We will examine the themes of thankfulness both Biblically and within the context of our own lives. Deb Rottinger will be the leader.
Advent December 2,9,16, 23 – We will be using another curriculum from the Thoughtful Christian Series entitled Repentance and Faith.
Remember, childcare is provided! Hope to see you and enjoy the ideas you will bring to the discussions.
September,
October, November and December are wide open for volunteers to host fellowship
hour. If two, three or four people or families band together it is not a difficult
job. Thank you in advance!
Margaret Young and Nickie Stokes.
The Torch is Passed …
…well, maybe that’s a bit presumptuous,
how about the wooden
spoon is passed?
Nancy Gilhool has agreed to take on the responsibility for the meals that Overbrook Church provides every fifth Tuesday of a month at the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County at 63rd and Market Streets. Thank you, Nancy!
This project of the Mission & Outreach Committee has flourished for over 10 years with a lot of help and support from church members and friends as well as church staff – especially Leonard Robbins who never said he was too busy for anything that I asked of him; and Anita Belfie who remembered to publicize a meal even if I forgot. Thank you both!
Members of the congregation and the friends of members have always stepped forward to cook and serve and provide an endless supply of desserts. Many young kids who first became involved by helping to make cookies or brownies are now some of the best and most enthusiastic servers at the shelter. Thanks to everyone who has baked, boiled, stirred and served with a smile!
Special thanks must go to Annie Geers who was one of the founders of the original project that provided hot soup to homeless people gathered at the 69th Street Terminal. She and others were instrumental in having the Life Center shelter built and staffed to serve a population in need. And the project continues…
– Jane
Rozmiarek
Mission and Outreach
Many thanks to those who helped make another meal possible for the clients of the Life Center of Delaware County on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Our cooks were chief chopper Sue DeCray, executive stirrer Kim Parris, and detail diva Nancy Gilhool. Serving up the delicious meal of salads, cornbread and desserts were Deb Rottinger, Renee Daily, Suzanne Pratt, Vince Gilhool, Nicki Stokes, Dorothy Burton, and Trudy Sheau.
To those of you who supplied desserts, including the Sunday School children who baked cookies – yum.
The next meal will be on September 30, 2008. Please see Nancy Gilhool if you are interested in helping.
Please
include our members and friends in your prayers during September
For Our Homebound Members and
Friends.
Lucy Clanton Florence Kelly Rena Anson
Frank and Rae Cutaia Bob Loder Myra Radziul
Ernest Strother Barbara V. Watson Bobbie Poussaint
Lambert and Suzanne Ott
For Those Recently Hospitalized or Facing Health Challenges
Georgia Richardson Marie Patino Dick Williamson
Neil O’Leary Karen Taussig-Lux Fred Kaercher
Rachel Lee Mary VandenBerge
Nancy Gilhool’s father, Henry
Alex Wilson, grandson of Beulah Wilson
Danielle Long’s father, Milton Delgado
Frances Louie, mother of Trudy Sheau, prayers for recovery
For Strength, Healing, and Support
Kate Shackelford and her family following the death of her sister in law
Becky Etting, sister of Joe Piatt
Evelyn Melvin and family
Margaret Young and her family
Ginny Biddle, Gail Kaercher’s sister
Louise Robbins, friend of Raelyn Harman
Antonio Behrman, Amy Behrman’s niece
Arianna Regina, a student of Nickie Stokes
Marian Fickenscher, as she moves near her family
Celebrations/Thanksgiving
The baptism of Aiyana Bailey Long on July 20th. She is the daughter of Eric and Danielle Long and the sister of Kendi
The birth of Rosa Lie on July 14th. She is the daughter of David and Jennifer Cleghorn and the sister of Sage and Adler
The 55th Wedding Anniversary of Bob and Gwen Harden on July 25th
Prayers for all returning to college or heading of for the first time
Our best wishes to Dennis Elwell who celebrates 35 years of ministry through music at Overbrook on September 1, 2008
Please contact a Deacon to add names, and concerns to this list. We can be reached by e-mail from the OPC website, by message in the Deacon’s box outside the chapel or speak to one of the Deacon’s.
New address for:
Chuck, Kempley, Bethany, Helena, and Benjamin Bryant
569 Watford Lane
Berwyn, PA 19312 #484-318-8430
Marion Fickenscher
The Danish House
P.O. Box 334
Croton-on-Hudson, New York 10520