VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 2 Pine Street Presbyterian Church FEBRUARY 1, 2013

Pine Street

PSL Deadline Articles, photos and items of interest for the March, 2013 issue of Pine Street Life are due by February 15, 2013. Please e-mail to Sue Black at

BL3COL@aol.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUESession Notes . . . . . . . . . . 2

Trustee Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 3

DDB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

February Calendar . . . . . . . 7

February Scripture . . . . . . 8

February At A Glance

Spiritual Gifts Seminar . Feb 2

Bagels & Belief . . . . . . . Feb 3

MAPS Event . . . . . . . . . . Feb 8

Men’s Breakfast . . . . . . . Feb 9

Drowsy Chaparone . . . . Feb 10

Ash Wednesday . . . . . . . Feb 13

Lenten Breakfast . . . . . . Feb 17

Lenten FAQsBy The Rev. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., pastor

See Lent on page 2

I love perusing websites, and one thing I have noticed is the frequency of a link on these sites called FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions. We begin the very central liturgical season of Lent shortly with Ash Wednesday worship on February 13. I thought I would share with you some FAQ’s and answers about Lent.

What is the Lenten season, and why is it set apart? Lent is a period of six weeks preceding the anniversary of Christ’s death, and is set apart as a special season of fasting, penitence, and prayer.

Why is it called Lent? Remember that the season in which Lent occurs every year is spring. The word “lent” comes from the Old Saxon word which means “spring.”

With what remarkable event in Jesus’ life does the Lenten season correspond? The forty days which Christ spent fasting in the wilderness.

Why is the first day of Lent called Ash Wednesday? It is called that because of the custom of the early church of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents the first day of Lent in token of sorrow for sin. The ashes also remind us of our mortality

and dependence upon God.

If Lent is only of forty days’ duration, why does it begin forty-six days before Easter? Well, there are six Sundays in Lent. Every Sunday is a festival day in honor of the Resurrection,

and so those Sundays don’t count in the 40 day total for Lent. Begin your count with Ash Wednesday, exclude the Sundays, and conclude the count with Saturday before Easter, and you come up with 40 days.

How should the Lenten season be observed by Christians? As a special season for drawing near to God by acts of penitence, charity,

Celebrating Three Decades of Feeding the Hungry at DDB

by John Jewett

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Downtown Daily Bread (DDB) serving the needs of the hungry in downtown Harrisburg. A luncheon marking the occasion will be held at Pine Street on Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 12:30pm for members of all 19 religious congregations that are the core of DDB.

See Luncheon on page 5

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Session Notesfor January

Heard the report of Cheryl Goode on jump in Wonder of Worship participation.

Noted the hiring of Elizabeth Anderson to complete the Choir Quartet.

Elected Elders Alwine and Poorman as Commissioners to February 26, 2013 Presbytery.

Initiated planning for a Session Retreat in 2013.

Bagels & Belief

February 3 Human Trafficking: The Modern Slave

Trade Pastor Lang

March 3Why Evolution Won’t Go Away

Dr. Ted Davis

April 7The Culture of

DisbeliefDr. Ted Davis

May 5It’s the Economy (again), Stupid!

Pastor Sullivan

June 2Is it the End of Marriage as We

Know It?Pastor Sullivan

All forums are held at 9:40 am

in Fellowship Hall

LENTContinued from page 1and religious devotion, and by fasting and abstinence from all things that tend to draw our hearts from God. The purpose of Lent then is to deepen the religious life, to purify the heart, and to unite us more closely to Christ.

Fasting? Isn’t that a superstitious practice? Not at all! Jesus and his disciples fasted. (Matthew 6:17) Fasting reveals the things that control and dominate our minds. We cover up those things with food, activity, and busyness, but in fasting these things come to the surface. The main point of fasting is a voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity. By fasting, we create a space in our hearts and minds for God to occupy. Imagine giving up talk shows, especially the political chatter? Try avoiding the television, radio, the internet, newspaper, anything that interrupts our concentration. That gives us the opportunity to re-focus on the things of God and fill the emptiness fasting creates with prayer.

What are some other practices in Lent? Plan to worship on Ash Wednesday, every Sunday, and Good Friday. Read your Bible more. A good idea is to read through an entire Gospel, such as Luke, which is featured in the Sunday lectionary for Lent this year. Pray more. Read books of a spiritual nature. Find a person from whom you are estranged and seek reconciliation. Exercise more, and pay attention to your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. And practice some solitude. The Adult Education and Spiritual Formation Committee will also offer in-home, small group studies for all who are interested.

As your pastor, I look forward to our journey together in Lent towards Cross and Resurrection. Have a blessed and meaningful Lent!

The choir is back after their post-Christmas break and it’s a great time to come and join the group. All you need is a good singng voice and the willingness to give your time and talent to this ministry. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings 7:30 – 9:45. Child care is provided. If you wish to join, please speak to Tom Clark-Jones so he can set aside some music for you. We’re please to welcome new members to our choir, and hopeyou will consider this ministry. Besides. . .we have a lot of fun, too!

Page 3Pine Street Life

Trustees Notesfor December

Concurred with the budget already approved by Session. The planning deficit for 2013 is $23,000.

Noted that the 2013 budget does not include the $75,000 annual investment in to the fund for capital repairs.

Discussed the rusting of the hot water heater in the kitchen, a need for a replacement soon and whether a heating element at each faucet might be a better option.

December 12, 2012

I love receiving cards and letters this time of the year. Yesterday, I received a contribution along with a thank you note from the grandmother of a young man who was raised in northern Pennsylvania. She wanted to thank DDB for “feeding her grandson when he was down on his luck” and for “caring for him” when she could not. The young man’s grandmother referred to his eating at Downtown Daily Bread for three months, receiving clothing, and using DDB lockers and showers. She wrote us that “he is now back on his feet and doing much better.” She sent us her “blessings.”

Another card came from the father of a bi-polar son, “Alan,” who was helped by Downtown Daily Bread. He wanted to thank the counselor who took the time to get to know Alan and to help him receive the mental health counseling he needed. The father told us that Alan “is doing much better, has an apartment, and may go back to school next year.” He ended his note “without you, I don’t know where my son would be sleeping nights.”

One of the most meaningful notes we received came from a DDB client in the form of a poem. It was entitled, “New Beginnings.” The last two stanzas of the poem read as follows:

“It does not take a new year to make a brand new start, it only takes a deep desire to try with all your heart.”

So never give up in despair and think that you are throughfor there’s always a tomorrowand a chance to start anew.”

A “New Beginning” is something that Downtown Daily Bread would like to offer everyone. In this season of hope, please help us bring hope to the hungry, poor, and homeless of Harrisburg. The men, women and children who come to us depend upon your generosity. Please send your tax deductible donation payable to Downtown Daily Bread to help us feed the hungry for $2 a meal ($10 for 5 meals; $20 for 10 meals, etc.) and to provide our Lunch Plus services to the homeless. DDB sends warm regards to you and yours and warm wishes for a Happy Healthy 2013.

Better Late Than NeverElaine Strokoff, Executive Director

Tickets are on sale at the Welcome Center for the Love Songs for Valentines Broadway and Hollywood Revue to take place on Friday, February 8 at 7:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Join fellow Pine Streeters as we enjoy music from our choir and soloists celebrating Valentines Day and benefitting DDB. Tickets are limited, so get yours early. Great desserts and coffee, plus an evening of great music await your $15 ticket, $10 of which is a donation directly to DDB.

Love Songs for Valentines

Mission Lab is an opportunity for you to help our church grow and flourish. Have you ever wanted to invite somebody to church, but didn’t know how or what to say? Mission Lab can provide you with the tools you need to initiate the type of relationships that will also open doors to discipleship. Mission Lab was created by Dan and Alison Siewert, pastors for the New Church Development in Harrisburg. Mission Lab runs for three Saturdays (March 9th, April 6th, and May 4th) from 8:45am – 12:45pm and if we can get at least 12 people from our congregation to sign up, Dan and Alison will run Mission Lab at Pine Street. The cost for the three session is $125 and you can sign up at the Welcome Center.

Mission Lab

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Lenten Food Drive

Don’t give something up this Lent — unless it’s non-perishable items for the Ecumenical Food Pantry!!! Mission committee will again gather food and other items during the Lenten season. A list of needed items will be on the Mission Table in the Gathering Place. Please take a list with you and use it when you are shopping for groceries. Place items on the Mission Table throughout Lent. They will be taken frequently to the Ecumenical Food Pantry.

We have been serving Fair Trade coffee during coffee hours on Sunday for several years. Many members of Pine Street were not aware of this. Some don’t know what Fair Trade coffee is. Hence this short article. Information was taken from Wikipedia.

“Fair Trade coffee refers to the purchasing of coffee from the growers with better conditions for workers at a higher price than standard coffee. The purpose of fair trade is to promote healthier working conditions and greater economic incentives for producers, since in many parts of the world there are no restrictions or labor standards.

Coffee farmers producing fair trade-certified coffee are required to be part of a ‘co-op (co-operative) with other local growers. The co-ops determine how the premiums from fair trade coffee will be spent. Growers are guaranteed a minimum price for the coffee, and if market prices exceed the minimum, they receive a

Giving Tree 2012 ReportThanks to everyone on the Mission Committee who

supported this year’s Giving Tree Project, especially to those on the subcommittee who helped with sign-ups, decorations and collection, AND also to those who delivered gifts to Delta, Promise Place and Community Check-Up Center, AND finally, to those who handed out gifts to DDB clients. Summary of Gifts:

Monetary:

DDB: $435CCC: $75HELP:$800Delta: $100(2 gift cards)TOTAL: $ 1,410

Items:

Delta: Gifts for 16 individuals/families

Promise Place: Gifts for 16 individuals

CCC: @ 100 books

DDB: various gifts including 25 gloves, hats and scarves, 120 pairs of socks, over 40 T-shirts, over 70 razors.

Top: Marilyn Miller bringing in gift for Delta HousingAbove: Barb Seaton, Norriene Koozer, and Pam Bauer sorting socks for DDB

premium that is calculated in accordance with every pound produced.

The Fair Trade Certification label allows farmers and farm workers to escape poverty by providing them the skills and the means to compete in the global market of agriculture products. This label assures consumers that strict social, environmental, and economic measures are taken when the production and trade of an agriculture product occurs. Fair Trade standards require that farmers receive fair wholesale prices for their crops.

Using Fair Trade coffee during coffee hour is another mission of Pine Street. It costs a little more than other coffee, but at Session’s approval several years ago we started this practice. If anybody is interested in financially supporting this mission, please make your check payable to Pine Street Church and place ‘Fair Trade’ in the memo section.

Fair Trade Coffee

Page 5Pine Street Life

LUNCHEONContinued from page 1

The luncheon will be the “kick off” to several events throughout the year to “celebrate and educate” about DDB and its 30 years of progress in serving the needs of the hungry in downtown Harrisburg.

Words from the book of Isaiah offer a strong light onto our path: … if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. - Isaiah 58:10-11

At the luncheon on March 10, Brenda Ervin, DDB Kitchen Manager, will be preparing the main entrée. The Pine Street Congregational Life and Mission Committees will also be lending a hand in the preparation and service of the meal.

DDB is a pivotal part of Pine Street and our faith. It has been, still remains and is an active and essential component of our faith as a positive agent in Harrisburg and in the world. Words found in the epistle of James explain its true significance:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. - James 20:17

For three decades, DDB has provided daily meals at noon time in the Boyd Center. Over the years, its services have grown and diversified to include counseling, showers, job search assistance, lockers, mail and more.

In the beginning, only a handful of local congregations were a part of the effort. During the past three decades, the list of involved groups has grown beyond Pine Street to include:

• Baughman United Methodist Church• Beth El Temple • Camp Hill Presbyterian Church • Cathedral Church of St. Stephens • Christ Presbyterian Church • Colonial Park United Church of Christ • Derry Presbyterian Church • Ebenezer United Methodist Church • Faith Presbyterian Church

• Halifax United Methodist Church • Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church • Paxton Presbyterian Church • Perry Valley Presbyterian Church • Progress Immanuel Presbyterian Church • Silver Spring Presbyterian Church • Temple Ohev Sholom • Trinity United Methodist Church• Zion Lutheran Church

Please come and join us for lunch on March 10, and invite your friends. There will also be a presentation about DDB and its programs. There is no charge for this lunch, but you are encouraged to make a contribution to Downtown Daily Bread in gratitude and appreciation for its mission in our community. Please sign up at the Welcome Center beginning on Sunday, February 10, 2013.

Let’s Go To A Show!

On February 10, Pine Street is offering tickets to Theatre Harrisburg’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. This 2006 Tony Award winner pays homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age. It is set in the dngy apartment of Man in Chair who, to cure his sadness, plays a recording of a fictional 1928 musical comedy – The Drowsy Chaparone. As he listens he is transported into the show and his apartment is transformed into an impressive Broadway production filled with zany characters, glitzy costumes, and amazing sets. Tickets are $15.00 and are available in the Gathering Place. A light lunch is also available for $5.00 at Pine Street before the show. Please sign-up for the lunch at the Welcome Center so we know how many to expect.

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Pine Street Life (USPS 574-510) is published monthly by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.Periodicals Postage paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105. Postmaster: Send address changes to Pine Street Life, Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Pine Street Book Club

February 10, 2013Folly Beach

by Dorothea Benton FrankPam Bauer, hostess

Reviewed by Pam Bauer

March 10, 2013If You Ask Meby Betty White

Sondra Fertig, hostess Reviewed by Rita Falk &

Barb Taylor

April 14, 2013Rich Boy

by Sharon PomerantzBarb Taylor, hostess

Reviewed by Eileen Kunkle & Estelle Hartranft

May 19, 2013Violet’s Secret

by Lori RillDoris Coyne, hostess

Reviewed by Betty Rader & Lori Rill

Book Club always meets at 7:00 pm. Sign-up at the

Welcome Center.

You are invited to join the Pine Street Men for “the best breakfast in town” on Saturday, February 9. This will be a time of fellowship and discussion. What a great way to start the day. Breakfast at 8am in Fellowship Hall.

Deaths

Jack S. Brenizer, Sr.

February 20, 1925 – January 10, 2013

KOALA Club kids enjoying movie night.Sitting (L to R): Marshall, Ian, Maggie, Sydney, Austin & PaulaStanding: Zoe, Noelle, Alex, Sydney & Miranda

Youth Mission Fundraiser

Men’s Breakfast

To offset the costs involved in the youth mission trip to Haiti, we will be holding a “pick-a-prize” auction over the course of four Sundays starting March 17 and need donations of items for the auction. Do you make crafts? Are you a great cook? a skilled handyman? an expert harmonica player? Be creative with the time, talents, and treasure that you can share to make this a life-changing experience for our youth.

If you, or your friends, family or employer, would like to donate an item or service, please contact Deb Anderson, Sue Black, or Stevi Sharp. All donations will be due at the church by March 3. And mark your calendars for the final drawing and light lunch after church on April 7.

2012 Veterans Day BreakfastL-R John Hertzler, Bill Mader, Charles Falk, Arletta Gregg, Dick Gregg, Larry Pearce

February, 2013Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

278:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary9:40 AM Church School - all ages11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary4:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir5:00 PM SYF - Fellowship Hall & Boyd

28 298:45 AM Staff Worship9:15 AM Staff Meeting

306:00 PM KOALA 6:00 PM JYF – Boyd7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir

316:30 PM Chamber Singers rehearsal7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal

1 28:30 AM Spiritual Gifts seminar

38:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary9:40 AM Bagels & Belief- Fellowship Hall9:40 AM Church School - all ages11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary4:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir5:00 PM SYF - Super Bowl party - Lang’s house

4 58:45 AM Staff Worship9:15 AM Staff meeting6:30 PM Joint Board Meeting

66:00 PM KOALA6:00 PM JYF – Boyd7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir

76:30 PM Chamber Singers rehearsal7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal

87:30 PM MAPS Event

98:00 AM Men’s Breakfast9:30 AM Kitchen Maintenance cleaning10:00 AM Shawl Ministry

108:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary9:40 AM Church School - all ages11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary4:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir5:00 PM SYF - Fellowship Hall & Boyd

117:00 PM Stephen Ministry Supervision

128:45 AM Staff Worship9:15 AM Staff Meeting7:00 PM Program Committee Meetings

13 ASH WEDNESDAY12:10 PM Ash Wednesday Service6:00 PM KOALA 6:00 PM JYF – Boyd7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir7:30 PM Ash Wednesday Service

146:30 PM Chamber Singers rehearsal7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal

15 169:00 AM Set-up Lenten Breakfast

17 1st Sunday in Lent8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary9:40 AM Lenten Breakfast11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary4:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir5:00 PM SYF - Fellowship Hall & Boyd

18

Church & Boyd Offices Closed

198:45 AM Staff Worship9:15 AM Staff Meeting12:00 PM Trustees meeting

2012:10 PM Lenten Noonhour Recital12:35 PM Soup & Bread Luncheon6:00 PM KOALA 6:00 PM JYF – Boyd7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir

216:30 PM Chamber Singers rehearsal7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal

22 23

24 2nd Sunday in Lent8:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary9:40 AM Church School - all ages11:00 AM Worship –Sanctuary4:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir5:00 PM SYF - Fellowship Hall & Boyd

25 268:45 AM Staff Worship9:15 AM Staff Meeting9:30 AM Presbytery Meeting - Derry Presby.1:00 PM Stephen Ministry Supervision7:00 PM Admin & Finance meeting

2712:10 PM Lenten Noonhour Recital12:35 PM Soup & Bread Luncheon6:00 PM KOALA 6:00 PM JYF – Boyd7:00 PM Adult Ed/Spiritual Formation7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir

286:30 PM Chamber Singers rehearsal7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal7:30 PM Personnel Committee meeting

1 2

PeriodicalsPostage Paid At

Harrisburg, PA 17105Pine Street Presbyterian Church310 North Third StreetHarrisburg, PA 17101

www.pinestreet.org

Friday February 1Psalms 88; 148Isaiah 50:1–11Galatians 3:15–22Mark 6:47–56

Saturday February 2Psalms 122; 149Isaiah 51:1–8Galatians 3:23–29Mark 7:1–23

Sunday February 3Psalms 108; 150Isaiah 51:9–16Hebrews 11:8–16John 7:14–31

Monday February 4Psalms 62; 145Isaiah 51:17–23Galatians 4:1–11Mark 7:24–37

Tuesday February 5Psalms 12; 146Isaiah 52:1–12Galatians 4:12–20Mark 8:1–10

Wednesday February 6Psalms 96; 147:1–11Isaiah 52:13—53:12Galatians 4:21–31Mark 8:11–26

Thursday February 7Psalms 116; 147:12–20Isaiah 54:1–10 (11–17)Galatians 5:1–15Mark 8:27—9:1

Friday February 8Psalms 84; 148Isaiah 55:1–13Galatians 5:16–24Mark 9:2–13

Saturday February 9Psalms 63; 149Isaiah 56:1–8Galatians 5:25—6:10Mark 9:14–29

Sunday February 10Transfiguration of theLordPsalms 103; 150Daniel 7:9–10, 13–142 Corinthians 3:1–9John 12:27–36a

Monday February 11Psalms 5; 145Deuteronomy 6:1–15Hebrews 1:1–14John 1:1–18

Tuesday February 12Psalms 42; 146Deuteronomy 6:16–25Hebrews 2:1–10John 1:19–28

Wednesday February 13Ash WednesdayPsalms 5; 147:1–11Jonah 3:1—4:11Hebrews 12:1–14Luke 18:9–14

Thursday February 14Psalms 27; 147:12–20Deuteronomy 7:6–11Titus 1:1–16John 1:29–34

Friday February 15Psalms 22; 148Deuteronomy 7:12–16Titus 2:1–15John 1:35–42

Saturday February 16Psalms 43; 149Deuteronomy 7:17–26Titus 3:1–15John 1:43–51

Sunday February 17First Sunday in LentPsalms 84; 150Jeremiah 9:23–241 Corinthians 1:18–31Mark 2:18–22

Monday February 18Psalms 119:73–80; 145Deuteronomy 8:1–20Hebrews 2:11–18John 2:1–12

Tuesday February 19Psalms 34; 146Deuteronomy 9:(1–3) 4–12Hebrews 3:1–11John 2:13–22

Wednesday February 20Psalms 5; 147:1–11Deuteronomy 9:13–21Hebrews 3:12–19John 2:23—3:15

Thursday February 21Psalms 27; 147:12–20Deuteronomy 9:23—10:5Hebrews 4:1–10John 3:16–21

Friday February 22Psalms 22; 148Deuteronomy 10:12–22Hebrews 4:11–16John 3:22–36

Saturday February 23Psalms 43; 149Deuteronomy 11:18–28Hebrews 5:1–10John 4:1–26

Sunday February 24Second Sunday in LentPsalms 84; 150Jeremiah 1:1–101 Corinthians 3:11–23Mark 3:31—4:9

Monday February 25Psalms 119:73–80; 145Jeremiah 1:11–19Romans 1:1–15John 4:27–42

Tuesday February 26Psalms 34; 146Jeremiah 2:1–13, 29–32Romans 1:16–25John 4:43–54

Wednesday February 27Psalms 5; 147:1–11Jeremiah 3:6–18Romans 1:(26–27) 28—2:11John 5:1–18

Thursday February 28Psalms 27; 147:12–20Jeremiah 4:9–10, 19–28Romans 2:12–24John 5:19–29

Lectionary Readings for February