Midweek Musings Newsletter

AUGUST 27, 2009

 

 

 

The Presbytery office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

 

 

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New documents have been posted to the docket page

for the Stated Meeting of New Castle Presbytery

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at Trinity PC at 4:00 pm

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Acts 16:5 Initiative

 

Download Acts Initiative and hotel brochure here:  Acts Initiative and Hotel Brochure.pdf

Also available on the Brochures, Forms and Other downloads page

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PCUSA AT UD now has a website!  Please visit them online at http://www.pcusaatud.org

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Midweek Musings by Reid Beveridge, Stated Clerk

Every Presbyterian knows about the Great Ends of the Church, right?

 

            No, I didn’t think so. This is especially true of men and women who populate our new-member classes. It is even true of cradle Presbyterians. Cradle Presbyterians who haven’t opened the Book of Order, or if they have, haven’t read the first foundational chapters that describe our Reformed theology and beliefs. .

 

            So you likely haven’t read or haven’t recently reviewed the six great ends of the church, here they are:

 

·        The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.

·        The shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.

·        The maintenance of divine worship.

·        The preservation of the Truth.

·        The promotion of social righteousness.

·        The exhibition of the Kingdom of God to the world.

 

When I was participating in my own church’s new-member class a few years ago, I would often put these great ends up on the screen, let the prospective members digest them, and then wonder if they weren’t a recent addition to the doctrine of a Presbyterian denomination often described as “liberal?”

 

But they are not a recent addition. They were written into the Book of Order in the old United Presbyterian Church in North America (UPNA) in 1911. The UPNA, until it merged with the PCUSA in 1958, was considered a distinctly conservative branch of the Presbyterian tree.

 

            A decade ago, the General Assembly moderator, who is charged with lining up preachers for each day of General Assembly, had someone preach each day on a Great End. That moderator, who was the Rev. Dr. Douglas Oldenberg, then-president of Columbia Seminary, recruited a mixture of liberal and conservative preachers.

 

            The sermon I remember to this day was on the Great End: The preservation of the truth. The preacher was Craig Barnes, who then was senior pastor at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Craig, who now is on the Pittsburgh Seminary faculty, used John 18:28-38a. Please read this and then come back to me.

 

PAUSE

 

            Pontius Pilate was a Roman politician appointed governor of Judah by Caesar. By historical standards, he was reasonably effective at ruling the unruly Jews of his time. As such, like an American trial jury of today, he was charging with ascertaining the truth.

 

            In his sermon that day, Dr. Barnes wondered what the truth was, that day in about 33 A.D., for Pontius Pilate? Clearly, especially at first, he believed Jesus was telling the truth. That meant that the Council and the Pharisees were telling something else.

 

            However, Pilate was a politician. He knew he could get into trouble with Caesar if the Jewish leaders complained too much.        

 

In Rotary clubs around the world, Rotarians say a Four Way Test most meetings. The first statement is: “Is it the Truth?”            

 

So what was the truth for Pontius Pilate that day?

 

- Reid K. Beveridge 

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CLP CliP 

 

This week we have some miscellaneous news.

 

Sally Cordrey preached at Coolspring Presbyterian Church on August 16 and is scheduled for Manokin Presbyterian on September 13 and 27.  Carole Miles preached at Port Deposit Presbyterian on August 9 and will preach there this Sunday, August 30.  Rich Watters continues to serve as Commissioned Lay Pastor at Port Deposit Presbyterian while the Rev. Barry Gray is on sabbatical.

 

Sally has been hosting Clovis Mutombo, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo while he is attending Delaware Technical College.  Recently, Clovis’ friend, Hugues Kutambula from Kinshasa DMR (a sophomore pre-med student at the Univ. of Southern Idaho), was their guest for 2 weeks and they all had a great time.  They visited Washington DC with Jesse, a Nigerian nursing student at Delaware State Univ, Philadelphia with the Rev. Frank Deming of Westminster Presbyterian/Rehoboth and Cape May with Sally.  As many can attest,

Sally is a great hostess and mentor, as well as a true servant of Jesus Christ.

 

Sally also reports that Clovis went to Dulles Airport with Adrienne Scott and Sherri Richter (Lewes Presbyterian) to meet Pastor Kabasele of Lugandu Parish, DRC when he arrived in the U.S.  Pastor Kabasele will speak at Westminster Presbyterian/Rehoboth on August 30 and a reception will follow.

 

On Tuesday September 1, Presbyterian Exec, the Rev. Jim Moseley, and the COM subcommittee on the CLP Program will meet with the representatives of CLP graduates and students (Judy Adams, Nancy Day, Lee Johnson and Carole Miles) by conference call.  They will address students’ concerns and discuss such things as the schedule of class for the coming school year.  Please keep this in prayer as we all seek God’s direction for the CLP Program.

 

Until next time...

 

Carole Miles  

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The Visitor Remix 

 

Pipe cleaners are a silent form of entertainment for kids in church. be sure to fold ends in for safety.

 

Got a suggestion for the Visitor Remix?  Send it in tojtaylor@ncpresbytery.org!

 

 

 

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Furniture Available 

 

First & Central PC is making room for a group to use the 3rd floor of the church and have some little person furniture to give away to anyone who is interested -- and I mean ANYONE!

Available items are:

 

• 27 medium size chairs - black
• 14 small chairs - black
• 5 small arm chairs -- brown

 

All are wood and are pictured above.  Please contact Doug Gerdts for more information.

 

Douglas D. Gerdts

Pastor/Head of Staff

First & Central Presbyterian Church

Rodney Square - 1101 N. Market Street / Wilmington, DE 19801

Phone: (302) 654-5371 ext. 16 / FAX: (302) 654-5932

gerdts@fandc.org /www.fandc.org

 

A Church without Walls that Welcomes without Limits! 

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 CHANNEL 6 ACTION NEWS  

 

Watch video here: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6976869

 

The news video above is regarding the community near Church of the Covenant that we are becoming connected with.  Last Saturday we sponsored and participated in Edgemoor Community Day along with the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative and the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School.  We cooked and gave away food, backpacks, and Bibles, and provided a fun atmosphere for folks to sit and visit, including music and Covenant folks to hang out and chat with residents.  It was a great day.  We're very excited about this new partnership with folks right in our own neighborhood in such a hands on way.  I don't think Covenant has ever done anything like this before. 

 

The lady in the video, Cheri Whitney, is the executive director of the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative, and she is one dedicated and committed woman.  She lives in Edgemoor and has for many years and is totally convinced that they can turn that neighborhood around.  She is amazing.

 

Just wanted to share my excitement with you!

 

- Kathi Busch

Pastor, New Covenant PC

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Social Security Corner

 

 

 

Keep up-to-date on Social Security with the Midweek Musings Newsletter...

 

Social Security Column

 

SOME HOMEWORK BEFORE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

 

By Laurie Stuchlik

Social Security Manager in Georgetown, DE

 

Do you have a son or daughter who is turning 18 soon, collecting monthly Social Security benefits, and returning to high school this fall?  If so, then we have a bit of homework for you.

 

To make sure Social Security benefits continue beyond age 18, eligible students must submit the necessary form to school officials.  The school will use these documents to certify your child is still enrolled in school.  Otherwise, monthly Social Security payments automatically stop when a student turns 18. 

 

This is the case regardless of the type of Social Security benefit received.  Some students get Social Security survivors benefits because a parent is deceased.  Others may receive dependent benefits because their parent receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits.  Benefits for minor children generally continue until age 18 (or 19 if they’re still in high school) unless they are disabled and eligible for childhood disability benefits.  In that case, a separate application for benefits is required. 

 

For more information about Social Security student benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/schoolofficials.  The website outlines how the process works and explains what the student and school official must do to ensure benefits continue past the student’s 18^th birthday.  With the appropriate certification from the school, Social Security generally does not stop benefits until the month before the month the student turns 19, or the first month in which he or she is not a full-time student, whichever is earlier.

 

The website also includes:

·        a downloadable version of the required SSA-1372 form — Students’ Statement  Regarding School Attendance — that must be completed by the student, certified by the school and returned to Social Security;

·        answers to Frequently Asked Questions for school officials and students; and

·        a field office locator to find the address of a local Social Security office

 

If you do not have access to the Internet, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).  Otherwise, visit www.socialsecurity.gov to learn more about Social Security. 

 

Next issue - Applying for Social Security benefits online.  Did you know spouses can apply too?

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PCUSA@UD, our Presbytery's campus ministry at the University of Delaware, Newark campus, welcomes incoming students and their families to a free brunch, Sunday August 30, 11 - 12:30 at the campus ministry house, 157 W. Main St.  Parking is available at the Trabant Student Center or at First Presbyterian, Newark.

 

 

 

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Welcome to OSSS!

  

 

Welcome to an OSSS-some experience for your congregation's youth, and for our community! We are so grateful for your interest and commitment to participating in this year's ONE SHOT SERVICE SUNDAY II on Sunday October 25, 2009.  Learn more about OSSS here.  

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Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Schererville, Indiana is currently seeking to fill two part-time positions in a new and exciting ministry within the Church and Community.  The positions to be filled comprise a Preacher/Pastoral care position as well as a Children and Youth Specialist which will also be acting as the head of staff.  If you may be interested in either position please contact Robert Harkins at:  (219) 789-6617 or email  RobertJHarkins@comcast.net. Thank You on behalf of the Search Committee at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

 

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New Resource at the Interfaith Resource Center

 

(www.interfaithresourcecenter.com)

Many of our clients have come to rely on the Faith Lessons Series, alternatively titled That the World May Know, by Ray Vander Laan as an excellent series sure to enliven any adult study group. Volume 8 titled God Heard Their Cry is now available. In this newest volume, Vander Laan takes his viewers on a trip to Egypt to understand how God answers the cry of his persecuted people and proclaims himself Lord to them and to their oppressors. This is a 5-lesson study with extensive accompanying discovery guide. Contact the IRC staff at 800.336.6152 (302.477.0910) or email resource.ctr@dol.net.

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Paula W Hartzell, Interfaith Resource Center

913 Wilson Road / Wilmington, DE 19803

302.477.0910 or 800.336.6152

www.interfaithresourcecenter.com

resource.ctr1@gmail.com or resource.ctr@dol.net

 

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Fish Dinners Sponsored by Church of our Savior

 

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Delivery available for three or more orders

 

Download flyer for more information:  Flyer for Fish Fry.pdf

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Healthy Steps

 

Healthy Steps, an exercise program to improve mobility and quality of life for cancer survivors and those with chronic immune disorders begins with a free, introductory class on September 11, from 9-10:00, at Trinity Presbyterian  Church on Naamans Road in Wilmington.   Please call Joy at 397-1134 or email hsjoy@comcast.net for class details.  See www.gohealthysteps.com for information on the program.   

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Fantastic Fall at Massanetta Springs!