All Souls Parish


The Presbyterian Church Port Chester, New York
The Messenger



August 25, 2010 -  Number 2098

Pastor’s Message…

            More Light Presbyterian churches have been part of the landscape in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for nearly two decades while the roots of the movement within the PCUSA date back even further.  In 1974 the Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC) was born.  One lone man at that year’s General Assembly rose holding a sign asking “Is anyone else out there Gay?”  He got his answer and the PLGC began to advocate for the total inclusion of “out” homosexuals in the life of the Presbyterian Church.

 

            The More Light Presbyterians (MLP) was officially formed in 1992 and in 1998 merged with the PLGC. This new/old group continued to work for the rights of all members of the Presbyterian Church without regard to sexual orientation.  There are other groups within the Presbyterian Church who have been advocates for changing the policies of the church which prohibit full participation of LGBT members along with MLP, but MLP has been the most vocal of these groups.

 

            The mission of the More Light Presbyterians is as follows:

            Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the church a true community of hospitality, the mission of

            More Light Presbyterians is the full participation of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people in

            the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

 

            The session of All Souls is considering becoming a formal member of More Light Presbyterians because of this church’s historic support of LGBT issues.  At the meeting of the congregation on September 12, we will hear a presentation about More Light, the rationale for the session’s exploration of becoming a formal member, and listen to the questions and concerns of the congregation about this matter.

 

            The technical process of becoming a More Light congregation is simple.  A congregation submits a letter from the session to the MLP office and remits a check for $100 and that congregation is a member.  Membership in MLP has some benefits (listing in the MLP directory of churches, quarterly newsletter, a listing on the MLP web site celebrating that church’s becoming a member), but beyond that,  congregations who join become part of a national network of congregations committed to the mission of MLP.  In their directory of welcoming churches there are 3 categories. “H” which means that a church has affirmed a pro-LGBT hospitality statement, “D” which means a church has passed a dissent statement against the PCUSA’s anti-LGBT policies, and “M” which means you are a member of MLP.  Since we are already an H and a D the session is considering becoming an M.  There are a lot of initials in this Message, but what I would encourage us to remember is that we are talking about real people in the LGBT community who are looking for a place that will welcome them and the gifts they bring in service to God, a place like All Souls where love certain does grow.                       -Bruce

News from the Pews…

Continued prayers are asked for…

V       All ministries of this parish; Small Group ministries, Sunday School/Bible Study, Healing Ministries, Saturday Evening Worship, Chancel Choir, Session & Deacons, General Assembly, Parish Nurse, Spirituality Group, Soup Kitchen and Carver Center; for our youth and children.

V      For Laura continued prayers for healing.

V       Our president, his staff, our military and those around the world living in fear and praying for freedom.

V       For all soldiers and troops.

V       Our personnel abroad in places of danger and those at home experiencing new worries.

V       People who are seeking employment.

V       The people of Iraq and our troops stationed there.

V       The refugees in Sudan.

V       Our troubled world, prayers for our enemies.

V       For all veterans.

V       For those who are suffering from addiction.

V       For all of those traveling.

V       Rose Cumming & Roberta Gillan.

It was a joy…

V       To have Maurio Sax preaching here with us today.

V       Deborah’s new job

V       Athena – opening a library in Ethiopia.

V       Helene and Karen’s birthday.

V       Marg S. on her cruise.

Please remember to pray for…

V       Rev. Ben Gay for strength and healing.

V       Sal

V       Barbara

V       Loretta for direction.

V       Doug and Jeff preparing to preach.

V       Cousin Jeanine who had a stroke and her daughter Debbie’s husband with cancer.

V       Flood victims in Pakistan.

V       The family of Dorothy C. who passed away at 101 years old.

V       Jim & Louise P. recovering from traffic accident.

V       Jane G. for continued strength and healing prayers.

V       Eight Christian workers killed in Afghanistan.

V       Rose Cumming for strength and healing.

V       Eleanor W. continued healing.

 

Worship This Sunday…

This Sunday we are delighted to have Jeff Knisely as our guest preacher.  As many of you know, Jeff is a member of this congregation who usually attends the Saturday night service. The organ music will be by George F Handel.  Scripture lessons: Jeremiah 2:4-10; Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14.

Bible Readings for the Week…

                        Morning                        Evening

August 29            1 Cor. 10 19-33                   Ps. 126, 127, 128

August 30            1 Cor. 11 1-16                      Ps. 129, 130, 131

August 31            1 Cor. 11 17-34                   Ps. 132, 133, 134

September 1       1 Cor. 12                               Ps. 135, 136

September 2       1 Cor. 13                               Ps. 137, 138, 139

September 3       1 Cor. 14 1-20                      Ps. 140, 141, 142

September 4       1 Cor. 14 21-40                   Ps. 143, 144, 145

 

Saturday Evening Service…

The Saturday evening service is an alternate worship experience to our traditional Sunday morning service.  It is held at 5:30pm each Saturday and is a quiet, meditative service incorporating Taizé chants, Iona short songs, prayers of thanksgiving and intercession, scripture reading, and times of silence for personal reflection.  Holy Communion is served weekly with our commissioned lay ministers presiding.  The lectionary is used for scripture lessons and the services are coordinated with the liturgical seasons of the year (Advent, Ordinary Time, Lent, etc.)  Attendance at the Saturday service has varied, with five or six being the average.  When there is a function following the service (like a potluck supper) or an event that calls people to prayer and reflection, attendance is higher.  In the busy-ness of our daily lives, the Saturday evening service provides an opportunity to sit quietly in the presence of God and one anther to reflect on things such as; the evening’s scripture lesson, where God is (or seems not to be) present in our lives, what God would have us do (or not do), where and in what capacity we are called to serve within the church and/or the community, etc.  The service can be quite moving and affects people differently, depending on what is going on in their personal lives at the moment.  If you would enjoy this service, please join us on Saturday evening.  In addition, if you believe that someone you know would like this worship experience, please invite them to come on a Saturday evening.  Worshippers do not have to be members of our congregation; in fact, the Saturday service is an ideal time for ministers of other congregations to prepare for their Sunday morning responsibilities in an environment that supports reflection and prayer. If you have any questions about the Saturday evening service, please feel free to contact Deborah Pfau. The Saturday evening group will be on summer hiatus and will begin again on September 11th, 2010.

 

Phone Ministry Available…

The Deacons with the aid of John Reformato and Deborah Pfau made a unique ministry available to members and friends of All Souls Parish/ The Presbyterian Church.  If you are unable to get to church for whatever reason, you can now hear the service/participate in the worship of the church as it is happening (in real time as the computer crowd might say).  There is a speaker in the secretary’s office which is hooked up to the PA System in the sanctuary.  When we know that people wish to hear the Sunday service, a deacon will call them up and put the phone receiver next to the speaker so that they will be able to hear the Sunday service as it happens.  We will send out bulletins and music beforehand so that people can read along and sing along with the rest of the congregation.  The deacons will even be able to provide a speaker phone if needed.   This truly is a wonderful possibility for ministry.  If you or someone you know would like to take advantage of this, please call the church office or Deacon Mary Betz at 939-2732.  If you are unable to get to church for one week or one month, you can still be part of the worshipping fellowship at All Souls Parish.

 

3BOur Guest Preacher…

Our guest preacher for Sunday, August 29th, is Jeff Knisely. He is an 8th grade teacher in Chappaqua.  Growing up as a Lutheran in Buck’s County Pa, Jeff was teaching Bible School in his home church when it began to dawn on him that the dogma he had learned no longer rang true for him.  Thus began his trek through a spiritual wilderness that lasted for 25 years, ending when a blue-eyed stranger (our own John Knudsen) appeared in his backyard and offered him a tea-cake and an invitation to visit All Souls Parish.  Now an elder in our congregation and a frequenter of our Saturday night service (and in-frequenter of our Sunday morning service), he will share his faith journey with us.

 

3BPraying for the Church…

Part of what we are called to do as believers is to remember that we are all part of the same body, and that if one member of the body is in pain, the whole body suffers.  If one part of the body rejoices, the whole body joins in their elation.  With that in mind we ask that you remember those of this congregation and those of our presbytery family listed below as you offer your daily prayers. Sue & Roy Haney, Connie Howard, Denise Kladis, Eleanor Lounsbury, Courtney-Camille Haynes, First Church Liberty South in Greenburgh, Dobbs Ferry.

 

While on Vacation…

Rev. Baker will be out on vacation the following: August 11th - September 6th - If there are pastoral emergencies, during Rev. Baker’s August vacation, please call Rev. Dan Love from the Rye Presbyterian Church at 914-967-0842 or cell (914) 473-9262.

Guest Preachers are as follows:

Sunday, August 29th – Jeff Knisely

Sunday, September 5th – Jeanine Zaccara

 

Enza will be out on vacation the following:

August 30th – September 2nd.

The office will be closed those days & there will be no weekly Messenger for September 1st.

 

God’s Green Market…

The garden has been producing, and there is much more to be harvested and cared for.  The site at the PC Middle School needs the assistance of any and all who are interested.  During Rev. Baker's vacation (August 11th to September 6th) volunteers are needed to take care of the harvesting and weeding.  There have already been a number of volunteers from the church who have given of their time and sweat to help provide these fresh vegetables for people in need.  If you would like to help out, please contact the church office during the week.

 

Food Collection…

Sunday September 5th, we will be collecting boxed and canned foods for our local pantries. Please, all are encouraged to donate. Please place your donation in the basket in the Narthex. Thank you.

Serving This Sunday…

Preacher:                             Elder Jeff Knisely

Organist:                              Joanna Nilsen

Liturgist:                              Deborah Pfau

Counters:                             Sim Kovacic & John Carey

Greeter:                                Sim & Penny Kovacic

We Care Team II:  Deacons: Mary Betz & Jack Zaccara

Team Members: Margaret Calabrese, Steven & Rosa Calabrese, Jane Gibbs, Connie Howard, Phil & Marg Scibona, Audrey Thime & Jeanine Zaccara.

Birthdays & Anniversaries Calendar…

 

Birthdays                            

September 3         Evelyn Lockhart

September 6         Lindsey Concra

September 7         Jonathan Nilsen, Wendy Del Monte

September 9         Sue Haney

September 11      Audrey Thime

September 20      Joann Knisely

September 21      James Gillan, Jr., Shadai Bansey

September 23      Connie Howard, James Brooks

September 24      Debby Tedesco

September 26      Olivia Kim, Andrea Winchester

September 28      Paul Keyishian, Jr., Sarah Marinelli,

Jinny Avery

 

Anniversaries

September 2         James Lockhart & Olivia Kim

September 8         Nancy & August Cardinali

September 10      Chae Kum & Matthew Kim

September 15      Carolee & Dan Brakewood

Mark Your Calendars…

September 5th             Food Collection

September 6th                  Church Closed – Labor Day

September 8th                         The Pre-Day School

Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm

September 10th               Joint Deacon & Session Mtg. 6:30pm at the Manse.

September 11th           Taizé Service 5:30pm

September 12th           8:00 O’clock Hour

Communion Sunday &

Sundae Sunday

Congregation Mtg.  re. More Light  Church  –All invited after service.

September 13th           Spirituality Group 7:30pm

September 19th           Session Mtg. 11:00am

                                    Sunday School 10:30am

                                    Children’s choir 11:15am

 

 

e-mail address: AllSoulsParish@Yahoo.com  Web site: http://www.allsoulsparish-portchester.org/

Editorial Staff

Editor: Enza Giglio
Circulation: Ethel Mellon
Reporting Staff: All Members

STAFF                      
Pastor:  Rev. J. Bruce Baker
Minister of Music: Joanna Nilsen
Bookkeeper: Debbie Bunnell
Secretary: Enza Giglio
Sexton: Vilma Torres
Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:45-11:45am Church Phone (914) 939-4300 Fax # (914) 935-0865
 
 
 

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