eDove

OCTOBER

2014

 Poolesville Presbyterian Church

      PO Box 68, 17800 Elgin Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837   Phone:301.972.7452

www.poolpres.com

http://thesermonrepository.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Dates OCTOBER Oct 11                 3-5:30pm Lord's Table @St. Martin's  Oct 18                       9am Clean out Speer Hall Kitchen Oct 18                 6-8:30pm LIFE Dinner & Discussion Group @ McFalls Home Oct 25                    12-4pm WUMCO Fall Festival and Walk Oct 26 High School Sunday School class begins their official Confirmation Class

PASTOR'S CORNER Pastor's Corner: I read through the article with interest, as I do with all articles about religious events. It was a description of a journalist's attendance at a huge Oprah conference, part of a traveling inspirathon called the "The Life You Want Weekend."  It was a huge shiny neo-spiritual gathering, as tens of thousands of eager devotees poured into a stadium to hear Ms. O and her retinue dispense vital life-learning lessons.  The cost: between $200 and $500 a pop, in exchange for which the attendees got workbooks and weird glowing bracelets, not to mention exposure to levels of ambient atmospheric estrogen so high they temporarily eliminate the need for oral contraception. I harbor no animus towards Oprah.  She's intelligent, driven, and capable, and the amazing success she's experienced over the years seems well-earned.  Her profoundly American message of positivity and self-empowerment may be big, self-promoting, and high-gloss-shiny, but it isn't evil, and she comes across as a sharper progressive fusion of Zig Ziglar and Joel Osteen.  She's willing to engage with spirituality, in a way that is both affirming and open.  Sure, it's tempting to snark and roll eyes, but the people she engages sometimes come frighteningly close to describing my own view of existence.  Yeah, Deepak is up there doing his Chopra thing, but the connection goes deepah. I mean, sweet Mary and Joseph, Rob Bell?  Rob Bell's tagging along for the Oprah dog-and-pony show?  I like Rob Bell!  His approach to faith is so close to mine as to being almost indistinguishable.  I've recommended Rob Bell's books to people!  I still do.  Does that mean...am I...somehow...in Oprah-orbit?   How did that happen? As I read through the article describing the high-gloss perfection of the event, something stuck with me.  It was a phrase, one of the inspirational statements uttered during the event.  "You co-create your life with the energy of your intention."  The language of co-creation is stock-in-trade for many progressive spiritual folk.  It speaks to our freedom, our ability to influence the direction of our lives, our fundamental empowerment as sentient beings to shape the world around us. It meshes with my own view of the nature of both being and the Creator, and I'll confess to having used variants of that concept myself on occasion.  It's a good truth, a truth that reflects humanity at our best. But I also know that while it is a truth, it is a contingent truth.  Meaning, it can be true, but it is not necessarily true.  If you're able to drop a couple of hundred bucks on an Oprahfest, then, yes, it probably reflects your encounter with reality.  It is also true for me. If you are like a significant majority of humankind, though, it does not describe your reality.  The capacity to co-create is tied in to the blessings of liberty, and most of us are not free to act as we would choose.  If you are driven by hunger, struggling to simply survive, all of the "energy of your intention" is turned towards that end.  The Life You Want is to live, and not die of hunger or thirst this weekend. If you are living under an oppressive regime, be it Putin's neoTzarist Russia, the bizarre Communo-capitalist fusion of the Chinese Central Committee, or the raw brutality of ISIS, you are not free to co-create.  You obey, and you keep your head down, or the energy of your intention will be met with the far greater energy of those whose intention is driven by their hunger for power over you. And if, like so many Americans, you are scrambling to pay the bills, working three crap jobs with no security, with a barely working twelve year old car and a fridge that just died, your ability to be creative with your life is next to zero. Hope is important, yes.  Being positive and seeing the potential in your life is important.  But for so many, the probability of living a life in which real freedom exists is so low as to be meaningless. Working to free them from that place where their potential is limited is a vital part of the walk of faith. It is easy, in the shiny and carefully crafted narrative of co-creative self-empowerment, to forget this.

SESSION ACTIONS

Session Meeting Summary

September 17, 2014

- Rev. David Williams opened the meeting with prayer at 7:10 p.m. 

- Worship and Arts Elder Stephanie Kasner is working on a new volunteer schedule. More volunteers are needed.

- Mission Elder Krista Beyer reminded the Session that the Lord's Table opens on October 11, 2014.  She presented information about Compassion International, a Christian child sponsorship charity, and suggested that the church or Sunday School classes could sponsor a child.

- Buildings and Grounds Dick Hanna reported that the church's vacuum is missing.  The church auction will be in late January or early February, and PPC clean-up day will be on Saturday, October 4.  Kuhlman Lawn Service is now taking care of the PPC lawn mowing which means an increase in the cost for lawn care.

- Dick is still working on ways to save money on the electric bill.  A mom-led cooperative preschool group is meeting in Speer Hall on Wednesdays and Fridays.

- In the absence of Christian Education Elder Chris Hofmann, Rev. Williams reported that Jerome Hobart and Chris are leading a pre-confirmation class. David will lead a ten week confirmation class.

- Fellowship and Congregational Care Elder Pam Mattes informed Session that Coffee hour is going well. She will schedule a kitchen clean-up near the end of the month.

- Budget and Stewardship Elder Kathy Koeser is ready to begin work on the 2015 budget. Elders should let Kathy know if they have items to add to the budget.  Stewardship campaign ideas are needed.  The announcement that a new treasurer is needed will be in the bulletin.

- Evangelism Elder Carolyn McFall has updated the information on the PPC handouts for Poolesville Day and has a holder for them.  Carolyn will have a picture frame collage at the PPC Poolesville Day booth as well as a holder for David's business cards. Sixteen people have volunteered to help with Poolesville Day. The community garden will have a booth next to PPC.

Carolyn informed the Session that the McFall's will host the next LIFE dinner in October.  She extended thanks to last year's scarecrow contest win, and noted that PPC has a free booth at the WUMCO Walk and Fall Festival.

- Rev. David Williams reminded Session that there is a Presbytery meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. He met with Pam Mattes and Julie Halstead to discuss the community garden. Gardeners will be notified about clean-up. A more structured way to track community garden expenses in the future is needed.

- The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m., and was closed with prayer by Pam Mattes.

WORSHIP & ARTS

Elder Stephanie Kasner, 301.349.2134,  foreverlookingup@verizon.net

VOLUNTEERS
A new volunteer schedule will be available soon.  If you are not currently a worship volunteer, please know that we always welcome additions to our volunteer rotation in order to lighten the load.  Please let me know if you are interested.  We will be providing Youth Protection training for those working with the children at the church.  It has been more than 2 years since we last provided this training.  Therefore, all those involved with the children are asked to attend one of the training sessions.  Several training sessions, lasting at most half an hour each, will be offered in the near future.  Contact Stephanie Kasner for more information.

MUSIC
 All are welcome to come make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  We will be starting weekly choir practice again this month.  Contact Monica Harwood if you would like to join or if you have any questions.
We'd love to start up Tone Chimes as well. Let Pam Mattes know if you'd like to join, it's really not hard and lots of fun!!!

CONNECTION

MISSION

Elder Krista Beyer, 301.349., trainphee@aol.com

Starting in November (and running through mid-December) PPC will offer a series of discussion groups, open to people of all faiths who "don't have all the answers," and are searching for more meaning and connection in their lives. Entitled the "Living More" group, they will be offered on Sundays from 4:00-5:30pm in Speer Hall. Each week will feature a different topic related to personal faith. But - more than just intellectual discussion - we're aiming to create a dynamic experience for participants that includes: 1) delving into, and evolving one's own faith; 2) sharing faith with others and practicing congenial dialogue through differences that may emerge; 3) increasing excitement about faith and community. Consider it our own rejuvenating hearth, or our wellspring of living water, from which we can draw inspiration for all aspects of faith and church.  

The first meeting is planned for November 2nd, and will be preceded by a history/tour of the church grounds (including Community Garden), as a way to help introduce participants to PPC. We plan to hand out flyers at our booth at the WUMCO Walk on October 25th. We could also use help getting the word out through the web/Facebook, or word-of-mouth to your neighbors and other churches.

Please let Krista Beyer (trainphee@aol.com) or Carolyn McFall (carolynmcfall.is@gmail.com) know if you are interested in attending, have ideas about how to make this successful, and/or would like to play a role in pulling this together. Time is short and we welcome your skills and energy!  

*******************************

Also, the Lord's Table is this Saturday, October 11th, at St. Martin's of Tours Church (201 South Frederick Avenue) in Gaithersburg. It runs from 3-5:30. Please e-mail me (Krista Beyer) if you would like to attend.

FELLOWSHIP & CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Elder Pam Mattes, 301.349., writedoc2003@yahoo.com

Many thanks to all who provide and serve refreshments for our fellowship time following our 10:30 AM worship services.

If you have inadvertently been omitted from the coffee hour rotation and you would like to hop on board, please let me (Pam Mattes) know!

In addition, it's time to refresh the kitchen in Speer Hall! We will do some reorganizing, clean out the fridge, and so forth. Can you join me in the kitchen at 9 am on Saturday, October 18? Many thanks!

 Pam Mattes

240 723 9131

writedoc2003@yahoo.com

Fellowship Time Hosts for October:

10/5/14	Beyer
10/12/14	Kasner
10/19/14	Hofmann
10/26/14	Ken & Kathy Koeser

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Elder Chris Hofmann, 301.349.2839, chrishofmann@gmail.com

The High School Sunday School class will begin their official Confirmation Class on October 26th. Pastor David will lead them through a 10-week study ending on January 10th, 2015.

The Adult Class will be ending their study of The Book of Revelation on October 19th. Starting the 26th, the class will read and discuss a new book. Details will be shared via bulletin prior to the 26th.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Hofmann at chrishofmann@gmail.com  or on his cell at 202-441-2361.

EVANGELISM

Elder Carolyn McFall, 240.672.2236, carolynmcfall.is@gmail.com

Poolesville Day recap

This year's PPC Poolesville Day booth was great in large part to the volunteers who came out to man the booths.  I was under the weather and unable to do much for long, so the church booth was truly run by the church people. The more I think about it,that is as it should be.  "Thank you!" and "Well done good and faithful servants!" go out to Kelliann and Eric Lee, Kathy, Dick, and Katie Hanna, Ken Koeser, Monica Harwood, Ann Niblock, Lisa Roberts, Ross Koeser, Jane Wonnell, Wendy Stoliker, Linda and Joe Butt, Bill Beyer, Pat Williams, Bob and Catherine Beliveau, Pam and Bill Mattes, Jerome Hobart, Grandma Hobart, and to my patient and enduring husband, Greg. 

LIFE Dinner & Discussion Group (Living In Faith Every day)

Who: All members, visitors, and friends of all ages are welcome!

Date: Sat, October 18, 6 - 8:30pm

Place: Carolyn & Greg McFall's home (19020 Cattail Lane)

RSVP: carolynmcfall.is@gmail.com  or call or text Carolyn at 240-672-2236

Carolyn & Greg will provide a vegetarian entree. Attendees are encouraged to bring a contribution to the meal. Family style meal served shortly after 6pm with discussion following.

November: hosts needed

December: no meeting

January 2015: hosts needed

WUMCO Fall Festival and Walk

Saturday, October 25, 12nn - 4pm.

Our church WON a free booth spot at this fun community and important fundraising event. We need folks who can come out and man PPC's table. We have handouts and fun fish tattoos that we will be handing out for free to all the children in attendance. Please contact Carolyn McFall or Krista Beyer if you are available to help with our booth in any way.

World Community Day (Church Women United of Frederick)

Date: November 7

Time: Annual mtg 10:30am, Lunch 12nn $5, World Community Day worship 1-2pm.

Place: Quinn Chapel Community Building, Frederick

RSVP: Carolyn McFall or Carol Ford at candjford1@verizon.net

Carpooling is encouraged and available with Carolyn McFall and Ann Niblock.

Church Women United of Frederick is the multi-church women's group who organizes the prison ministry program PPC participates in every Christmas. CWU also holds three celebrations throughout the year: World Day of Prayer (March), May Friendship Day (May), and World Community Day (November). For more information on this amazing national organization, check out churchwomen.org. For more information on our local and inspiring Frederick chapter, please contact Carolyn McFall or Ann Niblock.

Carolyn McFall, evangelism elder

carolynmcfall.is@gmail.com

240-672-2236

BUDGET & STEWARTSHIP 

Elder Kathy Koeser, 301  

Service Opportunity - Treasurer Needed!

Our [by-laws?] require that key financial positions within the church turn over every three years.  At the end of this year, Nancy Kasner will become the Receiving Secretary, leaving her current post of Treasurer open.  If you have an interest in serving a vital need in the church and have bookkeeping experience (or just a desire to learn) please contact Kathy Koeser.   Time required is approximately 12-15 hours per month.

BUILDING & GROUNDS 

Elder Dick Hanna, 301.349.5221         hannaelectric@verizon.net

We had a good workday on 4 October, thanks to all who helped. We still have a lot to do and will be planning another. If you would like to do something on your own, see me. We have plenty to do.

We did setup scaffolding and pressure washed some of the Manse roof. We found that the entire roof did not need to be washed. We will be setting up scaffolding and priming the areas of the roof that are rusting.

We put plastic on some of the windows in Speer hall. We will be doing more windows in an effort to keep the electric bill down. Speer hall has the largest bill of all three of our buildings. There is an ongoing effort to repair the electrical panel room. This will be done soon.

Lara Fisher, Administrative Assistant

poolesvillepresbyterian@verizon.net

Poolesville Presbyterian Church

301-972-7452