the beacon

Volume 38 Number 5
November 2002

grow (gro) 1. to come into being or be produced naturally; spring up; sprout 2. to increase in size and develop toward maturity 3. to come to be, to become (to grow weary)

This edition of the Beacon is about growing in faith and generosity as individuals and as Christ’s church. We begin where we are and with the multitude of ways this church currently helps us grow in faith and understanding, in witness and service to God in the world.

About half of you receiving this Beacon believe, literally, that it is all freely given. A good number of the other half of our membership must believe the church to be the bargain of the century. About one third of the congregation takes the cost of our collective growth seriously and personally. This being my seventh year to talk with you about stewardship, with little evidence of growth among the first two sets of readers, I could say, with some justification in the third sense of the term, that I have grown weary of the subject.

Any weariness on my part has been dispelled by the enthusiasm, energy and imagination of your Stewardship Committee. They are determined to grow this church as a community and to challenge their fellow members to grow individually in faith and generosity. They believe—as I have for years—that we have not begun to reach our potential in generosity. With no names attached, they viewed the individual pledges made by the half of the congregation which supports the whole, and they were stunned. They were further stunned by news that so many members give nothing to support even the cost of mailing this Beacon out! They have rolled up their sleeves and intend to keep turning the soil, fertilizing the ground, watering the seeds, pruning the bushes, until this congregation GROWS for Christ’s sake into the mature faith for which we were made!!

What are the factors that grow us up into the faith? Involvement in mission or care-giving or teaching often leads to a deeper financial investment in the church’s life. Understanding of the gospel which comes from Bible study at any age also tends to promote growth in the Christian life. Vision about what we could be as a community--the people whose lives we could touch with the gospel, the difference we could make in the world--compels us to grow with generosity of spirit toward the future God had in mind for us from the beginning.

So back to the beginning: to the costly gift of God’s mercy and grace toward us in Jesus Christ that has gathered us to be His church. See where you can get involved, learn more about the One you promised to follow when you joined this church, dream big dreams about what we could be if all of us grew together. Try being generous to your church—growing your pledge by 1% of your household income—which, conservatively, could double our current pledges! Then watch your life and faith follow this new investment until the God, in whom we have all “come to being,” claims us anew for the work and worship of Christ’s church.



GROWING IN UNDERSTANDING

Sundays, October 27 and November 3 At 11:30 a.m. in the Library

As a congregation situated between metropolitan Philadelphia and the sprawling suburbs, questions of the future of our city are highly relevant for our future as well. This class will explore some of the demographic and economic trends in our area and discuss ways in which we might have a stake in the future of the city. Additionally, this class will examine the upcoming gubernatorial election and its impact the city of Philadelphia. Led by PCCH member David Thornburgh, who is Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, an independent, non-profit public policy research and development organization.

Sundays, October 27 through November 17 At 11:30 a.m. in the Reception Room

This class will explore several of the many issues surrounding our role as Christians and the complex situation between our country and the Middle East, particularly Iraq. Speakers will cover topics such as the relationship between Christian and citizen, the concept and history of the Just War Theory, possibilities for peacemaking and thoughts on Iraq from a Jewish perspective. This class will offer both lecture and discussion.

Presenters are: October 27: Art Brandenberg, honorably retired minister in the Methodist Church.
November 3: John Raines, Professor of Religion at Temple University.
November 10: Rabbi Yael Levy of Congregation Mishkan Shalom,
November 17: Peter Lems, Program Assistant for Iraq, American Friends Service Committee

Sundays, October 27 through November 17, 11:30 a.m. in the Melcher Room

This congregation includes folks who grew up as everything under the sun BUT Presbyterian. Others grew up Presbyterian, but have forgotten exactly what that meant. This class is for those who would like a refresher course in the historical and theological emphases of our part of Christ's church AND for those who might consider joining such a diverse crew of would-be disciples. Cindy and Brigid will lead us and the elders of the church will join us on November 17 to receive those ready to become members of PCCH.

Monday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Reception Room

Expecting a bit of a crowd for this timely topic, we have moved to the church for a discussion of Bruce Feiler's "Abraham." It is the story of Feiler's pilgrimage to the land of Abraham and his conversations with Muslim, Jewish and Christian believers. If you happen to be part of an interfaith household, we encourage as much diversity as possible. If you have friends who are Muslim or Jewish, please invite them to read the book with us. How we find each other locally may just make all of the difference globally! This book is available in most bookstores, and will soon be available at the church office as well.

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Melcher Room

We continue our far-ranging discussion of Paul's letters to the early church with a great crowd and varied opinions. We will discuss II Corinthians 1-6 on November 6; II Corinthians 7-13 on November 13; Romans 1-2 on November 20. No class on November 27. Join us!



GROWING IN GRACE

MUSIC IN NOVEMBER
Sunday, November 3
Music of Finnish composer Jan Sandstrom; Lithuanian composer Kristina Vasiliauskaite; and American composers Gerald Near and Harold Freidell.

Sunday, November 10
Music of American composer Ronald A. Nelson, "Be Still, and Know That I am God." Mr. Nelson has used texts from Psalm 46:10, 11; Isaiah 43:1,2; Psalm 13:5 and Psalm 131:2, 3 to create a very stirring and unique musical setting which uses both unison singing and tone clusters to convey the textual images.

Sunday, November 17
Music by American composer Frank Sargeant. The text is from a collection of seventeenth-and eighteenth-century writings by New Hampshire writers;
TUESDAY NOON RECITALS AT PCCH

From 12:00 - 12:30 on Tuesdays in November, members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will be presenting organ recitals on our Mander organ. The recitals are free, and open to the public. Bring friends and neighbors and enjoy a half-hour of music in the peaceful setting of our sanctuary!

NEXT FESTIVAL CHOIR - NOVEMBER 24

For those in the congregation who like to sing but are not looking for a long-term commitment to every Thursday night and Sunday morning, please consider the Festival Choir! October 20 we had women and children singing trebles-only literature. The next time we sing, November 24, will be for all voices-soprano, alto, tenor and bass. We meet at 9:00 a.m. in the gallery to learn the music, sing in the service of worship at 10, and have brunch at 11:15! If you have questions, please call Mark Anderson at the church office during the week, or see him after worship on Sundays. Come one, come all!

A POST-HALLOWEEN NOVEMBERFEST PARTY

Friday evening, November 1, at 8:00 p.m. in Widener Hall, featuring

The Reckless Amateurs

Bring a heavy hors d'oeuvre to share and $5 to cover the cost of band and beverages. Also bring a friend to this night of great music and good times!



GROWING THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY/GERMANTOWN HOMEOWNER PROFILE
This year Habitat for Humanity/Germantown has shifted its focus from the two blocks of Priscilla Street, where it has constructed eight houses thus far, to Pulaski Street, where it expects to complete the construction of 5348 Pulaski. The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, in conjunction with Progress Bank, has sponsored this house, providing both funding and a group that volunteers at Habitat one Saturday per month. The partner family, Al Craig and his daughter Teishima, will be the new homeowners of this house.

Al, 47, has spent his whole life in Philadelphia, having moved from North Philadelphia to West Philadelphia and then to Germantown. He has spent the past 35 years in Germantown and is interested in staying in the area. For the past three years, Al has been employed at the Hillside Cemetery in Roslyn, PA. Tieshima, who turned 14 in August, attends the Grover Washington Middle School, where she is in the eighth grade. Out of a desire to escape overcrowded living situations and own a house of his own, Al partnered with Habitat for Humanity/Germantown. He was accepted into the program in September 2001 and has worked diligently to complete his sweat equity hours. It's tiresome to have a job and work sweat equity hours," Al explained. However, he has made it appear quite simple by coming out frequently on Saturdays and always being positive. "If you really want something you've got to work for it," stated Al. He also noted how pleasant the atmosphere is at Habitat, recalling singing with AmeriCorps members, Devon and Megan, and working alongside volunteers.

"I'm the kind of person that gets along with everybody," Al said. For those of us at Habitat who have worked along side of him during this past year, it is not hard to see why. Al's friendly and outgoing attitude is clearly evident in the work he does at Habitat. He is excited about getting to know his new neighbors, and stops by from time to time to check on the progress of his house. "I can imagine it right now," said Al about becoming a homeowner. We hope to make an opportunity for Al and Tieshima to meet more members of our congregation soon. Consider joining out team some Saturday…our regular workday is the second Saturday of each month. We guarantee you good fellowship and lunch. Sign up sheets are located on the door of the church office. Questions? Contact Bill Mebane or Mary Zell.

PHILADELPHIANS CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING
In case you missed the news this summer, we are now partners with PCAH, a remarkable organization for transitional housing in West Philadelphia. Thanks to your generous support, we are ready to adopt our second family! Needed are: bureaus, a crib, lamps, and kitchen flatware. In addition, our first adopted family is in need of khaki pants and white shirts (school uniform, size six) for their son Bryan, as well as other clothing items for Bryan. Email Bill Mebane bmebane3@comcast.net

NEXT GATEWAY SERVING DATE: NOVEMBER 24
You can sign up on the Church office door if you would like to become a part of the serving team at the Gateway Men's Shelter. If you would rather not serve, then please keep those Sloppy Joes coming! Don't know the recipe? Here it is: Brown 2 lbs. ground beef and drain; combine with 1 large can of Manwich in a large Ziploc bag. Freeze flat. That's all there is to it! Please deliver your Sloppy Joes to the church freezer by November 24.



GROWING (from the get-go) IN GENEROSITY

CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, CONFIRMANDS, AND MISSION
"I WILL ACCEPT NO BULL FROM YOUR HOUSE"
But as for sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, rabbits and chickens…


The offering which children bring to church school each Sunday has gone to support many different mission projects in recent history; these include sponsoring a child through the Christian Children's fund, purchasing school supplies for children in Haiti, and, most recently, supporting Heifer Project International. Heifer International has been in existence since 1944 and, since then, it has provided livestock and training to more than four million families around the world. This remarkable program puts and keeps families on the road to self-reliance. Through their church school offering, our children have made a sizeable donation to Heifer International that will provide the following to people in need:

Four Sheep: Sheep can graze on even the hilliest, rockiest pastures unsuitable for other livestock. They often give birth to twins or triplets and families who own them use their wool to make clothes or sell for extra income.

Two Goats: Goats thrive in extreme climates and on poor, dry land. One goat provides up to a ton of milk a year. As goats reproduce, owners can start small dairies that pay for food, health care, and education.

Two Pigs: Pigs provide food, as well as income from the sale of offspring and natural fertilizer to nourish crops and soil. They need little land and can thrive on scraps. An average sow can provide a family with up to 16 new piglets a year.

Three Ducks: Like chickens, ducks provide a steady source of protein from their eggs. Additionally, their offspring can also be sold to provide additional income.

Three Rabbits: Rabbit care is very easy. They eat simple foods and they provide fertilizer that can be applied directly on gardens without composting. Rabbits multiply quickly and can help many families in a short time.

One Flock of Chicks: Eggs from chickens add life-sustaining protein to many inadequate diets. A hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year; a flock of 30 chicks makes an important difference in the life of a hungry community.


CHILDREN CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING
Beginning on October 27, the children will begin a new mission project as they collect books for families supported by Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (PCAH). This organization, supported by our church's Social witness Committee, helps homeless, low-income and single parent families become self sufficient by providing comprehensive, intensive, supportive social services in tandem with safe, decent and affordable housing. Between now and Christmas, our children will be collecting books for the children in the program to read. The books are to be NEW, and appropriate for African-American children who live in urban, single-parent families. The books we collect will become Christmas gifts for the children and will hopefully provide our parents and children with new opportunities to talk about giving and sharing our resources. More information on this project will be sent home with the children from church school.

CONFIRMANDS FEED THE HUNGRY
The Confirmation Class 2002-2003 has begun with six, curious, questioning, capable young people growing in understanding under the fearless leadership of Brigid. What you may not know is that the confirmands not only study but also roll up their sleeves and join the Social Witness Committee volunteers on the last Sunday night of every month. With a car full of semi-frozen Sloppy Joes and a multitude of other good things, they take off for Gateway Men's Shelter with others who are seeking to be disciples in a world full of need. If you would like to join them, email Suzan Willcox - sewillcox@comcast.net) and she will sign you up too!



GROWING UP INTO GENEROSITY: READ THIS!!

  • We have 700 members on the rolls of our church representing about 478 potential giving households
  • 270 households made a pledge to the church for the year 2002
  • 208 households on the active roll of the church pledge nothing to the work of the church
  • Of the active pledging households, going by the traditional head of the household's age:
      18 of those households were under the age of 35
      29 of those households were between the ages of 35 and 44
      53 of those households were between the ages of 45 and 54
      170 of those households were 55 and over
  • Of the top sixty pledges, two-thirds come from 55 or over households

    The bottom line of these interesting facts is that the overwhelming support of everything that happens in this church comes from the "greatest generation." They were the people raised with words like "duty" and "responsibility" and "sacrifice." Apparently many of us in the generations since then have missed that message! With "growing" as the verb in the Stewardship Committee's message this year, a lot of us must begin to "grow up" as those who are about to be responsible for the financial future of our church. The "younger generation" on the Stewardship Committee offers the following guidelines for rethinking our part of our church's ministry and mission:

    TO THOSE WHO THINK OF A PLEDGE AS PAYMENT FOR SERVICES RENDERED:
    Consider how other faith communities value the services of a congregation that educates their children, leads them in worship, stands ready to baptize, marry and bury their loved ones: membership for a family of four costs $3000 per year, with offerings given above that for special needs and at special occasions. Think about what many of us pay to be members of a club that provides recreation and dining. The initial investment may be as little as $8500 and as much as an additional $16,500 (for golfers) with annual dues from $2275 a year to over $5000. Ask yourself how the utilities bills are paid, the staff is compensated, the programs are run and the mission commitments are kept if you do not value your church at least as much as you value something like membership in a club!

    TO THOSE WHO THINK OF A PLEDGE AS A CONTRIBUTION TO A CHARITY:
    When you had your tenth reunion or twentieth or twenty-fifth reunion at your college, what did your college ask you to consider as a gift and what do you give annually to the institutions that once educated you or that now educate your children? When you consider the pool of graduates a school has to draw from or the names on the donor list of the Philadelphia Orchestra or the numbers that can be asked to support something at Chestnut Hill Hospital, compare that to the 478 potential households that can be asked to support the work of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. Ask yourself what more this church could mean to you, your family, your community, and the world if we all made the church our priority for our growing generosity!

    LET US GROW UP IN OUR GENEROSITY AND INCREASE OUR PLEDGE BY 1% OF OUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME THIS YEAR!



    A GIFT THAT GROWS


    Did you know that our church has an Endowment Fund? The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to provide a joyful opportunity for members and friends to participate in the enhancement and development of programs that bear witness to Jesus Christ. Currently the Endowment Funds are providing income to help with many programs in the Church that relate to Worship, Evangelism, Education, Mission and Fellowship.

    The seven-member Endowment Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill was approved by a vote of session in 2000. Since that time, the committee has been busy overseeing gift development and management of the church's endowment. In May of 2001, the session approved the policies and procedures manual developed by the endowment committee to help with the oversight and structure of the endowment. This manual is readily available to all church members and a copy can be picked up at the church office.

    The Endowment for the church is being actively managed by professional investment managers and overseen by the Endowment Committee. In the last year, the committee, by a vote of session, has changed investment managers and helped to refinance the outstanding debt of the church, which is being reduced by the capital campaign contributions. These two changes have significantly helped to secure the future of the endowment.

    The Endowment Committee soon will be alerting you to the many different ways that you can participate in the enhancement of the endowment, along with the ideas about the distribution of the income from the endowment. Currently, the Endowment is categorized into three different funds: the Ministry Enhancement Fund, the Building and Facilities Fund and the Individual Restricted Funds.

    In order to continue to grow and enhance the endowment, our committee will begin to sponsor congregational events and send out educational materials to inform members on the different types of gifts one can contribute to the endowment. A bequest to the church in your will, a charitable gift annuity, a trust, a gift to a pooled income fund are a few of the ways that current members have given to the church. If you are interested in learning more about these gifts, please contact one of the Endowment Committee members, the church office or Paula Kem, PCCH member and District Officer of The Presbyterian Foundation. We will be glad to assist you.

    The Endowment is the future of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. Without a growing Endowment, there are a number of church programs and building enhancement projects that could be in jeopardy. The future is extremely bright for our Church and a healthy Endowment will give us the means to continue to grow.

    Endowment Committee Members: John Lawton, Chair, Donald Scott, David Kammer, Matthew Nannen, Harry Spaeth, John Armbruster, Mark Nottingham (non-voting)



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