727 Harvard Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081
(610) 543-4712
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Confirmation: What We Really Believe
Pentecost Sunday, May 19
10:30am Blended Worship
Sunday, May 19 - Pentecost - is the blessed day of worship when we welcome new active members (a technical term for adult members – baptism is the real beginning of church membership) into the life of our congregation. There will be the laying on of hands and the reading of full names. Surely, it is a day for middle names.
But that’s not all. Sandwiched in between the prayer of dedication and the rite of confirmation, we will affirm our faith out loud, using a statement written by this year’s confirmation class. In confirmation, there’s a lot of discussion about what we believe – as individuals in faith and as the church together. The chance to write something that might speak for the entire congregation is a challenge and a blessing. Indeed, that’s what the church has been doing since the time of the Apostles and their Creed. We gather in a single service of worship this morning in support of these young people professing their faith. You are also invited to greet them in Fellowship Hall after worship.
What's Up, Zak?
Sunday, May 12
Children's Cantata, Teacher Recognition
On Sunday, May 12, we will be led in worship by some of the youngest members of the church family. The Junior Choir, with some support from both Primary and Youth Choir members, will present a staged cantata. This year’s selection, “What’s Up, Zak?” by Kimberly Ingram and Joe Milton, begins with A Not So Very Ordinary Day (in Jericho). With a good deal of tongue in cheek humor not found in the Bible, the narrator, a pompous mayor, a motley group of beggars (including the blind Bartimaeus), some chatty townspeople, and the tax collector Zacchaeus welcome Jesus to Jericho. Our children have been working hard memorizing songs and
dialogue, and are very excited to share it on this not-so-very-ordinary day at SPC! We do so in a single 10:30 service this morning in the sanctuary.
Teacher Recognition
It will also be Sunday of celebration, as we honor those who have helped in each of our Christian Education programs throughout the year. All who have helped this year in children’s classes, youth groups, confirmation gatherings, and/or adult classes will be asked to stand, and blessed with prayers of thanksgiving. We are grateful for each and every one!
Maurice Durufle's "Requiem"
Sunday, May 5
10:30am in Traditional Worship
The Chancel Choir, augmented by a number of guests and accompanied by strings, trumpets, harp, and timpani under the direction of Jeff DeVault, is excited this season to present Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, a 20th century setting of the Latin requiem mass that will showcase our new organ. Alan Morrison, chair of organ studies at Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and head of the organ department at Westminster Choir College, will be at the console! Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) was a French composer, organist, and teacher who worked closely with Louis Vierne at Notre Dame and served for decades as Professor of Harmony at the Paris Conservatory. His Requiem, commissioned in 1947, and written in memory of his father, takes much of its thematic material from Gregorian chant – specifically the “Gregorian Mass for the Dead.” It is at once both lush and spare – both melodically and harmonically – shaping the music to all of the layers of meaning and memory that the familiar text invokes. We are working hard to do it justice, and invite friends and members of the community to join us Sunday, May 5, for a presentation that uses the resources of our newly renovated chancel and new organ to honor all of the saints who live in our memories individually and as a community.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
SPC Welcomes Overnight Guests: Volunteers Needed!
April 28--May 5
The ministry of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) is one of providing basic hospitality, nourishing food, and a safe place to sleep — all in the classrooms of McCahan Hall — for four weeks each year. Through a network that provides similar hospitality at close to a dozen area churches, a lifeline is extended to young families unable to make ends meet.
Volunteers are needed throughout the week here in the following roles:
Dinner preparation – provide dinner for one evening.
Hospitality – enjoy dinner and hang out with IHN guests from 6:00 – 8:30pm one evening.
Overnight hosting – sleep at SPC for a night (8:00pm—7:00am) so that our guests are not alone in a strange building.
Set-up or Clean-up - converting our church school spaces to bedrooms and dining room takes place early afternoon on Sunday, April 28; getting them back together in time for Sunday classes takes place very early Sunday, May 5.
Visit the IHN table during Fellowship any Sunday in April to talk to an IHN volunteer or contact one of our co-chairs, Joyce VanRavenswaay or Bette Schregel at IHN@swarthmorepres.org
Potluck Dinner and Game Night
Friday, April 26 6:30 - 8:30pm in Fellowship Hall
International and Intergenerational Fun
Dinner:
Everyone in our church family is invited to bring a dish to share that represents your heritage or a favorite area of the world. Bring a dish to feed 8-10 people based on the 1st letter of your last name:
A-H Entree; I-P Dessert; Q-Z Appetizer/Salad
Please label your dish with the country of origin and include a list of ingredients.
and Games:
A variety of games will be available for young and old to play together throughout the evening.
Hosted by our Children's Ministry Committee
A Place at the Table: Offering of Letters
Hunger Group Sponsors Letter-writing Campaign
Sundays, April 14 & 21 11:30am in Fellowship Hall
The Hunger Task Force (HTF) will provide information and materials during the Fellowship Hour to encourage members to write letters expressing their views to Congress and the President. This year’s concerns are
reflected in “A Place at the Table” – a film that dramatizes the decline in security against hunger in recent years. Information on current legislation and on the positions of various congressional leaders and the President will be available in Fellowship Hall on Sundays, April 14 and 21. HTF will provide the tools you need (including sample letters) to write effectively to your legislators either at our table in Fellowship Hall, from your own home, or by email.
Delco Environmental Fair "Your Green Home"
Saturday, April 13 9:30am -- 2:30pm
at Penn Wood High School, Lansdowne, PA
Presented by the Earth Care Council* and aFewSteps.org.
Featuring:
¨ Electronics recycling 10:00am — 2:00pm: computers, peripherals, televisions, more
¨ Shredding 10:00am — 1:00pm: personal papers (limit 3 boxes per fairgoer)
¨ Electric/Hybrid Vehicle expo: take a close look at hybrid, electric, and alternative vehicles including the Ford C-Max, Fusion, and more.
¨ Tesla: an electric zero-emissions sports car
¨ Landscaping/Gardening: local experts provide lawn care and gardening information and services
¨ Garden shops/Local arboreta: native plants and environmentally friendly pest management
¨ Bicycles: demo bikes, accessories, and information on biking trails in the area
¨ Roofing materials/Energy-efficient HVAC Systems: multiple residential energy experts
¨ Re-stored home furnishings and accessories: refurbished furniture and kitchen wares
¨ “Green” Products: non-toxic personal care products, bags made from recycled juice boxes, more
¨ Lunch offerings, refreshments: hot dishes and sandwiches at reasonable prices
¨ Children's activities: creative and educational fun for children
Volunteers needed to staff outside events and assist in food service;
please contact the church office if you are interested in helping.
Dedication of Renovated Sanctuary and New Organ
Sunday, April 7
9:30am New Space, New Music, New Opportunities in Fellowship Hall
This morning’s class will be led by Lori Sonntag, chair of the Sanctuary Task Force, who leads us through the history of the project with a presentation that celebrates the commitments that have brought us to where we are and rejoices in the possibilities our future holds.
10:15am Organ Preludes
The designer and builder of our new organ, Burton K. Tidwell, is also an accomplished organist. This morning he offers several preludes on the newly installed instrument.
10:30am Worship in the Sanctuary
In celebration of our renovated worship space and new organ we gather for a single worship service at 10:30am that honors those who have made it possible. Many of them will be with us in person. Worship leaders include many guests as well:
J. Barrie Shepherd, former pastor, preaching;
Joe Bishop, former pastor, assisting in worship;
Burton K. Tidwell, organ designer/builder and former organist, guest organist;
William Yeats, former director of music, singing.
Chester Children's Chorus Concert
Saturday, April 6
7:30pm in the Sanctuary
All who attend are in for a treat as we welcome the Chamber Ensemble of the Chester Children's Chorus to SPC for an evening of music that is guaranteed to amzie and delight our guests.
Easter Sunday, March 31
information on children's progamming and worship details posted at Lent/Easter 2013
7:00am Easter Sunrise Service in the Memorial Garden
7:45am Continental Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall lobby
9:00 and 11:00am Easter Worship in the Sanctuary
10:00am Easter Fellowship in Fellowship Hall
Holy Week please visit our Lent webpage for details
Weekday Communion Services, Maundy Thursday Potluck, Tenebrae
9:30am Weekday Communion services in Loeffler Chapel
6:30pm Maundy Thursday potluck dinner in Fellowship Hall
7:30pm Maundy Thursday Communion in Fellowship Hall
8:00pm Tenebrae Service in the Sanctuary
Mission Fair Sunday, March 17
Local Outreach Partners Share Their Work and Invite Us to Help
11:15am in Fellowship Hall
JGH, CEM, IHN, PIM, ABC, BSM, CCSA, PRIME, TAP, TLT, ACS, HTF, WMC
Holy acronyms, SPC! How many of these local mission partners can you name?
Our Outreach Committee is hosting a Mission Fair —a chance not only to decode each of those acronyms, but also to learn more about the ministries of those helping our neighbors in need. Wouldn’t it be great if each of us could join in the mission? The good news is we can. In fact, we are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt! Listed below are some of the basic supplies need by each of the agencies represented above. Bring as many as you are able to Fellowship Hall on Sunday, March 17, and match them up to the collection stations set up for each of our Outreach partners!
Canned goods ᛭ Baby food ᛭ Paper towels ᛭ Men’s T-shirts
Recycled clothes for all ages ᛭ Books to help learn English ᛭ Craft supplies for children
Thank you cards & prayers for the mission work our partners provide
Through conversation with the representatives and take-home information available at each display you can also learn how to help their efforts on a more regular basis. Perhaps you can be a library aide, share your gifts of sewing, play chess with children, organize a mural project, mend clothes, sort food or clothes, tutor children, or provide a ride occasionally. Come; ask how you can be a part of God’s work in our community.
Film Friday: "True Grit"
Friday, March 15 in the Study
6:30pm Dinner and Book Discussion
7:30pm Movie
The story line of True Grit, by Charles Portis, goes like this: Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, Mattie hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio finds danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested. Run time:110 minutes. Rated: PG13. Dinner is BYO; PW will provide beverages.
Friends and neighbors welcome; please us the Study entrance (facing the ABC House).
Lenten Retreat
Uncovering the Sacred: Starting and Maintaining a Meditation Discipline
Saturday, March 2
8:45am--2:30pm in Fellowship Hall
PW (Presbyterian Women) invites you to a time of fellowship, education, and spiritual nourishment. Guest speaker, Lelia Calder, a local meditation instructor, will conduct the morning presentation. Beakfast and lunch offerings are those of a shared table; those attending are invited each to bring a favorite dish with enough to feed 6 or 8. After lunch, Mary Reindorp will lead tai-chi exercises for those who are interested and Peg McCauley will guide discussion and reflection on the events of the day and other opportunities for meditation, including that of the labyrinth located on the other side of our parking lot. Cost $10 per person; please register via email to spcparish@swarthmorepres.org.
Theologian in Residence, Elaine Pagels
Art, Music, and Politics in the Book of Revelation
Friday, February 22
7:00pm in Fellowship Hall
Noted author and professor of religion at Princeton University, Elaine Pagels, will be our Theologisn in Residence on Friday, February 22. Dr. Pagels' presentation, based on her recent book, Dr. Pagels’ presentation is based on her recent book, Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation, which explores the New Testament Book of Revelation and other Jewish, Christian, and Pagan books of revelation written around the same time. Perhaps best known as the author of The Gnostic Gospels: The Origin of Satan, Adam, Eve and the Serpent, and Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, which was on the New York Times best-seller list, Pagels has published widely on Gnosticism and early Christianity and continues to pursue research interests in late antiquity. Copies of Revelations and Beyond Belief vwill be available for sale and signing after the presentation.
Steadfast Hope
Sunday Supper Programs
5:30pm Sundays, February 10, 17, and March 17
Sponsored by the Peacemaking Committee
Programs begin with dinner in the Study provided by the committee. All are designed to help our understanding of the complicated issues that challenge peace in the Middle East.
February 10 - the film Israel vs. Israel features four Israeli activists: a rabbi, a soldier, a grandmother, and an anarchist -- four very different individuals who share a common goal to achieve peace and end the Israel occupation of the Palestinian territories.
February 17 - two young Jewish women, Rebekah Rosenfeld and Jerry Rabinowich, describe and show pictures of their Birthright Israel trip to Israel.
March 17 - a local couple, Tony Medwid and Wini Wolff, invite us to angage in "dinner conversation" on a variety of topics around Israeliand Palestine. This interactive session will provide participants with a safe environment to practice articulating and responding to differing viewpoints on this sensitive issue -- a practical, peace-building exercise.
Film Friday, February 15
"Winter's Bone"
6:30pm Dinner & Discussion
7:30pm Movie
We begin with a BYOD (Bring Your Own Dinner) gathering in the Study. If you have read the book or seen the movie, wonderful! If not, you are invited to enjoy the dinner and be an active listener. Winter's Bone, by Daniel Woodrell, is a beautiful but heartbreaking story of a young woman's quest to save her family home. The award-winning film features Jennifer lawrence (The Hunger Games) in her first lead role. All are welcome. Entrance is through the Study door -- on the ABC House side of the parking lot.
Lent 2013
Ash Wednesday, February 13
Worship Services at 12:15pm and 7:00pm
in Loeffler Chapel
We enter this season of repentance and renewal with the words of the psalmist, "Create in me, O God, a clean heart." The outward sign of our intent to come clean with God is the imposition of ashes, an ancient ceremony in which ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful with the words from Genesis, "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes are created from burning the palm leaves used last year at our Palm Sunday worship service.
Spring Fling - Dancing with the Stars
Saturday, February 9 6:00-10:00pm
Springfield Country Club
A night of dinner and dancing, to music organized by our own DJ, Guy Smith. But the piece de resistance is the silent auction, featuring everything from vacation weeks in a variety of places to hand-made pottery to piano music to dinners provided by members with creative culinary talents. It is, of course, a fund raiser. But it is also a night to enjoy getting to know one another ina social setting. Tickets, available Sunday mornings in Fellowship Hall and in the church office during the week, must be purchased by Sunday, February 3. To download a preview of the Silent Auction offerings, click here: Silent Auction
Sunday, February 3 9:30am -- 11:30am
SPC youth join others all around the nation in collecting money to fight hunger as we leave worship this Sunday.
The need in nearby communities like Chester and North Philadelphia is great. Mission partners Chester Eastside Ministries (CEM) and Broad Street Ministry report that they are trying to feed almost double the number of clients they served last year. And needs are always greater in the winter months, when heating bills leave less money for food. Today's contributions can make a difference. Non-perishable food contributions are welcome, as always. They may be placed in the designated bins in the Outreach Center or in the boxes provided today outside of Loeffler Chapel and in the Narthex. Thank you.
Open House
Sunday, January 27 11:30am
in the Study
Visitors expected! An open invitation to friends and neighbors interested in learning more about SPC to meet and greet our pastors in person. Dick Wohlschlaeger will make some introductory comments and invite your questions. Other staff and committee members are eager to field questions and share more about their personal areas of interest. Children welcome. Refreshments provided by the Membership Committee.
Youth Ski Trip!
Friday, January 25-Sunday, January 27
Youth group participants will depart Friday at 6:30pm for a weekend of skiiing, snowboarding, and hanging out over hot chocolate in the lodge. Skiing/snow boarding is at Camelback, lodging at Trout Lakes Resort. Payment and emergency forms are due by Sunday, January 13. Information is posted on the Youth News page.
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 21, 10:00am -- 4:00pm
Information and signups in Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday, January 6
It's a deep-down spring cleaning --- but we are not waiting for spring! On this day of service we invite church members young and not-so-young to spend a few hours tackling some of the cleaning that is beyond what our custodial staff can accomplish in the hours our budget allows. There are closets and storage areas to be cleaned out, windows to be shined, and unused materials to be sorted and dispersed to places that can use them. We will also be using the kitchen to assemble casseroles for Mercy Hospice and Fellowship Hall to share lunch together. Save the date!
Interfaith Hospitality Network Guests
Sunday, January 20 through Sunday, January 27
Homeless families brought to us through IHN will be making our church school classrooms their homes this week. Volunteers are needed to make them feel welcome. Options include single shifts (make dinner, hang out from 5:00 to 8:00pm, or stay overnight), repeated shifts (through which you get to know our guests much better) and behind-the-scenes support (set-up, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.) Sign up in Fellowship Hall on Sunday morning or be in touch with coordinator Joyce VanRavenswaay at IHN@swarthmorepres.org.
Dancing with the Stars!
Spring Fling Ticket Sales begin Sunday, January 13
in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings, in the church office throughout the week
Festive fellowship, a sit-down dinner, and music DJ'd by our own Guy Smith. And, of course, it wouldn't be a fund-riser without the amazing array of auction offerings! The event will be held Saturday, February 9, from 6:00 to 10:00pm at the Springfield Country Club. Tickets are $50 per person. There is a discount for those who can find 9 others to sign up ; you may purchase 10 tickets for the price of 9 ($450). Use the savings to include someone who can't otherwise afford to go or save $5 per person. The discount is good until the end of January.
Cruise through last year's "happenings":
Fall Fair Information:
