Sunday, May 6 th parents we would love for you to come and join us for Open house. Starting at 9:00 A.M. we will have a breakfast bar and fellowship. Please feel free to stay with your child through the Sunday school hour from 9:30 A.M.-10:30 A.M. We would love for you to join us at 10:45 A.M. for Sunday morning worship service as well. Hope to see you here! S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST : • May 6th—Sunday School Open House 9:00 a.m. • May 12th—Sugar Creek Trip/Triumphant Quar- tet • Sunday, May 13th- Mothers Day/Andy Needham Band • Saturday, May 19th— Deacon Spring Flower Delivery • May 22nd Preschool Graduation-6:00 p.m. • Children’s Day-Sunday June 3rd I NSIDE THIS ISSUE : P ASTOR’ S P AGE 2 S UNDAY S CHOOL / MYM NEWS 3 A CQUIRE THE F IRE E VENT S CHEDULE 4 P INE S PRINGS C AMP NEWS 5 MPC S UMMER S CHEDULE 7 PW NEWS 7 B IRTHDAYS / A NNIVERSARIES 9 CALENDAR 11 M C D ONALD P RESBYTERIAN C HURCH M C P RESBY N EWS M AY 2012 E DITION S UNDAY S CHOOL O PEN H OUSE -M AY 6 TH A NDY N EEDHAM B AND —M AY 13, 2012 The Andy Needham Band is returning to us on Mother’s Day, May 13 th . We will be hosting a special worship event at Calvary Center during the Sunday School hour at 9:30 AM that day that will include a time of teaching and testimony by the Band. Our children’s Sunday School classes will be joining us for the time of worship that morning. They will also be providing music and worship during our 10:45 AM Service of Worship. This will be a great service of worship that will honor the women of our congregation and will include music from our own great music program and the Andy Needham Band. Please invite friends and relatives on this Sunday to join us for this special service of Worship. C ONVERSATIONS : PC (USA)—M AY 20 TH Our Denominational Study Committee and our Session members have been hard at work studying learning and discussing the various happen- ings of our Presbyterian denomination. The Study Committee has been meeting several times a month since the beginning of the year and has been working closely with the Ses- sion. On May 20th there will be a brief presentation of the commit- tee’s findings during our regular worship. Following worship there will be a donut day reception and a question and answer time regarding denominational is- sues. This is a very important Sunday because these issues will have a major influence on the future of our congregation. Please make plans to attend both the worship service and the question and answer time following. We put our full hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word as we negotiate these important considerations.
Transcript
Sunday, May 6th parents we would love for you to come and join us for Open house. Starting at 9:00 A.M. we will have a breakfast bar and fellowship. Please feel free to stay with your child through the Sunday school hour from 9:30 A.M.-10:30 A.M. We would love for you to join us at 10:45 A.M. for Sunday morning worship service as well. Hope to see you here!
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
• May 6th—Sunday School Open House 9:00 a.m.
• May 12th—Sugar Creek Trip/Triumphant Quar-tet
• Sunday, May 13th-Mothers Day/Andy Needham Band
• Saturday, May 19th—Deacon Spring Flower Delivery
• May 22nd Preschool Graduation-6:00 p.m.
• Children’s Day-Sunday June 3rd
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PASTOR’S PAGE 2
SUNDAY SCHOOL/MYM NEWS
3
ACQUIRE THE FIRE EVENT SCHEDULE
4
PINE SPRINGS CAMP NEWS
5
MPC SUMMER SCHEDULE
7
PW NEWS 7
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
9
CALENDAR 11
MCDONALD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MCPRESBY NEWS MAY 2012 EDITION
SUNDAY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE-MAY 6TH
ANDY NEEDHAM BAND—MAY 13, 2012 The Andy Needham Band is returning to us on Mother’s Day, May 13th. We will be hosting a special worship event at Calvary Center during the Sunday School hour at 9:30 AM that day that will include a time of teaching and testimony by the Band. Our children’s Sunday School classes will be joining us for the time of worship that morning. They will also be providing music and worship during our 10:45 AM Service of Worship.
This will be a great service of worship that will honor the women of our congregation and will include music from our own great music program and the Andy Needham Band. Please invite friends and relatives on this Sunday to join us for this special service of Worship.
CONVERSATIONS: PC (USA)—MAY 20TH
Our Denominational Study Committee and our Session members have been hard at work studying learning and discussing the various happen-ings of our Presbyterian denomination.
The Study Committee has been meeting several times a month since the beginning of the year and has been working closely with the Ses-sion. On May 20th there will be a brief presentation of the commit-tee’s findings during our regular worship. Following worship there
will be a donut day reception and a question and answer time regarding denominational is-sues. This is a very important Sunday because these issues will have a major influence on the future of our congregation. Please make plans to attend both the worship service and the question and answer time following. We put our full hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word as we negotiate these important considerations.
PASTOR’S PAGE –REV. JUSTIN AMSLER
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God! I John 3:1
And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at his coming. I John 2:28
The grand proclamation that John makes regarding our status as children of God is only a great statement because of how much Jesus had to do to bring us back. The depth of our sin and our fallen nature is very real and for God to accept us into his presence takes a mighty act of forgiveness. God had to profoundly love us in order to purchase us back from death. Before we are washed in the Grace of our Lord Jesus, who is forever praised, we are completely unacceptable in the sight of the Almighty.
When a criminal commits a severe crime he may receive some sympathy for a difficult or abusive family life that led him down this path but in the end he is still guilty and will be
punished in accordance with the law. The same is true for all of humanity. We can blame a thousand things for leading us down our path of sin but the reality is that we are lawbreakers and there is a judge. A very holy judge who exemplifies the law and ensures its fulfillment. By God’s great love for us he has made a provision in the law, an opportunity to be reconciled, and he has called us by name to receive that grace. When he awakens in us his compelling love we respond and we confess the name if Jesus and are saved. It is in that act of confession and belief that we are rescued from our fair punishment for the sins we have committed. Perhaps God is using these very words to stir your heart to believe in him and turn your life over to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps, you have been serving our Lord for quite some time now but you are holding on to something a bit too tightly. You sense the Lord calling you to give something up, to forgive an old wrong, or to provide something, be it time or resources, for the building up of his Kingdom. Pray that Jesus would reveal this to you and that he would enable you to follow through on his leading. Over and over again the Lord asks us to be obedient to him and his will. This is how we demonstrate our faith and trust and this is also how we reap great blessing. Trust and Obey, the classic refrain is an echo of the whole of the scriptures, our life together is a life of obedience followed by the blessing of God.
John the Apostle here is instructing us to live in a way that we can be confident before our Judge. When we have the law on our side we can be confident before any judge. We need not fear the courtroom when the facts are overwhelming that we are innocent and that our debts have been paid in full. Our goal is to live as radically and powerfully for the Lord as we are able and to come to a point in our faith where we are utterly confident in God’s grace over us. Our judge is not off in a distant land only to return to our well rehearsed version of the story. He knows every aspect of our lives and will hold us accountable for what we have done and not done. We must continue in him and we must recognize with full gratitude what has been done for us. When we come to that understanding, we will do everything in our power to participate in the faith that we have been welcomed into as children of God. The last thing any of us would want is to be ashamed at ourselves when we stand before the Judge. By his grace we do not need to be ashamed. Our debts are paid, our sins forgiven, when we live out of the overflow of love that comes only from Jesus Christ.
May the endless blessings of Jesus be upon you this day and always,
Pastor Justin
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. II John 1:3
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. II John 1:6a
PAGE 2 MCPRESBY NEWS
PAGE 3 MCPRESBY NEWS
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
MYM NEWS—2012
Friday, April 13th through Sunday, April 15th members of MYM attended the Pitts-burgh Project. There were 11 members total. We had a total of 8 youth members and 3 adult leaders. Those in attendance were Brandon Downs, Matthew Dugan, Emily Eyler, Sarah Merlino, Cassidy Hiles, Nick Tedesco, Hanna Tidd, Amanda Welsh, John Libert, Jim McDowell and Summer Steele. It was an awesome time of fellowship and service.
We bonded with the homeowner that we served. His name is Walter and he lives on the North Side. He was very kind and appreciative. He served us tea and coffee each morning. We accomplished the following for him: tore down a dilapidated porch, put up new siding, filled in holes in the foundation, finished the kitchen floor with tiling, and yard work.
Our students and team leaders served non-stop without complaining and arguing. We not only served Walter, our team inter-acted perfectly with him and we were able to pray for him as well. He loved having us around. We are very proud of our stu-dents and their service!
Fort Cherry’s Baccalaureate will be held on Sunday, May 27th at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Brian Kilbert will be delivering the message. Please come and support our seniors on that special night!
ACQUIRE THE FIRE—MAY 4TH AND 5TH
MYM will be attending ATF at the Petersen Events Center. We will be meeting at Trinity Center Fellowship Hall between 4:30 – 5:00 P.M. We will return between the hours of10PM-11PM Friday Night. We will call parents before we depart to give an accurate arrival time. All youth that are at-
tending next day must be at Trinity Center Fellowship hall between 7:00 A.M. – 7:30 A.M. The youth will return between the hours of 10 P.M. – 11:00 P.M. Again we will call before departure to go give an accurate time of arrival. The Event weekend is free, but all youth will need spending money for meals and snacks. There are twenty spots available! Sign up ASAP!!!
On Sunday,, March 25th we had our annual Hop-a-Thon and raised $334.61 for camp. That is worth two camperships. If you didn’t get a chance to donate, there is still time to do so. Your investment into the lives of young people can’t be measured! Thank you for your continued support.
Sunday School Open House: Sunday, May 6th will be our annual Sunday School Open House. Parents, we would love for you to come and join us. Starting at 9:00 a.m. we will have a breakfast bar and fellowship. Please feel free to stay with your child through the Sunday School Hour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. We would love for you st join us at 10:45 a.m. for Sunday morning wor-ship service as well! Hope to see you there!
Children’s Day will take place on June 3rd. The Sunday School classes will give a short pres-entation regarding The Story Our children will participate in all aspects of the service: music, scrip-ture readings, greeters and the offering collection.
Friday, May 4th Saturday, May 5th
6:00 PM – Doors Open 8:00 AM – Doors Open 7:00 p.m. YP Briefing 8:30 AM – Worship 7:30 p.m. Worship 9:00 AM – Session ll: Drama 8:00 p.m. Session 1 Drama 10:15 AM – Break / YP Briefing ll
8:00 PM – Session lV 9:45 PM – Event Ends *Schedule is approximate and subject to change.
*ACQUIRE THE FIRE EVENT SCHEDULE
PAGE 4 MCPRESBY NEWS
On May 5th Pine Springs Camp will be hosting their first competition trail ride. The ride is designed to be a fun day for both participants and spectators. The 4-12 mile race on a two mile loop will bring cyclists past spectators multiple times for plenty of race time action. Visit the Pine Springs website
www.pinesprings.org or call 814‐629‐9834 to register.
PEDAL PINE SPRINGS—2012
McDonald Presbyterian is pleased to announce that it has awarded Pine Springs Camp a gift of $2,000.00 from our Lighting the Way Mission Fund in order to complete a roofing project at the camp. Many other churches are also contributing to repair six leaking valleys in some of the relatively new cabins at the camp that had developed leaks and are now properly repaired. Thank you for your outstanding support of our campaign. The sacrificial giving of our members will reap spiritual bene-fits for years to come.
LIGHTING THE WAY MISSION CONTRIBUTION PINE SPRINGS
TREASURER’S REPORT
Expected Budget Income $62,308
Actual Budget Income $54,192
Actual Budget Expenses $55,672
Pines Springs Camp
McDonald Presbyterian Church is committed to sending all of our young people to sum-mer camp who would like to attend. Church camp is not something that only “outdoorsy” kids do. It is something that we believe is a powerful, spiritual formation experience. As we participate in church ministries and programs throughout the year our time is gener-ally broken into blocks limited to several hours that allow us to worship God and be with other Christians. At camp our students experience a full week of worship, study, play, and relationship building that leads to a great week of fun that is spiritually energizing. Every student that attends from McDonald Presbyterian Church and registers by the dead-line will receive a $150.00 scholarship towards the cost of camp. The price of camp re-
flects the very high quality of program that our students receive and a very low counselor to camper ratio.
Details: MPC will be attending camp June 24-29
We have chosen a week where all of our students, who are able, will attend camp together. Pastor Justin is serving as the Volunteer Director for a camp called Wet and Wild Exploration, June 24-29. This camp is open to all students who have completed grades 3-5. Also that same week is an Adventure Exploration Camp and a Theater Exploration Camp all open for grades 3-5. Students who choose Wet and Wild will be with Pastor Justin almost all of the time. Students who choose one of the other camps that week will see Pastor Justin at meals and other com-mon activities around camp. These camps all run from Sunday afternoon through Friday evening and have a cost of $355.00 before our church scholarship.
This same week there is a middle school camp our students will attend Mission Ex. This camp is for stu-dents who are attending with their youth group and have completed grades 6-8. Summer Steele will be attending this week and will serve as one of the leaders of this great adventure and service week. The camp focus is on high adventure and team building for the first two days and then sends students out on a two day mission trip in the local area. This camp runs from Sunday through Thursday. McDonald Presbyterian is extending the middle school camp by one day through Friday afternoon. We are designing an extra overnight especially for our students. With this added night middle school campers will leave the same day and time as all other campers. We need additional adult support for the middle school camp, preferably an adult male. The total cost before our church scholarship is $325.00. Please contact Summer Steele in order to secure a spot for your child.
MPC Registration Deadline: Pine Springs does not have a registration deadline but our church strongly encourages families to commit to camp by Sunday, May 20th. For those students who do not complete a registration form and pay the $75.00 deposit to PSC by May 20th the church scholarship will be reduced from $150.00 to $125.00.
Registration Procedure: Registration for camp is something that happens directly between the student’s parent or guardian and Pine Springs. Registration forms and initial payment should be mailed directly to the camp. When this happens contact Summer Steele and notify her of the details of your registration including what camp your church will attend. On Monday May 21st a check will be sent out from our church to pay the church portion of all those students who have registered.
Other Weeks at Pines Springs: Can’t attend our week? PSC offers camps all summer long. The same scholarship guidelines apply for students attending from our congregation.
Additional Scholarships: We do not want finances to stop a child from attending camp. If some additional funds are needed please contact Summer Steele or Pastor Justin.
Thank you for your interest in and support of Pines Springs Camp. It is a great opportunity for your children and thousands of campers have attended over the years. Pick up a color brochure for the 2012 camping season today!
PINE SPRINGS CAMP—2012
PAGE 5 MCPRESBY NEWS
Children’s Church
Adult Volunteer May 6th Summer Steele May 13th Summer Steele May 20th Summer Steele May 27th Summer Steele
Nursery Adult Volunteer May 6th Diane & Tori Nation May 13th Help Needed May 20th Help Needed May 27th Dorothy Penberthy Small Talk May 6th Syndria Lowe May 13th Justin Amsler May 20th Summer Steele May 27th Chuck Smith Greeters May 6th Hannah Fay Descutner May 13th Bob & Diane Shepherd May 20th Lucy Hawk May 27th Peggy Samarin Lay Leaders May 6th Marilou Ritchie May 13th Peggy Samarin May 20th Dick Gladden May 27th Sandi Albertini Acolytes May 6th Alex & Katie Nemec May 13th Jimmy & Tommy Gilbert May 20th Volunteers needed May 27th Abby & Jacob Weiler Hospitality Bakers May 6th Help Needed May 13th Dana Longstreth May 20th Joy Penderville May 27th Mary Hawes
2012 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS/VOLUNTEERS—MAY
PAGE 6 MCPRESBY NEWS
PAGE 7 MCPRESBY NEWS
2012—MPC SUMMER SCHEDULE
We have another great summer planned at MPC
Join us for these great worship opportunities that will bless you and your family
Children’s Sunday, June 3rd: We kick off the month of June with our annual Children’s Sunday. This will be a great day to celebrate the accomplishments of our Children through the past year.
Sunday Worship Moves to 10:00 AM, June 10th: The next week we will begin our Summer Worship Schedule with Worship beginning at 10:00 AM in Calvary Center.
Summer Sunday School Begins June 10th: Children will be having their own fun filled worship time at 10:00 AM in Trinity Center throughout the summer.
Father’s Day, June 17th: Fathers and all men will be recognized for their service and role in our families and in our church.
Pine Springs Camp Week, June 24-29: Pastor Justin and Summer Steele will be taking our students to Pine Springs Camp this week for a great time of fun, adventure, and Spiritual Growth. All of our students are invited! See the Pine Springs Camp Page for details.
Sunday Evening Praise Night, June 24th: Our Praise Team will be hosting their monthly praise night and the whole church is invited to a night of worship and teaching.
Vacation Bible School Kickoff Sunday in Trinity Center, July 29th: This Sunday we will be worshiping in Trinity Center to showcase all of the decorations and preparations that have been made to host a great week of VBS.
Vacation Bible School Week, July 30th – August 3rd: Each day from 9:30 AM - 12:00 Noon, children, students, and adults will be diving into a weeklong adventure with our Babylon themed VBS. Daniel and his adventures will be the basis for everything that we do. We are expecting over 100 chil-dren to come out this year!
Worship in the Park, August 19th: We again will be worshiping with the First Baptist Church of McDonald at Heritage Park. There will be great food and games for the kids after!
Rally Day, August 30th: This is the day that we return to 10:45 AM worship and Launch our Sunday School Season for the fall.
About 30 members of our Congregation will be traveling to Sugar Creek Ohio on May 12th to see the Triumphant Quartet and to enjoy a great day together exploring shops and enjoying excellent food. The trip is sold out but keep your eyes open for our next event and sign up early! A special thank you is extended to Mary Catherine Garrett for planning the event.
TRIUMPHANT QUARTET
The Creative Ministries Offering Committee meets annually to review Birthday Offering proposals, selecting up to five projects. To be considered, projects must meet criteria established by the com-mittee including: • Having a purpose that meets basic human needs, and is consistent with the mission concerns and policies of the PC (USA), • Providing a farm of aid that relates directly to the people being served • And being a project less than three years old or an existing project moving in a new direction. In August 2011, the committee reviewed 32 proposals and selected three projects as recipients of the 2012 Birthday Offering. Thank Offering grants helped two of the parent organizations begin their ministries; now Birthday Offering grants can help the organizations move in new vital directions. The
grant amounts for the projects will depend on gifts contributed during 2012. The goal for the 2012 Birthday Offering is $900,000. make a significant impact on the lives of children in the United States and Romania, and communities around the world.
For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shad from the heat.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS-BIRTHDAY OFFERING
PAGE 8 MCPRESBY NEWS
Current Family Life Groups as of May 2012
Group Leader (s) Day and Time of Meetings
Location
Tom and Molly Maxwell and John Casey
Every other Tuesday at 7 p.m. Cherry Valley Homes
Jim and Kathy Strand Sunday evening 6:00 p.m. Home of Jim & Kathy Strand
Summer Steele
Jim McDowell
Tuesday at 7 p.m. Trinity Center, Parlor
Ray Morgan Wednesday at 7 PM McDonald Home
Justin and
Sarah Amsler
Two (2) Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Babysitting Included
Calvary Center
Peggy Samarin and Linda Matchett
Daytime, every other Monday 12:00 Noon
Trinity Fellowship Hall and Parlor
Heather Weiler Sundays at 7 p.m.
with Praise Team
Calvary Center Sanctuary
Syndria Lowe Every other Sunday Calvary Center Pastor’s Study
Dana Eyler Wednesday evenings
7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m.
Home of
Dorothy Penberthy
Room for More! A date and time that works for you
The Church, a Restaurant or your home
MAY 2012—ANNIVERSARIES/BIRTHDAYS
PAGE 9 MCPRESBY NEWS
Happy Anniversary to:
Heather & Scott Weiler 5/11 Bill & Joann Gibbs 5/14
Louis & Suzanne McQuillan 5/15 Melanie & Mike Nemec 5/20
Mary Catherine & Tom Garrett 5/26 Tom & Melissa Garrett 5/26
Jeffrey & Chris Burger 5/29 Dorothy & Floyd Laughlin 5/31
Mrs. Joann Bennett Mr. Clarence Brockman Mrs. Janet Brockmyer Mrs. Naomi Brockman Ms. Dorothy Blank (Lynn Brockman’s cousin) Mrs. Dolores Chambola (Ida Galicic’s sister) Mrs. Sylvia Cimarrolli Mrs. Margie DeFaveri Mrs. Kris Hanczar Miss Julie Hanczar Mrs. Dorothy Irwin Mrs. Kat Rickenback (Friend of Lin Nalesnick) Mrs. Roberta Langer Mrs. Dorothy Laughlin Mrs. Jane McRae Mr. Chuck Smith, Sr. Mrs. Dorothy Smith Mrs. Pat Schwartz Mrs. Jean Tucker Mr. Carl Waspusk Mr. John Walker Mrs. Carol Wanner (sister of Debbie McGinnis)
Assisted Living /Rehabilitation
Miss Mary Ann Johnen, Presbyterian Senior Care, South Minster Place, Apartment 336 880 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 Telephone: Mrs. Jo McDowell, Washington Commons, Room 209, 528 Dewey Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Dorothy Blank, Kade Nursing Home, 1198 W. Wylie Avenue, Washington, PA 15301 Telephone: 724/222-2148 Mrs. Hilda Balog, Providence Point Health Care Center, 200 Adams Avenue, Room 139-Memory Support Unit Pittsburgh, PA 15243. (Mail must be addressed as listed).
Home from Rehab Mrs. Dorothy Irwin THANK YOU. . .THANK YOU. . .THANK YOU
Heartfelt thanks to Pastor Justin and the MPC family for all your healing prayers and well wishes. What a comfort to know that so many people are in my corner.
A special thanks to the Sunday school kids and teachers for the beautiful flowers that brought a burst of sunshine to my day a smile to my face. I miss your cheery little eager to learn faces every Sunday morning.
A debt of gratitude to all menu planners who kept us from starvation: the Deacons, MYM, Rev. Sue, Hannah Fay Descutner, the Hugheys (Peggy, Jim, Chuck and Becky), Dana Motte, Debbie McGinnis, Jamie Wilson and Kurt Lisa McElhaney. You all get an A+ for the dinner selections and 5 stars for the dessert choices. You can cook for me anytime!
We are blessed to have such good friends. Your thoughtfulness and generosity has helped to make a trying time a little easier. Keep the healing prayers coming, and I’ll see you when I’m walking on 2 feet!
Joann Bennett
MAY 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Trustees Mtg. 7:30 p.m. Trinity Ctr. Library
Boy Scouts
2 MYM 3 Choir Practice
Cub Scouts
4 AA’s
Acquire the Fire
5 Acquire the Fire
6 10:45 a.m. Service
SS Open House 9:00 a.m.
Chapter 11 “The Story”
7 Elijah Prayer Group 12:00 Noon
8 Boy Scouts 9 MYM 10 Choir Practice
Cub Scouts
11 AA’s 12 Triumphant Quartet/Sugar Creek
13 Mother’s Day
9:30 a.m. Andy Needham Band 10:45 a.m. Ser-vice Chapter 12 “The Story”
14 Elijah Prayer Group 12:00 Noon
Session Meeting 7:00 p.m. Trin. Ctr.
15Boy Scouts
16 MYM 17 Choir Practice
Lioness’ 7:00 p.m. Cal Ctr.
Cub Scouts
18 AA’s 19 Deacon Flowers Deliv-ered
20 10:45 a.m. Service Donut Day/Denominational Conversation
