Mission Partnership: Calvin Presbyterian

We are still collecting any used clothing or shoes to bring down to Calvin Presbyterian. We can pick that up from you directly or you can bring it to church or the garden night. This need like food never stops, especially for children.

We have also found out that Calvin Presbyterian will be starting a daycare/preschool in the fall. We will be collecting items that would be useful for that as well. This could be new or gently used toys, games, puzzles, books,etc. Anything we could supply them with is something they don't have to buy. We can also pick up items like this from your home or you can bring them to church or the garden night. I am in the process of finding out more specifics about this new program. This might be a fun way we could bless Calvin church itself which is doing much for many with little.

Our own church as well as Calvin Presbyterian operates a food pantry for area people who are hungry. Please bring any food donations and now they will get to a place where they can be used.

THANK YOU!!

Cherub Choir Update

Greetings, Cherub Families!

2012 has started off marvelously for Cherub Choir and we've gained three new members. We are so happy to see 16 shining cherubs each week.

So far this year, Cherubs have learned about Epiphany, the Wise Men and their gifts and sang "We Three Kings." Then Miss Carol taught about Jesus as a young man and the Cherubs learned "The Twelve Disciples," reviewed the "Books of the New Testament" and learned the new song, "A Little Boy in Galilee."

Last week we began talking about love (keeping in tune with upcoming Valentine's Day) and Jesus' teaching of the First and Greatest Commandment in the Book of Mark, which the Cherubs recognized as the second book in their song.

Carrying forward with this theme, the Cherubs will sing in church for the introit on Sunday, Feb. 5. Miss Carol will be working at the Christian Education program at the church where she is employed that day, so Mrs. Garletts will lead the Cherubs. Please have your Cherub in the chapel by 10 a.m. to put on robes. After they sing, Cherubs come to the side door where Mrs. Garletts and Miss Anna will take their robes, then Cherubs return to their parents.

Since they're learning about love, Cherubs will sing the traditional "Jesus Loves Me" along with signing using American Sign Language. They will also sing (in keeping with the second Greatest Commandment) "Love Your Neighbor As Yourself."

There will be no Wednesday Plus on Feb. 22 due to it being Ash Wednesday. There is a church service that evening at 7:30 with child care provided.

We've said it before, but it bears repeating -- We are thankful that you think (as we do) that it is essential for your children to learn about God's love and wisdom for daily living enough to schedule the time to bring them to Wednesday Plus each week. We try our best in our teaching them about God in ways that will help them to grow up knowledgeable about God and His ways. God bless you and your family as 2012 continues to unfold.

In God's Grace - Miss Carol, Miss Emily, Mrs. Garletts and Miss Anna

Introducing Patty Rich, Director of Youth and Children Ministries

Good Afternoon, Here's an update on our efforts to find a new Director of Youth and Children Ministries.

Kristen Thomas - Clarke When Kristen Thomas-Clarke informed me last August that she found a library position with the Kimberton Waldorf School, I was very sorry that she would be stepping down as our Director of Christian Education. Although she was not trained as a Christian educator, Kristen was competent and organized. From VBS to the Sunday School Program, she always had the best interests of our children and youth in mind. Ardmore Presbyterian Church is immensely grateful for the work that she did here. Nonetheless, Kristen had been waiting to find a library position for a long time. This is a great opportunity for her to use her talents to the fullest. Anne Foote In order to prevent the loss of momentum in our ministry, we approached Anne Foote to serve as an interim director. Currently the director of APC's Preschool, Anne has also served as Director of Christian Education in the past, and she was gracious enough to agree. She has worked very hard these last few months, especially considering that her husband Gren had some health issues during the same time. Anne is incredibly creative, and she brought that excitement and whimsy to the job. The Ardmore Presbyterian Church is especially thankful for the time and effort she gave to our youngest members. An Opportunity and a Difficult Decision Rather than simply filling the position, the Christian Education Committee and the session took a wiser course. They considered the vacancy as an opportunity to step out in faith. They redefined the position, looking at how we could expand our ministry to children and youth. During the recent stewardship campaign, several members of the congregation increased their giving in support of this decision. I am very grateful that this congregation remains invested in these ministries. After redefining and securing funding for the position, we had the hard task of finding the right person for the job. We reached out to potential candidates through our newsletter, the Philadelphia Presbytery, Eastern University and Palmer Seminary. We had a number of qualified candidates who applied, including some from our congregation. We should be thankful that our congregation has such a wealth of talented people. The decision was a difficult one, but we have hired Patty Rich as our new Director of Children and Youth Ministries. Patty Rich Patty has served as a ruling elder at the Marple Presbyterian Church in Newtown Square. She is also finishing her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. Prior to her training at the seminary, she served as a middle school and high school teacher at Marple Newtown School District. Over the years she has also volunteered her time working with youth in extracurricular activities such as directing musicals and producing dramas. Patty is married, and she has three adult children.

Over the next few weeks, please take the time to introduce yourself to Patty. Talk to her about our church and the wonderful opportunity we have to share God's love with our children. Then, pray about how you might get involved. Grace and Peace, James Hodsden Senior Pastor, Ardmore Presbyterian Church

Stewardship For Kids

STEWARDSHIP FOR KIDS

Just a reminder to thumb tack up your STEWARSDSHIP PUZZLES and PICTURES on the "APC KIDS CARE" Bulletin Board in the Mill Creek Room. Don't forget to wrtie your name on them. I'll be hoping to get Pledge Cards in the Offering Plate in Sunday School, too.

With Care,

STU Bear (and Mrs. Foote)

Job Opening: Director of Youth and Children Ministry

Please pass this information to those who might be interested.

The Ardmore Presbyterian Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania is seeking a part-time Director of Youth and Children Ministry. The Director reports to the Senior Pastor and maintains key relationships with staff and lay leaders. The Director oversees and develops ministry to our children and youth. In addition, the Director provides for the recruitment and training of all volunteers in these ministries. The part-time position assumes 20 hours a week. For a job description, click here.

Apply by sending a resume to admin@ardmorepres.org.

Minute for Stewardship: Director of Youth and Children Ministry

presented in worship on November 6, 2011...

Good morning.

As members of the congregation, we all make a promise to our children at their Baptism:

Do we the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture [this child] by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging this child to know and follow Christ and to be a faithful member of his Church

I am here this morning as a child of this church who was baptized and confirmed here and attended Sunday School and Youth Fellowship. As a mother, I volunteered as a Sunday School teacher for 20 years and for the last 9 years, I have participated as a member of the CEC. The education of our children and youth are very important to the future of our congregation. As the leader of the Christian Education Committee and as a member of this congregation who contemplates my stewardship responsibilities at this time each year, just as we all do, I would like to share with you our need, as a congregation to financially support the expanded role of our Director of Youth and Children Ministries.

As you know, our Christian Education director, Kristen Thomas-Clarke, moved on in September to a new position in her field of library sciences, and we need to fill her position. Kristen’s position was officially compensated for 10 hours a week. She also volunteered many additional hours. This position is responsible for recruiting, training and leading a small army of 20-30 volunteers to teach our children and run their fellowship activities. This position is also responsible for selecting our educational materials, developing materials for our annual Spiritual Enrichment Retreat and Vacation Bible School. This position also participates as a member of the Christian Education Committee.

After reviewing the job responsibilities, and thoughtful and prayerful discussion, the Christian Education Committee recommended to the Session that to effectively keep our promise to “encourage our children to know and follow Christ and to be a faithful member of his Church” we need to expand and strengthen the children and youth program offerings. In order to accomplish this, we need to increase the hours of this role by adding 10 hours a week to the Director of Youth and Children Ministries. . . . . . . .taking it to a 20 hour a week position.

 At their August Session meeting, the Session approved the job description for the Director of Youth and Children Ministries voting to increase the hours of the Director position from 10 hours a week to 20 hours a week. At the September Session meeting, Session agreed to increase the compensation commensurate with the increase in hours.

To attract a candidate that has an education and experience in Youth ministries, we need to offer a competitive compensation package.  This commitment will result in a total of 20 hours a week and an increase to our budget of $10,000/year for a total compensation package of $20,000/year. We believe that 20 hours/week will meet the needs of our congregation and that this compensation level is in line with comparable positions elsewhere in the Presbytery.

As members of this congregation, we have a responsibility to support the programs that are critical to the success of our ministries. We do this by volunteering and by our financial support. Each of us needs to give prayerful thought to how we can best contribute to Ardmore Presbyterian’s ministries. $10,000 is a lot of money to raise, but think about it this way. . . That’s only $1.60 per week from each family in the church.  Without this additional support, the funding would have to be allocated from other areas within the church that also depend upon our membership’s stewardship for their ministries and programs.   

As you consider your stewardship commitment for the coming year, please consider increasing your pledge and including in that increase $1.60 a week to fund the compensation of this critical position.

The Christian Education Committee prays for you as you weigh the importance of this need to the future of the Ardmore Presbyterian Church.

Thank you.

Kathy Toal

Moderator, Christian Education Committee

Letter to APC Children's Choir Parents

Dear APC Children's Choir Parents,

 

We have had a great first three weeks in Children's Choir, as part of Wednesday PLUS at APC.

 

The choir is about 15 members and is off to a fine start, learning concepts, warm-ups, hymns and anthems.  Yesterday three singers tested and passed the September hymn!

 

Just to remind you, the choir sings twice in October:

 

October 16 - Introit "Come Worship God" with youth and clarinet

 

October 30 - annual Reformation 3-choir anthem, "Look at the World" with youth and adults

 

It's important that as many singers as possible attend on Sundays we sing.  Though we have a great Wed. program, the Sunday services are the only time we are "visible" to most of our congregation.  Plus it is valuable experience for the children--it is an important part of their religious education, it validates their present contribution to our corporate life, and it prepares them for future leadership.

 

PLEASE BE ON TIME for Sunday warm-ups.  The typical call (like Oct 16) is 10:10 a.m. in the sanctuary. BUT it is 10:00 on Oct 30 (Reformation)!

 

Finally, in addition to the faith and music elements in choir, we must also stress the value of teamwork, cooperation and relationships.  This is a challenge when these children attend different schools and only meet in this context once per week.  We'll work on this at church--both during rehearsals and during Mrs. Foote's "Journey to Jerusalem."  Meanwhile, I would ask you also work on this with your children.  Plesae remind them that they should interact kindly with everyone in the choir (not just their best friends), and to be welcoming to visitors and new members.

 

Thanks again for your child's participation.

 

Gary Garletts

Wednesday PLUS Starts Again on September 14

Dear APC Parents,

I look forward to a new year of Children's Choir as part of APC's "Wednesday PLUS" program.

I hope you read Anne Foote's letter of invitation.  As Interim Director of Christian Education, Anne will direct the activity portion of Wed. PLUS, using "Journey to Jerusalem," which has been very popular with children through many years.

Presently I estimate 15 singers in the choir, which is very good.  Fifth graders are more numerous than usual, which might allow me to push the envelope on musical challenges.  We are blessed again with the assistance of Mrs. Giese and Mrs. Hoelscher.

Please remember this is the year for the three-church choral festival (alternates years with the musical).  The adults will sing Brahms "Requiem" and the children/youth will sing anthems TBD.  Please save Sunday, March 25, 3:00 p.m. (festival) plus the previous morning (rehearsal) in your schedule.

Our first singing date in worship is October 16 (introit with youth choir).  We will also sing in the 13th annual Reformation Sunday three-choir anthem (Oct 30, Rutter's "Look at the World," see the video below).  You will receive a complete list of singing dates ASAP.

See you soon!

Gary Garletts

VBS: Media Wrap-Up

Thank God for a wonderful Vacation Bible School this year.  We traveled to Narnia to hear the story of God's sacrifice for us.  The local media covered our time.  Here is a media wrap-up:

...from the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch:

NARDMORNIA?  THE LION, THE WITCH, AND 'KINGS AND QUEENS'

...from the Main Line Media News:

ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WRITES ITS OWN NARNIA PROGRAM FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

There is a write-up with each video.  We all had a fun time.

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT VBS

This summer we entered the land of Narnia to learn about the story of God's love.  It wouldn't have happened without the great work of lots of volunteers and the leadership of our Christian Education Director, Kristen Thomas-Clarke.  Thank you so much for your dedication to our children.

Sunday Surprise for July 2011 - Young Children in Worship

Sunday School remains an important part of the Christian education program here at the Ardmore Presbyterian Church.  It is one of the ways in which our community keeps the vows we make at the baptism of our children.  As a result, we are excited to offer a special Summer Surprise for the ages of 4 to10 on the first four Sundays in July of 2011.

Led by Carol Shih and the APC youth, our children will be experiencing four Montessori-based Sunday school sessions from a curriculum called “Young Children in Worship.” This unique approach to Sunday morning learning concentrates on community building and on spiritual formation. Young Children in Worship does not approach Christian education through a school model, but rather focuses on nurturing both spiritual community and the inner spiritual life of children -- by patterning its sessions after Christian worship. This curriculum conceives of Christian education as learning about God through worship experiences, not lessons. Children learn about God by experiencing God through hearing and responding to Bible stories in a liturgical context.

Developed out of this Christian framework, Young Children and Worship is a wonderful way to help children apply the gospel of grace to their own lives.

The sessions are structured in the four-part format of Presbyterian worship:

1. Gathering: children dial down and are invited one-by-one to enter meditatively into the worship space.

2. Hearing the Word: a Bible story is beautifully told with carefully crafted figurines and props (created by APC Youth).

3. Responding to the Word: children first meditate with each other about the story through “I wonder” questions; then respond privately to the story with expressive art; finally the children have the “Feast,” or a communal snack.

4. Sending Out: each child is given a special blessing as they leave to be God's disciples in their homes, schools, and activities.

Important Note: Because the dismissal is an integral part of the four part worship, we ask that parents wait outside the room until the children are given their individual blessings and sent out.

We look forward to the privilege of entering with our children into this experience of worship and learning. We pray you have a blessed summer.

James Hodsden, Senior Pastor

Kristen Thomas Clarke, Director Christian Education

Carol Shih

Sherina Poorman

APC Youth