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

Morgan Schreiner 1945-2010

From the Philadelphia Inquirer...

Morgan Reese Schreiner of Wynnewood, PA, died on Thurs., May 6, 2010 at the age of 64. Beloved husband of Sarah M. Schreiner and devoted father of Benjamin M. and Catherine M. Schreiner. He is also survived by his sister, Marybeth Bynon.

His Memorial Service will be held on Mon., May 10, 1:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore, Corner of Montgomery Ave. and Millcreek Rd., Ardmore, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests that contributions be made in his memory to Presbyterian Children's Village, 452 S. Roberts Rd., Rosemont, PA 19010 www.pcv.org

From "A Declaration of Faith of the Presbyterian Church USA" (1977)...

Death will be destroyed. In the death of Jesus Christ God’s way in the world seemed finally defeated. But death was no match for God. The resurrection of Jesus was God’s victory over death. Death often seems to prove that life is not worth living, that our best efforts and deepest affections go for nothing. We do not yet see the end of death. But Christ has been raised from the dead, transformed and yet the same person. In his resurrection is the promise of ours. We are convinced the life God wills for each of us is stronger than the death that destroys us. The glory of that life exceeds our imagination but we know we shall be with Christ. So we treat death as a broken power. Its ultimate defeat is certain. In the face of death we grieve. Yet in hope we celebrate life. No life ends so tragically that its meaning and value are destroyed. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Service of Healing & Wholeness May 16th

Each Sunday we include in our worship service the Prayers of the People. As believers, we know that the world is not as God created it to be, that it is broken because of the effect of sin. We too experience that brokenness in our lives and in our relationships. However, we believe that in Jesus, God has begun the work of restoring all creation, of bringing healing and wholeness.

On May 16, at 3:00 pm, we will have a service of healing and wholeness. This will be a worship service that will focus on prayer for healing and wholeness in every part of our lives through the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. In so doing, we will join a long line of Christians throughout history who have responded to God’s Word in this way.

2010 Holy Week and Easter Services

2010 HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES

AT ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION & WORSHIP

• Sunday, March 28 ‐ 10:30 am (Sanctuary)

LENTEN VESPERS AND COMMUNION SERVICE

• Wednesday, March 31 ‐ 7:30 pm (Memorial Chapel)

MAUNDY THURSDAY AGAPE MEAL AND COMMUNION

• Thursday, April 1 ‐ 6:30 pm (Fellowship Hall)

GOOD FRIDAY MID‐DAY SERVICE

• Friday, April 2 ‐ 12:15 pm (Memorial Chapel)

GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE

• Friday, April 2 ‐ 7:30 pm (Memorial Chapel)

RESURRECTION OF THE LORD EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 4

• 8:30 am ‐ Memorial Chapel (First Service led by Youth)

ALL-CHURCH EASTER BREAKFAST, APRIL 4

• 9:15 am ‐ Fellowship Hall (RSVP to 610‐642‐6650 or admin@ardmorepres.org)
  

Organ, Brass and Timpani Musical Prelude

• 10:00 am ‐ Sanctuary

CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION, APRIL 4

• 10:30 am ‐ Sanctuary

Please remember to bring fresh or silk flowers on Easter Sunday for the “Blossoming of the Cross”.

Palm Sunday with the Grove City College Touring Choir

The Grove City College Touring Choir will be joining us on Palm Sunday, March 28, during worship (10:15 a.m. prelude)

Grove City College is a four‐year, fully accredited liberal arts and sciences college north of Pittsburgh. Its solid reputation is based on a strong academic program, a Christian environment conducive to learning, and a commitment to operate virtually debt‐free.

The Touring Choir was organized in 1959, and has toured annually since then. Directed since 1981 by Dr. Douglas A. Browne, the choir has visited virtually every state east of the Mississippi River, and has appeared at various music educators’ conferences. The choir will sing before (10:15 a.m.) and during Palm Sunday worship. Selections will include Byrd’s “Ave verum corpus,” Gretchaninoff’s “Holy Radiant Light,” Martin’s “When I Survey,” Clausen’s “Hosanna,” and Hogan’s “My Soul’s Been Anchored.”

As a sample of what they sing, here is a modern piece entitled "Vieni Nel Mio Cuore" by Jonny Priano. The text translates...

I'm lost in this wasteland.
Love me,
Guide me,
Christ come into my heart.

Mark Your Calendars: Bach Festival

While you are home watching the snow, please MARK your calendars for the upcoming BACH Festival. All our choirs (and those of Overbrook Presbyterian and St. Paul's Lutheran) have been working hard in preparation for this big event.

DRESS REHEARSAL -

SAT, MARCH 20, 2:00 p.m.

(children should be done by 3:15)

at St. Paul's Lutheran Church

BACH FESTIVAL SERVICE -

SUN, MARCH 21, 4:00 p.m.

(service should be done by 5:15)

at St. Paul's Lutheran Church

The program will mark the 325th anniversary of J.S. Bach, one of the most revered composers of all time, and one of the most influential in church music (he has been called "the fifth evangelist," e.g. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, JSB).

The children are doing well with all the music, especially "Wir eilen mit schwachen." To listen to this one, I recommend the following site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YdPGxcHTwI

(our choirs will sing the first 2:00 and the recap, then soloists will sing the middle section).

Gary G

Moment for Ministry: Associate Pastor Nominating Committee Update

(Given in worship Sunday, September 13 by Elaine Giese)

I am speaking to you this morning on behalf of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. First I would like to reintroduce the members of the committee: Jim Dormond and Christian Terwiesch are co-moderators, Carol Shih is our clerk, and the other members are Will Wolverton, Curt Wilson, Barbara Simons and myself.

We have been meeting regularly this summer beginning in July and, thanks to the miracle of modern technology, we have been able to keep in touch even when some of us were on vacation. Our goal was to rewrite the Church Study and then to prepare information for the Church Information Form that is used to advertise the position of Associate Pastor for our church. The fact that a church study had been done very recently was of invaluable assistance and we
owe a debt of thanks to the PNC which called James Hodsden. Our work on that form included updating information and evaluating programs in light of the desires and talents of our new senior pastor. One of our meetings was devoted to having James share with us his interests and dreams for the church.

Both of these documents were presented to the Session at the August meeting. Their corrections and revisions have been included and the documents were approved as edited. The next step was to ask the Committee on Ministry of the Philadelphia Presbytery to approve both forms. That was accomplished in early September. We are now posting the Church Information Form on the national Presbyterian website, our website and have placed ads in Presbyterian Outlook and Presbyterians Today. The committee has devised a system for evaluating the resumes we will receive. If you would like to check out the documents, you can look at the church website or ask one of us for a copy.

We appreciate your prayers. We are also praying that we will feel God guiding us through this process to find the right person to call as our Associate Pastor.