New Class: "How to Spell Presbyterian"

Ask three Presbyterians for their opinion, and invariably you will get four or five perspectives. Sometimes it gets confusing as to what we believe and do. Every once in a while, it's nice to have a reminder of our foundations. A new Sunday School class will be starting on September 20 to explore what it means to be a Christian, a Presbyterian, and a member of the Ardmore Presbyterian Church. It's designed for people considering to join the congregation, but life-long Presbyterians might enjoy the conversation. We will be studying Scripture, reviewing our traditions, and asking lots of questions. The class will be six weeks long, and we will be meeting in the William Faulds Library starting at 9am. Please contact Pastor James for more information. Join us as we learn “How to Spell Presbyterian”.

DATES: Weekly, Sunday, September 20 - Sunday, October 25
TEACHER: James Hodsden

The Build-it Bus

The Build-it Bus web site: www.builditbus.com

The Build-it Bus is a traveling, creative workshop that operates out of a refitted SEPTA para-transit bus. The Bus is supported by Ardmore Presbyterian Church and run by APC volunteers. The bus travels to city school yards teaching skilled handicrafts to urban children. Students work on the bus itself, which is equipped with workbenches and manual tools re-engineered for use by children.
Urban children have very little opportunity to work with their hands. We are looking for volunteers to help students learn important and rewarding life skills. Last year students made drums and chess sets (and learned to play chess). This year the kids will take a basic woodworking course. A silk screen shop, a magic trick shop (designed to give kids practice with reading comprehension), learning how to use a sewing machine and learning needle work are also planned. This year the Bus will be traveling regularly to Rhoads Elementary and possibly Leidy Elementary, both in West Philly. Short term projects are planned for the John Gloucester House, the Barry School and other locations.


The Build-it Bus works with the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children. Volunteers go through WePAC’s volunteer training process (not difficult). WePACs’ training sessions are scheduled for September 23 or September 24.

Contact Sherina Poorman through the church office 610 642 6650

Sushi and Mission

Often when we think of Church, we are limited to the institutional church. We forget that the people are the Church. When we think of mission or ministry we focus too often on the structures of the church. This is the wrong approach. We should instead begin with the basics—love of God and the love of our neighbor. Our ministry should flow from those basic commitments. In a recent article for the Presbyterian News Service, Rev. Mark Lau Branson, a professor at Fuller Seminary, gives an example from his own church of mission which doesn’t begin with structures.

A woman at his church noticed that many people were homebound and in need of meals. His church is largely Japanese-American, but Meals on Wheels does not serve Japanese food. The woman got a group together to deliver sushi, not only providing cultural food but time for conversation. The church has no budget for this, but the women didn’t let that stop them — they just did it.

If you are a Christian, you are the Church. If you are the Church, you are involved in mission. This can be at your workplace, in your family, and with your neighbors.

Youth Triennium 2010

Please mark your calendar July 20-24, 2010. We will be joining over 7,000 youth and adults from around the world at the National Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Youth from the ages of 15-19 will gather at Purdue University for a time of fellowship, faith and fun. We will be traveling with other members of Philadelphia Presbytery. Since it only happens once every three years, every senior high youth will definitely want to consider it.

Check out these links...

• http://www.presbyterianyouthtriennium.org/
• http://www.facebook.com/Triennium

Wednesday Bible Studies

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY/LUNCH
WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 16 AT NOON (Fellowship Hall)

Every week, we enjoy some home-cooking as we wrestle with the Scriptures. Good conversation, laughter and questions are always welcome. This fall we are turning to the Old Testament, specifically to the Book of Job. In our survey we will explore God's sovereignty, the limits of our theology and the problem of suffering in the world. That's a lot for lunch, but our men like challenges. Still, don't let the subject matter overwhelm. A desire to learn is all that our participants need. If you would like to join us, please contact Pastor James or just show up. Meetings end at 1:30 pm. Leader: James Hodsden

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 16 AT NOON (Library)

During the first half hour we eat a brown-bag lunch, catch up on each others’ lives and share the Hugs List. Bible study begins at 12:30 with prayer. Currently we are reading the book of Acts. Members of the group take turns reading a portion of the scripture. Since many of us have different translations of the Bible, we often begin our discussion by talking about what words may be different or where emphasis varies. We also share commentary that may be included
in our various Bibles. The historical context of scripture is often helpful in understanding passages that may seem strange to us in our modern world. We usually end the discussion of a passage by looking at the ways in which what has been read relates to our lives today. Although we read through the books from beginning to end, occasional visitors would have no difficulty dropping in on the group and sharing in that day’s discussion. We end our meetings at 1:30 pm. Leader: Elaine Giese

Helping the Homeless

BEING GOD’S HANDS...SHOWING GOD’S LOVE
CAN BE DONE RIGHT HERE IN ARDMORE BY HELPING WITH
THE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK

Volunteers needed on Saturday evening, September 12, 2009 to:

1. Prepare* and serve dinner (5:00 to 6:30 pm) at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
2. Host guests and/or children from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

A sign-up sheet is in the narthex or talk with Anne Foote, IHN Coordinator

*If it is not possible for you to serve dinner, food can be prepared and brought to APC beforehand and others can do the serving.

Pastor's Pen: We Get to Carry Each Other

In the U2 song, “One”, Bono croons “We get to carry each other.” In other words, we have the privilege and the honor to carry each other’s burdens. That’s not a bad vision for who we are as the Church. According to the Scriptures, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). With our various abilities, talents, and perspectives, we still are united in our faith.

In a way, every conflict or disagreement is an opportunity for the church. We can show the world a different way to treat each other. We get to love as God loves.


Grace & Peace,
James

-------------------------------


“One” by U2

Is it getting better?
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now?
You got someone to blame
You say

One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much?
More than a lot.
You gave me nothing,
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other