Garden Harvest Night for Wednesday July 18th

I am writing you about tomorrow night's(July 18th) harvesting. We are without Ray and Mary Van Leeuwen for 2 Wednesdays while they visit their family in California. This is a big loss to our Wednesdays. So it is that we need all of you willing people to come out tomorrow! As always please join us even if you must insist you are no gardener. All who fit in that category can simply combine abilities to make one composite gardener between us : ) If you come to the garden you have a great chance of really becoming a gardener which could be fun. Come when you can and stay until you need to go. 

Tomorrow we will have iffy weather so I am making a few adjustments. I will be there unless it is actually raining. Hadley and I will be there at 5pm this time to start the picking and harvesting in case the weather comes early. Hopefully we can get to the bigger items that way even if we get rained out for the herbs. Please join us at 5 or 5:30-p as usual. Jeff will come and fire up the grill at 5 45p when he arrives from work. We will provide hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a dish to share if you are able to and a chair or blanket to sit on. 

I have not been over to see the tomatoes in the past few days so we will only be picking those if they have suddenly become ready. There is zucchini and peppers, okra, a few more green onions and maybe one more batch of beans. We should have lots of need for people to pick herbs as well. The garden is enormous now. If you haven't looked in awhile, you will be amazed. The efforts of a small army of APC's kids helped to make that happen this year and that is exciting.

We will have the sprinkler out with the heat so come in your suit and bring a towel and change of clothes. I often forget one of those last two things for my own child so I am writing that to myself!

We are always collecting gently used clothes and shoes for all ages to take down to Calvin Presbyterian's clothing closet. The clothes will be taken down at the same time as the vegetables on Thursday mornings. We have been made aware that Calvin will be starting a daycare for 2,3 and 4 year olds in the fall. We have taken one load of toys. learning items and books down already. They were really delighted to receive them. We hope we can help and encourage them further before they launch in the fall. If you would like to purchase or donate a usable toy, game, puzzle, book(etc) to this effort, we could accept that from you at the garden or at church on Sunday. As most of you know our own church and also Calvin also operates a food pantry. Both are needing donations at all times of the year. Please bring any donations to our own church office or any donation for Calvin to the garden and we will get it down there. We are always available to pick up these items from your homes. We mean that. We know it can be too tricky to transport things for a variety of reasons. Let  Jeff or Karen Barnes know in person or at i2thee@hotmail.com.

We are having many good times at the garden this summer as we find we have a mission field right on our church property and certainly right up the road. Come join the harvest and the chance to show the love of Christ to our neighbors and the body at Calvin Presbyterian. We pull the vegetables with the hope that someone will know God cares for their present situation but also that their neighbors(us!) care for them as well.

Blessings,

Jeff and Karen Barnes

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!!

Summer Garden Fellowship -- Now with Sprinklers and Picnic Table

Hello all,

We write to invite you to join us at the garden this Wednesday. So many vegetables are coming in now there is plenty of harvesting to be done. All the weeding and watering are adding up to great things. I believe Mary may have a few more weeks of watering and weeding the garden that need covering. Let us know if you or your family is interested. There are people to show and explain what needs to be done. I use as proof that it is easy enough for anybody the fact that our family has done it : )

We have received the generous gift of a picnic table from the Rickenbach family. We are grateful. If anybody else has any lawn chairs they would like to donate to the get togethers, we would be glad to hear from you. 

In case you haven't made it out to a Wednesday night recently we have also had the generous gift of a fun sprinkler from the Hipszer family. Wear or bring your suit and cool off. This has been a fun addition to our get togethers.

We will have the hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a side or dessert to pass or share if you are able. If you are not able, come without. This is no problem.

If you have a chair or a blanket it might be nice. We have a fair amount but if it gets to be a big showing you might be glad you brought them.

We start at 5:30p and have been wrapping things up between 7-7:30p. Come when you can and stay until you must go.

The produce from the garden is continuing to be brought down to Calvin Presbyterian church in West Philadelphia for their community lunch on Thursdays at noon. This church which is a part of our Philadelphia Presbytery, also has a clothing closet and food bank available at that time. This is really three ministries in one. Mary VanLeeuwen is a great source of more information on this Matthew 25:35 project, as it is called. I am a less knowledgable but very excited about it resource as well. If you have questions or would like to come down to see where the work of the garden goes, just let someone know. Churches are joining forces to do more in West Philadelphia(minutes from here) than could be done apart. It seems to be a promising model.

This is a great ministry to invite a friend to. That includes a friend from our own church! : )

Jeff, Hadley and I look forward to seeing many of you this Wednesday.

Wednesday Garden Summer Fellowship

Hello all,

We write to invite you to join us at the garden this Wednesday. So many vegetables are coming in now there is plenty of harvesting to be done. All the weeding and watering are adding up to great things. I believe Mary may have a few more weeks of watering and weeding the garden that need covering. Let us know if you or your family is interested. There are people to show and explain what needs to be done. I use as proof that it is easy enough for anybody the fact that our family has done it : )

We have received the generous gift of a picnic table from the Rickenbach family. We are grateful. If anybody else has any lawn chairs they would like to donate to the get togethers, we would be glad to hear from you. 

In case you haven't made it out to a Wednesday night recently we have also had the generous gift of a fun sprinkler from the Hipszer family. Wear or bring your suit and cool off. This has been a fun addition to our get togethers.

We will have the hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a side or dessert to pass or share if you are able. If you are not able, come without. This is no problem.

If you have a chair or a blanket it might be nice. We have a fair amount but if it gets to be a big showing you might be glad you brought them.

We start at 5:30p and have been wrapping things up between 7-7:30p. Come when you can and stay until you must go.

The produce from the garden is continuing to be brought down to Calvin Presbyterian church in West Philadelphia for their community lunch on Thursdays at noon. This church which is a part of our Philadelphia Presbytery, also has a clothing closet and food bank available at that time. This is really three ministries in one. Mary VanLeeuwen is a great source of more information on this Matthew 25:35 project, as it is called. I am a less knowledgable but very excited about it resource as well. If you have questions or would like to come down to see where the work of the garden goes, just let someone know. Churches are joining forces to do more in West Philadelphia(minutes from here) than could be done apart. It seems to be a promising model.

This is a great ministry to invite a friend to. That includes a friend from our own church! : )

Jeff, Hadley and I look forward to seeing many of you this Wednesday.

Pastor's Pen: The Lampost at Montgomery and Mill Creek

As long as the Ardmore Presbyterian Church has had a physical presence on the corner of Montgomery and Mill Creek Avenue there has been lamppost.  In the evenings as people walk and cars pass by the chapel entrance, a light shines forth.  In days past, that chapel was the sanctuary, and the lamppost had a much more prominent place in the life of the congregation.  You could see it every time you came to worship.  The first pastor of the church, Rev. Edmund Rawson wrote to the children of the church about our lamppost in 1914,

This is our lamp-post.  By day the sign tells strangers where our Church is.  By night the lamp helps us to see the path.  Every Sunday it is there, rain or shine, waiting to show you the way to Bible School and Church. Will you come to both as often as you can?

Our congregation began as a light to our neighborhood.  Ardmore Presbyterian Church was there to show that life was more than getting on the train and going to work.  In doing so, we were being faithful to the words of Jesus Christ, "…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Over a hundred years later, the neighborhood looks a little different.  The world of 2012 seems far removed from the early days of the twentieth century.  There have been incredible changes, both technological and social.  Many of the changes have been for the better, but they have also given us new challenges and anxieties. 

That lamppost in front of the chapel entrance stands as a needed reminder of who we are.  No matter the generation, we stumble when we walk in the darkness.  Although it may look a little different in various places and ages, the loving light of Jesus Christ is the answer to our needs.  The people of the Ardmore Presbyterian Church bring that light to today’s concerns.  We are transformed by God’s grace, and by extension, the world is a little brighter because of our presence. 

Mission Partnership: WePAC

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is seeking
volunteers to serve in elementary schools in West Philadelphia to help
young students enhance their literacy skills. WePAC opens and staffs
closed elementary school libraries, using volunteers to read stories to
children and help them select and check out books. The great majority of
elementary schools in West Philadelphia no longer have an open library,
and WePAC fills the need for an active library at no cost to the school.
In addition, WePAC volunteers serve as literacy assistants in K-2
classrooms and help run after-school newspaper clubs in several schools.
As these programs grow, many new volunteers are needed. If you are
interested in volunteering, please visit WePAC's website at
www.wepac.org or call 215-990-6084. -Connie Hoelscher

June 6th letter from Masey's

6^th June 2012

Dear Prayer Partners,

We just arrived from a month of very fruitful time in Australia. It was a time of refreshing for us. God spoke to us many times and repeatedly reminded us that he has called us to serve Him. We were encouraged and assured that He will be always with us in our times of trouble and pain and bring to fruition His purpose. Thank you for standing with us and praying that He would break through hard places and bring about victory for His Glory.

Children’s Home Building: The last time we heard from the organization was before we left for Australia that if we do not hand over the building they will take us to the court. I know many of you are concerned about this status and are standing with us. Thank you. Please continue to pray that the organization will look for the wellbeing of children and not do anything for their own gain. We are still living in the same building. Please pray that they will accept our offer to pay the cost of the construction and transfer the title to Caring Hands.

The good news is that the BOYS HOME STARTED with 8 boys this month. Praise God after many years of prayers we felt that Prakash & Hanna would the couple to take care of Boys. Continue to pray that they will adjust and settle down quickly and that we will be able to put them in the right school. We are looking for sponsors for Boy’s Home. If you want to sponsor please write to us. Thank you.

All, except two of our girls from the JOYFUL CHILDREN’S HOME passed in their exam and promoted to the next grade. Two girls completed one-year diploma course in nursing and are looking for job opportunities. One girl finished B.A. degree. Please pray for our children’s education and spiritual growth. We are expecting some more new girls to come to our Home. This month is a very busy month for Children’s Home as we need to get their admission into schools and colleges, buy uniforms, books, shoes etc. please pray that we will be able to get a good deal when we shop. Please pray for the need of workers who are truly called to work in Children’s Home.

OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITIES: Arun with our staff Mr. John Gouder (Co-ordinator of Church Ministry) and Mary (matron) attended a conference in Kenya for 15 days in April. That was a very good experience for John and Mary as they travelled abroad for the first time.

From April 31^st till 2^nd June Shobha & I went to Australia to attend Leadership training, and speak in meetings and visiting our friends and family. We have another opportunity to go again next year and speak in meetings in Australia.

KIDS CAMPS IN SUMMER: In the month of April and May KIDS CAMPS were conducted in five different towns for all boys and girls who attend our Churches and Share & Care Programs. All our staff under the youngest leader Shruti (21) worked hard to make it a great success. Nearly 600 boys and girls attended in Belhatti, Kittur, Halga, Jagdal and Jamkhandi. Shruti is one of the Joyful Children’s Home’s girls and is now working in Caring Hands.

YOUTH CAMP: FROM 26^TH TO 28^th we are conducting a Youth camp. From our churches young people will come for three days. Please pray that it will be a wonderful time of meeting with God for the young people and growing in His Word.

PASTORS’ GATHERING: Arun’s heart is to encourage pastors who work in rural areas and have no fellowship with others. We want to refresh and encourage them to do better for the Lord in the ministry. For this purpose we are organizing a Pastors’ Gathering in July. We pray that pastors who need a time of refreshing from our Lord will come and be blessed.

VISIT TO THE U.S.A: Shobha and I are planning to come to USA from August till October. Melissa has two weeks of vacation in August and her 18^th birthday is on 21^st of August so we want to be with her. We hope to celebrate her birthday in Dallas, TX., where Arun’s younger brother lives. Now she is working eight hours everyday in the school to cover her fees. We need not pay anything for her tuition.

We have an invitation to visit ND, CA, GA, SC, NC and VA. If, you are in any of these states we would love to meet you. Please let us if you want us to come and speak in your groups or churches.

Thank you again for your support and prayers for our ministry. Please continue to uphold us in your prayers.

Yours in His service,

Arun & Shobha Massey.

arunmassey@yahoo.com