Presbyterian Church of Havre De Grace

THE RENEWAL

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HAVRE DE GRACE

551 Franklin Street, Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Church (410) 939-3611 - Fax (410) 939-3581

January 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Since I explained the Twelve Days of Christmas before Christmas, I thought I should explain Epiphany for January. I found this article on the PCUSA website which I thought was clear and concise. Happy Reading! Pastor Susie

Epiphany: a time for insight andrevelation

A post written by the Rev. Rubén Ortiz Rodríguez, GACOR Member, Synod of Boriquen (Puerto Rico)

shared by MOLLY CASTEEL (PCUSA)

As the horizon of human knowledge expands many traditions and words take on new meanings.

Initially, theEpiphany(greek: epiphaneia = "manifestation") was a festival that was celebrated twelve days after Christmas in order to remember the birth of our Lord, his baptism in the Jordan River and the manifestation of his glory in the celebrations of the wedding at Cana.

When in the fourth century, the Greek Church adopted the Roman date for celebratingChristmas(December 25), Epiphany began to be seen in the West as a separate festival associated with the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the person of the Wise Men of the East. At present, in many countries Christmas and Epiphany are closely related and mark the beginning and end, respectively, of the traditional festivities.

In the same way that the tradition has evolved, the word "epiphany" has expanded its meaning. As a result of its use in the twentieth-century literature, the word begins to be used to refer the movement in which ignorance turns into insight; a turning point or climactic moment of insight and revelation.

Thus, in our life epiphany moments occur when our thinking discovers a truth that so far had not been realized. But, for this to happen we can´t be content with what we know or limit our experiences to what we are used to.

A simple reading of the Bible shows us how men and women relate many of those moments when they discovered at some point in their lives how God revealed his plan and work. Those moments of epiphany transformed their thinking and how they interpret their life´s circumstances. Thus, under this new revelation and insight, they transformed the world in which they lived.

In our personal and ecclesial experience, have we enjoyed those moments of revelation and insight? How we have transformed the way we think and live? How we have impacted the world in this time in which we live?

The epiphany representing the visit of the Wise Men shocked a ruler, a city and the establishment of his day (Matthew 2:1-12). We, Presbyterians, through our lives, testimonies and ourPresbyterian Churchneed to be wise people that can make that kind of impact in our time.

JANUARY2014
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
1
Church office closed
Happy New Year! / 2
Choir practice
6:15 p.m. / 3 / 4
2nd Sunday after Christmas 5
Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship - 11:00 a.m. / Epiphany of the Lord6 / 7
Grace Place / 8 / 9
Deacon’s meeting
5:30 p.m.
Choir practice
6:15 p.m. / 10
Human Trafficking
Awareness Day / 11
Officer training
Chesapeake Grill
9:00 a.m.
Baptism of the Lord 12
Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship - 11:00 a.m.
Installation of Officers / 13
Committee meetings
6:30 p.m. / 14 / 15 / 16
Choir practice
6:15 p.m. / 17 / 18
Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity begins
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 19
Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship - 11:00 a.m.
Annual Congregational Meeting following worship
Race Relations / 20
Trustees
meeting
6:30 p.m.
February
Newsletter
Deadline
Birthday of Martin
Luther King Jr. / 21 / 22
Session packet
info due / 23
Choir practice
6:15 p.m. / 24 / 25
‘The Vine’
food pantry
10–11:30 a.m.
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 26
Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship - 11:00 a.m.
Criminal Justice / 27
Session meeting
7:00 p.m. / 28 / 29 / 30
Choir practice
6:15 p.m. / 31

NOTE: The Committee meetings, Trustees Meeting, Deacons meeting and Session meeting dates are subject to change. None of these were finalized prior to the distribution of this newsletter.

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

01/02 – Scott Pentz 01/22 – Dick Neff

01/03 – Dick Kirkendall 01/22 – Garrett Cline

01/03 – Jeanne Erdley 01/24 – Bill Kietzman

01/03 – Kimberly Andreen 01/25 – Ron Mathias

01/05 – Ruby Anne Saltzgiver 01/25 – Emily McClaskey

01/06 – Dorothy Cline 01/26 – Carol Petrosino 01/07 – Phyllis Smith 01/27 – Elizabeth Holmes

01/13 – Gregory Smith 01/28 – Debbie Cunningham 01/16 – Richard Walker 01/31 – Tiffany Cline

01/20 – Mark Mathias

DUTY ROSTER

Liturgist Deacons Trustees Usher-Tellers

01/05 Ed Matthews Carol Gatto Greg Smith Team #2 Bill Kietzman (capt.)

01/12 Carolyn Mathias Janine McClaskey Ells Shank Team #3, Scott Pentz (capt.)

01/19 Jeremiah Seepersad Kimberly Andreen Ryan Andreen Team #4,Greg Smith(capt.)

01/26 Logan Pentz Lew Mason Torinda Lutz Team #5,George Deibel (capt.)

Communion Schedule Childcare Schedule

01/05– Adam Datesman 01/05– Stephanie - Tara Werkheiser 01/12-Stephanie

01/19 -Katelynn

01/26–Stephanie

THE VINE FOOD PANTRY

FYI – 22families visited the Vine Food Pantry on Saturday, December 21st. Special thanks to those whose came andhelped with the distribution.

EVERY 4TH SATURDAY FROM 10 - 11:30 AM

YOURMONETARY OR FOOD DONATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. WHAT YOU GIVE WILL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO REAL PEOPLE. THANK YOU!

Schedule for 2014

January 25

February 22

March 22

April 26

May 24

June 28

July 26

August 23

September 27

October 25

November 22

December 20

*In November and December, our food giveaway is on the Saturday

prior to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Mile of Pennies

Donations for November & December $16.73

Our total to date is $375.28 for our fifth Mile of Pennies which started in August 2009. It took us 23 years to complete four miles. A Mile of Pennies consists of $844.80 or 84,480 pennies. The Mile of Pennies originated in 1986.

The basket for your contributions (any loose change) is located on your left as you enter the Narthex and ‘thank-you’ for your participation in this mission of our church. The money is used by the Deacons to purchase cards and stamps for mailings to members and friends of the congregation.

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift”. ~2 Corinthians 9:15

George Deibel

Miles of Pennies Chairman

The Presbyterian Church of Havre de Grace

Sunday Schedule for 2014

Date / Liturgist / Usher-Teller / Trustee / Deacon
Team
January 2014
5 / Ed Matthews / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
12 / Carolyn Mathias / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
19 / Jeremiah Seepersad / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
26 / Pat Allingham / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
February 2014
2 / Tara Werkheiser / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
9 / Jennifer Cibelli / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
16 / Amy Weitzel / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
23 / Adam Datesman / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
March 2014
2 / Larry Dobson / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
9 / George McClaskey / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
16 / Logan Pentz / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
23 / Kimberly Andreen / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
30 / Ed Matthews / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
April 2014
6 / Carolyn Mathias / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
13 / Jeremiah Seepersad / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
20 / Pat Allingham / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
27 / Tara Werkheiser / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
May 2014
4 / Jennifer Cibelli / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
11 / Amy Weitzel / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
18 / Adam Datesman / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
25 / Larry Dobson / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
June 2014
1 / George McClaskey / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
8 / Logan Pentz / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
15 / Kimberly Andreen / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
22 / Ed Matthews / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
29 / Carolyn Mathias / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
July 2014
6 / Jeremiah Seepersad / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
13 / Pat Allingham / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
20 / Tara Werkheiser / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
27 / Jennifer Cibelli / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
August 2014
3 / Amy Weitzel / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
10 / Adam Datesman / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
17 / Larry Dobson / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
24 / George McClaskey / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
31 / Logan Pentz / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
September 2014
7 / Kimberly Andreen / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
14 / Ed Matthews / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
21 / Carolyn Mathias / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
28 / Jeremiah Seepersad / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
October 2014
5 / Pat Allingham / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
12 / Tara Werkheiser / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
19 / Jennifer Cibelli / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
26 / Amy Weitzel / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
November 2014
2 / Adam Datesman / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
9 / Larry Dobson / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
16 / George McClaskey / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason
23 / Logan Pentz / #1 Ron Mathias / Ron Mathias / Tara Werkheiser
30 / Kimberly Andreen / #6 Eric Swanson / Ryan Weitzel / Sandy Matthews
December
7 / Ed Matthews / #2 Bill Kietzman / Greg Smith / Carol Gatto
14 / Carolyn Mathias / #3 Scott Pentz / Ells Shank / Janine McClaskey
21 / Jeremiah Seepersad / #4 Greg Smith / Ryan Andreen / Kimberly Andreen
28 / Pat Allingham / #5 George Deibel / Torinda Lutz / Lew Mason

Substitute Liturgist: Bill Atkinson

Usher-Teller Teams:

Team #1 Ron Mathias (captain), Carolyn Mathias, Tara & Dustin Werkheiser

Team #2Bill Kietzman (captain) Lew Mason, Melvin Ridgley

Team #3Scott Pentz (captain), Ralph Redding, Logan Pentz

Team #4Greg Smith (captain) Ana Marie Smith and Pam Mason

Team #5George Deibel (captain), Jim Rudolph, Ed Matthews and Brett Forton

Team #6 Eric Swanson (captain), Mary Ernst and Bud Webb

If you need to change a date, please do so with another person on the list,

THEN please notify the church office.

Each person is responsible for finding his or her own substitution.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Dear Members/Friends

Praise the Lord for his greatness and many blessings towards us! I take great pleasure in thanking you for your tremendous support in helping the neediest children in elementary schools in Grenada. Through your kindness, many lives will be blessed.

I do believe that this new ministry had been in God’s plan a long, long time ago. Several years ago, the Lord kept taking me back to my Alma Mata, Holy Cross R. C. School, Munich St. Andrews Grenada, which, as a former teacher, was also my first institute of employment. I knew that God wanted to use me in some way regarding the school. Actually, I thought he wanted me to go back and teach there. Like Jonah (in the Bible), I went in a different direction. After being in the U.S continually for about 13 years, I went on a vacation to Grenada. Innocently, I decided to purchase some school supplies for the students in that school with a $50 gift my sister gave to me. Little did I know that this was going to be the beginning of this new ministry! Edwin (my husband) and I, the principal, and some of the teachers distribute the supplies to the children. Each child received a notebook and a pencil; the teachers received pens. I cannot describe the joy that the children had on their little faces. They were so excited and grateful to receive, what seems to me, such a small gift. It was then that God revealed to me that this was what he wanted me to do. I spoke to the principal and to some of the teachers. Actually, the principal was one of my students over 20 years ago and at least 5 of the teachers were my co-workers. They revealed to me the plight of some of the students: homelessness, a deceased mother or father, mother disabled, mother or father abandoned children, parents not working or working part time, most households headed by female, hunger and much more. I was moved with great compassion. In May of this year, I went back to Grenada on a sibling oriented legal trip. This time, I could not afford to spend $50 on supplies; instead I spent $10 at the dollar store and bought pencils and erasers and distributed it to all the students. The school only has 67 students and 11 teachers so each child was able to get one pencil and one eraser. Again, these children’s eyes lit up as if I was Santa on Christmas Day.

I then decided to implement the new ministry. I applied to the Attorney General to establish a nonprofit foundation. Permission has been granted; the foundation is registered at the Supreme Court Registry of Grenada, Church Street St. Georges, Grenada W: I, under companies act CAP. 58A. The name of the foundation is “Master of the Sea (MOTS) Foundation, Inc.” and the registration number is 119 of 2013 – 7020.

The immediate goal of the foundation is to provide school supplies to the most vulnerable students in elementary schools in Grenada, starting with Holy Cross R.C. Some of the future goals of the foundation are to provide the supplies on a yearly basis, to include other surrounding schools in rural Grenada, to find organizations that will “sponsor a school”, meaning as an organization, and to provide school supplies to the most vulnerable students at a particular school.

Over the past two and a half months, four churches-Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian Church, Darlington, Havre de Grace Presbyterian Church, Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, Street MD and Beulah Church of the Nazarene, Brooklyn NY-and a number of friends, have contributed a wide array of school supplies, which are displayed at the Silver Room, Deer Creek Harmony.

Since we have more than enough for Holy Cross R.C School (18 students), the foundation have decided to include students from another school in the community. Based on the principal of Crochu R.C. School, Crochu St. Andrews, Grenada, at least 30 students from over 400 are desperately in need. There are an additional 3 students whom I came into contact with who are also in desperate need.

Thanks to you, our generous partners, we have adequate supplies for all 51 students. After the blessings of the supplies by Pastor Susie Atkinson of Deer Creek Harmony, the supplies will be packed and taken to New York next week for shipping to Grenada. The treasury department along with the principals and Ministry of Education are working on the documentation for tax exemption on the supplies. I am hoping to go down to Grenada the first week in January to personally witness the distribution of the items. Three individuals from Cornerstone Missionary, who had been to Grenada previously has expressed interest in accompanying me. If anyone else would like to make this trip, please let me know. While I cannot promise free accommodations, I went ahead and contacted some of the hotels.

Thanks again for your love and support and most of all for helping me, through MOTS foundation, to fulfill God’s call.

Blessings,

Velta Mahon

December Happenings

Christmas Cantata Christmas Eve

Pastor Susie & daughter Angie Christmas Eve Hanging of the Greens

Pastor Susie introducing oneof the Sunday School dress up! Little George drawing by

newest members of our congregation,. Submitted by Julie Ducharme Emily McClaskey

KenyaNicole Ridgley.

Submitted by George Deibel

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: Get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it.Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (Wish I had known this for the last 40 years!).
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down.The wax will fall out.
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped inbaking soda.Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops rubbing alcohol on papertowel.
Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves.

After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads,I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads lasts me indefinitely! I have also noticed that the scissors get sharpened.

Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry.Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time.
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come.You can also do this with towels and linen.
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new. Works like a charm.
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan and bring to a boil on stove top.
Spray your TUPPERWARE with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead.The throbbing will go away.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area, and you will experience instant relief.
Ants, ants, ants everywhere. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line.So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets; wait twenty minutes, brush and flush.
Clean a vase.To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water, and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (Or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar.Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.