A Look at This Week’s Events

Thursday, July 3 – Psalm 116; Matt. 22:1-14
Recovery Group, 6:30 pm, Library

Friday, July 4 – Psalm 20; Matt. 22:15-22
Church House Closed For Independence Day

Saturday, July 5 – Psalm 63; Matt. 22:23-40
Al Anon, 6 pm, 5th Floor
AA, 7 pm, Gym

 

Future Events and Other Concerns

Dr. Anderson Preaching in the Hamptons this Sunday

For the last several years Dr. Anderson has been a guest preacher at St. Andrew’s Dune Church in Southampton. He will be preaching there again this coming Sunday, July 6, at the 11 am worship service. If you are in the Hamptons this week, join him and other members and friends of MAPC in this beautiful little church, which is known as “a haven for attending to one’s soul, restoring one’s spirit, honoring one’s God, and giving thanks for our extraordinary blessings.” Fred’s sermon is entitled, “Living the Abundant Life.”
 

Congratulations to Patricia “Patty” Wolff on her Approval for Ordination

Our member Patty Wolff, having graduated this spring from Union Theological Seminary, in Richmond, VA, has received a call to serve the East Guilford United Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Unadilla in Northern New York (Susquehanna Presbytery). Patty will be ordained here at MAPC, on Sunday, July 13, at a 7:30 pm service. Congratulations to Patty who has been pursuing this sense of God’s call to pastoral ministry for the last six years. Please plan to be with us Sunday evening, July 13, at 7:30 pm, for Patty’s ordination.
 

Mid-Timers Picnic at Philharmonic Concert in Central Park, July 15

On Tuesday, July 15, the Mid-Timers will gather for what has become an annual event, enjoying a picnic, fellowship and the New York Philharmonic concert in Central Park. A few of us will go early to stake out space. We’ll have balloons to mark the spot and cell phones you can call to find out where we are. Bring picnic food to share, your own beverage and whatever you would like to sit on. The concert begins at 8 pm, but the fellowship will start two to three hours prior to that! It is helpful to know whom to expect and how big a patch of ground to claim, so please let us know you’re coming. RSVP to Soraida Maldonado at the church offices, 212-288-8920 x271, or via email to sam@mapc.com.
 

Strategic Planning Committee Begins Its Work

At the May Session meeting, Dr. Anderson reported that it had been eight years since the Session last accomplished a mission review and developed a strategic plan and supporting staff design. Observing that it would not be too many years before he faced retirement, Fred asked the Session to establish a Strategic Planning Committee to assess where we are seventeen years into his ministry here, and where we want to be going for these next five to seven years. Much has changed in these eight years, including the many new initiatives both locally and internationally. In addition, with the resignations of Dawn Ravella and Sarah Lien Finnerty, it is the right time to assess our many ministries, mission priorities and other commitments and develop a strategic plan and staff design that will enable us to focus our energies and best utilize our resources as we move into the second decade of this century. The committee was appointed at the June meeting of Session, and began its work this last Monday. It will be using the summer to brief itself on our past in order to begin, this fall, talking with and surveying members and staff about our future. You will hear more about the committee and its work as the fall unfolds. Members of the committee are, Dick Iverson, Chair; Bill Welsh, Vice-Chair; Nickie Christin, Curtis Field, Caroline Johnson, and Kunbi Oni. Dr. Anderson will serve as staff to the committee. Please keep these people in your prayers as they take up this important work.
 

Bob Louer at Mission Service Orientation

The Rev. Robert C. Louer, our 2008-2010 Parish Associate for Global Ministry, will depart Monday, July 7, for several weeks of mission service orientation. Bob will first head to Louisville, KY, where he will join over a dozen other Presbyterians to participate in a week-long international mission preparation program hosted and presented by the World Mission Program of the PC(USA). From there, he will go to Chicago to participate in a two-week ecumenical, international mission orientation that will have a special focus on Africa. The latter orientation is being hosted by the PC(USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Bob is looking forward to this exciting learning and growth opportunity with great anticipation. He will return to New York and worship leadership July 27, and will continue his preparation here at MAPC until departing for Kitwe, Zambia on August 30.
 

A Note of Thanks from Rory and Erika Read

“Dear Madison Avenue Friends,
Thank you for the beautiful flowers in honor of Mom. Although she was only here in Portland for a few years, she had gathered together some very dear friends who all came to help us celebrate and remember her. We miss her dearly and thank you for all your love and friendship through the many years.
Love, Rory and Erika”

NOTE: There will be a memorial service for Pat Read here at MAPC, later this fall, at a date yet to be established.
 

The Finnertys’ New Address:

Sarah Lien Finnerty has received a call to serve as Director of Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, beginning July 14, 2008. You may get her new address or email address by contacting MAPC.
 

Singing with the Summer Choir

You are invited to sing with the Summer Choir on Sunday mornings at MAPC, through August 31. This is an opportunity for you to join with MAPC’s Church Choir and brush up on your singing and sight-reading skills. Rehearsals take place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the Choir Room in preparation for the 10:30 am Worship service. This is a great way to join in on the music-making at MAPC on an informal level; just come as you can. For more information and to peruse the music list, please see the information sheet that may be found in the Narthex or you may go to this page on the web: http://www.mapc.com/html/06_life/2008-Summerchoralmusic.pdf.
 

Softball Season Is Underway!

The MAPC team plays West Park Presbyterian Church next Sunday, July 13, at 5:25 pm, on Field #1 in the North Meadow of Central Park. Players, please arrive by 5 pm. There is no game this Sunday due to the holiday weekend.

Any skill level is more than welcome. (The league rule is all players must be 13 and older). While we’d love to have everyone at every game, we understand that schedules are complicated, and that isn’t always possible. So you are welcome whether you can make one game or every game! The bigger the roster, the smaller the chance of having to forfeit a game. If you’d like to join in the fun and fellowship of the MAPC softball team, all you need to do is show up! If you’d like more information, contact Stephanie Nichols through the church.
 

Yorkville Common Pantry

This month YCP is asking for: pasta, rice, canned fruit and 100% Juice Boxes. They can always use assistance to help pack food for distribution on Saturday mornings and at certain other times each week. For details, please call YCP at 917-720-9710 and speak with Gladys at x110. Thanks everyone!
 

Program Calendar for Next Week

Monday, July 7 – Psalm 62; Matt. 23:1-12
Strategic Planning Committee, 7 pm, Pastor’s Study

Tuesday, July 8 – Psalm 12; Matt. 23:13-26

Wednesday, July 9 – Psalm 96; Matt. 23:27-39
Cocaine Anonymous, 6 pm, 5th Floor

Thursday, July 10 – Psalm 26; Matt. 24:1-14
Shelter Training, 6 pm, MAPC Shelter
Recovery Group, 6:30 pm, Library
Shelter Dinner, 6:30 pm, Parish Hall
 

See You in Church!
FRA, BAB, JCA

Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
921 Madison Avenue (at East 73rd Street)
New York, NY 10021
212-288-8920
www.mapc.com