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MAPC UPDATE

Vol. XXIX, No. 3

February 2, 2003

Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, February 2, 2003

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2003 at 12:30 pm in the Sanctuary.

The purpose of the meeting is to elect officers, receive the Session's reports on 2002 and the operating budget for 2003, and vote on recommended changes in the terms of call for the Pastors.

The meeting will be convened immediately following the Benediction at the 11:15 am service. There will be no coffee hour that day. Visitors are welcome to attend the meeting, though only Active Members are eligible to vote. The meeting, which is docketed to last 45 minutes, will be followed by refreshments in the Church House Lobby.

Report of the 2002 Congregational Nominating Committee

Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
February 2, 2003

2003 Congregational Nominating Committee

• Linda Field
• Edith Hazen
• Jane Little
• William Patterson
• Phillips Talbot

Respectfully submitted:

• Ruth Schroeder, Chair
• Fred MacEachron, Vice Chair
• Cheryl Trinka, Deacons Representative
• Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols, Trustee Representative
• Katherine Hoffman
• Kenneth Thompson
• Katherine Gebhardt
• William Swenson
• William Welsh

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Two-Part Inquirers' Seminar

Sundays, February 23 & March 2

Interested in learning more about the Christian faith in general, the Presbyterian Church, or MAPC in particular? Have you been thinking about making MAPC your church home?

We will address all these questions and more at the next Inquirers' Seminar, so plan on joining in! It will meet over two Sundays in the Phillips Lounge, starting around 1 pm (after the 11:15am worship service), and concluding around 4:30 pm both weeks. Lunch will be provided. It is a unified seminar broken out over two weeks, so plan to attend both sessions. Child care is available but needs to be arranged in advance by calling Mary Walling at the church office (288-8920, x241). If you have questions or concerns in general, please call J.C. Austin at the church office (288-8920, x242). He will be pleased to speak with you about the seminars or other questions you might have about membership or the church. (e-mail: jca@mapc.com)

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2003 Annual Stewardship Campaign Continues to Roll On!

The response to this year's stewardship campaign has been strong and enthusiastic: as of January 21, the 2003 Campaign has received 274 pledges for $807,559. All we need is at least $103,000 more in pledges and gifts! The Session has laid many exciting plans for new ministries through the next year, but those plans depend upon the resources for ministry that the Annual Campaign provides. Happily, we have those resources at hand: $140,000 in pledges have yet to be renewed from last year's campaign, more than enough to reach our goal!

So, if you still haven't renewed or increased your pledge, or if you are considering making a pledge for the first time, it's not too late. Please make your pledge as generous as you can and as soon as possible. Your pledge, given now, will make a major impact on the ministries and mission of MAPC as we embrace our mission to "bring people into the transforming presence of Jesus Christ" through our worship and our ministry programs in 2003.

If you have any questions about the 2003 Annual Stewardship Campaign or if you need new pledge materials, please speak with J.C. Austin, Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Stewardship, at 288-8920, ext. 242 (e-mail:jca@mapc.com).

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The Transforming Presence of Jesus Christ - One Deacon's Experience

The deacons at MAPC have many duties and roles, but most important is their one-on-one contact with members who are older, homebound or in nursing homes or assisted living situations. Their phone calls, notes, and visits help keep these members connected with the church-they know that we have not forgotten about them, and that they are still a part of the body of Christ and the MAPC community.

At the joint meeting of the Session, Trustees and Deacons on Tuesday, January 21, Deacon Diane Robbins shared her experience of visiting one of our older members. Here is her first-person account:

"I meet one of my new 'carees' for the first time. She has ice-blue eyes, white hair, and Alzheimer's disease. She beams a smile of welcome. The conversation begins with good will, but quickly we're not on the same page-we're not in the same universe. I show her a brochure of my artwork and we seem to connect again.

I get an idea that next time I'll bring my portfolio, which I do, and she is 'present' to the artwork. She has those 'other universe' type questions about the mothers and babies in the drawings-like, 'if she puts it and goes, does she put there?' But she is alive and happy and we are connecting. I thought, 'next time, I will bring art supplies.'

I come again, warm greetings. I take out a drawing pad and put it on the table in front of her. 'Oh, no,' she says, 'I can't handle that.' After a bit I say 'let me show you-it's just paper.' I take a pastel chalk and put it into her fingers. She looks at it and shows no recognition. It could be a shoe or a bottle of catsup. I gently push her hand down to connect the chalk to the paper, and out comes this gorgeous two-inch field of bright red. I feel like the first caveman who discovered art! We both look at it with joy. 'What do I do? I don't know how, ' she says. 'You can't do anything wrong,' I say, 'It's your picture. You can't make a mistake.'

She finishes her picture. She and I and her caretaker hold hands and I pray something like, 'Light of Christ, come and be with each of us in our good will and confusion. Amen.' I tell her, 'I'll be back and we'll do it again.' She says, 'thank you-it'll be a relief.' It is a holy moment.

I leave her apartment very aware that she and I are an organic part of the little paragraph on the back of the church bulletin. We have both been brought into the 'transforming presence of Jesus Christ'-again. She has been re-minded of Who is there among us when two or more are gathered together in His name-and so have I."

Thank you, Dianne, and all of the deacons, for your ministry of compassion. And thank you, Dianne, for reminding us that one of the most important ministries we engage in is to be present with each other and to call each other into the transforming presence of Jesus Christ.

Beverly Bartlett
Associate Pastor for Congregational Life

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Seniors' Ministries "the Playing of the Merry Organ. . ."

February 10, 2003, - 3 to 4:30 pm

We will begin February's gathering in the choir loft of the sanctuary where Dr. John Weaver, Music Director and Organist at MAPC, will lead us on a "tour" of the organ. John will demonstrate how the organ works and talk about the history of the instrument worldwide as well as the history of MAPC's organ. We will then move downstairs to the parish hall for refreshments and conversation. Please let Margaret Williamson know if you and a guest will be attending. You can reach Margaret at (212) 288-8920, ext. 271 or mew@mapc.com.

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Families with Young Children

February 8, 2003; 10 am - Noon

Please join us for our next Families with Young Children (ages 5 and under) gathering on Saturday, February 8, from 10 am to noon. During the winter months we are meeting on the fifth floor. Come play with our brand new toys, and enjoy a light breakfast and conversation. Please let Margaret Williamson know if you can come, so we will have plenty of food. You can reach her at (212) 288-8920, ext. 271 or mew@mapc.com.

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Additional Information

Also, see:

• MAPC Home Page
• Worship Services
• Christian Education Programs
• MAPC Calendar
• St. Andrew Music Society Concerts

 

 

 

 

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