MADISON AVENUE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
921 Madison Avenue
(at East 73rd Street)
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212- 288-8920
Fax: 212-249-1466
(at East 73rd Street)
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212- 288-8920
Fax: 212-249-1466
The following was a Word in Action offered in MAPC Worship on October
24 by
Elder Edward Davis, M.D.
My history is not one of multigenerational involvement with MAPC. Anne and
I joined only one year ago. I am a lifelong Presbyterian, and my understanding
of Stewardship has evolved in that framework – first, in the “southern”
church then, in our rejoined denomination.
With
the annual Stewardship drive, churches hope to match their activities with
the needed financial resources. Typically, there is a presentation of the
many worthy activities of the church, which certainly deserve support; the
“pitch” looks very much like what we expect from a secular organization.
I would like to present an alternate viewpoint of the Stewardship season.
Secular organizations hope that you will be generous with your money for
their needs. There is nothing in our theology supporting such thinking as
regards the church. For Christians, this season should be a time of assessment
of how we have and will fulfill our fiduciary responsibility to our God,
i.e., how we allocate that portion of God’s treasure entrusted to
us. The amount of my pledge has nothing to do with that list of wonderful
activities of MAPC. It reflects my deepening understanding of God’s
love for his world, and of the abundant way he has dealt with me.
Jesus speaks of the way that God wishes to “do business” with
us in the sixth chapter of Luke: “A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, running over.” It is how we should wish to do business with
God. Stewardship is obviously an evolving process for all of us.
What is the proper amount for your pledge at this point of your journey?
I cannot say. I can only tell you that God should be regarded as a “big
ticket item” and not “Lord of the leftovers.”
Thanksgiving Day Communion Service
MAPC will worship with |
Advent, a season of four Sundays, opens the church year. The season begins
on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew’s Day, November 30. The observance
of Advent originated in France during the fourth century. The duration of
the season varied from four to seven weeks until the Bishop of Rome in the
sixth century set the season at four weeks. In ancient times Advent was
strictly observed: every Christian was required to attend church service
and fast daily.
The word, Advent, consists of two Latin words: ad–venire, “to
come to.” Advent’s message is that God in Christ is coming to
the world.
Advent stresses not so much fulfillment as anticipation of fulfillment:
the Lord is coming! Christians have great expectations of Christ’s
coming again. As a family looks forward to a son returning from a war and
as a bride anticipates her wedding day, so a Christian looks forward with
joy to Christ’s coming. Yet, this is a different kind of joy –
a joy of hope amid solemnity. It is the quiet joy of anticipation and not
the joy of celebration of a past event.
With the holidays approaching, you will soon see Madison Avenue bustling
with busy shoppers. As you begin to think about special gifts for your own
loved ones, please consider adding just one more child to this year’s
shopping list.
This year, we are inviting you all to participate in Angel Tree Christmas.
This is a unique ministry that gives our congregation an opportunity to
share Christ’s love with the families of those who are incarcerated.
Angel Tree Christmas works by nurturing the connection between parents in
prison and their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts.
These incarcerated parents have applied to Angel Tree Christmas and indicated
that they would like their children to receive gifts on their behalf this
year. By assisting them, we are bridging the gap between the prisoner parent
and their children left behind. What greater joy at Christmas time than
to give to someone less fortunate, someone who has no one else, or someone
who expects nothing?
Here at MAPC, we will provide the names of these children to you during
Angel Tree Sundays (November 14, 21, 28 and December 5). After each service,
you may come to the Angel Tree table and select a child’s name. We
ask that you buy two gifts for each child: one item of clothing, and one
toy or fun gift. We ask that you spend approximately $25-$40 per gift and,
therefore, $50-$80 per child. All gifts need to be wrapped, labeled, and
returned to the church no later than Wednesday, December 8.
On Saturday afternoon, December 11, all of the gifts will be driven to Harlem
and distributed to each child’s home. We need many volunteers to donate
just a few hours that day to make this happen. This is a very special chance
to reach out and make an enormous impact on someone’s life.
There are many ways you can get involved with this heartwarming project.
Whether you would like to shop for the children, participate in the gift
sorting, host the Angel Tree tables, or meet the children face-to-face when
we deliver their gifts, we welcome your assistance and your generosity.
Every helping hand counts!
If you would like to volunteer your time, please contact Kimberly Thurston
at kimberly-thurston@earthlink.net
or contact Bill Philip, at the church, at wbp@mapc.com
or 212-288-8920 x241.
– Kimberly Thurston
|
Families with Young Children will have a Christmas Party
on Saturday, December 11, from 10 am to noon. We’ll have special Christmas
treats, stories and activities, and exchange Secret Santa gifts. RSVP to
Margaret Williamson at 212-288-8920, x271. When we know who will be attending,
we’ll make the Secret Santa assignments. Please do not spend more
than $10 on your Secret Santa gift! We also ask that each child bring one
of the following items for the Yorkville Common Pantry: unwrapped toy, gift
wrap, winter hat (for child or adult), peanut butter, jelly, hot cereal,
or hot chocolate.
Families with children age 5 and under are encouraged to join in these monthly
gatherings. It is a wonderful way to get to know other families in the church.
Older siblings are welcome!
On Sunday, December 12, the MAPC congregation will have
the opportunity to learn more about the BenefitsCheckUp program of the National
Council on the Aging. The Congregational Nurture Committee and the Board
of Deacons will have information available at coffee hour about the BenefitsCheckUp
internet tool. It takes approximately 15 minutes for individuals age 55
and older to be screened online for benefits and services that can enhance
their quality of life. Older adults can find out if they are eligible for
programs that will help with such things as utility bills, prescription
drugs, groceries, home-delivered meals, and more. BenefitsCheckUp is confidential
– the program will ask questions about your age and income, but not
your name, address, or social security number.
If you do not have access to the internet, a family member or friend can
do the screen for you. We will also have suggestions on Dec. 12 of places
where those without computers can get assistance with this program. To learn
more, go to www.benefitscheckup.org.
Please join us for the annual Seniors Unlimited Christmas luncheon on Monday, December 13 from 1 to 2:30 pm in the Parish Hall. In addition to a festive meal, we’ll enjoy a Christmas story and caroling with John and Marianne Weaver. The cost for lunch is $5. RSVP by Monday, December 6 to Margaret Williamson at 212-288-8920 x271, or e-mail her at mew@mapc.com.
St. Andrew Music Society
|
Margaret Mills, piano
|
A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years and one of the four special
offerings taken each year at MAPC, the Christmas Joy Offering is designated
by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations
direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need.
The Christmas Joy Offering’s origins date back to 1933 when the former
Presbyterian Church in the United States began the Joy Gift Offering, as
it was then called, to supplement inadequate retirement income and provide
supplemental medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries, church
workers, and their families. Over the years, the offering has evolved to
fifty percent of the receipts being distributed to the Board of Pensions
for assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church
workers and their spouses and families, and the other fifty percent supporting
Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges through the National
Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.
Through the Board of Pensions’ Financial Assistance Programs, the
Christmas Joy Offering recognizes the faithfulness of current and retired
church workers by providing funds to help them through difficult times.
These funds come in the form of Income Supplements (to raise incomes to
a level where retirees and spouses can live in modest dignity and continue
to maintain their independence), Housing Supplements, Emergency Assistance
Grants and grants from the Shared Grant Program, co-sponsored with partnering
organizations. These grants may be for routine purposes, such as additional
medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance, or they may help a
church worker meet unexpected financial needs, or even recover from a natural
disaster. Wherever these grants are needed, each is an expression of Presbyterians’
faithful witness to and sharing of the love of Christ for all people.
The Presbyterian Church has long promoted education through establishing
and supporting racial ethnic schools, and the Christmas Joy Offering remains
a fundamental part of that effort. These schools and colleges offer a training
ground by which leadership development can take place, where racial ethnic
people can gain the confidence and skills that they need to go out into
the broader society and take their place.
The Christmas Joy Offering funds help with basic operating costs in these
learning institutions, in addition to providing scholarships to deserving
students. It should be noted that all PCUSA-related schools and colleges
are open to any qualified student regardless of race.
This time of year, when one might think our hearts would be heavy from the
shortening days, our hearts are nonetheless buoyant, lifted up in joyous
celebration of God’s greatest gift to us. Please let the Christmas
Joy Offering be your expansive “thank you” for this greatest
of gifts! Let your thanks extend out in order to generously take care of
those who have taken care of us and to teach those who will come after us,
our children. There will be special offering envelopes at the Narthex on
that Sunday.
Organ Recital by Chelsea Chen
|
Also, see:
November
25
Christmas
Decorations
Margaret Mills is a pianist who has performed
throughout the United States, Europe and China. She has degrees from
Vassar College and The New England Conservatory of Music, with European
study in Freiburg, Germany. As soloist, she has appeared with the
Boston Pops, the Schenectady Symphony, The Fort Myers Symphony and
the Fairfield Orchestra and has been a featured artist with the Cassatt,
Manhattan and Laurentian String Quartets. Formerly chairperson of
the piano department at the Third Street Music School Settlement,
she currently manages the Faculty Artist concerts.