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MAPC UPDATE

Vol. XXXIV, No. 1
January/February 2008

The 921 Fund: A New Century of Witness, Nurture and Service—What Has Been Done?

As we begin 2008, we return to the important theme of the care of our facilities and our stewardship of them for the future. The 921 Fund: A New Century of Witness, Nurture and Service is a $20 million capital campaign to enable us to address the needs of the Church House. Normally, a church would have a capital campaign and then begin the work. Unfortunately, we did not have that luxury. The infrastructure of the building well into its 90’s was collapsing and required immediate attention.

In 2006 we rebuilt the 9th and 10th floors as well as the gym and basement. That included three new apartments for program staff: a three, a two and a one bedroom apartment on 10. The 9th Floor Day School suite was totally gutted and rebuilt from the floor joists up and the studs out and now has central air conditioning. A state-of-the-art sprinkler—fire suppression system was installed in the basement and has begun to be built out as each floor is refurbished (both 9 and 10 are complete). Our unregulated radiator steam heat system is in the process of being phased out and replacing with individual room thermostat-controlled circulating hot water heat, which is safer, cleaner, healthier and far less expensive to operate. Virtually all of the windows in the building have been replaced—only those in the gym and 5th floor remain—ridding ourselves of lead paint hazards and capturing the thermal efficiency of state-of-the-art windows. The pool in the basement/sub-basement was removed in order to make way for the new heating system, fire suppression system, work shop and trash storage area, greatly reducing our “varmint” problem (those church mice will simply have to find another denomination to call home!) Soil pipes that were crumbling and water risers that were on the brink of bursting have all been replaced. The east stairwell was equipped with several much needed new bathrooms. The former pool deck area is now home for our overnight shelter, as well as much needed education/program space during the day. And all of this was in 2006!

2007 carried the work forward to complete the sub-basement, giving us additional sump-pumps (no more flooded sub-basements in heavy rains!), porter’s locker rooms, storage space, a laundry room (you can’t imagine how much laundry is done for the kitchen and house cleaning staff) and a new shower/locker room for use by mission teams and members who stay overnight in the shelter. A crumbling alleyway between the Sanctuary and the Church House, putting our second shelter space at serious risk, was replaced with new steel and concrete. Lester Waldman’s Place was configured to enable it to be a place suitable for a visionary substance-abuse counseling program during the day, appropriately designed with security provisions and controls. And, did we mention the new ramp in the Parish Hall, the Kitchen prep and storage area, the spacious elevator foyer complete with a coat room and service lift into the kitchen area? In addition, we sent our first Global Ministry Fellow, the Rev. Carmen Goetschius, off to Zambia to work with the Theological Education by Extension, Zambia project.

All of that cost money—lots of it! So far, we have spent $16,356,826 on construction and associated costs. To complete the work we would like to still do—new ramped entrance to the Church house, completion of the build-outs on the other floors—will easily take us beyond the initial $20 million price tag initially envisioned. But first, we must pay for what we have done. So far we have pledges of $7,241.538, and have received $4,241,609 of those commitments. As this issue of UPDATE goes to press, the officers of the church are making their own pledge commitments. You will be hearing more about these important challenges as we move into the spring. Our goal is to have the campaign pledged by the end of this year.

Please begin to think about your own gift, and do so in terms that are larger than any gift you have made to MAPC in the past. This is clearly the most ambitious and necessary work we have ever undertaken. But thanks to all of those who are working so hard on this campaign, we believe we will get there and do what needs to be done. Their dedication is emblematic of the membership at large, and one reason for confidence. The other is a matter of faith. The psalmist reminds us, “If the Lord does not build the house, those who labor do so in vain.” We know our work is not in vain, for we know the Lord is faithful, and so are you. Thank you for both your faith and your faithfulness!

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Annual Meeting

The Session has called the annual meeting of the Congregation of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for Sunday, January 27, 2008, in the Sanctuary immediately following the 11:15 am service of worship. The purpose of the meeting will be to elect new officers and receive reports from the Session, Deacons, Trustees and 921 Fund Committees.

2007 Congregational Nominating Committee presents the following for election:
Elder, Class of 2011:

Nickie Christin, second three-year term
Jack Hobson, second three-year term
Martha Scotzin, second three-year term
Kekla Magoon, first three-year term
John Carr, first three-year term
Alice Alston, first three-year term
Kerry Land, an unexpired term in the class of 2009,                                if the way be clear

Deacons, Class of 2011

Questa Anderson, second three-year term
Isobel Case, second three-year term
Penny Gemma, second three-year term
Nancy Hauber, second three-year term
Judith Shedden, second three-year term
Heather Stang Rooney, first three-year term
Martha Roby Stephen, first three-year term
Connie Havrilla – first three-year term
Kunbi Oni – first three-year term
Kristen Winckler – first three-year term
Margaret Finn, to fill a vacancy in the class of 2009

Trustees, Class of 2010

Robert Case, second three-year term
Tana Dye, second three-year term
Brian Case, first three-year term
Ann McChord, first three-year term
Charles Thurston, first three-year term
Frank Hohmann, to fill a vacancy in the class of 2009

At-Large Members of the 2008 Congregational Nominating Committee

Anne Farley
Josie McFadden
Nancy Nichols
Tim O’Toole
Gordon Robbins

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Congregational Nurture Calendar

Wednesday, January 23, 8 - 8:30 am; Parents’ Prayer Group meets in the Phillips Lounge.

Cabaret Night, Friday, January 25

January 25, 2008 is our annual cabaret evening. You won’t want to miss “Live from MAPC: It’s Improv Night!” Our special guests this year are members of the Improv theater group, “Improvolution.” The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with appetizers, followed by dinner and the evening’s entertainment–with fellowship and laughter throughout! With Improvolution, we are all part of the show, as they take our ideas and suggestions and act them out on the spot. This will be an event that is sure to brighten a cold January evening. The cost for the evening is $30. Watch for sign-up sheets during fellowship hour on January Sundays. You can also make reservations through the church office by calling Arabel Bello at 212-288-8920, x245, or aeb@mapc.com.

Sunday, February 3, Library Awareness Sunday (see box below.)

Wednesday, February 6, 8 - 8:30 am; Parents’ Prayer Group meets in the Phillips Lounge.

Saturday, February 9, 10 to noon on the Fifth Floor; Families with Young Children Come enjoy a morning of conversation and play at our monthly Families with Young Children gathering. Families with children ages 5 and under, and older siblings, are invited to this time of fellowship. Coffee, tea, juice, bagels and fruit will be available. We’ll have circle time at 11:15 with music and a story or two. Please let us know you’re coming so we can be sure to have enough food. RSVP to Arabel Bello at 212-288-8920 x245, or via email to aeb@mapc.com.

Sunday, February 10, 1 pm; 20s/30s will meet for lunch and discussion on the Fifth Floor.

Monday, February 11, 3 pm; Seniors Unlimited will meet in the Parish Hall. Our special guest this month will be Nadema Agard who will present a multi-media lecture on “The Arts and the Sacred in Native America.” This presentation explores the arts as vehicles of power, as vehicles of visual language, and as sacred repositories of the cosmic knowledge of symbols and colors from an Indigenous perspective where life and arts are interconnected. As the Director of Red Earth Studio Consulting/Productions, Ms. Agard (Cherokee/Lakota/Powhata) is an artist, illustrator, published author, scholar, curator, speaker, museum professional and consultant in Repatriation and Multicultural/Native American arts and cultures. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow the presentation. RSVP to Arabel Bello, 212-288-8920 x245, or aeb@mapc.com. This program, which is free and open to the public, is made possible through the support of the New York Council for the Humanities’ Speakers in the Humanities program.

Tuesday, February 19, 10:30 to noon; The MAPC Knitters will meet in The Hood Library.

Wednesday, February 20, 8 - 8:30 am; Parents’ Prayer Group meets in the Phillips Lounge.

Friday, February 22, 6pm; Church Family Night in the Parish Hall!! Come join in a relaxed time of fellowship. We’ll have food and beverages appealing to both adult and child palates. From 6 to 7 pm we’ll enjoy a time of fellowship over dinner, and no later than 7 pm we’ll start the movie Ratatouille. Adults who would rather enjoy conversation than watch the movie are welcome to do so. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12—and the popcorn is included; what a deal!! Please let us know you’re coming so we can prepare the appropriate amount of food. RSVP to Arabel Bello, 212-288-8920 x245, or aeb@mapc.com.

Sunday, February 24, 1 pm; the 20s/30s will meet on the Fifth Floor for lunch and discussion.

Friday, February 29, 7 pm; the Mid-Timers will have their second Wine and Food-Pairing evening at the Manse. The first wine and food event held a couple of years ago was one of the most popular Mid-Timer events ever! Watch for more details in the weekly Pastors’ email. You can sign-up for this event at fellowship hour on Sundays beginning January 27, or by calling Arabel Bello, 212-288-8920 x245, or email her aeb@mapc.com.

Sunday, March 1, 1 pm; the 20s/30s will meet on the Fifth Floor for lunch and discussion. Please note that this month we return to the usual first and third Sunday of the month schedule.

Wednesday, March 5, 8 - 8:30 am; the Parents’ Prayer Group meets in the Phillips Lounge.

Saturday, March 8, 10 - noon; Families with Young Children will meet on the Fifth Floor, or the Roof Garden if it is a balmy, late-winter day! See above for more details.

Monday, March 10, 3 pm: Seniors Unlimited will meet in the Parish Hall. We welcome Frank Tracy who will be leading us into some of Giuseppe Verdi’s wonderful operatic music. In Verdi’s long career in theater he produced many works with deep religious feeling. This presentation will focus especially on various forms of spiritual expression with examples from Nabucco, Stiffelio, Otello and the great Requiem. Opera is an extraordinary combination of drama and music and we will be treated to both musical and video excerpts. Whether familiar with this art form or not, you will not be able to resist the power and beauty of this music! Following the program we will enjoy some refreshments and time for conversation. RSVP by Monday March 3 to Arabel Bello at 212-288-8920 (ext. 245) or e-mail her at aeb@mapc.com.

Sunday, March 16, 12:30 pm; Congregational Brunch in the Parish Hall. Come join in a time of fellowship after the 11:15 am worship service on Palm Sunday. Coffee, tea and cookies will be available, and for those who can stay there will be a brunch. The cost for brunch $10, $8 for seniors, and children under 12 eat for free. Come enjoy lunch and an extended time of fellowship, then go back upstairs to the sanctuary for the St. Andrew Chorale concert!

Happy New Year from the Hood Library Committee! As we all recuperate from the holidays, it is time for the 3 R’s: relax, rest, READ! Here are a few offerings from the Hood Library for indulging in these 3 R’s: Atonement by Ian McEwan; Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; The Devil Wears Prada, by Lauren Weisberger. If you saw the movies but didn’t read the books, now’s your chance! There are many more wonderful, current books in our library. A few of our recent acquisitions include: Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the 60's and Today, by Tom Brokaw; Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, by David Michaelis; Exit Ghost, by Philip Roth; The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary, by Robert Alter. Come find a good book and snuggle up in your armchair for a cozy read on a cold winter’s night. P.S. We’ll make it even easier for you to find a good book on February 3, “Library Awareness Sunday.” On that date you’ll be able to browse through much of the Hood Library’s collection during fellowship hour where the books will be spread out on tables in the Church House Lobby.

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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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