The MAPC UPDATE
Vol. XXXIV, No. 2 — March/April 2008

A New Building for a New Century of
Witness, Nurture and Service

Yes, we are talking about the building at 921 Madison Avenue that many only know as the Church House. But it doesn’t look new, at least from the outside—not yet! That comes in Phase III, and for now we must pay off Phases I & II. But there is much about the building that is, as they say, “brand new.” Yes, unless you know how to look, it does not appear that new from the inside either. So where has all that $14 million dollars worth of construction money gone?

How about a tour? Would you like to see what happened to the swimming pool, the bowling alleys and the game room? How about the conversion of steam to circulating hot water that will allow us to thermostatically control the heat in rooms so that we don’t have to heat the whole building to get one room warm? What about the new fire suppression system that has already placed sprinklers on four levels and will ultimately put sprinklers on every floor? How about the new workshop, laundry room or showers for visiting mission workers and those who provide overnight shelter supervision? Would you like to see one of the 10th floor staff apartments, the completely renovated 9th floor of the Day School or our new gymnasium? And along the way, we will give you a preview of what yet needs to be done. Interested? Such a tour is being offered at 10:10 am on every Sunday in March, except Easter Day. It leaves from the Church House Lobby at 10:10 am and takes an hour. See what all the talk about “new infrastructure” is all about—how the 921 Building is becoming new from the inside out—and why your gift to the 921 Fund: A New Century of Witness, Nurture and Service is so essential to the faithful ministry of MAPC in this next one hundred years.

Changes to Delivery of the MAPC UPDATE

Many of us at MAPC are already receiving UPDATE online through our Internet service. A number of you have indicated this is preferable and have asked to have the paper copy no longer mailed to you. Others of you have access to e-mail service but are not yet receiving UPDATE electronically. In budget deliberations last December, Session determined it was time to begin to better utilize our Internet services in our communications.

This March/April issue of UPDATE will be the last issue sent to members in a paper format if we have a serviceable e-mail address for them, unless they specifically ask for a paper copy (see paragraph three below). They will now automatically receive it electronically but will also have the option to unsubscribe from it if they do not want it in their e-mail. Those who do not have access to the Internet or who have not given us a working e-mail address will continue to receive a paper copy of UPDATE as usual. Finally, those who may have Internet access but have not provided us with a working e-mail address can sign up for the electronic version themselves. Simply go to our website, www.mapc.com, and look for the sign-up box on the right-hand side of the home page under the “New and Noteworthy” heading.

This is being done not only to improve our stewardship of paper products and thus the resources of the earth, but also to reduce our printing and postage expenses. Nonetheless, if you have access to the Internet but still wish to receive UPDATE in the mail, please notify Membership Secretary Josie McFadden at jmf@mapc.com.

One other thought: those who unsubscribe may still access an electronic copy via the home page of our web site at www.mapc.com, where it is always linked.

March 16 – Palm/Passion Sunday 9 am, 11:15 am & 7:30 pm Service of Word and Sacrament “Who Is This?”   The Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson preaching 3 pm - Saint Andrew Chorale and Instruments Dr. Andrew Henderson, conductor Arvo Pärt   Passio (1982) (The Passion According to St. John) March 20 – Maundy Thursday 7 pm Service of Foot Washing and Communion The Rev. J.C. Austin preaching March 21 – Good Friday 12 to 3 pm - The Passion According to John The Pastoral Staff preaching Music by Morley, Bach, Handel, Schubert, Willan & Berkeley 7:30 pm Service of Tenebrae Music by Allegri, Handel, Stainer & Chilcott March 23 – Easter Day 9 am, 11:15 am & 7:30 pm Festival Services of Word and Sacrament “Meeting the Risen Christ” Dr. Anderson preaching Music for Organ and Brass by Handel & Manfredini Choral music by Bach & Rutter

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Easter Decorations

If you would like to contribute to the Easter decorations, with memorials listed in the Easter Day bulletin, please send the names for the memorial list and your check, payable to Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, before Palm Sunday, March 16, to Arabel Bello, at MAPC, 921 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021 or 212-288-8920, x245.

One Great Hour of Sharing During Lent

Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering to show God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development which help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. The Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receive a third of the offering. Communities in need have been aided by the OGHS offering within our New York City area, Hurricane-Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, and in Zambia, Africa where MAPC’s Global Mission Fellow, the Rev. Carmen Goetschius, is located.

Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, Presbyterians can respond this Lenten Season through an offering discipline that helps our sisters and brothers around the world find hope for a brighter future. Our children and young adults have received OGHS gift banks and are participating in daily offering. We encourage all to join this annual tradition. The OGHS offering will be received during worship on Palm Sunday, March 16. Stop by the Outreach Ministries bulletin board in the lobby of the Church House to learn more about One Great Hour of Sharing!

Congregational Nurture Calendar

Calendar of Events for March/April 2008

March 12 and 26, Parents Prayer Group for parents of teens and young adults meets in the Phillips Lounge from 8:30 till 9 am.

March and April, The 20s/30s Group will meet twice a month following the 11:15 am Sunday worship service. We invite all who fall within the range of 20-40 years of age to join this group for fellowship and Bible study! The group will meet on
March 9 – Group table at the Lenten Lunch/Film Festival in Parish Hall
March 16 – Group table at the Palm Sunday Brunch in Parish Hall following the 11:15am Sunday worship service.
March 30 – Lunch discussion following Worship in Room 503
April 6 – Participate in the Bread for the World Offering of Letters Luncheon in Parish Hall
April 13 & 27 – Lunch discussion following Worship in Room 503

March 10, Seniors Unlimited will meet in the parish hall. We welcome Frank Tracy to lead us into some of Giuseppe Verdi's wonderful operatic music. This presentation will focus on various forms of spiritual expression in Verdi's music 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. Frank Tracy is a retired high school teacher and a self-described "opera nut!" He teaches about opera to senior centers in Ridgefield, Connecticut where he lives, and we are pleased to welcome him to New York City. Following the program we will enjoy some refreshments and time for conversation. RSVP to Arabel Bello by March 3 to reserve your seat. You can call her at 212-288-8920, ext. 245 or you can e-mail her at aeb@mapc.com.

March 16, Palm Sunday Congregational Brunch/Fellowship Hour
Come enjoy brunch in the Parish Hall after the 11:15 am worship service on Palm Sunday. The cost for brunch is $10, $8 for seniors; children under 12 eat for free.
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March 11, April 8, MAPC Evening Knitters meet in the Hood Library from 6:30 til 8 pm.
March 18, April 15, MAPC Morning Knitters meet in the Hood Library from 10:30 am till noon.

April 9 and 23, Parents Prayer Group, 8:30–9 am in the Phillips Lounge.

April 7, Seniors Unlimited will meet downtown at the Rubin Museum of Art. This is the first museum in the Western world dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The imagery in Himalayan art may be unfamiliar to our western eyes but the themes that inspired it are not. We will see sculpture and paintings that express awe at the natural world and our place in the universe. The museum is located at 150 West 17th Street at 7th Avenue; it occupies what was originally the Barney's department store in Chelsea. We will meet at the museum at 12:30 pm for lunch in the quiet cafe on the ground floor, followed by a guided tour. There is a unique and exotic gift shop adjoining the cafe. Please contact Arabel Bello for information about the cost and to RSVP at 212-288-8920 or at aeb@mapc.com.

April 12, Families with Young Children in the Roof Garden, 10 am–noon (5th Floor if it is too cold).

Coming Soon, MAPC Co-ed Softball Team: Spring is coming and that means softball season! Ever dream of hitting the game-winning home run? Ever dream of playing on a team where, win or lose, everyone is having fun, enjoying one another and the game, and really being a team? The MAPC Co-ed Softball Team asks you (over the age of 13, league rule) to join us; this is the 5th season for the Presbytery of NYC’s softball league. We are always looking for new players and fans. All skill levels are welcomed and everyone gets a chance to play. It’s about fun, fellowship, and enjoying being outside on a Sunday afternoon with friends. Even if you’ve never seen a softball before, join us! After a game or two of rooting us on, surely you will want to join us on the field. If you have questions, contact our team captain, Stephanie Nichols at sprnichols@hotmail.com.

For more information on any of the above events or groups, please contact Beverly Bartlett at the church, 212-288-8920 x247, or bab@mapc.com.

Lenten Lunch and Film Series

March 2 and 9, Sunday Lenten Lunch and Film Series, in the Parish Hall from 1 to 4 pm. Join us for a light lunch as we watch the films The Spitfire Grill (March 2) and Superman (March 9) and then stay for discussion on how each film uniquely lifts up the Lenten themes of repentance, confession, forgiveness and reconciliation. Our second film in the series is Superman! We invite you to watch this familiar film through the lens of our faith story and see if you find it has something new to say to you. The comic book character, so brilliantly brought to life in this film, is an icon of American heroism and, some would say, draws upon and reconstructs some of the the major elements of Christ’s life and ministry. Join us for a post-film discussion with the Rev. J.C. Austin and one of the film's screenwriters, our good friend Robert Benton, and see if you agree! The cost of the lunch is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and free for children under twelve. Childcare is available upon request. RSVP by calling Arabel Bello, 212-288-8920, ext. 245 or e-mail at aeb@mapc.com.

Isn’t Easter Awfully Early This Year?

It is almost as early as it can get! A pastor friend of ours passed this along for our edification:

The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913. If you are 95 or older, you were around for that one but probably don’t remember it!

The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.  So, none of us have or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Finally, in all these future Easters, we expect to be celebrating them at a far larger communion table in our Lord’s “nearer presence” and fully expect each of you to be there celebrating with us!