Please note that this is a two-week Pastoral Staff Letter.

This Week at a Glance</h4 >  

To Check the Church's Calendar,
Go to www.mapc.com/calendar/calendar.

Yoga for Every Body, Friday, July 14, 9 am on the Fifth Floor

We will have one more yoga class this summer, then take a break until the fall. Please join us for yoga on Friday, July 14 at 9 am! Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience, flexibility, level of physical fitness or spiritual enlightenment. Bring a mat if you have one, though we do have a few mats available to borrow. We ask for a $20 donation to help cover the fee for the teacher.

This Sunday 

Summer Choir

You're invited to sing on Sundays during the summer at MAPC! Our Summer Choir provides an opportunity for church members and friends to sing some beautiful choral music together as leaders of worship. Continuing through Sunday, July 30, the Summer Choir will meet on Sunday mornings for a rehearsal at 9:30 am in preparation for our 10:30 am services. This is a great way to join in on the music-making at MAPC on an informal level; just come as you can. To peruse this summer's choral music repertoire, and further information, click on this link to MAPC's website. Please contact Andrew Henderson at for more information.

Other Events and Announcements  

Sign Up Now fror the Summer Roof Garden Party!
Monday, July 17, beginning at 6:30 pm

If you have not signed up for the Roof Garden "Cocktails by the Sea" party, now is the time! Our MAPC member cooks need to know how much food to prepare!

We have a delicious menu of seaside appetizers planned for "Cocktails by the Sea", the theme for this summer's Roof Garden Party--we are, after all, living on an island! We'll begin at 6:30 pm, and once again, will offer childcare on the 5th Floor. The suggested donation for the evening is $35, and we ask parents to contribute $15 for each child to help cover the cost of childcare. You can purchase tickets for the event here now or sign up with Wendy De Los Santos in the church offices, . When you respond, please indicate whether you will need childcare!

Hood Library Summer Checkout

Remember you can check books out of the Hood Library for the entire summer! They are not due until the Sunday after Labor Day, September 10. Please come browse the shelves and check out some summer reading! You may check out books whenever you are in the building, signing them out in the notebook on the desk. The Hood Library is sure to have something for everyone--fiction, biography, history, current events, and religious/spiritual books.

Save the Date! All-Church-Retreat at Camp Holmes, October 6-7

Please mark your calendars and plan to join in this year's all-church retreat at Camp Holmes. We'll begin with dinner on Friday evening, and finish by 4 on Saturday. This retreat is for MAPC folk of all ages and an opportunity for us to have conversation and time to relax and play together. If you cannot come up on Friday, you can come for the day on Saturday. More details will be coming out as the fall approaches.

Children and Family Ministries in 2017

Children's Worship
Children's worship will continue over the summer for our 10:30 am services. This opportunity is for children 3rd grade and under.

Youth Worship
Youth Worship will resume in the Fall. All children 4th grade and up should remain in the Sanctuary during worship.

Kids' Club
Kids' Club will resume in the Fall. Have a great summer!

Church School
Church School will resume in September! Have a great summer!

Middle and High School Ministries

Youth Group
Youth Group will resume in the Fall. Have a great summer!

Highlights of the June Session Meeting

The Session met for its regular meeting on June 27. Click here for more information.

Bible Studies at MAPC 

Looking for a place to read Scripture together and get to know people at MAPC? Come to one of our Bible Studies; newcomers are always welcome! For more information, go to http://www.mapc.com/christian-ed/adultclasses/.

Reading Through the Bible:
Reading Through the Bible will resume in September.

20s/30s Group: (Next meeting is today, July 13)
6-7 pm, Offsite
If you are in your twenties or thirties, join us for food, fellowship, and a rich discussion about expressions of faith.

Women’s Bible Study: (Next meeting is July 24)
2nd and 4th Mondays, 6:00 pm, Phillips Lounge.
We are now studying Paul's letters. If you can, bring dinner and come at 5:30 pm to chat.

Men’s Bible Study:
The Men's Bible Study will resume in September.

Stay Connected to Worship at MAPC

Did you know that even if you’re away or unable to make it to church that you can listen to Sunday worship services at MAPC? Sermons and service highlights (including scripture lessons, hymns and anthems) are uploaded afterwards, and are permanently accessible. They can be downloaded to your electronic device or listened to directly on MAPC’s website: peruse this valuable online resource today! Once ready for print, our Sunday bulletins are also uploaded to our website on Thursday afternoons and are made permanently available for download. 
 

Flowers for the Sanctuary

Is there someone you would like to honor or remember through a gift of flowers for Sunday worship? If so, please contact Lissette Perez-Erazo at or 212-288-8920. The cost for Sunday flowers is $110.

Thank You for Filling the New York Common Pantry Grocery Carts

The New York Common Pantry, the city’s largest private food pantry and long-time MAPC outreach partner,is asking for your continued support through the summer: canned or dried beans, canned chicken/salmon/tuna, rice, dried pasta, fresh or canned vegetables, and peanut butter. Please–no glass containers. You can drop items off in the grocery carts in the Church House Lobby or the Sanctuary Narthex, or you could even order groceries to be delivered through one of your grocers. (8 East 109th Street, New York, NY, 10029, Phone: 917-720-9700). Thank you for taking seriously Christ’s command to “feed my sheep!” 
 

Clothing Donations Needed for Women and Men

The Homeless Outreach Program at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, one of MAPC’s long-term outreach partners, continues to see a dramatic increase of homeless persons seeking assistance. Both casual and business clothing for men and women, as well as new undergarments, are among their most urgent needs. If you have clothing items in clean and neat condition, we encourage you to take them to the Jan Hus Clothes Pantry at 351 East 74th Street at 1st Avenue. The clothes pantry is available to take donations Monday through Saturday from 8 am-8 pm and on Sunday from 9 am-3:30 pm. NOTE: Please bring all clothing to Jan Hus directly–clothing may no longer be left in the coatroom off of the MAPC Church House Lobby.   
 
 

Hands-On Ministries
 

Ways to get involved at MAPC with hands and hearts!

“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” The following opportunities to participate in hands-on ministries are provided by the Outreach Committee. If you are interested in exploring any of these opportunities, e-mail Andy Smothers at . Let’s put our faith into action!

The Thursday Shelter Dinner Needs YOU!

Can you spare 2 hours on a Thursday evening from 6-8 pm? If so, then you can help feed 120 hungry neighbors a hot meal, offering them Christian hospitality. Please contact Kathy Hoffman at .

Host at the Shelter

Hosts are needed for the Shelter! The Shelter is comfortable and the experience of helping these men get their lives back on track is one that will change your heart. Two shifts are offered each evening. Early evening hosts volunteer from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm; overnight hosts volunteer from 8:30 pm to 7 am. Contact Andy Smothers at for more information.
 

Search and Care

Can you spend an afternoon with an elderly person on the Upper Eastside to walk their pet, go with them to a doctor’s appointment, help them shop, balance their checkbook or even just offer them the gift of companionship? If so, contact Robin Strashun at .

New York Common Pantry

The New York Common Pantry offers opportunities for volunteers to help pack and distribute food to the working poor on Saturday mornings and other times each week. MAPC has supported this very well organized and effective organization since its inception 30 years ago. This is a wonderful way to follow Christ’s command to “feed my sheep!”

 
See you in church!
The Pastoral Staff
 

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