THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN WW II NN DD OO WW SS GERMANTOWN VOLUME 13, ISSUE 5 M A Y 2 0 1 3

SPECIAL DATES O F INTEREST: From The Pastor I am about to do a new thing; Wednesday now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? May 1 I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Session Isaiah 43:19 7:00 PM Dear Friends, throughout our denomi- members and friends. Saturday I believe that God is nation. These will be happening May 4 wanting to do a new The work that he will in May and the begin- Mt. Airy Day thing with The First be doing with us is dif- ning of June. Look for 10:00 AM Presbyterian Church in ferent from that of Rev- dates and times to be Germantown. Of late erend Wimberly a little announced so that you Sunday we have been in a bit of over a year ago. The can attend one of these May 5 a wilderness, and God focus then was primarily gatherings. Your partic- Bread and Cup wants to give us a way on finances and devel- ipation is of great im- 4:00 PM portance. and to lead us out of this oping a strategic plan Sunday wilderness experience. that would help us deter- Reverend Rhebergen May 12 In order to help us mine how we can effec- will help us remember Mother’s Day “perceive” that way, tively and faithfully do our past but will also Worship Celebrating your Session unani- ministry with limited work with us to under- The Gifts of Women mously voted to hire resources (both finances stand that is the past and 10:00 AM Reverend Paul Rheber- and people). If you we are a different gen as a consultant to would like a copy of that church in a different  Sunday work not just with report, please let me context than we were. May 19 church leadership but know. Reverend Wim- He will challenge us to Pentecost with the congregation as berly worked with the take a realistic look at Communion well. Reverend Rheber- Session on a very lim- ourselves. Who are we Worship gen comes with wonder- ited basis. now? We will want to 10:00 AM ful qualifications for this In contrast, Reverend discern where God is Congregational type of ministry. He is a Rhebergen will be calling us and what God Meeting Presbyterian minister spending much more wants us to do and be. 11:00 AM whose ministry is one of time at First Church in- In answering those Wear something red to serving as congregation- celebrate Pentecost cluding meeting with questions, church lead- al interims when church- officers, individually ership will need to make Concert es are in transition be- with some church mem- some decisions about Keystone State tween ministers. Also, bers and leading focus how we will follow Boychoir Reverend Rhebergen group like discussions God’s call. 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM teaches urban ministry with groups of church Continued on page 2 P A G E 2

From The Pastor (continued)

How can we tion. It can and will be his kingdom, and these be a faithful a challenging time as things will be given to Church of well. It will most you as well. Do not be Jesus Christ probably require afraid, little flock, for in this time change but may it be it is your Father's and place change that will good pleasure to give with the re- strengthen the ministry you the king- sources that of The First Presbyter- dom.” (Luke 12:31, we have been ian Church in German- 32) given? town. Pray for First This can be an In Luke’s version Church and our new exciting expe- of the Sermon on the project!

rience for us Mount he records Je- See you in church! as a congrega- sus saying, “Strive for Nancy Mother’s Day Flower and Baked Goods Sale for Triennium The Presbyterian of our congregation who Please look for our table Youth Triennium, a will be attending his in Longstreth during Presbyterian four-day three-night second Triennium that time and buy some- gathering of Presbyter- through our church) thing sweet smelling or ian youth that occurs along with Christian tasting for the important Youth every three years on Heyer-Rivera and Mi- women in your life. the campus of Purdue chael Jones as adult Triennium University, is occur- leaders. In an effort to ring this July. help reduce the cost of Our congregation the gathering for all July 16-20 will be sending three those attending, our Tri- youth to the conference ennium participants will this summer along with be holding a flower and two adult leaders. The baked goods sale during youth attending are the two weeks leading Kristina Ohemeng (con- up to Mother's firmand), Matthew Rei- Day. Please look for sse (confirmand), and our table in Longstreth Lunden Lewis (a friend during our coffee hour

W I N D O W S P A G E 3 Financial Bread and Cup — A Mother’s Perspective Reports -lighting some of the program here togeth- women whose writ- er. Each has a deep FPCG Finances through ings and performances well of experiences have been a backbone from which their poet- March 2013 of this ministry ry springs, providing

Inc $194,479.00 throughout the years. living water for all. Sharone Gaither, Ru- As always, you are Exp $259,268.00 Sunday, May 5 at Nett Nia Ebo-Gray, invited to bring some- Net -$64,789.00 4:00PM, the Bread and Victoria Huggins thing for our refresh- and Cup Coffeehouse Peurifoy have all been ment table, a song or March celebrates Mother’s headliners at Bread poem for open micro- Challenge Offering Day a week early with and Cup, but this will phone, or a friend to its program “A Moth- be the first time Bread and Cup. supporting er’s Perspective,” high they’ve all presented a One Great Hour of Sharing raised $1,166.00

Adult Bible Study Scripture tells us, sharing a meal with Bible study. Why not “One does not live by others can make the give it a try? Join in May bread alone, but by meal more enjoyable, the adult discussion Community every word that comes exploring God’s Word Bible study that meets from the mouth of with others can enrich in the Jennings Room Outreach God.” And just like your experience of Sundays at 11:30AM. My Place $1,000.00

Presby’s Inspired Life IHN Fund Raiser — May 5 Interfaith House On Sunday, May 5, opening reception for Humanities directo $2,500.00 the Manayunk-Roxbo- this exhibit will be Peter Krok, and Phila- rough Art Center from 12:00PM to delphia poet-MRAC (MRAC) will host 5:00PM at MRAC’s member Mike Cohen. Collaboration of gallery, located at 419 The visual art exhibit IHN Hope, a visual art ex- Green Lane (rear), will feature new hibit and humanities Philadelphia, PA works by members of presentation to benefit 19128. Performances the Manayunk-Roxbo- the families of the In- of spoken word and rough Artists’ Co-Op. terfaith Hospitality song will take place The exhibit will run Network of North- from 3:00 to 5:00PM through May 26. For west/Northeast Phila- and will include works more information delphia (NPIHN). The performed by MRAC phone 215-482-3363. P A G E 4

SUMMER CHOIR Beginning Sun- day, June 9, The Philadelphia Fairmount Park. parking, a $5.00 food 2013, Summer Presbytery invites you This event is open to voucher and unlimited Choir will begin. to a night at the Please all ages. Take the kids carousel rides. The music will be Touch Museum on or see for yourself For more infor- quite a bit easier Thursday, June 20, how much fun they mation visit the Pres- 6:00 – 9:00 PM. have been having bytery’s website at for the Summer Come see what is without you! www.presbyterianPT months. Come happening at the Tickets are an un- Mnight.eventbrite.com and join us when Please Touch Museum believable $12.50 or see Dani Howard at you can. Rehears- at its new location in which includes free coffee hour. als begin at 8:45 AM each Sunday to prepare the An Afternoon at the Theater music for that day. es: Adults - $85.00, Teens - $55.00, Chil- dren - $40.00. Trans- portation will be pro- vided. Ticket sales end Sunday, June 22. See Dani Howard at coffee hour or Join the Congrega- at 1:00PM and will email her at danihow- tional Development be followed by dinner [email protected] for and Fellowship Com- (family style or buf- more information. mittee for a day in fet) at a location to be Lancaster, Satur- announced later. For more infor- day, October 12, for a Tickets are limited! mation, contact performance of the Make your reserva- David Daugherty musical Noah at the tion now with a at the church 215- Sight & Sound Thea- $10.00 per ticket de- 843-8811, Ex. 21. tre. Noah begins posit. Ticket pric-

W I N D O W S P A G E 5 Challenge Offering

Freedom School Participants Freedom School

Summer 2012 focus on reading guides this engaging program. the activities along with The actual program the traditional experi- cost per child is $1500. ences of summer camp. Transportation cost for Bible study, swimming, one local venue is $300 or $400 with admission crafts and trips! to the venue. Daily We need your help snack cost, $40. Your to meet the $75,000 financial support will budget to operate the help in many ways program 7:30AM – whether you sponsor a 6PM, for seven weeks child’s weekly fees or beginning June 24 pay for transportation through August 9. Par- The Children’s De- for a trip or give what ents pay an affordable you can to help us meet fense Fund (CDF) Free- $45 per week ($315 for Freedom our budget. Know that dom School® is a child seven weeks;) however, your investment will -centered program that no child is turned away School 2013 have an impact on the motivates children to because of inability to life of a child. excel, strengthens their pay the fee. Partner June 24 Look for infor- feelings of self worth with us as we help keep mation about hands-on and lets them know that our children safe this through volunteer opportunities they are loved and val- summer while strength- in the near future. ued by caring adults. A ening their cognitive August 9 and life skills through

New pictures on our church's website Thank You—from the Littles If you haven't visited the church's website late- ly, www.fpcgermantown.org, and viewed the photo We would like to thank our First Church Family gallery, you're missing an opportunity to see some for the many prayers, cards and expressions of of what our congregants and ministries have been support following the death of our Father and up to. Photos from our Disciples Basketball team, Grandfather, Mr. Leslie Littles. Sunday School, MLK work day, Palm Sunday and Easter Festival have been posted recently. Come, take a look and continue to check our albums; and Love and Blessings, as you do, please pray for all these important activi- Dieter, Heidi, Erika and Antonio Littles ties and the lives that are touched by God through them. P A G E 6

Mother’s Day Reflection Don Carlin Denise, a forty-five whose mothers are end. Will they be mothers: the mother year-old mother, died incarcerated or are properly recognized who is; the mother in early March 2013, living with chronic and supported on who was; the mother with her mother sit- mental illness. Moth- Mother’s Day? who never was; and ting vigil beside her. er’s Day is likewise Of course, there the mother yet to be. Denise had lived most hard for mothers who are “mothers” out When we contemplate of her adult life “on have lost children to there who have no these and all types of the streets,” as per her death or to prison or biological children or children and mothers, cousin who also sat to the foster care sys- who have many we will feel sadness, vigil. Denise and her tem. “children” in addition regret, yearnings, con- mother had spent most Jean and June are to biological children. tentment, inspiration, of the last couple dec- mothers who have end There are step- and deep gratitude. ades estranged from -stage dementia and mothers and foster/ Such contemplation each other. Denise’s who have lost their adoptive mothers and will generate stories – mother admitted to me ability to communi- block mothers and some fresh, some long her own past criminal cate in words. They school moms and forgotten, some not record. She expressed appear to have also church mothers. I yet lived. concern for Denise’s lost their ability to know a lady with no On Mother’s Day, son who was recently recognize their own children of her own we can offer all of our released from prison children. How will who has financially emotions and all of and who had mixed their children feel sponsored, at any one our stories to God. feelings about trying about Mother’s Day time, two dozen chil- We can entrust our to get to his mother’s this year? Some dren living in impov- children, our mothers bedside before she mothers, on Mother’s erished countries and ourselves into died. As far as I Day and everyday, around the world. God’s hands for know, Denise did die will be caring for their About twenty five God’s safekeeping. without her son com- own children who are years ago, in New We can thank God, ing by to visit. dying. Those dying York City, in a con- our heavenly parent, So, how will Den- children may be tod- gregation eight per- for the families of ise’s son celebrate dlers. Those dying cent single, I heard a many shapes that con- Mother’s Day this children may be in minister preach a tinue to shape our year? How will Den- their seventies. Other Mother’s Day sermon lives. ise’s mother cele- mothers will be devot- about four types of brate? Mother’s Day ed to their children of children: the child is hard, I think, for all ages with severe who is; the child who people whose mothers and/or chronic physi- was; the child who are deceased; for peo- cal and mental disabil- never was; and the ple whose mothers are ities. They are moth- child yet to be. Some- or were abusive or ers whose work and one could also preach neglectful; for people worry never seem to about the four types of

W I N D O W S P A G E 7

May 1 Mary Lundy 24 Glenna Hazeltine 2 Norma Mercer 25 Maurice Horne 3 Grace Nehmer 26 Aaron Bass 8 Taneisha Gibbs 27 Madison Lundy 12 James Thompson 28 Geraldine Marrow

15 Douglas Payne

Church Electric Service Update Saturday, April 13 in January allowed this updating the electrical New Electrical was an interesting day to be done safely and service equipment. But at our church. A nor- with no problems. If it was provident that Service Equipment mally busy Saturday this new equipment had this was done only was also to have been a not been in place, sever- months before the April work day sponsored by al possibilities may 13 outage. To the left of the Property Committee have existed – none that this article is a picture to carry out many lin- were good. One possi- of the equipment with gering tasks. At ap- bility is that the former the switch on the right proximately 3 AM, the main switch would turn side. It is not your nor- church was notified by the service off but never mal light switch but PECO that a failure had enable it again. Anoth- rather a complex me- occurred in their system er possibility is that it chanical and electrical that also affected our would not interrupt the assembly that is used to church’s service and service, and then other switch 13,600 volts – several other locations methods would have to about 60 times your in the area. Fortunate- be taken (e.g. digging household service! ly, PECO was able to up the ground near the So please remember restore the power by 1 office sidewalk to get to that this outage was not AM on Sunday, and the cable vault). Any of due to any of the recent activities for Sunday these possibilities work done; and on the were held as scheduled. would have resulted in contrary the recent In order to repair a much longer outage, work enabled a timely their equipment failure, many days or weeks, recovery of our electric PECO needed access to and unplanned costs to service. Thanks for our building to shut off the church. your understanding and the main power feed. Some may have for those who helped to Much to our relief, the wondered why we spent manage the situation. new electrical equip- so long a period and ment that was installed incurred the expenses of

W I N D O W S P A G E 8

Children’s Book Spot

Allen, Judy. Are You a Butterfly? Illustrated by Tudor Humphries. Kingfisher, 2003. Ashton, Diane. A Butterfly Is Patient. Illustrated by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books, 2011. Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Philomel, 1969. Collard, Sneed B. Butterfly Count. Illustrated by Paul Kratter. Holiday House, 2002. Ehlert, Lois. Waiting for Wings. Harcourt, 2001. Engle, Margarita. Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian. Butterflies Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Henry Holt, 2010. French, Vivian. Caterpillar, Caterpillar. A well-known Illustrated by Charlotte Voake. Candlewick, 1993. Gibbons, Gail. Monarch Butterfly. Holiday House, 1989. jingle states: Heligman, Deborah. From Caterpillar to Butterfly. Illustrated by Bari Weissman. HarperCollins, 1996. “April showers Kelly, Irene. It’s a Butterfly’s Life. Holiday House, 2007. bring May flowers.” Lasky, Kathryn. Monarchs. Accompanying Photographs by Christopher G. Knight. Gulliver, 1993. those flowers flitting Lavies, Bianca. Monarch Butterflies: Mysterious Travelers. Dutton, 1992. to and fro are some Lerner, Carol. Butterflies in the Garden. HarperCollins, 2002. of nature’s most Markle, Sandra. Butterfly Tree. beautiful creatures— Illustrated by Leslie Wu. Peachtree Publishers, 2011. butterflies. Murawski, Darlyne. Face to Face with Caterpillars. This month’s col- National Geographic Society, 2007. Pasternak, Carol. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: umn features butter- A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids. Firefly Books, 2012. fly (and caterpillar) Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies. books including Eric Illustrations by Kendahl Jan Jubb. Walker, 2003. Carle’s classic about Pringle, Laurence. An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch a hungry caterpillar. Butterfly. Orchard, 1997. Rockwell, Anne. Becoming Butterflies. Illustrated by Megan Halsey. Walker, 2002. Books listed are for Sandved, Kjell B. The Butterfly Alphabet. Scholastic, 1996. grades K-4. Sidman, Joyce. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Illustrated by Beth Krommes. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Happy Reading! Simon, Seymour. Butterflies. Collins, 2011. Singer, Marilyn. Caterpillars. Early Light Books, 2011. Deborah Thompson Zemlicka, Shannon. From Egg to Butterfly. Lerner, 2002.

W I N D O W S VOLUME 13, ISSUE 5 May 2013

1 Wednesday 11 Saturday 20 Monday 4:00 pm Keystone State Boychoir 8:15 am Keystone State Boychoir 6:30 pm Line Dancing 10:00 am Open Gym 21 Tuesday 7:00 pm Session 12 Sunday Mother’s Day 22 Wednesday 2 Thursday 8:45 am Chancel Choir 8:00 am KSBoychoir Festival 6:00 pm Gospel Choir 9:40 am Power of Prayer- 6:00 pm Mission and Outreach 7:30 pm Voices-in-Bronze Westside Room Committee 10:00 am Worship Service 6:30 pm Line Dancing 3 Friday 11:10 am Children’s Choir 7:00 pm Communication 2:30 pm Drop-in-Center 11:30 am Confirmation Class Committee 6:30 pm Elementary School Youth 11:30 am Sunday School 23 Thursday Group 11:30 am Adult Bible Study 6:00 pm Gospel Choir 7:00 pm Germantown Community 4 Saturday 13 Monday Connection 8:15 am Keystone State Boychoir 7:30 pm Voices-in-Bronze 9:30 am Congregational Develop- 14 Tuesday ment & Fellowship 24 Friday 10:00 am Open Gym 15 Wednesday 2:30 pm Drop-in-Center 10:00 am Mt. Airy Day 4:00 pm Keystone State Boychoir 6:00 pm Worship and Music 25 Saturday 5 Sunday Committee 8:15 am Keystone State Boychoir 8:45 am Chancel Choir 6:30 pm Line Dancing 9:00 am Reader’s Choice 9:40 am Power of Prayer- 7:00 pm Property Committee 10:00 am Open Gym Westside Room 10:00 am Worship Service 16 Thursday 26 Sunday Celebration Sunday 11:10 am Children’s Choir 6:00 pm Gospel Choir 8:45 am Chancel Choir 11:30 am Confirmation Class 6:00 pm Administration and 9:40 am Power of Prayer- 11:30 am Sunday School Finance Westside Room 11:30 am Adult Bible Study 7:30 pm Voices-in-Bronze 10:00a m Worship Service 11:30 am Gospel Choir 11:10 am Children’s Choir 11:30 am Chancel Choir 17 Friday 11:30 am Confirmation Class 4:00 pm Bread and Cup 2:30 pm Drop-in-Center 11:30 am Sunday School 6:30 pm High School Youth Group 11:30 am Adult Bible Study 6 Monday 11:30 am Gospel Choir 18 Saturday 7 Tuesday 8:15 am Keystone State Boychoir 27 Monday Memorial Day 9:30 am Classic Towns 10:00 am Open Gym Church Offices Closed

8 Wednesday 19 Sunday Pentecost 28 Tuesday 4:00 pm Keystone State Boychoir 8:45 am Chancel Choir 6:30 pm Line Dancing 9:40 am Power of Prayer- 29 Wednesday 6:30 pm Christian Education Westside Room 4:00 pm Keystone State Boychoir Committee 10:00 am Worship Service 6:30 pm Line Dancing 6:30 pm GACM Board Meeting Communion 11:00 am Congregational Meeting 30 Thursday 9 Thursday 11:10 am Children’s Choir 6:00 pm Gospel Choir 6:00 pm Gospel Choir 11:30 am Confirmation Class 7:30 pm Voices-in-Bronze 7:30 pm Voices-in-Bronze 11:30 am Sunday School 11:30 am Adult Bible Study 31 Friday 10 Friday 11:30 am Gospel Choir 12:00 pm Gaudenzia House Banquet 2:30 pm Drop-in-Center 11:30 am Chancel Choir 2:30 pm Drop-in-Center 6:30 pm Middle School Youth 3:00 pm Concert-KSB Group 6:00 pm Concert-KSB

35 West Chelten Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144

Phone: 215-843-8811 Fax: 215-844-8144 E-mail: [email protected]

We’re on the web www.fpcgermantowm.org