Newsletter of Sewickley Presbyterian Church September 2017 WHAT’S INSIDE? SPC Office.......................... 2 Chancel Choir Returns............. 5 Family Matters.................... 3 Music Opportunities.................. 5 Fall Dates........................... 3 A Little Bit of History.................. 5 FriendShip Preschool........ 4 New Chapel Organ Dedication. 6 Dollars & Sense................. 4 SPC Kids.................................. 8 Thank You.......................... 4 SPC Youth Ministry................... 9 Anna Singer Anniversary.... 4 Day on the Lawn....................... 10 Marianne Cornetti Returns.. 4 Backpacks & Thank Yous......... BC Hours Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM Phone Fax 412.741.4550 412.741.1210 Address 414 Grant Street Sewickley, PA 15143 Web Address www.sewickleypresby.org The SPC newsletter, Interpreta- tion, is published once a month. New Member classes are held The deadline for submitting con- VISITATION nd several times throughout the year. tent is the 2 Tuesday of each If you or a member of your family Please call Sharon Barber in the month. Please make submissions are in the hospital and would like church office to sign up or you to Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@ a visit, please call the church office may sign up online. sewickleypresby.org. to let us know. SPC STAFF REV. KEVIN J. LONG SHARON BARBER JENNY HAY STEPHANIE SMITH Pastor Assistant to the Pastor Director of FriendShip Preschool Administrative Assistant home: 412.741.2075 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DAVE BREIT JENNIFER JOHNSON ELIZABETH SZUBA REV. SARAH BIRD Media Engineer Director of Communications Youth Program Coordinator Associate Pastor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] MIKE CREAMER BRIAN MACK CHARLIE BARNHART REV. STEWART LAWRENCE Director of Youth Ministries Director of Children’s Ministries WILL BETTS Volunteer Parish Associate [email protected] [email protected] JOEY TOMALES [email protected] Custodial Staff R. CRAIG DOBBINS, CCM LAURA MIKUSH, CCA Director of Music Ministries Business Administrator [email protected] [email protected] JEREMY FISHER BETH ROM Worship Leader Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] FAMILY MATTERS by Rev. Kevin J. Long I imagine that most people are also paying attention. I wonder, what is it they see in us adults would agree that there are few when they come to church? Or when they see us out and about in things more important than fam- Sewickley, walking through the village, working out at the gym, or ily. Family is not only what tells hanging out at a football game? Here in the church, we are quick us who we are, but it shapes to proclaim that God is the most important thing in our lives. But is so many things about our lives. that what our children see when they watch our lives day to day? Through our families, we come Do they see us walking the walk of faith? Do they see us prioritizing to understand how the world our relationship with God, living as grateful stewards of all that God works, what our place in the has given to us, and acting as agents of reconciliation in the world? world is, and how we are sup- And do they feel welcome and an integral part of our family? posed to live in it. And by grow- ing up in a family, we are taught If we are truly a family here at the church, then we need to be what has value in life. These values are learned whether we realize living like one, being welcoming and hospitable to others as we it or not, whether families are deliberate about it or not. Children love, support and forgive one another as Christ has done for us. Of pay attention, and they know when the things course, that doesn’t mean that we’re always their parents say are just words and when going to get it right. Our church family is just as they are actually meant. In other words, our flawed as our biological families are. But here, actions are just as important as our words, if we learn to live by grace, encouraging one an- not more. Therefore, it is important, especially other to “run with perseverance the race that as parents, that we don’t just talk the talk but is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer walk the walk as well. and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:1-2). One of the greatest things about the church is This fall I am going to be preaching a sermon that it is also a family, a family of faith brought series called, “Family Matters,” looking at together by Jesus Christ who has called each of us by name and some of the earliest members of our family of faith in the book of claimed us as his own. In the waters of Baptism, we have been Genesis. Just like our families, they had their share of problems adopted into the family of the Triune God, becoming sons and and didn’t always handle things the way they should have. How- daughters of the Father as well as siblings and co-heirs with the ever, God continued to be faithful and gracious to them, blessing Son. But in this family, water is thicker than blood, for these familial them along the way. Perhaps by looking at their story, we can learn relationships are even more significant and eternal than the ones a few things about how to walk the walk of faith. After all, it is our into which we were born. In this family, we also learn what has val- story, too. ue in life and how we are supposed to live. And here our children SAVE THE DATES FOR FALL Fall is almost upon us and that means we’ll be getting back to three September 10 September 15 worship services, Sunday School, and all of our weekly and month- One Worship Service Only Journeymen ly groups will get back to meeting together. at 10 AM September 17 Everyone will be receiving a Fall Kick-Off schedule in the mail, but September 12 Fall Kick-Off Sunday mark your calendars for these important dates today! Koinonia Retreat 8, 9 & 11 Worship Services Men’s Huddle 10 AM Sunday School Chapel Organ Dedication September 13 Chapel Organ Recital Youth Kick-Off for Parents & Kids Bible Basics Grades 6-12 ANNA SINGER CELEBRATES 15 YEARS ON STAFF Anna Singer began her duties as our Soprano Soloist/Section leader on September 5, 2002. In addition to her many Chancel Choir-related duties, over the years Anna has served as a Lay Reader, choreographed Youth Choir numbers for Choir Lite, she and her husband, Don Kortlandt, have hosted many choir fellow- ship gatherings, and most recently she produced a daily blog on FRIENDSHIP PRESCHOOL Facebook during the Chancel Choir’s recent tour to Scotland. The FriendShip Preschool will be welcoming in a new school year Wednesday, September 6. The FriendShip staff will be busy pre- Ms. Singer’s day job is as an announcer/programmer for WQED- paring their classrooms the last week of August. Seventy-five chil- FM In addition, she maintains a small private studio. dren are currently enrolled in our six weekly classes. FriendShip will be holding a “Meet and Greet” morning August 31 and Septem- When you see Anna, take a moment to thank her for her many con- ber 1 to give children and their families a chance to say hello to their tributions to both the worship and musical life of this congregation. teachers and visit their new classrooms. The beginning of school is always such an exciting time! The 2nd floor of the church is always such a happy and exciting learning environment for the children each weekday. Please come upstairs and visit our classrooms if you are not familiar with Friend- Ship. We currently have a few openings in our PreK afternoon class for children who will be turning five by next summer. In addition to our weekly classes, we offer a Friday Stay and Play drop-off pro- gram and daily lunch open to any child in the community ages 22 months - 5 years. Please contact Jenny Hay, Director, at jhay@ sewickleypresby.org or 412-741-4550, ext. 225 if you would like more information. -- Jenny Hay, Director of FriendShip Preschool DOLLARS & SENSE by Laura Mikush MARIANNE CORNETTI Did you know? In 2016, we used seven cases or 672 rolls of toilet paper for the church and Faith House. RETURNS Former Mezzo-soprano Soloist/Section Leader Marianne Cornet- ti will participate in the 10 AM service on Sunday, September 10. Internationally known and respected, Ms. Cornetti served this con- THANK YOU gregation from 1990 through 1994. During that time, she made her debuts at The Metropolitan Opera and the Washington Opera. In On Sunday, August 13 at the conclusion of the 10 AM service, I was the intervening years, her career has taken her to the major opera honored to have been called to the front of the Sanctuary to receive houses in Western Europe, Asia, South America, and North Amer- kind words regarding the 30 years I have served as your Director of ica. Music Ministries. Given that the anniversary occurred on that day made it even more special. In addition, I was overwhelmed to have been given a beautiful Wa- terford clock inscribed for the occasion, an extra week of vacation for 2018, and a generous monetary gift. It has been and continues to be both a pleasure and an honor to have served this congre- gation in this capacity. Please know that Susan and I, as well as Maggie after her arrival among you, have been continually blessed by you.