Memorial Park Church ANNUAL REPORT 2019‐2020 MPC ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 2 WORSHIP Music & Arts ....................................................................................................................................... 3 BELONG Student IMPACT ................................................................................................................................. 4 Men’s Ministry .................................................................................................................................... 5 Women’s Ministry ............................................................................................................................... 6 Congregational Care ........................................................................................................................... 7 SERVE Senior Ministry ................................................................................................................................... 8 Outreach ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Missions .............................................................................................................................................. 10 GROW Adult Ministry ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Children’s Ministry ............................................................................................................................. 13 Preschool ............................................................................................................................................ 14 STEWARDSHIP Personnel Report ................................................................................................................................ 15 Leadership .......................................................................................................................................... 16 End of Year Report .............................................................................................................................. 17 Fiscal Report ....................................................................................................................................... 18 From the Desk of Pastor Dean I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may The year 2020 will be forever known as the COVID‐ have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to year, but our ministry year, lest we forget, started ten grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of months before the pandemic began to impact us Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— locally. I could not be more proud of our elders, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness deacons, and staff for the amazing things they have of God” (Ephesians 3:17‐19). accomplished in the last two months of our ministry year, but I don’t want us to forget the amazing things I have a 25‐year‐old ficus tree in my office. The tree was the Lord has been pleased to do through us in the a gift on my first day at Knox Church all those years months prior. ago, and it has stayed with me my entire 14 years at Memorial Park—through three different offices! One In the following pages you will see not a just a financial thing I will say about that tree: it is rooted and report (though that is there), but a report of the established in love! My ficus is a full tree that is wide, ministry and stories of God’s fruitfulness to and high, and deep. Every day I see that beloved tree, it through MPC as the Lord Himself has rooted us and serves as a metaphor for ministry; it has seasons of established us in love! I hope that you will be as dropping leaves and renewing growth; it has been encouraged as I am from reading about the repotted, pruned, watered, nurtured, and all these tremendous maturity of our congregation through our years later, continues to thrive. Adult Discipleship ministries; the growth of our Youth Ministries; and the faithfulness of our Women’s, Men’s, Like a “tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1), and Children’s ministries. I hope you praise God for the Memorial Park continues, in season and out of season, many MPCers who have used their gifts in worship and to thrive. Being “rooted and established in love” God’s on the mission field; for the generous giving of time, beloved “Root of Jesse” (the Biblical name for God’s talent, and financial resources! people) has grown wide, high, and deep, thriving in so many ways. She has been pruned, replanted, nurtured, and loved. The fruit of the Spirit from this “tree of life” has been a blessing to the nations (Revelation 22). MPC Annual Report | 2019‐2020 Page 2 MPC ANNUAL REPORT WORSHIP WORSHIP & ARTS> The Getty Concert By Jim Lueers, Minister of Worship & Arts This past December, 50 MPC Night.” The sound was heavenly! “Hello,” he said. “I’m Dr. Shaffer. And choristers joined with 200 other Moving to the stage, the group this,” pointing to his son, “is Dr. Schaffer, singers from around Pittsburgh for prepared for sound check. Christy and this,” pointing to his daughter, “is Dr. an unforgettable performance. The Ehman, who organized a group of 40 Schaffer!” Fortunately, they were able to concert, called “Sing! An Irish concert goers from MPC remarked of help her recover and sing in the second Christmas” featured Keith and the experience: “I’d never been half of the concert. Kristyn Getty and was held at backstage at the Benedum before and the beautiful Benedum Center in as a music educator, I was so excited The concert was a great success and at downtown Pittsburgh. to be on the same stage as Anne the end, Keith Getty stood by the exit and Martindale Williams, cellist with the thanked each individual chorister. There For four weeks leading up to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and was a palpable sense of Christian concert, the choir practiced every Ricky Skaggs. The whole day was like community that night and we all left with Sunday morning between services. a Christmas gift to myself!” a new mission to “go spread the news of Even though many of the songs Emmanuel!” were familiar carols, there were After a quick dinner catered by Chick many intricate parts for the choir to Fil‐A, Keith Getty shared with the learn! group the reasons why we sing: “One of the main reasons to sing is that we The first half of the program was a are commanded by scripture to sing. Christmas Carol Festival, where the All through the psalms there are band showed off their virtuosity instructions to sing to the Lord!” and the audience was drawn into the joyous spirit of the season. Entering the stage after dinner, the Slowing down with “Silent Night,” choir was reseated by height, which of Keith Getty led into the second course moved Cotton Mather to the half of the program, which was back row. The MPC choir members marked by lessons‐and‐carols were scattered throughout the choir format that was very moving; it was and made many new friends. Soon the as if Church broke out right there in lights faded and the spotlight fell on the Benedum! Kristyn Getty. On the day of the concert, Ted and Nancy Shaffer invited their December 12, the choir arrived at daughter Mallory, son Matthew, and the Benedum at 3:00 p.m. to Ted’s sister, Amy Thomas, to join the prepare for the 7:30 p.m. choir for the concert. One memorable performance. Almost everyone behind‐the‐scenes moment took place remembered the required all black at intermission when one chorister fell uniform—except Bridgette Ombres off the riser. Ted rushed over to help and her mother who had to quickly with go shopping! The first rehearsal Mallory began at 4:00 p.m. in the rehearsal and “The whole day was room with standing room only as Matthew like a Christmas gift the choir warmed up with “Silent by his side. to myself!” MPC Annual Report | 2019‐2020 Page 3 MPC ANNUAL REPORT BELONG STUDENT IMPACT > October: All for One By Ryan Pietryga, Director of Student IMPACT & Jacob Soto, Middle School Coordinator “When you want something you never night full of food, costumes, and most lot of fun when we were all jumping up had, you have to do something you’ve importantly, pumpkins. We create and down like we do at Laurelville, and never done.” Did we get this quote different challenges and games that I think everyone else did too.” This from Pinterest? We sure did! Does everyone is familiar with, but add the event also brought out the generosity it effectively capture our ministry twist of pumpkins. Whether that of MPC; we had several parents and month of October in Student Ministry? means playing musical chairs (with the other MPC members donate food, It sure does! This past October, in an chairs being pumpkins) or our time of time, and even their own money in effort to invite teens into our youth pumpkin smashing, the night is one support of this event. One family even space to show them the love of Christ, that we all look forward to every year. helped cover the cost of the live band the Student IMPACT team reached and bought band merchandise for deep into their creativity banks and put The 5th Quarter is an outreach event every student in attendance. Wow! on two outreach events for teens in our designed for high schoolers that took community. The Pumpkin Olympics, place