Sunday, February 3
9:30 AM Christian Education: "The Parables of Jesus"
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Hartman preaching
Wednesday, February 6
7:30 PM Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Sataurday, February 9
All Day -- Session Retreat at Wellspring Conference Center
Sunday, February 10
9:30 AM Christian Education: "The Parables of Jesus"
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
Wednesday, February 13
7:00 AM Lenten Meditation
Thursday, February 14
7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, February 17
9:30 AM Christian Education: "The Parables of Jesus"
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
Wednesday, February 20
7:00 AM Lenten Meditation
Thursday, February 21
7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, February 23
All Day -- Baltimore Presbytery's BIG EVENT!!
Sunday, February 24
9:30 AM Christian Education: "The Parables of Jesus"
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Robert Jewett preaching
S.O.B.E.R. Sunday
Wednesday, February 27
7:00 AM Lenten Meditation
Thursday, February 28
7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
Teachings Of Jesus
Join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. to study and gain insight into some of the teachings of Jesus. We are using the book "The Parables of Jesus" by Simon J. Kistemaker. Copies are available through the church office for $12 each. Please let Roger know if you want a book, and he will arrange, through Bonnie, to have one ordered for you. Please come and join us for what has proven to be very interesting and informative discussions.
A Note From Shannon
Remember Shannon Gigliotti, the amazing juggler? She worshipped with us while she was serving in Baltimore with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Last Summer she moved back to North Carolina to be closer to her family. She writes:
"Thanks for being so welcoming and for a great experience at Light Street. Please tell everyone I said hello. I am happy to be closer to my family and Carrboro is a great little town. I am working at the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services and am happy there. I have no complaints! Happy Holidays and Peace, Shannon"
Feeding the Hungry
24 Macaroni & Cheese Casseroles at a Time
One Wednesday a month, a group of women from the community gather early in the morning in Light Street's kitchen to prepare 24 macaroni and cheese casseroles for the feeding program at Our Daily Bread.
In December, Dennis Murphy, the program manager for Our Daily Bread, sent a thank you note to the group in care of Lucy Anne Hession of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore. Lucy was kind enough to forward a copy of the thank you letter along with her reply:
"Dear Mr. Murphy:
Thank you for your recent letter acknowledging the monthly contribution of 24 macaroni and cheese casseroles to Our Daily Bread. This effort has been under the auspices of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Church of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore for a number of years.
This endeavor, under the coordinataion of Mrs. Eileen Cameron, represents the voluntary efforts of women drawn from the Protestant, Jewish, and Catholic faiths. These volunteers, who are members of the "Inner Harbor Walkers," are indebted to the Light Street Presbyterian Church not only for the use of its convenient kitchen facilities for casserole preparation, but also the assistance of its supportive office staff.
Again, thank you for recognizing this collaborate effort of St. Mary's and the Light Street Presbyterian Church and best wishes for the continued and vital mission of Our Daily Bread.
Sincerely,
Lucy Ann Hessian"
Our thanks to Lucy, Eileen, and the women of the "Inner Harbor Walkers" for their faithful ministry of service to the hungry in our community. Light Street is happy to be of help.
THE BIG EVENT!
Baltimore Presbytery's one-day conference for all church members will focus on the theme "Glad and Generous Hearts: Does Presbyterianism Have a Future?" The keynote speaker will be Barbara Wheeler, President of Auburn Seminary. Come and enjoy lively worship and engaging workshops.
The Big Event will take plae on Saturday, February 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., In Severna Park. Cost: $25 (includes lunch). Brochures and registration forms are available on the table across from the church office.
Cuba Partnership Presentation
A luncheon presentation about our partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Cuba is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, March 2. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us to hear more about this exciting mission!
"The Bible and the Future" Lecture Series
The Ecumenical Institue of Theology announces it's 40th Anniversary Lectures with N. T. Wright, Anglican Bishop of Durham, England, and arguably the world's most prominent and influential biblical theologian. The author of some 50 books and hundreds of articles, chapters, lectures, and videos, he is best known for his ground-breaking scholarly books on Jesus and Paul, such as "Jesus and the Victory of God," "The Resurrection of the Son of God," and "Paul: In Fresh Perspective." Bishop Wright has also written for the layperson, including commentaries on nearly the entire New Testament, as well as such books as "Evil and the Justice of God," "Judas and the Gospel of Jesus," and "Simply Christian," hailed as the 21st-century's version of the C. S. Lewis classic "Mere Christianity."
LECTURE TOPICS:
Monday, Feb. 25, 8:00 p.m. "The Bible and Tomorrow's World"
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 4:00 p.m. "The Bible and Tomorrow's Church"
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 8:00 p.m. "The Bible and Tomorrow's Christian"
Book signing each evening at 7:15 p.m. and Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.
This lecture series is free and open to the public. All three lecturs will be held at St. Mary's Seminary & University, 5400 Roland Ave., in Baltimore.
Pastor to Join Presbyterian Delegation to the Philippines
In his capacity as co-moderator of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF), Light Street's pastor, Roger Scott Powers, will be part of a ten-person delegation to the Philippines being sponsored by PPF, February 17-29.
In recent years, Filipino church leaders and human rights advocates have been the targets of political violence, often ending up as victims of extra-judicial killings. The delegation has been invited by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines to witness firsthand the difficult and dangerous context in which the church is doing ministry. The delegation participants from the Presbyterian Church (USA) will essentially be international observers while they are in the country. While there, they will seek concrete ways in which U.S. Christians can show solidarity with their sisters and brothers in the Philippines and advocate for the protection of human rights and an end to the political violence.
SAVE THE DATE:
National Service to End the War in Iraq - March 7
Take a day off for peace! Come to the nation's capitol on Friday, March 7, to pray and act for peace in Iraq. The United States continues to occupy Iraq, so Christian Peace Witness for Iraq must continue to "speak their peace" through worship and witness. Please join us!
8:30 a.m. - Pre-event workshops and nonviolence trainings
12:00 p.m. - Simultaneous worship services to end the war in a dozen places of worship
2:30 p.m. - Interfaith Service on the Mall (to include speakers, music, expressions of unity, and nonviolent public action to end the war)
For more information visit the Christian Peace Witness web site or talk to Roger.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
March 7-10 - Washington, D.C.
Please join us for the sixth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference! The theme "2008: Claiming a Vision of True Security," promises to inspire an expected gathering of over 1,000 religious advocates. Experts will train participants on policy issues and advocacy, culminating on Monday with lobby visits to Capitol Hill. Issue Tracks are being offered on Africa, Asia-Pacific, Domestic Issues, Eco-Justice, Latin America and the Middle East.
The conference is sponsored by more than 45 organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee, Children's Defense Fund, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, National Council of Churches, Pax Christi USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Sojourners, United Church of Christ, and World Council of Churches/Decade to Overcome Violence.
This year's gathering is at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA. Conference fee (before Feb. 15) is $160 (includes 2 lunches and Sunday dinner). To register, or for more info., visit the Ecumenical Advocacy Days web site.
New Lending Library Features Books About Being Presbyterian
What does it mean to be a Presbyterian? What do Presbyterians believe? What is is the history of the Presbyterian Church (USA)? These are questions that many members and friends of Light Street may ask from time to time, since so many did not grow up Presbyterian. We come from a variety of religious backgrounds. Even church members who have been Presbyterian for a long time may not have delved into their denominational identity in any depth.
To help address these questions, Light Street has a new lending library of 12 books about being Presbyterian. They are available at the book table downstairs to borrow, read, and return. (Please borrow only one book at a time, and be sure to note the title on the sign-out sheet.) Available titles are:
Faith in Words: A Celebration of Presbyterian Writers
A Brief History of Presbyterians
Presbyterian Beliefs: A Brief Introduction
This We Believe: Eight Truths Presbyterians Affirm
Witness Without Parallel: Eight Biblical Truths That Make Us Presbyterian
To Be A Presbyterian
Living Water: A Guide to Baptism for Presbyterians
How To Spell Presbyterian
Presbyterian Creeds: A Guide to the Book of Confessions
Being A Presbyterian in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide
Calvin for Armchair Theologians
Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers: Exploring Christian Faith
Lent Begins Early This Year
The Lenten season begins early this year -- On Wednesday, February 6. Light Street's Ash Wednesday Communion Service will be at 7:30 p.m. This is a change from past years, when the service was held early in the morning at 7:00 a.m., so that people could attend before going to work. It is our hope that by moving the service to the evening, more people will be able to attend.
Wednesday morning meditation will be available during Lent again this year. Each Wednesday from February 13 through March 18, Bonnie Cosner will hold a short service at 7:30 a.m. Please speak with Bonnie if you have questions or need further information.
Bread Ministry Rising At Light Street
During Advent, Sunday morning visitors to Light Street received a home-baked loaf of bread as they left worship! Deborah Szostak and Audrey Jewett initiated the project as another way of welcoming newcomers and helping them to feel at home at Light Street. If you'd like to help, please let Deborah or Audrey know.
Help Lead Worship
Volunteers are needed to help lead worship each Sunday. This usually involves leading the congregation in the "Call to Worship" and "Prayer for Illumination" and reading the scripture lesson(s) for that Sunday. There is a sign-up sheet on the downstairs bulletin board.
Fellowship Hour Volunteers Needed
It's wonderful each Sunday morning following worship to be able to gather downstairs for a time of fellowship and refreshment. But it means someone needs to take responsibility each week for making coffee, providing refreshments, and cleaning up afterwards. If everyone in the congregation signed up to do this just a few Sundays a year, we would have it covered. Many hands make light work! Please sign up on the downstairs bulletin board.
S.O.B.E.R. Sunday - February 28
S.O.B.E.R. stands for South Baltimore Emergency Relief. Two dedicated people, John and Elizabeth, staff the operation, caring for the homeless and others in need of special help. They stock supplies in the small basement of Holy Cross Church at 110 E. West Street. On the last Sunday of every month, we collect non-perishable food items (soups, peanut butter, tuna, and one-dish meals) for their food pantry. Flip-top cans are especially helpful for homeless persons who don't have access to kitchen facilities. Personal hygiene items, gloves, and socks, as well as financial contributions are also welcome. Checks made payable to Light Street Presbyterian Church should be clearly marked for SOBER.
SERMONS
Copies of Roger's sermons are available on the downstairs hall table. A few selected sermons are posted on this website. If you are visiting our church, please feel free to pick up a copy if you missed a Sunday. Or, pass one on to a friend!
DEADLINE FOR MARCH NEWSLETTER: February 15
Send all newsletter material to John Ginovsky at jginovsk@aba.com