Every Wednesday
6:45 PM Overeaters Anonymous
8:00 PM Debtors Anonymous

Thursday, October 1
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Saturday, October 3
9:30 AM Blessing of the Animals

Sunday, October 4
9:30 AM Bible Study
10:15 AM Joyful Noise: A Gathering of Young Children, Their Parents & Friends
11:00 AM Worship/Communion Sunday, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM First Sunday Potluck Lunch & Conversation

Thursday, October 8
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, October 11
9:30 AM Bible Study
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM Session Meeting

Thursday, October 15
6:30 PM Caribbean Dinner/Conversation on Cuba & Global Mission with Tricia Lloyd-Sidle
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, October 18
9:30 AM Bible Study
10:15 AM Joyful Noise: A Gathering of Young Children, Their Parents & Friends
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching

Thursday, October 22
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Saturday, October 24
9 AM - 3 PM Final Deep Shift Peer Learning Day
2:30-5:30 PM Ashland P.C. Cooks for Sarah's Hope

Sunday, October 25
9:30 AM Bible Study
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM Mission Committee Meeting
S.O.B.E.R. Sunday

WELCOME TO OUR NEW ORGANIST/CHOIR DIRECTOR!

On Thursday, Sept. 10, the choir auditioned three candidates for the Organist/Choir Director position. All three were students or graduates of the Peabody Institute. It was a difficult choice, but in the end the choir was unanimous. Their top pick was Kyle Bennett, who began working as Light Street's new Organist/Choir Director the very next week! Kyle is from Canada and has ties to the United Church of Canada. He is a graduate of Peabody and he is now teaching at a music school during the week. He is also a composer specializing in electronic music. Here's a little more about Kyle in his own words:

"I come from a small town in Southern Ontario called Campbellford. I was raised in the Christian faith and am proud to be part of a very musical family who plays an integral role in music making within the community and the church. My mentor, Brian Finley, is the Artistic Director of the Westben Summer Arts Festival. He helped ingrain the spiritual/musical values I carry today.

"Throughout my musical studies, I have acquired an abundance of choral experience. I sang in the adult church choir when I was in high school. I also sang solo parts in various choirs at McGill University. A composer by training, I have conducted some of my spiritually influenced music at ceremonies for the congregation in Campbellford. In addition to this, I have experience in music administration. I have had the pleasure of programming exciting concerts as Co-Artistic Director of the Ligetisplit Ensemble.

"My formal training as a musician includes degrees from higher level academic institutions. I received my undergraduate degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and later received a master of music from the Peabody Institute here in Baltimore. In addition to these studies, I was awarded an ARCT diploma in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada. I have studied piano at a high level for many years now and also have experience playing organ at weddings and services. A spiritual person by nature with a strong love of music, I feel that I could offer much to the congregational community of the Light Street Church."

Our church is blessed to have Kyle joining our staff. Please greet him and introduce yourself next time you come to worship.

LIGHT STREET'S PASTOR TAKES ON NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Beginning Sept. 20, Roger has agreed to serve as the Temporary Supply Minister at Lakeland Presbyterian Church, a 1/3 time position. The Lakeland Presbyterian Church is a small congregation located off Caton Avenue, just a few miles from Light Street. Their worship service is at 9:30 a.m. He will be leading worship and preaching, moderating their session, and doing hospital visitation as needed. He will serve in the position on a trial basis through December, at which time he and the Lakeland Session will decide whether to continue the relationship into 2010. Questions? Contact Roger via email, or by phone at 443-854-1869.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Many Christians around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi in early October by blessing their pets in the spirit of this patron saint of animals and ecology. Here at Light Street we plan to have a Blessing of the Animals service outside in our church garden on Saturday morning, Oct. 3, at 9:30 a.m. All species of household pets and their caretakers are invited to attend. The service is free and open to the public. Please let your friends and neighbors with pets know about this special worship service.

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY & PEACEMAKING OFFERING - OCTOBER 4

Join us on Oct. 4, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday and receive the Peacemaking Offering. On this day we join with Christians around the world to celebrate the unity that we find at the Table of the Lord. We also receive the Peacemaking Offering to support the efforts of our congregation and our denomination to spread the peace of Christ. Remember that 25 percent of the Offering will be used in the congregation for our peacemaking activities. The other 75 percent will help our partners in the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly in their efforts to make this a more peaceful world.

ALL CHURCH READ

Over the next year, everyone in the congregation is encouraged to read the book Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People, edited by Dorothy C. Bass. We will be discussing Chapter 2, "Honoring the Body," at our First Sunday Potluck Lunch on World Communion Sunday, Oct 4. Chapter 3, "Hospitality," will be discussed on Nov. 1. Copies are available at the church at a discounted price of $15. See Debbie Szostak if you wish to purchase a copy.

CARIBBEAN FOOD AND A CONVERSATION ABOUT GLOBAL MISSION - OCTOBER 15

As part of the PC(USA)'s 2009 World Mission Challenge, Light Street will be hosting Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, a mission co-worker who is our church's Regional Liaison for the Caribbean. Tricia works with church partners in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. On Thursday, October 15, at 6:30 p.m., come and enjoy a Caribbean Dinner prepared by Roger and learn more about our denomination's mission work all around the world (especially in the Caribbean).

FINAL DEEP SHIFT PEER LEARNING DAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

Our formal work with the Deep Shift Church Transformation team is coming to an end. The Final Deep Shift Peer Learning Day will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please consider participating in this final wrap-up session with the other participating churches in Baltimore Presbytery. Let Roger know by Oct. 19 if you plan to attend.

THE LSPC GREEN CORNER - CARING FOR CREATION

Thanks to Emanuel Figueroa and Julia Malette, who wrapped the church's water heater with insulation and installed flow-restricting aerators on the church's water faucets. The insulation will reduce the energy used by our water heater, and the faucet aerators will reduce our water use by cutting the flow of water from each faucet by 50 percent. Good ideas for energy and water conservation! See Emanuel and Julia for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR LIGHT STREET GARDENERS

Many thanks to those who came out on Saturday, Sept. 12, to week the church garden and to prune the trees and bushes: Carole Norris-Shortle, Debbie and John Szostak, Bonnie Cosner and her daughter-in-law Missy, Sandra Falconer, Roger Powers, June Risley, and helpers from Old Otterbein UMC. The garden looked beautiful for our outdoor worship service the following day.

THANK YOU FROM HOUSE OF RUTH MARYLAND

Dear Light Street Presbyterian Church,

On behalf of our staff and clients, thank you for your donation of collected school supplies. Your gift will help the House of Ruth Maryland in its efforts to end domestic violence in our communities.

The House of ruth Maryland is one of the nation's most comprehensive domestic violence programs. Our many services: shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, a 24-hour crisis and information hotline, a batterer's program, professional training, and community outreach and education, are designed to provide victims of domestic violence with the tools necessary to live a life free from abuse and torture. Your commitment to our financial strength makes this possible.

Thank you again for thinking of the House of Ruth Maryland and the victims of domestic violence. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,
Kerri Wojciechowski
Associate Director Community Relations

COME SING WITH US!

Choir rehearsals have resumed for the fall. We have fun singing together on Thursday nights from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. On Sunday mornings we rehearse again before worship from 10:20 to 10:50 a.m. Please join us! New voices are welcome!

SOBER SUNDAY OCTOBER 25

As a socially engaged presbyterian church, we believe that faith leads directly into action; therefore, to believe is to do. One of the many ways in which Light Street Presbyterian Church gets involved in the community is by collecting non-perishable and canned goods on the last Sunday of every month, which are given to South Baltimore Emergency Relief (S.O.B.E.R.) for the hungry in our community.

Special re-usable shopping bags will be available at church for this purpose. Take a bag with you and fill it up with canned and non-perishable goods (pop-top canned meals, tuna packs, spam, corned beef, soup, crackers, peanut butter up to 48 oz., spaghetti sauce up to 26 oz., canned fruits and/or vegetables, etc.) - however much or as little as you want. You can keep the bag in your car and fill it up with "goodies" the next time you go to your favorite supermarket. Another idea is to take the bag to work and have a can drive with your co-workers. Invite them to come to worship with you at Light Street when you return the bag on SOBER Sunday!

SERVING SARAH'S HOPE

Sarah's Hope on Mount Street in Baltimore offers shelter and support services to homeless women and their children, helping them quickly regain permanent housing and achieve long-term self-sufficiency. Sarah's Hope is a program of St. Vincent de Paul, an independent, faith-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people who are suffering from the effects of poverty meet their basic human needs and achieve a better future for themselves and their family.

On the fourth Saturday of every month, volunteers from Ashland Presbyterian Church in Cockeysville use Light Street's kitchen to prepare dinner for the families staying at Sarah's Hope. Additional volunteers from Light Street congregation are welcome to participate. Dinner preparation takes place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. To volunteer for October 24, contact JoAnn Ruther via email.

EVENTS COMING IN NOVEMBER

BOOK PARTY - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Otter Bay Books and Light Street Presbyterian Church cordially invite you to a publication part for The Six o'Clock Siren, a new book of poems by poet and writer Sandra Evans Falconer, Sunday, November 1, 4-6 p.m. at the church. R.S.V.P. 410-727-4947.

SQUARE DANCE - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Bring your friends and family to Light Street and have some fun square dancing with caller Ett McAtee. Donation: $5 per person.

SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., a small group of church members and friends gather for coffee and Bible study. The group uses a variety of curriculum materials, and is currently looking at children of the bible. The group is open; newcomers are always welcome. For more information, contact Bonnie Cosner or Debbie Szostak.

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.

SERMONS

Copies of Roger's sermons are available on the downstairs hall table. Please feel free to pick one up if you missed a Sunday. Or, pass one on to a friend!

DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER: October 15
Send all newsletter material to John Ginovsky at jginovsk@aba.com