Sunday, July 4
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship/Communion Sunday, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM Potluck Lunch & Book Discussion (Chapter 8 - "Discernment")
Sunday, July 11
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship & Hymn Sing
Sunday, July 18
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Elder Emmanuel Figueroa preaching
Sunday, July 25
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
4:00 PM Bilingual Hispanic Worship at Lakeland Presbyterian Church
S.O.B.E.R. Sunday
Sunday, August 1
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship/Communion Sunday, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM First Sunday Potluck Lunch & Book Discussion (Chapter 9 - "Shaping Communities")
Sunday, August 8
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
12:15 PM Session meeting
Sunday, August 15
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
Sunday, August 22
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Powers preaching
Sunday, August 29
9:30 AM Bible Study - Christian Education
11:00 AM Worship, Rev. Susan Quass preaching
S.O.B.E.R. Sunday
FIRST SUNDAY POTLUCK LUNCH AND BOOK DISCUSSION - JULY 4 AND AUGUST 1
On July 4 and August 1, we plan to continue our First Sunday Potluck Lunches. Please bring a dish to share. We will also continue our discussion of Dorothy C. Bass' Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People. On July 4, we will discuss chapter 8 "Discernment," and on August 1, we will discuss Chapter 9 "Shaping Communities."
PASTOR TO BE OVERTURE ADVOCATE AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Last October, the Light Street Session proposed that the Presbytery of Baltimore overture the 219th General Assembly 2010 of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to "declare itself in opposition to further military operations by the United States in Afghanistan." Baltimore Presbytery approved of our Session's proposal and has sent the overture on to the 219th General Assembly for its consideration when it meets in Minneapolis, July 3-10. Similar overtures on the War in Afghanistan have been sent to the General Assembly from several other presbyteries. Light Street's pastor, Roger Scott Powers, will be the overture advocate from Baltimore Presbytery, urging the GA Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues to send the overture to the floor of the General Assembly for debate and vote. You can follow General Assembly proceedings online at their web site.
HISPANIC MINISTRY TO BEGIN AT LAKELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Something new and exciting is happening at neighboring Lakeland Presbyterian Church, where Light Street's pastor serves as temporary supply minister. On June 12, the Lakeland Session met with Jose and Silvia Diaz, who have expressed interest in offering worship services in Spanish at Lakeland Presbyterian Church to serve the growing Hispanic population in that neighborhood. They have signed a Shared Ministry Agreement outlining how they will work together, how they will share the use of their church building, and how they will share the expenses of operating and maintaining the building.
Members and friends of Light Street Presbyterian Church are invited to the first worship service, which will be a bilingual (English and Spanish) service, on Sunday, July 25, at 4:00 p.m. Rev. Powers will share in the leadership of this first worship service. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
CUBA DELEGATION THIS FALL
A delegation from Baltimore Presbytery will be visiting our sister churches in Cuba, November 2-9 (departing for Miami on Monday afternoon, Nov. 1). Church members who are interested in going with this delegation, should let Roger know by the end of July (at the latest), as it takes time to get Cuban visas and make travel arrangements. The cost is usually around $1200 (all inclusive). Some scholarship help may be available.
INTERESTED IN CONSIDERING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?
If you weren't able to come to the Membership Exploration Class in June, you'll have another opportunity to do so on Sunday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m. Save the date! The class will offer an opportunity to have your questions answered, particularly: What does it mean to be a Presbyterian? If you plan to attend, please let Roger know by phone at 410-539-0125, or via email.
LIGHT STREET CHURCH TO HAVE FALL RETREAT
It's been a while since our congregation went away on a retreat together. And the spring got away from us too quickly. So, we are planning a one-day fall retreat for Saturday, October 9. Please save the date! Location to be announced. It will be a great opportunity for spiritual renewal and for getting to know others in the church a little better. If you would like to be on the retreat planning team, please email Roger.
"RE-MEMBERING PEACE: STILL THE BELIEVERS' CALLING"
2010 EVENT CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS OF PEACEMAKING
The prophet Isaiah promised, "you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace" (Isaiah 55:12). At the 2010 Peacemaking Seminar, "Re-Membering Peace: Still the Believers' Calling," generations of Presbyterian peacemakers from across the United States (including Light Street's pastor, Roger Scott Powers) will gather for a joyful homecoming among the mesas of northern New Mexico, celebrating thirty years of Presbyterian peacemaking. The event will take place August 25-28, 2010, at Ghost Ranch, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) conference center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. This event especially seeks to call forth a new generation of Presbyterians committed to building those things that make for peace.
"This seminar will be a time to celebrate the past, affirm the present, and dream for the future," says Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Coordinator, Mark Koening. "We have much to celebrate and much to anticipate. God has done great things through Presbyterian peacemakers. And God remains at work."
The 2010 Peacemaking Seminar will provide an opportunity for Presbyterians engaged in historic and ongoing peacemaking efforts to revisit and reaffirm these core commitments; to rekindle old friendships and establish new ones; to replenish spirits, hearts, and minds through imaginative work and creative worship; to reconsider some of the pivotal social, cultural, political, and ecclesiastical transformations of the past thirty years; to reassess the state of peacemaking in the church and world; and to renew the church's resolve to seek God's realm of peace and justice on earth. Inspired by the intricate and vibrant weaving for which northern New Mexico is famous, the 2010 Peacemaking Seminar will be an opportunity to "practice the art of storytelling, weaving our stories of peacemaking together, discovering how we are already intertwined, and bearing witness to our being knit together into Christ."
The 2010 Peacemaking Seminar is designed for young adults and adults. Registration is limited. For more information, or to register for the event, contact Dayna Oliver at 888-728-7228 (x8700) or via email.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program was established in 1980 by action of the General Assembly of the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, when it adopted the statement Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program continues to be guided by the central affirmations of this landmark paper: (1) the church is faithful to Jesus Christ when it is engaged in peacemaking; (2) the church is obedient to Jesus Christ when it nurtures and equips God's people as peacemakers; and (3) the church bears witness to Christ when it nurtures the moral life of the nation for the sake of peace in the world.
"On behalf of the planning team, I invite you to come to the 2010 Peacemaking Seminar and explore together how we live into God's call in Christ to be peacemakers," says Koenig.
For more information, visit the web site.
SOBER SUNDAYS - JULY 25 AND AUGUST 29
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.
South Baltimore Emergency Relief is in need of:
- For the Homeless: Men's gloves, Socks, Pop-top canned meals, tuna packs, etc.
- For Walk-In Clients: Food supplies to make up kits of (3) days of meals -- canned meats, soups, fruit, veggies, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, crackers, etc.
- Financial contributions are always welcome. Make checks out to LSPC, earmarked S.O.B.E.R.
Special re-usable shopping bags are 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!
Financial contributions are also welcome. Make checks payable to Light Street Presbyterian Church, clearly marked for SOBER (South Baltimore Emergency Relief).
NOTE: Please do not donate food that is past its expiration date. It cannot be used, and, by law, it must be thrown away.
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 working on a Bible study guide that highlights most of the Bible in 52 weeks. The group is open; newcomers are always welcome. For more information, contact Bonnie Cosner or Debbie Szostak.
HOW TO HELP LIGHT STREET THIS SUMMER
1. Pray for Light Street Presbyterian Church, for its mission and ministry.
2. Come to Sunday worship early and often! And bring your friends and family.
3. Pay your pledge ahead of time. Summer income often lags expenses.
COME SING WITH US!
Choir rehearsals are an important part of worship preparation. Even though we are more than half-way through 2010, we still have much to contribute to the worship and spiritual growth experience you will find at Light Street Presbyterian Church. We have suspended our Thursday night practices for the summer. On Sunday mornings we rehearse before worship from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Please join us! All voices are welcome!
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.
BREAD MINISTRY
Each Sunday after worship, we offer visitors to our church small loaves of bread as a way of thanking them for joining us for worship. If you would like to help out by baking some small loaves of bread for this ministry, please sign up on the church bulletin board.
SERMONS AVAILABLE
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 SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER: August 15
Send all newsletter material to John Ginovsky at jginovsk@aba.com