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From the Pastor Gerald Egger

We got to watch the Pope up-close and personal for a week. What impresses me most about

Pope Francis is how pastoral he comes across in public. This is a pope who doesn’t pontificate. He speaks not from on high (“ex cathedra”) as popes often do, but “ex soup kitchen.” He elbows his way through crowds of people to touch the head of the least among them. I don’t know – maybe Francis is a tyrant behind the scenes, a taskmaster who insists on perfection and perfect obedience from the papal staff. He would have every right, and reason, to do so. But in public appearances, Francis is a model of pastoral engagement.

Rev. Paul Rock, senior pastor of Second Presbyterian in Kansas City, MO, can’t get over the Pope’s spontaneity. In a new booklet, Jesus, Pope Francis, and a Protestant Walk Into a Bar, Rock surmises, “His security staff must be in constant anxiety over their leader's tendency to abandon protocol in order to get closer to the people. And however inadvisable image consultants might find it, he is never afraid to look a little silly. One image that made the rounds on morning shows and social media featured the pope sporting a clown nose with a newlywed couple.” I learn from this.

His public persona is thoroughly engaging – winsome is a descriptor I’ve seen more than once. With the simplest gesture he can convey God’s deep grace. With a genuine smile and a light in his eyes, he says, “I’m glad you came to see me.” From just the tone of his voice, whether or not he’s speaking a language I understand, he shows a shepherd’s care of his flock. I’m reminded that a pastor is never “off duty” because appearances matter.

There was a recent article about Francis in The Huffington Post on Religion by Rev. Donna Schaper, pastor of Judson Memorial Church, an American Baptist + United Church of Christ congregation of 250 in New York City. Schaper goes so far as to ask, Is the pope Protestant? “In my community,” she writes, “we rarely expect much from a Pope.” Citing the historical rift

What a Protestant Pastor Is Learning from Pope Francis

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Ocean View Presbyterian

Church

67 Central Avenue Ocean View, DE

19970

Service Sunday, 9:30 A.M.

Interim Pastor Gerald Egger

Church Office 302-539-3455

Website ovpc.org

Session Don Bailey Bob Wolf

Jennifer Read Herb Sheetz

Richard Peoples Elsie Young

Karen Colwill (Clerk of Session)

Deacons Jane Sergison Betsy Henifin Bill Colwill

Amy Peoples Ollie Robling

Sue Baer

Newsletter Editors Lorie and Jim Hartsig

between Protestants and Catholics, she suggests that such differences “pale in comparison to the witness of a man who washes feet and doesn't waste words. He is giving Jesus a good name.” Noting his passion about both poverty and ecology, Schaper marvels, “The Pope [is] teaching us all – not just Catholics –how environmental trouble will disproportionately affect the poor.”

What I learn from Francis is that Christians are more alike than they are different. By that I mean denominations are more alike than they are different. And non-denominational churches are more like mainline churches than they are different. Again, Paul Rock: “This new Pope seems to be bringing us together when religion so often tears us apart.” Rock notes that “the backbone of many Catholic churches is comprised of former Presbyterians.” Donna Schaper adds the other side: “Many of my congregants call themselves ‘recovering Catholics,’ and they LOVE hearing positive pope from a Protestant pulpit.”

Some of Francis’ most striking qualities are beyond my reach, no matter how much I admire him. He obviously draws energy from being right in the thick (sign of a classic extrovert) of crowds that would exhaust me in half an hour. Add to that the enormous influence of his office and the global platform from which he can preach; I could (and sometimes do) say the same things Francis says, but they have nowhere near the impact. Then there’s the contrast effect which Francis is exploiting: he is just different enough from his predecessors that he commands respect and attention. Paul Rock points out that “even as Bishop of Rome, the pope has chosen to live in a guest room and share life with other priests ... not to police practices or parse doctrine, but to come and see and follow Jesus.” Rock adds, “Perhaps because of his meek approach, Francis has entirely shifted the focus of Catholic leadership from an obsession with ecclesial virtue and doctrinal policing to a joyful tending to the wounded.” Another lesson I take to heart.

Notwithstanding the unique opportunities afforded Pope Francis, he offers a master class in practical theology, the application of doctrine to everyday concerns. The Barna Group polls people of faith on a range of topics. Based on data, Barna concluded in March 2014: “In a single year, Pope Francis has become the most well-known religious leader in ministry today.” Noting Francis’ frequent claims that he is just a normal person, “a sinner” even, Barna points out that “humility may just be the pontiff's

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paradoxical trademark. The Popes actions, words, and demeanor are often reminiscent of the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels.” So if I ever wonder, what would Jesus do, I just watch this pope.

Francis, like Jesus, isn’t hesitant to speak truth to power. And he reinforces his speech with action. In Washington, D.C., September 24, “Pope Francis went straight from charging the U.S. Congress to care for the neediest to blessing and encouraging Washington’s hungry and homeless” (Religious News Service). Francis told Congress, “we can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing … yet we know that God is suffering with us, experiencing them at our side. He does not abandon us.” RNS also reported, the real highlight of the shepherd’s day was “greeting the homeless clients who come weekly for a meal from St. Maria’s Meals Program. A street-side soup kitchen was set up where families were served a hot lunch. There, Francis blessed little children, posed for selfies and, with open arms and a smile, called out ‘Buon appetito!’”

RNS notes that his positions in the U.S. merely continue what Francis has been preaching in Europe recently. “Francis has directly taken up care for the homeless and the refugees back in Rome. He recently called on every European parish to support at least one family from the hundreds of thousands fleeing the Middle East and North African violence … And in February, he asked that showers be set up for homeless people under the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican’s charity office also began offering haircuts and shaves by professional volunteers, as part of the shower service.” Such innovations inspire me to act on my idealism, too.

There’s a story about a World War Two veteran who travels to France to pay respects at the grave of a fallen comrade. The vet searches in vain among the graves outside the Catholic churchyard, assuming his friend, a Protestant, would never have been buried inside the bounds. He makes his way into the old church, where he is surprised to find the priest who had helped him years earlier. When asked about this one particular grave, the priest takes him to a plot with a simple headstone just inside the fenced yard. Incredulous, the vet reminds the priest, “But he wasn't Catholic.” The priest looks at him with a twinkle in his eye. “I searched the rulebooks and didn't find anything that would prohibit me from moving the fence.”

I hereby declare my intention, for as long as I remain a pastor, to move the fence wherever it will bring people closer together in the common love of Jesus.

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Christian Education Bev Bailey

OVPC: CALLED, CHALLENGED, CHANGING In keeping with our theme for the coming year, the CE Committee is offering a Class for the Fall Season. The class is called, “Tell Me a Story”, and will be facilitated by Don Benjamin. We have had requests to study “favorite stories from the Bible”. Beginning on Sunday, October 25, and continuing through the month of November, we will tackle your favorite Bible stories, why you love them, what we can learn from them, some of the history that surrounds them, and how they have influenced our faith. We think this class will remind us of why we have been called, why we continue to be challenged, and how our faith changes us. Join us in Fellowship Centre after worship on October 26….

Other Upcoming Classes: An Advent series in December which continues the story theme—telling the stories of Advent and Christmas, led by Pastor Jerry, Gary Baer, and Bev Bailey; a Winter Book study on Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life by Gail Sheehy—led by Bruce Hobler; and a Lenten Study on the book The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. This class will be led by the Rev. Tom Ledbetter, a pastoral counselor who loves to teach, and has previously presented this class at Epworth UMC in Rehoboth. The book will be available for purchase in November.

Don’t Forget this Special Educational Opportunity On Sunday, October 18, from 2-6 pm, the Leadership Development Unit of New Castle Presbytery will present “A Day of Discovery and Learning: Leadership for the Small Church” right here at OVPC. The Keynote Speaker and workshop leader for the day will be Dr. Marilyn Johns from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. Her keynote address will be: “Angels Unaware: Welcoming the Stranger in the Small Church”. Marilyn will also offer two workshops. The workshop offerings include: “Basics of Appreciative Inquiry” by Dr. Johns; “Church Leadership Competencies, by our own Jerry Eggers; “Now that I’m an Elder” by Rev. Dave Lovelace, Pastor of Lower Brandywine; “Sowing Bountifully: Stewardship in the Small Church”, by Dr. Johns; “Using the New Hymnal as a Tool for Learning and Worship”, by Bev Bailey, Certified Christian Educator; and “Now that I’m a Deacon”, by Billie P. Sutter, Certified Christian Educator from National Capital Presbytery. Classes are open to all. There will be singing from the new hymnal and hearty refreshments. Come and learn with other Presbyterians.

“Prayer Time” News Prayer Time will conclude its study of the book Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers,by Anne Lamott on October 11 after Worship. This study on prayer will then take a hiatus for the months of November and December. We will begin again on January 17 with a new format.

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Fall JumbleOCEAN VIEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CENTRAL AVE JUST NORTH OF RT 26SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

9 AM TO 12 PM

BooksBake Sale

TO DONATE ITEMS CONTACT Kathy Sheetz (539-2827), Amy Peoples (732-3939) or the Church office 539-3455

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO LOCAL MISSIONS

Plants

Linens

White Elephant

Saturday, October 10, 2015 9 AM to 12 PM

TO DONATE ITEMS CONTACT: Kathy Sheetz (539-2827), Amy Peoples (732-3939), Liz Hobler (541-0487) or the Church office (539-3455)

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Session Report Karen Colwill, Clerk of Session

September 14, 2015

The Session of OVPC met on Monday, September 14, 2015.

The Rev. Jerry Egger opened with prayer and devotions at 7:00 P.M.

The Session met with Harriette Tuttle on her request to transfer membership from the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wilmington DE to OVPC. Harriette was reviewed and approved for membership. Welcome Harriette !

The Session met with Christopher Ludlow on his request to transfer membership from Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Bethesda MD to OVPC. Chris was reviewed and approved for membership. Welcome Chris !

The Session met with the Beverly Bailey, convener of the Mission Advocacy Team, for the annual review of the team’s objectives.

The Finance Committee is starting the Budget Planning process for 2016.

Approved Motion to accept the minutes of the August 10, 2015 Session Meeting.

Approved Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report for August 2015.

Rev. Egger’s Temporary Pastor contract and New Castle Effective Salary Form for September 8, 2015 – September 8, 2016 was approved by the New Castle Presbytery Committee on Ministry.

The New Castle Presbytery Committee on Ministry approved the OVPC 2014 Records Review.

Rev. Egger performed the wedding of Christopher Ludlow and Laura Cork.

The Transition Team is conducting Focus Group Meetings to follow-up on the Questionnaire. If you have not done so, please signup and attend one of the scheduled meetings.

The Nominating Committee is hard at work filling the 2016 slate of Officers and Committee Chairs. We appreciate you giving prayerful thought if asked to serve.

Building and Grounds is looking into budget plans for both electric and gas.

The New Castle Presbytery meeting is September 22, 2015 in Georgetown.

The Rev. Jerry Egger adjourned the meeting with prayer at 9:30 P.M.

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Mary & David White Oct. 3rd Nancy & Bob Turner Oct. 7th Earlene & Al DeFazio Oct. 23rd

Nok Schwartz Oct. 2nd Carole Trent Oct. 7th Janet Anderson Oct. 9th Elsie Young Oct. 9th Carol Kratch Oct. 12th Charlotte Wheatley Oct. 14th Lorie Hartsig Oct. 20th Oliver Robling Oct. 25thBob Turner Oct. 27th

Advent Devotionals Elsie Young

Now is the time to be selecting  Lectionary Readings and composing daily meditations for OVPC’S  2015 Advent Devotionals.  These selections are available in the Narthex.

We would like to have your contribution by October 18 so that the Devotional will be ready for distribution by November 22.  

“The leaves fall patientlyNothing remembers or grieves

The river takes to the seaThe yellow drift of leaves.”

  Sara Teasdale

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Building and Grounds Buz Henifin

The memorial for Alice Woodruff is nearing completion. The area around the large oak in the cemetery has been prepared for an engraved bench which will be ordered in the near future from Comfort Company. The area is a fifteen foot circle outlined with three courses of edging bricks and filled with new mulch. The bench will be placed facing the Northeast so that anyone sitting there will have complete view of the church around to the columbarium.

There was a minor accident in Memorial Hall. One of the bridge players fell onto the deacon bench under the cloak rack. Fortunately the individual was not hurt. However the deacon bench is beyond repair. Anyone knowing the history of the bench is asked to inform the church office.

Fall is in the air which is a signal to prepare for the fall work day to prepare the gardens, the buildings and the grounds for the winter. There will be a meeting of the B&G Committee in early October. Please watch for the date and time in the Sunday bulletin and on the website.

“October is nature’s funeral month.  Nature glories in death more than in life.  The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May. 

Every green thing loves to die in bright colors.”

Henry Ward Beecher  

Deacon’s Report Jane Sergison

Your deacons are getting ready for our dinner which will be on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6th.As in the past it will be a covered dish dinner. More details will follow.                                                     

Our speaker will be Fran Cardaci from the Milford Housing Development Corporation. Herb Sheetz and his group work with them when repairs to homes are requested.

Our next meeting will be October 7th.

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Food Crisis in Malawi The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is describing the unfolding food shortage in Malawi as critical, urging Presbyterians around the world to pray and support efforts to help people in need. As a result The Malawi Mission Network, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian World Mission are calling for a Day of Prayer and Fasting on World Food Day, Friday, Oct. 16, followed by a Day of Action on Sunday, Oct. 18, to collect contributions for food aid.

The situation is desperateJanuary 2015 the rain just kept coming and coming. The worst areas for flooding were in Blantyre and Close to 200 people were killed and about 200,000 people were displaced.

Heavy rains and floods in the south have washed away many homes and crops. Drought throughout the country has reduced harvest yields, leaving the nation in a serious food crisis. Food prices are already 50 percent higher than their five-year average.

McGill visited a grandmother living near Loudon Mission Station, Embangweni, just after she had harvested this year’s crop. “She needs about 75 bags of maize [corn] to feed all the people she supports, and normally her fields produce between 100 to 120 bags,” McGill said. “This year, however, her field only produced nine bags of maize.”

Financial support can be provided through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance online, or by mailing a check to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburg, PA 15264-3700. Donations should be made as quickly as possible and designated to PDA Fund DR000158 for urgent assistance to Malawi and Southern Africa.

AUTUMN IS A SECOND SPRING WHEN EVERY LEAF IS A FLOWER

Albert Camus

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WHO ARE WE?

As we are in this period of transition to a new Pastor we are again being asked to define who we are as a church. In 2014 I attended a leadership retreat that spawned several small groups, task forces, if you will, that were focused on visitors, new members, growing our congregation, etc. I am part of the ‘Unseen Potential’ group charged with coming up with ideas to promote our church and grow our membership. Not surprisingly, our first task was to define ‘who we are’. During our initial meetings we attempted to describe our church, each person sharing their thoughts – with the ultimate goal of collapsing all of our answers into 3 or 4 descriptive words using all the brain power and technology at hand. I think we would all agree that we didn’t do too well... Why? Recently, Rev. Jackie Taylor authored a couple of articles in the MidWeek Musings (March 18th, May 20th) talking about this same subject – how to get your church ‘out there’… she talked about branding, finding a niche and making sure the church was known as more than just ‘that cute little white building around the corner’ – well, we have developed a new logo (✓); we have a tag line to go along with that logo (✓✓); we continue to work on our website so it will spark interest in people church shopping online (✓✓✓); but we still have a hard time describing ourselves. I ask myself again, Why?

As the question of ‘who we are’ kept pestering me, I decided to take a new approach; ‘who is OVPC to me?’ I began attending services at OVPC many years ago with my father (albeit, mostly on holidays) and was always treated as I have heard so many say – warmly, and with open arms. Later, after Elaine and I began attending more regularly, at first simply to accompany Dad, then more and more for ourselves, we quickly found a home. We have both commented about how remarkable it was that, without saying a word to each other, we both were drawn back to church – well, I figured it out (at least for me) – God was calling us and you, who have become our church family were his arms drawing us near – not just welcoming us but letting us know that we were home. I feel God’s presence in our Sanctuary; I see God in the faces of our congregation; where we gather there is joy – no matter if is for worship, Bible study, movie night, or a committee meeting.

I still haven’t been able to answer the corporate question ‘Who Are We’ to my own satisfaction and maybe I don’t need to. What I do know is that if someone asks me why I attend OVPC I can tell them ‘because I know God is there - that is where he welcomed me back’. So, next time someone asks you who OVPC is, take a step back and consider who OVPC is to you – the answer might be a bit easier to come to and will be guaranteed to be genuine. Why is this question so hard? I think perhaps because we are not just simply members of this church but we each have found a deep, personal relationship with God and the people that make up this congregation; we are so much more than just a group of people who get together on Sunday morning to worship. Peace.

Bob Wolf

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YARN...You Are Ready to Needle....Knit or crochet or just watch and learn.

Join us in Fellowship Center the first Monday of the month at 10 am-2 pm...

bring your lunch. We will be working on prayer shawls and knitted

or crocheted squares to make into prayer shawls.See you on March 2nd!

The Communications and Technology team will be creating a pictorial directory this fall. Information sheets will be distributed to our church family members in order to collect pertinent information for the directory. Photo sessions will be on Sunday Oct. 4th and Oct. 11th in conjunction with the coffee hour.

Feel free to pose with your pet!

For October ONLY: Memorial Hall, 11 am - 3 pm.

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Fall is here and the leaves are falling and the weather is getting cooler and the Sewing Circle is busy with many activities. Once again I ask you to get your calendars and pencils so you can jot down the dates and not miss an event.

YARN will be meeting Monday, October 5, from 10-2. Bring your lunch and enjoy making Prayer Shawls. Please let the YARN group know if you know someone who would appreciate a shawl.

On Saturday, October 10, the Sewing Circle will be having its’ Annual Jumble from 9-1 PM. Liz has been getting table leaders but we need items to sell; glassware, small household items, jewelry, kitchen miscellaneous, linens, pictures, small working appliances, knickknacks, children’s toys, books, bake table, plants, and white elephants. If you have not been contacted to help, please call Liz and volunteer, 541-0487. We will be setting up Friday October 9, 9 AM. Many hands are appreciated to make the Jumble a success again this year!

Coffee Hour will be Sunday, October 11, after church. The hostesses will be Sue Rizer and Amy Peoples. Pictures will be taken for the Pictorial Directory.

The Sewing Circle will meet Wednesday, October 14, 12 noon. Bring your sandwich or salad and refreshments and dessert will be provided by Charlotte Wheatley and Sandy White. We will have a business meeting followed by Bible Study led by Bev Bailey.”Come to the Waters”, Chapter 1,’’Birthing Waters—Creation.” Hope you will join us!

Also a reminder for the Sewing Circle attendees, our $2.50 dues are due, so bring to meeting and give to treasurer.

Extremely good news from the Water 4 Project , thanks to the Reminders Concert and donations from indivuals from OVPC and friends of our church, Bev was able to send funds for wells,# 8,#9, and #10 and there are funds for #11 in Well Fund. What a worthy project, there are so many good things coming from this project. Thanks all!!

We were able to send 80 Hygiene Kits this year. Good job!

Sunday October 18, from 2-6 the New Castle Presbytery will be holding a”Leadership for Small Churches” at OVPC. It is a day of discovery and learning. The special speaker will be, Dr. Marilyn Johns, Director of Program Development for Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary. We will be needing food and help to feed the people coming that day. Jen Read is the Trail Boss for the event. All welcome to attend. Along with the speaker there will be interesting workshops.

Saturday, October 24, the Presbyterian Women of the New Castle Presbytery will have its’ Fall Gathering at Dover Presbyterian Church from 9-1. The featured speakers will be Reverend Laurie Hiller, from Seaford Presbyterian and Reverend Edwin Estevez, Riverfront Church. We will be carpooling so contact Liz Hobler or Kathy Sheetz. We also are to furnish desserts.It would be great to have a large number going from OVPC.

Sewing Circle Amy Peoples

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Photogenic Jim Hartsig

Ladies wearing teal ribbons in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month for Amy Hiner.

“October’s poplars are flaming torches 

lighting the way to winter.”

Nova Bair

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Please join us as Bob and Elaine Wolf host a potluck supper starting at 5:30 followed by the movie at 7:00 on Friday October 2nd.

This month’s requested feature is ‘Driving Miss Daisy. This 1989 Oscar winning film, starring Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, and Dan Aykroyd explores the long relationship of a widowed Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur starting in 1950’s Georgia.

If you are interested in hosting movie night, or have a special movie request, please contact Bob Wolf.

Friday Night At The Movies

OCEAN VIEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 67 Central Ave Ocean View, DE 19970