THE CHURCH TOWER - Second Presbyterian ChurchTHE CHURCH TOWER · A NEWSLETTER OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BALTIMORE The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair Pastor The Rev. Jenn DiFrancesco

THE CHURCH TOWER The Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore

Connecting Christ & Community Newsletter of the Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore · Volume 57 · Number 3 · March 2011

God Takes Us Unexpected Places “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1

T he season of Lent begins Wednesday, March 9, with our service of Ashes at 7 p.m.

in Smith Hall. Lent is a season of tradition when we observe practices from ages past. It is also a season of challenges; subtle and not so subtle. As you choose to follow along in scripture, sermon or litany, you’ll notice a clear theme in the mix. Jesus crosses unexpected boundaries in his life’s journey. He goes places where he shouldn’t go, visits with people he shouldn’t visit and does things he shouldn’t be doing. The list of places Jesus goes and what he does when he gets there is really quite remarkable. Jesus is driven into the wilderness by God’s Spirit where he meets the devil, face to face. Jesus confronts religious prejudice embodied in Nicodemus, who looks down his nose at this peasant/rabbi/ teacher. Jesus runs into national prejudice from the unnamed woman at the well, who can’t believe that this ‘foreigner’ would actually talk with her. Jesus talks with a man born blind (and he shouldn’t be doing that either), and overrides the convention of the day that saw him disabled by a curse from God. Finally, through a striking set of happenings with his dear friend

Lazarus, who dies, Jesus crosses the boundary between life and death.

None of these meetings are the sort that any casual observer in Jesus’ day and time would ever expect him to go out of his way to have. But Jesus did. There were good reasons for him to shun Nicodemus, a potential enemy; the woman at the well, who's unclean; the man born blind, whom God has surely cursed; and finally, Lazarus, who's so unclean (so much so, that he "stinketh," to use the KJV language) that a typically observant Jew wouldn't go anywhere near him. Nothing, but nothing — not even the devil — will stop Jesus from carrying out his ministry of radical love and acceptance.

What does all of this mean to us — we who in some measure, aspire to follow in Jesus’ footsteps? In this season of custom and tradition, many people practice giving up something

for Lent, renouncing something taken for granted the rest of the year— like chocolate, or donuts, or even coffee! This practice is based on the image of Jesus in the wilderness; that he successfully resisted temptation, and that following him, we can do the same. Frankly, this makes some sense to me, but it only really fits if we celebrated Jesus in the wilderness every Sunday of Lent. But we don’t. Jesus leaves the wilderness and enters the world again. He encounters, confronts, and crosses unexpected boundaries.

Week by week Jesus goes somewhere new, visits with someone who doesn’t expect to meet him, challenges long held assumptions and brings a new way of seeing and living to different people.

Maybe our observation of Lent this year could be modeled like this. The operative question for us would not be what will you give up for Lent— but where will you go, what will you do, and where will you be led?

If you follow Jesus, don’t be surprised to be taken to some unexpected places. And don’t worry, he will be right along side you, every step of the way.

In ministry with you, in Christ’s

name,

“The operative question for us would not be what will you give

up for Lent— but where will you go, what will you do, and where

will you be led?”

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THE CHURCH TOWER · A NEWSLETTER OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BALTIMORE

The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair

Pastor

The Rev. Jenn DiFrancesco Associate Pastor

Joyce Zimmerman Pastoral Assistant

Cecilia Amaral, MS Pastoral Counselor

Philip Olsen

Music Director

Liz Sesler-Beckman Youth Choir Director

Sarah Thober

Handbell Choir Director

JoAnn Minarchick Office Administrator

Chris Allison

Electronic Media Coordinator

Julie Evans Print Publications Coordinator Christian Education Assistant

Mary Jo Gibson

Bookkeeper

Vernon Wise Sexton

Second Presbyterian Church 4200 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21218

Phone: 410.467.4210 Fax: 410.467.4287

E-mail: [email protected]

March 6 Transfiguration of the Lord

Matthew 17:1-9 “Metamorphosis”

The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair

Wednesday, March 9 Ash Wednesday

Worship 7 p.m. — Smith Hall

March 13 1st Sunday in Lent

Matthew 4:1-11 “Into the Wild—Sent by the Spirit”

The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair March 20

2nd Sunday in Lent John 3:1-17

“Born of the Spirit” The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair

March 27

3rd Sunday in Lent John 4:5-42

“Not Dead in the Water” The Rev. Jenn DiFrancesco

Sermons: March 2011

Session Highlights December 21, 2010

Moderator Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Blair opened the Stated Session meeting. Elders Eloise Bensberg and Leslie Owsley led the opening worship. The Elders took turns reading the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2, and then sang an opening hymn, “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The Elders gave enthusiastic accolades to Rev. DiFrancesco and Elder Sharon Pippert for the wonderful Christmas tableaux presented by the children and youth on December 19. Many spoke about how meaningful an experience it was. The Elders continued their discussion on how to restructure Session and the councils. The Elders expressed a strong desire to keep the spark that inspired the Christmas tableaux lit. They also noted that arriving at a new structure may be a long process and is a spiritual journey. As usual, the Session received and reviewed reports from the Pastors, and from Councils, Boards, and Committees at its Stated Meeting. In addition, the Session: • Approved holding a single service with communion on Sunday, January 2,

2011 at 11:00 a.m. • Reviewed news about those on the Pastoral Prayer and Concerns list –

health problems, bereavements, difficult situations, but also joys. Prayers were offered for those in need of support and care, and for their families.

Dr. Blair and the Elders closed with individual prayers of thanks and intercession by those present and with the Lord’s Prayer. Leslie Owsley for the Session

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Renovated Worship for Renovated Spaces God’s hands have been at work among us in many ways over the past year. It’s hard not to notice that we are in the midst of a major renovation project. The chapel, the sanctuary, even Smith Hall have changed; with two of these spaces yet to be unveiled. But did you ever wonder what we will actually do when we move into these wonderfully enhanced spaces? Well, I did, and it’s a large part of why I’ve felt called to lend a hand to this process. These “new” spaces will provide many opportunities to expand and enhance both of our services. From new projection and sound systems to new and improved acoustics to a brand new digital console for the organ and a new baby grand piano for the chapel, there will be literally hundreds of new things we’ll be able to do in our praise and worship of God that will both enhance cherished traditions and expand our horizons across a number of worship styles and contexts. In the past few months, we’ve already had several successful experiments as we’ve traveled through this year of transition, with a number of wonderful outcomes (more than one person has suggested that the highly creative and interactive Christmas Tableaux should be “the new normal”). In the coming months, we’re going to

experiment a bit more as we prepare to move out of Smith Hall. What that means to you is that we’re going to try a bunch of new things. What we need from each and every one of you as we experiment is three things. First, we ask for your patience as we experiment. Some of our new ideas may not work right the first time, so we ask for you to be patient as we tweak them. Second, we ask for your flexibility. Sometimes, it takes two or three bites of a new recipe before you appreciate the new tastes that it brings. So we ask that you approach these experiments with an open mind and a willing heart. Third, we ask for your feedback. Tell us what you like, and what you don’t. Tell us what we don’t

dare change. Tell us what you can’t wait to get rid of. And tell us why. Tell us what else we might want to try. But please, above all – tell us. You can contact me directly at [email protected], or speak to Tom, Jenn, Liz, or Philip. God has had a very big hand in what’s been going on in our church, and not just through the skill of the workers on site. Working together, we can be certain that what happens in these new spaces will be just as impressive as the spaces themselves. Jim Kucher, Chair, Worship, Music & Sacraments Council

Transfigured… by Rev. Dr. Tom Blair

Regenerated, reclaimed, remodeled… I mean changed. is it molecule by molecule, or all at once? is it to a new, altered state — or back to the original form, uncorrupted? surely it can’t happen by moral exercise alone, but by lived-out prayer and a Holy touch. So at a time and place of God’s choosing, we will be full-blooded siblings of God’s beloved. Is the time upon us...even now? Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Mark 9:2-3,7

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Good News! Taking a cue from the NBC Nightly News segment “Making a Difference,” the Caring and Fellowship Council endeavors to highlight the “Good News” within our congregation.

God’s Love in Action Karen, Ted, and Abbie Chadeayne went back to China to receive a second addition to their family - little Feng Ye Rue, who became Rosalie May Chadeayne (or Rose). She was abandoned at birth on August 18, 2009, and found in the city of Feng Cheng, a suburb of N a n c h a n g i n J i a n g x i province. She was given the name Ye Rue, meaning "Like the Moon," and placed into foster care. She was soon diagnosed with a minor/correctable heart defect. We accepted her referral

on March 19, 2010— a special birthday present for Karen! The 25-hour trips to and from China were very draining, especially for four-year-old Abbie, but we thought it was important to bond with Rose as a family, and Abbie would be able to see her own hometown of Nanchang again. For the paperwork, we needed to visit three cities -- Beijing (where we saw the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square), Nanchang, and Guangzhou. We officially adopted Rose on November 8, 2010, and she became a US citizen when we landed on American soil on November 21. Now seventeen months old, Rose is adapting well to life in the USA. She had some problems with slow motor

development, but with the family’s love and attention, the doctors are saying she is making steady progress. She likes playing with Abbie even though Abbie can be a bit too active and overwhelming for her. Abbie absolutely loves her and likes showing her off to her preschool classmates. Bright Spots Karen Hyde, one of our newest members, has just begun work as a Project Manager for Computer Sciences Corporation in Hanover, MD. Karen has also just celebrated the birth of twin granddaughters, Alanna and Brianna, who, because of their premature birth, will be in West Virginia University’s NICU for three months. The twins already have demonstrated their distinct personalities, and sisters Kate, age eight, and Isabella, age eighteen months, look forward to having their new sisters at home. Dave Heumann (Pete Heumann’s older son) is the lead guitarist, singer and song writer for Arbouretum. The Gathering, his 4th “album” under Arbouretum, will be officially released on February 15th. The band’s upcoming two month tour, to promote The Gathering includes 10 stops on the West Coast and nearly 20 in Western Europe. Prior to the tour, he will be playing at St. John’s church (27th and St. Paul) in Baltimore on March 5th at 9pm if you’d like to hear him live and in person. To learn more about Dave and Arbouretum, go to http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/index.html?id=10145

If God seems far away, who moved? Marquee, Rodgers Forge United Methodist Church We invite you to share with us God’s love in action in your life. If you have any “Good News” or “Bright Spots” in your life to share with our congregation, please call the church office or contact Becky Ferrell at 410.377.8380

GREENS FOR LENT Ann Weems writes in Put Away the Tinsel…, “when Lent comes, the angels’ voices begin their lamenting, and we find ourselves in a courtyard where we must answer whether we know him or not.” Lent, a time of sacrifice, of focusing on our sinfulness and Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation, is not a time of celebration. The flower chancel guild will only use greens during the season of Lent, a tradition in various Christian denominations. Our celebration of color and flowers returns on the true celebration of our faith with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior on Easter.

EASTER FLOWERS Donations for Easter memorial flowers are being received from now until Palm Sunday, April 17. The donor's name, along with the names of the persons remembered or honored, will be included in the Easter bulletin. After Easter, the plants will be delivered to our shut-ins by the deacons. Names and contributions may be sent to Joyce Zimmerman at the church. Checks may be made payable to Second Presbyterian Church and noted in the memo line "for Easter flowers". Thank you.

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Getting to Know your Second Family: Mary Nickerson

Mary and her younger sister, Johanna, were born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their parents were natives of Germany and Hungary. So Mary and her sister were first generation Americans and the first college graduates in their family. Although baptized in the Lutheran Church, Mary attended Westwood First Presbyterian Church where she was confirmed, sang in the choir and was active in the youth group. Mary attended local schools and graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati where she was president of Kappa Delta sorority, was elected to Mortar Board and met her future husband Eugene “Nick” Nickerson. Following graduation Mary was hired as UC’s Chemistry Librarian and received a PHT (putting hubby through) when Nick received his J.D. from the College of Law. They had married in 1953 and shortly produced three wonderful daughters – Ellen (born during Nick’s final exams in 1955), Jennie in 1957, and Nancy in 1959. We all know and love Ellen and Ed Bernard who have actively supported Second Presbyterian. Jennie lives in Connecticut, and Nancy lives in Washington, D.C. Together the three daughters have produced a total of 5 grandchildren which are Mary’s pride and joy. Nine years into their marriage Nick, who was employed by Scudder, Stevens & Clark as Investment Counsel, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was hospitalized with acute pericarditis. This was extremely painful and his diagnosis was poor. He was not expected to live past the age of 45. However, Nick was a fighter and refused to give in to his prognosis. Two years later he accepted the position of V.P. of Finance & Administration and moved from the Cincinnati office to the Scudder office in NYC. The Nickersons bought a home in Scarsdale, NY and found themselves in the same neighborhood with two former classmates from Cincinnati. Thus it was a very

pleasant transition and the girls thrived in their new environment. Nick and Mary transferred their membership from Westwood First Presbyterian in Cincinnati to Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale which was located two blocks from their home. Mary served as a Deacon, then an Elder and chaired the Mission Council. And the girls became actively involved with youth activities. This was during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s and Mary, who had been rather protected living in the Midwest, was suddenly exposed to many new and interesting ideas, philosophies, and cultures living so close to New York City. She became involved with several cross-cultural projects and developed binding friendships with some of her Jewish neighbors. Hitchcock PC offered an adult seminar on Sunday mornings that often featured faculty from Princeton and Union Seminaries who provided stimulating bible study which Mary relished. When a class composed of lay members and seminary students was offered on Thursdays evenings at the church Mary quickly signed up. The course was led by Dr. Walter Wink who introduced a Socratic method of digging into New Testament passages. It was a life changing experience that lasted two wonderful years. Meanwhile the physical toll of the daily commute was making Nick’s arthritis worse, eventually causing him to resign from Scudder. In 1974 he founded Nickerson Associates, an investment counsel firm. Mary became the secretary and treasurer of the partnership which operated from their home. A few years later the purchase of their first Mac enabled Nick to take over Mary’s duties and she opted for income tax training with H & R Block. Later Mary accepted an accounting position with ASEA, the Swedish GE. And she was asked to serve again as an Elder, this time as Vice President of the Finance Committee. Eventually they decided to downsize and sold their home. They unexpectedly followed Ellen and Ed to Baltimore in 1988 to be closer to them and to their young grandsons after Ed was hired by T. Rowe Price. They were also attracted to a warmer climate in Maryland and to the proximity of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Voila! Mary joined Second Presbyterian Church because Ellen and Ed were already members and worshiping here. What a plus for us!! As many of you know, Mary has become a veritable “pillar” here at Second. She brought along her broadened views from New York and has greatly expanded the outreach of our mission activities. She was instrumental in expanding the mission budget through special offerings and encouraged renewing mission involvement with the McKim Center and the Knox Presbyterian soup kitchen. She introduced GEDCO’s many programs to the congregation and has served on its Board of Directors for many years, recently serving as treasurer. She has actively encouraged education by supporting the Institute of Christian & Jewish Studies as well as the Ecumenical Institute @ St. Mary’s Seminary.

continued on page 6

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Nickerson—continued from page 5 Nick passed away in 2001 surprising his physicians and family by living way past 45 to the seasoned age of 71. Mary then devoted even more of her time to Second. She has chaired or co-chaired the Alternative Gift Market and Silent Auction programs for fifteen years providing additional Mission support. As a former chairman of the Mission Council, Mary was intrigued with the opportunities abounding in the Baltimore area and greatly broadened our scope. With her encouragement Second Presbyterian has committed 10% of the amount pledged annually to local outreach and mission which enables us to support a diverse number of organizations both locally and abroad. Mary has served as an Elder for two terms and is about to begin her third term as a Trustee. She also serves on the Landscape and Personnel Committees She says, “My spiritual connections are very important to me. I was drawn to the educational opportunities, the music program, and the intriguing mission possibilities. Second has been a second family to me. It has enabled me to feel at home in a new city and to make lasting friendships.” New York’s loss is certainly our gain. Mary has not only contributed so very much to the growth of Second Presbyterian, but also to the many groups and organizations she has mentored throughout Baltimore. We are grateful for her devoted service.

Christian Education Hour: New Series

Divine Intervention:

Jesus’ Miracles

March 6 Jesus calls the first disciples through the miracle of filling their empty nets with fish. (Luke 5:1-11) March 13 Jesus calms the storm (Matthew 8:23-27) March 20 Jesus feeds the thousands (John 6:1-14) March 27 Jesus heals a blind man (Mark 8:22-26) April 3 Jesus heals a man who calls himself Legion (Mark 5:1-20) You can make miracles, too! Be a part of our Chris-tian Ed series about Jesus' miracles. The excitement of the parables and Biblical heroes is still fresh with us, and children and adults alike have en-joyed our time of faithful fellowship and education. Join us as we witness Jesus' miracles, and if you're willing to work miracles yourself, we have a spot for you too. Give a little, or give a lot. Bring a willing soul or a few willing souls, and walk away spiritually enriched. How can you work miracles in only 30 minutes? • Miracle #1: Adult Discussion leaders will get

weekly email with instructions and attachments, a few good sermons about the text, and other thoughts that might help put together some guiding questions for the adult discussion in the church manse library. All adults are invited to the intergenerational telling of the story in Smith Hall from 10-10:15 a.m. The discussion in the manse doesn't begin till 10:20 giv-ing leaders about 30 minutes.

• Miracle #2: Coffee pick-up: We have a standing order (already paid for) of coffee and bagels at Ro-land Park Bagel Co. on Cold Spring Lane across from Alonso’s. The order is ready each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.; you drop off by 10 a.m. There will be many grateful recipients. (This job is easier with 4 arms! )

• Miracle #3: Coffee Host Your job is to welcome visitors, and to make sure items are accessible. A list of the responsibilities will be sent to each week's host and is also in the kitchen for quick reference. (10a.m. -10:30a.m.)

Let our Christian Education assistant, Julie Evans, know if you can perform miracles ([email protected]).

As we enter this season of faith renewal, now is a good time to memorialize those whose faith, love and gifts enriched our lives. Our sacred space on our church grounds, the Labyrinth Memorial Garden, is a keeping place, dedicated to the memory of those whose cremated remains will lie here at the church in perpetuity. It is a gathering place, dedicated to celebration and solemnity, praise and meditation. We have celebrated touching and meaningful services at this site, building memories and reinforcing our lasting love for those no longer with us. In a similar spirit of care and devotion for our loved ones, Second Presbyterian Church also offers dedicated memorial plaques on the Labyrinth Memorial Wall for those interred elsewhere as a way for family and friends to memorialize them on church grounds. Please contact Harriette McPherson at 410-296-4026 or [email protected] for additional information.

Memorial Wall at Second Presbyterian Church in the Labyrinth Memorial Garden

Memorial plaques ordered now will be dedicated on Memorial Day Sunday.

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Jim Hughes, President John Hoey, Treasurer

The Session

2012 Grace Blair Rebecca Ferrell* Robert Flower* Gail Levy Jim Mayer Leslie Owsley* Sharon Pippert Alix Rodman Scott Silverwood* Deborah Slingluff* James Woods

2013 Eloise Bensberg* Tom Monahan*

2014 Mark Felder Nancy Getter* Jim Kucher

Leslie Owsley, Clerk of Session The Reverend Dr. Thomas W. Blair, Moderator

Board of Trustees

2012 Julie Darsie* Harry Kleiser (2 yr. term) Devereux Slingluff* Robert Snyder*

2013 David Dardis* William Kerr* Cindy Levering* JT Paulk

2014 Keith Getter* Paul Hume Jim Hughes* Mary Nickerson*

Deacons

2012 Jackie Blair* Clay Furtaw Malinda Hughes Jung Geum Park* Ryan Romkema Debbie Scott Jill Siegrist

2013 Josephine Alston Jaye Crooks* Rebecca Dineen* Susan Mayer Rachel Mutinda Franklin Stout* Dayna Stueck

2014 Larry Budd Katherine Crosby Fay Miller Katherine Murphy* John Warnack* Allison West*

Rebecca Dineen, Co-Moderator Clay Furtaw, Co-Moderator

*Second term **Two-year term

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March Birthdays Tuesdays at Ten Our March itinerary includes Capernaum, Bethsaida, Upper Galilee, and Caesarea Philippi as we conclude our journey via the video Bible study program, "Land of the Bible," and begin a new video Bible study, " Jesus, Man, Messiah, or More?" Our road trips provide not only education in the geography of the Holy Land, but also opportunities to gain valuable insights into the Biblical events that took place in the region. Session discussions, as always, will be based on the video contents and personal home study. We invite everyone to join us, participate in the dialogues and enjoy the wonderful Christian fellowship always present when we gather together. All meetings are held at the church, room 104, every Tuesday, at 10 a.m., and last for about one and one-half hours. For more information, please contact Gene Haupt at 410-366-7599 or [email protected]. Wednesday Fellowship, March 9, 1:00 p.m. Wednesday Fellowship invites everyone to join us on Wednesday, March 9 as we resume our monthly programs (hoping that the snow and ice are all gone). We are fortunate to welcome back as our speakers retired diplomats Ann and Allen Irvine. Having served in assignments in embassies in Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Yemen over the past several years, they will speak today on "Reflections on the Current Middle East". Perhaps you remember when they spoke to us last March about their experiences in Turkey in May-June 2009, and earlier about Ann's mother's life growing up in Turkey as the daughter of missionaries. They will bring us a unique perspective and background on the current unrest in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East. This is a special opportunity: all church members and friends are invited to join us. We will meet for lunch (bring a sandwich) in the Westcott Room at noon. The talk will start at 1 p.m. in Smith Hall.

New Beginner Yoga Classes, starting March 15 Yoga classes for beginners will be starting

at Second Presbyterian on Tuesday, March 15. The six-week class with a certified instructor will be from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights with the possibility for a second six weeks. The cost is $10 per session if you sign up for the full six weeks. The cost per session is $12 for drop-ins. A minimum of eight participants is necessary for the class to begin and both members and friends are welcome. To sign up, or for additional information, please contact Becky Ferrell at [email protected] or 410-377-8380. Candlelighters, March 21, 7 p.m. Join the Candlelighters for our March gathering on Monday, March 21st at 7 p.m. This spring, we are reading and discussing Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, An Altar in the World. All women are welcome! Questions? Contact Rev. Kate Foster Connors at [email protected] or 443-670-6995.

1st Josephine Alston Gayle Latshaw 2nd Blake Hurd 3rd Grace Blair Lara Winn Lewis Will Young 4th Edwin Crooks, Jr. Andy Strain 5th Cian Callahan Beth Felder Flo Porterfield John Troyer Carrie Young 6th Betsy Bond John Bond, Jr. Robert Jones 7th Kit Dale Ellen Troyer 8th Wendy Perrow 9th Bob Spence 11th Alix Rodman Daniel Shackelford 13th Wendell Leimbach Leslie Saxton Laura Young 14th Bruce Sawyer

15th Ed Poe 16th Hunter Ramzy 18th Lynn DeWitt Jill Karpovich 19th Karen Chadeayne 23rd Whit Bernard 24th Frank Burd Davis Hahn Nina Russell 26th Jeff Craft Nick Dudek 27th Garrett Duncan 28th Hank Kaestner 29th Esther Jung 30th Garland McPherson 31st Jeff Mullins

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News from the Facilities Planning Committee By the time you read this, the forest of scaffolding in the sanctuary will be down, having served its seven-month tenure. It has supported a platform some 24’ above the floor, to work on removing the heavily textured ceiling that was there and on installing the new shaped ceiling coffers and hand-plastered arched vaults along the periphery. Before the scaffold is removed the ceiling lighting fixtures and a/v equipment will be in place. Carpentry will then begin on refashioning the chancel area for tiered seating for the choir. The main platform will have a different shape, and will contain a new organ console – moveable, in this age of advanced technology – freeing the platform for different uses. The floor surface of this area will be wood, stained to match the mahogany caps on the pews. The choir will sit on new chairs from New Holland Church Furniture Company. Meantime, much patching of wall surfaces is underway. Remember all the moisture damage? The painting contractor has been working closely with the architect to fine-tune the exact shades of off-white and cream for the walls and architectural trim. In the chapel, another group of skilled craftsmen are installing new, light-toned, rift-cut oak paneling on that chancel area. The attention to each miter, each reveal, each bevel, each curve at the top of windows, is being handled with, literally, kid gloves. In this space, a truckload of new conduits are looping under, over and behind every surface, making possible the remote access to audio-visual updates, window scrims and effective public address systems. Twin LCD screens will be mounted at the front. Many hundreds of hours of very ordinary construction work are going on as well – all orchestrated with great skill by Jeff Brown, the job superintendent. Truckloads of gear and materials appear when needed without a single complaint from our neighbors in the area, and without (well, almost without) disrupting the staff during the day. We are grateful for the staff – their gracious spirits, their senses of humor, and their forbearance with all the dust and noise. Very soon, we will be able to invite the congregation to come by for a look at the progress. Things will still be incomplete, but seeing it may heighten our anticipation for the really finished product later in the spring. With thanks, Elaine Logan, for the FPC

Worship is Communal As trite as it sounds, it truly does take a community to hold a worship service. In our case, that community is made up of many parts. First there’s you – the congregation. And of course, our wonderful pastors. But there’s also a huge array of musicians and singers, ushers, floral arrangers, communion servers, liturgists and many, many more And as we prepare to move out of Smith Hall and into our newly renovated worship spaces, we’re asking you to consider stepping out into the aisle and joining this huge support network. Maybe it’s playing guitar for Second @ 9. Maybe it’s singing at either service (you only need to be able to carry a tune in a bucket – and we even have some spare buckets). Love to decorate? How about arranging flowers for our services, or helping to display our wonderful collection of liturgical tapestries? Love to shake hands and meet new people? You’re custom made to be an usher. Not sure? Take a minute to chat with Tom, Jenn, Liz, Philip or any member of any of these great groups of folks to learn more. Or contact me directly at Jim.Kucher@ comcast.net. It’s a lot of fun, it’s not that much work, and it’s a great way to express your love for God and Second Church. Hope to see you soon. Jim Kucher, Chair, Worship, Music & Sacrament Council

Mission Collection for the

Franciscan Center Now through March 13

The Franciscan Center on West 23rd Street offers a continuum of care, including emergency services, health services, counseling and technology training to help our needy brothers and sisters become as self-sufficient as possible. The Center needs gently used clothing and items for personal hygiene: • Women: sweaters and pants, all sizes including plus

sizes • Men: sweaters, dress shirts, boxers • Men and women: white tee shirts • Shoes: men’s and women’s dress shoes • Towels and washcloths • Toiletries (new) You may leave your donations in the collection basket in the Rotunda.

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Mission Update: GEDCO By Kristin Danielson, External Relations Coordinator Thanks to the participation of more than 50 Member Organizations (including Second Presbyterian Church), the leadership of our boards, and the commitment of tireless volunteers, GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation) had a year of growth and sustainability fulfilling its mission of “Building Caring and Compassionate Communities”. With Second’s Mary Nickerson as a strong voice on the Board as Treasurer and head of the Finance Committee, we have been led in wisdom and unending confidence in the possibilities of our work.

CARES Emergency and Career Assistance In 2010, we distributed food to 3,766 households (7,688 people), and assisted 535 households with utility turn-off notices, 266 with eviction notices and 135 with prescriptions. CARES has been able to keep up the pace because of the commitment of our volunteers donating over 5,600 hours of their time. Second Presbyterian Church aided our efforts by contributing $2,500 and 300 bags of groceries in the 2010 Souper Bowl of Caring. Additionally, Second Church member, Gay Shackelford, is a cornerstone of CARES’ volunteers. Several groups from Second have also volunteered at the Saturday CARES pantry over the past year. At CARES Career Connection (started exclusively with funding tithed from Second’s building capital campaign), we hired a new Employment Services Coordinator, Jennifer Arnold, to provide job readiness training. In 2010, more than 200 people sought assistance through the CARES Career Connection. Participants completed 123 resumes, resulting in 102 interviews and 51 people securing employment.

Housing Programs Harford House and Micah House were able to continue financial literacy and management programs with 70% of formerly homeless residents maintaining a bank account. Offering job skills training and educational opportunities, some residents began to pursue options such as radiology and nursing. Consistency and stability continue to be the foundation for the high rates of success in our programs. Behaviors that reveal the strength of our programs include a 91% sobriety rate, 75% stability rate, and 92% attendance to one-on-one meetings with our Shelter Plus Care Program Director. In a confident move forward, 13 people were able to move into alternative permanent housing. To secure the government funding to financially sustain these programs, GEDCO must show support, services, and activities from our partners and Members. Second Presbyterian Church contributed $1,000 each to Harford House and Micah House plus $500 to support Epiphany House, as well as $100 and 6 volunteers at the Harford House pre-Thanksgiving Dinner. Since 2005, GEDCO has moved from vision to reality with The GREEN HOUSE Residences at Stadium Place, an innovative resident-centered model of long-term care. We secured enough financing to begin construction on the Green House at the beginning of January 2011. Second Presbyterian Church completed its pledge of $37,500 payable over five years for Stadium Place’s overall development, and pledged an additional

$10,000, payable over five years, for a second bedroom in The Green House Residences.

20th Anniversary Celebration Going into 2011, GEDCO is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. We seek to reenergize and reengage our Member Organizations to create mutual benefits and deeper connections. There are many ways to use your time, talents, and treasures at GEDCO. Especially needed is expertise in capital fundraising for the Green House and 20th anniversary leadership campaign, and relationships with local employers for the CARES Career Connection. For our annual meeting on March 31, GEDCO will be hosting a talent show to showcase the talents within the GEDCO community. If you have a music group, a dance troupe, or tell jokes about growing up on a Baltimore stoop, you are encouraged to participate. Other community events throughout the year include the Tailgate at Stadium Place to watch the Ravens in September, and the annual GEDCO Thanksgiving Tribute in November. We also invite you to create your own events such as hosting a house party to raise awareness about GEDCO, cooking a meal with any of our residents and/or programs, or assembling welcome kits for residents as an activity for one of the small groups at Second Presbyterian. Be creative!

As part of the anniversary celebration, we plan to recognize the milestones and many faces of GEDCO that have exemplified our mission through the creation of a collection of short 100-word reflective pieces that recall how GEDCO has positively affected the lives of our volunteers, board members, residents, staff members, and members of a Member organization like Second Church. We hope to receive a variety of submissions, and for them to be heart-warming, soul stirring, animated, faith-filled, humorous, celebratory, reflective or even frantic. To learn about participating in Second Presbyterian’s Membership, volunteering or to submit a story, please contact Kristin Danielson, External Relations Coordinator at 410-433-2442 ext. 19; [email protected]. GEDCO could not be the organization that we are today without your support and participation over the past two decades. Thank you! We hope to see you at the Annual Meeting on March 31st, 7:00pm at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (5502 York Road, Baltimore MD 21212).

Groundbreaking for GREEN HOUSE Residences at Stadium Place, January 2011

Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore 4200 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21218 return service requested

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THE CHURCH TOWER • A NEWSLETTER OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BALTIMORE

Monument Piano Trio Sunday, March 20, 2:30 p.m.

Violinist Igor Yuzefovich, cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski, and pianist Michael Sheppard each bring something unique to the Monument Piano Trio, unifying styles and genres into one distinctive sound. Hailed as “breathtaking,” and full of “warmth and character,” the Monument Piano Trio is quickly becoming a Baltimore classical music staple.

Chamber Music by Candlelight Sunday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.

Partita for Wind Quartet, Irving Fine (1914-1962) Marcia Kämper, flute; Jane Marvine, oboe; William Jenken, clarinet; David Coombs, bassoon; Gabrielle Finck, horn String Quartet No. 3, Béla Bartók (1881-1945) Atlanta String Quartet: Greg Mulligan, violin; Rebecca Nichols, violin; Karin Brown, viola; Bo Li, cello Concerto Da Camera, Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) Marcia Kämper, flute; Jane Marvine, english horn; Lura Johnson, piano String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) Jonathan Carney, violin; Ivan Stefanovic, violin; TBA, viola; Dariusz Skoraczewski, cello

Music for all: Community Concerts at Second

Ash Wednesday Service Wednesday, March 9

7:00 p.m. Smith Hall

Documents

THE CHURCH TOWER - Second Presbyterian ChurchTHE CHURCH TOWER · A NEWSLETTER OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BALTIMORE The Rev. Dr. Tom Blair Pastor The Rev. Jenn DiFrancesco