MPC NEWS MAGAZINE April 2017 What’s Happening in April

Palm Sunday April 9th Worship with palms at 11 AM.

Maundy Thursday April 13th Worship will begin at 7 PM.

Good Friday April 14th Film: A Better Life at 7 PM

Easter April 16th Worship at 11 AM

Mission Focus for April Around the world, people lack access to food, clean water, sanitation, education and opportunity. Each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) serves to help change the lives of people in these challenging situations. This offering provides a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. OGHS, received during the month of April this year, makes a difference in the world through three impactful programs: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) works within

communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters. Receives 32% of funds raised

Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) takes action to alleviate hunger and its systemic causes, and helps create access to healthy food for entire communities. Receives 36% of funds raised.

Self-Development of People (SDOP) partners with peo-ple and communities with tools for development and education to alleviate poverty, oppression and injustice. Receives 32% of funds raised.

What started as an hour long radio appeal in 1949 has become the most participated-in offering in the PC (USA). Today, projects supported by One Great Hour of Shar-ing are underway in more than 100 countries. To learn more visit: specialofferings.pcusa.org/oghs Leslie Erickson

No Sunday Brew in April, resuming in May with Galatians the topic.

Led by Jocelyn McKeon and Darrell Wheeler

Good Friday Film A Better Life 7:00 PM April 14th The Fellowship Room A story of fatherly love, indomitable spirit, focus, sacrifice and the inner strength to do the right thing in a world where doing the wrong thing is the expected norm. An exclamation point to the life of many illegal Mexican immigrants, who, by coming to the U.S., and against all odds, truly believe they can, with hard work and perseverance find…a better life. Timely and relevant. Rick Dezes

Page 2 Providence Press

With permission

Volunteers Needed for the Woodbourne-McCabe Summer Camp The Woodbourne-McCabe Neighborhood Associ-ation is planning its second annual Youth Empowerment Summer Camp. Building on the success of last year’s one-week camp, this year the camp will be expanded to three weeks, June 26 – July 14. The Association applied for and received a $3,000 grant from the Baltimore Presbytery to help fund the camp, which will be held at Alhambra Park located right in The Neighborhood. The camp will host 50 children per week, ages 5-13 years old. Although the curriculum is still being developed, broad topics include Healthful Living, Personal and Community Advocacy and Environmental Aware-ness. What can we do to make this camp successful? The Association would like each church that partic-ipates in the Upper Metro Ministry Group to com-mit volunteers for one week of the camp. The vol-unteers will man one of five activity stations being planned for the children. They will also be respon-sible for providing lunch/snacks for two days of that week. Finally, they would like a $200 donation to fund an end-of-week celebration, including food and special activities. The camp will run Monday – Friday from 11:30AM to 4PM. What better way to get to know our neighbors in the Woodbourne-McCabe area of Baltimore City? If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please let me know so that you will be included in the planning meeting to be held in May. Mary Jo Zimbro

Traveling Light Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying your heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Faith Journey Group will be discussing their latest

book for the first time on April 9th. It is Traveling Light by Max Luca-do. A quick read, it encourages us to do what Jesus says in that Mathew passage, that is, get rid of our heavy loads and rest in the Lord. Rev. Lucado uses the 23rd Psalm as his path and walks us through an inventory of our burdens. We ex-

pect to have an exciting discussion and sharing time at 4 o’clock on that Sunday in the library at MPC and we invite all who would like to join us even if you do not have the book. You will leave rested and well fed!! Jo Sack

Lenten Study Continuing on Wednesday April 5 In this thoughtful study, respected Old Tes-tament scholar Patricia K. Tull explores the Scriptures for guidance on today's ecologi-cal crisis. Starting at at 6:30 PM with soup and bread. Discussion begins at 7:00 PM.

A special Earth Day Celebration Worship

Service will be held on April 23rd, details to be

announced.

Providence Press Published for

the members and friends of Maryland Presbyterian Church,

1105 Providence Road, Towson, Maryland 21286.

(410) 825-0719 Editors: Jo Sack, Rick Dezes

Production and distribution Dale Salah, Alma Smith, Other Contributors to this Issue: Leslie Erickson, Carol Mason, J. Wright Witcher, Mary Jo Zimbro, Linda Koch

Page 3 Providence Press

Laugh of the Month Dear God

Editorial Comment Wild Game At her home and during a morn-ing walk around in Camilla Den’s Yard, the other day, she saw a bat catch a fly, and then suddenly caught sight of an Oriole. Later she served her husband, Mitt, some or-ange juice from a pitcher and black toast on a plate. Mitt recently, while pinning a diamond broach on Camilla, admitted that he could finally afford it with-out too much sacrifice. So grateful, she stirred up a batter of pancakes that he loved. The two of them have a dairy farm in New jersey. The bull, of course, is in the bullpen, but there are also some foul in there building nests. They apparently got in through a dug-out space below. But O dear, a heifer got loose. A neighbor, Lefty Field, ran to catch ‘er. To avoid any more problems, they installed a steal fence. Their friend, R.B. Ingram, is 1st base in the Ballti-more Symphony, where the percussionists are on strike. Their scores are tied. I heard that R.B. was to run for office, but it was an error. He is too commit-ted to his music since The Star Spangled Banner hit high on the charts and he is devoted to Beethoven’s ninth.

Jo Sack

Sundays from April 23 – May 28

Grand Slam

See Rick Dezes to get a picture taken.

Pastor Nominating Committee Report In hopes of keeping the congregation informed of pro-gress, the PNC would like to share that the members (Kim Ward, Rick Dezes, Carol Ma-son, Joe Wright, Bill Breakey Danell Gill, chairwoman, and myself) will schedule our first Skype interviews with potential candi-dates in early April. Eventually, the Committee will narrow the list of candidates to just two or three, with multiple interviews involved for those minister/candidates. This process is a prayerful, careful one for the com-mittee, because our responsibility is to find the pastor that God is leading us to, the person who will lead us and strengthen our faith and in service in the world. Linda Koch

Providence Press Page 4

Mission Update In February, a total of $2,891 was sent to Shep-herd’s Clinic, that is, $1,285 from the operating budget and $1,606 from MPC’s generous donors, during the January focus month Also last month, Butoke in the Congo was sent their total of $4,230, $1285 budgeted and a gener-ous $2,945 which was from all of you during Feb-ruary. Clearly hearts melted hearing about the ter-rible conditions there. Read below. Thank you

News From McCabe Avenue Community Fundraiser Held to Celebrate International Women’s Day

The Glenwood Life Counseling Center held its third annual Women’s Fundraising Dinner on March 9, which coincided with International Women’s Day (March 8). The purpose of the fundraiser was two-fold, to recognize contributions of women in the community and to raise funds for the homeless. Glenwood Life Counseling Center is primarily a methadone treatment clinic. However, in recent years it has expanded its services to include classes in martial arts, yoga, jewelry- making, and nutrition. In addition, through the efforts of Precious Fraling, a community garden was started last year right on Glenwood Avenue. Linda and Tom Koch, Carol Mason and I had the pleasure of attending the fundraiser. The event in-cluded a welcome from Lillian Donnard, director of the clinic, an address by Addie Johnson, a women’s poem by Precious Fraling, a praise dance by Warri-or Women and, finally, presentation of (S)HERO Awards to seven women from the community. We were all deeply inspired by these women and their stories. Mary Jo Zimbro

Dear Friends I just learned that yesterday 30 people were killed in Nganza. All we can hope and pray is that enough people recog-nize that both militia and the army act without a goal be-yond self-aggrandisement in the suffering inflicted and the war games will stop soon. In the meantime we are very restricted. Our school closed, movement of our kids from lodging to urban school often in-secure, markets often closed or not supplied…..but so far our small kids survived without major trau-ma and the adolescents can come together where I am and socialise. This needs full attention and therefore we are both fighting to preserve the right for me to be given a renewal of my Congolese vi-sa. The visa is said to cost USD 1600, the registra-tion is said to cost about the same. Worse even all needs to be finished before 18 march final date for the visa. In HIS love. Cecile (reproduced in original form)

This is why we had to hurry with the money for them!

Left to Right: Leila Frueh, Addie Johnson, Rachael Neill, Cassandre Epps, Nadiyah Clarke, Liz Sieck and Rev. Jennifer DiFrancesco (from Second Pres-byterian). Notice their anti-Trump pink caps

Successful Offering of Letters The count so far is 85...more to be reported. We can’t say we did better than last year because we had many of our regu-lars missing for various reasons, but those who attended Hunger Sunday, March 19th, were dedicat-ed letter writers and en-joyed the good lunch pre-pared by the mission group members...and Chef Witcher. Thank you all very much.

Page 5 Providence Press

Those Were the Days (And s�ll, today!)

For the last several years MPC has provided the opportunity for folks to gather together in fellowship on the evening of Good Friday to watch together a film which is either religious in nature, or shows Christ's teachings at work. Many guests come and frequently there are discussions which follow. The very first film was the Norman Jewison rendition of the Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. It was shown in the sanctuary. Since the addition of our large screen TV, the films are now shown in the fellowship room. Other films shown have been The Way, The Mission, Hector and the Search for Happiness, The Railway Man, and Of Gods and Men. Shown with closed captioning, these films sometimes provide a poignancy but al-ways a timely relevancy at the end of the Lenten sea-son. Please check the article on page one to see the film being shown this Good Friday, April 14th. Rick Dezes

Book Review City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson We all know that Butoke is one of our mission pro-jects, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where aid is provided to people in a country ravaged by war. In this book by Anderson the reader can learn what everyday life is like for Congolese people, who are vic-tims of the rebels, the militia, the police, the rich mine owners as well as the gangs and ordinary criminals. Travel on a banana lorry, which in some ways is bet-ter than a bus. Hide in the jungle, covered with leaves and dirt, while armed men stalk nearby. Share a meal of dengu, sukuma, and matoke (beans, greens, and bananas). Imagine living in an abandoned half-built building, where you climb the rebar up the ele-vator shaft to get to your “apartment.” Compare that home to those in the “Ring” a secure area where the elite rich Kenyan citizens live. This is the story of Tiny Girl, a small-in-stature, mighty-in-character teenager, who is a Congolese refugee, currently living in Kenya. Her mother es-caped from militants, who had captured her some months before and were forcing her to work in a gold mine. She tried to fight back by talking to a newspa-per reporter, which nearly resulted in both of their deaths. However, she managed to escape again, grab Tiny Girl out of hiding and flee to Kenya, a relatively safe haven for many refugees from Congo. Relatively safe doesn’t mean easy. Seemingly, every transaction demands a bribe. The streets are full of beggars, pickpockets, gang members, and thieves. Tiny Girl becomes a thief after her mother is murdered. Under the brutal tutelage of a gang leader, she is a quick study and soon bringing in high quality loot for her boss. All the while, she thinks she knows who kills her mother and vows vengeance. That vow takes her back to her village in Congo, where she learns the truth about her mother, her early childhood and that she had labeled the wrong man as her moth-er’s killer. Tiny Girl has two companions on her trip to her village, a computer whiz friend from the slums, and a rich kid who caught Tiny Girl robbing his father. This trio are often unwilling allies, but eventually realize how strong their bonds of friend-ship have become. Carol Mason

movies

Recycling at the Ball Park Maryland Stadium Au-thority develops green programs. Baltimore fans shouldn’t be surprised to learn that in 2016 Stadium Journey ranked Camden Yards as #1 in overall sta-dium experience in the

country and M&T Bank Stadium as #14. Both stadiums have recycling containers located both outside and throughout the concourses for single stream material (bottles, cans and paper). Vendors recycle alu-minum, plastic, cardboard and grease. MSA donates leftover food to local charities. But most of the recycling activity comes from within the seating bowl. Approximately 45 minutes after the game, cleanup crews begin going through the seating areas to collect paper and cardboard, plastic (including cups) and aluminum from the seating areas. MSA sends the material to Waste Management for recycling. The crews only collect trash after they have collected the recyclables. From The Resource Photo by Geoff Livingston

ECO-Info

Page 6 Providence Press

Highlights from Session Meeting - February 2017

ELDERS PRESENT: Purity Njagi, J Wright Witcher, Donna Mistr, Michael Wright, Joy Brown, Tom Koch, Mary Jo Zimbro, Carol Mason (clerk), Bill Sitterley (moderator) Rev. Sitterley opened the meeting with prayer and welcomed the new Session members, Purity Njagi and J Wright Witcher. He distributed information about Theo academy, a website that has resources for the training of elders. CLERK’S REPORT: • Toni Sanford wishes to remain on the Active Roll. The following people have been moved to the Inactive Roll:

Anne Engle, Betty Amrein, Charlotte and Lawrence Knoll, Hartley Shearman, James Flanigan, Max Robinson, Nicholas Murai, Regina Butler, and Susan Moseley

• John and Diane Graham have requested that their memberships be transferred to Slateville Presbyterian in Delta, PA.

• The annual reports for the General Assembly prepared by the clerk were shared with the Session. ANNUAL ELECTION OF CORPORATE OFFICERS: • Mary Jo Zimbro will serve as President of the Trustees, Purity Njagi as Vice-President, Donna Mistr as Secretary

of the Trustees, and J Wright Witcher as Treasurer. • Carol Mason was elected as Clerk of Session (even though she is not formally a member of Session). COMMITTEE REPORTS: • PNC has received and is now studying over 40 PIFs. • Mary Jo Zimbro is the chair of the Personnel Committee, which also includes Donna Mistr and J Wright Witcher.. PASTORAL CONSIDERATIONS: • There will be no Ash Wednesday service this year. Plans are being made for a Maundy Thursday service at 7 pm,

prior to choir rehearsal. • A book discussion group will be conducted during Lent. The book is Inhabiting Eden by Patricia Tull,(who will

also be in Baltimore for Earth Day weekend.) This book explores the relevance of Scriptures regarding today's ecological crisis. The series will begin March 8 at 6:30 for soup and bread, with discussion beginning at 7 pm. There will be a total of five sessions.

• Dr. Faheem Younus will be here on February 26th at 9:30 am to guide us in a dialogue as we explore practical ways to support our Muslim brothers and sisters.

• The Session will be reading the following book together, Changing the Conversation, by Anthony Robinson. We will discuss one chapter each month.

OTHER BUSINESS: • Michael and Joe Wright have volunteered to hang the liturgical banners. • Tom Koch has been asked to draft a written policy for approving those who might serve as counters on Sundays.

This will be reviewed and approved at our next Session meeting. Carol Mason

Stop to Smell the Flowers

Providence Press Page 7

MPC Finance and Administration Summary January-February 2017

♦ MPC has started the new year on a good track. Normal contributions of $16,518 lagged compared to Budget during the first two months of the year but were more than made up for by stock gifts totaling $7,355. Rental and other income are on track, and after our request for a review of 2016 insurance pre-miums, a billing error was discovered and MPC was refunded $716 (which counts as income in 2017!)

♦ Expenses during the first two months were mostly on or under budget, with one exception. The office laser printer (which was reconditioned to begin with) stopped working and was judged not repairable. This resulted in an unexpected expense of $716 to replace the printer (again, with a re-conditioned one).

♦ The 2016 year-end operating funds deficit has been cleared through transfers from New Covenant funds. 2017 Operating Funds Available through two months were ($140) as of February 28.

♦ The 2017 budget has been incorporated into QuickBooks to allow us to track our progress as the year progresses.

YTD 2/28/2017 Income and Expense, Balance Sheet and Fund Highlights

(Statements Available on Request) Operating Income: $ 45,662 Operating Expenses: $ 30,659 Net Income: $ 15,003 Operating Funds Available: $ (140) Reconciled PNC Balance: $ 62,428 ♦ Operating Funds Available (OFA) is our reconciled bank balance, minus payroll liabilities and the sum

of restricted fund balances. OFA reflects only current year operations. Any prior year losses are recov-ered through New Covenant transfers, thus zeroing out the losses and reducing the total value of New Covenant holdings of the church.

♦ **This balance reflects an end-of-year update to actual market value on December 31, 2016, and will be reduced by the amount of Endowment transfers in 2017. J. Wright Witcher

Restricted Fund Balances: Mission: $ 6,128 General: $ 11,551 Memorials: $ 44,637 Total Endowment: $ 359,892**

Go Orioles

Thursday Choir rehearsal 7:30 PM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Communion First Sunday of each month

April 2017 Sun 2 Theology and Coffee 9:30 AM; Worship 11:00 AM Wed 5 Soup and Supper 6:30; Lenten Study 7:00 PM Sun 9 Sojourner Sunday 9:30; Worship 11:00 AM Faith Journey 4:00 See page 2 Mon 10 Finance 6:30 PM Tue 11 Session 6:30 PM Thu 13 Maundy Thursday Worship 7:00 PM Fri 14 Good Friday Movie See p. 1 Sun 16 Easter Worship 11:00 AM Mon 17 Mission Action Group 7:00 Sun 23 Earth Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Sun 30 Worship 11:00 AM

Visit our website at www.mpchurch.org Facebook and Twitter

Mission: To be a welcoming, progressive faith community, nurturing inquisitive Christians for life and service in the twenty-first century.

Church Staff Rev. Bill Sitterley, Interim Minister Greg Metzler, Director of Music Anne E. Culbertson, Choir Section Leader John Wright, Choir Section, Leader Dale Salah, Administrative Director Kathy Ramirez, Custodian

MPC News Magazine Maryland Presbyterian Church 1105 Providence Road Towson, Maryland 21286

March 19th was Hunger Sunday See page 4

Above: J. Wright Witcher stirs the pasta.

Below: Letter-writers enjoying their spaghetti lunch, March 19.

Below: Mary Jo Zimbro writes her urgent letter to Congress.