Welcome, Nathaniel!

Luke and Debra Herche just had their second son, Nathaniel John Herche at 1:11 pm Friday afternoon.

Visitors on Sunday

We have visitors to our church each Sunday, but this week, we're delighted to welcome some guests from the Middle East to our worship service. Here's a description of the Department of State program which brings these guests to Tenth this week:

The Islam: Scholarship and Practice in the United States program is a two-year, multi-phased project, comprised of two three-week U.S.-based programs for Muslim clerics and scholars from the Middle East, and one reciprocal exchange program to the region for American clerics and scholars. The program will culminate in May 2007 with American clerics and scholars traveling to Egypt, Syria and finally to Jordan where they will participate in a two-day seminar focused on the theme of “Islamic Scholarship and Practice in the 21st Century.”

In February, eight Muslim scholars and clerics from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria and their escort, Fr. Nabil Haddad of the Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Center, will travel to Washington, D.C.; Boston, Massachusetts; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In each city, AMIDEAST and its partners will arrange meetings, discussions, tours, and events to achieve the following program goals:

--Convey an understanding of the place of religion—particularly Islam—in American life;
--Broaden awareness of and appreciation for serious religious study in the U.S., especially the study of Islam; and
--Examine/discuss the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social/political structures, the benefits of mutually respectful coexistence, and Islamic practice in multicultural and multiethnic context

The International Visitors Council in Philadelphia is the group's host in Philadelphia.

Saving Lives

TE Jeff Hutchinson, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Asheville, N.C., is featured in a recent article in Time magazine. The article, “1 woman at a Time," details conversations over the last number of years that TE Hutchinson and others involved in a local crisis pregnancy center have had with members of the local abortion clinic. Read the entire article.

I should mention that Alpha Pregancy Services is raising funds now to purchase an ultrasound machine. Click here for their website.

A Musical Opportunity

MereBreath Drama has been unable to secure usage rights for the music they had hoped to use in their upcoming new production THE LOCKED DOOR. Thus we turn to this exceptional musical congregation with the opportunity to compose themes for the new production that are evocative of the music we cannot use.This opportunity for one or more requires the ability to compose, perform and record the music for our later editing into the production.If interested, please contact Director Bryan Glass at: mereBreath@aol.com

Sunday's Baptisms

The following children are being baptized Sunday:

At the 9:00 am service:
Elise Kristine Lengkeek, born September 22, 2006, daughter of Steven and Karen Lengkeek
Caleigh Grace Schantz, born March 7, 2006, daughter of Daniel and Lori Schantz
Clement Qi Sheng Wong, born January 1, 2007, son of Moses and Eunice Wong

At the 11:00 service:\
Hanniel Zion Bombaro, born March 20, 2006, son of Danny and Attee Bombaro
Emiola Adesuwa Adeola Enakhimion, born August 14, 2006, daughter of Yahaya and Abike
Enakhimion
Lily Patience, born May 17, 2006, daughter of Jamin and Angie Ferner

Tomorrow's Conference

Tara Barthel, the speaker for the TW Conference tomorrow, has arrived and is speaking at Westminster's chapel today followed by an open forum with students.

195 persons have registered for the conference. Last year 25% of the total registered at the door; so a good turnout is expected.

The conference will run from 9:30-4:00 pm. You can register at the door starting at 9:00 AM. It will make things go more smoothly if you have already filled out a registration form before arriving. You can get one at http://www.tenth.org/index.php?id=127

Betty Koop Tribute

Dear Friends:

Betty’s memorial service will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 10 at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, 36 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT (directions at <www.fccw.net). Many friends have expressed vivid and wonderful memories of Betty, stories I would like to preserve for current and future generations of Koops. We are collecting stories, thoughts, etc. about Betty together in an album which will be a testament to the extraordinary woman she was. If you would like to share a remembrance of Betty in the next couple of weeks, please send an e-mail to marybethalbright@aol.com or mail to C. Everett Koop Institute, 7025 Strasenburgh, Hanover, NH 03755 and we will include them in the album. There will also be an opportunity to write stories in the album at the memorial service.

For those of you who have inquired, it was Betty's wish that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock. Checks may be made payable to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock 36 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091 - Memo: Missions.

C. Everett Koop, MD, ScD

Tonight's Concert

Tonight at 7:30 is the duo piano recital of Sam Hsu and Paul Jones. Watch mentor and student perform works of Mozart, Milhaud, Rachmaninoff, and Philadelphia composer Daniel Barta. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the Boice Scholarship Fund for City Center Academy.

Byfaith

Byfaithonline – The Web Magazine of the PCA
Make sure to visit www.byfaithonline.com regularly to read articles and news for and about the PCA. To subscribe to the print edition of the Byfaith magazine go to https://giving.christianity.com/donatenow/pca/offers.php.

2007 Women in the Church Leadership Conference

The 2007 Women in the Church Leadership Conference will be held April 20-22, 2007 in Atlanta, Ga., and will join the PCA Mercy Conference (as was done in 2001 and 2003). Not only will those attending the women's leadership conference benefit from the speakers and workshops related to mercy ministry but they will also receive several "extras" including special workshops on extending the kingdom to the postmodern woman and to the next generation, as well as extending the kingdom in the workplace and through hospitality. Participants will also be treated to a special banquet on Friday night. Go to http://www.pcacep.org/wic/leadership07.htm for more information.

2007 Mercy Ministry Conference

from byfaith online:

Christian Education and Publications and Mission to North America are sponsoring the 2007 Mercy Ministry Conference April 20-22, 2007 in Atlanta, Ga., with the theme "Enriching the Kingdom: People Hurt, God Calls, Church Responds." The conference will be held in conjunction with the Women In the Church Leadership Training conference.

Speakers include: TE Phil Ryken, pastor of Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia, Penn.; Diane Langberg, a practicing psychologist from Philadelphia; TE Randy Nabors, pastor of New City Fellowship in Chattanooga, Tenn.; and March and Mariam Bell. March is the Senior Trafficking Counselor for the U.S. Department of Justice and Mariam is the Director of Public Policy for the Wilberforce Forum, a division of Prison Fellowship.

Workshop topics will include: Poised to Respond to Disaster Relief, Ministering to Special Needs Families, Diaconal Leadership in Mercy Ministries, ABCs of Community Ministry, Mobilizing Deacons, and Comfort for the Grieving. For more information, go to http://www.pcacep.org/mercy.

Exam Passed

At last night's Philadelphia Presbytery meeting Paul Tripp was approved to be received as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. He will be installed March 4 during the morning worship services 9:00 and 11:00. Paul's official title at Tenth will be Assistant Minister to Center City.

Let's See...Doobie Brothers or Dr. Ryken?

An email sent to Lisa Ryken:

Tell your husband that he is on my iPOD between the Doobie Brothers and Duran Duran (he's in the Ds --Dr. Philip Ryken)-I've been listening to his Window on the World talks-they're great.

Duo Piano Recital

Sam Hsu and Paul Jones will be giving a duo (or is it dueling?) piano recital this Friday night at 7:30 pm. They will feature music for two pianos by Mozart, Milhaud, Rachmaninoff, and Philadelphia composer Daniel Barta. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the Boice Scholarship Fund for City Center Academy.

This recital is part of the Tenth Concert Series and is another excellent opportunity for inviting your friends and neighbors to the church.

TW Conference

What are you doing Saturday?

How about coming to the TenthWomen Conference, "Living the Gospel in Relationships"?

Why?

1. Learn about biblical ways to respond to unavoidable conflict in life
2. Be reminded about the magnificant grace we receive in Christ
3. Enjoy singing with over 200 women! (It sounds heavenly!)
4. Fellowship with old and new friends
5. Meet sisters in Christ from all over (We have women coming from Staten Island, Harrisburg, Grove City PA, Newark DE, northern NJ)
6. Just have fun!

Still not convinced? Then take a listen to a 15 minute interview with our speaker Tara Barthel at http://www.tenth.org/index.php?id=127 One woman registering on Sunday told me that she wasn't planning on coming, but after she listened to Tara, she said she absolutely had to be there. This woman had her mother and a friend listen to Tara, and they changed their plans to come too.

You can register at the door starting at 9:00 AM. It will make things go more smoothly if you have already filled out a registration form before arriving. You can get one at http://www.tenth.org/index.php?id=127

This event is getting so popular, I had to turn down a request from a man who wanted to come! But all ladies are welcome (high school and up).

Jessie Bible

Installing Paul Tripp

Philadelphia Presbytery meets tonight to examine Paul Tripp and approve Tenth's call to him as Assistant Minister to Center City. Assuming all goes well, he will then be installed March 4 during the morning services. Paul will also speak at the morning and evening services that Sunday which will in effect this year will be a one-day Urban Missions Conference.

His sermon messages and texts are:

(for the morning) Urban Renewal, Revelation 21:1-8
(for the evening) Urban Blight, Revelation 18:1-19:5

There will be a free luncheon following the 11 am service, but you must register to attend because of limited space. To do so, contact Anne Davies at adavies@tenth.org or 215.735.7688x243.

The Three Commissions

The second meeting of the three commissions was held last night, the third Tuesday of the month. The Trustees also meet the same night, though they had a night off this month. Here is a brief report:

Kingdom Discipleship: They are developing a group of TCAs (Tenth Community Assistants) who will help assure that everyone has access to pastoral care and do not get forgotten in our large congregation. A fuller description is being prepared, but for now four TCAs have been appointed to meet the latest new members and help them get assimilated into the church.

Two other important appointments were made to relieve the Diaconate of two duties - Greeting and Coffee Hour. Ginger Clark and Joyce Ostertag will oversee these responsibilities respectively with the goal of July 1 as the start date for diaconal relief. This is the first stage of providing support for the Diaconate in order to free them up more for mercy ministry in the parishes.

City Outreach: Paul Tripp presented to the commission the plans being formulated for Center City Ministry (CCM). The midweek service (start date not determined) is to be seen in the context of the larger CCM. A working definition of the ministry is "building a comprehensive ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that brings a kingdom presence to every level of the culture of Center City and transforms both people and culture for Christ." Paul is working closely with Jonathan Olsen in this present stage of development.

World Missions: The commission has settled on four projects for the Easter Sacrificial Offering. I think the proposal is to be submitted to the Session next week and so will wait until after that to announce them. The commission is also discussing the idea of local short-term mission projects that will interlink the interests of all three commission areas of kingdom discipleship, outreach to the city, and world missions.

Bob Jones gave a presentation to all the commissions of enhancing church-wide communications. Representatives from each commission will meet to discuss his ideas.

Clive Stockdale, chairman of the Trustees, reported on the process of restructuring the church budget reports to reflect the new mission statement.

Welcome, Howard

Rejoice with Kim and Beth Nichols at the safe birth of Howard Nathaniel, born February 18, 2007. Beth’s parents are Tenth members Carl and Joan Lingle.

Free Ride

Joe Brydges sent in info that rides on the Septa Market Street El will be free March 4 from Noon-5:00 pm in celebration of the El's centennial anniversary.

Sunrise Speaker

I've just recruited Aaron Messner to preach at the Easter Sunrise Service, April 8 in Rittenhouse Square.

Betty Koop

Dear Friends:

My wife and partner of 68 years died quietly after a very long and difficultillness on Sunday, February 18. Some of you have already heard the news and have inquired about sending flowers. It was Betty's wish that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock. Checks may be made payable to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock 36 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091 - memo: Missions.

Although it is a grievous time, there is a sense of relief and release aftera time of great suffering.

C. Everett Koop

A memorial service for Elizabeth (Betty) Koop, will be held at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, 36 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT, on Saturday March 10 probably at10:00 AM

Susan A. Wills
Executive Assistant to the Senior Scholar
C. Everett Koop, MD, ScDC.
Everett Koop Institute
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Medical School
7025 StrasenburghHanover, NH 03755
Phone: (603) 650-1450
Fax: (603) 650-1452
Susan: (603) 650-1448

Sermon Posted

My sermon from Sunday evening is posted at DMC Messages.