Sparrows Canceled

Sparrows has been canceled for tomorrow. As soon as we know the rescheduled date, it will be posted.

CANCELED!

Everything is canceled for tonight. The sidewalks around the church are too treacherous even for center city folks to come.

A congregational meeting will be called for March 25 following the 11:00 service.

Please get the word out.

Study Leave

I leave tomorrow to begin a two-week study leave. Ginger and I are heading south for warmer weather. We will be staying with my brother in Columbia, SC. I will be working on a similar project that I did last year when I prepared the Speaking the Truth in Love series. Please pray for fruitful work and safe traveling.

Still check the blog, as several of the staff will continue to post church news. If you want something posted, send to one of the staff listed on the right hand column as contributors.

I will continue posting the devotionals on the "A Proverb a Day" site. I have taken a break from the proverbs and am posting devotionals about Christ's passion.

Should I Come?

Should I come tonight? We would like for as many to come as possible. However, we do not want to make you feel obligated to drive under what may be dangerous road conditions. But the food has already been ordered and good fellowship is always to be enjoyed whenever we can. We will still be giving all the planned reports and answering whatever questions may be raised.

Dessert

What about the Maranatha dessert fundraiser? We shall see. Whoever has baked desserts are welcomed to bring them. Otherwise, Maranatha will set up a table in Reception Hall Sunday between the services for purchases.

Webcast to the Rescue!

Tonight's meeting will be on webcast. We are having video difficulty because of malfunctioning cameras (to be corrected by Easter at the latest). We hope to have video, but at the least will have audio. You can listen live tonight or download later.

Here is the agenda:

Present highlights from Annual Report
Update reports from Commissions: Global Outreach, City Outreach, Kingdom Discipleship
Capital Planning Committee report and recommendation
Trustees recommendation

Childcare

Will childcare be provided? Yes. We are not requiring those who signed up to provide childcare to come in. We expect, however, to have enough individuals available to cover our needs.

Tonight's Update

Both the dinner and meeting are on for tonight. Again, though, we expect the meeting to be a forum.

Questions: Can I get my money back I paid for the dinner? Yes. Send an email to Pat Canavan. He has not deposited money yet for the dinner and can return your check or cash. (You are also welcome to contribute the money for the cost of the food. Either way, send an email to pcanavan@tenth.org.) We will not act without your consent.

What if I have not paid for the dinner yet? Do I owe? No. But if you would like to contribute, you may.

What if I have not paid for the dinner but would like to come and eat? Come on! But do expect to pay the cost of $8.

I have more to post by 1:00.

Tonight's Meeting

Due to weather conditions, we are not anticipating enough turnout at tonight's congregational meeting to make up a quorum.

We will still, however, have the dinner at 6:oo and a forum at 7:30 for those who can come in and enjoy the fellowship.

We will announce this Sunday a called meeting for the next Sunday, March 25, immediately following the 11:00 service.

I will have more to report later this morning. Check the blog around noon. And let others know to check it!

Live Your Calling Discovery Group

I don't much about this except that it is a support group for those who look for work or a job change.

Live Your Calling Discovery Group
Support, accountability, growth and action
Meeting in Horsham, Monday Evenings
Beginning March 19, 2007

We will use the book Live Your Calling, by Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck to explore topics such as:
Ø Your compelling interests, transferable skills, core work values and preferred roles
Ø Your preferences, as described by the Myers-Briggs Types Indicator
Ø Your desired work environment, as described by the Strong Interest Inventory (which you will take online)
Ø Making decisions within the will of God
Ø How to research career fields
Ø The most effective job search methods
Ø Overcoming obstacles to Living Your Calling

Who should attend? Men and Women who …
Þ are struggling with career decisions
Þ have been downsized from a company or position
Þ are considering a career or job change
Þ are re-entering the work force
Þ are completing college or graduate school

Details
Monday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm, beginning March 19 2007
Location: Channing Career Coaching (Pine Run Office Complex, Suite K, 301 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044)
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: $65 (plus cost of the book Live Your Calling by Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck)
To register or if you have further questions: contact Linda Channing at 215-370-7935 or Linda@channingcoaching.com
Space is limited, so registration in advance is required.

The Group Facilitator will be Linda Channing
Linda has over 13 years of experience in the employment industry. During this time she worked for an employment service, university, community run job search program, and operated her own business. Her experience includes working with teens, college students and adults. Linda is a licensed Who do you think you are? coach, and is qualified to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and the Strong Interest Inventory. She has an M.A. in Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary.

Discovering My Design

Bob Lang passed this on:

Discovering My Design
April 13 & 14, 2007
Biblical Theological Seminary
Hatfield, PA

Did you know …
God has designed you uniquely with specific gifts, abilities, interests and motivations.

This workshop…
will look at the idea of 'fit' between your design and your work or service opportunities.

If you're …
looking for a job or a place to serve, considering a vocational change, wondering if you're in the right roles, or interested in how to glorify God in your life, join others at this workshop.


Schedule Friday April 13 (7 - 9:30 PM)
Saturday, April 14 (8:30 AM - 4:00 PM)

Location Biblical Theological Seminary (200 North Main St., Hatfield, PA 19440)

Cost $89.00 (You may order a box lunch for Saturday for an additional $8.00)

Register by April 9, 2007: contact Linda Channing at 215-370-7935 or linda@channingcoaching.com

More information at www.biblical.edu after March 21

A WORK IN PROGRESS: Open Studios & Art Auction

Paul and Luella Tripp encourage you to attend the 2nd Annual A WORK IN PROGRESS: Open Studios & Art Auction, Friday, March 23, 2007, at the Church Studios at Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church, 22nd and Mt. Vernon Streets.

• Silent Auction of original works, affordably priced, as well as gift certificates to local cultural events
• Preview at 7:00
• Bidding from 7:30-9:30
• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres.
• Limited, free onsite parking
• Proceeds benefit the Church Studios and the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) The CCO partners with colleges, churches, and organizations to develop men and women who live out their Christian faith in every area of life.

Rooms Available

Are you interested in living in community with other Christian women? If so, we will have rooms available at our beautiful furnished town house that is within walking distance of the UPenn campus. The house is located at 332 South 43rd Street (corner of 43rd & Pine).

Monthly rent ranges from $357 - $421. Rooms will become available at the end of august. There will also be rooms to sublet during the summer. Utilities are approximately $50/month and include wireless high speed internet. There is also a coin-operated washer and dryer in the basement.

If you are interested, please contact Melanie Oudkerk at 267-475-0276 or by e-mail at oudkerk@temple.edu.

Apartment Needed

Students from UARTS seek apartment to rent for 2007-2008 school year—please contact Audrey by email twistaks@comcast.net.

Home Aide

Bryan Stoudt sent in the following.

I'm coming with a request from one of our neighbors. His mother, caring for her elderly aunt (she lives near Havertown), has recently become sick and can no longer handle that responsibility. He has run out of other options, and asked me if I knew of anyone. He is hoping to fill about 24 hours a week, spread out over four days. The pay would be about $10/hour, and the necessary tasks would be, primarily, simple things like sitting with his aunt and helping her get around the house. Cooking would be a bonus. If you know of someone who might be a good fit for this, or someone else with this sort of a connection, please let me know: stoudtb@gmail.com.

Dr. Mike

Michael Oh passed his PhD dissertation defense on Tuesday!

Register Now!

If you are attending the Sparrows breakfast Saturday morning, you need to pre-register. Contact Dori Baggs by Friday, March 16, at baggsend@juno.com.

Friday Night

We are busily getting ready for Friday's congregational meeting. This spring meeting will be different from previous ones which primarily were reports from the various church ministries.

I will be giving highlights of those ministries. There will also be individual reports from the three commissions - Kingdom Discipleship, City Outreach, and Global Outreach. The primary report will be that of the committee commissioned to study whether or not we should conduct a capital funds campaign. That committee's report can be read now online at the church website. You will see on the first page a link to download the information.

There will be two motions for the congregation to vote on. One recommends how to disperse the excess money in the Church Ministry Fund ($100,000). The other recommends the money necessary to carry out a detail study of possible projects for a capital spending fund.

The meeting begins at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary.

News from Biloxi too

Sue Hoyt and KimDengler both called in last night to give an update from Biloxi. They are working on a project involving laminate flooring in a home. It's been challenging, but they're still getting along! They are using their teamwork skills as they work with folks from New Jersey, Grand Rapids, and Boston. They hope to complete this project and begin another before the week's end. They also passed along greeting to Marty and Marlene, the couple at whose home Tenth folks had spent a good deal of time.

Pray for the ongoing work in Biloxi and the Gulf Coast--it's estimated that workers will be needed for another 5 years in that region.

Liberia update

Bruce sends the following report from Liberia:

Today is Decoration Day in Liberia, when everyone goes to their family member's grave to clean it, white wash it, and have time off. So today we went to visit the Rafiki Village with the Blands, Dr. Rick Sacra from the ELWA Hospital, and the two mothers from the orphan homes we have been helping. We were all very impressed with the construction being done. They will be beautiful buildings when they are done. You don't see that kind of construction elsewhere in Liberia. Then we toured the ELWA Hospital, a 55 bed hospital.

In a little while I will be going to a Liberia church by myself with our driver to preach. The pastor wants to affiliate with our work that Isaac Cooper is doing. On Sunday I will be preaching at Pastor Isaac Cooper's church at the inaugural service for the new church plant. This week they are finishing the renovations on the building that Tenth paid for doing.

Yesterday and the day before we were in orphan homes doing medical work, hearing their program for us and some of our team doing some teaching. I have made a number of purchases for important things that the homes need, such as a cooking pot (it had been stolen from the orphan home!), a coal pot for putting the charcoal fire in, lumber, rat glue, gasoline for generator, etc.

I have also been meeting with a number of people, including the director of the program that trains girls in tie-dye making. He also introduced me to a carpenter that can apprentice boys in carpentry. Last night a pastor and his family came to meet me concerning the radio broadcast of Every Last Word, which they enjoy so much and listen to faithfully. He is from Ghana and would like to have it expand to there.

We have been having good team devotions in the mornings before breakfast and encouraging sharing and giving of each person's testimony.

Please pray

Be in prayer for one of our global families (Names withheld for security concerns). This family of six planned to come to Philadelphia to begin a time of home assignment on Friday, but their youngest child became seriously ill this week. She is receiving excellent care, but she and her mom will need to stay behind while the father and sons travel to Philadelphia Friday. Please pray for improved health for the littlest one, for peace and calm for the parents during this difficult time, and for the whole family as they face separation, even if only for a short time. Pray that we would welcome them well upon their arrival.

Contact Christiana at cfitzpatrick at tenth.org for more information or if you are interested in providing meals for the family.

The Early Bird Gets the...Breakfast!

Just a reminder to all women, teens and girls 5 and older, that this Saturday, March 17th, is the annual Sparrows breakfast in FellowshipHall.

Our devotional speaker this year is Adriana Melendez and our craft teacher is Christine Listenberger. We will be making beaded bracelets. This year the breakfast will once again be prepared by TenthMen with the addition of a crew of Maranatha Mission Team teens. The cost of the breakfast is $3 for each individual and $5 per family. All donations raised above the actual food costs will be donated to the Maranatha Missions team. Come for a great breakfast, warm fellowship and an opportunity to support Maranatha!

Childcare for Congregational Meeting

The Congregational Meeting is this Friday evening, March 16. If you have not already registered your children for childcare during the meeting, please do by Wednesday (3/14).

Reading Material

There is a lot of material to be presented at Friday night's congregational meeting. To be prepared, click here or go to Tenth's website link to read or download the materials that present the two reports from the Capital Planning Committee. We hope to have the Annual Report posted at the site by Thursday.

And come to the meeting! It starts at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary.

Visitor from South Africa

Tenth missionary Michael Cassidy will be with us Tuesday. He’ll be providing devotions for our staff meeting and eating lunch with us, probably attending pastoral staff meeting as well. He’s on a US tour, visiting various churches and supporters of African Enterprise, before returning back to South Africa. To read a bit about him click here.

Michael is in Philadelphia just to spend the day with us, and we’re honored. He’ll be back in November as a speaker for our World Missions Conference.

Liberia Update

We arrived safely in Liberia and are doing well... The place we are staying is the Baptist compound, across the street from Charles Taylor's empty mansion/bunker. It is comfortable, with plenty of room for our team of eight.

The country is still very much in a very dilapidated condition, with one of the main brigdes in the city recently fallen in. On Saturday after seeing around the city, we bought a foot pump sewing machine and lumber, and in the evening constructed the first wooden bench for the children at the orphanage.

Today we went to a church with walls made of mats, a zinc roof, and a dirt floor. Rich Shoemaker taught adult Sunday school and Heidi and Andrew taught the kids. I preached on sanctification at the service. People came from 3 churches. We had wonderful time. Right after I finished preaching it poured raining very hard on the metal roof, making it very hard to hear anything else. I met with five pastors while other team members met with people interested in their area of expertise. After being there about 4 hours we looked at the church building being renovated by funding from Tenth. Some worked has been completed and they expect to have most of it finished by next Sunday. That day will be the first service of the new church plant with me preaching.

Tomorrow (Monday) we are going to Mother Comfort orphanage home to work all day with teaching, medical check ups, and possibly some construction type work. Tonight we were dividing up all of our materials we brought between the three homes.

We praise the Lord that we are all well and enjoying our time here. It is interesting to see each day new challenges. Keep praying for us.

Bruce McDowell

Church Recommendation

Andrea Mead has moved to Harrisburg and is asking for church recommendations. I've alerted her to the PCA church directory (click Presbyterian Church in America link, then the Church Directory link in upper right hand corner of that site), but do any of you have personal recommendations?

Liberia Orphanages

Marion,

I wonder if we could run a link to the Liberia video on your blog while folks are on their trip [to that country].

Phil

Consider it done. By the way, we have received word that the team arrived safely.