Saturday, January 05, 2008

Facebookers...

Check out the group "Boice Rocks My Theological World"!

Friday, January 04, 2008

Losing a Baby

(From the reformation21 blogsite. This is a posting from Rick Phillips.)

Last month, my wife and I experienced a loss that many others have endured. In the eleventh week of her pregnancy, our little baby died. It was our sixth pregnancy and first lost child. And it deeply grieved our hearts.

The process of grief for this loss has been both difficult and insightful. With the latter in mind, I thought I would share some of the things we have experienced, with the aim of helping others and those who minister to them. More...

Prayer Request

From Becky Holloway:

"I have a childhood friend from back in my homeschooling days who needs your prayers right now. Tricia has cystic fibrosis and while waiting for a double lung transplant discovered that she and her husband were expecting their first child. Given her CF, pregnancy carries enormous risks to her and the baby. She is currently in the hospital in very serious condition awaiting the recommendation of her doctors about delivering the baby very soon by C-section. Praise God, their little baby girl has reached 24 weeks, the age of viability. Nevertheless, the situation is dire. Tricia's husband Nathan keeps a very up-to-date blog. Here are a few of the things that they ask you to pray for:

for Tricia
- mucus that seems stuck to come up more easily
- strength, still real weak
- O2 needs to go down
- infection to go away
- insulin levels stay where they need to begin weight
- get more sleep
- that lungs aren't further damaged as time goes on
- that my body will be strong enough for a surgery when the baby is delivered
- no complications as a result from surgery.
for the baby
- meeting taking place tomorrow at 8am by many important doctors looking out on behalf of Tricia and the baby and coming up with a plan
- steroid shot given to baby tomorrow, that they work effectively on helping baby be prepared for delivery
- baby to gain and grow properly
- baby not to be harmed while I am receiving these antibiotics
- making decisions about timing of delivery

Despite the years since Tricia and I have been in touch, I was able to find out about her situation through the networking reach of Facebook. I believe in the strong power of prayer, and whoever of my readers I can reach through this blog, I implore you to join us in praying for God's grace and mercy on Tricia, Nathan, and their baby. Thank you."

Welcome, Nicholas!

Aaron and Shaun Snethen are pleased to announce the birth of Nicholas Dante, born January 3. Aaron writes:

The baby and Shaun are doing well. Nicholas Dante was born by emergency c-section at 5:01 yesterday afternoon, 1/3. He was 4lbs, 5 oz at birth, and 16 3/4 inches long. He joined us almost 6 weeks early, but his breathing is good and he has already had his first meal. We are optimistic that he will be able to come home soon, within a week or two. Shaun is doing well, with very little pain and she is in good spirits. Thanks to all for your prayers!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

McDowell Report

Susan McDowell sends this report on Bruce, Brooke, and Abby:

Bruce and the girls left w/o any problems this morning. They stay overnight with an MTW worker before flying to Santa Marta (Colombia) to stay with Jaime Leal and family. He will be teaching all day on Saturday (9am to 5pm) and then preaching the next morning.

Festival of Carols Report

I was unaware of this video report of our Festival of Carols shown at WCAU. Check it out here.

Bethany Christian Services positions open

See posting on board at Tenth or scroll through jobs on Bethany's website for local or other options.

Part-time music position available

Russell Byers Charter School (K-6) in Center City is seeking a part-time music teacher beginning in February. Please contact Sharon Golding at sharonbgolding@yahoo.com or 610.639.0260 for more details.

Of Inserts

I found bulletin inserts on my desk this morning to be reviewed. They are:

Bridge-Builders' luncheon topics:
1/20 - Motivation (Nick Batzig teaching)
2/17 - What Drives Us (I am teaching)
3/16 - Discernment
4/20 - Self-Control
5/18 - Commitment

Deaf Ministry:
Offering American Sign Language Classes Sunday afternoons from February 3-March 9 on conversation, songs and Bible vocabulary. (By the way, I am surprised that we have yet to attract an audience of deaf worshippers to our evening services. Get the word out as you can. We offer sign language only for the evening service.)

Sparrows:
It's next gathering is January 26, 1-3pm. This ministry was featured in the most recent issue of our denominational magazine.

Campaign Update

Note on your calendars that January 27 is the date presently planned for the congregational meeting in which we will vote on whether or not to proceed with the capital campaign. We are likely to have a forum the Sunday before. These dates will be confirmed (or changed) this weekend at the elders' retreat. It will be at that retreat that the motion to go before the congregation will be finalized. The last inserts in the series about the campaign projects will appear in this Sunday's bulletin.

Next week I will have more information for you.

CCA Back

CCA students are back! It is good to see school back in session. Pray for all the city students returning to school.

Cold Travels

It is a little cold out there this morning. I was up at 5:00 to take Sarah to the airport. She will catch up with her sister Jean and her husband, then head to Pagosa Springs, Colorado for snowboarding. If I get on a plane in this kind of weather, I'm heading to Florida!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Remembered

The text of my sermon from Sunday is now posted at DMC Messages. I did not forget to post "I Forgot."

Free Pianos

I don't know if they are still available but this email came in from Gerald Carter:

I have 2 used pianos to give away freely to anyone interested; one is a Hallet Davis console, and the other is a Kimball spinet. These pianos could be used for practice for new students, or rehearsal for choirs, musicians, etc.. All the keys work and play. I need to get rid of them preferably by Wednesday, January 2, 2008 to make room for a new tenant. They are located at 1733 Manton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146. Please call me at 215-455-4328 if you, or someone you know wants one or both of them. You will need to supply your own movers with a truck. TP Moving and Hauling (215-548-1784), and Fox Piano Movers (215-592-8411) are movers I have used in the past.

Elders' Retreat

I am preparing today for the elders' retreat this weekend. Each year the new session meets for fellowship and planning. Friday night, the wives join us for a dinner. We are trying out The View, the banquet room run by People for People. It is an organization of Greater Exodus Church on Broad and Fairmount. The room is at the top of an eight floor building. If you are looking for banquet facilities, you should check it out. They have a free parking lot!

Then Saturday morning is devoted to prayer, planning, and training. Hugh and Betty Taylor are hosting us. Please pray for our time.

Traveling On

Our new year finds two pastoral staff gone:

Jerry McFarland moves to Cary, North Carolina to serve at Peace Presbyterian Church.

Cora Hogue is on sabbatical until Easter. She is in route to Cambodia.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all the Tenth family, whether you are here in Philadelphia and somewhere the other side of the world. We do not know what this year will bring. What we do know is that we have the same God as yesterday and will be tomorrow; that he will keep all his promises; that he will do what is for our good; and that he will carry on the good work that will someday be completed in us.