MTW Publications

There are publications, both paper and electronic that PCA agencies produce about their ministries for free or suggested small donations.

Check out the MTW website for InVision e-newsletter and Network, the magazine. You will see links on the lower left side of the page.

The Irish are Coming!

The Irish arrive today. Young people from Northern Ireland are coming in to celebrate the Celtics victory...no, just kidding. They are coming to help with the summer camp for Spruce Hill this week. Look for them this Sunday.

Final GA Report

For an official report of General Assembly from the office of the Stated Clerk click here.

Global Outreach Lunch

Don't miss the chance to hear an update from our partners visiting from North Africa or the opportunity to meet Sultan from Kyrgyzstan. Join us at 1 p.m in Fellowship Hall for our monthly Global Outreach lunch. Lunch is just $10 for a family or $4 for an individual.

If you can't stay for lunch, you can hear a brief report from Sultan at the TIF service at 11 a.m. For the past four years, Tenth has supported him as he attended Lithuania Christian University in preparation for ministry in his own country. Presently he is in the U.S. for a two week financial training program for people from the developing world.

Jackie Maddox

Congratulations to Jackie Maddox, Tenth member and on the sexton staff. She graduates tomorrow from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. She is a member of the National Honor Society and will be attending the University of the Arts.

By the way, I'd love to post more announcements about our graduates. Send them in to me at mclark@tenth.org.

Nurse Sarah

My daughter Sarah passed her nursing exams. She is now a registered nurse!

Apple in Georgia

David Apple takes off today for Brunswick, GA. He will be consulting with Redeemer Presbyterian Church down there on setting up a mercy ministry in their community. This is but one example of invitations David receives from churches requesting help in this area.

Triathlon Sunday

Ironman Paul Reimold sent this notice in:

The Philadelphia Triathlon is being held this weekend in Fairmount Park. It's actually 2 events: the Sprint distance race is on Saturday and the Olympic distance is on Sunday. The Olympic race is one of the most popular triathlons on the East Coast; over 1500 athletes will be competing: men and women ranging in age from their teens to their seventies. Registration for this year's event sold out by early January.

At 6:45 AM, the first wave of swimmers will plunge into the Schuylkill River for the 1.5 kilometre swim. Starting at the St. Joe's Boat House on the east bank, they will swim underneath the Columbia Avenue Bridge and exit the water on the west bank near Memorial Hall. Next up is the 40 km bike ride that includes 2 ascents of Lemon Hill near the Art Museum. Mercifully, the bike course leaves out the Manayunk Wall. Final leg is a 10K run along West River (MLK) Drive.

For a map of the course, click on http://www.phillytri.com/course.html. On Sunday, both River Drives as well as adjoining roads will be closed for the bike segment; it is advisable to avoid travel through Fairmount Park and the area near the Art Museum.

Fairmount Park is a wonderful venue for the triathlon; such an event really showcases the city of Philadelphia. (Granted, some may question the sanity of those (such as Paul Reimold) who swim in the Schuylkill River.)

New Dean

Greg Hobaugh has been appointed the new Dean of Students for Westminster Theological Seminary. Greg is a minister in the Philadelphia Presbytery, presently serving as an Assistant Minister at Chinese Christian Church and Center. If you come to the evening services, you might recognize him and his family, as they regularly attend those services. Greg also serves as the Stated Clerk of presbytery. Perhaps the highest distinction I can give to him is that I cannot beat him in ping pong...not yet.

CCEF Announces 2008 Annual Conference

The Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) has announced its 2008 Annual Conference—The Addict in Us All. For more information visit the CCEF website.

WOW Help

If you're like me, about now you've realized you have no idea where you put that handout on how your child can earn passport stamps for W.O.W. Don't despair! Everything you need is posted here on the church's web page. Hyperlinks will take you to other pages to help with the projects.

Remember each stamp will earn $1 to help Hogar La Providencia, the home for Chimila Indian children in Santa Marta, Colombia. You can read about the project here.

Back at Tenth

Well it is nice to return to the church and not find the staff in chaos. In fact, it is very quiet around here, real quiet. Wait a minute. What's this piece of paper on my desk? Gone to the shore!

Maranatha still needs your help for our upcoming missions trips.

We are seeking donations for our meals so that we can keep our own expenses at a minimum and allocate funds directly for work with kids and the various ministries we are partnering with. This is a vital way in which you can partner with us...as individuals, families, small groups, even parishes! It's not too late to donate food (cereal, chips, cookies, snacks, juice boxes) you can just drop donations in at the church, our first team starts this Sunday June 22. Also we still have dinners and lunches at both Spruce Hill and Camden, for which we need help. To find out what we still need you can contact Jonny Mcgreevy or Susana Hormann.

Returning Home

Ginger and I are sitting in the Houston (Hobby) airport waiting for our 4:00 CST flight. We've had a nice visit with Jean and Lucas. Had a really good Father's Day, though both Jean and Lucas were ruthless in putt-putt. I finished a distant third. They introduced us to Wii sports. I'm not too bad in golf, I might say, but Ginger and I learned not to be on the same racetrack with them. And definitely don't get in the same boxing ring with Jean!

My moment of glory was at the ping pong table (a real one) and coming from behind in three games to claim victory over Lucas.

Final GA Report

Here is the final posting from byFaith about General Assembly. It gives a synopsis of the deaconess overture debate. If you are wondering the impact on Tenth, there is little. The issues had more to do within the Philadelphia Presbytery. Even then, the primary impact is that the presbytery will have to deal with its issues without a GA study committee.

CC needed for SN

Tenth Special Needs Ministry needs childcare helpers for thirty minutes during Sunday’s (6/22) Celebration Luncheon. Helpers are invited to join us for lunch at 12:45pm in the catacombs and then help provide childcare from 1:30-2:00. To register contact Kristen Harnly, kharnly@msn.com.

Do you have the gift of encouragement?

Become a “Friend of the Special Needs Ministry.” You are invited to attend a Celebration Luncheon, Sunday, June 22, 12:45pm, in the Catacombs. A mix of forty (families and helpers) have already signed up. To register email Joyce Ostertag, JOstertag@msn.com. Special needs includes autism, severe food and other allergies, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, speech problems, mental retardation, physical disabilities, hearing and visual impairment, brain trauma, giftedness, chronic illness and pain, and more.

Thanks for patience

Ava Bremneman called to express appreciation for many who have displayed the love of Christ in the church. Her exact words were "Just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and for those who reached out to me during a very difficult time when I was distressed. I'm just very thankful they were patient with me when I was grumbling, grumbling, grumbling, grumbling."

Let's celebrate our God's goodness!