Puerto Rican Parade Sunday

The Puerto Rican Day parade is Sunday. The parade begins at noon and goes till 4:00. The route covers JFK Blvd, 16th Street, and the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Invitation to a Celebration!

Christ Redemption Fellowship are celebrating on Sunday October 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm and you are invited to join them! Christ Liberation Fellowship of Overbrook and Redemption Fellowship of East Delaware County have come together to create a multi-ethnic church. Pastors Lance Lewis and Dave Baggett invite you to their new location (Township Line and Edmonds Avenue, Havertown, PA) for an evening of celebration for God's goodness in leading them to this new union.

Googling Edgar

I confess I google people. You find out all sorts of interesting things. Take for instance the speaker at our upcoming vocational conference, Bill Edgar. Did you know he performs jazz piano, speaks for the Veritas Forum, and teaches apologetics at Westminster? He's going to speak to us on "Your Calling: It All Counts," but due to the wonders of the web, you can also hear his thoughts on business ethics, technology and the human person, and a biblical theology of entertainment.

Register for the October 14 Vocational kick-off online or tomorrow at the table in Reception Hall.

Apartment Available

A large, one-bedroom, first floor apartment is available in South Philadelphia. It has access to a backyard garden. The apartment includes a living room/dining room, bedroom, study, bathroom, kitchen and a basement laundry. It is mostly furnished. Rent is $825 per month plus electric. For more information, please call 215.271.0214.

Daytime Tenth Women's Bible Study

A new women's Bible study is starting on Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 AM in Havertown. The first meeting will be October 6. The group will be studying the book of John using Kathleen Nielson's study guide. Children are welcome, but there is no childcare available.  If you are a woman and want a time of study, prayer and fellowship, this is a good way to start the day on Thursdays. Contact Linda Schmucker for more information.

Mahler and Shafer

There is an all-Mahler Curtis on Tour concert tomorrow night at St. Mark's Church (between 16th and 17th, and Locust) at 8:00. The program is his Quartet in A minor, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (for baritone and chamber orchestra), and Mahler Symphony No. 4 (which Sarah Shafer is singing). Admission is free.

User-friendly ACTS

ACTS Ministries just unveiled a user-friendly website designed for iPhones and Droids. Go to http://www.compassion.tenth.org for daily posts and FAQ about mercy and compassion ministry.

Forever

I thought it would take forever, but it finally arrived - on the bookshelves. It is the book by Paul Tripp that I have been most anticipating, as it addresses the audience of our neighbors whom we have been trying to reach, as well as ourselves. The book is Forever, published by Zondervan. Here is an excerpt from the foreword.
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Almost Reverend

Moses Wong passed his ordination examination on the floor of presbytery last night. The way is clear now for his actual ordination this coming Sunday evening. Liam will preach on 2 Timothy 1:13-2:7, "A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ." Bruce will give the charge to the minister and Carroll will have the prayer of the laying on of hands. A reception will follow afterward which coincides with the Music@the Gates fellowship time.

Grace Church Concert

On October 17 at 7:00 PM, Grace Church of Philly will be hosting a concert by Matthew Smith, a founding member of the musical community, Indelible Grace. The concert will be free, though donations will be accepted to cover costs. For more information see the Facebook event.

Global Outreach luncheon this Sunday

Around the World in 80 Minutes will meet this Sunday, September 25, 12:40–2:00 pm in Fellowship Hall (suggested donation for lunch: $4/individual, $10/family). John and Jessica, who served for two years at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya and will next be serving in Burundi, Africa, will share with us.

The Joy of Service

This summer-without-a-kitchen has truly presented a challenge for the ACTS Community Dinner and Fellowship Bible Study staff. But their delight in serving others has not been deterred by the inconveniences. "We serve the Lord regardless," they say. Thanks to Mike Waltz who coordinates the FBS meal prep and Vivian Dow and Gary Zatkins, the Community Dinners.

Parish 4 is hosting the Golighers

Parish 4 is hosting the Golighers at dessert reception on Monday, October 10, 7:00 pm, at the Milbourne home. RSVP to Rita or Steve.

Conference for Preachers and Bible Teachers

Grace Church of Greenwich would like to invite you to: 
What: Conference for Preachers and Bible teachers on the life of David–David: God's Flawed but Faithful Servant 
When: Wednesday, October 19th, 9 a.m.–3:15 p.m.
Where: The Woman's Club of Greenwich, 89 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 
Cost: $15 before September 26th ($25 thereafter) Lunch is included
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Bethany Banquet

The Bethany Christian Services annual fund raising banquet is October 15, beginning at 6:00 P.M., at the Crowne Plaza in King of Prussia. See video clips about five children who Bethany is trying to place NOW, hear from four families who made the decision to adopt, and adopt again, and meet the 20 children of their combined families. Please come to learn about the need, pray, and support this ministry that places about 100 children a year locally. For more information, contact Pamela Monachello at 215-376-6103 or pmonachello@bethany.org.

Register the old fashioned way

If you have tried registering for our amazing, exciting, October 14 kick off to Tenth's new vocational ministry and have had difficulty doing it online, we have good news: Sunday you can register the old fashioned way by paper and pen. Just look for the table in Reception Hall.

And why wouldn't you register? You don't want to miss the opportunity to connect with other believers in your field of work and to think together about how to help one another connect Christ, culture, and calling.

Music Delight

Paul Jones must be thinking how to make this Sunday my special day. He has David Tahere singing George Herbert's "Come My Way, My Truth, My Life," in the morning prelude. That was sung at mine and Ginger's wedding. In the evening he has Ruth Naomi Floyd and Sondra Payne singing for the Soli Deo Gloria. 

Bridge-Builders update

Elder George MacFarland kicked off this year's Bridge-Builders luncheon series, speaking on "Love is Patient and Kind" (1 Cor. 13). Joe Welch and Linda Barbour provide leadership for this relational ministry. The food prep team consists of Gary Zatkins, Dave Estebrook, Tana Mayfield, and Jennifer Beauford.

Roommate Wanted for Center City Apartment

A large bedroom in a beautiful 2 bedroom Center City apartment is available
immediately. Roommate is a working professional woman involved in the music
ministry at Tenth. The two-story unit is located on the 2100 block of Pine
Street, a very quiet, tree-lined block and close to Rittenhouse and Fitler
Squares, the Schuylkill River Park, and University City.

Features include:
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Flood Disaster Recovery Center

Thanks to Clark McCutcheon for sending this in.

A flood disaster recovery center is now open in center city at 115 S. 15th St. Applications for flood relief aid in the form of low interest loans or grants in aid can be submitted for damage that occurred between the dates of August 26 and 30. Hours are 10:AM to 7:PM daily. The Montgomery Co. office will open tomorrow, Sept. 2l, at 1175 Conshohocken Rd., Plymouth Twp. - same hours. Applications can be made at the centers, which will be staffed by federal (FEMA) and state agencies. Or families and individuals can go online at www.disaster assistance.gov or m.fema.gov or calls can be made to 1-800-621-FEMA. FEMA is an acronym for Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Room Needed for Bible Study

The Bible Study I lead at the Youth Study Center (juvenile jail) had lost its meeting room Wednesdays at 12:30. Give thanks for good weather as we've met outdoors recently. Pray that the administration will provide for this need.

New Director

We have been falsely advertising that Jeff Jue is serving on staff as the Director of Vocational Ministry. He's not. Not until October 1. We had thought it would be in September but contract negotiations broke down. Jeff wanted a signing bonus and no-trade contract, plus Westminster Seminary wanted us to commit a part-time staff person in exchange for Jeff serving at Tenth. But Ruben Amaro of the Phillies gave me tips on what to do, and we have Jeff landed in time for the playoffs.

Jeff will be serving part-time as the Director of Vocational Ministry. He is excited about providing  resources and support (including through the internet) to "equip, connect, and mobilize members and friends of Tenth in their professions and industries to integrate a Christian worldview, which will impact the workplace for evangelism and the cultivation of the common good."

Check the September 16 posting, "Just Four Weeks Away," to see the first initiative that he will be leading.

Maranatha

"So," you ask, "now that Jonny is gone, who's leading Maranatha?" I'm glad you asked that question. Dora McFarland, who served with Jonny last year on a part-time basis, is now the full-time director. Serving with her, as he did last year, is Ben Fallon, whose internship has been beefed up so he can serve more hours. These two did all the real work last year. Jonny was just the pretty face for marketing purposes. Speaking of pretty faces, Pat Canavan, will provide oversight and support for Dora and Ben.

Intern Staff

I think of September as the beginning of the church year, as it is the time of kicking-off and re-kicking off ministries, including new internships. Our interns for the 2011-2012 year are:
1. John Sullivan - returning for a second year, primarily serving in college ministry and specifically serving students at the University of the Arts
2. Andrew Tucker - first internship, though he has been actively engaged already in college ministry; he will also continue in college work, specifically serving students at Penn and Drexel
3. John Canavan - a son of the church, also in college ministry, serving students at Temple
4. Enrique Leal - entering his second year as an intern with Tenth International Fellowship
5. Ben Fallon - also his second year serving Maranatha
6. Chris O'Brien - serving a parish ministry internship in Parish 2 and also spearheading ministry to members living with chronic pain/illness

Room wanted January to August 2012

A member of Wheatland PCA in Lancaster PA will be moving to Philadelphia around the middle or end of December to study massage therapy and is looking for a place to live while in school. The course is 9 months from January to the end of August. I would prefer to rent a room from a Christian family although if there is someone (female, obviously) looking for a roomate I would be interested in that as well.


If anyone is interested please contact me.

Old School, New Clothes

Tenth member Ron Hoch and David Smith, who left Tenth last year to pastor a church in North Carolina, have published a book on Christian education - Old School, New Clothes. The publicity material introduces the book this way: Is much of Christian education in America distinctly Christian? Ron Hoch and David Smith say, "No." Instead it is guilty of having adopted an ideology and methodology that strips it of the right to call itself Christian and the ability to fulfill a truly Christian mission.
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Sending Forth

Yesterday I attended Epiphany Fellowship in north Philadelphia to take part in the commissioning  of Doug Logan as church planter of Epiphany Fellowship in Camden. This is a joint effort of Epiphany and Tenth. Tenth members Ernest and Sarah Grant are also a part of this work. Ernest is serving as my counterpart for the new church work. Here is the text of a resolution from Tenth that was read in the service.

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Donald Kittrell

It was a blessing to attend the funeral of Rev. Donald Ray Kittrell, friend of Tenth member Wally Jones. Pastor Kittrell pastored the Church of Christ in Southwest Philadelphia for 45 years. His obituary mentioned some highlights, but I can't think of a greater highlight than the 45 years of faithful service to one congregation.

Missy Needs You!

From Missy Strong, our Director of Music Education:

As I close in on (finally) finishing my doctorate, I am excited to enter the research phase and I could use help. The focus of my study is on parents, especially those who don’t necessarily feel very musical, and their music-making practices at home with their young children. I am looking for participants who have at least one child 4 years old or younger and who don’t have a music degree. There is no cost to participate and at the end of the study I am offering a free music workshop for all interested participants. If you want to find out more, or you know someone who might benefit from something like this, please check out my study website or you can email me with any questions. Thank you so much!!