Tax Assessment Forum

CCRA (Center City Residents' Association) is holding a forum on the new real estate tax assessments this coming Wednesday evening, 7:00, at the Ethical Society.

Shepherding at home

Rev. Tim Witmer, pastor of Crossroads PCA in Upper Darby, has a new book: The Shepherd Leader at Home. See an interview with the author here.

"If you use dope, you'll die." -- Neighborhood Crusades

March 2 Urban Ministry Conference, Tenth Presbyterian Church. Workshop #4 features Daniel Sawyer from Neighborhood Crusades (the ministry van with the coffin on top). See their website here. For more info and registration, go to umc.tenth.org.

Special Sunday

This Sunday is significant for two daughter churches.


Epiphany will be celebrating their first anniversary of worshiping as a congregation. They will also be ordaining elders and deacons. Check out their website at http://epiphanycamden.org/.

Grace and Peace will worship in their new building on the corner of Washington and 17th. For information, check the website of SOSNA (South of South Street Neighborhood Association).

Traveling Vision

You may recall that last year's Vision Night was transformed into Vision Nights, as it became a traveling event among the parishes led by Liam. We will be doing that again. This time our new outreach minister, Will Spokes, will be joining him. You will be hearing from both men the overall vision for outreach, as well as the particulars of specific events and initiatives. This will also be an opportunity to know Will better. Maybe you can find out his golf handicap. (It is likely to be lower than yours. For me, golf by definition is a handicap.)
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Good Desire

Proverbs 13:19

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

The key to this proverb is knowing what should be our desire. John Piper's book, Desiring God, has seemed misguided, even heretical, to some because of his strong emphasis on fulfilling desire. His argument rests, however, on having right desires, namely the enjoyment of God. We are often left feeling unfulfilled, not because others have prevented us from obtaining our desires, but because we are, as C. S. Lewis notes, content with too little. We think temporal objects will fulfill us - a vacation, good food, sex, entertainment. But they cannot replace love, holy fear, peace with God, redemption. They cannot replace the invisible eternal, and they are only as satisfying as they give a taste of the eternal rest, eternal banquet, eternal joy that will someday be ours.
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The Justice Conference in Philly

The Justice Conference, February  22-24, at the Philadelphia Convention Center,  focuses on justice- related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS and human rights. This year it features Nicholas Woltersdorff, John Perkins, Gary Haugen; Lynn Hybels, Richard Twiss, and others. For more information, click here.

Apartment Needed

A female Tenth member is in need of a large studio or one bedroom, preferably in or near center city. Due to health issues, needs a place with wooden floors and no mold issues. Preferable to have gas stove and radiators for heat or quiet electric; full kitchen, full bath, laundry. - with no mold issues, wooden floors with laundry. Can afford $800 or higher. Since unable to drive, hopes to be within walking distance to Whole Foods and to Tenth. Please email or call Dottie at 443.838.7164.

UMC: Partners provide Urban Christian Education

Have you registered for the March 2 Urban Ministry Conference? Workshop #1 features Jim Petty and Drew Skinner of Children's Jubilee Fund. See their three minute video here. See the UMC brochure and register here. 

Diptychs and Triptychs

Ken Larter is having a photograph exhibit through most of February at Gallery 50 in Bridgeton, NJ. Ken specializes in diptychs and triptychs - thematically related images that are designed to be seen and studied together.

Winning Kicker

The winning kicker is...Bryan Stoudt!

True Honor

Proverbs 13:18

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

The downfall of the person who ignores instruction comes about for two reasons. One, he remains an ignorant person. Those with knowledge will pass him by in competition. His ignorance will expose him to danger and traps. It will lead him along the wrong paths. Two, he loses respect before others. Only the fool ignores instruction, and foolishness is highly visible. Others will mock him and delight in his failure.
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Alpha Needs

Alpha Pregnancy Services has a client in need of the following items. Contact Anna if you can help.

• Bike trailer for children to ride in
• Bike helmets for children age 2 and 6

A Man Called Aaron

Last Sunday, Aaron Messner was installed as the Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. This is a church that also had a Scottish pastor. His name was Peter Marshall, of the A Man Called Peter fame.

The Winning Kick

Here is an intriguing trivia question for you. What PCA minister, formerly on the staff of Tenth, kicked a game winning 37-38 yard field goal for his high school team? Tomorrow I will post the answer with proof; or maybe I will wait and keep you in suspense.

Faithful Envoy

Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.

I can't help but apply this to preaching. I tremble for the preacher who uses his pulpit to preach that the Scriptures are not reliable, waters down the Gospel to a formula of good works, and assures sinners and unbelievers that they have nothing to fear.
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Sunday Services 2/3/2013

Join us this Sunday for our services.
AM (9 & 11): Dr. Liam Goligher preaching, “Kingdom Come” (2 Samuel 23:1–7). Hymns: Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord; Arise, My Soul, Arise; All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!; Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face.
Parish 1 will worship together in the Catacombs during the 11:00 service.
PM (Soli Deo Gloria 6:15): Gideon Whitehead (guitar) and Sarah Seaman (flute/piano) will offer instrumental music to the glory of God.
(6:30):  Dr. Liam Goligher preaching, “Tempted: Adam, Jesus, and Me—First Things First” (Genesis 2:4–24). Hymns: This Is My Father’s World; I Sing the Almighty Power of God; Before Jehovah’s Awesome Throne.

Concert tomorrow night!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 - 7:30PM
Tenth Presbyterian Church

Multiple friends will join Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim in performing Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Paganini, and Piazolla, among others, culminating in the performance of the Pas de deux from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

David Kim, violin
Elizabeth Hainen, harp
Gideon Whitehead, classical guitar
Richard Harlow, cello
Paul S. Jones, piano
Kristina Pulcini, choreographer
Alyson Pray & Yosbel Delgado, ballet dancers

Limited on street parking will be available for this concert. Please see the Special Event Parking section of the website. Reduced rate parking is also available for $5 with a validated ticket at the parking garage on the 1700 block of South Street.

With Knowledge

Proverbs 13:16

In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.

How will you act today at work, at school, the home? Will you speak without thinking, merely reacting to others and circumstances? Will you lose your temper because traffic is bad or a sales clerk is rude? Will you express your frustrations to whoever happens to be near? Or will you go through the day praying to God for wisdom? For God to keep you alert that you not give in to sin? For God to keep you alert to the opportunities to witness for him, to show the love of Christ?
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No greater love...

No greater love...

Joni to Speak

On March 8, Joni Eareckson Tada will speak at Biblical Seminary on “Disability and the Gospel.”  To register click here. She will be joined by other passionate advocates for those with disabilities, including: Dr. Michael Beates, author of Disability and the Gospel; Jerry Borton, Director of Joni and Friends Greater Philadelphia; and Dr. Diane Langberg, Christian psychologist with expertise on trauma recovery.

God and Culture

Here's a interview about Tenth's Ministry of Mercy from the God and Culture radio program. It was recorded in 2011 and is still current to today's needs. To listen, click here.

Sunday Opportunity

ACTS Fellowship Bible Study is looking for piano players or guitarists to substitute when our regular pianist is unable to play. This involves leading hymn singing with our homeless guests from 4:00 to 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoons. We are looking to identify people with an interest whom we can contact when a need for arises. If you are interested, please contact Jessie Yang at jjbyang@yahoo.com (please note at this time, there is a need for a substitute Sunday February 24).

Good Sense

Proverbs 13:15

Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

There are two reasons the "treacherous" come to ruin. The first is justice. Usually in this lifetime, always in the next life, justice punishes wrongdoing. The other reason is that wrongdoing is not wise. It can seem to be clever to lie, to plot ways to get ahead of a competitor or take advantage of a customer; but such actions lay traps for future failure. Such a person earns distrust and contempt. He must now expend energy protecting himself from his enemies. He becomes suspicious of everyone because through his own example he knows how devious others can be.
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