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Today we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. You are invited to bring to worship whatever bread and

drink you have available in your home to join us in Communion, trusting that God can do mysterious and

miraculous things with ordinary objects like bread and juice and in ordinary places like our own homes.

We Gather to Worship God

PRELUDE “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her” — Johann Pachelbel Mark Cole, organ

WELCOME Doug Gerdts and Nikki Passante

LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE

One: In those days,

The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

And a little child shall lead them.

All: Faithful God,

You are at work to restore all of creation in its intended harmony.

Give us your shalom that we may be reconciled to all enemies in the peace that passes all

understanding through Christ Jesus our Lord.

One: We light this candle in hope. We light this candle in peace.

All: God of hope, God of peace,

into our darkness come.

Response: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” verse 2

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

MUSIC Meditation on PSALM 42 — arr. Christopher M. Wicks (page 8 below)

Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020 at 10:00

First Presbyterian Church

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CALL TO CONFESSION

One: Come to the Lord, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and the Great Healer of body and soul

will give you rest. Let us draw near with faith, and together offer our humble confession:

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

All: Holy and merciful God, you have a vision for your world and you ask us to help bring it to reality. Yet we dwell on the past and glorify the old, while you are trying to do new things

among us. We betray our neighbors and desert our friends, and run in fear when we are

called to loyalty. We are deaf to your call for transformation; we are scared to be changed

by your Spirit, and we are stifled by the challenges you present to us in the people you call

us to love, care, and nurture. Forgive us, O God. Unite us in Christ. Revive in us your

Spirit. Open our hearts and minds to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, to whom be praise

forever. Amen.

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

One: I declare to you that the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting!

All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen!

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

All: And also with you.

One: Let us greet one another with a sign of Christ’s peace.

We Listen to the Word

PRAYER FOR ILUMINATION

One: God of all peace and hope,

send your Spirit to every place this Scripture is heard

so that in its reading, all are blessed.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of

sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to

him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with

camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The

one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of

his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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One: Holy wisdom, holy word.

All: Thanks be to God!

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE John Aleksiejuk

ANTHEM “The People Who Walked in Darkness” — Sally Ann Morris (page 9 below)

Kelly Leibensperger, soprano

SERMON “Get Out of the Way” Rev. Passante

We Respond in Faith

CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Invitation

Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer A Celtic liturgy designed by John Philip Newell

Great Creator Spirit, from whom all life comes forth: here we gather again with bread and juice

seeking your presence, longing once more to be nourished, hungering for wholeness in our

lives, for unity on earth and for peace among the nations.

Here we gather with bread and with juice, but with more than bread and juice.

With everything that we see and sense around us, with visible and invisible energies that pulse

with life, we join our souls in the song that vibrates throughout the whole of creation.

Into our brokenness came the memory of wholeness.

Into our sickness came the medicine of grace.

Into our fear came the revelation of love.

Christ born among us,

One of us,

Child of heaven,

Son of womankind,

Bearer of forgiveness,

Healer of our nature,

Restorer of wisdom,

Liberator of the oppressed,

Rejected by the religious,

Scorned by the state,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Heart of humanity,

Soul of creation,

Lamb of God.

Come upon us with your Holy Spirit, O God, and upon this bread and this juice, that they may

be vibrant with your presence, nurturing what is deepest within us, and making us again one

body. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ.

Hear us now, O God, as we pray the prayer Christ taught us:

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be

done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our

debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from

evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

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Distribution of the Elements

Breaking of the Bread

For on the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to God, broke it

and gave it to his disciples saying: “Take, eat: This is my body which is given for you. Do

this in remembrance of me!”

Pouring of the Cup

In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to them

saying: “Drink this, all of you. This cup is the new covenant sealed with my blood, shed for

you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

MUSIC Meditation on WINCHESTER NEW — arr. Christopher Tambling (page 10 below)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming” — Janet Vogt Mark Cole, organ

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN! Please be in touch if you have news to share

or would like more information or to talk to a pastor. Contact information for pastors and staff is below.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR KIDS PRE-K – EIGHTH GRADE: Each week age-appropriate lessons and

activities are emailed out. To register your child, please fill out this form. Past lessons can be viewed on the

Children’s Ministry page of the http://www.haddonfieldpres.orgwebsite.

MUSIC NOTES FOR DECEMBER 6:

Prelude – “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her”

(“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”), Johann Pachelbel

Initially Martin Luther used the folk melody associated with his first stanza as the tune for this hymn. Later

he composed this new tune for his text. Vom Himmel Hoch was first published in Valentin Schumann’s

Geistliche Lieder in 1539. Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706), was a German composer, organist, and teacher

who brought the south German organ school to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular

music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place

among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era.

Meditation on PSALM 42, “Comfort, Comfort You My People”

It is a sigh of longing that we express when we sing the words of Charles Wesley’s (1707–1788) beautiful

Advent hymn, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” For though we know that Christ goes with us and before

us every day, we long for the day when we are with Him in all of the fullness and glory He will bring. We

long for the day when we are with Him in a New Heaven and New Earth, when all things are made new.

Anthem – “The People Who Walked in Darkness,” Sally Ann Morris

We welcome Kelly Leibensperger this morning as she teaches our congregation a new Advent hymn. This

hymn is based on Isaiah 9 and it proclaims the coming of the Messiah and what it means for the world.

Musically, it is interesting and well-suited to the text because the verses are in G minor, while the chorus is

in the relative major, Bb Major. This gives a dramatic lift to the chorus as we sing the many titles of the

coming Messiah. We encourage you to follow along with the hymn sheet below as Kelly sings.

——— ♦♦♦ ———

https://forms.gle/F9pRSFygbLJgrSYa6http://www.haddonfieldpres.org/

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Meditation on WINCHESTER NEW, “The People Who Walked in Darkness”

John the Baptist's announcement, "Prepare the way for the Lord" (Matt. 3:3, a quote from Isa. 40:3) is the

primary basis for this Advent hymn. Stanza 1 applies that message to people today; stanza 2 is a confession

by God's people of their need for salvation; stanza 3 is a prayer for healing and love; stanza 4 is a doxology.

This much-loved Advent text is laced with various scriptural phrases.

Postlude – “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming,” Janet Vogt

This hymn may date back as far as the 15th century, though the earliest manuscript was found in St.

Alban’s Carthusian monastery in Trier and was dated around 1580. It was first published with 23 stanzas in

Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesange in 1599. Originally written in German, the text combines the

story of Christ’s birth with the prophecies in Isaiah about the “rose” from the “stem of Jesse.” Janet Vogt

holds the BM from the University of Cincinnati. As an educator and piano teacher, Vogt’s experience

includes over twenty years of private and group instruction. She currently resides in Cincinnati, OH.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING – On Sunday, December 13, immediately

following worship, there will be a meeting of the Congregation on Zoom for the purpose of electing officers

(Elders and Deacons) for 2021 and for electing the nominating committee. Join in for this brief meeting before

the consecration drive through (see next announcement). Zoom link.

RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE – See a special message with updated pledge numbers from the Stewardship

Committee below. Please submit pledges via this Google form or by printing out and mailing or dropping off

this PDF form. Pledges will be consecrated on Sunday, December 13, during the drive-through offering.

Bring yours by after the Congregational Meeting. Thank you!

DRIVE-THROUGH OFFERING AND FOOD DONATION continue in the church driveway each week

from 11 – 12 on Sunday mornings. Greet properly masked and socially distanced pastors and elders when you

pull through to the office-side door. (For online giving, use https://onrealm.org/FirstPresbyteri11244/Give.)

Please remember to bring your Deacons offering this week!

YOUTH GROUP meets this afternoon, December 6, weather permitting. Contact Gabrielle Heimerling for

details.

ADVENT CANDLELIGHT SERVICE – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, AT 5 P.M.

First Presbyterian’s traditional service of Lessons and Carols has moved online this year.

Many thanks to Betsy Westermaier and Mark Cole for honoring this decades-long

practice in a new form. The Candlelight Service will be live streamed using the usual live

streaming connection on haddonfieldpres.org/watchlive and on Facebook.

ADVENT WORKSHOP ON RESILIENCE IS TOMORROW – Advent is a time of waiting and

preparation, and our goal is to honor these spiritual practices, especially during a time where we may need to

prepare to shelter at home. To these ends, you are invited to participate in a special Advent workshop. On

Monday, December 7, 2020 from 7-9pm, join a multi-church Zoom led by Becky Bryan on ways to understand and cope with the challenges of stress. See the flyer and sign-up information here.

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING – This offering goes to the PC(USA) to support the people

who have dedicated their lives to the service of the church. God has blessed the church with

incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by

their communities. This offering provides for leadership development for communities of

color, and support for current and retired Presbyterian church workers in times of need. The

Christmas Joy Offering will be collected throughout the month of December, online, mailed,

or during the drive through.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83970111131https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWSpTepqOHU5pIBTuXezSVyojMXw2FlQV60_bG6tUcZzu3rQ/viewform?gxids=7628http://www.haddonfieldpres.org/FAITHNETWORK_UserFileStore/filecabinet/ministries/c345c60a-46dd-4b8f-ac5e-eabdddc34d19/Commitment%20pledge%20card%202021.pdfhttps://onrealm.org/FirstPresbyteri11244/Givemailto:gheimerling@haddonfieldpres.orghttp://www.haddonfieldpres.org/watchlivehttps://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/faithnetworkuserfilestore/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/filecabinet/ministries/c345c60a-46dd-4b8f-ac5e-eabdddc34d19/Join%20Us%20for%20an%20Advent%20Workshop_2020.pdf

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ADVENT GIVING BACK: Missing the Caring Hearts stockings this year? We have an even easier way

for you to give to this wonderful organization. This year we are hoping you will contribute financially

through Realm. Caring Hearts will take your donations and purchase gift cards to fulfill Wish Lists for the

51 families that they are working to give a better Christmas to this year. Donating is simple through

Onrealm.org! Simply select “Caring Hearts Gift Cards” in the drop down “Fund” menu. Realm not your

thing? You can send a check to the church office with “Caring Hearts Gift Cards” written in the memo line.

In the past FPCH has graciously filled 50 (!) Caring Hearts stockings during Advent and we are hoping to

bring that same generosity this year. Please know that your donations are truly making another family’s

Christmas brighter, this year more than ever.

THANK YOU, GAB HEIMERLING, for providing the wonderful take-home Advent Festival this year!

Families who have completed their Advent crafts are invited to send photos of them and of the crafters to

Anne Vial and Rebecca Mannion for inclusion in the newsletter and on Facebook. LAST CALL for Advent

Take Home Kits and wreaths. Place your orders here: Advent Kit Order Form. For wreaths, just email Gab!

THANK YOU, PRESCHOOL FAMILIES! Thank you for collecting enough cans and non-perishables to

help the Camden Community Center feed 400 families this Thanksgiving.

ADVENT SERIES LED BY NIKKI AND BECKY BRYAN CONTINUES: How do we prepare for the

Light to enter the world in 2020? Join these Zoom Workshops for an Unprecedented Advent from 6:30-

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, Sensing the Divine Spark in Each of Us; Wednesday, December 16,

The Power of Gratitude. Added date: Wednesday, December 23! Prayers for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

– Since we are unable to gather physically for Christmas Eve this year, join us for a time of prayer for this

last session. Click here for details. NEW Zoom link here.

CHRISTMAS EVE LIVE STREAM – On December 24, you can watch a virtual Christmas Eve service that

will include the participation of choirs. Once it is live streamed at 4 p.m., the service will be available in the

archive to view at any time. Watch using Watch Live or Facebook.

A NOTE ON CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – Since we are unable to attend church services this Christmas

Season, our beloved display of Poinsettias will not take place. A nominal number of plants will adorn the

Chancel and be seen in our “Virtual Services”. These poinsettias will lovingly represent the Memory and be in

Honor of those who are held dearly by members of our congregation.

THE MISSION COMMITTEE IS COLLECTING COATS, HATS, MITTENS, AND SOCKS for the

Camden Community Center. Bring them to the drive through or call the church office to arrange a drop off.

ST WILFRID’S – Thank you for your prayers for blessings and protection for all the sponsors, the

volunteers and our patrons. Current needs: Baby wipes, diapers sizes 2,4,5,6, and adult medium and large.

Winter coats and jackets for all ages, hats, sweatshirts, and blankets. Continued need for peanut butter, tuna,

pasta, rice, and macaroni and cheese. Paper grocery bags to line plastic grocery bags from Whole Foods ,

ShopRite, and Aldi’s....these bags together can hold 22 pounds of food and can be carried home without

breaking! Newspaper bags are also needed to hold hygiene items. All items may be dropped off at the drive

through after church on Sundays or in the bin behind Grace Church during the weekend.

On Food Bank Friday…and Mondays: We always need cars and helpers on Food Bank transport day, which

is usually Friday, but because of the holidays, may be on some Mondays. Tentatively our December pick-

ups will be Friday, December 11, Monday, December 21, and Monday, December 28—fun and exercise for

all. If anyone is available to help, please email Rose Guthrie at intrepidrose@hotmail.com

https://onrealm.org/FirstPresbyteri11244/-/give/nowmailto:avial@haddonfieldpres.orgmailto:rmannion@haddonfieldpres.orghttps://forms.gle/x9wUuSM18QDFvPK96mailto:gheimerling@haddonfieldpres.orghttps://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/faithnetworkuserfilestore/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/filecabinet/ministries/c345c60a-46dd-4b8f-ac5e-eabdddc34d19/FPCH%20Advent%202020%20av-rb%20rev.pdfhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83519184119?pwd=UjgzQlZjbjE2ZDBUUER5NkFIdlVlUT09http://www.haddonfieldpres.org/watchlivemailto:intrepidrose@hotmail.com

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MATTHEW 25—CONVERSATION ON RACE – Sunday morning discussions continue from 9-9:45 a.m.

on Zoom at this link. Each week’s resources are linked in the weekly email newsletter and on the Adult Ed

page of the website. Questions? Email Becky Bryan, rebeccabryan@me.com.

PORCH BIBLE STUDY DEC. 8 AT 7 P.M. – Contact Deb Nussbaum, debranussbaum1987@gmail.com

JOIN DOUG FOR TUESDAY A.M. BIBLE STUDY – Every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. Doug hosts an

informal conversation about the scripture that will be the text for the following Sunday’s sermon. The text

for Tuesday, December 8 is John 1:6-8, 19-28. Here’s the Zoom link.

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN AND CHRISTMAS – Time is running out to support Feed My

Starving Children with a purchase from Lynch Creek Farms, located in Washington State. Haddonfield’s “It

Takes A Village,” FMSC Mobile Pack, will earn 15% on all sales of their beautiful holiday wreaths and

centerpieces. Most of their products cost approximately $45-$75, which includes shipping. When ordering, use

the campaign #246058 to be certain that FMSC gets credit. Orders can be made up until Dec. 15th. Online

orders can be made by going to www.lynchcreekfundraising.com/c/246058. You can also order by phone at

(888) 426-0781 if you would prefer.

NEXT WEEK’S SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all

might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the

testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then?

Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him,

“Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither

the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one

whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”

This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Church Staff

The Rev. Dr. Douglas D. Gerdts, Transitional Senior Pastor and Head of Staff – doug@haddonfieldpres.org

The Rev. Nikki Perrine Passante, Associate Pastor – npassante@haddonfieldpres.org

Peter Leibensperger, Minister of Music – pleibensperger@haddonfieldpres.org

Nancy Ruth Wainwright, Director of Children’s Choirs – nancyruthw@comcast.net

Mark Cole, Organist – mcole@haddonfieldpres.org

Gabrielle Heimerling, Director of Youth and Family Ministries – gheimerling@haddonfieldpres.org

Marisa McGovern, Preschool Director – preschool@haddonfieldpres.org

Ed Hess, Community Caseworker – edwh517@aol.com

Kris Bean, Financial Secretary – kbean@haddonfieldpres.org

Anne Vial, Office Administrator – avial@haddonfieldpres.org

Rebecca Mannion, Receptionist – rmannion@haddonfieldpres.org

Travis Bogetti, Building Manager – tbogetti@haddonfieldpres.org

Mark Hall, Security and Building Maintenance – mhall@haddonfieldpres.org

20 Kings Highway E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 ♦ www.haddonfieldpres.org ♦ (856) 429-1960

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84148513915http://www.haddonfieldpres.org/adult-educationmailto:rebeccabryan@me.commailto:debranussbaum1987@gmail.comhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/86488551987http://www.lynchcreekfundraising.com/c/246058mailto:mhall@haddonfieldpres.orghttp://www.haddonfieldpres.org/

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THE GOAL AND THE CHALLENGE: A MESSAGE FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

Dear Family of Faith: It goes without saying that 2020 has greatly impacted all aspects of our lives including how we engage with and continue the work of the church. The resilience and perseverance that have been exhibited in continuing to fulfill the church’s mission have been extraordinary. For this reason, Run with Perseverance is the theme of the stewardship campaign. Thanks to all the members and staff who have provided their unique messages related to our church family during the campaign. It was not only great to see your faces but also hear the stories and their relevance to the collective financial support of the congregation. As we move to the pledging phase of this year’s stewardship campaign, we feel it is appropriate to clearly articulate the overall goals. The Goal: In articulating the goal, it is important for the congregation to understand what may be a little-known fact. For each year from 2015 through 2020, the number of pledging units and total dollars pledged has declined as shown in the table below.

Units Pledging Amount Pledged 2015 256 $698,844 2016 231 663,513 2017 210 606,051 2018 188 564,217 2019 165 488,058 2020 so far 47 166,390 updated 12/3

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The goal for this campaign is to build back and achieve 2015 levels of giving in terms of number of pledges and total dollars. While the goal may not be achieved this year, we need this year to be the year we as a congregation reverse the trend of decline and work toward achieving the 2015 levels. The Challenge: Here’s what you can do to help. Below is a three-prong challenge for you to consider for increasing your pledge and contributing to achieving the goal. We are asking you to consider an increase in your pledge applying the formula below (1, 2 or 3) that would result in the greatest increase.

1. Increase your pledge to the church average of $3,150 for the coming year; 2. Increase your pledge by 1% of your gross income; or 3. Increase your pledge by $500 for the year.

We certainly know these times are incredibly difficult and you simply may not be able to meet this challenge at any level. But if you are able, we would greatly appreciate it if you would prayerfully consider increasing your financial support, if not at the greatest level outlined above, at a level with which you have comfort. To those members who consistently support the church financially but choose not to pledge, please know that your contribution is vital to life of the church and we would ask those members to consider the challenge above whether or not it includes a formal pledge. We will be providing the congregation with weekly updates on the number of pledges and total amount versus the stated goals. Your time and attention to all of the information provided through the email newsletters, bulletins and services are very much appreciated and we certainly welcome any feedback on any aspect of the campaign. Any questions or feedback can be sent via email to Gene Spinelli genespin@comcast.net. God Bless You All, The Stewardship Committee

2021 Online Pledge Form 2021 PDF Pledge Form

mailto:genespin@comcast.nethttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWSpTepqOHU5pIBTuXezSVyojMXw2FlQV60_bG6tUcZzu3rQ/viewform?gxids=7628http://www.haddonfieldpres.org/FAITHNETWORK_UserFileStore/filecabinet/ministries/c345c60a-46dd-4b8f-ac5e-eabdddc34d19/Commitment%20pledge%20card%202021.pdf