The Montgomery Presbyterian Church Newsletter

THE CHIMES

SEPTEMBER 2016

From this time forward, Christ has no body on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which his compassion will look upon the world; yours are the feet with which he will go about doing good;

yours are the hands with which he will bless others.

I read this quote from Teresa of Avila at the conclusion of a special meeting of the Deacons in August. It was my way of honoring the Deacons for the way in which they lead us in ministries of compassion to be the eyes, heart, hands and feet of Christ. The purpose of the meeting was to look critically at the list of ministries the Deacons lead and consider if some are no longer needed in this season of MPC’s life. Most of the ministries that you are fa- miliar with – prayer concerns, muffins, cards, meals, rides, care packages for our college students and military, Thanksgiving baskets, and hosting Wassail – will continue. But there is one ministry that the Board of Deacons decid- ed it was time to retire in order to redirect their energies, and that is the monthly worship service at Montgomery Care Center.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Coffee & Fellowship:

10am-10:25am

Worship:

10:30am-11:30 am

Children are

dismissed for

Godly Play on the

2nd, 3rd & 4th

Sundays

The ministry at Montgomery Care Center began long ago when there were residents who were members of MPC. We no longer have members in resi- dence at MCC. Instead, they live at Twin Lakes, the Seasons, the Kenwood, and Maple Knoll. It is not possible or necessary for the deacons to provide a worship service at each of these retirement communities, but it is im- portant that we care for the unique needs of these members. By no longer providing the worship service at MCC, the deacons are hoping to visit these members more often, and bring extended Communion to those who are un- able to attend Worship regularly. If you are interested in joining them in this or any of their other ministries of compassion and service please contact one of the deacons listed below. And when you see them around church, don’t forget to thank them for the many ways they quietly care for us all.

With gratitude,

Michelle

To receive the newsletter via email, forward your

email address to officempc@mpchurch.net

with the subject line: “NEWSLETTER”

Joyce Counts, Moderator David Jones, Vice-Moderator Peter Poulos, Treasurer/Secretary

Elizabeth Hammel Cindy Godby Ron Godby Daniel Frank Gretchen Heltman Jennifer Mathis

CALENDAR 2

MPC EVENTS 3-4

PRESBYTERY 5

COMMUNITY 6

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SEPTEM

BER 2

016

SEPTEMBER 2016

MPC EVENTS

Our last work day for the

2016 season is Saturday,

September 17. Please sign

up in the Gathering Room

to help in this important

MPC mission. Contact Dave

Daniels if you have any

questions, 300-9073.

Page 3

Ladies of MPC... Jessica Neuenschwander is getting married on November 5th and we are giving her a bridal shower!

When: Sunday, September

18 Time: 12:00 noon

Where: Gathering Room at MPC Jessica is registered at BedBathandBeyond.com and Sears.com (Jessica Neuenschwander, KY). She is also registered at Pampered Chef (contact Terri) and Cutco (contact Joey). Please RSVP to either Nancy Koebel (513-340-4291) or Janie Parrish (513-489-3428).

Adult Christian Education Returns September 11 Adult CE returns September 11 with two new series. September 11 and 18 will be led by Donna Frank and will focus on The Belhar Confession; September 25-October 30 will be led by Karen Simpson and will explore the topic of ―God, Poverty and Money.‖ Classes will be held Sundays at 8:45 in the Kemper Parlor.

September 11 and 18 The Belhar Confession – Donna Frank Leader

What does it mean to be a ―confessional‖ church? How do we derive our ―essential tenets‖ from our confessional statements? Historical criteria for selection of Confessions; Specific theology / essen-tial tenets of the Belhar Confession Belhar – his-torical / theological background; ―What is the con-troversy?‖

September 25 – October 30 "God, Poverty and Money" - Karen Simpson Leader Poverty and money are talked about in the Bible more than any other topic other than idolatry. The importance of how we relate to wealth is so important that Jesus connects the two directly in Luke 16:13: ―No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.‖

Fellowship Outing/Lunch Bunch for September

Meet Artist John Ruthven

Fellowship and Lunch Bunch will combine for a special outing in September. On Sunday, September 25, immediately following service, we will drive out (rides will be available for those who do not want to drive) to Georgetown, Ohio. When we arrive, we will lunch at a local restaurant, The Country Kitchen, known for good food and homemade desserts. Everyone is responsible for the cost of their lunch. Following lunch we will go to John Ruthven's studio and gallery to meet John and see his work in pro-gress. John is an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and naturalist, the first wildlife artist to receive the National Medal of the Arts from President Bush. He will talk to us for a few minutes and then take us next door to the boyhood home of Ulysses S. Grant, where we will have a tour.

Following the tour we will go with John to his farm to take a walk in the woods. At the end of our full day and we will return to Church.

If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet in the Gathering Room so we can make reservations at the restaurant. Plan to attend this special event.

Page 4 The Chimes

Mission Drive for September

This month we will collect socks and under-wear for teens at Lighthouse Youth Ser-vices. Please leave donations in the bin in the Gathering Room.

Ladies Circle Lunch Meetings Resume

The Rebekah Circle meets at noon on the third Thursday of each month. Next meeting is at noon on Sept. 18. in the library. Bring a sack lunch. All women of the church are welcome.

Caregivers Meeting The next Caregivers’ Group meeting will be Monday, September 19 at 7 pm at the home of Kami Mitchell (9900 Hickorybluff Court).

Members of 2016-2017 Session at August meeting

Blessing of the Backpacks Men of Montgomery perform at Bethel Murdoch Ice Cream Social

Music Rehearsals Resume

The first Handbells rehearsal will be Sept. 7, 6:30-7:30.Regular 7:30 Choir rehearsals will also resume Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Save the Date to

Make a Difference

In its sixth year, Making a Difference Day will be held October 22. Look for more information in future announcements, Little Bells and Chimes for MPC’s involvement with this Mission project.

SEPTEMBER 2016 Page 5

PRESBYTERY

============================================================================= Your Presbytery Link highlights of the presbytery meeting on May 10, 2016 at Llanfair Retirement Community ============================================================================= FELLOWSHIP occurred throughout the evening especially during the sharing of a meal. WORSHIP Mary Gene Boteler (interim pastor, Mt. Washington) preached about call. The offering was collected for the Pentecost Offering. The presbytery installed Couper Gardiner (Knox) as treasurer and commissioned 222nd General As-sembly commissioners • Claire Kroger (Mt. Washington) • Bob Northcutt (Aurora First; CRE, Beecher) • Cynthia Mason (validated ministry), and • Bill Love (interim pastor, West Chester) and young adult advisory delegate • Max Stainton (Heritage). The presbytery took these ACTIONS among others. REDRESSED the imbalance between teaching and ruling elders eligible to vote at presbytery meetings by inviting some sessions to elect an additional commissioner. APPROVED leases for Wyoming and North congregations to share their facilities with nondenominational congregations. APPROVED changes in call: • Allan Lane from pastor, Batavia to member at-large • Rick Kranzley to honorably retired • Marsha Webster from interim pastor, St. John’s Westminster to member at-large APPOINTED moderators: • Jeff Colarossi, Christ • Rick Olson, Third ELECTED officers to be installed in September: • Lisa Stenner (pastor, Union), moderator • Bob Young (Blue Ash), vice moderator EXAMINED and approved Kathleen Daniels for ordination as a teaching elder to serve as stated supply with

Dry Ridge. ELECTED Nancy Kahaian as general presbyter and enrolled her as a member of the presbytery. DISSOLVED Decatur Presbyterian Church. The vice moderator led a prayer of thanksgiving for the congregation’s faith-ful witness throughout its history. Individuals and groups shared INFORMATION. Presbytery Council has changed the date of this year’s November pres-bytery meeting from the second to the third Tuesday (November 15) because election day falls on the usual date and the hosting congregation is a polling place. The Board of Trustees is holding a church finances seminar May 14 at Pleasant Ridge, 9-11am. Reservations: claire@cpresby.org Camp Pyoca in southern Indiana has invited the presbytery to use its facilities and programing. http://pyoca.org/ The Board of Pensions is making major changes to some of its plans in 2017. Details will be posted July11 www.pensions.org The Synod of the Covenant has grants available for congregations to host refugees from Iraq and Syria. http://synodofthecovenant.org/synodministries/welcome-refugees/ The second round of Transformation 2.0 learning begins their next training session on September 10. http://cpresby.org/transformation.html

Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts go out to the people of the Gulf Coast in the wake of catastrophic flooding. Presbyterian

Disaster Assistance has deployed the National Response Team to support the Presbytery of South Louisiana and the

Syn-od of the Sun. Your gifts are urgently needed to support these communities. Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR000191 . Gifts can be made online, by phone at 800-872-

3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST), or by check; (mail checks to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box

643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700). For more information, visit www.presbyterianmission.org/pda. Pray for families im-

pacted by flooding through loss of property and livelihood; for first responders and others who put themselves in harm’s way to care for those impacted; that communities will work together and

build stronger relationships and connections; and for God’s sustaining grace.

Page 6

COMMUNITY

U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony

With Labor Day approaching, many will take a moment to hang their U.S. flag and reflect. If you have a flag that is worn or frayed, consider options for its proper retirement. Every spring, our Boy Scout Troop 258 has a flag retirement ceremony

to dispose of flags no longer suitable for display. Contact Scoutmaster Ray Habib at 377-8613 to arrange for pick up or drop off of flags for retirement.

The Chimes

Apply now for 2017 MCLA

The Montgomery Citizens’ Leader-ship Academy (MCLA) is now accept-ing applications (deadline Sept. 30) for the 2017 session. MCLS, locally developed and nationally recognized, is a program designed to move indi-viduals from being residents to ac-tively engaged citizens. For more in-formation, or to apply, visit mont-gomeryohio.org or contact Ray Kingsbury, director of citizen engagement, at 792-8359.

Celebrate Labor Day with BAMSO (Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra) Celebrate the Labor Day holiday with the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra on Mon-day, September 5, 6:00 p.m., at the Blue Ash Towne Square. “The (Seven) Hills are Alive, With the Sound of Music!” featuring the music of Aaron Copland, Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix Men-delssohn, and the team of Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein! The concert will be at the Blue Ash Towne Square at 6:00 p.m. (Rain Site: Sycamore Junior High, 5757 Cooper Road).

On Saturday, Sept. 17, 10am-1pm, the Environmental Advisory Commission will sponsor a One Stop Drop for Responsible Recycling event at the Public Works facility, 7315 Cornell Rd. This event is free and an easy way to get rid of items that are sitting around the house. To learn more about participating businesses and items being collected, visit montgomeryohio.org.

Llanfair to Hold “Orphan Elders” Workshop

Nearly 1 in 4 Americans over age 65 is at risk of becoming an “elder or-phan,” living without a spouse or nearby child. Many will need to address healthcare challenges, physical and mental health, financial and legal plan-

ning, retirement, and long-term social and well-being needs.

Llanfair Retirement Community (1701 Llanfair Ave.) is hosting a one-day workshop on Thursday, October 13 (9:30am-4:00pm in their Campus Center Great Room) to address these issues. Their audience is older adults as well as church lay and pastoral ministers and ministry teams. Speakers include a parish nurse, attorney, expert on scams against the elderly, a proponent against elder abuse, and keynote speaker Dr. Robert Keyes on “Crafting an Aging Alone Plan—A Medical View.”

RSVP to Kim Kaser by October 10 by calling 513-591-4567 or emailing kkaser@llanfair.oprs.org.

THE CHIMES

Montgomery Presbyterian Church Newsletter

Reverend Michelle Bacon, Pastor

Office Hours: 8:30a-4:30p Mon—Thurs Michelle.bacon@mpchurch.net

513-891-8670

SUBMISSIONS for THE CHIMES are due by NOON on the 15th day of each month.

Send articles to mpc.office@mpchurch.net

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MontgomeryPresbyterianChurch

Looking Ahead...

Upcoming Dates of Note

October

Sun. Oct. 2 World Communion Sunday

Sun. Oct. 9 Blessing of the Animals

Wed. Oct. 12 Lunch Bunch

Sat. Oct. 22 Making A Difference Day

Sun. Oct. 30 Reformation Sunday

Montgomery Presbyterian Church 9994 Zig Zag Road—Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED