New and Noteworthy

Join us during Lent Tuesday Evenings, Feb 28 thru March 29, in the Social Hall around the dinner table at 6:00pm for study, reflection and worship. Lent is a time for introspection and spiritual journeying as we anticipate the new life promised in Easter.  Through learning, reflection, and fellowship we can enter into a closer communion with Christ and one another.  If you are thinking about coming, would like more information, or would like to help this year in some way let us know by calling the church office 215-563-3763 or email Cheryl@archstreetpres.org.  Childcare provided.

Join us as we offer quality early childhood education for a diverse range of Philadelphia’s children.  Check out archstreetpreschool.org.

Dedication, Musical Celebration and Cheese Wine Reception

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 7:00 PM we will host a special dedication concert and wine and cheese reception to thank God for our new Johannus Digital Classic Organ for the chapel and Pramburger Grand Piano for the sanctuary.

Talented musicians will share on this varied program of music from sacred to jazz. You do not want to miss this wonderful celebration! For further information, contact J. Donald Dumpson , Minister of Music and Arts, via email jddumpson@aol.com or call 215-563-3763.

See you then!

September 11, 2001 is a date that has marked all our lives.  There are as many experiences of that day as there are each of us.  It was a day and a time when we all needed each other and were comforted by one another, a time when our faith helped us get through.  In that spirit, I would like to invite you to offer your thoughts and reflections about that day and your experience of it now as we approach the 10th anniversary of that tragic event.  You may have a memory, a picture, a drawing, a poem, or simply some thoughts you would like to share. A selection of remembrances will be displayed on a special page of our website so please indicate if you are open to that when you submit something.  I look forward to our opportunity to worship together, remember together and look forward together to what God has in store for us on Sunday, September 11th at 10:45 A.M.  I hope to see you then.

Please address submissions to Bill Golderer by September 8th, 2011.  You may attach your submission to the email or include it in the body of the message.

Arch Street Preschool, a soon-to-be non-profit organization, has found its first leader!  Elizabeth Martino will direct Arch Street Preschool to its mission of loving and educating Philadelphia’s smallest and most vulnerable citizens. Liz is an educator and nonprofit leader with a passion for ensuring that every child has a great teacher. For the past 14 years, Liz led Response-Ability, an innovative nonprofit committed to training, coaching and inspiring new teachers to provide quality education in inner city schools. As the Executive Director, she worked with over a hundred new teachers and thousands of children of poverty at schools in multiple cities in the U.S. and Latin America.

When asked about the preschool ethos, Liz said, “I have embraced the belief that children learn best in an environment marked by joy. Incorporating play into the learning environment both respects children’s natural tendency to play and increases opportunities for joy as they build basic concepts and pre-academic skills.”

Please join us for a sneak peek into the preschool space on Saturday, September 10 from 3-5 p.m.  We are entering our licensing and marketing phases now and will open late Fall.  More information soon!

Lindsey Dunn became ASPC’s Children’s Ministry Director in February this year. She is a joyful addition to our ever-growing church!

Lindsey grew up in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. Intrigued by religion and driven by the passion to teach youth, she moved to the Philadelphia area where she attended Eastern University and studied Youth Ministry. Partially through earning her degree, she moved to Mexico where she served as a missionary in an orphanage for one year, teaching the children English and Sunday School, and serving as a house mother for the young girls. She later returned to Eastern and finished her degree.

While still at Eastern, Lindsey connected with Broad Street Ministry and became a summer intern for their Youth Initiative program. She still works with the youth groups that come to BSM on a regular basis. Through being involved with Broad Street Ministry, Lindsey also connected with Arch Street Presbyterian Church. Immediately she felt a connection to the church’s mission and desired to help out using her gifts and interests. She became the Children’s Ministry Director in February of 2011.

Having seen great poverty and encountered many children and youth in desperate circumstances, she has learned how crucial it is to give steady support to children and their families right from the start. Lindsey considers it her call to both teach children and provide that support for families. She is now also attending Saint Joseph’s University and working towards her M.S. in Education and her Elementary Teaching Certification.

Next time you’re at the church, stop by and say hello to Lindsey!

Arch Street Preschool (ASP) seeks a founding director managing preschool for children, ages 2.5 – 5. Director should have a BS or BA and preferably an advanced degree in early childhood or elementary education, at least two years’ experience working in a childcare facility or in a teaching capacity, and familiarity with choosing/crafting curriculum. Some experience supporting, evaluating and supervising teachers is preferred as the director will be responsible for hiring and overseeing the teaching staff. Director should be enthusiastic to engage children and families from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Director will be an important member of a faith-based community creating and growing a preschool, which begins in September, 2011. Applicant will also be instrumental in helping Arch Street Preschool fulfill its mission and shape its immediate and long-term future.

Arch Street Preschool will be a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission of educating young children from a range of backgrounds breaking down social barriers that cause unequal access to education. We desire our school to be play based, integrated, hands-on, child centered and focused on age appropriate goals. ASP is positioned to receive the entire family of young children and will seek to guide each child as he/she develops social, emotional, physical and pre-academic skills with a life-long love of learning. As a mission of the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, ASP will be a Christian preschool in that children will learn to follow Jesus by seeking justice for all people, caring for the earth and loving one another because they are first loved by God.

Will you consider creating a school with us? To apply, please submit a cover letter stating why you are attracted to and suited for this position, a resume and at least three references to aspreschooldirector@gmail.com. Please also include the answers to the following questions in less than 300 words each: 1) How can free and structured play be used to teach young children? 2) How is early childhood education able to break down societal barriers? 3) Describe a situation in which you would teach the peace of Christ.

For more information, please contact Rev. Becky White Newgren, becky@archstreetpres.org or 215-563-3763.

This year, Arch Street Presbyterian is pleased to partner with Trinity Episcopal Church Wall Street to present the 2011 Trinity Institute streaming live from our fellowship hall on Thursday, January 20th and Friday January 21st. The theme for this year’s conference is “Reading Scripture Through Other Eyes” and will include lectures, panel discussions, as well as time for our own theological reflection. Through this event, we will be connected with other churches all around the world. We would love to have a diversity of Philadelphians represented at this event – clergy and laypeople from all faith backgrounds and traditions are most welcome. Please join us! See below for details:

HOW DO WE READ SCRIPTURE?

Do we read them on our own, deciding what to believe? Do we read them as part of a group, with a similar mindset? Do we read them with a world view?

Often in times of change, we find our grounding in reading scripture. But what we read and believe may be different from what someone around the world reads and believes.

Join us for Trinity Institute’s 41^st National Theological Conference where, led by our international panel of distinguished speakers, we will explore the theory and practice of Bible study that is authentic and transformative. Speakers will address topics including:

• What concerns do scholars have when reading scriptures?
• What does an ordinary reader bring?
• How does our culture influence what truths we may find in scripture?
• How do we read scripture together?

Reading Scripture through Other Eyes will consider these questions and others in order to help us become more conscious of what we are looking for when we return to the Bible as a source of inspiration.

Viewing Details

When: Arch Street will be streaming the conference on January 20^th and 21^st. Please plan to arrive at 8:30am, and we will adjourn by about 5:00pm on both days.

Cost: $20 for lunch and all conference materials for both days.

For more information or to RSVP: Please contact Brenna Nickel atbrenna.nickel@ptsem.edu or call Arch Street at 215-563-3763.

We look forward to seeing you!