October 2009 Newsletter
- Retreat Together
- Lift Your Voice In Song this Fall!
- World Communion Sunday and Neighbors in Need Offering
- Paperless Sundays
- October Service & Bulletin Roles
- October Supporting Roles
- Rotations
- Bible Study Group
- One Book, One Tabernacle
- October Tab.Edu
- Sunday School Update
- Philadelphia Association—Fall Meeting
- Tab Online
- Stewardship & Congregational Meeting
Retreat Together
The all-church retreat is coming soon: October 23-25 at Appel Farm in Elmer NJ. There are still spaces available for the full weekend or join us for a day. Some workshops and events to tempt you include: Nature walks, Sunday morning worship in the open air (weather permitting), lots of singing, exploring arts, movement, meditation, discussions, sports and board games, plus time to sit with a cup of coffee or tea and explore ideas by yourself or with others. Also, not to be missed: campfires and food crafted from the recipes of the Moosewood Restaurant cookbooks. Please join us!
To sign up: print out, complete and drop off the registration form at the Tab office. See Susan Collins if you have questions about signing up. Remember--scholarships are available! Contact Pastor Patricia Pearce for assistance.
Watch your email for the latest info: a new questionnaire, driving directions and what to bring will be arriving soon.
Lift Your Voice In Song this Fall!
NOTE: NEW REHEARSAL DAY/TIME: Weds. 6 pm dinner; 7 - 8:30 pm rehearsal
Have you enjoyed listening to the Tab Ensemble share their music in our worship services on Sundays? Have you secretly wondered if you could add your voice to our amazing chamber ensemble, but have been too shy to make that big leap of faith? Have you always loved singing, but haven't done it for many years - maybe since high school choir days?
Well, now is the PERFECT time to consider adding your unique voice to our ensemble! This season we will be meeting on three Wednesday nights per month, and singing in three worship services on average per month. (This is a change from the previous Thursday night rehearsals.) As in the past few years, folks who would like to gather to have a "brown bag" dinner together may arrive at 6 pm. We have found this to be a wonderful way to make the transition from work or school into the community singing time together. Rehearsal begins promptly at 7 pm. and runs until 8:30 pm.
You do NOT need to read music or be an accomplished singer in any way. If you love to sing or have sung in choirs in your past and can learn the music fairly quickly in rehearsals, that is all that is required. Part of my job as Music Director is to enable all to sing together - no matter the skill level! This is something I've been doing for over 25 years (19 of them at Tab!) and LOVE it!
The schedule is below, worship services on the left, WEDNESDAY rehearsals (except where noted!) on the right. Contact Holly at holmus [at] aol [dot] com if you are interested in joining or have further questions.
| OCT 4 - Warm-up 9:15 am - WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY | OCT 7 - OFF |
| OCT 11 - OFF | OCT 14 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| OCT 18 - Warm-up 9:15 am | OCT 21 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| OCT 25 - OFF (RETREAT) | OCT 28 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| NOV 1 - Warm-up 9:15 am | NOV 4 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| NOV 8 - Warm-up 9:15 am | NOV 11 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| NOV 15 - OFF | NOV 18 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| NOV 22 - Warm-up 9:00 am - GOSPEL MUSIC SUNDAY | NOV 25 - OFF |
| NOV 29 - OFF | DEC 2 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| DEC 6 - Warm-up 9:15 am | DEC 9 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| DEC 13 - Warm-up 9:15 am | THURSDAY, DEC 17 - 6 pm: Dinner; 7 pm: Rehearsal |
| DEC 20 - Warm-up 9:15 am | THURSDAY, DEC 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE (time TBA) |
| DEC 27 - OFF | DEC 30 - OFF |
World Communion Sunday and Neighbors in Need Offering
On Sunday, October 4 we will observe World Communion Sunday and take up the Neighbors in Need Offering, one of two special offerings we collect. (We alternate the NIN with the PCUSA’s Peacemaking Offering.) Neighbors in Need is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund an array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Through UCCTakeAction.org, the national Justice and Witness Ministries office offers resources, news updates and action alerts on a broad spectrum of justice issues. Working with members of the Justice and Peace Action Network (thousands of UCC justice and peace advocates) Justice and Witness Ministries continues its strong policy advocacy work on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties and environmental justice. One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Forebears of the UCC established churches and worked with Lakota, Dadota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara and Hocak in the Dakotas, Wisconsin and northern Nebraska. Today there are twenty UCC congregations on reservations and a multi-tribal congregation in Minneapolis. CAIM is also an invaluable resource for more than 1000 individuals from dozens of other tribes/nations who are members of UCC congregations.)
Paperless Sundays
The third Sunday of each month (usually) is paperless (no printed bulletin, shown on the grids by the shading on October 18). Contact the office for tips on creating a paperless liturgy.
October Service & Bulletin Roles
| Date | Preacher | Writer | Liturgist | Children's Time | Quote |
| Oct 4 | Patricia Pearce | Suzanne Spaulding | Suzanne Spaulding | Katie Day | Patricia Pearce |
| Oct 11 | Patricia Pearce | Patricia Pearce | Jessica Culley | Deb Burnham | Mia King |
| Oct 18 | Patricia Pearce | Susan Wargo | Nicole Diroff | Ken Gritter | Susan Wargo |
| Oct 25 | TAB | RETREAT | AT | APPEL | FARM! |
October Supporting Roles
| Date | Greeters | Coffee Hour | Counter(s) | Recycling | Compost * |
| Oct 4 | Deb Ahrens & Mia King | Mike Ehling & Jim Gerhard | Pauline Abernathy | Kip Leitner | Todd Koser |
| Oct 11 | Nicole Diroff & Kip Leitner | Katherine Huseman & Lee Pugh | Larry Singh | Verona Stern | -- |
| Oct 18 | Donald & Susan Wargo | Scott Poethig & Ginny Rice | Jean Erb | Todd Koser | Kip Leitner |
| Oct 25 | TAB | RETREAT | AT | APPEL | FARM! |
* This is not going to be a weekly activity for the remainder of the year due to low volume.
Rotations
Extra copies of the rotation schedule (right-click to save) are available on the Greeter's table every Sunday and copies are hanging on the refrigerator in the kitchen and on the bulletin boards in the office and community room. Remember to contact the office when you switch Sundays with someone (the information above reflects changes already made), and don't forget to check the schedule before you go out of town!
Bible Study Group
The Bible Study Group meets most Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00 pm at CA House (adjacent to Tab). To RSVP or get more information contact either Jean Erb (jeanerb (at) verizon (dot) net) or Nicole Diroff (nicolediroff (at) yahoo (dot) com). The Vanderbilt University Lectionary website has the readings for the current season.
One Book, One Tabernacle
Thought provoking, stimulating, meaningful personal sharing, great book.
These are some of the responses people have had to the One Book One Tabernacle discussion circles that have been held in various neighborhoods, reading and discussing Marcus Borg's book Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary. Some of the groups are just now getting started, so if you haven't joined up with one it isn't too late. For more information, contact Patricia.
October Tab.Edu
Progressive Christianity 201 - A "sequel" to Progressive Christianity 101, which focused on Progressive Christian responses to social issues. We will examine theology (the study of God or how we think about God) and Christology (the study of Christ or how we think about Christ), covering a wide range of individual belief systems of Progressive Christians. Tab folks will discuss their under-standings of God and Christ and answer questions.
Body Justice - Or, "The Injustice that Liberal Christians Overlook". While making the world more compassionate and fair to make God’s realm "on earth as it is in heaven" is the essence of Jesus’ teachings according to most progressive Christians, few are willing to extend this to our physical and sexual bodies, in spite of the wide ranging injustices relative to our bodies impacting our most intimate relationships, forming our self confidence and self identities, and influencing how we even define incarnation. Passion Works, the sexuality ministry of the Christian Association, has created a 15-minute DVD focusing on how body injustice impacts young adults. Called Body Without Fear, the documentary covers sexual ignorance, the impact of abstinence-only education, date rape and dating violence. The Revs. Beverly Dale and Patricia Pearce will facilitate a conversation after its showing.
- 10/4 – Progressive Christianity 201 (Jean Erb, Chris Purdom, Susan Pierce)
- 10/11 – Progressive Christianity 201 (Barbara Purdom, Russ Baldwin, plus Q & A)
- 10/18 - Body Justice, led by Rev. Beverly Dale
- 10/25 – No Tab.edu - church retreat at Appel Farm!
Sunday School Update
As Tab’s Sunday School is on the smaller side, I have been able to tailor the activities toward the kids' interests. With the addition of Carrie to the class now, I am challenged to change routine, and find more activities engaging for kids whose age difference is five years. While routine is good, being stuck in one is not, so this is a good change. I am hopeful it will lead to more fun, the kids getting to know more about themselves and their relationship with God. ~ Susan Pierce
Philadelphia Association—Fall Meeting
The Fall Meeting of the Philadelphia Association will be held on Sunday, October 24, 2009, at Collenbrook United Church, 5290 Township Line Road (at State Rd.) in Drexel Hill. Registration will begin at 3 pm and the meeting at 3:30. Please note that this is a half-hour later than usual, because the Podowan Presbyterian Church (Korean) has their service at Collenbrook in the afternoon. We hope you will arrive between 3:00 and 3:30, not earlier! You can come into the parking lot from either State Rd. or Township Line (U.S. 1), but please enter the church from the handicap-accessible sanctuary door on the Township Line side.
The theme will focus on our continuing discussion of the covenant among the churches in the Association. There will also be a discussion and vote on the Association/Conference Task Force proposal to delegate oversight for fitness reviews and interim ministry to a conference-wide task force that would be formed from persons from each association. Each church is allowed two voting lay delegates, and all licensed, commissioned, and ordained clergy have voting privileges. This will be a very important vote, so be sure that your church is represented.
Dinner will be served at about 6 pm. We need to have dinner reservations in advance; please call Nancy Krody at 215-429-8216 (or e-mail at nkrody [at] temple [dot] edu) with the number of persons from your church who will be staying for dinner by October 19. Contact her also if you need directions. If you would like to receive the Philadelphia Association Newsletter as an e-mail attachment (as a Word file) please send an e-mail to Nancy Krody at nkrody [at] temple [dot] edu.
Tab Online
Tab's website has info about affinity groups, events, news, a calendar, sermons, and more! Go to the Tab Blog on Livejournal to stay up-to-date on the current worship themes, to download forms and schedules (the rotations schedule, Time & Talent forms, Pledge forms, the choir schedule), or just take advantage of the links to the Tabernacle CafePress shop, the Arts & Spirituality Center, the Christian Association and other groups. You can read updates to the Livejournal through your own journal/blog or through email by signing up for the RSS feed or the Atom feed for the Tab Livejournal. You can also join the Tab Facebook group (just search on "Tabernacle" when on the site), which already receives the Livejournal posts via RSS feed.
Stewardship & Congregational Meeting
This Sunday the 2010 Stewardship packets will be available! The pledge and Time & Talent forms can also be downloaded from the blog. These forms will be received on Stewardship Sunday, October 18, although electronic versions can be sent to the church office via email before that. Please also consider attending the November 1 meeting about the new 2010 budget which will be voted on at our annual Congregational Meeting, which is after the worship service on November 22.
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