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April 2015
First Pres News
A Publication of The First Presbyterian Church of Ambler
4 South Ridge Avenue • Ambler, PA 19002
215-646-3030
O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave has lost its sting;
SUNDAY
WORSHIP
9:30 a.m.
Traditional
11:00 a.m.
South Ridge
Inside this issue:
Easter Sunday, April 5th
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
SEARCH
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HOLY WEEK AND
EASTER
4
CHILDREN’S
5
MINISTRY
8:45 AM Traditional Worship
10:00 AM All Church Breakfast
11:00 AM Contemporary Worship
UPCOMING
EVENTS
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
First Presbyterian Church of Ambler
4 S. Ridge Avenue • Ambler, PA 19002
215-646-3030
www.FPCAmbler.org
Church Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Info@FPCAmbler.org • FAX: 215-643-0621
Sunday Worship:
9:30 a.m. Traditional Service with Sanctuary Choir
Sunday School (pre-K thru grade 5)
Adult Christian Education
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Service with South Ridge Band
Sunday School (children up through 5th grade)
Adult Christian Education
Child Care through age 3 is available at all worship services.
Church Staff
Reverend
Ryan Balsan
Pastor, Head of Staff
Ryan@FPCAmbler.org
Brian Bortnick
South Ridge Music Director
Webmaster
B.Bortnick@Comcast.net
Reverend Dr.
Anita Bell
Interim Associate Pastor
Marie Thomas
Director of
Children’s Ministries
Marie@FPCAmbler.org
Michael Joy
Music Director
MichaelJoy@Comcast.net
Carol Anders
Organist
Parish Visitor
Pfacpa1943@netzero.net
Leslie Thomas
Director of
Youth Ministries
Leslie@FPCAmbler.org
Barbara Schmitt
Parish Visitor
Barbjs@comcast.net
Cheryl Kurpiel
Church Administrator
Cheryl@FPCAmbler.org
Jodi Wolper
Secretary of Publications
Jodi@FPCAmbler.org
Jeff Hill
Sexton
Newsletter Staff
Editor:
Jodi Wolper
Proof readers:
Cheryl Kurpiel
Lindsey Robinson
Barbara Schmitt
Anne Whitney
The deadline for First Pres News submissions
is always the first day of the previous month.
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
FROM THE DESK OF ANITA BELL,
INTERIM ASSOCIATE PASTOR
The Search is on... well not quite yet.
the Pastor Nomination Committee in the
search process.
If we were a business, we would have
placed an ad for a new Associate Pastor in
the September news. We would have interviewed applicants and by now we would
have a new person in that position. But we
are not a business, we are a faith community. We believe that God calls, so our challenge is to discern God’s call for the next
piece in our leadership puzzle. This discernment process requires some important
steps, and currently we are in the midst of
Step #1- the Mission Study.
Once the Mission Study is approved by Session and the Presbytery, we will elect a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) that will
begin the search process. They will write
the Mission Information Form (MIF), using the
information from the Mission Study to succinctly describe the mission vision God is
giving our faith community. This MIF will
catch the heart and mind of pastors who
are currently searching for a call. Those interested will submit a Pastor Information
Form (PIF) for the PNC to consider.
A Mission Study Task Force* was formed in
February to help us seek a clear vision of
who we are, the demographics and needs
of the community we are called to serve,
and the mission vision God is giving us for
this next chapter in our life together. After
Easter, our faith community will have the
opportunity to contribute to this Mission
Study through a questionnaire. You are
welcome to fill it out on-line or on paper.
Your input is a vital piece to the discernment process. The Mission Study questionnaire will be available during the month of
April for members and visitors to contribute
to the Mission Study. Then the task force will
collate the results, and use that information
to create a document that will help guide
About now, you must feel like we are really
talking about alphabet soup. Presbyterians
love their acronyms! But even more, we are
called to love the Lord and to seek after the
Lord’s vision and purpose for our faith community. So the PNC will consider these PIFs
prayerfully, interviewing those whom God
moves them to meet. And finally, from that
pool of candidates will emerge the one
whom God has called. That candidate will
be brought to the congregation for us to
meet and to vote on.
(Continued on page 4)
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
Anita Bell (Continued from page 3)
Much of this search process is done quietly, behind the scenes, but your participation is
essential. First and foremost- PRAY. Pray daily for those who are working behind the
scenes on your behalf. Pray for their discernment of God’s vision and call. Pray for the
selection of the Pastor Nominating Committee and then hold that hard working group in
your prayers. Pray for the one who will be called that he/she will hear God’s voice and
respond to the call to come and serve in our midst. And, after Easter, take a few minutes
to fill out the questionnaire for the Mission Study. Your voice is important in the chorus
that God is creating through First Presbyterian Church of Ambler.
What a joy to share the journey with you!
Blessings!
Anita Bell,
Interim Associate Pastor
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
FROM MARIE THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
HOLY WEEK GOLF COURSE
If you could have seen the enthusiasm of
the children to drag their parents to
Fellowship Hall to show them what their
class did each week, you would have
thought, as we are thinking, this is the best
thing we’ve done all year in Sunday
School. Before we started this story unit,
someone asked: “What does golf have to
do with Easter?” That question brought to
mind the poem “Balloons Belong in
Church” by Ann Weems. I invite you to
read this poem and to consider the wonder of children, how they relate to God
and experience church and what we can
learn from them.
In March during Sunday school, the
elementary-age children constructed a
miniature golf course based on the Easter
story. Each hole represented one part of
Holy Week: Palm Sunday, The Last Supper,
Washing the Disciples Feet, The Garden of
Gethsemane, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection. On Palm Sunday, the children
played the course and invited their families to play the course with them after worship.
As the children used cardboard, duct
tape, blocks and many other supplies from
around the church to make each golf
hole, they chattered about the details of
the story and what that part of the story
means to us.
BALLOONS BELONG IN CHURCH (excerpt)
by Ann Weems
I took to church one morning a happy four-year-old boy
Holding a bright blue string to which was attached
his much loved orange balloon with pink stripes...
Certainly a thing of beauty
And if not forever, at least a joy for a very important now.
When later he met me at the door
Clutching blue string, orange and pink bobbing behind him,
He didn't have to tell me something had gone wrong.
"What's the matter?"
He wouldn't tell me.
"I bet they loved your balloon..."
(Continued on page 6)
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
Balloons Belong In Church, Ann Weems (Continued from page 5)
Out it came, then -- mocking the teacher's voice, "We don't bring balloons to church."
Then that little four-year old, his lip a little trembly, asked:
"Why aren't balloons allowed in church? I thought God would like balloons."
I celebrate balloons, parades and chocolate chip cookies.
I celebrate seashells and elephants and lions that roar.
I celebrate roasted marshmallows and chocolate cake and fresh fish.
I celebrate aromas: bread baking, mincemeat, lemons...
I celebrate seeing: bright colors, wheat in a field, tiny wild flowers...
I celebrate hearing: waves pounding, the rain's rhythm, soft voices...
I celebrate touching: toes in the sand, a kitten's soft fur, another person...
I celebrate the sun that shines slab dab in our faces...
I celebrate the crashing thunder and the brazen lightning...
And I celebrate the green of the world...the life-giving green...the hope-giving green...
I celebrate birth: the wonder...the miracle...of that tiny life already asserting its selfhood.
I celebrate children
who laugh out loud
who walk in the mud and dawdle in the puddles
who put chocolate fingers anywhere
who like to be tickled
who scribble in church
who whisper in loud voices
who sing in louder voices
who run...and laugh when they fall
who cry at the top of their lungs
who cover themselves with band aids
who squeeze the toothpaste all over the bathroom
...I celebrate the times when the church is the Church
When we are Christians
When we are living, loving, contributing God's children...
I celebrate that He calls us His children even when we are in hiding.
I celebrate love...the moments when the You is more important than the I
...The Scriptures say there's a time to laugh and a time to weep.
It's not hard to see the reasons for crying in a world
where man's hatred for man is so manifest.
So celebrate!
Bring your balloons and your butterflies, your bouquets of flowers...
Bring the torches and hold them high!
Dance your dances, paint your feelings, sing your songs, whistle, laugh.
Life is a celebration, an affirmation of God's love.
Life is distributing more balloons.
For God so loved the world...
Surely that's a cause for Joy.
Surely we should celebrate!
Good News! That He should love us that much.
Where did we ever get the idea that balloons don't belong in the church?
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
P
U
COMING EVENTS
Maundy Thursday
April 2nd
6:30 PM Soup Supper, Fellowship Hall
7:30 PM Worship Service, Sanctuary
this 44-acre historic
site in our own back
yard. The estate includes a Georgian
mansion and a twoacre floral garden. If
you plan on joining us
for lunch, R.S.V.P. by
nd
Thursday, April 2 to the church office
(215-646-3030) or email
Barb Schmitt
(Barbjs@comcast.net)
Good Friday
April 3rd
(Church Office Closed)
12:00 Noon Worship Service, Sanctuary
Easter Vigil
April 4th
7:30 PM Worship Service, Sanctuary
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
April 12th
New members will be introduced during
worship.
Easter Sunday
April 5th
8:45 AM
Traditional Worship
STOP HUNGER NOW
April 12th
Service project to package meals for the
hungry. (See next page for details).
10:00 AM
Easter Breakfast
11:00 AM
Contemporary
Easter Worship
MEN’S RETREAT
April 24-26
Cost is $150.
Spruce Lake Retreat, Canadensis, PA
Contact John Thomas
(jthomas945@gmail.com / 610-604-0672)
(see page 9 for more information).
Lent Fasting donations will be received for
the Stop Hunger Now service project.
PRIME TIME
April 7th
Join us for lunch at 11:30 AM and a presentation by the Highlands Historical
Society. Meg Bleeker-Blades, Executive
Director at The Highlands will tell us about
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YOUNG ADULT LUNCH
April 26th
Meet at church after SouthRidge
Worship. For more information contact
Nick Paumier (npaumier1@gmail.com).
April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
Help us package meals for the hungry.
Sunday April 12th
Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM
10
&
12:00 Noon
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday
Isaiah 58:10
May 5th PRIME Time
11:30 AM
Join us next month for lunch and a presentation
by David Rowland, President of the
Old York Road Historical Society.
He will speak about the Philadelphia area
architecture of Horace Trumbauer.
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
Spring Gathering at the Church on the Mall
in Plymouth Meeting Mall near the food
court on Saturday April 18th at 10:00 AM.
First Pres women will be meeting with other
Presbyterian women in our region for
worship and to find out what women are
doing within and without our congregations. Our real reason for gathering is to
honor God together. Presbyterian Women
continue to find ways to empower and
protect those without a voice. You may
meet us there or call Barbara Schauble
(215 872-1750) to carpool or for more
information.
Deborah Circle meets at 10 am on the 4th
Tuesday of the month in Fellowship Hall for
study and lunch brought from home.
Contact Donna King (215 646-5082).
Miriam Circle meets the 4th Wednesday of
the month at 11:30 AM in Fellowship Hall.
Bring a sandwich and your Bible. Contact
Barbara Schauble (215 872-1750).
CHICs is now meeting on Monday
evenings at 7:00 PM in the library.
Contact Amy Ruhf (267 481-4364).
Horizon Bible Study meets on the 2nd Thursday through May.
Contact Marianne
Watters (610-279-6396).
Women’s Bible Study on Tuesdays in the
Parlor at 10:00 AM.
Contact Marilyn
Lobley (610-279-1739).
Plans for the Women's Retreat are still
being formulated. Look for details at a
later date.
Ruth Circle meets the 3rd Monday of the
month at 7:00 PM in the Parlor. Contact
Jan Stephens (215 641-1841).
MEN’S RETREAT
April 24-26
at Spruce Lake Retreat
Canadensis, PA
Our speaker will be Whitney Kuniholm. Whitney is
the author of several books including “The Essential
Question: How you can make a difference for
God”. This is a nicely organized book which takes
you on a journey through the book of Acts.
Cost is $150. Sign up at the Help Desk or on-line at
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eabad2aa3f85-2015
Contact John Thomas (jthomas945@gmail.com / 610-604-0672)
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ng
Comi
y
in M a
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
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Kathryn Campbell
Madeline Klitsch
Marilyn Lobley
Shaun Palmer
Tyler Brown
Anita Bell
Lisa Astler
Marina Delgado
Toby Moyer
Jacob Anderson
Nora Landells
Rebecca McCullough
Bryan Meidt
Sara Halkett
Gwen Neveil
Steven Graven
Katie Hayden
Earle Matlack
Judy Derrah
Ryan Balsan
Paul Berry
Cole Campion
James Hayden
Riley Johnson
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Adam Comisak
Alexandra Bender
Peyton Wilson
Diane Zimmerman
Andrew Moorhead
Jamie Reed
Barbara Albright
Thomas Driscoll
J.D. Eggleston
Yesenia Kearns
Gail Ryan
Usha Varughese
Christopher Campbell
Lois Peterson
Gladys Bunio
Isabelle Driehuis
Bob Marquard
Linda Ruhf
Carolyn Lamberth
Judy McNeal
Staci Wiemelt
Lynne Dore
Daniel Ryan
Rebecca Valentine
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Kristin Ganderton
Tom Wynn, Jr.
Cooper McMasters
Evelyn McAdam
Rachel Coley
Reese Johnson
Nancy Ostrander
Betty Surrett
Peter Zaharchuk
Muriel Resh
Julianne Farabaugh
Kevin Ruhf
Clara Thomas
Michael Tornetta
Robby Wilson
To my church family,
I want to thank you so much for your cards, visits, gifts,
flowers and prayers. It means so much to me and is so
helpful in my recovery to have such thoughtful and
caring friends. I am improving and receiving therapy
and am back in my apartment.
Thanks so much,
Donna King
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
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April 2015
FIRST PRES NEWS
Pray for our
Missionaries and Military
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
MISSIONARIES:
MILITARY:
The Reverend Spiwo Xapile (South Africa)
Witnesses to the Muslim world
Mitch Thomas, Push the Rock
Mike and Amanda B, India
Steve & Brenda, Ethiopia
Ryan & Alethia, Germany
Leith & Carol, Thailand
Mar & Miriam, U.S./Mexico Border
Joshua Andrews
Sebastian Carrado
Jack P. Cowden
George Crosson
Jeff Ehlenberger
Ryan Karasow
Kevin Maguire
Jamie Reed
Jennifer Severance
Todd Severance
John Stuckey
Erich Telfer
Brian Vokes
O Prince of Peace, we humbly ask Your protection
for all our men and women in service.
Give them unflinching courage to defend with honor, dignity, and devotion the
rights of all who are imperiled by injustice and evil.
Guard our churches, our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our factories, our
buildings, and all those within from harm and peril.
Protect our land and its peoples from enemies from within and without.
Grant an early peace with victory founded upon justice. Instill in the hearts and
minds of men and women everywhere a firm purpose to live forever in peace
and good will toward all.
Amen.
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