march - april 2020 what’s · heaven, so who knows? though some christians teach that belief in...

March - April 2020

Dear Friends,

What is resurrection really all

about? As we approach Easter the

topic of resurrection begins to move

to the fore of our theological reflec-

tions. We’ve already read a pas-

sage (Mark 8:31) where Jesus pre-

dicts his resurrection, though it

seemed to be overshadowed by the

predictions about his suffering.

So I thought I would use my space

this time to offer some miscellaneous

thoughts on resurrection:

According to the Bible stories,

Jesus rose from the dead with

something like a physical body.

Yet, he could appear and disap-

pear at will and float up to

heaven, so who knows?

Though some Christians teach

that belief in the literal, bodily

resurrection of Jesus is a require-

ment of Christianity, it is not.

There are lots of Christians who

have a variety of metaphorical

What’s

Inside?

March Birthdays

ChurchWorks -

2

Calendar 3

New Mission

opportunity in a

4

Music Monday @

Govans

5

April and May

Birthdays

Getting to Know

One Another

6

Music Notes, cont.) 7

What’s Going On

@ Govans?

8

Holy Week

Schedule

9

One Great Hour of

Sharing

10

Special Sunday

Luncheon Series on End of Life Issues

Woodbrook

Players

Adult Options

Lenten Series

11

News from St.

Andrews

12

Woodberry

Crossing Tea

GEDCO Meeting

13

Butoke News 14

Crayola

ColorCycle

Donation Center

15

THE HERALD & BELLRINGER

N e w s f r o m G o v a n s

P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

MUSIC NOTES

Chancel Choir to sing Gabriel Fauré’s

“Requiem” On Palm Sunday, April 5th, the Govans Chancel Choir will perform the “Requiem” by French composer, Gabri-

el Fauré, at the 10:45am Palm Sunday

service. The Requiem is the shortened version of the Catholic Mass for the

PASTORAL PONDERINGS by Pastor Tom Harris

Continued on p. 3

Continued on p. 7

dead, and is 7 movements long: Introit and Kyrie, Offertory, Sanctus, Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei, Libera Me, and In Paradi-sum. The mood and message of the Requiem is one of comfort and consola-tion: Fauré stays away from the concept of hell and damnation which can be found in some Catholic masses, but, in-stead, focuses on the hope of eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ. The musical work lasts about 30 minutes, and I thought it might be help-

P a g e 2

CHURCHWORKS - NEWS FROM THE SESSION This was shared by Session with the congre-gation on February 16 in both services: The Govans Session met for our regular meet-ing on January 27th. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting: We approved the Operating Budget and the Mission Budget for 2020. The congregation will be asked to concur with these budgets at our March 1st congregational meeting which will follow a combined service. We plan to share the annual reports with the congregation the Sunday before the meeting so everyone has plenty of time to review them. At this time, we are pleased to say that pledges increased over last year, we have a balanced budget, and our Mission giving is also increasing. We heard a report on the Sharp Hall Renovation. Most of the construction is complete. Unfortunately due to unexpected issues uncovered after the demoli-tion of the ceiling, the project will be over budget by about 25%. We could spread these extra costs out in the 2020 budget or amortize them over several years. Once we have a final figure, the Finance Committee will recommend to Session how to account for the extra costs. We had a lively discussion on having a Paperless or Bulletinless Sunday each month as a step to reducing our use of paper as a congregation. Passionate arguments were made in defense of the bulletins, but we gave initial approval of the idea and empowered the Worship Committee to implement the idea over time. The online bulletins accessed by QR code is one step to reducing our use of paper for those who choose to do so, but we will never expect everyone to adopt this service. It was also suggested that we have a paperless Session meeting.

On another topic, we are excited to host in worship a group from our national General Assembly on June 21st. We will have a combined service that day fol-lowed by a luncheon. Since June 7th is already scheduled as a combined ser-vice, we decided to have combined services throughout the month of June.

Finally, we approved supporting statements to go with our purpose statement. These can be found on the back of your bulletin if you would like to follow along: The purpose statement, intended to be short, clear, and memorable is “Govans Presbyterian Church is a theologically progressive community empowering peo-ple to make the world better.” The supporting statements are the following:

We empower people to make the world better by encouraging each person to develop and nurture a relationship with God as they un-derstand God. God is the source of our life, joy, healing, wholeness,

Continued on p. 7

March Birthdays

1 - Andrew Nuckolls

3 - DeAnne Byerly

5 - Phyllis Ross

9 - Shelly Clay-Robison

9 - Grace Sutherland

10 - Denise Evans

10 - Chris Herfel

14 - Sasha Harris

14 - David Greenlee

16 - Jenny Hoffman

17 - Terry Shaw

20 - Mary Beth White

21 - Grace Johnson

22 - Abbie Vickers

26 - Jon Morgan

29 - Ashley Short

30 - Paulina Conrad

T h e H e r a l d & B e l l r i n g e r

May/June/July

Newsletter The deadline for submissions

for the May/June/July 2020

newsletter is April 20, 2020.

Please send to Andy Wilson

([email protected]) or

call the church office.

THE HERALD & BELLRINGER

P a g e 3 N e w s f r o m G o v a n s P r e s b y t e r i a n

beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus. For in-

stance, they may read the Bible stories about his

resurrection as a way of expressing that the Spirit

of Christ continued to inspire and transform his fol-

lowers even after he died.

Another Biblical view of the resurrection of Jesus is

that the church is the body of Christ in the world (1

Corinthians 12:27). We are the Risen Christ.

In regard to our resurrection, there is a lot of stuff

in the Presbyterian Confessions about a literal res-

urrection of our bodies (which according to these

Confessions will happen on Judgement Day), how-

ever, there are many Christians today who find

this idea unhelpful. Do our molecules reassemble

from their decomposed or cremated state? What

if we were eaten by a school of sharks? Believing

in the literal, physical resurrection of our

bodies is not a requirement of the Christian

faith.

I was taught in seminary that the real value

of the doctrine of the resurrection of the

body is it tells us that our physical bodies

do matter. They are a part of who we are

and can’t really be separated from our

souls (even though that is exactly what the

Confessions say will happen after we die;.

Our souls go to heaven and our bodies go

into the ground to await a resurrection that

reunites them with our souls). But, saying

that our physical bodies will be eventually

raised up to heaven reminds us that we

should not abuse our bodies or allow others

to abuse them.

Pastoral Ponderings...continued from Page 1

CHURCH CALENDAR March

1-Combined Worship & Cong. Mtg., 10:00 a.m.

1-Woodbrook Players Gala, 2:00 p.m.

2-Music Mondays @ Govans, 7:00 p.m.

4-Adult Options Lenten Series, 6:00 p.m.

4-Personnel Committee Mtg., 6:00 p.m.

6-Youth Group, 6:30 p.m.

8-Planning for Death & Dying Series, 12:15 p.m.

9-Fasting Group Communion, 6:30 p.m.

9-Finance Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

9-Music Mondays @ Govans, 7:00 p.m. (see p. 5)


13-BookEnds Book Club, 10:00 a.m.

15-Planning for Death & Dying Series, 12:15 p.m.

16-Facilities Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m.


17-Session Meeting, 6:30 p.m.






April

1-Personnel Committee, 6:00 p.m.



9-Maundy Thursday Service, 7:00 p.m.

10-Good Friday Service, 7:00 p.m.

12-Easter Sunrise Service, 7:00 a.m.

12-Easter Services at 9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

13-Finance Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m.


14-Fasting Group Communion, 6:30 p.m.


17-Woodbrook Players Performance, 7:30 p.m.



20-Earth Care Committee, 5:30 p.m.

20-Facilities Committee, 6:30 p.m.


21-Session Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

22-Neighborhood Food Drive Bag Dropoff, 5:00 p.m.

25-Neighborhood Food Drive Bag Pickup, 10:00 a.m.


26Woodbrook Players Performance, 2:00 p.m.


Continued on p. 4

The Apostle Paul compares our bodies to a

seed and our resurrection to a plant growing

from the seed. The plant looks nothing like the

seed (1 Corinthians 15). This is in some ways

jibes with the modern understanding that our

bodies do become part of the earth and nour-

ish other living things.

Technically, resurrection is not really about

what happens to our souls. It is about our bod-

ies. Our souls are another issue completely. Do

our souls immediately go to heaven (or some-

where else)? For instance, Jesus told the thief

on the cross “Today you will be with me in

paradise.” Do we retain self-consciousness in

P a g e 4


the afterlife? Are we reunited with those who

went before us? Maybe.

At the heart of all this is that we believe we

belong to God who is the Creator of the uni-

verse and the Mother and Father of us all.

God is loving and faithful. Whatever happens,

after we die, we know we will always be in

the hands of the one who made us and loves

us as a parent loves a child and even more.

These thoughts are far from exhaustive but I hope

they are helpful as we prepare to celebrate the

Resurrection of Christ on Sunday, April 12th!

Peace,

Tom

Hello everyone! I wanted to share with you some of the successes of our new mission at Guilford Ele-mentary/Middle School.

We are working with Andrew McCormick, who is the community coordinator for Guilford. Andrew is one of only two community school coordinators in the Baltimore city school system, and we are so glad he is there for the kids and can work with us.

So far, we have provided 40 antiperspirants that students can keep in their lockers. We have provid-ed 2 large pump bottles of textured hair shampoo and conditioner for a single parent family of 5 sis-ters that all attend Guilford (pre K to 7th grade). We have provided laundry detergent so a second grader can have clean clothes. (His classmates were making fun of him because he was smelly).

We have provided 130 healthy granola and fruit bars. If a student is late to school, they do not get breakfast. For many of the younger Guilford stu-dents, the meals they eat at school are the nutrition they have for that day. Hard to concentrate if your belly is louder than the teacher. The bars are kept in Andrews’s office where they can be given out as needed.

We bought some pretty ponytail holders for a first graders hair. Her Mom is not there to help, and she

worries she is ugly because her hair is so messy.

We bought a pair of pink boots and a pair of tie-dye style sneakers for a girl whose old ones were too small for her, so painful to wear they were af-fecting her walking.

Of course, pencils, crayons, notebooks… all these things and more the students need and we help to provide. However, with this mission, we are going beyond their regular school supply needs and help-ing the kids with more personalized items. We are working on providing these because they need to feel good about themselves before they can con-centrate on their lessons, and learn!

On a personal note, I have adopted a first grade class that I volunteer with several days a week. I have challenged myself to further the spirt of our mission. I help the kids with their schoolwork, sit and play games with them on Tuesday afternoons. A high five when they get the right answer and a lis-tening ear when they tell me about their days. Eve-rything from arranging a vision test when they squint, to bringing in grapes or half a banana for snack time. And yep, I fix her ponytails.

Thank you all for your support! Carolyn Anewich, Mission Committee

New Mission Opportunity - Guilford Elementary/Middle School

Pastoral Ponderings...continued from Page 3

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Music Mondays @ Govans!:

What’s

Going on

@

Govans?

P a g e 6


April Birthdays 2 - Helen Finney

2 - Anne Stone

2 - Mark Wong

3 - Amanda Dalton

3 - John Deprine

7 - Timothy Johnson

7 - Meghan Thomas

9 - Claire Storey

11 - Carol McAfee

13 - Peter Conrad

13 - Donna O’Laughlen

20 - Kellen Herfel

22 - Eric Johnson

23 - Noah Bellamy-Mills

23 - Joann Tinkler

27 - Ethan Akpati

29 - Barry Bryant

30 - Bobbie Cook

May Birthdays 5 - Carol Frigo

5 - Hailey Gaede

6 - Andy Wilson

7 - Elena Storey

9 - Rena Hoisington

9 - Lee Seabolt

10 - Sam Fuller

10 - Stephen Gaede

11 - Pam Wallace

13 - Madison Gaede

17 - Chase Koehler

21 - Sally-lyn Duff

21 - Jody Sharp

24 - Ellen Egger

29 - Tom Harris

31 - Beth Bryant

GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER:

JANE HOUCK What is your favorite book? I am not a big reader. In recent years I have spent more time reading news stories and following up on topics that come up in conversation or in the movies. Who is your favorite author? I don’t have a favorite author. I have enjoyed many over the years. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? I am an outdoors person. I love spending a day in a new location, walking and sitting down to see the trees and plants, the birds, the water of a pond, a lake or the ocean. In the evening, would your rather play a game, visit a relative or friend, watch a movie, or read? I do all of these for variety. I really enjoy spending an evening with friend(s) over a good meal. What would you do if you won the lottery? I play the lottery every few weeks and have thought about this. I would like to set up a charity to reach out to those children who are falling and slipping out of the school system before they disappear. We would reach out to them and try to address those problems which come between them and success in school. If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be? EEK! There are so many things I wish had happened differently. This question overwhelms my imagination. What is the most daring thing you ever did? My husband and I trav-eled to many exotic places. My favorite was our trip to Tunisia. We traveled from Tunis to the edge of the Sahara Desert by public trans-portation, (quite an adventure). Then we traveled on the desert, riding camels with Bedouin camel drivers for three days, camping each night on the open sand. What is your favorite family tradition? Thanksgiving dinner What is your favorite subject in school? History What verse in the Bible is your favorite? This was my grandfather’s fa-vorite verse and I have always found it to be a source of guidance. “He has told you, O mortal, what is good: and what does the Lord re-quire of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly

with your God?•

P a g e 7


Music Notes...continued from page 1

ful to give a little background about the composer and this

opus.

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), was a French composer who at-tended the Niedermayer School for Music in Paris. He was a stu-dent of Camille Saint-Saens (“Carnival of Animals”) who be-came a lifelong friend and men-tor of the young musician and composer. After graduation, Fau-ré rose in the church music ranks to become organist at the pres-tigious Church of the Madeleine in Paris as well as Director of the Paris Conservatory. His duties were onerous, but he managed to find time to compose on sum-mer breaks. His compositions for piano and voice are his most well-known, as well as his Requiem, composed from 1887-1890. The style of the Requiem is one of re-fined phrasing and subtle pat-terns of tone and rhythm. This Requiem is a message of comfort and warmth, not fear and trem-

bling. Fauré himself wrote:

“It has been said that my

Requiem does not express the fear of death, and someone has called it the “lullaby” of death. But it is the way I see death; as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather

than a painful experience.”

The Requiem is written for Chorus, Soprano and Baritone soloists, as well as orchestra and organ (which we will use). It was premiered at his church, the Madeleine, in Paris. The church authorities allowed no female

singers, and the chorus and soloists were limited to boy sopranos, altos, and male singers. As the Requiem grew in popularity and performed outside the church walls, a more balanced group of singers, with women, was in-

cluded.

I encourage you to attend this Palm Sunday service, which will have a hand bell processional, leading to “All Glory, Laud, and Honor.” The Requiem will replace the ser-mon and foreshadow the painful betrayal and death of Jesus. Services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will continue this “road to the Cross.” Please consider join-ing the choir on Thursdays at 7:30pm as we prepare this choral masterpiece for our worship at Govans on April

5th.

Debby Lewis (Woods)

ChurchWorks...continued from page 2

ability to overcome obstacles and make a positive difference in the world.

We provide the means for each person to grow in their relationship with God, by inviting and welcom-

ing all people to worship, learn, serve, and care for one another.

As a Christian community, we embrace values and virtues demonstrated in the life and teaching of Jesus and throughout the Bible, including:

Selfless love as demonstrated by Jesus throughout his ministry and death on the cross.

Relational ministry that prioritizes listening and building relationships.

Healing and restoration of God’s creation.

Liberation for all people held in bondage whether by personal or social powers.

Equality and equal opportunity for all people to enjoy the abundance of God’s creation.

If you have any questions or comments please speak with an elder or Pastor Tom.•

Youth Hand Chime Group: Youth are invited to prepare for Easter Sunday, April 12. We will meet on Thursdays at 6:00 pm: March 26, April 2, and April 9, to prepare. For more info, contact Debby Lewis (Woods) at: [email protected].

P a g e 8


What’s Going On @ Govans?

Earth Day Baby Blessing and Birthday Brunch -

Sunday, April 19:

Join us in both services as we celebrate and give thanks for the earth which God has given into our care. Also in both services, we will bless any babies, pictures of babies, baby dolls, or whatever fits into the category of “baby”. Between the services, Congregational Care is sponsoring a potluck Birthday Brunch were you will be invited to sit with people who were born in your birth month. BE BRAVE AT THE BIRTHDAY BRUNCH AND GET TO KNOW SOMEONE NEW!! The goal is to meet folks you may not know. (Young chil-dren may, of course, sit with their parents.) You are invited to bring your fa-vorite brunch recipe or pick up a foil pan and make a traditional Govans egg casserole.

Lenten Ritual in

Worship: Each Sunday in Lent you will have the opportunity to take some pebbles from a bowl in the back of the Sanctuary and during the service bring them forward and drop them in the baptismal font. Please reflect on what the pebbles might mean to you:

Something or someone you want to let go of A commitment you want to make A prayer for someone or something or for yourself Something else - be creative

Have you ever considered the

spiritual discipline of fasting? A small group of people will hold a fast on March 9 and April 13. We will break fast with a simple Communion service on those days at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to fast to whatever degree they feel called before the Communion Service. If you would like to join us please contact Pastor Tom so he can include you on an email list we use for mutual support and encouragement.

Individual

Meetings Group: The group that took the One to One Relational

Training in late January is meeting for follow up discussion on Tuesday,

March 31st at 7pm. All are welcome even if you did not take the training.

P a g e 9


One Great Hour of Sharing:

I was a stranger and you

welcomed me (Matthew 23:3)

T h e f i r s t P r e s by t e r i a n participation in this offering was initiated in 1947 by the the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States. Aspects of the offering and its participants have changed over time but the purpose has not: to collect special gifts for disaster relief, refugee assistance and development aid. One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is our denomination’s largest special offering.

One in every 122 people in the world today is forcibly displaced from their home, seeking refuge

either within their national borders or beyond.

Refugees are helped every day with finding safety and care through the One Great Hour of Sharing

Offering. Life in a refugee camp or as a refugee in an urban setting is a permanent temporariness that

defies the wholeness of individuals or communities. Our support is critical for the immediate and

ongoing needs of Syrian and other Refugees even before they arrive in the U.S. or another resettled

country.

“This is not my face but this is my story. I am a woman in Afghanistan. My parents raised me to believe that

boys and girls deserve the same opportunities in life, the same education, the same hope for the future. But

there are people in my country who are at war with this idea. My family was harassed, my father was

killed. My sister and I now live in the United States. We are seeking political asylum, trying to rebuild our

lives. We are going to college and still dreaming of hope for the future. One Great Hour of Sharing has

been there helping us every step of the way. Because my family is still at risk back home, I cannot put them

at risk by showing my face. But make no mistake. I will speak out, I will tell my story loud and clear. This is

not my face, but this is a face of hope for a new future. This is not my voice but this is the voice of

thousands who are unable to speak. This is my story, one of the many stories made possible by people like

you, people called to put compassion into action.”•

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Special Sunday Luncheon Series:

Woodbrook Players

Spring Show: The Woodbrook Players present The Curious Savage on Friday, April 17. and the weekends of April 18 & 19 & 25 & 26. Join us for this insightful comedy about an elderly widow named Mrs. Savage, whose husband has left her $10 million dollars. She intends to give the entire fortune away to people who wish to pursue their “foolish dreams,” but her stepchildren strongly object. Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 PM, Sunday shows at 2 PM. Tickets available at the gate or online at https://squareup.com/store/govans-presby-church.

Adult Options Lenten

Series - What is the Old

Testament?: Govans member, Dr. David Harris will be hosting a soup and discussion series at Govans during four Wednesdays in Lent. Join us on March 4, 11, 18, & 25 at 6:00 p.m. (stay tuned for room details) What's in the Old Testament, how was it written and why, and how has it influenced Western and Nonwestern thinking about issues such as justice? An introduction to the history, literature, and religion of ancient Israel and early Judaism is presented. Attention is given not only to the content of the biblical books but also to the debates over their meaning and the critical methods through which they have been interpreted. Contact Ben Hobbs at [email protected] with questions or to volunteer to bring soup

or salad.

https://squareup.com/store/govans-presby-church

The following is from the Pastor at the St. An-drew’s United Church in Cairo, home of St. An-drew’s Refugee Services, a mission partner of Go-vans: Happy Egyptian Springtime and welcome to an-other issue of Passages! Steve here - and I’m so grateful to be writing again from our home here in Cairo, Egypt. As a matter of fact, everything seems to be about thankfulness and gratitude these past few months. Truth be told, we have

had much sickness in our household and I’m hap-py to report we are feeling much, much better (hence the combined two-month newsletter). We are so grateful for the awareness that an incredi-bly vibrant and fast-paced living environment also requires the balance of: rest. In Egypt, peo-ple refer to the days and times of rejuvenation as “taking rest” - and it has been an excellent exercise in simply noticing when rest might need to happen. Noticing the importance of being in-stead of constantly doing and that, for many of us, slowing down is quite often a very difficult thing to achieve. Sometimes our bodies need to help us remember and...we might find ourselves

sick in bed for a week or two. Inshallah, we will find what we need. As we settle into Egyptian living, we've spent a lot of time lately observing and reflecting on the ways people interpret and express thankfulness and gratitude, especially in a country where people participate in constantly offering their kindness to others. With so many of these interac-tions, there are no words used, needed, or ex-pected. What continues to amaze me in Cairo is the “wordless engagement” - especially when language fails. In this place, much of the time a

NEWS FROM ST. ANDREW’S IN CAIRO

person need only place their hand on their heart and smile to show eternal gratitude. And with that, there can be difficulty in saying “no thank you”. Many of you reading this are located and living within in the U.S.A. and so our cultural reali-ties on this topic are going to be fairly under-

stood and socially familiar - our American rules of ‘no thanks.’ Most all of us know how to navi-gate basic conversations: how to turn down or reschedule a coffee date with a friend -or- how to tactfully avoid making dinner plans (even with

people we completely adore) because we just want to eat chocolate anything and watch Netflix alone. Clearly, these conversational skills change by location and culture I have been respectfully examining my relationship with them. In this beautiful place, the rules of expectation are dif-ferent and so I thank God for the opportunity to learn and to maybe even say “yes” more than I have in the past. This is a global experience which continues to adjust and refocus my defini-tion of priority, an expedition which is supported fully by the spirit of the human heart and, quite often, the stranger.

In Cairo, there is a gratitude for your being, for your presence in the world. As I’ve highlighted before, kind souls offer donations on the Metro train as a constant act of caring for the next per-son: considering them, seeing them, being grate-ful for their life. And even the traffic (which hon-estly used to terrify me) now seems to play out as a harmonious display; a clear picture of ex-

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...continued on next page

P a g e 1 3


changes, manners, and social values (...except for the micro-buses, they will totally run you over). Gratitude in Egypt is a deeply woven understanding and celebrated cultural norm, without explanation or conversational follow-up, and it contin-ues to touch our hearts daily.

One day during my Arabic class, I’m told that we will stop the lesson and join the staff for a traditional Egyptian breakfast in the lobby “because it is time”. Five, six, seven incredibly color-ful, distinctive dishes with bread and vegetables and Egyptian black tea. I gladly accepted the offer and let go of my need to “be in class” - as there was so much to be grateful for, so much to be in the moment for. The breakfast went about thirty to for-ty minutes and simultaneously proved to be not only educational in the Arabic language and completely deli-cious, but it was a beautiful reminder. A reminder that when we show up for life, the fabric of the present mo-ment has a chance to shine through and unfold its loving detail within our unique lens. There is a shared thank-

fulness for time spent together. Our shared gratitude.•

Join GEDCO for its 2020 Annual Meeting!

Monday, March 16th

Time: 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. Where: Church of the Redeemer

5603 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD

21210

Parking will be available in Redeem-er’s parking lots. Please enter the

building through Main Entrance; meet-ing will be in the Parish Hall.

The GEDCO Annual Meeting is FREE and will include the election of GED-

CO’s Board of Directors, light refresh-ments, interactive activities, raffles,

and much more! Please RSVP ASAP to Debbie Barnes

at 410-433-2442 ext. 19

or [email protected].

Woodberry Crossing Friendship Tea: GEDCO Annual Meeting:

...News from St. Andrew’s (continued from previous page)

https://www.bing.com/local?lid=YN873x4196536669427964195&id=YN873x4196536669427964195&q=Church+of+the+Redeemer&name=Church+of+the+Redeemer&cp=39.36537551879883%7e-76.62442779541016&ppois=39.36537551879883_-76.62442779541016_Church+of+the+Redeemer

https://www.bing.com/local?lid=YN873x4196536669427964195&id=YN873x4196536669427964195&q=Church+of+the+Redeemer&name=Church+of+the+Redeemer&cp=39.36537551879883%7e-76.62442779541016&ppois=39.36537551879883_-76.62442779541016_Church+of+the+Redeemer

mailto:[email protected]

P a g e 1 4


Report from Dr. Jean Lumbala – December 2019 December was marked by two special activities:

The commemoration of a year since the death of our Cécile which took place on Sunday 12/01/2019, with worship of thanksgiving, pray-ers, religious songs, dances, and also meditation on the future of Butoke. A set meal was offered to young choirsters, orphans and old people. The fee contributions were used to finance these activities.

Christmas, the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our celebration began on 12/22/10 at midnight with prayers, songs, and dances. Friends of Butoke sent $500 as a fund for this commemo-ration.

My orphans and widows, friends and acquaintances, our students, the neighbors, attended this commemora-tive prayer. NUTRITION The nutrition program benefitted from the contribution of FOB UK, and FOB USA. Many children were saved by improved nutrition during this month. Many of these children come from large families, and during this time, the food cost is very expensive and these fami-lies are unable to feed their own. We have seen many cases of kwashiorkors, dwarfism and many cases of doldrums. Butoke has initiated family planning, house-hold size, and a birth spacing program. Also, lessons on the quantitative and qualitative meal. Lessons on how to prepare soy porridge mixed with corn, includ-ing palm oil for its richness in vitamin A, a little sugar to stimulate appetite. Very good recovery results for these children are being recorded

32 children out of 54 admitted are recovered • 2 deaths from kwashiorkors

20 children whose treatment is ongoing. Multivitamins, dewormers and anti-malarials often ac-company their children. HEALTH The Musue Bantu Health Center: The pilot health cen-ter is that of Musue Bantu with a health post of Tshikaji and that of Tshimbundu, This center has just been des-ignated the Health Center supervising health care of other health centers located in our health area and this thanks to its quality of health care. The new cases went from 3 to 7 cases per day, which

gives the average of 49 cases per week, which gives a total of 76 cases for 28 days without counting the old cases. Cases included malaria 21, typhoid 21, amebiasis (a parasitic infections) 12, hernias 11, C-sections 5, appendicitis 14, kwashiorkors 6 se-vere including 2 deaths (malnutrition from pro-tein deficiency). Of these 76 cases, 33 cas-es were hospitalized. The pre-school health consultation take place once every week. For the month of December, 19 deliveries including two twins: 14 girls and 7 boys. Difficulties in maternity included re-newal of sheets, beds, and materials for child-birth, including 5 boxes of paints to renew the walls. The health post of Tshikaji: Tshikaji is a care unit that receives the most our students, some peasants are con-sulted inside and sorted for their transfer to Musue Bantu. The month of December, many of our cases were transferred to Musue Bantu - 28 cases, mainly operations and difficult cases were transferred. Our Helene, a little girl who swallowed caustic soda and burned her throat was hospitalized at the Good Shepherd Hospital where she was saved with a lot of regurgitation difficulties. She came to be with us at Tshikaji orphanage but must now have more surgery because her throat is narrowing. Her surgery and sur-gical kit will cost $1500. The health post of Tshimbundu: Tshimbundu was initiat-ed towards the end of November, during the construc-tion works of the school of Tshimbundu. We attended two childbirths that I managed myself because the woman was unable to reach maternity because of the distance of more or less 3.5 kilometers distance which separates her from maternity. That is why we decided to open a health post and a maternity that has just 4 clamps and we take this opportunity to launch a cry of support for the female population for the equipment of this maternity. Care for raped persons is free and at Butoke's expense. The other ambulatory care is done regularly, the prenatal and pre-school consulta-tions are done inside. In His love, Dr. Jean

News from Butoke

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VISIT THE DONATION CENTER IN THE GALLERY: We have added a couple of new baskets for donations for our Mission Partners. You can donate any time to our Mission Partners in the community by dropping off items in the baskets. The following items are needed, so when you are shopping pick up an extra item and donate any time. RECYCLED GREETING CARDS Used by the creative team that creates “Cards for CARES”. Funds used to support the emergency food and other services provided by our mission partner CARES. TOILETRIES Toiletries will be donated to our Mission Partner - TurnAround Domestic Violence Center and Services. They have requested the following items – bar soap, deodorant, razors, shampoo, toothbrushes, tooth-paste, and lotion. SOCKS Earl’s Place is our mission partner and provides transitional and permanent housing for homeless men in Baltimore. They have requested men’s athletic and dress socks. SUPPLIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS We have started a new relationship with Guilford Elementary School. Here is a list of some of the things that will help the children - New kids socks, textured hair shampoo, laundry detergent. Markers, crayons. Toothbrushes and mini sized toothpastes. Girly hair ties, individual sized hand sanitizers, pink erasers, Spiffy decorated pencils. Moisturizing bar or pump soaps. Chalkboard chalk and erasers. Breakfast bars. INDIVIDUAL PACKAGED SNACKS Baltimore Safe Haven, the shelter and drop-in center for TGLBQ individuals has requested – individual microwaveable packages of Mac and Cheese or Ramen Noodles, Peanut Butter Crackers, Breakfast Bars, other crackers or cookies. USED MARKER RECYCLING Govans Preschool and Govans Presbyterian Church will be collecting used Crayola & non-Crayola markers, highlighters, and dry-erase markers as part of the Crayola Colorcycle program.

Used Markers Needed: Govans is a PC(USA) Earth Care

Congregation. We participate in a variety of earth friendly programs throughout the year to protect our fragile environment. One program we’ve recently starting participating in is the Crayola Colorcycle, a marker recycling program. This program has repurposed more than 70 tons of expended markers in the U.S. & Canada since 2013, and uses the most advanced plastic conversion technologies available today to make wax compounds for asphalt and roofing shingles, as well as to generate electricity that can be used to heat homes, cook food, and power vehicles. Crayola ColorCycle will accept all brands of plastic markers, not just Crayola markers. That includes dry erase markers and highlighters! There is a basket in the Donation Center in the Gallery for you to deposit old markers. We are currently about 3 lbs away from having enough markers to send in our first donation.

5828 York Road

Baltimore, MD 21212

410-435-9188

www.govanspres.org

“Govans Presbyterian Church is a

theologically progressive community

empowering people to make the world

better.”

march - april 2020 what’s · heaven, so who knows? though some christians teach that belief in...

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