Church Events

Aug 13- Knit Wits 10am

Aug 14- ELC Board Mtg 5pm

Aug 16- Boy Scout Mtg 6pm

Aug 21- Session Mtg 6:45pm

Aug 22- Harvest Team Planning 6-8pm

Aug 27- Knit Wits 10am

Aug 27- Harvest Team Planning 6-8 pm

Sept 3- Labor Day Holiday; PPELC & PPC Office Closed

At A Glance

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF PENFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AUGUST 1, 2018

No Kids Church School on Aug 5

Introducing Rev. Dr. Carson Mouser,

Interim Pastor, Penfield Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Dr. Carson O. Mouser has a long

and accomplished career in Pastoral Minis-

try. Serving congregations in various roles

since 1994, Pastor Carson has worked with a

wide variety of churches throughout New

York state, including: Calvary St. Andrews

Presbyterian in Rochester, Central Presbyter-

ian in Geneseo, 1st Presbyterian in Glov-

ersville, North Presbyterian Church in Tonawanda, and United

Community Church in Tupper Lake. Most recently, Pastor Car-

son has served as the Pastor at Summerville Presbyterian

Church. Pastor Carson has also been active in multiple PC(USA)

leadership committees.

Pastor Carson holds a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate

Rochester Divinity School (Rochester, NY 1997), a Doctor of

Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary (Decatur,

GA, 2007), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and US

History from San Jose State University (San Jose, CA, 1976). His

doctoral studies focused on using a narrative-based process for

congregational transformation, culminating in the publication

of his book “The Promise of Narrative Change: Living Why to

Thrive.”

Pastor Carson and his wife, Tina, reside in Rochester, NY. They

have five adult children and 8 grandchildren.

Pastor Carson will serve his first formal day as Interim Pastor at

PPC on August 21, 2018. Please join in welcoming him to Pen-

field Presbyterian Church and engaging in ministry together.

Dear friends,

It takes a village! I'm sending a BIG THANKS to each of you for your sig-nificant role, big or small, in helping get these wonderful kids successfully launched to Camp Whitman! You can follow all their good times from their stay on Facebook or Instagram "Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake".

With immense gratitude,

Jan

Top right picture:

Trixie the archer;

Center picture:

Yenyok & Aliaa;

Bottom picture:

AJ & Gus

Blood Brothers: The Dramatic Story of a Pal-estinian Christian Working for Peace in Israel by Elias Chacour Chacour is the author of two best-selling books. Chacour is the winner of

the Niwano Peace Award and has been nominated three times for the

Nobel Peace Prize.

As a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee. When tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million forced into refugee camps in 1948, Elias began a long struggle with how to respond. In Blood Brothers, he blends his riveting life story with historical research to reveal a little-known side of the Arab-Israeli conflict, touching on questions such as: •What behind-the-scenes politics touched off the turmoil in the Middle East? •What does Bible prophecy really have to say? •Can bitter enemies ever be reconciled? Now updated with commentary on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as a new fore-word by Lynne Hybels and Gabe Lyons, this book offers hope and insight that can help each of us learn to live at peace in a world of tension and terror.

Blood Brothers covers Chacour’s childhood growing up in the town of Biram, his development into a young

man, and his early years as a priest in Ibillin. This book has been translated into more than twenty lan-

guages.

Jan will have the books for sale on Sundays or you can pick one up in the office next week.

Please join us we as delve into this book together leading up to our special speaker on the topic this Fall.

From the Back Cover: This is a story about people--not politics.

Sunday Aug 5: BOB KAISER

Bob graduated from Gettysburg College

and Union Theological Seminary in NYC.

He was a Methodist pastor for 7 years and

then served two Presbyterian churches in NY State before coming to Gates Presbyterian in 1976 where

he was pastor for 22 years. Since retiring he has served part-time in eleven churches, which were going

through times of transition and was at Penfield in 2010. .

Marilyn and Bob have led several mission trips to Mexico and Latin America. The Kaisers live in North

Chili and have four children and eight grandchildren.

Summer Preaching

Each Sunday throughout the summer there will be

various pastors preaching until an interim begins. They

have submitted a brief bio about themselves so you

can get to know them better.

A wonderful opportunity for all church members - especially during this time of transition at PPC

“Becoming the Church We Dream Of”

Speaker: Shane Claiborne

“Becoming the Church We Dream Of”

Friday August 3rd @ 6:30pm The Clover Center for Arts and Spirituality, 1101 Clover Street

“Dreams Into Action” Workshop

Saturday August 4th @ 9:30-1:00

The Clover Center for Arts and Spirituality, 1101 Clover Street

Shane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in

Calcutta, and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks

who are committed to living "as if Jesus meant the things he said." Shane is a champion for grace which has led

him to jail advocating for the homeless, and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. And now

grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty.

Shane’s books include Jesus for President, Red Letter Revolution, Common Prayer, Follow Me to Freedom, Je-

sus, Bombs and Ice Cream, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers, Executing Grace, his classic The Irresistible

Revolution, and his newest book, Beating Guns (2018, forthcoming). He has been featured in a number of films

including "Another World Is Possible" and "Ordinary Radicals." His books have been translated into more than a

dozen languages. Shane speaks over one hundred times a year, nationally and internationally. His work has ap-

peared in Esquire, SPIN, Christianity Today, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has been on everything from

Fox News and Al Jazeera to CNN and NPR. He’s given academic lectures at Harvard, Princeton, Liberty, Duke,

and Notre Dame. Shane speaks regularly at denominational gatherings, festivals, and conferences around the

globe.

Tickets for Shane Clairborne: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shane-claiborne-becoming-the-church-

we-dream-of-tickets-45143048072church-we-dream-of-tickets-451430480

If you would like to have a copy of Val Fowler's sermon of July

29 ("The Charter Member of #MeToo") you may request one

through Brenda Tucker (ppcadmin@rochester.rr.com) or directly

from Val (pastorval@juno.com). His sermon of July 22

("Go Forward") is also available.

Harvest Seasonal Team

Planning meetings begin at 6:00 on

Wed. 8/22 and Mon. 8/27

Your participation would be appreciated

Please also sign-up to share in the roles of Greeter, Coffee Host,

Nursery Helper, and Liturgist. Sign up sheets are on the bulletin

board or you may send a note to the office.

From the Office of General Assembly PC(USA)

What can a Congregation Expect from an Interim/Transitional Pastor?

Like all pastors, Interim/Transitional Pastors offer to the congregations they serve:

Worship leadership and preaching

Pastoral care

Work with the session to provide for the life and ministry of the congregation

Administrative work including supervision of other staff persons

Staff support for programs and committees of the congregation

In addition, an Interim/Transitional Pastor leads a congregation during the transition time after an installed pas-tor has departed, helping the congregation prepare to welcome the leadership of a new installed pastor. Inter-im/Transitional Pastors understand the dynamics of a congregation in transition, including feelings of grief, loss, and, sometimes, relief or anger.

Interim/Transitional pastors will help the session provide for continuity of essential programs, and may assist the session in assessing needs for changes in programs and ministries of the congregation.

Some Interim/Transitional pastors have special skills and experience that can help a congregation recover from a time of conflict or after the disclosure of clergy sexual misconduct or other trauma.

Ordinarily, an Interim/Transitional pastor is not eligible to serve as the next installed pastor, or co-pastor, or associate pastor of the congregation (G-2.0504c). The Interim/Transitional pastor may, if the session and the Committee on Ministry approve, work with the session in a mission study or assist the Pastor Nominating Com-mittee in gathering data for the writing of the Ministry Information Form. With those possible exceptions, the Interim/Transitional pastor may not be involved in the work and discernment of the PNC.

A good Interim/Transitional pastor will “hit the ground running," beginning his/her time with the congregation with intensity and energy, and will leave with intentionality, engaging in a “good goodbye” with the congrega-tion and its staff. A good Interim/Transitional pastor is fully present with the congregation from the beginning, and really leaves when she/he leaves.

Mosaic of Peace Travelogue Vol VIIII August 3

We met many people in Palestine/Israel who were in their own way, fighting for peace and justice. Three of the people we met were really fighters. Two served in the Israeli army (IDF- Israeli Defense Force) and the other spent time throwing rocks at anyone that looked like an Israeli. Each of these men had transformations that helped them to understand that fighting and war are not the answer. They have each faced ostracizing from their community of friends and family for their stand on peaceful protesting.

Yaniz Mazor is a man in his late 20’s. He served as a tank commander in the IDF during the second Intifada (Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Ga-za). He did his duty, but as he was serving he realized there was something quite wrong. His patriotism was a product of Israel’s militarized society and education system. When his time was up he was expected, as all former soldiers are supposed, to stay in the reserves. He re-fused. His punishment was 20 days in prison. When he came out, he knew he had to “fight” a different way. He has become a guide for the Greater Jerusalem area and is teaching the

people on his tours the ways in which the Israeli government is inhibiting peace by their actions: The land pro-curement and the occupation of the West Bank to name but a few. He is involved as an activist and can often be found at joint Israeli/Palestinian activities in the southern West Bank. He told us that he has few friends now. His family has disowned him. He said “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

Another day we met Ishai Menuchin. He also served in the IDF and he also served time. His crime: he refused to serve in the Lebanon War in 1982. This war killed 10,000+ peo-ple in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps located in Beirut, Lebanon. The organization that he belongs to is Yesh Gvul. It was founded in 1982 in the shadow of the Lebanon War. They attempt to provide support to conscientious objectors and “refuseniks” - Is-raelis who object to all or some forms of service in the IDF.

The third man is Jamel Qassas. He is one of the people featured in the documentary “Disturbing the Peace”. He was born in the Deheisha refugee camp outside of Bethle-hem. He too went to jail – 13 times for his protesting of the occupation. His brother, 14 years of age, was killed by the IDF with an exploding bullet after having spent 3 months in prison for his part in political activism. (Side note: the IDF came to arrest his brother at 2 AM in the morning. This is their M.O. for arresting people, especially young men. They are held without bail for up to 6 months. ) Jamel had to tell his mother that his brother had died. He said “I lost my brother and the smile of my mom.” Needless to say he was a mad man but somewhere along the way he had a transformation due to kind and loving

people around him. His boss, an Israeli, asked of his story during one of Jamel’s first days of employment. Jamel still wasn’t sure about the boss or where he was working. But as he spoke, his boss got emotional and showed sympathy and said “we want you to stay on here”. His mother, while watching the news of a busload of Israeli children that had been killed, began crying. Jamel said “Don’t cry, it’s in Israel.” She said “The mother of those children feels the same as I do. Their blood is the same color.”

Their stories and histories are different. Their goal is the same: A peace filled end to the occupation and fighting with a lasting, just peace for Israel and Palestine.

This week’s take away: Always be kind and offer support for the people around you. You never know when your kindness or thoughtful conversation might change someone. But we cannot do it alone. It takes family, church & friends with faith, patience & time.

Peace and blessings,

Mindy Shaffer

Pledge statements for Jan - June

are available in the foyer. Please

stop by and get your statement.

Thank you.

Penfield Coalition of

Churches for Habitat is

grateful for all community

support that helps to

build houses!

Please contact our PPC

Habitat Representative

Dottie Holmes at 794-1206

to make arrangements for

pick-up of donations.

Be sure to stop by the sale -

you may find some won-

derful treasures

Thank You!!

Worship This Sunday 8/5

Pastor: Rev. Bob Kaiser

Liturgist: Lydia Palmer

Church Musician: Christine Schwind

Faith Development Leader: Jan Kennedy

Greeters: Wayne & Helen Kidd

Coffee Hosts: Wayne & Helen Kidd

Nursery Supervisor: Zelma Barnes Davis

Nursery Helper: Jane Walls

E-News Prepared By: Brenda Tucker

Scriptures for 8/5: Psalm 51; Romans 7: 14-25

AUG OFFICE HOURS

Mon 12:30 - 4:30 pm

Tue 12:30 - 5:00 pm

Wed 12:30 - 4:30 pm

Thu 12:30 - 4:30 pm

Fri 12:30 - 4:00 pm

CLOSED TUE 8/21

Our Deacons continue

to collect food for our

Penfield neighbors.

Your generosity is

appreciated.

In case of an emergency or an immediate need for pastoral care, please contact Elder

Tracy Wheaton at (315) 879-0150.

PPC Session Elders John Bacon Judy Collom Jim Farnham

Kevin Gorman Jack Mansur Jeff Peterson Mindy Shaffer

Tracy Wheaton

PPC Deacons Julie Cox

Suzanne Feather Jim Kaniecki

Tamara Kaniecki Helen Kidd Jan Kleppe

Jacolyn Krause Ellen Moodie

Bill Rice Janet Sandruck

Caren Weaver