November 2014 Vol. LXXXVII No. 11

The Messenger

A monthly publication of Third Presbyterian Church

www.thirdpresbyterian.org

Support the East Avenue Grocery Run November 1 It's not too late to support this terrific, family friendly event. We are expecting over 1000 participants this year! Additionally, you can gather sponsorships from friends and family through Crowdrise.com through November 15.

Registration and packet pickup is available at both Fleet Feet Sports Rochester locations (at the Culver Road Armory, 155 Culver Road, or 2522 Ridgeway Avenue) on Thursday, October 30 and Friday, October 31 from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Race Day Registration and packet pick up will begin at 7:00am in the Celebration Center.

Whether you are racing to win, or winning by challenging yourself to finish, we have an event for you: A certified 5K run or walk One mile run and fitness walk Children's Fun Runs

If you can't participate, come out and cheer. Let’s show the community what a warm, hospitable church we are, and that together we can help feed the hungry in Rochester! Visit www.groceryrun.org for more information.

Stewardship Sunday is November 16 Bring your pledge cards to worship.

See “In Touch” on pages 5-8 for more information.

Daylight Savings time ends November 2 Set clocks back one hour before retiring on Saturday, November 1.

Great Schools for All Education Symposium Monday, November 10 On Monday, November 10, Third Church is hosting the Great Schools for ALL Education Symposium where key Monroe County leaders are being invited to engage in conversations to help develop a vision, principles and values leading to equitable education for all students in our community. Great Schools for ALL is a broad community-wide coalition initiated by Urban Presbyterians Together. This symposium is the second part of a planned two-way exchange between leaders in our community and Raleigh, North Carolina to explore ways to break down effects of concentrations of poverty in public schools. The event will feature a keynote by Kara Finnigan from the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education, and leaders from Raleigh/Wake County, North Carolina Public Schools. The Rochester Area Community Foundation has provided funding support for this effort.

You can help us host this day-long event by signing up to help with duties such as registration, parking, serving a catered lunch, providing directions, etc. If you can help, please contact Jo Whang (jwhang1@rochester.rr.com) or Lynette Sparks (lsparks@thirdpresbyterian.org or 585-271-6513, ext. 106).

For additional background, see Mark Hare’s article, “Lessons for Rochester from Raleigh” at the following link: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/lessons-for-rochester-from-raleigh/Content?oid=2411630

THIRD VOICE WORSHIP SCHEDULE 9:15am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:00am Worship in Sanctuary

NOVEMBER 2 8:30am Worship in Chapel/Communion 9:15am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary Martha Langford preaching “Cosmic Humility” Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37; Matthew 23:1-12 Set clocks ahead one hour before retiring on November 1! NOVEMBER 9 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary John Wilkinson preaching “It’s All a Matter of Timing” I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 NOVEMBER 16—STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary John Wilkinson preaching “An Invitation to Give” Psalm 123; Matthew 25:14-30 NOVEMBER 23—CHRIST THE KING 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary John Wilkinson preaching “From Christ to Church and Back Again” Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46 NOVEMBER 30—FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:30am Worship in Chapel 10:00am Intercessory Prayer—Chapel 10:45am Worship in Sanctuary John Wilkinson preaching “An Invitation to Watchfulness” Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37

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6:00-6:45pm Third Church Chapel

November 5— John Wilkinson eading November 12— Martha Langford leading

November 19— Lynette Sparks leading

Living Waters Wednesdays returns December 3

Dear Friends,

When people beyond Third Church ask me about Third Church these days, my response often includes the words “energy” and “enthusiasm.” And with good reason.

Everywhere you look, inside and beyond our walls, energy is apparent in abundance. We have launched a new Wednesday evening service with great response, filled with wonderful music and an opportunity to engage in new ways of prayer. We will soon launch an advertising campaign that will introduce many more in our community to life at Third Church in a creative and fresh manner. We have moved the Corner Place to a new location where it is poised to serve more children and families. The fifth annual East Avenue Grocery Run is expanding both in people participating and dollars raised. Mary Ann Rutkowski has hit the ground running. We have a fully refurbished Meigs Street parking lot and a new accessibility elevator to the Moot Room (both thanks to generous bequests). We are making headway in our discussions about Rochester schools.

That is all new stuff, filled with energy and enthusiasm. That list could go on and on, and is coupled with our strong and continuing programs in outreach, worship and music, education and fellowship for all ages.

It is a cliché to say that none of this could happen without the financial support of our members, yet it is a cliché that would be absolutely true. And this year is different.

As you will read elsewhere in the “In Touch” stewardship update in this Messenger, we are looking at a forecast of an unfunded gap of approximately $100,000 for 2015. That is not a figure intended to cause panic or fear, but it does create a certain sense of urgency.

I believe we have the resources to bridge that gap. In many ways, these words in the Messenger are like preaching to the choir, and yet it’s still worth putting the challenge in front of you.

So for 2015, the Stewardship Committee is issuing “An Invitation to Give.”

If you…

Give at a level that you need to maintain, please do so. And thank you!

Give at a level that at which you have given for the last several years, and can move to a new level, please consider doing so. And thank you!

Give at a level and can make an even larger increase, say, from $1000 to $1500, or $2000 to $3000, because your circumstances have changed, please consider doing so. And thank you!

Have not pledged, and can do so, at any amount, please consider doing so. And thank you!

This year, it will take all of us working together to bridge our challenging gap. We seek both greater participation from those who do not pledge, and, enhanced giving from those with the capacity to do so.

As you read “In Touch” in this newsletter, and as you receive your personalized stewardship mailing soon, please read and consider this Invitation to Give prayerfully and seriously. We have the resources to make this happen, enabling this great sense of energy and enthusiasm to proceed into the exciting future to which God is calling us.

And don’t forget your pledge cards on November 16!

Faithfully,

Milestones Joys—

Born

Abaynesh Schlecht Tedla, to Yonathan Tedla and Jennifer Schlecht. Grandparents Ken and Mary Jo Schlecht (B Northwest Parish) rejoice in her arrival!

Baptized

Vincenzo Anthony Bonacchi, born July 29, 2014, son of Ryan and Angela Johnson Bonacchi, on October 12

Concerns We express sympathy to

Laura and Matt Anderson, Mitchell and Cassidy (A North Central Parish), on the death of Laura’s mother, Virginia Marks

Sam and Liz Montello (C Northeast Parish) on the death of Liz’s sister, Peg Winter

Third Church Connections

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More Light Event Sunday, November 16 Out to Lunch NAPA Wood Fired Pizza (573 S. Clinton Avenue). Contact Karen Anne Bills at karenannebills@gmail.com. Book Club Thursday, November 13 1:00pm, Library Contact Susie Kieren at skieren4@yahoo.com. Shawl Knitting Ministry Mondays, November 3, 17 5:00pm, Parlor Contact Nancy Adams at 889-4055 Sisters in Spirit Fridays, November 7 & 21 9:30am, Parlor The group is exploring the ideas presented in A New Harmony: The Spirit, the Earth, and the Human Soul by Phillip Newell. Visit the new website with information about Sisters in Spirit: https://sites.google.com/site/sistersinspiritgroup/

Calvin Guild Wednesday, November 19 12:00pm, Johnston Hall Larry Iwan will speak on “The Didjeridu and Australian Aboriginal Culture.” A simple soup and sandwich lunch will be available at a cost of $7 per participant. RSVP to Dot Wallace at 223-8502.

Deacons’ Bench Fall has been a time for celebration... first the wonderful Heritage Lunch honoring our members over the age of 75 and then a Gathering Tea at Cloverwood where the Deacons and pastoral staff shared time with our members residing there. On Sunday, October 5, the Deacons hosted the Fall Lunch and Learn with Karen Menachof of Caring Transitions. Karen provided a guided tour through the activities surrounding a “downsizing” move, highlighting ways to reduce stress for all involved when planning and making a downsizing move.

Each Sunday the Deacons take bouquets of chancel flowers to members in the hospital, in a rehabilitation center, or at home following surgery or an illness. This “flower

ministry” brings the beauty of Sunday services and the love of our congregation to those not able to attend. Deacons continue to visit members of the congregation as they recuperate. We encourage you to let your Deacon or the church office know if you're facing surgery or are hospitalized for illness. In November we’ll focus on our

college freshmen, preparing care packages for them during our Deacons’ meeting. We've found the contact from home is especially appreciated as our freshmen face their first finals’ week at college. Sue Bixler

Thanks and Godspeed to Lynn Lambert In September 2010, Lynn Lambert began her yoga ministry at Third Church. The first classes were crowded, with sometimes up to 20+ people wedged in on mats on the floor in Johnston Hall.

Faithfully, for these last four years Lynn arrived to lead the class, prepared with some music, a lesson plan, a smile and lots and lots of encouragement. Flexibility is key to yoga and Lynn has been flexible and resourceful in finding space to teach her classes. Every yoga class was different with new, challenging poses and sequences and sprinkled with thoughtful readings.

Lynn taught to each attendee according to their abilities, always offering adaptations so that everyone could participate. After each class we all went home with tired, sore bodies but with our spirits lifted and more peaceful than when we had arrived. Lynn’s weekly class was a reminder that our bodies, our souls and our very breath are gifts from God to be acknowledged, honored and shared.

But most of all, Lynn made all this FUN! We laughed as we contorted ourselves into warriors, rabbits, camels, trees and happy babies. We laughed together as we accepted our limitations and our imperfect selves. Heartfelt thanks to Lynn! Our love and prayers go with you on your new adventure in Washington, DC!

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Growing in the Word 9:30am—Parlor November 2: Joshua 3:7-17: Faithful Witness with Holly Powell

November 9: Matthew 25:1-13: Kingdom Parables with Darryl Powell

November 16: Matthew 25:14-30: Parable of Talents with Jim Stewart

November 23: Matthew 25:31-46: Seeing Jesus with Jim Stewart

November 30: Combined with Sunday Seminar in Johnston Hall

Spiritual Formation

Thursday Voice 12:00noon—Johnston Hall Engage with favorite authors.

November 6: Resistance to Anxiety: Exodus 20:12-17 by Walter Brueggemann with Lynette Sparks November 13: Stumbling Over the Stumbling Stone by Richard Rohr with Martha Langford November 20: Loving the Storm-Drenched by Frederica Matthewes Green with John Wilkinson

Sunday Seminar 9:30am—Johnston Hall November 2: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and His Letters from Prison Robert Westbrook, University of Rochester, Joseph F. Cunningham Professor of History

This seminar examines the dramatic life (and death) of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the theological significance of his writings from a Nazi prison in the years before his execution days before the end of World War II in Europe

November 9 & 16: Constantine to Constance Roderic P. Frohman, Pastor Emeritus

Week 5: Thomas Aquinas and the High Middle Ages— 1200 to 1300AD Castles, Cathedrals, Knights, Universities, the Magna Carta, and Marco Polo

Week 6: The Darkness Before Dawn—1300 to 1415AD Famine, three competing Popes, the bubonic Plague, gunpowder, the Renaissance, Chaucer, Wycliffe, and Jan Hus

November 23: Grace and Gratitude with Paul Gongloff Karl Barth once said, “Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice of an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder and lightning.” In our brief time together we will meet the mitey widow, the Klu Klux Klan, Rudyard Kipling, Osceola McCarty, Abraham Heschel, and one of the greatest prayers: “Thanks!”

November 30: Growing in the Word, Isaiah 64:1-9—Advent Hope with Jim Stewart

I wanted to give you an update on where the church stands financially. As of the end of September, we’re facing a deficit of $14,674 in our current year pledge income. We’re not sure exactly why this has happened—we may have been too optimistic in our budgeting process, it may be that members are behind in their pledge payments, or it could be a combination of both. If you are not up-to-date in your pledge payments, please do whatever you can to get caught up. Additionally, prior year pledge income of $6030 was about 3% under our budget estimate. Receipts of $13,323 for contributions with no pledge were about 6½% over the budgeted amount. Income of $9614 for Sunday plate offering through September exceeded our budget goal by more than 13%. Overall, income for these four categories was nearly 2% under our budget estimates. Expenses through September were mixed. Building expenditures of $142,933 were over budget by 5.4% due to some projects being completed earlier than anticipated. Outreach expenses of $135,341 were under budget by 1.8%, Personnel expenditures of $629,012 were virtually on target, and Office expenditures of $29,546 were under budget by nearly 19%. For the operating budget as a whole, income of $1,044,362 through September exceeded expenses by ~$23,600. Our endowment through June: We had an investment return of 3.7% for the second quarter, a three-month interval when the MSCI All Country World Index returned 5%. After the second-quarter imputed income withdrawal of $80,262, the market value as of June 30 was $5,191,819. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t “plug” our upcoming Stewardship Sunday. I can’t stress enough the importance of everyone’s supporting the day-to-day operations of this church by making a pledge. We can’t assume that the person who sits next to us in the pew on Sunday will continue to provide the income needed to run this beautifully refurbished facility and its programs. Each and every one of us needs to respond to “An Invitation to Give” to support Third Church—and each other—by making a pledge on November 16. On a personal note, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your prayers and support during these past several months since my husband, Jim, died. This has been a very difficult time for me, and I’m very grateful for my wonderful church family.

Jan Chisholm

Treasurer’s Box

In ouch T A Seasonal Newsletter from the Stewardship Committee

Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, New York Fall 2014

I Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the LORD;

AN INVITATION TO GIVE: THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT For the past ten years, Third Church has been spending more than it has been forecasting for revenue. While our membership has increased, we have witnessed a continuing decrease in members (individual or family households) that pledge. Since 2000 the number of “pledging units” has dropped from 595 to 411 in 2014. During this time, the church has balanced the budget by using a series of one-time fixes that included both planned and unplanned actions such as:

Using surplus funds from the Fund Balances Postponing audits Extraordinarily warm winters (low utility bills) Federal refunds on health insurance payments Carryover of prior year surpluses driven by tight

financial controls Postponing building projects Personnel savings by not immediately replacing

departing staff

While this has allowed us to balance these prior budgets, the deficit has continued to increase in size and is projected to be approximately $100,000 for 2015. This is based on no budget increases except for a slight increase in personnel and an increase in utilities to reflect more normal winters (see budget in next column).

www.thirdpresbyterian.org

Our strategy for meeting this budget challenge is to ask current givers to increase their pledge and ask those who have not pledged to make their first gift this year. Special Stewardship Teams will be contacting some of you in the next weeks. Please respond yes when contacted! While this would appear to be a very difficult task, we believe we have the ability to meet this challenge. Failure to do so will result in budget cuts that will have a very serious impact on both our church and its programs.

2015 BUDGET FORECAST INCOME Pledges, Contributions, Gifts, Grants $945,000 Endowment Income $313,000 Rent (Day Care and 34 Meigs) $ 39,000 Fund Raising $ 52,500 Misc. Income $ 5,000 TOTAL $1,355,000

EXPENSES Personnel/Child Care $875,000 Outreach – PC (USA) $ 80,000 Outreach – Programs $115,000 Worship, Music & Art $ 38,000 Faith Development $ 15,200 Boards & Committees $ 5,600 Office & Finance $ 50,400 Membership/Fellowship $5,500 Building Maintenance & Utilities $214,000 Support to Presbytery (Per Capita) $ 36,100 Fund Raising $ 24,000 TOTAL $1,458,800

UNFUNDED ($103,800)

Where do your dollars go when you make a pledge recommitment? Proverbs 11:24-25 24Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. 25A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.

Personnel is the largest part of the Third Church budget. Our Pledges make it possible to afford and retain our wonderful staff: pastors, musicians, Christian educators and, the secretarial and sexton staff that support their work. Meaningful worship, gorgeous music, Sunday School, Qabats, Youth programs, Spiritual Development, weddings, hospital visits, memorial services; all these and more are supported by your pledge.

Hebrews 13:16 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Building expenses are the second largest budget expenditure. Our Pledges help to make our 120 year old building the warm and welcoming place that it is. Heat, electric and water bills come due every month. Even though the building was recently remodeled and updated, our three Sextons are continually cleaning, repairing and maintaining the church, the chapel and the education building and grounds. Lawns are mowed, sidewalks are cleared of ice and snow, floors are swept and mopped, and rooms are arranged for the various programs taking place on Sundays and through the week. The budget does not include some needed building expenses. The sanctuary organ and the Bell Tower are both in need of extensive repairs, for which there is no funding at present. Increased pledges to the operating budget or special one-time gifts are needed for this work.

Acts 20:35

35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ’

Within our overall program of ministry, both reaching in and reaching out, Outreach is the third largest part of the Third Church budget, but only slightly less than the Building budget. Third Church has always sought to be God’s hands in the world; in particular, to “put our arms around the city”. Our Pledges support the Third Church Food Cupboard, the Dining Room Ministry, RAIHN, tutoring programs, the Corner Place, Peacemaking (including the Gun Violence committee), and other city churches through Urban Presbyterians Together, as well as Presbytery and the National church programs.

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AN INVITATION TO GIVE What drew you to Third Church, and what keeps drawing you back? The worship and music? Our strong programs for children and youth? Our outreach service to neighbors near and far? All of the above...and more? In unique and different ways, God has invited each of us to be a part of the Third Presbyterian Church Christian community. However that invitation has come to each of us and in whatever way we are “seeking the light,” those of us who have chosen to be a part of Third Church have found a place that has enriched our lives. But now, all of us have a stake in making sure that the Third Church community prospers and grows. Along with the many and important ways that people share their time, the most important way to make this happen is through an annual pledge or commitment of financial support.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 6The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

An Invitation to Give is an invitation to all of us to support financially the vital ministry you read about on the preceding page. As you RSVP to this invitation, please prayerfully consider how the ministry of Third Church touches your life, or the life of your family, or the life of our neighbors in need, or the broader community of which we are a part. A church is a church. We operate like a business in some ways, though with a different set of values motivating us. We are also similar in many ways, but different in others, from a not-for-profit organization. Third Church seeks to “operate” its ministry frugally and faithfully. Over the last decade or so, we have sought to offer modest compensation increases to our wonderful staff, though there have been several years when we haven’t been able to do so. We have sought to expand our programs as we have felt called, but overall program expenses, including for outreach, have been essentially flat. Building costs have been managed effectively as well, though we do know that the very cold winter we’ve just experienced has impacted our utility costs.

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Third Church Food Cupboard

Cameron Community Ministries

Habitat House

Tutor Bill Ramsay and student

Faith in Action Recipients Sue & Linc Spaulding Tutor Bill Ramsay and student

Stewardship Sunday is November 16 Please help Third Church maintain its programs and continue to reach out in Jesus’ name to our community and to the world.

Thank you for your support.

Yours in faith from the Stewardship Committee— Bill Coons (chair), Carol Coons, Jeanne Fisher, Bill Jones, Susan Melech, Kathy Schumacher, Jim Stewart, John Wilkinson, (staff)

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“An Invitation to Give”

YEAR Number of Pledges Total $ Pledged 2000 595 $741,096

2002 589 $795,081

2004 564 $876,399 2006 514 $900,994

2008 487 $899,510

2010 431 $844,243

2012 419 $856,753

2014 411 $877,468

For 2014, 411 pledges were made to Third Church representing 764 members totaling $877,468

If you pledged in 2014, thank you. Perhaps for 2015 you can consider increasing your pledge to a monthly figure — $50, $100, $200, $500 a month. If you are in a position to make a larger pledge, your support will help to ensure the future finan-cial health of Third Presbyterian Church. If you did not pledge in 2014, perhaps you can get in the game for 2015.

Mission: ROC Week—Constructing shed at Habitat House

FACTS and FIGURES

Children’s Ministry News Contact: Becky D’Angelo-Veitch, Children’s Ministry Coordinator 271-6513, ext. 118, rveitch@thirdpresbyterian.org or Mary Ann Rutkowski, Associate Director of Music, 271-6513, ext. 101 or mrutkowski@thirdpresbyterian.org.

The B.E.A.T. Box Contact: Jane Carden, Youth Ministry Coordinator 271-6515, ext. 107 or jcarden@thirdpresbyterian.org. www.thirdchurchyouth.weebly.com

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Church School This Month! In Sunday school this month, we will begin with a story about God’s plan for Joshua from the Old Testament, and will continue in the Gospel of Matthew as we explore more parables.

Qabats Second Rotation Starting on November 12, our second rotation, Third Church invites will begin in Qabats. We are excited to welcome our Membership and Evangelism and Outreach committees to come and lead workshops for our children!

Qabats and Church School Schedule Please note, there will be no Qabats on November 26, and no regular Sunday school on November 30 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will have the worship table in the sanctuary on November 30 for any children present.

ANNUAL FALL YOUTH RETREAT When: Friday-Sunday, November 7-9 Where: Watson Homestead, Painted Post, NY Cost: $55 RSVP: to Jane Carden by Sunday November 2 Permission Slips: available on our Weebly Website (www.thirdchurchyouth.weebly.com) YOUth Summer Trip ’15: July 10-18 Montreat Information Meeting Sunday, November 16, 12:00noon in Youth Lounge $200 deposit due December 1 (Please note: this trip is open to those teens currently in 8th-12th grade)

Musical Auditions for “Celebrate Life!” April 26 Performances Auditions for the Youth Musical will be held on Saturday, November 15, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm in the Choir Room. Speaking and singing parts are available, and all youth are encouraged to be a part of the show! Performances are on Sunday, April 26. For audition material, and to set up an audition time, contact Peter DuBois (271-6513, ext, 109 pdubois@thirdpresbyterian.org). Covenant Singers can sign up for audition times at Sunday rehearsal.

Church School Chapel Our first church school chapel of the year will be held on Sunday, November 9. Church School chapel is an opportunity that the children have once per quarter to create and lead a worship service during the regular Sunday School timeslot. The service is held in the chapel and focuses on a theme from the Sunday school curriculum—this time we will explore the Greatest Commandment, Matthew 22:34-46.

Additional Teacher Needed... The Children’s Ministry Committee is seeking one additional teacher to team teach (a two-times per month commitment) in the 5th grade classroom beginning in January. Please contact Becky D’Angelo-Veitch or Kris Pochodylo if you are interested in learning more!

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress —a Memoir of Going Home. With wry humor and a huge personality, college professor and

author Rhoda Janzen describes her return to her Mennonite family after the breakup of her marriage. She tackles faith, family, and aging in this moving memoir about looking homeward in order to move ahead. In Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott writes about the three simple prayers that are fundamental

to coping with tough times and the hardships of daily life. Recognizing that pop culture and Christianity are mesmerized by death and dying, Brian Blount

bases Invasion of the Dead—Preaching Resurrection on his 2011 Yale Beecher lectures that offer an alternative vision of life that obliterates death and dying. He explores the meaning of resurrection through the Book of Revelation, the letters of Paul, and the Gospel of Mark.

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Thanks Again for your Support! Pleasant conversations and delicious meals were enjoyed all around Rochester on October 4 when the following hosts/hostesses greeted friends in the name of Third Presbyterian Church:

Ned & Beth Adams Carol & Don Roth

Jan & Jim Widboom with Hank & Lea Theuer Phil & Beth Tschorke

Jay & Peg Rachfal with Rob & Becky D’Angelo Veitch Rusty & Jeanette Olson

Ann McMican & Jack Mould Maryjane Link with Jo Whang

Judy & Dane Gordon with Ronna Grimes Paul & Nancy Gongloff

Trip & Carol Miller with Janet & Dan Davies Bill & Carol Coons with Linc & Sue Spaulding

Ralph Carter & Van VanZanten with Mary Leist & Laurie & Janice Mahoney

Betty & Larry Iwan with David Tennant & Kathy Eldredge Lynette & Brad Sparks with Jane & Mark Carden

Bob & Kathy Swensen Margaret Lindsey

Thank you to the hosts and hostesses and all the participants. $7,955 was raised through your efforts!

UPT School Supply Donation Schedule November: Gloves & Hats December: Coloring Books

In September and October 2014 the UPT School Support project distributed school supplies to:

Cameron Community Ministries The Corner Place Schools #3 and #35 Trinity Emmanuel Friday Nights Young Mothers Interim Health

In addition, $2400 was gathered for school field trips. Any donation checks should be made payable to the fiscal agent, Third Presbyterian Church, <http://www.urbanpresbyterians.org/churches.php?c=third> with “UPT School Support” noted on the memo line of the check. Donations are tax deductible depending on the donor's personal tax situation.

New in the Library

News from former Assistant Organist Tom Muller Tom has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Church Music and University Organist at Concordia University in Irvine, CA, beginning in January 2015. He will also continue his position as Assistant Organist at St. James’ Episcopal Church in downtown Los Angeles, on a part time basis. Tom, Kristina and Isabella are enjoying being united as a family, and appreciate our warm thoughts and prayers

2014 CHRISTMAS BASKET MINISTRY GOAL: 70 Third Church Donors helping 70 City Families. Seventy needy families from School 3, School 35 and RAIHN graduates are hoping again this year that 70 Third Church families will adopt a family and provide a Christmas Basket. Sign up to “adopt” a family and/or to contribute funds for gift certificates to purchase turkeys. By Sunday, November 30, we will need about $2000 in contributions to subsidize additional food purchases for larger families and to purchase TOPS gift cards. Please sign up to deliver and/or donate by: 1) Visiting the Christmas Basket table after worship or 2) Contacting Rose Pethick ( phone 388-8540 or 545-0912 or

rpethick@frontiernet.net. 3) Sending donations to Third Church, noting that donation is

for Christmas Baskets. Underwear and socks are also needed for this year’s Christmas tree: boys and girls pants and t-shirts: sizes 5 through 14-15 socks: S, M. L sweatpants: sizes 5-12 boys and girls hats and mittens. Contact Rose Pethick for more information.

About Our Worship: Why do we practice Corporate Confession?

From the Worship, Music and Arts Committee Every Sunday at Third Presbyterian Church, we are called to confess our sin together as a community during worship. Have you ever wondered why we confess this way? Or have you assumed that confession should only be a private, personal act between yourself and God? Hebrews 10:19-22 exhorts us to “have confidence to enter the sanctuary… with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” In the Roman Catholic tradition, individuals confess their sins privately to the priest, who acts as the intermediary between the individual and God. The priest assigns acts of penance and offers absolution. Most Protestant churches believe that Christ is the only intermediary between God and humanity for confession and forgiveness of sin. Personal, private confession is necessary for individual forgiveness. And in the Reformed tradition corporate, or shared, confession and absolution are an essential part of worship. Our forefather, John Calvin, believed that when we come into the presence of God in worship we first need to acknowledge our own unworthiness (Institutes, III. 4.11). Corporate confession is not a time to enumerate particular individual sins; rather, it is a recognition of God’s holiness and our collective shortcomings. Calvin also advocated singing as a way “to incite us to lift up our hearts to God and move us to zeal,” and recommended the inclusion of the Kyrie or Agnus Dei in corporate confession. A congregation in Washington, D.C. regularly precedes the prayer of confession with a news story about poverty, hunger or injustice, and concludes with the call to confession. This reminds us that we participate in society’s injustices, and that we acknowledge not only our own sins, but the sin of the world. Our shared confession uses language that is general, and words that are inclusive, such as “we” and “our.” Here at Third Church, we are called to confess our sin after the opening hymn. We pray together as a community, and then pray silently to allow time for personal confession. We sing the Kyrie (Lord have mercy upon us) that was written for our congregation by Peter DuBois. Confession without absolution is incomplete. Together we remember the promise of redemption and the assurance of God’s grace when the minister reminds us to believe the good news, and we proclaim as one community, “In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.” And we joyfully acknowledge our forgiveness and the holiness of God by singing another of Peter’s settings, Glory be to God, confident in the knowledge that God has raised us to new life. Do you have a question about our worship at Third Presbyterian Church? Email jefisher100@gmail.com and we’ll include it in an upcoming newsletter.

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Coming soon: 2014 Witness Palestine Film Series Now in its third year, the Witness Palestine Film Series seeks to enlighten and entertain us with films and events about the people of Palestine: their culture, their situation, and their struggle.

New in 2014 Celebrate Palestine, an evening of Palestinian food and music, promises to be an enjoyable (and delicious) way to experience the culture of Palestine, on Sunday, November 9 at Asbury First United Methodist Church.

Witness Palestine Festival Pass ($40, students $32) will be available this year, providing full admission to all films and the Celebrate Palestine dinner event. Passes go on sale during coffee hour, October 26 and November 2.

All Films will be shown at The Little Theatre (except as noted), followed by a panel discussion. Panelists include film directors and experts in the fields covered by each film. Full program information is available at www.WitnessPalestineRochester.org.

It’s Better to Jump – Thursday, October 30 at 6:30pm (Basil Hall, St. John Fisher College) The title refers to a rite of passage for young people, jumping off the Ottoman-era sea wall into the Mediterranean.

When I Saw You – Sunday, November 16 at 2:00pm. A narrative set in 1967 at a refugee camp near Amman, Jordan, directed by Annemarie Jacir. “When I Saw You is cinematic poetry. Beautiful, groundbreaking and deeply, deeply moving” (The Huffington Post).

On the Side of the Road – Monday, November 17, 6:45pm Filmmaker Lia Tarachansky turns the camera on herself as she revisits the West Bank settlement where she grew up.

Voices Across the Divide – Sunday, November 23, 2:00pm Filmmaker Alice Rothchild is an American Jew raised on the dream of a Jewish homeland in Israel, who begins to understand the Palestinian experience.

Stone Cold Justice and From al-Araqib to Susiya – Monday, November 24, 6:45pm The first of two films chillingly examines what justice is like for children in the West Bank, where arrests come in the middle of the night. The second film examines policies of displacement for Bedouin villages in Israel and the West Bank.

November is Transgender Awareness Month Our More Light Committee is sobered by the following information: “Transgender people suffer persistent inequalities in aspects of life... experience rampant workplace discrimination, may be met with challenges to their parental relationships, lack sufficient access to quality healthcare free from discrimination and face difficulties in obtaining appropriate name and gender designations on their identity documents” (Lambda Legal). This accompanies widespread violence against transgendered persons, who make up 72% of the victims of LGBT hate crimes. The More Light Committee invites you to join us at the following events:

Rochester Transgender Day of Remembrance Service November 16—2:00pm at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church (707 E. Main St. Rochester, NY).

Rochester Area Trans* Day of Remembrance Vigil November 20—6:30pm at Open Arms MCC.

THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF John Wilkinson, Pastor Martha C. Langford, Associate Pastor (Congregational Care) Lynette K. Sparks, Interim Associate Pastor (Outreach and Evangelism)

Lucinda B. Lamme, Parish Associate Peter A. DuBois, Director of Music/Organist Mary Ann Rutkowski, Associate Director of Music Caroline Robinson, Assistant Organist Rebecca D’Angelo-Veitch, Coordinator of Children’s

Ministry and Congregational Life Jane S. Carden, Coordinator of Youth Ministry William W. Young, Pastor Emeritus Roderic P. Frohman, Pastor Emeritus To reach any of our staff, call Third Presbyterian Church

at (585) 271-6513

The monthly church calendar is available at www.thirdpresbyterian.org/calendar.shtml

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With Heart and Voice: Remembering Richard Gladwell Monday Evening, November 3, 7:30pm The community is invited to gather at Third Presbyterian Church for a special Choral Evensong to celebrate the life of Richard Gladwell. He was the creator of the nationally syndicated radio program, With Heart and Voice, in which he shared his passion for sacred choral and organ music. Richard passed away five years ago, on October 15, 2009, but his legacy still thrives on public radio stations across the country. The Third Church Chancel Choir will participate, along with singers from the choirs of several other area churches. Evensong begins at 7:30pm on Monday, November 3 in the sanctuary of Third Presbyterian Church. Music will include repertoire from the English Cathedral tradition by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, H. Balfour Gardiner, Hubert Parry and others. More information is available at wxxi.org/events.

Chapel Concert by Candlelight Thursday, November 20, 7:30pm The Chapel Concert by Candlelight series begins with "Jake & Sarah," saxophone duo, featuring Jake Swanson and Sarah Marchitelli in a return performance. They’ll be joined by David Chatterton, cello, and Kate Parker, piano, in presenting a program of classical music including works by Mellits, Cote, Knorr, Hindemith and Lacour. Jake & Sarah have performed together throughout the United States, Europe, and in Puerto Rico. This program will feature transcriptions of classical music, original music for saxophones, and music written expressly for the Jake & Sarah duo. Join us and invite your friends. The Chapel Concert by Candlelight Series is made possible in part by support from the Janet S. and David B. Reed Fund.

Mark your calendars for these additional Chapel Concerts by Candlelight—- all Thursdays at 7:30pm: January 22 - "The Telos Trio" - Rita George Simmons, flute; Debbie Grohman, clarinet; Willie La Favor, piano February 12 - Glenna Curren, cello, in a program of solo works by J. S. Bach March 19 - Keri Berger, Cantorial Soloist at Temple B'rith Kodesh, joined by other musicians from the Temple