musings with our moderator mark olson - pbworksncpresby.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/80014859/midweek...
TRANSCRIPT
Musings with Our Moderator Mark Olson
Last week I attended the first lecture in a series dealing with the U.S. Supreme Court and the Civil War. The topic was Dred Scott and the origins of the war. You may recall from an American history course that Dred Scott, an African American born into slavery, lived for a number of years in Illinois and what is now part of Minnesota, both free territories. He petitioned for freedom and his case (actually the third he brought over a span of nine years) eventually worked its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In discussing the case, the lecturer, Professor Lea Vander Velde, skillfully developed a narrative involving not only 19th century legal concepts but also insights on the personal story of Dred Scott and his family - he was married and had two daughters, who were forced into hiding because of the intense passions aroused by the case. Although general history texts often summarize the case as holding that slaves are property and can be moved freely from state to state, the first issue faced by the Supreme Court was whether Scott was a citizen, a prerequisite for bringing suit in Federal court. The Court held that Scott’s petition had to be dismissed because neither he nor any other person of African American descent could be a citizen of the United States or any state. Scott, the court ruled, was to be returned to his former master. (The master – because of a death and remarriage – turned out to be the wife of a Congressman from New York State. Scott’s freedom was hastily purchased.)
Later in the week, my wife and I attended a production of a play called “Wit.” The drama takes place in hospital settings after the primary character, Vivian Bearing, is diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. As Bearing tells the audience, there is no Stage V. Bearing also tells us that she is a professor of metaphysical poetry, specializing in the “holy sonnets” of John Donne. Everything about Professor Bearing – the way she speaks and carries herself, the disdainful way in which she treats others – communicates her conviction that she is a superior being; she insists that one of Donne’s sonnets cannot be understood if a semicolon is inserted in place of a comma in the final line. But because of the late stage of her illness, Bearing is also a perfect candidate for an experimental treatment – 8 weeks of punishing chemotherapy. The medical staff insists that she must have the full course of treatment, and as the medical researchers review Bearing’s chart, conduct rounds and remind themselves to be courteous during patient visits, we see that Bearing, as drug trial, is a very important patient. In the end, as it becomes clear that the experimental treatment is not working, Professor Bearing is forced to rely on the kindnesses of a former mentor and a nurse, and finally dissolves into human proportions.
Is there a connection between the U. S. Supreme Court’s ancient decision about the fate of Dred Scott and other enslaved African Americans, and the plot lines of a contemporary drama? I think the connection is that in both situations human beings are treated as objects. Dred Scott, denied the status of citizen, is reduced to property whose entire life and being are directed by a master. Vivian Bearing objectifies herself through her academic persona and is then objectified by the medical staff, her needs as a patient subsumed in her usefulness as a clinical trial.
And the message for us, who claim to follow the risen Christ? Be slow to judge and even slower to assign people to categories: “He is a this, she is a that.” Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.
Peace,
-Mark
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My wife and fellow pastor, Mary,
and I attended the Governor's
Prayer Breakfast last week in
Dover. Gary Patterson is always on the prayer
breakfast committee and partly because of that, various
people with NCP connections are involved. Also,
Dover PC members Don and Delores Blakey were part
of a group that sang a couple of spirituals. Finally,
Susannah Tulloch introduced the main speaker and
Mawuna Gardesey gave the benediction. I was able to
get a picture of Mawuna and Susannah together, also in
the picture is a Jewish rabbi named Michael Beals.
—Bill Reed, Pastor Delaware City PC
achurchforstarvingartists Please Pick One
SickerAbdul is one of the 180 girls named yesterday as among the students kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Nigeria on April 14th by Boko Haram. Although 276 girls are still reported missing, we only have 180 names. You can read more about the situation here. The kidnappers are reportedly selling these girls for about $12 each to potential “husbands.” Please choose one name – one girl – and pray for her until she is found. I picked Sicker Abdul. She’s my girl. Who will you pick?
Deborah Abge, Awa Abge, Hauwa Yirma, Asabe Manu, Mwa Malam Pogu, Patiant Dzakwa, Saraya Mal Stover, Mary Dauda, Gloria Mainta, Hanatu Ishaku Gloria Dama, Tabitha Pogu, Maifa Dama, Ruth Kollo, Esther Usman, Awa James, Anthonia Yahonna, Kume Mutah, Aisha Ezekial, Nguba Buba, Kwanta Simon, Kummai Aboku, Esther Markus, Hana Stephen, Rifkatu Amos, Rebecca Mallum, Blessing Abana, Ladi Wadai, Tabitha Hyelampa, Ruth Ngladar, Safiya Abdu, Na’omi Yahonna, Solomi Titus, Rhoda John, Rebecca Kabu, Christy Yahi, Rebecca Luka, Laraba John, Saratu Markus, Mary Usman, Debora Yahonna, Naomi Zakaria, Hanatu Musa, Hauwa Tella, Juliana Yakubu, Suzana Yakubu, Saraya Paul, Jummai Paul, Mary Sule, Jummai John, Yanke Shittima, Muli Waligam, Fatima Tabji, Eli Joseph, Saratu Emmanuel, Deborah Peter, Rahila Bitrus, Luggwa Sanda, Kauna Lalai, Lydia Emmar, Laraba Maman, Hauwa Isuwa, Confort Habila, Hauwa Abdu, Hauwa Balti, Yana Joshua, Laraba Paul, Saraya Amos, Glory Yaga, Na’omi Bitrus, Godiya Bitrus, Awa Bitrus, Na’omi Luka, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Mary Yahona, Ladi Joel, Rejoice Sanki, Luggwa Samuel, Comfort Amos, Saraya Samuel, Sicker Abdul, Talata Daniel. Rejoice Musa, Deborah Abari, Salomi Pogu, Mary Amor, Ruth Joshua, Esther John, Esther Ayuba, Maryamu Yakubu, Zara Ishaku, Maryamu Wavi, Lydia Habila, Laraba Yahonna, Na’omi Bitrus, Rahila Yahanna, Ruth Lawan, Ladi Paul, Mary Paul, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa, Margret Watsai, Deborah Jafaru, Filo Dauda, Febi Haruna, Ruth Ishaku, Racheal Nkeki, Rifkatu Soloman, Mairama Yahaya, Saratu Dauda, Jinkai Yama, Margret Shettima, Yana Yidau, Grace Paul, Amina Ali, Palmata Musa, Awagana Musa, Pindar Nuhu, Yana Pogu, Saraya Musa, Hauwa Joseph, Hauwa Kwakwi, Hauwa Musa, Maryamu Musa, Maimuna Usman, Rebeca Joseph, Liyatu Habitu, Rifkatu Yakubu, Naomi Philimon, Deborah Abbas, Ladi Ibrahim, Asabe Ali, Maryamu Bulama, Ruth Amos, Mary Ali, Abigail Bukar, Deborah Amos, Saraya Yanga, Kauna Luka, Christiana Bitrus, Yana Bukar, Hauwa Peter, Hadiza Yakubu, Lydia Simon, Ruth Bitrus, Mary Yakubu, Lugwa Mutah, Muwa Daniel, Hanatu Nuhu, Monica Enoch, Margret Yama, Docas Yakubu, Rhoda Peter, Rifkatu Galang, Saratu Ayuba, Naomi Adamu, Hauwa Ishaya, Rahap Ibrahim, Deborah Soloman, Hauwa Mutah, Hauwa Takai, Serah Samuel, Aishatu Musa, Aishatu Grema, Hauwa Nkeki, Hamsatu Abubakar, Mairama Abubakar, Hauwa Wule, Ihyi Abdu, Hasana Adamu, Rakiya Kwamtah, Halima Gamba, Aisha Lawan, Kabu Malla, Yayi Abana, Falta Lawan, and Kwadugu Manu.
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Where Love leads, shall we not follow?
"Love...in the grave has lain."
Like a buried seed, Jesus sprang up green.
Shall we fear to follow where Love has been?
Photo of summer flowers in Hector, New York. Prayer based on the medieval French carol,
"Now the green blade riseth". Photo 2013 and prayer 2014 by Danny N. Schweers,
http://www.photoprayer.com/
From Interfaith Resource Center...
Stop the Violence Prayer Chain
Please Join Us... Happens rain or Shine
May 31st - 3 PM -
400 Block of Delmar and 4th St.
Sister BJ Brown,
Interfaith Resource Center,
1530 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE 19803
302.477.0910
www.interfaithresourcecenter.com
Capital Ringers: Ten Years of Ringing!
Dover Delaware’s Capital Ringers is an auditioned community handbell ensemble that rings the largest set of handbells on the Delmarva Peninsula consisting of 6 octaves (73 bells) of Schulmerich handbells and 5.5
octaves (67 chimes) of Malmark handchimes. They are dedicated to musical excellence with the goal of promoting the art of handbell ringing, across the Delmarva Peninsula, in their performances and workshops.
Capital Ringers concerts are scheduled each May and December. Additional musicians, including percussion, guitars, woodwinds musicians, plus actors and special effects, combine to create an entertaining multimedia experience.
The 2014 Spring Concert Tour, “Reflections”, will feature favorites such as “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Good Vibrations”, “Call Me Maybe”, and the premiere of a special piece commissioned for Capital Ringers’ tenth anniversary year.
Information about the Capital Ringers concert performance schedule and locations is available on the Capital Ringer’s website: www.capitalringers.org or by contacting the Artistic Director at 302.632.3106.
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The General Assembly meets in Detroit June 14-21, 2014. We hope you
plan to attend.
The deadline to register and request a reservation in an assembly hotel
is Friday, May 9 - do not delay if you have not completed your
registration.
Register on-line at www.pcusa.org/ga221 where you will also find the
assembly Schedule of Events and other pertinent information.
Please download and review the docket and the full Schedule of Events. Know your travel plans, the tickets you want
to purchase, etc. before you start to register.
On-Line Registration: Many of you have used this registration system for other conferences and have a user name
and password.
Others will start by creating a user name and password; please follow the instructions carefully, and be sure to
remember these so that you can return to your registration or access other PC(USA) services.
The advance registration fee ($70) and ticket fees are charged with the registration process. Major credit cards and
electronic checks are accepted for payment.
This system allows registrants to register a spouse or other family members who will accompany them to the assembly
and share their accommodations. You may register a family member as an observer (and pay the advance registration
fee of $70), or as a guest (with no registration fee), and just purchase tickets to assembly meals, etc. for them.
If you are not able to complete the registration in one pass, you can use your user name and password to access your
account to complete your registration – but be aware that the tickets you requested will expire in 24 hours, so be sure
to come back very soon to finish your registration.
Accommodations: Please register now – and no later than May 9 - for a reservation in one of the six assembly hotel
in downtown Detroit, at the special GA rates ranging from $119-$140/night. You need only fill in the pertinent
information on the lodging page in this process. A list and map is available at www.pcusa.org/ga221. Rank all of the
hotels in order of preference. You will pay the hotel directly for charges you incur. Please do not contact these hotels
directly for reservations.
Registration and Seating: Synod executives, presbytery executives (or their designee), synod stated clerks, and
presbytery stated clerks have assigned seating on the floor of the plenary hall and will be listed in the Roster of
Attendees, provided they confirm that they will be in attendance by completing the registration process by MAY 9.
Click here to go to the PCUSA GA webpage.
Xerox Copier Supplies
for Donation
Xerox Toners:
1 black (006R01175)
4 magenta (006R01177)
3 cyan (006R01176)
4 yellow (006R01178)
1 waste toner collector (008R12903)
2 drum cartridges (013R00588)
2 fuser cartridges (008R12933)
Contact Bravard Cornbrooks
Administrative Assistant
Wicomico Presbyterian Church
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (410) 749-5792
PRESBYTERIAN CAMPUS MINISTRY (PCM) has two rooms for
rent for the 2014/15 academic year. The PCM House is located on Main
Street in Newark DE and is a short distance from the Trabant [Student]
Center. The rent includes parking, utilities, WiFi, cable, and use of the
common areas which include a fully equipped kitchen as well as laundry
facilities.
Any interested student should contact Anne Gunn, PCM Board Moderator, at 302-547-3784 or
[email protected] for more information -- and a tour of the house.
Page 5
Posting Title: High School Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator
Employer: Allentown Presbyterian Church , Allentown, NJ
Employer Profile: (http://www.allentownpresbyterian.org/)
Hours: Full Time Requirements: A qualified candidate will demonstrate having a devoted
heart for Jesus Christ, a compassionate heart for high school students and young adults, strong
communication skills, high energy, strong leadership skills, the ability to work well as part of a team
and a flexible but task oriented nature. Should have Youth Ministry experience .
Education:College degree required.Theology degree or MDiv is a plus (This is not an
ordination track position.)
Compensation: Salary commiserate with exper ience
Contact: Submit resume, cover letter and statement of faith to Ida Ruch at [email protected]
View the full job posting here.
New Castle Presbytery
Mission Trips to New Jersey
The New Jersey shore was hit particularly hard
by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and many of our churches sent immediate
assistance to those affected. There have been a number of requests from
throughout the presbytery asking about mission trips to the area. Many
of our churches are unable to put together an entire team and it is our
presbytery’s desire to support those who wish to help those in need. It has
been your requests and desire to help our neighbors in need that has created
two mission trip opportunities:
June 22-28 Absecon Presbyterian Church, Absecon, NJ
August 17-23 Community Presbyterian Church, Brigantine, NJ
You may support those who will be participating in these
trips by sending funds to New Castle Presbytery. In your
checks memo line please add the following “Mission Trip –
Month (the month of the trip that you would like funds to
be applied). Or go online here to donate with your credit
card. Thank you!
If you would like more information about either trip please
contact me at [email protected] or 410-251-3528.
**Deadline for anyone wanting to participate in the June trip to Absecon is May 31st.**
Pam Ruarke Disaster Recovery Coordinator New Castle Presbytery
Page 6
Administrative Specialist (PT) Communications Specialist (PT)
Domestic Violence Project Specialist (PT) Engaging Men Project Coordinator (FT)
Interested applicants should email a cover letter and current resume to [email protected]. Please include the title of the position being applied for in the subject line. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning immediately, until the positions are filled.
DCADV IS A STATEWIDE, NONPROFIT, SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL
CHANGE ADVOCACY AGENCY LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DE.
WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
"Working at an Extreme Interior Makeover" is a free program on spiritual direction offered at Limestone Presbyterian Church (3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE) tonight, May 7th, at 7:00 p.m.
The public is invited. Are you getting ready for the spring rituals of a yard sale, patio cleaning, lawn care, etc? While you’re planning these annual exterior makeovers why not consider spiritual direction as a form of Extreme Interior Makeover. Spiritual Direction will do for the soul and the interior life what yard sales and de-junking does for the house. Spiritual Direction is a sacred time regularly carved into your life for the purpose of reflecting with a spiritual director about your spiritual life. The focus is growing in an attentiveness to human experience as the holy ground for uncovering the presence of God. Fr. Paul Mast, a certified spiritual director will give a presentation of Spiritual Direction on Wednesday May 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm. It will include a role-play of a direction session with group reflection following. Brochures will also be available. Bring your questions, your desires for interior renewal, your searching heart and any inner junk that is in the way of you and God falling more deeply in love with each other. The Rev. Paul G. Mast is a native of Delaware and a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Wilmington. Following ordination in 1972 he served in a number of pastoral assignments. He received a Masters degree in Religious Education from Fordham University in 1980, a Masters degree in Theology from the Catholic University of America in 1986 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spirituality from the Mundelein Seminary in Chicago in 1993. His doctoral theses is entitled: Mutual Ministry: The Formation of Lay People for a Ministry of Spiritual Mentoring. He received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Neumann College in Philadelphia in 2000.
Searching for a job opportunity
within PCUSA?
http://bit.ly/PCUSAJobs
Page 7
Page 8
240 copies
of the
Presbyterian
Blue Hymnals
are available for
donation!
Courtesy of Westminster
Wilmington PC.
Contact John Krill.
via email or by phone
(302) 654-4050.
Did you accidentally close your browser tab after you carefully filled your online
shopping cart? Hit CTRL Shift T and it will reopen!
Works in any browser!
Or did you erase half of your document that you spent an hour perfecting?
Hit CTRL Z and it will come right back! Works in any program for anything
you’d like to undo.
Come and Join us for
“High Tea” Date: Sunday, May 18th
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Christiana Presbyterian Church
15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE
Cost: $10.00 per ticket
Youth under 12 -- $7.00 per ticket
For Tickets/Reservations Call
Paula Sims at 302-252-7530
Tickets also available at the Door
“Through the Generations” Do you remember the Ed Sullivan Show, black & white
TV or when entertainment for the night was the family
sitting around the radio? Let’s look back through the
generations and spend the afternoon remembering our
favorite childhood memories. Bring a favorite
memorabilia or picture to share.
Enjoy a wonderful Spring afternoon with your daughter,
mother sister and friends. All ages will delight in the High
Tea and the entertainment.
Sponsored by Christiana Presbyterian Church’s Youth
Group to support the Youth’s Summer Mission Trip
Want to put your faith in action? Want to grow as a leader in Christian service? Want to see the world while serving God and those in need?
The YAV Program might be just for you…
a year of service for a lifetime of change
The Young Adult Volunteer program is a one year ser-vice opportunity for young adults from 19 to 30 years. YAVs live in Christian community, deepening and de-veloping their faith while serving in communities of need. The YAV program has sites around the United States and around the world, and YAVs serve for one academic year, August - July.
Application deadline is May 15, 2014.
Rachel’s
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Please remember that our Executive Presbyter, Jim Moseley, is on Sabbatical.
Please direct any and all inquiries to Stated Clerk, Reid K. Beveridge
(302) 684-8834 or Associate Exec, Jackie Taylor (302) 388-6247.
May Health Ministry
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Did
you know that many forms of hepatitis are
preventable and can be treated if detected
early? In fact, currently, over 5 million
Americans are living with Hepatitis B or C.
This month, click to visit our Health
Ministry page to learn more about Hepatitis
and how it is contracted as well as ways to
lower your risk for Hepatitis. Spread the
word about liver wellness,
and pledge to treat your
liver well through the
month of May and beyond.
-Stephanie Scully,
RN, BSN
Email Stephanie at
Christ Presbyterian Church of Marlton
Is in search of a 24 hour per week
Interim Pastor Click for the full job description.
515 E. Main Street, Marlton, NJ 08053
Please send PIF or resume by April 30th to
Page 10
Emergency Disaster Assistance Sought for Presbyterian
High School, Batibo in Cameroon
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We are seeking disaster assistance to support the Presbyterian
High School in Batibo (PHS Batibo) in Cameroon. Last week
the wind took out the roofs of multiple buildings and partially
damaged other roofs on their campus, including the chapel,
dining hall, auditorium, principal’s residence, student
residential halls and classrooms (see pictures attached). The
damage is widespread, leaving the school unable to function
without the repairs.
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church has been working in
partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC)
to assist Cameroonian pastors with their ministries. We are
saddened by the tragedy facing one of the schools of our
partner, the PCC. Furthermore, some of the members of St.
Andrews Presbyterian Church are alumni of PHS Batibo. This
call is especially urgent because delays in replacing and repairing the damaged roofs will lead to
further damage by rain as this is the onset of the rainy season in Cameroon. Additionally, the school is
currently closed at a time when final year students should be in school preparing for their college
entrance examinations (the General Certificate of Education exams).
Should you decide to help out, please make your checks payable to St. Andrews Presbyterian
Church, 200 Marrows Road, Newark, DE 19713. For more information on this, please contact:
Rev. John Paderson: 302-220-6470 or Elder Godlove Fonjweng: 856-465-4474
-John, John Paderson, Pastor, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
In late April and early May, 2014, the Atlantic coast of the U.S. had storms for several days. Creeks and rivers flooded. Brandywine Creek, which runs through Pennsylvania and New Castle County in Delaware, ran higher than ever before, according to this film maker's memory. Brandywine Creek is very steep. It empties fast. This video shows dramatic rapids in a stretch just east of the George Washington Memorial bridge in Wilmington.
TCDavis media literacy educator, photo-journalist, film maker
Director of Teledavis LLC Twitter: @tcd123usa
Blogs: media literacy CyberKenBlog inter-faith: InterfaithReflections
A Routine Vision Exam = One Health Action!
May is Healthy Eye Month, a good time to schedule an exam to check your vision and
eye health. Take advantage of your vision or medical benefits. See
a VSP provider for a routine, annual vision exam and pay only a $25 copay for your exam; or
a Highmark provider for a medical condition of the eye and pay only a $45 copay for your exam.
No deductible applies.
To have your exam recorded as one of your Call to Health actions, verify that you've completed your exam in the Call
to Health section of myactivehealth.com/pcusa. To lower your 2015 deductibles, you must complete your health
actions by September 30, 2014. For details about Call to Health, go to pensions.org/CalltoHealth.
For details about vision benefits through VSP, visit pensions.org.
Page 11
New Castle Presbytery &
Speer Trust
1102 W. Church Road
Newark, DE 19711–2506
(302) 366-0595 office ● (302) 366-0714 fax
www.ncpresbytery.org www.speertrust.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday
8:30 AM—4:30 PM
Friday (Physical Office Closed)
8:30 AM-3:00 PM
Staff
Rev. James L. Moseley, Executive Presbyter
Rev. Jacqueline E. Taylor, Associate Executive
Presbyter and Director, Speer Trust
Reid Beveridge, Stated Clerk
Donna L. Scully, Executive Assistant
Rachel Sykes, Administrative Assistant;
Communications Coordinator
NCP Resource Personnel
Rev. Tom Davis
Rev. Doug Gerdts
Rev. Nona Holy
Susan Wilson
Related Organizations
Presbyterian Campus Ministry
Career Insights for Teens
Crossroads International Fellowship
Interfaith Resource Center
Meeting Ground Inc.
New Hope Pastoral Counseling
Pacem In Terris
PCUSA Investment & Loan Program
Presbyterian Foundation
Presbyterian Women
Westminster Village