Town Hall Meeting On September 24, after worship, the session held a Town Hall Meeting. Here are some highlights for those who were unable to make it. Property Committee A new furnace and AC unit was installed in the sanctuary as our old one had been condemned. It was paid for out of the Merrill Lynch account but we are hoping to “reimburse” ourselves through a capital campaign this spring that will also be raising funds to beautify the sanctuary. The Spanish congregation has painted the fellowship hall, remodeled the bathrooms, and sealed the basement for leaks. They have also painted and cleaned up the basement. Eagle Scout Projects are planned for the spring, both landscaping. The first will landscape the area around the sanctuary doors. The second will put in a prayer garden in the courtyard between the sanctuary and the preschool building outside the office windows. We are accepting donations for the projects; simply write on your check or envelope “Eagle Scout Project” Mission Committee Donations to mission are down. We have received a proposal from Fletcher at Kasupe and they are looking into a building project. The churches in Cuba were devastated by the hurricane and there is a fund being set up through the Cuban Partnership Network to send funds to Cuba.

Continued on page 2...

ASHLAND CHURCH NEWS OCTOBER 2017

Ashland Presbyterian Church 116 Ashland Road Cockeysville, MD 21030 Phone: 410-527-1844 The Rev. Shannon Meacham, Pastor On the web at: www.ashlandpc.org

Clerk of Session Bob Williams Church Treasurer Jeanette Baldwin Session Members 2017-2019 Jerry DeBoer Rene Florendo Tom Griffiths Will Nassau Gene Ruhl Jacquie Sasser Carla Ulgen John Walter Pre-school Director Anne Auvil Organist & Music Director Sheila Slade-Lee Office Manager Cecil Weber

Town Hall Meeting (continued)

Finance Committee Pledges are down after summer as many people were away. Please catch up on your giving. Quarterly statements will be run this week, please look at them carefully. Cathy Griffiths has agreed to be our temporary financial secretary and may be contacting you with questions. We are looking into electronic giving so that our income can be more consistent. There is a new way of doing so through the Presbyterian Foundation that is free to churches. Nominating Committee We are looking for 2 at large members of the congregation to fill positions on the Nominating Committee We will not be filling Deacon positions as we look to disband the “Board” of Deacons to make a committee of deacons. This is allowed but will require a bylaws change. This is to live fully into how the deacons have been functioning This also alleviates “terms” for deacons. The work of the deacons remains the same. Nominating will be looking to fill 1 vacancy (a 2 year term) and up to 3 elder positions

Worship Committee Worship is going well at our 10:30AM time. Please sign up to be liturgist, communion server and usher. Pastor Shannon will be away October 4-17 for her wedding and honeymoon. Rev. Kate Foster Connors will be preaching October 8. Jim Kutcher will be preaching October 15

-Pastor Shannon

Gratitude

Corner

A note from Pat Morgan: “Dear Friends, Your cards and notes are always welcome. Even though I have made new friends here, I still miss my friends at Ashland and other communities in Baltimore. Overall I have been doing pretty well but will go to Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury on October 17 for a few days to have an aortic valve replacement. The surgeons say I’m a good candidate for the procedure but it is a little risky. Pray for me please.” _____________________________ I would like to thank Jennifer Thomas and JoAnn Ruther for helping with the weekly contributions counting & bank deposit as well as filling the candles.

-Cecil Weber ___________________________

Thank you Pastor Shannon for all you do!

Guatemala Partnership Winter 2018 Trip January 29-Februay 3, 2018

Cost: $1500 inclusive of all program costs, airfare, Guatemala transport, food & lodging

Registration deadline: October 20, 2017 w/$500 deposit due Contact: Deb Milcarek, 410-433-2012 dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org

More information can be found on the flyers posted on the bulletin boards in the hallway.

On Sunday, October 8, we welcome Rev. Kate Foster Connors who will preach while Pastor Shannon is away. Kate is the Director of The Center: Where Compassion Meets Justice, a mission initiative of the Presbytery of Baltimore that equips and inspires congregations to get involved in

their local communities. In that capacity, she has worked closely with Ashland to support the summer camp in the McCabe-Woodbourne neighborhood. A graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, Kate served congregations in Memphis and Baltimore prior to becoming the founding Director of The Center. She and her husband, Andrew, have 2 teenage daughters. They appreciate any and all prayers for surviving these roller-coaster years of parenting!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Uptown Metro Coalition has been given work assignments for the Fall season on McCabe Avenue in Govans on

Saturday, October 28th If anyone is interested in working, please inform Dick Uhler and he will give you further instructions as to time, waivers, and directions. Please consider

this Mission of the Church and the Presbytery as critical and important in these troubled times. This effort is a demonstration that people do care for people in positive and permanent ways. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Congratulations to Rev. Shannon Meacham &

Rev. Derrick Weston on their wedding - October 8, 2017

Special Music News On Sunday, October 8th, we look forward to the return of the Kuznik Violin/Cello Duo. Aneta and Swiatoslaw are both extremely accomplished

musicians and educators. Swiatoslaw earned his Master of Music in violin performance at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He received his doctorate in violin performance at the Univ. of Maryland, College Park. Kuznik has performed with the New World Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic of the Nations in Germany and the Concert Artists of Baltimore. Kuznik is a concertmaster and on the violin faculty of the Siena Sumer Session for Music and the Arts in Italy. Aneta Otreba-Kuznik received her bachelor and masters degrees from Towson University. She received her doctorate degree in cello performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has performed as a soloist with the Towson University Orchestra, additional performances with the New World Symphony in Florida and the Washington Summer Opera. She teaches at the Garrison Forest School and the Ward Center for the Arts at the St. Paul School. Also, Aneta coaches Cello students each year at the Baltimore String Camp. The Kuzniks are the parents of two boys, both studying violin. Looking Ahead: November 12th The Kolodner Trio December 17th Brass Reflections

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The Uptown Metro Coalition has been given work assignment for the Fall season on McCabe Avenue in Govans:

Saturday, October 28th If anyone is interested in working, please inform

Dick Uhler and he will give you further instructions as to time, waivers, and directions. Please consider this Mission of the Church and the Presbytery as critical and important in these troubled times. This effort is a demonstration that people do care for people in positive and permanent ways. Thank you for your support and prayers.

October 14, 2017

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

PWP Fall Gathering at

Grace Presbyterian Church 2604 Banister Road, Baltimore, MD 21215

9:00am registration.

Registration $12.

“For Your Prayerful Consideration”

Praying in Color with Angela Nichols Walking the Labyrinth with Joan Berry

(for labyrinth walk, no shoes, please bring socks)

BROADMEAD BARN SALE 13801 York Road, Cockeysville (held in the Community Center)

Friday, October 13 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 14 9:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m

(half price all day)

Throughout the 2017-2018 year, join with Pastor Shannon in a safe and confidential space to look at our own lives and prejudices where race is concerned. Next sessions will be November 12, January 14, and March 11. The book “Waking Up White” by Debby Irving is available in paperback or digital versions on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. We have ordered a few copies if you would like to buy them through the church for $20.

TO DONATE TO PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE: MAIL A CHECK MADE OUT TO “PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) TO: PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) P. O. BOX 6463700

PITTSBURGH, PA 15264-3700 BY CREDIT CARD: CALL (800) 872-3283 OR GO ONLINE AT: https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000148/ BY TEXT: TEXT “PDA” TO 20222 TO GIVE $10 TO THE GENERAL RELIEF FUND

Sunday School 9:30 am Adult Gathering 9:30 am

Worship 10:30 am Fellowship after Worship

WEEKLY EVENTS ... Sundays Special Needs Troop #927 2:00 p.m.; Church of the Nazarene 5:00—7:00 p.m. Tuesdays Daisy Troop #625 6:00-7:00 p.m.; Church of the Nazarene Choir Practice 7:30—9:30 pm Wednesdays Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Contemporary Worship Practice 6:30 p.m.-7:30 pm; Chancel Choir: 8:00 p.m. Fridays Church of the Nazarene (3rd Friday) 9:30 p.m.—Midnight Saturday Alcoholic Anonymous Svc. Mtg. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Church of the Nazarene 7:30-9:30 p.m.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am

Peace & Global Witness Offering

Bridal Shower/

Luncheon for Pastor Shannon

2

Project Linus 9:30 am

3

4 5

6

7

8 Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am

Kate Foster Connor Peaching

Special Music with Kuznik

Violin/Cello Duo

9

10

11

12

13

14

Women’s Group—Fall Gathering

15

Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Jim Kucher preaching

16 17 Session 6:30 pm

18 Newsletter Deadline

19 20 21

22

Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am

23

24

25 26 27 28

Sarah’s Hope 2-5 pm

29

Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am

30 31

SHANNON –VACATION

SHANNON—VACATION

SHANNON—VACATION

ASHLAND CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays Anniversaries Deacon/Elder Ordination Anniversaries

10/4 Pat Morgan 10/8 Melissa Florendo 10/20 Melissa Cole 10/23 Laura Baldwin Annette Merrill Neil Ruther 10/28 Maggie Meacham Steve Miller JoAnn Ruther

10/12 Nancy & Charles Stickles 10/18 Carol & John Walter 10/25 Jeanette & Ron Baldwin

Wedding: 10/8

Rev. Shannon Meacham & Rev. Derrick Weston

None this month

ASSIGNMENTS

2017 October

USHERS/ GREETERS

10/1 10/8 10/15 Deb Miller 10/22 10/29 Deb Miller

SERVERS 10/1

LITURGIST 10/8 Sandy Losemann 10/15 10/22 10/29

VAN DRIVERS

10/1 Butch Zink 10/8 Bob Hensley 10/15 Mike Benzak 10/22 Jerry DeBoer 10/29 Butch Zink

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE HAD “LEMONADE ON THE LANAI” AFTER WORSHIP TO PROVIDE FELLOWSHIP TIME FOR ALL. SINCE EVERYONE SEEMED TO ENJOY THIS IDEA, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS WITH

“FALL FOR FELLOWSHIP”. THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET ON THE TABLE IN THE HALLWAY—PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP! THANK YOU!

Why not become more involved in Worship? Sign up to be an usher/greeter, liturgist or server. Sign up sheets are on the table in the hallway.

TO DONATE TO PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE: MAIL A CHECK MADE OUT TO “PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) TO: PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) P. O. BOX 6463700, PITTSBURGH, PA 15264-3700 BY CREDIT CARD: CALL (800) 872-3283 OR GO ONLINE AT: https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000148/ BY TEXT: TEXT “PDA” TO 20222 TO GIVE $10 TO THE GENERAL RELIEF FUND

Ashland Presbyterian Church 116 Ashland Road Cockeysville, MD 21030