We had a wonderful Ash Wednesday service this week. One of the things that made it so special was the fact that nearly twenty of our Youth Club children stayed and took part in the service.
Even though the students had been at school all day, and even though they had already spent more than three hours at the church for Youth Club, a large number of the young people expressed a desire to share in the worship service. Some of the children, in fact, even pleaded with their parents for permission to stay. It was a rather amazing thing.
During the service, all of the children sang a special song, two of them served as acolytes, and one helped to run the video projectors. After the service, many of the adults present commented on how well the children conducted themselves.
It's exciting to see young people becoming so enthused about worshiping God. It's my hope and prayer that in the coming months that children and families that don't currently have a church to worship with will continue to feel led to worship with us, and that together we might grow in our love and worship of God.
Ed Bowen
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Donation Decision
Back in October our church received an anonymous donation of $46,600. The money came in the form of a cashier's check from a local bank, so we could not ascertain who the gift was from. The check simply came with a hand-printed, unsigned note that said "Please use this money in whatever way God directs you in his service."
After receiving input from the congregation and after prayerfully considering the matter for several months, our session recently decided how to use the funds. Almost half of the money ($20,000) will be set aside to help fund a new Community Nurse Ministry. The idea is that we will be looking to hire a registered nurse who would be available to work with us about 12 hours per week. The Community Nurse would serve a wide variety of roles. For instance, the nurse could be available to visit people in their homes after they are discharged from the hospital to make sure that they are doing OK. The nurse could also visit with many of the older adults in the area, counseling with them about their health and well-being, realizing that many older adults do not have family members nearby to make sure that they are getting the care and attention they might need. Also, recognizing that many people of all ages in the area do not have health insurance, the Community Nurse could help connect people with the healthcare resources that are available to them.
But beyond discussing with people their physical needs, the Community Nurse will also address the spiritual needs that people might have. In that regard, the Community Nurse will work with a Health Ministry Team that we will assemble in the coming months. The Health Ministry Team will work with the Community Nurse to sponsor helpful programs, such as possibily offering training for teenage babysitters, or putting on classes for parents of newborns, or sponsoring seminars for people who are caring for loved ones who are experiencing dementia. The possibilities are endless. The Health Ministry Team would also seek to provide hands-on caring for people, perhaps by transporting people to medical appointments or by visiting with those who are sick or who are going through a time of grief.
In addition to the Community Nurse Ministry, another portion of the anonymous donation ($6,600) will be used to provide scholarships for young people to attend church summer camp, mission trips, retreats, and other special events. This will help make sure that young people will not be prevented from taking part in meaningful events if their family cannot afford it.
Another $10,000 of the funds will be used to do improvements to the kitchen and fellowship hall, and another $10,000 will be used to help replace the church's boiler. While that money will help improve and enhance our physical facility, the session believes that using that money in that way also helps us to continue our church's ministry, since so many community groups count on having our church available to them and since so much of our building is utilized by our many outreach activities, such as the Youth Club, the CAMP senior citizen group, and the food pantry.
The church is grateful for this wonderful gift. We look forward to the fruit that will result from the undertakings that are being made possible because of that donation.
Ed Bowen
After receiving input from the congregation and after prayerfully considering the matter for several months, our session recently decided how to use the funds. Almost half of the money ($20,000) will be set aside to help fund a new Community Nurse Ministry. The idea is that we will be looking to hire a registered nurse who would be available to work with us about 12 hours per week. The Community Nurse would serve a wide variety of roles. For instance, the nurse could be available to visit people in their homes after they are discharged from the hospital to make sure that they are doing OK. The nurse could also visit with many of the older adults in the area, counseling with them about their health and well-being, realizing that many older adults do not have family members nearby to make sure that they are getting the care and attention they might need. Also, recognizing that many people of all ages in the area do not have health insurance, the Community Nurse could help connect people with the healthcare resources that are available to them.
But beyond discussing with people their physical needs, the Community Nurse will also address the spiritual needs that people might have. In that regard, the Community Nurse will work with a Health Ministry Team that we will assemble in the coming months. The Health Ministry Team will work with the Community Nurse to sponsor helpful programs, such as possibily offering training for teenage babysitters, or putting on classes for parents of newborns, or sponsoring seminars for people who are caring for loved ones who are experiencing dementia. The possibilities are endless. The Health Ministry Team would also seek to provide hands-on caring for people, perhaps by transporting people to medical appointments or by visiting with those who are sick or who are going through a time of grief.
In addition to the Community Nurse Ministry, another portion of the anonymous donation ($6,600) will be used to provide scholarships for young people to attend church summer camp, mission trips, retreats, and other special events. This will help make sure that young people will not be prevented from taking part in meaningful events if their family cannot afford it.
Another $10,000 of the funds will be used to do improvements to the kitchen and fellowship hall, and another $10,000 will be used to help replace the church's boiler. While that money will help improve and enhance our physical facility, the session believes that using that money in that way also helps us to continue our church's ministry, since so many community groups count on having our church available to them and since so much of our building is utilized by our many outreach activities, such as the Youth Club, the CAMP senior citizen group, and the food pantry.
The church is grateful for this wonderful gift. We look forward to the fruit that will result from the undertakings that are being made possible because of that donation.
Ed Bowen
Friday, February 6, 2009
School District Consolidation
I have to admit that it has been a long time since I wrote to a government official. But when I read about the Governor's recent proposal to institute a process that would lead to the consolidation of the state's 501 school districts into 100 districts, I sent letters to my state representative and senator, asking them to do what they could to oppose that plan.
I agree that making school districts more efficient and cost-effective is certainly a desirable goal. But my concern is that by creating these mega-districts, more and more students are going to get lost in the system. According to the Post-Gazette, if this consolidation were to take place, the typical school district would be made up of about 17,500 students, meaning that each grade level would include approximately 1,400 students.
Perhaps just as important, families and local communities are going to be more and more marginalized from the education system. If districts become exponentially larger, as the Governor is wanting, there is no way that administrators and school boards are going to be able to be as responsive to the particular needs of students, families, or communities.
Another consideration is the fact that if there were to be significant consolidations, many students - including elementary school students - are going to end up being bussed out of their neighborhoods considerable distances to new schools.
I believe that the decision about whether to consolidate or not should be left to local school districts and voters. Consolidation should not be mandated by the powers-that-be in Harrisburg.
Finding ways to reduce the cost of education is certainly a worthwhile undertaking. But I believe that the Governor's rather heavy-handed proposal is wrong for the schools of our state.
If you have a strong feeling about this matter, I would encourage you to contact your legislators. For those in the Crafton area, your Senator is Wayne Fontana, Senate Box 203042, Harrisburg PA 17120, and your Representative is Daniel J. Deasy, P.O. Box 202027, Harrisburg PA 17120.
Ed Bowen
I agree that making school districts more efficient and cost-effective is certainly a desirable goal. But my concern is that by creating these mega-districts, more and more students are going to get lost in the system. According to the Post-Gazette, if this consolidation were to take place, the typical school district would be made up of about 17,500 students, meaning that each grade level would include approximately 1,400 students.
Perhaps just as important, families and local communities are going to be more and more marginalized from the education system. If districts become exponentially larger, as the Governor is wanting, there is no way that administrators and school boards are going to be able to be as responsive to the particular needs of students, families, or communities.
Another consideration is the fact that if there were to be significant consolidations, many students - including elementary school students - are going to end up being bussed out of their neighborhoods considerable distances to new schools.
I believe that the decision about whether to consolidate or not should be left to local school districts and voters. Consolidation should not be mandated by the powers-that-be in Harrisburg.
Finding ways to reduce the cost of education is certainly a worthwhile undertaking. But I believe that the Governor's rather heavy-handed proposal is wrong for the schools of our state.
If you have a strong feeling about this matter, I would encourage you to contact your legislators. For those in the Crafton area, your Senator is Wayne Fontana, Senate Box 203042, Harrisburg PA 17120, and your Representative is Daniel J. Deasy, P.O. Box 202027, Harrisburg PA 17120.
Ed Bowen
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