Friday, January 29, 2010

Help For Haiti

Ardmore Presbyterian Church will continue receiving offerings to be directed to Haiti relief through PDA. Please make checks out to APC and memo: Haiti Relief.

With gratitude,

the Mission Awareness Committee.

Want a more “hands on” way to help?

We need your help to make one or more kits to send to Haiti through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Hygiene Kit

1 hand towel- approx. 16” x 28”

(no fingertip or bath towels)

1 washcloth

1 wide-tooth comb

1 nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards)

1 bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)

1 toothbrush (in original packaging)

6 Band-Aids or other adhesive bandage strips. Please do not add toothpaste. Toothpaste which has an extended expiration date will be added to Hygiene Kits just prior to shipment. Seal all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure.


Baby Kit

6 cloth diapers*

2 t-shirts or undershirts (no onesies)

2 washcloths

2 gowns or sleepers

2 diaper pins

1 sweater or sweatshirt

2 receiving blankets (one can be a knitted or crocheted baby blanket)

All items should be new and under 12 months in size. Wrap items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with both diaper pins.

*Note: While cloth diapers are not as commonly used in the United States, they are a necessary part of the layette. 12-packs of cloth diapers can be purchased at Target and Kmart stores or may be purchased online at one of the following sites: CottonBabies.com, ClothDiaper.com, BabyBestBuy.com, ThanksMama.com.


PLEASE BRING COMPLETED KITS TO THE CHURCH OFFICE

Thank you!!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Oct 18: CROP Walk

Join others in the church family and larger community in support of the 31st annual Main Line CROP Walk for World Hunger on Sunday, October 18th. Leave from the Suburban Square Parking Lot at 1:00 pm. Last year $2,970 was raised at Ardmore Presbyterian Church to alleviate hunger worldwide and to provide disaster relief. Both walkers and sponsors are needed. For more information contact the church office.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Ardmore Community Food Cupboard


More and more folks are stopping by the Ardmore Community Food Cupboard housed at APC.

Currently needed: canned potatoes (white/sweet), Progresso soups, pork & beans, jellies or jams.

However, all non-perishable goods are welcome. Please leave items in the narthex on Sundays or in the church office. Our food cupboard is open to any in the surrounding area who for whatever reason are not able to get through the month on the resources they have. Some folks who come to the food cupboard are referred to us by ElderNet or other social service agencies.

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Other Carpenter: RSVP by Sept 24


Earlier this year, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran an editorial* about the poor condition of housing in the City of Philadelphia. The editorial cited the results of two studies that concluded that maintaining livable, low income housing for residents was possible simply by implementing the skills of “your average handyman”. Although the editorial’s focus was mainly on abandoned houses in the city and how to avoid those circumstances, a subtext of the editorial was that by applying basic maintenance skills, homeowners can prevent the conditions that lead to homes being abandoned and avoid conditions that cause health problems. (For example, in 2006, a survey showed that 8000 households in the city had no working kitchen or bathroom.)

During these difficult financial times, building new affordable housing is not feasible. However, by helping local homeowners apply basic maintenance skills, we can prevent health issues and keep homes from being abandoned. By preserving neighborhoods and strengthening our communities we all benefit. As a hands-on ministry, The Other Carpenter is part of the solution to the housing problem. Volunteers help with maintenance and home improvements for low-income and elderly families. By participating in Saturday sessions with The Other Carpenter (TOC), YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

The Mission Committee is sponsoring another event with The Other Carpenter (TOC) on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you have skills or not. David Heaton, the Executive Director, and one of his technicians will coach and supervise the group.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office by Thursday, September 24, 2009 at ardpres@verizon.net or phone 610-642-6650.

*Editorial, “Falling Homes: Fixer-uppers”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Friday, February 2, 2009.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Build-it Bus

The Build-it Bus web site: www.builditbus.com

The Build-it Bus is a traveling, creative workshop that operates out of a refitted SEPTA para-transit bus. The Bus is supported by Ardmore Presbyterian Church and run by APC volunteers. The bus travels to city school yards teaching skilled handicrafts to urban children. Students work on the bus itself, which is equipped with workbenches and manual tools re-engineered for use by children.

Urban children have very little opportunity to work with their hands. We are looking for volunteers to help students learn important and rewarding life skills. Last year students made drums and chess sets (and learned to play chess). This year the kids will take a basic woodworking course. A silk screen shop, a magic trick shop (designed to give kids practice with reading comprehension), learning how to use a sewing machine and learning needle work are also planned. This year the Bus will be traveling regularly to Rhoads Elementary and possibly Leidy Elementary, both in West Philly. Short term projects are planned for the John Gloucester House, the Barry School and other locations.

The Build-it Bus works with the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children. Volunteers go through WePAC’s volunteer training process (not difficult). WePACs’ training sessions are scheduled for September 23 or September 24.

Contact Sherina Poorman through the church office 610 642 6650

Sushi and Mission


Often when we think of Church, we are limited to the institutional church. We forget that the people are the Church. When we think of mission or ministry we focus too often on the structures of the church. This is the wrong approach. We should instead begin with the basics—love of God and the love of our neighbor. Our ministry should flow from those basic commitments. In a recent article for the Presbyterian News Service, Rev. Mark Lau Branson, a professor at Fuller Seminary, gives an example from his own church of mission which doesn’t begin with structures.
A woman at his church noticed that many people were homebound and in need of meals. His church is largely Japanese-American, but Meals on Wheels does not serve Japanese food. The woman got a group together to deliver sushi, not only providing cultural food but time for conversation. The church has no budget for this, but the women didn’t let that stop them — they just did it.
If you are a Christian, you are the Church. If you are the Church, you are involved in mission. This can be at your workplace, in your family, and with your neighbors.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Helping the Homeless


BEING GOD’S HANDS...SHOWING GOD’S LOVE
CAN BE DONE RIGHT HERE IN ARDMORE BY HELPING WITH
THE INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK

Volunteers needed on Saturday evening, September 12, 2009 to:
  1. Prepare* and serve dinner (5:00 to 6:30 pm) at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
  2. Host guests and/or children from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A sign-up sheet is in the narthex or talk with Anne Foote, IHN Coordinator

*If it is not possible for you to serve dinner, food can be prepared and brought to APC beforehand and others can do the serving.