The delegation: Women Leading, i.e. learning, investigating, strategizing, taking action, committing to trying to bring change.

The reality: Colombia—rich in resources; infused with military and paramilitary power groups; peopled by a gracious, generous populace; plagued by other nations’ exploitations AND assistance; punctuated by both indigenous and slave-descendent peoples; and embraced by a gloriously beautiful Andean environment.

For the complete report, please click here.

To see pictures taken during this trip, click on this link: www.flickr.com/photos/colombiafeb2012wfp/

To explore a trip with Witness for Peace to Colombia, click on this link: www.witnessforpeace.org

First Havana’s “One More for Christ” Travels to Varadero Church For Anniversary Celebration

In its first foray outside First Havana, the young adult/youth group of “Uno Más para Cristo” or “One More for Christ,” led by Choir Director Sandra Santos at our partner church, First Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Havana, traveled to Varadero, Cuba to participate in the 54th anniversary celebration of the Dora E. Valentin Presbyterian Church on last fall. Sandra said that they preached about the Book of Acts “because it is about what a Christian Church must be. It has an evangelizing emphasis, too.”

Young Adult/Youth Group with Sandra (front, right) and Rev. Hector Mendez and wife Oneida Padilla

Sandra, who visited NYAPC with two First Havana elders in October 2010, and the young-adult organizers of the program worship on Saturday evenings with a program geared to youth and young adult concerns and interests. Music is an important element of the worship program and includes guitar, piano, bass and trombone along with singing. The goal is for members to invite a friend to each service, thus the name, “One More for Christ.” This ministry has had overwhelming success, and on August 28 First Havana celebrated the one-year anniversary of the program.

Anniversary Celebration, August 28, 2011 at First Havana

"One More for Christ" at Varadero Presbyterian Church celebration

“AHORA" Prayer Group Brings Youth/Young Adults Together

The first gathering of the youth prayer group, “AHORA” (“NOW”) gathered at a member’s home in early November. Sandra Santos reports that the youth and young adults chose the name “because we think that the group is living in a historical moment of strength and unity, and it is time to work a lot in many things.” They meet every Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. Here are photos of their first gathering:

Christmas Visits to the Elderly

Sandra writes, “Our Youth Group has a new project called La Navidad va a tu casa (Christmas goes to your home), for those elders of our congregation who are sick or live alone and can’t attend to church in Christmas days.” The youth group visited the elderly on December 19-24 “to sing Christmas carols, pray with them, take pictures with them, and bring them a humble gift made with our own funds. We wanted to share the joy of Christmas time with them. We read the Bible, James 2: 14-17, about faith that works. It isn’t a portion that we usually read at Christmas, but we think it talks about the real significance of the Christmas spirit.” The First Havana congregation helped raise funds for gifts to the elderly members who were visited, and the youth also designed and printed Christmas cards for them.

In providing this new way to donate, NYAPC has contracted with an outside company, Memphis, Tennessee-based ServiceU, for the web-based system that takes and processes donations. ServiceU specializes in working with churches and offers the highest available level of security for online giving. NYAPC members and friends can designate the funds to which they wish to contribute and select the payment method—either e-checks (direct bank account drafts) or credit cards. Donors who establish an online profile or account can make recurring gifts and keep and view a history of their online giving.

We are proud to be serving NYAPC as this year’s stewardship co-chairs. When taking on this role we often reflected on what abundance truly means. We are certainly not Christian scholars and so wouldn’t be able to give you the quality answer Rev. Roger Gench could, but when we think about that abundance we can’t help but be thankful. We often wonder how to pay God back and show our gratitude to Him. Just like many of you, that has led us to serve others. One of the most impactful ways we have found to accomplish this is by giving our time and financially supporting our church home.

The annual operating budget of NYAPC is the heart that pumps resources into the myriad of important mission activities the church leads. We know many of you who are reading this are intimately involved in this mission work, but please take a moment to look at the 2012 Stewardship Campaign brochure to see the long list of activities this funding supports. As relatively new members of NYAPC, we were certainly impressed by this list and think you will be, too. There is likely to be an activity that you didn’t even know our large and active congregation was engaged in!

Our goal for the 2012 stewardship campaign is $700,000. This is a modest 5% increase over last year’s campaign goal. Please consider this increase, along with our existing budget deficit, when taking the time to reflect on what your commitment could be for the upcoming year. We understand that times are hard in this current economic climate, but the strain on church resources only continues to grow. Giving even 5-10% more than you did last year could mean all the difference. We are pleased to announce that the NYAPC Boards are leading the way and, at the kick-off of the campaign, had already committed more than $112,000.

We have made pledging even easier this year by offering a pledge page on our beautiful new website. You may access a pledge card on the site, fill it out, and e-mail it directly to Kitty Smith, Manager of Administration and Finance for the church (Katheryn.Smith@nyapc.org). For those who prefer the traditional pledge card, that option is still available. If you are a member of the church, you will be receiving a pledge card in the mail in the coming days, and you can find pledge cards in our church sanctuary and at the church entryway desk. You can simply fill out the form and drop it in the collection plate during the Sunday worship service, or drop it at the church's entryway desk. And, of course, you can feel free to send an e-mail to Kitty Smith (Kathryn.Smith@nyapc.org) with your pledge amount at any time.

Beginning this year, you may also pay your pledge electronically by setting up an account on the church website and specifying contributions at designated time intervals—for example, weekly or monthly—from your bank account to the church's account. You may also still mail a check to the church office or leave your contributions in the plate during Sunday worship services.

So, dig deep in your hearts… and your wallets… to contribute what you are able to the 2012 Gifts of Gratitude stewardship campaign. The future of our church depends on your generosity. Please fill out those cards and make a pledge before Dedication Sunday on November 13th. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Alex and Michelle Mullineaux

♦ What is church to you and why?

♦ What is your deep desire for NYAPC?

♦ What are your concerns for NYAPC?

♦ What is your deep desire for the community around us?

♦ What are your concerns for the community around us?

The listening sessions grew out of the series of “one-to-one” meetings that Session members conducted with close to 100 people over the last year, and both grow out of community organizing principles developed by the Industrial Areas Foundation (Washington Interfaith Network here in the District), of which NYAPC is a member.

Comments relating to the question “What is Church for you and Why?” centered around community and challenge – that the church is both a warm, welcoming place for a diverse group and also a place that challenges us both in our spiritual growth and in how we act in the world.

Deep Desires and Concerns

Responses to the question regarding our deep desires for NYAPC included our finances and deficit and how we can bridge differences between each other and the community around us. Several also made comments about having vibrant programs for children and young adults, and a desire for ways for us to get to know each other better.

Several issues appeared both as things we do well as a church and as issues we are concerned about: intergenerational connections, our mission, and how welcoming we are to newcomers. Concerns also included problems with our sanctuary’s sound system and how we can better communicate and facilitate volunteering and involvement. Several people also wondered how we could better coordinate our various ministries.

The Community Around Us

When discussing desires and concerns for the community around us, comments ranged from reaching out to the children in the district to paying attention to the elderly and homebound.

We also discussed coordinating homeless and feeding programs with other churches, how we might reach out to the Federal and District governments, international mission, and how the church can guide us and others in our work in the world.

Next Steps …

Notes from each of the sessions were forwarded to Rev. Gench, and he will share them with the Session and other boards of the church. In addition, at least a few members have asked that we hold at least one set of listening sessions every year, noting that the opportunity to gather and discuss issues in a small group was valuable as an end unto itself. Stay tuned!

If you have any questions about the Listening Sessions or the One-to-One Meetings, please contact Rev. Roger Gench or Karl Hoffman.

The church's first comprehensive history in 50 years, Capital Witness includes the work of 15 authors who tell the NYAPC story in over 180,000 words filling 450 pages and including more than 200 illustrations, five maps, and a timeline that delineates NYAPC's history in the context of the history of the Reformed tradition, religion in America and the country itself. 

Books can be purchased here.

To that end, the deacons have provided seed money to help purchase cameras for the kids to use and to cover the costs of the exhibit and reception. At both services on Oct. 9, deacons will have a minute for mission and will be available in the narthex to talk more about this initiative over coffee and refreshments. We need at least an additional $750 to move forward, and we’re hoping the congregation will join us:

*By contributing money to help buy cameras and pay exhibit costs.
*By sharing ideas about how to enrich this experience for everyone involved.
*And to be there for that moment next spring when a teenager comes to NYAPC, points at a picture on the wall and proudly proclaims, “I did that!”

Already over $250 has been raised and we invite you to help us exceed our goal.  For more information, contact Doug Norwood.  You can learn more about Critical Exposure here.