In This Issue

Early Morning Service
– 8:50 am 

Adult Sunday School Class 

Wednesday Nights

Greetings From The Children’s Center

MSPC Book Club

Children’s Education Changes

The Deacons of MSPC 

November  Birthdays

Important Dates

Sunday, November 2
8:50 am  Worship/Communion
9:30 am   Sunday School
Worship/Communion  10:50 am 

Wednesday, November 5
10:00 am – MSPC Writer’s Group
5:30 pm Bible Study
6:00 pm Dinner
6:15 pm, Bell Choir
7:15 pm, Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, November 9
Worship, 8:50 am
Sunday School  9:30 am
Worship  10:50 am 

Tuesday, November 11
9:00 am – Dorcas Sewing Circle

Wednesday, November 12
5:30 pm Bible Study
6:00 pm Dinner
6:15 pm, Bell Choir
7:15 pm, Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, November 16
Worship/Communion, 8:50 am
Sunday School  9:30 am
Worship 10:50 am

Tuesday, November 18
7:00 pm – Session Meeting

Wednesday, November 19
5:30 pm Bible Study
6:00 pm Dinner
6:15 pm, Bell Choir
7:15 pm, Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, November 23
Worship/Communion, 8:50 am
Sunday School, 9:30 am
Worship 10:50 am 

Tuesday, November 25
9:00 am – Dorcas Sewing Circle

Thursday, November 27
Church Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving

Friday, November 28
Church Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving 

Sunday, November 30
Worship/Communion, 8:50 am
Sunday School, 9:30 am
Worship 10:50 am

the Messenger is the monthly newsletter of Madison Square Presbyterian Church.  Please email your announcements to be published, questions, and comments to: church@msqpc.org

Deadline for publication in the newsletter is the 25th of each month.

Adult Sunday School
Christianity for the Rest of Us
How the Neighborhood Church is
Transforming the Faith
by: Diana Butler Bass
Class led by: Rev. Ilene Dunn

Most pundits will tell you that the mainline churches—Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists and Disciples of Christ—are in decline: it is now commonplace to assume that liberal churches are doomed and only evangelical churches are growing. Think again, says Butler Bass (The Practicing Congregation) in this challenging and hopeful book, which summarizes the findings of a three-year study funded by the Lilly Endowment. Yes, many mainline churches are struggling, but not because liberal Christianity is a contradiction in terms.
Rather, the old neighborhood Protestant church has fallen on hard times because the old neighborhood has been replaced by a strip mall. And many mainline churches are thriving. Butler Bass showcases 10 of them, including Redeemer UCC in New Haven, Conn., and Saint Mark (Lutheran) in Yorktown, Va. She then examines 10 practices, from hospitality to worship to vigorous theological discussion, and posits that these practices are the heartbeat of vital mainline churches. Her provocative conclusions include the observation that today's mainliners have redefined politics by favoring bottom-up acts of service over structural change.
Books can be purchased for $13 before class or during the week in the church office.

Wednesday Nights
The Wednesday Night Bible Study reflects on the scripture that will be preached on the following Sunday. A diverse group gathers to share insights, ask questions and pray together.
The group moves from the Parlor to the fellowship hall for a prepared dinner. All are invited!
Many other activities happen on Wednesday nights.
Bible Study 5:30-6:30 pm
Dinner 6:30-7:00 pm
Bell Choir 6:15-7:15 pm
Choir Practice 7:15-8:00 pm

Greetings from the children’s center:
Fall and cooler weather are finally here! We are happy to report we are at full enrollment with lots of new friends.  The teacher’s are getting to know their new students and families.

Teacher news:
The staff have been attending some wonderful training workshops with topics in diversity, behavior challenges, and partnering with families.  

Congratulations to Ms. Rose who is our young toddler teacher on the birth of her baby girl Nola Jade. 

Best wishes to our parent Judge Toni Arteaga who is running for 57th Civil District Court. 

Thanks, to all of you who continue to supply us with beautiful junk.  The teacher’s utilize everything donated to make arts and crafts, and teacher-made toys. 

Please continue to pray for our staff, children, and their families. 
Thank you for your continued support.

Ms. Olga Berlanga

MSPC Book Club
November 7: A Noble Radiance by Donna Leon
    host: Richard McLean

December 5: Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario
    host: Doerte Weber-Seale

Children's Education Changes
Sunday Morning Schedule
9:15 a.m     Eddie’s Taco House
Come by the kitchen and grab a taco and some orange juice.
9:30 to 10 :15 a.m.     Children’s Choir
Meet in the sanctuary and we will work on music for special worship services like World Communion Sunday and the “Come As You Are Christmas Pageant.”
10:15-10:40 a.m.     Sunday School
Once choir is over join Linda and Erin in the 3rd floor children’s room. If you are hoping to light candles or ring the bell during worship this is the place to be.
10:50 a.m. Worship
At 10:40 the children will move to the 1st pew in the sanctuary. Children are invited to sit with our staff or with parents/guardians.
Worship
10:50-12 noon
Children begin worship in the sanctuary and then move to an experiential worship experience.
Godly Play (approximate ages 3 years to 8 years)
Godly Play is a methodology that uses a storyteller telling a holy story with moveable pieces, wondering about that story, and then using creative stations to help us interpret our feelings, our wonderings, our questions about the stories and how they lead us to God.
This is our third year to use Godly play with the kids & we have found that they are growing exponentially every year we use it. The wondering that they do at the end of a story is so amazingly complex and insightful that it often takes our breath away. What amazing kids we have!
Diving into Discussion (approximate ages 9 years to middle school)
This group will read the same scripture that is being read in the sanctuary. With the help of Pastor Kenny they will discuss what the scripture means in their lives.
After the sermon, the middle school aged kids will go back into church with Pastor Kenny and the elementary aged children will join Linda in the children’s room.

Special Days:
While every day is a special one at Madison Square, here are some important dates for the children of the church.

Sunday, Nov. 2—Dia de los Muertos Alter
Sunday, Dec. 14—Santa comes to Ilene’s Christmas Open House
Saturday, Dec. 20—Tamalada
Sunday, Dec. 21—Come As You Are Christmas Pageant

The Deacons of MSPC

Susan Scales
Diane Stallings
Rey Menchaca

Patricia Oxford
Randy Rice
Eileen Smith

Jo McIver
Katsy Murphy
Jeff Balter

“Deacons offer a caring ministry in their commitment of compassionate, faithful, trustworthy and Christ-centered lives.  The Madison Square Presbyterian Church deacons offer a safe, caring outlet for anyone experiencing a life crisis or challenge which could include divorce, loss of a loved one, hospitalization, illness, relocation, retirement, unemployment, empty nest or other life transitions.”

 November Birthdays
 4 - Phin Washer
5  - Duane Chimney
6 – Joanna Klose
7 – Michael Stokes
8 – Roxanna Ramirez & Kim Lines
9 – Catherine Babbitt & Sam McCorcle
10 – Tom Winn
12 – Leah Reznicek, Jack Simms & Tom Regalado, Jr.
16  - Gene Adams & Yolanda Hilliard
17 – Leonard Hilliard
18 – Cindy Fuqua
20 – Betty Nichols & Catherine Campbell
21 – Bob Turner, Kenny Davis & Alex Miller
22 – Adam Greenup
24 – Jack Moses
25 – Devin Estevez
26 – Eric Daake
28 – Shirley Anglley, Allie Crowder-Schaefer & Mark H. Eddings
29 – Emily Van Beveren & Rebekkah Zepeda
30 – Randy Rice