INSIDE:
Letter from Leslie
Here's What's New
New Fiction
Wonderful Children's Books
Upcoming Events

---

Dear Friends,

The other day I was chatting with a friend about fear. Actually, we were talking about Amendment O, but we decided the real issue is fear. How do we as Christians confront our paralyzing fear long enough to hear one another? The truth is, we're polarized, and are likely to remain so. So how are we going to get beyond that fear and learn to listen to one another?

To me, it doesn't matter which "side" of an issue you're on. The people I've listened to for the last year, ten years, are thoughtful, prayerful people who love God, and who seek to be obedient to God's will. The fact that these God-fearing people happen to have beliefs that are in polar opposition to one another confuses me, but doesn't really bother me. God is a mystery I know I'll never fathom, and the fact that God imbues us with unique minds delights rather than scares me. I celebrate that each of us is created in God' own image, yet no one has the goods on the entirety of God. Wouldn't that be much more frightening?

The question then becomes how do we set aside our beliefs, arrived at after perhaps agonizing hours and years spent in prayer, long enough to love one another enough to hear what our fellow conversationalists are saying? Do we need to set aside issues that polarize us long enough to learn to love one another? I know, our General Assembly tried, but have we as Presbyterians-- and as God's children? Are we so bent on seeing our own position through, regardless of the agony it creates in the Body of Christ, that we can't set aside our concerns for the time it takes to learn to love our neighbor?

Go in peace,  Leslie

---

HERE'S WHAT'S NEW

NEW VIDEOS

Crisis Care: Hope for the Hurting. As Christians, we have an ever-present help in God, but at times either we or those around us cannot cope with the stresses before us. This nine-video series, led by Dr. H. Norman Wright, can help lead a group through learning about crisis and loss, the many ways crisis comes into our lives, and how we can help ourselves and those in our community. There are many ways this video series can be used: as a Sunday School elective; an excellent training session for Elders and Deacons; as a church-wide forum, or for specially trained ministry teams (such as Christ Care or Stephen's ministry). The Westminster Church in Elmira has graciously put this resource into the Interchurch Lending Library. VC13.6A22(a-k)

A Rainbow of Caring: Tools of Hope & Blanket Program, from Church World Service. A really important moment in my parenting life came when I showed my son a homeless person wrapped in one of those gray CWS blankets. We explored our call to clothe the naked, and I could show him a tangible way our church ministers to those in need. A Rainbow of Caring explains the why and how behind those famous blankets, as well as the Tools of Hope program that gives seeds and gardening tools to people who need them. Included in the study guide are prayers, questions and activities. This video would make an excellent 30-minute study session before taking the Blanket Sunday offering. VC13.8A17

Parables: A New Look at Familiar Stories Jesus used the medium of parables because people love to be told stories. However, the stories he told weren't always easy to understand or accept. Using a mix of media, including interviews with Walter Wangerin and Joanna Dewey, an acting troupe, Biblical scholars and on-the-street philosophers, this video presents a fresh way of studying some of the most important messages Jesus gave us. This series covers The Good Samaritan, The Talents, The Prodigal Son and The Unjust Steward. Study guides are included. VC4.3-3A10

Whoever Welcomes This Child ... Welcomes Me In honor of the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Year of the Child, a new Mission Yearbook has been produced, highlighting the unmet needs of children around the world, and the ways the PCUSA is helping. An emphasis on the Biblical basis for welcoming the child and a thorough study guide make this a great resource for all sorts of study groups. VC12-1A36

NEW BOOKS

Presbyterians: A Spiritual Journey. If you haven't seen this wonderful coffee table book, you're missing out on a treat for the heart and mind. Dirk Wierenga cris-crossed the continental United States on a mission to find out who we are as Presbyterians. He visited homeless shelters, beautiful cathedral-like churches, spoke with pastors, elders and deacons. children and old people, and took photos of what he saw and felt. In this lovely book you will meet "us" and come away feeling as though you've met someone new, as well as hugged a long-time friend. PR4.4A31

The Westminster Collection of Christian Meditations, compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild. A collection of more than 500 meditations written by Christians from all over, in terms of both time and geography. Ward and Wild have culled writings from Julian of Norwich, Annie Dillard, George Fox, John Calvin, and 250 others, and gathered them into bouquets of thoughts spanning the Gifts of the Spirit, the Search for God, Approaches to Prayer, and many others. Well-organized, with a good table of contents, an index of themes and an index of sources, this collection nourishes the soul and mind. WJKP, 2000. PR4.5A53

Blessing New Voices: Prayers of Young People and Worship Resources for Youth Ministry. Upon presenting a new book of worship resources to a group of people, two young people in the crowd asked author Maren Tirabassi, "Where are the resources for us?" Chagrined, she began to amass prayers written by more than 160 youth ages 12-21 from 15 states, and combined them into 11 worship services, focusing on a variety of topics. These liturgical resources can be used by youth groups or as "Youth Sunday" worship services, directed and led by young people. United Church Press, 2000. PR9.2-27

Lift Up Your Hearts: Songs for Creative Worship (pew edition). A tangible tension exists between the love for "traditional" worship and the understanding that the old beloved hymns don't necessarily mean very much to a generation of unchurched people who are coming to our churches. The flip side of the argument is that too many contemporary songs seem like "Christianity Lite," with little reformed theology to bolster the worship experience. Lift Up Your Hearts is an effort to help bridge that gap. Tunes and words are easy to learn, but steeped in scripture and liturgy. Language referring to people is inclusive, and some effort has been made to include rich imagery of God. Also available is the Leader's Edition, which contains written accompaniment for piano and other instruments where appropriate. The pew edition contains words, guitar chords and melody line. Geneva Press, 1999. PM3.1A41

Come Worship with Me: A Journey through the Church Year. Our family of Presbyterian mice, first encountered in A Children's Guide to Worship, is taking a trip through the liturgical year. In thorough, entertaining detail, Ruth L. Boling explains why various aspects of worship fall where they do and illustrates the accompanying symbology, including colors, different types of crosses found at different times of years, words and animals. A chart of symbols at the end is clearly written so even small children get a sense of wonder from the symbols that infuse our worship places. Beautifully illustrated by Tracy Dahle Carrier, this book would make an excellent addition to any church or family library. Geneva Press, 2000. See also the Family Advent Calendar, created by these two artists. PR3.1-114

The Mighty Acts of God, revised edition. Albert Rhodes wrote what some consider to be a Presbyterian classic. Eugene March has updated and revised The Mighty Acts of God, an intensive study of the Bible. God's Word is action; God's utterances end in creation and deeds. Using a balance of scholarship and history this book explores the authoritative word of God-- our story, from Creation to the new Jerusalem, with the perspective that we are participants in the story. PR4.1A77

Dark the Night, Wild the Sea, by Robert McAfee Brown. Jamie Stuart is a fast-rising architect living in Glasgow, who loses his girlfriend and is about to lose his job when his boss forces him to take a vacation on the remote Scottish isle of Erinsay. Worse, he must stay with the aging philosopher pastor of the kirk. With the help of the pastor's sympathetic and wise wife, some mysterious mounds and a master bagpiper, Jamie finds himself worlds away >from anything he has ever known. A moving tale of love and redemption. WJKP, 1998. PR4.5A54

The Book of God: The Bible as a Novel. One reason the Bible holds our fascination, because of the characters, the events, the treachery, the triumph that prevails throughout. Walter Wangerin takes advantage of the stellar cast and plot line, and weaves the Bible into a narrative. Relying on the Hebrew and Greek scriptures as his source, but also drawing on his skill as a master storyteller, Wangerin begins with Abraham and his progeny "as numerous as the stars," and finishes with the birth of the Christian church. Zondervan, 1996. PR4.1A78

The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver has long been one of my favorite authors, because she writes of difficult issues in a compassionate intelligent way. In this novel, she examines a missionary family in Congo, and the impact their American beliefs and manner of living have on their adopted homeland and themselves. Told from the perspectives of four very different daughters of a man whose Christian zeal can best be called misplaced, The Poisonwood Bible causes the reader to examine colonialism as well as the Great Commandment to go forth and teach the nations of Jesus Christ's love. PR12.5A29

---

CHURCH EDUCATOR'S CORNER

New and Wonderful Children's Books (Not Just for Kids!)

Faith the Cow So many of our churches give to the Heifer Project (the Corning church succeeded in buying three Arks for Heifer Project!!), but how many of us know how it began? Susan Bame Hoover's book charms the reader as we learn of how Dan West and one cow were able to make a huge difference in millions of people's lives all over the world. Although this book was written for children, anyone who has ever given or received a Heifer Project "gift" will be delighted with the story of a peacemaker and his dream. faithQuest, 1995. PR13.8C17

Let's Make a Garden "Why did we not think of it long ago-- to let our children plant a garden for the world." Desmond Tutu's words on the back of this little book emphasize children's desire to be peacemakers and understand one another. Tamara Awad Lobe's book is gentle and wise, with wonderful illustrations of "cookie-cutter" children of many colors, planting their native foods to feed one another. Herald Press, 1995. PR13.11-3C21

Believing Sophie Sophie is a little girl who wants to make a batch of very special cookies. When she has a small accident, she finds herself accused of something she didn't do. As she tries to defend herself, she explores her queasy feelings about the accusation. Ultimately, she finds a way to show exactly what happened and teaches those around her a thing or two. Albert Whitman & Co., 1995. PR13.2C30

Sam's New Baby Sam's little family is about to grow by one! As he prepares for a new brother or sister, he searches for understanding about how he is special to his family and to God (his magnifying glass is a big help). A perfect story for small children in the same situation. Abingdon, 1998. PR13.3-3C4

The First Step Bible. Toddlers love to hear stories from the Bible, especially about Jesus. Using very simple vocabulary and wide-eyed illustrations, these stories tell some of the essential stories of our faith to our youngest church-goers, focusing especially on the four Gospels. Includes tips for parents on teaching the Bible to the very young. PR4.1C64

Tobee and the Amazing Bird Choir. Based on the introduction of the California housefinch to the eastern United States, this is the story of the illegal capture of a group of birds and their formation into a choir loved throughout the nation. Meant for older children, this story can be used for instruction in a variety of settings. Bridge, 2000. PR10.2C4

---

1/30-2/3 APCE

The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators will gather for one of the premier learning opportunities for Christian Education. Next year we'll be in Toronto. Isn't it time your church sent an educator?

2/3-11 Mission Trip to Presbiterio del Caribe, Mexico

Travel to the Yucatan Peninsula for mission, worship and work with our sister and brother Presbiterianos.

3/3 Leadership Day with Lorie Henley

The excellent training you've come to expect for church officers.
Penn Yan Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches.

5/4-5 Whitman by the Waters

For students in grades 5 and 6.
Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake.

6/1-2 Grandparent/Grandchild Event

Kite flying and Bible study for kids grade K-5 and their grandparents-- biological or surrogate.
Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake.

6/3 RESOURCE CENTER OPEN HOUSE

Held in partnership with the Camp Whitman Chicken Bar-b-que. Stop by and say hello!