The following are news and notes of interest to the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church community. Times and locations of events listed here are subject to change without notice. Please contact the church office at 301-270-5550 or office@takomaparkpc.org for more information and confirmation.
An archive of past articles is also available on this site.
Note: Links with the text "(PDF)" require the Adobe Reader to access the URL, which is available free from Adobe.
A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Because Advent and Christmas shine a light not only on our world's greatest hope but also on our world's greatest need, the PC(USA) provides this timely opportunity for congregations to support causes specifically designed to bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstance or spirit.
Alongside the message of promise and fulfillment in Luke's Gospel, we hear the clear call to God's people to respond in faith as Christ calls us: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48).
Undesignated gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
TPPC will collect the Christmas Joy Offering on December 18 in worship. Please consider making a donation.
At their February Session meeting, the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church adpoted the Charter for Compassion, and voted to submit an overture to the General Assembly for PC USA to adopt the Charter for Compassion. At a special presbytery meeting the National Capital Presbytery voted to send TPPC's overture to the General Assembly.
On February 28, 2008 Karen Armstrong won the TED Prize and made a wish: for help creating, launching and propagating a Charter for Compassion. Since that day, thousands of people have contributed to the process so that on November 12, 2009 the Charter was unveiled to the world.
The idea behind the charter is simple: Every religious, spiritual and ethical tradition human beings have ever developed has had at its center the idea of compassion. Equally simple - and equally powerful - is the notion of compassion that the Charter seeks to foster, which is the belief that we should treat others as we ourselves desire be treated.
In a joint article in the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper, Desmond Tutu and Karen Armstrong said of the launching of the Charter:
If we wish to create a viable world order, we must try to implement the golden rule globally, treating all peoples - even those who seem far removed from us - as we would wish to be treated ourselves. Our world has become dangerously polarized and many of our policies - political, economic, financial and environmental - seem no longer sustainable. We have a choice. We can either choose the aggressive and exclusive tendencies that have developed in practically all religious and secular traditions or we can cultivate those that speak of compassion, empathy, respect and an impartial "concern for everybody."
Visit the Charter Website for history, videos and to sign on: ww.charterofcompassion.org
A YouTube video on the charter is also available.
TPPC's former youth director, Emily Welty, has sent a letter about her recent trip to Haiti. We reproduce her letter here, with her permission.
Looking for a way to deepen your faith and prayer? Thirsting to read the scriptures in a life-giving way?
Each week, the Human Rights Campaign offers an inspirational commentary on the Bible passages used in church for the Sunday sermon. Please join Pastor Greiner in reading these devotions each week at www.hrc.org/scripture.
Anyone interested in a Bible study together please speak with Pastor Greiner at 301-270-5550.
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