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Thus begins the current mission statement of Takoma Park Presbyterian Church (TPPC). We are a small, but active church in Takoma Park, Maryland working for social justice from Silver Spring to Jinocuao, Nicaragua.
Our church is known as "a church for all people" because our congregation is made up of people of many races, cultures, occupations, ages, and sexual orientations.
A summary of what we learned from our listening campaign appears below:
We as a church community yearn to:
Be shaped and changed by God
Engage our children and youth in church life
Address inequalities in our local and global communities
Care for our environment
Deepen our connections to each other
We welcome all to join our worship on Sunday at 11 AM, our Sunday School classes for children and adults at 9:30 AM, and we welcome you here as well.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) deeply grieves the devastation and loss in the Republic of the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda). The denomination is actively responding through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and its partners, and also is calling for prayer.
Our congregation is being asked to stand in the GAP (Give / Act / Pray) to help survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan by mailing a check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
PO Box 643700,
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Donations can also be made online to DR000012 to support disaster response in the Philippines.
Our Sunday School classes have been putting together a yard sale to aid in the response to Super Typhoon Haiyan.
On October 27 the Adult Discussion Group will begin viewing and discussing "Painting the Stars: Science, Religion and an Evolving Faith", a resource from Living the Questions series. Adult Sunday School begins at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning in the parlor. All are welcome.
TPPC has planned a number of activities for the Advent season. A listing of these can be found on our Advent Calendar page.
On December 7th, TPPC will host our annual Christmas Cookies for Shepherd's Table from 10 to noon in the Assembly Room. Anyone who wants to decorate cookies are welcome.
You can bake cookie 'blanks' and bring that morning, bring decorations, bring kids to decorate the cookies, or stay to bag cookies (we put 3 in each sandwich bag – easier for Shepherd’s table to give out).
The Session of the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church calls a congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, December 15 to hear the recommendations of the Nominating Committee and elect officers for the coming year.
While TPPC is installing new fire alarms, the gym can be rented. (We will let post on this website when the fire alarm installation is complete). During installation, groups can rent the gym if they have one adult designed as to serve on fire-watch. That person has to have a working cellphone and be designated solely for fire-watch (so not participate in other activities at the same time.) Additionally, all participants need to be older than 30 months (2 1/2 years old).
The TPPC Annual Bazaar ihas been postponed until spring due to construction work that needs to be done on our gym. We willl post a new date when it is scheduled.
The Session has initiated efforts to develop a new strategic plan for the church. Three areas of church operations have needed immediate attention -- stewardship/finance, property and staffing. I
We're looking forward to engaging the congregation more in strategic planning this fall.
The joint Search Committee of Christ Congregational Church and TPPC has begun advertising for a new three-quarter time Youth Director.
We are seeking a creative and inspirational leader to help two thriving and progressive churches develop a combined youth ministry that brings our youth and supporting adults to the "next level" of inner faith development, community involvement, and spiritual activism. This is a unique opportunity for a person of faith to serve a new community that is growing out of already existing and vibrant teen groups at two distinct congregations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
The Director of Youth Ministry will develop and implement a cooperative youth ministry between Christ Congregational Church -- United Church of Christ, Silver Spring, MD (CCC) and Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, Takoma Park, MD (TPPC).
Ordained and lay persons will be considered for this "non-called" position.
At CCC and TPPC, we honor and celebrate people of all races, cultures, ages, abilities, sexual orientations and gender.
A full job description is available on this website.
Please keep the Search Committee in your prayers.
Takoma Park's own TV show, "We Are Takoma", interviewed our pastor, the Rev. Mark Greiner, about our community kitchen. The segment is about 5 minutes long, and it starts at the 16:10 mark at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDJq5PCDAoo#t=16m10s.
Pastor Mark Greiner has completed his sabbatical, which lasted from May 20 to August 25, 2013. The theme of the sabbatical was "The Bread of Life", the aims of which included:
There is a special page on our website which gives more details on the sabbitical period, including a sabbatical calendar and links to a brochure (PDF) and a sabbatical reading list (PDF). There are also links to a reflection on the sabbatical (PDF) and a listing of sabbatical activities (PDF).
We need gleaners to help on the second Tuesday of the month. Kids are especially welcome. We meet at 1:45 p.m, in front of the clock at the Takoma Park Farmers Market. Please bring along some garbage-size plastic bags and boxes.
We will ask vendors for any extra food they are able to donate to Shepherds Table. We generally fill the trunk of a station wagon with fruits, lots of vegetables and bread. We deliver the food to Shepherds Table kitchen. Their chef turns it into delicious meals for over 100 people.
Jashemski Scholarships provide financial assistance for students of outstanding intellectual ability as evidenced by prior academic performance, and significant religious commitment as evidenced by formal membership in a religious body, regular participation in its worship life, and active involvement in its service ministry.
Recipients will be students (17-25 years of age) who:
More information can be found on the Jashemski Memorial Scholarship Fund page. Applications are due February 15 each year.
Pastor Greiner invites you to join him in weekly mediation. You are welcome to come for sitting and walking meditation for 45 minutes. Discussion follows on a book about meditation; currently we are reading Pema Chodron's Comfortable with Uncertainty. The group is lead by the Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center, whose mission is to nurture all who wish to practice Mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh, a widely-known Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author and activist, is the key inspiration for this group.
For more information see the website; http://www.stillwatermpc.org/ or call Pastor Greiner at 301-270-5550.
TPPC has a virtual bookstore, hosted by Cokesbury.com for TPPC.
You can access the virtual bookstore by clicking on the "Virtual Bookstore" graphic
to the right of this text.
Vistors to our virtual bookstore will be able to order books from Cokesbury.com at a discount, with a percentage of qualifying sales going to support TPPC.
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
310 Tulip Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone : 301-270-5550
email : office@takomaparkpc.org
Rev. Mark Greiner, Pastor
Una Kettering, Office Administrator
Dr. James Bingham, Director of Music
Wilbert Glover, Building Manager.
Julie Rosenkrans, Children's Worship and Music Director