The Light Our Mission is to be a church of grace and hope where everyone Meets, Serves and Praises Christ - Miami Shores Presbyterian Church
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The Light
Our Mission is to be a church of grace and hope where
everyone Meets, Serves and Praises Christ
Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday, April 1
Online worship service on YouTube or www.mspc.net -Available all day
Good Friday, April 2
Online worship service on YouTube or www.mspc.net -Available all day
Easter Sunday Worship-
Online Worship and In Person Prayer Services
Sunrise(6:45 am), 8:45 am, 11 am -Reservations Required-305-754-9541
Prayer Services in-person -on the MSPC Lawn (bring your lawn chair and mask)
Online worship service on YouTube or www.mspc.net -Available all day
April 2021 –INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Services and Holy Week .. 2 Prayer Services .............. 10
Pastors Page.................... 3 Pass It On Donations ..... 10
Transitional Ministry ......... 4 Lectionary Class ............ 10
Lenten Challenge ............. 4 Faith and Finances ........ 11
Preschool Summer Camp 4 Amazon Smile ................ 11
Easter Activities................ 5 Bible Verse..................... 12
In Person Worship............ 5 Children and Youth ....... 12
In Person Prayer Service . 5
April Calendar .................. 6
Did You Know? ................ 7
Church Family News ........ 8
School News .................... 9
2
Pastor’s Page with Pastor Kim
Walk with Jesus
During Holy Week and Easter
Holy Week and Easter start as we enter into April. In his last days with his disciples, Jesus expresses his
love once again. He does so at the table, even as he knows he is about to experience pain and suffer-
ing. And, we accompany Jesus as he exposes the brokenness of humanity as he hangs from the cross.
As we journey in these days with Jesus, may we continue to ask:
“Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to
let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hun-
gry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see them naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?” (Isaiah 58:6–7)
As we continue into Holy Week and Easter, let us ask
again: How can we be repairers of the breach? What
does it mean to you to be a repairer of the breach?
What does it mean for the church, for the faithful
community? And, as we experience Easter with the
disciples and Jesus, what does the resurrection mean
for us? Our world continues in pain and brokenness,
while we are called to be a resurrection people. We
are called to point to the love and hope of God. How
do we do that in these days?
Our worshipping life does not stop, even in the midst
of COVID. This year, MSPC offers so many different
ways for you to worship. Please do so. And, tell your
friends and your family. Worship in the ways that are
right for you in the days. But, please, worship. Take
the time to walk through Holy Week and Easter with
Jesus and with us.
May you each experience resurrection, and reparation, in these holy days!
Pastor Kim
3
Transitional Ministry Column by Pastor Kim
As MSPC continues in this time of transition, in the middle of a pandemic, it would be helpful for the wider
church to understand the tasks (or the job description) that was given to me, and the Session, by the
Presbytery of Tropical Florida, when I said “yes” to the call as Transitional Pastor of MSPC in July 2020. Each
month, I will focus on a different task.
Task for Transitional Pastor: Teaching moments re: dynamics of change
The world is changing, and so is MSPC. This can easily be understood, as MSPC entered into a time of transi-
tion when you called me as the Transitional Pastor in July of 2020. We were already in midst of change, while
learning how to be church during COVID. And, we are still learning how to be church in COVID times. Howev-
er, even without COVID, MSPC was sensing a call to transition and change. In August of 2019, we read
“Quietly Courageous,” and began conversations of how our church was being called to transform. In January/
February 2021, many of you filled out the Church Assessment Tool (CAT). It is no secret that we are in the
midst of a transition. One of my calls is to walk with you in this time, and to work with you in asking who we
are called to be as a community of faith. We are learning about these dynamics of change together. Thank
you for embracing this time with me. What an amazing time to lead this church! What an amazing time to BE
the church! I look forward to learning with you.
MSPC Lenten Challenge 2021-Due Easter Sunday
The MSPC Mission Committee challenges us as a church to collect enough school supplies to be deliv-
ered to every family in online learning with the public elementary schools in the area.
These schools to receive items are:
Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary, Hubert O Sibley Elementary and Miami Shores Elementary
Donate these items:
#2 pencils, crayons, pens, lined paper and notebooks, folders, erasers,
and glue.
Drop items at:
575 NE 105th St.
Miami Shores, FL
Or Order items from Amazon Smile (select MSPC as your charity) and
have them delivered to the above address
Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School
Preschool Summer Camp 2021
JUNE 7TH - JULY 30TH
Sessions are 2 weeks long
FOR CHILDREN 18 months - 5 years
WEEKLY THEMES: June 7th-18th- Bugs are Rad! , June 21st-July 2nd - Little Artists, July 5th-16th- Little
Scientists, July 19th - July 30th -See Ya Summer!
Call (305) 751-5417 for Information and to enroll!
Church Family Activities for Easter
Parents- you can receive an Easter basket for your children
as a surprise for Easter morning! Simply register your child by
calling the church office at 305-754-9541.The basket will in-
clude a letter from the Easter bunny, coloring pages and treats
from our family ministries team! You will be able to drive
through and pick up your baskets the Wednesday, March 31
and Thursday, April 1, before Easter between 530-630 PM.
There will be a virtual Easter Egg Hunt during the online Easter
service available at mspc.net or our YouTube channel on Easter
Sunday. Count the eggs!
In Person Worship Service Begins
April 18th at 845-930 AM with
Reservations Required
Live Stream Worship Service Continues
every Sunday at 11 AM
Make your reservation to join us at our first outdoor Worship Service on
April 18th at 845 AM. Call the church office at 305-754-9541. Everyone must have a reservation for contact
tracing reasons.
The April 18th service will celebrate our ability to be together again and Earth Day (April 22).
Masks must be worn and you should bring your lawn chairs to sit in.
As usual you can watch the 11 AM live stream worship service at mspc.net or on YouTube.
April 4 & 11th- In Person Prayer Service-Reservations Required
April 4-11 MSPC will offer a short prayer service on the church lawn, from 9:15-
9:45 am. Up to 50 people can worship, with reservations. Reservations must be
made no later than 4 pm the Friday before. Make your reservation by
email: mspc@mspc.net or calling the church and leaving a message with Carol
Wilde: 305-754-9541. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket.
Please note that this is a trial, for the month of March. And, IF Miami-Dade county returns to magenta on
the morning of worship, we will pivot to live stream worship only.
*Watch numbers here: https://covidactnow.org/us/florida-fl/county/miami_dade_county?s=1193289
If the thermometer is magenta (dark red) on the morning of worship, MSPC will not offer in-person worship
that Sunday.*
APRIL 2021
Every Sunday
Worship 11AM
online at
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
mspc.net
Sundays, 10 AM -
Lectionary Class
1 Online service 2 Online service 3
1st & 3rd- To view our online services go to mspc.net
Sundays 1 PM, and click on the link or check out our pn
Children’s Choir YouTube channel. Our prerecorded services
2nd & 4th Sundays are available all day after 7 AM.
1 PM, Youth
FEMA Vaccine Registration at MSPC /MSPC School Easter Break
4 Online Service 5 6 7 8 9 10
Prayer Services on
Worship Cmt.- Happy
lawn at sunrise,
7 PM
845 AM, 11 AM Birthday to all
our April
Birthdays!
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Prayer Service, Pastoral Care School Missions Cmt. – Session 7 PM
915 AM Cmt.-7 PM 7 PM
Commission-7
Live stream PM
Worship, 11AM
18 19 20 Comm. For 21 22 Communica- 23 24
Financial Sustain- tions, 730 PM
ablity-6 PM
In Person
Tech, Opera-
Worship, 845AM
tions, Property-
Live stream
7 PM
Worship, 11 AM
25 In Person 26 27 28 29 30
Worship, 845AM
Adult Christian Communications
Live Stream Education Cmt.- Cmt.-730 PM May 6-National Day of Prayer
Worship, 11 AM 7 PM May 13-Ascension of the Lord
Family Ministries, May 23-Pentecost
1215 PM May 31-Memorial Day
By Sheri Swanson
The “Come, Tarry, Go” Tapestry in the Narthex
In 1987 Miami Shores Presbyterian Church celebrated our 50th anniver-
sary. I had visited another church and saw a small tapestry in its
Fellowship Hall. A church member explained that it had been completed
by each member of the congregation. It occurred to me that a
communal project such as that would be a wonderful way to add to our
50th celebration.
I have always loved our church windows. Those on the sanctuary’s
great facade include the towering figures of Christ, one beckons us to
come and be blessed, the other to go and bless others. I suggested
recreating the narthex windows on a tapestry created by the entire
congregation.
We were able to get Doris Frech, the talented church member who
drew the picture of the church on our bulletins for many years, to draw
the church windows on a five-by-three- foot mesh canvas. We went to a
local yarn shop, The Naughty Needle, to select the yarns.
Our membership was approximately 1800 at that time. It seemed a
monumental task to get all of those members to take a stitch in the tap-
estry. Because we were having a church pictorial directory done for our
anniversary, it presented the opportunity of having all congregation
members come in for their photographs. The tapestry was there in the
Library and each member took a stich (or more) as they came in to be
photographed. Newborns, elderly, and any of those who needed help
were aided by members of our committee or a family member. It was
very moving to have been there.
There are many Christian symbols in the windows and the tapestry, to
name a few, a Bible representing the gospel, a ship which commands
carrying God’s word to the ends of the earth, a fish symbolizing God is
with you, the world with baptismal font on it telling us to go forth and
baptize the world and more. For more information about the window or
the tapestry you may call the church office.
The tapestry still hangs in the narthex. It reminds us of our challenge
and our gift as Christian people that we are “Blest to be a Blessing”,
the theme of our 50th Anniversary.
CHURCH FAMILY HAPPENINGS BY SUE FOX
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID VACCINE AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO? From March 29th-April 2,
FEMA will be on the MSPC campus to register anyone eligible for the vaccine. Those that register are
registering to receive the vaccine on the Miami-Dade College North Campus. Please share this news
with the wider community, especially with those who do not have access to a computer and internet,
and want to register.
We rejoice in the baptism of Eva Carranza, 7-year-old daughter of Luis Carranza and Sara Salavarria, in
our Sanctuary on March 28th. Joining Eva and her parents at the baptismal fount was Eva’s 2-year-old
brother Luca.
Our March Church live streaming services commemorated International Women’s History Month with
poetry and prayers authored by women around the world. On 2 Sundays we welcomed into the pulpit
guest speakers from Presbytery. Prayers and readings were led by Grace Moore, Lauren Benton, Marcia
Cannata and Terry Rodriguez zooming in from their homes.
The newly-formed Communications Committee commemorated International Women’s Month (March)
by highlighting women of our Church on social media. They invite us to join MSPC on Facebook or
Instagram to see MSPC news and stories.
A Diaconate Committee is reaching out to our membership through telephone calls, e-mails and hand-
written notes.
An Adult Christian Education Committee, chaired by Brian Dille and Marcia Cannata, are exploring
opportunities for future classes.
Since our last tally of 11,800 pounds of food that MSPC has picked up and delivered to Pass-It-On
Ministries and families in need in our community, another 15 boxes were picked up and distributed on
March 4th. Charles McNear, we owe you a big round of applause for spearheading this project, and
another round of applause goes to several Deacons who at the last meeting volunteered to help others
with pickup and delivery.
It’s the time of year when God’s Green Gardeners are reaping what they have sown — the garden plots
are exploding with leafy greens, delicious herbs, eggplant and tomatoes, so much so that Pass-It-On
Ministries recipients have been enjoying some of the fruits of their labor.
Windy Johnston was one of 14 Commissioners on the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission
participating in the February 25-28th zoom hearing. The Commissioners spanned 5 different time zones,
usually zooming for 8 to 10 hours a day. Windy was Chair of the Committee for the ecclesiastical case.
The Commission hopes to resume in-person hearings in Louisville, KY, this Fall. Windy informs us that
we may review cases and decisions on the PCUSA website, pcusa.org/gapc.
“Dirty Gold: The Rise and Fall of an International Smuggling Ring” has just rolled off the press and is
ready to read. Co-authored by Jay Weaver, the book is an expose on illegal gold mining in the jungles of
South America. (It’s a eye-opener as to illegal gold‘s relationship to international money laundering and
drug smuggling, not to mention its devastating effect on the environment.) The book is based on a
Miami Herald series, also co-authored by Jay, which was a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize.
Anne Bellows and Chris Bellows enjoyed a two-week vacation in Key West with Anne’s daughter-in-law
Amy and granddaughter Brynn Bellows of Toledo, OH.
Bill and Nora Tenney enjoyed the week of March 22nd skiing in Telluride, CO, with plenty of snow and a
blizzard or two.
MSPC extends its sympathy and prayers to Adair and her family on the loss of her father on Saturday,
March 6th. Adair is a third grader at MSPCS.
To each of us we wish a meaningful, blessed Easter and extend an invitation from the Family Ministries
Committee to download a Holy Week Devotional at Presbyterianmission.org. Happy EASTER!
MSPC School News
Anita Stevens, Director
Our preschoolers are
buzzing with activities
and are loving the
science they are doing!
They have learned
about dental health and
learned about cavities
and how to floss! They
are also reaping the
benefits of their garden!
Picking cherry toma-
toes and enjoying them
is great fun and educa-
tional too!
Our elementary students are once again reaching out and helping our community. We are collecting school
supplies for the public schools in need. This is part of our Lenten Challenge. These supplies will be used to
make “at-home” bags for those students participating in school virtually. We are so proud of our students for
having a giving heart and showing love and compassion towards others. Our 5th graders are also gearing up
for several community awareness and community projects at Oleta River State Park. They will be helping our
parks and learning about the outdoors during their 3 day, socially safe, experience at Oleta River State Park
next month.
We started our registration for next school year. If you, or someone you know are looking for an amaz-
ing school, filled with dedicated staff and students that continue to perform well on testing, as well as have a
strong social emotional grounding, all within a loving Christian environment, this is a school for you! We en-
courage you to learn more about our school. We are giving in person tours. Please call to schedule a tour at:
Preschool 305-751-5417, Elementary School 305-759-2548 or email us at schools@mspcs.net or visit our web-
site at http://www.mspcs.net/
March Prayer Services-A Welcome Change
Pass It On Ministry Donations
Join Our Class Over Zoom
Lectionary Class: Discuss this week’s Bible
lessons on Sundays at 10 am with John McFeely
and Liz Burkins. Email Carol Wilde
at: cwilde@mspc.net to register and to receive
the link for the class. Or call the church office at
305-754-9541.
You can make donations of canned goods, peanut
butter, toiletries, etc. at Mari Mejia’s home;
575 NE 105th St.
Miami Shores, FL
Thank you to all who have donated!By Melissa Gracey, MSPC Treasurer
A Place of Abundance
Hello from the Commission on Financial Sustainability!
I’m writing this message on the one-year anniversary of when we closed the church to in-person wor-
ship. So many things have happened since March of 2020. Do you remember the service where we learned to
pass the peace in sign language? It seems like a lifetime ago.
So many new and unusual things have happened since March 2020. I don’t like the phrase “the new
normal,” but we’ve fallen into a rhythm in some areas. Online worship, Zoom meetings, PayPal offerings. It’s
not the same, but we’re making the best of it.
Our contributions are down a bit and pledge cards for the stewardship campaign pledge cards came
back slowly. However, many of our church members have been incredibly generous, exceeded their pledges for
2020 and increased their pledged 2021 gifts.
While it’s tough to create a budget when we don’t know where we will be, we were blessed to receive
the PPP loan. It was a real financial lifesaver for both the church and the school.
I try to remember the words in the Quietly Courageous book about remembering that we are in a place
of abundance. That abundance includes new worshippers we can reach though the online services, new friends
we have invited to education classes and the book club, and the kids who will benefit from our Lenten project.
While we await the results of the CAT, I'm personally excited to see the responses and the areas that
the congregation highlight as important and impactful. It’s an important moment of transition.
While we very much miss fellowship with each other at our beautiful campus, we have expanded our
reach and touched more people with the online worship services. I hope you are using this time to reach out to
friends and inviting them to worship with us.
Thank you to everyone who has been generous with their financial support and kept our programs go-
ing over the last year. Thank you to our committee chairs who have been careful with spending and mindful of
our budget limitations.
Happy Easter - I hope we can be together soon.
Melissa
Did you know that you can generate donations while shopping at
no extra cost? Simply start your shopping at http://smile.amazon.com and
choose Miami Shores Presbyterian Church as your charity of choice,
and Amazon Smile will donate a portion of your eligible purchase price to our organization. Thank you!CHILDREN AND YOUTH CONTINUE TO MEET
VIRTUALLY!
Children: Sunday School on Sundays at 10 am
Youth: Wednesdays at 7 pm:
Middle School Youth Group: Fridays at 6:30 pm:
Email Lisa Sullivan for more information and ZOOM links
at: lisa@mspc.net.
Children and Youth Choirs-Sundays 1 PM call the church office for more
info, 305-754-9541
MIAMI SHORES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Our vision is to be friends of Christ who share God’s love with each other and the world.
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