Wednesday, December 24, 2008

ThirdPlace Update/Christmas Giving Opportunities:


LEADERSHIP ADVANCE ’09: January 8-10 A three-day don’t-miss experience of self-exploration, motivating speaking sessions, team challenge, and…God coming down. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to God so He can shape us, change us, and help us discover the gifts He has placed in us. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to the people around us and the needs of those in our midst. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to the needs of the
world and urgency of our times. Lives that wake up to the call of God and the transformation. He wants to do in us are lives that transform the world. www.leadershipadvance.org

Interested in helping out with LA 2009?, we’d love to have you serve alongside us!! Contact Lois: lois@calvarysc.org

Volunteer Areas:
Coaches - Provide support, encouragement, guidance, and resources for the participants (training provided).
Food Team (meal prep & clean-up)
Donations (for LA Scholarships)
Prayer
Set-up (Jan. 7-8)
Tear-Down (Jan. 10)

Clothing Swap: Children, Men, and Women’s Clothing Swap

As a way to be good stewards, question our consumption, get rid of stuff, recycle and renew wardrobes of the Calvary community, ThirdPlace is hosting a clothing swap on Saturday, January 24 from 12-3pm at Calvary Baptist Church. Acceptable items to swap/donate are children’s clothing & shoes and/or men and women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Contributions may be made to drop box locations in the Calvary Church fellowship hall or Calvary Midtown high school lobby before/after services January 17-18. All contributions will then be presorted and categorically arranged at Calvary Baptist Church. On January 24 from 12-3pm, swap participants are welcome to browse the contributions and are asked to take home no more than 6 items per woman/child/man. Excess items will then be donated to a non-profit organization (such as Goodwill) and/or used in Calvary missions.

Christmas Giving Opportunities:

Umuryango Children’s Network: An organization that seeks to see the Rwandan Street Children permanently transformed from isolated outcasts to productive, fully integrated members of the community who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually whole. Umuryango takes care of street children in Rwanda by placing them in homes and meet their needs in practical ways. Whether your interested in sponsoring a boy in Rwanda, making a one time donation, or just being more informed...here’s their website (http://www.umuryango.org) and info on how to make a contribution.

Your Financial Contribution:
You can give your monthly or one-time donation by:
1. Sending a check, made out to Umuryango Children's Network (with your child's name on the memo line) to the US Mailing Address.
2. Making an electronic transfer from your bank account to ours. If you wish to do so, send Matthew an email and he will provide you with the routing and account numbers.
3. Paying online via PayPal. The link is here (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=821320).

Contact Information:
Mailing Address in US.
Umuryango Children's Network
PO Box 100701
Arlington, VA 22210

Adopt Boy in Rwanda: Additional sponsors are needed for the Adopt-A-Child program at the Umuryango Boy’s Home in Byimana, Rwanda (www.umuryango.org). For more info contact Matthew Heinz, heinzmatthew@gmail.com.

TOMS Shoes: A really unique social justice minded business. For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. A brand of shoe created in May 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, a former contestant of reality TV’s “The Amazing Race”. The goal behind Mycoskie’s line of shoes is to end shoelessness in third-world countries through donating shoes. http://www.tomsshoes.com

TOMS Shoe Drop Argentina 2006 (a little clip that shows the shoes they’ve been able to give to kiddos who need them!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ8c5QWsCRQ

CompassionArt: CompassionArt is a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty. It raises money to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice. http://www.compassionart.co.uk They headline 4 projects:

India and Cambodia: Hand of Hope
Brazil: Ray of Hope
Uganda: Watoto
Worldwide: Stop The Traffik

But they also have 12 artists who have a number of charities that the royalties will go to from the Album Sales....Hope Rwanda is one of them.

Mocha Club: Is about connecting our community with the community in Africa. You start by giving up $7 a month, the cost of 2 mochas. And you get to pick where that money is going. The have many different ongoing projects around Africa - pick the one that YOU love...(HIV/AIDS, Orphan Care, Child Mothers, Sudan Regrowth, Education, Job Creation). https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/welcome.


Housing/Sublets: please let me know when your need is filled. Thanks!

One male needed: Bedroom available for rent in two-person, four-bedroom apartment in Historic Lemont starting January 2009. If you're interested, additional details can be found at http://pennstate.craigslist.org/roo/967442410.html or email Matt McKinney at matthew.c.mckinney@gmail.com

--
Lois Abdelmalek
ThirdPlace
814.238.0822 ext 24

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Leadership Advance 2009!!

Leadership Advance 2009:
January 8-10 (28 days away!) www.leadershipadvance.org
Last chance participant registration: https://calvarysc.org/index.php?cid=318 due 12/19!

Awaken to your calling during this three-day, don't-miss experience of self-exploration, motivating speakers, team challenge, and...God coming down. Geared toward young adults (high school seniors, college undergrads, grad students, and young professionals).

Volunteer Interest? Contact Dean <dean.christian@gmail.com>
Coaches - Provide support, encouragement, guidance, and resources for the participants (training provided).
Food Team (meal prep & clean-up)
Donations (for LA Scholarships)
Prayer
Set-up (Jan. 7-8)
Tear-Down (Jan. 10)

A Charlie Brown Christmas!

A Charlie Brown Christmas Performed Live!

Sunday, December 14 @ 5:30pm and 7:30pm
at Fairbrook UM Church, 4201 W. Whitehall Road
(~5 miles from the Unimart at the corner of College and Whitehall)
Free Admission. (Donations for a Christmas mission will be collected)
Meet and greet autograph session and refreshments with the cast will follow each show.

Staring Barb Roan as Lucy and Abby King as Violet!
Join the whole peanut gang in this Christmas classic reminding us what Christmas is all about! Come and see Schroeder and his piano, Linus and his blankie, Lucy and her psychiatrist booth, Snoopy and his dog house, and of course...Charlie Brown and his pathetic Christmas tree. A great time for every kid at heart...young and old! This is one holiday event you don't want to miss!

Questions?: Contact Barb <barb.roan@gmail.com>

Myanmar Christmas Cookie Sale & Breakfast Fundraiser: Proceeds benefit Myanmar missions

Myanmar Christmas Cookie Sale & Breakfast Fundraiser: Proceeds benefit Myanmar missions.

Saturday, December 13
8am-1pm at Calvary Baptist Church (1250 University Drive)

Cookie Sale (Fellowship Hall): Browse the collection and choose any assortment of sweets you would like to purchase ($8/lb.). No obligation to buy -- it can be fun just to browse!

Buffet-style Breakfast (Worship Room): Eggs, sausage, pancakes, and home made apple sauce! (No set cost - Donations only). Q's, contact Rick at rmb30@psu.edu.

Housing/Sublets:

Male Roommate: In need of an apartment with a Christian roommate(s) starting asap. Please contact Chris Lemery <chrislems@gmail.com>.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Service Opportunity: Free Babysitting for local families!

FREE BABYSITTING!!

Saturday, December 13
12:30—4:30pm
Calvary Baptist Church

We want to bless families by giving them an afternoon alone while we spend it watching their children for free! All children (infants– 5th grade) are welcome (please feel free to invite non-Calvary families).

*A ThirdPlace Life Group at Calvary is hosting this event.
*Questions? Please contact Kendra Gettig at
kendragettig@yahoo.com.

Monday, December 1, 2008

BAD CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY, This Friday, Dec. 5th!!


BAD CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY!!!

With a Holiday Beverage & Dessert bar...and ridiculous games!!

It’s a ThirdPlace classic and people get really ‘decked out’ :) If you missed it last year, have no fear, it's back and it's worse than ever!!


Sport your Christmas worst and get down with us!!

Check out the pictures from last year to get inspired and study your competition...it’s pretty, um, well, bad!
http://picasaweb.google.com/thirdplacesc

When: Friday, December 5th @ 7pm

Where: Drew, Esli and Tim’s place...229 Canterbury Drive, State College, PA 16803

Who: "Your Bad Self!" And a "Bad Sweater"...it doesn't have to be Christmas themed, it just has to be baad!

What to bring: Last Names A-M....bring a holiday beverage to share (hot chocolate, apple cider, etc.)!
Last Names N-Z....bring cookies or other desserts!

RSVP: to Katy Stu (k_stubanas@yahoo.com) by Thursday, December 4th!!

There will be awards given to the top 3 "Bad" Christmas Sweaters, and YOU will be the judges!!
There will also be an "Over-All Badest" award for the most hideous outfit, so wear you're nasty flare :)

All are welcome, please feel free to invite your friends!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Christmas Unwrapped is Sunday Dec. 7th 4-7pm

Christmas Unwrapped is Sunday Dec. 7th 4-7pm and we could use a few helping hands:

We’ll need helpers for clean up especially starting at 7pm. There will be plenty of areas to help clean up in with the food and the different stations around the building. We may also need some help leading some games in the game room (kid friendly games etc) from 5-7pm as well if anyone would be interested in that.

Dareleen Morehead is leading the craft room team- if anyone is interested in helping her out, they can email her at rickdar@comcast.net
Kim Dick is leading the cookie decorating team – if anyone is interested in helping her out, they can email her at kim@calvarysc.org
Kendra Gettig is leading the Christmas Café beverage and card decorating area- if anyone is interested in helping her out, they can email her at kendragettig@yahoo.com
Marjory Price is leading our wonderful food team- if anyone is interested in helping her out, they can email her at Marjory.price@gmail.com

If anyone is interested in helping out with set up or clean up they can email me- Courtney – cwhetzel@psu.edu

Friday, November 28, 2008

Arts/Social Justice Opportunities

Ten Thousand Villages sale December 1-5 in 410 Boucke Building: Ten Thousand Villages work with over 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. As one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, they build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life. A traveling sale for Ten Thousand Villages that will be on campus December 1-5 in 410 Boucke Building from 10:00AM-5:00PM each day. Check out the website below if you are not familiar with this retailer of gorgeous hand-crafted, fair-trade goods from around the world. Great place to do some shopping for Christmas!!
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com

Thursday, November 27, 2008

BAD CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY!!

With a Holiday Beverage & Dessert bar...and ridiculous games!! That's right friends, this is our 3rd Annual "Bad Christmas Sweater Party"!! If you missed it last year, have no fear, it's back and it's worse than ever! Sport your Christmas worst and get down with us!!

When: Friday, December 5th @ 7pm

Where: Drew, Esli and Tim’s place...229 Canterbury Drive, State College, PA 16803

Who: "Your Bad Self!" And a "Bad Sweater"...it doesn't have to be Christmas themed, it just has to be baad!

What to bring: Last Names A-M....bring a holiday beverage to share (hot chocolate, apple cider, etc.)! Last Names N-Z....bring cookies or other desserts!

RSVP: to Katy Stu (k_stubanas@yahoo.com) by Thursday, December 4th!!
There will be awards given to the top 3 "Bad" Christmas Sweaters, and YOU will be the judges!! There will also be an "Over-All Badest" award for the most hideous outfit, so wear you're nasty flare :) All are welcome, please feel free to invite your friends!

Can’t wait!
-lo-

Friday, November 14, 2008

Prayer Retreat this Saturday, Nov. 15th!!

ThirdPlace Prayer Retreat this Saturday, November 15th at 8:30am-12:30pm at Harvest Fields:

The Theme is: the connection with Sabbath rest, busyness, and going all out for God

With guest facilitators Dan and Lynn Nold, the prayer retreat will be a unified time of corporate prayer and worship combined with solitude and time for reflection and connecting with God! A time to connect with God, with others, be encouraged and unified, and pray on the behalf of others!

The schedule for the day is as follows:

* 8:30am-9:30am: Corporate prayer/worship.
* 9:30am-11:00am: Personal connection time with God. Solitude and Reflection.
*11:00am-11:30am: Prayer focus on Sabbath rest, busyness, and going all out for God.
* 11:30am-12:30pm: Group sharing/encouragement, along with corporate worship and prayer.

Don’t miss this opportunity, it’s a great way to connect with God and others!
Breakfast, coffee, and tea will be provided :)

Please RSVP to Lois at lois@calvarysc.org.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Prayer Retreat this Saturday, Nov. 15th!!

ThirdPlace Prayer Retreat this Saturday, November 15th at 8:30am-12:30pm at Harvest Fields:

With guest facilitators Dan and Lynn Nold, the prayer retreat will be a unified time of corporate prayer and worship combined with solitude and time for reflection and connecting with God!

We'll join together in prayer that morning in the Log Room at Harvest Fields for a time of worship and corporate prayer from 8:30am-9:30am. Then we will break off for a time of reflection and solitude and you can go wherever you want (indoors or outdoors) and find some time to pray, journal, paint, sing...whatever you prefer! (9:30am-11:00am). We will come together then at 11:00am in the Log Room for a time of sharing, corporate worship and prayer. There will be some prayer guides made available to help better guide your time alone; feel free to use them or do your own thing. Bring whatever supplies you’ll need (journal, paints, music, etc) and join us for an exciting time to “unite in prayer” for the World, our community, and each other!

Don’t miss this opportunity, it’s a great way to connect with God and others!
Breakfast, coffee, and tea will be provided :)
Please RSVP to Lois at lois@calvarysc.org and I can send you the half-day info sheet to help you prep beforehand.

Also, we are putting together a selection of writings, blog entries, poems, songs, reflections, etc. written by various people in ThirdPlace to include in the Prayer Guides under “Thoughts & Reflections”....we really believe that we’re all gifted in various ways and can really learn so much from each other. So please share with us, it’s such a blessing...we would love to include your thoughts and reflections!!!
Please send that to Lois at lois@calvarysc.org by Friday, Nov. 14th.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Details on Progressive Dinner!

Here are the specifics of the event tonight.

Location #1:

Lois, Kasey, and Catherine's - 3181 Sheller's Bend #4
6:30 - 7:15 African Themed Appetizers
Last names A-F bring an appetizer or drink


Location #2:
Kendra, Hannah, and Beth's - 3182 Shellers Bend
7:15 - 8:00 Asian Themed Soup and Salad
Last names G-L bring a Soup, Salad or Drink

Location #3:
Mike, David, and Rob's - 3181 Shellers Bend #9
8:00 - 8:45 South American Themed Entrees
Last names M-S bring an Entree

Location #4:
Esli, Drew, and Tim's - 229 Canturberry Road
9:00 - ?? European Desserts and games and hang out time!!
Last names T-Z bring a dessert

To RSVP or with any questions, please contact Katy Stubanas (k_stubanas@yahoo.com)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Internationally Themed Progressive Dinner This Friday!!

This Friday, November 7th

Thanksgiving Around the World!!
Internationally Themed Progressive Dinner


Appetizers will begin at 6:30 at Kasey, Catherine, and Lois’s (3181 Shellers Bend #4)
After we eat we will travel to 2 more locations before ending at Esli, Drew, and Tim’s (229 Canturberry Rd) at 9:00 for Dessert and Games

What to bring??
If your last name is A – F bring an African themed appetizer or drinks

If your last name is G –L bring an Asian themed drink, soup, or salad

If your last name is M - S bring a South American entree

If your last name is T – Z bring a European dessert


Really, anything will do, no pressure...I’m making my famous Mac N’ Cheese :)
We are so excited to share a meal together!

Please RSVP to Katy Stubanas (k_stubanas@yahoo.com)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Upcoming:

First Friday Event: Friday, November 7th:  Thanksgiving Around the World!!  Internationally Themed Progressive Dinner
Dinner will begin at 6:30pm, more details to follow in the next few days.


Faith For Thought, Saturday, November 8th: is a one-day conference for any college student, grad student, 20-something or individual who wants to connect real faith with real life. Our theme this year is “Everything Under the Sun.” If all things belong to God, what does this mean for our everyday lives and the issues we face as Christians? Faith for Thought is space to come to together with others who want to critically engage questions like this and be inspired into action. Keynote speakers include Crystal Downing, an English professor from Messiah College with her talk "Seeing with the Sun: Postmodern Reflections".  

Breakout sessions will be led by many very interesting people including our own Tracy Conklin and Suresh Canagarajah. The cost is $20, which includes lunch. Scholarships are available. For more information and to register, visit 
http://www.faith4thought.org/ or contact Tracy Conklin<tconklin@psu.edu>.


October is Fair Trade Month!! 
Check out these websites and see how you can help people from all around the world: http://transfairusa.org/content/connect/ftm08.php

TransFair USA enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth. We achieve our mission by certifying and promoting Fair Trade products. 

Check out TransFair USA, a non-profit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. TransFair's rigorous audit system verifies industry compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair licenses over 600 U.S. companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on agricultural products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards. TransFair is one of 23 members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO).
 http://transfairusa.org/

Friday Forum: Friday, Oct. 31 at 4pm:
  Brendaly Drayton of the Adult Education program will wrap up Friday Forum's six-part series on Faith and Pedagogy by focusing our attention on "Jesus as an Adult Educator."

This Friday Forum is the sixth installment of a six-part series on "Faith and Pedagogy."  Most of you will lead a classroom at some point in your graduate school careers.  Many of you will have had very little teacher's training or experience, and the classroom may look big, intimidating, unfriendly.  And that's before the students come in!  This series attempts to provide practical ways to be a good teacher but also Christian ways of thinking about the educational process--from the simplest classroom habits to the role of leader and facilitator, and/or to the latest and loftiest models of education and cognition.  In fact, the series is based on the assumption that thinking in Christian ways will help us think in practical ways as well--that being a Christian teacher really works.

Location: Pasquerilla Room 104 (Harshbarger Meeting Room). If you approach the Pasquerilla Center from the direction of the library, go to the entrance between the wings, go through both sets of doors, then take the second hallway to the right and go all the way to the end.


One-day Marriage Seminar, Saturday, November 8th:
  Are you ready to go beyond the surface and cultivate a deeper connection? Consider this highly-acclaimed marriage seminar as your road map to doing just that. And think of Les and Leslie Parrott as your guides. They are entertaining, thought-provoking, and immeasurably practical. One minute you'll be laughing, and the next you'll sit still in silence as they open your eyes to how you can make your relationship all it was meant to be.  
9am-3pm, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
register now at 
www.calvarysc.org/seminars or contact mike@calvarysc.org for more info (ext. 23).
$75/Couples, $40/Singles

ThirdPlace Prayer Retreat Saturday, November 15th at 8:30am-12:30pm at Harvest Fields with Guest Facilitators Dan and Lynn Nold: The prayer retreat will be a unified time of corporate prayer and worship combined with solitude and time for reflection and connecting with God!  A time to connect with God, with others, be encouraged and unified, and pray on the behalf of others!

The schedule for the day is as follows:

* 8:30am-9:30am: Corporate prayer/worship.
* 9:30am-11:30am: Personal connection time with God. Solitude and Reflection.
* 11:30am-12:30pm: Group sharing/encouragement, along with corporate worship and prayer.

Don’t miss this opportunity, it’s a great way to connect with God and others!   Breakfast, coffee, and tea will be provided :)  Please RSVP to Lois at lois@calvarysc.org.  

LEADERSHIP ADVANCE ’09:
 January 8-10 A three-day don’t-miss experience of self-exploration, motivating speaking sessions, team challenge, and…God coming down. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to God so He can shape us, change us, and help us discover the gifts He has placed in us. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to the people around us and the needs of those in our midst. Leadership Advance is a call to AWAKEN OUR HEARTS to the needs of the 
world and urgency of our times. Lives that wake up to the call of God and the transformation. He wants to do in us  are lives that transform the world.
 
www.leadershipadvance.org Early bird deadline is NOV 21 – get those applications in and save $30! 

Midtown Launch!: Coming to the 11am service? Remember Calvary Midtown launched this past weekend at the State College High School South building auditorium (650 Westerly Parkway). This is the first phase in Calvary's multi-site strategy  -- We are asking God to saturate the Centre Region with transforming communities that carry the DNA of His hope for the world. Be a part of the dream.

A Note from Calvary’s Leadership Team: October is Clergy Appreciation Month: We realize that our wonderful pastors are supported by a fabulous staff team and terrific families. Your Leadership Team invites you to bless our pastors and staff and their families during Clergy Appreciation Month by praying for them. We encourage you to send greetings and blessings directly to those who have touched your lives. You can find their e-addresses
 http://www.calvarysc.org/index.php?cid=78&section=3.  If you would like to contribute anonymously to a gift from the Calvary family, just specify "staff gift" on the memo line of a check made out to "Calvary Baptist Church" and put in the offering plate or drop boxes. You may designate gift amounts to individuals or families. Undesignated staff gifts will be pooled and divided among pastors and staff. Gifts are not tax deductible but will be recorded on your end-of-year report. Thank you for your joyful and prayerful support of our wonderful church staff.