August 22, 2010 — No. 34
Helen Howland: Enjoying Life to the Fullest
With nearly a century to her credit, Helen Howland continues to take pleasure in each day as it comes.
“I’m 99 years old and I love it,” she said, “but all ages are wonderful.”
Helen was born across the river in Camden, New Jersey. “It was a lovely place back then,” she reports. “Nothing like it is today!”
Though the family lived in Camden, Helen’s father had his work in Philadelphia.
“He took the ferry boat across every day,” she said. “That was before the bridge opened.”
Helen Howland hs long been a part of the Huntingdon Valley community.
Helen graduated from Camden High School and went off to West Chester University where she studied to be a school teacher.
In the summer of 1928, Helen met her future husband, Tom Howland. They were introduced by mutual friends and had their first date down at the Jersey shore where Helen often spent her summers.
“When I met him, I made him stand up to make sure he was taller than I,” Helen says with a laugh. “And I liked his wavy hair, too.”
Helen and Tom married in 1930 and settled into married life in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.
At first, their routine was quite busy. During the day, Tom worked in a law firm. After work, he would dash home and have dinner. Then it was time to head to Temple Law School, where he took evening classes as he prepared to become a lawyer.
In good time, he was admitted to the bar and began his own law firm in Philadelphia.
Five children soon came along, beginning with Tom Jr. in 1931, followed by Peggy, Bill, John and Jane.
Each child is accomplished in his or her own way: Tom flourished as a stockbroker, Peggy was one of the first women ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church, Bill went to Drexel and became an engineer, John followed his father into law, and Jane followed her mother, becoming a teacher.
In 1955, the Howland family moved to Pine Road, still inside the city limits of Philadelphia. Their new house was constructed on what had been farm land.
Around that house, Helen planted a multitude of trees which now provide privacy, shade and an ample supply of branches and twigs to keep a cheery fire burning in winter.
Not long after arriving on Pine Road, Harriet and Andy Anderson stopped by to visit and invited the Howlands to attend Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church.
Helen and her family had been attending a Methodist church in Frankford – which was Tom’s choice. Helen says, “I was a life-long Presbyterian.”
The Howland family did come to HVPC and joined the church during the pastorate of Leonard Clayton.
In time, Tom Howland moved his law practice – Howland Hess – into Huntingdon Valley, just a few doors up the Pike from HVPC. Helen’s son John continues to work in the firm.
During her many years at HVPC, Helen was ordained both as an elder and as a deacon. She was involved in many aspects of the life of the church and particularly remembers her days of being in charge of the kitchen.
Now, 55 years after coming to Huntingdon Valley, Helen continues to drive herself to church on Sunday morning and she can be found in her customary pew, smiling and greeting others.
All ages are, indeed, wonderful!
– DPM
June 6, 2010 — No. 33
Leisure Hour Visits Japanese Tea House
An authentic seventeenth-century style Japanese tea house and garden in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park was target of the most recent Leisure Hour outing.
The Leisure Hour is an HVPC social group which takes monthly tours of cultural destinations in the Philadelphia area.
Destinations thus far this year have included the historic Fairmont Water Works on the Schuylkill River, the first municipal water works in the United States; the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, which has a wonderful collection of Bucks County Impressionist paintings; and Citizens Bank Park, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jean Weiler wisks a bowl of tea.
“The Leisure Hour is a day of learning and pleasantness and taking in the sights,” said Jean Weiler.
Typically, the Leisure Hour group boards the HVPC bus around 9 a.m. – Bert Holmes or Jay Sarajian will be at the wheel – and the group drives to their tour destination.
Following the tour, the group enjoys a relaxed lunch at a nearby restaurant and then returns to the church, well before the beginning of rush hour.
The Japanese house – called Shofuso – was built in 1953 in Japan and presented to the Museum of Modern Art in New York by the America-Japan Society of Tokyo. Later, the house was given to Philadelphia and moved to its current site in 1958.
The Leisure Hour group toured the Shofuso house and gardens and enjoyed a tea tasting in which the history of Japanese tea culture was described.
Before arriving at Shofuso, the group enjoyed an early lunch at the Centennial Restaurant in the Ohio House – a house built for the US Centennial Exposition.
Attending the Shofuso outing were Betty Agnew, Bert and Elaine Holmes, Dan Morrison and his mother Betty, Ruth Marcucci, Marilyn Sanders, Pat and Jay Sarajian, and Jean Weiler.
Currently, Jean Weiler and Ruth Marcucci are the coordinators of the Leisure Hour, this being their third year in that role. Before Jean and Ruth took the job, the Leisure Hour was coordinated for many years by Ruth Blair and Marilyn Sanders.
Leisure Hour will next go to Philadelphia City Hall for a two-hour tour. After the tour, the group will grab lunch at the Reading Terminal Market.
“These trips are an opportunity to get together and have something completely different than your everyday life, going to places you haven’t been to before and learning something historical or cultural,” said Ruth Marcucci. “And you always have nice meal after.”
– DPM
February 21, 2010 — No. 31
Chili and Chocolate Festival a Major Smash
The weather outside was frightful, but the food was so delightful at the Chili and Chocolate Festival organized and hosted by the HVPC Outreach Committee on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
Forty people braved the snowy weather for the Saturday evening event – including 15 guests, a number of whom had never before been HVPC.
Bert and Elaine Holmes display their tray of chocolate-dipped treats.
“I thought it was a nice mix of people who came out for the evening, considering how bad the weather was,” said Elaine Holmes, who came with her husband, Bert.
The evening featured a full slate of food, contests, games and prizes.
Beginning with pots of chili and plates of cornbread, everyone had their fill of healthy, warming food.
But once dinner was over, the group settled into the main attraction: lots and lots of chocolate.
At three stations set up around the Boyer Auditorium, pots of melted chocolate bubbled away, surrounded by various edibles – bananas, pineapple, graham crackers, pretzels, grapes, marshmallows and such – which were to be dipped fondue-style into the chocolate by means of skewers and forks.
Once dipped and extracted, the chocolate-coated items were then placed on a sheet of waxed paper on a lunch tray, where they were left to cool.
While the goodies cooled, the competitive spirit of the crowd was fired up with a quiz about chocolate.
With a score of 13 out of 20, Rosie Morrison took the prize for the chocolate quiz – an 11-pound bar of Belgian chocolate.
Then everyone played bingo, using Hershey Kisses as bingo markers. Prizes included flowers and heart-shaped chocolate cakes – perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day.
The evening’s fun was conceived and staffed by the session’s Outreach Committee which consists of Lisa Berkenstock, Joan Clover, Susan Caler, Paul Nyirjesy, Lois Chapla, Beth Rizzo and Arleen Wilson. Elder Karen Nyirjesy is the chair of the committee.
Not everyone who came out was all that crazy about chocolate. Helen Howland noted, “I am really more of a vanilla freak. Next time, we’ll have to have white chocolate!”
Her preferences notwithstanding, Helen took home with her a jar full of Hershey Kisses as a prize for having guessed most closely the number of Kisses in the jar!
– DPM
October 25, 2009 — No. 30
Children Assist On World Communion Sunday
The many children of Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church played special roles in the early service on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October.
The children served as ushers, readers, musicians and communion servers. About the only thing the children didn’t do was preach!
Bert and Elaine Holmes display their tray of chocolate-dipped treats.
Worshipers were greeted at the door by the cheery faces of Timmy Hindley and Samantha McBride, who handed out bulletins and shook hands.
During the worship service, all the children sat together in the front row of the church.
“It was fascinating to see how attentive the kids were throughout the service,” Pastor Morrison noted. “I think because they had a part to play in conducting the service, they were much more engaged.”
Megan McBride got the service started by leading the congregation in the call to worship.
During the musical part of the service, B. J. Crawford sat in with the band, playing drums with skill and real pep.
The first scripture lesson was read in unison, with Fallyn Levitz stepping up to the microphone to lead the congregation.
After the sermon, the offering was taken up by four children – Ana Crawford, Alison McBride, Patrick Morrow, and Jimmy Hindley.
In the early service, communion is received by intinction. Worshipers come to the front of the sanctuary where they tear a piece of bread from a common loaf, held by one server, and dip the piece of bread in the common cup, held by a second server.
To allow Pastor Morrison to pray individually with each person as they came forward, two teams were organized to serve the bread and the cup – one on the pastor’s right and one on the left.
Elder George Hindley paired up with his son Jimmy Hindley and Elder Karen Nyirjesy served with B. J. Crawford.
Charlene Crawford, our Director of Children’s Ministry, did the hard work of coordinating all of the tasks and children.
For two weeks before the big day, Pastor Morrison joined the children’s Sunday School class to teach them about the elements of worship and to help them practice being helpers in the service.
Johnna McBride, whose three daughters had parts in the service, noticed that in the week before the service, her girls were busy studying their scripture readings, looking forward to the coming Sunday.
“It was really neat to have the entire week to prepare for worship,” Johnna said. “The children felt very important being part of the worship.”
– DPM
July 26, 2009 — No. 29
HVPC Sends Missionaries to New Orleans
On July 11, Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church sent a team of 20 missionaries to New Orleans for a week-long mission project.
One week later, they came home forever changed by having seen God at work in their lives and in the lives of the people they met.
Joan Clover braves a ladder to paint a house in New Orleans.
“It was a great trip. I’m so glad I went,” said Joan Clover. “I would have stayed another week.”
The HVPC mission team divided its time between evangelizing on street cars, bringing food and water to migrant workers and homeless people, conducting a Vacation Bible School in an abandoned school yard, visiting and praying with neighbors, and showing God’s love through manual labor – painting a house and weeding a garden.
This year’s mission trip was the church’s first experiment in an all-ages mission trip.
Past mission trips were organized for the youth group, but Pastor Morrison asked that this year’s trip be sponsored by the HVPC mission committee and be opened to people of all ages.
“Every Christian, old or young, is called to share the gospel,” said Pastor Morrison. “Everyone should have a chance to do evangelism and see God at work.”
Many details of the trip, such as feeding, housing and training the missionaries, were coordinated by Adventures in Missions, an evangelical group that specializes in short-term mission trips.
“We went to make a difference in the lives of the people,” Hannah Clark said. “We were changed and were able to touch lives as well. The kids were bold, willing to go and talk to people.”
While the mission team spent one week in New Orleans, preparation for the trip occupied many months. The budget for the trip was more than $15,000, all of which was raised by the mission team itself.
The HVPC missionaries had many memorable encounters. Joan spoke with a man who had watched a dead neighbor float down the river during the Katrina disaster.
“I tell you, those people are brave, wonderful folks,” Joan observed. “They have a lot of gumption.”
Also participating in the trip were Ryan Breen, Sara Chapla, Courtney Covelens, Tom Daniels, Ben Ferri, Jessi Giuliano, Nicole Mooney, Steve Mooney, Calvin, Rosie and Eva Morrison, Matt Nolan, Jenny and Jessie Quinter, Tyler Romasco, Stefan Skripak, Brandon Stiles, and Kelsey Travis.
HVPC sent 20 missionaries to New Orleans.
“The amazing thing was that we were so caught up with opportunities to love people,” Hannah said. “It was very freeing and joyful and exciting because we were putting other people before ourselves.” – DPM
May 31, 2009 — No. 28
Baptisms Galore at HVPC
Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church celebrated three baptisms in the month of May.
BJ Crawford comes up out of the water as he is baptized by Pastor Morrison.
The first two were baptisms of believers by immersion – in a borrowed galvanized cattle trough – and the third was the baptism of an infant by sprinkling.
On Mothers Day, May 10, Byron (BJ) Crawford and Ana Crawford were baptized in the 9 a.m. service. BJ, age 10, and Ana, age 8, are brother and sister. Their mother, Charlene Crawford, is the HVPC director of children’s ministry. Prior to the worship service, BJ and Ana met with the HVPC session to give their testimony of faith. The children of the church had a front row seat for the baptism, as they gathered around the trough at the front of the sanctuary.
Ana Crawford gets ready to take the plunge.
“It was the best Mothers Day gift, next to having my children,” said Charlene Crawford.
Joining the celebration were friends and family of BJ and Ana, including Cathrine and Andrea Miller, Ezekiel and Tanya Adens, Audrey Wilson-Bey, Cynthia and Dwayne Cornish, Byron Crawford, Sr., Brandon Henry and Katelynn Rudolf.
On Sunday, May 17, Araz and Robert Shibley presented their infant daughter, Grace Lia, for baptism at the 11 a.m. service.
Grace Lia was born December 9, 2008 and is reported to have her father’s looks and her mother’s personality. She is the Shibleys’ first baby and the first grandchild in both families.
“We’re so glad to have the opportunity to dedicate our daughter to Christ in the presence of our wonderful friends at HVPC,” said Robert Shibley.
Prior to the baptism, as the sermon droned on and on, Grace let out a few cries of protest. But once the baptism began, she was a perfect angel and seemed to enjoy getting splashed with water and being carried around the sanctuary.
Joining the celebration of Grace’s baptism were Araz’s mother, Salpi Zarikian, Robert’s brother, Andrew Shibley, and Robert’s parents, Jamile and Andrea Shibley. Also joining the party were Karl and Eileen Engel, friends of the family.
Following the 11 a.m. worship service, the Shibley family hosted a celebratory reception in the lounge.
Araz and Robert Shibley with their newly-baptized baby, Grace Lia, at the post-service reception.
“I was happy to do both kinds of baptism in a single month,” Pastor Morrison noted. “It is important for people to realize that immersion and sprinkling are both legitimate forms of baptism.” – DPM
April 26, 2009 — No. 27
HVPC Joins Pennypack Trust Cleanup Effort
The people of Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church were out in force at the recent annual cleanup day at the Pennypack Trust nature preserve on Saturday, April 18.
The Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust owns 725 acres of land along the Pennypack Creek in Huntingdon Valley and Bryn Athyn.
Wearing HPVC tee-shirts specially made for the event, twenty volunteers walked the banks of the Pennypack Creek, filling enormous garbage bags with all kinds of trash – bottles, cans, plastic bags, and golf balls.
The cleanup crews were composed of individuals from many community groups, including a local synagogue and the Boy Scouts. The HVPC contingent was the largest single group at the event. The HVPC group was so large, in fact, that Pennypack Trust Executive Director Dr. David Robertson asked if HVPC could field a cleanup team for future events on the lower portion of the Pennypack Creek – a section near the church not cleaned during the annual event.
Participation by the HVPC family in the cleanup day was spearheaded by the Outreach Committee which saw the event as a good opportunity to get the church involved in the life of the community.
“We’ve been doing lots of things to invite people to our church. But we wanted to take the church out into the community,” said Outreach Committee chairwoman Karen Nyirjesy. “This event was our opportunity to work with others to better our community and get to know folks in our own backyards.”
Attending the event were Carl Berkenstock, Lisa Berkenstock, Sarah Maria Berkenstock, Joe Buoni, Susan Caler, Hannah Clark, Don Dickson, Ruth Dickson, Ed DiPalantino, Lori DiPalantino, Ben Ferri, Anna Fluder, Dana Fluder, Seth Fluder, Carly Meehan, Tommy Meehan, Dan Morrison, Doug Nolan, Bob Schreiner and Arleen Wilson.
“I liked walking in the woods with all the flowers blooming and everything sprouting up. The weather was nice,” noted Bob Schreiner. “I never went that far up Pennypack Creek. It has pools and rapids; it’s really beautiful. It seems like you’re out in the wilderness.”
After a couple of hours collecting garbage, the volunteers returned to the Pennypack Trust headquarters on Edgehill Road for a catered luncheon. They also received a rather nice Pennypack Trust tee-shirts for their efforts.
“I was very impressed by the strong showing from HPVC at the event,” said Pastor Dan Morrison. “There was no way to miss us, wearing our new HVPC tee-shirts.” – DPM
April 19, 2009 — No. 26
Ben Ferri Joins the Board of Deacons
In January 2009, Ben Ferri was ordained and installed as a Deacon at Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church.
In the past year, Ben has been known to the HVPC congregation under a number of guises: as an assistant to HVPC youth director Hannah Clark helping out weekly with the 6:07 youth group, as a new member joining HPVC in October 2008; and as a seminary intern involved in all aspects of the work of the church.
Ben grew up in a large, close-knit family – five children all together, with Ben being fourth in the line-up. He was raised on a small farm outside of Yardley where his father ran a plant nursery, growing flowers and shrubs.
In 2006, Ben graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University in Langhorne and the following year he entered Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, where he is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree.
Ben first came to HVPC in 2007 when youth director Hannah Clark asked him if he’d be willing to help with the youth group. Ever since, Ben has been a weekly fixture in the 6:07 youth group and regularly takes a part in the early worship service.
As part of his studies at Westminster Seminary, in January 2009, Ben began a 10-week internship with HVPC Pastor Dan Morrison.
“I am committed to having a regular stream of seminary interns at HVPC,” said Pastor Morrison. “Interns bring fresh ideas to the church and they give HVPC a chance to shape the next generation of pastors.”
Ben’s internship at HVPC has been wide-ranging. Shadowing Pastor Morrison, Ben has been involved in preparing worship services, preaching, singing with the praise band, leading in worship, attending meetings, visiting shut-ins, attending Presbytery, meeting with other pastors for meals and fellowship. He even was part of a funeral service.
“One thing I learned in my internship is about church discipline and how God loves mercy more than justice, how he wants to show us mercy, and how we should be God’s hand in showing mercy. Doctrine and theology are important, but church discipline requires more than just taking hard lines and following fixed rules.”
Ben expects to graduate from Westminster Seminary in 2011 and is still sorting out where God’s call is leading him. He’s a young fellow – just 25 years old – so he still has time to think. He clearly is gifted in preaching, but also enjoys teaching and has done a terrific job leading a small group bible study for teenage boys.
While he is rather studious, Ben also enjoys the outdoors, all kinds of sports, and video games. He works part-time for his father, who now has a farm in Washington’s Crossing.
In his work with the Deacons, Ben has taken on the responsibility of organizing the greeters. “Greeters are the face of the church, the first people that visitors meet,” Ben said. “It is important that visitors feel welcomed – that way they are more likely to return.” – DPM