September 2nd - Edition

A new semester has started this week at Roberts and there is a flurry of activity around Pearce as a result.  I have the privilege and joy of teaching a course entitled, “Leadership in Ministry” this semester on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.  I have taught this class since 1998 and have yet to grow tired of talking about Christian leadership with undergrads. 

We are experimenting with C-Print at Pearce.  C-Print is a speech-to-text software system developed at the National Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at RIT.  This will permit us to have sermons transcribed in real time for any deaf individuals who may be attending the 8:30 a.m. worship service at Pearce.  Deb Lockwood is working with Pastor David Carden on getting this up and running.  This past Sunday was a trial run for Deb as she transcribed the 8:30 a.m. sermon.  We hope to have the system up and running, at least in some format, for our special anniversary worship service on the morning of September 12.  Eventually we hope to have a few small laptop computers available on a Sunday morning at the Welcome Center.  Deaf individuals could check one of them out upon entering the building, and enjoy having a transcript of the message transmitted to the lap top during the service.

This Tuesday, the pastoral team of Pearce spent Tuesday morning and afternoon together at the Abbey of the Genesee, a beautiful monastery and retreat center outside of Geneseo.  These periodic retreats provide opportunities for us to brainstorm ideas and dream of what God desires to do at Pearce.  We also take time for periods of silence and solitude for us to find refreshment in the Spirit’s presence.  I posted a couple of photos from our day together on Pearce’s face book page.

What a relief to have the Common Grounds Café open each weekday!  Pearce’s coffee shop is closed down for summer, except for on Sunday mornings.  But, now that RWC is back in session, Common Grounds is open for business each morning at 8:30 a.m.  I enjoy walking down to the café at various times of the day, picking up a cup of java and talking with Roberts students.

I am excited about our 150th anniversary celebration on September 12.  Chad, one of our graphic artists, has been putting together some great photographic galleries.  You will have the chance to see at least a couple of them this coming Sunday!  Kathryn Martin has put together a very readable short history of Pearce and we will be making copies of it available.  Don’t forget to join us for worship on September 12 at 10:30 a.m.!