The Parish
Visitor
The First Reformed
August 2008
Dear Friends,
In the July Parish Visitor, I
addressed the first half of the question
posed to us at our annual gathering of the Reformed Church in
Though many are reluctant to give
detailed definitions of missional, in order to allow the definition to evolve,
a basic understanding and use of the word are important, to provide a common
ground for discussion.
So based on what I have read and
heard, I believe the strongest definition comes out of our doctrine of the
Trinity. In one of the key resources, Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North
America, edited by Darrrell L. Guder, David Bosch gives this definition:
This statement helps us to see the
The challenge to us, as a Reformed
Church planted in Fishkill, New York, is to prayerfully discern what it might
look like for us to be mindfully missional, to be sent by our Trinitarian God
as a church, as the body of Christ, into our community, and even to the ends of
the world.
Not easy stuff to wrestle with or to
do. But it is our calling. May we rejoice in being called and sent by God.
With prayers and expectation,
AUGUST
CALENDAR
|
3 |
Worship
- 10 am - Communion Confirmation
Meeting - 11:45 am |
12 |
|
|
4 |
VBS
- 5:30 – 8:30 pm |
13 |
Book
study – 7:15 pm |
|
4-10 |
Calvin’s
Cleaners Team #5 |
17 |
Worship
– 10 am |
|
5 |
Finance
Committee - 7:15p m |
18
- 24 |
Calvin’s
Cleaners Team #2 |
|
6 |
VBS
– 5:30 – 8:30 pm |
20 |
Consistory
– 7:15 pm |
|
7 |
Communications
Committee – 11 am |
22 |
Sept.
Parish Visitor Deadline |
|
8 |
VBS
– 5:30 – 8:30 pm |
24 |
Worship
– 10 am |
|
10 |
Worship
– 10 am |
25
- 31 |
Calvin’s
Cleaners Team - Balance Team |
|
11-17 |
Calvin’s
Cleaners Team #1 |
31 |
Worship
– 10 am |
|
10 |
Worship
– 10 am |
|
|
*See
this Parish Visitor for more information
CALVIN’S CLEANERS
TEAM # 1 – Jay Wright TEAM
# 4 – Linda Baron
TEAM # 2 – Worship and Music
Committee TEAM # 5 – MaryLou
Aronow
TEAM # 3 – Tom Schmidt BALANCE
TEAM – Dan Byers
|
P |
rayer Chain
We are updating the Prayer Chain, a ministry of the Women of the
Church. If you are interested, now would be a good time to join this dedicated
group of people who pray for concerns of the church family. You may
either receive prayer requests by e-mail if you have access to a computer, or
by telephone. If you have a prayer request you may call Liz Alexander at
297-7414, Maryann Fellin at 896-6734, or the church office at 896-9836.
If you are interested in joining the Prayer Chain or if you would like more information
you may talk to them.
Coffee Hour Hosts
For August and
September 2008:
Please note that the first name
listed each Sunday should contact the other hosts regarding food share and as a
reminder of the date. If you are not available on the assigned date, it is your
responsibility to find a substitute or trade dates, put the change on the list
in the
When it is your turn to bring
food, you make the decision whether it is something elaborate or simple, store
bought or homemade. Just make sure you speak to the head host first to
avoid duplication.
August September
3 Landanno, Moffitt,
Silverstein, Hoffman 7
Lanni, Rygiel, Schmidt, Kayson
10 Ice Cream Social 14
Rush, Smith, Albra, K., Bellach, D.
17 Chao, Lane, Gundersen, Kyzer 21 Van Voorhis, B., Van Voorhis, R
& J, Moseman, Wright
24 Supan, Van
Nostrand, Saya Purifoy 28 Gorba, Harty, Hawkins, Hansen, D.
31
Badowski, Twohig, Binder,
Flayter
The next blood drive for our church will be held Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 in the Fellowship Hall.
The hours will be 2:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Any
prospective donors who have specific questions about their donor eligibility
may call: NY Blood Center 1-800-688-0900
SAMARITAN’S PURSE, by Toni Houston
Yes, it's that time of year again. Please stock up on school supplies
for your Samaritan's Purse shoe boxes while everything is on sale. We will be
collecting in November, but now is the time to get pencils, pens, crayons, glue
sticks, metric rulers, solar calculators, erasers, paper, markers, pencil
sharpeners, and scissors. Just remember, no liquids please.
We received the following letter from a family in
May 18th
2008
Greetings in Christ
Jesus from the YAKANA Family,
We are that family by
which Samaritan Purse in
Mrs. Rachel YAKANA the
mother is the one who have the vision of Bible Clubs in quarters. Guy YAKANA is
Mechanical Engineering and try how to get job their in
We have 8 children.
Ruth 14, Abigail 11, twins Hadassa & Emmanuelle 9, Jeannette 7, Sarah 5,
Yokebed Rachel 14 months our girls and
the single boy Jeremiah who shall by 4 July 31st.
All are in our Bible
Club and now we are more then 40.
Mrs. Rachel is
bilingual as his husband Guy Glory be to God. She help all Children to read
their letter and play their games from Samaritan Purse.
In our Bible Club and
Sunday school we are more than 125 children.
We need material as
-computers, photocopier, Printer
-digital camera for report and to send to you our pictures
-video projector for lessons and training of trainers.
God is doing as he
want thanks for guidance and assistance as the Lord Jesus can convince
you to do.
Our address:
YAKANA’s Familly
P.O. Box 3453 Libreville GABON
Phone: +241 07. 14. 54. 43
E-mail: Ragydejes@yahoo.fr
Isia Fleur and the
YAKANA Family send to the
Praises and Blessings, Rachel.
Notes from July Consistory Meeting
Ø
Elder Jayne
Hoffman led devotions based on Matthew 6:31-34, and a poem by Helen Steiner
Rice, “In Times Like These.”
Ø
Treasurers
Operating Report for June shows revenues totaling $21,910.47 and expenses
totaling $20,208.24.
Ø
Ø
Christine
Cotton, the sexton for the
Ø
Dr. Carol
Bechtel, General Synod president, has been invited to preach January 11th,
and to give an open lecture in the afternoon.
Ø
Mid-Hudson
Classis workshop on understanding and setting guidelines to ensure the safety
of all people is scheduled for September 20th and October 4th.
This is open to all members of the church.
Ø
The approved
cost for paving the church and restaurant parking lot was increased to $32,000.
Ø
Next Consistory
meeting is Wednesday, August 20th, at 7:15pm.
+ + + + +
|
W |
omen of the Church
Mark Your Calendars
·
Take a tour of
On Wednesday, September
24th at 6:30 pm the Women of the Church invite all, men and women alike,
to a pot luck supper followed by a video program and talk on “
Join us as we follow them on their journey, after a
potluck supper. Women of the Church will
provide beverages and dessert. Please
bring a main or side dish to share.
Signup sheet will be in the
·
The
Women’s Fall Conference will be held at the Hopewell Reformed Church on
Saturday, September 27. The program will be presented by Cantor
Cohen. More details as they become available.
·
And,
the Warwick Auxiliary 50th Anniversary Open House will be held on October 27
and 28. The program will be presented by Rev. Jim Neevel and Barbara
Neevel.
|
I |
t is never too early to think about the choirs and
fall schedules.
·
Senior
Choir will start rehearsals on the First Thursday after Labor Day
- Sept. 4th @ 7p.m. in the Dubois House Parlor. The choir will sing
for the 10 a.m. service on Sun., Sept.7th, with a rehearsal @ 9:15
a.m.. I would like to take this opportunity to invite anyone interested in
singing in this choir to join us on that Thursday evening: Soprano, Alto,
Tenor, and Bass are always needed. As choir members will attest, the fact is
that we enjoy singing, enjoy each other's company, and you will be warmly
welcomed. We usually have some refreshments to get the year started, and catch
up on each other's lives. This happens on that first Thursday at 7 p.m., and
then start rehearsing at 7:30 p.m.. SO - if you like to eat and like to
sing, come join the Choir!
·
We also have a Chime Choir which meets pretty regularly at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays
after church (and Coffee hour). This choir will probably start on Sunday, Sept.
14th to get started for the fall season. This Choir generally plays
once a month sometime before or during the service, and we also have a good
Time together. If you think you may be interested in
this choir, please call Connie Lacey at church - (896-9836), or at home,
(897-5962) - please leave a message if I'm not there. Even if you have a
question, for instance "What is a Chime Choir?” please don't hesitate to
call.
Connie Lacey
August Food Drive
It’s that time of year again when we make a concerted
effort to replenish the shelves in the food pantry. Please bring the following to church on
Sundays in August:
August 10th – Breakfast items
August 17th – Lunch items
August 24th – Dinner items
August 31st – Snack foods
Baskets will be placed in the back of the church and in DuBois house for
your donations.
Plastic or paper bags are also needed.
A
Walk With You
by Ronnie Badowski
Let me talk with you, Lord.
I’m full of those complaints.
This work you’ve given me
saps all my strength.
But first let’s speak of simple things,
the flowers and their ways to grow;
the cold, winter snowflakes,
each one different from the next;
and our pets who soothe us
when we are so stressed.
Now we’ll talk of wondrous things,
what the Father did.
In His own dear image,
He made the human race,
and when we went astray
He sent us you His Son
to save us from our sins.
Now please, Lord, remind me
how much you sacrificed,
and why the Spirit stays inside,
chiseling at my soul.
The more we are together,
I begin to understand.
Your help is just a prayer away
because you are my friend.
Consistory Nominations for 2009
The Nominating Committee requests
that all members prayerfully consider who God is calling in our midst to serve
on the 2009 consistory as an Elder or Deacon (see descriptions below). If you
would like to suggest someone, please talk with that person to obtain
permission and then complete the form below and submit to the church office or
give to one of the committee members: John Houston, Jan Melichar-Utter, Kathy
Campbell, John Twohig or Liz Alexander.
Deadline for submitting names is
September 28th. The slate will be presented to Consistory in
October. Names will then be published in the bulletin. Elections will be held
at a congregational meeting on December..
The RCA Book of Church Order states:
Nominees must be at least 21 yrs. old, and a confessing member. At the
discretion of the consistory a nominee may be 18 yrs. old.
The office of the elder is, together with the other installed
elders and the installed minister/s, to have supervision of the church
entrusted to them. They have charge of all matters relating to the welfare and
good order of the church. They have oversight over the conduct of the members
of the congregation ad seek to bring that conduct into conformity with the Word
of God. Elders exercise an oversight over the conduct of one another, and of
the deacons, and of the minister/s. They make certain that what is preached and
taught by the minister/s is in accord with the Holy Scripture. They assist the
minister/s with their good counsel and in the task of visitation. They seek to
guard the sacraments of the church from being profaned. An elder may administer
the sacraments, if authorized by the board of elders.”
The office of deacon is one of servanthood and service after the
example of Christ. In the local church deacons are chosen members of spiritual
commitment, exemplary life, compassionate spirit, and sound judgment, who are
set apart for a ministry of mercy, service, and outreach. They are to receive
the contributions of the congregation and distribute them under the direction
of the consistory. The deacons give particular attention and care to the whole
benevolence program of the church. They have charge of all gifts contributed
for the benefit of the poor and distribute them with discretion. They visit and
comfort those in material need and perform such other duties as the consistory
may assign them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I
would like to recommend the following person to serve as an Elder:
Name: Gifts
& Talents:
_____________________________________ ___________________________
I
would like to recommend the following person to serve as a Deacon:
Name: Gifts
& Talents:
_____________________________________ ___________________________
My name is
________________________________
Telephone:___________________
I have obtained permission from the
above listed people to submit their names: ___ yes ___
no
First Reformed
COME
JOIN US FOR OUR 4th Annual
Golf
Tournament
September
22, 2008
McCann
Memorial Golf Course
$120.
per golfer will include golf, cart, goody bag gifts, lunch & Dinner
(Christo’s),
prizes
for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place team finish,
longest drive, closest to the pin & hole-in-one prize! great raffle prizes,
too!
You
don’t play golf? then consider a
sponsorship of tee or green signs at $75. each.
(other larger sponsorships also available).