The Parish Visitor

The First Reformed Church of Fishkill

December 2007

Dear Friends,

Sightings of Christmas decorations were reported earlier than ever this year. Strangely enough, instead of bringing joy to people, these reports seem to bring a sense of panic. So maybe Advent is a good time for us all to listen to God’s messengers who seem to always begin their messages with, “Fear Not!”

Fear not, my friends. There is more than enough time to do what God wants us to do.

Fear not, my friends. It is God who is working out a divine plan for all creation.

Fear not, my friends. For as friends, Jesus has promised to guide us during this season.

Fear not, my friends. The Dawning Light drives out all darkness.

Fear not, my friends. A New Creation is being born in Christ.

Fear not, my friends. Follow the Holy Way.

Fear not, my friends. There will be a Living Sign given to us.

Fear not, my friends. Our God reigns and will come again.

Fear not, but gather together and remember that during this Advent Season, we can offer hope to the world – a Hope that will not disappoint.

On December 8^th, the Church School wants us to celebrate that Hope and invites us all for a potluck supper and a one act play. The special Advent offering will help a family to not fear, but rejoice, during this season.

Blessings upon you,

DECEMBER CALENDAR

2	1^st Sunday in Advent Sunday School 9 am Worship 10 am – Communion Congregational Meeting* Hanging of the Greens* Community Advent Service 4 pm* Calvin’s Cleaners Team 9	16	3^rd Sunday in Advent Sunday School 9 am Worship 10 am Calvin’s Cleaners Team 11
4	Bible Study 7:30 pm	18	Consistory 7:15 pm
5	Bible Study 10 am	19	Bible Study 10 am
6	Choir 7 pm	20	Choir 7 pm
8	Pot Luck Supper and Play 5:30 pm*	23	4^th Sunday in Advent Sunday School 9 am Worship 10 am Calvin’s Cleaners Team 10
9	2^nd Sunday in Advent Sunday School 9 am Worship 10 am Caroling 4 – 6 pm* Calvin’s Cleaners Team 10	24	Christmas Eve 7:30 Family Service 11:00 Christmas Eve Communion
11	Bible Study 7:30 pm	25	A BLESSED CHRISTSMAS TO ONE AND ALL
12	Bible Study 10 am Women of the Church 1:15 pm*	30	Worship 10 am Calvin’s Cleaners Balance Team
13	Choir 7 pm

*Look for further information in this Parish Visitor

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

A. Hanging of the Greens, Dec.2, 2007, following Coffee Hour. Please join us in decorating our church inside and outside. We need you!!

B. Community Advent Service, Dec. 2, 4:00 pm, St. Mary’s Church, Our Pastor Rev. Gloria McCanna will be preaching. All Churches are asked to bring sweets/snack to share.

C. Community Caroling, Dec. 9^th, 4:00-6:00 pm, will take place locally for homebound members of our congregation. Pleased join us in sharing the Celebration of our Lord’s Birth in song with our shut in friends. Following the caroling either sandwiches and hot chocolate or dinner out…to be decided later. A Sign Up sheet will be posted in the Christian Ed. Building on Nov. 25^th.

Coffee Hour Hosts

for December 2007 and January 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 Education Building, and advise the office for the Sunday bulletin. You may notice that you are being asked to serve at coffee hour more often. With the wonderful attendance each Sunday, we are putting four families on board instead of three. Thank you to everyone for being so gracious.

December January

2 Baron, Crawford, Schmidt, Lanni 6 Fellin , McCoy, Hawkins, Dorrie Hanson

9 Badowski, Wright, Dachenhausen, Gunderson 13 Campbell, Rudberg, Utter, Merritt

16 Twohig, Van Geldern, Rush, Smith 20 Minot, Hoffman, Wynn, Jones

23 Barbara & Joan Van Voorhis, Moseman, Kayson 27 Gorba, Suggitt, Harty, Lane

30 Lanni, Binder, Flayter, Heather Hansen

Note: Ronnie Badowski is taking over the job as coordinator of the Coffee Hour Hosts. If you have any problems or questions regarding the coffee hour, please call her at 724-3499 or email to vbbbadowski@msn.com.

THANK YOU---To all who helped make our Thanksgiving dinner a success. To those who did the planning, the cooking, the set up and the clean up, many thanks to you all. We would also like to thank those who volunteered to take meals to our home bound members, it was most appreciated. We have a wonderful and caring congregation, and sometimes it shows in the simplest way.

SAVE THESE DATES:

"Stone Soup and Family Movie Night" will be on Saturday, January 26, 2008.

"Game Day and Dessert" will be on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

More information will be in the January Parish Visitor.

Special Christmas Offering

For our Special Christmas Offering this year the Deacons have chosen two charities:

1. House of Faith Ministry shelter for victims of domestic violence. This home is in the process of being established in the Southern Dutchess area to serve people from the Southern Dutchess area. All donations will be used toward maintenance and operation of this much-needed facility.

2. Reformed Church World Service Give-A-Goat legacy which provides goats and training to people of Niger and Sudan. In Niger they will be given to Bible school students of the Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger in Dogon Gao. In Sudan the project was proposed by RCA mission personnel and eventually will provide a goat herd as compensation for 45 community mobilizers to supplement their income. The goats will also provide milk to those who come to the Yei Training Center for training.

“A Gift for Advent”

Pot Luck Supper and Christmas Program

Saturday, December 8, 2007

5:30 PM Fellowship Hall

The young people of the church are working to prepare “A Gift for Advent,” a one act play, and the younger children will present “The Best Present of All”. As the youth were studying the script, they realized we needed to do something to carry out the meaning of this drama. So the Sunday School is adopting a Fishkill family and will provide Christmas gifts and dinner for this family of six. We invite you to contribute to this outreach during our Christmas event on December 8^th. At the last consistory meeting, the Deacons not only approved this mission, but overwhelmed us with a challenge: they will match the money contributed to our “Advent Gift” using the Deacon’s fund. The Deacon’s match doubles our gifts to the family. Sunday school students will purchase, wrap and deliver the presents. A personal, loving touch will be added with homemade cookies the children will bake for the family.

So join us for an evening of delicious food, fun and an opportunity to join in our Advent outreach. Sign up on the bulletin board in the Christian Education building.

FRC - Membership Class

Belonging. That is the focus of our class designed for those who are interested in membership at First Reformed Church of Fishkill. We will talk about:

belonging to God

belonging to the Reformed Church in America, and

belonging to First Reformed Church of Fishill.

The class meets for three Sunday sessions: January 13, 20 & 27 at 11:45 am, for about an hour. On the First Sunday of Lent, February 10th, those who wish to join the church will be received into membership during worship at 10am.

If you are interested, please complete the information sheet available on the table in the sanctuary or in the DuBois House and return to Pastor Gloria or the church office . Contact the church office or the Pastor with any questions or concerns.

Notes from November Consistory Meeting

Ø Elder MaryAnn Fellin led devotions on Gratitude, I Thessalonians and Ephesians.

Ø The Treasurers Operating Report for October shows revenues totaling $18,737.01, and expenses totaling $22,522.07.

Ø The New Members Class is scheduled for 3 Sundays in January: 13, 20 & 27, at 11:45am. Membership Sunday will be February 10^th.

Ø Boy Scout Troop 65 is growing and no longer meets at the church. They will continue to be sponsored by First Reformed Church and work with us on special projects, such as leaf raking and building a new shed.

Ø Pastor Gloria will be part of the RCA Clergy Mission Trip to Central Europe, August 25 – September 5^th. They will meet with the Titus’ in Croatia and the Otternesses who are working with the Roma (gypsies).

Ø The special Advent offering to be taken at the Sunday School program on December 8^th, will be used to purchase Christmas gifts and food items for a family.

Ø Hopewell Reformed Church service group has offered to do work to address the heating needs of the Food Pantry.

Ø Next Consistory meeting is December 18, at 7:15pm.

POINSETTIAS - Reminder

NOW is the time to order a poinsettia if you would like to place poinsettia in the church during the Christmas season. The cost will be $8.00, payable to Women of the Reformed Church at the time you place your order. The deadline will be DECEMBER 2. There is a sign up in the entry to the Christian Education Building. You may give your payment to Dorrie Hansen, or leave it in Mailbox 13 in DuBois House.

CHURCH HERALD

A reminder: General Synod voted in June to discontinue sending the Church Herald to all members without additional charge. If you wish to continue to getting a subscription to the magazine please subscribe by using the form below or you may subscribe on line at www.herald.rca.org. In addition, our Consistory will be receiving five copies each month which will be in the DuBois House.

Send $24.95 for a one-year subscription to: Church Herald, 4500 60^th Street SE,Grand Rapids, MI 49512

NAME: _____________________________________

ADDRESS:__________________________________

CITY: _______________________________________

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CHURCH:___________________________________

Dear Pastor Gloria and Church Members,

There's no way we can ever thank you for your caring and support, for the beautiful service and the delicious luncheon. You have all been so kind and I know that our father cared for you and the church very much.

Love, Terry, Dave and Roberta (family of David L. Maurer)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you

Frank DiNoto would like to thank all those who have kept him in their prayers over the last month. He has greatly appreciated the cards and visits and hopes to be home by the time you read this note!

A very gracious THANK YOU to all who gave clothing so selflessly to The House of Faith ministry, the shelter for battered women and elder abuse. We collected more than 65 bags; our hearts are filled with gratitude. There is now enough of a supply to start the program and no more storage room for additional contributions so we have discontinued collecting at this time. Thanks again. JoAnn and George

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH

The Women of the Church will meet on December 12th to prepare baskets for
the shut-ins. We will meet at the DuBois House at 1:15 to carpool to Karon
Perry's home. Please bring cookies, candies, fruit, and diabetic goodies.
If you can't come to the meeting you may leave donations of goodies at the
church office the Sunday before the meeting. Thank you.

SAVE THE DATE!

The winter blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, 2 to 7:30 pm

THE SCHOOL FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING AND SERVING

A Ministry of the Mid-Hudson and Orange Classes

Winter 2008 Course

www.needclarity.com/scls/index.html

Course Registration Deadline: December 31, 2007

The Revelation: A Bible Study

It is time for the faithful Church to reclaim the 66^th book of scripture from the abuse to which it is being subjected. The Revelation (not plural, only one) is very specific: it is a revealing of Jesus Christ (1:1), who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is a pastoral letter to churches that struggled with serious internal and external threats. This Bible study endeavors to recapture the joyous vision of Jesus Christ given to John and transmitted to us by people faithful to the scripture. We are not going to titillate ourselves with imaginary end-time scenarios. Please leave at home all your preconceived labels, pigeonhole terms, and all “isms” that you have heard and/or used; come with your Bible, ready to listen to what John saw and wrote down faithfully for the church.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Instructor: The Rev. Jay Vogelaar

Dates: Tuesdays, January 8, 15, 22, & 29. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

* Snow dates to be determined by class.

Location: Ellenville Reformed Church, 188 Canal Street, Ellenville

Cost: $45, plus books and materials. Required book list will be sent out upon registration.

________________________________________________________________________

Registration Form For Revelation Bible Study

Name

Phone

E-mail Address

Mailing Address

Church Affiliation

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mail: Desiree Albizu, SCLS Registrar

575 County Route 19

Hudson, NY 12534

Phone: (518) 537-4221

Email: albizu@valstar.net

We encourage you to register in advance to insure the course will run and

to have enough hand-outs for all students attending.

Dear Partners and Friends,

Greetings! Thank you for your Partnership with us in Mission here in Albania…

The Center for Christian Leadership (CCL) has completed Orientation and the first class of the year. During Orientation, Professor Scott Ogburn masterfully taught an Overview of the Bible and Biblical geography, locating ancient nations, people groups and cities. How to Interpret the Bible, was taught by Professor Austin McCaskill and Professor Ogburn together. The Overview and Class are designed to position our students for this year of Biblical study. In November, I will teach a New Testament Survey.

Susannah and I started our Bible Family (small group that meets each Thursday in our home) for the seventh year. Twelve Albanians were in attendance including three newcomers. After brief introductions and a time of prayer I led our Bible study from Luke 18:35-43. Each of us in the group was encouraged to ask Jesus Christ to do something for us personally. And we were each challenged to ask Him to give our local church and the Church in Albania a deeper knowledge of God. I am adapting our study from material in the book A Call to Spiritual Reformation “Priorities from Paul and His Prayers” by D.A. Carson. An added blessing is that Albania’s former national security advisor and his wife are now attending our Bible Family.

Pastor Altin Kita and I have had three meetings since our return to Albania. I have been mentoring this young pastor since soon after we arrived in Albania six and a half years ago. When first we started he and his sister were leading a small church in a village that is almost inaccessible from here. In the last six years, over fifty youth from that village have moved to Tirana. Altin and his wife Ada have moved to Tirana and started a church aimed at reaching this group from the village. About fifteen of the village people now attend “Tirana Church” and Altin is their pastor. In September Tirana Church had a special Sunday on which each member was to bring one person to church. There were nine new persons in church on that Sunday. Altin preached the Gospel and two of that nine gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

The work in their former village is now being pastored by Gerti Mila, a member of the youth group in the village when I first met Altin. Gerti has been receiving mentoring and training from Altin during these years.

Today, Susannah will make her first visit to the Roma Gypsy Community since our return to Albania. She is taking with her a new missionary from Cheyenne, WY. She is hopeful that she can begin again ministering to the women in the prison where she ministered before.

Prayer requests:

1. David Brown, Scottish missionary imprisoned in May 2006 is scheduled to come to trial on October 18. David is accused of abusing children in the home he directed. Pray that the trial will be fair and just, and that the Sovereign Lord will be in the midst controlling all that happens.

2. That God will provide an Assistant to minister with Susannah when she ministers to children among the Roma and at Mother Teresa Hospital.

3. That God will provide an open door for Susannah to minister again at the women’s prison.

4. God’s leading regarding preaching opportunities: one at the International Church in October and one at Disciples of Jesus Church in November.

5. Continue to pray for my language acquisition. I am improving but still cannot teach in the Albanian language. I stopped requesting your prayer in this because I am embarrassed that I am yet not fluent.

6. Pray that God will meet and reveal Himself afresh to those who come to pray and seek His face in our Upper Room. Two came last week; another over the weekend just completed and two more are scheduled for this week.

7. Ask the Lord to bless the remaining preparation, the teaching and the students of the New Testament Survey I will teach in November.

8. Ask the Lord to visit our Bible Family each week and grant to us a deeper knowledge of God.

9. Pray for God’s blessing to increase on our friends: Arditi, Altini, Akili, Vali, Matt, Robert and Jenny, Jari and Mira, Miri and Miranda, Behar.

Jack and Susannah Dabney

RCA Missionaries in Albania

Croatia Update

Winter snow brings warmth of new house home By Nancy Titus

As I sit down to write this column, the girls are off playing in the snow. They are so excited! We had no measurable snow here in Osijek last year, so today’s six inches and counting is a real treat for them. This is the second time it has snowed here this week, so winter has begun, no matter that the calendar still states fall.

Our eight years in New York gave us a real appreciation for the beauty and fun – and work – of the white stuff. Now that we are living in a private house instead of on seminary property, we are responsible to keep our sidewalk clear. Sidewalks here generally run right up against the houses with a small strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street rather than on the house side of things. Sidewalks are an important means of transportation since many people do not have cars and walk wherever they go.

So the work of sweeping leaves or shoveling snow has fallen on us. However, at present we are not equipped for either. Thankfully, we got the leaves taken care of in the s