The Parish Visitor
First Reformed
1153 Main Street,
(845)
July 2011
Dear Friends,
Having just returned from attending the General Synod
of the
My days at Synod were very full, beginning with
worship at
With my usual “present day” focus on all that was
going on at Synod, the things of our church started to settle into the
background, so that I was always surprised when “Fishkill Things” percolated to
the surface – a concern for someone who was ill, a prayer for the guest
preacher, a regret that I was missing the youth and children lead worship, a
wonder if the rains were causing flooding, and others.
It’s humbling to realize that I could nothing about
any of the things happening in Fishkill, but it was also a realization that it
isn’t about what I can do or not do. It isn’t about what you can or can’t do.
It’s about placing it all in God’s hands, trusting God to guide us all so that
we may all do what is pleasing in God’s sight.
So this summer, as you get opportunities to vacation,
stay-cation, rest, and reflect, and God brings to your mind, things of our
church and the world, please pray. The prayers can be long or short, formal or
And may God respond to the prayers of the church, by
pouring out upon us the Spirit that was poured out on the Church on Pentecost.
The Spirit that has guided, comforted, and empowered the Church to be Good News
to all people – even to the folks in Fishkill.
With peace and prayers,
PS – It’s good to be home!
JULY CALENDAR
|
3 |
Worship - Communion - |
19 |
Consistory - |
|
4 |
Fourth of July Church |
20 |
Bible Study - |
|
6 |
Bible Study - |
24 |
Worship - |
|
10 |
Worship - |
27 |
Bible Study - |
|
13 |
Bible Study - |
29 |
DCCH Shelter Meal (*) |
|
17 |
Worship - |
31 |
Worship - |
Thanks to everyone who provided food for the homeless on
April 29. Once again, would you be able to help on Friday, July 29? There are approximately 60 people now staying
at the shelter who would enjoy having a good meal. It would be greatly
appreciated if you could help by making or buying a summer salad (fruit, tossed, potato, pasta, tuna, chicken,
egg, or vegetable), rolls and butter, or cookies for 10 people. Please contact Nellie Briggs.
Thank you,
Linda Rush and Nellie Briggs
I would like to extend a huge thank you to my choir who
have been through a year of my hospitalization
and recovery (2 times), and have carried on with the help of talented
people like Roy Carruthers, and Ruth and
Don Porter. Everything has been taken
care of so professionally, and I am so
fortunate to have such a wonderful choir.
They come to rehearsals on Thursday evenings, and are there on Sundays
to lead the congregation, no matter what the weather. Many of you have
complimented me for the choir, and I appreciate that, but I hope you also speak
to the choir members. If you haven’t
please take time on Sunday to thank them, and again hugs and tulips to the
choir.
Love
in Christ,
Connie Lacey
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank everyone for your
prayers and offers of help during my husband’s recent hospitalization and
illness. It has been encouraging to know
you are praying for us and thinking of us at this time. The treatments and the
prayers are apparently working as Bernie has been looking and feeling better
since he’s been home. He still goes to the
It is so comforting to know that God and my
church family are there for us!
Celeste
Rudberg
If you or anyone you know needs, on a
temporary basis, a ride to a doctor, a
meal delivered, a friendly supportive visit or phone call , please call a deacon closest
to you:
Linda Baron (evenings), Wappingers Celeste Rudberg, Wapp./East Fishkill
Barbara Harty, Wappingers Stan
Saya,
John Houston,
COFFEE
HOUR
In the list of dates and names
below, the first name on the list serves as the host. This means calling the
other names on the list for that day and seeing who will bring what, including
juice and milk.
If someone on the list has a commitment before
or after worship, than the group can make arrangements as to who will set up,
who will keep the creamer pitcher full and who will clean up.
Maisie Minot makes sure the coffeepots are on
and full. Those serving make sure the coffee pots are cleaned and all the
tables and counters wiped down with the water/bleach mixture found in the spray
bottle. Please take the dirty dish towels home for a wash and bring them back
the next week.
If you are not
able to do the coffee hour on your scheduled date, please find a replacement
and call the church office with the name of your replacement. If you have any
concerns regarding your availability at this time to do coffee hour due to
health or other large issues, please contact
Karen Twohig.
If
anyone plans to bring food to coffee hour for a special occasion,
please notify the host for that date. Thanks
to everyone for your continued hospitality!
JULY
AUGUST
3 H - H. Hansen, McGann, Gillert 7 -
Ice Cream Social
10- Strawberry Day H - Hoffman, Carruthers, Flayter
H - Chao, Nolting, Wright, Skinner 14 H - Van Nostrand, Covell, DiYeso
17 H -
Utter, Nace, Teske 21 H - Wright, Landanno, Simmons
24 H -
Alexander, Michaelis, Fellin
28
H - Kayson, Rush, Silverstein
31 H -
Porter, Sanders, Falcone
SAVE THE DATE! 2011 Annual Golf Outing on Monday, September 19
See
the August Parish Visitor for registration information.
Dear Pastor Gloria, Mrs. Utter, Mrs. Hansen and Mrs. Nolting,
I was astounded to receive such a generous gift from the church on
Sunday! Thank you
so
much! There’s no doubt that it will help
me financially with college. I appreciate all of your
good
wishes, and I have many fond memories of Sunday mornings with you all. (I hope we
weren’t too much of a distraction in the
pews!)
Thanks again for the lovely gift, I’ll be
sure to visit.
Love,
Kimmy Lane
Graduations
Victoria Bourbeau, granddaughter
of
Molly Hoffman, daughter
of Jayne and Cort Hoffman, graduated from John Jay High School. She will attend
the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Fredonia in July and will
attend Dutchess Community College this fall, majoring in Visual Arts.
Pia Landanno, daughter
of Antje and Clement Landanno, graduated from NYU with a Masters degree in Social work. She will be
working with medically fragile children in the foster care system.
Kim Lane, daughter
of Jan and Phil Lane, graduated from John Jay High School. She will attend SUNY
New Paltz in the fall.
Emily Sneyd,
granddaughter of Ruth Stumpp, graduated
from Dutchess Community College and will be transferring to SUNY Fredonia to
major in English education.
James Edward Sweeney, grandson
of Elmer and Thea Schallenberg, graduated from High School in Scotch Plains,
New Jersey. He will enter the College of
Engineering at Cornell University in the fall.
Kierstin Teske, granddaughter
of Jean Teske, graduated from Temple University with a Masters degree in Occupational
Therapy.
Edward Tucholski, Jr., son
of Stacey and Ed Tucholski and grandson of Roger and Karon Perry, graduated
from Marist College with a BA in Communications. He is currently seeking
employment in the field of editing for TV, radio and film.
Krista Tucholski, daughter
of Stacey and Ed Tucholski and granddaughter of Roger and Karon Perry, graduated from Poughkeepsie High School,
third in her class. She will attend Dutchess Community College on a full
scholarship. She plans to transfer to SUNY New Paltz in two years to continue
her studies in Elementary Education with minors in Art and Special Ed.
Nancy Twohig, daughter
of Karen and
Kimberly VanVoorhis,
daughter of Donald and Barbara and granddaughter of Shirley VanVoorhis,
graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelors degree in Education. She will
be attending the College of Saint Rose for her Masters degree in the fall.
Nicole VanVoorhis, daughter
of Ray and Joan and granddaughter of Barbara VanVoorhis, received her Master of
Public Administration degree from the University of Washington in June.
Remember in prayer those who are serving in the Military, and their
families
God, our
stronghold and defense, we commend to you today those whose task it is to
defend us in times of danger.
Inspire them
in war to serve our country well. In
peace, hold them ready and alert. Bless
them as they protect and
preserve the
innocent. In their lives may they bring honor to our country’s name. Amen.
- Simple Blessings for Sacred
Dominic “Lee” Frederick, Chief
Warrant
Christopher Gilbert, AIC, Air
Force, Texas - grandnephew of Celeste Rudberg
Louis Nolting, Helicopter pilot for search
and rescue, Afghanistan, grandson of Juanita Nolting
Remington Roth, begins his second year at Annapolis, grandson of Reylene VanGeldern.
Staff Sergeant Ben Sneyd, Air Force,
stationed with his wife in Aviano, Italy - son of Carol and Glen Sneyd,
grandson of Ruth Stumpp
SGT
Christopher Soper, First mechanic with the Presidential Marine Helicopter
Squadron One, in Quantico, VA. -
grandson of
from your Stewardship
Committee…..
Speaking out as a form of stewardship
Part of the mandate of being good stewards
is to get involved, to act as Christ in the world. In proclaiming the “Good News,” Jesus directs
us to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, care for the sick and protect the poor. We do this in our giving of time, talent and
money, through individual efforts, as a congregation, as a denomination and
through other aid organizations. While
all of these efforts are blessed, this is not enough.
Four months before his assassination,
Archbishop Oscar Romero of
To speak as individuals is admirable, but when our voices are raised as a congregation or denomination, the impact is that much greater. For example, one of our congregation activities is the annual Offering of Letters, sponsored by Bread for the World. Each year a selected area of federal aid is the focus of these letters. We ask that these federal funds be designated for use to fight poverty and hunger. It is in the aggregate of all the letters that the impact is felt. It is not so much a political activity, but Christians speaking out through political channels of communication.
As we read in the book of Joshua, the walls
of
GENERAL SYNOD REPORT
2011
The 2011
Reformed Church (RCA) General Synod convened at
(1) RCA
and
(2) After over 600 years of enmity the Roman
Catholic Church, RCA,
We celebrated the retirement of Rev.
Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary of RCA after 17 years in the
important position. He was one of the prime movers in the ecumenical movement
with about 30 heads or delegates of both national and international
denominations attending his retirement banquet. Importantly he launched “Our
Call” a program to start new churches and revitalize existing ones. He has been
succeeded by Rev. Dr. Thomas DeVries who has served on the west coast and most
recently at Fair Haven Ministries in
There was discussion, which has been going on since
1923, and will be for some time, about the role of deacons. Deacons are
represented in Consistory but not in higher decision making bodies such as
classis regional synod and general synod. There is much sentiment for them to
participate in these bodies. The role of both deacon and elder are defined by
scripture and our Presbyterian form of church government is often described as
governance by elders. There is much work to be done on the subject and a task
force will be assigned to report back in 2012.
Respectfully
submitted.
Dan Byers
Mid-Hudson Classis Delegate
Cherries,
exams, defenses, graduation fill June
by Nancy Titus
June brought us a bumper crop of activity,
with cherry picking, picnics, semester exams, student defenses, and a
significant anniversary.
The weather has been unusually nice this, our
fifth June in Osijek, with warm, dry days interspersed with cool days and even
several loud, pelting thunderstorms. This combination has contributed to the
extra long picking season for our backyard cherry tree.
Our days have been filled with the usual
flurry of activity the end of the semester brings, from exams to defenses, and
we also have had fun picnicking with both the seminary and local church
communities.
But always in June, we feel especially
blessed to have our cherry tree. All year round, it provides a fun place for
our youngest daughter to climb or enjoy the swing attached to its branches. In
summer, it gives shade. In the spring, its beautiful blooms burst forth with a
glorious reminder of God’s faithfulness, usually timed just right, around
Easter.
Then June comes along and its tender, sweet
variety of
This movement from bloom to fruit runs as the
undercurrent to our days. They are always a reminder that the end of the
semester is coming. Last year, Eric marked his dissertation progress by the
maturation of the cherries, feeling the building pressure as they swelled,
knowing his work had to be finished the first week in June.
One of the problems for us has always been
that the fruit ripens during our busiest time, as we try to finish out the
semester prior to graduation. Our landlord comes with family and friends and
begins picking and urges us to do the same, but usually we cannot for at least
a week after he starts and even then only intermittently. One year, I remember
looking forward to the time when I could begin picking, and comforted my busy
self with the promise that the afternoon after graduation I would start, only
to find that a rainstorm the day before quickly sent our cherries from peak of
ripeness to sodden rottenness overnight. That year, most of my baking crop was
from gleaning the good side of half-bad cherries.
This year, however, in addition to ideal
weather conditions, a major factor extended our cherry harvest. The seminary
schedule was changed so that graduation was set for the last Sunday in June
about two weeks later than it has been in the past. This stretched some of the
last-minute June activity across a longer time frame, making it more possible
to spend little bits of time in the early morning or evening up in the tree.
I have frozen liters of cherries, all ready
for future desserts. At this time of year, just about everything I cook centers
around cherries so we have had cherry-vanilla-nut bread, cherry muffins, cherry
limeades, cherry brownies, cherry-glazed ham, cherry ice cream, and of course,
the main event, cherry crisp.
The cherry crisp is my usual dessert because
it is easy to prepare and because my family likes it. It also crowns Samuel’s
list of our family’s Croatian language bloopers.
Last year, I was trying to describe to a
Croatian lady that I wanted her help me finish the crisp for a group of
students who were on their way over. I had already mixed up the topping, and
she was to pit the cherries. She doesn’t speak English, so my directions were
all in Croatian. After telling her about how much sugar to add, I wanted to
tell her to add the other
ingredients, meaning the topping I had already mixed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t
think of the Croatian word for other,
and I substituted with the Spanish word, otro.
Quickly I heard Samuel laughing out loud in the hallway, as he heard me say to
add the otrov, which in Croatian
means poison. Needless to say, my
students loved this poison!
Eric and Nancy Titus are RCA missionaries in