![MC900036552[1]](Parish%20Visitor%20June%202011_files/image010.gif)
The
Parish Visitor
First Reformed
1153 Main Street,
(845)
June 2011
Dear Friends,
In the spring
of 2010 I had the opportunity to travel to
called
Christian Peacemaker Team. It was a wonderful experience and upon my return,
a few folks
started asking me about organizing a trip for our church.
Well, it happened!
Marlin and Sally Vis, former missionaries to
a trip in March 2012.
We have dubbed this the “Seniors Trip” because it will not include
5 mile walks that are usually a part of their trips.
Marlin and Sally say, “These are not tours, but
opportunities for members of the RCA to
experience biblical and archeological sites are well as
the ‘living stones’ of Israel/Palestine,
especially Palestinian Christians and others working
for peace and justice… There is an
urgent need to support Palestinian Christians in their
desire to stay in the region of
Israel/Palestine. They are the glue that holds the
three faith communities of the region
together.
This is an open invitation to our RCA churches and
Sally has said they will hold some seats
for us for the next couple of months, to insure that
everyone from Fishkill who wants to go
has a place.
The invitation is simple:
Join
our RCA missionaries Marlin and Sally Vis on a journey to the
Visit
places where Jesus lived. Meet the
people. Get to know the Christian
community of today. Better understand the current political reality.
If this invitation sparks an interest in you, please
let me know. You can also read more
on the RCA website.
(http://www.rca.org/page.aspx?pid=5570)
Meanwhile, as summer begins, the pollen subsides, and
the beauty of the earth brings
forth praise, may the Lord fill your life with light
and hope.
God’s grace and peace,
JUNE CALENDAR
|
1 |
Bible Study - |
19 |
Father’s Day Worship - |
|
5 |
Sunday School - Worship - Communion - |
22 |
Women of the Church - |
|
7 |
Worship & Music Committee - |
26 |
Worship - |
|
8 |
Bible Study - |
29 |
Bible Study - |
|
12 |
Pentecost Children’s Day Sunday School - Worship - |
|
|
Pentecost, June 12th
- Don’t forget to wear red, the liturgical color of the
new Season of Pentecost.
Interfaith Music Festival: Many Faces of God, Sunday,
June 5th , at
New Hackensack Reformed Church, Wappingers Falls
Suggested
donation $10. Children under 12 yrs.
free All proceeds go toward helping
the Dutchess County Interfaith Council continue
it’s mission of promoting understanding
and respectful
relationships among the diverse religious communities of Dutchess
County. For more information, visit www.dutchesscountyinterfaith.org
Boy Scout Troop
US Route 9. across
from Wal-Mart.
Scrap metal such
as aluminum, copper, brass, cast iron, steel, car parts, tubs, sinks,
aluminum siding,
gutters, radiators, furnaces, boilers, metal swing sets, electrical wire,
metal screening,
metal fencing and poles, car batteries, metal window & door frames,
(without glass),
tin cans, metal garbage cans, and appliances can be dropped off.
Proceeds from the event
will go toward the purchase of new camping equipment and funding
a portion of a
summer 2013 trip. For more information, contact Meredith Foy,
Giant
Book Sale - June 17- 21, 900 Dutchess Turnpike, Rt. 44, Poughkeepsie
Business Park.
(.9 mile east of Adams Fairacre Farms)
Friday, Saturday & Monday,
Sunday &
Tuesday, June 19 and 21 -
Leftover books from the Everything Sale were
donated to this sale.
Sponsored by Friends of Poughkeepsie Public
Library District
For more information call
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,
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
at
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!
JUNE
JULY
5
H- Van Voorhis-- B, J&R, B. Moseman 3 H
- H. Hansen, McGann, Gillert
12 - Children’s Day
10- Strawberry Day
H-
Byers, McCoy, Dachenhausen H - Chao, Nolting, Wright, Sanders
19 -
Father’s Day - Breakfast Casserole fest
17 H - Utter, Nace, Teske
D. Hansen, W. Doerr, G.
Vasquez and 24 H - Alexander, Michaelis, Fellin
K.
Twohig
31 H - Porter, Skinner, Falcone
26 H - Saya, Harty, Hughes
Dear
Friends,
We offer our
humble thanks to each and every one of our family at the First Reformed Church
for your prayers, hugs, kind notes, and gifts.
You have fed us and comforted us to such a degree that under other
circumstances we might have been embarrassed.
We are in awe of each and every one of you.
BJ and I have
always been private people, handling life’s adversities as best we could,
seldom seeking support from others. In
retrospect, the ordeal we went through with Kate taught us some very important
life lessons. The first lesson was never to take anything for granted. The
second lesson was that we had made it this far, pretty much on our own, because
we had been lucky enough to have never faced such a traumatic event. We both consider ourselves very fortunate
because when we needed help most you were there.
Neither of us is
out of the woods yet, but we know we’ve made it this far because of your
help. This congregation has a powerful
spirit. Believe that we feel it! You
supported us when our lives seemed to come to an end and we don’t know how we
would have made it this far without you.
And, special
thanks to Gloria who practically moved into Vassar with us during our
ordeal. You will never know what a
comfort you were to us and our extended family.
Please continue
to hold us in prayer. We pray that you
will all know how deeply we appreciate you.
Love,
BJ and Rich
To the Reformed Church of Fishkill, Church ladies, choir,
Pastor Gloria,
I am
deeply grateful for all the care and friendship you have shown to my family for
my
whole life. You
were kind through my Dad’s illness and took such good care of
She loved all
of you for so many years. Thank you for
the lovely reception, your love and
kindness lifted
me and Norm up. I am so blessed to have
you as a church to introduce me
to Christ and
carry me all through my life as my Fishkill home church. Thank you for honoring
my
With much love,
Kathi
Gundersen
Norm Gundersen
and families
To my friends at the First
Reformed Church,
Every time I get a card, it puts a smile on my face. Your cards look so
pretty on
my stereo.
Thank you for all the Birthday, Valentine, St. Patrick, Easter and
Christmas cards
and also
the bag of goodies.
A
special thanks to Maryann Fellin and Janice Utter for being so kind to
Carol
Lombardi, my daughter.
I
appreciated all the cards and phone calls.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy
year. I am 93 now. WOW!!
Love ya
all,
Helen Lesko
Special
thanks to Ed Tucholski, co-leaders, parents and all of the members of Boy Scout
Troop
65, in moving 15 yards of top soil to the special needs raised garden
bed at Stonykill
Environmental Center.
The
Notes from
May Consistory Meeting
· Elder Maryann Fellin led
devotions, using Joyce Rupp’s book, May I Have the Dance?
based on Acts 2:172, the poem titled, “ A Rushing
Wind” and meditation, reminded us
that sometimes the last thing we expect is the
Spirit to come and get us going!
· The elders approved the
baptism of Daniel Joseph Rodriguez for July 24th.
· Treasurer’s Operating Report
shows March revenues totaling $18,732.27 expenses
totaling $18,795.94
· The Easter Offering,
designated for the work of Reformed Church World Service in
· Another $4,774.96 was
received from the Kohler Estate was designated to the Capital Fund.
· The Everything Sale proceeds
totaled $1,923.76, with 60% designated for the church and
40% for the Women’s Group.
· Estimates are being received
for work on the sanctuary slate roof and windows and the
DuBois House windows and porches, plus other work
needed on the 5 buildings.
· Next regular Consistory
meeting is July 19th ,
Women of the Church - Mark your calendars
October 17 and 18:
November 5: Reformed Church
Women of the
Guidelines for Stock Donations
to First Reformed Church
When donating a sizable gift to the church, it is wise to consider appreciated stocks from your investment portfolio instead of cash. Your tax benefits can be increased while the Church receives the full value of the donation.
As a general rule donation of property owned for more than one year is the fair market value of the property at the time of donation. If the donated value is more than the original cost you are allowed a deduction of the fair market value on your itemized tax return and do not have to recognize taxable gain on your tax return. Always check with your tax advisor to be sure all rules and laws are adhered to.
To ensure that your
donation to the church is properly acknowledged, we request that you first
contact the church office for a copy of the Guidelines, Procedures and Broker
information. If you have questions, please contact the chair of the Finance
Committee, Don Porter.
Children’s
Community Services ….
It really is hard to believe that the school year is drawing to a close. I truly believe that the years are
getting shorter as I spend more time working with the children!!
This has been a spectacular year for CCS. Though our numbers are not reflective of years past, we
have had some wonderful experiences. We have been chosen to be a “work site” for students from
working with the children while focusing on one particular child for a work-study. It was very helpful
to have an extra pair of hands! It is also great fun to have the students recognize how all the activities
going around them work into the curriculum.
This year we also had a student
from
Work Program”. This high school sophomore came twice a week and has requested that she be able to
return next year. The children in the class really love her and we would be delighted to have her return.
“The Greatest Little Circus in Fishkill” happened on Wednesday, May 25th. Once again the parents
and children have memories to hold onto for a lifetime. All of the children performed and all of the
parents beamed!
In the next couple of weeks we
will be doing bus safety and the
Transportation Department will speak to
the children and then the highlight will be a ride in a
school bus. We will also be visiting Stonykill Farm for a program called “What is a Farm”.
End-of-the-Year Celebrations and a picnic at Geering/Maurer Park will finish the year for the
preschool. The Before and After school children will also have an end of the year picnic later in June.
Thank you to all who have been our support system… we are all ever grateful!
Heather Hansen, Director CCS
from your Stewardship Committee….Care of
Creation
Save Our Water
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is the procedure of creating fractures in rocks and rock formations (usually shale) by injecting water, chemicals and sand into the ground. The fracturing is done from a wellbore drilled into rock formations to increase the rate and recovery of oil and gas.
Fracking has generated controversy because of harm to drinking water and health. Arguments against fracking center around pollution of underground water supplies, contamination of surface water, air pollution and the possibility of seismic events due to the impact on the rock shelf.
Lured by rising gas prices,
oil and gas companies are at our doorstep clamoring for access to the
underground reserves in Marcellus Shale.
Marcellus Shale is a geologic formation which stretches from
Fracking was first used commercially in 1949 by Halliburton and is now used world wide in tens of thousands of oil and gas wells. The 2005 Energy Bill exempted hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act which allowed the natural gas industry to unleash a 34 state campaign for more drilling. Because of this loophole, oil and gas companies do not have to report to the public which chemicals they are injecting into the water and are subject to little regulation. Enormous amounts of drinkable water mixed with chemicals are pumped into the ground which then releases radioactive materials and hazardous substances into shale deposits and then carries the contaminated water back to the surface. This by-product of gas drilling is much more toxic than water produced by oil wells. Recent research suggests fracking can degrade nearby watersheds even without spills or accidents.
The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness
of Chemicals (FRAC) Act and the Bringing Reductions to Energy’s Airborne Toxic Health
Effects (BREATHE) Act are two bills that have been introduced in Congress to
close the oil and gas industry loopholes.
Please email NYS Department of Environmental Conservation telling them
not to issue any drilling permits until state-of-the-art regulations have been
put in place to protect us from the impacts of gas drilling. The following websites are good sources for
more information: www.NRDC.org, www.earthjustice.org, www.dontfrackwithny.com.
DRAWING THE LINE
throughout each
day of our lives
with the
laughter, the sorrow and all that falls within
it is God our heavenly
father who helps us do one thing
the ability to
draw the line.
the line
between what matters most,
that which is
right
and that which
makes the world a better place.
thank you, God,
in our human frailty the strength to draw the line each day.
Marisa
deGregoriis
How do we communicate? Let me count the ways .... Our strategy is taking shape.
The church uses multiple forms of
communications to keep people informed and reach out to people. This strategy
is built around a variety of components. Let me give you a quick outline:
Sunday bulletin - The bulletin each Sunday is more than just a guide to our service, it is also a critical
way to
inform people of coming events and significant news.
Parish Visitor - This is our monthly publication to share information with the congregation, both
members and friends. This provides the opportunity for some more in-depth stories as well as an
opportunity for you to say thank you from time to time.
Web site - This is the face of our church to the external world. It is important that this be seen by
possible visitors and friends as an up to date representation of who we are as a church. This provides
everything from a view of our buildings, staff, programs and missions, to a vital source for genealogy
research. (Our web site is www.fishkillreformed.org)
Facebook - This is the newest piece of our strategy which allows us to very easily provide up to date
information about current events. In addition to being accessible by those who are members of
Facebook, it is also directly accessible by you, and there is a direct link to this information from our
web site. This makes our web site complete. (Look for "First
Reformed
Facebook or go to www.facebook.com/FirstReformedChurchofFishkill or follow the link from the
church
Prayer Chain - This is how the spiritual needs of our congregation are spread quickly and efficiently.
This is a mission of the Women of the Church. If you would like to participate, please contact Liz
Alexander or the church office.
Church Concerns List - For items of significant and urgent
importance to our church, this e-mail and
phone list allows us to get this information to you quickly. If you are interested in being on this list,
please contact Rich Lanni.
Signs and Bulletin Boards - These provide information about coming events or items of special interest
for the congregation or
community.
Media - In addition, we make use of newspapers and radio to make the community aware of things
happening in the church.
Maintaining a focus on these various forms of communication, and keeping abreast of changing forms of communication, are the main roles of the Communications Committee with significant assistance from the church secretary, Joan Heller, who does a wonderful job on the communications efforts which are included in her job responsibilities.
John Houston and the Communications Committee
BSA Troop 65 Venture Crew 65 First
Reformed Church
Busy
Agenda amid Growth and Change
Boy Scout Troop
65 has enjoyed strong growth in enrollment in the past year. The growth for the
Scout Troop can be attributed to a strong mentoring program with a local Cub
Scout Pack, coupled with a busy and attractive agenda. Senior Patrol Leader Eli
Smith heads the boy-led program that encourages rank advancement through
mastery of challenging skills and objectives. Beyond regular monthly campouts,
the Troop has enjoyed a variety of other outings including bike hikes and
swimming. Our scouts will attend a week of summer camp at Hawk Mountain Scout
Reservation in
The Venturing
Crew has also appreciated significant growth. Venturing is a youth development
program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and
have completed the eighth grade) to 21 years of age. Venturing
The Troop and Crew
engage in a variety of service projects to serve the community and promote
scouting values. Recent activities include Property Cleanup Days and Food
Drives for the Food Pantry at the First Reformed Church of Fishkill, filling
top soil in planting beds at Stony Kill Nature Facility(Troop), support for the
Fishkill Supply Depot at their functions, providing free coffee and baked goods
for weary travelers at the Route 84 Rest Stop, and participation in the St.
Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day Parades. The Crew also enjoyed the company of
senior citizens at their Annual Peppermint Ball at the Fishkill Wingate
Facility. Please refer to posted fliers or contact us regarding our upcoming
The highlight
of the year was when the Troop and Crew jointly hosted the Spring Camporee for
the entire Dutchess District of the Hudson Valley Council. 34 Patrols from
throughout the County competed in 11 stations testing knowledge and skill
competency in an event that was conceived, organized, and executed by the Troop
and Crew. Special thanks to the tireless
efforts of Scoutmaster Ed Tucholski, Assistant Scoutmaster Frank Giusto, and
Venturing Crew Advisor Stacey Tucholski.
Adult
Leadership also continues to grow in support of the Troop. Committee Chair Jon
Detterline will be relocating over the summer and will be capably replaced by
Meredith Foy, an active parent and Committee Member. If you would like more information regarding
scouting opportunities, activities, or service projects, please check out our
website at www.troop65fishkill.scoutlander.com or contact Ed Tucholski,
Scoutmaster or Venture Crew Advisor Stacey Tucholski.
Chartered
Organization: First Reformed
Church
Conferences
encourage discipleship, teaching
By Nancy Titus
Within the Great Commission, Jesus gives the mandate for the church to both make disciples and to teach those disciples to obey everything that He commanded. While this command applies to all Christians all the time, it is particularly the task of the seminary to promote discipleship and to teach those who will
lead the church.
Reflecting on just how the church around the world answers this command was our theme for the first half of May as both Eric and I attended special meetings designed to help us do our work better.
First, Eric spent a week attending a
regional meeting in
pastors.
During the conference, Eric presented a paper on discipleship in the ethics of Karl Barth.
“Barth starts from creation where the first command to the creature was to live,” he said. “The second command to live, found in Exodus, was to let the other live. Our ethic of discipleship has to be based upon the command to life, not just ours but the life of others.
“And Christian ethics moves even
further, so that the life of the disciple is laid down for the life of the other.”
We
were thankful that God graciously answered your prayers and that Eric was able
to attend this conference as scheduled. Because of the headache problem he had
the two months before, there was some question as to whether or not he would be
able to go. Thankfully, his headaches are under control through medication.
As soon as he returned from the Romanian conference, Eric joined the
rest of the faculty at the
The workshop was presented through a gift of the Langham Institute, John
Scott’s organization that helps further theological education in Second and
He reminded us that the Great Commission’s emphasis on teaching lets us
know that teaching itself is very important to God. This is true at all levels,
whether you are teaching children or adults, new believers or old, and it is
certainly important when you are teaching those who will teach others in the
church, as we do in seminary.
Hardy encouraged our teaching faculty with stories from around the
world, bringing examples of things that have worked as well as things that have
not.
One way he encouraged us was that we should not just look at the things
that need to be fixed in our school but also to concentrate on the things that
go well, the things that are bringing glory to the Lord.
Another way that God teaches people through us - whether in seminary or
in the local church - is through who we are in the Lord. This takes the
emphasis off merely conveying the content of the course being taught to the
character of both the teacher and the student, which is the area that God most
wants to develop.
In another area of our ministry, the Reformed Christian Church in
Eric and Nancy Titus are RCA missionaries in