Volume 28 No. 12. December Sunday Worship Services are held at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.

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1 December 2018 Sunday Worship Services are held at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart s possessing Returns to you glad. John Greenleaf Whittier

2 Lay Readers, Greeters, Ushers and Counters December 2 Lay Reader Mark Hutchinson Greeter / Usher Betty Koban Ushers Bill Hasselbarth Charlotte Hasselbarth Bill Sarbello Communion Servers Mickey Nieman * Bettye Goodnow Wayne Goodnow Jim Gade Counters Billy DeBarthe Laura Smith December 9 Lay Reader Jack Haefeli Greeter Katy Waggener Ushers Mark Hutchinson Trudy Hutchinson George Hannett Rae Rau Counters Bill Hasselbarth Hannah Hunter-Harris WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU! If you are unable to serve on your scheduled date, please FIND A SUBSTITUTE and NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE. December 16 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers Counters December 23 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers Counters December 30 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers Counters Fred Sirois Wayne Goodnow Bettye Goodnow Margaret Gardam Trudy Hutchinson Peter McKinney Carolyn Sarbello Bill Hasselbarth Trudy Hutchinson Wayne Gannet Nina Zanetti Mark Hutchinson Laura Smith Billy DeBarthe Fred Sirois Trudy Hutchinson Hannah Hunter-Harris Henry Montgomery Don Montgomery Margaret Gardam Hannah Hunter-Harris Page 2

3 Lay Readers, Greeters, Ushers and Counters January 6 Lay Reader Greeter Ushers Communion Servers Joanne Wagner * Carl Hasselbarth Melinda Rielly Sue Ferris Counters Billy DeBarthe Laura Smith January 13 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers January 20 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers Counters January 27 Lay Reader Greeter / Usher Ushers Counters Peter McKinney Carolyn Sarbello Margaret Gardam Wayne Goodniow Counters Bill Hasselbarth Hannah Hunter-Harris The Deacon on Call for aéåéãäéê=is = j~êö~êéí=d~êç~ã RNUJPRRJPTSM= = Backup: ^åå=jåháååéó= RNUJPOSJMUVR= Page 3

4 Dorothy Rice s Beautiful Scarves Dorothy Rice's family has donated several beautiful scarves to our congregation. They are on a table in the Multi-Purpose room. Please help yourself. Newsletter Deadline Always the Second Thursday of Each Month Articles go to Editor Mark Hutchinson at goodnewshupc@gmail.com. If your committee or group has any activities planned for January or early February, please send something in. If you don't have time to write an article, send the raw information to Charlotte Hasselbarth at chasselbarth@hotmail.com. She will write a draft of an article for you. It will go into the Good News, only after your final approval. Upcoming Events Deadline If you have an entry for the Upcoming Events list that appears in the Sunday Bulletin and on the Church web site, send the information by noon on Wednesdays in to our new Secretary, Ann Duncan at hupc@hamiltonunionpresbyterianchurch.org or leave it in her mailbox in the Needed - Christmas and Child Appropriate Postcards The Mission and Social Witness Committee plus Presbyterian Women will be sending notes for Christmas and at other times to mothers and children detained at the US/Mexico border. Leave postcard donations in the basket on the table in the Multi-Purpose Room. church office. Page 4

5 Laundry Detergent and Men s Athletic Socks Needed Presbyterian Women collects items year around for the The Capital Area Council of Churches Emergency Overflow Homeless Shelter. Although men s white athletic socks & flip-flops are always needed, laundry detergent is in very short supply. Collection boxes are in the back of the Sanctuary and in the Multi-Purpose Room. Church Doors Are Now Locked on Weekdays from 9 am to 11:30 am Our Nursery School tenant, Twinkling Stars Preschool, requires for safety reasons that all outside doors be locked when the nursery school is in session. Ring the bell at the Christian Education Building, if you need to get in. HAMILTON UNION GROUP Help Yourself Room Items that are no longer needed by the church are on the tables in the front corner room in the downstairs of the Christian Education Building. Please Congregational news and event information is sent out on a regular basis. If you would like to receive such notices, contact Charlotte Hasselbarth at chasselbarth@hotmail.com. check it out and take whatever you want. Page 5

6 A little child, a shining star, a stable rude, the door ajar. Yet in that place so crude, forlorn, The Hope of all the world was born. Author unknown Updated Contact Information Needed The HUPC directory is updated on a regular basis. You can make changes to your contact information at any time by contacting the Church Office at HUPC@hamiltonunionpresbyterianchurch.org or Connecting With Our Young Adults Away From Home College Military - Career We want to maintain a connection between our Hamilton Union faith community and our young people who are in college (locally or away), in the military or away from home for a job. We want to send cards, care packages, the Good News and updates. If you gave us an address last year, please resend, even if it's the same. Please give your son or daughter's postal and addresses to Margaret Gardam at marlgard@hotmail.com or or Charlotte Hasselbarth at chasselbarth@hotmail.com or Thank you. The Deacons, Presbyterian Women and the Communications Team Page 6

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8 IT S A PARTY ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY AT HUPC On SATURDAY DECEMBER 1 st from 4-7pm JOIN THE FUN: Decorating the Church Singing Carols Making Crafts and Cards Playing holiday games Decorating the Fellowship Room Enjoying fellowship Please sign up to attend and bring your favorite Appetizer or your favorite Dessert. Signup sheets will be at the back of church and in the Fellowship room. This event is sponsored by the Congregational Life Team. Contact Nancy Messersmith, / n.messers38@gmail.com if you have any questions. Java and Justice Cornerstone Campus Ministry Program Open to All On the 1st Wednesday of each month, from 7:30-9:00 p.m., students and guests gather at the Interfaith Center for a discussion of issues related to the Moral Monday Movement. Coffee, tea, and desserts are provided. A guest speaker will expand on a current social justice issue from a moral point of view. Past themes include Immigration, Fight the $15, Is Free Education Free?, Opioid Addiction, Climate Change, and the Mooncatchers Project. Look for fliers on the bulletin board at the top of the stairs in the Christian Education Building. Page 8

9 ANNUAL MAYAN HANDS CRAFT SALES NOVEMBER 25 and DECEMBER 2 FOLLOWING ALL WORSHIP SERVICES GET A JUMP ON YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING & SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE! QUALITY BASKETS, SCARVES, PURSES, JEWELRY, CHRISTMAS ITEMS, etc. Mayan Hands is a FAIR TRADE organization, working with about 150 women in eight Guatemalan communities. These talented crafters produce beautiful, high quality items. For more than three thousand years, working on the backstrap loom, Mayan women have woven their own and their family s clothes and produced items for sale. The ancient back-strap loom is made of several sticks and a leather or sisal strap that wraps around the woman s body. It requires painstaking dedication and skill. With some complex patterns even expert weavers can weave only about one inch of cloth per hour. At present, there are nearly one million weavers in Guatemala, and not nearly enough outlets or customers for their products. Too often, desperate for cash, they sell their products for less than it costs to make them. Mayan weavers are recognized, world-wide, as talented textile artists, but most of them live in conditions of extreme poverty. MAYAN HANDS MISSION IS TO ASSIST THESE GUATEMALAN WOMEN IN THEIR QUEST TO RISE FROM POVERTY. WORKING WITH FAIR TRADE, THEY CAN COUNT ON A MODEST BUT REGULAR INCOME. THEY CAN FEED THEIR FAMILIES BETTER, AFFORD TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, IMPROVE THEIR HOMES AND EVEN SAVE A LITTLE. SELLING THEIR HAND WOVEN TEXTILES AT A FAIR PRICE, THESE WOMEN ARE GAINING CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN LIVES. YOU CAN HELP! EVERY PURCHASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN A FAMILY S LIFE! Page 9

10 Annual Mitten Tree Project Collecting Until Sunday, December 9 Presbyterian Women is again this year sponsoring its Mitten Tree Project. Both handmade or purchased mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for infants, children and adult are requested. Men's gloves and hats are especially needed. We will be collecting from Sun., Nov. 18 to Sun., Dec. 9. There will be a special tree in the rear of the sanctuary to hang donations on and an overflow box on the floor. Donations will go to the New Faith Family Center at the Capital Area Rescue Mission, Family Life Center at the Schenectady City Mission, Guilderland Interfaith Food Pantry clients and Brian Nitsky s Living Resources home. News from the Worship Committee The following pastors have graciously agreed to lead worship for us until such time as we have an interim pastor. November 11 November 18 November 25 Paul Randall Beth Illingworth Nazish Nazeem The Worship Committee is also in need of a volunteer to handle scheduling of ushers and lay readers. A second volunteer is needed to schedule flowers for Sunday services. If you are interested in helping in either capacity, please see George Hannett, Margaret Gardam, Katharyn Waggener, or Shirley Irwin. Page 10

11 On January 5, a group of members of UAlbany Cornerstone Protestant Campus Ministry students will be traveling to Puerto Rico to work with Lutheran Disaster Response to address the needs of those impacted by Hurricane Maria. The cost per student is approximately $800. Each student is asked to contribute $100 toward the cost and fund-raisers, donations from congregations and individual members, plus this year a generous grant from SUNY cover the balance. Suggested adoption fee is $175 but any amount is welcome. Page 11

12 Church World Service, Angel to Angel Project Notes to Women & Children Detained at US / Mexico border. If on your own, you are interested in sending Christmas cards or notes to women and children detained at the US/ Mexico border, all the information you need can be found on Rather than sending them in yourself, you may leave them in Nina Zanetti s mailbox in the Church Office by Tues. Dec. 11. Spanish phrases you may like to use I m praying for you: Oro por ti. I will pray that God watches over you: Oraré que Dios te cuide. Sending hugs: Les mandamos abrazos I will pray for your safety: Ruego por tu seguridad You are an important child of God: Eres un hijo (una hija) de Dios importante. Friend: Amiga / Amigo Good Day:Buenus Dias Dear Friend: Querido Amiga / Amigo Hello: Hola Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad The Capital Area Council of Churches Emergency Overflow Homeless Shelter in Albany opened on Nov. 1. Our congregation donated 98 pair of men s flip-flops, 82 pair of socks and 9 containers of laundry detergent. Everything was delivered by Betty Deitz, who made several trips to the shelter. For information on the Capital Area Council of Churches, see capareacc.org In appreciation, Presbyterian Women Page 12

13 Big Thank You to the Hamilton Union Congregation On Oct 30, we took several boxes of food to the Cornerstone Protestant Campus Ministry Food and Faith Dinner. These donations were given St. Vincent's Food Pantry, where UAlbany students go to supplement what they need for meals. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans had offered to give St. Vincent s Food Pantry $500, if 500 item could be collected. The challenge was met. The Campus Ministry received 911 items. Your generosity was overwhelming, particularly being that at the same time our congregation continued to donate to the Guilderland Interfaith Food Pantry. In appreciation, The Mission And Social Witness Committee Happy Birthday to Deborah Waggener (December 22) Louise Gade (December 28) Joan Ruf (December 28) Happy Anniversary to Mark & Trudy Hutchinson (December 19) Michael & Linda Hall (December 29) If you would like your special occasion celebrated in the Good News newsletter, please contact Hannah Hunter-Harris at or hhhannahhunter@gmail.com Page 13

14 Guilderland Food Pantry Needs Cooking Oil Laundry Detergent Dish Soap Canned Stew Juice Boxes Bottled Juice Coffee Individual Snacks If you need assistance or have questions, please feel free to call Page 14

15 All Women are Invited Presbyterian Women s Christmas Potluck Luncheon Fellowship Good Food Local & International Hands-on Mission Projects On Tues. Dec. 11, from 10:30 am - about 1:30, Presbyterian Women will be hosting its annual Christmas Potluck Luncheon. Bring a few dozen cookies to pack for people in need, plus an appetizer or salad. This year, rather than our traditional program, we will be writing Christmas cards to be sent to women and children detained at the US/Mexico border. Cards and postcards, plus pens and Spanish phrases will be provided. For questions, contact Nina Zanetti at or ninazanetti@verizon.net. We will also wrap Christmas gifts for two people at the New Faith Family Center at the Capital City Rescue Mission and Brian Nitsky s Living Resources Group Home. A freewill offering to support the Presbyterian Women's budget, which is dedicated to mission projects, will be collected. Schedule - 10:30 am: fellowship, cookie packing and signing cards for shut-ins - 11:00 am: business meeting - 11:15 am: writing Christmas cards to detainees - 12 noon: lunch - 12:45 pm: gift-wrapping - 1:30 pm: done There is a sign-up sheet in the Multi-Purpose Room and the back of the Sanctuary or contact Betty Deitz at or bettydeitz@me.com or Charlotte Hasselbarth at or chasselbarth@hotmail.com. Page 15

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19 e~ãáäíçå=råáçå== e~éééåáåöë= aéåéãäéê=omnu= Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 4pm Christmas Party (M) 2 8:30am Early Worship Service (S) 10am Worship Service (S) 3 4 7pm Session Meeting (L) 3:30pm Brownie Troop 1551 (M) 7pm SCA Chorus (M) 5 7pm Boy Scout Troop 24 (B) 7pm Webelos Scouts (B) 7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M) 7pm Albany Area Chess Club (L) 6 9:30am In His Presence (L) 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C) Communion 8:30am Early Worship Service (S) 10am Worship Service (S) 11:30 Congregational Meeting (S) :30am PW Potluck (L) 12 7pm Boy Scout Troop 24 (B) 7pm Webelos Scouts (B) 7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M) 7pm Albany Area Chess Club (L) 13 Newsletter Deadline 9:30am In His Presence (L) 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C) :30am Early Worship Service (S) 10am Worship Service (S) :30pm Brownie Troop 1551 (M) 7pm SCA Chorus (M) 21 7pm Boy Scout Troop 24 (B) 7pm Webelos Scouts (B) 7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M) 7pm Albany Area Chess Club (L) 20 9:30am In His Presence (L) 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C) am Worship Service (S) 24 4:30pm Family Christmas Eve (S) 10pm Late Christmas Eve (S) 25 Christmas Day 26 7pm Boy Scout Troop 24 (B) 7pm Webelos Scouts (B) 7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M) 7pm Albany Area Chess Club (L 27 9:30am In His Presence (L) 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C) am Worship Service (S) 31 D = Downstairs L = Lounge S = Sanctuary M = Multipurpose Room C = Choir Corner Q = Quiet Room

20 HAMILTON UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2291 Western Avenue Guilderland, New York Change Service Requested Dated Material Please Deliver Promptly. Church: Fax: (Office) (Pastor) Website: HamiltonUnionPresbyterianChurch.org hu-pc.org Ministers: The People of Hamilton Union Our Staff: Ann Duncan, Administrative Assistant Charlotte Palmeri, Director of Music Rae Rau, Director of Handbell Choir Newsletter deadline for the January issue is Thursday, December 13 Mark Hutchinson, Editor GOOD NEWS Published monthly by the Session, and is available electronically on our website. Copies are also mailed to select church family households, students away from home, and others. Address: