COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 486 Townline Road, Commack, New York 11725

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1 COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 486 Townline Road, Commack, New York THE MESSENGER A word from our pastor February 2016 Trivia question: What is the earliest date Easter can be? (No checking on the internet!) Easter is always the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. Of course, that is using the Gregorian Calendar not the Julian Calendar for the calculations. And it s not the same in the Eastern Church as it is in the Western Church (Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are considered Western Churches.). And of course, you have to know if you are talking about the astronomical equinox or the ecclesiastical equinox (the latter is always March 21 st ). And don t forget about the paschal full moon. In This Issue Birthdays Prayers UMW News Lydia Circle Historian Corner Notes In Memoriam Calendar Events Protestants, including United Methodist, use the Gregorian Calendar and the ecclesiastical equinox to calculate the date. So, if the ecclesiastical equinox is on a Saturday and is also a full moon, Easter would be March 22 nd. This is the earliest date it can be. In 2016 we are close to that date; the full moon is March 23 rd which is a Wednesday. Thus, Easter Sunday is March 27, Isn t that fun! I actually enjoy playing with the formula. If you want to continue you can calculate the latest possible date for Easter. You can also do some internet research on when we ll next have the earliest or latest Easter date. (Hint: most of us will not witness either event.) While I have a lot of fun with it, the date of Easter is nowhere as important as the reason why we have Easter. Known as Resurrection Day it is our celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. It is our affirmation of the potency of God s love and forgiveness. It is the day when the wonder and awe of life & life eternal is not just affirmed but we are invited to participate in it fully and completely. It is the day when the power of God s presence in our lives is so real it s tangible. It is the day when God is at God s best. And we rejoice in it. So join us on our journey to Easter. Because Easter is March 27 th Ash Wednesday starts our Lenten journey on February 10 th. We will begin our 40 day journey to Easter with an Ash Wednesday service at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. Which brings us to our next trivia question: How is it that Lent is 40 days but it begins on February 10 th 46 days before Easter? You can call ( ) or us at mail@commack-umc.org with your answer. Peace,

2 Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us and forgiving us. Thank you for teaching us how to live and love one another. Help us to believe and share our belief with others. Hear our silent prayers now. In Jesus name we pray. Amen February Birthdays 1 st Mike Mallgraf 5 th Jack Adam 7 th Barbara Mazzola 8 th Betty Carson 13 th Norma Adam 21 st Joan Svoboda 23 rd Kathy Muller 28 th Ryan Green On this your special day, we pray for you. We pray for smiles and love, for friends that are true. We pray for sunshine, for warmth and tenderness. We pray of unexpected moments of joy and laughter. But most of all, we pray for you. Knit & Crochet Group We now meet the third Saturday of the month instead of weekly. Our next session will be held on Saturday February 20, Our certified knit & crochet instructor, Anne Stoddard, continues to assist us in practicing and expanding our expertise in needle work. Anyone wanting to learn to knit or crochet is always welcome, we have donated yarn available and needles or hooks to borrow. We continue to provide mittens, hats and scarves for the homeless. If you need additional information or wish to donate yarn please see Kathy Muller

3 Our Purpose: The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Our Vision: Turning faith, hope and love into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the world. Christmas presents were sent to the Booker family, our adopted family of five, living in Appalachia. We thank all who donated the gifts. Thanks also to Ginny, who took on the task of compiling the list and mailing all the boxes. The next meeting of the UMW will be on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 7:30 pm in the parlor. The program and hostess will be announced. All women in the congregation are invited to attend. If transportation is needed please contact Deb Hervey or Ginny Eichenauer and they will make arrangements. In the family picture, from left to right is Samantha (oldest turns 19 next month), Alexis (will turn 17 this year), Linda (mom), Deb Hervey, & Cody (turns 14 this year). Lydia Circle We are a small but expanding group of like-minded women who enjoy an hour of topical discussion, prayer, meditation, readings or just casual conversation. We meet the first Wednesday of each month in the parlor from 10:30 am to 12:00. Light refreshments are served. Our next meeting is February 3 rd. Dot Megna will be our coffee and cake hostess. Our March meeting will be Wednesday March 2 nd. Our hosts will be Judy & Martha.

4 THRIFT SHOPPE Tuesdays 10am-4pm / Fridays 10am-4pm & the first Saturday of the month 10am - 2pm The thrift shop thanks all our volunteers who have helped us achieve another successful year. The last couple of years we have been able to make steady advances due to the ideas and hard work everyone contributed. We appreciate all the donations from the congregation and will gladly redistribute all those unwanted Christmas gifts or take off your hands the excess you ve accumulated over the years. January is our ½ clearance sale, we would like to move everything that didn t sell and restock with new donations. As always we could use volunteers to give 3 hour shifts on Tuesdays and Friday. Although the Peanut Butter & Jelly Gang did not meet in January, we had a good group on December 5 th. They produced 1,000 sandwiches which were sent to Brentwood PB&J Gang and 320 for the Food Pantry in Elwood. Please drop off any supplies you wish to donate in the back of the church in the designated box (on Sunday). As of this writing, we need the fold-over sandwich baggies. Please remember that the Peanut Butter & Jelly Gang (PB&J) meets the first Saturday of every month. Our next gathering will be February 6 th beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m.

5 MISSIONS Submitted by Phyllis D'Amato Now that winter has really arrived, I hope you re all staying nice and warm with the arrival of true February weather. Thanks to all who provided the dry and canned goods needed for the Christmas Dinner Baskets. We were able to provide a holiday dinner for those in need. To our Sunday School and Youth Group who collected and assembled toiletry boxes for men in transition looking to return to society Also thank you for the breakfast and lunch items dropped off for children who were in need during the Christmas recess. Breakfast and lunch was served in many households that might have done without! Your gifts of juice, cereal, oatmeal, milk, eggs, cheese, tuna, mayo, bread, mac & cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, etc. were greatly appreciated by our families. Please remember to drop off breakfast and lunch items prior to the February Break (same items as above). Children are off from school and are in need of these essentials that are usually provided by Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch Programs. THANK YOU to everyone who purchased, wrapped and returned gifts under our Angel Tree. These gifts brightened Christmas morning for many families and children in our area.

6 THIS IS PART 3 OF 4 HISTORIAN S CORNER Submitted by John Muller, Church Historian

7 In Memoriam EDNA BECK I have great memories of Ms. Beck working at the Commack Post Office when it was located at Commack Corners. She was the mainstay of that Post Office and, as I understand it, was a long time resident of Commack --living in a small farm house adjacent to the baseball fields of Marion Carll school. As a member of the Postal Service, Ms. Beck was always pleasant and always the professional. My mother, the late Mary Grogan, who worked at Sag Harbor Savings Bank (now Apple Bank) on Commack Rd, would enjoy visiting the Post Office and interacting with Ms. Beck. It was Ms. Beck who no doubt processed many a "care package" sent to me while I was in the Army ( ). Earlier, as a teen age stamp collector, I appreciated Ms. Beck alerting me to the issuance of new commutative stamps which she would sell to me over the counter in plate block form. Here's a family photo of the Grogans from Steven Grogan, formerly of Commack ( ). John Cummings was 84, and passed away January 15, Beloved husband of Lille May, father of three daughters Loretta Cummings, Cheryl Font, and Bonnie Haldas, and one son Bruce Cummngs. Beloved grandfather of nine. JOHN CUMMINGS FRITZ - Robert W., 81, of Commack, NY on October 2, Served in the US Navy for 8 years and retired from Grumman after 37 years. Beloved husband of Joan. Cherished father of Linda Fieseler (Edward), Edward and ROBERT FRITZ Susan McSweeney (Brian). Loving stepfather of Shannon Stehlin Volz (Thomas). Dear grandfather of Sean and Danielle McSweeney and Ashley and Brendan Volz. NOTT- Wesley J. longtime resident of Commack, NY on December 12, 2015 at the age of 91 years. Proud WWII Veteran of the United States Navy. Became a member of the Commack Fire Department in 1941 and served as Chief from 1977 to Beloved husband of Doris. Loving father of Norman Nott, Steven Nott and his wife Phong, Neil Nott and his wife Carylon. Cherished grandfather of Jon, Diana, Dlijah and Elinore. Dear great grandfather of Cole and Grant. STOLEN - George, age 88, of Commack, NY, formerly of Huntington Station, NY, passed away on October 18, Beloved husband of Margaret Wright-Stolen. Dear father of Roger (Wanda) and Susan (Tom) Thorne. Cherished grandfather of Julie Stolen Bennett, Christopher, Kristin and William. Preceded in death by his loving wife, Gladys. Beloved twin brother of Erling. Preceded by his brother John and sister Nellie. Devoted friend of John and Allison DeBetta. Dolly passed away on October 29, GEORGE STOLEN DOROTHY WALKER

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10 Pictures of the historic 1789 Chapel courtesy of Atis Stepe COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 486 Townline Road Commack, NY Non Profit US Postage Paid Permit # 24 Commack, NY * If there is any change to this address please inform the church office ASAP