PEEKSKILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THE MESSENGER 705 SOUTH STREET WHITE PLAINS, NY PEEKSKILL, NY PERMIT # 6604

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1 MESSENGER October 2013 Peekskill Presbyterian Church WORSHIP SUNDAYS 10 AM Where to find... Pastor s Message 2 Session Update 3 Upcoming Events 5-6 Church News 7 Ministry Profiles 8-9 Bible Study 10 Calendar Centerfold One World Communion munion THE MESSENGER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PEEKSKILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH US POSTAGE PAID 705 SOUTH STREET WHITE PLAINS, NY PEEKSKILL, NY PERMIT # 6604 TIME DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

2 1 Our Mission Upcoming Events In response to the profound love of God through Jesus Christ toward all, we welcome everyone to join us as we study and proclaim the gospel, seek the will of God, grow in spiritual maturity, share our resources, and respond in service to the needs of our members and our neighbors. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. - John 1:1 &14 October 5 Work Bee October 6 Community Breakfast October 6 World Communion Sunday October 6 Youth Bible Presentation October 12 Men s Breakfast & Bible Study October 14 Praise Choir 1 st Rehearsal October 16 Field Trip to Taizé Service October 17 Food Bank Distribution October 20 Congregational Conversation October 21 Praise Choir 2 nd Rehearsal October 24 Thirsty October 25 Friday Night Book Discussion October 26 Men s Breakfast & Bible Study October 27 Praise Choir to Lead Worship October 27 Cider & Donuts Coffee Hour Sing a New Song 16 The Lord Is Good To Me (The Johnny Appleseed Song) Oh, the Lord is good to me And so I thank the Lord For giving me the things I need The sun and rain and an apple seed Yes, He's been good to me I owe the Lord so much For everything I see I'm certain if it weren't for Him There'd be no apples on this limb Yes, He's been good to me I wake up every day as happy as can be Because I know that with His care My apple trees, they will still be there Oh, the Lord is good to me. We want to celebrate you too; if we forgot your birthday, please contact the Church office. October Birthdays 2 Richard Cerreta 4 Sarah Cortese 6 Aetna Brennan 7 Bethany Sposato 9 Kevin Buckiewicz 9 Jean - deleted Kaiser to protect your 12 Dorothy privacy online Fowler - 16 Fred Froebrich 20 Amanda Jaroff 24 Norman Kropf 27 Michael Griest 28 Joseph Deutsch 29 Ruthie Dyckman Garcia 30 Eric Bohler Peekskill Presbyterian Church on Facebook and on the web at

3 15 Peekskill Presbyterian Personals A Reflection: Even in the most peaceful surroundings, the ungrateful heart finds trouble. Even in the most troublesome surroundings, the grateful heart finds peace. Choose to see the world through grateful eyes; it will never look the same again. Author unknown - submitted by Charlene Woods. Wanted: Volunteers who love children; 2 hours per month; may tell stories, do arts & crafts, prepare meals, and/or share other gifts and graces given from their hearts. Speak to Pastor Stephany about helping out with the Sunday on Saturday youth program. Wanted: Volunteers to assist in the Lord s Attic Thrift Shop. Speak to Fay Meneses if you can help with this important community ministry. ~ Contact Christine Button to submit a Personals notice to the Messenger. A Message from 2 Our Pastor Let s Talk How was your summer vacation? How is the family? What good books have you been reading? Have you met the new members at the church? Are we having a Christmas production this year? Will you be participating in the new Praise Choir? How many children are attending Sunday school? Will there be a confirmation class starting next month? Good communication is vital to any healthy relationship. Creative methods of communication are essential for healthy congregations as well. It has been wonderful to hear the positive feedback about the new Messenger newsletter. We are grateful to Christine, Diana, Pat, Denise, Marge, Lynn, Nancy, Charlene, and all the members of the congregation who are contributing to its success. In an effort to further the channels of communication at the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, the Session will be leading a new town hall meeting called, Congregational Conversations. This meeting will not resemble our annual congregational meeting where elections are held and financial reports are discussed in depth. This gathering will offer the congregation an opportunity to get to know its spiritual leaders better and find out what s going on within the church. Serving With Joy in October Date Elder on Duty Ushers Communion 6 Dot Whitehouse Dick Crawford & Marilyn Tropiano Servers Oct 6 13 Steve Woods Jean Kaiser & Harry Percoulis Brenda Martinez 20 Hilda Arturi Ray Brown & Carole Apolinario Kathy Cerreta 27 Harry Percoulis Deborah Flood & Liz Malloy Marsha Vernon Diana Heaton We are engaged in a season of growth here at the Peek, and we want to make sure that everyone stays abreast of the most current and the most factual information. We also want to provide an opportunity for members of the congregation to make suggestions and provide feedback for the new ministry ideas. Congregational Conversations will provide that opportunity. A topic for discussion will be selected by the Session, and they will Continued on page 10

4 3 Notes At the September Session meeting our discussions included... The hiring and contract of the new praise choir director Coordinating the dates for the annual meeting and installation of new officers Establishing a Church-wide retreat in February Establishing a committee to formulate plans for the Church s 190 th anniversary Cost & plans for painting the west end of the CE building Pastor s position on the Peekskill Housing Authority Board Thrift shop renovations & re-opening Plans for Homecoming Sunday The silent auction The ministry fair Westcop rent negotiation Accounting for dedicated funds Church booth at the Horse Show License agreement & insurance for the food drive ~ Questions about the Session Notes? Speak to Dan Harrison. Financial Summary As of September 1... Total Income: $166,916; i.e. $7,024 more than budgeted, mostly due to receipt of a grant for Worship Music. Total Expenses: $173,710; i.e. over budget by $6,492, mostly due to higher than expected utilities & maintenance expenses. Net YTD Income: - $6,794; the budget projection for this period was to be operating at loss of - $7,327, which means that the church is operating at a slightly smaller deficit than projected. ~ Please prayerfully consider your Church giving. Scripture Memorization Challenge 14 Sept 29-Oct 5: A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength. Prov. 24:5 Oct 6-12: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!. Psalm 150:6 Oct 13-19: I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving Psalm 69:30 Oct 20-26: Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! Psalm 47:6-7 Oct 27-Nov 2: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being Psalm 104:33 ~ Thanks to Rose Reed for the memorization challenge. Bible Word Search Books of the Old Testament (not all of them) T H S M I S B C S T N H Q X V N M A L A C H A I V U S V R C F G S N O I T A T N E M A L Z C E N B O P U G B T D C W E H D N W T H J R I S A I A H O S Z E C H A R I A H Y K A R J F B S U C I T I V E L I K Y V P L I F T M S T X T D V Q U I E S S H A E U S Y A X M B K K G P R A L R R H B Y R I R M O K N B C W E Z O A R D A E B T I O C I B J A E N N M P R Z O T E S M L A S P H O K W J B J K Y U F P O X X S W M A W V C S N X M H B M V K N J Y L W N Q OBADIAH HABAKKUK DEUTERONOMY ZECHARIAH NAHUM RUTH JONAH ISAIAH MALACHI MICAH EZRA LAMENTATIONS NUMBERS HOSEA JOEL LEVITICUS PSALMS ECCLESIASTES AMOS GENESIS JEREMIAH Memory-Improvement-Tips.com

5 13 We Are A Connectional nectional Church Hudson River Presbytery News & Programs Hudson River Presbytery will host a conversation on gun violence at the Stony Point conference Center on October 24 th & 25 th. Featured speaker will be Jim Atwood, a leading voice on the issue. Topics will include the Church s responsibility for a faithful response to violence in our communities. Contact Rhonda Kruse for information at rhonda@hudrivpres.org for information. There is a new Presbyterian hymnal called Glory to God. The new hymnal will be celebrated at 6 churches nationally on October 18 th & 19 th. The closest location to us for the celebration and associated music conference is the Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Pennsylvania. All are welcome. Road-trip anyone? Presbyterian Church (USA) The Presbyterian Church (USA) held a conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida last month that focused on Evangelism and Church Growth. One speaker noted that the word Christian appears just 3 times in the Bible while Disciple shows up a whopping 257 times. That difference may hold the key to effective ministry for us all. It s important to move from a maintenance to a missional approach in our personal faiths and in our Church. Prayers of Joy & Celebration The birth of Robert James Button Prayers & Sympathy 4 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. - Psalm 66:19-20 Please keep these persons in prayer... - deleted to protect your privacy online - Prayers for Health Don Horton Jean Valente Eartha Brown Sarah Tubbs Evan Shiels Prayers of Sorrow Families of the Washington Navy Yard tragedy For those killed in the terrorist attack in Kenya Continued Prayer Joe & Effie Deutsch The people of Syria & in all areas of conflict around the world Fire victims of Seaside Heights, New Jersey & Colorado flood victims All those struggling with addictions The 58 th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is coming up at the UN in March PC(USA) will partner with the UN women s advocacy group Ecumenical Women at the conference, assisting with the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals for women and girls. Ecumenical Women needs feedback from people of faith to shape their conference advocacy. You can help prepare the advocacy statement by visiting their website and filling out a brief questionnaire at

6 5 Upcoming Events If we can get 5 people to sign up, we will set up a team to start painting the Social Hall entrance. Call Kathy Cerreta by Oct 2nd at if you are interested & willing to paint or have any questions about the work bee. Work Bee October 5th If you appreciate rewarding work and amazing fellowship, this is the event to attend. Bring your gloves, your gardening tools, and a joyous spirit. Coffee and donuts will be available at 8:30 a.m., and we will work from 9:00 to 1:00. You are welcome whether you come for the whole day or just an hour. We re working rain or shine! World Communion Sunday For World Communion Sunday on October 6 th we re going to celebrate the many different cultures represented in our congregation. We ll use world music for worship and breads from different lands for communion. Congregation members are asked to dress in clothing that represents their native land or heritage. On October 6 th, together let us Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to him glorious praise! - Psalm 66:1-2 Youth Bible Presentation n October 6 On Sunday October 6 th our Church School youth will be presented with new Bibles by members of the Christian Education Ministry. We pray confidently that by studying the gospel all our students will grow into the fullness of a true and uplifting Christian faith. Congregational Conversations On Sunday October 20 th we ll have our first Congregation-Session Conversation Forum. During the coffee hour, session members will assemble to hear suggestions, answer questions, and to discuss some of the concerns of our congregation. More ideas and more communication will make a better Church for us all; bring your voice to the conversation on October 20 th. Prayer Ministries 12 Wednesday Morning Prayer Call Join Pastor Stephany Wednesday mornings between 7:30-7:45 for the prayer call. To participate, dial ; when prompted enter code # Prayer Chain - Members of this ministry commit themselves to offer up prayers requested by members of the congregation and the community. More pray-ers are needed. To join the prayer chain, contact Philena Bolden; submit requests for prayers by telephone at or at prayerrequests@peekskillpresby.org. Connected Prayer Ministry - a quiet space and time for meditation and prayer; in the parlor on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6 pm. Practicing the Presence of God Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, a monk in 17 th Century France, wrote a set of spiritual maxims to help others find their way to God. The first practice he identified as necessary to attain the spiritual life was prayer, continual prayer: The holiest, the most common, most necessary practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God, that is to take delight in and become accustomed to His divine company, speaking humbly and talking lovingly with him at all times, at every moment, without rule or system and especially in times of temptation, suffering, spiritual aridity, disgust and even of unfaithfulness and sin. We must continually work hard so that each of our actions is a way of carrying on little conversations with God, not in any carefully prepared way but as it comes from the purity and simplicity of the heart. ~ Brother Lawrence

7 11 Practical Tips for Your Prayer Life Prayer is just talking to God, yet many people find it difficult to pray on a consistent basis. It is natural to seek God during a crisis or emergency, but establishing a regularly scheduled prayer time takes work and effort. Following these tips can help develop this discipline in your own life. Where to Pray Try to find a place to pray that is quiet and away from distractions, like a spare bedroom, sun porch, or even a closet. Turn off your cell phone and laptop or leave them in another room. Consider playing soothing music to drown out noises from outside or from another part of the house. When to Pray Although you can talk to God anywhere and at any time, set aside a specific time each day to pray. A consistent prayer life will quickly become a habit and part of your daily schedule. If your schedule is jam-packed, combine your prayer time with something that is already on your schedule, such as a morning commute or lunchtime jog. How to Handle Distractions Getting distracted is often a struggle for many people during prayer time. Keep focused by writing down your concerns and prayer requests and working your way through the list as you pray. If a distracting thought pops in your head, for example, "I need to remember to pick up the dry cleaning," simply jot it down and continue with your prayer. Praying out loud is another excellent way to stay focused while you are praying, and to be mindful of the things that you are saying. If you are in a place where praying aloud is not possible, write your prayer down in a journal or on a notepad. Just Pray Your conversations with God do not need to be boring or repetitive. Pray about different things each day, such as your family, the nation, or a hurting friend. Give thanks to God for all the blessings in your life. Read and reflect on a Bible verse and pray about how to apply it to your personal situation. Kimberly Dyke ehow.com ~ May you find comfort and grace in your prayers. Upcoming Events 6 Field Trip: A Taizé Service in NYC on October 16 th On Wednesday evening October 16th, members of our Congregation will head down to New York to attend an evening Taizé service. Taizé is a form of reform ecumenical worship that includes no preaching; instead service participants reach for contemplation and communion with God through song and prayer, music and silence. Our Church has already used some taizé songs at our Easter Vigil service. To come along on this worship excursion, contact Christine Button or Charlene Woods. Up to 12 members may attend. Praise Choir to Lead Our Worship Music and Cider & Donuts Coffee Hour on October 27 th Our first worship service with the new praise choir will take place on Sunday October 27 th at 10 a.m. Then, we ll have our special Cider & Donuts Coffee Hour. We have so much to be grateful for. Let s sing to the Lord together! Fitness Club The Fitness Club is re-starting on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. in the Social Hall. All are welcome. Bring a mat, wear comfortable clothing, and be ready to sweat. ~ Fitness Club Questions? Ask Linda Buckiewicz. Friday Night Books This month we are reading The Orphan Train by Christine Baker Kline. Join the World s First Book Club discussion Friday October 25 th at 7:30 pm in the Parlor. ~ Ask Cliff Heaton or Jay Buckiewicz about the Book Club.

8 7 Church News The Church Welcomes Praise Choir Director, Danny Lima This month our Church is thrilled to welcome Ricardo Danny Lima, the director of our new praise choir. A native of Guatemala and the son of a Presbyterian minister, Danny studied music at the national Conservatory of Guatemala. He plays the guitar and piano and works as a vocal coach and piano teacher. Danny will bring his talent and heart for Jesus to rehearsals on the 2 nd & 3 rd Mondays of every month and lead our worship music monthly on the 4 th Sundays. Say hello to Danny and come join in the singing. The Lord s Attic Grand Re-Opening Wednesday October 2 nd The Lord s Attic Thrift Shop has completed its facelift. There are new floors and fresh paint, a new bathroom window, and, best of all, new wardrobe racks. The shop s stock has been reorganized and is ready for you. Come check out the new Lord s Attic! Successful Food Drive How was the food drive? Old Mother Hubbard has no complaints Lord s Attic Hours Wednesday, Thursdays, & Saturdays 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Our mission pantry shelves are full again thanks to last month s Food Drive. Congregation members manned tables at local stores and took in 1000s of dollars worth of groceries. The community response was amazing! Praise God and give thanks for all our hard workers. Pastor s Message - continued from page 2 10 engage the congregation in a discussion around that topic. There will also be a period of questions and answers, where the congregation can ask the Session about any matter related to the life and mission of the church. The first Congregational Conversation will be held Sunday October 20 th during the fellowship/coffee hour. We hope to include these conversations on a quarterly basis. There is so much to share, so much to clarify and so much to give thanks for. I am looking forward to talking with you. By Faith, Pastor Stephany Personal Bible Study Pastor s Office Hours Wednesdays 10 am 3 pm Thursdays 4 pm 7 pm Saturdays 11:30 am 4:30 pm By appointment on Fridays 10 am 3 pm 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 How fortunate we are to have a constant companion to share our thoughts with. Someone who will never judge, shares in our joys, and leads us along the path of righteousness. All we have to do is trust and give our thoughts to Him. God should be given thanks for all circumstances. It is really easy to give thanks to God when life is all sunshine and roses. The more difficult time to give thanks is when life seems to be a challenge. But it is more important to be thankful during those hard times because it demonstrates our complete trust in God s plan for us. So, pray continually. Questions to contemplate: o How often do we tithe our time to God? That is, how often do we give 2 ½ hours a day to His praise and devotion? o What would happen if we woke up today with only the things we thanked God for yesterday? ~ Thanks to Elder Charlene Woods for this month s Bible Study.

9 9 Ministry Profile The Labyrinth During the Middle Ages one of the highest aspirations of Christian life was to travel to and worship at the Holy Places: Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. To reach these places, devotees traveled the Pilgrimage Roads and the long journey itself was a period of reflection and meditation. As many Christians in Europe were far from the holy cities and also could not afford the costly undertaking, labyrinths were developed in many of the cathedrals as a substitute representation of the pilgrimage journey. A labyrinth is not a maze a maze has dead ends, and the trick is to find your way out. A labyrinth is a single winding path from outside to the center and back out. The journey itself is the object. The secret is to put yourself in a quiet, reflective, meditative mood as you follow the path, to quiet all inner thoughts and turmoil and simply be receptive as you journey to the center and return to the outside. In a way, it is a mechanism to calm oneself, to be receptive, to let go and let God. Some labyrinths in our area can be found at: Marble Collegiate Church, Trinity Church, Union Square Park, and Battery Park, all in New York City, St. Thomas Church in Mamaroneck, NY, and right here in Peekskill at St. Peter s Church - they have a portable, canvas labyrinth. A finger labyrinth allows you take a small spiritual journey wherever you are. ~ Thanks to Roger Sparling for all his hard work creating and maintaining our beautiful labyrinth and for sharing this spiritual tool with us. Let s take a walk with God in the labyrinth. Ministry Profile 8 The Stewardship Ministry What is Stewardship? Stewardship is sharing the gifts that God has given to us. This includes the giving of our time, our talents, and our financial resources. What are the Objectives of the Stewardship Ministry? Through Minutes for Mission, mailings and Church events, we try to make every Church member aware of what it means to be a faithful steward and an active member of our Church. The ministry is in charge of the annual pledge drive where members give cheerfully to support Church programs and missions. We also arrange and support other fundraising events to support the Church during the year. Suggestions are always welcome to help the Stewardship Ministry get its message out to our Church family. Members of the Stewardship Ministry (l-r) Marsha Vernon (Chair), Hilda Arturi, Eartha Brown, John Bishop, John Burke, Linda Buckiewicz, and Charlene Woods Stewardship 2014 The Campaign Begins... Everything we have is a gift from God: our lives, our good fortune, and our talents. Please take this month to prayerfully consider what you can give to further the Word and work of our church. Commitment Sunday will be held on November 3. Remember, From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required. - Luke 12:48 Silent Auction We had to go to press before the results of the Stewardship Silent Auction were available. We promise to include those results in next month s Messenger.

10 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 1 2 Performing Arts 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 Christian Education 7:30 Knitting 12:00 Lord s Attic 6:15 3 C & B 7: Work Bee Chancel Choir 7:30 Sunday on Saturday 12:00 6 International World Communion Sunday Community Breakfast 8:30 with Communion 7 Performing Arts 7:00 Boy Scouts 7: Knitting 12:00 CHOIR PRACTICE CANCELLED 10 Session 7: Men s Breakfast & Bible Study 9: Columbus Day Church Office Closed 15 Deacons 7:00 16 Knitting 12:00 Bridge 1:00 at Browns 17 Westchester Food Bank Distribution 2:30 6: Sunday on Saturday 12:00 Praise Choir 7:00 Field Trip to Taize Service 4:30 Bridge 7:30 at Heatons 20 Congregational Life 9:00 With Communion Congregational Conversation at Coffee Hour Boy Scout Leaders 7:00 27 With Praise Choir! Cider & Donuts Coffee Hour Stewardship 11:15 21 Praise Choir 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 28 Performing Arts 7:00 22 Soup Kitchen by Peekskill HS Teens 4:30 Mission Meeting 6:00 29 Chancel Choir 7:30 23 Knitting 12:00 Connected 6:00 CHOIR PRACTICE CANCELLED 30 Knitting 12:00 Chancel Choir 7:30 24 Thirsty 7:30 31 Halloween 25 Friday Night Book Discussion 7:30 NOVEMBER 1 All Saints Day 26 Men s Breakfast & Bible Study 9:00 2 Sunday on Saturday 12:00 3 Community Breakfast 8:30 With Communion Commitment Sunday Boy Scouts 7:30 4 Performing Arts 7:00 Boy Scouts 7:30 PEEKSKILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OCTOBER Christian Education 7:30 6 Knitting 12:00 Chancel Choir 7:30 There s a lot going on at our Church, and the building has other users, such as HeadStart and Gates of Heaven. Contact the Church office to confirm availability before planning anything in the Church building. Church Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00 2:00 Pastor s Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 3:00, Thursdays 4:00 7:00, Saturdays 11:30 4:30, & Fridays by appointment Thrift Shop Hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays 10:00 3:00