Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church Founded 1827 December, 2016

Transcription

1 THE HERALD Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church Founded 1827 December, 2016 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. John 3:1-2 Dear Friends, On my desk is a coffee mug I ve never used. On the mug is a picture of a squirrel s face. It simply says The Squirrel. A fair question would be, Paul, why do you have a coffee mug you don t use with the picture of a squirrel on it? And I might say, I m glad you asked. If you ever saw the cartoon movie UP you will remember a dog that would be talking or doing something, and all of a sudden he would be distracted by the thought of, or the word, Squirrel. The joke is about attention span and how easy it is to get distracted, Squirrel. John the Baptist enters our story of Christmas to prepare the way, to get our attention. Repent, Prepare the way, he is coming are the messages that John carries. He is loud, he is different, he should get our attention, but have gotten our attention will it hold, or will the squirrel win? Jesus at Christmas is gentle and mild, still, quiet, love incarnate. Too many metaphorical squirrels and we will miss him. One of my favorite sayings is, The urgent is the enemy of the important. This Christmas, protect yourself from the squirrel. Center your holiday season on preparing for Jesus and then welcoming him to our world and into your life. Do not let your Christmas end up like this; God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten, SQUIRREL. Peace, Paul

2 A N N O U N C E M E N T S MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Friday, December 16 th 6:00 pm Youth Progressive Dinner Saturday, December 17 th 9:00 am Pageant Rehearsal (Mandatory) Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 18 th 10:00 am (ONE SERVICE ONLY) Wednesday, December 21 st 7:00 pm Blue Christmas Service Christmas Eve Services Saturday, December 24 th : 5:00 PM - Christmas Eve Family Service 7:00 PM - Candlelight Lessons and Carols 11:00 PM Candlelight Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 25 th ONE Service only at 10:00 AM Sunday, January 1 st ONE Service only at 10:00 AM BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE Wednesday, December 21 st at 7:00 pm. Blue, yes, blue as in the blues. As in I am feeling blue. Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Perhaps you are dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with loss, living with cancer or some other disease that fills your life with unexpected question marks. These life changes can make parties and merriment a little bit painful. In an effort to be attentive to this reality, we want to reach out to those who may be feeling blue at Christmas time. We want to create sacred space for people living through dark times. We will hold a service of readings and reflection to offer hope and healing. This service is open to the public. If you have any questions, please call the church office at YOUTH PROGRESSIVE DINNER Friday, December 16 th at 6:00 PM starting at the Heinly s house, 1 Cedar Court, Poughkeepsie, NY See Heather or call the church office to reserve your spot for the dinner. THANKSGIVING DAY COMMUNITY DINNER Thank you for all the donations and to all the volunteers that helped with the Thanksgiving Day Dinner. It was a very successful, rewarding experience for everyone! CHRISTMAS PAGEANT December 18 th at 10:00 AM (ONE SERVICE ONLY). MANDATORY Pageant rehearsal on Saturday, Dec. 17 th at 9:00 AM.

3 THE CHRISTIAN ED COMMITTEE is looking for new members to bring fresh ideas to rejuvenate a tired program. Maybe you were part of another church where you saw Christian Ed programming that worked well and might be worth trying here at Freedom Plains. All ideas welcome. The committee meets the 2 nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm here at church. If you have any questions, please speak with Rev. Finck or Arne Christensen. MERRY GROUP LUNCHEON The December Luncheon will be held at Paula s Public House, 2186 New Hackensack Road, Poughkeepsie, on Tuesday, December 13 th at 12 noon. Please contact Anne Cole at to make reservations. THE WREATHS ARE HERE! Please be sure and pick up your Christmas Wreath(s) and handmade bow after the service. It is important to get your name checked off when you take your wreath. There are a few who still need to pay, those names are highlighted. Thanks to all of you for supporting the Church Scholarship program with your purchase. MISSION COMMITTEE Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM in the Common Room. DECEMBER HERALD Please submit articles for the December Herald in writing or by to the church office by Friday, November 25th. The address is office@fppchurch.org. Thank you in advance. Please pledge if you have not already! STEWARDSHIP As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10 We make a living by what we do, we make a life by what we give I need your help, this year more than most. For various reasons, not the least of which is trying to get this new building up and running, this is a busy and stressful fall. A normal stress at church in the fall is always planning next years budget. To do this we need to get the congregation thinking about their stewardship and the life of the church. We hope to inspire people and encourage them to consider doing more in supporting the life of Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church. I hope you agree with me that we have much to be thankful for. The goal is always to get people to turn in their pledge for next year s budget. Some years we have done puzzles, some years, arches of feet or hands. This year we are simply asking you to consider your stewardship of the church of Jesus Christ, and asking you to turn in a pledge. Please: Consider your stewardship, consider increasing your pledge and turn in a pledge card ASAP! Thank you. P.S. If you need a pledge card one is available in the narthex or the church office.

4 Lending a Helping Hand by Donating Food Dutchess Outreach Food Pantry: Our December shopping list for the Dutchess Outreach Food Pantry Are canned vegetables and yams. Hurray for us! We are meeting our goals to help our hungry neighbors! The Dutchess Food Pantry is in need of our donations this time of year. The December wish list is pretty easy, canned vegetables and especially canned yams. Canned vegetables are inexpensive and easy to bring to the food baskets. Let's try to bring in at least 100 cans of vegetables. Just about everyone have these in their pantry, just make a note to bring a few cans to church each Sunday. The Food Pantry always appreciates any other pantry goods you bring to the baskets. If you qualified for a free frozen turkey or ham and would like to donate it, please contact Nancy Townsend at , we will gladly get it delivered to a family in need. With cold weather coming our way, single serve hot drinks such as wrapped tea bags and hot cocoa in single serve pouches are always needed. Thanks for your donations and keep up the good work! ~Nancy Townsend Winter Yoga Practice Join our gentle yoga class to learn some easy ways to improve your balance, mobility, and de-stress. Mats are available, so if you just want to try it out, feel free to just show up, no previous yoga experience needed. Everyone works at their own level. There is no commitment, come when you can. Friends, family, neighbors are all welcome. Join us and see how relaxing and beneficial it can be! We will be following the Arlington School District Winter Weather Policy. We will cancel when the Arlington Schools are closed. No yoga December 29, we resume practice on Jan 5 Time: Thursdays from 9:15-10:30am. Cost: A can good to donate to the Food Pantry. For more info: Nancy: home: Nancy@ntown.info OF THE MONTH Our Volunteer of the month is an anomaly. Not only did she grow up in this church, but she raised her own two children in this church and now she continues to be a constant source of energy and action around Freedom Plains United. We are talking about Melissa Haras. In years past she helped to lead the church s youth ministry. She has organized community holiday dinners. Her voice and expertise in the restaurant business has been critical as we have planned and built the new kitchen in our new fellowship hall, and started to put together policies for its use. Her knowledge, energy and effort are wonderful gifts to the life of our congregation. Thank you Melissa and congratulation on being our volunteer of the month.

5 SUNDAY SCHOOL SNIPPETS December is here already! This month the children will be studying the Nativity and participate in some Christmas crafts and traditions. Our Christmas pageant is rapidly approaching and we appreciate full participation. Advent calendars were handed out. Please let us know if you child did not get one. SUNDAY SCHOOL DATES FOR DECEMBER: DEC 4 th -SUNDAY SCHOOL IN SESSION DEC 11th- SUNDAY SCHOOL IN SESSION DEC 17th- CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL 9:00 AM (REQUIRED) DEC 18th -CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 10:00 AM (ONE SERVICE ONLY) DEC 25 th -NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS BREAK JAN 1 st : NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS BREAK Elaine Ignal and Tracey Meinel Sunday School Directors Freedom Plains Nursery School Wishes you all a Very Merry Christmas and a healthy And Happy New Year! Prayers for Comfort and Healing: Jennifer Barry, Sally DelBene, Norm Freisitzer (48 Browing Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538), Terry Galow, Doris Hill, Judy Hunt, Arthur & Ruth McComb, John & Liz Miglis, Grant Miller, Mary Moody, Linda & Gabe Roy, Fred Stuebner, Mary Jane Taxter, Donna Terwilliger, Anne Vaughan, Mary Louise Van Winkle, June Yergey. Karen & Mike Barnett. All those suffering with PTSD. Prayers for Bereavement: Ruth Anne Richards and family for the loss of Lorne.

6 HERALD - HEALTH MINISTRY On the Way to Christmas Robert Frost s beautiful poem tells us: ¹ Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep On the way to Christmas resembles an endless journey that Madison Avenue starts well before Halloween. When we were growing up it seemed like there was a lot of time between Halloween and Christmas. It was an exciting time filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays; each one to be savored with the expectation of Christmas goodies. Close your eyes; you can smell the turkey roasting, hear the carols playing, and smell the pine scents of the Christmas tree cut days before Christmas instead of in September. Robert Frost, my favorite poet, tells us we have Miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep. It seems like we are walking beside the horse on the way to Christmas instead of riding in the sleigh. How about we get back in the sleigh and enjoy the journey. We could help ourselves by: Getting enough sleep. Prioritizing what we have to do versus what we want to do. It doesn t have to look like a Norman Rockwell painting. Giving yourself permission to keep it simple. Watching our carb. intake. We tend to do more grazing of food during the holiday season. We graze during the holidays like cows in the meadow. Be mindful of what you are doing. Making time for your exercise and walking program. Keeping in mind what advent is really about. Counting your blessings. Remembering loved ones we lost during the year. Taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. They only come once a year. Don t miss them. Having some fun. Don t make it all work. Not being so busy we forget to feed the dog. Forgiving someone who has wronged us. It is good for your heart. Long ago, God gave us Jesus as an innocent baby to love us and suffer for us. Our trinkets pale in comparison to this awesome gift. Jesus is our gift from God and who we become is our gift to God. Our greatest gift to anyone is ourselves; our love and compassion, taking time to listen, taking time to feed and clothe the needy, taking time to visit the lonely. So this Christmas as we are bombarded by Christmas ads try the gift of presence rather than presents. Use your special unique talents and skills to create a magical time to share with the world.

7 Take time to nurture your body, mind and spirit. Listen to the sounds of the season. The music, even the birds sing a special tune. Smell the glorious scents of pine and homemade goodies. Really see the colors and textures of Christmas. Be still and let your body catch up with your soul. There is serenity and strength in silence. Wishing you all of God s blessings this Christmas season. Remember we are God s gift to one another. ¹ Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost Bonnie Biskup, Parish Nurse Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church December 2016 Local Mission Project Brookhaven Apartments Apartments>>>13 Moms>>>11 Daughters>>>20 Sons Grace Smith House in Poughkeepsie provides safe short-term housing for victims of domestic violence. Since 1988, the Brookhaven Apartments have provided transitional long-term housing for 13 families. The residents receive job training and counseling in an effort to give them the skills needed to become independent members of their community. Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church has had the opportunity to provide much needed items to make their holiday season less difficult. Once again, we request your help for our neighbors in Poughkeepsie. The 44 residents are in need of various household items as well as personal items. Please stop in Fellowship Hall to select a gift tag card (or two) of the items requested by each resident. The cards are color coded to help with selection: pink/girl, blue/boy, green/adult woman, yellow/ household item. The sex, age, and sizes have been provided to help in selecting a gift. Simply attach the gift card to the item being donated with the family number visible. These new, unwrapped gifts may be brought to Fellowship Hall only on Sunday, December 18, 2016 (please contact Aimee Heinly if you need to drop off sooner). Many of the moms and older teenage children are requesting Gift Cards to specific stores or the movies. Financial contributions are greatly appreciated to purchase needed items that are not donated. Household items Pots/pans set (2), Dishes set (3), Nutri-Bullet (3), Vacuum (2), Silverware sets, Bedding set (full), Blankets. Women- (13 total-check the gift tags for individual requests) socks, hot rollers, pajamas, bake ware, jeans, pants, shirts, tablet. Boys (20 total-check the gift tags for individual requests.) Unborn - (1) 5 yrs.- (2) 11 yrs.- (2) 3 mos.- (1) 6 yrs.- (1) 13 yrs.- (6) 4 mos.- (1) 7 yrs.- (1) 14 yrs. (3) 3 yrs.- (1) 8 yrs.- (1) Girls - (11 total- check the gift tags for the individual requests.) 2 yrs.- (1) 6 yrs. - (1) 12 yrs.- (1) 4 yrs.- (3) 8 yrs. - (2) 14 yrs.- (1) 5 yrs.- (1) 11 yrs. - (1) As you can see, there are several infants. Let s try to collect lots of diapers in assorted sizes, wipes and clothing. They can all use warm hats, mittens, and gloves. Please contact me if you are able to help divide the gifts after church on Dec.18 th or transport the gifts to the Brookhaven Apartments in the evening on Wednesday, Dec. 21 st. For more specific information regarding donations please contact Aimee Heinly (call or text) or aimeeheinly@optonline.net. Thank you for your support of this local mission project. Our neighbors are counting on us.