Hear the Good News!!

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Special points of interest: Check out the Pictures on September activities and happenings here at NHPC on page 2 and also on the web at NewHartfordPresbyterian.org. Hear the Good News!

1 Special points of interest: Check out the Pictures on September activities and happenings here at NHPC on page 2 and also on the web at NewHartfordPresbyterian.org. Hear the Good News!! Newsletter of New Hartford Presbyterian Church October 2017 NHPW Rummage Sale October 5 Just a reminder! Have you looked for your donations? Donations will be accepted only on Monday, October 2 and Tuesday, October 3 until 4:00 P.M. (Nothing will be accepted after that time or on the day of the sale.) Bring clean seasonal (Fall & Winter) clothing, electronic items in working order, furniture, household items and books (No Read- er s Digest or Textbooks). Items not accepted include computers and their accessories, suitcases, records, curtain rods, or sharp utensils. And don t forget the attic treasures! Have you signed up to help? A sign-up sheet has been posted in Fellowship Hall. We need your help for set up on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday as well as clean-up following the sale on Thursday. If you have any questions, please call Kay Albright (315) ), Janice Young ( ), Sara Ayala ( ), Diana Elefante ( ), Marty Morreall ( ), or Barb Decker ( ) Make a Joyful Noise On Sunday, October 8 (not the 10th as previously listed in the September newsletter), we will celebrate the years of excellent music that Jim Hanosh shared with the congregation of New Hartford Presbyterian Church as he is named Minister of Music emeritus. Jim will re- turn to our sanctuary and play during the morning service. After worship, the Church Life Committee and Presbyterian Women are hosting a luncheon. If you plan on attending it is imperative that you sign up in Fellowship Hall by Sunday, October 1. Inside this issue: From the Pastor s Heart 3 October Birthdays 3 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY Phone: Fax: newhartfordpresbyterian.org Calendar 4 Kid s Korner 5 A Matter of Faith 6 From the Communications Committee 6 Rev. Dr. Sue A Riggle, Pastor Worship Themes for October 7 October 2017 Volume 23, Number 9 People will share memories about Jim s time with us. For more information speak please contact Betsey Weaver, Signe Sheldon or Ginger Emmert. Special points of interest: Do You Play an Instrument? Check out the article on Page 6 Looking for Something to do? Check out the Kid s Korner on Page 5 or Page 7 for other events.

2 September at NHPC Thea Bowman House Kids Sunday School for all ages Blessing the Backpacks September 3 Ladies and Gentlemen!! Men s Fellowship Breakfast 8:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, at the Castlewood Café, (down the road from UC and St. Lukes Hospital) All men from the church are invited to enjoy our fellowship of food, camaraderie, and friendly conversation. Hope to see YOU there! Attention all Women of NHPC!! Did you know that the New Hartford Presbyterian Women meet the second Monday of each month? You are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings and offer suggestions and ideas or lend a hand to our events. Our next meeting is on Monday, October 9 at 7:15 p.m. Hope to see you here! And don t forget, they will be holding a craft workshop for the upcoming November Bazaar on Thursday, October 26 at 7:00 P.M. Page 2 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!

3 OCTOBER Page 4

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Worship Themes October 2017 The Enemies of Gratitude: (Five Parts) - exploring the things that keep us

4:1-9) October 15: Entitlement (Matthew 22:1-14 October 22: Greed (Matthew 22:15-22) October 29:

you will join us for worship on Sunday, October 15 when you will receive a special Bible Story Book.

5 Worship Themes October 2017 The Enemies of Gratitude: (Five Parts) - exploring the things that keep us from being content and grateful October 1: Nostalgia (Exodus 17:1-17) October 8: Worry (Philippians 4:1-9) October 15: Entitlement (Matthew 22:1-14 October 22: Greed (Matthew 22:15-22) October 29: Disappointment (Deuteronomy 34:1-12) Calling Students in Grade 2 and Lower (and their parents) We hope you will join us for worship on Sunday, October 15 when you will receive a special Bible Story Book. It is the same book that is being used during the Family Bible Series on the second Sunday of every month. Page 7

6 From the Pastor s Heart It was the fall of I was entering my second year of seminary and our children were still growing: Cassie was a high school senior; John was a sophomore. They weren t the only things growing. My student loans were growing, too. That fall, on our way into the sanctuary one Sunday, I suddenly realized it was pledge dedication Sunday. Grabbing Rick s hand, I pulled him outside and said I couldn t go in. What were we going to pledge, part of our debt? We were paying for doctor visits and prescription meds with credit cards, how were we supposed to give to the church? I was so ashamed of our circumstances that I made us leave. I look back now with sadness about my thinking 15 years ago. I missed an opportunity to look beyond my fears and respond with gratitude for God s generosity to me. In the fall of 2007, I was preaching my first stewardship sermon as an ordained clergy person. I was nervous about preaching a stewardship sermon. I felt inadequate to the task. It felt as if the church s financial future rested on my 8-12minute sermon alone. (No pressure!) What could I tell my congregation about money? I was working to pay off student loans and credit card debt. Again, I felt shame, and believed I had nothing to offer. Once more, I look back with sadness about my thinking 10 years ago. Statistics show most preachers don t like to preach about money, but Jesus talks about money more than anything else, except for the kingdom of God. So, in truth, I had plenty to offer to my congregation; I had Jesus teachings about money to offer. So why are stewardship sermons so hard to write and preach? The Bible tells us clearly what to say and do, but it s still hard. Or at least it used to be. I used to wonder what you would think. Would you be mad at me for talking about money again? Would my sermons about money anger you? Thankfully, I ve grown in my understanding about stewardship, and in knowing for whom I preach. I ve also grown in my desire to preach about your money and your need to give to the church. You could say I ve had a conversion experience. Believe it or not, money is a spiritual matter. God is unquestionably concerned about how we relate to money, what we do with money, and what money does to us. There is no separation between the spiritual and the secular; that notion is a construct of the corporate world. How you receive, spend and give money describes the state of your spiritual health. (continued on Page 6) Happy Birthday October 1 Edward Jekel 1 Brad Cleveland 2 Noreen Jekel 3 Marty Gus 3 Gabrielle Higgins 3 Jennifer D Onofrio 4 Sue Riggle 5 Paul Jarrett 5 Bob Balfoort 5 Cynthia McLean 6 Cara Fenstemacher 7 Jacqueline Owens 9 Jan Barendse 9 Mary Ann Smith 13 Laura Stewart 15 Jasmine Purdy 15 Heather Thomas 17 Matt Callard 19 Fred Bean 19 Alayna Painter 21 Olga Grandinette 22 Kristin Friedel 22 Ian Galloway 24 Victor Giotto 26 Evan Morris 26 Sophia Painter 28 Kaitlyn Carr 31 Alison Steates Are YOU on our list? Call the church office and we ll get you on for next year. Page 3 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!

7 Stewardship As a Matter of Faith Do You Play? Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38 As we continue onward in our individual faith journeys, as we grow and mature as Christians, giving (of our time, talents, and yes, our financial resources) becomes as much a natural part of our journey as daily prayer. Starting on October 17, we will hear from three members of our congregation on what giving to NHPC means to them. Our speakers will reflect the different generations represented in our congregation, but will have one thing in common, they all pledge to support the ministries supported in our annual budget. While listening to our speakers, we ask you to reflect on your own journey of faith, and consider your gift as a sign of faith and commitment to the way of Jesus Christ, and his plan for our ministry here at NHPC as we move forward together toward an exciting future. For the Stewardship Committee, Dom Passalacqua Do you play an instrument? Susan Sady is putting together an NHPC instrumental ensamble to play on October 22. Any type of instrument is welcome and the music is not difficult. Please see her following worship or her at susansady@gmail.com for more information. We hope you can join us! From the Communications Committee New Christmas Cards will be available again this year at a cost of $2.00 per card. The two styles will each have a photo of our church at Christmas Time on the front and an uplifting message inside. The cards will be for sale following church beginning the late Septembe4 or early October. Watch for our display in Fellowship Hall! Calling All Techies The Communications Committee would like to include a young person to our committee, someone who is tech-savy and can assist us in getting the Word out bia social media, in church video presentations, etc. Please contact Rayna Schneider ( or raynajo@gmail.com) if you d like to join us, or if you need more information. Sound Operators Still Needed We are still in need of sound system operators on Sunday mornings. If you would like to help, please let the church office know. Thank you. From the Pastor s Heart (continued from page 3) I long for you to understand giving money to the church as an act of worshiping God, and pledging as a spiritual discipline. When we do those things, God enters our lives and shapes us in ways that our imaginations, our thoughts, and our words cannot. The discipline of giving becomes a freeing, grateful response to an invitation from God. God graciously invites us to respond with gratitude for the blessings God pours out for us. Giving is a way we invite God to continue shaping us into the image and likeness of Christ, and in so doing, we are set free. As God blesses our years together, I pray we will grow in giving until we give gratefully, freely, generously, obediently, and intentionally. I pray we will believe, live, love and give to the church from a place of fearless generosity. From your pastor s heart as we serve the risen Christ together, Sue OCTOBER Page 6

8 HEAR THE GOOD NEW S!! New Hartford Presbyterian Church 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY October 2017 NON-PROFIT O R G. U. S. P O S T A G E P A I D N E W H A R T F O R D, N Y P E R M I T N O. 3 5 We re on the web! newhartfordpresbyterian.org Coming Soon! Mark Your Calendar! NHPW s Book Club Jodi Picoult s latest book entitled SMALL GREAT THINGS is the book club choice for November. They will meet in the library on Monday, November 6, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. All are welcome. Bring a friend or two with you! Ladies, Mark Your Calendars! The Women s Annual Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday, December 5, beginning at 6:00 P.M. Food and entertainment will be provided. Hope to see you there! Just be Aware: Daylight Saving Time will end on November 5. Be prepared to set your clocks back on Saturday, Nov. 4. All Saints Day On Sunday, October 29, 2017, we will be observing our annual All Saints Day with a remembrance of not only former church members who passed away this year, but also loved ones of current members of our congregation who died within the past year. The names will be read by Pastor Sue followed by the sounding of a bell. If you have a name you would like Pastor Sue to read, please get it to her in writing by Sunday, October 22, With Thanks Thank you to Sue, Church members, Session, etc for all the cards and prayers you sent to me. It s nice of you all. Bob Balfoort Thank you to everyone for your cards, thoughts and prayers and also for the thinking of you packages that I received after I wrestled with the hallway floor here at work. I was able to get up while the floor is still down for the count. And for all the work that Harry Young has done regarding the worker s comp that we had to put together. I thank you all. Rosemary

Since 1973, church leaders have turned to the Presbyterian Panel to learn more about the beliefs and practices of Presbyterians.

Since 1973, church leaders have turned to the Presbyterian Panel to learn more about the beliefs and practices of Presbyterians. Annual Meeting Called The Session has called the Annual Meeting for Sunday, January 18, 2015 immediately following worship. Women s Council will provide a meal following. Hear the Good News!! Newsletter