THE MESSENGER. Rejoicing in the Power of the Resurrection!

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1 THE MESSENGER The Peekskill Presbyterian Church March 2018 Rejoicing in the Power of the Resurrection! For Christians, resurrection Sunday is the highest and holiest day of our liturgical calendar. It is the day that we celebrate Jesus being raised from the dead. The exact season or date of the resurrection can be called into question, but the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the grave cannot. If he had not been raised, then our entire tradition of faith must be called into question. The birth of Jesus brings us joy, hope, and a promise. Jesus death reminds us of the cost associated with revolution, reformation, truth and confrontation. It is the resurrection of Jesus however that sanctions our trust and faith in the promises of God. The resurrection seals our hope and assures us of God s eternal love. The resurrection affirms our forgiveness and God s amazing grace. On this holy and sanctified day, let the people of god acknowledge it for all that it means for us. The term Easter is secular and according to historians and biblical scholars, it originated as a pagan festival for the goddess of spring Ishtar. On our most holy day, let the people of God take back what has been so sacrificially given to us. Let us honor the one who honored us with his life and his unconditional love. For us, the greeting is more than Happy Easter, It s, BLESSINGS TO YOU ON THIS RESURRECTION SUNDAY! By Faith, Pastor Stephany 2018 Holy Week Schedule 10:00 a.m. Worship ~ Holy Monday through Holy Wednesday - The Sanctuary will be open for silent prayer and meditation between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ~ Thursday 7:00 p.m. Holy Week Bible Jeopardy (in the Social Hall) ~ Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Rev. Graham preaching (with communion and musical guests) ~ Resurrection Sunday 10:00 a.m. (with an Easter egg hunt for children) IN THIS ISSUE Prayer Requests...2 Bible Memory Verses....2 Easter Memorial Flower Form.2 Our Mission & Our Vision....3 Session Highlights Chandeliers....3 Clerk's Corner Deacons Ministry....5 Music Corner....5 Memorial Garden "Who Am I." Haiti Mission School..7 Calendar The Messenger - March Page 1

2 Prayer Requests Continued Prayers. for Joe D, Rob K, Ray B, Marjorie C, Vera S, Joyce T and Roscoe R. Continued Prayers. for all of the Congregants unable to join in our activities. Continued Prayers of Healing. for Greta & Rob K Continued Prayers of Healing. for the courageous young people involved in the Fla. school shooting, world tragic events and for Our Nation. Welcome. Abigail Ruth Garcia, born on February 22, 2018, and to congratulate her parents, Ricardo and Ruth, and her siblings, Christian and Grace. BIBLE MEMORY VERSES FOR MARCH 2018 Submitted by Rose Reed 1. Jesus answered them, Have * faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received * it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22-24) 2. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) 3. And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) 4. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16) Easter Flowers Easter Sunday, with its joyous worship service, is not many weeks away. The traditional Easter Flower Memorials bring to the service a beauty befitting the joy with which we celebrate the Resurrection. Equally fitting is the thankfulness expressed by the memorials for the lives of those who have passed on to the Church Triumphant. On Easter, April 1, we will publish a special Memorial insert in the bulletin. The money collected for the memorials will be used to purchase flowers to grace our sanctuary. After the Easter services, the Deacons will distribute the plants to our shut-ins and to those who have had a death in the immediate family since last Easter. Please note your donation does not buy a plant, but a memorial listing. It is suggested that a minimum donation of $12 be made for your listing. Please return the attached form to the church office; The Peekskill Presbyterian Church, 705 South Street, Peekskill, NY 10566; or place it in the offering plate no later than March 25. Contact the church office at if you need additional information. Easter Memorial Flower Donation Form - Enclosed is my donation of $ for the Easter Memorial listing below: In memory of: Given by: The Messenger - March Page 2

3 OUR MISSION SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FEBRUARY 8, The minutes of the January 11, 2018 session meeting were Approved 2. The budget for 2018 was Approved 3. The title for Celeste Goethe is changed has been Office Manager Approved 4. The title for Anthony Iavarone has been changed to Facilities Manager Approved 5. The price point for the bricks in the memorial garden has been approved. 6. The ministries for 2017 were very successful. We celebrate our accomplishments. 7. Elders and members are being sought to preach during Good Friday service. 8. The Christian Education ministry has planned a Holy Week Jeopardy Game for Maundy Thursday. 9. A funeral for treasured member Donald Horton was held on Saturday, January 27th. 10. The annual budget is made up as follows: 76% essential costs with the remaining 24% as discretionary. 11. Susan Dahl was thanked for her phenomenal job as president of the church corporation, and for training a new treasurer. 12. The nominating ministry has submitted the names of Charlene Woods and Linda Buckiewicz as Elders; and the following as Deacons: Nancy Horton and Susan Gardner. 13. Chairpersons are needed for the following ministries: Stewardship; Mission; and Congregational Life. 14. Thirsty is celebrating it 6th year with the extension of a monthly community dinner and an outreach ministry at the Drum Hill senior facility The Investments of the church are doing well. 16. Motion to adjourn -Approved In response to the profound love of God through Jesus Christ toward all, we welcome everyone to join 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. Vision Statement The Peekskill Presbyterian Church is a faithful and diverse community of Christians with varied backgrounds, ethnicities, talents, and ages. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to nurturing individual and corporate faith through: Vibrant Worship; Committed Stewardship; Relationship Building Fellowship; Mission Focused Discipleship; and Servant Leadership. Cleaning Chandeliers March 10, :30 AM Volunteers needed to help wash the chandeliers' shades. March 17, 2018 Happy Saint Patrick's Day April 1, 2018 Enjoy April Fools Day Please help make our place of worship shine for the coming Holy Week and beyond. The Messenger - March Page 3

4 CLERK'S CORNER Being that March is Women s history month, I thought it would be appropriate to let us women realize how important we are as missionaries of the Holy Spirit. We were created by God and given extraordinary abilities to be a nurturer and a provider. This does not end with mothers and children. We, as women, can nurture all who are hungry for the word of God. We can feed them and encourage them to grow in the atmosphere of God s love and assurance. We need to take up the charge to bring all our potential to the forefront and be the vanguard of Christian fellowship. You are amazing, all you women of God. I found this on the internet and thought it helps to turn the light on how God calls all those who believe, even women. Send Me Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me! Isaiah 6:8 niv Isaiah proclaimed his wonderful prophecies of the coming Messiah and King during treacherous and dangerous times. The nations around Judah were conspiring to invade. They were plotting the ruin of the nation. So when Isaiah was called by God to be His spokesperson, he was accepting a daunting and dangerous assignment. Yet Isaiah accepted it willingly and confidently. God calls you to stand for Him too. Probably the greatest deterrent to an effective ministry is the belief that all has to be right or perfect before you can serve Him. Too often as women we think that we need to be highly educated and perfect in a million different ways to handle what God lays before us. But being willing to serve is all that s needed God will provide the rest. Just as God provided for great leaders in the Old Testament who thought they were weak, lacked skill, or were insignificant, so too will He provide the needed talents for you. For Moses who thought he was not an eloquent speaker, God provided the words (Exodus 4:10-12). For Gideon who considered himself insignificant, God provided him with confidence (Judges 6:6:15-16). For Esther, who was one of many women in a pagan king s court, God provided the wisdom and strength to plead for her people (Esther 4:12-16). Serving the Lord in the most significant way begins with an open and willing heart. Open your heart to the Lord. God s calling on your life will never lack God s supply. Prayer: Dear Lord, Give me a willing heart to serve You and do great things in Your name. Hudson River University - Saturday, March 17, 2018 HRU's is back for a spring semester! There are 5 majors: Clerk of Session Day, Officer Training for Deacons and Elders, Christian Education, Social Justice Advocacy, and Planned Giving. It's a great day with fabulous faculty and take-aways that will benefit your congregation and its leaders. HRU will take place from 9:00am-3:00pm at Stony Point Center. Do you want to create an easy way for your congregational members to give a bequest to the church in their will? Then register for the Planned Giving class. Do your Christian education programs for children and/or adults need new and creative ideas for curriculum or classes? Register for those particular classes. Are you a new Ruling Elder or Deacon who needs to learn your role and responsibilities or are you a longtime officer who could use a refresher course on what it means to serve? Register for those classes. And Clerk of Session Day is taking place at HRU this year! Don't forget to download the clerk's checklist, fill it out and bring it with you! Download the flyer to share with your congregation! And bring a whole car-full to this wonderful event that will connect you with leaders throughout the presbytery and equip your congregation to thrive! The Messenger - March Page 4

5 As we head towards into the Lenten and Easter Season, we will be continuing with our regular musical programs as well as reintroduce some old ones. The Hand Bell Choir will begin rehearsing after church every Sunday, as well as the chancel choir and the praise choir will continue their regular rehearsal schedule. As always, If anyone has any ideas for music they would like to hear please let me know. Matt Memorial Garden Session has approved the request from the Stewardship Committee for the renovations to the Memorial Garden. The goal is to have the improvements started in Spring 2018 and completed by Summer The costs of the bricks are as follows: Granite brick for our church members will be $ which includes the brick, the engraving and installation in the garden. Red Bricks will cost $60.00 Cost of a Granite brick by a Non-Member is $ Should you be interested to purchase a brick in memory of a loved one, please contact Ms. Hilda Arturi. Thank you for your support During Lent: a meaningful and blessed time of spiritual reflection and discipline, the Deacons suggest that congregants prayerfully consider a donation for Easter lilies in remembrance of beloved family and friends. Forms for donations will be included church programs. The Deacon Ministry welcomes new member: Susan Gardner, and gratefully thanks retiring Deacons: Raymond Brown, Patrick Buckiewicz, and Barbara Montero for their compassionate service to our congregation. The Deacons serve in a ministry of compassionate service to our congregation. Should a personal need for assistance or information arise, please feel free to contact your Deacon. Deacons and their congregant lists are posted on the bulletin board opposite the church restrooms, down the hall from the choir room. If ever any questions or concerns please contact your Deacon. The Messenger - March Page 5

6 Whose Child Am I? A few weeks ago my good friend and brother in the Lord preached in Peekskill. I was happy to be there as I do not often have a chance to hear him, and I am always very interested in what he has to say. This particular morning, he raised the issue of why we come to church. Perhaps, he said, we come looking for answers when, in fact, we should come looking to raise questions. I found the whole idea very interesting, especially when he raised a simple question that we often ask: What is your name? My friend had included a short biography in the bulletin. He identified himself as Petero Aggrey Nkurunziza Sabune (simply called Sabune). Quite a mouthful. And, by the way, Sabune is, indeed, the name I call him. He pointed out that until he left his native Africa for the United States, no one ever asked him that question. Instead he would be asked: Whose child are you? Clearly the answer to that question would offer a wealth of information about a person, way more than a simple name. I began to think about whose child I am. Long ago I would have answered, the daughter of Justine and Angelo although that is no longer a meaningful answer. So who am I now and am I anyone's child? Different people think of me in different roles: wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, minister. But whose child am I? And how do all those parts of me fit together these days. I thought about it a lot and finally came up with an answer. I am the child of God. That answer encompasses all the other things I do, all the ways that people see me. And in everything I do, I LOVE, as God loves me. It is very simple. No family feuds or DNA tests. No ancestry. com. We are all God's children. That is the very simple answer to what is really a very simple question. All of us should realize who we are and love each other. So thank you, Sabune for making me question and making me think and helping me to understand better just whose child I truly am. Barbara Devir, CLP "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18 March 11, 2:00 AM March 20, 2018 Spring Begins The Messenger April Issue Deadline March 20, :00 AM The Messenger - March Page 6

7 News from the Haiti Mission School - March 2018 Team Heading to Haiti JoEllen Parsons, Howard Nicols, and Howard s niece, Dr. Jena Curtis, an associate professor of health from SUNY Cortland, along with 2 other people from Cortland are heading to Haiti in early March. The professor and her group are concerned with women s health issues in developing countries and will be interviewing and working with women in the Jèrèmie, Leone and Labastille areas. This is Dr. Curtis second trip to Haiti. During the trip, Howard and JoEllen will be meeting with students, teachers, and members of the school committee at Labastille. Among other things, they will determine if signed agreements with the Haitian government have been completed by the committee so the school can be nationalized at the end of the school year. The MoonCatcher Project While education of both men and women is important, research has shown that in developing countries, for numerous reasons, education of women is most likely to make a significant difference in the society. The U.N. recognizes three social benefits of providing females with education: better health care for women and their families, better maternal and infant health and outcomes and, finally, access to better jobs which help families and countries prosper. Unfortunately, young women are more likely to drop out of school before finishing than young men. One reason for this has to do with feminine hygiene. When a family survives on a dollar or two a day, (normal for our families) even a few dollars a month to buy menstrual products is not possible. Instead young women often improvise with mud, plastic bags, newspapers or rags. Frequently these young women end up staying home during this time, or dropping out of school altogether. The MoonCatcher Project provides reusable menstrual products to young women in these poor communities. The kits, with instructions on how to use them, are put together by volunteers in the United States. Our team will be bringing 12 of these kits to give to our female secondary school students. We will be asking the staff at a nearby medical clinic to teach the girls about the products and how to safely use them. If this project is successful, we will try to take more kits the next visit. We would also like to get the instructions translated into Creole or French. (More information on the MoonCatcher Project can be found at Solar Lights In recent meetings with our students, they expressed concern about difficulties in completing their homework. This is because when they finish doing their chores, the sun is often gone and they have no light. In response to this, we made contact with MPOWERD, a company that is attempting to help with this problem in developing countries. They offered us their solar-powered Luci light at half price ($10/ea) that will provide the students with an answer to their request. We have purchased 120 of these lights which the team will take (one for each secondary student and one for each family in our primary school. We hope this will allow them to complete their homework and their chores. Water Straws Over the past few years we have come to know and been assisted several times by a local Haitian physician, Dr. Smith (Yes this is really his name) in Jèrèmie. Two years ago, one of our major emphases was bringing individual water purification straws to the students at the school. At the time we told Dr. Smith about the straws and left one with him. Now Dr. Smith is working with a group of young people who live outside Jèrèmie in the mountains. He is making up some backpack kits for these young people and has asked if we would bring a few of these water straws that he could put in the kits. The team will be taking 15 of the Water Purification Straws to Dr. Smith. Once again, we join the students and staff at the Haiti Mission School for your continuing support and prayers Haiti Mission School PO Box 445 Lake Luzerne, NY haitimissionschool@gmail.com a 501[c]3 mission The Messenger - March Page 7

8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all those who were born in the Month of March. MARCH 2018 Lord's Attic Thrift Shop Hours: 10 Am-3 PM Wed, Thurs, & Sat. UNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY February 25 9:15am-Chancel Choir 11:20am-Kid's Choir 11:30am-New Adult 11:45am-Hand Bell 26 6:45pm- Fit Club :00pm-Chancel 7:00pm- Corporate & Business March 1 12:00pm 4:30pm-8:30pm Youth Ministry Gates of Heaven 2 WORLD WILDLIFE DAY 3 8:30am-Breakfast 4 9:15am-Chancel Choir (with Communion) 11:30am-Hand Bell ACADEMY AWARDS 5 FLOWER OF THE MONTH - Daffodil 6:45pm-Fit Club Christian Education 6 7 7:00pm-Chancel 8 7:00pm-Session 9 12:00pm- 4:30pm-8:30pm Youth Ministry Gates of Heaven 10 8:30am-Cleaning The Chandeliers 12:00pm-Liason meeting 7:00pm-Bridge (at the Button's) 11 9:15am-Chancel Choir 11:30an-Coffee Hour 11:30am-Hand Bell FRUITS & VEGES OF THE MONTH Asparagus, Kiwi, Guava, Grapefruit 12 6:30pm-Deacons 13 6:45pm-Fit Club 7-8:30pm-Sharing w Drum Hill 7:00pm-Chancel 14 12:00pm-Worship PI DAY 5:00pm-6:30pm- Head Start Parents Meeting :00pm 4:30pm-8:30pm Youth Ministry Gates of Heaven HRU 17 9:00am-3:00pm Church Leaders Stony Point ST. PATRICK'S DAY ORDINATION 18 9:15am-Praise Choir (with Communion) 11:30am-Coffee Hour 11:30am-Hand Bell 5-6:30pm-Dinner 19 6:45pm- Fit Club Astrological Sign Pisces (till 20th) & Aries (21st ) :00pm-Bridge 7:00pm-Chancel 22 6:00pm-Liason "Thirsty" WORLD WATER DAY 12:00pm- 23 4:30pm-8:30pm Youth Ministry Book Club Gates of Heaven NAT'L PUPPY DAY 9:30am-Gathering of the Men of the Church 6:00pm- "Spirit Talk" :15am-Chancel Choir 11:30am-Coffee Hour 11:30am-Hand Bell 26 12:00pm-4:00pm Prayer & Reflection 27 12:00pm-4:00pm Prayer & Reflection 6:45pm- Fit Club 28 12:00pm-4:00pm Prayer & Reflection 7:00pmpm-Chancel 7:00pm- Bible Jeopardy MAUNDY THURSDAY :00pm- 7:00pm-Worship (with Communion) 31 PASSOVER STARTS CESAR CHAVEZ DAY HOLY SATURDAY Church Office Hours Tues Fri, 9:30am 2:30pm , (fax) (kitchen) office@peekskillpresby.org Pastor Stephany Graham Office Hours Wed: 10AM 3PM, Thurs: 4 7PM On Call Friday and Saturday The Messenger - March Page 8 Church Web site: Find Us on Face Book: Peekskill Presbyterian Church 705 South Street, Peekskill, NY