The Weathervane. November Worship Services: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Old First Presbyterian Church. Non Profit Org. U.S POSTAGE. Permit No.

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1 Old First Presbyterian Church 125 Main St, Huntington, NY Return service requested Non Profit Org. U.S POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 146 The Weathervane November 2016 Worship Services: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. 24

2 In Our Prayers Caitlin Colbert (granddaughter of Jim and Kris Colbert), Dave and Else Haddock (members), Glenn Jahier (member), the Family of Lynn Fuchs Petrick (member & daughter of Asenath Fuchs), Bernice Miller (Bob Miller s mother), Thomas Miller (Rev. Anne s son), our Pastor Nominating Committee and your next pastor, Tonya Robinson (Mary Samuel s daughter), Diane Walker (member), Ed Williams (member), Grace Youngquist (member), Diane Zamow (member) and her father, and Zoya (Mary Samuel s friend). Prayers of Christian sympathy and love to: David Fieldgate and family for the loss of Margaret (Rosemary) Fieldgate (former member) Special Days to Celebrate November Birthdays Anniversaries Names on our prayer list will remain for a month. If you wish to have a name remain on the list, kindly contact the Church Office. Sing a song of Birthdays Full of fun and cheer And may you keep on having them For many a happy year. (Anonymous) Love begins in a moment, grows over time, and lasts for eternity. (Anonymous) Love never ends... (1 Corinthians 13:8) 14 Pat Horner 1 Pat & Bob Miller 17 Jane Carter 10 Dave & Else Haddock 21 Rose Hakimian 20 Glenn & Priscilla Jahier 24 Grace Youngquist 28 Bruce Elliott May you be showered with all God s best blessings today and always. Prayer List Requests If you would like to place someone on the Prayer List, please fill out forms located in the Narthex, and return to the Church Office. Additional forms are located in the hallway between Parish Hall and the Sanctuary and in the office. If you haven t already submitted the dates for your birthday and anniversary, please let the church office know as soon as possible so we can list them in the Weathervane for the appropriate months. Please note that since there is no Weathervane for the months of January, July, and August, these special days will be listed in the previous months issues. 2 23

3 WEATHERVANE DEADLINE You are invited to contribute to the news and newsworthiness of our congregation! The Weathervane is published by Old First Church and distributed to members and friends of Old First Church. The deadline for the December issue of the Weathervane is November noon. Please mail, hand deliver, or submissions to the Church office at: cheriecornell@oldfirstchurchhuntington.org or office@oldfirstchurchhuntington.org Weathervane assembly will be the last Wednesday of each month. Any one who is available and would like to help out, please let the church office know. Thank you. If you do not want to receive a paper copy of the Weathervane so we can reduce postage cost, please let the office or me know. Thanks. Keep in Touch...When going to Huntington Hospital, be sure you list Old First Presbyterian Church as your church. Hospital workers provide lists of Protestants and Presbyterians, but often do not know what Old First s affiliation may be....if you are aware of a member in the hospital, please let us know. Many people are admitted through emergency and will not appear on any church lists. Your minister is there often and wants to call on you. Please help by informing the church. We care. From the Interim Pastor s Study Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, scholar and an internationally renowned author who wrote more than 40 books on the spiritual life. His life spanned more than six decades in the last century as he served as pastor and professor at Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard Divinity Schools. For the last ten years of his life, he worked among developmentally disabled adults at L Arche Daybreak Community in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Father Nouwen sought the center of things never content to observe life from the sidelines He looked at the world with enthusiastic anticipation convinced that right in the midst of life, he would find the God who loves us without conditions that God is in the very fabric of our lives, that God is closer than you think A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen (p. iv). Edited by John Mogabgab of Upper Room Ministries and first published in 2010 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust, this book caught my eye at a convention I attended several years ago. Initially a lecture given by Father Nouwen, I have read and reread it several times as the congregations I have served began their Stewardship Campaign each fall. Every time I read it, I am again reminded of this important critical--aspect of Christian discipleship. And with the mailing of stewardship materials on October 18 and our 2017 campaign gearing up, I d like to share with you several of Father Nouwen s evocative insights on stewardship. In the preface, a story about Father Nouwen is shared. At a conference where he was lecturing about fundraising, copies of Father Nouwen s most recent book sold out. At lunch, he set out to the nearest bookstore to buy additional copies and was approached by a young man who needed funds to return home in France. Invited to jump into the car with Father Nouwen, the passenger told his story about needing to get home that very day. Returning to his car with additional copies of his book, Father Nouwen also handed the young man $200 and said, Let me know when you arrive home tomorrow. Surprised, the young man went on his way. Nouwen reentered the convention hall; and the booksellers in the lobby, so grateful about Nouwen s gesture, handed him a thank you note and yes--$200 in cash (p. v, vi). Mogabgab makes the observation, Like many of us, Henri s vision began with the notion of fundraising as a necessary but unpleasant activity to support spiritual things. But generosity begets generosity, he continues, especially when generosity is rooted in the rich soil of relatedness [in Presbyterian-ese, rooted in the rich soil of church family] (p. vi, vii). Yes, we may think of fundraising as a mandatory, perhaps even frustrating exercise we engage in every year. But in his work, Father Nouwen came to realize that in the end, fundraising stewardship--is not a response to a mere obligation to keep the lights on in the church. 22 3

4 Rather, stewardship is first and foremost, a form of ministry. It is a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission. Vision and mission are so central to the life of God s people that without vision we perish and without mission, we lose our way. (Prov. 29: 18, 2 Kings 21: 1-9). Vision brings together needs and resources to meet those needs. Vision also shows us new directions and opportunities for our mission (Acts 16: 9-10). Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer others our members and our friends--to participate with us in our vision and mission. Fundraising is precisely the opposite of begging. Rather, it is when we declare our vision amazing and exciting. That we are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources God has given you your prayers, your talents and energy and yes, your money. (p. 16, 17). But Father Nouwen continues, fundraising stewardship is a very concrete way to help the Kingdom of God come about The Kingdom is where God provides for all that we need He compares it to a mustard seed, which at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade (Mark 4: 31-32) Indeed, if we raise funds for the creation of a community of love [again, Presbyterian-ese for church family], we are helping God in building the Kingdom (p. 24, 25). It occurred to me that Father Nouwen s words resonate with our time of transition here at Old First. Last fall, we came together to discern God s vision and mission for this congregation on East Hill in Huntington. That vision is encapsulated in your Mission Study, and is becoming more and more a reality as your PNC continues its critical work in nominating your next pastor who will be elected by the congregation. But the rest of us have critical work as well. Scores of ministers and Presbytery representatives have declared our vision amazing and exciting. And to prepare for that vision e.g., your next era of ministry in Huntington--you are invited as Nouwen put so well, to invest yourself through the resources God has given you. Make a pledge. Pledge for the first time. Or even better, increase your pledge. I can think of no better way to signal to your next pastor your belief and commitment to Old First and your vision of the future. That certainly, you will be drawn together by God who is about to do a new thing through your collaboration through stewardship and shared ministry in the name of Jesus Christ (p. 17). See you in Church! Once again the Deacons at Old First Church will be delivering a week s worth of groceries and a Thanksgiving dinner to 125 needy families in our area. The Deacons cannot do it alone, though: we need your help! We need volunteers to help on these days: THANKSGIVING BASKET VOLUNTEERS Needed! Between today and Tuesday, November 15th, please bring in clean cardboard boxes that are approximately the size used to hold copier paper (lids are not needed). We ll need 300 in total. See the church s secretary about where to leave them. Thursday, November 17th, from 7pm to 8:30pm: Setting up chairs and boxes in the Parish Hall. Friday, November 18th, 10:30am to 12:30pm: Accurate people to fill 125 family baskets with the correct groceries. Saturday, November 19th, from 10am to 11:30am: The culminating moment of our mission! We need 40 drivers with cars to arrive at the church no earlier than 10am and no later than 11:30am, to deliver the food. We need people to cut up the empty boxes, carry the garbage out, and cheer us all on. The sign-up lists will be in the Parish Hall after church on October 30th, November 6th and 13th, and we hope you will sign up for this once again. If you miss the sign up sheets, you can volunteer by calling Martha Tibbets at If you haven t delivered before, we encourage you to try it this year. It is a very meaningful experience. - Brett Raynor Faithfully, Rev. Anne Rev. Anne Stewart Miller Interim Pastor 4 21

5 Josephine Thompson bequests $10,000 to Old First Church Josephine Thompson came to Huntington from Liverpool, England at age 3 in Her father had taken the position as caretaker of the Marshall Field family estate on Lloyd Neck. The family lived on Sammis Street. Her family and a neighbor s belonged to Old First Church and the two daughters walked less than a mile to church and sang in the choir and participated in activities which were a major part of her life. She was also noted as a very good swimmer. She became a nurse, living in Brooklyn and married in Her husband went into the Navy and was lost on a ship torpedoed in She enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps and was stationed in Iwo Jima with an orthopedic surgery unit, nursing the many wounded. She returned home to the Valley Forge hospital in Pennsylvania where she met her second husband, Robert Thompson, and was married in They moved to the Rochester area in Hamburg, New York where she lived 66 years until age 109. Old First Church was one of three similar bequests which she left, indicating what a significant memory in her life came from her church experience. November 2016 Worship Schedule Sunday, November 6-32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 10:00 am: Communion Worship with Kids & Youth Choirs Sunday, November 13-33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 10:00 am: Family Worship Service Sunday, November 20 - Christ the King/Reign of Christ 10:00 am: Worship Pledge Sunday Sunday, November 27-1st Sunday of Advent 10:00 am: Family Worship Service Community Food Council The Community Food Council is in need of donations of non-perishable food items, canned goods and items such as toilet paper (always needed) which are not covered by food stamps. Please bring in your donations on Communion Sunday Tomato Sauce, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Cereal Thank you for your generous donations. DON T FORGET Daylight savings time ends Sunday, Nov. 6th at 2:00 am. Remember to set your clock back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 5th. 20 5

6 Stewardship Campaign 2017 Sharing Our Blessings the kitchen a fresh and inviting area of our church. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help first take out and then put back in all of the kitchen pots, pans, dishes, etc. Not a small job, but with so many helping, one that went quickly. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6 17:19) Please join us on Pledge Sunday, November 20th, as we present our pledges together to support Old First Church and its many missions. Reflecting on all that God has provided for us, now is the time to be Sharing Our Blessings as He would have us do. Thank you on behalf of God s church, Old First Presbyterian Church. The Stewardship and Budget Committee: Curt Abbott, Chair Rev. Anne Stewart Miller James Colbert Peter Fetterolf Amy Girimonti Gerald Kessler Susan Oehrig Cindy Samuels Capital Campaign The Campaign is in full gear and we are encouraging anyone who hasn t yet pledged to do so now. It is so important that we reach our goal of $1,000,000. Many in our congregation have already pledged their support for our campaign but we need 100% of our congregation to participate to make it a success. Remember your pledge can be paid over 3 years. Projects such as repaving our parking lot and laying new sidewalks are planned for next year. We need your pledge to insure we will have the funds available to make these needed improvements. Please call the Church office if you have any questions or need a pledge form. Blessings, The Trustees, The Capital Campaign Committee 6 19

7 RESTORATION & PRESERVATION Wow! What a month of activity at Old First! Steeple Update Parish Hall Update The remainder of the scaffolding has been erected and the work on the outside of the steeple has begun. During the time we were waiting for the scaffolding to be completed our contractor was busy working in his shop preparing the new windows, repairing the louver panels and prepping the new shingles. This will reduce the time needed for the scaffolding to be in place. Mild weather will be a blessing, so a prayer would be welcome The Parish Hall has a new look as well. Many layers of old paint were stripped from the doors and trim. The ceiling, walls, doors and trim have been painted. A new stage curtain has been ordered and will be installed in early November. New window curtains have been ordered and should be delivered in late November. New banquet chairs have arrived and will get their inaugural use for the Deacons Pancake Breakfast in October. Also, all of the chandelier and sconce lights have been switched out to LED. This will save us in energy costs in the long run and immediately gives us a brighter light (which is on a dimmer). We are looking forward to early December when the window curtains are installed and it all comes together. Kitchen Update The kitchen has been completed. The new commercial grade equipment (stoves, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, coffee maker and sinks) have been delivered and installed. The electric in the kitchen has been updated. The new cabinets, countertop and backsplash have been installed. The old butcher block tops have been sanded and oiled and look brand new. All of that with a fresh coat of paint on the doors and walls makes 18 The 2017 Confirmation Class is in the works! A Parents Meeting will be held Sunday, November 20, after worship in the Youth Room. Come to find out about our program for our 7 th & 8 th graders. Program details, times & dates will be discussed. Questions? Ask Rev. Anne or Gretchen Hargis! 7

8 God Is With Us A Bible Study of the Advent Lectionary Readings by Rev. Anne Stewart Miller Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18 after Worship in the Fiske Room Study Books will be available in the church office Our Annual Fall Fair is fast approaching - November 12. It's not too late to collect your "no longer needed clothing and household treasures" for delivery to Parish Hall during the week of November 7. Please, no deliveries on Friday, November 11. Goods for the Country Market may, however, be delivered on that Friday as well as the day of the Fair. And of course, it's never too late to join us as we prepare for the Fair throughout the week. Please, call Kathy Porter ( ) to volunteer your time and efforts. Come to OFC on Fair Day as you will surely find something donated especially for you. See you soon! Kathy Porter ( ) Coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Baked Goods The Baked Goods booth will gratefully accept homemade goodies for the Fall Fair. Pies (any fillings other than Apple are especially desired). (PW makes a number of Apple pies for sale). Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and cakes...bring them all! Also, if you make jams, jellies, pickles, granola, candy, tomato sauce, trail mix, etc. it will make a fabulous addition to our baked goods/country Store booth. Please drop your donations at the gym on Friday the 11th or Fair day early morning, on the 12th. Thank you, Priscilla Jahier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Silent Auction at the Fall Fair Feeling anxious, overwhelmed with clutter or do you just want to clean out after the summer? We can help you! There is nothing so therapeutic as weeding out "treasures" you've accumulated over the years and admiring a clean and organized basement, attic or closet. Bring those special items you no longer need or use to "fair week" 11/7 to 11/10 and we will turn them into a generous donation toward Presbyterian Women's mission. We're looking for art, small pieces of furniture, jewelry, sculpture, and anything of value. If you have any questions or need help getting it to church, please call Mary Frazier or Heather Tucker

9 Hello Church Family! Youth Ministry Update We have had a very exciting kick off to Youth Club and TUXIS this year! With the Youth Club kids, we have been busy learning lots of new things. In September we studied the meaning of ritual and created our own for the beginning of each Youth Club meeting. The kids are learning how to lead group prayer and incorporate daily devotionals into our meetings. Also, we created step Prayer Books and learned four different ways to pray: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Check out the craft room upstairs to see our beautiful bulletin boards with fun facts about our youth! As for TUXIS, we finished our lime green recycling bins and distributed them around the church. We will collect, weigh, and drop off our recyclables to Huntington Recycling Center in the next few weeks! We also had a lovely Bible study with Gretchen at Food 4 Soul and made gourmet waffles with toppings galore! As always, please contact Tina with any comments, questions, or concerns! Upcoming Schedule: Youth Club: Oct 26: 5-7pm Nov. 2: 5-7pm Nov. 16: 5-7pm (Thanksgiving Dinner!) Nov: 30: 5-7pm DONATE YOUR: COLLECTIBLES, CLOTHING, RUMMAGE, JEWELRY, HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, BOOKS, AND BAKED GOODS* DROP OFF PERIOD: NOV. 7TH 10TH *BAKED GOODS PLEASE DROP OFF EITHER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING NOVEMBER 12TH. Lots of love, Tina TUXIS: Oct 30: 6:30-8pm Nov 6: Food 4 Soul 6-8pm Nov 8-12: Teens volunteer for Fall Fair Nov 19: Teens volunteer for Thanksgiving baskets Dec: 4: Food 4 Soul 6-8pm 16 9

10 Food 4 the Soul for TEENS SAVE THE DATE!!! PW ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON Youth Ministry invites teens in 7 th -12 th grades to join the fun on the first Sunday evening of the month from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room upstairs. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 TH 12:00pm Featuring "The Red Hot Mamas" - a unique musical/comedy group $15.00 per person R.S.V.P. Marge Sammis Enjoy food preparation, conversation, games, scripture, and more. How will you identify and respond to God s call on your life? Find out what God has cooked up for you!! Sign up each month in the Youth Room or - Gretchen Hargis - gfree16@yahoo.com that you will be attending. All teens are welcome! Friends are welcome! Dates for the first half of the year are: November 6 th, December 4 th, and January 8 th. Mark these Sundays on the calendar so you don t miss out on the good cookin and MORE. Living out faith in the midst of a Caring community of women 10 15

11 THANKSGIVING WORD SEARCH Coordinating Team Meeting Moderator: Susan Oehrig ( ) PW Board meeting Tuesday, November 1st Refreshments at 9:30am, Meeting begins at 10:00am Circle 1 (Evening Circle) Leaders: Heather Adams ( ) and Nancy Gittleman ( ) Meets the 3rd Tuesday each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiske Room. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m. In the Fiske Room. Much to our disappointment, Make-up for the Mature Woman had to be rescheduled for our November meeting due to construction which left the church without water. We thank everyone for their understanding Circle 3 Bible Study Co-leaders: Gloria Burgess ( ) and Priscilla Jahier ( ) Lucy Fetterolf (co-leader emeritus) Our next Bible Study will meet on Wednesday, November 16th at 12:30pm and 7:30 pm in the Fiske Room We continue our study, "Who is Jesus?". This month looking through the Lens of the Gospel of Luke. We ask you to read lesson three in preparation. Light refreshments will be served. Circle 4 Quilting Leader: Asenath Fuchs ( ) Thursday Mornings at 9:30am in Room 101 All are welcome. No experience necessary. Will be working on the Quilt for this year and shoulder covers for oncology patients at the Huntington Hospital. Circle 6 Crafts Holiday Shoppe Leader: Kris Colbert ( ) Fridays, 9:45am in the Craft Room. November meeting November 4th No December meetings Meeting will resume January 6th

12 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat October 30 October 31 1 All Saints Day :15-10:15a Gentle Bends/102 7:30p NA/10 9:30a PW Board/FR 1p AA 7p Deacons 9:15-10:15a Gentle Bends/ :30p Kids Choir 5-7p Youth Club 5:30-6p Youth Choir 7:15p AA 7:30p BS Troop :30a PW C-4 Quilting 8p Choir 9:30a Al Anon 9:45a PW-Circle 6 Crafts 6 Daylight Saving Time Fall back 7 8 Election Day Veterans Day 12 7:30-9p Trustees/FR 10a Communion Worship w/kids & Youth Choirs 10:20a Church School 6-8p Food 4 the Soul Weathervane Articles Due a Family Worship Service 6:45p AA FALL FAIR SET-UP WEEK 9:15-10:15a Gentle Bends/102 7:30p B.S Comm. Meet. 7:30p NA/10 1:00p AA 7p Session/101 7:30p PW-C1/Evening 9:15-10:15a Gentlee Bends/102 12:30-2p PW-C3/Bible Study 5-5:30p Kids Choir 5-7p Kids & Youth Club/Prayer Svc 5:30-6p Youth Choir 7:15p AA 7:30p BS Troop 32 7:30-9p PW-C3/Bible Study 8p Choir 9:30a PW C-4 Quilting 7p Set-up Thanksgiving Baskets /PH 8p Choir CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 9a Al Anon 10:30a Filling Thanksgiving Baskets/PH 10a-4p Fall Fair 10-11:30a Deliver Thanksgiving BasketS/PH Thanksgiving Day a Worship 10:20a Sunday School 11:15a Confirmation Parents Meeting 11:15a Youth Activity w/tina 6:45p AA 9:15-10:15a Gentle Bends/102 7:30p NA/10 1:00p AA 7:15p AA Thanksgiving Holiday Church Office Closed Happy Thanksgiving!!! 27 1st Sunday of Advent December 1 December 2 December 3 10a Family Worship Service 11:15a Advent Bible Study/Lectionary Readings 6:45p AA 9:15-10:15a Gentle Bends/102 7:30p NA/ a-4p Thrift Store/11 1:00p AA 9-11a Weathervane Mailing 9:15-10:15a Gentle Bends/ :30p Kids Choir 5-7p Kids & Youth Club 5:30-6p Youth Choir 7:15p AA 7:30p BS Troop 32 9:30a PW C-4 Quilting 8p Choir 9:30a Al Anon 4-6:30p Three Harbors 13