Inside this issue. Worship Time Change Reminder. Join us for morning worship on Sunday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. as the Sunday schoolpresents

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1 December 2015 January 2016 Glen Reformed Church State Highway 161, Fultonville, NY in the hamlet of Glen, 4 miles south of Fultonville glenreformed@nycap.rr.com Join us for morning worship on Sunday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. as the Sunday schoolpresents The Christmas Tree. Following worship service we will share a covered dish luncheon. Please bring your favorite dish to pass. We hope you can join us as we share in the Celebration of the Lord s Supper and our Sunday school children share an important message. Inside this issue Pastor Tom s Message...,.. p. 2 Christmas Eve......p. 3 Koinonia Pot Luck Suppers......p. 4 Birthdays..p. 4 Missions Project....p. 4 Christmas Caroling...p. 4 December & January Schedule..p. 5 Consistory p. 5 Christmas Messages from Consistory p Readers & Greeters..Back Recipe for a New Year.Back If you would like to receive the Gazetteer by instead of a mailed copy, please kosinski@frontiernet.net Worship Time Change Reminder Please take note that the worship time at Glen Church will change to 11:00 a.m. beginning on Sunday, December 6th and extend through the winter months to make it more likely that Pastor Tom will be present. Worship time will return to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 27th.

2 A Few Moments with Thomas Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Well, it's here again. The Christmas season is upon us and we are gearing up to the mad rush of Christmas shopping, so I will keep this letter short. Because our time is so precious and short. Christmas day is coming fast. I'm sure many of us have family events, work parties, children's concerts and performances all coming up too. Not to mention decorating, Christmas baking, and getting all those Christmas Cards out. In the past we have heard it said that we should try and let go of these responsibilities. We have read in the book of Luke not to get caught up in all of it, the "worries of this life." Instead, we are to enjoy the reason for the season. But don't you find that these activities - the letters, cookies, shopping, concerts, parties, decorating and such- are a part of how we get ourselves ready and excited for the holiday, this Holy Day? This, along with our special Sunday sermons, the lighting of a different Advent candle each week in preparation for the glorious day is how we mark Christmas as the special occasion it is and should be. Remember though, Advent isn't just about Christmas preparation, it means "coming," and that is what this season is about. In our Christmas preparation time we are here not only to celebrate what God has done in the past through the birth of baby Jesus, we are also here to call for preparation for Jesus' coming again. Please join us on Sunday mornings this Christmas season as we practice Advent as a season of preparation. Luke 2:8-14 God bless and Merry Christmas. Pastor Tom, Kimberly, Danielle, and Jonathan Flander. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! 2

3 November 29 Lighting of the Prophecy Candle by Deb & Erik Schnackenberg. December 6 Celebration of the Lord s Supper; Sunday School Children present a special program: The Christmas Tree ; Lighting of the Bethlehem Candle; Pot Luck Luncheon immediately following worship. December 13 Lighting of the Shepherd s Candle by the Sheldon family. December 20 Lighting of the Angel Candle by Cheryl and Selina Rohling. Glen Reformed Church will observe Christmas Eve with joy and celebration with the joy of the fullness of God s love for each and every one of us and with celebration of Jesus birthday. Church bells will ring, our voices will sing out in worship to our Lord and Savior. We invite we encourage everyone to come, hear the Word, feel the joy, and experience the love of God. Don t let anything stop you know that you are welcome at Glen Church on Christmas Eve and every day of the year. Epiphany, January 6th, celebrates the arrival of the three kings who traveled from far away to worship the newborn Jesus. In 2016 the church observes Epiphany on the prior Sunday, January 3rd followed by the Baptism of our Lord observance on January 10th. Epiphany continues through January and into February until Ash Wednesday on February 10th. 3

4 Koinonia is the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Koinonia is all about fellowship! Koinonia Pot-Luck Supper On January 13th Erik Schnackenberg will be our guest speaker. Buffet at 6:30 p.m. and program at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a dish to share if you can and please invite your neighbors and friends to attend these suppers with you. If you have a suggestion for a speaker, please contact Karen Kosinski. Sunday Sch00l Students & Teachers delivered heart pillows to veterans at the Albany Veterans Hospital on November 1st. December 2 Carolyn Hart 4 Jack Summerfield 9 Tina Taylor 12 Daryl Kosinski 17 Norma Sheldon 18 Pastor Tom 21 Gregory Kirk 26 Cindy Yurkewicz 29 Sue Summerfield January 8 Phyllis Kirk 13 Ron Wilmot Alice Kirk 14 Emily Kosinski 18 Percy Tallmadge, Jr. 24 Paula Van Der Veer 26 Marlene Smith Increasing the excitement and expectation of the Advent season and spreading the joy of the Christmas season is a great blessing to everyone involved. Traditional caroling in our small community of Glen is a great way to do that. Please join us as we go caroling in the hamlet of Glen on Sunday, December 13th. We ll meet at the church at 4:00 p.m. and we ll enjoy some refreshments at the church following caroling. 4

5 Date Worship Leader Greeter Reader December 6 Holy Communion December 2015 January 2016 Calendar Clip, save & post at home. Worship Schedule for December 11:00 a.m. Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Sunday School presents The Christmas Tree December 13 Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Sheldon Family Norma Sheldon December 20 Guest Elder Darlene Spaulding Cindy & Charlie Yurkewecz Judy Kelly December 24 Christmas Eve Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Arlene Macek Edythe Trajlinek December 27 Rev. Charles Hesselink Allan Taylor Deb Schnackenberg December 27 December 8 Consistory Meeting; December 12 Youth Craft Day grades K-2, 9:00-9:45 a.m.; grades 3 & up, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., including lunch; Preregistration required December 13 Christmas Caroling in Glen see page 4 Worship Schedule for January 11:00 a.m. Date Worship Leader Greeter Reader January 3 Epiphany Sunday Holy Communion January 10 Baptism of our Lord Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Allan Taylor Jen Wilmot Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Cheryl Rohling Edith Bowdish January 17 Guest Elder Darlene Spaulding Sheldon Family Norma Sheldon January 24 Pastor Thomas Flander Jr. Cheryl Rohling Lynda Russell January 31 Guest Rev. Charles Hesselink Allan Taylor Judy Kelly January 9 Koinonia Pot-Luck Supper, 6:30 p.m., Program by Erik Schnackenberg Consistory 2016 Thomas J. Flander, Jr. Preaching Elder commissioned to Glen ( ) Clergy Supervisors: Rev. Karen Patterson & Rev. Jay Hine Elders: Arlene Macek ( ) Bernie Kirk, Jr. ( ) Karen Kosinski ( ) Olive Taylor ( ) Deacons: Ronald Burch ) Michael Sowle ( ) Sue Summerfield ( ) Jennifer Wilmot ( )

6 Messages of from your Consistory I may be young but I ve learned a lot from all my elders. The Glen Church has taken me under their wing. Since I was young my dad, Mike Sowle, was bringing me to church and Sunday School. I have learned to appreciate, love and adore our Lord God and most of our church. Now that I am a parent, I want to instill good values in my kids, Wyatt and Eva, so I need to start bringing them more so that they can come to learn and love God just the way I do. It may be different for parents bringing little ones because of crying or trying to keep them occupied. But, in the end, it s really worth it and beneficial not only for the children but also for the congregation. The children are our future. If we didn t have them, then many churches wouldn t be here today. Please encourage anyone with children to come to our church. Jen Wilmot Christmas time always brings back memories. We think of the past Christmases some of us have more past Christmases than others but we have such great memories hanging stockings, wrapping gifts, making cookies visiting families and friends. We all like to hang onto great memories. I d bet Mary hung onto the great memories of when Jesus was born and his childhood. Jesus has given us all great memories and he is always there for us. We need to keep Christ is Christmas and in our lives. He is there for us. We just have to pray. Make memories. Keep Jesus alive in this holiday season and always. Merry Christmas, Edith Bowdish This past year has been difficult for me as I lost both my brother, Bob and my brother-in-law, Steven to cancer. However, I know without a doubt that they are up in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have come to realize that our time on this earth is limited and we need to make the most of it. So my message to you is that as you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season take time to be with friends and family. Make new memories that you will cherish forever. And may you have goodwill, peace, hope, joy, prosperity, happiness, and harmony in the year to come. Love, Sue Summerfield May the love of Jesus fill your lives this Christmas season. Merry Christmas and a blessed and healthy New Year. Olive Taylor 6

7 The church means a lot to me. I ve been going here since I was a little boy. There has been many changes within and with the church throughout the years. Attendance is what I ve noticed the most. I think if we all reach out to people in our lives, let them know of all he great projects and missions we do for our hometown and all over, maybe they will want to learn more and learn more. Come, find out about our Glen family and all the joy that we bring. Mike Sowle I love to give gifts. I love the look of joy on the faces of people I give to. I don t care how they use the gift. It is immaterial to me. All I care about is the moment they receive the gift and the joy it brings them. I wish I could say that this statement was true for every time I give a gift. It is what I would like to feel, and frankly, most of the time it is true. However, I fall short sometimes and I do care about how those to whom I give use the gift. To me, giving a gift is a momentary experience in joy between the giver and the recipient. The experience of gift giving and receiving is not a Christmas experience, although God s gift to man in Christ is our example. The joy of giving we feel at Christmastime is a blessing from God that is available to us all year long. I recall several years ago taking a group of youth caroling at a nursing home. The activities director thanked us over and over and before we left she invited (no, almost begged) us to come back in February. No one comes to see us then., she said. May your joy of giving stretch all year long through to next Christmastime. Karen Kosinski Thanksgiving was a time for giving thanks as the name of the holiday implies. As we enter Advent or the Christmas season, we should all reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. One way to honor the birth of Christ is to perform some kind acts. Those acts can be as simple as a smile and a heart felt Merry Christmas. Other ways include reaching out to someone lonely, giving to charity, or letting someone else have that close parking spot at the mall. Think how much nicer the world would be if everyone consciously committed to performing random acts of kindness. Merry Christmas from the Kirks. A Good Creed If any little words of ours can make one life brighter; If any little song of ours can make one heart the lighter; God help us speak that little word, and take our bit of singing And drop it in some lonely vale to set the echoes ringing. If any little love of ours can make on life the sweeter; If any little care of ours can make one step the fleeter; If any little help may ease the burden of another; God give us love and care and strength to help along each other. If any little thought of ours can make one life the stronger; If any cheery smile of ours can make its brightness longer; Then let us speak that thought today, with tender eyes a glowing, So God may grant some weary one shall reap from our glad sowing. May you find the special joy that only comes from unselfishly serving others. Arlene Macek 7

8 Recipe for a New Year. Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time. Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing don t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor. Anonymous Glen Reformed Church P.O. Box 227 Fultonville, NY TO: The worship committee thanks all of the faithful people who have read scripture during worship services and who have served as greeters. Being welcomed into worship and hearing God s Word read by neighbors and friends is very moving for the worshiper and we thank you for these acts of service to the Lord. We ask you to continue serving and for others to consider this. We welcome all who wish to greet and/or read scripture. A new schedule for 2016 is available in the back of the sanctuary.