Church. Brookville NEWSLETTER. A year in review.

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1 Brookville Church NEWSLETTER REV. VICKY L. EASTLAND Pastor of Congregational Life 2 BROOKVILLE ROAD BROOKVILLE, NY Where the doors are always open! January 2014 A year in review. As I reflect on the ministry of this past year, there is so much to celebrate! We have come so far in just a little over one year together. There have been many milestones we have crossed in the short time that I have been your new pastor. I d like to reflect on just a few of the highlights. Coming into this ministry, I felt like I had big shoes to fill, following a rather famous previous pastor of 30 years! Allan did so much to further the cause for equal rights for undocumented immigrants on Long Island - helping establish networks to assist in overcoming many abuses these residents faced. Allan also worked hard at supporting other underprivileged members of Long Island communities through efforts of providing turkeys at Thanksgiving, gifts at Christmas time as well as many camp scholarships during the summer months. I am proud to say, we have been able to maintain all of the ministries that Allan had established. Also, the main work I have felt called here to do was to continue the efforts Allan began in working toward a Multi-faith Campus where all religions were welcomed and celebrated. I am amazed at how far we have been able to move down this road together in one year s time! We have built solid bridges between the leaders of all the faith groups represented on campus; have begun growing friendships between members of the different faith groups; established a dual faith home for the Interfaith families, providing both a church and a synagogue for them to belong to. Our children have interacted more together in this past year than ever before. We established our campus as a Multi-faith outpost and Long Island became aware that we are here for the disenfranchised of various faith traditions, as well as a beacon of hope and healing for all who enter our campus. This has been the most exciting year of my ministry career and NONE of it could have happened if it wasn t for YOU! TOGETHER we made all this happen! Because of YOUR openness to inclusion and widening our family, we were able to make great strides in becoming a place of unity and peace that stands as a testament that these values and principles are actually possible. The concepts of unity and peace among religions is not just a dream, it can become a reality! If 2014 is anything like 2013, we will be unstoppable in what we can accomplish together. I want to thank the consistory, the congregation as well as the other faith leaders for your openness and willingness to let God lead us into a very exciting present and an even greater future! I can t wait to report a year from now how much farther we have come than we are right now. Excited to serve, ~ Rev. Vicky Jesus said: Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these... John 14:12

2 Choir News What an amazing Advent/Christmas season we had at Brookville Church! Each week of Advent contained special music for the season. On Dec. 1 (the first Sunday of Advent), Muzika Schmuzika sang special music for the worship service. We are so blessed to have this talented group volunteer their talents for Brookville Church. Thank you Fran Kaufmann, Nan Coffey, Michael Flanagan, John Coffey and Mark Kaufmann. On Dec. 8 (the second Sunday of Advent), special piano music was provided by Sarah Worsham, Samantha Melendez, Branch Worsham and Rachel Worsham. It was so wonderful to hear the talents of these children. On Dec. 15 (the third week of Advent) we were all treated to the very talented children of the Brookville Church and the Interfaith Community. The children performed the play: 'Arrest These Merry Gentlemen'. It was an amazing event. We are so thankful to the Interfaith Community for providing such a beautiful reception afterward. Thank you to our performers: Jacob Apate, Joseph Apate, Gabe Cirker, Maddy Cirker, Leah Cirker, Matteo DiGirolamo, Samantha Melendez, Cara Schombs, Evan Schombs, Hailey Schombs, Ian Schombs, Branch Worsham, Rachel Worsham, Sarah Worsham. On Dec. 22 (the fourth week of Advent) we were moved to tears with the Adult Choir performance of 'I Hear The Prophet Calling'. The choir was absolutely gorgeous. I think that everyone who attended, was moved by this performance. Thank you to the Brookville Church Women for providing a beautiful reception afterward. Thank you to our singers: Lisa Denison, Fran Kaufmann, Pamela Tobel, Antonia Petrash, Nancy Worsham, Nan Coffey, Catherine Procaccini, Jesse Surig, Joan Vivian, Hal Davidson, Michael Flanagan, B.J. Worsham, John Coffey, Mark Kaufmann, and narrator Vicky Eastland. On Dec. 24, 6:00 pm service, we were blessed to hear the talents of Sarah Worsham and Maddy Cirker. Both of these children were so integral to the service and were amazing! I am so proud of both Sarah and Maddy. On Dec. 24, 11:00 pm service, the Adult Choir presented special music for the worship service. Thank you once again, for giving of your time and talents. Thank you to our choir: Diane Beardslee, Antonia Petrash, Lisa Denison, Nan Coffey, John Coffey, B.J. Worsham, Hal Davidson. I want to thank ALL of the people involved in making these events work. There is so much 'behind the scenes' work that is done. Hours of rehearsals, moving the pulpit in and out MANY times, getting bulletins correct. Thank you to Rigo Melera and Lauren Goglia for all of your work. Thank you Rev. Vicky for giving me the freedom to be creative and for supporting the musical events. I am so blessed to work for this amazing church! Thank you Brookville Church! Happy New Year! Carol

3 Thank You! All of us who are part of the Brookville church family, express our appreciation for the gifts we received from the congregation during the Christmas season. We appreciate your generosity and thank you for always making us feel loved. Rigo Melara, Lauren Goglia, Carol Goglia & Rev. Vicky The Christ and Advent Candles We thank the Jewish Congregation of Brookville for their continued gift of the Christ & Advent candles. The Pulpit Wreath and Christmas Tree We t h a n k t h e M u s l i m R e f o r m M o v e m e n t Organization for the gift of the Pulpit wreath and Christmas tree. The Christmas Eve Poinsettias We thank you for ordering poinsettias in memory and in honor of loved ones. Poinsettias were given by Kris Baggelaar and her daughters Katie & Sara Milton, Debbie, Cameron, Phillip & Mitchell Buchan, Barbara Catalano, the Donald Hamel family, Lorraine G. MacWatt, Donald Rave, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Rowley, Charles Rumpelt and Marcia Stadler. NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE OPPORTUNITY Across the nation, on January 20th, millions will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a National Day of Service. Brookville Church and the Interfaith Community will be among them. Our young adults will sacrifice their day of sleeping in by arriving at the church before sunrise at 5 a.m. to cook a breakfast of Empanadas and Pupusas and pack bags of hats, scarves, mittens and toiletries. We will then load into cars and distribute hot coffee and food along with care packages to day laborers in our area. Each bag will contain a message of hope, both in English and in Spanish, providing contact numbers to The Workplace Project and Unity Housecleaners who assist those who are victims of harassment, threats, wage theft or injuries on the job. What a wonderful feeling to know that our young people will spread love to those who are often neglected and even abused! For more information about how you can get involved in this outreach, please call the church office. Taking Risks: New Ye a r s Yo u t h D i n n e r, F r i d a y, January 10 What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail? What are some things you want to try that will take you out of your comfort zone, but help you live with passion and purpose? Join your friends from other community churches for a delicious meal, interesting conversation and creative activities around this important topic of taking risks in the new year. All youth, 6th grade - 12th grade, are welcome! 6:30pm 9:00pm in the Community Reformed Church lounge. The Reality of Poverty: Second Annual Youth Leadership Lab, Saturday, February 8 Our second annual Leadership Lab focuses on the important and very real issue of poverty and how we, as Christians, move beyond clichés or messages of guilt to make a positive impact in the world, regardless of age. Our day is from 9am 7pm, and includes engaging workshops, group activities and creative learning, both in NYC and Manhasset. The fee is $50 per youth, not including lunch, which will be paid for by each participant. More information to follow. Brookville Sunday School Christmas caroling to our homebound. (Taken at The Regency - Dec. 23, 2013)

4 Moments of significance cannot be planned or foreseen, they can only be received. ~ Rolf Maeder Reflections Reflections The end of the year - some moments I encountered. October 28, London, England. The stores were already decorated and stocked for Christmas a whole month before our Thanksgiving Day and they were full of shoppers too. Nancy started her holiday shopping early and I got to wait in some of England s finest stores. England doesn t have a Thanksgiving Day that is a gateway into Black Friday and the Holiday season. Two years ago they started their version of Black Friday on Boxing Day, December 26 th, an ancient and venerated holiday now transformed into a shopping event. November 26, Long Island, NY. Two days before Thanksgiving. The day I heard the first Christmas Carols on the car radio and thought, Why can t they wait? But I forgot that the impending collision of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Advent and Christmas all within a short twenty-eight days was a unique and more exciting time than we have had in years past. The stores and manufacturers sent s constantly as they played a crescendo of daily last minute deals, promising that they would be delivered in time for Christmas. The surprise was that so many people took them up on those promises and thus much of the last two day s purchases did not arrive on time. What I did not expect this year is a new, increased enjoyment of Christmas music on tapes, CD s and the radio. I found myself avoiding news and NPR and searching for the songs; especially enjoying amazing instrumental versions of all kinds of Christmas music secular and religious. Some of the vocal music was okay but too often the singers were trying to sing the songs differently - alas without any improvement. I never tired of hearing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel s Messiah. December 21, Our Home The Christmas Cactus we have had for years and practically ignore blossomed again. How does it know? December 22, Sunday afternoon I attended a meeting of the Muslim Reform Movement Organization and asked if they ever gave gifts during Christmas time since it is such an overpowering presence on Long Island. Dr. Abdulhameed replied that they do not but Sophia Janjua, who was sitting next to me, improved that answer by saying, with a twinkle in her eyes, No we do not give gifts but we will accept them. And there was my lesson for the season from our Muslim friends that they can be included and remembered in our Holiday time and a gift gives them the same joy as anyone else. December 22, Sunday 9:30 PM. Less than two days to Christmas Eve. While driving home northbound on the Meadowbrook Parkway I saw a line of cars backed up over half a mile exiting for Roosevelt Field and the open all night stores. I can only imagine what the mall was like, but I never went in at all this year. Nearly every year has Christmas and New Years falling on a weekday but I really liked this year s Dagwood sandwich of two holidays fit exactly in between three weekends. For those of us in business it seemed like the most carefree way to work if one has to work. Two work days amounted to just getting started on day one then winding down on day two. And we did that four times. Each new interval was a unique time. But at least we attempted to work; the company offices, shop and factory in France were closed for the whole two weeks. December 29, Sunday, Manhasset Community Reformed Church. When Rev. Vicky planned a vacation we asked if we could join Manhasset for worship and make this a special day there. Our hosts prepared an excellent last Sunday of the year service for their guests: Brookville and Douglaston. They have a tradition of doing A Litany of Letting Go and Holding On which was a perfect celebration of the end of the year. We were fortunate to be there and be blessed by its message. Year 2013 was special for me. It opened new doors to fellowship and friendship that I did not expect. It provided time to exercise my injured knee along with my body to the profit of both beyond my goals. My morning worship time changed with new worship books and thus enriched my days, my faith and my blessings. For all of that I am thankful to God. Branch Worsham End Word: Well that s it for Wishing all of you who suffer through these Reflections happiness, success and God s blessings in the year to come. Santa s whiskers Need no trimmin He kisses kids Not the wimmin Burma Shave

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6 Women s Ministry Book Club Presented by a collection of Long Island churches committed to celebrating and inspiring women s lives. An Altar in the World By Barbara Brown Taylor Wednesday evenings ~ January 8 - February 26, 2014 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm January 8-28 at Brookville Reformed Church 2 Brookville Road, Glen Head, NY February 5-26 at Christ Episcopal Church 1355 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, NY In her New York Times Bestseller, Barbara Brown Taylor shares how she learned to encounter God far beyond the walls of the church. Through insightful reflection, winsome prose, thought-provoking stories and simple yet powerful spiritual practices, Taylor reveals meaningful ways to recognize the sacred in the small things you encounter every day. In a world where faith is often construed as a way of thinking, come be inspired to walk through life with greater attention, passion, freedom and true moments of human connection. Discover the altars in your life where God s grace and love abound. Join us each week for meaningful discussion and personal reflection. Refreshments provided. RSVP requested. Please lesleymazzotta@gmail.com or call Living in Faith, Not Fear A New Year s Retreat at Glen Cove Mansion 200 Dosoris Lane Glen Cove, NY Saturday, January 11, :00am 2:30pm For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. ~ 2 Timothy, 1:7 What did Jesus mean when he said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)? What fears hold us back from living this scriptural promise of a full, vibrant, joyous life? What spiritual tools can help transform unhelpful habits, belief systems and daily life struggles that block us from creating a stronger, more faithful relationship with God? How can we live boldly into God s deepest desires, hopes and plans for us in this brand new year? Join us for a special New Year s retreat day to explore this age-old faith challenge within our 21st century realities. Rev. James Eastland of Locust Valley Reformed Church, Rev. Steve Pierce of Community Reformed Church Manhasset and Lesley Mazzotta, Director of Spiritual Formation at CRC/Christ Episcopal Church will guide participants through interactive group sessions, lively conversation, Bible study, writing activities, quiet time and personal reflection. Retreat day runs from 9:00am 2:30pm. Cost: $49.00 for program, morning coffee, snacks, lunch and take away activities for further exploration. For more information, please contact Lesley Mazzotta at lesleymazzotta@gmail.com or You may send your check for $49 made payable to Community Reformed Church to Lesley Mazzotta, Director of Spiritual Formation, Community Reformed Church, 90 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY Please include a note with your name, address, contact phone numbers, address and church affiliation.