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

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1 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 of New Hartford Presbyterian Church January 2015 Become Part of the Presbytery Panel Since 1973, church leaders have turned to the Presbyterian Panel to learn more about the beliefs and practices of Presbyterians. This group is in the process of establishing another Panel to serve the next three years so they can continue to provide useful information about the individuals and congregations that comprise the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Ours is one of only 500 congregations asked to assist in this task. The session has approved sending only names and home addresses of our membership. Once the Panel receives this information, they will be able to randomly sample a few members. These members will not be obligated to participate. The Panel will not share the contact information with others. The Panel provides a unique opportunity for individual Presbyterians to share opinions with the larger church and to affect its direction and policy. Those who participate in the Panel will also have an opportunity to become better informed about our denomination. The Session wants you to know that if you are contacted, it is a legitimate project and we hope that you will participate. Ann Harris, Clerk of Session Newest Signs Provide More Information About NHPC Complex From our new Genesee Street road sign to various new signs inside our complex, the Communications Committee has been working to make it easier for visitors to get to know NHPC inside and out. The latest in that effort are these new exterior signs that went up in December. The first, just off the parking lot, indicates the primary destinations reached through our two main entrances; the second, opposite the handicap ramp off the front sidewalk, identifies the location of that ramp to anyone viewing from either the parking lot or Pearl Street side. January 2015 Volume 20, Number 1 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY Phone: Fax: newhartfordpresbyterian.org Interim Pastor: Letty Umidi, CLP Inside this issue: Men s Breakfast 2 Thea Bowman House 2 January Calendar Committees 4 Note from the Secretary 4 January Thoughts from Letty 5 Coming in February 6 Check it out inside! Check out the pictures from December 2014 on page 2 and on our website. Happy Birthday List page 4 New Team for Funeral Receptions page 5 Sunday School makes Advent gifts page 5

2 It Happened in December Thea Bowman House Decorating the Church NHPC Youth Bell Choir The Happening Hanging the Paper Chain Men s Breakfast All Men of the Church are invited to enjoy food, camaraderie, and friendly conversation on Saturday, January 10 at 8:00 a.m. at Raspberries, 2634 Genesee Street in Utica (less than 1 mile from Church). Please let Matthew Taube know by Thursday, January 8 if you will be there. Contact him at home evenings at or by at matthewtaube@gmail.com. Men from NHPC & Thea Bowman House On Dec. 2nd, men from New Hartford Presbyterian Church facilitated an informal discussion between boys and girls in the Thea Bowman House after school program with Utica Police Department Officer Maynard Anken. Officer Anken provided a general overview of law enforcement careers, and how youth can assist officers in protecting the community, and responded to numerous questions. See pictures above. Check out the church website for more great pictures: newhartfordpresbyterian.org Page 2 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!

3 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 Communion Sunday Annual Meeting Follows Worship New sletter Articles Due Today 25 Ordination of Officers Hope House Meal Prepared 5 7:00 Deacons 6:15 Girl Scouts 7:15 NHPW 19 MLK Day January :15 AM Prayer ADK 13 7:15 AM Prayer 7:00 Committees 7 9:30 Sew n Sews 14 9:30 Sew n Sews 20 7:15 AM Prayer 21 9:30 Sew n :15 AM Prayer 7:00 Session Sews All Minutes Are Due Today 28 9:00 Newsletter 9:30 Sew n Sews 1 Happy New Year 2 Secretary Aw ay :00 Men s Breakfast Deacons undecorate 9:00 Officer Training JANUA RY Page 3

4 2015 Committees A lot of the work of the church is done by our session committees. They are moderated by session members and need people from the congregation to participate in their tasks. Below is a brief description of the committees and the session members who will be on them. Please consider committing yourself to helping on one committee for this year. Feel free to speak with any of them and offer your help. You will find it very rewarding and also a way to meet and work with other members of the congregation. Christian Formation (Mark Thomas, Liz Worth) Responsible for the education and nurture of the congregation by providing children s, youth, and adult programs. Church Life (Barb Decker, Marty Gus, Meredith Reid) Encourages fellowship, cares for the needs of members, and welcomes prospective and new members. Communication (Rayna Schneider) Provides information regarding events and programs within the church as well as publicizing our presence within the community. Finance (Ian Galloway, Kathleen Jarrett, Marty Morreall) Prepares the annual budget, reviews financial statements, oversees endowment fund, oversees annual stewardship campaign, provides annual audits. Mission (Kay Albright, Debb Recore) Coordinates the distribution of allocated funds to support local, national, and international mission projects and introduces the congregation to mission opportunities beyond our walls. Personnel (Sara Ayala) Supports and provides oversight and guidance for church staff. Property (Jack Baylis, Dave Kulow, Hoppy Winfield) Maintains and preserves the church and manse and all other property belonging to the church, including the green. Worship (Laura Stewart, Janice Young) Works with the pastor to plan and coordinate all aspects of worship. From the Secretary It has come to my attention that I omitted some names from the Poinsettia list that was printed in the bulletin on December 21. I apologize for the omission. Poinsettias were given by: Carl & Marty Gus in memory of loved ones. Carl & Marty Gus in honor of family and church friends. Kay Janowski in honor of Kay Perrault s 102 birthday. Happy Birthday January 2 Brennan McQueeney 2 Patricia Mazza 3 Fred Nashold 4 Daron Snow 5 Judith Oakden 5 Barbara Robinson 6 Madison Dobson 7 Kristin Sittig 8 Brenda Bashant 9 Owen Cleveland 10 Kathy Philo 12 Ruth Head 13 Betty Senoff 14 Gunnar Anderson 14 Robbie Steates 15 Daniel Mahaffy Jr. 17 Madison Freiberger Morgan Freiberger 17 Heather Sloma 19 Jill Breckel 22 Chris Ossont 24 Robert Snow 25 Val DeVisser 26 John Reese 27 Meredith Reid 28 Barbara Marchitelli 28 Yvonne Churchman 31 Richard Harris 31 Harry Young 31 Martha Love Is your birthday in January? Is it on our list? If it isn t please call or the church office and we can put it on for next year. Rosemary Page 4 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!

5 January Thoughts from Letty January many of us would like to skip right over this month. The calendar days go on and on, uninterrupted by those bright exclamation points of parties and celebrations, those look at me! moments. Instead, we are left to our own devices. It s as if our culture was saying, Go on play by yourselves. Find something to do. January. The start of Ordinary Time. But we are a people who recog- nize Light. During December, we watched as the light moved toward us, illuminating our hearts and our world. There is nothing ordinary about the life to which we have been called. In fact, I find it compelling to note that there is, indeed, one exclamation point in this month s calendar: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. New Team to Coordinate Funeral Receptions, Thanks Jeanne Jones and Seeks Helpers It is a day when we are reminded that living in Light has consequences. We aren t a people who are perfect, that s certain. But we are a people who are called to do anything but hoard our Light. We are commanded to share it, even when it s uncomfortable. Even when it illuminates shadows that many would prefer to be left unexplored. And so, my friends, let s continue to live our journey in the Light that is Christ, and to follow Him into those places that long for His brilliance. And thank you for allowing me to be with you during these days of the journey. Letty Advent Gift Making We cannot add the total worth of all the acts of care this church has provided. After 22 years of devoted service as the coordinator of funeral receptions for New Hartford Presbyterian Church, Jeanne Jones has passed the baton to others. Our congregation and all who have been recipients of the receptions that she oversaw from coffee and cookies, to sit down luncheons owe her such a debt of gratitude. She has been unfailingly dependable, organized, creative, appreciative to her workers, and compassionate to the families. We truly have some Big Shoes to fill. Thank you, Jeanne! Three of us will now be responsible for organizing these receptions. Many people from our congregation step forward time and again to set up, bake, serve and clean up. We would like to establish a list of those whom we may call upon for help in the future. If you would be interested in being part of this caring activity, please let one of us know and we will add your name to our list. Signe Sheldon Diana Elefante Laura Stewart During the 4 weeks of Advent, our Elementary School children made 7 different Christmas gifts, wrapped each one, and created cards for their family members and friends. On average, 18 children participated each week. Many adults and youth volunteered their time to help the children. Sincere thanks goes to Tina Passalacqua for designing the crafts and many thanks to those that worked each week: Wendy Morgan, Abbey Morgan, Alissa Passalacqua, Liz Passalacqua, Matt Worth, Nancy Keefe, Jessica Norton, Sophie Norton, Theo Norton, Howard Heffron, Ann Harris, Jackie Owens, Debb Recore, Shawna Recore and Shawn Recore, Jr. JANUA RY Page 5

6 HEAR THE GOOD NEW S!! New Hartford Presbyterian Church 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 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 Return Service Requested We re on the web! newhartfordpresbyterian.org Coming in February Cooking School in Session Meredith Reid will once again lead a cooking class at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 1. More details will be coming in the February newsletter and a sign up sheet will be hung in Fellowship Hall shortly. Plan to come to what will be a well attended event at NHPC. Community Forum Save the Date: A Community Forum will be held on Sunday, February 15 th at 5:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Lee Livermore, Public Health Education Coordinator from the Upstate Poison Control Center, will speak to the youths and seniors of our church and community about poison prevention. A light supper will be served. Watch for the sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall. Other Dates to Remember February 1: Communion Worship February 2: Deacons February 10: Committees February 16: Presidents Day February 18: Ash Wednesday Lent Begins February 22: Hope House Meal Prepared February 24: Session