October From the Pastor. The Session. Board Of Deacons. First Presbyterian Church of Avon

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1 First Presbyterian Church of Avon T h e We a t h e r Va n e October 2015 The Session Nancy Toland- Clerk of Session/ Nominating From the Pastor Ken Hallett Presby. Rep Julie Mead Fun Raisers/ Fellowship Sue Orman Crisis Aid/ Nominating Kay Pfluke Personnel/ Stewardship Jerry Rothrock Trustees/Spec Accounts/Rummage Sales Scott Schlesing Fellowship/ Fun Raisers/Venture Crew Duane Staples Rummage Sale Christian Trewer Christ.Ed Chris Turk Mem./Worship Stewardship Board Of Deacons Betty Taromino- Chair Ashley Schillinger Youth Helper Sandy Chambers Flowers/ Crisis Aid Elaine Neth Candles/ Christmas Post Office Susie Rothrock Crisis Aid Jackie Staples Sun./Cheer Lisa Schillinger Memorial Carl Hogan Nom./Personnel Julie Witzel Flowers At our Annual Meeting on January 25 th I announced my retirement effective December 31, I can t believe that nine months have already passed. Feelings and thoughts I had nine months ago are still with me. I profoundly feel that I have been so blessed to be welcomed into your community, your lives and your families. You have been incredibly patient and gracious with me, especially as I grew into the honor of being your pastor. As I have contemplated my retirement I have had so many feelings coursing through me gratitude, sadness, expectations, anxiety, a profound joy. People who have come and gone and those who have stayed all - appear in my mind s eye and I am filled with memories. And as I have remembered I am amazed at the richness, variety, deepness and wonder of our times together. Of course over these three decades Connie and I have made our home here. We will be staying in our home for the foreseeable future. (Our boys never want us to move!) And for now our house is a great gathering place for our sons and grandchildren. Since we will still be here I will certainly run into you after my retirement. However there are some important changes we all will need to honor. I will obviously no longer be your pastor and so I will not be doing baptisms, funerals or weddings. When we meet I will not comment on your church life, its leadership, worship or programs. You will be working with presbytery and your Committee on Ministry representative to find interim pastoral service and eventually invite another lucky person to be your pastor. There are steps in this process and your Session and you will be guided through them. We are in the final stretch now. December 31 st is fast approaching. Christmas is less than three months away! As we wrap up and as the October 10 th Open House approaches I am (Continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 (Continued from page 1) looking forward to celebrating with you our ministry together. We have had a wonderful and amazing journey of faith together. God has been so good to all of us, and I feel especially to me. Each of you, every single one of you, is a blessing to me that I never deserved. I am so grateful for you all. While after December 31, 2015 I will no longer fill the pulpit or lead worship or Bible studies or moderate the Session, all of you will always be in my heart. You are my heart. Our Apostles Creed affirms that we are a communion of saints, a communion of the faithful. While I am not claiming to be a saint, I am claiming you as my communion of the faithful. You have embraced me and my family and in God s grace we are a family, a family of faith. My prayer and my faith is that you will eventually welcome another servant of God to be your pastoral leader, and that you will make him or her a part of your wonderful family of faith. C H U R C H S T A F F Minister : The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Taylor Parish Associate: The Rev. Dr. S. Sauvé Organist/Bell Choir: Joanne Cole Choir Director: Isaac Hutton Secretary: Debi Leinbach for WeatherVane articles: debileinbach@outlook.com Treasurer: Lori Cruz Church: I hope to see you soon. Tom From Your Transition Team We are looking for any pictures that you might have of Tom either in digital or print form. Images that are digital can be ed to kaypfluke@yahoo.com. For images in print form, please put your name on the back and give to any Transition Team Member. These will be displayed at the Open House on October 10th at the Avon Community Center (behind MacDonald s) from 1pm to 4pm. Please bring a remembrance that you have of Tom. Any kind will do. These items will be put into a book for Tom after the reception. Thank you.

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4 Golf Tournament Statistics! This year these were 77 golfers, an increase from the 23 golfers who attended last year. First place team... Superior walls. Last place team... The oldies Other prizes Closest to the line and longest drive... Bob Toland Shortest Drive... Julie Strom Closest to the pin... Gene Welch Winner of the 50/50 Don Piampiano Donations and Door Prizes given by the following: PW Crafters Tompkins Bank of Castile Salvatore s Mark s Pizzeria Tops Friendly Markets Wegmans McDonald s Peppermints Old Hickory Golf Club The Village Restaurant Paul and Hildegarde Turk Carrie Gruschow Buffalo Bills Flaherty s Restaurant Penn Fair Veronica s Avon Floral World Les Cole Bob & Sally Austin Mike & Bev Hallett Fratelli s FarView Country Club Rainbow of Styles by Linda Kathy Gruschow LeRoy Country Club Lakeland Equipment Lima Country Club Texas Road House Applebee s Done Right Cleaning C & F Car Toys Livingston Country Club The Heeler Family Barilla Paula & Hoyt Mason Chris Turk Fairport Brewery Davin s Farm John Butterazzi Nancy Toland Sprinkle s Dunkin Donuts and the Genesee Valley PennySaver In Memory Of: Dorothy McLaughlin Mark Mayer The Taylor & Mack Families The Rothrock & Wilbur Families Arthur Schlesing Candy Chambers Bob Webster Larry Morey Sandy Piampiano Daniel Toland David Whitney Lawrence D. Stevens Corporate Sponsorships: NYS Process Tompkins Bank of Castile Liberty Underground Smitty s Auto Repair Superior Walls Page 4 The following dedications were made: In Honor of: Our Loved Ones The Strom Family The date for next year is August 20, 2016.

5 Page 5 From the Church Family Recently we have prayed for the families and friends of: Norm Rogers; Jim Steele; Peggy Minekiem; Arthur Cruikshank; John Paul Herman; Sarah Turner; Jim Cochoran; We have also included in our prayers the following: Dorothy Stevens, Sue and George Rocklein, John Mclaughlin, Clara Elkins, Dinah Mayer, Seldon Chase, Sylvan Ryan, Hildegarde Turk, the Webster family and Pat Budd, Madeline Perry, Ricky Voss, Dawn Hanna, Millie Sackett, Jean Tummonds, Russell Toland, Marian Marshall, Ron Rothrock, Bob Neth, Roger Morey, Dylan Gruschow, Amanda Joy Mayer, Warren Brill, Jeanette Ryan, Orris and Arvilla Staples, Mary Ford, Warren Brill, Noble Staples, John Gorsage, Paul Gorsage, Irene Klink, James Ayers, Georgia Robbins, June Brown, Jon dechauny, Maryann Cooley, Marie Versage, Anne Gerber, Carol Belic, Carl and Bev Hogan, Dottie Benzee, Robert Chambers, Lisa Holtz, Dottie Benzee, Corie Bloom, the Rev. Mark Stigler, Bill Hockey, Kate Rothrock, Betina Johnson, Rob LaFave, Helmud Smuk, Ed Minekiem, Carrie Pfluke, Penny Miller, Don McFadden, Sandra Stella, Kelly Morse, Carol Preston, Bowen Wies, Ken Freese, Darcy Teed, Jim Leyhugh, Betty Mulvaney, Dorothy Brown, and Beatrice Burley. We prayed for safe travel for: Hoyt and Paula Mason back to Florida; and Carole Stanley. We continue to pray for all of our first responders and their families. We also have prayed for all those who serve our nation at home and abroad, especially: Joshua Davidson, Kyle Bilanic, Kyle Cameron, Derek Dumas, Ian Hall, Marty Cole, Richard Darcy, Sean Thurston, Robbie Webster, Dylan Smoot, Michael Cook, Adam Barrett, Steven Jervis, Nelson Powell, Jr., Devon Schlesing, Nelson Powell, Jr., Zack McGee, Serena Strozewski, Tony Fusco, Anthony Ruscitto, Michael Tripp, Tom Kasulke, Benjamin Mongeau, Jason Geddes, Laura Gaxiola, Jeff Fox, Nicky Cole, Cody Staudinger, Brennen Fusco. Among the many things for which we are grateful we have lifted prayers of thanks for: The great tradition and vital contributions of Labor to our great nation, its standard of living and societal safe guards; our own Venture Crew 86 acting as escorts for a recent Honor Flight; Joey Comstock doing better; Carole Stanley and son visiting Carole Webster; the wedding of James and Jessica Pfluke White; the slow but sure progress of Pat Budd; the 5 th wedding anniversary of Sue and George Rocklein; Sue Rocklein s great medical news and progress; Ed Minekiem and Paul Reese doing better; Carrie Pfluke passed her Occupational Therapist license test; Ed Chambers giving thanks for the support given him in his recent loss; and we received beautiful thank you notes from Jean Tummonds, Barbara Stanley, and Sue Rocklein. Mark Your Calendars!!! The "10th" annual "Full Day" Craft Bazaar, Luncheon and Bake sale is coming up on Nov. 21. Start digging out your wonderful recipes for the bake sale and if you have crafts that you have done we would gratefully accept them. THANKS to all of you who have donated jell jars, pint jars, quart jars, lids and rings for them. We now have enough jell and quart jars. Your PW Crafters

6 Page 6 News and Notes from Session: Our Rally Day activities were changed due to the weather, but the pot luck lunch and inside activities were enjoyed by many. It was reported that the profit from our second golf tournament was $2, A great day was enjoyed by many members and friends. We offer our Thank You to Paul Turk for his restoring of the railings around the church building, and the restoration of the memorial bench in the front park. Thanks, Paul. Also, a Thank You to Jim Rogers for taking care of the trimming of the bushes in the front. Always appreciated, Jim. The nominating committee will begin its work shortly, and an effort will be made to fill the two vacant spots on Session, as well as the other scheduled offices needed. We have hired Isaac Hutton to be our Choir Director. Isaac is a Master s student at Nazareth, and resides in Henrietta with his family. We welcome Isaac to our Choir. The Transition Team has reached a Dissolution Agreement with Tom, recognizing his retirement on Dec. 31, The Session reviewed and approved this agreement which will be voted on by the congregation at Sept. 20 th s special congregation meeting, reviewed by the Committee on Ministry and Presbytery for approval. The Sept. 26 th rummage sale date was noted, and a request for help issued. The job descriptions of Session members have been reviewed and will be shared with our new officers. You will soon be hearing from the stewardship and nominating committees. This is the time of year when we are making plans for the new year by figuring out our needs and funding, and asking for folks to step up and fill the roster of workers needed in the future. Please be open to the requests of these two important committees. We will be celebrating Tom s retirement with the community on Oct. 10 th. The Transition Team is working to make this a memorable day for him and his family. Check the details elsewhere in this newsletter, and help us recognize Tom s time here with us. SPECIAL CONGREGATONAL MEETING The special congregational meeting held on Sept. 20 th was called to act on Rev. Taylor s request to retire on Dec. 31, members of the church voted to accept the dissolution of the agreement between First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Taylor due to his retirement. We also reviewed and agreed to the Separation Ethics Boundaries Covenant, a copy of which is on page 7 of this newsletter. This covenant is provided by the Genesee Valley Presbytery to assure a right relationship between the pastor, the session and the congregation following his retirement.

7 Page 7 This Separation Ethics and Boundaries Covenant is provided by the Genesee Valley Presbytery to provide assurance of a right relationship between the pastor, the session and the congregation following his retirement. It was reviewed by the Session, and the congregation approved it at the meeting on Sept. 20, PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE VALLEY COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY Policy Regarding Former Pastors: Separation Ethics and Boundaries Covenant Boundaries Covenant is a reminder of the importance of the relationship between the former pastor and congregation. To ensure a healthy transition from the current called pastor to a transitional pastor and then to the newly installed pastor, the congregation and departing pastor must exercise great self-restraint in order to allow time for the congregation to reflect on past ministry, dream about future ministries and allow for a relationship with future pastors to grow. How pastors and congregations say Goodbye is just as important as how they say Hello and Welcome. So we all (pastors, congregational leaders and members) need to model for one another healthy boundaries as our roles and responsibilities change. To effectively and graciously maintain such boundaries requires clarity and positive support of one another. This Boundaries Covenant should be shared throughout the congregation so that others may understand the changes in the pastoral role and responsibilities and can cooperate as the church and pastor move into another phase of their respective lives. This covenant will guide the future relationship between The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Taylor (hereafter referred to as the pastor ) and the First Presbyterian Church of Avon, NY (hereafter referred to as the church ) effective on this date of dissolution December 31, Both understand and accept the terms of this Boundaries Covenant in order that all pastoral staff can develop in positive ways. A. The Pastor agrees to communicate to the entire congregation, friends of the church, and staff prior to the departure, so that it is clear that although the departing pastor has greatly valued their friendships, the pastor desires and has covenanted not to be in communication regarding the congregation, its life, any pastoral care or discussion of future leadership, congregational issues or events. B. It is agreed that the Pastor will not ordinarily expect to have the freedom to use the services of the church office or support staff after the dissolution date. It is also expected that all church property, including all church keys, will be returned to the Clerk of Session on the last day of service. C. It is agreed that the Pastor and the Church will hold one another in prayer for their emotional and spiritual well-being. It is agreed that the Pastor and the Church will refrain from all intentional pastoral interaction online or in person until a suitable period of time has passed. D. The Pastor agrees that he will not provide pastoral services for weddings, baptisms or funerals in the former congregation or with members of the former congregation. Planning and counseling are to be performed by the resident pastor, either interim or installed, or the Moderator of the Session. Former pastors may be invited to share in the former congregation s life only by invitation of the current Moderator or in the absence of a moderator, the Session. The Pastor agrees to notify the Moderator or the pastor of any requests received from members of the congregation with regards to pastoral services. E. The Pastor and the congregation agree to eliminate all social media connections and contacts that maintain a formal pastoral relationship that has been dissolved. Any social media contacts relating to normal friendships should be exercised with extreme caution not to violate any boundaries regarding discussions of the church, the pastor, policies, programs, staff, etc. F. The Pastor agrees that he will neither say nor listen to any uncomplimentary or critical remarks with members of the congregation concerning transitional or installed clergy. G. The Church and the Pastor agree that after a suitable period of time, if there is a desire on the part of any party to this Boundaries Covenant to review it, they may do so with all parties involved. Any additions and/or exceptions to this Boundaries Covenant must be agreed to prior to signing this covenant and attached as an appendix and transmitted to the COM as part of the covenant. In signing, the parties indicate a commitment to abide by the above Separation Ethics Policy and Boundaries Covenant and that they have received and understand and will abide by the COM decisions relative to this policy.

8 Page 8 Seekers Seekers has begun! This Fall we will be looking at topics such as being too busy; why God doesn t always give us what we want; the struggle to forgive and the healing power of forgiveness; losing someone in our life; and finding our true self. As usual we will begin at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall with prayer and meditation, and then dessert! We then view a 5-8 minutes DVD on the subject and discuss our thoughts and questions. We will the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Everyone is welcomed and the classes are structured so that you can come to one or as many has you have time and interest for. We hope to see you. Rummage Sale a Success! A profit of $1, was made from the Fall Rummage Sale. Thanks to all who donated, worked and shopped. This event is an exercise in recycling as well as a benefit to our community. Thank you!

9 Page 9 October 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Nov. WV Articles due Oct :00am Worship w/ World Wide Communion Each Mon. PW Crafters meet 9am 5 6 7:00pm Seekers Each Thurs 12:15AA 7:30pm AA & Alanon Each Sat. 12 Noon SIS :00pm- 4:00pm Open House for Tom 11 10:00am Worship :00pm WeCare, lesson :00am Worship 19 7:00 pm. Session 20 7:00pm Seekers :00am Worship :00pm. WeCare

10 First Presbyterian Church 5605 E. Avon Lima Rd. PO Box 189 Avon, NY Nov WeatherVane Articles Due Oct. 18, or earlier if able Oct WeatherVane Or current resident NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.21 AVON, NY Come to an Open House to Celebrate the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Tom Taylor on October 10th from 1pm to 4pm at the Avon Community Center located behind McDonald s in Avon. Hors d oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. Cards welcome with stories of Tom!