The Church Herald Stony Brook Community Church (United Methodist), Stony Brook, New York Are You Ready To Change The World? Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." ~ Mark 9:35 Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. STONY BROOK COMMUNITY CHURCH 216 Christian Avenue Stony Brook, NY 11790 Chuck Van Houten, Pastor Church Office Tel: (631) 751-0574 Church E-mail: stonybrookcommunitychurch@gmail.com Pastor s Study Tel: (631) 751-0659 Church Website: www.stonybrookcommunitychurch.org Newsletter Table of Contents 1...Pastor s Letter 2...C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity 3...Lectionary for June 4...June Calendar 5...UMCOR: Nepal 6...MYF 7...Church Events & Reports 9...Recipe / Mystery Poem 10...Church History Please send updates and information to Newsletter Editor, Bob Retnauer, at bobretnauer@optimum.net Summer is almost upon us and more and more people are spending time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Wouldn t it be fun to do the same on a Sunday morning with your church family and friends? Well, you will be able to do that on Sunday, June 28th, while making a difference in our local community and across long Island. Sunday, June 28th, will be Change The World Sunday here at Stony Brook Community Church. We will gather at church for a brief time of prayer and the singing of a hymn or two, after which we will break up into groups to go out into the community for various ministry/service jobs. One of the projects in which we will be taking part will be collecting toiletries and other needed goods for Concern for Independent Living, a Long Island based non-profit organization that helps those in need. In addition, we will also be collecting non-perishable food items for a local area food ministry housed through St. James Roman Catholic Church. The collection for both of these service projects will take place at local area super markets. Continued on next page... NYAC VISION STATEMENT The New York Annual Conference, through the grace of God, embodies a beloved community of hope, building up a healthy Body of Christ, with heartwarmed United Methodists in mission for the transformation of the world. June 2015 1
We are also in the process of identifying other area service projects to be announced in the next few weeks. However, if you know of a community service project that we could take on that Sunday morning for about 2 3 hours, please feel free to contact me at the church office. As we look to this special Sunday I invite us all to set our hearts and minds on the service of God through serving others together in Christ. For as Paul writes in 1 Peter 4:10, Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Let us use the gifts that God has given us for service and may we come to see it all as a privilege, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive' " (Acts 20:35b). Thank you all for your dedication to God and your willingness to be a blessing through the work of Christ in this place that we call Stony Brook Community Church. I look forward to seeing you on Sundays and in the work that we will be choosing to do together in God s service over the coming months. May God bless you in all that you do. Yours in God s love, joy, and hope Pastor Chuck Christianity thinks of human individuals not as mere members of a group or items in a list, but as organs in a body different from one another and each contributing what no other could. When you find yourself wanting to turn your children, or pupils, or even your neighbors, into people exactly like yourself, remember that God probably never meant them to be that. You and they are different organs, intended to do different things. On the other hand, when you are tempted not to bother about someone else s troubles because they are no business of yours, remember that though he is different from you he is part of the same organism as you. If you forget that he belongs to the same organism as yourself you will become an Individualist. If you forget that he is a different organ from you, if you want to suppress differences and make people all alike, you will become a Totalitarian. But a Christian must not be either a Totalitarian or an Individualist. I feel a strong desire to tell you and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors. We have no other concern than that with either of them. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis (1898 1963), was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist. Born in Belfast, Ireland, he held academic positions at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. He is best known for his fictional work, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. June 2015 2
Lectionary June 7: Second Sunday after Pentecost For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1, NRSV). 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) Psalm 138 (UMH 853) 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35 June 14: Third Sunday after Pentecost "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade" (Mark 4:30-32). 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20 or Psalm 92 (UMH 811) 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17 June 21: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:39-4:41, NRSV) 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 Psalm 9:9-20 (UMH 744) 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41 June 28: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! (Psalm 130: 1-2, NRSV.) 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 (UMH 848) 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 JULY 5: Sixth Sunday After Pentecost For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:13-14, NRSV.) 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 (UMH 782) 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 June 2015 3
June 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 31 5 6 11:15 AlAnon 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship 1 7:00 (pm) AA 7:30 SPRC 2 3 7:30 (pm) Finance 1:00 and 7:00: Disciple classes 4 6:00 AA 7:30 Choir 7 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship 5:00 MYF 8 UMW Dinner 7:00 (pm) AA 9 7:30 (pm) Worship Committee 10 1:00 and 7:00: Disciple classes Annual Conference 11 6:00 AA 7:30 Choir Annual Conference 12 11:15 AlAnon Annual Conference 13 Annual Conference 14 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship 11:30 Choir 5:00 MYF 15 7:00 (pm) AA 16 7:30 (pm) Church Council 17 1:00 and 7:00: Disciple classes 18 6:00 AA 7:30 Choir 19 11:15 AlAnon 20 Parish Resource Center Cruise 21 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship 11:30 Choir 5:00 MYF 22 7:00 (pm) AA 23 7:30 (pm) Trustees 24 25 6:00 AA 26 11:15 AlAnon 27 28 10:00 Change the World Worship and Work Day 29 PAC OPENS! 7:00 (pm) AA 30 1 1:00 and 7:00: Disciple classes 2 6:00 AA 7:30 Choir 3 11:15 AlAnon 4 5:00 MYF PAC PAC PAC PAC June 2015 4
As we made our way up the road, we seemed to pass into deeper and deeper levels of suffering. In a town called Dhap, so many animal carcasses were trapped in wrecked buildings that the whole stretch of road reeked of decay, and people jogged by with handkerchiefs clamped over their mouths. The families from Dhap were huddled in a schoolhouse, their eyes wide: If they even approached the rock piles that had been their homes, flies swarmed around them in such numbers that they turned back. Here I saw, for the first time in Nepal, something like despair. By the time I reached the village that was my destination, I was beginning to understand. They were alone up here. They had been alone for a long time. Around seven years had passed since the road to the village had opened to vehicles. Before that, if they needed something from the city, they walked, sometimes 14 hours, to Kathmandu. When I asked one villager what aid they had received since the earthquake, he was quiet, trying to think of something, and finally mentioned a 12-pound bag of rice. New York Times, May 20, 2015 Nepal was among the poorest countries on earth even before the devastating earthquakes. There is no way the Nepalese government can alleviate the people s suffering without massive help from abroad, the sort of help that UMCOR can and does offer. As international attention turns to other issues UMCOR can and must remain, helping those in such desperate need. Please give generously. People sometimes ask, What would Jesus do? In this case there is no need to ask: we all know the answer. June 2015 5
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PAC 2015 proudly presents Godspell! Be sure to mark your calendar now for this year s PAC performances of Godspell on July 24, 25, and 26. And if you know of a budding thespian who would like to take part, PAC has just four openings remaining encourage your young actor to grab one before they re all gone. PAC participation should not be dependent on parental income. Scholarship donations are still needed. TRUSTEE S REPORT School Building: Repair work to be done over the summer to the heating system. Estimates to be obtained for improving the building's insulation. Digital thermostats to be installed. CO detectors will be installed ASAP. Egress window in classroom six to be repaired. Sullivan House: RPZ valve installed in sprinkler system. New planting and mulch around the gardens. Smith House: New cesspool installed. Estimates to be obtained for some necessary electrical work. Church: Estimates to be obtained for air conditioning the building. Elevator repaired. Op-Shop: No report. Parsonage: Leaky dining room window to be looked at. Spring cleanup completed. Submitted by: Carolyn Martin June 2015 7
UMW The United Methodist Women held its annual plant sale in May. There was a large assortment of plants to choose from. Thank you to Maureen Tangen for coordinating the event so seamlessly and to Gary Tangen, Gail Chase, and Bobbie Johnson for their assistance in making it successful. The plants and flowers were beautiful healthy and lush. Save the date for the UMW s June dinner to be held on Monday, June 8 at 6 PM at Carnival Restaurant in Port Jeff Station. We need to let them know exactly how many are coming, so please call the church office by June 3 to say that you re attending. The cost is $21; bring cash or a check made out to SBCC-UMW that evening. The cost includes coffee, soda, or a glass of house wine. Other beverage choices will be additional. Plan to come--this is always a fun evening for the group! Thank You Thank you to Ronnie Kreitzer for packing up and taking all the food items that had been collected during the fall and winter to the St. James food pantry. Now that Ministries at Coram has closed, we will be donating non-perishable food items to Concern for Independent Living going forward. Apple Festival Plans for our 2015 Apple Festival are underway. Be sure to reserve Saturday, September 12 (and the evening before for set up). We need EVERYONE! This month s theme is enhancing the grounds. Each year, we work to make the fair look festive. Last year, many people donated money to purchase new green and red umbrellas that were placed all around. This year, we are going to add themed scarecrows. We hope people will team up to create a scarecrow over the next couple of months. The themes will be Music (choir: what do you think--will you all take that one on?), Welcome, Barbecue, Youth, Attic Treasures, and 5K Fun Run. Most of the supplies are already available, and each team is encouraged to add its own personal touches. Perhaps a competition is brewing! More information and a sample scarecrow will be in the Community Room starting in June. Let s have fun with this! June 2015 8
Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cake This recipe was found among the UMW files from the early 1990s. The poem was with the 1984 files of the Women s Society of Christian Service, Stony Brook Community Church. If anyone has more information about either (or a copy of the old UMW cookbook) please let us know! Chocolate Chip Cake 325 for 35 minutes, 9x13 pan 6 ½ oz. pkg. dates (cut fine) 1 ⅔ C. sifted flour 1 C. hot water 1 t. soda ¼ C. soft shortening ½ t. salt 1 C. sugar ½ C. chopped nuts 1 egg ½ C. chocolate chips 1 t. vanilla Pour water over dates, cool. Combine shortening, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Sift flour, soda, salt, and add to dates alternately with shortening mixtures at low speed until smooth. Add nuts and chips. Topping: Mix ½ C. Chips, ½ C. chopped nuts, and 2 T. sugar. Sprinkle over top. Our Foodless Food Sale A bit of news we have today A FOODLESS FOOD SALE is on the way. In these busy days, now who would bake Pie or cookies, or even a cake? You d be surprised if you counted the cost Of material, heat and the time you lost. Cooking for sales is extra work, Yet no one really wants to shirk. So we ve thought of a plan that s really good And feels that you will understand. In this little envelope please put the price Of a pie or a cake or something nice. Without fuss or bother you have done your part And surely you will give with a willing heart. So this is the end of our little take, Wishing success for our FOODLESS FOOD SALE. June 2015 9
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