Hear the Good News!! Newsletter of New Hartford Presbyterian Church December 2017 Advent and Christmas 2017 Deacons Hang the Greens: On Saturday, December 2, at 9:00 a.m., the Deacons will be decorating the sanctuary and the outside of the church. Christmas Open House Janice and Harry Young (6 Woodstock Court, New Hartford) will once again host the NHPC Christmas Open House on December 2 at 6:30 pm. Bring a hearty appetizer and your favorite beverage. (Soda and Punch will be provided.) A sign-up sheet is available in Fellowship Hall or call the church office. The Presbyterian Women s annual Christmas Party is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Entertainment is provided by Monk Rowe and Ann Carey. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall so that we know how many to plan for. Thank you very much. The Happening Sunday December 10 during worship. The Grinch and the Babe will be presented by the NHPC Sunday School. Rehearsals will be on Sunday December 3 at 1:00 PM and on Sunday December 10 during the Sunday School Hour. Choir Cantata Sunday, December 17 during worship at 10:30 a.m. Rehearsals will be every Thursday at 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, December 10 at 11:30 a.m. and Saturday, December 16 at 10:00 a.m. Congregational Caroling to Presbyterian Home Join us for caroling at the Presbyterian Home on Sunday December 17 at 3:00 PM. Meeting at the church for carpooling to and then back to the manse for cookies and hot cocoa. (Bring your favorite Christmas snack to share) Christmas Eve: Sunday, December 24 at 5:00 p.m. Join us for our traditional Christmas Eve family service of carols and scripture. Inside this issue: December 2017 Volume 23, Number 11 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 13413 Phone: 315-732-1139 Fax: 315-732-1130 newhartfordpresbyterian.org Rev. Dr. Sue A Riggle, Pastor Busy Times at NHPC 2 From the Pastor s Heart 3 December 2017 4 More Unsung Heroes 5 Family Corner 6 Bits and Pieces 7 Yoga is for You 8
Photos We welcome New Members (10/29/2017) Dottie Taylor, Diane and Tyler Stevenson, Carrie Jackson and Diana Williams Trunk & Treat October 2017 NHPW Bazaar 2017 Worship October 29, 2017 Men s and Women s News Men s Fellowship Breakfast 8:00 a.m., Saturday, December 9, at Castlewood Café, (less than one mile from UC and St. Luke s Memorial Hospital). All men from the church are invited to enjoy our fellowship of food, camaraderie, and friendly conversation. Hope to see YOU there! Attention all Women of NHPC!! Did you know that the New Hartford Presbyterian Women meet the second Monday of each month? You are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings and offer suggestions and ideas or lend a hand to our events. Our next business meeting is on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 7:15 p.m. Hope to see you here! See page 1 for information about the Women s Christmas Dinner on December 5. Page 2 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!
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From the Pastor s Heart Sharing the Good News Together For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Can it be that I m already writing my final newsletter article for 2017? Where does the time go? As I ponder and pray about what God would have me say to you, I gaze out my office window at a snowy landscape. On the other side of Park Street, the New Hartford Fire Station is being decorated for Christmas. Volunteers are fixing lights and hanging wreaths, feathering the manger scene with hay. As my gaze moves upward, I see the American flag waving in the breeze, and just beyond that, across Oxford Rd, stands the Baptist church, her cross high above the sanctuary doors. And beyond that, the fading amber-brown hues of autumn trees dot the hillsides of the Mohawk Valley, surrounding us like a giant hug. Set against a baby blue sky, this peaceful picture reminds me of the goodness of human kind: our volunteer Fire Fighters and First Responders, ever ready to help people, no matter their race, creed or politics. The cross reminds me of the very real and ongoing call to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, to struggle with what it means to love God and neighbor as ourselves, and in between the American flag calls us to pursue liberty and justice for all. Sitting humbly at the base of the flag pole is the manger scene with a couple huddling over their newborn child whom we know as the Prince of Peace. This tableau speaks volumes. God continues to call us to the manger and the cross in a country where our interpretation of Scripture can differ from each other s. God continues to call us to listen, worship, serve, support, and care for each other and God s world, while following Christ in a polarized society. Sometimes we agree; other times we disagree, but as the Body of Christ, what matters that is we persevere together. What matters is we remain deeply devoted to growing in the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus Christ, together. What matters is that we remain deeply devoted to serving God in our homes, our church, and our community, together. Happy Birthday December 4 Sarah Dobson 6 Rayna Schneider 9 Betty Evans 11 Barb Jones 13 Liam Mahardy 13 Jim Stewart 14 Allison Owens 16 Susan Hotaling 16 Robert Morris III 17 Mac McLean 17 Jillian Powles 19 Glen Patterson 20 Phyllis Bessey 21 Johnny Friedel 23 Elizabeth Passalacqua 25 Judy Winfield 27 Amy Kulow-Taylor 28 Marion Richards 30 Karen Barendse Are YOU on our list? Please let the church office know so that we can add you. Thank you. For me, the essence of Christmas is captured by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German born theologian who studied for a year at Union Seminary in New York, and who on April 9, 1945 was hanged to death in a concentration camp in Flossenburg, Germany. Bonhoeffer searched for Christ in a polarized culture, ending up in a place of peace. He wrote, The topic here is the birth of a child it really goes beyond all comprehension: the birth of a child is supposed to lead to the great turning point of all things and to bring salvation and redemption of all humanity. What kings and leaders of nations, philosophers and artists, founders of religions and teachers of morals have tried in vain to do- that now happens through a newborn child. That is the mystery of the redemption of the world. The infinite mercy of the almighty God comes to us, descends to us in the form of a child, his Son. So, friends, Merry Christmas. Thank you for the gift of living and loving together, of worshiping and working together while seeking the Prince of Peace, together. May we all come to the manger with humble spirits, allowing God to bless us so we may be a blessing to each other and the world. Remember there is good news to share, in the name of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the Risen Christ, Jesus. Amen. Page 3 HEAR T HE GOOD NEW S!!
Angel Tree The Angel Tree with information tags about gifts for children of the Neighborhood Center has been up for a few weeks. Please consider taking a tag, if you have not already, and purchasing an item for a child. Suggestions include: shirt sweater or top, pants, pajamas, mittens and a hat or scarf. Please return unwrapped items with the tag, or you may use a gift bag, by December 10. From Your Stewardship Committee Now that our stewardship campaign is winding down, we are pleased to report that 78% of those families who pledged last year have pledged again for 2018. The average individual pledge is also up by more than 23%. For those of you who have pledged to support our various ministries here at NHPC for 2018, our sincere thanks. Those of you who have not yet pledged still have time to do so by returning your pledge card to the office at your earliest convenience. Remember, when we choose love over fear, we can and we will make a difference in the kingdom of God. For the Stewardship Committee, Dom Passalacqua More Unsung Heroes Several members of the congregation, and others, have stepped up to help with various church maintenance tasks during the illness of our custodian, Bob Balfoort. Thanks go to Dave Kulow, Hoppy Winfield, Paul and Kathleen Jarrett, Liz Worth, teachers in the Nursery School teachers (Michelle Sosnowski, Elizabeth Zalewski, and Amanda Krupski), Ken Axelson, Jeff Huey (camera shy). In addition, Kathy Philo continues to prepare children s bags for use during worship. Kay Albright keeps the candles burning each Sunday by keeping them filled with oil. She also straightens up the pew racks, and keeps a supply of church brochures in the pews so that visitors can learn about our church. DECEMB ER 201 7 Page 5
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Go-Fund-Me page for Leah Grace Passalacqua On November 15th, 7-week-old Leah Grace Passalacqua (daughter of Nick and Kara) was diagnosed with stage 4s neuroblastoma. If you would like to help with the extraordinary expenses the family will face during her hospitalization and recovery, you can donate in one of two ways: Our website has a link to the GoFundMe page for Leah Grace. It's the third marquee image on the front page; click on the picture to go to the GoFundMe page. You may also donate via the "Leah Grace Passalacqua Fund" envelopes that will be available in the pew racks; this money goes into a special fund administered by the church and distributed directly to the family. Contemplative Prayer Offered Are you having trouble facing the holiday season? Do you need an escape from the secular pressures that seem to creep up on you this time of year? Or are you simply longing for the Holy One? You are invited to join us for a time of Contemplative Prayer on Thursday evenings beginning on December 7 at 7:00 PM and continuing through the Advent season. This can be a time to let the pressures and blues slip away as we give them up to God and concentrate on the real reason for the season. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son for us. The Longest Night Thursday, December 21 at 6pm Interfaith Matters will be hosting a dinner and service for the Longest Night. The dinner will be at 6pm with the service following. This is open to ALL in the community; the service will have a Christian background and prayers but we believe that our language will be inclusive so that all denominations will feel comfortable. InterFaith Matters will be supplying the comfort food so if you are able to bring a pan of mac'n'cheese or ziti or something, please let me know. We will be inviting community leaders from all different organizations to attend and wear their nametags in hopes that this will allow those who are struggling to see the wider community support and perhaps make connections. This event will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 630 French Road, New Hartford Page 7
HEAR THE GOOD NEW S!! New Hartford Presbyterian Church 45 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 13413 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 We re on the web! newhartfordpresbyterian.org Yoga Continues Yoga Is All About YOU! and your physical, mental, and spiritual well being. Bring your mat, wear comfy clothing and join us for "Yoga with Barbara" Klein. Classes are held on Wednesday from 4:00-5:00 pm in NHPC Fellowship Hall. Each class is a $5.00 donation. Mark your calendar for the following dates: Dec. 6, 13, 20. Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31. Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28. Join the fun! You'll be thankful YOU did!