SOLDIER OF THE MONTH PROJECT
Please continue to donate supplies, as well as contributions to cover the mailing costs, so this wonderful program continues. Also, Donna is need of names of any overseas soldiers who would like to receive a package.
ALLERGY ALERT
Brooke was recently diagnosed with a peanut allergy. Due to the increasing number of children diagnosed with peanut allergies, OldSteepleChurch has kindly asked that we let the parishioners know. When bringing baked goods or food items to church please be careful that they do not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients. Many products not expected to contain peanuts may in fact contain them, such as plain M&M’s. We kindly request Sunday school to limit snacks in the classroom, as it’s especially difficult for us to monitor the ingredients. Old Steeple has been very thoughtful concerning this situation. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Kyle & Terri Andresen
LANDSCAPING COMMITTEE
Do you like to drive by Old Steeple Church and admire the bright, colorful flowers that are placed in the Memorial Garden, around the Peace Pole and by the front ramp? Would you like to be a part of a group to keep the church looking inviting? Do you like to weed or perhaps just stop by and water the flowers once in awhile? If you would like to help out, please call the church office or Janet Wright at 722-4486. It isn't a big job, but you would be helping our church look cared for and loved. Please consider it. Thanks.
MAUREEN’S HAVEN
Our goal of raising $1200 for Old Steeple's 2010-2011 Homeless Program has reached the $825 mark, and we are still hoping to bridge the gap in the next two weeks. Donations, small or large, are gratefully received at the church office!! Incidentally our hard-working chair and committee make every cent count!
STEWARDSHIP REPORT
FOR MAY, 2010
Current Expenses – 5 months
Budget to Date $70,850 ($170,041/yr)
Income to Date 75,132
(Includes $11,470 transferred from endowment)
Expense 77,767
Diff. – 2,635
“Pledges” – a combination of estimated and other personal giving – make up 63% of our budgeted income or $107,691. (The rest is from fund raisers, rents, and other special offerings.) A five month share of that would be $44870 of which we have received $39080 or $5790 short of the goal to date. Since this is the heart of our support for the church, we need to “catch up and keep up” with our personal giving.
Benevolence
Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM)
Budget to Date $1667 (5/12 of 4000 needed) with expectation of $1000 from Christmas Eve offering for goal of $5000)
Income $1818
Expense Not yet remitted to NY Conf.
Difference +151
Church World Service Blankets $460
Strengthen the Church 175
Soldier Project 25
Capital Fund
For May 240
Jan to May 1110
Thank you for your continuing faithful support of the many valuable ministries of OldSteepleChurch.
A smile is something nice to see,
It doesn’t cost a cent.
A smile is something all your own,
It never can be lent.
A smile is welcome anywhere,
It does away with frowns.
A smile is good for everyone,
To ease the ups and downs.
(Good advice from Letty Downs, one of
Old Steeple’s Seniors. Post prominently!)
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
LOST A MOTHER
(Contributed By Donna Czajkowski)
The Watcher
She always leaned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,
In summery by the gate;
And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care,
The long way home would seem more safe
Because she waited there.
Her thoughts were all so full of us,
She never could forget!
And so I think that where she is
She must be watching yet,
Waiting till we come home to her
Anxious if we are late –
Watching from Heaven’s window,
Leaning on Heaven’s gate.
- Margaret Widdemer
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday, September 12th – Sunday School begins the 2010-2011 year, followed by an all church picnic.
BIBLE PASSAGES FOR
COMFORT AND COURAGE
As the nightmare of the oil spill continues to poison the Gulf of Mexico and dramatize our addiction to fossil fuels; as a meaningful immigration policy continues to elude us; as we continue to fight two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; as the national and world economy staggers along; and as we all deal with our more immediate and personal challenges – we need both comfort in our dismay and courage to respond. Our recent Bible Study group began this list. Perhaps you would like to add to it:
Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength
Psalm 103:1 (breathe in) Bless the Lord, O my soul (breathe out) and all that is within me bless his holy name
Isaiah 9:2-6 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light …a child has been born for us …
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf shall live with the lamb … They will not hurt or destroy …
Matthew 7:7-11 Ask … search … knock …
John 20:19-26 – The risen Christ brings peace to the disciples on Easter night
Romans 8:31-39 – Nothing can separate me/us from the love of God, not even …
II Corinthians 1:3-11 – Consolation in affliction
Revelation 21:1 … I saw a new heaven and a new earth
Old Steeple Community Church’s
2010 Graduates
Emily Cooper, daughter of Tom & Kathy Cooper, will graduate from Riverhead High School on June 26, 2010. In the fall, Emily will be attending LasellCollege in Newton, Massachusetts on a full academic scholarship. She will be majoring in Psychology and playing field hockey.
Casey Costanzo, granddaughter of Barbara & Guy Fein, has completed her requirements for a Masters in Education from ColumbiaTeachers College. Now, she is looking for a job as a middle school or high school English teacher.
Kimberleigh Costanzo, granddaughter of Barbara & Guy Fein, graduated this June with honors from Plainedge (NY) High School. In the fall, Kimberleigh be in the honors program at IonaCollege on a full academic scholarship, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Theology and Dance.
Jayson Kratoville, grandson of Jack & Louise Kratoville, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and PolicyHonorsCollege on May 16, 2010, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science Honors. This summer, Jayson will be in Greece for a 10-week internship with the Department of State working at the U.S. Embassy in Athens. In the fall, he plans to return to the RockefellerCollege to continue pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Policy with a concentration in Homeland Security.
Christina Link, daughter of Bob & Lorraine Link, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tampa on May 8, 2010, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. In the fall, Christina will be attending the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL for the Doctorate program in Physical Therapy.
Katelyn Luce – daughter of John and Janet Luce, will graduate from Riverhead High School on June 26, 2010. In the fall she will be attending the Suffolk Culinary Institute to become a pastry chef.
Rebecca Needham, daughter of Aaron Needham and granddaughter of Bob & Dottie Needham, Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, NC. Rebecca graduated on June 10, 2010, and will attend the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, NC in the fall.
Bethany Tuthill, daughter of Ann Priapi & Todd Tuthill, graduated from ArcadiaUniversity on May 21, 2010, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Departmental Honors in International Studies. She plans to work locally until she is accepted into the Peace Corps.
Timothy Young, son of Allyn & Joann Young, will graduate from Mattituck High School on June 26, 2010. In the fall, Tim will be attending MorrisvilleState College in New York.
47th New YorkState Conference
United Church of Christ
Silver Bay, New York
June 4 - 6, 2010
It was a fine spring day as Nancy Dillingham and I drove to Silver Bay, New York for the annual New YorkState Conference, UnitedChurch of Christ meeting. We arrived in the late afternoon on Thursday, June 3. After unloading the car and registering for the conference, we helped the SERRV women unpack and display their wares in preparation for the conference. Then off to bed for a much needed rest.
At the Friday morning breakfast we saw some of the Suffolk Association members. It is always a joy to see friends at these meetings. Following the meal, I went off to the first workshop entitled, “The Psychology of Giving (Who is My Neighbor?)” presented by Rev. Bruce Tamlyn, an ordained UCC minister and Chaplain at Silver Bay. I found this workshop to be extremely informative and innovative. It focused on the inner psychology of why people give and explored the nature of giving in a faith based community. Perhaps the most important statement I took from this group was that there is transactional giving and transformational giving. This carries over into our faith communities. Are we transactional? Do we just do things to get them done, to “check them off our list” of things we should be doing? Or are we transformational? Are we interested in truly fundamentally changing our neighborhoods, our towns, our nation, our world through our giving of our time, talents and our money? When I left this workshop I felt moved to tears. The presence of God was indeed there with us as we shared our thoughts. The other workshops were “How to be a GlobalMissionChurch” and “God’s Global Mission Now and Tomorrow”.
Off to lunch. Nancy had spent the morning assisting the SERRV ladies with their sales. After lunch, Nancy decided to spend the afternoon in the sun. I attended the Opening Worship service. There was a brief intermission and the business session followed. We were welcomed, the Agenda and Rules of Procedure were adopted, guests were introduced, Greetings were given by our Ecumenical Partners, the Nominating committee gave their report, the Treasurer gave her report, all annual reports were received and a resolution to be a Global Mission Conference was given. The session recessed with a prayer. The afternoon workshop I chose to attend was “Mission in Africa” given by Rev. Dawn and Rev. Jon Barnes. These charming, vibrant young ministers have just completed 6 years in New London, South Africa. They shared their experiences and we learned about some of the extraordinary ways our mission work is saving, changing and growing lives in faith communities across the world. They will be traveling around the state with their program and I understand that they will be in our area July 18 through 22. I believe that the SayvilleChurch will host them on Sunday, July 18. Then they will be with Ann VanCleef and the Orient church until Wednesday, July 21, when they will present their program to the Young At Heart group. Don’t miss it! They will probably have their two children (aged 7) with them. It is a wonderful opportunity to really get to know what Our Church’s Wider Mission dollars accomplish! Some of the other options for delegates to attend were: “People to People” which provided information to church groups interested in taking mission trips to other countries. “Welcoming Refugees: Doing Hands-on Mission Work at Home” which focused on how congregations can participate in the important and rewarding ministry of welcoming refugees into their communities. “New Sanctuary Movement” provided information on how to help refugees fleeing life-threatening repression and human rights violations by their governments by offering these refugees social services and advocacy support.
It was a long day filled with so much information. Dinner was served and Nancy and I found a table with some new faces and met folks from the Oswego area. It was a pleasant evening. After dinner I went to hear the Interim Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Rita M. Roots give a “State of the Conference Address”. The microphones were out and it was very difficult to hear all she had to say, however, the bottom line is that the conference is on shaky financial ground. She will have more to say at the session on Saturday. There was a brief intermission and then a Jazz Concert was given by Cliff Aerie and the Oikos Musicians. During the concert Rev. Jan Aerie wove missionary stories into the music. It was delightful!
Saturday morning blasted us all awake with a thunderstorm and heavy rain. The traditional early morning walk took place at 6:00 am in spite of the rain. There was a Bible Study with Rev. Freeman Palmer and Rev. Marian Shearer at 7:00 am at the Boathouse, which I attended. We read the same scripture from several different translations and then shared what the most important words were for us. Then we, as a group of over 40 people, wrote the same scripture in our own words. It was a lovely time of sharing and fellowship.
Again, we eat! Breakfast! There were Resolutions and Petitions to be heard. I went to the workshop on Disaster Preparedness for your church and family. Being prepared is important not only for us as individuals but also for our church and our congregation. There is a program and information on how to put together a plan to respond in the case of a disaster. I believe this program will be given at the Suffolk Association fall meeting. This would be another excellent program to attend. Other workshops for this time period were: “Raising Funds for Mission” which offered a chance to gather ideas, get tips, learn how to promote and engage congregations and begin the process of encouraging giving for different types of mission opportunities. “How Volunteering in Mission Changed Our Lives” given by Rev. Elice Higginbotham and Rev. Max Surjadinata. Unfortunately, Rev. Max was ill and could not be with the conference. However, Rev. Elice shared her experience as Global Ministries volunteers, the people they met and the concerns they brought back with them. “NY Help” information on what NY Help does such as building schools, medical clinics and work projects on roofs and sustainable agriculture projects. This shows how people from New York can work hand in hand with the people in a rural community in Honduras. “Mission as a Faith Experience” a chance to hear and discuss how mission trips and experiences have motivated youth to examine the meaning of faith.
Lunch was served and Nancy and I shared lunch with Mary Larson, one of the ministers at Mt.Sinai church. We had great fun! Then off to the final business meeting. This is the tough one with voting on the budget and all the officers. There was a lengthy discussion about the budget. The proposed budget eliminated one of the regional conference ministers jobs and other jobs were being consolidated to cut spending. Some wanted the budget to remain status quo, which would put us deeper into debt. Several delegates spoke pro and con to this subject and when the vote was taken, the proposed budget passed. There will be several readjustments made at the State level. Rev. Dr. Root spoke about her hopes and visions for the New YorkState Conference in the future. The election of officers took place and those officers were installed. The session ended with a prayer.
The final workshops offered were: “History of SilverBay” given by Gale Halm, a local resident and longtime SilverBay member. The focus will be on the founding and unique history of this remarkable place. “Imagine That!” which is a chance to learn about adding a creative spark to our church’s ministry with a more imaginative spirit. This is an opportunity to explore the roots of creativity and artistic expression with in ourselves and our churches. “Global HIV and AIDS” information on what the UCC office for HIV and AIDS ministries is doing and how the United Church AIDS Network and Global Ministries’ partners are responding as they work together with others around the world in response to the global AIDS pandemic. “Things you Didn’t Know About Southern Asia” offered to share information about the persecution of Christians in parts of India and the new church movement in Nepal. It is a chance to learn about the many ways our mission is growing new churches and communities in southern Asia.
There was a special film provided for us called. “Yesterday”. It was about a young wife and mother who contracted AIDS from her husband. It was shot in South Africa and was an honest portrayal of how the people struggle there against the ravages of HIV AIDS. The scenery was breathtaking and the poverty and fellowship of the women left in the countryside while their husbands seek work in the big cities was palpable. It is a worthwhile film to be seen and discussed.
Ah, another meal! Dinner was followed by a Multicultural Faire and an Ice Cream Social. The youth of the conference led us in a communion service at 9:30 pm. They did a superb job. There was also a Labyrinth Walk with candlelight at 10:30 after the communion service, but Nancy and I called it a night and went to bed.
Sunday morning arrived under gray clouds and the threat of rain. There is always a Children’s service and this year it was a musical called, “A Table for . . . . Five Thousand!” The closing worship service is always a moving experience. This year Rev. Sandra Gourdet preached.
As we leave SilverBay we have shared wonderful moments, learned a great many things to share with our congregations, and look forward to further adventures on our faith journey.
Thank you to OldSteepleCommunityChurch for giving me the opportunity to represent you at the NYS Conference.
Janet Wright
NYS Conference Delegate