The Steeple View
February 2010
Old Steeple Community Church
United Church of Christ
656 Main Road, PO Box 154, Aquebogue, NY 11931
Phone: Church Office (631) 722-3070
Fax (631) 779-3385
Parsonage (631) 722-4238
E-mail: oldsteeple@optonline.net
revled@optonline.net
Website: www.oldsteeplechurch.com
Ministers: All the People of the Church
With
The Rev. Dr. Ledyard S. Baxter
Moderator: Nancy Dillingham
Choir Director/Organist/Composer in Residence: Guy M. L. Fein
Office Administrator: Amy Cosgrove
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9AM-1PM
SPAGHETTI DINNER
DEFIBRILLATOR FUNDRAISER
Friday, February 5th
5-7PM
(Take-outs available from 5-6PM)
The Christian Action Committee is holding a fundraising spaghetti dinner at the Old Steeple Luce Fellowship Hall to share the gift of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Tickets are $12 for Adults and $9 for Children under 10. Please call Donna at 722-3338 to reserve yours.
PRAYER SHAWL
In observance of Ash Wednesday on February 17th, there will be no Prayer Shawl Meeting. The group will resume on Wednesday, March 17th.
MAUREEN’S HAVEN BENEFITS
Rockin’ for the Homeless II – Saturday, January 30th – from 7-10PM at the Riverhead Polish Hall featuring the music of Who Are Those Guys, Misspent Youth, and The Mulligans. Tickets are $35 at the door. Call 298-4145 for more information.
Jesus Alive Benefit Concert – Saturday, February 13th at 7PM at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church, 12605 Main Road, Mattituck. Free will offering and please bring a non-perishable food donation.
The Peconic Plunge – Saturday, February 27th at the Veteran’s Park, Mattituck. 9:30AM Registration, 11AM Plunge, and 11:15AM Survivor’s Party and Awards. Sponsorship sheets are available at the church or by calling 727-6831.
~ VIEWS AND REFLECTIONS ~
On January 24th we held our Annual Meeting following a covered dish lunch in the Fellowship Hall. More than 40 people stayed for the meeting – a good attendance for this event. I continue to thank all of you and to praise God for your faithful and enthusiastic service to OldSteepleChurch.
The report of our Moderator, Jean Lapinski, summed up beautifully our church life during this past year. We are reprinting that report in this newsletter so that we all might have the opportunity to reflect on the many ministries to which God has and continues to call us.
Looking ahead in our worship life together, we anticipate a visit on Sunday, February 7, from Dr. Diane Scricca, our RiverheadSchool District Superintendent. The UnitedChurch of Christ and its predecessor denominations have long had a history of supporting public education. Dr. Scricca and I will use the sermon dialogue format to begin a conversation in which we hope others will join in “CASTING OUR EDUCATIONAL NETWORK,” including ways that the church can support the youth of our community. There will be an opportunity for informal conversation with Dr. Scricca at the Coffee Hour following worship. Read Luke 5:1-11 where Jesus leads his followers to cast their nets for an abundant catch.
The following Sunday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day!) will be our 4th annual “Evolution Sunday” as we continue to explore the connections between faith and science for OUR EVOLVING FAITH in light of the Transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9:28-36.
The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17 with our four Riverhead UCC congregations meeting in Baiting Hollow at 7:00 PM.
February 21, the first Sunday in Lent, we will join Jesus in his wilderness ordeal described in Luke 4:1-13 as he confronts great temptations and distractions from God’s calling. We can draw strength from his quest in facing the challenge in our own day to be GIVING UP GREED.
On February 28th we will see and hear Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem in Luke 13:31-35 and see more of what it means to follow Jesus since IT’S THE ONLY WAY.
The Riverhead Clergy Council Ecumenical Services will again be held on Thursday evenings at 7:00 in various parishes beginning with Riverhead United Methodist Church on East Main Street on February 25.
Peace and blessings to each of you as we plunge forward into new seasons of the church.
With deep appreciation for all of you,
Rev. Led
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Gathered and welcomed
by the loving Sprit of Jesus Christ,
we are listening and responding
to the still-speaking God
who calls us into ministries
of friendship with compassion
and peace with justice.
(Adopted by the Congregation on June 25, 2006)
Moderator’s Annual Report – 2009
As I reflect on these past two years as Moderator, I think of you all, my fellow church family members, friends and role models, with gratitude. I am especially appreciative of the support and comfort that you provided this year to our family on the loss of our Mom, Dorothy Draper.
2009 was an eventful year, as evidenced in the Community Board minutes. In addition to the many ongoing initiatives that comprise the life of the OldSteepleCommunityChurch, exciting new programs were put in place as we attempted to “Cast Our Nets” even more widely.
In the area of Worship, under Led and Nancy’s leadership, we enjoyed a number of dramatic presentations. Our “composer in residence” continued to provide new music, including original pieces. As part of our year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of our incorporation, we participated in another colonial service (which will surely become an annual event), and continued the colonial theme as we hosted the spring Suffolk Association meeting. In July, we were honored to have Rev. Geoffrey Black (former New York Conference leader and presently, the general minister and president of the UCC) and his wife lead us in worship and join us for our Chicken Barbecue. Our evening Christmas Pageant attracted many community members, in spite of wintery weather.
As part of Invitation, the Deacons appointed a “Deacon of the Month” to organize an expanded greeters’ program. To promote neighborhood visits, Anna Garcia offered a training session for interested volunteers.
Two new Fellowship events provided a chance for us to interact with the broader community. The very successful Young at Heart group attracted many of our friends and neighbors for lunch and a variety of interesting topics. A spin-off from Young at Heart is a writing group which meets monthly to share genealogical stories.
Several Mission opportunities were added to the many causes supported through the Christian Action Committee’s leadership. We received a donation of a defibrillator, along with training for those groups who use the church facilities, and money was raised to support our donation of a defibrillator to another church through a SERRV fundraiser. Maureen’s Haven was funded this year through donations and a bake sale at the Chicken Barbecue, and L.I.O.N. dues were also collected through a special fundraiser. Coins for Community Concerns was initiated by the Christian Action Committee. The Prayer Shawl Ministry members continued to extend their services to other new organizations. A group of interested people participated in the 350 Campaign, intended to raise awareness of the problems associated with global warming.
To foster Generosity, the Stewardship Committee sponsored a series of “Cottage Meetings”, and a planned giving statement was added to the weekly bulletin and the monthly newsletter. Although economic times continued to be challenging, we managed to stay “above water” through everyone’s thoughtful giving.
So with God’s help and supported by our church family, we celebrated another year of births and birthdays, graduations and weddings, confirmations, anniversaries and retirements, and shared the burden of illnesses and deaths. As we begin a new year, I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2010.
Jean Lapinski,
Moderator
HELP FOR HAITI – How you can help:
1. Pray for the people of Haiti, their leaders, and emergency and humanitarian aid workers.
2. Please help the people of Haiti by sending gifts payable to Old Steeple Church marked for “OGHS – Haiti Earthquake Relief” to be sent through the Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries. The Christian Action Committee is overseeing this appeal and is looking forward to a timely remittance of the funds for this urgent need.
Or
Give directly (but please let us know):
Checks made out to Wider Church Ministries and marked in the
memo portion “OGHS-Haiti Earthquake Relief” to WiderChurch
Ministries, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH44115
Or
Make a secure online donation at http://www.ucc.org/make-a-gift/.
SOLDIER OF THE MONTH PROJECT
Donna Atkins sent out packages in January to 1st Lt. Joseph Newman, a neighbor of Ellie & Walt Hawkins, and Lisa Woffinden, Air Force, the granddaughter of Christ Haieg, a friend of Susan White.
Please continue to donate supplies, as well as contributions to cover the mailing costs, so this wonderful program continues. Also, please let Donna know the names of any overseas soldiers who would like to receive a package.
LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The Long Island Council of Churches’ Emergency Food Pantries in Freeport and Riverhead fed more people in 2009 than 2008 (which was itself a record year). They particularly need donations of fresh produce, low-sodium food, low-fat food, low-sugar food, Ensure (and similar supplements), infant formula (especially those with iron, such as Enfamil with LIPIL). They are also in need of paper or plastic shopping bags. Donations of toiletries and personal care items also are welcome. All donations of food, toiletries, personal care items, and bags can be left in the basket at the church front door for delivery to the Council.
The Riverhead pantry is in need of some comfortable chairs or a small couch. The Council also needs drivers who can pick up food donations occasionally and deliver them to Freeport, Hempstead, or Riverhead, as you are needed and as you happen to be available – with no guilt when you aren’t.
MARCH STEEPLE VIEW
Articles for the March issue of the “Steeple View” are due in the church office by Monday, February 22nd.
MONTHLY PRAYER LIST REQUESTS
Please remember to let us know about additions or renewals to the monthly prayer list. Requests can be made on prayer request cards in the pews or by calling the office at 722-3070 or by e-mail at oldsteeple@optonline.net.
Ideas gleaned from Stewardship Cottage Meetings - October, 2009
(In Casting Your Nets Ministry Areas)
Invitation
It is good to involve Congregation as Greeters at the door, freeing Deacons up to be “Welcomers” of new comers, inviting to Coffee Hour, etc. Need to visit new homes and reach out to new parents
How to involve youth more in life of the church?
Worship
Appreciation for Scripture Drama and Dialogue Sermons, New Music, the Farmer services, and especially the Colonial Service
Idea of an Evening “AllChurch” Christmas Pageant that would involve adults along with the church school children
Mission
Affirmation of our many outreach programs, especially Maureen’s Haven and the new Defibrillator project
Fellowship
Much appreciation of the weekly Coffee Hour, the Prayer Shawl Group (as and expression of mission and fellowship, the new Young @ Heart Group with it’s variety of possible topics, and hope for the new Writers’ Group
A revival of “Pot luck Community Suppers” sparked renewed interest. Also bus trips, progressive dinners, or a dance.
Leadership
Our monthly Community Board meetings consistently offer a way to share dreams and plans
The “Unwrapping our Gifts” Laity Empowerment program remains a promising possibility for Leadership Development
Generosity
We continue to enjoy the traditional fund raisers – Especially the BBQ, the Soup Suppers, and the Christmas Fair. We spoke of annual giving as a joyful opportunity to generously support the many ministries of the church. We are grateful to have accomplished the Liquid Siding Capital improvement of the building in recent years.
A Planned Giving program would enhance our endowment allowing us to maintain and expand our ministries
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what interests you or where you feel “called to serve.”
Praise God from Whom all our blessings and opportunities for ministry flow!
BIBLE
definition
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
From Curt & Betty terKuile
GIVING OPP’TIES
AT OLDSTEEPLECHURCH
Giving is a natural expression of our faith as we show our gratitude for the abundance with which our extravagantly loving God has blessed us. Here are some ways to direct your giving to and through the church:
The General Fund – for the operating expenses of the church
Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) – the primary mission program of the United Church of Christ through which we are sharing the Good News of God’s gracious love in word and deed in over 80 countries.
The Memorial Fund – Gifts given in memory of loved ones and kept in a special account to be used as special needs arise.
The Endowment Fund – An investment Fund which generates income currently needed to meet operating expenses and is intended to be used for mission and other special projects.
Special Appeals – We support a number of special programs and projects through the year with information in this newsletter, in Sunday bulletins, and on our website at www.oldsteeplechurch.com. We are currently encouraging gifts for relief and rebuilding in Haiti following the devastating earthquake there in mid-January.
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Thank you for remembering
OldSteepleCommunityChurch, UCC
in your will.
BY-LAWS DRAFT
GOES TO MEMBERS
A Church By-laws committee has been working on revising a more than 30 year old document so that our by-laws correspond to our current realities and clarify our mission and vision. The document will soon be available both on-line and as a hard copy at the church office. Please let Amy know at 722-3070 if you would like to see the revised draft. We would like to have all comments back by February 21. Thank you in advance for your interest and cooperation in this important project.
SCARF COLLECTION
The House of Praise is collecting scarves for Thailand. The deadline is Sunday, February 7th. Please contact Rev. Mary Cooper at 722-4469.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ecumenical Lenten Services – 7PM:
February 25th – Riverhead United Methodist Church
March 4th – Salvation Army
March 11th – St. Isidore’s
March 18th – First Congregational Church, Riverhead
March 25th – Grace Episcopal
March 14th – One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
March 21st – Community Board
March 28th – Palm Sunday
April 4th – Easter Sunday
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27