PARISH VISITOR
First
845-896-9836
New Love
New
Mercy
Lamentations 3:21-24
November
2009
Dear
Friends,
The month
of November is full of celebration – a time for thanks and a time for giving.
First,
our Stewardship Theme for this year is: “New Love, New Mercy.”
As we
have for the past few years, we will once again prepare the coming year’s
budget based on the financial commitments we all make on Consecration Sunday. Prior
to that day, the Stewardship Committee calls us to prayerfully discern how God
is leading us in our giving to the ministry of Jesus Christ. On Sunday, November 15th, we
gather for worship under our theme of “New Love, New Mercy,” as our Guest
Steward, Rev. Wayne Antworth, preaches from Lamentations 3:21-24. At the end of
the service, Rev. Antworth will lead us in a quiet and prayerful time in which
we will be asked to make our giving commitments for the coming year. Then the
celebration will continue with a brunch in Fellowship Hall.
On the
back of this letter is a sample giving card, and the weekly giving guide that
some have found helpful.
Second,
at our Thanksgiving Celebration on Sunday, November 22nd, we will “Praise
God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” giving thanks for who our God is, present our special
offerings for the LunchBox meal program in Poughkeepsie and The Reformed Church
World Service livestock program. Then we will gather around the bountiful table
for our Church Thanksgiving Dinner. We hope you are able to join us. For those
receiving a print copy of the Parish Visitor, the Special Offering envelope is
attached. Others may pick up the envelope at church.
Yes – it
is a full month, and the Season of Advent begins November 29th. And today and all days our God promises to be
with us in our coming and our going, in our thanks and in our giving. May all
that we do give glory to God.
With thanksgiving
and joy,
|
WEEKLY GIVING GUIDE |
||||||||
|
Annual Income |
Monthly Income |
Weekly Income |
2% |
4% |
6% |
8%
|
10% |
15% |
|
12,000 |
1,000 |
231 |
5.00 |
9.00 |
14.00 |
18.00 |
23.00 |
35.00 |
|
16,000 |
1,333 |
308 |
6.00 |
12.00 |
18.00 |
25.00 |
31.00 |
46.00 |
|
20,000 |
1,667 |
385 |
8.00 |
15.00 |
23.00 |
31.00 |
39.00 |
58.00 |
|
25,000 |
2,083 |
481 |
10.00 |
19.00 |
29.00 |
38.00 |
48.00 |
72.00 |
|
30,000 |
2,500 |
577 |
12.00 |
23.00 |
35.00 |
46.00 |
58.00 |
87.00 |
|
35,000 |
2,917 |
673 |
13.00 |
27.00 |
40.00 |
54.00 |
67.00 |
101.00 |
|
40,000 |
3,333 |
769 |
15.00 |
31.00 |
46.00 |
62.00 |
77.00 |
115.00 |
|
45,000 |
3,750 |
865 |
17.00 |
35.00 |
52.00 |
69.00 |
87.00 |
130.00 |
|
50,000 |
4,167 |
962 |
19.00 |
38.00 |
58.00 |
77.00 |
96.00 |
144.00 |
|
60,000 |
5,000 |
1,154 |
23.00 |
46.00 |
69.00 |
92.00 |
115.00 |
173.00 |
|
75,000 |
6,250 |
1,442 |
29.00 |
58.00 |
78.00 |
115.00 |
144.00 |
216.00 |
|
100,000 |
8,333 |
1,923 |
38.00 |
77.
00 |
115.00 |
154.00 |
192.00 |
288.00 |
|
125,000 |
10,417 |
2,404 |
48.00 |
96.00 |
144.00 |
192.00 |
240.00 |
361.00 |
|
150,000 |
12,500 |
2,885 |
58.00 |
115.00 |
173.00 |
231.00 |
289.00 |
433.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MY PLEDGE
FOR 2010
In prayerful
consideration of the love and mercy that I have received from
God, I hereby pledge to respond by supporting the
$___________ per Year
– Month – Week – Other______
(circle one)
Lamentations 3:21-24
Name
_______________________________________
NOVEMBER
CALENDAR
|
1 |
Sunday
School - 9 am Worship
- 10 am Communion |
18 |
Bible
Study -10 am Women
of the Church – 1 pm* |
|
4 |
Bible
Study - 10 am |
19 |
Choir
-7 pm |
|
5 |
Choir
-7 pm |
22 |
Sunday
School - 9 am Worship
-10 am THANKSGIVING
DINNER* |
|
7 |
Women’s
Conference - 9:15 am * |
25 |
Bible
Study -10 am |
|
8 |
Sunday
School - 9 am Worship
-10 am |
26
|
THANKSGIVING |
|
11 |
Bible
Study -10 am |
29 |
Sunday
School - 9 am Worship
-10 am Deadline
for poinsettias* |
|
12 |
Choir
- 7 pm |
|
|
|
15 |
CONSECRATION
SUNDAY* Sunday
School- 9 am Worship
-10 am Brunch
-11 am |
|
|
|
17 |
Consistory
-7:15 pm |
|
|
*see
this Parish Visitor for more information
Sunday, November 22nd is our annual Thanksgiving dinner after church.
Cost will be $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 5-12, children under 5 are free. Sign up sheet will be in Fellowship Hall. We
need people to help clean up the dining room and kitchen after the dinner. Please see Barbara Van Voorhis during coffee
hour on November 1, 8, or 15 to prepay for your reservation. We are limited to 120 people, so sign up
early. Take-out is also available.
*********************************************************************************
Poinsettias
It is time to order poinsettias to decorate the
sanctuary during the Christmas season. The cost is $8.50 per plant,
payable to Women of the Reformed Church at the time you place your
order. The deadline will be November 29. Please sign up on the
list in the entry to the
Sunday Coffee Hour
Every
Sunday we worship God together and then we continue our fellowship during our
coffee hour in the
Coffee hour is possible because our church family
take turns serving each other beverages and a small treat. In the list of dates
and names below, the first name on the list serves as the host. This means
calling the other names on the list for that day and seeing who will bring
what, including juice and milk.
While
many enjoy making something special, something simple is just as appreciated.
Also, if someone on the list has a commitment before or after worship, than the
group can make arrangements as to who will set up, who will keep the creamer
pitcher full and who will clean up.
Maisie
Minot is the one who makes sure the coffeepots are on and full. Those serving
make sure the coffee pots are cleaned and all the tables and counters wiped
down with the water/bleach mixture found in the spray bottle. Please take the
dirty dish towels home for a wash and bring them back the next week.
If you
are not able to do the coffee hour on your scheduled date, please find a replacement
and call the church office with the name of your replacement. If you have any
concerns regarding your availability at this time to do coffee hour due to
health or other large issues, please contact Karen Twohig at 831-5694.
If anyone
plans to bring food to coffee hour for a special occasion, please
notify the host for that date.
Thank you!
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
01 SKINNER/BEAUDWAY, Gallo, Vasquez 06 VAN NOSTRAND, Grundy, Heroy
08 HOUSTON, Wynn, Jones 13 LANE, Stumpp,
McGann
15 CONSECRATION SUNDAY BRUNCH 20 HAWKINS,
Schmidt, Schallenberg
22 THANKSGIVING DINNER 27 VAN VOORHIS, B., Van Voorhis, J.,
29 BADOWSKI,
Twohig, Carruthers Moseman
The 34th annual Dutchess Interfaith
CROP walk was held on Sunday October
18th. First Reformed was represented by 5 walkers
including our four legged leader Jonquil. As a group we raised
approximately $1100. There is still time to make a contribution, or to
increase your pledge. Please see John Twohig at coffee hour. Thanks
to all.
Reformed
Church Women of the Hudson Valley will hold their Fall Conference here on Saturday November 7. Registration
will begin in the Fellowship Hall at 9:15 AM. Breakfast will be served at
9:30 and the program will be in the church at 10:15. The cost is
$6.00. Rev. Mark Mast, Director of Outreach and Church Planting will
speak on Missions At Home and Abroad. He will relate how he feels
the mission field is changing and what opportunities are available for
doing missions right here in the
Socks
for Hedgewood
We are thankful to all of you who have donated
socks so that we may give each resident a pair for Christmas. Your simple
gift touches the hearts of the residents, many of whom have no family, and the
love of Christ is extended to them through your gift. We still
need 42 pair for men and 49 pair for women. You may
place your donation in the containers in the back of the church or in the DuBois
House entry under the mail boxes. Thank you for your generosity!
The Women of the Church will be meeting in the DuBois House Parlor on
Wednesday, November 18 at 1:00 PM to wrap the socks they are collecting for
Hedgewood Adult Home residents. All women are invited to join us to help
wrap the socks. Please bring scissors and tape. Come and share in
fellowship and refreshments.
2010 Sanctuary Flowers
If you would like to place flowers in the sanctuary next year, please
sign up on the Flower Chart which is on the bulletin board in the Fellowship
Hall. The cost is $40 a Sunday, payable to Women of the Reformed
Church at the time they are placed. Thanks to you for enhancing the
beauty of the sanctuary by your gift!
Thanks to all!
We want to thank all who helped make 2009 De Kerk Winkel a
success.
·
Special thanks go
to the crew who cooked a delicious chicken dinner on
Friday, and yummy breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
·
We can’t forget
all those pies, cakes, cookies, etc., etc. prepared by our master bakers for
the bake sale.
·
Thanks for the
hundreds of books available for sale, the beautiful crafts, and the “bling” (jewelry). We
did have a few collectors shop for collectibles. And of course that original artwork! Outstanding!
·
We may not have
had any customers if it hadn’t been for the signs and the items in the
newspapers. Thanks for your hard work
making that happen.
·
Thanks to all
those who shopped and/or ate. It would
not have been a success without YOU!
We will not mention any of you “angels” by name, lest we
inadvertently leave out someone, but you know who you are. Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts!
JoAnn
Supan, Stewardship Chair
Linda
Baron, De Kerk Winkel Co-chair
Celeste
Rudberg, De Kerk Winkel Co-chair
Notes from
October Consistory Meeting
Ü
The
meeting opened with the sharing of joys and concerns. Elder Bonnie Chao led
devotions using The Room School House lesson on the story of Joseph, Genesis
37-46. As God has a plan for Joseph so God has a plan for all of us.
Ü Treasurers
Operating Report for August shows revenues totaling $19,017.10 and expenses
totaling $23,748.59.
Ü Pastor Gloria
has been asked to participate in a Christian Peacemaker Team to
Ü Classis Elder
delegate Dan Byers reported on the October Classis meeting held at Church of
the Comforter,
Ü The walk-in
freezer behind the food pantry was sold to a local restaurant. The money will
be put in investments.
Ü
The Thanksgiving
offering will be split between The LunchBox meal program in
Ü
A Christmas Play
and Potluck supper will be held Dec. 19th.
Ü
Five additional
white tables were purchased with Memorial funds.
Ü
Next regular
+ + + + +
FISHKILL FOOD PANTRY 
With the holiday season fast approaching, the Food
Pantry is gearing up the planning of its annual holiday baskets when we add
extra food to the normal five day supply given to families in need. Each year we include all the ingredients for
a festive dinner for families asking for help during a six-week period
extending from before Thanksgiving until Christmas. This year we have been averaging about 20
percent more requests than in 2008 and we anticipate filing about 180 to 200
holiday baskets this season.
Each year the Fishkill postal workers have
been extremely generous by sponsoring a Holiday Food Drive, scheduled this year
for Saturday, November 7. To publicize
this event the Pantry sends out a notice to all residents and business in the
12524 postal area, a total of 6530 addresses. This mailing also serves to acquaint the
local populace of our presence and it generates monetary gifts that more than
cover our publicity expenses.
On the day of the food drive roughly 5 to 6
tons of food are collected and brought to the pantry. Volunteers then sort, inspect and shelve the
donations, a task that takes up to a week to complete. Since only non-perishable items are received
the Pantry has to purchase or otherwise secure added ingredients such as fresh
produce, eggs, cheese, milk and turkeys.
Each year we have the challenge of supplying turkeys
at the beginning of the holiday season.
We do get a small number through the Food Bank that tides us over until
people begin to donate their extra turkeys “earned” through supermarket
promotions. This year due to the
expected increase in the number of requests for food assistance we ask that if
you or anyone you know is entitled to a “free” turkey but does not wish to use
it, please remember that the Food Pantry will gladly accept it. This way we can help our neighbors in need
and the Pantry will not have to buy more turkeys.
SAVE THESE DECEMBER DATES:
Hanging of the Greens will take place right after church on Dec. 6th.
Everyone
is invited to participate in this annual event as we prepare our church for
celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Christmas Caroling to our homebound
friends will be Dec. 13th at 3 pm. We will be leaving an hour earlier this year
to avoid singing in the dark. Everyone is welcome even if you do not sing. We
will gladly give you a bell to ring. We will be sharing some goodies and
fellowship upon our return to the DuBois House.
SOME WORDS TO THE WISE…
For years, Better Business Bureau has educated
consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to
anyone who shows up at their front door. With the U.S. Census process
beginning, BBB advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to
become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun
verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually,
more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the
“Most people are
rightfully cautious and won’t give out personal information to unsolicited
phone callers or visitors, however the Census is an exception to the rule,”
said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. “Unfortunately, scammers know that the public
is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the Census and they
have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and
soliciting sensitive financial information.”
The Census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal
funds every year, as well as determine a State’s number of Congressional
representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the
Census Bureau’s request for information.
During the U.S. Census,
households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census
worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house.
Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating
Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such
as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Law enforcement in
several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census
Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security
numbers.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census
worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a
handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask
to see their identification and their badge before answering their
questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into
your home.
• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.
Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to
anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the
Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary
range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers
nor will employees solicit donations.
• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in
person at home. However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so
be on the lookout for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a
link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S.
Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org
By Nancy Titus
This month marks 20 years since the fall of the Berlin
Wall and the enormous change that swept across
The school and its many invited dignitaries will
discuss the challenges the church has overcome and those it still faces in
Post-Communist societies.
“People in
This introspective is
designed to give voice to some of the struggles, successes and continued needs
unique to this context, “to assess the painful transition from totalitarianism
and centralized economies towards open, democratic and just societies and to
discover where hope resides for the future.”
Balog remembers the way
it was: “atheistic one-party regimes kept under their grips hundreds of
millions, caused indescribable suffering and countless victims. In addition to
abuse of political power, economic devastation and ecological disaster, this
oppressive ideology violated human rights, destroyed creativity, personal
initiative and social responsibility, and created hopelessness and spiritual
emptiness.”
While Eric and I
don’t claim to have any special insight into the monumental issues involved in
such sweeping change in our context, we can offer some personal observations.
Despite huge differences in many levels, we see a
In education, where we have a closer view, we notice
that most teachers at the public school where our children attended were
educated under the communist system; therefore, many of the basic philosophies
of education in practice then still exist in the classrooms today. The country
is modernizing its curriculum (as its emphasis on teaching English evidences),
but some things take decades to work their way into practice.
This is one reason why I encounter so many obstacles
in trying to teach writing to my students. At first, we thought the problem was
that they were trying to write in a foreign language: English. But now, I know
that a much more basic issue is that they never learned how to write in their
native languages. Our Croatian tutor, newly trained to teach Croatian in high
school, says that writing an essay is not even part of the curriculum for high
school. Students only learn about essays “in theory” while other more
subjective types of writing are taught.
While this is incredulous to me, further reflection on
it and the nature of communism show a decided link. Under communism, government
did not want citizens who were strong thinkers, weighing one argument against
another and drawing logical conclusions. As I tell my students, “we write to
think.” It is a process of honing thinking skills when we have to analyze the
relationship of one thought to another, which is required when a coherent piece
of writing is produced. The standard college paper also requires students to
weigh the validity of one argument against another, which teaches reasoning,
research and debating skills which obviously were not encouraged under
communism.
As you can see, healing a land of communistic thought
is a much longer process than pulling down a wall or electing new leaders.
Please pray for all those who continue to struggle in big and small ways to
find new life in full freedom that Christ alone gives.
Eric and Nancy Titus are RCA missionaries in
First
Reformed
www.fishkillreformed.org
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your
righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity,
which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this
ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many
thanksgivings to God.”
2
Cor. 10-12.