The First Presbyterian - First Presbyterian Church of Albany

The First Presbyterian
Volume 63 No 10
June 2009
It’s June, Time for Celebration of More
Light, Bells, Strawberries, and Christian
Education
More Light Sunday, June 7, 9:30 am
Sunday, June 7, is the national day of celebration of More Light Sunday.
This year it coincides with Albany’s Pride Week. The theme for this day
is, “Celebrating a Church for All God's Children”. The More Light
Committee decorates the sanctuary with stoles from the Shower of
Stoles Project. The display represents the stoles of thousands of LGBT
ministers of word and sacrament, candidates for ministry, elders,
deacons and officers of many denominations across the globe who have
been denied ordination or have been forced to leave the church or are
Continued on p. 2.
Bells and Strawberries Sunday, June 21, 11:45 am
Fathers’ Day and the first day of summer! Come celebrate with the
Deacons, who will host a festival of bells, strawberries, and fellowship.
Strawberry shortcake is the menu, and it will be served in the Assembly
Hall after the 10:45 worship service.
Follow this path! It leads to the
Christian Education Building.
In This Issue
Presbyteries Vote on
Amendment..................... 2
The Handbell Choir will present a short program in the sanctuary. The
program will include Fanfares, a Scottish Folk tune, a Liturgical Suite
with Hymn and Gloria, and some favorite hymns.
Members of the Bell Choir are Susan Easton, Dawn Knutson, Annabel
Lewis, Helen Lewis, Margaret Leupold. Miriam Lawrence Leupold, Fiona
McKinney, Alan Northrup, Dwight Smith. Linda Stevens, and Leslie
Westphal. Jack Holmes is the director
Come, and bring a friend to begin summer with a musical tribute to the
Father and some strawberry shortcake too.
The Upper Rooms .......... 3
Sunday Christian Education Celebration, June 28, 9:30 am
Walking the Labyrinth ... 3
Trip to Guatemala........4-6
Care for the Earth........... 7
On Sunday, June 28, at 9:30, you are invited to a CELEBRATION of our
Sunday morning Christian Education program. Join us for a light
breakfast of finger foods and a fun-filled program looking back over this
past year in Sunday Christian Education.
CROP Walk – 2009 ......8-9
Calling Instrumentalists 9
Deacons’ Doings .......... 10
We Fed the Hungry ...... 10
Teachers, shepherds, adults, youth and children are all invited to join the
celebration of a wonderful year. You’ll see a DVD featuring highlights of
the year, hear about plans for next year, honor those who played a
special role this year, and participate in interactive activities.
Calendars .................10-11
This is an opportunity for all to meet the volunteers and mix with Sunday
Education participants, young and old (and in between). Don’t miss this
opportunity for fellowship and enlightenment!
For more on the Christian Education program, see page 3.
The First Presbyterian
Continued from p. 1, It’s June, More Light.
serving in silence. This project has since been taken over by the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Institute for Welcoming Resources.
For more information see http://welcomingresources.org/sosp.htm.
First Presbyterian Church
Albany, NY
Founded in 1763
Miriam Lawrence Leupold
Glenn D. Leupold
Co-Pastors
Rev. Dr. Miriam Lawrence Leupold will preach on this Sunday as the ex officio
pastor of the More Light Committee. At 9:30 in the Rose Room the
Committee will present a short 20 minute film followed by discussion. Come
join us for this educational and worship celebration. A reception will follow in
the Assembly Hall.
Pride Parade Sunday, June 14
Janet Davis
Director of Music
Nancy J. Frank
Organist
Robert C. Lamar
Pastor Emeritus
The Albany Pride Parade and Festival occurs June 14. Our church will be
participating again this year in a float sponsored by Presbyterian Rainbow. If
you would like to help decorate the float, you can attend the early service and
then join us outside as we assemble our float. We encourage anyone who
wishes to participate in the parade, to join us on the float or walk behind the
float. It is a great experience to hear the shouts of welcome from the crowd
as thanks to supportive and inclusive congregations.
Elders
Gladys Crowder
Clerk of Session
Garrett DeGraff
Freda Gardner
David Hannay
Sue Haney
Lee Helsby
Judith Mark
Phillip Riddle
Leslie Roccario
Peggy Schalit
Irving Smith
William Storrs
FOCUS Worship Sunday, July 5th, 9:30 am
FOCUS worship at First Pres! Let's make an effort to be present and
welcome our brothers and sisters in the FOCUS Ministry. The summer
worship schedule begins in July with one service at 9:30 during the summer
months.
Presbyteries Vote on Amendment 08-B
By Susan Haney
Deacons
Margaret Zettle
Moderator
Rita Austin
Keith Barber
Paul Bascom
Marc Boucher
Lewis Boxwell
Jacquelyn Ellsworth
Richard Gascoyne
Carol Green
Fran Kamp
Heidi Kite
Yousaf Mathias
David Nichols
Beverly Osborne
Virginia Seelye
Leslie Westphal
Albert Wood
Esther Yomoah
On April 25th the national ratification of Amendment 08-B reached the
majority vote of 87-69, defeating the proposed amendment to change the
language of G-60106(b) to be more inclusive in ordination standards versus
the “fidelity and chastity” clause which addresses the sexual behavior of
church officers as currently stated in the Book of Order. As I write this article,
the current tally from the 173 presbyteries is 77 in favor of and 92 opposed for
a total of 169 votes, the last presbytery vote being May 30.
The outcome of this vote is disheartening since the General Assembly voted
overwhelmingly in favor of sending this amendment to the Presbyteries. But
in looking at the results, this is a much narrower margin than the two prior
votes on G-60106(b). This historic number of “Yes” votes includes so far, 33
presbyteries that “flipped” from opposition in 2002 and a number of
presbyteries whose “in favor of” margin increased from previous years. We
rejoice in this fact that the numbers of presbyteries continue to grow in
realizing that discrimination against their sisters and brothers in Christ is not
what Jesus taught his disciples and intended for His Church.
Your More Light Committee will continue to work for justice and equality for its
LGBTQ members and help our denomination come to the understanding that
we can be more inclusive by agreeing to disagree and work together to
accomplish the mission we have been called to by our Lord and Savior.
2
The First Presbyterian
Christian Education
Peter and Cornelius Visit
The Upper Rooms
Why don’t YOU on Sunday, June 28?
By Miriam Lawrence Leupold
A new rotation theme begins in The Upper
Rooms (our Christian education program for
children in kindergarten through 8th grade) on
May 31 and runs through June 21. The theme
is “Peter and Cornelius,” and the children will be
exploring Acts 10:1-48 through science, movie,
art and games.
th
Please come to honor the teachers and learn
about our Christian Education program on
Sunday, June 28, at 9:30, the end of the first
year in The Upper Rooms.
th
Sue Sneeringer (top) leads the 5 to 8 graders.
Janna Boucher (center) bakes “Emmaeus Bread”
with the same group on a subsequent Sunday.
Teaching this time around is Alison Stonbely in
Galilee Gallery, Irving Smith in Jericho Theater,
Ellen Eisenbraun in our NEW Science workshop
and Miriam Lawrence Leupold in the Tower of
Scrabble.
Seth and Jessica Kite
lead the kindergarden
and first graders.
Walking the Labyrinth
By Judy Mark
The Labyrinth is one of the oldest
contemplative and transformational tools
known to humankind--it has been used for
centuries for prayer, ritual, initiation and
personal spiritual growth. The labyrinth is a
pattern where there is one path that leads from
the entryway in a circuitous route to the
center. A labyrinth is different from a maze-- a
maze is designed for you to lose your way,
while in a labyrinth you find your way.
Rev. Miriam Lawrence Leupold
led a May workshop on the
labyrinth (above). Miriam lights
a candle at the entrance (left).
Marian Eaton and Harriet Seeley
(right) share their experiences.
3
The First Presbyterian
April 2009, Guatemala
Building Relationships & Accomplishing Goals
By Irving Smith, Guatemala Partnership Task Force
On April 14 Marilyn Riddle and Irving Smith from First Pres, along with Beverly Burnett, Kathy Gorman
Coombs, Kyle Coombs, Kim Koza, Jessica Hohenstein, Jaime Maldenado, and Kendra Burpee,
embarked on a trip to Guatemala to strengthen our partnership and relationship with the Mam
Presbytery.
Day 1. After arrival in Guatemala City we boarded a bus to
CEDEPCA (The Evangelical Center of Pastoral Studies in
Central America), where the Rev Hector Castenada, who
provides Biblical and Theological training, talked about
Guatemala’s history and current political situation.
Day 2. In the morning Judith Castenada, Director of
CEDEPCA gave us an overview of the Center’s programs
and presence throughout Central America. Judith took us on
a tour of the facilities. We were introduced to members of
Women’s Gender Awareness Program. We then heard a
presentation by Betty Carrera, National Coordinator,
Women’s Pastoral Program and from Alice, who was
sexually abused as a girl and is now a pastor of a church in
Guatemala. After lunch we boarded the bus for a five-hour
trip to Xela.
Day 3. We left Xela for a 15 min bus ride to the Mam
Presbytery at San Juan Ostuncalco, where the Executive
Committee of Centro Mam met us with open arms. We split
into 2 groups: Group I met with the Executive Committee to
discuss the Partnership Agreement drawn up in April 2008;
Group II began work on the project of building a room for the
Presbyterial Women to house their sewing machines. The
Executive Committee (Miguel Gomez Sales, Moderator;
Israel Perez, Secretary; Pedro Daniel Cabrera, Treasurer;
Herminio Regino Carreto Romero, Sub-Secretary; Federico
Garcia and Maria Vasquez, President Presbyterial Women)
spent nearly 3 hours going over each section of the
Partnership Agreement. The Moderator, Treasurer, and
Secretary enthusiastically signed the Partnership Agreement.
This truly brought a sense of joy and thanksgiving. A copy of
the signed Partnership Agreement will be posted on Albany
Presbytery’s website. We presented a check for $500.00,
according to last year’s agreement, for the purpose of
training Mam leaders, and shared children’s artwork from
Albany Presbytery Churches. Israel Perez stated that Mam
wants other women in their churches involved in internet
training and discussions. We then began the work project,
first by removing dirt from the shell of the room. The team
worked with the contractor to excavate a 3 foot deep trench
to pour cement to hold a wall that would serve the first level
room and a second level room on top of the first level. Celia
4
Wife and daughter of Salome Lucas Lopez,
who has visited our church and Albany
Presbytery in the continuing process of
developing our partnership. Their daughter
was born in June 2007.
Sleeping safely in mama’s blanket backpack!
Market day is a busy and tiring time for young
and old.
The Task Force deliberates with their
Guatemalan counterparts.
The First Presbyterian
members of Albany met the youth of Huitan,
whom we had worked with in building the
chicken coop. The chicken coop houses 45
chickens, produces 45 eggs per day and is
turning a profit, used to feed the chickens. The
Sociedad de jovenes seguidores de Cristo
(Young followers of Christ) provided a complete
status of the chicken coop. We talked with the
youth and Pastor Albert Vail of La Iglesia
Presbiteriana Mam Jesus el Buen de Huitan
about a project by the youth to buy additional
chickens to replace current stock, 300 chickens
in all, adding a floor to the chicken coop, and
moving the chicken coop to another location.
Albany felt that it could supply several churches
within the Mam Presbytery the chicken supplies,
at $35.00 per chicken. The youth presented
gifts to each team member, and we presented
them with pencils.
Lopez, the project leader informed us that it
would take a month to complete the room. She
will provide Albany records of materials
purchased and timely reports of the project.
Day 4. The team visited Neuvos Horizontes, a
shelter in Quetzeltenango for women and
children, survivors of domestic violence and
single women with limited financial resources.
We distributed donated supplies and blankets
we had brought to the children of the shelter. All
of us were warmed by the friendly faces of the
children and helped the children make their
beds. The team then boarded the bus back to
Centro Mam, where we continued building the
room.
Day 5. We visited Huitan and the site of the
chicken coop that Albany built in a previous trip
in 2007. There was uncontrollable joy when
Continued on p. 6.
Several years ago
Albany Presbytery
helped to purchase
sewing machines. In a
multi-purpose room at
the presbytery office in
San Juan Ostuncalco,
Guatemalan women of
the Mam Presbytery use
them for their Presbiterial
Embroidery Project.
During this trip, the
Albany group worked
with the people of the
Mam Presbytery to help
in building a two-storied
space for sewing
machine use and
storage, the presbytery
kitchen and for other
uses as well.
Congregants of the Huitan Church (above) and in fellowship
with the Albany Group (below).
5
The First Presbyterian
Continued from p. 5 –Guatemala.
Day 6. We met with the Executive Committee of the Mam
Presbytery (Maria Vasquez, President, Olga Cabrera,
Treasurer, Celia Lopez, Secretary) and other women of Mam.
Kathy Coombs, chaired the dialogue on domestic violence and
abuse. It was exciting to hear the openness of the women
sharing their thoughts on domestic violence in Guatemala and
their willingness to continue open dialogue in the future. In the
afternoon, the team went to worship at Iglesia Presbyteriana
Capernaum (Pedro Daniel Cabrera, pastor), where Kathy
preached the sermon. At the end of each day, we gathered
together for a time of reflection. We were in agreement that
God was present in every facet of our trip.
We visited the chicken coop that we
had worked on during a previous trip. It
houses 45 chickens, produces 45 eggs
per day and is turning a profit, which is
used to feed the chickens.
Day 7. We boarded the bus for
Antigua, stopping at Iximche to visit
The Mayan ruins. After dinner, Kathy
Coombs celebrated communion by
flashlight on the roof of the Hotel
where we stayed. The next morning
we boarded the bus to the airport and
our return home.
This trip was most memorable to me of
all five of the trips that I have made to
Guatemala. It was uplifting, extremely
rewarding, and very successful in
accomplishing our goals.
Some members of the Huitan Youth Group wave good-bye as the
Albany Guatemala Partnership Team departs.
Marilyn sharing sun-glasses with friends. After a Mam Presbytery
meeting with the GPT group and lunch, children enjoy learning to use
the digital camera and joining in cross-cultural fun and fellowship
of the group.
6
The First Presbyterian
Why Should We Care For the Earth?
In Genesis, God declared creation to be good in
its original, created state. If creation pleases God,
to mess with it - at the very least, risks
displeasing God. Below are excerpts from a
General Assembly Report called “Restoring
Creation for Ecology and Justice.”
“Creation cries out in this time of ecological crisis
. . . Therefore, God calls the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) to:

respond to the cry of creation, human and
non-human;

engage in the effort to make [this a]
‘turnaround decade,’ not only for reasons
of prudence or survival, but because the
endangered is God’s creation; and

draw upon all the resources of biblical
faith and the Reformed tradition for
empowerment and guidance in this
adventure.

“The church has powerful reason for
engagement in restoring God’s creation:

God’s works in creation are too
wonderful, too ancient, too beautiful, too
good to be desecrated.

Restoring creation is God’s own work in
our time, in which God comes both to
judge and to restore.

The Creator-Redeemer calls faithful
people to become engaged with God in
keeping and healing the creation, human
and non-human.

Human life and well-being depend upon
the flourishing of other life and the
integrity of the life-supporting processes
that God has ordained.

The love of neighbor, particularly ‘the
least’ of Christ’s brothers and sisters,
requires action to stop the poisoning, the
erosion, the wastefulness that are
causing suffering and death.”
“Therefore, the…General Assembly affirms that:
... Earth-keeping today means insisting on
sustainability – the ongoing capacity of natural
and social systems to thrive together – which
requires human beings to practice wise, humble,
responsible stewardship, after the model of
servanthood that we have in Jesus. ...”
Keeping and
healing creation
is the theme of
the banner that
hangs in the
sanctuary in the
arch above the
organ console.
7
The First Presbyterian
CROP Walk -2009
By Tara Lindsley, for the Mission Committee
Over 850 million people around the world are
hungry, nearly half of them children. Each year
hundreds of volunteers put their feet where their
faith is by participating in the annual CROP
Walk fund-raiser.
CROP stands for Communities Responding to
Overcome Poverty. Walking makes sense,
because so many of the world’s poor have to
walk long distances everyday for food, water,
shelter, and to find medical care. On Sunday,
May 3, First Pres was well represented with 25
walkers turning in donations for local food
pantries and Church World Service. A light
lunch provided by Honest Weight Food Co-Op
fueled the walkers, who enjoyed a cool 4.8 mile
walk on a fine spring day.
A special thanks for the leadership of our
recruiter, Catherine Fletcher, and to the
volunteers and their sponsors from First Pres
who made a difference in our community and
the world. Walkers this year were Catherine
Fletcher, Elaine and Wally Stock, Miriam, Glenn,
Margaret and Elizabeth Leupold, Eric and
Debbie Fagans, Esther Yomoah, Dwight and
Rachel Smith, Chris Lemperle, Susan
Brynolfson and Rob Gierthy, Irene Slivoski,
David Takor, Pamela Finch, Lucile Brewer, Sara
Griffin, Charlie Kite and Tara Lindsley, John and
Katie Myers, and Annette Johnson.
(Top) The First Pres CROP Corps gathers for
encouragement before the trek.
(Center) Albany’s Finest Mounted Police
accompany the marching troops on a safe course.
Join us next year, the first Sunday in May!
(Left) Elaine,
Wally, Tara,
Charlie, and
Susan rally for
lunch before the
event.
(Right) Katie
and Tara set
out the lunch
donated by
Honest Weight
Food Co-Op.
Katie’s pledges
topped $2000!
8
The First Presbyterian
Calling All Instrumentalists!
By Janet Davis, Music Director
see the youth choir go. Among several different
suggestions is the idea of doing a musical every
year. Please be watching for an announcement
(in church, in Sunday bulletins, and via email to
your home) that will let you know the specific
day/time, and where the party will be located. I
can't wait to hear your thoughts on how to
continue the great choir program that's already
established, and to bring new and exciting
experiences for all of you!
As summer approaches, I would love to get to
know those of you who are willing to play your
instruments during worship at the 10:45 am
service on occasion. I am in the process of
compiling a list of who is interested (and what
instrument you play, as well as the level of your
ability) so that I can match players together for a
variety of pieces. If you are interested, please
let me know at [email protected]. Be
sure to give me your contact information, as
well as your instrument/ability level!
Finally, I would like to send out a personal thank
you to all the choir and church members who
cared for me while I was ill, and for those of you
who are holding my sister (Evelyn Kalpin) in
prayer as she deals with cancer. This is a
loving community, and I am grateful to be
surrounded by your spirit of Christ's compassion
in all you do.
Youth Choir Information! The youth choir has
been on hiatus since the wonderful performance
of Godspell this March. In the fall, I will be
taking over the youth choir, and I would love to
get together with you on a Saturday in June for
a pool and pizza party! At the party, we'll get to
know one another, and we'll discuss what
direction you (and your parents) would like to
Spring tulips provide the scenery for the 2009 Crop Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty).
9
The First Presbyterian
We Fed the Cold and Hungry
Deacons’ Doings
By Alice Schrade, Mission Committee
By Beverly Osborne
FPC Deacons have a strong focus on being
good and intentional shepherds to the
church, and one way the Deacons reach
out in that effort is by being assigned to,
and “tending” a neighborhood flock.
For church members, our neighborhood
flocks are a great way to get to know your
church-member-neighbors in a setting
outside of Sunday morning worship and
coffee hour. The Deacons had a lively and
fun discussion at the last Deacons meeting
regarding FPC’s neighborhood flocks – we
brainstormed activities, events, and
locations. We also determined that the
timing of a flock-gathering has just as much
of an impact as the “theme” associated with
it – but most important of all, the sense of
community that is fostered and helped to
grow is the ultimate reason the Deacons
take their Shepherding duties to their flocks
so very seriously.
All of the Deacons present came up with a
tentative plan (or two) for a Neighborhood
Flock gathering. Keep an eye out for news
from your Deacon about what your
neighborhood flock has planned – it
promises to be a lively, warm, and
interesting time for all!
Also, mark your calendars for Sunday, June
21. What better way to celebrate Father’s
Day AND the first day of summer than with
a Strawberry Social? Strawberries and
shortcake will be served in the Assembly
Hall after the 10:45 worship service – bring
a friend and enjoy fellowship along with
fathers, summer, and sweet dessert.
The Mission Committee thanks the congregation for
supporting the Emergency Overflow Shelter, located in the
First Lutheran Church on Western Avenue, during its
months of feeding the cold and hungry. The shelter was
open for 179 nights, providing more than 2,000 'bed nights'
to over 200 different individuals, averaging 17 guests per
night.
A resounding THANK YOU to all who prepared and
transported meals to the shelter: Tara Lindsley and Charlie
Kite, Annette Johnson and Tillie Collier, the Robinson
family, Judith Wing and Peg Schalit, the Meislahns, Sara
and Tom Griffen, Susan Easton, Anne Conolly, and Katie
Henrikson, the Marks and Riddles, the More Light
Committee, the Gascoynes and Stevens, Harriett Seeley
and the Westphals, and Mild Wally’s Pizza who gave us a
deal and also delivered on the last night of the season.
Ushers and Greeters Schedule
June 7 8:30
10:45
June 14 8:30
10:45
June 21 8:30
10:45
June 28 8:30
10:45
Margaret and Elizabeth Leupold
Team 2 - Catherine Fletcher, Joanne Gascoyne,
Richard Gascoyne, David Hannay, Margaret
Hannay, Lee Helsby
Bruce Brynolfson
Team 3 - Bob Stevens, Linda Stevens, Lois
Cameron, Bob Jackson
Peter Thomas
Team 4 - Ray Henrikson, Bob Kamp, Fran Kamp,
Rachel Smith, Roseline Takor
John Myers
Team 5 – Bob Seelye, Virginia Seelye, Don
Mark, Adam Sperry, Sarah Sperry
Deacons’ Flower Ministry
June 7
Guilderland, South Colonie – Lewis Boxwell, Leslie
Westphal
June 14
Latham Area and North – Virginia Seelye, Esther Yomoah
June 21
Albany South – Joe Mathias, Albert Wood, Bev Osborne
June 28
Schenectady – Fran Kamp
The Rensselaer Neighborhood Flock hosts the June Coffee Hours.
10
The First Presbyterian
Lectionary
Office hours
Monday through Friday
9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Secretary
Sandra Marr
Jun 7
Trinity Sunday - Isa. 6:1-8; Ps. 29; Rom. 8:12-17;
John 3:1-17
Jun 14
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Sam. 15:34-16:13;
Ps. 20; 2 Cor. 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17; Mark 4:26-34
Phone
Fax
Web
E-mail
Jun 21
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Sam. 17:(1a, 411,19-23) 32-49 and Ps, 9:9-20; or 1 Sam. 17:5718:5,10-16 and Ps. 133; 2 Cor. 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
The First Presbyterian Newsletter
is published 11 times a year.
Jun 28 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2 Sam. 1:1, 17-27;
Ps. 130; 2 Cor. 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43
Editor
Layout
518-449-7332
518-449-3104
www.firstpresalbany.org
[email protected]
Rev. Glenn D. Leupold
Richard C. Gascoyne
Please notify the church office of
any change in address.
Recordings of the worship service
are available from the Church
Office.
11