Old Dutch Church Steeple Chimes
Transcription
Old Dutch Church Steeple Chimes
Old Dutch Church Steeple Chimes June 2016 .....from the pastor..... Several weeks ago as I stretched out my arms to give God’s benediction at the close of worship, it occurred to me that this stance, this single gesture—standing with your arms outstretched—captures the essence of who God is. This is Jesus’s stance on the cross. He died just as he lived every day of his life—with arms stretched out wide. Jesus is literally God’s “benediction.” He is God’s “good word” in the flesh. In Jesus’ open-armed life and death we see God’s unconditional love and wide welcome. It is a vulnerable, defenseless, unprotected, totally receptive stance. Before actually giving the benediction, I said all of this about God, then went on to say, “we are blessed by God and called to live our lives in this open-armed way.” Several days later Peter said to me, “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and about that picture of God standing with arms outstretched. It makes God feel like a wall you walk into or something. I want those arms to wrap around me and hold me, not just be outstretched.” Peter’s comment was, first of all, a reminder that communication is always complicated. His sense of wide-open arms and mine are not the same. But second, Peter made me think more about the reality of what it is like for God to welcome and embrace the world, and each of us as individuals. Then third, it made me think about Old Dutch Church and what we have learned about offering God’s welcome—both opening our arms wide and then wrapping them around those who are drawn into our life. When God receives us, we are changed and God is changed. We sometimes say that God never changes. This is a statement about God’s never-changing love and never-ending faithfulness. But God’s experience and being are changed by God’s reception of us. When God opens God’s self to creation and to the world, God opens to both suffering and joy, good and evil, abundance and lack. For God, and for us, fully embracing another person means receiving everything that the person is. Stuff you love. Stuff that drives you batty. Stuff that makes demands on you. Stuff that delights you. Stuff that eases demands on you. Other persons are gifts, not because they are completely wonderful, but just because they ARE. And in our being with them and their being with us our worlds get bigger and our lives become more textured and complicated and interesting. Which means that God has the most textured, complicated, and interesting life imaginable. Because God is perpetually offering wide open arms and eternal embrace to the whole creation, and to every body in this vast universe. When you open your arms to receive God’s benediction, you get a hug and a holding that change your being and way of living, for good! Peace and joy to you, Pastor Renée *************** PRAYER CORNER Hospitalized - Galen Kelly, Abigail Williams (Pat Hall; infant), Julia Laycon (request), Mary Ann Milczarzyk, Annie Milczarzyk (Dee’s daughters; Annie scheduled for surgery June 6), Anne Glass (Lois Every; Anne has had her 2nd surgery and sends her thanks for the prayers and concern on her behalf) Nursing Homes - Ed Ford (now at the Thompson House in Rhinebeck for rehab), Mary Markle, Collette Sonnenberg, Don & Audrey Hornbeck, Edna Atkins, Dorothea Clearwater, Donald Bell (for rehab; Galen Kelly) At Home – Howard Hopkins, Dee Milczarzyk & Anthony (grandson), Sylvia Van Etten, Marion Ostrander, Linda Foster (Liz Kelly), Patricia Pick (Joel & Gisela Brink), Jill Sleed (Julia Ramsay), Liam Lezniak (age 4, by Matt Hall), Hannah Little (Hannah sends her thanks for the prayers on her behalf, feeling that they provide an invisible umbrella of comfort & peace to her), Michael Flynn (Joanne Flynn’s brother) Missionaries - Doug Leonard (Oman), Jim & Beth Harrison (Bahrain) Military Service - James Bonestell (son of Ken & Rebecca Rosier) Church Life Committee of Classis of Mid-Hudson encourages our congregations to pray for one another and our shared ministries. This month please pray for General Synod, June 5; MidHudson Commissioned Pastors Candidates, June 12; Mid-Hudson Certified and Commissioned Preaching Elders, June 19; Classis and Contemplative Retreats, June 26. Our prayers and sympathy go to the family and friends of Travis Sheeley on his recent passing. Prayers were requested for Travis during one of our worship services last month. Congratulations to Ryan and Julia Johnson on the birth of Theodore Charles DeForest Johnson on March 12th. Teddy is the 3rd grandchild of Pat Johnson, former Director of Choirs at Old Dutch. Ryan & Julia have been living in Omaha for the past few years. Congratulations to Matt Hall on recently receiving the Pride of Ulster County Award for “heroic effort, courage and quick thinking to save the life of an infant in respiratory arrest”. Matt is an EMT volunteer with the Sawkill Volunteer Fire Department and, as such, responded with a crew to the call last August. Matt is the older son of Gene & Pat Hall, a CPA by day, former Consistory member, and an active member of Kiwanis, as well as several other organizations. We Have A New Organist! Last month we announced that our Organist, Michael Golzmane will be stepping down from his position at ODC. We are delighted to announce that Justan Foster has accepted the call to become our new Organist beginning in September. At six years old Justan began playing the piano. He liked it! And before long decided to add organ playing to his repertoire and came under the tutelage of Lonnie Kulick of the Kingston Conservatory of Music. Justan Foster at the organ he designed for the 1st Reformed Church of Scotia, NY You can hear Justan play by going to this website: Justan holds the B.A. in English and History from SUNY Albany and a Certificate in Liturgical Music from the College of St. Rose. Currently serving at the First Reformed Church of Scotia, New York, Justan has also served congregations in the Methodist and Episcopal traditions. He regularly performs through-out the Eastern United State, both alone and accompanying other musicians, and released his first solo album in 2015. https://youtu.be/aWcnF8i_hyQ - Bach "Nun Komm, Den Heiden Heiland" Shortly before joining us in the Fall, Justan will be married to Paige Convis, a minister in the RCA, serving two https://youtu.be/pvIe6aNHIQs - congregations in Rensselaer County. When not playing the piano and organ, Justan works for the DMV in Albany. We Jenkins "Deo Gracias" are eager to have him join us. He is a superb organist and, https://youtu.be/Yda1g3r6vkE - as one of his colleagues said, “a really nice guy!” We give Fedak "Lyric Suite" (WBTN Music thanks to God for bringing Justan into our life at ODC. from Waller Hall Episode) Thanks and a Partial Farewell to Musician Michael Golzmane – Sunday, June 19, will be Michael’s last Sunday as our regular organist and pianist for worship. In God’s good providence, Michael came into our life about one year ago following Pastor Ken’s move to Florida. Michael’s intention was to stay with us for just three months. That stretched into a year. And now, with his own healing practice expanding, Michael is will step down from his regular position at the Old Dutch Church. During his time with us, Michael has blessed us with wonderful gifts for improvisation along with skill for classical organ and piano playing, and has shared his own compositions with us. He has also engaged us in lively conversations about God, worship, healing, and life. Although Michael will no longer be with us for Sunday worship and choir rehearsals, he has offered to keep playing for our regular Healing Services, and intends to stay engaged as we continue to give shape to our healing ministries. On Sunday, June 19, together we will celebrate and express our thanks to Michael. Children’s Day and Church Picnic—Sunday, June 26 Every Sunday is “children’s day” at Old Dutch Church, but once a year we celebrate our children by celebrating one day on which our Sunday Worship service is specially designed for the children and led by the children. On Children’s Sunday, we will also say “thank you” to our faithful teachers, and award a scholarship to Francis Smith who is graduating from Kingston High School and will head off to D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY, in the fall. Immediately following worship, we will have a Church Picnic with all the usual picnic food, a Photo Booth and other fun and games. This is a great day to bring friends to worship with us, share in a festive meal, and celebrate all of the ways that God nourishes us and gives us what we need to live in peace and joy! If you are able to bring buns or chips for the party, please add your name to the sign-up sheets (or call the Church Office, 845-338-6759) ************ Food Bank Farm Stands Re-Open - Every Tuesday, 9:30a - 12 noon at People’s Place, beginning on May 24; 2nd & 4th Thursday, 10a - 1p at Community Action, 70 Lindsley Ave., May 26-Dec. 22 (except Nov. 3 & 17). FREE fresh fruit & vegetables, just bring a bag! The Pregnancy Support Center’s Baby Bottle Fundraiser will run through Father’s Day, June 19. If you would like to take a baby bottle to fill, they are available in Bethany Hall. Please let Adam Kudlo know if you are taking a bottle. Crafts on Wall Street have returned during the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the Farmers’ Market. We would like to have the Sanctuary open for visitors from 10 - 2 on these Saturdays. If you are interested in acting as a host to the vendors and/or greeter to visitors, please leave your name in the church office, 338-6759. Sunday, June 5 - The Annual Pride Day Parade will be held in New Paltz, sponsored by the LGBTQ Center. The Parade will step off from the parking lot of the high school at 1 p.m. Please speak to Pastor Renee if you are interested in participating. ********** Family web Genealogy research turns up some intriguing relations; for example, Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are 10th cousins, and Britney Spears and Prince Albert of Monaco are 17th half-cousins. In the Bible, Jesus is linked to Rahab and Ruth, members of nations that were enemies of Israel. Searches for family connections quickly reveal not only roots but also a web. Only a few generations up in the branches of each family tree are so many people that trees intersect. Scientists speculate that most people living today are related through a recent common ancestor. So there’s a “web-like tapestry” rather than a “tree that fans out exponentially,” according to writer Carl Zimmer. DEACON’S CORNER “Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform.” Mark Twain Submitted by Elder Maxson Realizing we’re all connected should affect how we treat others. After all, we’re related to people with diverse backgrounds and opinions. In terms of genealogy, as well as living as Jesus’ disciples, we belong to one another. **************** Spring Fine Arts Recitals will conclude on Thursday, June 9th with a performance by the Kingston Community Singers, directed and accompanied by Lonnie Kulick. ************ Sunday, June 19th