Bowery Mission Trip - Nassau Joint Youth

Youth and adults from Malverne joined with five other churches in a mission trip to The Bowery Mission in New York City on February 24. Some of the kids helped cook lunch and sort through that day's food offerings. Others took sandwiches out to a local park and invited people into The Bowery Mission for lunch. A third group planned and led The Mission's noon chapel service. Then we went bowling at 300 Lanes in Chelsea Piers.

View a slide show:


View a video of the opening of the worship service. Warning: horrible singing from the one holding the camera.

Nassau Joint Youth Bowery Mission Worship from Fritz Nelson on Vimeo.

Souper Bowl Food Drive Contest

Over the four Sundays in February, the congregation of CPC Malverne, CPC Merrick and Middle Island Presbyterian Church challenged each other to collect the most food for the Long Island Council of Churches food pantries in Freeport and Riverhead.

Merrick, the smallest of the churches, won, collecting 553 food items, or a wopping 8 food items per church member! Languishing in last place, they took the lead by collecting 281 cans on the last Sunday of the month.

Middle Island, the largest of the churches, took second place, collecting 724 food items, or 7.1 food items per church member. In second place going into the final Sunday, they maintained their position by collecting 265 food items on the last Sunday of the month.

Malverne, who was leading going into the final Sunday, collected only 41 food items going into the final Sunday of the month, ending with a total of 479 food items, or 5.71 food items per church member.

Combined, the congregations collected over 1,750 food items for the Freeport and Riverhead food pantries!

Ask an Expert Parenting Worships

Community Presbyterian is partnering with Little Blessings Christian Preschool to offer a series of Thursday night workshops for parents of toddlers and preschoolers. All workshops start at 6:30 and include pizza dinner and child care.

Here's the line-up:
February 17 - Child Development 101 w/ Bonnie Piotrowski, Director Little Blessings
March 3 - God in the Home: Spiritual Practices & Tough Questions w/ Pastor Fritz
March 17 - Raising Healthy Children w/ Dr. Joseph Rozenbaum, LI Pediatric Group
March 24 - Disciplining with Love w/ Ilene LoCastro, CPC Counseling Center

The registration fee is $15/workshop/family or $45 for all four.

Register Online

Congregational Priorities 2011

Priority#1: Congregational Fellowship

Bringing the congregation together across generations outside of worship

Potluck lunches & dinners
Movie nights
Mission projects
In home gatherings
etc.

Sign up for this priority!

Priority #2: Little Blessings Christian Preschool
Reaching out to as many families as possible with the goal of filling the preschool and then inviting those families into CPC's ministry and worship.

Sign up for this priority!

Priority #3: Welcoming Visitors
Inviting visitors in
Welcoming our guests once they arrive
Deepening our guests faith
Integrating our guests into our ministry and worship

Sign up for this priority!

Christmas Eve Services

Family Service - 4:00 pm
Featuring hand bells, youth band, special activities for children, communion and more.

Lessons and Carols - 11:00 pm
A quiet service of music and scripture. Featuring special music by Elina Akselrud and Joe Sortino.

Caroling 2010

We had a great time caroling last Saturday, sending out two groups. The afternoon group went to visit our friend Gertrude Lewis at Saint Albans NYS Veterans Home and then went on to visit our friend Gloria Pelluso at the Bristol in Lynbrook. The evening group went house to house, having a great time bringing joy to members and friends of the congregation.

Here are some video clips:

O Holy Night at Saint Albans


Jingle Bell Rock at Shirley Hsieh's house


Silent Night at the Bristol


We Wish You a Merry Christmas at Gladys Sutcamp's house

2010 Advent Christmas Schedule

This is the complete schedule for Advent/Christmas at CPC this year.

First week of Advent

Sunday, November 28 (First Sunday of Advent)

9:45 – 12:00 Worship & church school

6:00 – 8:00 Family Advent kick-off (Pot Luck Dinner, Family Advent activity & evening worship)

Saturday, December 4

5:00 pm Saturday Service

5:00 – 9:00 pm Lighting of Malverne table w/ hot cider & cookies

Second week of Advent

Sunday, December 6 (2^nd Sunday of Advent)

9:45 – 11:00 Worship & church school

Saturday, December 11

9:00 am Decoration of Sanctuary

5:00 pm Pre Caroling Simple Supper

6:00 – 9:00 pm Christmas Caroling I – Church members

Third Week of Advent

Sunday, December 12 (3^rd Sunday of Advent)

9:45 am Worship & Church School, Decorating of Christmas Tree

11:15 Presbyterian Women Cookie Walk

TBA Christmas Caroling II – Nursing Homes

Saturday, December 18

10:00 – 12:00 Christmas pageant rehearsal

5:00 pm Saturday Service

Fourth Week of Advent

Sunday, December 19 (4^th Sunday of Advent)

9:45 am Worship, Children’s Christmas Pageant

Dedication of Blessing Boxes

Friday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)

4:00 pm Family Service w/ Communion

11:00 pm Service of lessons and carols

Blessing Boxes

This Christmas we're partnering with the LICC Freeport Feeding Center to create "Blessing Boxes." A blessing box is a shoe box (or other similarly sized box) filled with enough toiletries for a family of four along with a personal prayer, note or scripture verse. We're encouraging every household in the church to make at least one complete box, and to invite friends, neighbors, family members, scout troops, work colleagues, etc. to join you.

Bring your blessing box to the church any time between now and December 18. We'll be dedicating the boxes during the service on December 18th.

Here's what should be in your blessing box:
Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes (4) Shaving Cream, Safety Razors & small toys.

You can also add make-up or other cosmetics.

We will also welcome new: underwear, socks, hats & gloves. (Don't put into the box.)

The New Fridge Arrived!

I dropped into church on Tuesday afternoon and found the new fridge delivered, installed and working! The old fridge was gone! Thanks to the folks at PC Richards & Sons, Bill Voelker, Don Neugebauer and the Thrift Shop ladies.

Partnering with our Dollars

Maria Studer, chair of the Partnering Congregations team at the Presbytery of Long Island stopped by on Sunday to receive CPC's donation to the team's work. Partnering Congregations encourages Presbyterians on Long Island to work together to accomplish ministries they couldn't do alone. Examples include multi-congregation youth work, new church development, elder and deacon training, local outreach to the Hispanic community and more.

Cooking Making w/ Little Blessings

Pastor Fritz dropped by the Preschool to do a little pre-fair baking. Check out these pictures.

Church Fair a Success

Finally I've gone through all my pictures from the church fair. View the slide show below. Thanks to everyone who worked so far. Together we earned just over $4,000, a real help to the church as oil prices continue to increase.

Getting Ready for Visitors

On Tuesday night the Session discussed what as a congregation we might do differently if each Sunday we anticipated that visitors would be joining us. After just a brief discussion we came up with the following list:
- We would be on time to church
- We would have someone at the door to welcome people
- We would have a "host" for the service
- We would be sure to introduce each other to guests
- We would "freshen up" the space, children's activity bags, etc.

The Session also decided to make Advent 2010 a time of intentional inviting and welcoming others into our worship and our congregational activities. If we do that, we need to get ready.

What would you do differently if you knew visitors were coming to church? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Stem cells and prayer

Driving to the Farmer's Market Sunday morning had the radio on to a show called "Being" - the successor show to another great show called "Speaking of Faith." "Being" explores the big questions about life, the universe and spirituality.

On Sunday, the host, Krista Tippet, interviewed Dr. Doris Taylor, one of the leading stem cell researchers, most known for using stem cells to rebuild and revive a heart. What she said fascinated me.

Stem cells, she says, are the cells used to regenerate our bodies. We have thousands of them. When we get cut, stem cells are what allow our skin and muscle to rebuild. If we suffer heart, lung or kidney damage, stem cells are what repair that damage. The reason why bone marrow transplants work so well on cancer patients is that bone marrow is full of stem cells, which flood the body and rebuild the damage caused by the cancer.

So here is the amazing thing: Her research shows that stress kills stem cells. It also shows that prayer (both the act of prayer and the act of being prayed for) increases the number of stem cells in the body. So when we pray for somebody we are literally, through divine intervention, increasing the number of stem cells in their body, thus enabling them to get well. Isn't that amazing?

The Quilt is Done!

The quilters have finished the quilt to be raffled off at the fair! Its incredible. To buy a ticket see Roxanne McDonald or Elaine Burns. The drawing will be held on November 6th.

Presbytery Day 2010

September 25th is Presbytery Day, a time of worship, workshops and eating with Presbyterians from all across Long Island. Hosted by Setauket Presbyterian Church, it starts at 9:30 and runs until 3:30. Let Pastor Fritz know if you're interested in attending.

Highlights include:

• Multi-cultural hymn sing
• Taste of Long Island
• Prayer Shawl knitting
• All Presbytery choir
• Evangelism workshop
• Issues discussions on both immigration and the Middle East

See the flier
Where is Setauket

More on General Assembly

Recently the three Long Island representatives to the 219th PC(USA) General Assembly made a brief report about their experiences via email. Here are some excerpts:

Elder Gordon Moore - Despite differing theological positions, moral stances and social agendas, commissioners and advisory delegates were able to come together, debating a broad spectrum of complex and controversial issues in a spirit of love and mutual respect. In my view, much was accomplished, and throughout the entire process we were guided, refreshed and energized by “rivers of living water.”

One more thing – I am fully convinced that without the involvement and vital contributions of our young adult advisory delegates (YAAD’s), we could not have come close to accomplishing all that we did!

Elder Lorna Lisa – [Going to General Assembly] was a great privilege and a responsibility that I took very seriously but I absolutely loved!! I served on the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee which recommended to the Assembly that they call upon the United States government to end combat operations in Afghanistan. The PC(USA) had not taken a stand on the war since it began in 2001.

I left General Assembly with a feeling of renewed hope for our denomination (especially after listening to our YAAD’s) and a deep appreciation for the PC(USA).

The Rev. Wanda Lawry Hughes - Whenever I am asked to describe what it means to be a Presbyterian I always say that it means that every member has a voice and a vote. Unfortunately I suffered a bout of laryngitis and as I sat in my committee meeting and listened to the arguments about the Belhar Confession, a confession of faith written at the time of apartheid in South Africa in opposition to racism, God reminded me that countless peoples over the centuries have lost their voices due to racism and oppression. As I remembered that many voices had been silenced, I realized that I could not keep quiet. I had to speak out against racism and oppression. I had to speak out against fear. I had to speak up for justice, reconciliation and unity. And so I did.

219th General Assembly Summary

Last Saturday the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) completed a weeks worth of meetings, debates and discussions. A very quick summary is below:

Cynthia Bolbach, an elder from Washington DC, was elected moderator.

122 Young Adult Volunteers and 17 Missionaries were commissioned for work around the globe.

The Belhar Confession, a confession of Christian unity written by South African Christians protesting Aparthide, was approved for inclusion in the PC(USA) Book of Confessions. (Must be ratified by a majority of presbyteries.)

A new, simpler, more flexible Form of Government was approved to govern the church. (Must be ratified by a majority of presbyteries.)

Marriage as defined between a man and a woman was reaffirmed.

A comprehensive report on the Middle East was accepted which, among other things:

• Called for an immediate cessation of violence on all sides.
• Reaffirmed Israel's right to exist
• Called for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories
• Called for a freeze on the establishment of settlements

Replaced language requiring candidates for ordination to be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman or celibate in singleness with broader language requiring candidates for ordination to be faithful to scripture and committed to following Jesus Christ. (Must be approved by the Presbyteries.)

Called for an end to the war in Afghanistan.

Community Worship this Saturday

Offering will support The Bowery MIssion and Family Promise of Nassau County.

Music includes: Songwriter John Guardino, Men from the Bowery & Grace Lutheran's Becky Elfman

Speakers include: Father Frank Parsi of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pastor Fritz Nelson of Community Presbyterian, Darcel Whitten-Wilowski, Diocese of Rockville Centre and Evangelist Mary Bell

Bring your own chair.

Beatrix pops the question

Prior to voting for the new moderator at the PC(USA) General Assembly, commissioners get to ask them questions. Beatrix got the last question in - a query about same sex relationships - and some say her question decided the election.

Click here to go to the video of Beatrix asking her question and the candidates' responses.

Note: This is the video of the entire three hour plenary session. Beatrix's question comes around 2:38. You may have to let the video finish streaming before you can fast forward. Elder Cynthia Bolbach, the third woman to speak, won the vote and is now Moderator.

Beatrix Weil Commissioned

Beatrix Weil was commissioned as both a delegate to the PC(USA) General Assembly and a participant in the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at last Tuesday's meeting of the Presbytery of Long Island. In the below photo, Presbytery Vice Moderator Rev. John Underwood (in back, wearing stole) commissions both the Triennium delegation and the General Assembly delegation in one ceremony. Beatrix is second from the left. The youth are all going to Triennium and the adults (plus Beatrix) are going to the General Assembly.

Walking with Jesus

In church on Sunday, Mary Hallam's class unveiled Walking with Jesus, their amazing model of Jesus life and ministry. Watch the video to get an idea of all their hard work, and check out the real thing in the lower church hall.

Food Drive a Success

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to CPC's 2010 Food Drive. Click below for a slide show of everyone bringing their food in.

Food Drive 2010

June 6-12 will be CPC's annual food drive week. We'll begin the week by dropping leaflets on all our neighbors' doors. We'll end the week by collecting food from our neighbors and bringing it to the church. Didn't get a leaflet? Bring your food offering by CPC on Saturday, June 12 between 10 and 3. Don't live near Malverne? Join us by making a donation to your local food pantry or soup kitchen.

Here is why we do this:

On the phone today I talked with a neighbor, a well respected leader in Nassau County, where budget cuts by her employer reduced her job from full time to part time. Her husband had a stroke, leaving her the only wage earner. She is afraid she's going to loose her house. She may very well be a client at the Long Island Council of Church's Freeport Food Pantry.

Julie is a client. She works full time in an accounting office. She drives a new car, which she could not afford. The car, and other choices made during an addiction fueled out of control life, left her in debt and struggling to pay her bills. Now she's getting help for her addiction, paying down her debt and retaking control of her life. The food pantry helps her stretch her pay checks; its staff provide moral support and counsel.

Combine the stories and you get the statistics.

In 2008, the LICC Food Pantry served 3642 households. In 2009, almost 1,000 more. These households contained 13,000 individuals. Half were children. Six percent were senior citizens. The remaining adults were mostly employed, or recently laid off. Every month an additional 50 to 100 individuals come to the pantry who have never asked for assistance before.

CPC's annual food drive seeks to stock the pantry before the summer season, when donations drop off and the lack of free or reduced cost school meals increases the strain on family grocery budgets. To help, bring some of the below items to the church on Saturday, June 12 between 10 and 3.

Here is what the Food Pantry needs most to meet this increased need:

• Canned Vegetables (low salt)
• Soup (low salt/low fat)
• Canned fruit and 100% Fruit Juice (not fruit drink)
• Pasta, Rice Canned Beans
• Complete Pancake Mix
• Oatmeal, Grits, Dry Cereal (non/low sugar)
• Canned tuna/chicken/Salmon (in water) Canned Stew
• Nuts (low salt), Peanut Butter/Jelly
• Dry Milk/Parmalat
• Shampoo, Soap, Toiletries
• Clean, gently-used clothing
• diapers (all sizes), Enfamil formula, baby cereal, baby wipes and powder.

For more info:
Life in Difficult Times - How to Make It Through is a series of pod casts produced by the LICC that both inform those in need on how to get help and educate about the best ways to help. The series of three podcasts are available for $1.25 each by clicking the link above.

More on Pentecost

I just learned this about Pentecost - and its really cool.

Pentecost is the Greek for the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which both celebrated the Spring grain harvest and celebrated the giving of the law to Moses by God.

Some parallels which suggests to me that God knows his Jewish holidays pretty well:

Bush that burned but was not consumed -> tongues of fire that didn't burn anything.

God gives Moses the law -> the Holy Spirit enables interpretation and understanding of scripture.

The law created and guided the Jewish people -> the Holy Spirit creates and guides the church.

The law was given on Mount Sinai, the holiest of ground -> the Holy Spirit infuses sacredness to whatever it touches.

Why Pentecost

A long time member of our church confessed the other day that she didn't really understand Pentecost. As Pentecost is not celebrated outside of the church - we don't give Pentecost cards, or get days off from work or school - this is not surprising. Here is a primer for her and others who might be wondering.

Pentecost literally means "fiftieth" and one of the three major feast days in ancient Judaism marking the fiftieth day following Passover. In Acts chapter 2, we learn that the disciples were all gathered together on that day when a "sound like the rush of a violent wind" filled the house and "tongues as of fire rested on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit empowers the disciples, who until then had been passive to say the least, to rush out into the crowded city and talk about Jesus. Miraculously, when they talk, everyone can understand regardless of their native language. Peter preaches what is perhaps the greatest sermon ever and over 1,000 people are converted.

Christians consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the church and along with Easter and Christmas is one of the most important liturgical holidays.

In some Christian traditions, churches are decorated in red for Pentecost. Somebody back in the Middle Ages decided that the color red symbolized the Holy Spirit, and that tradition has been passed down through the churches ever since.

National Day of Prayer

Today (Thursday, May 6th) is the 49th annual National Day of Prayer.

A prayer for our nation taken from the Presidential Proclamation marking today as the National Day of Prayer:

On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.

Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.

Read the entire Proclamation.

National Day of Prayer web site

Easter Egg Hunt for the Less than Limber

The Mission Outreach Team continued their wonderful Sunday Afternoon Socials at Malverne Village Hall, this one featuring an Easter Egg Hung for the Less Than Limber. After finding their eggs, the women retired inside to play games and eat candy. Thanks to everyone who helped out and everyone who came. Check out the slide show below:

Hygiene Kits Delivered

Bill Lee and his wife Judy loaded all of the Hygiene Kits made by the CPC Sunday School, Nassau Joint Youth Activities group and Allyce Yang's Cadet Troop - some 550 kits in all - and delivered them to the Church World Service distribution hub in New Windsor Maryland. Judy took some pictures.

View pictures of the Nassau Joint Youth gathering where some of the kits were assembled.

Hedge of Protection

When I first started praying with my colleagues at The Bowery Mission I noticed many of them using the phrase "hedge of protection," especially when lifting up a person or a program going through trying times - a client in danger of relapse, staff faced with unruly clients, etc. It was especially used in situations where the darkness of evil was a real and genuine threat. "God," they would pray, "please put a hedge of protection around so and so."

At first I was puzzled by the imagery and then came to use it myself. It is not biblical, although some link it to the cloud and the fire that God used to protect the Israelites from the Egyptians as they escaped from Egypt.

Hedge of protection language echos the fortress language of the psalmists and picked up by Martin Luther in his famous hymn. I see the hedge of protection as a mess of brambles between us and the evil of this world which threatens us and our faith. I take comfort in God's promise to protect me and keep me secure.

Presbyterian/Jewish Relations

On February 22nd, the Jewish human rights group and anti-antisemitism watchdog Simon Wiesenthal Center ran the following headline:

Presbyterian Church USA Ready to Declare War Against Israel

The attached article referenced a leaked draft of a press release describing a yet-to-be finished statement regarding the Middle East that will be before the PC(USA) General Assembly this summer. According to the Wiesenthal Center, the finished document will contain extensive language threatening to the security of the state of Israel.

Nobody outside of the committee that is writing the statement seems to know what it will actually say, and the Wiesenthal Center has not posted a copy of the press release it claims to have received, so denominational leaders are struggling to understand where this complaint came from.

In response Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) issued a statement reaffirming the PC(USA)'s historic and ongoing support of the state of Israel within secure borders, while also expressing the church's ongoing concern for the violence and human rights abuses by both parties in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Here is my take, and what I would say to anyone who asked by opinion of this mater:
1. The PC(USA) has been one of the longest and staunchest defenders of the State of Israel and has long been a leader in Jewish/Christian relations. Statement after statement by the church has affirmed the right of Israel to exist. Presbyterian theologians, Bible scholars and preachers have been among the leaders in promoting a Christianity that combats, rather than supports, antisemitism.

2. The PC(USA) has very old, historic and close relationships with its sister churches in the Middle East including the Arab Christian communities in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. PC(USA) peacemakers and missionaries are working in those churches and in Arab communities helping them prosper and promote peace within the context of the Israeli occupation. The PC(USA) desperately wants a secular, Palestinian state that co-exists with Israel because current policies by both Israel and Hamas are killing the Arab Christian church.

We are called as a church to stand with our sisters and brothers in Christ and to use whatever political power we have, and whatever power of presence our peacemakers and missionaries can provide, to ensure that they have the right to worship, the ability to pursue an education, build an economy, farm their land, raise their children in the faith.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has long affirmed that support of the state of Israel and support of Arab Christians are not mutually exclusive. Others disagree. I do not.

Your thoughts? Leave a comment.

Grafitti from the Pancake Supper

Congregational God Sightings for 2009

At the annual meeting on January 24th, members of the Community Presbyterian community expressed the following God sightings from the last year of their life together. Have your own? Share it in the comments.

• The quilt was appreciated and great friendship and cooperation developed in its making.
• Our many accomplishments as a small congregation – Outreach, fellowship etc.
• Our ability to meet our budget.
• Involvement of some folks not ordinarily active.
• The many happy faces of the seniors who came together at the first “social” at the village hall.
• We are still here when some thought we would go under
• Prayer meetings for Stan
• Love and support of the church family through difficult times.
• Our church continues to welcome all people who wish to join us. We continue to welcome those of the different background, faith and race. Our good pantry work and our mission working in this country and abroad.
• Accepted into colleges,
• Pinebrook Clean up;
• Baby Eric Thomas Nelson and Elisabeth back in church
• We did not close this year in the red, we are financially okay.
• A thriving thrift shop
• Our church is not static – with Fritz and the Elders’ leadership, CPC seems to constantly renew and revitalize itself. It is really amazing how mission has become the focus and purpose of our activities and prayers
• Our church fellowship and continue to prosper in many ways. And my life with my mom… blessings from above.
• The SWAP – generosity abounds on all sides
• Stan’s memorial service
• Thanks for being alive to experience all the beauty of the world and the wonderful people I know
• Our ability as a small congregation to make substantial differences for people in need
• All the accomplishments and goals that were made
• Health for many in Haiti
• That we respond to the disaster in Haiti and the needs of the neglected of the world empowered by the Holy Spirit
• Service and the great time we had at the Craft Fair
• Caroling for the shut-ins this past Christmas of the joy and healing brought to them
• Our prayerful vigil for Stan
• Craft Fair
• Choir
• Birth of Eric Thomas Nelson
• Bringing our daughter through a difficult pregnancy

Prayers for the Congregation 2010

At the annual meeting on January 24th, members of the Community Presbyterian community expressed the following prayers for the Congregation. Have your own? Share it in the comments.

• May we grow and do more deeds of service
• To continue to grow and to be as productive as we were this past year.
• Continued solvency, continued mission outreach, continued blessing for us all
• That we continue to increase the size of our congregation so that in turn our mission work will increase as well.
• Pray for peace on earth
• That the church will have a positive effect on the world, Long Island and Malverne
• Continued solvency for our church and continued welcoming into our presence people from the community to join us. Give us the strength to carry on His work. (We are few but we need to be strong.)
• Help us welcome
• Help us stay financially afloat
• Help us increase membership.
• Continued growth in spiritual and physical areas
• That we continue to grow, that we are able to discern God’s mission for our church and to carry it out.
• We remain welcoming and generosity
• We widen our circle of faith
• We bring more families back
• For everyone to stay safe and healthy for 2010. A good year
• To continue our mission work and to keep thinking of ways to invite our community into our church
• That giving continues
• Outreach is successful
• More young people come out to church and know our Saviour

2010 Congregational Priorities

In his State of the Church address on Sunday, Pastor Fritz outlined the following priorities for the congregation in the coming year:

Continue Mission Outreach
To continue the work of the Mission Outreach Team and follow in their lead as they host the Sunday Afternoon Socials and find other ways to serve our neighbors living alone.

Invitation and Engagement
To intentionally invite our neighbors into worship and mission with us both one on one and by increasing our visibility in the community.

Presbyterian Mission Partnership
To identify specific Presbyterian ministries, one on Long Island and one international, where we can partner through prayer, through giving and through involvement.

Priority Teams have been set up to lead our congregation forward in these areas. To join a priority team, sign up in the back of church or talk with Pastor Fritz.

Read Pastor Fritz's State of the Church address

Haiti Disaster Response

All of us have been rocked by the powerful images and stories coming out of Haiti. There are hundreds of aid organizations already at work in Haiti and more are now on their way there, giving us a plethora of opportunities to help. Here are a few that I know to be trust worthy and reliable. Feel free to share this with colleagues and friends who are interested in helping.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
PDA is working through our church partners and our PC(USA) Mission Personnel to assess the situation and channel relief. Initial relief is provided through our One Great Hour of Sharing Easter offering, but they are seeking $1,000,000 in additional funds.

To give: Put a check in the offering plate at church marked "PDA-Haiti" or give online.

Partners in Development
PID is a small, dynamic economic development organization that has specialized in working with Haiti's poorest of the poor for over twenty years. I personally know the Executive Director and many of their Haitian staff. They have some of the lowest administrative overhead costs of any development organization, ensuring that almost every dollar you give will go on the ground in Haiti. PID is also recruiting a team of "medical professionals and experienced travelers" to provide support for their Haitian staff, especially at their medical clinic in the Port-au-Prince suburbs. If you are interested, talk to Pastor Fritz.

To give: Put a check in the offering plate at church marked "PID - Haiti" or give online.

Hygiene Kits
CPC is partnering with Church World Service to collect Hygiene Kits for use in the tent cities that have sprung up all over Haiti. For information on what to put into the kit, click here. Then bring your kits(s) to the church.

Neighbor to Neighbor
DONNA HAS REACHED CAPACITY AND CANNOT ACCEPT ANY MORE STUFF! EXTREME THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED.
We live in a small world where personal connections transcend international boundaries. Donna Flud and her American Airlines colleagues regularly fly into and out of Haiti and have regularly been delivering relief supplies for years. Once commercial flights resume, Donna will be able to personally deliver clothes, shoes, hygene items, etc.

I would suggest that those wishing to partner with Donna make Hygiene Kits for her to distribute through her Haitian contacts. These compact, self contained kits are proven tool for helping in times of extreme need.

To give: Go to the Church World Service Kits Web Page and assemble a Hygine Kit according to the directions provided. Drop it off at church. Or put a check in the offering plate at church marked "Hygine Kits - Haiti."

The Power of Prayer
Please hold the people of Haiti up in prayer as well as all those seeking to bring aid and support. Pray for your Haitian neighbors and co-workers, who may very well be mourning friends and family members lost in the disaster. Please pray especially for PC(USA) Missionary Sharon Babe, who was injured in the quake and is hospitalized. Pray also for our church partner, the Episcopal Diocese in Haiti, which lost almost all their buildings.

A prayer for Haiti
God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Resources

Charities with Giving Catalogs
www.heifer.org
www.worldvision.org
www.bowery.org
www.pcusa.org/give
www.partnersforjusttrade.org

Sources of Fair Trade gifts
www.agreatergift.org
www.handcraftingjustice.org
www.heartbeatscatalog.org
www.tenthousandvillages.com
www.fairtradefederation.org
www.partnersforjusttrade.org

Handcrafting Justice
25-30 21st Avenue, Astoria, NY
(718) 204-0909

Online Advent Calendars
www.followthestar.org
www.edow.org/spirituality/advent/

Shopping Free Christmas
www.buynothingchristmas.org
www.adventconspiracy.org

Elder Stan Bishop

A few weeks ago I met a teacher colleague of Stan's in the hospital. "Nobody," he said, "Has an ill thing to say about him." Just today I met a former student of Stan's, now a small businessman in the Village of Malverne. "He was one of the best teachers I ever had. He was hard and strict, but fair and made learning fun." In retirement, Stan taught an intensive survey of the Bible course at Community Presbyterian. One of his students in that course returned from a Mediterranean cruise psyched to tell Stan all about the places they studied. As his pastor I always considered Stan a true colleague in ministry, and a leader a guide to the congregation on how to live the life of faith.

Here are the details of the various services and ways we are remembering Stan's presence among him and celebrating his resurrection healing:

Malverne Memorial Service:
Saturday, November 21 @ 2:30 pm. Time for visiting to follow.

Stan Bishop Memorial Fund
Community Presbyterian has established a special memorial fund to honor Stan's ministry in our midst. The fund will be split between the Long Island Council of Churches Food Pantry & a special project at the church.

Doylestown PA Committal Service
Stan is being buried in his family's plot in the Mennonite Cemetery in Doylestown, PA. The service will be at 2:00 pm.

Directions/Map
Pick up I-78 west to US 202. Follow 202 Southwest through NJ, cross the Delaware River and continue into Doylestown. Take Business 202 (State Street) into Doylestown. Turn right onto Main Street, and then left onto Broad Street. Follow to cemetery (approx. where Broad Street intersects 611)




View Larger Map

WMC 09 - Final Reflections

For the last three days I've been participating in the PC(USA)'s Mission Celebration 2009, learning about all that our church and our partners are doing in international mission. Scroll through the blog for all my reports on plenary sessions, worship and workshops. If you have thoughts or comments, please leave them.

A few final reflections:

• The PC(USA) has become like an elderly parent. Our mission activity in the late 19th and early 20th century birthed strong Christian communities all over the world. As we struggle, we now need these communities to breath the Holy Spirit and vitality back into us.
• Some years ago a colleague in education ministry told me that the PC(USA) began going downhill when we stopped building hospitals, starting schools and birthing worshiping communities. Among our partner churches overseas, education and health care remain the bedrock of their mission and are often the starting point for evangelism. Why aren't we doing this at home?
• The PC(USA)'s mission around the world is vibrant and healthy and our partner churches are strong.
• In a globalizing world, our congregations ever more need to learn to cross cultures and engage in conversation with our neighbors.
• Theological divides do not justify negation of the great commission or great commandment.
• Here in the states, we need to resist the urge to create multiple congregations based on language and culture and strive to create communities that can bridge culture and gather everyone around Jesus Christ.
• We must relearn how to pray, testify and share our faith with each other and our neighbors.
  

WMC 09 - Closing Worship

Rev. Dr. Mary Mikail, president of the Near East School of Theology, preached at the closing worship. Her points:

• What mission does our church have for the world of today? A world of violence and injustice?
• The world is in a spiritual crisis. It is never in more need of hope and healing.
• Our mission is a gift from God.
• That gift enables us to catch the Spirit of Christ to challenge the evils in society.
• To catch the Spirit of Christ is to bring hope and healing.
• We do mission through humble, compassionate service.

All worship leadership came through a music team headed by Corey Nelson who brought music from all over the world. Worship ended with communion and commissioning of all into their mission service.

WMC 09 - Saturday Afternoon Plenary - Africa

The Congo is one of the Presbyterian Church's oldest missions and the various Presbyterian Churches in the Congo have millions of members. Political instability, however, has hurt the PC(USA)'s long term mission personnel in the region. It needs to be rebuilt.

The Presbyterian Church in Congo is extensively engaged in economic development work, especially women's empowerment, micro loans, education, feeding programs, agriculture, literacy, HIV Aids, etc.

The main story is that much of the ministry is by women, for women and funded by women. Presbyterian Women in Congo are running multiple programs for women, many of which are supported by the Presbyterian Women in the USA.

In much of Africa, the PC(USA) has embraced the following principles of Development. I think these are from the Dallas Statement.

• Local ownership
• Partnership
• Transformation
• Sustainability
  

WMC 09 - Saturday Morning Workshop - Crossing Cultures

Crossing Cultures: Welcoming the Stranger in our Midst

This workshop was presented by Marti Smith, an ethnographer with Caleb Resources, a non-denominational frontier mission organization. She discussed using the same methods they use to develop strategies for bringing the gospel to unreached groups for local mission across culture.

Her formula: listen, listen, listen.

Before ministering to a culture, get to know they. Listen to their stories with an open mind. Why are they in the US? What are they worrying about? What are their hopes and dreams? Where can they help us? Where can we help them? How can we build and maintain relationships.

Her process:

1. Make observations about the "other"
2. Find those within that culture "helpers" who are willing to engage you and interpret their culture to you.
3. Start a conversation
4. Build rapport/trust. Commit to long term, mutual relationships.
5. Ask questions about what you observe.
6. Take notes. (Marti says this helps formalize the process, moves you from nosy to learner, and often takes the conversation deeper.)
7. Review your learnings with your partner.
8. Make an action plan for further relationship and ministry.

Question: How often do we even take time to get to know those of our same culture on a deep level.

WMC 09 - Dallas Statement

In the background of this entire conference has been something called the Dallas Statement. Two years ago, almost all the PC(USA) related mission organizations came together and agreed on this statement. Everyone thinks its both revolutionary, spirit filled and incredibly important.

To read the statement go to: www.pcusa.org/calltomission.

WMC 09 - Saturday Morning Plenary - Asia

The Saturday morning plenary focused on Asia and the Pacific with specific focus on the Presbyterian Church's education mission in Pakistan.

A disclaimer: when I worked at the General Assembly in the late 1990's and early 00's I was tangentially involved in the PC(USA)'s effort to regain control of Forman Christian College in Lahore. This ministry is dear to my heart.

Background: In the 1800's, missionaries from the Presbyterian Church established a network of primary and secondary schools as well as colleges in what is now Pakistan. These schools flourished, with Forman Christian College becoming known as the "Harvard" of the Sub-Continent. In 1972, the government of Pakistan "nationalized" all the schools, disenfranchising the church and ruining the institutions. After years of prayer, petition, legal action and more, the government began returning the schools to the Presbyterian Church (USA) - who holds title to the property - in the late 1990's. Forman Christian College was returned in 2003. The schools are run by the Presbyterian Education Board, an extension of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. Forman Christian College is an independent institution with close ties to the PC(USA).


Presbyterian Education Board - Ms. Veeda Javaid
There are 252 Presbyterian Churches in Pakistan. Presbyterian primary and secondary schools educate 4,000 students - 60% Muslim; 40% Christian. PEB operates 10 schools and are waiting to receive a few more back from the government. MOst of the schools were returned to the church in deplorable condition. They are raising money internally and externally to rebuild the schools.

A story: One day a prominent Shiite leader came to visit the head of the Presbyterian Board of Education. He wanted to enroll his daughter in a PEB school, and wanted a full scholarship despite his wealth. The board reluctantly agreed. Some time later the leader returned to visit Ms. Veeda Javaid, the PEB director. He relayed the following story:

One night he and several other Shiite leaders were at his house planning an attack on the Suni. The meeting was quite enthuiastic and his ten year old daughter overheard what was going on. She came into the room, looked him in the eye and told him that her teacher would not approve. Her teacher said that everyone was brother and sister and they should care for each other.

At this point Ms. Javaid was very nervous and afraid that the leader would threaten her and the school. To the opposite, the leader reported that he called off the attack and was there to enroll another of his daughters - and this time he would pay tuition. Currently all three of the leader's daughters attend the school.

PEB is largely self sufficient but looks to its American partners for short term teacher training and capital help restoring its campuses.

Forman Christian College - Dr. Peter Armacost
Since receiving the school back from the government in 2003, FC College's board of directors is rebuilding the school as a first rate liberal arts college. Their first class graduated in 2009 and has above average employment/graduate school admissions.

FC College has several goals:

• Offer a model of interfaith harmony
• Educate leaders for Pakistan
• Support the Christian community. Since many Christians are less educated and poorer, FC College has affirmative action and special student development programs for Christians. They maintain active Christian worship, Bible study and leadership development.

Story:
A young Muslim woman began quietly attending chapel at FC College. After some time, she converted to Christianity. She then discerned a call to ministry and wants to return to her village as a pastor.

WMC 09 - Saturday Morning Worship

Saturday's morning worship focused on proclamation of the Word, specifically testimonies. After testimonies by a pastor from a partner church now serving in the US and a testimony by a mission co-worker, we were invited to share with our neighbors an experience we had with God's word.

How often do we incorporate testimony in our lives together? Do we know how other members of our faith community have experienced Jesus Christ in their lives? What would happen if we were comfortable testifying how God works within us?

WMC 09 - Friday Plenary 3 - Europe

At this point in the day I'd had my fill of information and speeches. I left.

WMC 09 - Friday Afternoon Workshop - Moving Members into Mission

Offered by Rob Weingartner, Executive Director of the Outreach Foundation

I attended this workshop hoping to bring back some tangible "how to's" for our congregations that are hesitant about mission involvement. Instead Rev. Weingartner suggested that their are no "how to's" and that the only way to move members into mission is to become a "missional congregation." If you've read any of the thousands of books on the Missional Church, especially stuff by Alan Roxburgh, Leslie Newbingdon or Daryl Guder, you've experienced his presentation. I'm not going to summarize it here.

He concluded with the following five principles:

1. Congregations must redefine their purpose to be God's agent in the world and be willing to radically risk everything for the gospel.
2. Congregations must redefine mission participation to include every follower of Jesus. Our baptismal vows are our commission into mission.
3. Congregations must redefine the mission field to include "Jerusalem" - or the area outside of their doors and in their community. The majority of young people growing up in the United States today will have no experience in a faith community.
4. Reclaim wholeness of the gospel. Practice what we preach and preach about what we practice.
5. Renew and reestablish relationships with the global church. God is using the global church to renew the church in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Places to start:

• Pray for a PC(USA) Missionary. Give him/her $100/year.
• Encourage members who like to travel to visit PC(USA) missionaries and or partner churches at work in the areas through which they journey.
• Sponsor mission visits to our congregations.
• Send the session on a mission trip.
• Remember that being the church is not about taking care of ourselves.
  

WMC 09 - Friday Plenary 2 - Middle East

The birthplace of Christianity and the place from which the first missionaries were sent out, is now a hard place for the church to prosper. The various Christian congregations in the Middle East are beset by many difficulties including: descrimination, persecution, occupation, internal conflict, economic hardship and emigration. But the witness of those mission personnel who shared was strong and joyful, focused on ministries of reconciliation.

Dr. Mary Mihail - Presbyterian Church in Lebanon & Near East School of Theology
The Near East School of Theology, founded by Presbyterians in the 1800's, has added a Christian/Muslim forum for discussion and to build relationships.

Nuhad Tomeh - Liaison to Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, PC(USA)'s primary partner in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria & the Gulf States
Many in the Middle East (Muslim & Christian alike) wonder whether God is still there or whether God has given up on his people. The church continues to proclaim the power of resurrection & God's continued presence and hope. Refuge ministry is a major connector of Christians. Ministry in this area is risky and at least one missionary has been martyred in recent years.

Rev. Guy whose name I can neither pronounce nor spell from the Presbyterian Church in Iran
Yes there is a Presbyterian Church in Iran. Our speaker offered a powerful testimony of growing up Muslim in Europe, being converted by God through a PC(USA) Missionary and then being ordained to ministry in the Iranian Presbyterian Church. He wanted to counteract the American image of Iran with news of how God is working there through Muslims.

• A new translation of the New Testament was recently produced by a leading Muslim scholar and published by the Iranian government. It is a Persian translation of the French translation of the New Jerusalem Bible.
• A local Muslim government official having a dream in which the Virgin told him to help the community's Presbyterian Church and the subsequent municipal funding of essential building repairs.
• Muslim students helping the main Presbyterian church in Tehran organize its extensive theological library, a gift from generations of missionaries.
• Persian translations, by Muslims, of great Christian thinkers such as Augustine, Calvin, Thomas a Kempis, etc.

Doug Hicks, PC(USA) Missionary in Jordan
Echoed much of what had been previously said.

WMC 09 - Friday Morning Workshop - Prayer

I attended the workshop because of its seemingly preposterous title: Prayer - Bringing the World To Christ. I always thought evangelism, preaching, teaching, good works, etc. bring the World to Christ.

Workshop leader Linda Ruby, a Interim Ministry specialist from Pittsburgh, suggests otherwise. She believes that our congregations have forgotten how to pray and that without prayer congregations stagnate, loose vision and decline. With prayer they prosper.

Prayer connects us to God through Jesus Christ and unleashes the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our world. Through our prayers the new world, the Kingdom of God, proceeds from the Spirit. We are in a battle and we need to learn to "fight war on our knees."

Prayer is the source of evangelism, mission and service. We pray the future into being and then, through prayer, we are given the power to make our portion of that future a reality.

Linda had set the room up as a prayer room, with stations for guided prayer around the room (see slide show at end of post, when I have a chance to upload the pictures.) She also had other suggestions:

• Pastors model different types of prayer through the pastoral prayer
• Pastors preach on prayer (and practice it themselves)
• Prayer vigils
• Prayer walks (walk through the community praying for your neighbors)
• Prayer teams in the church to pray for specific needs
• Praying elders - elders pray for the members

Testimonies:

• A group of women in Taiwan who combat addictions by holding 24 hour vigils by the bedsides of addicts. In 90% of cases, after 24 hours of prayer the addiction is gone.
• A group of women in Michigan who camped out in prayer in front of crack houses. They closed them down.
• A pair of friends who walked a dangerous mall each day praying. Crime in the mall visibly decreased and the police publicly thanked the friends.
• Linda's own healing which she credits to a 24-7 vigil by the congregation she was serving at that time.
• A session that spent the first hour and a half of their two hour meetings praying and the accomplished all their business in the last half hour.

I was surprised to find this workshop at a World Mission conference, but it hit the mark. We ask, "what can we do?" And sincere and deep prayer is more than enough.

WMC 09 - Friday Plenary 1 - The Americas

The Plenary focused on mission work in the Americas, especially central America and the Caribbean, which has a long and honorable Presbyterian mission presence.

From the opening remarks:

• “The Americas” are the most Christian region in the world.
• Presbyterians have been throughout the region since the 19th century.
• Challenges include huge gap between rich & poor, and huge amounts of migration and displacement both within countries and across borders.
• Positives include very strong churches with their own missionaries, theologians, seminaries, parishes, etc & easy access for missionaries and mission groups.
• Latin American congregations have become sending congregations as well as receiving, doing their own church planting locally and internationally.
• Within Latin America & Caribbean the church gives voice to the entire population, enabling them to testify to God’s love and organize against injustice.

From Presbyterian Border Ministry – Mark Adams

• Presbyterian border ministries are uniting congregations on both sides of the US/Mexico border, living out the unity of Christ in the midst of division.
• Has helped reduce border deaths by providing water and other support to migrants.
• Is promoting sustainable economic development in Mexico to help reduce the need to migrate.
• Have a powerful ministry of prayer and presence at the border.

From National Presbyterian Church of Mexico & Pittsburgh Theological Seminary – Pablo Feliciano & Don Dawson

• -Bring seminary students form Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and National Presbyterian Church of Mexico together in Chiapas to minister together.

From Colombia Accompaniment Program (Presbyterian Church of Colombia & Presbyterian Peace Fellowship – Diego Higuita & Sarah Henken

• Colombia is one of the most violent countries in the Americas and has a huge problem with displaced people.
• One story: Pedro was a small, landowning farmer who had his farm taken from him, forcing him to move into the city. He became a fruit vendor, pushing cart full of fruit around the city every day. On Sundays he comes to church. One week he interrupts the service to give his testimony: “Even thought they have taken everything away from me, they haven’t been able to pull Christ from my heart.”
• In response to the violence, the Presbyterian Church of Colombia asked Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to send volunteer, nonviolent observers. Now a team of trained volunteers rotate in and out of the country, maintaining a vigil of presence.

Haiti Fund

• A ministry of a Presbytery in North Carolina.
• Supports two full time missionaries and a ministry of rural economic development and reforestation.
• Ministry covers 15 square miles of rural mountains, and has planted over 250,000 trees, including many fruit trees.

WMC 09 - Friday Worship

Each worship service of the conference is focused around one of the phases of worship. Last night’s service was focused on gathering. This morning’s worship was focused on confession. The theme: Babel. Humanity has scattered. We have become divided by language, culture, injustice, inequality, borders and walls, both psychological and actual. In prayer and song we were led to confess the Babel that scatters us and celebrate our forgiveness and unity in Christ.

World Mission Celebration - Day 1

This is the first in a series of blogs from the PC(USA) World Mission Challenge being held October 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tonight's activities involved dinner and opening worship & remarks. But for me the most memorable part of the day occurred a little earlier. Seeking a little peace and a little space, I made a pilgrimage to the Ohio River, walking about a mile downhill to where the sidewalk ended in a patch of weeds and a rusty iron railing overlooking the river. As traffic wizzed by around me, I began to pray for a good friend who is fighting the battle of his life. I prayed perhaps harder than I've ever prayed before, and as I left that place fo the trek up the hill, I knew that he would be okay - what shape okay ultimately takes, I do not know, but I knew he would be okay.

As for the conference, someone said that they expected 500 people and about 800 registered. Everyone was playing three degrees of Presbyterian separation.

In his opening remarks, Hunter Ferrell, the head of PC(USA) World Wide Mission, commented on the following:

• Everyone who gathered had been touched, healed and redeemed by God to be a part of God's mission in this world.
• More Presbyterians are deeply engaged in world wide mission now than at any time before. This opens ourselves (and our congregations) up for transformation.
• The global church consists of many branches of a life giving vine in Jesus Christ. We desperately need each other. The relationship is mutual.
• Our global partners have challenged the PC(USA) to go deeper in three primary ways: (1) To go deeper into the root causes of poverty and injustice; (2) Go deeper in the way that we proclaim (or hesitate to proclaim) the good news of Jesus Christ. Partners are surprised at how secular we seem to be, and are challenging American Christians to learn to speak of the things of the Spirit; (3) Go deeper to bring cooperation among the 64 different mission agencies and the many congregations of the PC(USA) engaged in mission work.
• Finally, Hunter announced a new website: www.pcusa.org/missioncrossroads to help network between groups and congregations working in various areas of the world.

Tomorrow the workshops begin. I'll be reporting on two workshops: Prayer: Bringing the World to Christ; and MOving Members into Mission. I'll also be attending plenary reports on the PC(USA)'s mission work in the Americas, Middle East and Europe.

• 
  

Fall Fair This Saturday

CPC's fall fair will be this Saturday (October 17) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the church (12 Nottingham Road, Malverne, NY). A dinner will follow at 6:00 pm.

Features:

• Country Crafts by Mary Hallam
• Raffle of quilt by the Malverne Quilters
• Fresh baked goods by Pastor Fritz & Friends
• Vegetables & Pumpkins from Long Island Farms
• Raffle baskets of goods from local merchants
• Raffle of crochet "patch afghan" by CPC members
• Heifer project mission outreach
• Labyrinth Walk
• Lunch cafe

Pork Roast Dinner @ 6:00
$12-adults, $8-kids
The kitchen ladies famous Roast Pork & Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Apple Sauce
Salad
Pound cake w/ ice cream

Directions


Many thanks to local merchants for the gift certificates and raffle baskets, the Malverne Quilters, and the Cork and Board for the pork & mashed potatoes.

Crop Walk 2009 Report

Many thanks to everyone who showed up for the Crop Walk. Despite a big band competition we still had a bunch of walkers and raised a bunch of money. (I'll edit this post once I talk with Don.) Check out the slide show below!

Learning about Love

I made a new friend over the weekend, a PC(USA) Missionary working in northern Africa who for her security will remain nameless. She works in an overwhelmingly Muslim country where, while she can freely worship (her family has been Christian for generations), she cannot freely talk about Jesus Christ outside of the confines of her church.

I learned from my friend that Arabic has many more words for love than English and one of those words, used almost exclusively by Christians, means "Christ like love." A doctor, my friend began to train young, disaffected youth to care for the elderly. The best care, she believes, is Christ-like care, and she began teaching her students to love as Christ loved. She and her staff made it a point to embody compassion, forgiveness, empathy, hope, life, love. They developed a curriculum, using the Bible, Koran and other Arabic writings to teach Christ love.

Not only did the care improve, the lives of the students improved dramatically. They reconciled their marriages. They developed life goals and self esteem. They cared better for their children. They became trustworthy, dependable, committed.

In turn the lives of their clients changed. NOt only were they receiving quality care, but they were receiving Christ love.

We tend to think that the gospel must be spoken to be shared, be articulated to have an affect. We also tend to believe that for the gospel to change a life, a person must articulate their belief in basic creeds or doctrines.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we can prophesy, do miracles, preach, teach and more, but the greatest and most powerful gift we have is love. My new friend's story underscored this reality. By systematically unleashing on the world hundreds of young men and women, Christian and Muslim, filled with Christ love, she may have done more for the cause of our Savior than the millennia of sermons preached in the churches of her home town.

Sunday's Sermon - Welcome to the Kingdom

On Sunday, Pastor Fritz launched a new sermon series: God's Dream for our Lives, God's Dream for our World focusing on the Kingdom of God as illustrated in Jesus' parables.

About the Kingdom of God, Pastor Fritz says this:

For the last two years I have been studying the concept of the Kingdom of God as it is used by Jesus. In the process I have become convinced that if we really want to understand the heart of our faith, if we really want to have a faith that shapes us and shapes our world, we must understand Jesus teaching on the kingdom of God. And one way to do that is to study Jesus’ parables.

Read the Sermon

Fall Fair 2009

CPC's fall fair is coming up fast on October 17th. Fair organizer Jean Bishop has a bunch of stuff planned to help us get ready. Here's what is coming up.

Crafts Workshops – spend an evening working on crafts to see at the fair. The dates are:
Wednesday – September 30 from 7:30 to 9:00
Thursday – October 8 from 7:30 to 9:00

Apple Picking – We are going to pick apples to sell at the fair. Make it a family outing on Saturday, October 10 – meet at the church at 8:30 am. We will be back by noon.

Baking with Pastor Fritz – on Friday, October 16. Learn how to bake bread, scones, and apple turnovers. If you have a favorite recipe, bring it, and we’ll make that too! Meet at the church at 9:00 am.

Set up for the Fair – Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 am. We will set up as much as we can outside – vegetables, pumpkins, plants, apples, plus craft tables.

Sell vegetables, baked goods, and craft items.

Set up for the Fair Dinner – Saturday at 4:00 pm – set tables

Cook for the dinner – see Janet Neugebauer or Willa Ramsey

Serve the dinner – see June Englese

Clean up for the dinner - see Janet Neugebauer or Willa Ramsey

2009 Crop Walk, October 4th

Mark your calendar for 1PM Sunday October 4th. This is the date of the 2009 Western Nassau CROPWALK being held again in Baldwin Park. I've lost track, but I believe this is the 18th or 19th year we'll be taking part.

This is our Community Responding to Overcome Poverty. Hungry people in developing countries typically walk as much as six miles a day to get food, water, and fuel, and to take their goods to market. We walk to be in solidarity with their struggle for existence. We walk because they walk. 25% of the money we raise will go to support the Freeport food center run by the Long Island Council of Churches with the rest helping to fight hunger and poverty around the world including the United States.

Lorne Birch will be available Sunday to sign up walkers with their pledges and to give out sponsor sheets. The sheets are a way to get folks at work, at school, and in your family to support your effort on October 4th.

If you are unable to walk, think about a pledge sponsoring the group from church who will be walking. Hope the weather is great and see you on the 4th.
Don Neugebauer

Sunday's Sermon - Homosexuality and the Church

Last Sunday we closed out our all request summer sermon series with a request to look at Romans 1, a complex passage that, among other things, condemns homosexuality as sinful. I've been struggling with this topic for years and attempted to condense some of my thinking (and my struggle) into the sermon. We will revisit this topic in a couple of weeks as we embark on another year of Pastor's Coffee House, which will begin with a study of Paul's letter to the Romans.

Read the sermon
Read other sermons in the All Request Summer Sermon Series

The many brief discussions I had on the way out the door suggest that we all live in this tension between discipline and grace. Is being a Christian primarily living a strict, disciplined life, following the rules and expecting others to do the same? Or is being a Christian primarily being gracious and inclusive toward others regardless of background and behavior? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Sunday's Sermon - The Prodigal Son

All summer we've been working down a list of congregational sermon requests. Last week's request was to revisit the Parable of the Prodigal Son.


Read the sermon
Read past sermons from this summer
View the schedule