Memorial Day Parade

Many thanks to everyone who put on their new t-shirts and came out for the Malverne Memorial Day parade. Gail Wakefield personally thanked me that the church was marching. It was fun, but even Jasper was a bit tired by the end. Here are some pictures from Linda. For more of Linda's parade picts (mostly featuring James) go to her page on Snapfish.

Mike & Daniel lead the way

The ladies ride in style

Kate checks out James' ride

Banner Making!

We had a great morning on Saturday, May 10th at the Parish Resource Center working together to make a 75th Anniversary Banner to carry in the Memorial Day Parade.

Many thanks to Glory Polinsky and Mary Hallam for all the planning and Kate Polinsky, Dan Polisnky, Allyce Yang, Michael Yang, Laura Eisenlau, Karen Record, Don Neugebauer and Pastor Fritz for helping out. A huge thanks to Carla at the Parish Resource Center for all her assistance. Here are some pictures.

Cutting out Letters

Piecing it together

Done!

Mayor Issues Citation for 75th Anniversary

At the May 7th Malverne Village Board Meeting, Mayor Patricia McDonald presented Community Presbyterian Church with a citation in honor of our ongoing ministry in the community. Dee Ramp, Pastor Fritz and Don Neugebauer (who got blocked in this photo by John Smart, who was taking his own photo) accepted the citation on behalf of the church. Many thanks to Tony Sussman for arranging the citation and to Mayor McDonald. The full text of the citation is below:

WHEREAS in 1914, George E. Cornwell donated land on Nottingham Road and together the Cornwell and Rasweiler families built the first religious institution in our community, this non-denominational house of worship was named The First Church of Malverne. On April 25, 1933, the congregations of The First Church of Malverne and The Stuart Avenue Presbyterian Church of Malverne merged and The Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne was established under the religious leadership of Reverend Andrew Van Antwerpen; and

WHEREAS for the past 75 years, The Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne, its leaders and members spearheaded numerous programs and activities to benefit the community. In the early 1930's, the congregation realized the need for a meeting place where commmunity wide events and activities could be held. The Community Hall next to the Church was built specifically so that all residents of our village could gather as a community for plays, dinners and other activities. Religious leaders from Community Presbyterian Church were among the first to participate in the Thanksgiving Eve Ecumenical Service; and the first environmental and recycling group in our village was established by members of the congregation; and

WHEREAS today, The Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne continues to extend beyond its parishioners with outreach programs, providing support and help to improve the quality of life to varied groups and organizations. In partnership with the Long Island Council of Churches Pantry, the Commmunity Presbyterian Church is active in food drives; Community Counseling with low cost or free counseling and opening their doors to numerous local organizations.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT KNOWN, that the Board of Trustees being cognizant of the significant role played by the religious institutions within our community, does hereby wish to publicly acknowledge and express its esteem for many years of achievement and its continued message of peace, and

BE IT FURTHER KNOWN, that I, Patricia Ann McDonald, Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Malverne and all the residents of our community hereby express our heartfelt congratulations on this the 75th Anniversary, Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne.

Signed: Patricia Norris McDonald, Mayor

Now about that Tax Refund

Within the next few weeks many of us are going to get a special economic stimulus payment zapped into our bank accounts. As we focus on stewardship this year, some thoughts on what to do with this "bonus."

1. Tithe - We're called to give 10% off the top of all income to the work of God. That can be the church, a favorite charity, a mission project but at least 10% should go beyond you and your household to make a difference in the world.

2. Be a rebel - pay off debts - Every retailer out there is going to be clamboring for your refund. Many are offering special gift cards that give you money if you deposite your entire tax refund with them. Instead, use this money to get out of any financial holes you may be in. Make an extra house payment or car payment. Knock out some credit card debt.

3. Strengthen relationships - Difficult economic times can be trying on our marriages and our families. Use the stimulus payment to spend some extra time with a loved one, have a fun day with the entire family, or take a trip to visit with an old friend.

4. Give it all away - This economic downturn has hit many charities, especially ones funded largely by private donations, very hard at the same time that demand for services are increasing. As salaries and benefits are the largest expense of most charities, a generous donation of your stimulus payment could help somebody keep their job helping somebody else.

Anniversary Sunday - May 4th - 9:45 AM

A special worship service in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Community Presbyterian Church.

• All hymns will be from the 1895 hymnal, which was used by Community Presbyterian into the 1930's. Old favorites will include "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus," "Onward Christian Soldiers," and "In the Garden."
  
• Liturgy adapted from the 1940 prayer book as well as old bulletins from the archives of the Presbyterian Historical Society.
• Tribute to our longest active members – Dee Ramp, Warren Rasweiler, Kay Foernsler, Elaine Burns.
• Special anthem by the choir
  
• Congregational Photo - so wear your "Sunday Best"
• Special coffee hour
  

Thoughts on Rev. Jeremiah Wright

When soundbites of Jeremiah Wright's sermons first hit the national airwaves my first thought was that I was glad that nobody from Community Presbyterian was running for president. Enough soundbites from enough sermons could make any pastor seem to say anything.

I then realized that we in the white church were getting rare exposure to an aspect of our Christian tradition of which we are largely ignorant. We know no more about what goes on inside the churches of our African-American brothers and sisters than we know about what goes on in our local mosque. We also know little about what it is like to read the Bible from the bottom up, to see our struggles in the political struggles of the Exodus or in the persecution of both the Jewish and Christian communities by the Romans.

So while much of what Pastor Wright says is inflamatory to my ears, I have found that when I dig beneath the sound bites and read the entire transcripts of his sermons, I am forced to think, to see scripture from a different point of view and listen to voices far from my own. Underneath the soundbites is a sound, well thought out, theology - one different from my own and foreign to my way of thinking - but one that is a worthy of a respectful listen.

A good place to start is the transcript of Rev. Wright's recent National Press Club speech.
For more on Rev. Wright and his ministry, go to his church - Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Happy Anniversary CPC

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to celebrate CPC's 75th Anniversary on Friday afternoon. We ate cupcakes, sang "Happy Anniversary" and at Leonard's insistance took a picture. Here's the picture.

Post Your Joke Here

Why did the cannibal get sick after eating the missionary?
You can't keep a good man down!

The Origin of the Human Race

A little girl asked her mother: How did the human race appear? The mother answered: God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.

Two days later she asks her father the same question. The father answered: Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race was developed.

The confused girl returns to her mother and says: Mom', how is it possible that you told me that the human race was created by God and Papa says they were developed from monkeys.
The mother answers: Well dear, it is very simple. I told you about the origin of my side of the family while your father told you about his side.

Got a joke? Click on comments and add it to the post!

Dr. Victor Rambo

This weekend Elisabeth and I are flying to Toledo, Ohio to celebrate Elisabeth's Grandfather, Dr. Victor Rambo's, induction into to Medical Missionary Hall of Fame.

From the flyleaf of Apostle of Sight: The story of Victor Rambo, surgeon to India's blind, by Dorothy Clark Wilson:

Dr. Rambo arrived in India in January, 1924, just months after completing his medical residency and marrying. When he came to India, Dr. Rambo found that millions lost their sight through infections brought on by lack of sanitation, by ignorance and by extreme poverty. He discovered that three-fourths of these blind are curable - and he set about tackling the Herculean task of restoring their sight with the vigor of a spiritual giant, the imagination of an impossible dreamer, and the courage of an incorrigible individualist.

Dr. Rambo inaugurated mobile eye clinics, mobile hospitals and he personally performed more than 40,000 cataract operations - in the process leaving a permanent imprint on the treatment of the blind in India.

The family knows a different side - the side that says saints are hard to live with - but we all stand amazed to witness what a person with a deep passion and commitment for Jesus Christ can achieve.

More:
The Story of Dr. Rambo and a blind elephant: From the Christian History Institute

Mungeli Hospital: The home base for much of Dr. Rambo's work and still a mission hospital of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in partnership with the Church of North India.

Easter Sunday

It may have been cold outside, but it was warm in our church. Thanks to everyone who made our Holy Week services so meaningful and our Easter service so joyful.
One of my friends and his family came for the first time and remarked that we all seemed so happy and friendly to all.

Holy Week Schedule

Easter morning is far more meaningful if you go through Holy Week with Jesus and his disciples. Get the whole story through these CPC services:

Maundy Thursday -- 4:00 pm (communion & foot washing)
Good Friday -- 7:30 pm (a reading of the Passion)

Then celebrate Resurrection Day:

Sunrise Service -- 7:30 am on the Valley Stream Village Green (in partnership with V.S. Presbyterian Church)
Easter Morning Celebration -- 9:45 am (communion, special music, rejoicing, and more)

For the Children:

Easter Egg Hunt -- After worship (OK, eggs and rabbits hearken back to the pagan fertility holiday Easter superseded, but it's fun!); Kids, please restrict your hunting to the area assigned to your age group. Older kids, leave the easy eggs for the little ones.

Holy Week Challenge

Read Matthew chapters 21:12 - 26:16. Some of Jesus' most challenging and provocative teaching was done during the four days between his entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and his arrest (Maundy Thursday). Take a read and post your thoughts by clicking on the comment link below.

Pancakes & Ashes

We have a busy two days ahead of us!

Tonight: 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Church Hall, pig out on pancakes and sausages! Cost is $8 per person, less for kids (little kids are free). To be followed by the Burning of the Palms. If you saved your palms from last year's Palm Sunday, bring them to the fire to be turned into ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Tomorrow: 7:30 p.m.--Ash Wednesday service, marking the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of repentance and contemplation leading up to Easter.

Pat yourselves on the back

The score is final: We raised over $330 on Sunday through the Souper Bowl of Caring offering. Thanks to everyone who contributed, either directly or by wearing your team's name and upping the contribution that way (or both).

One could argue that God intervened in the football game that night to allow the Giants to win to reward all the fans in our congregation for their Souper Bowl support. Because we all know the Pats would have won without divine intervention.

But it's probably best not to make that argument. (Pitchers & catchers report for spring training next week: Go Sox!)

Souper Bowl of Caring

The “youth” of the Community Presbyterian Church of Malverne will be holding soup pots at the church doors on Souper Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2008. We will be joining people in churches across the country to collect money for those who are hungry and hurting. In 2007, over 14,500 groups participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring, generating over $8 million. All of the money we collect on Sunday here in Malverne is donated to the Long Island Council of Churches. We will report our collection total so national totals can be determined and announced. Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, more than $41 million has gone to help people in need. Please support the youth of our church in this effort to “love our neighbors” by dropping your dollar in the soup pot on February 3 and bringing in canned food to be collected during the service.

Talk this up in our community, we can extend this beyond the church doors. Canisters to contribute to the cause are located in Malverne in the Malverne Deli and Antionio's on Hempstead Avenue.

Which one interests you?

At the congregational meeting this past Sunday, Pastor Fritz laid out three priorities for the year:

1. Hands-on mission: more than writing checks, actually meeting and working with the people we're helping.
2. Stewardship: helping the congregation focus on what it means for our financial lives to be a Christian in a consumerist society. How do we set priorities, care for ourselves, and care for our world? Not a fund-raising team.
   
3. Party planning: This year is CPC's 75th anniversary. It's something to celebrate and to give us inspiration for the future.

Ideally, everyone in the congregation will join up with one of these teams. Pastor Fritz (PF) is going to be pushing each of us to have an active role in the life of the church this year. So, start thinking now about where and how God is calling you to act, before PF starts twisting your arm.

If you're not certain what these teams are all about, contact PF at church or by e-mail.

Don't Forget: Winter Seminar this Thursday! "Christ Meets Life: Marriage, Sex, and Dating" Pizza at 6:30, Seminar at 7:00.
RSVP to church or cpcmalverne@optonline.net so we know how much pizza to order.

On the Ground in Kenya - cont.

I haven't heard from the Judd's recently - the person who forwards me their letters has been quite busy of late. But I did receive a note from Marta Bennett, a PC(USA) Mission Co-worker who is on the faculty of Nairobi International School of Theology. Here are excerpts from her note from January 10, 2008.

We had a living room full of people at our house watching the [election] returns over the that weekend, including Kikuyu, Luo and Kamba, the tribes of the top three presidential candidates. One of the Kikuyus in our gathering started commenting: "Where are the returns from my area? All around Mount Kenya, nothing is coming! What is happening?"

In the midst of questions about the election tally, the Electoral Commission of Kenya chairman announced that Kikaki had one. Then an hour later, Kibaki was being sworn in at a basically private affair at the State House. We were stunned and dismayed in our living room, Kikuyu, Luo and American alike.

This election - it was such an act of injustice, laced with irregularities and illegalities. We really hoped we would prove that Kenya had taken a major step towards democracy with this election. But instead we have been set back year and fanned the flames of ethnic hatred among neighbors who up till now had lived side by side peacefully.

On Sunday, December 30, I was reading Proverbs 29 before the final results were announced. As alarming questions were starting to surface, the scripture was such a direct word from the Lord:
"By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down... The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern ... If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace."

We are praying, fasting, crying out that somehow God would intervene. Yesterday (Jan. 6) many churches were praying. In the afternoon, many of the pastors and others met at All Saints Cathedral in town. It sounds like it was a remarkable time with representatives of each ethnic group standing and confessing the sins of their particular ethnic group, asking forgiveness and praying for God's intervention, truth, justice and mercy, and embracing with tears the representative of their "opposite" tribal group.

Complete text of Marta Bennett's letter
Marta Bennett's web page

It's your turn

Anyone who wants to help with the blog, contact Pastor Fritz or Elisabeth. It's easy! It's fun! It gives you a chance to talk about stuff you want to talk about. (Go on, confess: You get tired of Fritz doing all the talking, right?)

Plans & Expectations

The holidays seem like they were months ago, don't they? In reality, New Year's Day was only a week ago.

We come into a new year, a new anything, with plans and expectations--sometimes good, sometimes bad. We'll be more organized this time around. We'll keep that new leaf turned over for good, and maybe turn another one, too. We'll face certain trials and difficulties. Maybe we're filled with fear, whether for ourselves or for loved ones, or both.

I've found that expectations are hardly ever met. I don't need that explanatory speech I've been rehearsing in my head on my way to a meeting, or the leaf doesn't actually stay turned over for more than a week. (My grandmother had a positive spin on this quirk of life. She was a worryer because, she said, nothing she worried about ever happened.)

But I don't advocate worrying (as hard as it is not to do), and I don't put a lot of store in expectations and plans, because they're hardly ever met. I know that no matter what happens to our carefully laid plans, or what happens to us in the absence of plans, God will always be there to see us through. And God is an expert at planning--and changing plans on the fly when we screw things up.

So my plan for this year is to try to live out God's plan.
My expectation is that sometimes I'll succeed, and sometimes I'll screw up.
But I'm not worried, because God's plan can adjust to take me as I am.

On the Ground in Kenya

Missionaries LeRoy and Joann Judd work with African Inland Mission in Nairobi, Kenya. LeRoy is a seminary professor and Joann runs programs for children. Below are excerpts from emails they have sent over the last few days chronicling the violence broken out due to the results from the recent election.

12/30/2007 - 11:00 pm
For several days we have been asked to stay mostly at home due to the election results and violence. This morning we did go out to our church and spent much of the service in prayer. .. Much of the city is dark except for the fires (arson) raging in some slums, including Kibera, near our church, where many of our students and friends live. Some have taken refuge in an Assembly of God church. Pray for protection for God's people and for calm to be restored.

One of our friends says his room has been filled several times with tear gas as the police try to control the crowds. All live broadcasting has been suspended. We expect there could be further trouble tomorrow as the candidate who lost is declaring a victory rally.

1/02/2008 - 10:00 am
We have been basically indoors for almost a week now with just brief trips out to a small mall a few blocks away during the lulls in the violence. One of our gate guards got a phone call from his wife who reported that their neighbor's houses had been burned, the two supermarkets and the hardware store, but that their house and the other on the street were still standing.

We never know what a day or night will hold. We are concerned that the quarrel over the election has taken increasingly tribal lines and there is a terrible backlash against Kibaki's (the candidate who "won" the election) people, the Kikuyu.

Last night it occurred to me that this violence is also spiritual warfare. Churches and mosques and Hindu temples are becoming places of refuge, as as the burning of one church with its occupants shows, Satan is at work here. A spirit of evil and violence is controlling people. We need to pray earnestly that our God will restrain and hold back this evil spirit and that His people will be protected.

1/02/2008 - 5:00 pm
Tomorrow is a critical day, because Raila (the candidate who "lost" the election) has called for a mass rally of a million people in Nairobi tomorrow. The government is saying the demonstration is not allowed, but the opposition is planning to go on with it anyway. This sounds ominous to us. As Kenyans hide in their homes and churches, we urge you to stand with them by gathering in groups for prayer.

1/03/2008 - 7:00 pm
Today the opposition party had called for mass action. their party headquarters are within easy walking distance of our apartment and Bishop Tutu was meeting with them. By noon we had reports that marchers were just a few blocks away and we were grateful for all of you standing with us in prayer. They actually passed on our street and came to our gate asking the guard "what kind of people are here?" Our guard is of the right tribe and political party, so they passed by.

Our night guard just arrived and says that last night he had moved his family. That very same night people burned the block of 13 rooms where they had been renting.

We were greatly saddened to watch on TV the burning of one of our sister churches.

Pray that the international community can bring pressure on the president to allow another tally of the votes and bring in mediation to quell the tensions. Thank you for standing with us.