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.

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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.

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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

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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.