December 2005 - THE HERALD

THE HERALD

Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church

Founded 1827

________________________________ ___December 2005__

From the Pastor's Desk

Dear Friends,

It will not be long now before we will be gathered in the Church on Christmas Eve and candlelight will fill the sanctuary and we will be singing:

Silent Night, Holy Night! All is calm all is bright, Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy infant so tender and mild, Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

In truth that is the very heart of the Christmas experience for me. It does not get any better than that, but I'm afraid it can get worse.

It was the second Sunday in November and I had arrived at the Church a little before 6 AM in preparation for the morning's services. Kevin Coyne, our faithful church custodian had arrived a little before me. We exchanged pleasantries, as well as can be expected for that hour in the morning, and we went about our normal routines. It was then that Kevin turned on the radio and I heard my first Christmas carol of the season. (I think it was Grandma got run over by a Reindeer).

As much as I love the music of the season, I found myself surprised that I quickly got up and shut the door to my study. I was not ready to hear Christmas music.

Friends, the season of Christmas is holy and sacred, or at least it is meant to be. But as the radio reminded me, there are at least two Christmases every year. The secular one, which fills the airwaves and malls, and the sacred one, that fills our hearts and our souls. Too many of us arrive at December 24 sick and tired and overwhelmed with Christmas, just ready for it to be over.

I invite you to be expectant of a holy night that fills your hearts and souls and not get so caught up in it all that you really do feel like you got run over by a reindeer.

Peace,

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Family Candlelight Carol Services

5:00 PM

7:00 PM

Candlelight Communion Service

11:00 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY – ONE SERVICE AT 10 AM

CHRISTMAS DINNER – 1:00 PM

NEW YEAR'S DAY – ONE SERVICE AT 10 AM

There will be no crib-room or toddler room childcare for any services Christmas Eve. Young children are encouraged to attend the 5 o'clock service.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

It has been a tradition for many years that our college students and young people return to the area at Christmas to visit with family and friends as well as to attend the 11 o'clock Christmas Eve Service at Freedom Plains. There will be a light repast in Fellowship Hall after the service and we hope that you will join us to welcome many of our former youth group members, deacons, Sunday School helpers, etc. who have been away at school or have moved from the area. We will renew old acquaintances and make a joyful noise!!!! If you would like to assist in any way, or would like more information, please contact Claudia or Bill Houston at 223-3424.

**** Another successful Holiday Craft Fair - Thank you to everyone involved in making the Holiday Craft Fair successful.  Everyone's time, effort and contributions for set-up, baking, cooking, cleaning up and participation are much appreciated!
Christine Lent

LAST CHANCE!!!!! FINAL PICTORIAL DIRECTORY SITTING!!!!!!

If you missed your appointment, or missed your opportunity to make an appointment, we are offering one final sitting on December 22, 2005 from 1-8 PM. This is a perfect opportunity to have your college children in the directory. There will be a sign-up table in Fellowship Hall or call Julie Carmichael at 223-3134.

HEALTH MINISTRY

Office hours 10:00 – 11:00 AM and 12 –12:30 PM. For appointments call 724-5631.

B/P screening – Sundays, on ongoing basis.

Care Notes on emotional and spiritual health are available in the P.N. Office and Narthex. Pertinent topic this month – grieving a loss during the holidays, holiday depression.

Weight Health – scale in Parish Nurse's Office; diet programs available.

Walking Group – Meets 9:30 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays at Stringham Park. Please contact Heather Peterson at 452-7974 for more information.

Bulletin Board – Tick-borne illnesses - If you know someone with chronic Lyme Disease who is not responding to treatment suggest getting them get a blood test for Bartonella bacteria which is now found on deer ticks. Lyme treatment does not cure Bartonella. Bonnie Biskup, RN, BSN

Prayers for Comfort and Healing – Maureen Cavanaugh, Eileen Doherty, Madeline Hanka, Emily Johnson, Mary Key, Lorraine Lauria, Devin Resler, Diane Soyka, Karen & Mike (Spencer family), Thomas Wardell, and Edward VanEtten.

Prayers for Bereavement – Heather Finck's family (grandma died)

Dear Friends at Freedom Plains Church:

I was simply overwhelmed at the outpouring of get-well wishes – prayers, cards, and gifts sent to me while I was recovering from surgery following my accident. The teddy bear was such a delightful surprise that warmed my heart and lifted my spirits during my five-week stay at the rehab center. Freedom Plains has always been a second-church home for me. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. May God richly bless you all.

My love and prayers,

Nicky Sebastiano

SR. HIGH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

Sr. High Youth Group: On October 16^th 22 members and friends went to Headless Horsemen. We had perfect weather and all had a good time. I would like to thank Melissa Haras and Hilary Richards for driving and chaperoning. We had our annual Lock-in and cooked for the homeless on Tuesday, November 22. 32 youth participated – 27 book bags were collected along with other school supplies for Katrina victims. Look for upcoming announcements regarding the next SHYF project. We will be collecting men's size LARGE pajamas for the Homeless Shelter.

MISSION

CHRISTMAS DINNER – Volunteers are needed to welcome the community to this special dinner served at 1:00 PM in Fellowship Hall on December 25. A set-up crew, a cooking and serving crew, and a clean-up crew are needed. Please call the church or Jill Edmonds (473-3998) to offer your help. We'd like there to be room in the inn for all who seek shelter that day. Thanks to the Peterson family and all others who helped make our Thanksgiving Dinner a success.

MISSION TRIP – What an exciting evening November 6 was when over 125 people enjoyed a potluck dinner, slides and music of the '05 trip to Appalachia, and a question and answer session. Shared laughter and information built enthusiasm for the '06 trip this coming July, especially when the young people stood up to volunteer for a repeat trip. The following quotes were shared by several of this year's participants. Check out their bulletin board next to the Mission one by Fellowship Hall.

Debbie Armstrong – "Life changing"

Sarah Armstrong – "Unforgettable"

Arne Christensen – ". . . to do something for someone who cannot possibly pay you back . . . you are rewarded doubly."

Sue Conrad – "Everyone should go!"

Brooke Emmett – ". . . .it taught me how to be a better person."

Melissa Haras – "These people were full of love and faith."

Wade Haras – ". . who we got to meet every morning, helped get the day started (7-8 AM) and always on a good foot."

Bob Hoffman – "A wonderful experience that everyone should enjoy."

Julie Koch – "I also learned to appreciate what I have."

Laney Newton – ". . . the mission trip was very life-rewarding."

Frank Pepe – "ASP helped remind me that service to those in need is service to God."

Rob Rice – "It was very family, home-like."

Nick Taylor – "in one moment . . . I'll remember forever . . . little Maria's . . eyes grew wide (on seeing her new bedroom). "Wow, she said in awe, it looks like a real room!"

Kelly Vinson – ". . . it made me feel good doing something to change other people's lives."

Laura Vinson – " . . a lifetime experience that I'll never forget."

Brittany Weeks – " . . a lot of fun . . meeting all the new people, working with the kids, helping the community."

Others who participated include Phil Arnold, Ian Alexander, Erik Delanoy, Joe Funicelli, Craig and Sally Woods, Abigail Horstmann, Joe Lentz, Mark Newton, Glen Pepe, Ian and Steve Taylor, George Wade, and Paige Whittier, and of course, Rev. Lent.

EARTH STEWARDS – Manna Jo Greene informed us and challenged us to think about how we impact the environment, especially here in the Hudson Valley. Starting the first of the year there will be an information table each Communion Sunday in Fellowship Hall to share information and advocate for change in our lives, our institutions, our community and our world.

For an entertaining look at how one man changed our attitude toward nature, join AAUW on December 7 at 7:00 PM at St. John's Lutheran Church on Wilbur Blvd. In Poughkeepsie. Nationally-known storyteller, Jack Maguire, will take on the persona of John Burroughs to share his life and writings. In the 1890's Burroughs was second only to Mark Twain as a public figure and writer while inviting the likes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to visit his cabin in the woods across the river in West Park. The evening will include holiday desserts served after the program, with a $5.00 charge to defray expenses.

DCIC News 

Dutchess County Interfaith Council works to promote understanding and respectful relationships among diverse religious and ethnic communities. DCIC welcomed two new member congregations recently: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Poughkeepsie, and the Mid Hudson Islamic Association, Masjid Al-Noor, Wappingers Falls.

A Community Interfaith Calendar is now available on the website: www.dutchessinterfaithcouncil.org. The council has set dates for various DCIC events in 2006, so plan your church events so that you can participate in the DCIC events as well.

A Story Concert for Disaster Relief is planned for Sunday, January 29, 2006, 2 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, Tickets $10. Come listen to some wonderful stories from storytellers of various faiths and backgrounds!

BREAD FOR THE WORLD – AN UPDATE  

Earlier this year our congregation participated in a letter writing campaign regarding the Hunger Free Communities Act. At this writing, the Senate version of this bill has 39 co-sponsors, including our Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer. The House version has 149 co-sponsors, but our representatives from this area, namely, Sue Kelly and John Sweeney, are not among them. The HFCA seeks to renew the official U.S. commitment to cut hunger and food insecurity in half by 2010, and commit to ending both by 2015. You can still contact your U.S. Representative to express your thoughts on this bill.

WORTH READING – Check the mission bulleting board

"Note #9008 for Presbyterians" shares first-hand accounts from Presbyterian volunteers who have gone to help rebuild communities and lives in the wake of hurricanes. People give up their vacations to travel from CA, PA, NC, etc. to help others. Inspiring! Also, checkout www.churchworldservice.org.

THANKS, THANKS, THANKS

• For supporting all our efforts in the CROPWalk
• For supporting the Peacemaking Offering
• For giving Messages for Mission
• For supporting the general mission of PCUSA
• For visiting the Homeless Shelter
• For "growing hair" for Blanket Sunday
• For helping at and/or supporting the café at the craft fair (money raised supports the mission trip)
• For leadership and/or membership roles at DCIC, Habitat for Humanity, Bread for the World, etc.
• For helping with Earth Stewards road cleanup in April
• For helping those recovering from natural disasters (tsunami, Katrina, Rita, etc.
• For bringing canned food Sunday mornings for Dutchess Outreach

  What is the Christmas Joy Offering?

  A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need. The receipts from the Offering are distributed equally to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs and to National Ministries of the General Assembly Council to support Presbyterian racial ethnic education. Think of the ministers who have touched your lives. Think of the missionaries who work in partnership with local churches in the poorest countries in the world before retiring to the U.S. Please help them in retirement and help minority students attending our church colleges by giving generously this Advent season.

  LIBRARY NOTES

  Our Library photo albums, due to lack of shelf space, are currently being stored in the lower cupboard in the library area. We encourage you to check them for reference to church events and just for the fun of reminiscing.

  We have more than a few overdue books from the library. Please check your shelves at home and return any that have "wandered". Many thanks.

  BOOK REVIEW

  "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafis has recently been added to our library and is located in the biography section.

  We all have dreams – things we fantasize about doing and generally never get around to. This is the story of Azar Nafisi's dream and of the nightmare that made it come true.

  For two years before she left Iran in 1997, Nafisi gathered seven young women at her house every Thursday morning to read and discuss forbidden works of Western literature. They were all former students whom she had taught at university. Some came from conservative and religious families, others were progressive and secular; several had spent time in jail. They were shy and uncomfortable at first, unaccustomed to being asked to speak their minds, but soon they began to open up and to speak more freely, not only about the novels they were reading but also about themselves, their dreams and disappointments. Their stories intertwined with those they were reading – Pride and Prejudice, Washington Square, Daisy Miller and Lolita – their Lolita as they imagined her in Tehran.

  Nafisi's account flashes back to the early days of the revolution, when she first started teaching at the University of Tehran amid the swirl of protests and demonstrations. In those frenetic days, the students took control of the university, expelled the faculty members, and purged the curriculum. When a radical Islamist in Nafisi's class questioned her decision to teach The Great Gatsby, which he saw as an immoral work that preached falsehoods of "The Great Satan," she decided to let him put Gatsby on trial and stood as the sole witness for the defense.

  Azar Nafisi's luminous tale offers a fascinating portrait of the Iran-Iraq war viewed from Tehran and gives us a rare glimpse, from the inside, of women's lives in revolutionary Iran. It is a work of great passion and poetic beauty, written with a startlingly original voice. (this review was taken from amazon.com)

  COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER

  Sunday, December 25 at 1:00 PM

  Freedom Plains members and friends, along with other folks from the county, are invited to join together for Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 25, Christmas Day, at 1 o'clock, in the church Fellowship Hall.

  People who plan to attend should telephone reservations to the church office (452-0684) between the hours of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM weekdays. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUESTED AND SHOULD BE MADE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21. There is never a charge for the dinners sponsored by the Holiday Meals Program of the church; however, a "free-will" offering will be accepted with gratitude.

  APPALACHIA HERE WE COME

SUMMER 06