FREEDOM PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH                                

Non-Profit Org.

Post Office Box Four Hundred                          

LaGrangeville, New York    12540                                                              U.S. Postage

                                                                                                                             

P A I D

“RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED”                                                 Newburgh, NY

                                                                             Permit No. 4003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church

Staff:

 

Rev. Paul Lent, Pastor

Rev. Heather Finck, Parish Associate

Denise Bassen, Music Director

Susan Walsh, Administrative Assistant

Linda Jacobs & Maryanne Russo, Co-Directors of Sunday School

Bonnie Biskup, Parish Nurse

Kevin Coyne, Sexton

Katherine DeFiglio, Junior Choir Director

Donna Logan & Em Jorgenson, Bell Choir Directors

 

Office Hours:  9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Office Telephone:  (845) 452-0684

Office Fax # (845) 452-7816

E-Mail Address: office@fppchurch.org

Website:  fppchurch.org

 

 

 

THE HERALD     

Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church

 

 

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good”.

(Genesis 1:31)

Dear Friends,

Right now I am meeting with our Confirmands as they prepare to decide whether to join the church or not.  We really do have great kids.  They are smart, engaged and they ask some pretty good questions.  One question I ask them is, “do you believe the world was created in seven days as it says in Genesis?”  Most of our kids don’t literally believe that; they have had excellent science classes and they know about evolution, the big bang theory, and the scientific method.  

          I then ask our kids, “what do you think the story of Genesis is really trying to tell us about?”  In truth none of them seem to get my question.  I tell them that the purpose of this story is to teach us a little about who God is and who we are.  In Hebrew to repeat something is good writing, but don’t you try that at school; in English it is not.  In the Genesis story of Creation what is repeated again and again is the phase, “and it was good.”  Again and again we hear, “and it was good,” until God is finished with all of Creation and we hear, “and it was very good.”  If you get nothing else out of the story get that the world is not meant to be a bad place; it is meant to be a very good place. 

          I try to get the kids to understand that science, as wonderful as it is, cannot tell us if the world is good or bad.  Science does not make value calls, faith does. 

Then I ask the kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  Most say something like, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, or some other job.   Having a perspective of faith answers that question differently, I tell them.  God wants you to grow up and be happy, and I don’t use that word in a superficial way.  What I mean is fulfilled, being the person that God created you to be.  (That God might look at us and say “and it is Good.”)  That is about more than degrees and jobs, it is about purpose and why we are here. 

 

To truly discover our purpose and why we are here we need a guide, and an example.  That is when we talk about Jesus; But maybe that is next month’s letter.

          What do you want to be when you grow up?     Are you looking for the right answers? 

 

Peace,

 

 

                                                                                

The following books were purchased for the library this past spring and are located in the “New Books” section:

“Field Notes from a Catastrophe – Man, Nature and Climate Change” by Elizabeth Kolbert.

“The Lost Years of Jesus” by Elizabeth Clare Prophet

“A Table in the Presence” by Lt. Carey Cash

“The Four Loves” by C.S. Lewis

“A Circle of Quiet” by Madeline L’Engle

“The Children’s Book of Virtues by William Bennett

“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger” by D. Gregory

“History and Theology in the Book of Order –Blood on Every Page by W. Chapman

“The Way of the Owl- Succeeding with Integrity in a Conflicted World by F. Rivers

“It Takes a Village” by Hillary Rodham Clinton

HEALTH MINISTRY

 

Office hours 10:00  – 11:00 and 12:00 –12:30  B/P Screening Sunday mornings.  For appointments call 724-5631.

Two years ago, Rev. Paul Lent installed me as Parish Health Nurse, member of the Pastoral team aiding as health educator and counselor emphasizing spirituality as part of wellness.  For the past two years, you have been keeping me pretty busy.  My office has become a center for health monitoring, personal health education, and emotional and spiritual support.  It is a place where you can find answers to your health questions and directions.  You can be connected and referred to health care providers in the community who will help solve your health problems.  Some of you have found emotional and spiritual support from my pastoral care visits in the hospitals, nursing homes, and funeral homes. 

What often starts as a visit for blood pressure monitoring grows into a confidential nurse-patient relationship that addresses other personal health and wellness issues.  Through the health ministry program, you have attended sessions in breast self-exams and breast cancer awareness, women and heart disease, living wills, and health care proxies, weight reduction and diet counseling, and walking for fitness.

Health Ministry educational and informational bulletin boards have taught you about depressions, accident prevention, influenza, healthy eating, winter blues, heart disease, lyme and other tick borne illnesses, and stroke.  You found information on physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well being in the narthex, fellowship hall, and the bathroom.  Topics that are covered by these include stress reduction, anger management, fear, and anxiety, loss of a loved one, loneliness, and your relationship with God.  Coming soon will be a series of care notes for kids, covering topics such as respect, anger, grief, peer pressure, bullying, and school issues.

I have been attending various seminars, classes and Parish Nurse networking meetings to keep current on health care issues as it pertains to congregations.  I also have access to health information from St. Francis and Vassar Hospitals, which I share with you.

It is my hope that this program has enriched your life and will continue to do so in the future.  Please let me know of your suggestions for future programs.                                                        Yours In Christ,

               Bonnie  Biskup, Parish Health Nurse

                                                                                    

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY BREAFAST – The Men’s Bible Study is held every Thursday at 7:30 AM at the church and is led by Ben Sung and Rev. Paul Lent.  Please check the online calendar for ongoing study notes.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – The Women’s Bible Study is held on the first and third Tuesday of the Month at Maureen Doherty’s house.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Maureen at 454-6318.

APPALACHIAN SERVICE PROJECT – The next ASP mtg. will be held at the church on June 11 at 7:00 PM.  All volunteers and those who plan on joining us this summer should attend this meeting.

                                                                                                                                      Rev. Paul Lent

 

ASP MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISERS

 The Annual Rummage Sale was held on May 13.  We raised $1,070.which will be used to support the ASP Mission Trip this summer.  Thank you to all who donated items and many thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make this a successful event.                                                                          Melissa Haras

 

CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH BELL CHOIR – The Children’s and Youth Bell Choir Season is now ended.  It has been a great season of music and growth with the young people’s bell program.  Both groups moved up to a more difficult level of music and hopefully their director’s conducting and musicianship skills will keep pace!  Sincere thanks to the following adults:  Carl Jacobs, Lisle Pepe, and Jamie Hoffman, who stepped up on several occasions during the year as “fill-ins”, which allowed the group to keep a full 3 octave range.

.  The Children’s Bell Choir is open to all 4^th to 6^th Graders, or any younger child who already studies an instrument or voice and can read music.  The season is from mid November to Palm Sunday.  The Youth Bell Choir is open to all 7^th to 12^th graders who can read music and want to take part in a spirited musical activity.  The season is from mid-November until the Sunday prior to Memorial Day.

Bell choir rehearsals will resume in November.  They will be held at 10:20 for YBC and 11:15 for CBC

DON’T MISS THE BOAT! - Vacation Bible School will be touring the USA from June 26 to June 30.  Our boat departs daily at 9:00 AM and returns at 12:00 Noon.  Come join us for Bible stories, crafts, music and music more!  Registration forms in this June Herald.

PLAINS NURSERY SCHOOL                 

Our church-sponsored Freedom Plains Nursery School 2006-2007 School Year is presently accepting registrations for the 4-year-old program.  The 2 and 3-year-old programs are now filled.  The four-year-old class schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Please contact Call Valorie Parry, Nursery School Director, at 485-1145 to register your child for this wonderful program.

                                                                                                                          

BRICK SALE FOR HABITAT– Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to make adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.  Habitat doesn’t give houses away, but rather sells them to families in need through no-profit loans.  The monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses.  Families are required to donate hundreds of hours of their own labor “sweat equity” to building their Habitat house and the houses of others. 

We at Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church are one of many local churches who have partnered with Habitat as a covenant church.  We support Habitat with fundraising, volunteering, hosting, serving on committees, raising awareness, and praying for the ministry of Habitat.

The Mission Committee will be having its annual “Brick Sale” after church on Sunday, June 11^th to benefit Habitat for Humanity.  Won’t you stop by in Fellowship Hall and purchase one of our delicious “bricks” (small loaves of homemade breads, cakes, brownies) and help support this worthwhile cause?

 

 

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE TOOLS & BLANKET MINISTRY – It is not too late to consider giving a $5.00 donation to CWS Tool & Blanket Gift Appeal.  Not only will you “warm Don Budd’s heard”, but you will receive a general or Father’s Day Card.  We have already raised $600.  Thank you!

DCIC NEWS – Dutchess County Interfaith Counsel has changed its email address to dcic@bestweb.netOn Thursday, June 15^th from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, DCIC will hold a Potluck Supper Picnic, followed by a story circle at Linwood Spiritual Center, 50 Linwood Rd, (off South Mill Road) in Rhinebeck.  The theme will be “Miracle Stories”.  Everyone is welcome!

 

CALENDAR GIRLS – Thank you to all of the hostesses who decorated their tables so eloquently and made “Calendar Girls” such a successful evening.  Thank you also to our gentlemen servers, Phil Arnold, Drew Barry, David Emmett, Bob Hoffman, Henry Rosado, and Don Sagliano.  We couldn’t have done it without you!

 

FREEDOM RINGERS – The Freedom Ringers are looking for additional adult players (post high school males/females) for next season.  Our rehearsals are Thursday evenings, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM and will begin in mid-October.  Prerequisites are the ability to read music and a strong commitment to attending rehearsals.  Training sessions will be held in the fall for new players prior to the first rehearsal.  If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Em Jorgensen at 471-2979.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FREE SENIOR CITIZEN PICNIC! – The Dutchess County Office for the Aging invites all those “over 60” to a free picnic on Friday, June 16 at 12 Noon at Tymor Park, Union Vale.  Those “under 60” $4.00 fee.  For reservations, call 724-5600.

 

BLOOD DRIVE –The next blood drive is scheduled for July 13 from 1:30 to 6:30 in Fellowship Hall.  If you have any questions, please contact Jill Underwood at 724-8388.

 

COME SAIL WITH US! – FPP will be taking a trip on the Clearwater Sail on Sunday, August 20 from6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  The ship sets sail from Poughkeepsie at 6:00 PM and returns at 9:00 PM.  The cost is $35 per person for both adults and children.  Please sign up at the church office.  All are welcome!

 

KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A HUG? – Our teddy bears in the sanctuary are just waiting to come home to someone’s house and bring him or her a smile.  Please feel free to take a teddy bear while at church on Sunday to brighten someone’s day!

 

SUMMER HERALD – Please submit articles for the Summer Herald in writing or by email to Susan Walsh at the church office by Wednesday, June 20.  The email address is office@fppchurch.org.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

 

FREEDOM PLAINS CHURCH ONLINE CALENDAR! – Please visit our website: www.fppchurch.org and click on “calendar” to view our current events.  If you would like an event posted to the calendar, forms are located at the church office, or submit the event in writing by email with any pertinent details regarding the event to office@fppchurch.org. 

 

 

 

A PERSONAL NOTE OF GRATITUDE FROM PHIL ARNOLD –

I’m not sure that I can find the words to express my soul felt gratitude for the many ways this congregation has shared its love and support with Gail and me.  You are very special!  You held open doors, made phone calls, extended dinner invitations, sent cards and offered prayers.  Your many acts of caring strengthened Gail allowing her last several months to be lived out with dignity and acceptance of God’s will.

 

Gail was a lady who lived her faith.  You responded to her warm smile and caring acceptance with hundreds of cards, overflowing attendance at her Memorial Celebration and many generous donations in her memory.

                  “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord”.  Add scripture verse

Peace,

                                                                                                                                    Phil

 

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