Brookville Church

N E W S L E T T E R

REV. VICKY L. EASTLANDPastor of Congregational LifeRev.Vicky@verizon.net

2 BROOKVILLE ROADBROOKVILLE, NY 11545

516-626-0414Brookvillechurch@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/BrookvilleChurchwww.BrookvilleChurch.org

Where our doors are always open!October 2014

Two years ago, before becoming the pastor here, I only knew one Muslim and only as an acquaintance. Within two years time, I have not only met many Muslims, but have developed life altering friendships with several, including Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed who facilitates the Muslim group that has met here for years.

I believe that opinions are highly influenced by relationships. Many fear what they don’t know. The biggest blessing that has come out of being the pastor at Brookville is interacting with the other faith groups on campus. My life is so much richer because my worldview has been expanded by the friendships I have made with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters who also call Brookville their home.

Our world is shrinking and the nations are coming to us. No longer does one have to travel across the globe to meet someone of a different culture or religion. They are now our neighbors, our co-workers, those we stand in line with at the bank or grocery store.I am going across the globe to learn from Omani’s in how to live peacefully with those of other faiths so that I can come home and help guide others to the same peaceful existence. Rev. Justin Meyers who has now been in Oman for a year, says that the most impactful thing about serving in Oman is the deep friendships that he has developed with faithful, peaceful, devout and loving Muslims.

I am proud to be going with seven other passionate people to a land that can teach us much. Thank you to Lesley Mazzotta, our new Director of Multifaith Education who was the first to have the vision to go and who organized the trip. In next month’s newsletter the two of us will share our journey with you and how we can continue to partner with the peace efforts being done in Oman and around the globe.

Shalom, Salaam, Peace,

Rev. Vicky

At the time of writing this, I am eight days away from leaving for Oman. Before meeting our Partner in Peace and Education, Rev. Justin Meyers, I was unaware of this small country on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula - a Muslim nation that is peaceful and accepting of other religions.

In a time in our world where there is so much unrest and so much fighting, especially in many of the Middle Eastern countries, you may be asking yourself, “Why in the world would she want to travel there?”

When we “see” so much violence and terror across our globe, our response tends to be like Rev. Doug Leonard (Director of the Al Amana Centre in Oman) states: “Too many Christian responses are fearful, not faithful. Too many responses seek to fight militias with militias, extremism with extremism, fire with fire, hatred with hatred. Our response should be different, deeply informed and inspired by Christ.” Jesus Christ stood for peace and therefore I feel compelled to go visit a place where our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, (RCA) has been working for peace since 1893. With a relationship with the Sultanate of Oman spanning more than 100 years, the RCA is positioned to be a strategic player in world peace.

The Al Amana Centre that our multifaith campus financially and prayerfully supports, is responding to the challenge of global religious intolerance and is seeking to “build bridges of understanding and cooperation between religions to work for the common good of all.” Rev. Leonard is involved in diplomatic diplomacy with some of the most important and influential people in the world. He was on the peace team that helped write the cease fire agreement between Israel and Palestine. Two weeks ago Rev. Leonard was at the United Nations working with world powers such as the King of Jordan to write a Peace Statement to end all war in the “name of God”.

Leaving on a jet plane....

COMMON GROUNDS COFFEEHOUSE RECORD SETTING DONATIONS!

Our September 19th Coffeehouse featuring Stuart Racey from the IFC and Irene Failenbogen from the New Synagogue and Lisa Denison and Mark Coffey from Brookville Church was a rousing success, raising $700.00 for Long Island Cares the Harry Chapin Food Bank! This is the largest amount ever collected at one of these events!

Stuart Racey performed folk hits by Harry Chapin and the Beatles, while Cantor Irene performed her own stirring compositions. Lisa Denison and Mark Coffey sang American Folk standards by the likes of Woody and Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Harry Chapin, as well as Joni Mitchell and John Prine.

Many Thanks go to Kris Baggelaar, for her hard work with publicity, as well as her invaluable connections that made it possible to have Sandy Chapin, wife of the late Harry Chapin, attend. Thanks also to Jessie Surig and Cathy O’Neill for donations of delicious baked goods, and to Jack and Antonia Petrash, Carol Goglia, Rev. Vicky, Rev. James and Raju Eastland for set up/clean up, raffles and sales help.

Many who attended brought food donations for the Long Island Cares. Donation boxes will remain through the holidays, so please remember when you are shopping to buy an extra box of cereal, can of vegetables or other non-perishable item for those less fortunate who live all around us.  

Our next Coffeehouse will be on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21st at 7:30 featuring our own MUSICA SHMOOZIKA! All funds raised at this event will go toward sending children to Camp Warwick for summer 2015. Please call Lisa Denison at 516-695-1123 to help out at the event or with donations for raffle baskets and refreshments. See you November 21st! ~ Lisa Denison

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE PRAYER SERVICE ~ SEPT. 21st

The annual U.N.'s International Day of Peace Prayer Service was hosted this year by Brookville Church and Brookville Multifaith Campus. Rev. Vicky and Dr. Abdulhameed gave the opening prayer and there were 12 different religions who came together to pray for peace in our world. As the Secretary General of the United Nations said, "The International Day of Peace is a time for reflection - a day when we reiterate our belief in non-violence and call for a global ceasefire.... let us pledge to teach our children the value of tolerance and mutual respect. Let us invest in the schools and teachers that will build a fair and inclusive world that embraces diversity."

It was an honor to host such an important prayer service especially in light of all the evil and violence that is happening in our world in the name of God. Remaining silent in the cause of peace is not the answer. One voice is small, but together we can move mountains! Thank you to the Multi-faith Forum of the Long Island Council of Churches for organizing the movement for peace on Long Island and the world.

Sandy Chapin speaks on behalf of Long Island Cares the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Blessing of the Animals

On September 28th, Brookville Church held its fifth annual Blessing of the Animals/Animal Lovers League (ALL) benefit in honor of the life and contributions of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis (1181-1226) dedicated his life to God in service to the poor and to the celebration and care of creation. Our coming together with the Interfaith Community of Long Island (IFC), friends, neighbors and ALL is in recognition of the gift of all living things, and beloved pets, in particular.

Each year the Blessing evolves, with some changes as well as continued traditions. This year a banner, which was attached to an ark made by Seth Cirker for the children’s spring play, was set out on the front lawn, announcing the upcoming event. During the service, the children took on the new role of bringing forward the donated pet food and supplies for ALL as a special shelter offering. Once again the IFC provided beverages and animal-themed refreshments following the

service; a special thank you to Amy Schombs and Sarah Cirker.

With glorious, summer-like weather, the service was held out-of-doors on the lawn on our tri-faith campus, an apropos setting to celebrate God’s creatures and all creation. The service began with a welcome and an opening prayer by Reverend Vicky Eastland, followed by a song and an Old Testament reading from Genesis. Sharing time was devoted to the telling of stories about family pets. Animal Lovers League president Joan Phillips spoke about her organization and its various programs and expressed her hope of someday coordinating a Sunday school outreach activity with Brookville’s youth, adding: “Thank you for your devotion to animals and for bringing us here as guests.”

Rev. Vicky offered a prayer of blessing, and said: “A blessing is an acknowledgment of God’s grace. We acknowledge how our animals teach us and we acknowledge their special place in our lives.” Attendees were invited forward with their pets for an individual blessing, after which the children gave each pet a St, Francis medallion and a treat; a special thank you to Gabe, Maddy and Leah Cirker, and Ian and Evan Schombs.

The Blessing of the Animals has come to symbolize Brookville Church’s ongoing commitment to be relevant and engaged; to be connected to what is going on in the lives of individuals of all our faith communities; to build a bridge between what is going on inside—and outside—Brookville Church, addressing our neighbors’ needs and being involved in their lives. It is for these reasons and in a spirit of caring for God’s creatures, not unlike our calling to remember the helpless in our society, that we embraced ALL as our special guests for a third consecutive year. Keep the stewardship of God’s creatures and keep ALL (www.animalloversleague.us) in your hearts and prayers. Give. Volunteer. Save a life, adopt a dog or cat. Love thy neighbor.~ Kris Baggelaar and Lisa Lebenns

Growth & Development (G&D)—October 2014

Together We Serve Meal Ministry

G&D is pleased to announce that a permanent meal ministry has been put in place, thanks to Lisa Lebenns and Lauren Goglia. This ministry achieves not only G&D’s reach-in objective of nurturing the concept of family and helping BRC members in need, but also G&D’s reach-out objective, that of helping others and building bridges/relationships among the other faith communities that call Brookville home. By adopting a system devised by mealTrain.com and using the church office as a central place to connect, the Brookville account is available to members of ALL the faith communities represented on our campus.

What is a meal train? A meal train is the coordinated giving of meals around significant life events, e.g. births, illness, or surgery. Meal trains are initiated to help make life a little easier and allow others to assist during a time of need. Having an organized mealTrain.com account eliminates the confusion related to meal giving (e.g. What do they like? When are they available? Are there special dietary and/or religious considerations?) and makes it easy for anyone to set a meal train in motion. You can initiate a meal train for yourself, your family or anyone else you feel might be in need, as will the faith leaders, who regularly have their fingers on their congregations’ pulses.

How does it work? Simply call the church office (516-626-0414) or send an email (Brookville@gmail.com) and give the name of the recipient(s), along with pertinent information. Lauren, the church’s Administrative Assistant, will send an email alert and provide this information to Brookville meal train volunteers, who will respond by going to our account, booking a date, and bringing a meal, making a dish that can be frozen/heated easily to be used in the future, ordering a local food delivery, sending a restaurant gift card, or sending flowers. It’s that easy.

How can I help? Call or email the church office to let Lauren know that you would like to participate; she will add your name to the list of Together We Serve meal train/ministry volunteers. As a participant/giver, you can make or buy a prepared meal, arrange for a pizza to be delivered, deliver a meal prepared by another volunteer, etc. In other words, you don’t have to be a cook to help!

Come onboard our Brookville meal ministry train. Support our faith families and strengthen the Brookville Multifaith community.

Kris Baggelaar, chairperson

Choir News By Carol Goglia, Minister of Music We had a very busy and exciting September. On the third Sunday of the month, we had our first ‘alternative’ Sunday service. Musica Shmoozica performed 4 spirituals that were amazing. Rev. Vicky beautifully intertwined reflective thoughts and scripture between each song. It was both poignant and riveting for all of us. Thank you Shmoozika for giving your gift of talents to the Brookville Church. October begins the rehearsal time for both the adult choir and the youth of the Brookville campus. Each group will start to prepare for the Advent services: the adults will offer a Christmas Cantata and the Youth will offer a Christmas play.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!!EVERYONE from EVERY part of our campus is invited to participate. If you are interested, please contact me at cgoglia@aol.com. The adults will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. All rehearsals will be no longer than 90 minutes. The youth will begin rehearsals on Saturday, October 18th from 4:00-6:00 in the Fellowship Hall. All rehearsals are 2 hours. Mark these dates on your calendar:Youth Christmas play – Sunday, December 14 at 10:00 amAdult Christmas Cantata – Sunday, December 21 at 10:00am It’s time to prepare!!!!!

Fall Harvest Festival

Mill Neck Manor

October 11 & 12 20149:00 am ~ 5:00 pm

APPLES ~ CHEESE HOUSE ~ COUNTRY STORE ~ BAKED GOOD AND SWEETS ~ SEASONAL

PRODUCE ~ GRILLED BRATWURST ~ COUNTRY CRAFTS ~ PUMPKIN PATCH ~ CHILDREN’S

ACTIVITIES ~ FACE PAINTING ~ SIGN LANGUAGE ITEMS

Join us on Columbus Day weekend at our beautiful 86 acre campus surrounded by

autumn’s colorful display!

$5.00 admission per vehicle (suggested donation)40 Frost Mill Road, Mill Neck, NY

www.Facebook.com/MillNeck

Warwick Days Open House

The Warwick Conference Center Women’s Auxiliary cordially invites you to WARWICK DAYS held at Camp Warwick’s Collegiate Lodge on Monday, Oct, 20, 2014. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

The guest speaker will be William Cosnett, Youth Ministry Director of Camp Warwick. Our music leader will be Ms. Lorraine Nelson Wolf, award-winning composer, singer and songwriter and Musical Director at the Reformed Church of Saugerties,

For more information, please see the flyer on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or call Arlene Tenckinck at the Warwick Center at 845-986-1164. Registration is limited to 175 participants so please register early. Price is $15.00 and the deadline is October 10th.

The Education CornerFrom our Director of Multifaith Education, Lesley Mazzotta

Isaiah 43:19: Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? There are many fabulous “new things” happening for Brookville Church's children and youth this fall.

Children’s Monthly ClassesOn October 19 and November 16, our children join the IFC children in Fellowship Hall for a monthly Bible lesson that highlights stories, arts, crafts and group discussion. October’s theme is Respect and November is Gratitude. Our classes are divided by age, and every grade is covered in three classes from kindergarten through 8th grade. If you have not already filled out a class registration form, please do so and return it to the church at your earliest convenience. Also, on November 2, there will be a special children’s class for All Saints Day. All children should gather in Fellowship Fall at 10am, while parents attend a special communion service in the sanctuary. Multifaith Youth GroupOur Youth Group has some exciting events coming up, including a High Ropes Course Adventure on Saturday, November 15, 9am - 3pm. All youth, ages 12 – 17, are invited to join us at Project C.A.R.E., a state of the art ropes course in Amityville, NY! Scholarships available upon request. We'll test our physical and mental capabilities, while building confidence, appreciation and trust! Then, we'll grab ice cream and discuss what we learned about gratitude and thankfulness for all that we can do, be, learn and experience in God's great world. Price: $45 for the day, including Project C.A.R.E., snacks and ice cream. (Each student should bring their own lunch.) Space is limited, and advance registration is required by Sunday, November 1, no exceptions! (Watch for registration information to come.)

If you would like more information on any of these programs, do not hesitate to contact me at Lesley@interfaithli.org or 917-623-4554. I look forward to seeing you and your children at these upcoming programs, as we see what new plans God has in store for us at Brookville church!

Fall Blessings,

Lesley

All Saints’ Day ~ Sunday Nov. 2

All members of the church who have died in the last year will be remembered in love and thanksgiving for their lives during the reading of the Necrology. If anyone wishes to have a member of their family or a friend included, please call the church office by October 30.

ReflectionsReflectionsWe were looking for a lunchtime light snack or sandwich to hold us over until an evening dinner party at the best restaurant in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I saw a sign for Jimmy Joe’s ‘JJ’ Gourmet Sandwiches and turned towards it until Nancy pointed just beyond to a Chic-fil-A shop, so we went there. I had never been inside their shops and I was pleased with the experience. Several people were standing around the counter and soon I was standing with them as we waited for our orders to be prepared fresh. I had been given my lemonade and after several large swallows I lifted the top to see if I could add some more ice. The clerk called over to me, “Would you like to fill it up again?” Wow, such fine attention and the sandwich was delicious. They are not open on Sundays and that reminded me of 1958 when I arrived at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for the Army Signal Officer’s School. In the fifties New Jersey had Blue Laws that I knew nothing about as they did not exist in Minnesota. Anyhow, it was interesting to remember that some stores were closed and in others we could not buy certain things on Sunday so the stores simply covered them with sheets or something. The next time I encountered Blue Laws was in New Zealand where that country actually closed down at about noon on Saturday and stayed closed until Monday and that continues even now in their countryside.

Nancy and I have been going to the Shenandoah Valley for several years and it was in part because of the folk song “O Shenandoah” whose lyrics beckoned me to visit the Valley years before we actually got there. The words romanticized the place before I knew the place and all its grandeur. At West Point we studied the Civil War battles and especially the Valley Campaigns but nothing about the history or culture. There is rich lore about the Indians and then the settlers who migrated to the area on the Great Wagon Road which attracted hundreds of thousands of pioneers to venture to the Valley and beyond. Now I relish the opportunity to be there and see the battlegrounds, the mountains, and of course the River. (However the song was really about another place.)

We usually enjoyed sitting on the deck to watch the sun go down behind the mountain but this year as I was out early jogging I saw the eastern sky turn pink. It was just a short distance to a place overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east so I stopped there to see the sun rise.. For the next seven days I saw the sun rise. First there was the dark sky above even darker mountains. Then slowly a pink glow spread across the sky and clouds but always behind the mountains. Soon the serrated ridges were visible as the early glory of the new dawning day began. The nighttime mountain air was cool above the lower and warmer ridges and valleys so there was fog covering the foreground and masking the distance to the Blue Ridge until the sun burned it off after it had risen above the heights.

Reflecting on this spectacle I began to understand that the sun has its own slow steady pace turning the pink glow into a crown of gold just before brilliant yellow; then the intense bright disc of the sun appeared and the show was pretty much over until the next day. The stillness of dawn has been happening since these mountains were born. Their massive, solid prominences have existed before the coming of man. Their lasting was only an idea in the minds of men who wonder at something that will still stand beyond our short time on earth.

As we drove out of Maryland into the Valley near Winchester, VA we got on Interstate 81 which rips down the middle of the Valley actually covering the same route as the Great Wagon Road. But once we arrive at our destination we try to stay on the local roads - such as Route 11, parallel to and preceding I-81. And there is also Route 42 which is called the Back Road because it is back to the west behind and beyond Route 11 and was intended to be a connector for all of the small western Valley towns. But Route 42 was never completed as a through road so there are sections that have not changed and towns along it that are slow to change -- these are the places to see and savor. Here one can appreciate the Valley defined by its culture, its history and traditions and understand how the Allegheny Mountains have kept them from spreading west.

What alone brings you back to a piece of music, a song, or a place is the mood that it creates in you when you have experienced it. The Shenandoah is such a place.

Branch Worsham Beat Navy

End Word: One morning a man got up early to watch the sun rise. As he sat in the dark it suddenly dawned on him. (Please forgive me. Yes, it’s corny, but cute.)

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountain! John Muir

BEN ~ MET ANNA ~ MADE A HITNEGLECTED BEARD ~ BEN-ANNA SPLIT