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St. Peter’s Press St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church - Spencertown, NY

PO Box 14 | 5219 County Route 7 | Spencertown, NY 12165

Telephone: 518.392.3386 | Email: stpeterspc@fairpoint.net

Rev. Lynn Horan: Cell Phone 518-847-9115 | Email: lynnmhoran@gmail.com

Website: http://saintpeterspc.org | Facebook: www.facebook.com/saintpeterspc

January 2020

New Year’s Greetings!

As we embark on this New Year together, I am so grateful to begin serving as your installed pastor! As we enter into more long-term ministry together, we have the opportunity to dig more deeply, search more intentionally and build more sustainable ministry together.

As we continue our journey, I look forward to developing further the thoughts and ideas that were expressed in our “Fields of Faith” Mission Study, turning our prayerful hopes into Christ-led realities.

Here are some initial thoughts as we look into 2020:

1) Spiritual Formation: There continues to be great interest in developing meaningful spiritual practices in a welcoming environment that embraces our various doubts, questions and curiosities about faith. I look forward to holding another “Faith Seekers” class this March during Lent as well as encouraging in-home Bible study, themed discussion groups and mid-week prayer circles.

2) Mission Development: At the end of 2019, Council voted to make our Mission Development Fund more transparent and easily accessible, thus enabling more congregational participation in creating mission and outreach opportunities. Join us on February 2nd as we discern where God is leading us!

3) Building Leadership: I am always moved by the sign that leads into our fellowship room, “God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called.” For me this is reminder that God has called each of us for a unique purpose to build God’s kingdom. I look forward to partnering with each of you as you discern how God is calling you to serve in our church and larger community, whether it be joining our worship team, serving as a Deacon, Elder or Trustee, or participating in the important behind-the-scenes leadership that makes our ministry possible.

“2020 vision” isn’t about seeing perfectly or “getting it right,” when it comes to interpreting the world around us or predicting what’s ahead. Instead, it’s a posture of openness and engagement, in which we seek to sharpen our perception and become more attune to the movement of God’s Spirit in our midst.

So I invite each of us, as we begin this New Year, to not only open our eyes, but open our hearts to the incredible possibilities that God has put before us.

May the Light of Christ be with you all!

Blessings, Pastor Lynn

mailto:stpeterspc@fairpoint.nethttp://spencertown.wix.com/stpeterspresbyterianchurch

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January Worship

Sunday, January 5th Guest Preacher

Rev. Stewart Pattison Communion

Sunday, January 12th

Rev. Lynn Horan Preaching Ordination and Installation of

New Officers

Sunday, January 19th Worship Team Leading

Worship on Restorative Justice

Sunday, January 26th Rev. Lynn Horan Preaching

Congregational Meeting after worship

JANUARY LECTIONARY READINGS

1/5/20 Second Sunday of Christmas

Jeremiah 31:7-14;

Psalm 147:12-20;

Ephesians 1:3-14;

John 1:(1-9)10-18

1/6/20 Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6;

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14;

Ephesians 3:1-12;

Matthew 2:1-12

1/12/20 Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29;

Acts 10:34-43;

Matthew 3:13-17

1/19/20 Isaiah 49:1-7;

Psalm 40:1-11; 1

Corinthians 1:1-9;

John 1:29-42

1/26/20 Isaiah 9:1-4;

Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1

Corinthians 1:10-18;

Matthew 4:12-23

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Women’s Unabridged Book Group

We welcome any woman or friend of a member to come join our group. We usually meet the third Tuesday of the month at different members' houses for potluck suppers or coffee and desserts. Please contact Denise Davis if you are interested at 518-392-9690!

Date: Saturday in January TBD

Annual Day Out activity followed

by lunch.

Date: February 18th 6:30pm

Book: Black History Month - TBD

Date: March 17th at 6:30pm

Book: Midnight’s Children

by Salman Rushdie

************************************************************

NEW

CHURCH OFFICERS

Important Dates

Wednesday January 8th Examination of New Church Officers

during Council Meeting, 7pm

Sunday January 12th Ordination and installation of new

church officers, during worship (Includes new Ruling Elders and Deacons and those returning for

a second term)

ANNUAL

Congregational Meeting

and Potluck

Sunday, January 26th

After Worship

(Snow date: Feb. 2nd)

Please join us after worship for our Annual Congregational Meeting and

Potluck where we will:

Receive the Annual Budget

approved by Council

Review our annual report

and ministry updates

Elect members to the

Clara Gott Fund and

Nominating Committee

Please plan to attend this

important meeting in the life

of our church family!

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WORSHIP SERVICE on RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Sunday, Jan. 19th 10am

St. Peter’s Church

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,

we will prayerfully consider the important work of restorative justice,

what it means for our community and the ways in which the

Presbyterian Church actively promotes this form of justice.

Worship leaders John and Nona Lange, Patricia McKeon and others will share

of their experiences advocating for more holistic approaches to justice and what this means in their lives of faith.

* * *

What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

~ Micah 6:8 ~

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE RESOURCES

Presbyterian Church (USA) Resolution on Restorative Justice Approved by the 214th General Assembly in 2002. https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/restorative-justice.pdf Contact Rev. Lynn Horan: lynnmhoran@gmail.com Alternatives to Violence Project New York www.avpny.org Contact Patricia McKeon: patriciamckeon1@gmail.com New York Campaign for Alternatives to Solitary Confinement Advocacy Day, Tuesday, January 21 New York State Capitol Building, Albany http://nycaic.org/ Contact Nona Lange: drnonalewis@gmail.com

https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/restorative-justice.pdfhttps://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/restorative-justice.pdfhttps://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/restorative-justice.pdfhttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s_6A4SgYUo-D2h6texn-qD8aNvbsHS3gwwNbTa1Sc_Np3KHBqUPFtlsE9-5iBkpSpAEk3RzH4ypcuilDq9MVDW-cmbPwX632uvfDeVafl6ja8n-BWrTxDgrvm4TcuKwWEV0-8R-WkTg=&c=Eb5OKP-JkIP0qNfHbHze3CK3JpYzxnHwtYOQ73L8_BRsj-x1ILAkzA==&ch=fRiv9FdnZK9Sl3jYR8nKwv1ELNnz6xhs_lxzU38zW9xyVCD3WM7Czg==http://nycaic.org/

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Church member Patricia McKeon shares about a new ministry opportunity at Green Haven Prison

(previously published with Alternatives to Violence Project New York www.avpny.org)

Retired for a year, I felt ready to volunteer my time but wanted to choose an experience out of my comfort zone and something I felt had meaning to me. I had met my mentor, Carolyn Polikarpus, several times over the years and I knew she was doing work with prisoners. Her enthusiasm for this work was infectious and I thought the program AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) could be meaningful for me as well. I decided to try the first facilitator training to see if the program was right for me. I had never been to a prison and didn’t know how I would react to the experience.

As a volunteer at a maximum-security prison, we were always accompanied to our classroom by a Corrections Officer. This provided an opportunity to get a glimpse into their thoughts about working at Green Haven. We talked about the weather, their jobs, their lives and sometimes we didn't speak. I sometimes wondered whether accompanying volunteers was their least favorite task. I am a real novice to our criminal justice system and Carolyn shepherded me through the process of being fingerprinted and through security checkpoints. She demonstrated patience and kindness to everyone she met. When we got to the classroom, it was clear Carolyn had the respect and admiration of the inside facilitators. I felt that I was swept into their confidence by my mere association with her. I shortly found myself in the company of more than a dozen men I didn't know performing a series of exercises designed to share laughter, build trust and create community. I found that attempting to remember each person's name was particularly stressful for me as I don't usually find I recall names easily. By the end of the first day, I began to realize that I had begun to face my own inadequacies with recognition and humor, supported by the group. I have rarely felt such acceptance in such a short period of time. Throughout the long days, I began to see the evolution of a group who slowly began to remove their facades and to share deep thoughts and experiences. By the end of the weekend, I was physically exhausted but intellectually stimulated. In the days that followed, I couldn’t stop thinking about the men I had met. Thoughts of justice, injustice, freedom, redemption, punishment, incarceration and the humanity of all people filled my thoughts. I found I needed quiet and space to absorb these new experiences. In a surprisingly short time I was ready to plan my return to Green Haven. ~Patricia McKeon

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s_6A4SgYUo-D2h6texn-qD8aNvbsHS3gwwNbTa1Sc_Np3KHBqUPFtlsE9-5iBkpSpAEk3RzH4ypcuilDq9MVDW-cmbPwX632uvfDeVafl6ja8n-BWrTxDgrvm4TcuKwWEV0-8R-WkTg=&c=Eb5OKP-JkIP0qNfHbHze3CK3JpYzxnHwtYOQ73L8_BRsj-x1ILAkzA==&ch=fRiv9FdnZK9Sl3jYR8nKwv1ELNnz6xhs_lxzU38zW9xyVCD3WM7Czg==

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MISSION DEVELOPMENT MEETING

Sunday February 2nd After Worship

Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness, like a

never-failing stream!

~ Amos 5:24 ~

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Join us for an exciting

brainstorming meeting as we explore mission opportunities

in the New Year!

Learn about important changes to our mission funding structure

that will enable greater congregational participation!

Review priorities and insights

from our “Fields of Faith” Mission Study.

ADD YOUR VOICE to this

IMPORTANT DISCUSSION!

INSTALLATION SERVICE FOR REV. LYNN HORAN

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23RD, 3PM

Join us for a special worship service to formally install Rev. Lynn Horan as our pastor. As we gather together as a church family, we also welcome members of the Presbytery and neighboring churches for this community celebration!

Reception to follow in the fellowship room.

************************************************************

The Legend of the

Bleeding Heart Dove

When an arrogant

soldier of Pontius Pilate

plunged his spear into the side of Christ as

He hung helpless on the Cross, a cruel

wound was exposed. Out of the Heavens

flew a dove, and descending to the cross,

the bird gently brushed–perhaps accidently,

perhaps designedly–against the wound

made by the spear. The sacred blood of the

Savior stained a few feathers on the dove’s

breast, and from that day to this, every dove

of this species carries a few blood-red

feathers on its breast-a memento of that

incident almost two thousand years ago.

Note from Mary Wambach “My stepfather

raised these birds for the Catskill Game

Farm which is no longer in existence. My

stepbrother who lives in Highland, NY also

raises doves.”

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Christmas Bazaar 2019

Many thanks to Jennifer

Lippert, who headed up

the Holiday Bazaar, held

on December 14th, and to

everyone who worked

many hours to prepare for and to work at

the bazaar. It was a lovely day, and the

tables were full of wonderful items. The

cookie walk was again popular, and a

delicious lunch of chili and cornbread was

served. There were many beautiful

handmade items. The jewelry table as well

as the silent auction rounded out the day

with many great offerings.

The Christmas Bazaar raised more than

$6,900 for the church!

**************************************

2019 Christmas Bazaar Quilt raffle winner

Our very lucky quilt raffle ticket winner

at this year’s Annual Christmas Bazaar is

Donna Staron

Congratulations Donna!

Thank you to everyone that bought and

sold tickets and helped make this raffle

the success that it is every year!

MINISTRY REPORTS NEEDED

for

ST. PETER’S ANNUAL REPORT

A reminder to all ministry teams to

submit your annual reports to Shelley by

January 10th, to be included in our

Annual Report

Reports may include highlights of your

ministry over the past year and plans for

the coming year.

Please submit to Shelley at

stpeterspc@fairpoint.net

*Please send your report in the form of a

Word Document or in an email.

Thank you for sharing your gifts of ministry with our community of faith!

***************************************

2020 Church Directory

The 2020 edition of the Church Directory

will soon be available. If you have any

additions/corrections/deletions to your

present listing, please contact the church

office at 518-392-3386 or email:

stpeterspc@fairpoint.net by Fri., Jan. 3rd.

***************************************

ST. PETER’S PRESS DEADLINE

To submit an article for the newsletter just

email it to Shelley at the church office

stpeterspc@fairpoint.net by the 20th of

each month. The submission deadline for

the February issue is Monday, Jan. 20th

mailto:stpeterspc@fairpoint.netmailto:stpeterspc@fairpoint.net

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DO YOU FEEL CALLED

TO SERVE

AS A DEACON?

Here at St. Peter’s, the prayerful work of our Deacons make our faith

community a place of welcome hospitality, care and nurture.

Through our Deacons ministry, the compassion of Christ is shared

during our fellowship gatherings after worship, phone calls and visits

to those in need of comfort, providing of food and transportation

to those who are homebound, and much much more!

If you feel called to serve in this important way for our church family

and larger community…

Please call or email Rev. Lynn Horan

lynnmhoran@gmail.com OR

Barbara Conkling, Chair, Nominating Committee

barbara.conkling@gmail.com

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's grace:

~ 1 Peter 4:10 ~

Continued Prayers for Morgan Deane

We continue to hold in prayer Morgan Patterson Deane as she continues cancer treatment and recovers from surgery. Although her GoFundMe campaign is doing quite well, donations are still welcome.

www.gofundme.com/f/you039re-going-to-need-a-sense-of-tumor.

If you would like to donate but are leery of doing so online, you may send donations to our church office, checks to be made out directly to Morgan Deane, and donations will be forward to her directly. ************************************************************

CLARA GOTT FUND APPLICATION DEADLINES

The Clara Gott Fund application deadlines are: Mar. 15th, Jun. 15th, Sept. 15th, and Dec. 15th

Applications for assistance from the Fund are available at all times on the church bulletin board in the front hall and on our website at saintpeterspc.org. Church members are urged to call this to the attention of those who might want to apply.

Our next application deadline is March 15th

While riding in the car one clear

summer night, our daughter, just 3,

gazing at the star-studded sky,

“God’s home,:” she exulted, “All His

lights are on.”

Country Woman

Submitted by Mary Wambach

mailto:lynnmhoran@gmail.commailto:barbara.conkling@gmail.comhttp://saintpterspc.org/

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MEN’S GROUP and DOCUMENT FILM NIGHTS

The Men’s Group meets throughout the

year at the Chatham Grill with a focus on

social justice issues. In addition, a

number of film nights are held with

everyone invited. If you would like to be

included on our mailing list to find out

about upcoming film nights and/or group

meeting dates, or have any questions,

please contact Wayne Coe at

waynecoe@gmail.com.

**************************************

PASTOR’S WEEKLY

OFFICE HOURS

Lynn’s weekly office

hours are Monday –

Wednesday, 9am–1pm. Lynn

is also available whenever needed for

pastoral care emergencies.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Office/Cell Phone: 518-847-9115

Email: Lynnmhoran@gmail.com

************************************* Tuesday 11am - 3pm

Thursday 9am - 1pm

Friday 10:30am-1:30pm

***************************************** Life’s too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it. If t changes your life, let it. No body said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Dr. Seuss Submitted by Mary Wambach

January Birthdays m

Daphne Coe 1/2 Bonnie Mesick 1/5 Charlotte Coalter 1/8 Arlene Newton 1/15 Cheryl Roberts 1/15 AnneMae Cashen 1/16 William Culley 1/16 Rev Lynn Horan 1/16 Marion Goodrich 1/17 Patricia Meess 1/18 Kevin Lippert 1/20 Matthew Harrington 1/22 Frances Culley 1/23 Ian Wing 1/26 Terry Buck 1/28 Isabella Waldorf 1/28

Did we forget your birthday? If you would like to be added to our birthday list, please contact

one of our deacons to be added to the birthday list.

************************************************** Sung to the tune of “These are a Few of My Favorite

Things” from the “Sound of Music”

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,

Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,

Bundles of magazines tied up in string,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses

Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,

Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, when the bones creak,

When the knees go bad,

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don’t feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions

No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions

Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring

These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinning

Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning,

And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames

When we remember our favorite things.

When the joins ache, when the hips break,

When the eyes grow dim,

Then I remember the great life I’ve had,

And then I don’t feel so bad.”

“Written by one of my classmates for our 65th

class reunion in September” Mary Wambach

mailto:waynecoe@gmail.commailto:Lynnmhoran@gmail.com

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January Worship Leaders

Jan. 5th Head Usher: Jere Wrightsman

Assistant Usher: Mitzi Lobdell

Liturgist: Shirley Newsome

Communion Servers: Kurt Barensfeld

Mary Anne Davis

Jan. 12th Head Usher: Raeph Sanderson

Asst. Usher: Pat Meess

Liturgist: Nancy Ordman

Jan. 19th Head Usher: Larry Massimo

Asst. Usher: Beth Cozzolino

Liturgist: Worship Team

Jan. 26th Head Usher: Randy Ezinga

Asst. Usher: Barbara Conkling

Liturgist Kathy Geddie

How does the Monthly Worship Leader list work? If you are a regular worshiper or have expressed interest in serving as an usher or liturgist,

your name will be included in a rotating list of people which will be selected from each month for worship.

Each month our Office Administrator Shelley will schedule two ushers and one liturgist for each Sunday in the following month from the list. Communion servers will also be selected for Communion Sunday.

An email will be sent to all the worship leaders signed up for the coming month. If an individual is not available for their given Sunday, they will reach out to someone serving that month and switch dates. *Please find your own substitute if needed and let the church office know who it is. Thank you!

A calendar of the month's worship leaders will be included in our monthly newsletter as well as posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

Come let us worship together!

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Year’s Day

2

3 9:00am Deacons Meeting

4

5 9:00am Choir 10:00am Worship with Communion Service and Sunday School

6

7

8 7:00pm Choir 7:00pm Council Meeting Examination of New Church Officers

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10

11

12 9:00am Choir 10:00am Worship and Installation and Ordination of New Officers Service and Sunday School

13

14 7:00pm Trustees Meeting

15 7:00pm Choir

16

17

18

19 9:00am Choir 10:00am Restorative Justice Worship Service and Sunday School

20

21

22 7:00pm Choir

23

24

25

26 9:00am Choir 10:00am Worship and Sunday School 11:00am Congregational Meeting after worship

27

28

29 7:00pm Choir

30

31

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A Prayer Without Sound By Patrice Stanton

Submitted by Mary Wambach

In the week before New Year’s a tale I was told;

that creatures would gather in traditions quite old…

The day before New Year’s and all through the house

not a creature was QUIET, they scurried about.

Some picked up odd stockings dropped without care;

first straightened, then folded, then set on the chair.

The cooking was done, the party all planned, so all that remained

seemed well in hand…

The fish made the punch in a bowl by the oven;

they used a great spoon and took turns by the dozen;

wine for the grown-ups, milk for the cat,

brine for themselves what flavor is THAT?

The mice made the snacks of course you can guess,

in all the excitement they made quite a MESS…

bits of cheese here, and bits of cheese there,

SOME even got great gobs in their HAIR!

The birds set the table; first placing with care a billowing white cover arranged from the air… then on with the plates

and cups without clatter, knives, spoons and forks,

but where is the PLATTER?

The guest would soon gather to sing and to feast; for all love a party, even the beasts.

The turtles left early since how THEY must go seemed doubly distant; they travel so slow… along the way there,

they were offered a lift, on the back of a deer, known to be SWIFT.

The turtles are here! Let the party begin;

the feasting, the dancing for all to join in.

The food was served first to give them the zeal to sing and to dance

AFTER the meal.

The BEST things they knew, to serve at a feast

were those made of foodstuffs LACKING a beast…

So, out from the kitchen at last was carried

that PLATTER, with noodles and sauce-nicely married!

Then with hands, and paws, and wings joined ‘round,

they sent up a prayer without any sound…

God bless us, here gathered and those NOT in sight

and keep us all safe through this and each night