Prattsburgh First Presbyterian Church
Prattsburgh, New York
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Rev. Lois Gillaspie, Pastor
Church (607) 522-3387
Manse (585) 393-4772
email: lgillaspie@earthlink.net
October/November 2002 Newsletter
Introduction
Pastor's Remarks
Session
Deacons
Session and Deacon Retreat
Presbytery
Women's Circle
Stewardship
Monthly Dinners
Missions
Cookbooks
Web site
For Your Information
Community and Area Information
Joys and Concerns
On the Lighter Side
Dates to Remember
Introduction
Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Childrens Service following worship
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Rev. Lois had a Study Leave on September 29th. Rev. Fred Magley led our worship service that Sunday. In October Rev. Lois has had 2 weeks of vacation, including Sundays October 13th and 20th. Lay Preacher Kitty Ormsby led us in worship those Sundays.
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On November 3rd Communion will be celebrated and election of officers will be held for new deacons and session members. November 17th is Stewardship Sunday, and 50 year members of our church will be honored. There will also be a “dish to pass” brunch. November 24th a Thank Offering, sponsored by Ladies Circle, will be collected during our worship service. This mission offering supports hospitals and other health ministries of suffering people around the world. An Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship Service will be held during Thanksgiving week. The committee does not yet know the date of the service, but when that is decided, it will be in the bulletins and perhaps in the next newsletter.
Remember if you have an emergency need of a pastor, or
if you know of a church member who is hospitalized or needs a pastor,
you may call Rev. Lois at the Manse, her home in Canandaigua. And for
those of you who have a computer, her e-mail is:
lgillaspie@earthlink.net.
If you have other concerns about the church, please call Clark Davis,
Clerk of Session.top
Pastor’s Remarks:
“You’ve seen the example of poor planing, where
the letters begin like this, large and then drift downward: Plan now for
tomorrow, the message being one has not planned ahead. Well I think I
am a little guilty of this. Having spent the last several months with
you, I forgot to get in the vacation and study leave...so now I will seem
to be gone more than I am present for the next few weeks.
Too late to say “I’m sorry!” But I do plan to be around
for Thanksgiving and all of the Advent season. Which reminds me, a busy
time in our church life is coming up. We’ll be talking about Stewardship,
about Thanksgiving and then the Christmas season. A good time for you
to plan ahead. So that.......
I’ll See You in Church,
Rev. G.”top
Session:
Session met October 6th at the church. The next session
meeting will be Sunday, November 10th and it is very important for all
session members to attend. Members of Presbytery will be attending for
the Stated Supply annual review.
top
Deacons:
The Deacons met in October to discuss plans including the
bake sale they sponsored at the Annual Harvest Dinner, October 12th. Deacons
thank all members who baked items and who helped support the bake sale.
Remember to contact Diane Breton whenever you know of members or church
friends who are in the hospital, or who are ill at home and would appreciate
cards, or perhaps even a meal. top
Session and Deacon Retreat:
Saturday, September 21st Session members and Deacons participated in a spiritual retreat led by Rev. Lois at Camp Whitman. They learned more what it means to be a Presbyterian, they reflected and discussed direction for our church, and they had a worship service with communion. The weather was beautiful so after a delicious lunch many also enjoyed walking the campgrounds. All who attended felt the retreat was an enlightening and uplifting experience. See pictures
September Presbytery: Clark Davis reports:
On September 24th it was my privilege, accompanied by
Diane, to again represent our church’s delegate to the Presbytery
meeting. The drive there was beautiful and as we made a mistake got to
see Sodus Bay before going to Sodus!!
The Presbytery as always conducted a great deal of official business.
Some of the items adopted were:
- Proposed Operations Budget for 2003.
- Proposed Mission Budget for 2003.
- Recommendation to form an administrative commission
for the New
Church Development at Gananda.
- Recommendation that minimum cash salary for a full
time Pastor in the
Presbytery of Geneva be increased by 3% in 2003.
- Encourages all Session and Congregations to consider
increasing their
Pastor’s salary by 3%.
- Recommendations from Mission Projects Comm. for funding
for Colleges
for 2003:Cornell University $5,500 Corning Community $2,500 Finger Lakes Community College $2,000 Ithaca College $3,000
- Recommendation to elect Laura Norris Buish Stated
Clerk for 3 years.
- Received reports
Bill Yoder, dean of McGilvary School of Theology in Thailand, gave a summary of the activities there. Sam Edwards, Presbytery Exec. presented him with a check for $30,000. This represents 2 years of gifts from Marcy Punnett Scholarship and recent gifts for the life and ministry of Don McIlvride.
Sub-committee of the Social Concerns and Church Education Comm. is working to develop a ministry for Gay and Lesbian Youth. - The next meeting of Presbytery will be Saturday, November
16th at Elmira North Presbyterian Church.
top
Presbyterian Women’s Circle:
- The September Circle meeting and picnic was at the home of Diane Davis and the October meeting was at the home of Barb Shaver. The meetings consisted of business and Bible Study. The 2003 quilt has begun to be embroidered by many ladies in the church. Circle donated $50 to Presbyterian Women missions. The November meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at the home of Harriette Anderson. If any new ladies wish to join and participate in our Bible study, contact Harriette for a book, Journey Through the Bible; Luke. The next lesson will be Chapter 6.
- Congratulations to Melba Jean Ellingsworth who visits us from Dexter, N. Y. and sings in our choir too when she is in Prattsburgh. She won the 2002 quilt.
- Please remember the ladies prayer chain and if you know of any members or their families or church friends who are in need of prayers, please contact Harriette.
Stewardship:
Thank you always to all members and friends who continue
to support our church with your financial pledges and donations. You will
be hearing from our Membership and Stewardship committees soon about 2003
pledges. Stewardship Sunday will be November 17th. Anytime you would like
to make financial donations to church or our missions and are unable to
attend church to do so, you may send them to Diane Davis, Treasurer, at
the church address. . top
Monthly Dinners:
- The September 14th Swiss steak dinner chaired by Ruthel VanAmburg and Diane Davis was a huge success!! $496.00 was profited, more than any previous 2002 dinner. Thanks to all who donated, helped and attended!!
- The October 12th Annual Harvest Dinner and Bazaar, chaired by Harriette Anderson and Joan Putnam, was a success also. The dinner profited $756.00, the quilt profited $618.00, the bake sale profited $80.60, and the white elephant sale profited $47.00. The total profit for the event was $1501.60. Thanks to all who donated, helped, and attended this event also. Without the help of church family, none of our dinners would be profitable.
- The next dinner on Saturday November 9th will be chaired by VanAmburgs and Shavers, and ham will be served. . top
Missions:
- Prattsburgh Food Pantry: To date this year we have donated $398.65.
- 2 Cents a Meal: Thanks to all who support this worthy mission which in turn supports all the food pantries in our Presbytery. Prattsburgh received $500. Your donations of 2 cents a meal--or 6 cents a day--left in the jars at our dinners or the large jar in the back of church, all add up. Thus far this year our church has sent $159.42 to Presbytery from your donations.
- Camp Whitman: Ron Perkins on the Camp Property Committee of Presbytery gave me the “Wish List” for camp. Some of the smaller items needed this year are: dish cloths and towels, flashlights and batteries, white tee shirts, and craft supplies such as markers, Rit Dye, and scissors. See the entire Wish List on a later page.
- Mexico: That’s right--you really
did read the right word!! Did you know our Presbytery has a mission
trip every year to Mexico to help build Presbyterian churches? In January
2003 many members of our Presbytery will be going again. This year they
will continue working on the Emanuel Church conference and education
center in the Caribe Presbytery in the Yucatan Peninsula.
The Missions Committee of the Bath Presbyterian Church is having a dish to pass supper, Saturday, October 27th at 6:30 P.M. The menu will be a Mexican theme. Ms. Stephanie Maslin, Church Educator at Elmira North, will tell about her experiences with our Mexican friends and share show slides of her last trip. top
Cookbooks: 
Treasures From Heaven is still available for $10.00. We
have made a profit so far of $870.00. The holidays are coming soon and
the books make wonderful gifts. We have over 50 copies to still sell.
Please consider selling some more or buying some for gifts. Contact Diane
Davis for books. . top
Web site for Prattsburgh Presbyterian Church:
Diane Breton has been working to create the web site for
our church. If you have a computer, it is a wonderful way to read about
our church, and view pictures. The temporary address of the site is: http://dianebre.tripod.com/ppc/presbychurch.html
If you have any suggestions or news or pictures for our web site, you
may contact Diane at her e-mail: hilltop2200@yahoo.com. top
For Your Information:
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I share with
you some history which I found very interesting.
The first record of a pilgrim feast was in 1621, marking an abundant harvest
and three-day feast after a perilous winter. Throughout our history we
have had many reasons to give thanks. In 1789, 168 years after the Pilgrims’
celebration of thanks,
George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation.
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of our Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of ‘Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
“Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these states to the great Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is or that will be--that we may unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks--for His kind care and protection of the people of this county...
“And also that we may unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed...To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue and the increase of science among them (other nations) and us--and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
“Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.” 1
But---the first national proclamation of a day of Thanksgiving came from Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Six weeks before the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a day not only of thanksgiving but also for national penitence.
“It has seemed to me fit and proper that (our bounties) should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and voice, by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens...to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and prayer to our beneficent Father, who dwelleth in the heavens, and I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to God, for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to God’s tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as many be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union.” 2
1. Pulpit Helps, Volume 27, Nov. 2002, Number 11.
2. Ideas, Volume Two, Issue Two, Fall/Winter 2002-2003top
Community and area information you may be interested in:
- The Ecumenical Community of Southern Tier is sponsoring “Peacemaking in Difficult Times” on Saturday, November 2, 2002 at the Bath Presbyterian Church. See the special page about it at end of the newsletter and bulletin inserts at church.
- The Medicine Review / Health Fair for all area residents age 60 and older will be held Wednesday, October 30, 2002 from 9:00 a.m.--2 p.m. at Lakeview Apts. 105 Geneva Street, Bath, NY. For more information call RSVP at 776-7813.
- The nearest Flu Shot Clinic will be Friday, November 22nd at the Prattsburgh United Methodist Church from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Joys and Concerns:
Joys: Congratulations to the soon to be
honored 50 year members of our church: Katie Edwards, Jay Flint, Fred
and Theresa Lewis, Art Putnam, and Barb Shaver.
Concerns: Thoughts and prayers are with Jay Flint, Richie
Seligman, Fred and Theresa Lewis and their families, and those who have
had surgery, Wanda Putnam, Dick LaTour, and Anne Poore. We wish Joey Campbell,
son of Karen and Jim, a speedy recovery after a car accident. And we hope
Joan Putnam’s bruised toe, caused by a 12 pound turkey, heals soon!
Anyone driving to visit family or friends during Thanksgiving, we hope
you have a very safe trip, and on the lighter side of concerns, as Clark
and Diane Davis learned on their way home from visiting family, don’t
by mistake fill your vehicle with diesel fuel!!
On the Lighter Side:
- A friend from Arizona sent me this story:
A woman was asked by a co-worker, “What is it like to be a Christian?” The co-worker replied, “It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”
- R.E. Marino, quoted in Pulpit Helps, says “Thanksgiving
is when one species
ceases to gobble and another begins.”
- Ruthel VanAmburg submitted the following: “Think
About It”
- Some people are kind, polite and sweet spirited until you try to sit in their pews!
- Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors!
- It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
- The Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
- When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.
- People are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, but the back of church.
- In September I received by e mail a story entitled
“Obituary,” author unknown, from a friend in Syracuse, and
considered using it for the newsletter. I read the same story entitled,
“An Old Friend Passes Away,” in November’s issue of
Pulpit Helps. this month, and knew then that it would be appropriate
for any church newsletter.
- An Old Friend Passes Away
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, by
the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died in the
United States from heart failure at the beginning of the new millennium.
No one really knows how old he was, since his birthrecords long ago were
lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service
in schools, hospitals,homes, factories, helping folks get jobs done without
fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous
lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating
such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the
early bird gets the worm,and that life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge,
not the kids), and it's okay to come in
second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the
Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational
trends including body piercing, multi-languageballots, and "new math."
Alas his health declined when he became infected with the, "If-it-makes-you-feel-good-do-it"
virus.
In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages
of well intentioned, but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as
good people became ruled by self-seeking
lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools implemented endless
zero-tolerance policies. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate, a teenager suspended for taking a
swig of mouthwash after lunch, and ateacher fired for reprimanding an
unruly student, only worsened
his condition.
It declined even further when schools had to get parental consentto administer
aspirin to a student, but could not inform the parents when a female student
was pregnant or wanted an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the TenCommandments became
contraband, Churches became
businesses, criminals received better treatment than their victims, and
Federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to
professional sports. Finally, when a woman failed to realize that a steaming
cup ofcoffee was hot, she was awarded a huge settlement, and Common Sense
threw in the towel. As his end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out
of logic, but was kept informed of developmentsregardingquestionable regulations
such as those for low flow toilets,rocking chairs,
and stepladders.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth andTrust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son,Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. top
Dates to Remember
October:
27 Missions Committee “Mexican” dish to pass supper 6:30 p.m.
at Bath Presbyterian Church
30 Medicine Review/Health Fair; Bath 9--2 p.m.
31 Happy Halloween
Community Trick or Treat 6--8 p.m.
November:
2 “Peacemaking In Difficult Times” at Bath Presbyterian Church
9 a.m.--1 p.m.
3 Sunday Communion
Election of Elders and Deacons
5 Election Day
9 Church ham dinner 4:30--6:30 p.m.
10 Sunday Session meeting
11 Veteran’s Day
13 Ladies Circle at home of Harriette Anderson
16 Presbytery meeting at Elmira North
17 Stewardship Sunday
Honor 50 year members
Dish to pass brunch
22 Flu shot clinic at Prattsburgh Methodist Church from 9 a.m.--10 a.m.
24 Sunday Thank Offering
25-27 One night will be the Ecumenical Service for
Thanksgiving.
28 Happy Thanksgiving