The Connection
News from
The United Church of Warsaw
Volume 2, No. 2 – February 2013
Editors: Rev. Dr. Barbara Therese and Cindy Kiel
Reflections from ‘The Rev’
Love Story
Six year-old Serena accompanied her parents on a camping trip to the mountains. It was Serena’s first
trip up to the mountains, and she excitedly wandered around the campsite and curiously explored nearby trails.
On the third day of her trip, Serena stood near a ridge which overlooked a deep valley below. The little
girl was chatting to herself when she thought she heard a familiar sound.
Serena stopped for a moment and called out, “Hello!”
An echo--Serena had never heard an echo before—called back, “Hello!”
Puzzled, Serena asked aloud, “Who are you?”
In reply, the echo inquired, “Who are you?”
Serena then blurted, “I asked you first!”
The voice echoed back, “I asked you first!”
Frustrated, Serena yelled, “I hate you!”
The echo shouted back, “I hate you!”
Serena ran back to the campsite. Sobbing, the little girl told her mother the sequence of events.
Serena’s mother folded her daughter into her arms and comforted her. Then the mother explained what an
echo is and what an echo does.
Continued on Page 2
Reflections from the Rev (Continued from page 1)
Once Serena’s tears dried, her mother told her to return to the same place on the ridge where she had
stood before. The mother carefully instructed the little girl what to do once she reached the ridge.
Serena slowly walked back to the stony ridge.
As her mother had directed her, Serena hollered, “Hello!”
Immediately she heard the echo from below, “Hello!”
The little girl cried out; “I’m sorry.”
The echo returned, “I’m sorry.”
Then Serena declared, “I love you.”
And the echo answered her, “I love you.”
*****
The month of February—interrupted half-way through by Valentine’s Day—has often been labeled
“Love Month.” In the name of love, more chocolate and more greeting cards are bought and given during the
month of February than in any other month. And, in the name of love, only Mother’s Day trumps Valentine’s
Day as the single holiday when more flowers are purchased and delivered.
In the name of love.
Chocolate, cards and flowers may whisper loving intentions. But it is our personal stories of love that
speak the loudest and endure the longest…once the chocolate is eaten and the cards are read and the flowers
are wilted.
The Old Testament gives us this commandment to love:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your might.
(Deuteronomy 6:5)
The New Testament gives us this promise of love:
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God
abides in them.
(1 John 4:16)
And then, through the human centuries, countless philosophers and
philosophic wanna-be’s have voiced words about love:
Respect is what we owe; love is what we give.
(Philip James Bailey)
More people wish to be loved than are willing to love.
(S. R. N. Chamfort)
Continued on Page 3
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Reflections from the Rev (Continued from page 2)
But amid the commandments, the promises and the words of love, each of us is uniquely and indelibly
shaped or shaken or shattered by our own stories of love.
All of us have a love story: We do love; we are loved: we have loved; we have been loved; we are not
loved; we are loved again; and all variations of those conditions.
This month I invite each of you to share your love story with me…as you are willing and able. February
has 28 days. On each of those 28 days, I will call two different church members, and I will say: “Please tell
me your love story.”
I will listen to your story. I will hold your story with heart gloves. And I will echo:
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things. Love never ends.
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
Beside you in the journey of faith,
Rev. Barbara
New Leaves on
the Tree of Our Church Life
On Sunday, January 20, Olivia Anne Wiseman was baptized into
the universal family of God in Miller Chapel. Olivia is the daughter of Shane Wiseman and
Jessica McBride. She is the granddaughter of Patricia Wiseman.
We welcome Olivia into our family of faith and, with Olivia’s family, we celebrate this
joyful event.
Official Statements of
Contributions for 2012 Tax Year
Though it is only February, April 15--the deadline for State and Federal Tax filings—
approaches. For those who want an official statement of monetary contributions to The United
Church of Warsaw during the 2012 tax year:
Please present your request for a financial statement in writing to our Administrative Assistant,
Cindy Kiel. Kindly include the address where you want your statement mailed.
Cindy will then submit your request to Bob Cummins, our Church Treasurer. To the address you
provide, Bob will mail the official statement of your monetary contributions given in 2012.
This document may be included in your 2012 Tax Returns (both State and Federal).
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F.A.C.E. Page
The F.A.C.E. Group at The United Church of Warsaw is a very visible
and very active group of young people. The letters F.A.C.E. stand for:
F aith
A nd
C aring
E ncounter
The eight students who make up the F.A.C.E. Group are:
Joe Fisher
Grace Kunze
Jyssica Fisher
Kathryn Miller
Andrea Flint
Melanie Perkins
Lauren Howard
Zachary Perkins
Throughout Advent and on Christmas Eve, the F.A.C.E. Group members and their families participated
in the lighting of the Advent wreath candles during the first four Sundays of December and of the Christ
Candle on Christmas Eve.
Individual F.A.C.E. Group members serve as Scripture Readers during worship on Sunday mornings.
They will continue to appear in Sunday worship as Scripture Readers until Confirmation Sunday, March 24.
.
On January 6, the F.A.C.E. Group assisted in the take-down of Christmas greens and decorations inside
the church and of the crèche outside the church. When they weren’t working to “put away” Christmas,
F.A.C.E. Group members managed to put a hefty number of snowballs in the air!
On January 13, the F.A.C.E. Group gathered with Mr. Mark Sundt in the chapel. They listened attentively as Mr. Sundt told his personal story of faith while journeying through his loss of his beloved wife Diane.
On January 27, in order to experience worship within a different faith community, the F.A.C.E. Group
will attend the Sunday morning service at Full Gospel Community Church in Warsaw. Afterward, they will
meet with Pastor Chris Lonneville to discuss how the Full Gospel Church congregation and The United
Church congregation worship the same God but in different styles of worship.
Rev. Barbara, who organizes and leads the F.A.C.E. Group activities, asks The United Church family
for their encouragement and prayerful support of the F.A.C.E. Group students as they continue their “faith and
caring encounter.”
Please join us for Worship each Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
All are welcome!
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Mission Moments for February
Written by Hugh Ten Hagen
Missions are an important part of The United Church of Warsaw. Some mission projects are highly
visible and receive much attention, while others are more subtle and done quietly by individual members of
our church. For the upcoming year of 2013, we will share a monthly “Mission Moment” during worship
services on Sunday mornings.
As a follow-up to the Christmas season, I am proud to report that The United Church had a successful
White Gift Service on December 18, 2012. Those gifts benefited children enrolled in Project Head Start and
designated students in the Starburst Preschool. Moreover, our church helped Wyoming County Community
Action’s Angel Action Christmas program. Finally, the Salvation Army Holiday Bell Ringing Campaign
raised over $16,000. These proceeds are used locally by the Warsaw Service Unit of the Salvation Army.
I thank all the members of our congregation who contributed to each of these three causes, with special
thanks to Clayton Carlson and Fred Heller who counted the cash and rolled the coins collected for the
Salvation Army Bell Ringing Campaign. I also thank Anne Weidman for her service these past two years as a
Commissioner and member of the Mission Committee.
Now, I welcome Linda Thomas as a new Commissioner and member of the Mission Committee. If
you have any specific questions about the Mission Committee and its activities, please ask Linda Thomas
(home: 585-786-5735) or me, Hugh Ten Hagen (home: 585-786-3127)
I thank the church family here at The United Church for its continued support of mission and outreach
within our church.
Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle Benefit for Kailee Bridges
February 9
Kailee Bridges lives in Wyoming, New York, with her husband, Justin, and
their daughter Lily. Recently Kailee was diagnosed with bone cancer, and currently
she is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments.
Please help support the Bridges family in their challenging journey. A Spaghetti Dinner and
Basket Raffle Fundraiser are scheduled for Saturday, February 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wyoming
Central School.
If you want to buy tickets, donate a basket or make a donation, please contact Leslie Kunze
at: (home) 585-495-6797 or (cell) 585-813-7290.
Please continue to hold the Bridges family in your prayers.
Crossroads House Wish List:
Scott’s toilet paper
Paper towels
Oreck Vacum Bags (XLCCE)
Manila file folders
Mailing labels (Avery 5260/8160)
School file folders with pockets
Labeler Tape (size M tape) Copy paper, any color ( 8 1/2 x 11)
Postage stamps
Alcohol-free mouthwash (Biotene)
Brownie or cookie mixes
Swiffer Dry and Wet-Jet Supplies
Large bags of peanut and regular M&M’s, and Mikes & Ikes for their candy vending machines
Gift cards to: Office Max, Walmart, Tops, BJ’s, Tim Horton’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Staples or Kmart
You may give your donations to Betty James.
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Warsaw Food Pantry Report December 2012
We had 123 households in December. There were 187 adults,
122 children and 28 seniors, totaling 337. There were 16 new families.
We received donations of food from the following:
Our United Church congregation
Immanuel Methodist Church
St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church
Treutlein Family
West Management
Wyoming County Vets
Fidelis
Mrs. Tom (Cindy) Flint
Dorothy Keenan
Red Hat Ladies
Genesee Valley FCU
Warsaw Moose Club
The Stage
Cash donations totaling $3,744.00 were received from the following:
D and L Krajewski
Helen Derrick
Red Hat Ladies
Amber Lantern
Barbara Fuller
West Management
Gary and Betty Burley
Mark Pickard
Rick VanIderstine
Joanne Seewaldt
Audrey Parmele
Doug and Valerie Case
United Methodist Church – Cantata
Full Gospel Church
Genesee Valley FCU
Silver Lake Sportsmen’s Club
Gal Pals Club
Virginia Warren
Jack Rase and Jean White
We provided ham or turkeys to 25 families for a total of 119 people.
Thank you to everyone for their very generous contributions of food and money to the pantry.
It is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Neeley
February
Junior Youth Group
During February and the winter months, the Book
Club will meet on Sundays, at 11:30 a.m. in the
East Room. Our current book of choice is the second book of the “YadaYada Prayer Group”
series, entitled: The YadaYada Prayer Group Gets
Down. All are welcome to join the Book Club!
Please watch the Sunday bulletin for our next
meeting date. Or, for more details, call Pam Doore
at: 585-472-0913.
The Junior Youth Group will meet on
Thursday, February 7, at 3-5 p.m. in
Fellowship Hall.
Bring your friends! They are always
welcome!
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Mental Notes: What Is Autism?
Compiled by Pam Doore
The United Church of Warsaw
Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and
United Church of Christ (Congregational)
10-22 South Main Street
PO Box 205
Warsaw, NY 14569
585-786-3868
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Office Email:
[email protected]
Website: www.ucwarsaw.org
Autism and spectrum disorders have made the news
often in recent years. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, by verbal and nonverbal communication
and by repetitive behaviors.
Studies show that autism is four to five times more
common among boys than among girls. An estimated
1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with
autism in the United States.
The following behaviors may indicate that a child
is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If a
child exhibits any one of these behavior patterns,
it is important that the child’s parent speak to a
pediatrician.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2013 Commission
Pastor
Rev. Dr. Barbara Therese
[email protected]
No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions
by 6 months or thereafter
No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or
other facial expressions by 9 months
No babbling by 12 months
No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing,
showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
No words by 16 months
No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including
imitating or repeating) by 24 months
Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at
any age
Difficulty with eye contact
Overwhelmed in large social settings
Easily upset and has a difficult time calming
down
Interim Clerk of Commission
Ellen Chandler (Jan.-March 2013)
Official Clerk of Commission
Lance Bush (Effective 3/12/13)
Congregational Care
George Ann Carter and Mary Rase
Education Committee
Mary Carlson and Jeff Thomas
Facilities Committee
Brian Howard and Joe Hess
Parenting an autistic child presents many blessings,
but it also has its challenges. If you know someone
who has an autistic child, ask the child’s parent or
caregiver how you may help. Be supportive of their
circumstance. However, be cautious about offering
opinions and suggestions. Parents of autistic children
or of children diagnosed with other medical challenges may be doing their best simply to survive and
to create a sense of normal routine. The entire family
of an autistic child needs, love, support and prayer.
Ministry Committee
Sherry Cousins and Pam Doore
Mission Committee
Hugh Ten Hagen and Linda Thomas
Personnel Committee
Cindy Flint and Donna Perkins
Statistics and signs of autism were drawn from:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/.
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Greetings from Starburst
In our classes last month, much of January was filled with penguins and dinosaurs. Our
activities on these two sets of creatures are my favorite units in the whole year! Our students
had fun entertaining one another with songs and finger plays of waddling penguins and hungry
dinosaurs. We enjoyed eating typical penguin food (fish!), and we hunted for “dino” eggs.
February will focus on Valentine’s Day, dental health and safety. We look forward to
expressing love by making delightful heart projects. We will have a visit by one of our local
dentists, who will talk to our students about taking care of their teeth. The Warsaw Village
Police will take finger prints and photographs of our students so that parents can have a record of them for
their files. It will be a busy time!
February is also the month for our second fundraiser: Oliver’s Candy. Starburst’s staff and families
will offer a variety of candy bars for sale: milk chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, almond and crunch. The
cost of each candy bar is $1.50. Candy bars will also be available after Sunday worship services in the East
Room. We invite you to indulge in these yummy flavors.
Our students learn the basics even while they prepare for kindergarten: coloring, cutting, saying the
alphabet and more. The students also learn about Jesus.
At the same time, the Starburst Preschool is honored to stand by our families in prayer as needs arise.
We thank you for being an important part of our ministry as you support our fundraisers and lift us up in
prayer.
Larene McCabe
Wish List:
Regular size hot glue sticks
Craft poly fiber fill white
Thank you!
White cotton balls
Colored craft feathers.
Warsaw Snackpak Program Needs YOU!
Currently we have 10 families and a total of 32 children enrolled in the
Warsaw Snackpak Program. (Recipients are identified and referred by school
faculty based on faculty’s observation of need.) Every week, 32 small backpacks are filled
with nutritional food items that can be used or prepared for weekend meals. Included in
each backpack are: juice boxes, fruit cups, puddings, lunch items, healthy snacks and
cereals.
This means we need MANY of these items each and every week throughout the
school year. Your continuing contributions are needed and appreciated! To see what food
items you may donate, please check the list on the large blue collection container located
in The Connection.
Moreover, are you willing and able to help assemble these weekend food packs? The
backpacks are “packed” each Thursday morning at Trinity Episcopal Church on Buffalo
Street in Warsaw. Your hands and your help are warmly welcomed.
Please call Anne Barnett (585-322-0404) if you can volunteer or participate in this
meaningful outreach within our community.
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February Birthdays and Anniversaries
1
2
6
9
11
12
Gale Cousins
Gary Cousins
Ralph Van Tyne
Bill Corey
Kelsey (Rase) Holmes
Jane Heubusch
Cynthia (Fisher) Flint
Ernie Baker
Hans Kunze
23
14
16
23
24
26
27
Valerie Duell
Scott Fisher
Brian Howard
Forrest Mager
Richard Neeley
Suzenne Miller
Tammy Pickard
Mike and Robin LaWall 2008
If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please accept our apologies. Kindly advise the Church Office (in writing or
by email) of your birthday or your anniversary and wedding year and we will add your information to our data-base.
Thank you!
Dear United Church:
Your visit and gifts made our Christmas merrier!
Your thoughts, prayers and gifts meant so much.
Many, many thanks. The poinsettia is so cute – the
right size for our table. We are enjoying the bread and
jelly too. But most of all, thank you for taking time
out of your busy life to visit us. It meant so much.
Love,
Norma and Jack Spencer
Ernie Baker is celebrating his 102nd birthday
on February 12.
You may send cards to:
Mr. Ernest Baker
Eastside Living and Rehabilitation Center
62 Prospect Street
Warsaw, NY 14569
What’s Happening??
Each week, check out the bulletin boards in The Connection to learn
what’s happening in our area churches and in our community.
Congregational Care Committee Updates
With our New Year, the new Commissioners for the Congregational Care Committee are Mary Rase
and George Ann Carter. For those who participate in the Prayer Chain, the new lead contact person is Ellen
Chandler. To initiate a specific prayer request, please contact Ellen at: 585-303-4804.
The congregational care for The United Church members and extended families continues to be
offered by more than a dozen individuals who quietly serve on the Congregational Care Subcommittees.
Together these individuals visit our home-bound church members as well as those living in adult care
facilities. Moreover, they team together to offer hospitality after funeral services that are conducted at our
church.
Do you feel called to assist in the Congregational Care efforts at our church? If so, please call
Mary Rase (585-786-5139) or George Ann Carter (585-786-2169).
Be a part of our “care team”!
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FEBRUARY 2013 Ministry Schedule
If there are open opportunities where you want to volunteer, please call the Church Office at
585-786-3868 Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and noon. Thank you!
Date
Greeter (2)
Acolyte
Scripture
Reader
February 3
Joe Fisher
Kathryn
Miller
February 10
Emily
Howard
James Diver
February 17
Katie Fisher
February 24
Jyssica
Fisher
Usher (2)
Lance Bush
Communion
Server (4)
Refreshment
Provider
Lynn Saxton
Mary Rase
Cindy Flint
Sherry
Cousins
Hans and
Leslie Kunze
Betty James
Ellen
Chandler
Valerie
Marcheson
10
Valerie
Marcheson
Sunday
Monday
3
F.A.C.E. Group
meets at 8:30 a.m. in
Miller Chapel to
attend Reformed
Catholic Mass
service.
Tuesday
5
4
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Wednesday
Food
Pantry
11 a.m. to
1 p.m.
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Choir
Practice
7 p.m.
Saturday
1
2
8
9
F.A.C.E. Group
meets at
1:15 p.m. in
East Room to
drive to The
Cloisters to
make
Valentines
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Junior
Youth
Group
3-5 p.m.
Worship
Communion Sunday
Sharing-the-Light
Collection 10 a.m.
Benefit for
Kailee Bridges
4-8 p.m. @
Wyoming
Central School
Grief Class 4 p.m.
11
10
Choir Practice
9:15 a.m.
Food
Pantry
11 a.m. to
1 p.m.
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Worship
10 a.m.
12
13
14
Ash
Wednesday
Commission
Meeting
6:30 p.m.
15
16
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
March 2013
Newsletter
Deadline
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Grief Class 4 p.m.
17
Choir Practice
9:15 a.m.
Worship 10 a.m.
New Members Class
11:30 a.m.
18
Presidents’
Day
Church
Office
Closed
19
Food
Pantry
11 a.m. to
1 p.m.
20
Choir
Practice
7 p.m.
21
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
Grief Class 4 p.m.
24
Choir Practice
9:15 a.m.
Worship 10 a.m.
25
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
26
27
Choir
Practice
7 p.m.
F.A.C.E. Group
11:30 a.m.
Grief Class 4 p.m.
11
28
Food
Pantry
9-11 a.m.
22
23
The United Church of Warsaw
Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and
United Church of Christ (Congregational)
10-22 South Main Street
PO Box 205
Warsaw, NY 14569
585-786-3868
Worship Service: Sundays at 10 a.m.
New Members’ Class on February 17
Are you interested in knowing more about The United Church of
Warsaw, its heart, its history and its mission?
Do you want to learn what membership in The United Church of
Warsaw may mean for you?
If you answer “yes” to either of these questions, then please
attend the New Members’ Class after worship on Sunday, February 17.
This one-session class will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be held in the
Pastor’s Office. Rev. Barbara will lead this informative session. A tour
of The United Church facility (including the North Church bell tower!)
will be conducted the following Sunday, February 24.
Interested? Please let Rev. Barbara know in person, by phone or
by email before February 14.
Please join us in learning about the life of The United Church of
Warsaw!
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