July & August, 2013
Pastor’s Thoughts
Every year on July 1 clergy begin their appointments to local churches. Appointments are for a single
year, but if all is going well and the pastor is not needed somewhere else, the pastor is returned to the
same church for another year. Recently we discovered the old membership books for the church and
in the oldest one were notes written about the appointment of the pastors. In this 150th anniversary of
the Civil War, I thought you might be interested in the note about the appointment of Rev. L
Hartsough in 1865.
“This Conference year has been one a great toil and cheering success. I was in the service of the U.S. Ch. Corps
when appointed here, the jubilant notes of victory at Richmond and of Lee’s surrender having reached
Conference the day before its close. I did not reach my work here till five weeks had elapsed but found my pulpit
ably supplied by my old friend of school Rev. A. L. York. I was soon (unclear word) in my work by deep interest
in the Church and enlarged congregation.” Rev. Hartsough served Dryden for only a year.
It’s been a blessing to have served this church for three years and I look forward to the year ahead.
The acceptance and openness of the members of the congregation has resulted in positive growth in
the Church. The work of ministry by so many in outreach, worship, music, nurture and care, and
Christian Education is a blessing to both the church and the community.
Now we are in the midst of work on the exterior of the building and I, and many others, am
overwhelmed by the positive response to the Capital Fund Drive. Obviously this church is very
important in the lives of many people, and I pray that this kind of commitment remains. Be steadfast,
we are reminded, and we will
Worship Readings
be, as we move together into an
ever-changing future of hope.
July & August 2013
July 7
Galatians 6: 1-10
Luke 10: 1-11
August 4
Colossians 3: 1-11
Luke 12: 13-21
July 14
Amos 1: 1-2
Luke 10: 25-28
August 11
Isaiah 6: 1-13
Luke 12: 32-40
July 21
Colossians 1: 15-20
Luke 10: 38-42
August 18
Hebrew’s 11: 29-12: 2
Luke 12: 49-56
July 28
Hosea 1: 2-9
Luke 11: 5-10
August 25
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
Luke 13:10-17
Hebrews 13: 1-8
Luke 14:1, 7-14
September 1
In Memory of Ruth Kimmich
February 10, 1918 – May 24, 2013
In Memory of Russ Wilhelm
November 12, 1924 – May 6, 2013
SUMMER HOURS OF WORSHIP
Please note and mark on your calendar,
July 7th through Labor Day, September
1st, worship time is 9:30!
July Birthdays
Roger Murray
Ginny Farmer
Cheryl Macomber
Mark VanDeWeert
Lindsey Goodenough
Julie Cooper
Jerry Goodenough
Amanda Beattie
Ellie Host-Steen
Hannah Knout
Linda Stephenson
Kenneth Paddock
Kelly Ashworth
Cindy Seymour
Jesse Turman
Laura Barlow
Connie Murray
Daniel Rice
John VanDeWeert, Sr.
7-1
7-2
7-2
7-2
7-7
7-10
7-10
7-12
7-14
7-14
7-14
7-20
7-22
7-27
7-27
7-28
7-30
7-30
7-30
WEB Update
Submitted by Marlene Winter
Over the summer we will be collecting
peanut butter (16oz.) in July and cans of
tuna in August. Thank you for your
generosity.
SIGN UP
It is time to sign up now to help out with worship
for the summer. We are in need every week of
greeters, ushers, liturgist, and nursery care
workers. The sign up sheets are in the Fellowship
Hall. Do your part to assist in keeping our church,
open, friendly and welcoming.
DAIRY DAY A SUCCESS
August Birthdays
Emily Dick
Bryan Carnes
Judy Starr
Nancy Holmes
Marla Walkuski
Tyler Vieou
Suzanne Wilson
Connie Mastronardi
Steve Siegert
Bill Merrill
Doris Speer
Erik Host-Steen
Ann Zwart
John Stephenson
Kay Smith
Zachary Kirsch
Charlie Cuykendall
Mark Stephenson
Don Weston
8-2
8-5
8-6
8-10
8-12
8-13
8-13
8-14
8-14
8-15
8-18
8-21
8-24
8-24
8-25
8-26
8-28
8-30
8-31
Even with the almost constant mist
falling, the crowds at Dairy Day,
Saturday, June 8 were very big. People
were roaming Montgomery Park from before the
parade was over and into mid-afternoon.
Charlie Hart led a dedicated crew of workers at
Clark’s basting and tending chicken halves over
the coals. When it was all done we sold out! That
meant a nearly $1200 profit for the church. Thank
you all.
At the park, besides selling chicken we sold pies.
Over two dozen pies were baked, delivered and
sold taking in $354. That will complete our threeyear pledge of $1000 to Camp Casowasco and
put some money in the Campership fund.
Again, thank you all.
SUMMER COFFEE HOURS
Volunteers are needed to provide
& serve liquid refreshments
following the 9:30 AM Church service during
the months of July & August and on September
1st. The "sign-up" sheet is posted on the
Membership Care & Nurture board in the
Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions, please
contact Carol Chase @ 607.844.4386 or send an
e-mail: [email protected].
MACARONI AND CHEESE RECIPE
Made by the youth group
Y
U
M
M
Y
3½ Cup of uncooked rotini pasta
3 Tablespoon plus 1T Butter/ Margarine
3 Tablespoons of flour
3 Cups Milk 2%
2¼ Cups plus ¼ Cup of Shredded Sharp
Cheddar Cheese
½ Cup plus ¼ Cup of Parmesan Cheese
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ Cup of bread crumbs
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile in pan melt 3T. butter and stir in 3T.
flour until it is smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring
to boil. Add 2¼ C shredded cheese and ½ cup of
parmesan cheese. Drain pasta. Add cheese
mixture. Transfer to 9X12 baking pan. Melt
remaining 1T. butter and bread crumbs, ¼ cup
parmesan cheese and ¼ cup cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle over the top of macaroni and cheese and
bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
MEET THE PROPHETS
On four of the nine Sundays this
summer, Rev. Sivers will offer a
portrayal of one of the Old Testament
prophets. Included for everyone to
meet will be Amos (July 14), Hosea (July 28),
Isaiah (August 11) and Jeremiah (August 25).
Included each of these weeks in the bulletin will be
a fact sheet and quiz about each prophet. Be sure
to come out this summer and meet the prophets.
SUNDAY SCHOOL IN TRANSITION
As of this summer we have no Sunday
School teachers for the Fall! Our four
class leaders are taking a well deserved
break from teaching, which means we
need some new teachers. What does that mean?
Without teachers there is no Sunday School and no
youth group.
We are looking for at least two persons to team
teach the youngest group (pre-k through 4th grade)
and two leaders for the youth group (middle and
high school). The classes both meet at 9:30 am each
Sunday. Now is the time to make that
commitment to help. Don’t wait until the Fall, that
may be too late to get things going.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer
for this rewarding task, contact Rev. Sivers as soon
as possible.
SUMMER MUSIC SIGN UP
We are in need of folks to
volunteer their musical talents
to provide special music
during July, August, and the
Labor Day weekend. A sign-up sheet
is on the worship bulletin board in Fellowship
Hall. If you have questions please contact Kathie
Chadwick, Choir Director.
REPORT OF ANNUAL
CONFERENCE SESSION
Ron Ramsden
Bishop Mark J. Webb (in his
first year as Bishop in the
Upper N.Y. Conference) was
received enthusiastically as
leader. According to the United
Methodist Book of Discipline, “The purpose of the
Annual Conference is to make disciples for Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world by equipping its
local churches for ministry and by providing a
connection for ministry beyond the local church.”
How? By equipping congregational leaders for
local missions; extending the mission reach of
congregations in other parts of the Conference;
and expanding Conference ministry beyond the
Upper New York Conference borders.
The Upper New York Conference for the past four
years has been all of New York State except the
lower Hudson and New York City area. The
Conference has approximately 180,000 members,
over 400 churches and an annual budget of
$10,323,181. In addition to staff salaries, insurance
and pensions, the budget includes Camp & Retreat
Ministries, disaster response, lay ministries,
Volunteers in Mission and Conference Council on
Youth Ministries.
Nearly 1,200 persons attended the Annual
Conference, including pastors and lay members
from each church, extra equalization members
who are selected to make up for the additional
voting pastors in the conference.
This year there were four Constitutional
Amendments presented dealing with ecumenical
relations with all Christians; timing of General
Conference effective after 2016; lay speaking name
change (now Lay Servant Ministries); and
returning power of Episcopal boundary decisions
to Jurisdictional and Central Conferences, bodies
that include lay persons.
Other Conference business included housing,
pensions, moving policy, medical leave, health
plans,
accessibility
issues,
committee
appointments and the 2014 budget. This budget no
longer includes a reserve for ministry shares
shortfall ($515,378). If most of the 180,000 United
Methodist members gave at least $59 per year in
shared giving, the Conference annual budget of
$10,323,181 would be met.
With a great deal of thought and prayer four
churches in the Conference were voted to be
discontinued and their members offered alternate
church
homes.
Conference
trustees
will
appropriately administer remaining assets for
Alma, Cameron, Onondaga Hill and Syracuse
Calvary United Methodist Churches. We voted on
48 Advance Special offerings and a great deal of
other business; prayer, Bishop Webb’s 3-minute
clock, Roberts’ Rules of Order and good humor
facilitated this work. There were Celebrations of
Ministry for retirees, newly certified lay ministries,
elders, deacons, local pastors, and laity. Bishop
Webb received a standing ovation as he adjourned
the Conference.
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Thanks to all who continue to
support the mission of helping the
homeless, by continued donations,
especially your "Pennies for Plastic"
- the jar is filling! Coming up is our
annual summer picnic - all who
have contributed in any way are
welcome at Noon on July 10th at Irene and Lee
Alexander's home, 58 Southworth Rd., just
outside the village. Hope to see you there! Joyce
Church, Facilitator
ACOLYTE PROGRAM
Would you like to be an acolyte for
worship? We are planning on reactivating the program for September.
Youngsters in the third grade and
above are eligible. Contact Rev. Sivers if someone
in your family is interested.
REPORT OF CHURCH FINANCES &
CAPITAL FUND DRIVE
This is a two-part report on church finances and
the capital fund drive. If you have any questions
contact either Charlie Hart, Chair of Finance or
Rev. Sivers.
PART I – As we come to the end of the first half of
2013, the Finance Committee is pleased to report
that giving through the end of May is slightly
ahead of expectations. Pledge money received was
$55,695 nearly $1200 ahead of budget and Loose
offerings were $6639 considerably ahead of
budget, due in part to some monies put in that
category that were previously in other categories.
Our total income by June 1st was $63,057 and our
expenses for all areas of spending were $51,780.
Everyone is to be thanked for keeping current on
their pledges and program volunteers watching
their church spending. However, to date we have
not paid any of our Shared Ministry payments
which amount to over $10,000 for the first half of
the year. As was done last year, the Finance
Committee is delaying any payments until after
the summer to see where our finances are at that
point.
PART 11 – Our Capital Fund Drive has been an
overwhelming success, but it’s not over yet. Many
people have made three-year pledges and we
anticipate these monies coming in at 100%. Some
people are giving monthly and many have made
one-time contributions. To date there have been
over 60 one-time donations from church members,
community residents and local businesses. When
the program is over we expect to receive $259,000.
Of that total, $30,000 is in loans which will need to
be paid back with interest; $10,000 came from the
Walter Havington bequest to the church and
$52,000 has been earmarked from the Little bequest
and contributions for the Rose window
restoration, leaving $167,000 that has been given
directly to the Capital Fund Drive to date.
When the contract to Jeff Horton for siding the
church has been paid this year and work on the
Rose Window completed there will be funds left
over to put a new roof on the addition and to paint
and repair the building. Some monies should be
left over to provide funding for work on the
church as it might arise.
With that being said, those who have not
contributed to the Capital Fund Drive are urged to
give if they are able. The additional funds received
will ensure that what needs to be done can be
done without an additional fund drive in the near
future.
“ONCE UPON A KINGDOM:
THE BATTLE OF THE WIZARDS”
For the third summer in a row, Rev. Sivers, in
conjunction with the Town of Dryden Recreation
Department, will lead a summer theater program.
This year’s play is titled: “Once Upon a Kingdom:
The Battle of the Wizards”. The program is open to
youngsters from third grade through high school.
Registration is handled through the Dryden
Recreation Department.
Auditions will be held Thursday, July 11 at 7 pm
and Saturday, July 13 at 10 am. Rehearsals will be
weekdays, July 22-26, July 29-31, and August 1-2 at
10 am - Noon. The performance will be on Friday,
August 2 at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. The week of
July 15-19 will be used for participants to learn
lines and for some set building. There are parts for
11 youngsters plus villagers.
CONGRATULATIONS to Brett Johnson who will
begin serving the Harmony United Methodist
Church in Harford and the United Methodist
Church in Varna on July 1. Katie Prince who has
been serving the Harmony United Methodist
Church in Harford has been appointed to the
United Methodist Churches in McGraw and Virgil.
A Story from Esther
I saw a magazine article recently article titled, “Are You As Smart As An Immigrant?” It was about what
immigrants have to do to become citizens. Among other things, they need to be able to read, write, and speak
English. They also must pass an oral exam of 10 questions taken from an official list of 100. Here are a few of
the ones that were in the magazine. How many can you answer?
·
·
·
·
What are the three branches are of the federal
government?
How many judges are on the Supreme Court?
Who is the Chief Justice?
If the President and Vice President are both
unable to serve, who becomes President?
·
·
·
·
What are the first three words of
Constitution?
How many amendments does it have?
What is the title of our National Anthem?
Name the two longest rivers in the country.
the
When I worked at Cornell, a co-worker who was from Taiwan was asked to tell a group about Taiwan, and
she asked me to read her speech before she gave it to check on her English. She wrote about how her parents
had lived in Peking until the Communists took over; then they moved (escaped?) to Taiwan. She wrote that
“The Communists spread over China like bacteria over a culture plate.” What an analogy! A few years later,
when she asked me to recommend her and her husband for U. S. citizenship, I received a questionnaire
which included asking whether they were Communists. I could report that I knew they were not. They were
approved and are citizens now.
There is a poem, “I Am an American” by Elias Lieberman. The first verse says that one ancestor “pitched tea
overboard in Boston Harbor” and another one was with Washington at Valley Forge.... “I am proud of my
past.”
The next verse says his ancestors died in the mines of Siberia, were killed in massacres, and “crippled by
blows of the knout.” His father was “an atom of dust” and his mother was “a straw in the wind to his serene
Majesty,” referred to later as the “Great White Czar.” They dreamed of America where they would become
“people.” “I am proud of my future.”
I wrote before about the Gospel Song of the Year for 1976 that compares the Statue of Liberty to the cross. It
begins with these words: “In New York harbor stands a lady with a flame that reaches to the sky. And all
who see her know she stands for liberty for you and me.” Later it says: “On old Golgotha stood a cross where
my Lord was raised to the sky... It was there that my soul was set free...I’ll proclaim that the Old Rugged
Cross is my Statue of Liberty.”
As we approach the July 4 holiday, I thought about the difference between how immigrants become U. S.
citizens and how we become “citizens” of the Kingdom of God. We don’t need to learn a new language or
pass a test to become a Christian. Of course, there is the formality of joining a church, but anyone can become
a Christian whether they join a church or not. As you probably know, the poem on the statue says, “Give me
your tired, your poor, your huddled masses....” Jesus said “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavyladen....” Our music says, “There is room at the cross for you” and “Whosever will may come.”
Immigrants say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag when they become citizens. I remember when we learned
a Pledge of Allegiance to the Christian flag. Do you know it?
Here it is:
“I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for whose
kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again
with life and liberty to all who believe. “
JULY 2013
Sun
Mon
Tue
1
Wed
Thu
7
14
Worship 9:30 am
21
Worship 9:30 am
28
Worship 9:30 am
Young Adult/
Kids
Picnic 1 pm
3
4
5
AA – Al-Anon
6
8
Chorus 7-9 pm
9
Finance 1 pm
Trustee 7 pm
11
Play Auditions
7 pm
12
AA – Al-Anon
13
15
Chorus 7-9 pm
16
18
19
AA – Al-Anon
20
22
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
23
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
10
Community
Dinner (HC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
17
Community
Dinner (UMC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
24
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
25
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
26
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
27
Chorus 7-9 pm
Trustees 7 pm
29
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
30
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
Chorus 7-9 pm
Ad Council
7 pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Community
Dinner (CL)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
31
Play Rehearsals
10 am - Noon
5
Worship 9:30 am
Communion
11
12
Worship 9:30 am
18
19
Worship 9:30 am
25
Worship 9:30 am
26
6
Program Team
7 pm
Trustee 7 pm
13
Finance 1 pm
20
Trustee 7 pm
27
Play Auditions
10 am
Dryden Lake
Festival
AA – Al-Anon
Community
Dinner (UMC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Wed
Thu
7
Community
Dinner (HC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
14
Community
Dinner (UMC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
21
Community
Dinner (CL)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
28
Community
Dinner (UMC)
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Fri
Sat
2
Play Rehearsals
10 am-Noon
Play
Performance
7 pm
AA – Al-Anon
9
AA – Al-Anon
3
Intergenerational
Chorus
Performance at
Groton HS
7 pm
15
16
AA – Al-Anon
17
22
23
24
1
Play Rehearsals
10 am-Noon
AUGUST 2013
4
Sat
2
Intergenerational
Chorus 7-9 pm
Worship 9:30 am
Communion
Fri
8
10
AA – Al-Anon
29
30
AA – Al-Anon
31