TOWER
CHIMES
Welcome to the
monthly newsletter
of
Community
Presbyterian
Church
2101 William Place
Merrick, NY, 11566
516 – 378 – 7761
E-Mail
cpcmerrick
@optonline.net
Website
www.cpcmerrick.org
Thomas Rose
Pres. and Treasurer
[email protected]
Gary Stuber
Clerk of Session
[email protected]
Nancy Stuber
Financial Secretary
[email protected]
2016
CLERK’S CORNER
Thank You!
In last month’s Clerk’s Corner, I offered thanks to the entire congregation
for their continuing support and loyalty to our church. After our love of God, I
said that “our fellowship is what’s most important. It’s our fellowship that
endures, as it has for nearly 87 years.”
And so on it goes. With us now entering November, our program is in full
swing. By the time you get this, we’ll be recovering from our successful (of
that I’m sure) garage and bake sale.
It’s also that time of the year where we focus on being thankful for the
blessings bestowed upon us. For example:
It’s time for our annual Stewardship campaign. We have been blessed
with a most generous and loving congregation. When asked, you have
delivered. We hope we can count on your continuing support this coming
year. Thank you!
It’s also that time of the year when we search the congregation for individuals who would serve our congregation in some way, whether on the
Session or the Board of
In This Issue
Deacons. This year, we have
Clerks’ Corner
been both challenged and
Prayer Requests
blessed; challenged by the
Freeport Update
uncertainty of our pastoral
2016 Peacemaking Essay Winners
situation, but blessed both by
Choir News
our current leadership, the
Communion for Shut-Ins
continued loyalty and unity of
2017 Directory Update Time
our fellowship, and the loving
Annual Women’s Noel Luncheon
care of Pastor Ralph.
2017 Ushers & Communion Servers
To better face these
challenges, we need your
Politics and Christianity
help, your input, and your
November Birthdays
enthusiasm. If approached,
All Saints’ Day
why not say yes? Better yet,
Daylight Saving Time Ends
tell someone on Session that
Stewardship & Pledge Sunday
you’re interested in pitchingInstallation of Sandy Eldred
in! Here, you have a chance
IDOP
to help mold the future of our
Thanksgiving Food Drive
fellowship.
When asked,
Thanksgiving Sunday/Harvest Table
please consider saying YES.
Women’s Fellowship Breakfast
Thank you!
Advent Begins
Poinsettia & Vesper’s dinner forms
Blessings, Gary
November calendar
December Save-The-Dates
Special prayers are requested
for one-time member George
Lüchauer.
We recently
received word that he is now
in a Florida hospice. Cards
may be sent to his wife,
Alberta, at their home: 3400 Rainbow Lane, N.
Ft. Myers, FL 33903
ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS
Bill Bihn
Mr. C and his wife
Bobby Fritz
Glodzik family
Family and Friends of Ken Johnson
Troy Johnson
Abram Lightfoot
Pauline Murray
Donna Polemini and family
Barbara Robertson
John Snowden
World Leaders
Yasmin
All children of the world, especially those who
are in the midst of conflict and turmoil
For us to choose the right person to lead us
Freeport Update - Our conversations with the Freeport
church continue. Despite the loss of their current pastor, we
are still discussing the idea of sharing a pastor, perhaps on
an interim basis, with Freeport Presbyterian. In the current
market, it is thought that finding a full time pastor to
share will be easier than finding a part-time pastor alone.
There is also greater strength in the larger numbers
available with our sharing of program resources, all while
remaining separate congregations. We’d like to hear from
you, the members of our fellowship. We will not move
forward on this idea until we have heard from you. So
please make your voice known.
Thanks, Gary.
PEACEMAKING ESSAYS 2016 RECAP!
Congratulations to our 2016
winners! Jonathan Lloyd,
an 11th grader from
Calhoun High School and
8th grader Sidney Wang
from Grand Ave. Middle
School
Two hundred and twelve essays were
received this year, and chairperson Mary Jane
Gould was very pleased with the quality of the
entrees!
Jonathan and Sidney read their winning
essays at church on October 23 with their
families in tow. How proud everyone was of
them!
Jonathan and Sidney were both
presented with a certificate and monetary
award, and a congratulatory coffee hour was
given in their honor after the service. (This is
actually the second time Jonathan has won this
award. He was one of our 2014 winners.)
Congratulations Jonathan and Sidney for jobs
well done!
COMMUNION NEWS for SHUT-INS!
Pastor Wright and the deacons are going
to begin giving communion once a quarter
starting in November to our shut-ins, family,
and neighbors, should they wish to receive it.
If you, a family member, or neighbor that
you know of would like to receive communion,
please call Mona Grimm at 516.546.6757,
providing her with the name(s) and contact
information.
(Please
confirm
their
participation with them before first.)
Communion will also be offered around
those very special times of year, such as
World Communion Sunday, Lent, Easter, and
Christmas.
CPC DIRECTORY UPDATE – It’s that time
again for Barbara to start revamping our CPC
Directory of family and friends for 2017!
Please check your listing as it appeared in
last year’s directory. If it’s correct, nothing
needs to be done. If something needs
changing or you’d like to add or delete
information from last year’s directory, please
give Barbara a call by the end of the month.
Thank you.
The women of CPC are again getting together
for our ANNUAL NOEL LUNCHEON! This
year it will be on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Jani’s in
Wantagh at 1pm.
All women of CPC are welcomed
to attend…member or not! The
cost will be $13 per person
prepaid by Nov. 27 to Mona
Grimm, 71 Beach Drive, Merrick,
NY 11566. If you are writing a
check, please make it out to
Mona
Grimm.
Any
overpayments will be refunded.
Mona’s number is 516.546-6757 if you have
any questions.
A REMINDER TO FULFILL PLEDGES
FOR 2016!
As we consider our
stewardship pledges for next year, let’s
not forget to follow through on the
pledges made for 2016. Our church runs
a tight ship and depends on our loyal
family of faith to meet the budget each
year. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR NEWS!
Cathy
Donohue and the choir extend a warm,
ongoing invitation to anyone who likes to
sing or play a musical instrument to come
and join the Choir. They rehearse on
Sunday mornings before church service at
9am and afterwards for about an hour.
They have just begun rehearsing our
Advent and Christmas music, and it’s not
too late to join them. Our choir performs
a ministry to beautify and enhance our
worship service and to offer up our voices
and musical talents to ‘make joyful noise
unto the Lord”.
NOW IS A VERY EXCITING TIME AT THE CHURCH
AND TIME TO think about joining either Session or
our Board of Deacons for the 2017 slate. Please,
pray about how YOU might be called to serve the
church. Every single one of us has been given gifts
for ministry to share and to exercise – like muscles!
Help is needed in all aspects of our life together as a
community of faith, from lending a hand to our
property commission, to encouraging and delivering
food pantry donations, to planning worship, to
doing dishes after coffee hours.
Please join in praying for volunteers to step up to
the joyful task of serving the Lord through this
congregation.
Your thoughts, suggestions and
questions are most welcome.
It’s also a great time to
VOLUNTEER TO BE AN USHER
in 2017! Would you like to join
the team? Please call Sandy
Eldred and let her know. The
2016 list is being looked over now
and she’d love to add a few more names for 2017. The
ASSUMPTION stands that all of the 2016 volunteers will
be re-upping for 2017, unless, of course, she hears from
you. Please call Sandy at 378-2739 by November 27 to
add your name to or remove it from the 2017 list, or if
you’d just like more info about being an usher. Thank you!
WHO WANTS TO HELP SERVE COMMUNION
IN 2017?
Ditto (from the
previous article), only this time,
substitute
“ushers”
with
“Communion Servers”!
Ginny
Arcuri (623-1292) needs to hear
from you by November 29 if you want your
name added to or removed from the 2017
Communion Servers list, or if you’d just like more
info. Thank you, again. And please remember,
we can’t do it without you!
AND A FRIENDLY REMINDER to please share your joys
and concerns (and birthdays) with one of our
deacons or Barbara in the office. HELPING HANDS
loves nothing more than to reach out and let you
know we share in your joys as well as in your
heartaches. We’re here for you, but you must let us
know! Jo can be reached at 516-868-1710.
SPECIAL NEWS! Our very own Cathy and Brian
Donohue headed off the England! Here’s what
Cathy had to say when asked about their trip:
“Both Brian and I participated in a weekend
workshop at South Molton College, Devon,
England with the foremost composer, conductor
and sacred choral music authority in the world
today, John Rutter. The workshop involved
learning new music composed by John Rutter,
observing his conducting techniques, and
culminating in a performance conducted by the
Maestro himself! There was many other choir
directors and musicians attending with plenty of
opportunities for lively musical discussion. We are
extremely excited to have had this opportunity of
gaining knowledge and inspiration.”
FUN FACT: John Rutter is often invited to
compose music for special occasions, most
memorably for the wedding of Prince William and
Catherine Middleton, which featured his
enraptured anthem, This Is The Day.
FROM
OUR
CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION
COMMISSION: POLITICS AND CHRISTIANITY
submitted by Joe Schuessler
November 2016 presents the American
Christian with important choices to make. Does
the current course of local, state and national
affairs lead a Christian citizen to feel that our
God is being honored and represented by the
words and actions of our elected and appointed
office holders? Does the alert Christian see a
turn from everything we see as good and right,
ethical and moral, toward the sinful and Godless
actions that only the Devil and his minions could
approve of?
We are left with very few candidates who
truly take a Pro-Christian stand against, or for,
anything which Jesus would approve of. With
that in mind, we would like to quote from an
article in Decision magazine, the monthly
publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association.
“The United States is at a moral tipping
point, and the upcoming elections could prove
to be the most pivotal in our long storied history.
our nation is in serious trouble, and we need to
call on Almighty God; to repent of our sins and
turn our hearts back to Him. We’ve forgotten
God’s blessings on our land and turned our back
on Him, and now we are reaping the tragic
harvest of godlessness in our cities, government,
schools and courts—the entire fabric of
American culture.
It is apparent that our
government today is not restraining or curbing
evil behavior. Tragically, it’s celebrating and
promoting indecency and immorality while
aggressively seeking out and penalizing those
whose consciences are informed by Biblical
values and who live with resolute, godly
conviction. . . . our leaders and policymakers
embrace blatant decadence and godlessness,
extending a secularist, progressive ideology that
hates God through relentless executive and
judicial fiat. . . . When the president and those
around him actively adopt and promote iniquity
(sin), then that evil becomes systemic, spreading
through the courts, schools, businesses, and state
and local governments, infecting virtually every
level of public life. . . . If we want to see the
moral and spiritual trajectory of our nation
change, we must do what we can to make our
voices heard through the electoral process. We
must examine the issues and the candidates and
vote for those we feel best fit our Christian
worldview. . . . As I have said, my hope is not
in either party. Both have failed miserably over
the past few decades, compromising with evil all
too often, and refusing to take a bold stand for
righteous behavior.
Electing candidates who
best reflect fundamental moral values is a good
start, but there must be a much deeper and
broader work of God across the nation and in
the hearts of His people. We, as individuals, and
corporately as a nation, are governed either by
the passions of the unredeemed, unregenerate
flesh that breed perpetual conflict and chaos, or
by the passions of the Holy Spirit, which exalt
God and His righteousness. That really is our
most crucial choice—to continue to disobey God
as a people and nation, or choose to obey Him
and His laws. One leads to anarchy and
eventual destruction, the other to life and liberty.
Take note of God’s promises of gracious
restoration and forgiveness when His people
repent of their sins and turn once again to their
God.
It’s time to make a decision about
America’s future. My hope is that we will
contritely and humbly turn from our wicked
ways and put our hope in God alone. There is
no other remedy.” ~ Franklin Graham, in the
November issue of Decision Magazine.
And let us not forget how the people in
our country have overthrown respect for life,
from conception to old age.
NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS
Birthdays:
George Weeks
Ernest Bayha
Emma Williams
Charlie Leschinski Jr
Rev. Nancy Jennings
Rev. Dennis Carter
14
17
17
20
29
30
(If your name did not appear here, it’s because we don’t
know it’s your birthday! Please call Jo Gencorelli (8681710) so we can add your name to our list! )
Tuesday, November 1 is
All Saint’s Day!
Near the end of the long season of Ordinary Time, there
comes a remarkable day: November 1, All Saints’ Day.
Some churches mark the day on the Sunday following;
others take the opportunity to worship midweek. In any
case, it is a day not to be missed. On this day, we not only
remember those who have gone on before us, but we
anticipate the life promised to us all in Jesus Christ. It is a
day when we remember that the line that separates life and
death is not as stark as we sometimes assume.
In her book The Cloister Walk, Kathleen Norris tells of a
visit to the Benedictine monastery where she sometimes
goes for spiritual retreats. She was taking part in a special
program for laypeople when the monk who was their leader
said to her, “It’s time for you to meet the rest of the
community.” She was surprised when he took her not to a
dormitory, the kitchen, or the chapel, but to the cemetery.
As they walked by the graves, the old monk told her
stories about each of the deceased. He had lived at the
monastery for more than sixty years, and he knew
everyone who had been buried there. He also knew that
one day he would be there himself, in their company.
Walking through the cemetery with that Benedictine monk,
Norris realized in a way that she hadn’t before that the
separation between the living and the dead is not so great
after all. It is true that the separation between life and death
does feel stark and severe.
Yet on All Saints’ Day, perhaps more than any other
day, we dare to believe that this barrier is not as
impenetrable as we think. There is a Lutheran church on
the plains of Nebraska, built three generations ago by
Swedish immigrants looking for a new life. The communion
rail is built in an exact half circle—it represents the visible
part of the communion of saints.
The other half that cannot be seen is just as real —an
invisible and almost tangible reminder of all those who
complete the circle even though they now live on the other
side of death. Even now, we are part of that great circle, the
communion of saints. When God brings creation to
completion, not even this thin membrane called death will
divide us, for we’ve seen a vision of the river of life, bright
as crystal, flowing from the throne of God, and all God’s
servants there, together, worshiping in joy and light (Rev.
22:1–5).
The conviction of that hope came powerfully to Robert
Lowry, a Baptist minister living in Brooklyn, New York, in
1864. An epidemic was raging through the city then, and
Lowry mourned the passing of so many of his friends and
acquaintances. He found himself wondering, repeatedly,
whether they would ever meet again. Having parted at the
river of death, would they meet at the river of life? The
images of Revelation fresh in his mind, Lowry sat down at
the organ to give himself consolation and to release so
many pent-up emotions. The words and music of a hymn
flowed out:
Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have
trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of
God?
Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful
river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the
throne of God.
Most hymnals have just four verses of the hymn, but
another is often excluded:
At the smiling of the river, mirror of the Savior’s face
Saints, whom death will never sever, lift their songs of
saving grace.
Not even death can sever the ties that bind us to one
another and to all our ancestors in the faith. Nor can
anything separate us from the love of God—the God who
grants us visions, sparks our imaginations, and kindles our
hope—the God who keeps every good promise.
So we sing. The vision of a new heaven and a new
earth, the promise of the river of life sustain us and give us
hope, for this life and the next. In fact, we can hardly keep
from singing in the face of such promise.
On All Saints’ Day, and every Lord’s Day, we sing our
praise as well as our confidence in the One who saves us.
Indeed, whenever Christians gather we are wont to sing, for
in singing we express our faith in a way that goes beyond
our words. Indeed, we embody our very unity in the body of
Christ—the communion of saints—when we raise our
voices as one. Singing, then, is a crucial part of Christian
worship. Discover all sorts of hymns and songs—ones you
already know and ones that are new to you—in the
lectionary aids issue of Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music,
Preaching & the Arts, available from the Office of Theology
and Worship.
~ Adapted from original article by Kimberly Bracken Long.
Don’t Forget To Turn
Your Clocks Back 1 Hour
Saturday Night, Nov. 5,
As Daylight Saving Time
Ends On Sunday, Nov. 6
at 2am.
FUN FACT: Daylight Saving Time (it is singular)
was not created to provide farmers more time to
tend to their crops, according to CNN. In fact, they
fought against it.
STEWARDSHIP AND
PLEDGE SUNDAY!
‘Stewardship is about making choices, as
individuals and in community. It is more than
giving money to the church.
Stewardship is
about being faithful disciples, caring for and
managing all that God has given us.’
Every year you hear us speak about
Stewardship – what it means to CPC and how
and why we need to make a commitment to this
church all year round. On Sunday, Nov. 6, we
will be observing both Stewardship and Pledge
Sunday…a day when we prayerfully consider
our pledges to Community Presbyterian Church
and then honor our stewardship vow by filling out
and returning our pledge cards. (Don’t forget to
bring your pledge cards to church that day!)
We will also be enjoying a Thank You brunch
after worship service, so bring your appetites as
well!
I want to thank you all now, before one of our
busiest times of year begins, for all your caring
and for all your generosities. This is truly a
compassionate family!
Faithfully yours, Nancy Stuber,
Mission / Stewardship Commissioner
NOVEMBER 6 is a busy day! We will also be
ordaining and installing member Sandy Eldred
to our Board of Deacons in addition to
recognizing the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
(IDOP) and All Saints’ Day.
If one member suffers,
we all suffer together;
if one member is honored,
all rejoice together.”
~ I Corinthians 12:26
What is the IDOP: “In 1996, a coalition of
Christian organizations decided that the global
Church could no longer be silent: They were
appalled by the knowledge that more people had
died for their Christian faith in the twentieth
century than in all the previous centuries
combined. A statement was issued, pledging to
end “our own silence in the face of the suffering
of all those persecuted for their religious faith.”
People from an astonishing 110 countries
pledged to pray for the persecuted on IDOP that
first year. That included countries such as
Sudan, China and Iran, where Christians were
suffering severely themselves but still wanted to
uphold other parts of the persecuted Church in
prayer. This humbling realization spurred the
organizers on to make it an annual event.
“Remember those in prison as if you were
together with them in prison, and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
~ Hebrews 13:3
Churches from all over the world now pray
together annually for the millions of fellow
Christians who suffer harassment, torture,
imprisonment or even death, simply because of
their beliefs.”
Please take the time to pray for all our
suffering Christians.
Article taken from WWW.CSW.ORG.UK/IDOP
Tuesday, November 8
It’s that time of year
again when we think
about those who are
less fortunate and
cannot ‘celebrate’
Thanksgiving due to
financial difficulties.
The Deacons will again be collecting
Thanksgiving-related food items from Nov. 9
through Nov. 17 for the Freeport Emergency
Food pantry. They will be collecting: turkey
coupons, supermarket gift cards, cash, checks,
manufacturer
coupons,
and of
course,
nonperishable Thanksgiving-related food items
such as instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, cans
Continues on next page
of cranberries, yams, onions, gravy, pies, pie
fillings, crusts, cut green beans, applesauce,
rolls, butter, mayo, cake mix & icing, coffee,
juice, tea, relish, soda, fruit, baked beans, corn,
etc. The only BIG difference this year is that
we CANNOT ACCEPT TURKEYS because the
new facility where the Pantry is now located
does not have refrigeration or freezer
capabilities!
The Deacons will be taking all donations over
to the Emergency Pantry on Thursday, Nov. 17.
Volunteers are always appreciated!! Hint hint
Items may be dropped off at the church
anytime during Barbara’s regular work hours, or
you may give one of the Deacons a call if you
can’t get to church. (Cash should be given to
Barbara in the office or to any one of the Deacons
personally, and checks should be made out to the
LICC Freeport Emergency Food Pantry.)
Thank you all in advance.
Ginny Arcuri
Sandy Eldred (honorary)
Jo Gencorelli
Jessie Gregorio
Mona Grimm
Mary Leschinski
623-1292
378-2739
868-1710
379-6276
546-6757
705-0707
Our CPC Handbell choir will be
performing during worship
service on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Please come support our
happy ringers!
FUN FACT: The technical term for “the art
and science of ringing bells using rope and
wheel” is Campanology!
REMINDER, if you would like to submit any
articles for the Tower Chimes, they are due into
the office by the 15th of the prior month, so all
articles for the DECEMBER edition are due
into the office by November 15. Thank you!
THANKSGIVING SUNDAY, NOV. 20 At 10am CPC will be rejoicing in the true
meaning of Thanksgiving during the communion
/ worship service as our Sunday school children
bring forth fruits and vegetables to adorn our
HARVEST TABLE;
At 2pm there will be a free
performance
of
the
BROTHERHOOD COUNCIL OF
BELLMORE AND MERRICK at
Calhoun High School. This
wonderful
concert
brings
together amazing choirs and bell-choirs from
several area houses of worship, local
community choirs, and vocal ensembles from
the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School
District. It is an incredible afternoon of music
which puts the audience in just the right mood
to begin the holiday season! It’s a memorable
evening of free, local musical talent!
Our
Deacons
will
be
channeling the pilgrims on
November 14 as they prepare
and deliver Thanksgiving
baskets to our local shut-ins.
If you’d like to contribute
something
toward
their
baskets, please give one of
our deacons a call.
Our next Women’s Fellowship
Breakfast will be on Saturday,
Nov. 26 at 10am in Grafing Hall.
It’s an hour of inspirational time of prayer, song,
and yes, some food! Please join us, and bring a
friend! If you have any questions about these
Women’s Fellow-ship breakfast, please call Fran
Kelly at 221-3561. Maybe Mr. Trump would like to
come as our guest speaker!?!?!
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT IS NOV. 27
The tradition of counting down
and awaiting HIS arrival during
the
four
weeks
before
Christmas is the core of the
season of Advent. We will
again have the Advent wreath
placed in the front of our
Sanctuary in anticipation of those special four
weeks of readings and services from Sunday,
Nov. 27 through Sunday, Dec. 18.
On November 27 we’ll be lighting the candle
of Hope, and the following three Sundays, the
candles of Peace, Joy and Love, respectively.
Please join us in preparing for His coming!
7 FACTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN
ABOUT ADVENT
1. In Eastern Christian Churches, Advent goes by
several names:
St. Philip’s Fast, The Nativity Fast, Winter Lent or
Christmas Lent.
2. The first mention of a preparatory period before
Christmas is in a canon of the local council of
Saragossa, Spain (380). It forbade the faithful to be
absent from church during the three weeks from the
17th of December to the Epiphany.
3. At the Synod of Mac (581), in present day France,
the season was kept as a period of fasting as strict as
that of Lent commencing in some localities on
November 11, the feast day of St. Martin. The fast
became known as “St. Martin’s Fast” or “St. Martin’s
Lent.” This fasting period said that on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday no one was allowed to
consume meat, dairy products or oil.
4. In most Eastern Churches, the fast did not begin
until the day after St. Philip’s feast day and the same
strict fasting was kept as that in St. Martin’s Lent. This
is the present liturgical pre-Nativity season for the
East, and it wasn’t established until the Council of
Constantinople (1166).
5. The Gelasian Sacramentary, a book on Christian
Liturgy dating back to the 8th century, notes five
Sundays for the season of Advent; these five were
reduced to four by Pope St. Gregory VII (1073-85).
6. In England, especially the northern counties, an
advent custom (now extinct) developed that was for
poor women to carry round the “Advent images,” two
dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed
Virgin Mary. A halfpenny was expected from every
one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was
thought to menace the household not visited by the
doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at the latest.
7. In Italy, during the last days of Advent, the
Calabrian pifferari or bagpipe players come to Rome
and play before the shrines of Mary, the mother of
Jesus. The Italian tradition is that the shepherds
played on these pipes when they came to the manger
at Bethlehem to pay homage to the Messiah.
IT’S Time to order your
Christmas Poinsettias!
YES, Christmas Poinsettias! December 4 is the
cut-off date to get your poinsettia order(s) in.
And yes, it IS early this year but that’s because
our Vesper’s play and dinner will be on Dec.
11th.
The cost will remain at $14 per plant, and if
you don’t want a poinsettia, you
may still contribute and make a
dedication toward the purchase
of wreaths and swags. Please
fill out and return the poinsettia
order form found elsewhere in this issue of the
Tower Chimes or call in your order and
dedication to either me at 516.705.0707 or the
church office at 516.378.7761. Out-of-towners
are welcomed to place orders and dedications
as well. Checks should be made payable to
Community Presbyterian Church and sent to
me at 34 Wynsum Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566.
Please join me in adorning our Sanctuary
on Sat., Dec. 10 at 10am and share a little food
and fellowship! Thank you!
Mary Leschinski, Flower Commissioner
IT’S ALSO TIME TO THINK
ABOUT MAKING YOUR
VESPER’S
DINNER
RESERVATION, which also
has to be sent in by Dec. 4!
Our Vesper’s dinner will take place on
Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5:30pm following our 5pm
children’s Christmas play.
A reservation form is included in this month’s
Tower Chimes. Please fill it out and return it by
Dec. 4 or call the office or the Leschinskis to
make your reservation. Thank you.
This year, Fellowship will be responsible for
the main meal / meats and the beverages.
They are asking all dinner attendees to
make a salad, side dish or dessert, using
one of your FAVORITE RECIPES! A food
sign-up sheet will be in the back of the
Sanctuary so we can try to keep tabs on the
salads, sides and desserts coming in.
Please also give Mary a copy of the
recipe itself because she’d like to make a
recipe book for the congregation using
these family favorite recipes!
Any questions, please give Mary or Charlie a
call at 516.705.0707. See you then!
NOVEMBER 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
6
STEWARDSHIP &
PLEDGE SUNDAY
10am Worship Service; Rev.
Ralph Wright in the pulpit;
Recognition of All Saint’s Day
and the International Day of
Prayer for Persecuted
Churches; Communion (servers
Joe Arcuri, Pat Lofaro, Vinny
Lofaro and Diane Wood); NO
SUNDAY SCHOOL; Usher Team
# 5 (Joe Arcuri, Mary Jane
Gould, Pat Lofaro and Vinny
Lofaro); THANK YOU BRUNCH;
NASC 1-6pm; Daylight Saving
Time Ends
13
10am Worship; Rev. Ralph
Wright in the pulpit; CPC
English Handbell Choir
performs; Usher Team #1
(Pat Dubovick, Charlie
Leschinski, Nancy Stuber
and George Weeks); Sunday
School; Coffee Hour
CHRIST THE KING /
REIGN OF CHRIST
10a Worship; Rev. Ralph
Wright in the pulpit;
20
Communion (servers Amanda
Kelly, Brian Kelly, Gary Stuber
and Nancy Stuber); Usher
Team #2 (Scott Dodge, Fran
Kelly, Alfred Lewis and Bobbie
Lewis); HARVEST TABLE;
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL;
27
1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT
10am Worship; Rev. Ralph
Wright in the pulpit; Usher
Team #3 (David Brackett,
Jamie Brackett, Mona Grimm
and Joe Nelson); Lighting Of
The Hope Candle; Sunday
School
7
Wednesday
All
Saint’s
Day
8
2
ELECTION
DAY!
Board of
Elections in
Grafing Hall
5:30am9pm
Deacons
begin their
Thanksgivingrelated food
& $$$ drive
for the
Freeport
Emergency
Pantry
OPA 7-10p
AA 7:309:30p
14
15
December
10am at CPC Tower
Deacons
Chimes
assembling
articles
and delivering
due
21
9
OPA 7-10pm
28
OPA 7-10pm
AA 7:309:30p
Friday
4
AA 6:459:30p
11
Saturday
5 Turn clocks
BACK 1 hour
tonight
12
Set-up of
Grafing Hall for
tomorrow’s
coffee hour
AA 6:459:30p
18
19
Deacons taking
food to Pantry –
volunteers
needed
23
AA 7:309:30p
29
10
7pm Session
meeting at
NA 7:30-9:30p
CPC
16
17
AA 7:309:30p
22
3
NA 7:30-9:30p
Thanksgiving
Baskets
OPA 7-10pm
Thursday
NA 7:30-9:30p
AA 6:459:30p
24
25
THANKSGIVING
DAY
NA 7:30-9:30p
30
26
10am Women’s
Fellowship
Breakfast at
CPC
AA 6:459:30p
SAVE THESE DECEMBER DATES!
Sat., Dec. 3 – 1pm Women’s Noel Luncheon at Jani’s in
Wantagh
Sunday, Dec. 4 – All Vesper’s and Christmas flower
reservation forms are due back
Sat., Dec. 10 at 10am – Decorate Sanctuary and grounds
with Christmas flowers
Sunday, Dec. 11 – Joy Offering during service; 5pm
Children’s Christmas Play; 5:30pm Vesper’s Dinner
Sun., Dec. 18 –1:30pm wedding of Amanda Kelly and
Linwood Pitt
Sat., Dec. 24 – 7pm candlelight service with lessons & carols
Sun., Dec. 25 – Christmas Day service at 10am
CHRISTMAS FLOWER ORDER FORM 2016
Name: ____________________________________________________
# of poinsettia plants: ___________
($14 each)
(Plants may be brought home AFTER our Christmas Day service.)
I won’t be taking my plants homes, and CPC may have them. _____
Dedication in Christmastime bulletins: ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please mail this form along with your check made payable to “Community Presbyterian Church” to:
Mary Leschinski, 34 Wynsum Ave., Merrick, NY 11566
(or to the church office) by Dec. 4.
(Please use the back of this form if you need more room.)
I would like to contribute towards WREATHS AND/OR SWAGS $______
I would like to contribute to the FLOWER FUND $___________
Please join Mary in adorning the Sanctuary and grounds on Dec. 10 at 10am.
Vespers Dinner – Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5:30pm
Please reserve your spot at our annual Christmas / Vesper’s Dinner!
Fellowship will be providing the entrees / meat and beverages. They are asking YOU to provide
a salad, side dish or dessert using one of your FAVORITE recipes! And please give Mary a copy
of your recipe because she’d like to make a cookbook for our members!
***And don’t forget to let us know what dish(es) you’ll be bringing by signing-up on the
Christmas Dinner / Vesper’s food sheet on the back table in the Sanctuary.
Please fill out the below form and return it to Charlie & Mary Leschinski at 34 Wynsum Ave., Merrick, 11566 or to the
church office by Dec. 4. Questions? Call Charlie or Mary at 516.705-0707.
************** (You only need fill out and return this form if you are attending the dinner.)***********
Family Name:______________________________
# of Adults _______
# of Children ______