Epistle - First Presbyterian Church of Valatie...Epistle “We are a small congregation, part of...

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Epistle “We are a small congregation, part of God’s larger family, teaching and living God’s Word, and sharing God’s love throughout the community.” Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Valatie Reverend Kathi L. Jones, Pastor April 2020 P.O. Box 267, 3212 Church Street, Valatie, NY 12184 email: [email protected] 518-758-9658 Website: www.firstpresbyterianvalatie.weebly.com From the Pastor’s Pen The sun is shining, the air is warming and the snow is gone. Shoots are breaking through the ground. It would appear that spring is on time and all is well. But that would be missing what is actually going on in so many other ways. Unseen threats surround us. A virus which we have never experienced before has circled the world and found its way even into our school district. There are no warning signs of its approach. One can be taken unaware of its hold. We are cautioned to stay home, to social distanceourselves if we must go out. Grandparents are lamenting that they cannot visit with grandchildren. Parents are finding it more difficult to keep their children happily occupied. Older folks are more isolated than ever. It is indeed a very different world than it was eight weeks ago. I have been asked to do three funeral or graveside services in the past two weeks. People with no faith community of their own often seek out a clergyperson to help lay their loved one to rest. Almost always I am told that while they may not have gone to church, they had faith in God. I am asked to give comfort to the children of the deceased who were never taken to church, never taught about Gods love. It is difficult to accomplish in such a short period of time using words that are foreign from scriptures they have not heard. It is made even more difficult in these uneasy times. And yet, they always say how helpful it was to them. God breaks through. Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So dont try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well- developed, not deficient in any way. If you dont know what youre doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. Youll get his help, and wont be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. James 1:2-6a (The Message) We dont like to think of challenges as a good thing. We would prefer that life be comfortable. The Israelites certainly didnt deal well with the difficulties they faced as they journeyed to the Promised Land. There was all kinds of blame being cast upon Moses and lack of faith being practiced. They wanted things to go back to what they knew; at least that was understood. Change did not sit well. We, too, find it difficult when lifes circumstances are changed and the way forward becomes unknown. But we are told that God remains faithful, and trusting in him in such times as these is what our faith requires of us. May each of us find joy and see God in everyday activity even if it is different from the usual. Stay safe, stay healthy and grow in faith. May the peace of Christ be with you, Kathi

Transcript of Epistle - First Presbyterian Church of Valatie...Epistle “We are a small congregation, part of...

Page 1: Epistle - First Presbyterian Church of Valatie...Epistle “We are a small congregation, part of God’s larger family, teaching and living God’s Word, and sharing God’s love throughout

Epistle

“We are a small congregation, part of God’s larger family, teaching and living God’s Word, and sharing God’s love throughout the community.”

Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Valatie Reverend Kathi L. Jones, Pastor

April 2020

P.O. Box 267, 3212 Church Street, Valatie, NY 12184 email: [email protected] 518-758-9658

Website: www.firstpresbyterianvalatie.weebly.com

From the Pastor’s Pen

The sun is shining, the air is warming and the snow is gone. Shoots are breaking through the ground.

It would appear that spring is on time and all is well. But that would be missing what is actually going

on in so many other ways.

Unseen threats surround us. A virus which we have never experienced before has circled the world

and found its way even into our school district. There are no warning signs of its approach. One can

be taken unaware of its hold.

We are cautioned to stay home, to “social distance” ourselves if we must go out. Grandparents are

lamenting that they cannot visit with grandchildren. Parents are finding it more difficult to keep their

children happily occupied. Older folks are more isolated than ever. It is indeed a very different world

than it was eight weeks ago.

I have been asked to do three funeral or graveside services in the past two weeks. People with no

faith community of their own often seek out a clergyperson to help lay their loved one to rest. Almost

always I am told that while they may not have gone to church, they had faith in God. I am asked to

give comfort to the children of the deceased who were never taken to church, never taught about

God’s love. It is difficult to accomplish in such a short period of time using words that are foreign from

scriptures they have not heard. It is made even more difficult in these uneasy times. And yet, they

always say how helpful it was to them. God breaks through.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. James 1:2-6a (The Message)

We don’t like to think of challenges as a good thing. We would prefer that life be comfortable. The Israelites certainly didn’t deal well with the difficulties they faced as they journeyed to the Promised Land. There was all kinds of blame being cast upon Moses and lack of faith being practiced. They wanted things to go back to what they knew; at least that was understood. Change did not sit well.

We, too, find it difficult when life’s circumstances are changed and the way forward becomes unknown. But we are told that God remains faithful, and trusting in him in such times as these is what our faith requires of us.

May each of us find joy and see God in everyday activity even if it is different from the usual.

Stay safe, stay healthy and grow in faith. May the peace of Christ be with you,

Kathi

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Christian Nurture

Please keep our world, country, church family, loved ones, health care workers and all those who are working in the essential services in your prayers! Well, the coronavirus has certainly thrown a giant monkey wrench into the world as we know it. And some of the best-laid plans within our own church have to be changed in light of this pandemic. At this time Sunday worship has been suspended until we can safely resume according to government guidelines. This most likely means we will not be worshipping together for April. This year we made plans to participate in the Eco-palm Project and buy our palms through this partnership. Why did we decide to buy eco-palms? Eco-palms are sustainably harvested and fairly traded. That means the money spent on the palms is directly benefiting the communities where the palms are harvested. The sale of these palms helps send young girls to school, employ women, and build community centers. Purchasing these palms protects the forests they are grown in. It was too late to cancel the order, so we will be receiving them as they have already been harvested and are in transit. The details are being worked on to get palms to everyone such as delivering to homebound folks’ homes and/or leaving a bucket of them on the church steps for folks to stop by and pick one up. They are different from what we have previously use - not a frond, but a branch. We are all on a learning curve as to how to continue to worship together while remaining in our homes. Those who have internet can find a couple of our Presbyterian churches in Albany Presbytery streaming on their website. We hope you are using the Lenten devotionals and finding inspiration for life through these readings that were so thoughtfully given by our members. We thank all those who contributed.

Prayer List

We pray for:

• Our government to consider the concerns of the public before their own.

• People trapped in refugee camps or escaping their country’s atrocities.

• Individuals and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

• People to be more mindful of the environment.

• For a future of peace, as we remember the horrors of the past, like the Holocaust

We are thankful for… • The Resurrection and the hope it

brings. • All those who died for our right to vote. • The gifts to be able to read and write

and the plethora of materials to read. • Our libraries and the services they

provide.

Deacons Doings Thank you to all who donated money to Blankets+. Due to your generosity, we collected $765.00 and are therefore, able to provide 76 ½ blankets. The Deacons have decided to add $235.00 to your generous donations and bring the total up $1,000.00 so that we can provide a total of 100 blankets from our church. If there are any needs that the Deacons can help with please contact Judy Bury or Alicia Albertson. If you need transportation to a doctor’s appointment, Church or any other necessary trip please contact Pastor Kathi (518-755-2557) and she will make the necessary arrangements.

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Presbyterian Women All Presbyterian Women’s get togethers have been put on hold for the time being. A date for our next local meeting and lesson 8 of the Bible Study will be announced after it is considered safe to gather in person. The same goes for Warm Up America and the PW book club. We still plan to discuss Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens at the next meeting. If you haven’t read the book there’s now time to do it, or you may read a book of your choosing and report to the group when we meet. If you have suggestions for books to read and discuss in the future, please give the titles to Nancy Pienta. The PW of the Synod of the Northeast Triennial scheduled for August has been cancelled. Some programs from it will be included at the October Leadership workshops and Annual meeting which is usually held at the Stony Point Conference Center. The May 21 Spring Gathering of PW in the Presbytery of Albany will still be held if conditions allow. Thank you for supporting Women’s Sunday and for contributing $4.25 to the Fellowship of the Least Coin. The collection container will be available when services at the church resume so save your pennies. Thirty-five magazines were taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital this month and thirty were taken in February. This would be a good time to catch up on reading back issues while you are being encouraged to spend your leisure time at home.

LECTIONARY FOR APRIL

Palm/Passion Sunday April 5: Sixth Sunday in Lent Liturgy of the Palms Matthew 21:1–11; Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16; Philippians 2:5–11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11–54 Monday of Holy Week April 6: Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 36:5–11; Hebrews 9:11–15; John 12:1–11 Tuesday of Holy Week April 7: Isaiah 49:1–7; Psalm 71:1–14; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31; John 12:20–36 Wednesday of Holy Week April 8: Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1–3; John 13:21–32 Maundy Thursday April 9: Exodus 12:1–4 [5–10] 11–14 Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 John 13:1–17, 31b–35 Good Friday April 10: Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16–25 or Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9; John 18:1—19:42 Resurrection of the Lord April 12: Easter Sunday: Acts 10:34–43 or Jeremiah 31:1–6; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Colossians 3:1–4 or Acts 10:34–43; John 20:1–18 or Matthew 28:1–10 Easter Evening Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 114 1; Corinthians 5:6b–8; Luke 24:13–49 Second Sunday of Easter April 19: Acts 2:14a, 22–32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3–9; John 20:19–31 Third Sunday of Easter April 26: Acts 2:14a, 36–41; Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19; 1 Peter 1:17–23; Luke 24:13–35

From the Mailbag

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The fifth reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2020 is by Dinesh Suna, coordinator of Ecumenical Water Network, World Council of Churches. He is a Lutheran and comes from India. In the following reflection, he explores the importance of “hand-washing” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic while this basic facility is not available to millions of people, particularly to children. He dedicates this reflection to World Water Day which is being observed on March 22 with the theme “Water and Climate Change.” Text: 2 Kings 5:9-14

When Naaman, the commander of the army, suffering from leprosy, went to meet Prophet Elisha in anticipation of being cured of his leprosy, Elisha simply asked him to wash in the river Jordan, seven times. Naaman quite obviously, was upset and he almost did not obey Elisha’s instruction, as the “cure” from his disease was such a simple remedy. But when he did obey, he was miraculously healed from his leprosy.

I am writing this reflection when the world is under the grip of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Our television screens, newspapers and social media are screaming loudly 24/7 about the global pandemic that has brought the world to a standstill. In about 3 months, first detected in Wuhan in China, today it has reached over 180 countries with over 265,000 cases of infection and over 11,000 deaths. While China has reported zero new cases for the first time, Europe – particularly, Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland - and the USA are yet to see their peak. The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts the virus could infect at least half of the world’s population with an unthinkable number of deaths if strictest measures are not put in place. Countries have been locked down for weeks and months and people, including myself, are advised to remain homebound, isolated, to break the spreading of the virus. Currently there is no cure for this pandemic and no sight of a vaccine in the near future. But the most important and common advice is “hand-washing.” It sounds like an oxymoron when the most contagious and probably lethal virus witnessed in the 21

st century has a very simple remedy. To remain safe wash your hands with

water and soap. I was reminded of Naaman’s story. However, we may be surprised to note that it is not possible for everyone in the world to wash their hands several times a day to avoid infection, simply because they do not have adequate access to safe and clean water for drinking, let alone for hand-washing. To this end, to encourage the children in developing countries, October 15 is recognized as global Hand Washing Day. Can you imagine how challenging hand-washing is without a tap at home or school? But that is the reality for millions of children around the world.

Now coming to the theme of the reflection "Water and Climate Change.” This theme is derived from the theme of World Water Day, which is being observed on March 22. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. We human beings have plundered the earth’s resources for our greed and comfort. As a result, climate change is fast approaching a "tipping point" of an irreversible change towards the death and destruction of our planet. The impact of climate change can be felt with rising maximum temperatures, rising minimum temperatures, rising sea levels, higher ocean temperatures, erratic rainfall leading to floods and drought, shrinking glaciers, and thawing permafrost. All these happen cyclically, one triggering the other. The indirect consequences of climate change, which directly affect us humans and our environment, include: an increase in hunger and water crises, and more health issues, especially in developing countries. A policy brief on climate change and water produced by UN Water says, “The global climate change crisis is inextricably linked to water. Climate change is increasing variability in the water cycle, thus inducing extreme weather events, reducing the predictability of water availability, decreasing water quality and threatening sustainable development, biodiversity and enjoyment of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation worldwide.” There are significant co-benefits to managing climate and water in a more coordinated and sustainable manner. In 2015 three major global commitments were adopted:

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APRIL BIRTHDAYS 13—Toby Lauster

16—Susan Pienta

26—Maguire Barton

29—Paul Fuhrmann

30—Nadean Behrens

Anniversaries 5—Yvonne and David Main

15—Tamara and Richard Armstrong

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL If we have missed your Birthday or Anniversary on our list, please

give Naomi in the office a call. We want to celebrate with you and let

others know about your special day. If you are reaching some other

significant milestone let us know.

The Pacific context: While the rest of the world is seeing the impact of climate change through excessive water (floods) or the lack of water (drought), the Pacific region is witnessing far more shocking experiences. Their lands are disappearing into the rising sea levels. On a recent visit to Fiji in January 2020, I was part of a delegation of the World Council of Churches Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. We went to Vunidogoloa - a relocated village, the first among 400 villages that are planned to be relocated due to the impact of climate change through rising sea levels. People lost their land and the memories of generations along with it. The Pacific islands are surrounded by waters. However, the availability of freshwater continues to remain a challenge with the growing saltwater incursion into the freshwater sources. Many of the freshwater streams and creeks are getting affected by climate change. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by the English poet Samuel Taylor rightly puts it “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” The rest are being bottled by the bottled water industries such as the Fiji Waters, an American corporation. Praying for Water Creator God, We give you thanks for your creation and everything in it. Teach us to love and care for our communities and neighbors, near and far. Please help us to remember you and your gift of water now and always. May we recognize the sacredness and holiness in all the earth’s water and strive for care and protection. Amen

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3212 Church Street

P. O. Box 267

Valatie, NY 12184

TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION-PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY

Phone: 518-758-9658

Email: [email protected]

Sandra Hohneker, Treasurer Bill Ring, Financial Secretary Naomi Handley, Secretary

Sarah Sayers, Clerk of Session Ardelle Stewart, Organist Nick Becker, Sexton

Prayer for a Pandemic  

May we who are merely inconvenienced Remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors Remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close Remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips Remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market Remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home Remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country, let us choose love. During this time when we cannot wrap our arms around each other, Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.