First Presbyterian Church of Avon

October

2015 T h e We a t h e r Va n e

From the Pastor

At our Annual Meeting on January 25th I announced my

retirement effective December 31, 2015. I can’t believe that nine

months have already passed. Feelings and thoughts I had nine

months ago are still with me.

I profoundly feel that I have been so blessed to be welcomed

into your community, your lives and your families. You have been

incredibly patient and gracious with me, especially as I grew into

the honor of being your pastor.

As I have contemplated my retirement I have had so many

feelings coursing through me – gratitude, sadness, expectations,

anxiety, a profound joy. People who have come and gone and

those who have stayed – all - appear in my mind’s eye and I am

filled with memories. And as I have remembered I am amazed at

the richness, variety, deepness and wonder of our times together.

Of course over these three decades Connie and I have made

our home here. We will be staying in our home for the foreseeable

future. (Our boys never want us to move!) And for now our house

is a great gathering place for our sons and grandchildren.

Since we will still be here I will certainly run into you after my

retirement. However there are some important changes we all will

need to honor. I will obviously no longer be your pastor and so I

will not be doing baptisms, funerals or weddings. When we meet

I will not comment on your church life, its leadership, worship or

programs. You will be working with presbytery and your

Committee on Ministry representative to find interim pastoral

service and eventually invite another lucky person to be your

pastor. There are steps in this process and your Session and you

will be guided through them.

We are in the final stretch now. December 31st is fast

approaching. Christmas is less than three months away! As we

wrap up and as the October 10th Open House approaches I am

(Continued on page 2)

The Session

Nancy Toland-

Clerk of Session/ Nominating 538-2519

Ken Hallett– Presby. Rep. 733-0623

Julie Mead—Fun Raisers/

Fellowship 230-1358

Sue Orman— Crisis Aid/

Nominating 734-8424

Kay Pfluke—Personnel/

Stewardship 226-2461

Jerry Rothrock– Trustees/Spec

Accounts/Rummage Sales 226-8602

Scott Schlesing– Fellowship/

Fun Raisers/Venture Crew 86 410-0969

Duane Staples– Rummage Sale 226-6498

Christian Trewer—Christ.Ed 748-7943

Chris Turk– Mem./Worship

Stewardship 624-1399

Board Of Deacons

Lisa Schillinger– Memorial 346-2789

Carl Hogan—Nom./Personnel 226-2951

Julie Witzel– Flowers 261-0421

Betty Taromino- Chair 226-2048

Ashley Schillinger– Youth

Helper

Sandy Chambers– Flowers/

Crisis Aid

226-6517

Elaine Neth– Candles/

Christmas Post Office

226-6366

Susie Rothrock– Crisis Aid 226-8602

Jackie Staples—Sun./Cheer 226-6498

The WeatherVane Page 2

C H U R C H S T A F F

Minister : The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Taylor

Parish Associate: The Rev. Dr. S. Sauvé

Organist/Bell Choir: Joanne Cole

Choir Director: Isaac Hutton

Secretary: Debi Leinbach 226-3387

Email for WeatherVane articles:

debileinbach@outlook.com

Treasurer: Lori Cruz

Church: 226-6460

www.avonchurch.com

looking forward to celebrating with you our ministry

together. We have had a wonderful and amazing

journey of faith together. God has been so good to

all of us, and I feel especially to me. Each of you,

every single one of you, is a blessing to me that I

never deserved. I am so grateful for you all.

While after December 31, 2015 I will no longer

fill the pulpit or lead worship or Bible studies or

moderate the Session, all of you will always be

in my heart. You are my heart. Our Apostles’

Creed affirms that we are a communion of saints, a

communion of the faithful. While I am not claiming

to be a saint, I am claiming you as my communion

of the faithful. You have embraced me and my

family and in God’s grace we are a family, a family

of faith. My prayer and my faith is that you will

eventually welcome another servant of God to be

your pastoral leader, and that you will make him or

her a part of your wonderful family of faith.

I hope to see you soon. Tom

(Continued from page 1)

From Your Transition Team

We are looking for any pictures that you might

have of Tom either in digital or print form. Images that

are digital can be emailed to kaypfluke@yahoo.com.

For images in print form, please put your name on the

back and give to any Transition Team Member.

These will be displayed at the Open House on

October 10th at the Avon Community Center (behind

MacDonald’s) from 1pm to 4pm. Please bring a

remembrance that you have of Tom. Any kind will do.

These items will be put into a book for Tom after the

reception. Thank you.

The WeatherVane Page 3

Page 4 The WeatherVane

Golf Tournament Statistics!

This year these were 77 golfers, an increase from the

23 golfers who attended last year.

First place team .... Superior walls.

Last place team.... The oldies

Other prizes…

Closest to the line

and longest drive.... Bob Toland

Shortest Drive.... Julie Strom

Closest to the pin.... Gene Welch

Winner of the 50/50 Don Piampiano

In Memory Of:

Dorothy McLaughlin

Mark Mayer

The Taylor & Mack Families

The Rothrock & Wilbur Families

Arthur Schlesing

Candy Chambers

Bob Webster

Larry Morey

Sandy Piampiano

Daniel Toland

David Whitney

Lawrence D. Stevens

Corporate Sponsorships:

NYS Process

Tompkins Bank of Castile

Liberty Underground

Smitty’s Auto Repair

Superior Walls

The date for next year is August 20, 2016.

The following dedications were made:

In Honor of:

Our Loved Ones

The Strom Family

Donations and Door Prizes given by the following:

PW Crafters

Tompkins Bank of Castile

Salvatore’s

Mark’s Pizzeria

Tops Friendly Markets

Wegmans

McDonald’s

Peppermints

Old Hickory Golf Club

The Village Restaurant

Paul and Hildegarde Turk

Carrie Gruschow

Buffalo Bills

Flaherty’s Restaurant

Penn Fair

Veronica’s

Avon Floral World

Les Cole

Bob & Sally Austin

Mike & Bev Hallett

Fratelli’s

FarView Country Club

Rainbow of Styles

by Linda

Kathy Gruschow

LeRoy Country Club

Lakeland Equipment

Lima Country Club

Texas Road House

Applebee’s

Done Right Cleaning

C & F Car Toys

Livingston Country Club

The Heeler Family

Barilla

Paula & Hoyt Mason

Chris Turk

Fairport Brewery

Davin’s Farm

John Butterazzi

Nancy Toland

Sprinkle’s

Dunkin Donuts

and the

Genesee Valley

PennySaver

Page 5 The WeatherVane

From the Church Family

Recently we have prayed for the families and friends

of: Norm Rogers; Jim Steele; Peggy Minekiem; Arthur

Cruikshank; John Paul Herman; Sarah Turner; Jim Co-

choran;

We have also included in our prayers the following:

Dorothy Stevens, Sue and George Rocklein, John

Mclaughlin, Clara Elkins, Dinah Mayer, Seldon Chase,

Sylvan Ryan, Hildegarde Turk, the Webster family and

Pat Budd, Madeline Perry, Ricky Voss, Dawn Hanna,

Millie Sackett, Jean Tummonds, Russell Toland, Marian

Marshall, Ron Rothrock, Bob Neth, Roger Morey,

Dylan Gruschow, Amanda Joy Mayer, Warren Brill,

Jeanette Ryan, Orris and Arvilla Staples, Mary Ford,

Warren Brill, Noble Staples, John Gorsage, Paul

Gorsage, Irene Klink, James Ayers, Georgia Robbins,

June Brown, Jon deChauny, Maryann Cooley, Marie

Versage, Anne Gerber, Carol Belic, Carl and Bev

Hogan, Dottie Benzee, Robert Chambers, Lisa Holtz,

Dottie Benzee, Corie Bloom, the Rev. Mark Stigler,

Bill Hockey, Kate Rothrock, Betina Johnson, Rob

LaFave, Helmud Smuk, Ed Minekiem, Carrie Pfluke,

Penny Miller, Don McFadden, Sandra Stella, Kelly

Morse, Carol Preston, Bowen Wies, Ken Freese, Darcy

Teed, Jim Leyhugh, Betty Mulvaney, Dorothy Brown,

and Beatrice Burley.

We prayed for safe travel for: Hoyt and Paula Mason

back to Florida; and Carole Stanley.

We continue to pray for all of our first responders

and their families.

We also have prayed for all those who serve our

nation at home and abroad, especially: Joshua Davidson,

Kyle Bilanic, Kyle Cameron, Derek Dumas, Ian Hall,

Marty Cole, Richard Darcy, Sean Thurston, Robbie

Webster, Dylan Smoot, Michael Cook, Adam Barrett,

Steven Jervis, Nelson Powell, Jr., Devon Schlesing,

Nelson Powell, Jr., Zack McGee, Serena Strozewski,

Tony Fusco, Anthony Ruscitto, Michael Tripp, Tom

Kasulke, Benjamin Mongeau, Jason Geddes,

Laura Gaxiola, Jeff Fox, Nicky Cole, Cody

Staudinger, Brennen Fusco.

Among the many things for which we are

grateful we have lifted prayers of thanks for:

The great tradition and vital contributions of

Labor to our great nation, its standard of living

and societal safe guards; our own Venture Crew

86 acting as escorts for a recent Honor Flight;

Joey Comstock doing better; Carole Stanley and

son visiting Carole Webster; the wedding of

James and Jessica Pfluke White; the slow but sure

progress of Pat Budd; the 5th wedding anniversary

of Sue and George Rocklein; Sue Rocklein’s

great medical news and progress; Ed Minekiem

and Paul Reese doing better; Carrie Pfluke passed

her Occupational Therapist license test; Ed

Chambers giving thanks for the support given

him in his recent loss; and we received beautiful

“thank you” notes from Jean Tummonds, Barbara

Stanley, and Sue Rocklein.

Mark Your Calendars!!!

The "10th" annual "Full Day"

Craft Bazaar, Luncheon and Bake sale

is coming up on Nov. 21.

Start digging out your wonderful recipes for

the bake sale and if you have crafts that you

have done we would gratefully accept them.

THANKS to all of you who have donated

jell jars, pint jars, quart jars, lids and rings for

them. We now have enough jell and quart jars.

Your PW Crafters

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Our Rally Day activities were changed due to the

weather, but the pot luck lunch and inside activities

were enjoyed by many.

It was reported that the profit from our second golf

tournament was $2,000 +. A great day was enjoyed by

many members and friends.

The nominating committee will begin its work shortly,

and an effort will be made to fill the two vacant spots

on Session, as well as the other scheduled offices need-

ed.

We have hired Isaac Hutton to be our Choir Director.

Isaac is a Master’s student at Nazareth, and resides in

Henrietta with his family. We welcome Isaac to our

Choir.

The Transition Team has reached a Dissolution

Agreement with Tom, recognizing his retirement on

Dec. 31, 2015. The Session reviewed and approved

this agreement which will be voted on by the

congregation at Sept. 20th’s special congregation

meeting, reviewed by the Committee on Ministry and

Presbytery for approval.

The Sept. 26th rummage sale date was noted, and a

request for help issued.

The job descriptions of Session members have been

reviewed and will be shared with our new officers.

You will soon be hearing from the stewardship and

nominating committees. This is the time of year when

we are making plans for the new year by figuring out

our needs and funding, and asking for folks to step up

and fill the roster of workers needed in the future.

Please be open to the requests of these two important

committees.

We will be celebrating Tom’s retirement with the

community on Oct. 10th. The Transition Team is

working to make this a memorable day for him and his

family. Check the details elsewhere in this newsletter,

and help us recognize Tom’s time here with us.

We offer our Thank You to Paul Turk for his

restoring of the railings around the church build-

ing, and the restoration of the memorial bench

in the front park. Thanks, Paul.

Also, a Thank You to Jim Rogers for taking care

of the trimming of the bushes in the front.

Always appreciated, Jim.

SPECIAL CONGREGATONAL MEETING

The special congregational meeting held on

Sept. 20th was called to act on Rev. Taylor’s

request to retire on Dec. 31, 2015. 40 members

of the church voted to accept the dissolution of

the agreement between First Presbyterian

Church and Rev. Taylor due to his retirement.

We also reviewed and agreed to the Separation

Ethics Boundaries Covenant, a copy of which is

on page 7 of this newsletter.

This covenant is provided by the Genesee

Valley Presbytery to assure a right relationship

between the pastor, the session and the

congregation following his retirement.

News and Notes from Session:

Page 7 The WeatherVane The WeatherVane The WeatherVane

This Separation Ethics and Boundaries Covenant is provided by the Genesee Valley Presbytery to provide assurance

of a right relationship between the pastor, the session and the congregation following his retirement. It was reviewed by the Session,

and the congregation approved it at the meeting on Sept. 20, 2015.

PRESBYTERY OF GENESEE VALLEY

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY

Policy Regarding Former Pastors:

Separation Ethics and Boundaries Covenant

Boundaries Covenant is a reminder of the importance of the relationship between the former pastor and congregation. To ensure a

healthy transition from the current called pastor to a transitional pastor and then to the newly installed pastor, the congregation and

departing pastor must exercise great self-restraint in order to allow time for the congregation to reflect on past ministry, dream about

future ministries and allow for a relationship with future pastors to grow. How pastors and congregations say “Goodbye” is just as

important as how they say “Hello” and “Welcome”. So we all (pastors, congregational leaders and members) need to model for one

another healthy boundaries as our roles and responsibilities change. To effectively and graciously maintain such boundaries requires

clarity and positive support of one another.

This Boundaries Covenant should be shared throughout the congregation so that others may understand the changes in the pastoral

role and responsibilities and can cooperate as the church and pastor move into another phase of their respective lives.

This covenant will guide the future relationship between The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Taylor (hereafter referred to as “the pastor”) and

the First Presbyterian Church of Avon, NY (hereafter referred to as “the church”) effective on this date of dissolution December 31,

2015. Both understand and accept the terms of this Boundaries Covenant in order that all pastoral staff can develop in positive ways.

A. The Pastor agrees to communicate to the entire congregation, friends of the church, and staff prior to the departure, so that it

is clear that although the departing pastor has greatly valued their friendships, the pastor desires and has covenanted not to

be in communication regarding the congregation, its life, any pastoral care or discussion of future leadership, congregational

issues or events.

B. It is agreed that the Pastor will not ordinarily expect to have the freedom to use the services of the church office or support

staff after the dissolution date. It is also expected that all church property, including all church keys, will be returned to the

Clerk of Session on the last day of service.

C. It is agreed that the Pastor and the Church will hold one another in prayer for their emotional and spiritual well-being. It is

agreed that the Pastor and the Church will refrain from all intentional pastoral interaction online or in person until a suitable

period of time has passed.

D. The Pastor agrees that he will not provide pastoral services for weddings, baptisms or funerals in the former congregation or

with members of the former congregation. Planning and counseling are to be performed by the resident pastor, either inter-

im or installed, or the Moderator of the Session. Former pastors may be invited to share in the former congregation’s life

only by invitation of the current Moderator or in the absence of a moderator, the Session. The Pastor agrees to notify the

Moderator or the pastor of any requests received from members of the congregation with regards to pastoral services.

E. The Pastor and the congregation agree to eliminate all social media connections and contacts that maintain a formal pastoral

relationship that has been dissolved. Any social media contacts relating to normal friendships should be exercised with ex-

treme caution not to violate any boundaries regarding discussions of the church, the pastor, policies, programs, staff, etc.

F. The Pastor agrees that he will neither say nor listen to any uncomplimentary or critical remarks with members of the con-

gregation concerning transitional or installed clergy.

G. The Church and the Pastor agree that after a suitable period of time, if there is a desire on the part of any party to this

Boundaries Covenant to review it, they may do so with all parties involved.

Any additions and/or exceptions to this Boundaries Covenant must be agreed to prior to signing this covenant and attached

as an appendix and transmitted to the COM as part of the covenant.

In signing, the parties indicate a commitment to abide by the above Separation Ethics Policy and Boundaries Covenant and

that they have received and understand and will abide by the COM decisions relative to this policy.

Page 8 The WeatherVane

Rummage Sale a Success!

A profit of $1,218.00 was made from the

Fall Rummage Sale. Thanks to all who

donated, worked and shopped.

This event is an exercise in recycling as

well as a benefit to our community.

Thank you!

Seekers has begun! This Fall we will be

looking at topics such as being too busy; why God

doesn’t always give us what we want; the struggle to

forgive and the healing power of forgiveness; losing

someone in our life; and finding our true self.

As usual we will begin at 7:00pm in the

Fellowship Hall with prayer and meditation, and

then dessert! We then view a 5-8 minutes DVD on

the subject and discuss our thoughts and questions.

We will the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Everyone is welcomed and the classes are structured

so that you can come to one or as many has you

have time and interest for. We hope to see you.

Seekers

Page 9 The WeatherVane

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

Each Mon.

PW Crafters

meet 9am

1 2 3 Each Sat.

12 Noon SIS

4 10:00am

Worship w/

World Wide

Communion

5 6 7:00pm

Seekers

7 8 9 10 1:00pm-

4:00pm

Open House

for Tom

11 10:00am

Worship

12 13 14 1:00pm

WeCare,

lesson 2

15 16 17

18 10:00am

Worship

19 7:00 pm.

Session

20 7:00pm

Seekers

21 22 23 24

25 10:00am

Worship

26 27 28 1:00pm.

WeCare

29 30 31

October 2015

Each Thurs

12:15AA

7:30pm AA

& Alanon

Nov. WV

Articles due

Oct 18

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO.21

AVON, NY 14414

First Presbyterian Church

5605 E. Avon Lima Rd. PO Box 189

Avon, NY 14414

Oct. 2015

WeatherVane

Nov. 2015

WeatherVane Articles

Due Oct. 18 , or earlier if able

Or current resident

Come to an Open House

to Celebrate the retirement

of the

Rev. Dr. Tom Taylor

on October 10th

from 1pm to 4pm

at the Avon Community Center

located behind McDonald’s in Avon.

Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will

be provided.

Cards welcome with stories of Tom!