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From the pastor What does it take to change
your mind? What do you need to be convinced that a long-held
conviction or belief is not necessarily true? (Jim Uleman could
probably point to some great social psychology research about what
changes our minds, but here’s the pastoral take.)
We all need a change of mind about something. Whether it’s the
Boy Scouts’ decision to open up to gay leadership or a politician
with an NRA “A” rating now working for responsible gun legislation,
we have some great models. One of my favorite testimonies to
changing minds, albeit a little long, is Joe Scarborough’s
statement after the Newtown shooting. (If you’re reading this
on-line, click the link for the youtube clip.)
My cynical side says these folks changed their stances because
they had to – Boy Scouts for legal or financial reasons, public
officials because they would be voted out of office. Yet the people
I watch truly change their minds do so because of a personal
experience, a deeper connection with someone
who is different, a realization that they could very easily be
in another’s shoes. Their minds change when their hearts are
opened.
Ash Wednesday, February 13, begins our season of changing minds.
Lent is often associated with the church word, repentance, but
“changing minds” will do. I’ve been wondering what opinion – of
myself, of others, of the church – God is calling me to change this
year. What is keeping me, or you, from seeing the world according
to God’s reality?
What is holding you back from being truly happy or at peace?
What belief of yours, about the world or a particular group of
people, needs a nudge or shift or break? And what do you need to
do, with whom do you need to talk, or whose voices do you need to
turn off, so that your heart will be opened?
The good news is that God is waiting for you there. Blessings
for your Lenten journey,
Laura
February Worship
Laura Cunningham will be preaching for the month of
February.
February 3: Liturgist: Robert Rockefeller; Communion Servers:
Debbie Warburton, Mary Lee Wainwright, Angus Sampath, Martha
Miller
February 10: Liturgist: Jim Uleman
February 13: Imposition of Ashes 7:30pm
February 17: Liturgist: Ruth Tesar
February 24: Liturgist: Jim Waters
The ushers will be Bob and Adele Schnell.
Designated Deacon for February is Adele Schnell.
She can be reached at (845-735-4281)
The Good News
February
2013
http://youtu.be/RA_0-ZltUL0http://youtu.be/RA_0-ZltUL0
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2 The Good News
From the Editor
A group of children, between the ages of 4 and 8 years, were
asked this question:
“What Does Love Mean?” Here are a few of their answers.
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is
different. You just know your name is safe in their mouths.”
–Billy, age 4
“Love is what makes you smile when you are tired.” –Terry, age
4
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop
opening presents and listen.” --Bobby, age 7
“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your
french fries without making them give you
any of theirs.” –Chrissy, age 6
”If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a
friend you hate.” –Nikka, age 6
”Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him
alone all day.” --Mary Ann, age 4
Out of the mouths of babes. We can learn a lot about life and
love by really listening to our little ones.
Peace, Barbara DeVries
. The Book Group will meet at noon on Wednesday, February 6, at
Mia Cucina in Blauvelt.
The book for February is Help, Thanks, Wow, by Anne Lamott.
Please let the church office (845-735-4565) know if you plan to
attend, so reservations can be made. Everyone is welcome to join
these interesting and spirited discussions.
Second Sunday Breakfast will be held on Sunday, February 10,
from 8-9 AM
before worship. Come and enjoy a breakfast of your choice,
cheerfully prepared by the men of the church. And if any additional
men would like to participate, please call Badi Fahmi
(845-623-4247). Good food, good conversation, good fellowship are
guaranteed!
Food Gifts for Communion Sunday Please remember to bring
non-perishable items for an area Food Bank on February 3rd, to be
placed on the communion table during Communion. Juice, dry pasta,
peanut butter, tuna, canned ravioli, soap, toothpaste and diapers
are some suggested items.
Nauraushaun Notes
** Our new and improved website
goes live on Sunday February 3rd! Be
sure to check it out! **
www.nauraushaunchurch.org
Book of Life
Baptized: Chace James Waters, son of Chris and Cynthia Waters,
grandson of Jim and Judy Waters,
on January 6, 2013.
http://www.nauraushaunchurch.org/
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February 2013 3
Volunteer Chaplain Training
Chaplain David Wentroble, Director of Pastoral Care at Nyack
Hospital, will be leading a 10-week training program for volunteer
chaplains from February through April, meeting on a week-night
evening, with the day of week to be determined by the applicants.
Members of our congregation who are interested in visiting and
caring for patients in the hospital are welcome, as are those who
are already acting as Eucharistic Ministers. Included subjects are:
1. Making a Visit 2. How to be Caring 3. Communicating Care 4.
Practicing the Presence of God 5. Active Listening 6. Prayer as a
Part of Ministry 7. Prayer for Wholeness and Healing 8.
Understanding Grief 9. Special Challenges in Communication 10.
Ministry to Dying Patients If you are interested in participating,
please contact David Wentroble by phone (845-348-2182) or via email
at: [email protected].
Helping Hands
February sheltering dates will be Friday, February 22, Saturday,
February 23, and Sunday, February 24. Watch for a signup list on
the table outside the church office for people needed to help with
food, serving, or chaperoning.
Also, crew socks, men’s underwear, and warm outerwear are always
needed. There is a bin in the coatroom for smaller items, and a box
by the office for coats.
Nauraushaun Notes (continued)
Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, February
3, in the
Great Hall immediately following church services. Please plan to
attend.
Women’s Association There will be an Ash Wednesday Retreat at
Stony Point Center on February 13,
from 10 AM – 12:30 PM. The retreat
leader will be Rev. Lori Knight-Whitehouse, and the theme will
be Art Journaling: Spiritual Work and Play. Come with an open heart
and a creative mind for a time of being young in spirit. Bring a
sandwich; beverage, fruit, and cookies will be provided. Call Adele
Schnell (845-735-4281) or Carol Boyatsis (845-623-3023) to make a
reservation. We will be carpooling from the church at 9:30 AM.
February W.A. Meetings: AM Circle: Tues., February 12, 9:30 AM
Eve. Circle: Mon., February 18, 7:30 PM Board Mtg.: Tues., February
19, 9:30 AM
On Wednesday February 13 at 7:30pm
there will be the Imposition of Ashes.
Giving Statements 2012 Giving statements were mailed home to all
those with envelope numbers who gave last year. If you did not
receive one and would like one, please call Dana
in the church office.
mailto:[email protected]
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4 The Good News
Along with the usual selection of coffees, a
variety of Equal Exchange chocolates, nuts,
teas and hot cocoa are available in the church
office. Come in and take a look—a sweet way
to start the New Year!
Come and be filled with the power of praying
together! Prayer Group meets every
Thursday at 7 AM, at the church.
The Greening of Nauraushaun The following is excerpted from a
letter from Lynn Lawson, environmental/health activist and author.
“’ Advertisers spent an astonishing $144 billion in 2011 to entice
consumers to buy more and more stuff,’ wrote Margie Kelly in
www.care2.com (9/17/12). Here’s her list of the top 10 unnecessary
toxic products that have been contaminating our air, food, bodies,
and environment: vinyl plastic (banned in 14 countries and the
European Union), fragranced products (often contain hormone
disrupters), canned food (yellow linings contain bisphenol-A),
dirty cleaners (can burn skin, eyes, and internal tissue),
pesticides (made to be toxic), bottled water (some is just tap
water), lead lipstick (the FDA found lead, a known neurotoxin, in
400 lipsticks), nonstick cookware (uses a chemical linked to cancer
and found all over the globe), triclosan (an antibacterial that
reduces muscle strength), and oil-based paints and finishes (300
toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens are potentially present,
according to a Johns Hopkins University study). There are safer
substitutes for all these products. Rachel Carson had it right in
Silent Spring 50 years ago: ‘Lulled by the soft sell and hidden
persuader, the average citizen is seldom aware of the deadly
materials with which he is surrounding himself; indeed, he may not
realize he is using them at all.’” So many opportunities for us to
care for our wondrous planet and ourselves!
Quote of the Month
“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the
young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving,
and
tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life
you will
have been all of these.”
--George Washington Carver
http://www.are2.com/
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February 2013 5
Church Mouse
--Are you into making candles? The Deacons have purchased new
white candles for the chancel candleholders, and have short white
candle stubs that they would hate to go to waste. If you can use
the wax, please call Ruth Tesar (845-678-1175), and the candle wax
will be yours!
--Our thanks go to two people who more than ably filled the
pulpit in Laura’s absence this month. On Sunday, January 13, Rev.
Ruth Wainwright filled in at the last minute when Laura was ill,
with an appropriate sermon and actually not in her slippers! And
when Laura was on study leave on Sunday, January 20, Melissa
Nozell, a graduate student at Islamic studies at Harvard Divinity
School, spoke about “A Common Word: Loving Your Neighbor,” an
insightful message on understanding of other faiths.
--Do please remember to bring bananas, individual fruit cups, or
other easy- to-eat fruit each Sunday for the Spring Valley
Breakfast Program.
--Thanks to all those who contributed to the Sandy Relief
efforts at Christmas in lieu of purchasing poinsettias. We raised
$1,183 which will be divided equally between the Hudson River
Presbytery Hurricane Relief and the Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance.
--Make a couple of notes on your calendar: The Women’s
Association has two events coming up in the Spring: They will host
a Spring Tea on Saturday, April 6, at 2 PM, for all women of the
church and all friends in the community. On Saturday May 18, they
will sponsor a Yard Sale—everyone is invited to “purchase” a table
to sell your unneeded treasures. More information will be in future
newsletters.
Concerns of the Church
--Our prayers are with the Attebury family, whose daughter,
Ellen, has been hospitalized with serious medical problems.
--Prayers for Justin Stiebeck, and for his father, Cliff, as
Justin deals with some further problems.
--Continuing prayers for the Cirilli and Chanin families.
--Ongoing prayers for Rose DeBerardinis, Marge Puzziferri,
Johanna Keith, and Jackie Glaessgen.
--Pauline Levin continues in our prayers as she recovers from a
badly broken arm, and for her son Gregg, who continues a slow
recovery from a bad car accident.
--Prayers for Pat Conklin as she recovers from a medical
procedure.
A reminder that we are a fragrance-free church. Due to health
concerns of some members and guests, please refrain from wearing
fragrances such as cologne aftershave, or scented lotion to
worship.
February Birthdays Feb.1 Evan DeVries
Feb. 3 David Attebury
Feb. 9 Debbie Addis
Feb. 11 Nancy Miller
Feb. 13 David Rockefeller
Feb. 17 Mary Smith
Feb. 28 Thelma Albright
Bob Chauvot
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February 2013 Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church 51 Sickletown Road
Pearl River NY 845-735-4565
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2
Iglesia 7pm-12am
AlAnon 9:15am-12:45pm
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Worship/Communion 10am
Annual Congregational Meeting
Iglesia 1pm-5pm
R.C. Choral Society 7-10p
Iglesia 7pm-10:30pm
FOCUS Meeting 7pm
Book Group 12pm
Choir 7pm
AA 8pm
Prayer Group 7am
Iglesia 7pm-11pm
Iglesia 7pm-12am
AlAnon 9:15am-12:45pm
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2nd Sunday Breakfast 8-9am
Worship 10am
Worship Ministry Mtg
Iglesia 1pm-5pm
R.C. Choral Society 7-10p
Iglesia 7pm-10:30pm
W.A. AM Circle 9:30am
Ash Wednesday
Women’s Retreat (Stony Point 10a-1230p)
LENTEN ASHES 7:30pm
AA 8pm
Prayer Group 7am
Iglesia 7pm-11pm
Iglesia 7pm-12am
AlAnon 9:15am-12:45pm
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Worship 10am
Iglesia 1pm-5pm
W.A. Eve. Circle 7:30pm
School Closed
R.C. Choral Society 7-10p
Iglesia 7pm-10:30pm
W.A. Board Mtg. 930am
School Closed
Session 7pm
Choir 7pm
AA 8pm
Prayer Group 7am
Iglesia 7pm-11pm
SAFE HAVEN
Iglesia 7pm-12am
AlAnon 9:15am-12:45pm
SAFE HAVEN
24 25 26 27 28
Worship 10am
SAFE HAVEN
Iglesia 1pm-5pm
R.C. Choral Society 7-10p
Iglesia 7pm-10:30pm
Choir 7pm
AA 8pm
Prayer Group 7am
Iglesia 7pm-11pm
