From the Pastor
Good things continue to happen at
Calvary Church as we seek to discern God’s purposes for our faith community at
the corner of Grand and South Streets. The Presbyterian minister-author,
Frederick Buechner, once wrote that one’s true vocation lies where one’s deep
passion meets the world’s deep need. In some sense, that is true for a church as
well, and we have made some strides in the direction of discerning more clearly
our shared vocation. We have crafted a provisional mission statement (yes, it’s
too long, but it’s part of the process of prayerful thinking in which we are
engaged), and we have continued to re-open our church doors to the community.
Fresh faces join us for worship and work. . . even in the summer!
To be sure, the financial situation is a chronic concern, and we seem to be
entering “a season of leanness” in that regard. The session believes, however,
that we must pass through such a time—of risking well-stewarded resources—if a
new season of mission and purpose is to have birth among us, if our deep passion
for Christ’s justice and love are to meet the city’s and the world’s deep need
for precisely such love and justice.
Most of you have read or heard previously of the rehearsals, concerts, and other
performances that have begun to occur in our building in recent months, of Rural
Migrant Ministry’s Youth Arts Program, not to mention the Health Fair and the
Blood Drive that took place last spring.
What you may not have heard, however, is that, twice in recent months, a group
of “20-30 Somethings,” who are more or less connected to our church, have met
for socializing and challenging conversation. . . or that the Opera Company of
the Highlands will soon have
office space inside the South St. door. . .
or that there will be another blood drive in October. . . or that Cornell
University Cooperative Extension will sponsor a “Strengthening Families” program
in the upstairs classrooms (a direct fruit of last Spring’s health fair).
During the summer, the session voted to enter a contract with Marilyn Kaplan, a
preservationist architect and former Newburgh resident, to do a “conditions
study” of the church building. Her report will assess the building from steeple
top to foundation and outline a plan for needed repair and renovation. This
report is a necessary step if we are to seek financial partnership for future
ministry and mission. The Skinner pipe organ project will be adjunct to this
study.
And finally, let us not forget, worship, teaching and learning, fellowship,
counseling, and community participation continue, all part of our efforts, by
the grace of God, to bring the passion of our faith to bear on the world’s deep
need.
Be well, and God’s peace,
Deke Spierling
Pastor and Teaching Elder.
In Memorium
Jo Dutcher, August 26,2006
Jean Mackey, August 27, 2006
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
Mum's the Word...
Not!
There will be a fall Mum sale to
benefit the Calvary Church budget. Plants will be available for autumn
enjoyment—by previous order. 9-inch plants in rust, yellow, or red, will be sold
for $7.00 each. Orders must be made no later than Friday, October 13th.
For further information, call Elizabeth Heath, 534.5887.
North River Listening
Room
The North River Listening Room is on
the calendar for three Friday evenings between now and the holidays: October 13,
November 10, December 8th. Performance begin at 8 p.m. and a donation is $10 is
requested. Come and enjoy coffee, refreshments, and a variety of music. Jeff
Wilkinson is coordinating these events. A press release about NRLR reads, in
part:
The North River Listening Room will launch its first official season with
legendary song poet Jack Hardy. The show begins at 8 PM. Suggested donation is
$10. Coffee, tea and baked goods will be available for purchase.
North River Listening Room was started by local singer/songwriter Jeff
Wilkinson, along with a few other local musician friends. The series brings
local and nationally touring artists to Newburgh for an evening of
music each month. "There is a real shortage of what I call 'listening rooms' in
the area, places where the focus is on the music," Wilkinson says. "There are
lots of bands who play in New York City who would love to come up to a beautiful
place like this and play for an appreciative audience."
This concert is the first in a monthly
series.
Homecoming Sunday
The third annual Homecoming Sunday is
scheduled for October 15th. It’s a day for members, former members and friends,
and guests to participate in worship and fellowship. The Partners for Sacred
Places team and others are helping to plan this event, as a day to celebrate our
church’s life, by the grace of God, and to look toward that future that God has
in mind for us.
Plan now to attend. . . and to invite other to join you!
Fall Rummage Sale
The annual Fall Rummage Sale will take place on Friday and Saturday, October 6 &
7th, with set-up occurring earlier in the week. Doris Strakosch (565.8577) and
Marilyn Draxton (561.8237) are coordinating this year’s sale, and they look
forward to having the help of many volunteers, both experienced and new!
Lightly-used toys and household goods are welcome, along with other “flea
market” items. Clothing should be clean and usable, not torn or stained. Please
note that, in consideration of the volunteers, NO DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
AFTER NOON ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH.
Let’s join to make this fall’s sale a real service to the community, as well as
a time of fellowship for all who work together on it.
Circle of
Conversation
The adult Circle of Conversation will reconvene beginning Sunday, September 10,
at 9 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
We’ll begin with some “inside baseball,” that is, brief looks at two items that
roiled the waters at the General Assembly in June: “Scruples” in the matter of
ordination, and language about the Trinity. Come and find out!
Later in the fall , we plan to welcome leaders from several other faith
communities to learn from them. Watch the Sunday bulletins for further
information.
The “Circle” enjoys thinking outside the box, and often outside the books, and
we welcome new hearts and minds!
OctoberQuest
The Presbytery’s annual event of
encouraging and equipping church leaders and members for discipleship wlll take
place on Sunday afternoon, October 15, at Stony Pt. Center. Workshops will
include such topics as Teaching Stewardship, Mission Planning, Diversity at
Worship, Spiritual Development, Contemporary Worship.
Registration information will be available in Sunday bulletins or the church
office, as well as on the Presbytery website: hudrivpres.org. Let’s carpool!
Talent, Anyone?
PresbyBuild is a project of a dozen
Presbyterian Churches in eastern Orange County, including Calvary Church.
Together, we are working to complete a second PresbyBuild house at 202 South
St., in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh.
Habitat houses require the labor of minds, hearts, and hands, as well as
dollars. In order to provide some of the latter (as we did on the walk for
Housing last Spring), the PresbyBuild Committee will sponsor a Dinner and Talent
Show on Saturday, October 21st, at the Bethlehem Church on Rt. 94 in New
Windsor. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and the Talent Show will follow at 7
o’clock.
Do you have talent to share—singing, dancing, juggling, a truly funny story? If
so, call Dave Mason, 562.0954, before September 15th.
Strengthening
Families
Cornell University Cooperative
Extension will sponsor “Strengthening Families,” a seven-session program for
Newburgh parents and youth, ages 8-14 years old. It is designed to help parents
prepare the teenage years, avoid problems with drugs and alcohol, and strengthen
family communication and problem-solving.
The program will include a free family meal, parent workshops, youth activities,
family discussions and games. It will occupy some of our church space on
Wednesday evenings, beginning October 11th. For further information, or to
register, call Eileen Hodges or Sandra McIntosh, 344.1234.
Fall Calendar
Visit our calendar
HERE.
