A place of RENEWAL in a RENEWING city.

Posts in category Calvary News

Church Assessment Tool (CAT)

May 22, 2021 Written by Sue Y

May 20, 2021

Dear Members, Friends and Neighbors:

The Session would like you to assist Calvary by participating in a Church Assessment Tool (CAT) that will gather information about our congregation, our sense of community, collaboration and mission priorities for our near future– and maybe beyond. 

While we have existed since the beginnings of the American Revolution in the Hudson River Valley our demographics and sense of purpose have changed in parallel with the shifting makeup of Newburgh and Calvary Presbyterian Church.  The shift in the peoples, their economic status and class has been consistent in the urbanization and decline of the industrial base of this area. There was even a flight from this community of Presbyterian Churches avoiding the ongoing and increasing ethnic and cultural diversity and an increase of black and brown populations led church members to be wary of the mandate of Jesus– “Go into all nations preaching the gospel…”

The Calvary Session is engaging in this CAT (assessment tool)  to measure the mind, heart, soul and personality of this church in this unique public square of the City of Newburgh. While we are not fans of surveys, we believe that you can help us understand what Calvary has meant to you, has impacted you and your family and envision Calvary  collaborating with community organizations. Your responses will help us define a fresh vision for this church here now and in the future. 

PLANNING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER!

We are inviting you to complete the Church Assessment Tool (CAT), an on-line instrument that will help leaders gauge the strength, vitality, and trends in our church.  The information gained from this assessment will be valuable in helping the elected combined leadership, the session, trustees and moderator as they make decisions about the future of Calvary Presbyterian Church. 

 Please take a few moments to go online by clicking here for the survey and tell us about your experiences with and priorities for our church. Each member of a household is welcome to complete the survey.  This link will be open until June, 20, 2021. Please do not discuss the survey or your answers with others as this may influence their answers.

If you need a paper copy, please call the office (845-562-8730) or Reverend Lewis,  (845-401-7403), and we will provide one for you along with a self-addressed stamped return envelope. 

All answers are strictly anonymous.  We have no way of matching any assessment to a particular person, so please feel free to candidly share your perceptions, opinions and experiences.  Our future together is dependent on your participation and honest answers.

If you have questions, please contact Session Member Kate Weissmann (845-629-0509)

Many thanks,

The Session of Calvary Presbyterian Church

Damian DePauw
Diane McCoy-Wills
Leroy Fields, Jr.
Noa Simons
John Clarke
 Roy Ploss
Kate Weissman

J EDWARD LEWIS Sr
Pastor and Teaching Elder 

Calvary News

Worship Service 4-25-21

April 25, 2021 Written by Sue Y

Calvary News

D.E.S.K. Project Photos

April 21, 2021 Written by Sue Y

Thanks to Kate C. here are some wonderful pics showing our Calvary family creating desks for this project.
Calvary News

Great Publicity for the D.E.S.K. Project

April 14, 2021 Written by Sue Y

Kate C has been busy with letting our light shine!  Here are a two of the resulting articles.

The Times Herald Record put the story on the front page on April 5, 2021.

Building of the Future
Church Members makes desks for local students.

To see on the THR site click image or text.

 

 

 

 

 

From the Presbyterian News Service, April 14, 2021:

My D.E.S.K. Mission

During the pandemic, Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh, New York provides a ‘Dedicated Education Space for Kids’

Click text or image to read the article.

 

 

 

 

 

AND watch for more on the upcoming Hearts of Heroes coverage!

 

Calvary News

Building Desks – Press Release 3-22-21

April 14, 2021 Written by Sue Y

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release

Newburgh’s Calvary Presbyterian Church to Build and Donate Desks to Aid with At-Home Learning

Construction starts this week on 30 desks to be donated to families at our neighboring school Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School in coordination with their Parent-Teacher Organization.

Calvary’s sanctuary will be turned into a make-shift workshop.

This is the first time our sanctuary will be used since a devastating fire gutted our adjoining Fellowship Hall building last March 5, 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Love Thy Neighbor (in action), Jim Ferguson and Peter Surgenor were inspired with this idea and are coordinating the efforts.

Desks will be built by a limited number of volunteers to ensure proper social distancing and COVID-safe precautions can be maintained.

The Horizons-on-the-Hudson PTO will donate books for scholars with each desk.

Desk materials have been purchased out of Calvary’s Mission budget. We also wish to thank Heights Lumber in Newburgh for their help, Belfor Property Restoration for additional materials, and McNeilly Wood Products of Campbell Hall for cutting all the plywood desktops for us.

Construction on desks begins Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9 am at 120 South Street, Newburgh, NY. Volunteers will be working in our sanctuary at the corner of South and Grand Streets.

In this time of virtual learning, we recognize that some children in our community may be in need of a better place to work from home. We have created the My D.E.S.K. (Dedicated Education Space for Kids) Mission to build and donate simple wood desks for our young neighbors. We started by reaching out to our neighborhood school, just a block away from our church, Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School. Families immediately responded with the need for almost 30 desks.

The desks measure 30 inches wide by 18 inches deep.

Press Contact:

Kate Cl

Calvary News

Build and Donate Desks to Aid with At- Home Learning

March 23, 2021 Written by Sue Y

Newburgh’s Calvary Presbyterian Church to Build and Donate Desks to Aid with At-Home Learning

Construction starts this week on 30 desks to be donated to families at our neighboring school Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School in coordination with their Parent-Teacher Organization.

Calvary’s sanctuary will be turned into a make-shift workshop.

This is the first time our sanctuary will be used since a devastating fire gutted our adjoining Fellowship Hall building last March 5, 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Love Thy Neighbor (in action), Jim Ferguson and Peter Surgenor were inspired with this idea and are coordinating the efforts.

Desks will be built by a limited number of volunteers to ensure proper social distancing and COVID-safe precautions can be maintained.

The Horizons-on-the-Hudson PTO will donate books for scholars with each desk.

Desk materials have been purchased out of Calvary’s Mission budget. We also wish to thank Heights Lumber in Newburgh for their help, Belfor Property Restoration for additional materials, and McNeilly Wood Products of Campbell Hall for cutting all the plywood desktops for us.

Construction on desks begins ​Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9 am at 120 South Street, Newburgh, NY. ​Volunteers will be working in our sanctuary at the corner of South and Grand Streets.

In this time of virtual learning, we recognize that some children in our community ​may be in need of a better place to work from home. We have created the ​My D.E.S.K. (Dedicated Education Space for Kids) Mission​ to build and donate simple wood desks for our young neighbors. We started by reaching out to our neighborhood school, just a block away from our church, ​Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School. Families immediately responded with the need for almost 30 desks.

page2image48849856