May 27, 2020
Greetings!
I am writing to you from my mobile office (today that would be the deck of the parsonage since it is a lovely day!) I can hear the birds singing and the small critters rustling through the trees. The air is the perfect temperature at this time of the morning, not too humid and with a light breeze. It is almost too easy to forget the unpleasantness that can be found in the world when I am here at home.
Perhaps like many of you, I have been doing some Spring cleanup in the yard. We are blessed to have a fine selection of beautiful plants already long established. There is a bed of irises, a peony bush, lilacs, azaleas, rhododendron and a whole lot of mystery plants.
I was happily gardening yesterday, ungloved hands in the dirt and satisfying myself by pulling out weeds and getting to know what exactly is planted. As I was mindlessly grabbing a clump of weeds, my happy reverie abruptly came to an end. Thorns. Now, it is my firm belief that there is no plant pretty enough to warrant thorns. (I apologize to all rose growers!)
There was nothing to be done except to address the thorny plants (which I do believe were not anything other than weeds). I had to carefully and intentionally remove them, without hurting myself or the other plants around them. These thorns were a good reminder that it is never a good idea to either ignore unpleasant things in our lives or angrily attack without consideration of the circumstances. Often the roots of these brambles run beneath good and innocent plants and pulling them will upset the innocent plants. Calmly and carefully assessing the entire situation is the best way to approach thorny patches.
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15) This lesson is often the example given when we discuss our calling to be good stewards of creation and is often taken quite literally. But we can apply a broader interpretation as well and still be theologically accurate. God placed humankind in the garden to care for it. We are placed in the world to do the same. That includes tending what is healthy, pruning to bear more fruit and carefully removing “thorny patches” (harmful situations) and bringing healing to the land.
As we go about our “gardens” we must be mindful of the thorny patches. We should exercise care in dealing with them so we do not cause additional harm. Addressing thorny patches is not enjoyable or glamorous work. It is time consuming and requires extra work. But we cannot simply ignore the thorny patches in our lives. It is necessary to address them to stay true to our calling to “till and keep it.”
Blessings and peace,
Pastor Sam
News and Information
Attached in this packet is my sermon from last week, a bulletin for next week and a packet of devotions and prayers. Please note that the Tri-County Lutheran Parish will be following the advice of the bishop, the governor and qualified medical personnel - which means we will be continuing to worship from home at least until June 30th. Meanwhile, we will be working on a safe re-entry plan for when we can assemble in our church buildings once more.
If you wish to worship remotely with us, please use this phone number:
1. Dial 1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
2. Enter Meeting ID: 770 099 7419, then press #
3. If the meeting has not already started Press # to wait.
4. You will be prompted to enter your unique participant ID. Press # to skip.
If you have internet ability to join us through Zoom, here is the link: https://zoom.us/j/770099741 9
Worship service videos can be found on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kJUJTm_PrA-l1qlv8PJ-g
If you would like to serve as a reader during online worship, please let me know! If you would like to serve as an assistant (and read the congregation parts), please let me know!
If you are in need of food, necessities, masks, or help of any kind, please reach out to me. We have plenty of resources available to us in our parish and we are excited to be God’s hands and feet for each other! If you are in Columbia County, the Office of the Aging has disposable masks available to anyone in the county 60 years of age or older.
If you would like to donate food, contact me and we will set up a pick-up/drop-off time as each week we support a local food pantry within our parish. This week we are still supporting the Hudson Food Pantry. Please consider donating to this very worthwhile cause!!
Farewell, Father Chatham
Freddie Friedel was in the original class of Conference Deacons and was well known throughout Columbia County. Most recently, he would regale me with his entertaining stories when I visited Barnwell. -Pastor Sam
(from the Chatham Fire Department Facebook page, May 25, 2020)
“Father Chatham”
80 year old, Freddie Friedel, affectionately known as “Father Chatham”, has written his last chapter about the history of Chatham. Freddie has fallen victim to an untimely disease as we lose another lifetime member. Freddie was one of Columbia County’s first EMT’s - while for twenty years he was a First Aid Instructor having trained at Dutchess Community College. In the early sixties, the Chatham Fire Department and Chatham Rescue were under the same umbrella and Freddie was a Department Chief. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years and the manger of the Crandall Theater for 20! Freddie always had time to talk to you and treated everyone with respect and dignity, especially on his postal route. Freddie, history will not soon forget you, as your contributions to our community were invaluable. Rest In Peace Freddie, you will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
+ + + + +
The Tri-County Lutheran Parish has been blessed by the ministry of Paul Strike. We are grateful for his presence, his preaching, teaching and visiting, especially with Bible Study and Confirmation. We wish Paul well as he prepares for his upcoming June wedding to his fiancé, Logan, and move to Hickory, North Carolina where Logan will being her internship.
If you wish to send him a card, here is the mailing address you should use:
Paul Strike
Women’s Retreat: Way back in April of last year, we booked a retreat at Camp of the Woods in Speculator to be held Sept 25-27 of this year. We asked Pastor Lori Kochanski, Faith Formation Director for the synod, to lead our retreat. She is planning to use the WELCA Bible Study, "We Are Called" as her framework. This is found in the winter 2020 Gather magazine or it can also be found on this link:
https://www.gathermagazine.org/winter-2020-we-are-called-by-kathryn-a-kleinhans/
If Camp of the Woods remains closed for this year, all deposits that were given for the Sept 2020 retreat will be transferred to next year (Same time in Sept. 2021).
For more information, contact Barbara Slater at 518-392-7798.
TCLP Board for 2020
Harry Avery – President
Jackie Menagh – Vice Chair
Duane Keeler – Recording Secretary
Chuck Race -- Treasurer
If you have additions, deletions, changes, etc. for the Parish Connection, bulletins, etc., please either call the Parish office at 518-758-6526 or e-mail me at stlukes@slelc.com or ssmith@tclparish.org. Thank you!
Congregation ANNOUNCEMENTS
In-person worship has been cancelled until 6/30/20
EMANUEL, STUYVESANT FALLS
Contact -- Duane Keeler oneservantofgod@gmail.com
COUNCIL:
Karen Albertson Term Expires 2021
Harry Avery Term Expires 2021
Linda Frick Term Expires 2022 Co-Treasurer
Duane Keeler Term Expires 2022 President
Leslie Dumont Term Expires 2023 Vice-President
Pr. Sam N/A Ex Officio member
Chuck Albertson Secretary Not on council
Dick Frick Co-Treasurer Not on council
OUTREACH COMMITTEE (Joint committee with St. Luke’s)
Teresa Avery
Karen Albertson
Phyllis Keeler
WORSHIP COMMITTEE (Joint committee with St. Luke’s)
Phyllis Keeler
PARISH SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICES TEAM
Karen Albertson
Duane Keeler (Chair)
ST. LUKE’S, VALATIE
Contact -- Kara Udwary Karap1969@aol.com
St. Luke’s Council Members
Ethan Race
518-209-7829
——
Tim McGlauflin
518-756-4644
——
*Kara Udwary (President)
518-821-0437
——
*Ken Schomaker (Treasurer)
518-758-1246
——
*Linda Dickson
(Financial Secretary)
518-610-8056
——
Mike Schunk
518-610-8201
Janis McGlauflin
518-828-1857
——
Jose Roman
518-354-0892
——
Barbara Slater
(Corresponding Secretary)
518-392-7798
Not on Council
Larry Eleby
518-929-1432
——
Sharon Smith
518-929-9765
——
Karen Lasher
518-784-2032
——
Beegee Roppolo
518-320-6232
——
Sharon Smith
518-929-9765
——
Chuck Race
518-917-3547
——
Ted Fiebke
518-794-7799
* Council Officers
Committees
Property
Jose Roman & Larry Eleby
Stewardship & Finance
Ken Schomaker, Linda Dickson, Tim McGlauflin
Outreach
Beegee Roppolo (chair), Kara Udwary, Linda Dickson, Janis McGlauflin
TCLP
Karen Lasher & Beegee Roppolo
Safety and Security
Sharon Smith, Chuck Race
Music and Worship
Ted Fiebke, Janis McGlauflin, Kara Udwary
Parish Care
Karen Lasher
Education
Ethan Race
EMANUEL/ST. JOHN’S check back soon!
Contact -- Richard FitzGerald rfatbellspond@yahoo.com
ZION, ATHENS
Contact –- Gethen Proper gethen7@gmail.com
Council Members
President
William Darling
518-943-4293
Vice President
Tim Mercer
518-859-1356.
Treasurer
Bob O’Leary
845-797-6084
Financial Secretary
Nancy Clark
518-444-8096
Council & Church Secretary
Gethen Proper
518-755-8395
Carol Serazio
518-731-9050
——
Karen Schubert
518-731-1190
John Wais
518-719-5754
——
John Van Valkenburg
518-945-1184
The many outreach projects of Zion are made possible in large part by grants from Thrivent Financial Every Thrivent member is eligible to apply for 2 action team grants per year. These are easy to apply for, and if you need help please ask Carrol Mercer Or Christine Wanek. If you are not a Thrivent member, but would still like to help apply for a grant, you can become a Thrivent Associate Member.
Associate Membership is $19.95 and with that membership you are able to apply for a one-time Thrivent grant for $250.00 for our congregation’s outreach projects.
Contact Thrivent either by Phone @ 845-849-1267, or at Thrivent.com
Five Loaves Project -- MEALS FOR THE HUNGRY AND THOSE IN NEED Thursday’s @4:30 pm
ST. PAUL’S, OAK HILL check back soon!
Contact – Jackie Menagh jamspirit@hardsdisk.net
CHRIST OUR EMMANUEL, CHATHAM
Contact – Jeanette Wilber tam20kfw@aol.com
Church Council
President
Jeanette Wilber
Vice President
TBA
Recording Secretary
TBA
Corresponding Secretary
Heidi Brennan
Cate MacPherson
Richard Mac Donald (Mac)
Henry Bartel
Kurt Hoelter
Did you know there is a new way to send your offering? We have an online donation portal! Please visit our website at www.chathamLutheran.org to get started!
ST. STEPHENS, E. SCHODACK
Contact -- Alice Senrick asenrick29@gmail.com
or 518-479-0819; or 518-852-1504.
CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS
Alice Senrick, President
518-852-1504
——
Charles Senrick, Treasurer
(Non-voting member)
——
Brian Schell, Vice President
——
Cathy Teeter, Secretary
——
Deborah Deerfield
——
Diane Middleton
——
Charles Mayrer
TRINITY, CASTLETON
Contact – Nicole Gardner scullynik@yahoo.com
Financial Secretary Needed
Wondering how you can help your church. A Financial Secretary is needed. Training is available. if interested please see Rik Cosgrave or anyone on the council.
Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost derives its name from the Jewish festival celebrating the harvest and the giving of the law on Mount Sinai fifty days after Passover. Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the Holy Spirit as God’s presence within and among us. In Acts the Spirit arrives in rushing wind and flame, bringing God’s presence to all people. Paul reminds us that though we each have different capacities, we are unified in the Spirit that equips us with these gifts. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on his disciples, empowering them to forgive sin. We celebrate that we too are given the breath of the Holy Spirit and sent out to proclaim God’s redeeming love to all the world.
Readings and Psalm
Acts 2:1-21
Filled with the Spirit to tell God’s deeds
Numbers 11:24-30 (alternate)
The Spirit comes upon the elders of Israel
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Varieties of gifts from the same Spirit
Acts 2:1-21 (alternate)
Filled with the Spirit to tell God’s deeds
John 20:19-23
The Spirit poured out
John 7:37-39 (alternate)
The Spirit will provide living water
What would you like to see in “The Parish Connection?” Drop me a line at the TCLP office at ssmith@tclparish.org or call 518-758-6526.
OFFICE HOURS: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call any time!
If you have questions regarding the Tri County Lutheran Parish or for any other church issues or pastoral concerns, please call Sharon at 518-758-6526
CONTACT US:
Tri-County Lutheran Parish, PO Box 158, Valatie, NY 12184 (518) 758-6526
Pastor Samantha Perret (Parish)
Phone – 518-229-4128
E-mail – whiteginger20@gmail.com
Pastor Dan Hahn, (Transitional)
Phone – 518-281-8127
E-mail -- pastordanhahn@gmail.com
Sharon Smith (TCLP Secretary)
Office – 518-758-6526
Cell -- 518-929-9765
E-mail –stlukes@slelc.com.
CHATHAM WEBSITE: www.chathamlutheran.org
VALATIE/STUYVESANT FALLS PARISH WEBSITE: www.slelc.com
TCLP WEBSITE: www.tclparish.org