THE PARISH CONNECTION

June 24, 2020

Greetings!

It is hard to believe that yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of Tri-County Lutheran Parish calling me to be a pastor! In some ways it seems like only yesterday as the weeks and months have flown by in a flurry of activity. At the same time, I can look at times of challenge (like the outbreak of Covid) and it feels like much longer than a few months since we were able to worship in person in our buildings. Thank you for every little and big way you have welcomed my family and me into this parish and these communities. Thank you for trusting me with your celebrations and your grief. I feel extremely blessed to be called here at this holy time and place.

While these last few months have led to new and creative ways of celebrating worship and conducting ministry, like you, I miss aspects of “the way we used to do things.” With that in mind, as we look forward to hopefully returning to in-person worship on July 12th, I urge you not to consider it “normal worship.” There are two reasons for this. One, because worship should never be considered “normal” as there are myriad ways to express praise and thanks and adoration to God. Two, because when we return to in-person worship, it will look different than it did a few months ago.

Here are some of the changes that you can expect to see at in-person worship:

- We will keep our sanctuaries clean based on CDC guidelines for your safety and protection.

- We will be following social distancing guidelines and you will be invited to sit in specific seats. It may not be where you normally sit, but I promise there isn’t a “bad seat in the house.”

- We will be requiring anyone over 2 years old to wear a mask for the duration of the service. We will have masks available for visitors or those who have forgotten. Again, this is for your safety and protection. There is not a single parishioner that I am willing to lose!

- To fulfill obligations to our insurance companies and to NY state, we will be keeping a record of attendance and having waivers signed.

- Communion will be celebrated by the reception of pre-filled “to-go” packs containing juice and a wafer that are safety sealed. We will pray the Communion liturgy together, receive the body and blood, and then take that home to be consumed when you can safely remove your mask to do so.

- Because of the danger in communal singing, we will be foregoing hymn singing and liturgical singing. But, organists are encouraged to play familiar hymns while people are entering and finding seats, then perhaps playing some contemplative instrumental pieces following the sermon.

- We will continue to offer a Zoom worship for those who are more comfortable worshiping from home.

- We will continue to worship God and we will be able to worship with our church families, but it will look a little different.

God, who makes all things new, will be present during this new type of worship. Because no matter how many changes we may have, God’s steadfast love never changes. Our call to love God and love our neighbor never changes.

Peace and blessings,

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 July 11th. 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.

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/

Update:

Camp of the Woods will be closed for the rest of the year, all deposits that were given for the Sept 2020 retreat will be transferred to next year. Retreat Dates are September 24, 25 & 26, 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 7/11/20

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

Karap1969@aol.com

*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

Janis McGlauflin

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!

From Jeanette Wilber, Council President

To all,

I believe most of you already know, but wanted to get it to everyone, we will not be having our tag sale this year, the main reason is the Covid 19, not sure where we would stand with the regulation on tag sales. One of the other reasons is our concern about the help we would have with it. It is a fun time, we raise a good amount of money, but it also takes many hands to make it a success. Hopefully we can resume it next year if we can be assured we have enough help.

Wanted to let everyone know that Patty Bervy broke her leg couple of weeks ago. Patty always does a good job at whatever she does and she did a good job on her leg, broke it in a couple of places, she had surgery and is recovering at home. Fortunately for Patty, her daughter Erica has been at home while her husband John, who is in the Navy, is out to sea for a few months. Erica has become Patty’s private duty nurse. I hear she is doing a wonderful job. I am sure Patty would love to hear from you, her address is: Patty Bervy 551 Frisbee Street East Chatham 12060. Keep Patty in your prayers.

Will be getting back to you soon as to when we can resume services at Church. We need to assure we can follow the guidelines set up by our insurance company and Synod. Please keep up your weekly contribution, we rely on that to keep the home fires burning and bills paid. If you have not been attending church regularly, a donation would be greatly appreciated.

Ok guys, that is all for now, will get back to you soon. Stay well and safe.
God bless,
Jeanette
Council President

ST. STEPHENS, E. SCHODACK

Contact -- Alice Senrick asenrick29@gmail.com

or 518-479-0819; or 518-852-1504.

CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS

Alice Senrick, President

asenrick29@gmail.com

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.

Readings and Psalm for BOLD WOMEN’S SUNDAY 6/28/20

Judges 4:4-10

Psalm 138

Acts 16:13-15

Mark 7:24-30

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.