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First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown (FPCP)
The Church of the Open Door
Community News
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Christmas Eve, pre-pandemic: Candles and carols |
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Hear the angel voices? It's Christmas. |
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What is your very favorite Christmas hymn? Is it hard to choose just one? My family knows how much I love Christmas music, and they're pretty good-natured about the fact that I play my old and precious Christmas CDs nonstop all month long. My musician-husband tried to sneak in a bit of Beethoven in honor of Ludwig's 250th birthday this year, but after one baleful look from me, Ludwig was summarily ejected.
Singing Christmas hymns is such a joyful way to celebrate the Nativity. I know I'm not alone when I say I really miss hearing Christmas music in our little sanctuary. I love listening to our choir, soloists, and Tom McCoy, our brilliant Music Director. I love all of the moody minor-key melodies like "We Three Kings" and "Coventry Carol." I also love the rollicking "Gloria" in "Angels We Have Heard on High." And I especially love giggling with my spouse whenever we hear "O Holy Night." We both had prim, stern grandmothers who totally rocked that hymn on the piano with these thundering left-hand chords: "Fall ... (boom-boom-boom-BOOM!) ... on your knees ... (boom-boom-boom-BOOM!) ... O hear ... (boom-boom-boom-BOOM!) ... the angel voices!"
A favorite musical moment during our church's traditional Christmas Eve service is when the sanctuary goes dark, familiar chords play, and we all fumble for our little white tapers. Then we pass our little flame, one to another, until lights flicker up and down every crowded pew, and we all sing Silent Night by candlelight (above). In that special moment, I seem to hear angel voices all around me as together the young and the old, friends and strangers, sing the good news of great joy for all people.
Our Christmas Eve service is today! We won't be together in the same way; we'll be together in a safe way. Through the wonders of technology, we will celebrate the Nativity on our computer screens. Thanks to the amazing efforts of Tom McCoy and other fine musicians, we will still get enjoy the Christmas music we cherish. We can still listen for those angel voices as we share the old lessons and carols in this very new and modern way. And we'll remember that we choose to celebrate apart and at home because we care about each other, and we care about our community.
See you at 5 pm today at our family-friendly gathering on Zoom! Click the picture above for a copy of the bulletin! If you haven't received your secure Zoom link, email us at 1presbyterian@gmail.com. Remember we are still together, even when we're apart. And the best news is that all of us are loved, all the time.
-- MZ Smith, Community News editor
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Join our SUNDAY, DEC. 27 worship service via Zoom.
This Sunday at 10:30 am, we will enjoy a special online service via Zoom. Created by our friends at the Hudson River Presbytery (HRP),
the theme of this service is: "Christmas on the Way to a New Year."
Look for an email from us, coming soon, with a secure Zoom link for this Sunday service. The email will also include the bulletin for this service as a downloadable attachment!
Anyone can join us from anywhere for our online services. See you Sunday!
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Need info about online services, or to download Zoom? Click here.
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Sunday School Families
Enjoy Safe Celebration!
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Thanks to all of the families who joined us for a safe, beautiful, and joyous Christmas gathering on our snowy church grounds on Saturday, December 19!
We enjoyed hot cocoa and carol-humming and Advent candles. We also brought ornaments, cards, and other items to put in a manger, reminding us of the LOVE that Jesus brought into the world.
These gifts will be shared with seniors and others in our church community who will enjoy and be cheered by these extra special Christmas blessings from the children.
Many thanks to FPCP member Janet Barton and Youth Education coordinator Carolyn Llewellyn for organizing this special event.
On behalf of our Sunday School families and friends and our youth education teachers, we wish you a safe and joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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It's our Sunday School's 2020 Christmas Pageant! |
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Amazing! Inspiring! We absolutely LOVED the 2020 Virtual Christmas Pageant! Congratulations to all who brought the Nativity story to life on screen -- and in such personal and creative ways, right from your homes.
We enjoyed the pageant during our worship service on Sunday, December 20 -- but you can watch an encore screening this week, right on your own computer screen, via Vimeo! Just click on the picture above!
Heartfelt hanks to our youth, and to their families, and to all of the organizers and tech wizards who worked behind the scenes to make this beautiful virtual pageant happen! Special shout-out to Tess Dul & Carolyn Llewellyn! We are so grateful for you all, and for all you do! Merry Christmas!
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Great holiday tips to minimize waste from our GREEN TEAM! Are you thinking GREEN this holiday season? Did you know that Americans produce 25% more waste during the holidays? Gift boxes, bows, and wrapping paper all play a major part in increasing waste.
Our Green Team is happy to share some helpful hints on reducing and reusing during the holiday season that came to us from our friends on the education team at the New York League of Conservation Voters. Just click the picture above for those helpful hints!
And: Looking for a sustainable way to dispose of your (real) Christmas tree? We've got eight ways, from the National Arbor Day Foundation! Click here!
Do you have a great tip for being GREEN during the holidays? Our Green Team would love to hear how you recycle/upcyle! Email us at outreach1presbyterian@gmail.com and we will share YOUR tips!
Happy holidays from our Green Team!
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In this pre-Covid picture, Ralph Cottiers helps Amy Dul create a "PAPA meal" in our church kitchen. Once each month, the Dul family makes a nutritious meal that is then served to the hungry and homeless at a Salvation Army soup kitchen in Peekskill. PAPA is an interfaith organization; up to 80 people are served daily, Monday through Friday, thanks to the PAPA project. Help us help them!
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The year 2020 challenged us all, in ways that we never could have imagined. Our church family is working to meet those challenges, to help neighbors in need, and to offer support to our community.
We still can't worship together in our beloved sanctuary, but the life and work of our church goes on! We're offering online worship services, pastoral care, and education programs. And we all know how critical our mission projects are right now, such as the Food Pantry, Midnight Run, and PAPA Meals (left).
Please support The Church of the Open Door by making your 2021 giving pledge today! If you have not received a letter from us, email 1presbyterian@gmail.com. Or, click the PAPA Meal picture at left to download a form. THANK YOU!
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Please help if you can. During this health and economic crisis, we are grateful that we can serve neighbors in need through our critical mission programs like the Food Pantry and Midnight Run. If you feel called to support this outreach, we warmly welcome any and all contributions. If you are a member of our church family and can maintain your giving at this time, we humbly thank you.
To make an online donation, click the image at the left, or right here. Bless you!
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Call or email us today.
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