November 8th, 2021
Koinonia Good News
WE ARE THANKFUL!
“And the One who was seated on throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.’” (From the Revelation of St. John, Chapter 21, a reading for All Saints’ Day, November 1.)
In the United States during the month of November we celebrate many people. Our public servants elected on the 2nd. The brave members of our Armed Forces on the 11th. The essential workers who harvest our food on Thanksgiving Day. Above all and at the first of the month, we celebrate all saints who have died in Christ, including our family and friends, the “common” saints among us.
When we think of these people, saints or not, consider that their mission, broadly speaking, is to make “all things new.” Their goal, though the specifics differ, is to serve us and to help us to make every day a new day, to give our lives a beginning and a successful ending. To consider them in this way is to thank God for the sacrifices and work and dedication that enable us to be in partnership with them.
This November, at Koinonia we will remember our own saints. We will do this at the Common Ground dinner and celebration (see the details below). These “common” saints are our volunteers, donors, workers, and supporters – past and present - who in some way have and are serving to make the love of Christ known. They have and are making, as the saints of God in Christ, all things new.
Each day at Koinonia is a beginning again, and each evening is another ending when we give thanks to God. For us saints, it is all in God’s hands as we follow the saints who have gone before us!
“They”? We know you are among them and if not, you are most welcome! Join us, if you can, at the Common Ground dinner!
Rev. Bob Wollenburg
Board President
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Greetings and Blessings to you all, |
October was a beautiful month at Koinonia. We were visited by congregations, families, volunteer groups, and representatives from potential new partners. Below is our good news as well as some exciting opportunities for you and your congregation for the end of 2021 and beyond. You will see how blessed and active and thankful we have been. |
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Common Ground Donors give $250 or more to our operating fund yearly |
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Our Common Ground fall appeal brought daily donations from new Common Ground Members and additional funds from current members. Recently we sent nearly 350 invitations to the Common Ground dinner to donors from 2020 and 2021. We have so far tripled our overall donor base in one year, and are 16 donations away from doubling our Common Ground donations, which is a great advancement, thanks to you! We also received a second $50,000 gift from the Heller Foundation which has gone to the Capital Campaign. Amen!
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Financial Pulse
Due to the lower than expected rentals for fall, we are being careful in how we are spending our operating funds throughout the end of 2021, and hopeful that bookings will pick up significantly in 2022. Our Checking account balance at the end of October was $12,903.55, our savings was $7,321.20 and our capital fund account is $62,687.64. Your donations are making a big difference at this point in our growth, bridging us to a future when our income streams will be more balanced.
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Outreach
On October 28th, I was invited to the Pocono regional pastors meeting led by Assistant to the Bishop of Northeast Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor Niels Nielsen. Pastors were able to ask questions about the Conference Center as a retreat space for their congregations. That evening, Pastor Marc Stutzel hosted a town hall in New Jersey to receive input and participation on our Strategic Plan. An interactive Q&A was hugely helpful in thinking about the strategic planning process and bringing more people to Koinonia. I would love to visit your congregation or region to talk about Koinonia. Email me at kkruen@koinoniany.org to schedule a visit.
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On October 15th the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) joined me for a tour of Koinonia. She encouraged us to look into applying for mission grants and had good ideas about ways that Koinonia could host LWML retreats in the future.
October 19th, representatives of Delaware Highlands Conservation took an afternoon to go over maps of Koinonia and talk about easements and carbon offsets. Later we hiked together to Chapel Rock. They are going to put together a proposal that will help us protect our land and generate yearly income. The Board will review the proposal and, if it looks promising, will share it at the annual meeting for input and/or action.
We also were blessed by a worship led by Evan T. Pritchard, who is Micmac Native American and versed in Munsee Minisink history and language. Evan shared prayers, blessings, songs, and a sacred ceremony.
We look forward to all of our visitors returning to Koinonia and blessing us with their talents and insights.
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KWMA (Koinonia Wildlife Management Association) came up for a weekend in October and pulled out the floating bridge, which needs major repair. They also marked boundary lines, cut firewood, and cleaned windows and screens in the Conference Center.
A group of volunteers led by Carol Safchinsky and Sue Vorstadt did phenomenal work on the Caritas house where Matt Baumhardt and his family reside. With in-kind donations and earmarked contributions from donors, windows were fixed and installed, outdoor shrubbery cut back, and a new kitchen was put in.
We could not be where we are now without the hard work of our volunteers. There is always something to do here. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Matt Baumhardt at matt@koinoniany.org.
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Property
Ryan Gain from the Sullivan County Department of Health came for our annual inspection, and we passed! Ryan is going to continue to supervise and help us as we are looking into running a day camp next summer.
The fire alarm in the Conference Center needs a new board, which has been ordered, and in the meantime the staff is on fire watch. Kathleen and Gary Koran have given a gift that will enable the alarm to contact a control center when activated, which will increase our safety. Thank you! The new roof in the Conference Center is wonderful, with the exception of a leak around the fireplace chimney in the great room. The contractor will be repairing it.
Funding for roof shingles for the Caritas house was approved by the Board and the roof will be installed before the first snow. Overall, everything is operating smoothly and equipment is operational. We even got the golf cart running!
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Upcoming Events
Common Ground Dinner- November 21
Our Common Ground Dinner is on Sunday November 21 from 4-7:30pm in the Conference Center. We will be honoring our 2020 and 2021 Common Ground Members and are inviting everyone who made a donation during that time. You can rsvp on Eventbrite or call the office. Expect a delicious meal from our talented cooks!
Common Ground Receptions- November 14th & 28th
Thanksgiving-November 24-26
Rev. Jim O’Hanlon, long time MNYS pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Rye, will be the pastor leading worship and a gratitude conversation. Besides the delicious homemade meal, this retreat will include a hayride, hikes, unpacking the real first thanksgiving story, authentic crafts from the Pilgrims and Native Wampanoag, and putting up the Christmas tree to prepare for Advent I. Email register@koinoniany.org to reserve a room or cabin.
Advent I & II-November 26-28 & December 3-5
The conference center is nearly full for both Advents, so if you would like to join us we suggest you make a reservation soon. There are also some retreat buildings available. Jean Sandberg is working hard on renewing Advent traditions, and I think you will be delighted. Email register@koinoniany.org to reserve a room or cabin.
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On the weekend of October 14-16th, St Luke’s New Rochelle brought a fabulous group to the Conference Center for a fall retreat. Koinonia provided a campfire, hayride, labyrinth, evening worship, and tasty healthy meals. A week afterwards we received a card which said
"Although we have had our retreats at Koinonia for years, never have we received so many positive emails afterwards. One of our congregants said, "This was the best family retreat at Koinonia YET.“
This was an excellent indication that we are raising the bar and people are noticing. Come and see it for yourself.
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Special Invitation to our Congregations – 2022 discount!
We want you to make your plans for 2022 at Koinonia NOW. To encourage you, the first 10 congregational retreats booked in the Conference Center for 2022 will be 20% off of our 2021 rates. Let your congregation know and contact the register to begin the process: register@koinoniany.org
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My name is Bonzli! I am 4 months old, and I think I have some Lab in me. I love to run around, pick up sticks with my mouth, and then put them on the side of the road. I was so excited to meet the youth from St. Luke‘s New Rochelle and get petted and walked by them. They even gave me a toy! I like to give wet kisses and sit on your lap. Come visit me soon. |
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Gratitude
I will not stop thanking you for all you have done to bring Koinonia to this point, through your prayers, donations, volunteering, and encouraging folks to visit. Even by reading this newsletter you are affirming Koinonia. Koinonia would not be where it is today without your trust and commitment to its mission: "Where God Transforms people in an outdoor environment to love and serve one another." Thank you for being on this amazing journey with us.
God Bless You!
Kathleen Kristin Ruen
Executive Director
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