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First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown (FPCP)
The Church of the Open Door
Community News
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Shortly after sunrise today, I went out to the chicken coop to break the ice. Stop right there: Are you picturing me in a henhouse, chatting up bashful chickens, telling raucous rooster jokes to get the party started? When I found my chickens standing around a frozen-solid watering tin, not looking at each other, waiting for me to literally "break the ice," I did in fact tell them a rooster joke and it made me laugh, even though it was 27 degrees out there. I also texted it to my next-door neighbor -- the one who inexplicably agreed last May to co-purchase six fuzzy chicks with me.
At first, it was all about COVID. Our two families suddenly had three kids stuck inside all day in online classes. My neighbor said: "We need an interesting, educational, outdoor pandemic project." I said: "How about chickens?" Our kids were excited; our spouses skeptical, but game. Having raised chickens for egg money in my youth, I worried about time and resources needed. I almost chickened out! But my neighbor and I had very businesslike talks about sharing costs and dividing up responsibilities, plus alternating weeks for chores. I also suggested these "farm rules" for our kids: Don't name the wee chicks; don't coddle the livestock; and don't treat them like pets.
The first thing the kids did was name them, coddle them, and treat them like pets. I resisted at first, but soon I was equally enamored of little Raven, Sunset, Shadow, Breeze, Runty, and Snowy. When the wee peepers grew up and moved into their new henhouse, six distinct personalities swiftly emerged. Bullies attacked! Heroines defended! The timid fled! Alliances formed. Feuds simmered. Full-on battles raged.
We humans became fascinated with the poultry soap opera unfolding in the coop. I especially loved to watch Snowy boss the other girls around. "She wants to rule the roost," I told my neighbor across the fence. "Uh-oh!" she replied. "Did you hear what you just said?" Neither of us was surprised when Snowy crowed for the first time, affirming his gender identity and publicly updating his status to "cock of the walk.
My neighbor and I started noticing all the chicken idioms we use without thinking: Chicken out. Chicken-hearted. Hen-pecking. Pecking order. Chicken feed. Chicken-and-egg. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. When the chickens come home to roost. Flew the coop. Ruling the roost.
Each expression reminds us of people we've known or experiences we've had. For months now, we've had the most amazing conversations -- with each other, and with the kids. We reflect, we share, we learn, we laugh. I've always known I was lucky to have such good neighbors. Thanks to the chickens, I've realized how lucky I am to have such good friends. Back in May, I thought this little pandemic project was about grownups teaching kids to take care of chickens. I never dreamed how much the chickens would teach me about people and the language of friendship.
This week, let's try one new thing, even if we aren't sure about it, and let's try not to chicken out! We can also think about unexpectedly beautiful life lessons that friends and neighbors and animals have taught us. 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
P. S. For a few more fun "chicken" expressions, click on the picture of Snowy above!
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Join our SUNDAY, NOV. 22 worship service via ZOOM!
Join us this Sunday for our lively, friendly, warm, and informal worship service online, via Zoom.
Ron Sopyla is our worship leader this week, and we welcome Rev. Dr. Peter T. Johnson to our virtual pulpit. Before he retired in 2018, Peter served Presbyterian churches in New Hampton, NY; Darien, CT; and New Canaan, CT. He loves all kinds of music especially blues, rock, and roots -- so we're sure he'll enjoy hearing Music Director Tom McCoy at the piano.
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๏ปฟFor info about online services and a link to download Zoom, click here.
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Haldane's three student councils have organized a Thanksgiving Food Drive for K-12 students to help several local families in need. The school plans to give all surplus food donations to our Philipstown Food Pantry mission! If you have a child at Haldane, consider donating non-perishables to this drive. See the HS flyer: Click the turkey!
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Foodtown. You can donate your free-turkey coupon to a local family in need at Foodtown! Just write your phone number on the back of the coupon and leave it at the main register. Our Food Pantry volunteers will pick up all donated turkeys, to distribute to our clients.
Or: Buy a $10 Thanksgiving Bag at Foodtown! Every $10 donation means a Food Pantry client will receive a reusable shopping bag with fixings like stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, yams, and more. Donate $10 at Foodtown and our Pantry volunteers will pick them up along with the turkeys. Thank you!
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Next Midnight Run: Dec. 5 |
We are making our next Midnight Run on Saturday, December 5!
FPCP member/elder Ron Sopyla is coordinating this outreach trip to take food and critical supplies directly to people experiencing homelessness. Ron will drive to NYC, as will FPCP members Andy Larivee and Susan Jordan.
Want to help? If you are able to donate food, or a new/lightly used sleeping bag, sign up here. Drop off donations at our church at 10 Academy Street on Friday Dec. 4 from 11am to 12pm or 1:30 to 2:30pm Or: Contact Ron at rsopyla@verizon.net. Thank you!
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Christmas is coming! Families, watch for an email from our Youth Education coordinator Carolyn Llewellyn about our Sunday School's plans for Christmas!
Everything is different this year, so it won't be like previous pageants (left) but we'll find a beautiful and meaningful way to study and re-tell the Nativity story for all to enjoy. We are always together in spirit!
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Green Team Tips: Thank Mother Earth with an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving will look and feel different this year, as many of us stay home to stay safe. But we will still give thanks for our family and friends, and for essential workers and all people working during this pandemic to protect and serve their communities. We can also show our gratitude to the planet we call home by reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing waste, and recycling. Here are a few green ideas to try:
Enjoy more plants! There are fabulous plant-based alternatives to every traditional Thanksgiving dish. Or: Keep turkey on the table, but make all fruit-and-veggie side dishes to cut down on overall meat intake. Ingredient swaps can make traditional holiday dishes more plant-based. For example, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth in a soup base; trade butter for olive oil on veggies; or use coconut milk in your mashed potatoes. Instead of traditional sausage stuffing, make it with carrots, celery, lentils, and onions. Good for you, and good for the planet!
Shop local. Buying local produce means your food didn't travel far, which generates less pollution and packaging. If you buy from a local farm stand or green market, your seasonal produce is harvested at its peak -- it's packed with nutrition, and unbelievably tasty. Look for pasture-raised, certified-organic turkeys -- they're free of antibiotics, hormone stimulants, preservatives, and other questionable ingredients. And: When you buy locally-sourced ingredients, you invest in your own community. Don't forget to take your reusable shopping bags with you!
Forget plastic! Disposable cups, plates, and cutlery generate a lot of non-recyclable waste. Go old-school and use china, silverware, glasses and cloth napkins. To pack leftovers, opt for reusable food storage containers or biodegradable sandwich bags. And: Forget plastic decorations! Adorn your home with natural, biodegradable decorations that add festive cheer that won't end up in a local landfill. Light soy candles. Fill small baskets or clear glass bowls with nature's beauties: mini-pumpkins, gourds, acorns, pinecones and leaves in the dining or living room. Or: Recycle toilet paper rolls to make the classic Pilgrim centerpieces of your childhood (see above)!
Waste not, want not. Americans waste about 5 million pounds of uneaten food from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Thatโs enough to feed 500 people+ for a year. Carefully plan recipes and grocery shopping lists. This year, for smaller gatherings, consider serving a turkey breast, which will easily feed about four to six people. If you serve a whole bird, keep the carcass after carving to make soup stock. Serving food on smaller plates is another way to prevent overindulgence and cut down food waste. And: Don't throw away your leftovers. Store them in the freezer to make leftover recipes or share them with your guests in biodegradable take-out containers.
Compost! About 68% of the food we throw away ends up in landfills or combustion facilities, states the EPA. Reduce methane emissions and lower your carbon footprint by repurposing and composting kitchen scraps. For example, most people throw away carrot tops when they can be used for garnish, or blanched and used in pesto. Beet greens can be sautรฉed with garlic, lemon, and crushed chili flakes. Here are more clever ways to reuse your kitchen scraps. Compost any remaining kitchen waste. Or you can give your vegetable scraps to a neighbor who keeps chickens!
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Join FPCP's fun and fabulous Book Club! Our Book Club is reading I, Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo. Many of us fell in love with Eliza on Broadway in Hamilton but few of us know her story. A strong woman, Eliza had many sides, and this biography brings her personality to vivid life. We'll discuss I, Eliza on Tuesday, Dec. 15. For more info, email Bev Taylor here.
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Kids: Explore big ideas! Sunday School currently takes place at home. Carolyn, our Youth Ed leader, sends families a weekly email with stories, activities, and ideas. Last week, we talked about Matthew 25, talks about ways we should help people who are in need-- including neighbors and strangers. We talked about some times when we have been kind and helpful to others, or they were to kind to us. Join our e-list! Email Carolyn here.
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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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