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First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown (FPCP)
The Church of the Open Door
Community News
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Like a tree planted by the water . . .
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We will worship outdoors this Sunday, Aug. 2, @ 10:30 am at Mayor's Park.
For many summers now, our congregation has gathered for a very special outdoor service at a local park or garden or historic site, like Boscobel or Constitution Island.
Many of us look forward each year to this opportunity to sit on blankets or folding chairs, enjoying the beauty and serenity of nature while sharing music and scripture and meditations and uplifting messages -- followed by a hike and a delicious picnic!
We are happy and grateful to be able to worship at Mayor's Park this summer, with its views of the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain. We also know this year's outdoor service going to look and feel quite different. We're going to
wear
masks
and
sit
six feet apart
. Children won't stray from their grown-ups. We won't shake hands or hug when we pass the peace. We won't share Bibles or hymnals or bulletins. Communion won't be served. We won't hike or picnic after the service.
We know: That's a whole lot of "won't." But we'll still be together.
Tom McCoy
will play music!
Rev. Dr. Doris Chandler
will inspire us! We'll all be in the same park, looking at the same river and trees and mountains and sky!
That's pretty wonderful, isn't it? And when we look at that river and those trees, we might think about Jeremiah 17. Blessed are those who trust and place their confidence in God, it says: "
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
That's a beautiful message for us in these challenging times: Trust, don't fear, stay strong; we can survive and thrive.
We all miss worshiping together in our lovely church at 10 Academy Street. But
we must put the safety of our congregation and community first.
FPCP leadership still believes that there is no safe way to open our church building for regular use at this point in the pandemic. Our board (Session) meets monthly to discuss the latest information from the state and the Hudson River Presbytery. When it is safe to gather in our sanctuary, Session will joyously announce that our church is open once again.
For now, w
e hope to see you at Mayor's Park this Sunday, Aug. 2, at 10:30 am.
Our plan
for this outdoor service adheres to the "New York Forward" safety guidelines.
For those unable to attend (or not yet comfortable with gathering in any setting), we understand! A Zoom link will be provided, and a live stream will be filmed on site.
Heartfelt thanks to
Rev. Dr. Doris
and
Elders Carolyn Llewellyn
,
Ron Sopyla
, and
Bev Taylor
for working so hard to make this service possible!
This week, let's look for beautiful ways to trust, stay strong, and not fear. Remember we are still together, even when we're apart. And the best news is that
all of us are loved, all the time.
Read on to discover how FPCP members and our friends are staying connected, comforting each other, and serving our neighbors in need.
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Ron's Midnight Run UPDATE
FPCP Elder
Ron Sopyla
reports he and
Rev. David Harkness
are ready to make their
Midnight Run
this Saturday, August 1. This project takes food and critical supplies to people in NYC who are experiencing homelessness. A huge thank-you
to all of our amazing donors.
Philipstown rocks!
(See last week's "News" for the donor list.) A shout-out to
Rye Presbyterian Church
for contributing toiletry kits, and the Putnam Department of Health which donated HIV brochures and condoms, which we will include in the toiletry kits for the first time. In other Midnight Run News: Ron and
Rev. Rachel Thompson
joined a Peekskill group to make a run this week, on July 29!
For more information about our Midnight Run projects, contact Ron at
rsopyla@verizon.net
or
v
isit our website here.
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Julie's Blessing Box UPDATE
FPCP Member
Julie Geller
reports the
Blessing Box
in front of our church at 10 Academy Street is stocked and ready to help nourish our community! Julie volunteers at our
Philipstown Food Pantry
mission on Saturdays, and she has seen our clients increase by 150% due to COVID-19 health and economic crises. Julie realized that not everyone is able come to the Food Pantry during its open hours on Saturday mornings. The Blessing Box is her answer to that problem! Accessible 24/7, the Blessing Box is stocked with non-perishable groceries and supplies. Look for it just to the right of the northernmost entrance -- near our church driveway, but discretely tucked behind a rhododendron bush. The sign on the Blessing Box tells us to "Give what you can, take what you need." Thanks, Julie!
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An announcement from
St. Mary's-in-the-Highlands
St. Pauly Textiles, which collects used clothing from donation bins in several states, has notified St. Mary's that they must temporarily shut down collection operations. Therefore,
St. Mary's asks local residents not to leave any donated goods in, or outside, the collection bin on the church grounds, as the church has no place to store them. We join St. Mary's in hoping that you
can find other worthwhile charities that can accept your donated goods. St. Mary's will make another announcement when the bin is able to be reopened. Thank you!
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Example of a collection bin provided by St. Pauly Textiles. Collection of donated goods has been suspended across several states, including the bin at St. Mary's-in-the-Highlands in Cold Spring. (Image courtesy of St. Pauly).
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The Lion's Club presents Philipstown Food Pantry with a generous grant!
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Thank you to the Cold Spring Lions Club for helping our Food Pantry!
The Cold Spring Lions Club are longtime supporters of our
Philipstown Food Pantry
mission. When the COVID-19 health and economic crisis struck our community, and the number of our Pantry clients more than doubled, Club President David Lilburne asked what the Lions could do to help.
Amy Richter,
a Pantry coordinator, explained that what the Pantry really needed was a new large freezer and an additional refrigerator-freezer. "We were finding it tough to store all of the eggs and milk we need for our 60+ families," Amy explained. The Lions shared this information with membership, and the Club approved a grant to buy this essential Pantry equipment!
Last week, Pantry volunteers and Lions Club members met outside our church to celebrate the grant and this wonderful, ongoing community collaboration. We also had a safe photo op with a VERY big check! Pictured above, in masks, are:
David Lilburne, Amy Richter, Clayton Smith, Curt and Diane Landtroop, Julie Geller, Diana Geller, Jean Duncan, Carolyn Rapalje, Makaria Gallagher,
and
Ginny Pidala.
We also want to recognize five generous donors who helped make this grant and these critical Food Pantry purchases possible. They are:
Sandy and Dick Timmons
of The Nest Child Care Center,
Melissa Ricket, Suzanne Willis,
and
Teri Waivada
. Thank you all!
The fridge/freezer is already in action, and we expect the new freezer to arrive next month -- which is a very good thing, as our poor old freezer gave up the ghost just last week! FPCP and the Philipstown Food Pantry are so grateful to all of these hometown heroes! To learn more about the CS Lions,
click here
.
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Try our monthly Book Club!
Our Book Club is now reading
Weather
by
Jenny Offill.
NPR calls it "
darkly funny and urgent. . . fueled by a growing preoccupation with the scary prospect of a doomed earth
!"
The NY Times says:
"Offill takes subjects that could easily become pedantic and makes them thrilling and hilarious and terrifying and alive."
We'll discuss via Zoom at the end of August. Join us! For more info,
email Susan here.
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Next Youth Group: Aug. 2!
Teens: There's a lot going on in this world. Let's talk about it! Join our Youth Group online
THIS
SUNDAY, Aug. 2, at 5:30 pm on Zoom
for a lively conversation
with Rev. Dr. Doris on timely topics. Our Youth Group generally meets online for one hour every other Sunday. All Philipstown teens are welcome to join us -- your family doesn't need to be FPCP members. To get the Zoom link,
email Rev. Dr. Doris.
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Kids: Thinking big thoughts
Sunday School is a great place to explore big ideas. Carolyn, our Youth Ed Coordinator, sends a weekly email to families with creative activities and inspiring ways to talk about big ideas. Last week we learned Jesus compared
God's community to yeast rising, a hidden treasure, a priceless pearl, a net full of fish, and a tiny seed becoming a tree.
(seed above)
! Join our e-list!
Email Carolyn here!
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Find comfort and caring on our Pastor's Porch.
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Rev. Dr. Doris Chandler
invites one and all to pull up a chair and sit with her on her "virtual porch." This is a great way to share news or concerns, pray together, or just enjoy quality time with the pastor.
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In the midst of this worldwide health crisis,
we are grateful we can serve our neighbors in need
through critical mission programs, including the
Food Pantry
and
Midnight Run
.
If you feel called to support FPCP's outreach, we warmly welcome your contributions. If you are a member of the FPCP family and can maintain your church giving at this difficult time, we humbly thank you.
Online donations can be made
right here
. Bless you!
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Visit our website and follow us on Facebook!
Call or email us today.
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