Barrington's First Presbyterian Church

FALL 2011

From the Pastor’s Desk

 Dear Friends,

             We will begin the fall season and the return of the 11:00AMSunday worship service with “Rally Day” on the 11^th of September.  This is the traditional beginning of the church’s program year. 

            We “ramp up” our activities at this time including the church school.  The choir is once again heard in worship.  It is truly our new year in the church even though the first Sunday in Advent is the start of the Church calendar year.

            It is difficult to believe that “Rally Day” this year is the tenth anniversary of the terror attacks on the Pentagon in the nation’s capital and theWorldTradeTowersinNew York City.  It has been almost ten years of constant warfare in theMiddle East.  Our lives as well as our attitudes have changed significantly. Even our world view has been altered.

            How shall we remember that day?  Is it the day that we Americans capitulated to fear? Or, can we remember how for a few weeks we came together as a people, facing uncertainty and violence with grace and determination?

            I spent about a month in New Yorkstarting on the 11^th of September 2001.  The governor ofNew York had asked the acting governor ofNew Jersey to send military chaplains to “ground zero” almost before the buildings settled after the explosions.  We traveled with the disaster medical teams toManhattan, arriving even before the New York Guard.

            We saw the best in the midst of the worst that humanity can bring to the table in those few weeks. We saw the devastation that impacted the world’s financial capital. Everything was paralyzed for a while.  At the same time, the abiding memory that I have of my first view ofNew Yorkonly a few hours after the attack was the line of ambulances from almost every state in the union lined up waiting to be of service.  No one stopped in the face of a very real fear that the attacks were not over.  We really believed that it was only the beginning that night. No one knew if bombs were set in the Holland Tunnel. But, there they were from every place imaginable.  Many crews had driven straight through from as far away asTexasin order to be of some help.

            The dust did not settle overManhattanfor weeks.  It seemed as if the world was falling apart. Some people have said that today, ten years later, we are in the earth’s “last days”.  None of us can predict that and surely none of us is in charge of the time when the earth will end. However, we are in charge of our own actions just as those who chose the violence of11 September 2001made their choices.

            How will the choices we make today shape the next ten years?  How will the Church appear in 2021?  Will we be in retreat from the world? Will we be “circling the wagons” to avoid painful issues and demands on us as an institution?  Or, will we be making strides in light of God’s Kingdom’s demands that we leave our own comfort zones and meet a world that is hungry for the Good News that Jesus continues to offer to those who will receive it?

Upcoming Prayer Families

                                     Week of September 4                     Leonard, Danielle, Will & Quin Zacamy

                                    Week of September 11                       John, Kim, Lindsey & Johnny Aceto

                                    Week of September 18                        Joseph, Renee,Preston& Ryan Antrilli

                                    Week of September 25                        Richard, Joyce, Kenneth & Kathy Antrobus

                                    Week of October 2                              Joan Augustine

                                    Week of October 9                              Jeanne Barbaro

                                    Week of October 16                            Mike, Catharine, Michael, Carey  &  Christina Bennington

                                    Week of October 23                            Bill & Sandy Bowen

                                    Week of October 30                            Barbara Bunting

 We would like to update our family information so we can continue to acknowledge the birthdays and anniversaries of our members in the monthly newsletter and weekly GoodENews.  If you don’t see your special days in the newsletter, you probably never filled out one of our family information forms.  We’d love to include you in our monthly wishes, so just email Patti Pawling, Clerk of Session, and give her the dates of your birthday and anniversary to be included.  If you’d rather call, you can reach her at 547-8412.  If your address or phone number changes, please give her that updated information too, so you can be sure to continue to receive the newsletter and other important announcements.  Thanks!

Choir rehearsals will start on Sept. 7, and will continue every Wednesday night, from8-9 P.M. We are always looking for new singers to join us, with openings for men and women.  Membership is open to high school age and older, and younger singers can join when accompanied by an adult family member.  The bell choir will begin rehearsals on Sept. 21, and will meet every Wednesday night, from7-8 P.M. Membership opportunities will be announced when openings become available.

                  

Christian Education News     

“And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

             As we begin this Sunday School year on Rally Day, Sunday, September 11^th, the date means so much to so many.  Many of us remember the events of a decade ago – while some in our Sunday School have no memory of it at all.  In either case, the verse for this year speaks to the very foundation of our relationships with all people.  That we should act justly (not judgmentally), love mercy (yes – LOVE it!) and walk humbly with God.   This theme will be repeated throughout the year in our Sunday morning lessons, in the decorations on the bulletin board downstairs, in our Christmas and Easter pageants – and, prayerfully, with our very actions towards each other.  We’ll challenge each other to remember this verse – and to live it every day!  Join us for an inspiring Sunday School year – there are classes for every age and lessons for every person (member and visitor alike.) 

 Come at 9:30am on Sunday, September 11^th, and help us kick off Rally Day, 2011!!

   

 

 

BIRTHDAYS

Ernst Deuter – September

Garrett Kuehner – September

Devin Robenolt    – September

LoganRobenolt – September

David Eastman – September

Dom Zupito – September

Christopher Greenlaugh – September

Vincent Paradise – September

Carol Ingram – September

Zachary Taylor – September

Richard Rerttinger, Jr. – September

Mary Gallagher – September 

Danielle Zacamy – September

David Siefert – September

Mildred Fitzgerald – September

Elisabeth Eastman – September

Nicole Deuter – October 

Katelyn Halley – October 

Emily Lepone – October

Sylvia Hearne – October 

Darian Truax – October 

Stephen Stankiewicz – October 

Juanita Stankiewicz – October 

Kim Aceto – October 

Joe Guida – October 

Diane Gallagher – October 

Jimmy Leather – October 

RuthAnn Fehlinger – October 

Staci Schoettler – October 

Matthew Eastman – October 

Robert Finch – October 

 

CELEBRATING an ANNIVERSARY 

 September 5^th – Chalie & Diane Gallagher

                                                September 17^th – Joe & Renee Antrilli

                                                October 7^th – Bill & Sandy Bowen

                                                October 28^th – Bob & Linda Kessler

                                                October 30^th – Wayne & Phylicia Robenolt

 

 

^{Spiritual Care}

The Spiritual Care Committee will be meeting on Sunday, September 18^th, at 10am to plan for the coming year.  We are always looking for new members for this committee, so come out and see what’s coming in the life of our church! 

We will need volunteers for lay reading every Sunday mornings, serving Communion on the first Sunday of most months and helping with the Fellowship Breakfasts, Hours and Dinners that we are already planning!

Communion for the 2011/2012 year will begin on Sunday, October 2^nd – which is World Wide Communion. 

Our first Fellowship Breakfast will be held the following Sunday, October 9^th – at 10am.  Sunday School will not be held that morning as we encourage all students to join with their families for breakfast with our church family in the downstairs social hall.

 Our first Fellowship Hour will be held in November, and our Fellowship Dinner will be held during Advent (Sunday, December 4^th) – so look for more information regarding these dates in the next edition of our Newsletter!

Speaking of Advent (ALREADY?!?) – we’ll also be talking about our next Bible Study to be held during Advent (which begins on Sunday, November 27th.)  If you have thoughts or ideas about how we might prepare for this year’s study, let us know!

 

Pastor and Church Staff

Rev. Thomas Purchase, Temporary Pastor

David Eastman, Director of Music

Elisabeth Eastman, Organist

Diane Gallagher, Sunday School Superintendent

BOARD OF DEACONS

 

CLASS OF 2011                                 CLASS OF 2012                                 CLASS OF 2013

 Barbara Bunting                             Kathy Antrobus                                  Joan Augustine

Lois Herman                                     Laura Bupp                                          Brittany Gallagher

Joyce Antrobus                               RuthAnn Fox                                        Nita Stankiewicz

OPEN                                                    David Orem                                         OPEN

      SESSION

  Jeremy Bupp

 Wayne Comley

 Bob Finch

 Diane Gallagher

 John Galliera

 Ethel Hawkins

 Karen Hosey

 Bob Kessler

 Meghan Orem

 Patti Pawling

Stephen Stankiewicz

 David Taylor