Presbytery of Western New York
E-Newsletter November 24, 2009 FLOOD UPDATE
It is now November. The flooding happened in August. Is it all cleaned up yet? NO WAY! Can they still use your help? OF COURSE! Tri County Disaster Recovery is coordinating the continued assistance that individuals and churches need.
First Presbyterian Church in Gowanda needs to gut and remodel their entire basement. When a wall bowed , Tri County Disaster Recovery was able to get a donation of a back-hoe and operator to clear out around the wall so volunteer Mennonites could repair and rebuild it. The Head Start program at First will be able to assist in replacing the appliances they use; however, significant construction projects remain to be done. Please call Tom Gould at 725-4219, to set up a time to specifically work at First Presbyterian, Gowanda. Monetary donations can be sent to the church or to the Presbytery office.
Also, Trinity United Church of Christ was hit especially hard. Tom has been using volunteer groups all along to rebuild and “close” the church walls up. There are still some construction and content needs out there. Call Tom if you can work and/or call Jan at the Presbytery office (668-1995) if you want to make a monetary donation or if you have tables, chairs, or other items to offer to the church.
Individuals in all the areas hit by flooding are being helped by Tri County Disaster Recovery and its two long-term-recovery groups – REACH (Recovery Erie and Cattaraugus Hope) and ROCC (Recovery of Chautauqua County). Volunteer case managers follow through to be sure needs are met through the various agencies and public funding sources available. When they have exhausted all those sources of assistance, the case manager will bring the file to an “Unmet Needs Table.” Donors provide funding and other resources to fulfill the unmet needs. If you have further questions, please call Jan in the Presbytery office at 668-1995.
PLANNING WAY AHEAD: TRAINING FOR BIBLICAL STORYTELLERS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Barbara Wallace writes:
Many of you have expressed your interest in Biblical storytelling but can't make our monthly workshops. We're all busy, with commitments to our families, our friends, our churches and our own Sabbath. But maybe if you plan now, you can carve out four days to learn more about and practice Biblical storytelling with some of the best in the business. North Carolina is a great spot to take the family, to spend a few days of study leave, to enjoy God's grandeur. Click here for more information.
BIBLICAL STORYTELLERS WORKSHOP ON NOVEMBER 24TH
The next Western New York Network of Biblical Storytellers workshop will be held at 7 PM, Tuesday, Nov. 24th, at Lafayette Presbyterian Church, Elmwood Ave. at Lafayette, Buffalo. Each person is asked to prepare a "telling" of the story of the Annunciation. The viewpoint does not have to be strictly that of the scripture. For more information and to RSVP, contact Barbara Cattrall Wallace via email at wnynobs@gmail.com, or by phone, 550-1898.
CHORAL CONCERT AT ORCHARD PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DECEMBER 6TH
Music and the Arts of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church announces - The Freudig Singers of WNY in "A Christmas Pie," on Sunday, December 6, 2009, at 7:00 PM in the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street. This concert is open to the community and all are welcome to attend this program.
General Admission (includes pie!): $12 ($10 for student and seniors) $2.00 discount with advance purchase: phone 713.667.7088. Click here for a concert event flyer that includes additional program information.
RESOURCE CENTER OPEN HOUSE AND NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH’S SOUL FEAST
The Resource Center will be open 5 –8 PM, Wednesday, December 2nd. You may visit to preview and borrow resources including new Nooma short DVDs for adults and older youth. Come, make a Christmas ornament, and pick up instructions for several projects. Visit North (Williamsville) Presbyterian Church's Soul Feast - an Advent Spirituality Center with over 20 stations for reflection. Enjoy some refreshments. Click here for a flyer about the open house. Click here for a Soul Feast poster.
OPPORTUNITIES AT CAMP DUFFIELD
Youth Leaders: There are a few weekends still available for your retreat at Camp Duffield. With the new pricing, Camp Duffield is affordable for both small and large groups. Visit www.CampDuffield.org for details.
DECEMBER ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AT HAMBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Joe Smith will lead a movie study on the film, “The Nativity Story.” The adult education hour runs from 9 to 10 AM on December 6th, 13th, and 20th.
YOUTH MINISTRY LEADERSHIP SEMINARS
Click here for information about Pathway seminars for leaders and youth.
ENVIRO-NEWS
Click here for excerpts from the enviro-news publication, produced by Brenda Young at Daemen College.
ONE IN THE SPIRIT – STANDING TOGETHER FOR DECENCY, JUSTICE, AND LIFE
Click here for a monthly e-mail from Linda Valentine strengthening community between the General Assembly Mission Council and Middle Governing Bodies. NEWS FROM FAITH UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ATTENTION PARENTS: You are invited to bring your children to Faith United Presbyterian Church, 3150 Elmwood Avenue in First, on Saturday, December 5 (1:00 - 5:00 PM) for a child-oriented movie and fun activities. Treat yourself to an afternoon of carefree Christmas shopping! A movie for the entire family will be shown at 6:00 PM. This program, sponsored by the Fellowship Committee, is open to the community.
LIFE LINE HEALTH SCREENING: Faith United Presbyterian Church will be hosting a preventive health screening event on Tuesday, December 22, 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM. Two packages are available. The first set includes carotid artery, abdominal aortic, PAD screening (peripheral artery disease), and atrial fibrillation tests. The cost is $129 (which includes a $10 discount). The second set adds a test for osteoporosis. Cost for all five tests is $139 (including a $10 discount). The tests take 60 - 90 minutes to complete. Appointments may be made by calling 1-888-653-6441. The Church Office can provide information sheets that answer frequently asked questions about the screenings (875-9550).
RANDOLPH CHURCH PIES ARE ALWAYS THE BEST! An article by Jack Berger
When the Women’s Association of the Randolph United Presbyterian Church planned their second annual “Church Pie Sale.” they never realized their deadline for pies was almost at the finish line, selling a mere 39 pies. That was until Randolph’s friendly daily newspaper in Jamestown published the photo with an article on their pie sale. Overnight, the sale of church pies nearly doubled to just shy of 70. It was a rat-race for women of the church to make enough pies to fill all those orders. Perhaps God had his finger in this pie, so-to-speak, telling this congregation that Heaven needed some sweetness from our troubled World. Those tired pie-makers are to be congratulated for a very successful project. Shown is young church member Alex Myers enjoying a piece of "Church Pie" at an earlier church dinner.
News photo by Jack Berger
THE PRESBYTERIAN LEADER.COM
Click here to read “The Meaning of Church Membership,” by Susan Andrews, and other articles in The Presbyterian Leader.
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