Volume 25 No. 05
May 2015
I’d like to sow the barren spots
with all the flowers of earth,
To leave a path where those who come
should find but gentle mirth;
And when at last I’m called upon
to join the heavenly throng
I’d like to feel along my way
I’d left no sign of wrong.
—Edgar A. Guest
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Continued from the April 2015 issue of Good News.
Thirdly, and at least as important, we must have vision. Vision is closely connected with focus. In fact
the two are so entwined that it is impossible to have one without the other. Vision, as I mean it, has two dimensions. In popular usage vision indicates a larger view of life and human purpose than any one activity. This
kind of vision involves a deep trust that our individual and collective activities have a larger purpose which is
so large that in the end we cannot pin it down. Like the star which guided the wise men, vision continually
calls us beyond ourselves into a future which we cannot see but which we believe to be the true direction for us
and our community and even the greater world. Vision is that which lifts our eyes off of the pressure and
stresses of the moment to the big picture. Thus we do not obsess about what is going on at a particular time,
but see it as part as part of a much larger and marvelous destiny.
Of course, such vision requires faith, defined by the author of Hebrews as “the assurance of what we
hope for; the conviction of (the reliability of) what we cannot see.” (11:1) It takes faith to believe that there is a
bigger and marvelous destiny which is beyond our ability completely to grasp.
It is this vision which gives individuals and communities of faith a sense of meaning and purpose
which inspires and guides their life together. It is this vision which gives us individually and together a depth
of commitment which allows us to persevere though challenging and difficult times. It is this vision which allows us not to be discouraged when stewardship campaigns fall short or controversial issues cause division.
Indeed it is this vision which allows us to recognize that however deeply we hold to certain convictions they
are part of the bigger destiny which includes the convictions of brothers and sisters with whom we may—even
strongly—disagree, and to whom we must listen.
Continued on page 6
Page 2
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Lay Readers, Greeters, and Ushers
May 24
May 3
Lay Reader
Diane Irwin
Lay Reader
Cindy Schultz
Greeter/Usher
Bettye Goodnow
Greeter/Usher
Mickey Nieman
Ushers
Wayne Goodnow
Ushers
Terry Nieman
June Edick
Ann McKinney
Peter McKinney
Communion Servers
Ron Messersmith *
Counters
Nancy messersmith
Peter McKinney
Margaret Gardam
Betsy Bunday
Nancy Snyder
Hannah Hunter-Harris
Counters
May 31
Wayne Goodnow
Laura Smith
Lay Reader
Marian Nitsky
Greeter
Carolyn Sarbello
Ushers
Bill Sarbello
Nancy Snyder
May 10
Lay Reader
Trudy Hutchinson
Wayne Goodnow
Greeter/Usher
Melinda Rielly
Bettye Goodnow
Ushers
Henry Montgomery
Counters
Margaret Gardam
Laura Smith
Don Montgomery
Dorothy Favitta
Counters
Bill Hasselbarth
Hannah Hunter-Harris
May 17
Lay Reader
Carl Hasselbarth
Greeter/Usher
Laura Smith
Ushers
Steve Smith
If anyone would like to volunteer to
be added to the greeter and ushers list,
please contact Bev Montgomery at
355-4494
Nelda Polansky
Wayne Gannett
Counters
Carl Hasselbarth
Carolyn Sarbello
Page 3
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Lay Readers, Greeters, and Ushers
June 7
June 21
Lay Reader
Hiram Eberlein
Lay Reader
Dianna Newman
Greeter/Usher
Joanne Wagner
Greeter/Usher
Joan Niecey
Ushers
Hannah Hunter-Harris
Ushers
Dorothy Rice
George Hannett
Peter McKinney
Carl Hasselbarth
Communion Servers
Ann McKinney
Margaret Peck *
Counters
Ann McKinney
Carl Hasselbarth
Carolyn Sarbello
Mike Poelma
Laurie Poelma
Betty Koban
Counters
Wayne Goodnow
Laura Smith
June 28
June 14
Lay Reader
Bill Hasselbarth
Lay Reader
Steve Smith
Greeter/Usher
Charlotte Hasselbarth
Greeter/Usher
Laura Smith
Ushers
Margaret Gardam
Ushers
Darcy Shufelt
Counters
Betty Koban
Ron Messersmith
Chuck Koban
Nancy Messersmith
Bill Hasselbarth
Counters
Hannah Hunter-Harris
Peter McKinney
Laura Smith
WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU!
If you are unable to serve on your
scheduled date, please
FIND A SUBSTITUTE
and
NOTIFY THE CHURCH SECRETARY.
Page 4
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Page 5
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Yet most importantly, this vision frees us from anxiety about the stresses of the moment. This freedom
from worry about the moment gives us the gift of the other sense of vision: the ability to see clearly. Anxiety
clouds vision. When we lose sight of the larger and marvelous destiny we become a community of chicken littles who believe the sky is falling. We begin reacting by looking for short term solutions for long term challenges. We begin reacting to those who don’t see things our way. More churches fall apart for want of vision
than for any other cause. Thus it is that King Solomon writes in Proverbs, “Without vision (literally “without
clear sight”) the people perish ;”( 29:18) or, as Eugene Peterson so insightfully renders the verse in The Message, “If people cannot see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves. But when they attend to what
he reveals they are most blessed.”
My beloved congregation, as we move into this new year there are challenging issues before us. Let us
pray that God will give us—individually and together and in abundance—the gifts of faith, focus and vision,
and with those gifts the trust and optimism that this time next year we will, in the words of David have seen
“the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Ps. 27:13) May we grow in our understanding of and
commitment to what God has brought us together to do.
Stewart
Community Caregivers, Inc. will make a presentation on May 17
during the 10 am service at Hamilton Union. The speakers will
be Judy Rothstein and Arnold Rothstein. They will talk about the
agency’s mission to can help us stay independent and in our
community and how they do this. There will be time during the
coffee hour to ask them individual questions. This should be
very interesting as was a similar presentation made to the
Deacons in February.
Page 6
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Pictorial Directory - New Coordinator Needed
We have been coordinating the Pictorial Directory for several years and feel it's time to turn the project over to
someone else with some new ideas. The company we have worked with is offering some different options that
would give our directory a fresh look. Below is a brief outline of the project. A new coordinator would have
the freedom to innovate.
- Summer: meet with the company representative, choose dates for portraits to be taken
- Early fall: publicize information
- Fall: hold portrait sessions over a 2 day period
- Jan. '16: choose photos of congregational life for the directory
- Feb. '16: distribute the new directories
Ron has covered the details up to an including the portraits and Charlotte has
covered the details from that point to distribution of the directories. If you are
interested in taking on this project, please contact one of us and we will meet
with you.
Ron Messersmith: [email protected] or 356-2394
Charlotte Hasselbarth: [email protected] or 356-037
Lost and Found Items
Will Go Into Garage Sale
The items on the Lost and Found shelf in the
Christian Education Building will be donated
to the Garage Sale. Please check to see if
anything is yours.
Page 7
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Happy Birthday to…
Lori Lochner (May 2)
Maryanne Masley-Hannett
(May 4)
Stewart Pattison (May 12)
Matt Shafer at (May 14)
Terry Nieman (May 25)
Happy Anniversary to…
John Nitsky (May 26)
Lori & Ron Lochner (May 22)
Brian Nitsky (May 28)
If you would like your special occasion celebrated in the Good News newsletter, please contact
Hannah Hunter-Harris at 518-339-1987 or [email protected]
Great News!
Keni Banda reports that the third container is on its way
to Malawi.
Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/bandabolasports
Page 8
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
NEWS OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The Hamilton Union Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team will meet on
Tuesday, May 5 at church with Fran Kamp as Moderator, Pro-Tem.
Also, on May 5 through May 7, the Horizons Bible Study at Stony Point
Conference Center will be held with the author, Judy Record Fletcher as
leader.
May 8 is the date for the final Church Women United (not May 1 as it is the
day before the Albany CROP Walk) for a Potluck lunch at Third Reformed
Church for May Friendship Day. Bring your Least Coin Offering. After
that, CWU will disband for lack of leadership.
The Vanguard House tour, led by Rae Rau, followed by lunch, will be held
Thursday, May 14.
Gade Farm Days will be held May 15, 16 and 17, and May 29, 30 and 31
where 5% of sales by Presbyterian Women go to PW treasury.
On May 26, circle will meet at 10:30 a.m. Bring a bag lunch. Birthday Offering envelopes will be collected.
We will study Lesson 4 of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Looking ahead, the tentative date for the Mission Minded Meal at Avila is June 9.
Also, June 18-21, will see the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
You are welcome to attend any of these HUPC Presbyterian Women meetings.
Grand Garage Sale
Jewelry, Collectables and Figurines Booth Helpers and Items Needed
Helpers are needed both during the week before the Grand Garage Sale and on the
day of sale, Sat. May 16. For those interested in sorting and pricing, there will be an
orientation meeting early in the week before the sale, at a mutually agreed upon time.
Helpers can come in at their own convenience to sort and price items. On the day of
the sale, people can sign up for 2 hour shifts. If you would like to work on this Booth,
please contact Charlotte Hasselbarth at [email protected] or 356-0637.
Nice pieces of costume jewelry, pretty ladies handkerchiefs, a hand mirror,
racks for necklaces and bracelets, jewelry boxes with small compartments,
small gift bags and ice cube trays are needed.
Page 9
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
April 6 Session Highlights
•
Approved motion for baptism of Maylin Hall, daughter of Kyle and Lindsay, at the May 10 early worship
service.
•
Approved motion for a congregational discussion after church on May 3 about the Presbytery action on
same-gender marriage, as input for the session, which will vote at the June 1 session meeting on whether to
concur with the change proposed for the Book of Order. Opinions/concerns may be shared with elders
prior to the June 1 vote.
•
Transitional Ministry: Session is looking to develop a discernment process to address how HUPC views its
identity and mission, and where we are going in the future. Rev. Pattison is reading a book on Transitional
Ministry and is purchasing some copies for session members.
•
The Stewardship Team has drafted a letter for the Second Mile Campaign, with receipt of contributions to
be on April 26 and May 3.
•
Approved motion that the session accept the recommendation of the Curran Investment Management firm
that the spending rate for the 2016 budget from investments be 5% of equities, plus income from Fixed Income holdings. That would represent a draw of $15,625, or an increase of $10,625 from the current draw
of $5,000. This can be used as an additional revenue source in future budgets.
•
Approved motion that the session support Kate Ferris, Sue Ferris’ daughter and Gordon College student,
with $500 from the Mission Trip Fund as she attends a summer short-term mission program in Poland. She
needs to raise $2,700 to cover her costs of travel, food, and housing.
•
Rev. Pattison has been accepted as a Guthrie Scholar at Columbia Theological Seminary for September 21
– 25.
GADE FARM DAYS 2015
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: May 15, May 16, May 17
Amount: $_______________________________________________________
Name:
________________________________________________________
Page 10
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
All Women Invited
Vanguard Designer Showhouse Tour by Rae Rau
Thurs. May 7 at 10:30 am
The Vanguard Designer Showhouse tour by Rae Rau will be Thurs. May 7 at 10:30 am. This is a fundraiser
for the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The Showhouse is at 158 Van Wies Point Road in Glenmont. A carpool
will leave the church parking lot at 9:30 am. The tour is $12 and lunch is $13. This event is sponsored by
Presbyterian Women.
Lunch choices are:
Walnut chicken salad wrap & pasta salad, wrap contains gluten, can be special ordered without nuts
Pork tenderloin with cranberry aioli wrap & pasta salad, wrap contains gluten
Field green salad with veggie/black/bean/corn salsa and cilantro vinaigrette
•
•
•
There will a variety of sweets for dessert.
A sign up sheet is in the multi-purpose room and in the back of the
sanctuary. Meal choices and payment are needed by Tues. Apr. 28.
Joanne Wagner is collecting the money. Make checks payable to
her. For questions, contact Joanne at 355-1408 or
[email protected].
Dear Friends of Family Promise,
We are happily setting up the Day Center at 738 New Scotland Avenue in anticipation of our first families entering the program the week of April 6th. Many of you are already volunteering at Host Sites but if you are
interested in volunteering at the Day Center, let me know. We are in particular need of weekend volunteers.
Family Promise National often refers to weekend volunteers as Office Angels. The volunteer tasks can vary
from simply answering the phones to reading to a child or perhaps visiting with the families. Our guest families may be present or running errands. We like to schedule weekend volunteers to be there in pairs for a morning or afternoon on a Saturday or a Sunday, once a month. More often if you wish! Let me know if you think
you might be interested. You can send me an email or give me a call if you would like more information.
Thank you,
Mary
Mary Giordano
Executive Director
518-248-5565
www.familypromiseofthecapitalregion.org
Page 11
Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
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Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
18th Annual
Grand Garage Sale
Saturday, May 16, 2015 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
5
Five weeks to go before the Grand Garage Sale week!
Booth donations: Donations such as – baked goods, clothing, household items, jewelry, plants, books,
small appliances in working condition, toys, games, and sporting goods, phones, and cell phones.
Please no tires, NO TVs or large furniture.
-------------------------------------------------------Booth helpers needed. Chair recommends 4 to a booth minimum....to enable breaks
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chairpersons...SO FAR. STAFF..4 Chairpersons NEEDED...RSVP
-------------------------------------------------------Custodian: Steve Smith
Banker and Runners: Dorothy Rice, Ron
Set Up: Wayne Goodnow, Ron Messersmith, George Hannett,
Joe Peck
Baked Goods/Cakes: Laura & Steve Smith, Ann & Peter
McKinney
Clothing and Linens: Linda Crowley & Cindy Shafer
Housewares: Shirley Irwin, Vi McKaig, Cindy Schultz
Plants:open
Promo: Sue Ferris, Edith
Books: Pastor, Bruce, Karen Baumis
Crafts:open
Outdoor Tent – Wayne Goodnow, chair
Seasonal/Christmas: open __
Toys and Games: open __
Small Appliances and Media: Wayne Gannett
Booth Signs: Laura Smith
Jewelry/Collectibles/Figurines: Charlotte Hasselbarth, Darlene Bauer, Betty Koban FULLY STAFFED
Bargain tent: Wayne
Clean Up: MJ Pattison
SATURDAY TRUCK FROM SALVATION ARMY... MJ AND HER GANG 2-3 PM
MONDAY TRUCK FROM CITY MISSION. Wayne and Edith
Music Debbie Fish (same as last year outside): John piano inside SO FAR
--------------------------------------------------------
Drop off: Starts Saturday, May 9 @ 9 am through Thursday, May 14 During the day MON-THURS, - 9
am to 12 am--- or by appt.6 – 8 pm evenings.
-------------------------------------------------------Sign Up: IT IS TIME to sign up for a booth. You may call Shirley Irwin (456-0377, Vi McKaig (7654064), or Edith Sankowski (393-2764) to volunteer. Or check the sign-up sheet in the church. Or write
[email protected].
-------------------------------------------------------SAVE THE DATE
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
DONATE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Volume 25 No. 05
Good News
Page 14
j~ó=OMNR=
Hamilton Union
Happenings
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Sat
2
9:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal (S)
3 Communion
4
5
6
7
8:30am Early Worship Service (S)
10am Worship Service (S)
7pm Session M eeting (L)
9:30am PW Coordinating Team (L)
3:30pm Brownie Troop 1495 (M )
7pm Boy Scouts (D)
7pm Webelos Scouts (D)
7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M )
7pm Chess Club (L)
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C)
10 Mother’s Day
11
12
13
14
8:30am Early Worship Service (S)
10am Worship Service (S)
6:15pm Deacons M eeting (L)
3:30pm Brownie Troop 1779 (M )
7pm SCA Chorus (M )
7pm Boy Scouts (D)
7pm Webelos Scouts (D)
7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M )
7pm Chess Club (L)
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C)
17
18
19
20
21
3:30pm Brownie Troop 1495 (M )
7pm Boy Scouts (D)
7pm Webelos Scouts (D)
7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M )
7pm Chess Club (L)
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C)
26
27
28
10:30am PW Circle M eeting (L)
3:30pm Brownie Troop 1779 (M )
7pm SCA Chorus (M )
7pm Boy Scouts (D)
7pm Webelos Scouts (D)
7pm Poking Brook Dancers (M )
7pm Chess Club (L)
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal (C)
8:30am Early Worship Service (S)
10am Worship Service (S)
24 Pentecost
25 Memorial Day
8:30am Early Worship Service (S)
10am Worship Service (S)
8
Newsletter Deadline
9:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal (S)
15
22
S = Sanctuary
M = Multipurpose Room
23
9:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal (S)
29
8:30am Early Worship Service (S)
10am Worship Service (S)
L = Lounge
16
9:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal (S)
31
D = Downstairs
9
C = Choir Corner
30
9:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal (S)
HAMILTON UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2291 Western Avenue
Guilderland, New York 12084-9747
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
GUILDERLAND, NY 12084
PERMIT #1
Change Service Requested
Dated Material – Please Deliver Promptly.
Church:
(518) 456-5410
FAX:
(518) 456-0002
Rev. Pattison (H) 456-1373
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: HamiltonUnionPresbyterianChurch.org
Ministers: The People of Hamilton Union
Our Staff:
Rev. Stewart Pattison, Pastor
Rev. Douglas Gray, Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Mary Jo Pattison, Parish Associate
Charlotte Palmeri, Director of Music
Cheryl Cootware, Church Secretary
GOOD NEWS
Published monthly by the
Session, and mailed to each
church family household,
students away from home,
and others.
Mark Hutchinson, Editor
Email Address: [email protected]
Newsletter deadline for the
June issue is
Thursday, May 14