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Lancaster Presbyterian Church
A Congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church
October 2014
Sunday
Worship
8:30-Traditional
11:00-Contemporary
Child care provided
during both services.
Sunday School and
Adult Education classes
9:45-10:45am
October Highlights
 Oct. 2: Christian Education Meeting—7:00pm
 Oct. 5: Orchestra Rehearsal—
12:20pm
 Oct. 7: Joyful Seekers—10:00am,
Ladies Afternoon Bible study—
12:00pm
 Oct. 9: CWA—7:00pm
 Oct. 10: Craft Fellowship—
10:00am
 Oct. 14: Joint Meeting of Elders,
Deacons & Trustees—7:00pm
 Oct. 18: Senior High Lock-In at the
Potters House
 Oct. 21: Joyful Seekers—10:00am,
Session Meeting—7:00pm
 Oct. 23: Grapevine Crew—
11:45am
 Oct. 28: American Red Cross blood
drive—10:00am
The Grapevine
Youth Group Update
Dear Friends, The Jr./Sr. high youth and their
leaders will be going apple picking on Sunday September 28th.
We will travel up to a farm in Newfane, NY to do our picking
and return to the church to bake some pies, have dinner
(Diane Bender’s delicious chicken noodle soup) and play some
games. The whole outing will last from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Please pray that each person going on this excursion, and the
whole congregation remembers that God keeps us as the apple of His eye, and that we are hid in the shadow of His wings
(Ps. 17:8).
In other news: This Fall the Kings Kids youth group (grades
3&4 will be studying the Sermon on the Mount, the Son Chasers (grades 5&6) will be looking at the Psalms, the Junior
highs will be working through the Max Lucado book God’s
Story Your Story, and the Senior high youth will be learning
lessons from King David’s life. In addition to these lessons
there will be guest speakers sharing from their heart and life.
Please pray for God’s blessing on the youth ministries of LPC.
God Bless!
Pete Gawron, Director of Family & Youth Ministry
Youth Groups-Grades 3 through 12
Wednesday nights
7:00-8:30pm
 Kings Kids—Grades 3 & 4
 Son Chasers—Grades 5 & 6
Sunday nights
Junior and Senior High Youth Groups
(grades 7-12)
7—9pm
7th & 8th grade—church;
Kele-Communication
Page 2
The Grapevine
L
ast month our beloved Norman Richard hosted a surprise birthday party for his lovely
wife, Shirley. All the guests gathered in and waited quietly—at least
we were quiet when we saw Shirley
approaching—and upon Shirley’s
arrival we all yelled “SURPRISE”!
She really looked surprised! Surely
she anticipated that something was
up, but clearly she didn’t expect the
gathering that awaited her.
The evening was truly wonderful,
beginning with a beautiful dedication from Psalm 103 by Pastor
Rettew. As Dick read and recited
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and
all that is within me, bless His holy
name . . .,” he framed Shirley’s life
in the context of God’s faithfulness. Every eye glistened to reflect
on the goodness of the LORD—
the cumulative weight bearing
down on us in the loved and familiar voice of our pastor emeritus.
It took us a while to recover from
that poignant moment. In that
interval, the question arose in my
heart whether this year’s confirmation class might be able to memorize Psalm 103 with my help. Have
you ever memorized a passage of
Scripture or the words to a favorite hymn
or worship song to find the words coming
to mind in seasons of hardship or celebration? In the heartrending season of the
passing of a loved one you find yourself
reciting, “The LORD is my shepherd . . .,”
or in the joyful arrival of the newest member of the family you sing to yourself,
“How sweet to hold a newborn baby . . ..”
Psalm 103 is rich with affirmations of the
LORD’s lovingkindness. Herein resides a
wealth of blessing
and encouragement
to sustain a disciple
her whole life. Is it
possible that our
confirmation class
of 2015 will be able
to memorize the
whole of this Psalm
in our year together?
What do you think?
Do you spend time
in the word of God
every day? I know
that the older I
grow the harder it is
for me to remember
what I read. I find
it even more difficult to memorize.
But the value of
Scripture is such that I can’t keep away. I
need to be in God’s word every day. If I’m
not, if a single day passes and I have not
found the time to ruminate on some portion of the Bible, my day feels empty.
Every day with Scripture is better!
I hope I’m not asking too much of our
sons and daughters. I’m not assigning any
homework. The memory pieces that we
undertake will all be rehearsed together in
class. Might you be willing to join us in
your own quiet time reading and re-reading
the words of Psalm 103, “Bless the LORD,
O my soul, and forget none of His benefits!”? May I ask you to pray for my students as they rehearse, memorize and pour
over these many benefits: “Who pardons all
you iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit, Who
crowns you with lovingkindness and com-
passion; Who satisfies your years with
good things so that your youth is
renewed like the eagle!” Please pray
that in the days and years of each
one’s life he or she will find help,
strength and comfort in God’s word
through the challenges and blessings
of life. Let each one come to length
of days and fullness of life to experience the faithfulness of God in the
renewing of youth like the eagle!
Thank you, Dear Ones! Please pray
for all of our children and Sunday
School teachers and Youth leaders to
be able to receive our Lord’s goodness as swiftly as He is pouring out
His riches upon us. God bless you
all!
All my love,
Pastor Kelly
The Grapevine
Page 3
FROM A SHIPWRECK TO A CHURCH BUILDING
By: Jim Allein
Sitting here with the sudden realization that October is upon us. With it
brings Columbus Day, Halloween, political advertisements, and always the
possibility of, and I hate to say it, snow! This year has really flown by; let us
hope winter does also. I know there are many that look forward to winter,
but I think you are in the minority.
I spent much time in trying to locate a subject about
which to write this and keeping it relative to the month
of October. I spent an hour and a half looking
through about fifty years of session minutes; I didn’t
realize we had so many organists over the years! In
desperation
I picked up the LPC history chronicle written in 1968
by Earl Blaney. Within two minutes it popped out at
me – a near tragedy on Lake Erie and it happened in
the month of October.
Many of you may recall that many of the timbers and
sheathing used to build this church were taken from
the historic steam boat “The-Walk-In-The-Water”; but
do you know the full story behind this fact? This
month I will focus on this point in history. I will be
using much information gathered from the internet.
This steam boat was the first of its type on the Great Lakes; steam boats
had navigated the Hudson River for some time. It was built in the Village
of Black Rock at the mouth of the Scajaquada Creek; indeed the creek at
that time afforded the depth which the boat required while there was no
stream deep enough in the Village of Buffalo for no harbor had yet been
developed. For that reason the boat operated out of the harbor of Black
Rock.
The boat was built by Noah Brown and displaced 338 tons; its length was
135 feet with a width of 32 feet and drew a depth of 8 ft 6 inches. It was
launched in May of 1818 and navigated the Great Lakes with major stops in
Cleveland, Toledo, and Detroit. Because the steam whistle had not yet
been invented (!) it carried a small 4 pound cannon on its bow which was
fired (less cannon ball) to make ports aware of its impending departure or
arrival.
In addition to its steam engine which had a cylinder of 36 inches in diameter, it also had two sailing masts which were used during favorable winds.
The paddle wheels, located exactly amid ships, were fifteen feet in diameter.
The engine burned hard wood and the smoke stack was raked high above
the deck to prevent soot and embers from falling upon it.
On its voyages the boat accommodated up to 29 passengers who enjoyed
comfort unheard of in other ships of its size at that time. There was a galley, dining salon, and a small smoking room for the gentlemen. Sleeping
accommodations were rows of berths, separate for men and women, both
of which opened into a vestibule leading to the deck.
The steamboat was in service from 1819 through 1821 and earned a respectable profit for her operators. However, on a fateful day of October
31, 1821 she left her dock at Black Rock heading points west in the afternoon at 4:00. Upon entering the lake the boat encountered some threatening weather which became worse as she proceeded a few miles into Lake
Erie. Wisely, the captain headed toward shore and anchored; however
the weather continued to worsen and toward morning the ship was torn
loose of its anchorage and was driven toward shore, soon hitting a sand
bar near the newly built Buffalo Lighthouse (1819) across Buffalo River
from what is now the Erie Basin Marina. A diary of a passenger on
board at the time states that much prayer was being done by the passengers and crew to preserve their lives. Despite the storm, which sounds
like an old fashioned “lake effect”
to me, the engineer, Mr. Calhoun,
jumped overboard, waded ashore
in the shallow waters and walked
to the village of Buffalo to sound
an alarm, for at that time thick
forests still existed between the
shore and the village proper.
All passengers, baggage, and
freight were eventually safely
unloaded and brought to shore by
rescuers. After the gale subsided
the boat was found broken up on
the shore beyond repair. The
engine, as well as other equipment, was recovered and continued to serve other ships for another twenty years. However, a passenger on that fateful voyage, and
taking adversity in hand, salvaged the ship’s timbers and sheathing. Captain James Clark, one of the founding members of LPC in 1817, was that
passenger.
Whether Captain Clark had plans for use of the lumber is not clearly
known, but he did manage to salvage the material which was eventually
used in the construction of our sanctuary in 1833. I like to think “TheWalk-In-The-Water” continues to live, but is now serving as a lighthouse
to those who are foundering in the storms of life seeking a beacon to
furnish them comfort.
A plaque furnished by the Joyce and Peter Klaasesz is located in the
lower foyer which features the original art work for the U.S. postage
stamp of “The-Walk-In-The-Water” which was issued in 1989; take time
to look at it.
God often puts us through trials and adversity to make us stronger in
His service; we find this true in our personal lives as well as a church
body. We wonder how we can make it through, forgetting that God is
still in control. Sometimes we may make hasty decisions which may hurt
us even more, not allowing God to lead. James said it well when he
wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your
way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when
your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow,
for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4, The Living Bible)
So when you face adversity, look at that adversity as a beacon of God
calling you to strengthen your faith in Him. God bless!
Page 4
The Grapevine
October 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
Pizza, Choirs & Youth
Groups
Christian Education
Meeting—7:00pm
7
Joyful Seekers—10:00am
Ladies Afternoon Prayer
& Bible Study—
12:00pm
8
9
10
11
Pizza, Choirs & Youth
Groups
CWA—7:00pm
Craft Fellowship—
10:00am
16
17
5 Worship 8:30&11
SS & AE—9:45
Orchestra Rehearsal
Jr/SrHiYG—7:00pm
6
12 Worship 8:30&11
SS & AE—9:45am
Jr/SrHiYG—7:00pm
13
14
15
Men’s Bible Study—
7:00pm
Joint meeting of Elders,
Deacons & Trustees—
7:00pm
Pizza, Choirs & Youth
Groups
19 Worship 8:30&11
SS & AE—9:45
Jr High Youth Group
only—7:00pm
20
21
22
23
Men’s Bible Study—
7:00pm
Joyful Seekers—10:00am
Pizza, Choirs & Youth
Groups
Grapevine Crew—
11:45am
26 Worship8:30&11
SS & AE—9:45
Jr/SrHiYG—7:00pm
27
28
29
30
Men’s Bible Study—
7:00pm
American Red Cross
Blood Drive 10:00am—
2:00pm
ROMEOS—12:00pm
Men’s Bible Study—
7:00pm
Session Meeting—
7:00pm
18
LOCK-IN at Potters
House for Senior High
Youth Group—11:00pm
Pizza, Choirs & Youth
Groups
24
31
Sunday


Gathering together for prayer….
Our congregation, our community, our nation and Christians
around the world need prayer. Please come to the sanctuary on
Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm, after pizza in Waith Hall, to
gather for prayer.
Concerned Women for America will meet at
7:00pm Thursday, October 9. All women, teens
and up, are invited to come to hear Allison
O’Conner tell us about WhyLife, the pregnancy
ministry in Alden.
Midterm elections are extremely important,
especially in New York State this year. Remember to vote for pro-family candidates
on November 4.
25


Weekly Schedule
Worship at 8:30 & 11:00 am — Nursery and preschool child care during both services
Sunday School and Adult Education Classes —
LPC & PH—9:45-10:45 am
Cherub Choir—10:45-10:55am
Junior & Senior High Youth Group — 7:00pm —
PH
Monday

Men’s Bible Study—7:00 pm—Rm.214
Tuesday

Joyful Seekers Bible Study—10:00 am (every other
week)
Wednesday






Pizza & Salad Supper—5:30 pm
Youth Bells—6:00 (211)
Joy Singers—6:30 (211)
Adult Bells—6:00 — Music Room
King’s Kids, Son Chasers 7:00-8:30
Chancel Choir—7:00 (Sanctuary)
Thursday


Gathering In His Name Bible Study—9:30 AM
Worship Team Rehearsal—7:30
The Grapevine
Ladies Afternoon
Prayer and
Bible Study
You are invited to
attend the ladies
Bible study beginning on Tuesday,
October 7th at noon and ending
around 2:30pm. Please plan on
bringing a brown bag lunch.
Tea and dessert will be provided
for the group as a whole.
Shirley Hrycko will be facilitating a study taught by Pastor
Charles Stanley called “The
Promises of God”.
You’re Invited!!
Good Neighbors Health
Care will be celebrating its
10th Anniversary on November 5th. This facility
provides free primary,
dental and vision care for
uninsured people over 19
years of age.
Open House
In conjunction with the 10th anniversary,
the Harvest House Ministry Center located
at 175 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo will have an
open house on Sunday, October 26th from
10am to 3pm. Come and tour the Baby &
Children’s Ministry, New Hope Education
Center and Good Neighbors Health Care..
Stop in after Sunday service and enjoy
some light refreshments and tour the Ministry Center.
Praise Worship Concert
Also join us for a Praise and Worship concert giving glory to God, the Father, Son &
Holy Spirit for sustaining this ministry at
the Harvest House Retreat Center at 1782
Seneca Street, Buffalo on Saturday evening,
November 1 from 7-9pm. Several music
artists from our congregation will lead us
in worship.
If you have any questions, please call Tom
Koch at 684-6247.
Page 5
Fight the Good Fight
By: Gloria Chaves
G
overnor Cuomo continues to press for
passage of the Women’s Equality Act, a
portion of which will allow abortions up to the
moment of birth, and increase the number of
abortions in New York State, which is already
the abortion capitol of the nation. He and his
running mate have created a new “Women’s
Equality” ballot line designed to draw voters’
attention to the misnamed Women’s Equality
Act, which has failed to pass the State Senate
in the past due to its late-term abortion expansion language.
“The District Attorney in Pennsylvania said,
‘How is it that we have more oversight … of
women’s hair salons and nail salons than we do
over abortion clinics?’ The answer, of course,
is plain old politics, not women’s health. Concern for women’s health would be happy to
make sure doctors are competent by having
admitting privileges [at hospitals], but proabortion proponents have become so irrational
in their support of abortion that they will refuse any type of accountability. They actually
want less accountability. They hope for the
day that they could have someone other than a
doctor perform the abortion. They dream of
“Tele-Med” abortions where the physician can
just be on a computer monitor. Increasing the
number of abortions is the goal. Why? Because
it is their “religion,” for one, or their ministry,
as John H. Richardson puts it. But never forget
that it also increases their profits. That’s their
business, after all.” An excerpt from an article
by Mario Diaz, CWA Legal Counsel.
Greed, corruption, violence—evil is all around
us. Did you hear about the man who killed
his brother out of jealousy? And the politician
who had a man killed so he could have his
wife? And the babies slaughtered? And the
politicians who brought trumped up charges
against an innocent man? And the man who
was executed for speaking the truth? And the
man who deceived his father in order to get
more of the inheritance? Or the man who had
his eyes gouged out as punishment for his
crimes?
Shall I go on? Yes, all of those are in the Bible.
Those and more have been committed
throughout the history of mankind. It’s a sordid story of sin and evil. There have been
some bright spots, when God intervened to
give respite to His people, and evidence of His
mercy. But each time God has intervened,
soon afterward the majority of people went
right back to their sinful ways. Just read the
book of Judges. And what did God’s faithful
people do all through the centuries? They
were very cognizant of the condition of mankind, and they made themselves available to
God for good. No apathy. No Sunday Christians. No excuses. Prayer and action.
Jesus promised that He would return and we
wait with anticipation, and excitement, and
readiness, doing all we can to speak the truth
and to make our lives available to serve the
LORD with gladness until His return. He
commands us to put on the full armor of God
so that we will be able to stand firm against the
schemes of the devil! Satan wants us docile
and uninformed. God wants us to run so as to
win.
American Red Cross
Blood Drive
Tuesday, October 28th
10:00am—2:00pm
(In the Music Room)
This blood drive is in honor of Betty Jo Nobles.
Lancaster Presbyterian Church
5461 Broadway St.
Lancaster, NY 14086
Website: www.l-p-c.org
Non-Profit
US POSTAGE PAID
Lancaster, NY 14086
Permit #40
Phone: 716-684-2277
Fax: 716-684-2446
E-mail: [email protected]
Address Service Requested
Purpose:
For God’s glory
we are committed
to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ
in all we say and all we do
to make and equip disciples
in our families, our community, and the
world.
Core Values:
We believe in the authority of Scripture
and we affirm
the historic teachings
of Reformed Christianity.
Special Flowers
Flowers can be purchased to
honor or to memorialize
someone at anytime
You can call or e-mail the
church office, or sign up on
the flower board located at
the entrance off of the main
parking lot
The following information is needed:
1. The Sunday service date you wish to have
flowers displayed in the sanctuary. (2 weeks
notice)
2. Name of person or persons to be honored
or memorialized and any additional info you
would like included.
3. Include if you will be taking the flowers
home after the service or if you will donate
them.
4. Your name and phone# where you may be
reached if we have any questions.
5. Cash, or check for $12 made out to L.P.C.
Board of Deacons.
Thank you, Your Flower Committee
Forty Days for Life begins Wednesday, September 24 until November
2. Let this be the year that you take
a stand for life at the abortion center in Buffalo.
Go to: http://40daysforlife.com/localcampaigns/buffalo/
Operation Christmas Child
The Power of a Simple Gift
National Collection Week
November 17-24
It’s not too early to start
thinking about packing the
shoeboxes!