November 2014
Stewardship
“Stew” Lunch
Sunday,November16th
Come
enjoy
delicious
homemade stews and
wonderful
fellowship
right after worship. It will
be a joyful celebration of God’s
generosity to our congregation
and a chance to hear more about
plansfor2015.Ifyouwouldliketo
contribute a stew, bread or
dessert,talkwithChristineAlvis.
ASP Info Meeting
International Pot Luck Lunch
Celebrates our Heritages
Our congregation is blessed with people who have roots in many
countries. We celebrated that diversity on Sunday, October 5th with a
deliciouslunchwithfoodfrommanycultures.ItcoincidedwithWorld
CommunionSunday.Thankstoallwhobroughtfood,setup,decorated
andcleanedup.Whatateam!
Stewardship News & Lunch
Tuesday,November11th
If you are interested in
volunteeringwiththePleasantville
Appalachia Service Project (ASP)
mission in summer 2015, please
attend
a
community-wide
information session on Tuesday,
November11thatthechurchfrom
7-8:30 pm. Parents of youth
volunteers
are
strongly
encouragedtoattend.
Community
Thanksgiving Service
See pg. 4
Sunday,November23rd
Join your neighbors at the
Pleasantville
Interfaith
Thanksgiving Service on Sunday,
November 23rd at our church at
7pm.Allareinvitedtoattendand
give thanks with our faith
"neighbors."
Pastor Debbie on
“A New Season”
Save the
Dates
DearFriendsinChrist,
Outmywindow,Icanseetheleaveschanging.Theyellows,thereds,the
orangesareallhere–evenasthebrownleavesstartdriftingtothe
ground.Despitemypastasacampdirector–Idon’tknowasmuch
aboutwhat’shappeninginnatureasIwishIdid.WhatIdoknowisthat
theseasonsrenewmetimeandtimeagain.Theydrivemetoaplaceof
gratitudeandthankfulnessforthegiftofcreation.Theyopenmetonew
possibilitiesforchangeinme,andtheyinvitemetogroundmyselfin
trustinthepowerofGod.
Areyoureadyforanewbeginning,readytoturntoanewchapterin
yourlife?Maybethechapteryou’rereadyforisadeepercommitment
toyourfaithjourney–throughBiblestudy,throughprayer,through
service.
Myprayerforeachofusisthatwe:indthecouragetoopenourselvesto
theinvitationJesushasforus–whateverthatmightbe–trustingin
God’sSpirittoleadus.
IwanttotakethisopportunitytosaythankyoutoKarenPeterkinfor
hertimeamongusasaCommissionedLayPastorIntern.Ithasbeena
blessingtoshareinherjourney,asshegrowsintothisnewphaseinher
lifeandministry.WeprayandtrustthatGod’speacewillgowithher
everystepoftheway.
InChrist’sLove,
Men’sBreakfast
AnimateBibleStudy
Nov.1
Nov.2
Nov.4
Nov.9
Nov.9
Nov.11
Nov.16
Nov.21
Nov.23
Nov.23
Dec.14
PYCBabysittingFund. Dec. 14
WritingAdultEd
StewardshipQ&A
Leaders’Dinner
ASPInfoMeeting
StewLunch
FoodDriveDeadline
StewardshipSunday
InterfaithT-giving
Pageant&Fair
Church Website
Changes
Have you seen the new main page
on our church website? Not only
is there our new look, we have
updated the photos as well.
Thanks to Chad Kraus, who is a
professional photographer, for
taking the people pictures in our
new web banner. Thanks also to
our webmaster Mark Zarick.
Checkitout!
http://pvillepresby.org/
‘Tis the Season
I don’t like the word campaign,
with its aggressive, military and
political connotations. So I am
starting a campaign against the
term Stewardship Campaign. To
me the word campaign implies we
are on our annual three-week
crusade to raise money. This may
becorrectlyde:inedasacampaign,
but it has nothing to do with
Stewardship, which is a spiritual
practice,thepurposefuldecisionto
share our time, talents and
treasure.
I propose that henceforth, the
coming
weeks
be
called
Stewardship Season. Similar to
Christmas and Easter, we can use
thetimeleadinguptoStewardship
Sunday re:lecting on what the
season means, on how we are
doing in our commitment to live
out God’s call to us. I don’t
suppose this will become overcommercialized, since the stores
are busy putting out their
Christmas decorations in early
November.Butwearen’treadyfor
that,sowhynotspendthistimein
3
self-re:lection.Areweasgenerous
with our time, talents and
treasures as we want to be? As
Godwantsustobe?
Weareonthejourneytogether,so
let’s celebrate Stewardship Season
together. Not because Madison
Avenue says we must, but purely
for the joy it brings, as we recall
the pleasures of sharing our time,
talentandtreasures(uhoh,Ithink
IhearHallmarkcalling).
by Steve Berg
Church News
Thanksgiving
Food Drive
For Children’s Village
Please donate non-perishable
foods so the boys of Children’s
Village can experience God’s
bounty
this
Thanksgiving.
Donations must be placed in the
binattherearofthesanctuaryby
Friday,November21st.Suggested
itemsinclude:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stuf:ingmix
Gravy
Boxesofmashedpotatoes
Pasta
Rice
Cannedpumpkin
Cakeandmuf:inmixes
Tuna:ish
Cannedvegetables,beans,etc.
Great Beginnings
Tag Sale a Success
Thank you to everyone who
donated to the Great Beginnings
Pre-School’s fundraising tag sale.
The work of our Great Beginnings
staff (Ruth, Loreen, Carol, Susan,
Grace,andNancy)wasgenerously
augmented by Tom Puls who set
up and sold throughout the sale,
and Virginia Pancotti and Victor
and Susana Corona who helped
withclean-up.
Join Us on a Journey of Great Fullness
AlthoughwepracticeStewardship Theministriesandmissionsofour
allyearlong,wedevoteNovember church result in positive social
to reminding us that God is in:luences that make a difference
interested in the heart behind the in people’s lives and as a
giftswegive.Ourgenerosity
consequence,ourworld.Our
vision for the future is to
is in response to God’s
plentiful gifts to us and in
expand God’s reach in the
world
through
these
recognition of how we are
blessed. In generosity our
important and valuable
ministries and missions.
hearts unlock and become
devoted to serving God, ful:illing Each of us has a vital role in the
his calling for each of us. In the lifeofourchurch.Wegivefroma
weeks to come we will see the place of joy, and we see that joy
ways this church has been an multiplied in service to God’s
instrument of blessing to people people. Join us on a Journey of
GreatFullness.
righthereathomeandfaraway.
Important Dates
November9: StewardshipQ&AafterworshipintheCampbellRoom
November9: Leaders’Dinner
November16: StewLunch-Allwelcome!
November23:StewardshipSunday
Remember E-giving! Want to make your contribution happen
automatically each month? It’s easy to set up. Just go to our website
from your computer or your smartphone: www.pvillepresby.org and
clickonContribute.Followthedirectionstocreateyourpro:ile.
Don't Want to Use a Computer? Visit the church of:ice to obtain an
authorization form with which you can write in your donation amount
and frequency and bank information. Sign it and give it to Jo Anna
Tivnan. To make a change to a recurring donation just submit an
updatedform.
We Celebrate our 40+ Year Members
Wehadmanywonderfulthingsto
sellandtheshopperscamedespite
the wet weather. We were happy
to raise slightly over $1,000 and
donated the leftovers to the
Concert Singers Sale, Good Will,
the Pleasantville Library Book
Sale, the Middle School Clothing
Drive, and the Pleasantville
Recycling Committee’s Halloween
CostumeSwap.
(L to R) Top row: David Johnson, Herb Jacobson, John Whitton, Peter Eschweiler, Steven
Eschweiler Middle row: Larry Thornton, Guido Poet, Barbara Whitton, Mickie Eschweiler, Margaret
Smith Bottom row: Bill Schultz, Tom McConnell, Marge Porter, Pat Juenger, Lew McKinney
4
Sunday School & Christian Ed News
Sunday School
To Buy Soccer Balls
Bible Study & Adult Education
Opportunities
“Writing as a
Spiritual
Practice”
Tuesday,
November4th
Do you like to write? This group
may be something you’d like to
join. Come prepare to learn, and
grow,andwriteasweexplorethis
way of practicing our faith. Come
totheCampbellRoomat7pm.Any
questions?AskPastorDebbie.
Stewardship Q&A
Are you the kind of person who
likes to more about the details of
our budget and plans for
Stewardship?
Join us after worship in the
Campbell Room on November 9th
for “Stewardship Q&A”. You will
learn about our narrative budget
and have an opportunity to ask
any questions you may have.
Presented by the Stewardship
Committee.Allarewelcome.
Animate
Faith
Bible Series
Apopular,interactiveseriesthat
willhelpyouaskandanswer
questionsaboutyourfaith..
Sunday,November2nd
Afterworship
CampbellRoom
Evening Women’s
Bible Fellowship
1st,3rd&4th
WednesdayEveningsofthemonth
7:30-9pm
CampbellRoom
Please join us 3 Wednesdays a
monthaswestudyanddiscussa
variety of books and books of
theBible.Allarewelcome!
Tuesday Titans
Men’s Bible Study
TuesdayEvenings
8:15-9:15pm
CampbellRoom
The Men’s Bible Study moves to
Tuesday night. This fall we will
be reading about David, giant
killer, chosen by God, and yet
tragically:lawed.
Women’s Bible
Fellowship
TuesdayMornings
9:30-11am
CampbellRoom
Looking for some fellowship and
Bible study? We have a great
group of women that meet each
Tuesday, 10-11:30am in the
Campbell Room to read, study,
grapple and have fellowship and
prayer with one another. New
membersarealwayswelcometo
this group of various ages and
stages. Babysitting is available.
For more information, talk with
CathyFellowsorBarbLoizeaux.
5
Our Sunday School mission
offering is going to be a gift of
soccer balls to kids in refugee
camps inSyria. Thereare millions
of displaced Iraqis throughout
Syria, Turkey, Jordan and even
withinIraq.Thesepeopleareoften
children and :ind themselves
without access to education,
entertainment, or exercise. By
sending soccer balls to these
children, we are not just giving
them exercise and entertainment,
we are giving them hope and
letting them know that there are
people who know they exist and
careabouttheirwellbeing.
So,besuretoencourageyourkids
to save a portion of their money
and bring it in on Sunday for our
SundaySchooloffering.
Christmas Fair &
Pageant
December14th
Get ready to get in the holiday
spirit! This year, we will be
sharing the story of Jesus birth
through art and pageantry in
worship on December 14. We will
explore the narrative with the
help of some of our youngest
disciples playing the role of
shepherds, animals, angels, and of
course, Mary, Joseph, and baby
Jesus. If you are interested in
helping with the Christmas
Pageant, talk to Bryan or Kathy
Brown.
Besuretojoinusaftertheservice
forfun,kidfriendly
crafts, games and
snacks!
Pleasantville Presbyterian Church
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 7038
White Plains, NY
400 Bedford Road
Pleasantville, New York 10570
914-769-0458
[email protected]
www.PvillePresby.org
Return Service
Requested
Welcome New Members
OnOctober12thwewelcomedfournewmemberstoourcongregation.Hereisanintroductiontothem.
Kim and Andrew Porter
Andy was born and raised in Western Kentucky. Kim was born and raised in midtown Manhattan. They met
when he enlisted and moved to West Point. He was raised in the Baptist church and Kim was con:irmed a
Catholic.“WechosethePleasantvillePresbyterianChurchtogetherandwereintroducedtoitthroughMs.Ruth
Fischer,thebestpreschoolteacherever.Herkindnessandgenerositytowardsoursonmadeusinterestedin
:indingoutmoreaboutthechurch.”saysKim.
AndyisaprofessionalmusicianwithaMastersinMusicPerformanceandbeforeauditioningforWestPoint,he
taught music in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas. Kim is a Career Counselor with an M.S. in Counseling and
Development. They enjoy spending time with family and friends. “Our son takes up most of our energy and
attention.”saysKim.SheisverymuchlookingforwardtoteachingSundaySchoolandAndyisgoingtobeher
assistant!TheytellusthattheyareveryhappytobenewmembersofthechurchandtoseewhatPresbyterian
lifeislikeaswegothroughtheholidaystoEaster.
John and Marion Leslie
MarionandJohnliveinPleasantvillebutwerebothbroughtupinEngland.MarionhailsfromsoutheastLondon
andJohncomesfromDevoninthesoutheastofthecountry.Theybothgrewup
Episcopalian and were active at St. John’s Episcopal church serving on the
vestry, singing in the choir and working on the Midnight Run. In addition,
Marion worked on Stewardship, served as the Treasurer and served on the
AltarGuild.
Marionstudiedandpracticedlaw.Inhersparetimeshelikestoread(alot!),
cook and she used to play the piano. John studied engineering he works as a
vintage racecar engine builder. He also enjoys woodworking, reading and
listeningtomusic.
They were attracted to our congregation because of “the sense of community,
friendship and wonderful music.” Marion says she really felt drawn to our
congregation after attending the “Hurricane Sandy Supper.” They have
participated in the life of the congregation by helping with the International
PotluckSupper,usheringand,MarionhasrecentlyjointheWomen’sBibleFellowship.
Welcome!