Yaphank Presbyterian Church

65 Main Street

Yaphank, NY 11980

 (631) 924-3723

                                                                                                            Pastor Ralph Wright

                                                                                                            Office: (631) 475-3322

                                                                                                            Home:   (631) 289-5761

 

                                                                                                April 10, 2006

 

Dear Friends:

 

It was exciting and inspirational this past Sunday to see the young people marching around the sanctuary with their palms waving high in the air.  With the liturgy of the palms we started our observance of Holy Week which culminates this Easter Sunday.  It is appropriate in a time of world-wide insecurity that we take time to reflect on the meaning of the Christian Passion Story.  Christ suffered, died and rose again that we might have life.  As we take our own pilgrimage through Holy Week we can better understand the meaning of His Passion and of our own lives.

But please remember, whether we take the time to go through the fourteen Stations of the Cross, or meditate our way through the seven last words of Jesus, or attend a service of worship, it is by itself not important.  What is important is that we take some time to reflect on the basic Easter story, its message for us, and reach out and touch someone with the love expressed in the Gospels. 

As a means of meditation, I invite you to attend the various Holy Week services at the church.  Thursday, April 13th is Maundy (Holy) Thursday.   Partake of Holy Communion in the tradition of the Jewish Passover Feast as observed by our Lord and the disciples.  Meditate on the events of the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of our Lord by Judas.  Children and young people are especially invited to this service which is at 7:30 p.m.  The tradition of foot washing is also included in the service.

Good Friday, April 14th is a time of meditation for those contemplating the death of our Lord on the Cross.  Come spend some time for meditation and prayer between noon and 3 p.m.  Spend as much or as little time as you can spare, but take some time to reflect on the sacrifice of our Lord.  The traditional Service of The Stations of the Cross is held outdoors at 7:00 p.m.

Easter, April 16th begins with the annual 7:00 a.m. lake side sunrise service on the grounds of the Swezey-Avey House on the Upper Mill Pond of Yaphank (corner of Main Street and Mill Road).  Celebrate the Good News of the Resurrection of our Lord at this outdoor service sponsored by the Mid-Suffolk Parish of the Presbyterian Church.  Easter Breakfast will be served at the church at 8:00 a.m.  The traditional service and the family service with Easter lilies will be held at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. respectively.  There will be no church school on Easter Sunday.

Let us also not forget to pray for peace, for our nation, for our armed forces this Easter Season and for the whole world, especially for those hundreds of thousands of Christians that are persecuted in far off lands.

Four final notes…1) The Deacons continue to request canned goods and meats for the food pantry to benefit those in our area who need food not only this holiday season but throughout the year.   2) The sacrament of Holy Communion will be taken to all who are home bound during Holy Week.  Please contact a Deacon or the Pastor if you know of someone who would like such a visit.  3) The One Great Hour of Sharing Banks to benefit the needy worldwide can be brought back to any of the Holy Week Services.  4) The enclosed Easter Envelope will benefit the ever growing ministries of our parish including the global work of the ministries of the One Great Hour of Sharing.

May the Easter Season be a blessing for you, your friends, and your family.

Sincerely yours,

Ralph Wright                         

Pastor                         

 

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This is a test of the Emergency Friendship System

 

..a Friend does most or all of these

 

(A)ccepts you as you are (N)ever judges
(B)elieves in "you" (O)ffers support
(C)alls you just to say "HI" (P)icks you up
(D)oesn’t give up on you (Q)uiets your fears
(E)nvisions the whole of you(even the unfinished parts) (R)aises your spirits
(F)orgives your mistakes   (S)ays nice things about you
(G)ives unconditionally (T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(H)elps you (U)nderstands you
(I)nvites you over (V)alues you
(J)ust "be" with you (W)alks beside you
(K)eeps you close at heart

(X)-plains things you don’t understand
(L)oves you for who you are (Y)ells when you won’t listen
(M)akes a difference in your life (Z)aps you back to reality 

 Yaphank Presbyterian Church is a Friendly Church…hopefully we do all of the above.

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NEWS AND NOTES

 

·          Please remember the following in your prayers:  Elaine Berninger for her ongoing heart condition; John Knapp who is recuperating from knee surgery,  Marion Pontoon who continues in a stroke related coma, the Chichester family who is mourning the untimely loss of their daughter-in-law on April 9th, and the Famiglietti family who is mourning the loss of their father and long time church member/elder Tom.

 

·         Happy Birthday to Ludwig Stahl (#80) – March 30th, Donna Bihn – April 11th, Richie Cornell – April 12,  Steve Trusnovec – April 16th, Virginia Walker (#80) – May 6th,   Herb Naumann – April 17th, and Carolyn Young – April 22nd.

 

·         Easter Lilies for the church may be donated in memory of friends and loved-ones.  Proceeds benefit the Deacons Fund.  Contact a deacon for further information.

 

·         Camp counselors are being recruited for this year’s Day Camp which will run for four weeks (July 10 through August 4th.)  The camp is a Nature Camp.   Also scheduled is a week long Bible Camp to be announced in August .  Contact Perri-Ann White, camp director, for further information (924-8512).  Camp registration will take place beginning now.  See the attached camp letter and registration form.

 

 

A Note from the Stewardship Committee –

 

Churches across America struggled financially last year as limited resources became even smaller.  Financial giving to the churches did not raise sufficient monies to meet all the demands for services and programs.  Reasons for low giving include inflation creep, competition for charity dollars caused by massive catastrophes, dissatisfaction with clergy and church policies, and the struggling economic conditions the average family faces to make ends meet.

Therefore, the problems of Yaphank Presbyterian Church are not unique.  In fact, we can proudly state we raised more money than the preceding year.  But the problem is our expenses went up considerably.  One main reason is the expanded programs using the church’s facilities have caused increased utility and maintenance costs.  Your church leadership is trying to address this issue in a positive way.

 

One result of last year’s budget was a shortfall of $17,500 (business people would call that a loss).  Because the church does not have reserves, this shortfall has been carried over into the present financial year.  Though our expenses and income has been equal over the first quarter of the year, we still are struggling to pay bills that are three to four months in arrears. 

 

We have been reminded of a past election political slogan, “Help is on the way!”  We believe help is on the way if each one of us would give a bit more each month.  If every family using the church facilities would increase giving by the equivalent of a family take-out chicken dinner per month we would by the end of the year erase this shortfall.  Or if some of our good friends and members would consider an additional donation of $1,000 or more we would also be able to erase this deficit. 

 

An historical church is a beautiful place to worship and to celebrate life’s events including baptisms, confirmations and weddings.  But an historical church is expensive to keep up and we need your help.

                                                               ADVANCE NOTICE FOR MAY

 

     May 20th is the day of the Annual Spring Sale and Luncheon.  While spring cleaning, clear out your garage and donate items to the church for the sale. 

     A special request comes from the Confirmation Class.  They will sponsor a bake sale table.  They are soliciting boxes of cake and cookie mixes that they can bake for the sale.  Please bring the boxes to the church and mark Confirmation Class on the boxes or give them directly to Jolene Knight or Britney Bihn of the Confirmation Class. 

     Also featured on May 20th is a car wash by the Basketball Court. Let the youth vacuum clean and wash your car.