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Grace Notes January 2017 ● Vol. 166
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ▪ 882 BOSTON POST ROAD ▪ RYE ▪ NY ▪10580 / 914-967-0842 / WWW.RYEPC.COM
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your
own insight. In all your ways acknowledge God, and the Lord
will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for
your flesh and a refreshment for your body.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)
After all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, some folks
welcome the quiet of January, while others long for the excite-
ment of the season just past. In the Church’s liturgical calendar,
all of the joys of the Advent and Christmas seasons come to a
conclusion with Epiphany, which is on January 6. Then we
move into what is known as Ordinary Time, where nothing spe-
cial seems to happen until we reach Transfiguration Sunday, and
then the beginning of Lent on the following Wednesday, which
is Ash Wednesday. Otherwise, liturgically speaking, there is
nothing special happening in January.
Not so for us as a country, nor as a congregation. On January
20, we as a nation will experience again the peaceful transition
of power as a new president is sworn into office. Closer to
home, we as a congregation will move into a transition in Janu-
ary as we bid Rachael Huntley and her family goodbye, and then
begin the search for our third pastor.
Friends, transitions can be scary. In the midst of the change,
we may question God’s plan and wish we could gain wisdom to
understand. The Book of Proverbs tells us that to find wisdom,
we must first fear (to stand in awe of) the Lord. The writer of
Proverbs is speaking to his son and telling him to trust in God.
The passage does not tell us how God will direct our paths, but it
says to trust in God. Sometimes we run and look for answers to
our questions in the Bible that are not there. The Bible was not
written to answer all of our questions. In times of transition, the
Bible does not tell us exactly what we are to do next. Instead,
the Bible tells us about our Savior. The Bible tells us of God’s
continuing love and grace to all people. The Bible invites us to
join God and enter into God’s story of redemption.
As we move into these transitions, may we trust in the Lord
with all our heart, not relying simply upon our own insight. May
we be in prayer for our country and our congregation, asking that
God’s Spirit might be moving in us, and through us, even as we
seek to be a part of God’s story of redemption.
I close with a prayer that is in our Book of Common Prayer. It
was written by the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow
Wilson, who was a Presbyterian.
Almighty God, ruler of all the peoples of the earth, forgive, we
pray, our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and
love truth; give wisdom to our counselors and steadfastness to our
people; and bring us at last to the fair city of peace, whose founda-
tions are mercy, justice, and goodwill, and whose builder and mak-
er you are; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
What’s Inside? Page 2: Adult Education, Coming Home
Page 3: Stephen Ministry, Stop Hunger Now,
Christmas Elves, Concert Series
Pages 4-5: Christmas Pageant
Page 6: Christian Education, Gingerbread
House Party, Youth Carolers
Page 7: Women’s Association, Communion
Workshop
Page 8: Weekends in January, Bible Study
Page 9: January Calendar
Page 10: Rye Presbyterian Nursery School
SAVE THE DATE . . .
The Imagine Initiative
celebrates one year! Sunday, February 12
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (2)
Adult Education, Coming Home
Click here
for Winter/Spring
Brochure
Progressive Realignment
Sundays, January 22 and 29
This two-week course is for people
who are stuck between career and the
next phase of life, or would like to
begin planning for this eventuality. It
is a series of thinking tools that will
give people fresh insight into their
own vision for the “third half” of
their lives.
This course will be led by our own
Campbell Gerrish. Mr. Gerrish, a recognized leader in
the insurance industry, co-founded Winged Keel Group,
one of the leading independent life insurance brokerage
firms in the U.S. He dedicates significant time to men-
toring future leaders. He is a 1973 graduate of Princeton
University.
Michael Corcoran
Rye Police Commissioner
Sunday, January 8
Join us as we welcome Michael Corcoran,
Rye’s new Police Commissioner. He will
share with us his vision for how the Police
Department works within the community.
Q&A to follow.
SUNDAY MORNING OFFERINGS 9:00-9:45 A.M., WESTMINSTER ROOM
(No classes January 1 or January 15—MLK Weekend)
“Coming Home” Program
Is Coming Back!
There are many ways to be engaged in our
Coming Home program, which is an 18 week
life skills program for returning citizens
(formerly incarcerated). You can serve as a
mentor to one of the program partici-
pants. There are other ways to engage that are equally as im-
portant to the program’s success. The cornerstone of the Coming
Home program is a shared meal provided weekly on Thursday
evenings. Participants in the Coming Home program have often
told us that this is the first time in their lives that they have expe-
rienced a sense of community, belonging, and acceptance.
Please consider joining us for our first dinner on Thursday, Feb-
ruary 2, at 6:00 p.m.
Please also consider providing a meal for the Coming Home
program. Since we encourage congregants to join in the dinner,
we expect to have approximately 25-30 people in attend-
ance. You might want to partner with a friend or group to pro-
vide a meal. Of course, providing a meal also includes the won-
derful experience of joining us for supper, and assistance in
clean up! Linda Otness (otness.linda@gmail.com) is our dinner
coordinator.
Perhaps you have a special talent or area of expertise that
might be useful to our participants. We are looking for volun-
teers with experience in the areas of job readiness (resume writ-
ing, interview skills, etc.), basic financial self-sufficiency skills
(creating a budget, choosing the best credit card option, opening
a checking/savings account, etc.), clinical expertise in recovery
from trauma, building healthy relationships. We work with our
participants to bring them a well-rounded life skills program and
are looking forward to drawing from the vast experience and
knowledge of our congregation!
For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Pro-
gram Coordinator, Janet Donat (donatjanet@yahoo.com) or at
(914) 645-8822.
Christmas Carolers at RPC All three RPC Choirs
Stephen Ministry, Stop Hunger Now, Christmas Elves, Concert Series
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (3)
Thank you to our
2016 Christmas Elves for
The Greening of the Kirk . . .
Daya Carunia, Philip Cicchiello, Kristen Doran,
Kristin Jautz, Lisa Keegan, Pam and Roger
Moyer, Dee O’Brien, Katherine Olsen, Stefan
Radtke, Allison Sellon, Ron Sizemore, Sarah
Snell, Birgit Townley, Elizabeth Zahm
and, of course, a very special thank-you to
Juan Velasquez and Alonso Osorio!
Celebrate!
The Jackson Memorial Organ &
The Peter B. Knock Scholarship
Friday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.
Caroline Robinson and David von Behren,
the winners of the 2016 Peter B. Knock
scholarships for the study of sacred music,
will perform on the recently-upgraded
Jackson Memorial Organ (dedicated in
1982). Freewill donations received will go
to the Knock Memorial Fund as it fosters
a new Internship in Sacred Music at RPC.
Cantus
Friday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.
Cantus, the highly-acclaimed nine-voice
men’s professional choral ensemble,
will present a concert, No Greater Love
Than This, which explores the life of a
soldier. Admission: premium seating
(limited to 50) at $20 each; general seat-
ing at $10 each.
Concerts
2017
This season’s concerts are made possible in part by the Imagine Initiative of Rye Presbyterian Church.
DAY OF
SERVICE
AT RPC
January 22
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
(A light lunch will be served.)
This program will be returning to RPC on Sunday, January
22. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief
agency. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this meal
packaging event; an immensely fun, hands-on, and reward-
ing experience. A group of 40-50 volunteers can package
10,000 meals in just two hours! These meal packages are
then shipped around the world to support school feeding
programs and crisis relief. Please contact Rachael Huntley
at rhuntley@ryepc.com if you are interested in volunteer-
ing for this event.
“Walk…with all humility
and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one
another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.”
Could it be possible that Paul’s prod within his letter to
the Ephesians was an attempt at encouraging a New
Year’s resolution for the community? January seems to
be a natural time to reflect upon what we learned in the
previous year as well as set our sights on ways to learn
new things. Over the last thirteen years, Rye Presbyterian
Church has joined Stephen Ministries in equipping men
and women willing to learn more about “bearing with one
another in love.” Jerralee Ernst, a trained Stephen Minis-
ter, is the twenty-eighth Rye Presbyterian Church member
to attend the Stephen Series Leader’s Training Course
(LTC), an engaging week of learning, discovery, worship,
relationship building, and catching a vision for all that
Stephen Ministry can be for our congregation. Please join
us in praying for her as she travels to Orlando, Florida and
returns with new ideas to help “maintain the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.”
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (4)
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017
Christian Education
(6)
Sunday School
We will be focusing on Matthew’s gos-
pel during the month of January: paving
the way for February, when we will have
a four-week session covering the Sermon
on the Mount.
On January 15, there will be no Sunday
School; children will be welcome in the
Westminster Room for Enrichment ac-
tivities.
On January 22, the children will join
Lisa Rawson for Singing Our Faith.
The January Family Fellowship is the
return of the Stop Hunger Now program
on Sunday, January 22, from 11:30 a.m.-
1:30 p.m. Please join us for some fun
meal packaging!
Middle School Connection
RPC’s Middle School Youth Group, is
open to all 6th –8th graders.
Regular Meetings—January 4 and 18,
5:30-6:45 p.m. at RPC
Confirmation 2017
Sunday, January 8,
4:00 p.m. (A-L) and 5:00 p.m. (M-Z)
Westminster Room
Sunday, January 22,
4:00 p.m. (M-Z) and 5:00 p.m. (A-L)
Westminster Room
Sunday, January 29,
4:00 p.m. (A-L) and 5:00 p.m. (M-Z)
Westminster Room
High School Youth Group
Happy New Year! All 9th–12th graders
are welcome at RPC’s High School
Youth Group! \
Sunday, January 8,
6:00-7:15 p.m.: Dinner & Fellowship,
RPC Youth Rooms
Saturday, January 14,
10:00 a.m.-Noon: Community Service
at The Sharing Shelf
Sunday, January 22,
6:00 p.m.-7:15 p.m.: Dinner & planning
session for Bingo Fundraiser,
RPC Youth Rooms
Contact Rachael Huntley with any ques-
tions: rhuntley@ryepc.com.
High School Youth Caroling at Nesta d’Addario’s home
Gingerbread
House
Party
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (7)
Women’s Association, Communion Workshop
Monthly Reflection
The Thrift Shop Christmas Sale . . . The Thrift Shop Ladies worked like CRAZY to price
Christmas items for the annual Christmas sale held on
December 4! Here they are at the pricing party the Sat-
urday before. The number of Christmas boxes they
went through was beyond imagination.
Women’s Association
January International Lunch
Thursday, January 19,
12:30 p.m.
Go EAST, Young (and Youthful)
Ladies! We’re taking a trip to the
Far East, but we only have to go
as far as Harrison! Hajime—it
means “original” in Japanese.
Great sushi, to judge from the
reviews. Break out of the ordinary and brighten up
your winter day when you join with other interesting
RPC women and friends.
ALL are welcome! This is an AD HOC get-together—not a group of
“regulars” who all know each other! Different people
come every time, so it’s a great way to get to know
some other RPC-ers in a fun, casual setting.
Feel free to bring a friend.!
RSVP: Email Cindy Kuster, or call (914) 282-1956
Hajime, 267 Halstead Ave., Harrison
Tel: 914-777-1543
COMMUNION
WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4,
10:00-11:30 a.m.
The body of Christ?
What is that all about?
And what exactly is in that cup??
If your child or children have been curious about the
Lord’s Supper, this is a great opportunity for children to
learn more about it, to be officially welcomed at the com-
munion celebration of the church, and for you to grow in
your faith together.
On Saturday, February 4, from 10:00–11:30 a.m., children
in the second through fifth grades are welcome to come with
a parent to this special workshop. Together we will explore
the meaning of the sacrament and how we celebrate it here
at Rye Presbyterian.
Space is limited, so please sign up by contacting
Rev. Love – dlove@ryepc.com.
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017
Weekends in January, Bible Study
Bible Studies
Men’s Bible Study
Sundays. January 8 and 22, at 8:00 p.m. in the Library
This month, the men of Sunday evenings will be wrapping up
their work with the Wisdom of Solomon and moving on to
new green pastures. As we begin a new year and a new book,
if you’d like to join in and be a part of this ongoing fellow-
ship and conversation, plan to gather on Sunday evenings,
January 8 and 22, at 8:00 p.m. in the church library.
Contact Dan Love if you’d like to be on email reminder list.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Wednesdays, January 4 and 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the Library
Our tour of the greatest hits of the Old Testament continues!
All are welcome to join in this ongoing reading and discus-
sion. No homework—no prior bible knowledge needed!
Contact Dan Love if you’d like to be on email reminder list.
Women’s Bible Study
Saturdays, January 7 and 21
Please join the Women’s Bible Study twice monthly on Satur-
day mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the RPC Library. A warm wel-
come and hot coffee await!
For further information, contact Cynthia De Santis.
(8)
Note: No 8:30 a.m. service this day 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship & Communion in the Chapel No Sunday School—No childcare today
5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Sunday School 4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library
5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message.
5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Stephen Ministry Commissioning Children’s Choir sings Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message. 10:30 a.m. Stop Hunger Now / Assembly Room 4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library
5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Ordination & Installation of Officers Youth Choir sings Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message.
4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library
Sunday, January 15
Sunday, January 1
Saturday, January 7
Saturday, January 14
Saturday, January 21
Sunday, January 8
STEPHEN MINISTRY COMMISSIONING Sunday, January 22,
during 10:00 a.m. worship
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
OF OFFICERS Sunday, January 29,
during 10:00 a.m. worship
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, February 5,
following 10:00 a.m. worship
Sunday, January 22
Saturday, January 28
Sunday, January 29
FAREWELL TO
RACHAEL HUNTLEY
Sunday, January 29,
at coffee hour
NEW OFFICER ORIENTATION Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Westminster Room
RPC OFFICER RETREAT Saturday, January 7, 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m.
Westminster Room
CHURCH OFFICES AND BUILDINGS CLOSED
MONDAY, JANUARY 2, IN OBSERVANCE OF THE NEW YEAR’S DAY HOLIDAY, AND MONDAY, JANUARY 16, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
BOARD MEETINGS
Deacons: Wednesday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Library
Trustees: Wednesday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room
Session: Wednesday, January 25, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room
WORSHIP AND STUDY
Worship on Saturday evening:
Saturdays, 5:00 p.m., January 7, 14, 21, & 28
Worship on Sunday:
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel
10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary; January 1 in the Chapel
Prayer Gatherings: Sundays in the Library at 8:40 a.m.
Adult Education:
Sundays, 9:00-9:45 a.m., Westminster Room: Michael Corcoran, Rye Police Commissioner: January 8
Progressive Realignment: January 22 & 29
Sunday School: Regular Sunday School on January 8, 22, & 29
January 1: Family Worship (Note: no childcare available)
January 15: Enrichment activities, Westminster Room Confirmation: Sundays, Westminster Room, January 8 (A-L at 4:00 p.m., M-Z at 5 p.m.);
January 22 (M-Z at 4:00 p.m., A-L at 5 p.m.); & January 29 (A-L at 4:00 p.m., M-Z at 5 p.m.)
Men’s Sunday Bible Study: January 8 & 22, 8:00 p.m., Library
Wednesday Morning Bible Study: January 4 & 18, 10:00 a.m., Library
Women’s Bible Study: Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., January 7 & 21, Library
Women’s Discipleship: Tuesdays, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Library.
YOUTH
Boy Scout Troop #2: Every Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Assembly Room
Connection: Wednesdays, January 4 & 18, 5:30 p.m., Youth Rooms
High School Youth Group: Sundays, January 8, 14, & 22 / Youth Rooms
MUSIC
Chancel Choir Rehearsal: Sundays, 9:15 & 11:30 a.m. (No Chancel Choir on January 1.)
Children’s Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays, 3:45 p.m., Choir Room
Youth Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays/Sundays TBD
OTHER CHURCH MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS
3 Ts: Tuesday, January 17, 10:00 a.m., Westminster Room
Family Fellowship: “Stop Hunger Now,” Sunday, January 22, 11:30 a.m, Assembly Room
Mission & Outreach: Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., Library
RPC Officer Orientation: Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m., Westminster Room
RPC Officer Retreat: Saturday, January 7, 12:00 p.m., Westminster Room
Stephen Ministry:
Stephen Leaders: Tuesday, January 3, 5:30 p.m., Library
Continuing Education and Supervision: Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 p.m., Library
Thrift Shop: Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.-l:00 p.m.
Women’s Association: International Lunch, Hajime, Harrison, Thursday, January 19, 12:30 p.m.
Worship & Music: Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room
OUTREACH AND SUPPORT GROUPS
AA Rye Harrison Group: Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Room
AA Group: Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room
Mr. Westchester/Al-Anon Group: Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Library
Sandwichmakers: Thursday, January 19, 10:00 a.m., Kitchen & Assembly Room
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017
January Schedule of Meetings, Events, and Programs
(9)
RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (10)
Rye Presbyterian Nursery School
The Rev. Daniel Love, Co-Pastor
The Rev. Dr. John Miller, Co-Pastor
The Rev. Rachael Huntley, Minister of Christian Education
Jason Charneski, Director of Music and Organist
Lisa Rawson, Director of Choirs for Children and Youth
Maida Robinson, Chief Administrative Officer
Rosemary Annunziato, Church Secretary
Denise LeVan, Pastoral Assistant
Juan Velasquez, Head Sexton/Building Manager
Rye Presbyterian Church 882 Boston Post Road
Rye, New York 10580
Tel: 914.967.0842
www.ryepc.com
We are a Stephen Ministry church.
Greetings to the RPC Community
from Kristin Bassett Kumar
Rye Presbyterian Nursery School held its
annual Holiday Caroling Party on Satur-
day, December 3. The event is funded
by sponsorships and all proceeds go to-
wards tuition scholarships for the up-
coming school year. Over 50 parents and
staff volunteered to organize and run the
event. The festivities for the party in-
cluded a sing-along with children’s mu-
sicians from Songs for Seeds, caroling
lead by The Rye High School A cappella Group, an outdoor petting zoo and a
horse-drawn hay ride. Our studio teach-
er, Gail Walter, organized a fun art pro-
ject for the children. The children were
able to create their own snow globes
with watercolor paint and salt. After
painting a scene on their paper, they
sprinkled salt on the wet paint to create
the texture and sparkle of snow.
In addition, families enjoyed buying
delicious homemade treats from the bake
sale and getting their photo taken with
Santa. Beautiful themed baskets for
children were given away in our annual
raffle. During the week before the par-
ty, the students in each classroom made
an ornament to adorn the Christmas
tree in the Church assembly room.
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