CLASS MEETING Wednesday Evening Adult Christian Ed. (ACE) Group meets every two weeks, next meet-ings: February 12th featuring devotionals, prayer, scripture and study in the Parlor/Dayer, 630-8pm, and take your spiritual practice to the next level.

Ongoing Receipt Collection Fundraiser for Central Park UMC:

If you shop at Dash’s Grocery Store on Hertel Ave., bring in your grocery purchase

receipts & submit them to our collection envelope in the hall or to the Administrator’s mail folder near the office. For every $100 in receipts, Central Park UMC receives $2.50 from Dash’s. Receipts from 2018 and 2019 are eligible. We thank you for your enthusi-asm & continued support.

Central Park Prayer List: Dona Bronkie, Myra Bronkie, Ron

Loranty, Bob Adams, Diane R., Amy B., Dennis Byczynski, Dave M., Gregory, Geno, Tony Simon, Van & Kwennie Snell, Marilynn & Al Standard, Gwen Todd, George, Michael Agro, Josephine Wozniak, Mary Wozniak, Grace Richardson, Bev Lang, Charles Brecht. Memorial Donations can be made via Church website.

CLARA’S CLOSET: WE NEED YOU!!! Looking for more

volunteers to sort Clara’s Closet donations and help re-stock shop area. Must be 18 or older and willing to work independently. Day-time/weekday hours.

Wednesday Bible Study Schedule—Bible study meets Wednesday

mornings at 10:00 am

February 5, February 12,

March 4, March 11, March 18, March 25

Central Park Complex/UMC

CLARION NEWSLETTER Pastor: Rev. Mary A. Kelly

Christian Ed. Director: Judy Toone

Building & Events: Donald Plummer

Administrator: Jennifer Stamm

February 2020 CentralParkComplex.com

Our Church Vehicle Fund Drive began on September 29, our current total is $16,999.00

Central Park Church

A Christ Centered community of faith and love,

reaching out to all.

Don’t miss out on this year’s Steinway Sunday there are only 4 concerts left! Per-formances are hosted in the Parlor Room on Sundays at 2:00 PM. A "Meet the

Artist" reception with refreshments follows each performance. February 23, 2020, Kind of Blue: Davis, Evans, and Debussy A musical composition is a sound painting. In “Kind of Blue,” we will learn how both classical and jazz composers work their magic with tonal colors, movement, and light. “I love music passionately, and because I love it, I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it. It is a free art gushing forth, an open-air art, bound-less as the elements, the wind, the sky, the sea. It must never be shut in and be-come an academic art,” Claude Debussy. March 29, 2020, Gershwin’s Americanization of European Music Classical music is European in origin. Around the turn of the century, European immigrants fertilized American popular and symphonic music. In 1924, George Gershwin brought jazz into the concert hall with Rhapsody in Blue. At the same time, Aaron Copland, Darius Milhaud, and the classical modernists were hybridiz-ing their compositions with elements of jazz. Krista will paint a picture of the Americanization of European music with sounds from Gershwin to Bernstein. April 26, 2020, Nights in the Gardens of Sound: Exotic Influences in Jazz “At first glance, George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel might seem to occupy two different musical worlds, yet they both shared a passion for jazz,” said Louise Bur-ton, Classical Lite. In 1928, Ravel toured America. The jazz clubs of Harlem would leave a lasting impression on him and his music. Ravel urged Americans to take jazz seriously: “Personally, I find jazz most interesting: The rhythms, the way the melodies are handled. I have heard some of George Gershwin’s works and find them most intriguing.” Join us as we step into this time in America. Hear the fascinating stories and incredible music of some of the giants of classical music and jazz who inspired one another in ways that changed the musical landscape forever. May 31, 2020, The State Department Tours: Jazz & Diplomacy “America’s secret weapon is a blue note in a minor key,” proclaimed the New York Times in 1956. The Jazz Ambassadors Program, also known as the State Depart-ment Tours, started out as an experiment in cultural diplomacy at the height of the Cold War era. Jazz was a symbol of freedom and democracy. The USA sent musi-cians like Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck behind the Iron Curtain. In Poland, audiences were used to Soviet-approved culture like ballet and opera. After the Soviet takeover following World War II, Jazz was forbidden from the airwaves. Bru-beck’s performances were the first opportunity for Pols to hear jazz played live. Come and hear the stories of these remarkable ambassadors and the music that represented the American dream.

Help needed!: On Saturday February 22 our church will be

participating in the Sacred Spaces Tour for Explore Buffalo. They

will arrive at 3 pm. We are looking for 2 or 3 people to be

greeters and if you know anything about the church

windows it would be a plus! Please see Pastor Mary.

Lent is right around the corner—Add these dates to your calendar

February 26, 2020 Ash Wednesday

6:30pm Worship in Chapel

April 9, 2020 Holy Thursday

6:30pm Worship in Chapel

April 10, 2020 Good Friday

Noon Vigil in Chapel

6:30pm Tenebrae Service in Chapel

On Saturday , February 1st at 1:00pm, Central Park Church hosts an informal hiring event for the 2020 Census. Representatives will be onsite to talk about job opportunities related to the 2020 Census. Full and Part time positions are available, paying $20.00 and $22.00

an hour. The event starts promptly at 1:00pm in our Dayer Room. Hope to see you there!

In memory of Merinda Rose "Mindy" Paluszynski, who

died from breast cancer on December 15,2019. Mindy joined our congregation on August 5, 2012,

and regularly attended Bible study and Sunday worship services for many years. Those of us who knew Mindy recognized that although she had a

difficult life, She persevered with a full heart and a courageous outlook. Her sense of humor sustained her through many trials, and her smile was dazzling. She was devoted to her cats, and had a wide circle

of friends and supporters. Mindy was predeceased by her beloved fiancé Kevin Cogan. She truly loved being

a part of this congregation and will be sadly missed. Henry "Zipp" Lang passed away on January 23, 2020. Zipp was a longtime member of CPUMC. Services were held January 28, 2020. Condolences may be sent to: Beverly Lang 50 Stahl Road Apt. 247 Getzville, NY 14068

Rev. Calvin Babcock (retired) passed away. He is survived by his wife, Jan. A memorial

service will take place at St. James UMC, 4661 Porter Rd., Niagara Falls on Saturday,

February 1 at 11:30am.