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Live Peaceably
REV. VICKY L. EASTLAND, PASTOR [email protected]
2 BROOKVILLE ROAD BROOKVILLE, NY 11545
516-626-0414 [email protected] www.BrookvilleChurch.org
Where our doors are always open! August 2016
Don’t you feel sometimes as a person of faith you are expected to have simple answers to the world’s hardest questions? Why is there evil in the world? Why does God seem to allow the bad to prevail and the good to be trampled on? If only there were s i m p l e a n s w e r s t o t h e s e
questions. We could all just spout them and then go home and live in peace.
In chapter 12 of Paul’s letter to the Romans he talks about being living sacrifices and what it means to love. Paul says love must be sincere and we are to live in harmony with one another. These are the words that precede verse 18 that tells us to live at peace with everyone. Love, sacrifice, harmony and peace. Why are these godly virtues so hard to live up to? Why is there so much conflict in the world? Rodney King’s childlike question comes to mind: “Can’t we all just get along?”
I used to think if I could just stay in my Christian bubble the world outside would not disrupt my peace. Then when I came to Brookville, my bubble expanded to include the multifaith community here, but it is still a bubble of people who are like-minded. We may practice different religions but we still have a shared vision of world peace.
What St. Paul is saying in the above verse is better reflected in a comment said recently at a retirement dinner I attended for Rev. Tom Goodhue of the Long Island Council of Churches. Tom was being honored by the Long Island Multifaith Forum where 12 different religions were represented that night. Out of all the
accolades Tom received, the one that stood out the most to me was from my friend Norman, when he said, “It is easy for Tom to get along with all of us, a room full of people from all different religions who get along with each other, but the thing I admire the most about Tom in his 17 years of serving as the Executive Director of the Council of Churches is how he responded, interacted and showed grace to those who were in opposition to him or who were not gracious in their interactions or concern for the welfare of those in need. What shows Tom’s real character is how he got along with those who were not nice to him.”
We have all seen the ugliness in our presidential campaigns for our next president. I for one am ashamed and disgraced that the rest of the world is seeing it too. I am also dumbfounded as to how one of the candidates running to be the next commander and chief of our nation has gotten as far as he has on a platform of racism, sexism and bigotry. I think most of the nation is equally dumbfounded.
But, before we take a “holier than thou” attitude, let’s be reminded of what happened within our own denomination at our General Synod meeting in June. Just days after the Orlando shooting, an agenda was pushed through to constitutionalize a wedding liturgy that includes the phrase that marriage is between a man and a woman. Many progressives were disheartened by this, myself included. Isn’t the division in our denomination a microcosm of what is happening in our nation and world? In the wake of the worst single massacre in our nation’s history, targeting at a minority community that has suffered enough, the Reformed Church in America showed zero compassion to this hurting demographic. *Continued on page 5B
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” ~ Romans 12:18
Set up your Online Giving now for the summer!
While you’re away, your support for the church continues! Giving online is easy, fast and secure! And you can earn points by
using your rewards credit card!
Here’s how Online Giving makes your life easier: •Signing up is quick and uncomplicated •You can choose between using your checking account or a credit card
• Budget your giving weekly, monthly, yearly – the choice is yours • Select the fund(s) you wish to contribute toward – General Operating Expenses, Camp
Warwick Scholarship Fund, Rev. Meyers Partnership in Ministry, etc. • Your gifts are received and support the work of the church, even if you are not able to get to
church as often as you would like. Visit our website and click on the link to sign up! www.brookvillechurch.org
Brookville Church News 2B
Brookville Church Office Hours Summer Schedule: June -‐ August -‐ Tuesday through Friday -‐ 8am -‐ 1pm
We’re Still Here While You’re on Vacation!
LuDay Provides Superior Education
for Children Long Island Lutheran Day School at St. Paul’s (LuDay) located in beautiful East Northport offers an outstanding Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school. LuDay provides a well-rounded Christ-based program, which nurtures children’s mind, body and sou l . A h igh -qua l i t y, independent curriculum, free from mandates and high-stakes testing ensures smaller classes and individualized attention to students. The result is a dynamic learning community that fosters self-confidence and independence while promoting each child’s enthusiasm for learning.
To see what LuDay has to offer your child contact us
today at: 631-754-4424 x224 or [email protected]
Brookville Church News 3B
Room for All is an unofficial arm of the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Their mission is to support, educate and advocate for the welcome and full inclusion of people of all sexual identities and gender expressions in the RCA. Please consider supporting their vital work. ~ Rev. Vicky
Brookville Church News 5B
~Rev. Vicky
Live Peaceably *Continued from page 1B
The Orlando tragedy was still not enough to wake us up to the deafening cries of the LGBTQ community that just wants to love and be loved. This is when King’s words reverberate in my mind, “Can’t we all just get along?”
I am perplexed at how St. Paul begins verse 18 in Romans chapter 12, “If it is possible…” Did Paul know something 1,958 years ago that we are still trying to grasp today—that it may NOT be possible? Paul then continues with another interesting phrase, “as far as it depends on you…” Paul didn’t say, “Make sure you point the finger at the ones who are spreading dissension and demand that they change their ways.” Instead he says, when it comes to yourself, live at peace with everyone.
Have you ever heard the saying, “The only person you can change is yourself?” We are called to cultivate peace not demand it from others, especially those with whom we disagree. And when Paul says we are to live at peace with everyone, he means EVERYONE, not just those who are like-minded, not just those who are easy to love. The real challenge is to love those who are not easy to love.
Think about the person with whom you are the most angry. What can you actively do to live at peace with that person? Some of you are probably thinking, “Avoid them at all costs. That’s the easiest way to “live peaceably.” But is that really living peaceably? How do you peacefully disagree with someone? How do you avoid conflict without compromising your convictions, without placing yourself as a doormat before the one with whom you disagree? And taking it to a larger scale, how do you advocate for the voiceless without argument and conflict?
Is this why Paul said, “If it is possible…?” Is it possible? I think it is, but there are no easy answers to the question of how. I guess if it were easy, we would all be doing it. Instead, we are tasked with the very difficult job of cultivating peace. I believe it is possible. Let’s pray that God will show us the way forward.
~ Excepts from sermon delivered on 6-28-16 to the Classis of Nassua-Suffolk of the RCA
Brookville Multifaith Campus would like to thank Rorri for her willingness to use her education and experience as a social worker and licensed therapist to take a pro-active step in countering the racism and Islamophobia that has been running rampant in our country.
Rorri’s workshop on July 23rd was a great start to the discussion on how we can be allies to Black and Muslim communities. We discussed such topics as how to speak up when in the company of those who are bashing others without alienating ourselves from those we love. One of the ways that Rorri helped to empower those in attendance was to create a safe space to share our fears and concerns and to meet others who can support us in working toward a more equal and just world, because change will only happen working together and not alone.
Thank you to the 17 participants who took time out of their busy lives to attend this very important workshop. We hope there will be many more to come. If you were not able to attend but would like to join the conversation in the future, please reach out to Rorri at: [email protected]
Thank you again Rorri, for facilitating a space where we could feel confident and comfortable to talk about racial issues and identify actions and opportunities where we can be allies and get involved in helping to change the tide of violence and hate in our nation and world.
I encourage others with gifts and talents they can offer our multifaith community to step forward and help make a difference in this world. If you would like to offer a workshop or have other ideas on how you can get involved and take a leadership role on our multifaith campus, please reach out to me:
(516) 626-0414 * [email protected]
*See page 3M to read about Rorri’s workshop!
Thank you Rorri Geller-Mohamed
TEMPTED TO TRY IT? ~ FOLLOW YOUR HUNCH ~ BE “TOP BANANA” ~ NOT ONE ~ OF THE BUNCH!
ReflectionsReflections
Branch WorshamEND WORD: These selections are from a Prairie Home Companion radio program. What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi. Hershey, PA. A good place for a family destination, but beware of the nightlife —they’ve got nuts in their bars. An entrepreneur from Minnesota brought Cheerios to Iowa and sold them as doughnut seeds.
“Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.” ~Benjamin Franklin
As I entered the seventh grade in 1948 opportunity knocked and I became employed mowing lawns (push type with reel blades), leaf raker, snow shoveler and substitute newspaper delivery boy. The next year I added gas station attendant. These were jobs accomplished on weekends, after school, and after winter storms. Going into ninth grade I became a stock boy at the soda pop factory and turned over all of the other jobs to my brother. Both of us were indebted to our Dad who was the connection—he knew all of the people who gave us the work. The soda job became a serious position with responsibility and a good income for a school boy. I worked every day after school and on the weekends until Memorial Day, when the three month summer vacation happened In Minnesota. Summer meant working every day. As satisfying as this work was, I envied my friend whose job was to row a boat while his employer fished for bass in different lakes. In Minnesota anything connected with fishing is la crème de la crème.
Having any kind of job became worthwhile: with the cash in my pocket there didn’t seem to be anything I couldn’t afford or do. In the springtime, near the end of ninth grade, there was a school dance called the Freshman Frolic. It was the tradition for the junior and senior classes to decorate the gym for their Prom held on Friday night. Then the ninth grade had their Frolic on Saturday followed by taking down the decorations on Sunday. For this, my first big social event, I got my mother to drive me over to the next town, Aitkin, and went to Royal Clothing to buy a green corduroy sport coat, slacks and shoes for the dance. (Fifty years later I was still wearing that green jacket to the Brookville Church.) My date lasted just that one night.
Two years later, as a junior, I bought a suit for the Junior-Senior Prom and escorted a senior girl. The next year another new girlfriend was a sophomore and not allowed to attend the prom, so my suit didn’t get used, and actually, not much ever after. The truth is, I hadn’t spent a lot of money for clothes up to that point because it was common for boys to have only a few changes of school clothes and probably more work clothes.
Near the end of my senior year, in 1954, the United States Military Academy accepted my application and sent notice that the only cost to enter was $1200 dollars. The money was to offset the cost of the uniforms, many custom made. They were fine wool garments and lasted all four years. The full dress coat has 44 gold-plated buttons sewn onto 16 ounce gray wool along with the numerous black braids on the coat, the sleeves, the collar and the tails on the back. It takes an experienced tailor 90 minutes to sew on all of the braids using a machine that makes up to 8,900 stitches a minute compared to the 200-300 per minute on a home machine. The full dress uniform is sold to the cadets at cost. In 1954 it was $676.01. (Several years after I graduated from West Point, my mother showed me an oval braided rug that she had made out of those cadet gray uniforms including the long, heavy winter coat with the cape.)
We were paid as cadets, and a portion of our meager allotment was set aside to cover the cost of the new lieutenant uniforms we would need after graduation, about $4000. That was a pretty steep bill to pay but, as it turned out, was the last time I spent a bundle on clothes. Last year (2015) we found a forgotten trunk and discovered many of those uniforms I’d packed away in the sixties when I left the army. What memories those garments brought back. How different they appeared because the Army has changed the style of uniforms one and two times since I graduated.
Over the many following years, for business mostly, I accumulated suits and jackets which still fit just as the green corduroy Jacket did. My closet still has more to wear than I need and I don’t want any more new clothing: I will not last as long as it would. The lesson I learned about clothing is that inexpensive clothes wear out while good clothing at significantly higher prices lasts and lasts. Some of the latest fashionable styles are outrageously priced, though. Men’s magazines such as GQ and its copycat, Esquire (which comes to our house addressed to BJ) for over eighty years have some of the wildest prices—so expensive they’re still not imaginable to me. Featured in every issue are several suit ensembles for $3000 to $4000, and jackets over $2000.
I mentioned these prices to Nancy and she said, “Have I got something to show you!” From this month’s Town & Country magazine: Women’s Jacket ensemble: $5590, Tunic: $1675, Prada Dress: $4845. The ladies win again.
What it means to become a Bat Mitzvah “In the beginning I did not really get a chance to explain why I was having a Bat Mitzvah. So let’s start over. Hi! Welcome to my Bat Mitzvah at a church! Yes I know it may sound funny at first but there is a reason, don’t worry. I was brought up as an interfaith child; this means that I celebrate both religions, Christianity and Judaism. I am so lucky to be able to have a Christian mother and a Jewish father who love me and accept me under any circumstances. There are many upsides to being interfaith including the opportunity to understand different perspectives, and to learn about the similarities between religions…not to mention the increase in presents! I have always enjoyed religious services, whether or not they were on Friday night with Rabbi Paris or Sunday morning with Reverend Vicky! They are fun and always contain a bigger meaning. Usually we sing songs and sometimes even dance! Sunday school for me is something I look forward to! I get to see my friends, the Schombs; sing with my Jewish Cantor, Cantor Irene; and learn from her husband Reverend Bill McBride, who was a Roman Catholic Priest for 16 years. Many people have different definitions of God. I personally believe God can be found in the spirit inside of all of us. I believe if you look for him in any capacity or any religion you will find him. I believe God feels a lot like love. God may even be love. I am still working out how to define God and God’s power. There are many things that I don’t understand. For example if God is all powerful, then why do bad things happen? Why are wars fought in God’s name? Why did Samson go through the Holy Ritual of receiving a Nazirite vow at birth and then become someone who did such awful things? What I have been taught by my friend Eloise, my piano teacher, Carol, my parents, my Rabbi, my Cantor, and my Reverend is to keep learning and keep asking questions. So I will continue to study, think and question, but I will also have faith, and believe in something that I cannot see but that I can feel. It is this feeling that led me to have a Bat Mitzvah. It was during a Friday night Shabbat service while I was singing Hebrew prayers led by Cantor Irene that I felt love, joy and a belonging. From that day forth I started studying. First I began Hebrew lessons. Then I began studying the Torah in Hebrew. I missed a lot of activities with my friends, including Soccer and yoga with Eloise, Caroline, Emma, Kate, and so many more. But now as I stand up here in front of all of you with all of your different religious backgrounds, it makes it all worth it. Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew phrase that means ‘repairing the world.’ Today we are repairing and healing the world together.”
When I shared what Maddy had written in her Bat Mitzvah speech with my wife, Reverend Enid Kessler, advisor to the Interfaith Community of Long Island, she was ecstatic that her message regarding living an interfaith life had been understood and expressed so beautifully and simply in what Maddy had written. I could not have said it any better, Maddy! Mazel Tov on your becoming a Bat Mitzvah!
“Today we are repairing and healing the world together.”
~Rabbi Stuart A. Paris, HaKohen
On Shabbat morning, June 18, 2016 (12 Sivan 5776), Maddy Cirker, daughter of Seth and Sarah Cirker, founding members of The Interfaith Community of Long Island, was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah in the New Synagogue of Long Island on our Multifaith Campus at The Brookville Church. The entire day was filled with music, prayer, teaching, love and joyful tears as Maddy conducted the service with assistance from Cantor Irene Failenbogen and Rabbi Stuart Paris. During her study and preparation for Bat Mitzvah, Maddy was asked to write what it means to her to become a Bat Mitzvah. Her words, which she shared from the pulpit, were so moving and powerful that I asked for permission to share them with the larger community. I am grateful the permission was granted and I now present to all who are blessed to read what follows:
Madeline Cirker, age 13, of The Interfaith Community of Long Island
August Birthdays
Fran Kaufmann - 2nd Pat Tucker - 4th
Mary Jane Husted - 6th James Eastland - 10th Steve Gawley - 10th Alaina Pinto - 14th
Amelia Harley - 18th Cameron Buchan - 20th Joanna Kaufmann - 26th
Penny Beiner - 26th Phillip Buchan - 27th
Catherine Procaccini - 28th
Brookville Multifaith Campus News 2M
Join the Muslim Reform Movement (MRMO)
for Quran Studies in August! All are welcome!
~Sunday, August 7 2:30pm
~Sunday, August 21 2:30pm
Hosted by: Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed,
author of The Quran and the Life of Excellence
Get Inspired to Travel! We live on such a beautiful planet and you deserve to see it! I’ve had a lifetime passion to discover the world around us; to absorb new cultures, foods, experiences. I also strive to make it possible for my clients to travel the world, to whatever destination they desire. My number one priority is making sure to design a trip suited to your exact needs. Travel can ignite new interests and bring to light our need for adventure, beauty,
relaxation or the simple need for quality time with friends and family away from the daily grind.
Not only do I love to travel and help design trips for others to enjoy, I also love my church and the multifaith community at Brookville. Because of that love, if you book your next trip or vacation with me, I will gratefully and proudly donate 10% of my earnings to the Brookville Church and Multifaith Campus!
To find out more or to book your trip, please call or email me. I can’t wait to send you to the destination of your dreams and help our faith community at the same time!
Valerie Ritacco Power Travel International
Cell: (516) 458-7868 [email protected]
The Economic Opportunity Commission
of Nassau County, Inc. The low income community in our immediate area is constantly in need of assistance. If you would like to help, please contact:
Janice Wardlaw, Director Glen Cove EOC
4 Mason Drive, Apt. BB (Lower Level)
Glen Cove, NY 11542 [email protected]
Office Phone (516) 801-2672 Office Fax (516) 676-4958
That August time it was delight To watch the red moons wane to white
’Twixt grey seamed stems of apple-trees; A sense of heavy harmonies…
poem excerpt “August” ~Algernon Charles Swinburne 1837 - 1909
Social Justice Workshop by Rorri Geller-Mohamed
As you may have heard, I facilitated a social justice workshop at the Multifaith Campus that was titled “How We As White People Can Help End Racism and Islamophobia.” From what I heard, many people were confused about the title and we even had a comment that it sounded like a white supremacist group. This was definitely not my intention. So why did I as a white therapist, social worker, and member of the Multifaith Campus plan a workshop focused on helping white people talk about and think about race? White privilege often precludes white people from having to talk and think about race. As white people who are the parents, partners, siblings, family, and friends of people of color, learning how to be an effective ally is a necessity. Anne Braden, a civil rights activist describes this work as “The battle is and always has been a battle for the hearts and minds of white people in this country. The fight against racism is our issue. It’s not something that we’re called on to help people of color with. We need to become involved with it as if our lives depended on
it because really, in truth, they do.” My goal for the workshop was to create an awareness, facilitate conversations, and help people to not be silent as we witness injustice.
The beginning of our workshop focused on getting to know each other and creating a safe space to discuss challenging topics. We focused on identifying common feelings and experiences as well as what we hoped to learn. Our process then moved into sharing a little about our own history around each of our racial and religious identities. Participants shared personal experiences and stories about the role race, racism, and Islamophobia has had in their lives. We watched a few short video clips to expand our frame of reference, deepen our understanding of white privilege and learn about the often untold history of white people that fought for racial justice. Before we left, I shared a list of resources which included the organization Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). SURJ describes this work in this way. “We know that we will have to take risks. Everyday, people of color take risks in living their lives with full dignity, and right now, we are in a moment where young black people are taking risks everyday. We challenge ourselves and other white people to take risks as well, to stand up against a racist system, actions and structures everyday. We know that in that process, we will make mistakes. Our goal is to learn from those mistakes and keep showing up again and again for what is right and for racial justice.”
Awareness, shared experiences, and an openness to listening were some of the words participants used to describe their participation in the workshop. Participants were asked to reflect on their experience in the workshop at the end to help us improve it for future workshops. Many participants suggested that having a racially mixed group could make this type of workshop more effective. The group was split half and half for having separate workshops on racism and Islamophobia as opposed to discussing the topics together. Many people expressed interest in doing a follow-up workshop for multicultural families on race and racism. I hope this is one of the many conversations, workshops, and actions we can continue to
take part in as a community striving for racial and social justice. Please share your ideas on how we can continue this work through contacting the leaders at the Multifaith Campus: 516-626-0414, email: [email protected] or email me at [email protected].
Rorri Geller-Mohamed
Group discusses how to conquer racism and Islamophobia.
Brookville Multifaith Campus News 3M
Sixth Annual Reformed Church of Locust Valley Golf Outing! Monday, August 8, 2016
Glen Cove Golf Course $175.00/Player
$700.00/Foursome Includes: Golf, Cart, Lunch & Dinner at The View Grill
Scramble Format 11:00 a.m. Registration / 1:15 p.m. Shotgun
Dinner Only at 6:00 p.m. $45.00/Person, Seniors $35.00 (65+)
Mail this form with your check payable to: Reformed Church of Locust Valley
115 Ryefield Road, Locust Valley, NY11560
Player Cell Phone Home Phone Address Email
1.________________ (Primary Contact)
2._________________
3._________________
4._________________
Dinner Only -‐ Name(s) Cell Phone Home Phone Address Email
For more information call the church at: 516-‐676-‐6130 or email [email protected] All proceeds to benefit the Reformed Church of Locust Valley
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