THE OPEN DOOR
The Briarcliff Congregational Church 30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510
914-941-4368 www.briarcliffchurch.org
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” Revelation 3:8
Volume 66 Number 8 May 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Moderator’s Report 2
History in the Making 3
Why Church? 3
Women’s Society News 4
Raise the Age 5
Sunday School Seder 5
Heifer Fair 6
Picnic Planners Needed 6
May Calendar 7
Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church,
What a wondrous, glorious Easter we’ve been blessed to enjoy! So many people
contributed so generously to make it absolutely sublime, and I thank God for you
all and all of it. For some of us the season leading up to Easter (Lent) was
particularly rich because we read, reflected on and shared our reactions to a series
of devotions produced by the Still Speaking Writers Group of the United Church of
Christ. The last devotion was written by Tony Robinson and meant for Easter. I’m
happy to share with you:
Resurrection is a word I like.
In the Sunday papers and on TV
there are “Easter Bunny Specials.”
Soft, sweet and safe.
Resurrection is not safe.
Resurrection disturbs, shatters, surges,
a rushing mountain stream shooting
between boulders,
power that cannot be stopped.
Resurrection is a word I like.
On Sunday morning they thought he was safe –
safely dead and buried,
over, done, finished – finally.
The One who put the question,
the One who spoke the promise,
the One in whom a new creation came near,
the One who said, “Follow me,”
was dead and buried,
safely.
Bring on the bunnies, flowers, candy,
sports, spectacles and other safe
substitutions for
Life.
continued, page 2
SAVE THESE DATES
May 3 Rummage Sale!
11 Heifer Fair
12 ANNUAL REPORTS DUE
18 Laity Sunday
19 Church Council
June 2 Annual Meeting
8 Church School Sunday
15 Choir Recognition
Contact Us At:
rosborough
@briarcliffchurch.org
AND
church-office
@briarcliffchurch.org
2
Resurrection is a disturbing word,
which says, we’re never safe
from God
from the new
from life
from love.
A disturbing, hopeful, shattering word –
Resurrection is a word I like.
MODERATOR’S REPORT
At our March Council meeting, we discussed our
Vitality initiative. We gathered names of
community organizations with whom we will seek
meetings to learn their views on the needs of the
community. These include Mayors’ offices, our
tenants, Pace University, and Phelps support
groups. We are holding these meetings so that we
can later talk to all of you about how we can focus
our activities in the future. If you have ideas about
local organizations we should visit, please let us
know. The visits will be conducted by Pastor
Bonnie, members of the Vitality Team and others
who have contacts with these organizations.
We also talked about ways to make BCC more
visible in our community – watch for BCC
publicity at the Rummage Sale and be ready to
talk to all those people who shop with us about
our mission here. We are learning that most of
them do not even know that the Sanctuary is
across the street.
Our Trustees are already thinking about ways to
improve our budget planning. They made a
special request to all the committees – please give
them your budget request for 2015 early in the fall
so they can begin their “balancing act” to meet as
many needs as possible. And, think carefully
about it because you will be expected to live
within your budget unless you go back to them
with additional requests.
Continuing the theme of better communication,
the Deacons are asking for input from the
Congregation on services, such as the special
Maundy Thursday service. Having just attended
that service last night, I want to commend them
and Pastor Bonnie for a memorable and moving
service. For those of you that have not attended
this service in the past, I highly encourage you to
join us next year.
On a more festive note, we heard from Christian
Education about their Easter Egg Hunt, which was
held on Saturday, April 19, and was open to the
community, with the hope that children outside
the Church would attend. We were pleased to
vote in John Panacagos as our new Church School
Director. John has given so much to our youth
programs over time and we appreciate his
continuing commitment. We still need a few more
picnic planners to take over two events that CE
previously ran. See the separate solicitation in this
Open Door.
Trustees took a different approach for our Easter
Offering this year. To recognize that the Deacons
creatively organize activities during the year for
which they might not have requested budget
monies, the Easter offering will provide them with
a flexible fund that they can use to provide special
events, for example, Derrick McQueen’s
presentation on the legacy of Paul Robeson as a
civil rights activist that so many of us found to be
highly educational and inspiring.
Mel Corbett reported on the results of the Church-
wide survey which you should have received by
now. The Council thanked the Deacons for
conducting this important study that will help
them and Pastor Bonnie in their future planning of
our services.
PLEASE MARK JUNE 3 ON YOUR CALENDAR
AND JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING. I
know it’s another one of those evening meetings
and some of us find it difficult to go out again
after we have come home from a busy day, but this
is a very important event in our Church life. We
come together to vote in the wonderful people
who have volunteered to run all our activities.
Frankly, we are now challenged to find all the
volunteers we need. Nominations asked the
Council to consider reducing the number of
required members for some of the committees,
3
and that will be considered as part of the regular
5-year review of our By-Laws next fall. Even if
you cannot make a commitment to work on a
committee, I hope you will let Nominations know
that you are available for special projects.
Sometimes an extra couple of hands are greatly
appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
Beverly Aisenbrey, Moderator
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
If you worshipped at BCC on Sunday, 5 April, you
witnessed a most special moment: Londa Wilson
read the lesson from Ezekiel, in the King James
translation, downloaded on her “Google tablet,”
from the BCC pulpit! Just think about the years
that moment encapsulated. Ezekiel was a prophet
of the Exile, so we’ll date his work as
approximately 600 BCE. The KJV is a translation
of scripture authorized for use in the Church of
England in 1611 CE. Londa read an electronic
version of it downloaded from the internet (2014)
from a pulpit, which, albeit long hospitable to
women, to many represents times that were not so
hospitable. (Don’t forget – we burned “witches”
and something like “an electronic version” would
have been proof positive of possession!) While I’m
often moved by our weekly experience of hearing
ancient testimonies of our faith as they come to us
through scripture, this new electronic twist
provided another layer of the generations present
in that “cloud of witnesses” present whenever we
gather in Christ. And what a snapshot of our
contemporary experience! Wonder what Ezekiel
thought of it…or James I…or Margaret Jones (first
woman, an herbalist and midwife, executed for
witchcraft in Massachusetts Bay Colony) …or…
BCC LENDS HAND(S) TO FOOD BANK
On Saturday, April 5th, members of the BCC
community volunteered their time at the Food
Bank for Westchester in Elmsford . The Food Bank
provides food for 230 hunger relief programs
throughout Westchester County. Including food
pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and child
care facilities.
The BCC volunteers, along with 25 other
volunteers, inspected, sorted and repacked food
drive donations so that they could be distributed
to various hunger relief programs. We were also
given a tour of their wonderful facility.
It was a very rewarding Saturday for all involved.
A big thank you to our volunteers Anita Eddy,
Henrietta Porter, the Primes family, the Banino
family, Cathy and Mary Nichols and Stephanie
and Craig Prentiss.
We are looking at going back in the autumn, and
will announce future dates in the weekly bulletin
and Open Door newsletter.
WHY CHURCH?
Why do we come to church? Is it an obligation
of our faith or one of the privileges afforded us
by God? What do we expect to get out of
church, and what does the church have the right
to expect from us? These are a few of the
questions we will be exploring in the annual
Laity Sunday worship service, to be held this
year on Sunday, May 18, 2014. As always, the
liturgy will be developed and led by the Board
of Deacons, and there will opportunity for
members of our church family to share their
thoughts on the subject. The Deacons hope that
this will be a thought-provoking hour of prayer
and praise that will help the congregation
prepare for the future of our church. We hope
you will make a special effort to attend. The Board of Deacons
THANK YOU, BCC!
On behalf of the C.E. Committee: The BCC Spring
Food Drive, for the Ossining Food Pantry, was a
success. The BCC Confirmation Group, Pastor
Bonnie, Martha Yergeau and Rachel Hansen
delivered the collected food to Trinity Church.
4
What a joy to see our church's donation in one
place! Martha and Karen, who received the
donation at the Food Pantry, gave our
Confirmation Group some information on how the
Pantry works, where the donations come from and
how their 'clients' receive the donated food. With
the contributions from our generous congregation,
we were able to be part of this amazing charity.
Thank You - BCC!
FROM THE CARING COMMITTEE ~
GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS
If someone in your family is preparing to graduate
from high school, college or graduate school,
please let the Church Office know so we can
acknowledge their accomplishment in the coming
weeks. Thanks!
WOMEN’S SOCIETY REPORT
As this is being written, we are anticipating the
2014 Rummage Sale to be held on Saturday, May 3.
We’re hoping for good weather and an abundance
of donated treasures and many happy and willing
helpers. Thanks go to all who donated, sorted,
sold, and yes, even bought. Bless you all.
We continue to knit 8” squares to send to Turkey
to be made into blankets for Syrian refugee
children by women running Project LILY (Love in
the Language of Yarn). Kim Ruffing is
coordinating this effort so e-mail her if you have
any questions ([email protected]).
Rummage Wrap Up Meeting, Friday, May 16, at
9:30. Louisa Myers has graciously invited us to
meet at her lovely new apartment at Scarborough
Manor, 16 Rockledge Ave, Apt. 2M-1, Ossining,
NY 10562. Helen Buerger ([email protected]
or 914-552-3975) will arrange car pools, meeting
this time in the Stop & Shop parking lot. Watch
for an email with more details.
May Field Trip, Thursday, May 29. We’ll be
traveling down to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art to visit the newly reopened Costume Exhibit.
Again we’ll be carpooling from the church parking
lot at 9:00. Call or email Helen Buerger to let us
know if you’ll be coming. We usually have lunch
at one of the restaurants in the museum. Everyone
is welcome. Again watch for an email reminder
from Janet Moulton with more details.
June Luncheon, June 12 at 11:30. Wicki Martin
has so very kindly volunteered to host this year’s
luncheon at her home in Pleasantville. Mark your
calendars now and know that more information
will be coming. Carol Mickel will have signup
sheets for the always delicious, food contributions.
Finally, the Nominating Committee will be
meeting to consider new officers and committee
chairwomen. We do know that we will need a
new Historian. Think about what you can
contribute to the Women’s Society. Contact Penny
Wolf (914-762-7937, [email protected]) if you
would like more details.
FOLLOW-UP: Spiritual Tasks of Aging
The Deacons-sponsored workshop, “Spiritual
Tasks of Aging” led by the Rev’d Dr. Carole
Johannsen, which nearly two dozen of us enjoyed
in March, raised a number of topics and began a
rich conversation about the wisdom and grace
elders invariably have gleaned through the years.
It also challenged participants to reflect on a
number of topics that are often difficult to ponder:
Forgiveness – the Struggle and the Relief; Your
Death, Your Way; Ethical Wills. As there wasn’t
time then to pursue these subjects, the Deacons
PLEDGE REMINDER
Given the tight financial constraints in this
year’s budget it would be very helpful if, where
possible, pledge contributions are made sooner
in the year or periodically throughout the year
rather than waiting until year end. This will
help with future planning and cash flow.
Thank you for your help.
Trustees and Treasurer
5
are hosting a follow-up conversation for any who
would like to explore them. We’ll gather on
Saturday morning, 10 May, 10-noon, to work on
some of the “homework” Dr. Johannsen left for us.
Please let the Deacons know if you’ll participate.
Sign-up sheets will be in the back of the sanctuary
and in the Church office.
RAISE THE AGE: Town Hall Meeting
Mt. Kisco Public Library, May 8th, 6-8 p.m.
The Westchester Children’s Association, where
Sarah Yergeau works as a Program and Policy
Associate, is hosting a conversation about the fact
that ours is one of only two states in the nation
that charges, convicts, sentences and incarcerates
people as young as sixteen as if they are adults. In
January Governor Cuomo announced a
“Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice”
that will study this issue and make
recommendations for change. The WCA meeting
is offered as an opportunity for the public to learn
more about the issues: “What are the arguments
for raising the age? What services and supports do
youth who break the law need? What are the
implications of the heroin and prescription drug
crisis? How does raising the age affect public
safety?” Pastor Rosborough will be one of the
panelists. Those planning to attend must register:
bit.ly/RTATownHall2 . There is no charge.
CLEANUP DAY A BIG SUCCESS
It was a beautiful day and fifteen beautiful people
all worked together under the leadership of
Rosalie Matsuoka - beautifying the church
grounds, the morning of April 12th. So much was
accomplished - pruning shrubs, vines and trees,
raking, cutting, packing recycling bags, fixing the
dumpster fence, digging weeds, clearing beds,
trimming the entrance plantings, sprucing up the
columbarium and much more. All were fortified
by Rosalie’s marvelous apple cake and pumpkin
muffins with coffee and cool water. Many thanks
for all your time and caring: Bev Aisenbrey, Keith
Austin, Midge and Barry Bosak, Helen Buerger,
Barbara and David Gasparik, Geoff Harter, Lisette
Hautau, Brian Lewis, Rosalie Matsuoka, Carol and
John Mickel, Bonnie Rosborough and Barb
Vincent. Thank you also to Mary Alenstein and
Bruce Wilson of the Memorials Committee who
are making plans to replace the broken pot in the
columbarium, and to the Women’s Society who
provided the lovely pansies and tete a tete
daffodils in the troughs. BCC is beautifully ready
for spring!
Buildings and Grounds Committee
SUNDAY SCHOOL HOLDS SEDER
On Palm Sunday after leaving the Church service
the students and teachers of the Sunday School
attended a Seder in Beebe Hall. Here is what we
did and told our children: for over 3,200 years the
Jewish people have been celebrating the Passover
by annually holding a Seder to commemorate
God's redemption of the Jewish people from
slavery and bondage in Egypt. God sent Moses to
go to Pharaoh and said, "Let My People Go". When
Pharaoh says, “no!”, God sends ten plagues to
6
Egypt including blood, frogs, lice, cattle disease,
boils, hail, locust, and darkness.
The Sunday School students read Exodus 12: 5-15
in which God commands the Jewish people to
make unleavened bread and to slay a lamb and
use the blood to mark their doors so that the angel
of death would Passover their houses and not slay
the firstborn in the house.
Everyone at our Seder tasted the bitter herbs
dipped in salt water to understand the bitterness
of slavery and the taste of the shed. Then everyone
ate the unleavened bread (matzoh) and the sweet
charoset to experience the sweetness of the ancient
Jews who were set free from bondage by the Lord.
We went on to explain how Jesus attended
Passovers every year of his life and how
his last Passover was the Last Supper which we
celebrate on Maundy Thursday during Easter
week.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
FOR THE ANNUAL HEIFER FAIR
This year’s Heifer Fair will take place on Mother's
Day, May 11th, during coffee hour. It will give dad
and the kids a chance to pick up the perfect last
minute gift for mom and, oh by the way, help our
fund raising efforts for Heifer International. This is
the organization that uses the monies contributed
to buy seeds and goats and cows and honey bees
and teaches the villagers of third world countries
how to become self sufficient. In turn these
villagers pass along the offspring and they in turn
teach their neighbors the lessons learned. Please
plan on attending our Heifer Fair and help
support our kids in their efforts to help make a
difference.
EASTER EGG HUNT DRAWS A CROWD
This year's Easter Egg hunt was held on the
Saturday before Easter and drew a crowd of over
twenty children. There were many children and
family members there who do not attend our
Church. We handed out helium filled balloons
with invitations inviting everyone to attend Easter
service the following day. Beside finding plastic
Easter eggs filled with candy the children also
discovered lollipops growing out of our lawn. The
Easter Bunny made an appearance and was
greeted with squeals of delight and giggles from
all the children. This lead to a photo op and lots of
families snapped away getting photos of the kids
with the Easter Bunny. Thanks to Allie Herskovitz
for being our Easter Bunny and thanks to CE for
making this such a joyous occasion.
TWO MORE PICNIC PLANNERS WANTED!!
We have three volunteers, Rachel
Leihbacher, Martha Ferguson and Tom
Vincent. We are looking for two more
planners to help us with this festive event.
Do you have a special talent for:
Setting a picnic table?
Cajoling others to set a picnic table?
Buying sandwiches and salads?
Cajoling others to bake desserts?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you
are a candidate to help plan our special Sunday School
Sunday and Gathering Sunday picnics. Your reward
will be the joy of seeing us all gathered on the lawn,
and maybe even a round of applause!
Please let us know if you can help.
Contact Bev Aisenbrey at 271-6701 or
7
BRIARCLIFF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH TEL: 914-941-4368 FAX: 914-941-1513 EMAIL: [email protected]
MAY 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
APRIL 27
Moving
Sunday
11-3
APRIL 28
Rummage
Sorting
9-4
APRIL 29
Rummage
Sorting
9-9 Pizza Supper
APRIL 30
Rummage
Sorting
9-4
1
Rummage
Sorting, 9-4
Workers Luncheon
12 noon
Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.
2
Rummage
Sorting, 9-4
3
RUMMAGE
SALE
9 TO 4
4 WORSHIP, 10 a.m. Peanut Butter Sunday
5
6
Benevolence,
8 p.m.
7
Deacons’ meeting,
7:30 p.m.
8
Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.
9
10 Spiritual Tasks of
Aging followup
10 a.m. - noon
11 WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
HEIFER FAIR
12
ANNUAL REPORTS
DUE TO CHURCH
OFFICE!
13
Christian Ed,
7:30 p.m.
14
DEADLINE FOR
JUNE OPEN DOOR
15
Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.
16
Women’ Society
Rummage Wrap-up,
9:30 a.m.
(Louisa Myers’ home)
17
18 WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
LAITY SUNDAY
19
Church Council,
7:45 p.m.
20
21
22
Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.
23
24
25 WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
NO CHURCH
SCHOOL
26
27
Trustees;, 7:45 p.m.
28
29
Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.
30
31
Childcare is available during worship. Sunday School meets simultaneously.
BCC Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.