rev. vicky l. eastland 2 brookville road church...
TRANSCRIPT
Brookville Church
N E W S L E T T E R
REV. VICKY L. EASTLANDPastor of Congregational [email protected]
2 BROOKVILLE ROADBROOKVILLE, NY 11545
[email protected]/BrookvilleChurchwww.BrookvilleChurch.org
Where the doors are always open!May 2014
What Dwells WithinDo you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God?I Corinthians 6:19
~ Rev. Vicky
Every sermon I have ever heard on this passage has been an admonishment of how poorly we take care of our bodies. This past week I began to see this passage from a completely different perspective; I think we have been focusing on the wrong thing. Instead of concentrating on the outer shell; namely our bodies, we should be focusing on what that shell contains.
To discover what lies within each of us, we need to go back to the beginning. The first book of the Bible, which is also the first book of the Jewish Torah is Genesis and in it contains a story explaining how we as human beings were created. “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Gen. 2:7)
Did you know that the Quran has a similar story of how we came to be? Sura 15 of the Holy Quran explains our creation this way, “Behold! Your Lord said to the angels: I am about to create the human being from clay and mud molding it into shape. When I have fashioned him and breathed My spirit into him, bow down… to him.”
Both the Bible and the Quran say that God formed us from the earth and we came alive by the breath of God. Even the Hindus believe this is how the world came to be. The Hindu God, Vishnu breathed out and the universe was created. Among four different religions there is a similar story of how we came to exist; it was through the breath of God.
If God breathed into us the divine breath of life, then dwelling within each of us in the divine Spirit of God. How amazing is that? The breath of God is in ALL of us! Every human being has the divine spark of God dwelling within; this is our common denominator. It is what equalizes us all!
So, here is how I think we have gotten things backwards. Americans spend billions of dollars each year on anti-aging remedies. Over the counter creams, vitamins, plastic surgeries, facelifts and Botox injections are used in the vain attempt of keeping a youthful appearance. We spend so much time, money, and effort in the futile attempt to stay looking young. We work so hard at maintaining these outer shells that we all know will eventually decay and die.
But in comparison, we spend so little time concentrating on what our bodies house: the divine Spirit of God. I have to admit that it is easy to become fixated on our bodies, on our health, in preventing illness and decease, that it can consume our lives. We leave little room or time to do the “inner work” that is needed to nurture the Spirit that dwells within.
Our wise friend, Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed of the Muslim Reform Movement Organization, that is housed here on our campus, said, “Because the spirit is from God, it is eternal, although the body in which it resides is temporary and it perishes.1” He does give credit to taking care of your bodies when he says, “The body is precious because it is the housing for the spirit during its journey on the earth. It is important to keep our bodies healthy so that the spirit is not distracted from its mission of healing the world by becoming absorbed in repairing its living quarters.” Dr. Abdulhameed goes on to say however, “It is an inversion of priorities if you spend more effort in taking care of your body than you devote to the cultivation of your spirit…. Our spiritual journey is to elevate and perfect the divine attributes in us.”
We need to nurture our Spirit more than tend to our bodies, so we can foster the Spirit’s growth, instead of counting the lines on our face each morning wondering if we should try a different anti-aging cream.
____________________________1 All quotes from Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed are from his book, The Quran and the Life of Excellence. (Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc., 2010)
Excerpts from a sermon preached on April 27, 2014
Holy Week Reflections by Rev. Enid Kessler
Rabbi Paris and I had a very rich and enjoyable Holy Week experience beginning with The Passover Seder sponsored by the Interfaith Community of Long Island in Fellowship Hall on Tuesday evening, the second night of Passover. Ninety-seven people attended, of which approximately 30 were children and there were also six sets of grandparents. Members of Brookville Church, The Interfaith Community and the New Synagogue joyously participated. The students of the Identity and Transition class of the Interfaith Community as well as the youth of the Brookville Church participated in the retelling of the Exodus from Egypt and the Passover Story.On Sunday morning we attended the Easter Worship Celebration at Brookville Church conducted by Rev. Vicky and enriched by Carol’s choir direction and the wonderful singing of the choir.What was especially joyful to us was to see all of our friends present and to appreciate the magnificence of having so many members of the Interfaith Community and Church Community present at both the Seder and Easter Worship, celebrating both of these wonderful holidays together.Rev. Vicky’s reciting of the Greatest Commandment on Easter Sunday was especially poignant; “You Shall Love The Lord Your God, With All Your Might and With All Your Heart and With All Your Soul” and “You Shall Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself”; a teaching that is central to both Judaism and Christianity was certainly upheld on our campus at this holy time.
A Note of Thanks...
Dear Kris, BJ, Martha and BRC Crew:
Your performance for us today was way beyond expectations, and we shall be forever in your debt. The yard has been transformed. Now, Bess, our gardener, has been given a great start on her spring garden.
Bess and I went inside after you left and immediately began extolling the many blessings we have had over the course of our lives. We both agreed that today's act by your gang was among the top acts of kindness we have ever received. We were left with a true feeling that the Spirit had been with us today. What a wonderful day!
Gratefully yours with love,
Chiz and Bess Bell
Common Grounds Coffeehouse
WE NEED YOUR RAFFLE DONATIONS!By Lisa Denison
Common Grounds Coffeehouse may be a few months away, but I am always looking for anyone willing to bake, set up/clean up and donate RAFFLE ITEMS!Please have a look in those closets and storage areas for items that are new or “like new” that might do well for a raffle, or could be added to a basket to make it complete! Some items that I am always looking for are bottles of wine, matching wine glasses, bags of gourmet coffee, gift cards or certificates for restaurants, manicures, florists or services, baskets, (large or small) candles (new or unused) or even children’s toys. You can call me, Lisa Denison, at 516-674-4385 or 516-695-1123 if you would like me to pick up any donations.
This year our September 19 Coffeehouse will feature Cantor Irene and Stuart Racey from the Interfaith Community, as well as Mark Coffey, BJ Worsham and myself, singing folk songs. Our charities will be the Harry Chapin Food Bank LI Cares, as well as Long Island
Harvest. Both of these charities help feed the hungry on Long Island, particularly children. So mark your calendars and consider helping out! Watch this space as the months progress for more information!
On April 6, the kids along with B.J. and Martha Worsham & Kris Baggelaar did garden and yard work for the Bells at their home in Sea Cliff.
Choir News By Carol Goglia, Minister of Music
Looking back over this past Holy Week, all I can say is Wow!!! What an amazing week of inspirational sermons and music. I want to thank the choir so much for the beautiful job they did throughout the lenten season. Special thanks for the cantata on Good Friday. We were all moved by the choir's flawless delivery of 'Come Walk With Me'. Thank you for giving of your time and talents:
The ChoirSopranos - Lisa Denison, Fran Kaufmann, Antonia Patrash, Nancy WorshamAltos - Nan Coffey, Jessie Surig, Pamela TobelTenors - Michael Flanagan, B.J. WorshamBasses - John Coffey, Mark KaufmannNarrator - Rev. Vicky Eastland
On Easter morning, we were blessed with a full choir! It was glorious! Thank you again for your beautiful voices!!
Now, as we look forward, The combined youth of the Brookville Church and the Interfaith Community (22 actors!!!!!) are busy rehearsing for the June 8th play entitled 'Noah and the Bridge'. We are having a great time preparing for this event. You will not want to miss this extraordinary play. Tell everyone you know to be here on the Brookville campus June 8, 2014 at 10:00 am. I think you should come early because I am quite sure seats will be hard to find!!! There will be an outside picnic after the play (inside if it rains).
Lenten Movie Study held at Revs. James & Vicky’s home was a great success! Nearly 20 participants from both Brookville & Locust Valley Church enjoyed exploring the spiritual themes in the movie The Way, as well as great food and fellowship!
Some of the actors for the spring play.
The Interfaith Community of Long Island will be bringing all their programming to our campus starting in the fall. This is exciting news as they are making Brookville their permanent home!
To make room for more meeting space we are renovating the church basement. The leaders of the Attic Treasures Sales are ready and willing to move on to other fundraising ideas for camp scholarships and bring the sales to an end. Over the years thousands of dollars have been raised to send underprivileged youth to Camp Warwick through the Attic Treasures and Food Sales. It was a great way to use the basement space to house items for the sale as they could remain set up and out of the way in between sales. Since this fundraiser is coming to an end, there is talk of resurrecting the Cocktail Parties that have raised funds for camp scholarships in the past. We’ll keep you posted as we discuss and dream of new fundraising possibilities.
So, we are planning to have a FINAL SALE on Saturday, May 31st and are hoping to get the Interfaith Community and the youth involved in this effort. This is an opportunity for youth to gain Community Service hours for school as well as both faith communities serving together for one final fundraising sale.
It has been the tradition to combine a food sale with the attic treasures, so we are looking for bakers and chiefs to step up. We will accept donations of cookies, brownies, pies, ethnic delights, frozen and packaged lasagnas, casseroles, stews, etc. This is a way that you can get involved even if you are not able to help the day of the sale.
So, please spread the word! Anyone willing to help that day or contribute food items, please speak with Cathy O'Neil (518) 676-8570 or Rev. Vicky.
All left over sale items will be donated to charity.
Exciting Changes Happening! By Rev. Vicky
ReflectionsReflections
Is there any doubt that spring is wonderful? I did not know how much mother liked it until she was in the hospice in the winter of 1988. She said she wished that she could live to see another spring. Alas she did not and it snowed fiercely the day she was buried.
I always compare spring in New York with other places I know—Minnesota where there is ice on the lakes into late April and Alaska where we saw spring explode into majestic scenery. Here is one comparison I made this year, in early March, when the weather finally had some warm days and our driveway disintegrated. In the northland it is called the spring breakup when the frost comes out of the ground up through the blacktop and dirt roads and they get soft and mushy. Every spring our school bus could not come down the four blocks to the corner store where we usually got picked up-we had to walk the extra distance for three or four weeks. My Dad was hauling lumber and he would have to get half a load, haul it two miles to a main road, unload it there and go back for the other half then reload the first part. Nowadays something of value like that could not just be left in a parking area.
Maple tree sap starts running up from the tree roots in February and March while there is still deep snow in the woods. It is a long slow process to glean the clear sap until it stops flowing in the early spring. I still remember tapping a few trees in the woods two blocks from home and boiling the sap on the kitchen stove to make my own syrup. I have always appreciated the work required to make the golden nectar of the forest.
One of the most difficult things for me to accept is how spring is so dramatically different once the north woods have been put behind me. Here in New York it always seems warmer sooner and more colorful due to flowers and shrubs, ones that cannot survive the deep cold Minnesota winters. My brother says the same thoughts come to him as he spends the winter in Florida and gets the urge to travel north in April just because it is so warm there that his body says, “take me north where it must be nice.” But after a few too early trips he knows better and now waits using instant national weather reports to announce warmer days..
A springtime phenomenon that Minnesotans knew nothing about is the annual spawning runs of fish up the rivers all along the East Coast. “What was shad roe,” I wondered and had to go to Griswold’s Inn in Essex on the Connecticut River for a real dining experience. This year I learned, for the first time, that there are similar runs on Long Island of alewife fish; runs that are as significant as anyplace in the east. I was able to do a lot of salmon fishing on Alaskan rivers where the different species spawn at different times so that all of spring and half of summer is a fisherman’s delight.
Observing where I come from, where I have lived, and where I am now, colors every season with memories that influence each day. For example, the Minnesota Indians who lived on the Mille Lacs Reservation first started making and selling maple syrup in their roadside trading post in the fifties. That was brought to mind because last week I read that there is a tribe in Maine that is destitute of any industry and they have just received a grant to enlarge their sugar bush (what the sugar maple trees are called) to produce maple syrup. While following up on that today I learned that the Sugar Maple is the state tree of New York. Did you know?
Branch Worsham
End Word: Maple syrup is the soul of the short stack.
A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap. Virgil Karp
Each month I open my book THE VERSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD and read ten or twelve verses then, suitably prepared, one or two will make me really laugh. That’s how I selected the one below.
Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. Virgil Kraft
If You Think She Likes Your Bristles Walk Bare-Footed Through Some Thistles
Growth and Development written by Kris Baggelaar, Chair
Please let us know if we can add your name to the list of volunteers by contacting us via Facebook or email ([email protected]) or speak to Rev. Vicky, Kris ([email protected]; 671-0694), chair, or anyone on the G&D Team: Lisa Denison, Steve Gawley, Lisa Lebenns, Valerie Ritacco, Marcia Stadler and Joan Vivian
ORFill Out This Form and Include with Your Offering at Sunday Worship Service
ORMail to:
Brookville Church, 2 Brookville Road, Brookville, NY 11545--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YES!! I would be happy to help with Together We Serve meal ministry:
Name ___________________________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________________________________
Email ___________________________________________________________
One of the fundamental ways of dealing with the challenge of our work at Brookville Church is to place ourselves in the spiritual space of Jesus and the early founders of Christianity, asking a basic question anew: What are the needs of the Church and our world, where are we needed most, and where and how can we serve best? I would invite you, for a few moments, to consider with what emphases and what directions would we run, if we were founding Brookville Church in today’s world? I believe every generation has to re-create the faith, the journey, and the initiatives. If we lose the ability to re-create, we have lost the spirit.
Growth and Development has been brainstorming ways to grow not only our congregation but also our ties with all the faith communities that share the Brookville campus.
Our current focus is on developing a framework for a meal ministry, with the intention of accomplishing one of our primary goals: caring and providing for our Brookville family, which now includes three other faith communities. Working in conjunction with the other faiths will not only augment the resources of our small congregation, but it will also strengthen our ties to one another. The more people involved, the more people we can help.
Designed to help ease daily burdens, this ministry, tentatively called Together We Serve, would provide ready-to-eat meals to those in need, carried out by volunteers from Brookville Church and hopefully from all the tri-faith communities.
The ministry would meet the practical need of food preparation for those experiencing a variety of circumstances, for example: birth of a child, death of a family member, emergencies, hospitalizations, serious injury, caretaker relief, and more.
All the details for implementing Together We Serve will need to be worked out, but it might go something like this: A sign-up system would be created most likely through email and possibly a website, allowing individuals/families to make their need known; additionally, a coordinator periodically will reach out to the different faith leaders for their advisement of where they feel a need could be met. When a need arises, a Together We Serve coordinator would contact a predetermined list of volunteers with information regarding the family in need.
Before the meals are scheduled and delivered, recipients would be given the opportunity to provide a list of allergies as well as food dislikes and dietary and religious requirements. Family size, duration of meal preparation/delivery as well as delivery times and places would also be taken into account.
Volunteers could provide meals often or seldom depending on their own personal circumstances. Meals could be purchased, homemade and/or frozen.
Before we can implement Together We Serve, we will need to know how many of you are willing/able to participate—regardless of how much or how often—in order to make this ministry viable.
Exciting news from The New SynagogueApril has been a very exciting month for The New Synagogue of Long Island and for me personally, as the Rabbi.We celebrated the Biblical holiday of Passover with a special Seder for The Interfaith Community of Long Island in Fellowship Hall on the second night of the holiday.
We retold and reenacted the story of the exodus from Egypt and celebrated our freedom with song, good fellowship and a festive meal prepared by our guest chef, Albert, in Brookville’s kitchen. (Albert cooked all night long to provide us with a delish meal) Added by: Rev. Vicky Present were also special guests from the choir of St Monica's Catholic Church in NYC, the families of Kate and Harry, two students of mine who will become bar and bat mitzvah on June 13 in The Synagogue and two couples originally from the old USSR who each told us about their personal journey from Odessa and Kiev to the freedom they now enjoy in America. The evening was educational, interesting, inclusive, and very joyful and uplifting.I am also pleased to announce that Cantor Irene Failenbogen has accepted the position of Cantor of our Synagogue, effective May 1, 2014 to succeed David Schaefer who has decided to focus his energies on his job as Director of Music at St Monica's. We wish David success in his future endeavors and thank him for his service to our community.Cantor Irene is an accomplished singer-song writer originally from Argentina where she was simultaneously trained as a Jewish Cantor and as a graduate of the National School of Dance in Buenos Aires. She has performed in operas, musical comedies and theatre and has also served as the Cantor for Bayshore Jewish Center in Bayshore, LI, Temple Judea in Massapequa, Congregation Ahavas Achim in Keane, NH and for several years at Trinity College for Hillel in Hartford, CT.I invite all who wish to join us on Friday evening, May 16, 2014 at 7:00 PM to greet and welcome Cantor Irene at our regular monthly Shabbat worship service.In addition, all are welcome to our service on Friday evening, June 13, 2014 at 7:00 PM as Cantor Irene and I call up Kate and Harry to The Torah to celebrate their bat/bar mitzvah.
With love,
Rabbi Stuart Paris
Sunday School Corner By Martha Worsham
We have been really busy in Sunday school not only with our outreach projects but also learning about the Scriptures. During the last four weeks we have been learning about “Grace”; a very hard concept to explain and grasp (2 Samuel 9: 1– 12). We learned about Saul, Jonathan, Mephibosheth and David and how David kept his promise to Jonathan and showed grace to Jonathan’s son: Mephibosheth. As we go through the lesson I often times wonder how much are we really learning and if the kids are really getting the message. I wished I was present at the first play practice where the kids did a couple of questions and answers exercises and the “grace” question came up; the kids told me how in a few words Raju explained “grace”. So the answer to the question: are the kids getting the message: YES!!! And that is so wonderful….
On another note: the outreach projects have been really rewarding. Thank you Kris Baggelaar, for giving the kids the opportunity to do yard work at Chiz and Bess Bell’s house. The bake sale to raise money for the Equadorean orphanage (where the loom bracelets will be shared) took place on April 27th and it was a success. This weekend we will be working on our May project. The project will be a surprise!!! Come and join us in the fun of learning and sharing our talents!!!!
GIRL RISINGA Retreat Day for Women and Teenage Girls
At Community Reformed Church, Manhasset
Saturday, May 10, 20149:00am - 1:00pm
Please RSVP by May 4th
Our second annual retreat day for women and teenage girls will focus on courage, dreams and faith, as inspired by Girl Rising, a global campaign and award-winning international documentary, showcasing the unforgettable stories of nine girls living in the developing world, who overcome insurmountable odds to achieve their dreams.
Join us as we share breakfast together, while watching this short but inspiring film. Then, we’ll engage in inter-generational conversation and activities to ignite our passion and commitment to trust, imagine and transform ourselves, families, communities, and eventually, the world.
Our Retreat Day is open to all women and teenage girls, ages 12 and up.
$30 includes breakfast, healthy snacks and retreat materials.Scholarships available upon request.
Register by contacting Lesley MazzottaContact Lesley Mazzotta, [email protected].
917-623-4554.
MOVIE NIGHTat the
Reformed Church of Locust Valley
May 10th – 7:00 p.m.The Fellowship Hall will be transformed
into a big screen movie theater featuring the film “Frozen”
Free AdmissionPopcorn, Pizza, Hot dogs, French fries
Beverages and Desserts for SalePlease sign up or call 676-6130 to reserve your seats
Remember to pray for our partner in peace and education,
Rev. Justin Meyers & family in Oman.
Attention: Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles etc...
If someone in your family is graduating this year from any school, we would like to share your news with the congregation. Call or email the church office with their names, where they are graduating from, what school or profession they will be going on to, etc. We will publish your good news in the summer newsletter. Please remember to get this information to Lauren in the church office by May 27th. Thank you!
Attic Treasures and Food
Sale
FINAL BLOW OUT!
Saturday, May 31st10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
We are having our FINAL SALE offering a variety of delicious food items as well as LAST CHANCE
"treasures." Everything must go so we can renovate the church basement to make room for more meeting space. Please come and shop so we can have a great
final sale to raise camp scholarship funds for underprivileged youth.