Stone Presbyterian Church September 2018 Newsletter 140 Chestnut Street Watertown NY 13601 Summer Sunday Worship Service 10:00 am

Pastor’s Pondering Being Presbyterian…

As I reflect… I did not choose to be Presbyterian, being Presbyterian chose me. As a military brat, I went through confirmation at the base chapel and was confirmed Methodist. While in middle school I attended and became a member of a Presbyterian Church in Florida. I ended up attending a Presbyterian affiliated college. But it was not until I was in graduate school studying reformed theology that I truly understood what it meant to be Presbyterian. I remember sitting in class one day thinking, “that is why I like being Presbyterian”. Oh yea… also, it fits my personality… I thought I would share something I like about being Presbyterian…The idea of grace and gratitude.

Our reformed theology is based on the fact we believe that our God is a gracious God. We experience this grace through the fact God comes to us in creation, in law, in the prophets, and ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ. We experience God’s grace through the fact we are sustained by the Holy Spirit.

This basic theology which is at the center of our identity as Presbyterian is summed up in this piece of baptismal liturgy written by The French Reformed Church…

Little one, for you Jesus Christ came into the world: for you he lived and showed God’s love;

for you he suffered the darkness of Calvary and cried at the last, “It is accomplished”;

for you he triumphed over death and rose in newness of life; for you he ascended to reign at God’s right hand.

All this he did for you, little one, though you do not know it yet.

And so the word of Scripture is fulfilled: “We love because God loved us first.”

Because of this grace we should show our gratitude. We should be grateful for

our lives, our treasures and our community. Not just with a quick thank you but in the way we live our life.

Karl Barth wrote that grace and gratitude “belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder [follows] lightning.” If God is, in essence, grace, then we are, in essence, gratitude.

There are times when the bureaucracy of the denomination can be frustrating… but I am thankful for the theology that ungirds the way we go about doing ministry and mission. We do it with a sense of grace and gratitude.

With Grace and Gratitude, Pastor Libby

Session Update – At it’s August 7th meeting:

* Pastor Libby shared that the next step in the New Beginnings program is to attend a “Come and See” presentation to learn more about the process. David Bennett, Northern New York Presbytery Resource Presbyter, will be setting this up. It will probably happen in October.

* Nurture Committee shared that the next Family and Friends Dinner program, September 15, will be a church talent show. All types of talent are welcome.

* It was also shared that a new Book/Bible Study will start on Wednesday, September 12. It will meet on Wednesdays at noon. The group will be reading/discussing Rachel Held Evans’ book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking On Water, and Loving The Bible Again.

* All agreed that the Outdoor Worship Service and Picnic on August 5th went very well. There was enthusiasm to do it again; maybe in the Fall. A big thank-you to the members of the Nurture Committee, Worship & Music Committee, and Mission Committee for all its efforts in making it a success.

* Building and Grounds reported that the new doors into the building from the parking lot, hopefully, will be installed on Monday, August 13.

* Session approved two requests for the building to be used by the Quilting Group on Sept 26 and Oct. 27.

* Pastor Libby reported that she will be on vacation Aug 20 – 26. Joanne Nugent-Ward will provide pulpit supply on Sunday, August 26. Also, she will be attending a conference October 16-22, 2018. Toby Schilling will provide pulpit supply on Oct 21.

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Please send a card or make a phone call to our members and friends who are in hospitals or recuperating at home, who are in care facilities or who are homebound. It will brighten their day (and yours at the same time). Thank you, Your Pastoral Care Committee

At Samaritan Keep Home—133 Pratt Street, Watertown

Ed Cornish—Room 804

Henry Zygadlo—Room 323 (Toni Zygadlo’s husband)

At Ives Hill Lodge—1201 Jewell Drive, Watertown

Esther Branche—Room 103 (Jessica Branche’s grandmother)

At Samaritan Summit Village—22691 Campus Drive, Watertown

Doris Miller—Room 461

Bill Kimball—Room A229

Recovering at Home

Cindy Rarick

216 Weldon Drive, Watertown

Marty Jones

512-B Kieff Drive, Watertown

In Hospital

Elaine Chapman —Room 1402

St. Joseph’s Hospital, 742 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203

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Meetings & EventsMeetings & Events

September 2

Communion at our

10:00 am Sunday Worship Service.

September 3

Labor Day holiday on Monday. The church office will be closed Monday and Tuesday the 4th.

September 6

Nurture Committee Meeting will be Thursday at 4:30 pm.

September 9

Choir Rehearsals begin today at 9:30 am.

Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:45 am.

Following will be a Fellowship Hour held in Friendship Hall. Join us for refreshments and conversation. Group B will

be asked to bring the treats.

September 12

A Book Study will be Thursday at noon. We will be discussing Rachel Held Evans’ book: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking On Water, and Loving the Bible Again.

Everyone is invited to join.

See Pastor Libby for a copy of the book.

Craft Club Meeting

at 5:30 pm

September 13

Primary Elections will be Thursday with Stone Church as one of the polling sites for voting from 12 noon to 9:00 pm.

September 15

Family and Friends Dinner will be Saturday at 5:30 pm. A Talent Show will be featured.

September 18

Session Meeting will be Tuesday at 6:30 pm.

September 19

A Book Study will be Thursday at noon. We will be discussing Rachel Held Evans’ book: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking On Water, and Loving the Bible Again. Everyone is invited to join. See Pastor Libby for a copy of the book.

Mission Committee

at 4:30 pm

September 20

Handbell Choir rehearsals begin from 5:40—6:40 pm.

September 26

A Quilting Class will be going on from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday.

Once again a Book Study will be at noon.

Craft Club Meeting

at 5:30 pm

September 27

A Presbytery Meeting will begin on Thursday in Hammond, NY. Through Saturday.

Stone Presbyterian

Church

140 Chestnut St., Watertown

Saturday, October 13th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Raffles Baked Goods

Candy Crafts Tea Room

Luncheon & Take-outs beginning at 11:00 am

featuring

Soups, Casseroles,

Bread and Butter,

Green Salad, and Drinks

Get great bargains at great prices!!!

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Friends and Family

Night Dinner

Saturday, 5:30 pm

September 15th

‍‍⛹ ‍

Calling All Talent!!!

Bring your own dish to pass and a friend or two!!

Magic tricks, balancing acts, whistling, singing, dancing, instrumentals… bring your talent(s) and be amazed at the things your friends might do to entertain you!!

Please sign up on sheet in Friendship Hall.

It is sure to be a fun

filled evening !!

September Hospital Calling List

Week of…

Jon Hall September 2

Bob Siver September 9

Debbie Siver September 16

Bob Schweitzer September 23

Lorie Autote September 30

World Communion Sunday and

Peace & Global Witness Special Offering

Sunday, October 7, 2018

In worship on October 7th we will join with other Christians around the world in gathering around the Lord’s Table and partaking of the feast that our Lord has prepared for us. We will also be collecting a special offering sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA). Since 1940, World Communion Sunday is an ecumenical celebration of our oneness in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing churches together in Christian unity. The Peace & Global Witness Offering builds on the Presbyterian Commitment to Peacemaking established in 1980. 25% of the Offering stays with local congregations. 25% goes to the Presbytery of Northern New York mid to unite congregations to support peacemaking in their regions. 50% of this Offering supports the work for peace and reconciliation being done by Presbyterians across the globe.

Give generously and with a grateful heart.

Peace at All Time and Ways

2 Thessalonians 3:15

Page 6 September Birthdays

Emily Purvines September 1

Ruth May September 2

Roxanne Young September 2

Dan Reed September 7

Thomas Green September 8

Sydney Quirk September 8

Jamie Charlebois September 11

Lynkin Cedar September 12

Drew Autote September 13

Anne Ciscell September 13

Lorie Autote September 14

Cynthia Rarick September 14

Debra Siver September 14

James Jennison September 15

Stuart Price September 16

Elizabeth Newby September 21

Kim Murray September 26

Barbara Williams September 28

Paul May September 30

Glenn & Elaine Chapman September 3

Justin & Elizabeth Reed

September 3

Justin & Andrea Hall September 14

Barry & Chris Jennison

September 26

SeptemberAnniversaries

September 2

15th Sunday after Pentecost

Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9;

James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

September 9

16th Sunday after Pentecost

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125;

James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17; Mark 7:24-37

September 16 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-2;

Mark 8:27-38

September 23 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:3,

7-8a; Mark 9:30-37

September 30 19th Sunday after Pentecost

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; Psalm 124;

James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50

Lectionary Texts for September 2018

The 2018 flower schedule is on the bulletin board in the hallway.

The fee for the flowers is $10.00.

Please give the office your bulletin information and the fee for the flowers.

Please place your money in a yellow Flower Fund envelope found to the left of the flower schedule and put it in the secretary’s mailbox or in the collection plate during worship. Do not leave any money on the secretary’s desk.

September Flower Delivery

Lorie Autote

Sunday Flowers Sign Up

Please DO NOT throw plants, weeds, grasses, vines, vegetable vines of any kind, or stalky stems in the compost bin. Throw these in the woods. ONLY coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit, vegetables, and fruit and vegetable scraps should be thrown in the compost bin.

Please don’t forget to weed in the wood chips around the outside of your garden bed and in the walkways also. Please throw any weeds, “weed trees” and grasses you pull in the woods.

Thank you for your help and cooperation and Happy Gardening. If you have any questions please call Pat Conti (315) 782-5847.

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Community Garden Reminder:

Prayer Chain

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Stone Church has an email Prayer Line to inform our members of special church news and prayer requests.

Please e-mail

(stonep@centralny.twcbc.com) or phone (788-5630) the office if you would like to be part of our prayer ministry or if you have a prayer request.

Newsletter Contents

Pastor’s Pondering____________1

Session Updates, Homebound__ 2

September Meetings & Events___3

Bazaar Flyer_________________4

World Communion, Church Dinner,

Hospital Calling List___________5

Lectionary, Birthdays &

Anniversaries, Flowers_________6

Community Garden____________7

Prayer Chain, Church Officers,

Caring for the Congregation,

Contents____________________8

Events Calendar_______________

Prayer Calendar_______________

Called by God to welcome, nurture, and serve in the

name of Christ.

Office 315-788-5630 Email Stonep@centralny.twcbc.com Website www.stonepreschurch.com Facebook StonePresbyterianChurch Office Hours 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. Tuesday - Friday

Worship Ministers Pastor The Reverend Elizabeth (Libby) Moses

Organist Chris Hyde-Hall

Choir Director Jeannie Greenwood

Handbell Choir Director Nancy Boynton Church Staff

Secretary Linda White Sexton Francis Conti

Class of 2019

Jessica Branche

Jon Hall

Kathie Strader

Class of 2020

Jeannie Greenwood

Stuart Price

Bob Siver

Class of 2021

Orvis Calhoun

Chris Dear

Maxine Perkins

Clerk of Session

Chris Dear

Ruling Elders on the Session

The Pastor and the spiritual leaders place a priority on

visiting hospitalized members of the congregation. While

Samaritan Medical Center Chaplain calls when he knows

someone from Stone Presbyterian Church is in this facility,

as a general rule hospitals no longer provide information on

admissions and dismissals.

Please notify the church office if someone you know should

be visited in the hospital or while recovering at home or at a

care center. Also, if you or someone you know would enjoy

a visit from Pastor Libby or a Ruling Elder, or would

appreciate receiving communion at home, please phone the

church office (788-5630),

e-mail the church office (Stonep@centralny.twcbc.com),

or place a note in the collection plate on Sunday.

Caring for the Congregation