Above is the symbol of a Labyrinth. It is not a maze, but a path to the center and back out again. Looking at the many opportunities the church offers this month, it might feel like participating would add many twists and turns to your already busy life. But in reality, each bend is an opportunity to draw closer to God, immerse yourself in community, and/or serve. Moving back out into the world, you will be better equipped and empowered to impact those around you! So be intentional- look for opportunities to move closer to the One who is at the center of life, that you might be transformed and sent back out to reflect God to a lost and hurting world.

FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH FEBRUARY

Rural Mission Mystery Dinner Theatre           Quick Link

Sacraments   Baptism (Weston James Hunt will be baptized on February 19 at the 9:09 service) The Hunt family is hosting a reception in the Gathering Area between services.       Communion - Agapé Supper (Feb. 22) & 1st Sunday in Lent (Feb. 26)             Quick Link                      Parents & Children learn about communion         Quick Link

Children’s Ministry . . . . .Quick Link   Annual Conference Day - February 11 Family Day - February 26

Lenten Small Group Study         Quick Link

. . . AND LOOK AHEAD TO MARCH

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In the middle of a cold, snowy January fourteen years ago, the Devine family arrived in Endicott, NY. Kristen was an outgoing 3rd grader, and Nathan was a quiet, lanky 6th grader. It was a hard move for the two of them, leaving the only home they remembered and their friends in the middle of the school year. But within six months, both of them were able to say that they were glad we had moved. The adjustment was made easier by the way they were welcomed and nurtured here at First Pres.

Now at 25, Nate is anticipating being married to a wonderful, young woman named Katie Humphrey. There are many things to do and decisions to be made before the June wedding. (For those of you who know Nate, can you imagine him going to a Bridal Extravaganza in Austin with over 200 wedding professionals promoting their goods and services?? It must be love!)

Some of the decisions about the wedding have been easy, some are more difficult. The wedding list is probably the hardest decision for this young couple. Because of the distance and the size of the church and reception hall, Nate and Katie have chosen to have a smaller, more intimate wedding. Nathan has had to limit guests from the church where he works in San Antonio to the staff and just a handful of people he has worked with most closely. He has had to make similar decisions about friends and mentors here at FPC, limiting guests to those with whom he has remained in close connection since graduating and moving away 7 ½ years ago.

Nate and Katie are planning a trip to New York in March, so that Katie can meet more of our family and friends. They will be in Endicott on Sunday, March 11. We are hosting a reception/meal after worship that day to introduce Katie to Nate’s home church family, to bless them with your prayers and encouragement, and to share their celebration a little early. (We imagine Katie would also enjoy hearing some stories and memories you have of her fiancé!) We hope you will mark it on your calendar and join us. It is not a “shower”- simply a time of fellowship and refreshment.

As Nate was struggling with the guest list and space limitations, the three of us talked about the parable of the Great Banquet found in Luke 14:15f. When the host opened up the banquet to anyone who wanted to come, there was still room! While Nate and Katie are limited in the number of guests they can accommodate, God is not. Our God is generous and gracious, and through the gift of Jesus Christ, he has prepared a great feast and celebration for all who accept his invitation through Jesus Christ!

“Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 14:15)

In Christ,

What's New Among Our People?

Although it was a little later than usual in getting here, winter has definitely arrived in our area. But we here at First Pres. aren’t going to just sit around and wait for spring. We’re going to keep busy - as you can see from the pages of this newsletter.

Some in our midst will be busy this winter planning weddings. Most of us have heard by now that Katie Humphrey said “yes” to Nate Devine’s proposal. (We all will have an opportunity to wish them well when Jan and Tim host a reception for them in March.) We also learned that Mike Santacrose is engaged, as is Missy and Larry Goetz’s son, Brian and Pastor Nissi’s grandson, Jeremiah, and Kim Streigler will be getting married this summer in our church. Congratulations to all of these young people; this is an exciting time in their lives and we wish them all much happiness.

Congratulations also go out to several others who are, or who have been, part of our church family. Molly Rickenback (daughter of Worship Team member Colin Rickenback) graduated from Vestal High School in January and has already started her college career at Broome Community College. We also celebrate with Walter (former Worship Team Leader) and Kristin Kondratowski the birth of Sophia Jane in January.

Callen Reid Wilson, infant son of Elizabeth (Kerr) and Keith Wilson, faces many challenges in his young life. Weighing only 1 lb. and 8 ozs. at birth, he continues his struggle at a Syracuse hospital. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers.

We also want to remember Dawn Weber, Ken Sutliff, Gerry Wilcox and Elizabeth Wilson, all of whom have had their own struggles with their health in recent weeks. We
pray that all will have a complete recovery from their illnesses.

It is always sad to say good-by to one of our long-time members, but on January 14, we celebrated the Witness to the Resurrection for Donna Lundy, who died on January 11. Donna will be mostly remembered for her love of and contribution to the music program at First Pres.
Our sympathy goes out to Barbara and the rest of Donna’s family and friends.

We also want to extend our sympathy to Deb Speice, whose father died recently, and to Jamie Schrader and Steve McKeown, who had aunts pass away in January. Many of you have shared recently that you have family members who are facing serious health problems, and we pray that all will be supported by the love of God during this difficult time in their lives.

On this Among Our People page, as we think of others, it seemed appropriate to close with this poem that our Parish Nurses Bev Conklin and Eileen Slofkosky shared with us:

Christian New Year’s Resolution
How can I use the New Year
To better serve my Lord?
I’ll read my Bible every day, and be more in accord.
I’ll find new ways to serve others:
I’ll love my neighbors too,
I’ll focus on “give” instead of “get”
In everything I do.
I’ll forgive the people I’m mad at;
Angry feelings I’ll discard;
I’ll try to love my enemies,
Even though it’s hard.
In the New Year, I’ll lift people up,
Instead of putting them down.
I’ll fill my heart with love and joy,
And never wear a frown.
I’ll let go of my worries;
I’ll put it all in His hands;
I’ll repent and try to sin less,
And obey all his commands.
These New Year’s resolutions
Are difficult at best,
But there’s something I can do each day
That will put my soul to rest;
I’ll love my Lord with all my heart,
With all my mind and soul,
And if I do that essential thing,
All the rest will be in control.

Janet

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An Attitude of Gratitude

 

From Janet Weber

To All My Friends at First Pres:

My heart is filled with gratitude for your care and concern following my recent fall and hospitalization. A very special thanks goes to Jim Santacrose, who summoned help and stayed with me until my daughter and the EMS arrived.

Visits and prayers from Jan and Tim, Gordie, Jim, Rebecca Barney (with a beautiful poinsettia from church), Maynard and Cristina gave me encouragement as I faced an abrupt change in my life and home.

All the beautiful cards and phone calls remind me of what a special place First Pres. has always been to me. Thank you all so much.

Good Shepherd Village seems like home since so many from the church are here. I am sure my full recovery won’t take too long before I can take part in community life here.

God’s blessings on you all,
Janet Weber

From Flood Victims

 

Dear Bruce and Sharon,

I want to thank you for all the work you have done organizing and dispatching volunteers to our site for flood clean-up. It is so important to us to know that our community is there for us during times of need, and it makes us want to give back. The sheer numbers of volunteers you sent us was unparalleled. It allowed us to complete tasks that we thought were going to be impossible. Thank you for making them possible.

Pete Shafer
Nanticoke Gardens

To Members of Session, Pastors Tim and Jan Devine, Members of the Congregation & Volunteers:

This letter is long overdue. During the days following the flood in September, our neighborhood was blessed with the caring, concern and assistance of your church family. We are sincerely grateful for everything that was done by you.

Our neighbor has stated that she would not have been able to recover without the volunteers cleaning her basement. A single resident received extended volunteer time and effort in recovering from the flood damage; she did not have the financial resources to pay for this work. Another person has been grateful for the spiritual concern and prayerful support.

The visit with holiday cookies and the invitation to your January dinner is evidence of your continuing thoughts. On behalf of everyone in Castle Gardens, we want to thank you for everything that was contributed by your Church members.

Blessings and Peace
Donald and Theresa Westcott

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And a Christmas Thank You

On December 18, members of the Union Center Methodist Church staged a Living Nativity scene on our property on the corner of McKinley and Monroe. Jim Jephson graciously agreed to be the liaison between our church and theirs and was there to see that all went smoothly. There are pictures of this event on the bulletin board, and a portion of their “thank-you” note reads:

We really can’t express how thankful our church is that we were allowed to present the Living Nativity on your church’s property. Many were blessed that night. Our participants were cold, but they were warmed by the thanks and comments from those who visited.

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PARENTS AND CHILDREN LEARNING TOGETHER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Each year, we set aside a Sunday morning to help children understand the meaning of Communion. Parents participate with their children in this hands-on experience of learning about the meaning and the methods we use to celebrate the sacrament.

There is no right or magical age for a child to begin participating in the sacrament. As families talk together about the meaning and importance of Communion, and as the church supports Christian discipleship in the home, parents will have a sense of the right time for their child.

“Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their
maturity.” (PCUSA Book of Order, 2.4011b)

This year, we are providing training for families on Family Day- February 26- when parents join their children for the wrap-up and celebration of what has been learned about the life of Abraham. Communion will be celebrated in worship that day, so the discussion will be particularly timely.

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Ephesians 1:1-4 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him IN LOVE

Contact Jeremy Finn via e-mail or call 743-4511.
You can also find me on Facebook.

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Session Update

January proved to be one of the busiest months we as a Session have had. On the 8th of the month, the election of officers took place, and the changes in the process (introducing candidates several weeks before, paper ballots, etc.) seemed to have gone well. If anyone has any feedback, positive or negative, we encourage you to share it with one of the Session members.

On January 11 we had our monthly Session meeting, and at this transitional meeting, we had the newly-elected elders as well as those who have completed their term on session. Although new elders Jon Beatty, Art Davis and David Youngs were not yet eligible to vote, their presence and input were welcome, especially as we dealt with the proposed 2012 budget.

Once again, God blessed us, and although we had borrowed $20,000 from the Wagner Fund during the year, we were able to repay that amount, using generous gifts from the congregation. Although the pledges for 2012 are not sufficient to meet our anticipated expenses for the year, Treasurer Art Davis felt that we could use other resources to cover our costs if needed and, therefore, recommended that we approve the proposed budget. At the Annual Meeting, the congregation will again be asked to give permission to borrow from the Wagner Fund, but we hope that once again we will be able to repay any funds needed during the year.

In other business, the Corporation officers were elected, and a motion was approved that moved 13 of our active members who have moved out of town to the inactive roll. All of the individuals were contacted by letter, and no objections were received from them.

The pastors and several of the elders attended the second Fellowship of Presbyterians Gathering held in January, and we look forward to hearing about this conference at our next meeting.

Bryan Early presented a motion to purchase new worship media equipment that is needed to improve the audio/visual experiences during services.

We heard from most of the committees and know that we will be discussing their work in greater depth in the coming months. Although our schedule didn’t permit an earlier report, Elder David Jenkins, who served as our commissioner at the last Presbytery meeting, reported that the Presbytery is having many discussions on the financial challenges they are facing.

We want to thank outgoing elders Pam Davis, Brian Flannagan, Steve McKeown and Kristin Talley for their service and dedication to the work of this Session and our congregation.

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FPC Is a Missional Church

Locally - Flood Relief

On Sunday, January 22, at the 9:09 service Bruce Barney and Sharon Early were presented with the Martin Luther King Drum Major for Service Award, part of the Presidents Volunteer Service Award program. Below is the text of what was read when they were recognized for their service and dedication during the service.

Martin Luther King Drum Majors for Service Award
January, 2012

Martin Luther King Drum Majors for Service are volunteers who perform extraordinary everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment, but who seldom receive recognition. Service is called by a variety of names. To some it may be outreach; to others, it may be mission driven; to still others, it may be volunteerism, ministry, or even regarded as a calling—but no matter what you call it, there are many Americans who serve every day, every month, every year through faith-based organizations and as volunteers for community groups, addressing a variety of unmet critical needs. These extraordinary volunteers are recognized as MLK Drum Majors for Service with a special Presidents Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) called the Drum Major for Service Award.

* * * * *

On September 7, 2011, heavy rains began to threaten the Southern Tier of NY. By that night, it was clear that we were going to experience a flood of historic proportions in our community. More than 100,000 people were evacuated as Tropical Storm Lee dumped 10-15 inches of rain on already saturated ground. Finally, the Susquehanna River burst its banks, breached the flood wall and coursed over roads and throughout neighborhoods.

That was the week that many volunteers from First Presbyterian Church, Endicott, stepped up to help with initial relief efforts. In those first few days, help consisted of pumping the water out of homes, churches and businesses, mucking out the mud and water-soaked possessions, feeding tired workers and flood victims, and offering comfort and encouragement. The initial response continued until the middle of December, and expanded to include tearing out, power washing and sanitizing affected homes.

Over 175 people from this congregation, and hundreds of others from near and far, were funneled through the process here at FPC Endicott. The work could never have been done without the tireless commitment and gifts of so many people. Neither could it have been done without the two people who took the helm.

Bruce Barney and Sharon Early volunteered full-time throughout the fall to manage the process, direct the volunteers and connect with the flood victims. The amount of time and energy they committed was remarkable. But just as important was the capable, caring and non-anxious presence they demonstrated as they worked day after day with a wide array of volunteers and anxious flood victims.

The first phase of flood relief has essentially come to a close. Now begins the long-term phase of flood recovery- rebuilding our community home by home. Bruce and Sharon have committed to be there for this as well, sharing the compassion of God and the hope of Christ with others each day through their words and actions.

We are grateful for Bruce and Sharon’s service and leadership. In recognition of their work as ambassadors for Christ and servant leaders in our community, we present them with the Martin Luther King Drum Major for Service Award.

“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice;
say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness…
We all have the drum major instinct.”
Excerpt from The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon,
given on February 4, 1968.

Drum Majors for Service are the helping hands who perform extraordinary everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment, who demonstrate servant leadership within the community. The award comes with a certificate and letter from President Obama and the thanks of this congregation.

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Nationally - Rural Mission

On Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4, come support the Rural Mission group by purchasing tickets for the play Hi Jinks on the High Seas. Captain Horatio Headwind skippers the cruise ship, the USS Albatross, on an exciting and mysterious adventure, which eventually winds up in MURDER! Come and compete with other tables to see who can solve the mystery. Give Tim or Pam Davis a call to see about ticket availability (785-0536).

You can also help by working in the kitchen, serving, doing clean-up or baking cakes. Check the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area to see what else is needed.

It’s easy to participate in the Rural Mission trip this year because they have decided to stay in the local area to help with flood relief. Just as when they go to South Carolina, they will live together, eat together, go out to work during the day and then fellowship together in the evening. In order to get the full benefit of this type of mission trip, they ask that you stay with the group at least three days and preferably the entire week. The week begins on Saturday, March 10 and ends the following Saturday. If you are interested in participating this year, please contact Pam Davis at 785-0536.

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Internationally - Erin Flannagan & Co.

Erin Flannagan will be traveling to the Dominican Republic. From Saturday, January 28 until March 3 she will be working with a missionary family she met this past November when she went on a mission trip with Jack and Carol Mansfield through Sowers of the Kingdom. She will be spending most of her time in Santa Domingo, but when the Sowers of the Kingdom group returns to Los Terrans, she will join up with them again from February 4 - 12. Angela and Brian Flannagan (Erin’s parents) will also be there at the same time, along with Jack and Carol Mansfield so they will get to see first-hand how God is working in Erin’s life and will be part of how He is using Erin and these others to serve His people in the Dominican Republic.

Meals on Wheels has been around for many years, delivering meals to seniors in Western Broome County in order to help them stay healthy and independent as long as they can. Volunteers are always needed, and it doesn’t take a lot of time. For as little as two hours per week you can help seniors stay healthy and at home. It is a rewarding volunteer experience, and many great friendships have come about through these relationships. If you want more information about this program – to volunteer or inquire about obtaining this service for someone you know, contact Judy Harley at judyharley0@gmail.com. .In the interest of privacy, please contact the church office to receive the current list of changes to the directory.

Birthdays This Month   5:  Tassie R.   6:  Dorothy E.  11:  Vivian B.  15:  Caroline T. Agapé Supper on Ash Wednesday Begins Lenten Season Wednesday, February 22 Start the Lenten season with a tradition rich with meaning. This time of preparation begins with a sacrificial meal of soup, bread, cheese and fruit, shared together as a church family in the Dining Room. A time of worship prepares us for sharing communion in this setting. Agapé Supper at 6:00pm Tickets: $3.50 for adults; $1.00 for children ages 5-12 Childcare will be available after dinner for ages 5 and under

Nursery School Update During the holidays, the emphasis was on teaching about our cultural diversity, and we learned about the songs and traditions of Christmas around the world. Also in the spirit of Christmas, many groups at the church came forward to help families at the Nursery School. The Angel Tree was a success, and many of our children enjoyed a special gift from their “angel” at Christmas. Many groups and individuals also came forward to “adopt” a family or child with a special need. It was all a wonderful outpouring of love at Christmas. Thanks to all the groups and individuals who participated in these special projects and to Peggy Wheeler and Linda Glajch who coordinated these efforts. January marked the beginning of the New Year and the beginning of our registration for the next school year, 2012-2013. At this point in time, we are unsure about the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program for next year. On January 17, the Governor released his tentative budget for next year, and now we must wait for the NYS Legislature to adopt the budget in April and the school district voters to approve the budget in May before anything is official. UPK enrollment is now done through the school district. Parents have from April 16 until May 31 to enroll. If there are more requests than there is funding, the district will conduct a lottery in early June. Private enrollment will continue throughout the winter and spring for our three-day a week program and five-day a week program as well as the two-day program for three-year olds. Our three-year old program remains very popular, and the morning slots are already filled. The children and staff are getting ready for the third annual Art Show. Mark your calendar for Friday, March 2. Children’s art work and others will be on display that evening, and there will be some items available for raffle as well. Happy New Year from the staff at the Nursery School. Bill Tomic Executive Director Visit the Nursery School web page: www.nurseryschool.firstpresendicott.org

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last updated 1/31/12