VOLNovember  DATE  2013 ISSUE

COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

themessenger A Wo r d f r o m o u r P a s t o r

Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors

Leave-taking is never easy. I often deal with it using denial; just not thinking about it and going on as if nothing is going to change. That’s the way I’ve responded to the news that Donna Etergineoso, our Administrative Assistant, will be leaving us at the end of the month. I feel like, ‘if I don’t acknowledge it, maybe it won’t happen.” That’s silly but it is a coping mechanism so I don’t have to think about how sad I feel.

she does so impressive and meaningful. A beautifully laid-out newsletter, a cheery hello on the phone, a bulletin that focuses us on God, a smile when you enter the office – in many tangible and intangible ways she lifts your spirit and lightens your burden. She does excellent, professional work. More significantly, she is a joyous and caring person and that makes everything she does so very special. It is a privilege to work with her and I thank God for bringing Donna to us. She is Donna has been an enormous asset to us as a blessing to us all. we fulfill our call to ministry and to me as the Pastor. Her skills and abilities are outWhen the time comes, I will say goodbye – standing but it is so much more than that. It with a lot of tears and a heavy heart. But is her presence, her smile, her compassion until then, I’m in denial. I just want to make and her can-do attitude that make the work a good thing last as long as I possibly can.

Giving Thanks Since day one of working at CUMC, I have felt a welcomed part of this team and appreciated for my abilities. It has been my privilege to be a part of this church family to represent you when people visit the church, to support your mission work, to assist with marketing events, supporting Rev. Lynda as your Pastor, and getting to know many of you on a personal level. Working with Rev. Lynda has been such a positive and wonderful experienceshe has been a true mentor and friend and someone I will very much miss working with on a daily basis.

in this issue      

birthdays messages up coming events mission news our local history calendar

As word has come out of my parting, I am truly touched by all those who have shared their appreciation of my work, how much they will miss me and their best wishes. I feel very thankful and truly blessed to have been able to call this my “home” and I take each of you with me in my heart as I begin my next endeavor. Thank you. With much love, Donna Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe Pastor

Donna Etergineoso Editor

November 2013

A Prayer... When I feel overwhelmed, oh Lord, grant me the grace to choose Hope over hopelessness. Love over impatience, and Laughter, to continue serving you with joy. Amen By Catherine Mudime Akale, UM Missionary in Africa

bir thdays

N OV E M B E R b i r t h d a y s

2nd John Doss 2nd Dotty Arola 3rd Dan D’Amato 5th Virginia Freilicher 10th Bob Fritz 10th Jeanette Sehringer 19th Sean Kessler

thank you Dear Church Family, Thank you all for your get well wishes, flowers, visits and dinners. We appreciate it all and hope to be out dancing again soon! Thank you again. Love, Joan Fritz Page 2

20th Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe 26th Victoria Zinkarvitch 28th George Stollen Christopher Bagno Lisa Reddo Jake Reddo Bert Waidelich

“Why put limits on gratitude? Mom’s right. We sing the melody to life’s song, but the people who touch us provide the harmony. And underneath it all, guiding us and supporting us, is the rhythm of our faith.” Robin Roberts as quoted in Guideposts

on the calendar A Happening ! THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW RETURNS!

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Christmas Caroling

Dec 14th

EDDIE COSTELLO, Registered Appraiser, who delighted us with his humor and knowledge at his last visit, is coming again!

Friday, NOV. 22nd at 7PM FELLOWSHIP HALL 


Meet at 3pm We will be carpooling and visiting those folks who can’t make it to church to share the spirit of the season. All are welcome!

Prayer & Meditation November 9, 2012 At 9 am We will be meeting every 2nd Saturday of the month

Ed will appraise one item without charge for the first 40 people in attendance so… begin to check cabinets, jewelry boxes and trunks. Finally discover how much that item you’ve been wondering about for so long is worth! ENJOY COFFEE AND CAKE WHILE WE LISTEN AND LEARN AND LAUGH...AND HAVE SOME GREAT SURPRISES! TICKETS - $10 PER PERSON


THANKSGIVING DONATIONS Donations are requested to purchase fresh food for Thanksgiving The fresh food will be used to decorate the altar and to donate to families in need. A basket will be placed on the table at the rear of the sanctuary for collections in November. Thank you. Page 3

holiday worship schedule Date

Time

Location

11/27 Wednesday

12:15pm Chapel 7:30pm Sanctuary

Thanksgiving Eve (Day) Thanksgiving Eve (Evening)

12/8 Sunday

9:00am

Sanctuary

Cantata

12/15 Sunday

3:00pm

Chapel

Lessons & Carols

12/21 Saturday

7:00pm

Chapel

Longest Night Service

12/22 Sunday

9:00am

Sanctuary

Sunday School Presentation

12/24 Tuesday

5:00pm

Sanctuary

Christmas Eve Communion Service Candlelight Service

11:00pm Sanctuary

Service

Advent Sundays 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22

Worship Committee

requesting volunteers

We are requesting volunteers to sign up to provide light refreshments for these special services. A sign up sheet will be available.  Wednesday, November 27th, Thanksgiving Eve - 12:15pm in Chapel  Wednesday, November 27th, Thanksgiving Eve - 7:30 P.M. in Sanctuary  Sunday, December 15th, Lessons & Carols - 3:00 P.M. in Chapel  Sunday, December 21st, Longest Night Service - 5:00 P.M. in Chapel  Tuesday, December 24th, Christmas Eve - 5:00 P.M. communion service in Sanctuary  Tuesday, December 24th, Christmas Eve - 11:00 P.M. in Sanctuary

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A Simple Invitation A simple invitation..”Would you like to go?” It had been a while since I interacted with the many pastors and spiritual laity of our churches. I loved annual conference when I went, especially the special services so I said “yes” when Rev. Lynda asked. Rev. Lynda and I drove to the Theological Center which is next to the Garden City Cathedral. Not knowing what to expect except that we were going to a “Worship Workshop.” This workshop was completely sold out because Dr. Marcia McFee is so well known. People came from way upstate and Connecticut plus there was a good showing from the United Methodists in our area. Our Bishop, Martin McLee, opened the day with a few words about how he and Marcia had been friends for years and she is one of only about five people in the country that are renowned for understanding worship to its very core. She teaches at seminaries and conferences. She is an exceptional leader and designer of worship. Then she began. Her props were few- a piano player, a saxophonist, a table with a bible, a screen another table with a chalice and some grapes. She, herself, is a small, long haired blonde dressed that day in black.

“My call to ministry is to equip and support you so that you can have  More Ease  More Joy  More Time for creativity and depth in everything you do.” ~Marcia McFee, Ph.D. Then she started and sang and clapped and within two minutes she had us all singing with her. The energy and music were wonderful and the air in the chapel was transformed. She taught us about the energy flows in services. She taught us about threshold moments in our services and how we can include the interaction and sensory-rich worship along with the attention to our worshippers who find it hard to do that and just want to be here. She taught us how to design a worship from start to finish. How to take holidays and special days, like baptism, and make them different and more meaningful. I thought maybe I would learn more about decorating altars and using colors, etc. Was I wrong! It was so much more! There wasn’t an altar in sight, but I learned about the colors of dynamics and that day I decorated my soul with the love of God and it was the best six hours I’ve spent in a long time. So my advice to everyone… Never turn down a simple invitation of “Would you like to go?”

by Ginny Eichenauer Page 5

our local history Excerpts from The Brooklyn Eagle dated Saturday April 4, 1908 by George Strong Carll

blacksmith’s shop and a wheel-wright’s shop, two small school houses and a post office. The postmaster was Charles A. Cutting, one of the older members of the well known Cutting family, of New York. he was a courtly and cultivated old gentleman, and was looked upon as an authority, especially on pronunciation, by the less educated of the citizens. He retained his position as long as he lived, literally dying in harness.

Commack sixty years ago was a prosperous though small village. It contained an unpretentious hotel, a thriving general store, where everything from New England, from rum, to a paper of pins, could be bought. All the freight came from Northport, and it is said that James Waters, the proprietor of the store, had more stuff brought from New York than all the stores in North- Among the inhabitants was an Honorable Charles A. Floyd, member of the assembly, county clerk of Suffolk port. County, also Supervisor of the Town of Huntington. He The hotel was kept by Matthew Gardiner. The general was an able lawyer, and he and his wife were among the training day was sometimes held at Commack, on which best known and respected inhabitants of the vicinity, occasion the Militia, both on horses and foot, met and Mrs. Floyd being a leader in society. Mr. and Mrs. Caleb went through various evaluations, winding up with a Smith were also much respected. Dr. Darling B. Whitney good dinner washed down by a draft of pure cider or was a well known and much liked physician. He went to something stronger. General training day was one of the the Assembly for one year returning to Commack to red letter days, and like General Putnam, the militia left practice the art of healing again. Smith Burr, father of the plow in the field and the cattle to the care of the Carll S. Burr Sr., had a small hotel and was much interwomen so they, decked out in all their glory, mounted ested in breeding horses. the best horse and went to training. Some of the swords Sixty years ago Commack got its mail only twice a week, and articles are to be found in various homes in and around Commack. Some polished and proudly hung on and consequently there were no daily papers taken, most of the inhabitants contenting themselves with a walls, others stored away in attics. weekly. Some years later a weekly Tribune was taken by Besides the hotel and general store, there were two continued on page 11 churches, both Methodists, one being the Stillwellite, a

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS If you wish to order a Christmas plant for the altar, please fill out this form and place it in the offering plate or return it to the Church Office by Monday, DECEMBER 2, 2013. You may pick up your poinsettias after the 11:00pm service on Christmas Eve.

Please print: YOUR NAME__________________________________________________________ IN MEMORY OF________________________________________________________ Or IN HONOR OF__________________________________________________________ HOW MANY PLANTS DO YOU WANT?_____________________ $12 PER PLANT (6” POTS, 8 - 10 RED BLOOMS) Please write checks to CUMC and indicate that it is for the Christmas flowers. Page 6

Sat, November 16th at 6pm Is the Annual “ALL YOU CAN EAT”

(Yes, all you can eat Roast Beef and all the fixin’s!) $15.00 for Adults; $6.00 for Children 6-10 and children under 6 are FREE. Reserve tickets from Donna in the church office or on Sundays after church service.

Deadline is Wednesday, November 13th. So...bring the family, the neighbors and your friends. See you there!

HELP is needed as the cooks cannot do this alone. Please sign up on the “Sign-up” sheet in the hall.

Patti & Gery Spory

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2013 UMW Retreat: Rekindle, Relax, Refresh! pictures from Margie Zoltowsky

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as we gather UMW At our last meeting, we read inspirational quotations and attempted to guess the authors, this was as much fun as educational. Then Deb Hervey related the history of the ‘Singapore Sachet Ladies,’ a women’s support group that is now spreading to Hong Kong and other areas. Little sachets are made by some of the women for sale as a means of support. Deb provided each of us with one of the sachets. A letter was received by Samantha, a daughter of the ApSingapore Sachet Ladies palachian family we had adopted a couple years ago. Things have not gone as well as they had been and we see that once again, there is a need for that family. They live in Jenkinsjones, WV, in one of the most devastated mining areas in that state. We are sending warm bedding for the family of five and also plan to contact the two local UM Churches and Deaconesses about our concerns. We also plan to send Christmas gifts to the individual family members. And Tracey Kopping provided some yummy refreshments. On November 14th, Margie Zoltowsky, our treasurer, will conduct our annual pledge service followed by the nominating committee report and election of officers for 2014. Judy Titolo will serve as hostess for the evening. We meet in the parlor at 7:30.

DATES TO REMEMBER: Thursday, Dec. 12th:

UMW annual Christmas Worship and Fellowship; all CUMC members are invited to attend.

Saturday, Dec. 14th:

packaging of cookies @ 10 am

Sunday, Dec 15th:

UMW annual Christmas Cookie Sale, donations of home baked cookies are appreciated and will be sold after the Sunday Service.

MITTEN MINISTRY

LYDIA CIRCLE

The cold weather will soon be upon us, so gently used and new mittens, hats & scarves are acceptable as well as hand knitted, loomed and crocheted items. These will be sent to be distributed at the St. Anne’s Brentwood Soup Kitchen for the homeless.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 6th at 10:30 am. Christmas cards with notes will be written to all our home-bound Church members. We will also bring in coffee, tea and other foods for the Thanksgiving baskets.

Many thanks to those knitters and crocheters who have already given me their needlework. Please see me if you need easy patterns or yarn. Kathy Muller

Please Note: There will not be a Lydia Circle meeting in December. Page 9

mission news Welcome Fall with its crisp, windy

Leftover Halloween Candy? days! As the air gets cooler and the days get shorter, we turn our attention to those who are not as fortunate as Leftover Halloween candy? ourselves and try to share God’s Bless- We have a place for it. Drop ings with others. any leftover candy with us, as these items are needed by the soup kitchens to make PB & J GANG candy rolls for their Christmas October saw our PB&J group out in party. force – enough so as to produce 1,280 sandwiches! Great goThanksgiving FOOD DRIVE ing! Thank you to all who volunteered and contributed to our PB&J supplies. You We will be collecting for the are a blessing to those who are without meals on Thanksgiving Food Drive – the weekends. We currently are in special need of both fresh and dry/canned folding sandwich bags and peanut butter. Please goods are needed (stuffing, drop off either of these items in the back of the gravy and all the trimmings). Your “FREE Turkey” church in the designated box (on Sunday). If you coupons will also be gladly accepted. Remember bring them during the week make sure the church any cakes, pies, cookies and juice will also be apoffice knows. I will be putting reminders in upcom- preciated. If you have any turkeys, hams, etc. we ing Bulletins each Sunday. also have room in our refrigerator/freezer to accept Please remember that the Peanut Butter & Jelly Gang (PB&J) meets the first Saturday of every month. Our next gathering will be November 2nd beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m.

these and any other perishable items. Just give the office a call and let Donna know you are dropping these items off so that pick-up/storage arrangements can be made or call Anne Tammaro. Look for more information on this in the weekly Bulletins.

thrift shoppe news The Thrift Shoppe will be having it’s annual Toy Sale next month and could use extra hands setting up on the following dates:

Friday Dec. 6th at 4:00pm Saturday Dec. 7th from 9:30am to 3:30pm Saturday Dec. 14th and 21st from 10-3pm Call Harriet 499-7107 to volunteer. Come visit our Christmas Boutique featuring decorations and gift items. Page 10

We thank you for your donations.

our local history continued quite a number, and every four weeks there was an installment of “Dumbey and Son” sent from England, which was read with avidity by some, while others thought it poor reading. Such is fame.

Smith were the leaders in social matters but all were on equal terms, a state of affairs which is said to still exist in a measure in the quiet little village. The name has undergone a change in spelling as it used to be spelt Comac. Some say the change was because it sounded There were two district school houses about 3/4 of a so much like Coram, a village in the same county, that mile apart. During the summer months a woman many letters went astray. Others say the name is of Inteacher usually held classes, while in the winter, when dian origin and used to be called Winnecomac. Some of the big boys came to school, a man presided as teacher. the inhabitants of Commack sixty years ago are still livThe constant change of teachers was very bad. Someing, well advanced in years. One Dr. A. F. Jayne is living times the pupils were fortunate enough to get to have in Centerport, with a mind as vigorous as a man half his the same teacher for several consecutive winters, but age. He met with a serious accident a number of months the women seldom came the second year. Of course this ago, which crippled him physically but left his bright inchanged after a few years, but this was the state of aftellect undimmed. fairs sixty years ago. One of the two Commack churches, the south church, This change of teachers was a waste for the dull and for lack of support ceased to be represented in the conidle children, but those who were bright and studious did ference, and the ministers of various denominations succeed in getting a common education in the rudimen- spoke there at different intervals, until finally the congretary branches and in spelling. I am sure the boys and gational synod took it in hand and for awhile a minister girls of sixty years ago would have out stripped or out was installed. spelled the boys and girls of today. There were often spelling matches and the old Webster spelling book was While under the Stillwellites they had a minister by the poured over and studied so thoroughly that on the day of name of James Smith, a native of North Ireland, and a the match there were few spelled down, for if a word determined and outspoken man. One Sunday, after havwas missed the one who missed sat down, having noth- ing failed to arouse the sinners as he wished to do, he ing further to do. began to berate them in no measured terms. He said “I have preached in many of the United States, and in sevOne of the teachers in the south school was Thomas W. eral of Her Majesty’s dominions, but I have never met Conklin, who afterward studied medicine and took his before such a Heaven daring and hell deserving set as I diploma but later went back to his old vocation and was have found in Commack.” This so aroused his hearers, principal in one of the NY public schools for a number of though not in a way he wished, that he did not remain years. He finally retired and spent the evening of his much longer in that church. days at his summer residence in Naugatuck, CT where he died in the 1890’s. Another teacher in the South Just a few miles east of Commack is the beautiful little School was Uriah Hinds, a native of Maine and a good pond from hose clear depths Daniel Webster used to teacher who was well liked by his pupils. delight in drawing the speckled trout. This distinguished orator and statesman spent many hours enjoying his The inhabitants of Commack at this time were mostly favorite port of fishing and numerous are the tales still farmers, leading quite uneventful lives. They were men related of his wit and good fellowship during these exof sterling character, honest, and kindly, and doing their cursions. duty as they saw it. Among these were three brothers by the name of Harned, Amos, Joel and John. They were all There are many still living who can verify these rambling highly respected and their memory is kept green in the notes, as they will recall with pleasure the old times of hearts of their descendants and the hearts of many still sixty years ago in dear old Commack, and drop a tear on living who recall their sterling worth. some of the graves in the little churchyard by the old North Church. There was little poverty and no great wealth, and all were on about one plane in society. Mrs. Floyd and Mrs. Page 11

bsa troop 125 A SCOUT IS HELPFUL - Boy Scouts from Troop 125 (Commack) volunteered at this year’s FARE Walk for Food Allergy held at Eisenhower Park on October 13. It was a beautiful day and there was a tremendous turnout of over 1500 people walking to help raise awareness of food allergies. The scouts lent as hand as they passed out water to all the participants at two locations along the route while offering them encouragement to keep on walking. FARE works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. The scouts found great satisfaction in helping to raise awareness about food allergies and helping those who participated by handing out the water.

CUMC Fellowship Hall

CUB SCOUTS

Pack 125 would like to invite all boys in 1st through 5th grade to join with us. We promise lots of fun, adventure, learning, fellowship and more fun. Please contact us at [email protected] or call 631-397-0125. Page 12

Troop 125 Peanut Butter & Jelly DRIVE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND On Saturday, November 2nd from 9am-3pm, Boy Scout Troop 125 will hold a Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive outside the King Kullen in Commack (120 Veterans Memorial Hwy # 1) and the ShopRite in Commack (1 Garet Place). All of the peanut butter and jelly collected will be donated to the Commack United Methodist Church’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang. If you would like to donate peanut butter and jelly but can’t make it to either of the supermarket locations on November 2nd, feel free to stop by during our meetings on Tuesday nights between 7:30-9:00pm or contact Kathy Gazerro at (631) 368-3602 or via email at [email protected] to arrange for an alternative time and place to drop off your donations.

2013 WREATH & PLANT SALE The Scouts of Troop 125 will be conducting their annual Wreath & Plant Sale for the 2013 Holiday Season. Among the items offered will be a variety of wreaths, grave blankets, roping and poinsettias. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, November 19th. Items will be available for distribution Tuesday, November 26th at the Scout meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 8:00 p.m. Order sheets will be available on the Church bulletin board. For further information, please contact: Kathy Gazerro Troop 125 Fundraising Chair at (631) 368-3602 or via email at [email protected] (SAMPLE)

11/2 from 9AM-3PM

Come see us at: King Kullen

outside the 120 Veterans Memorial Hwy # 1 Commack and

ShopRite

1 Garet Place - near CostCo. Commack

Scrip Program Help raise money for Boy Scout Troop 125 and avoid those long lines and busy stores at holiday time...and don’t forget the exchange lines when something doesn’t fit. Do your holiday shopping by giving gift cards purchased through the Troop at no extra cost to you! You will find our SCRIP PROGRAM fundraiser flyers and order forms with all the details on the Church bulletin board soon! Page 13