VOL October 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

When I Behold Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors

in this issue      

birthdays messages up coming events mission news our local history calendar

by Suzanne Hockel

When I behold the works of your hands, when I am enfolded in the wonders of your worldthe first peeking of the hyacinth through the wet winter soil, the discovery of a cape gooseberry that I never planted, The sound of dry leaves under my feet, the rain at last, beating on my windowthen I know you anew. I know that you are here once again in your seasons. My heart expands and reaches out knowing the beauty of your coming. My tent is enlarged by your presence, you, the nomad God who ceaselessly wanders through the universe. Your generous spirit Showers petals And berries And leaves and raindrops nourishing me, urging me on, opening my spirit to larger life and greater giving. May the beauty of autumn and of all the seasons remind us of God’s glory. Peace to you. ~ Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe Pastor

Donna Etergineoso Editor

OCTOBER 2013

A Prayer... May there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use these gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. By Teresa of Avila

bir thdays

OCTOBER bir thdays

23rd Kasandra Manjares 29th Carlos Manjares Chris Litrel Erlinda Mendoza José Mendoza Dorothy Shattuck Judy Sullivan

thank you Dear Church Family, Should I voice 100 thank yous followed by 100 more, that would be insufficient to show my gratitude for your generous support during my recent illness. An outpouring of uplifting cards, sincere notes, phone calls and visits kept my heart and mind focused where they should be. The love of God shines through you. Praise God! Thank you! Sincerely, Allen Svoboda

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May each of your days be blessed with the happiness That comes from living your dream and following your heart. May you find peace of discovering little ways to slow down your soul May each of your days be blessed with the contentment that comes from laughing, loving and finding new joys in all the old familiar comforts of your life.

mitten ministry We are in great need of “gently used” or NEW :  Scarves  Hats  Mittens/gloves or your wonderful knitted or crocheted hand made versions to provide warmth and outreach to our less fortunate neighbors. Please contact Kathy Muller at 499-6672 to donate or bring to church and place in the box in the rear of the church.

as we gather Charge Conference Monday, October 28th 8pm in the Sanctuary All members are welcome to join us! The charge conference directs the work of the church and gives general oversight to the church council, reviews and evaluates the mission and ministry of the church, sets salaries for the pastor and staff, elects the members of the church council, and recommends candidates for ordained ministry.

lydia circle The circle meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am -12:00 pm.

Upcoming Special Services: World Communion Sunday

October 6th

All Saints Sunday

November 3rd

Thanksgiving Eve

November 27th

Advent 1

December 1st

Advent 2 & Choir Cantata

December 8th

Advent 3

December 15th

Advent 4 & School Presentation December 22nd Christmas Eve 5pm & 11pm

December 24th

Epiphany Sunday

January 5th

united methodist women On Sept 19th, a group of UMW’s and church members visited the Olsen Nursing Home and enjoyed a sing-a-long with the residents.

Our next meeting is October 2nd and we will plan our thanksgiving basket donations and enjoy a The next meeting will be held on October 10th at cup of coffee and some ‘ not so quiet‘ 7:30 in the parlor. Deb Hervey will present the prodiscussions. gram “Singapore Sachet Ladies” and Tracey Kopping will serve as hostess for the evening.

Come join us, all women are welcome.

All women are invited to attend. If transportation is a problem, please check with Deb Hervey or Ginny Eichenauer and arrangements will be made.

Prayer & Meditation

PB&J Gang

October 12, 2013 At 9 am

October 5, 2013 At 8:15 am

We will be meeting every 2nd Saturday of the month

Donations of peanut butter, bread or plastic baggies always needed Page 3

mission news July, August and September saw our PB&J group out in force – enough to make many needed sandwiches (on average, 1200/month)! Our congregation really stepped up since high school community workers generally don’t need to work volunteer hours during the summer. Great going! Thank you to all who volunteered and contributed to our PB&J supplies. You are a blessing to those who are without meals on the weekends. We currently are in special need of folding sandwich bags and peanut butter. Please drop off either of these items in the back of the church in the designated box (on Sunday). If you bring them during the week make sure the church office knows. I will be putting reminders in upcoming Bulletins each Sunday. Please remember that the Peanut Butter & Jelly Gang (PB&J) meets the first Saturday of every month. Our next gathering will be October 5th beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Thank you to the families that donated much needed school supplies and breakfast and lunch food items throughout the summer to help our local families.

We will be collecting for the Thanksgiving Food Drive – both dry and canned goods are needed (stuffing, gravy and all the trimmings). Your “FREE Turkey” coupons will also be gladly accepted. Remember any cakes, pies, cookies and juice will also be appreciated. If you have any turkeys, hams, etc. we also have room in our refrigerator/ freezer to accept 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 The Thrift Shoppe contributes significantly to the operating funds of the church while providing a service to the community. We do not want to see it end. We need volunteers to help keep it going.

Volunteering is a great way to convert Talent to Giving! 

Can you work a 3 hour shift once a month?

Do you work full time?



Help us clean and organize?

 Can

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Help set up displays for seasonal merchandise?

 Research



Give us a little computer time?

 Sell

you make signs at home? prices of donated items online?

items on ebay or other sites?

Please call Anne Tammaro at 434-5627 to find out how you can help! Page 4

Annual Harvest Fair Saturday, October 26th Come to the Fair! from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

EAT 

Enjoy a homemade Breakfast and/or Lunch at our Kountry Kitchen

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Our Bake Table will have home baked cake, pie, bread, brownies and cookies

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Korean Food Table will be available to try their delicious edibles!

FUN Face painting for the kids!

CUB SCOUTS Pack 125 would like to invite all boys in 1st through 5th grade to join with us.

SHOP 

Boutique of hand crafted items

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Fresh Produce harvested on Long Island

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Gift in a Jar Jar-- wonderful recipes all ready made up and ready for giving!

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Gift Basket Table of uniquely decorated themed baskets

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Parcel Post Booth of surprise items from around the world

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White Elephant Table of nearly new items

Harvest Fair Volunteers Needed Please contact Kathy Doss

if you can do some prep work prior to the day, can help out the day of the Fair or help clean We promise lots of fun, adventure, learning, up afterwards. All assistance is appreciated!! fellowship and more fun. Please contact us at [email protected] or call 631-397-0125.

Please contact Kathy at [email protected] or call 631-292-2475. Page 5

Saturday, 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

our local history The Marion Carll Farm in Commack was first settled by colonists around 1700 and is the most complete farm complex in western Suffolk County. The land on which the farm stands, off Commack Road, was originally inhabited by members of the Secatougue Indian tribe. According to a deed of record from 1698, the Indians conveyed the parcel of land to John Skidmore and John Whitman, great-great-great grandfather of poet Walt Whitman. By 1701, Timothy Carll, a descendant of Ananial Carll who had settled in Hempstead in 1670, bought acreage in the area, in what was then called the Winnecomac Patent. The land, once enriched by glacial deposits and previously cleared by the Indians, responded will to cultivation.The Carll family built horse, sheep and storage barns during the 18h century, which are still standing today. Corn cribs, corrals, pig pens, chicken coops and a smokehouse were all additions to the farm complex. A milk house was constructed following World War I to accommodate a shift in emphasis from the cultivation of seed crops to dairy activities. Increased stall space was provided for the dairy cattle in the 1920’s. Other buildings included an ice house and a pump house with a wind-driven water pump. All of the early buildings were constructed from wood cut on the site, and the larger ones were set on foundations of fieldstone harvested from the Carll fields and pastures. Two ponds on the property provided water for livestock and waterfowl habitats. There were also orchards of plum, apple and pear trees along with black walnut, locust and maple trees which were planted over 150 years ago and still line the farm lane today. In 1701 Timothy Carll built a farmhouse, which was replaced in 1748 with a second residence on the site of the first, by Silas Carll. After the second house was destroyed by a fire, John Carll built a new house just east of the earlier site. This 1860 white clapboard farmhouse is the farm’s most distinctive architectural feature and located just off Commack Road. In the 1930’s John Carll turned a large part of the property surrounding the central complex into an airport called Sky Ranch. The storage struc-

tures near the farm’s present southern boundary were used as repair and service garages for the airport and provided hangar space for small planes. After John’s death, Marion Carll leased the airport land and eventually sold about 170 acres to what is today Hamlet Golf and Country Club. Only 9.3 acres, which was the land that contained the farm buildings, remained in the Carll family. When Marion became ill, Alberta Jenkins, who was born in the 135 year old house came back from Oyster Bay to live there in 1965 with her aunt. Upon her death in 1968, school teacher Marion Carll left the house to her niece Alberta and the remains of the farm to the Commack School District, with the stipulation that the property be used as an educational and community center. The historic Marion Carll Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Ms. Jenkins lived there until her death in 1994. The property today: Although BOCES received a substantial grant from the state in 1990 to develop the farm as an educational site, approximately $1 million was needed for the renovation of the farm. In 2010 the Commack School District attempted to sell the historic Farm to Holiday Corp/Hamlet. The district residents voted it down primarily due to a very small turnout and lack of information. The district however continues to try to find alternative means to support the property as it has become a financial burden. As stated at numerous public meetings, given the cap on property taxes recently passed in New York and fully enacted in May 2012,it will be impossible for the District to continue to pay any costs associated with the property simultaneously funding the myriad of State mandated programs, educational and otherwise. The district has never allowed public access to the Farm as deeded by the will. Information taken from “Huntington’s Hidden Past”, written by Kerriann Flanagan Brosky 1995

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