Commack United Methodist Church 486 Townline Road Commack, NY 11725-2026 - 631.499.7310

Web Site: http://www.commack-umc.org [email protected] Emails: [email protected]

226 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE IN COMMACK 1783-2009 Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe, Pastor 631.499.4770 Carolyn Gehlbach, Editor JULY/AUGUST 2009

Open Hearts

Open Minds

Open Doors

pronunciation to deliver the sermon effectively. I enjoyed sharing God’s love with young people during “time for all ages”. Even though there are many areas that I need to work and to grow in preaching, I became more confident as a preacher. A well-know preacher said preaching is an act of blowing God’s breath and spirit into people’s soul. I pray that God will use me as a hole of God’s musical instrument, through which God blows God’s breath. The first Sunday of the every month, I led the part of liturgy and assist pastor Lynda with Holy Communion. One of the memorable experiences at Commack was that when I hold the communion bread and gave out to each person during Ash Wednesday. I felt so honored that God called me to participate in this holy and mysterious moment.

A Word From Your Student Intern Pastor Saying Good Bye from Your Student Intern Pastor It was a beautiful Sunday in October 2008 when I joined the Commack United Methodist Church as a student intern pastor. By your warm welcoming, I felt at home right away. My internship journey has been filled with moments of learning, struggling, and growing. Everything that I experienced during my internship becomes my assets and treasure as I begin for my new journey. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and to learn as an intern pastor at Commack UMC last nine months. Above all, I express my deepest appreciation to Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe and the whole congregation, who have supported me in Christian love.

2. Administration: I attended SPR and Council meeting on a regular basis to have better understand their work and responsibility. I had opportunities to observe the dynamics and the roles of the meetings. 3. Supervisory meeting: I met with Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe once a week. During this meeting, Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe and I talked about various issues and questions I asked. I also received lots of emotional and pastoral supports from her. Pastor Lynda also shared her experience and gave me feedback after I preached.

There were five areas that I have focused during my internship. 1. Worship: I preached five times during Sunday worship service. After I preached, Sunday Bible study group members reflected on my sermon and gave me very helpful feedbacks. I took the feedbacks seriously and I have worked on the tone of my voice and practiced for clear 1

4. Pastoral Care: I visited three members of the church – home visit, nursing home, and hospital. Two of the visits with the pastor and I learned more about pastoral visits through observing the pastor’s role model. 5. Small Group on Prayer: During Lent, I led a small group on prayer for six weeks. We learned various ways of prayers including contemplative prayer and Lectio Divina. Even though those prayer methods were new and not familiar to the group members, seven people came and participated very faithfully. It was one the most exciting and growing time for me. Even though I was trained and practiced prayer quite long time, it was my first time to lead the prayer group as a leader. As I led the group, I learned how I could be better and effective leader.

from the Pastor Women’s Sailing Camp I will be volunteering once again this summer at our United Methodist Camp Program. I will be program director for the Women’s Sailing Camp at Camp Quinipet. I’ll leave after worship on July 19 and will return Saturday, July 25th. For the first time we have more than full enrollment –there will be about 24 women attending. I’ve done this camp with as few as two participants and as many as 14, so 24 is a very full group! This is an opportunity for women to not only learn how to sail, but to experience the spiritual lessons of sailing and working together. Some have never been to Camp Quinipet so it is a wonderful opportunity to take in God’s love in a beautiful setting. While some women are very active in local churches, others have no church connection so it is a time to let them know of God’s grace. Please be in prayer for the group as we share this time together. ~~Rev. Lynda

Nine months has passed so quickly. I will not forget the time that I had at Commack UMC as a student intern pastor. Word cannot express enough how grateful I am. Once again, I would like to thank Rev. Lynda Bates-Stepe and the whole congregation. Lastly, I sincerely apologize and ask for your forgiveness, if in any way, my words or behaviors without any intention hurt you while I was here. Now as I leave Commack UMC, I keep all the memories and experiences that I had here in my heart as my treasure. I will remember all the love and support I received from you as I continue my journey. I will miss you all.

Pastor’s vacation time: I will be taking two of my four weeks of vacation this August 8-23. While I am gone, a nearby colleague will respond to any pastoral emergencies that arise.

REPORT FROM DR. SCANLON As you recall, we had Dr. Robert Scanlon, a wellknown Huntington obstetrician, as our guest during a service in January. He shared with us the work of A.I.M. (Aiding Infants and Mothers), of which he is president. We learned that he travels there each year and we took a free will offering to send to him before he made his next trip which was in March. He sent thanks and promised to report on the trip.

Peace in Christ, Juhye Hahn Student Intern Pastor A MOMENT OF QUIET REFLECTION: ...Let your faithful rejoice in your goodness. 2 Chronicles 6:41

This report was received and says, in part: “Two months ago we taught our first Safe Passages training workshop in Sierra Leone, a country with the highest maternal death rate in the entire world. In the aftermath of a decade long civil war and a decimated health care infrastructure, the risk of a woman dying from labor and delivery complications

Despite troubles that cloud our view of the world, God has endowed us with a love for good news that blooms like petunias in an onion patch. by Margaret A Huffman & Rev. Lynn James

A Word 2

is 1 in 7............the maternal death rate twice as high as it was in the U.S. nearly 100 years ago.

There will be no formal meetings during July and August. UMW members and other interested persons are invited to join in a Sing A Long at St Catherine of Siena's Nursing Home on Thursday, July 9, 2009. We will meet at 6 pm to carpool from the church. Nancy Gamby will be our song leader and the nursing staff will provide the refreshments as is their protocol. A special speaker for the September 10 meeting will be: The Reverend Annie Bovian, Executive Director of WAM.

We trained 80 health care providers - physicians and midwives - and we saw in their eyes a desire to learn and a passion to do their best – carrying the banner “To love is to Do”. With your support we continue to carry the same banner” When he visited, Dr. Scanlon told us he wanted to do the work of Christ where he could, and it is clear that each year, when he leaves his home and practice to travel to Nigeria, he is staying true to his inner promise.

Women's Advocate Ministry (WAM) is celebrating it's 26th year of serving women in prison. WAM was born out of the vision of a United Methodist minister and it's mission is to provide an active outreach, intervention, referral and supportive services to incarcerated women and their children. The majority of women inmates are incarcerated for non-violent crimes. The fastest growing segment of the prison population, many of these women have suffered severe physical abuse and were not employed, were receiving public assistance or had incomes of less than $600 per month prior to their incarceration. Few of the women that WAM has helped have returned to the prison system. Our local UMW has activily supported WAM as one of our mission projects. We invite the congregation and friends to attend this program. More information forthcoming in the September Messsenger.

The report that he mailed to us is on the bulletin board.....the side posted shows his picture, but feel free to remove the page and read the other side as well.

SUMMER BIRTHDAYS

Belated JUNE greetings to Pranith Gona and Christopher Titolo Special bouquets of all God's Flowers, filled with prayers for all his powers." JULY BIRTHDAYS: Harry Gahrman Gery Spory Deb Hervey Jessica Malgraff Barbara Knippenberg Erin Sullivan Susanne Litrell Andi Kessler John Kessler, Sr Michael Kopping Ryan Kopping Dagmar Mackay

Many thanks to all who supported our Father's Day candle program on June 23rd.. THRIFT SHOPPE- 631-499-7311 The Thrift Shoppe will be open every Tuesday & Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 1st & 3rd Saturday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Anne Tammaro & Patti Spory Summer Hours will be posted on the Door for July and August openings ___________________________________________ HAPPENING BARBECUE! If you weren’t there on June 6th, we missed you!

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS: MaryLee Arfer, Dotty Megna Mark Prasad Caroline Reddo, Nick Mondelli, Sue Medina Lara Ciamician, Eileen Waidelich, Anne Tammaro, Cyndi Pinkham, Matilda Gollatz, Timothy Sampson UNITED METHODIST WOMEN 3

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day! The church lawn was transformed into a busy picnic site...colorful pop-up canopies, bright tablecovers - and a group of about 45 folks to savor the fabulous picnic fare...and a chance to step away from the busy work week. The committee certainly wants to thank all those who stepped in to help with the heavy work...grills and tables, canopies, . .and gave a hand wherever it was needed. Chef Joe Megna took over the grilling and kept the great burgers and franks coming...salads and condiments, chips and drinks all were on hand to make the perfect picnic fare. Watermelon and cake.........and then a superenergetic fun Volleyball Game, concluding another Great Day!! The Happening Committee __________________________________________

August. Evry Friday night all summer long. Please come when you can. We start between 7 & 7:30 PM at my kitchen table at 26 Wicks Road, E. Northport. We need to assist the four women who work all year to try to fill our boutique Table at our church fair. Every little bit helps and it is a wonderful way to know a person better who maybe sits in the pew in front of you. Instead of a nod and hello, maybe you’ll learn shw says, “you Twit!” when she stabs herself with a needle_____or maybe not!. I hope to see you knockin’ on my door. HOLD THE DATE – Sept 25, 26, 27, 2009 “U.M.W. Retreat at Camp Quinipet” Last year was a blast! Inbetween our study group and worhip sessions we managed to get in a lot of walks, and tals, and a first, some sewing machine items made. Joan Fritz brought her stuff, but it didn’t slow her down a bit. Our over hill and dale bocce game brought alot of laughs. The sun was kind to us and our outdoors service was really nice. We4 had some 1st Timers: Joan Frits, her friend Kathy Corbett and Pastor Lynda, who had a nice communion service on Friday night. (a colorful cloth, candles and shells was all it took to set the mood),

ACTIVITIES Peanut Butter Gang will meet on Sat. July 4th Thrift Shoppe will be closed on Sat. July 4th Back Yard Breakfast Sunday July 26th at the home of Deb and Mike Hervey CRAFT FAIR Saturday August 29, 2009 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Rain or Shine Questions??? Call Nancy Gamby or [email protected]

Some of our regulars weren’t there and we hope thy;ll join us this year. Phyllis built a huge fire for our sing-a-long. Yes! Everyone sings a retreat I, Maureen, Deb, Sobana, Pat, Cyndi, Karen gave it their all. Marshmallows done to perfection was had by all. (We are cooks you know). Nancy and Margie had it down pat. Janice and I watched and ate. Dot Megna was everywhere at once. Where does she get the energy! Bev Fury stopped by from a nearby meeting to join us for dinner and the sing-a-long. She kept an eye on the clock so she wouldn’t miss the last ferry back to Orient. After all she was preaching the next morning. “Good Times – Good Food-- Good Friends.”

Holiday Craft Fair- November 21, 2009 Contact Nancy Gamby or l REMINDER: OUR ANNUAL FALL HARVEST FAIR

Our fair will be held on Saturday, October 24 from 10-3 PM. The workshop ladies meet at 10 am every Tuesday in room 9 of the education building to create items for their boutique and will continue to do so until October. If interested,you are cordially invited to participate. All proceeds of this fair go towards the current expense budget of the church. Volunteers are needed to help set up and chair the various booths. Please let me know if you can help. Please do not confuse this annual event with the August Vendor or November Vendor fairs. John Muller, Fair Chairperson

Call Nancy or Ginny to hold your spot for this year. Nan 499-3303, Gin-499-7394

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Ginny Eichenauer will be hosting a summertime/ Nighttime fair workshop for the months of July and 4