COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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MESSENGER The theme of this year’s Annual Conference was Dancing With the Spirit – Conference As a Means of Grace. Grace is always very bountiful at conference, and to have it be a focus this year was very meaningful. This was evident from the heartfelt stories shared from the floor by members moved to share particular moments of grace they remembered in their years of attending conference. Some of these individuals had attended for only a couple of years and others recalled moments from the 70’s when they attended as teens. Conference is a true reminder of the connectional ministry that Commack UMC participates. We were able to make many new friends as we joined others from different churches at each meal time. We welcomed to our great Commack “neighborhood” the new pastors who will be serving at Dix Hills and Union. We were able to spend time catching up with Rev. Juhye Hahn, who spent a year as an intern with us a few years ago and now serves a church in Connecticut. Our days were filled with a mix of business and worship. Our business sessions included approving petitions for action by our annual conference leadership as well as petitions for the General Conference to be held in 2016. It also included reports from our Board of Pensions and the committee that oversees Clergy Benefits. It was highlighted that through the General Board of Pensions, our investments influenced Hershey to commit to using 100% Fair Trade cocoa beans by 2017. We learned of an energy coop and energy audits to make church buildings more energy efficient. Our worship services were spirit-filled and included the Retirement Service, Anointing and Healing Service, Service of Remembrance for Pastors and their families, Service of Repentance for the Involvement of the Methodist Church in wrongs committed against Native Americans and Other Indigenous People.

July / August 2015

IN THIS ISSUE • • • • • • • • • • •

Prayers Birthdays Announcements UMW Lydia Circle Reflections on Conference Riddles Notes Historian’s Corner Calendar Ads

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Prayer

Spirit of Life; in whom we live and move and have our being, we worship you. We thank you for your presence among us and in your whole creation. Fill us with your power, that by truthful words, just action, and shared life we may witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen

July Birthday 1ST 3rd 3rd 5th 6th 10th 11th 15th 16th 21st 28th

KNIT & CROCHET Our participants have contributed a large number of warm items for the fall distribution to the homeless. Your at-home needlework as well as those interested in learning to knit or crochet is always welcome. We will meet every Saturday in the parlor from 1 pm-3pm. Participants will be notified via email if a session is cancelled.

FAIR WORKSHOP During the summer we will continue to meet Tuesday mornings at 10 am in room 9 of the Education Bldg. You are invited to join us in crafting for the fall fair.

Peter Stellmann Donna Etergineoso Logan Theofield Gery Spory Harry Gahrman Connie Jarvis John Kessler, Sr Barbara Knippenberg Deb Hervey Dagmar Mackay Andi Kessler Michael Kopping Ryan Kopping Jessica Mallgraf Erin Sullivan

August Birthdays 4th 8th 8th 10th 10th 13th 19th 21st 23rd

Matt Gamby Eileen Waidelich Rob Freilicher Anne Tammaro Dotty Megna Cyndi Pinkham Matilda Gollatz Tim Sampson Nick Mondelli Christine Amato Marylee Arfer Lara Ciamician Caroline Reddo

The world is such a busy place that many times we find We haven’t even mentioned things that often come to mindThat’s why your day is welcome for the perfect chance it brings, To someone nice as you, we wish the best of life’s good things. Happy birthday and may God bless your day!

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Our June program was led by Sobana Prasad whose topic was “Welcoming Diversity.” Sobana’s friend and our guest speaker was Gladys Fuentes, a pastor, from the Inglesias Pentecostal Asemblea de Dios in Hempstead. Gladys spoke of her mission to Honduras,”her personal call from God.” She spoke of the poverty that is rampant there and the women who are treated as less than second class citizens; whose children are often stolen from their one room homes by the ever present gangs. Gladys preached the word of God and gave hope to the many poor Hondurans. Sobana’s excellent media presentation preceded Gladys’ talk. Matilda out did herself again, providing Yucca Cake and Tres Leches Cake. Our speaker also provided some Honduran specialties. The refreshments were delicious! Thank you, Sobana for planning this insightful program. On July 9th UMW will carpool from the church at 6:30 pm for the annual visit to Olsen’s Nursing Home for a sing along. This visit is always a delight for the residents and the aides provide refreshments for everyone. Any interested persons are more than welcome to join in. There will not be a formal UMW meeting. The only August meeting is on August 15 at 10 am for the women’s retreat planning. We will meet at the home of Ginny Eichenauer

Dates to Remember: Sept 25, 26, 27: Women’s retreat at Camp Quinipet, Shelter Island Please see Deb Hervey or Ginny Eichenauer for information and reservations. When during the month of September, you see Commack High School’s huge display of American Flags; know that our UMW donated a flag in remembrance of the First Responders on 9-11. Our flag from 2014 is currently flying on our flag pole.

Lydia Circle The circle will meet on Wednesday, August 5th at 10:30 am. All women are invited to attend this casual and social morning meeting. Light refreshments will be served. 3

Our evening dinner times focused on various ministerial groups – Women in Ministry, Volunteers in Mission and Methodists Federation for Social Action. Through the use of modern technology, we were led in prayer “live’ by one of our missionaries in Nepal. We saw and heard from missionaries in Japan and Ecuador as well. We will be preparing a session for September to provide a more detailed report of the business conducted at conference. Several of the petitions require detail explanation and a time to respond to questions. Your conference team (Tim Sampson, Rev. Lynda and myself) will be preparing a session for early fall to provide a more detailed report of the six legislative sessions at conference. In the meantime, for additional reports and pictures, you can visit the Conference Website (http:// www.nyac.com/2015annualconference). There is so much packed into 3 ½ days and everyone leaves re-energized for mission in their local church. I encourage others to consider becoming a delegate. Next year, we will provide the dates as soon as we receive them so others who may want to come as visitors can save the date. - Deb Hervey

1. What flies when it’s born, lies when it’s alive, and runs when it’s dead? 2. I am a mother and a father, but have never given birth. I’m rarely still, but I never wander. What am I? 3. I have keys but no locks, I have space but no room. You can enter, but can’t go outside. What am I? 4. I am always there, some distance away, somewhere between land or sea and sky I lay, you may move toward me, yet distant I’ll stay. 5. Every night I’m told what to do, and each morning I do what I’m told. But I still don’t escape your scold.

keep working on these, the answers will be in the next Messenger

Happy 60th Anniversary to our parents, Wilbert & Eileen Waidelich We wish you many more wonderful years together! With Love, Steven, Barbara, & Elizabeth

Riddle answers from last month; 1. The letter M 2. A glove 3. Incorrectly 4. A towel 5. A shadow

#ConferenceSelfie 4

Historian’s Corner Submitted by John Muller, Church Historian

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Historian’s Corner Submitted by John Muller, Church Historian con’t

Please Join Us as we celebrate Susan Medina’s life July 11, 2015 10:00 a.m.

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To stay up to date visit our calendar on line; http://www.commack-umc.org/Calendar.shtml 7

To stay up to date visit our calendar on line; http://www.commack-umc.org/Calendar.shtml 8

Advertise your business in “The Messenger” In order to help defray the cost of printing and mailing, we will be including an advertising page or pages each issue. You can place an ad in our newsletter that will encourage our members to patronage your business. All ads will be business card size. Annual cost : $85 (10 issues) One time ad : $20 Over 220 If you would like to be in our next issue, please see Mary in the office to make copies a payment, and summit your ad All submissions must be finalized by the 15th of month! previous month.

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Thanks to a number of people the Thrift Shop had a very successful yard sale on June 13. The weather was beautiful and the turnout was great. Church people and people from the community met, mingled, ate and shopped, a fun day for all. So many people were involved that it is hard to acknowledge everyone, but I must thank Mary for keeping us organized, Pam for running a delicious food concession, Margie for organizing the bake sale, Alex for his muscles, and those manning the thrift shop Joan, Patti, Sobana, Penny and Tom. Please forgive me if I overlooked anyone. One of the reasons that our food concession was such a success was because the following local business made donations:

Waldbaums, Mayfair Shopping Center, 84 Jericho Turnpike, Commack Dunkin' Donuts, 169A Commack Rd., Commack, 'Y White Castle, 2237 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, 'Y Stop and Shop, 3126 Jericho Turnpike, East 'orthport 'Y Stop and Shop, 1100 e Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, 'Y Spuntinos, 687 Old Country Road, Dix Hills, 'Y Viajos Pizza, 1277 east Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, 'Y Help us show our appreciation for their generous donations by shopping these stores. Again, thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success, we had a slow winter due to the weather and are working hard to make us for lost revenue. We are holding our summer bag sale on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 – fill a bag with shoes, clothing and purses for only $5.00. On Tuesday, June 30 we have our official closing “Customer Appreciation Sale” – everything in the store will be ½ price. So. Check out our bargains and spread the word to friends and family. Most importantly, as we close for the summer we would like to thank all our faithful, hardworking volunteers for the time and dedication. These are the people who keep the Church thrift shop operating. The Thrift Shop is not only a financial blessing for our Church, but also a blessing for those who benefit from our merchandise. Peace, Blessings and Prayers Harriet and Anne 9

Non Profit US Postage Paid Permit # 24 Commack, NY

COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 486 Townline Road Commack, NY 11725

* If there is any change to this address please inform the church office ASAP

If you would like to be emailed the Messenger next month (a color version!) instead of receiving a paper copy; please email Mary in the office at [email protected] 10