What a whirlwind spring at First Presbyterian of Glen Cove! Despite the weather, there has been not dampening of spirits in this place. If anything, we have found an inner sunshine and fire that has lit up our energies for the kingdom. All you have to do is go to our new website, www.OpenChurchGC.org and you will see that we have been busy with activities, new groups, sprucing up the outside of the building, dancing, putting up new banners, etc., etc.
I for one am both excited and pooped. As I write this I am still, very much looking forward to a slower pace this summer and time to be in God’s natural creation, meditating on how incredibly blessed we are to have beauty all around us with little work on our part. We do need to be mindful of our stewardship of the earth, our need to not take, use or abuse the natural world, but to protect and respect it for everyone today and for future generations.
Our Sunday School children have contributed to the beauty around the outside of our church building by planting flowers and our newly formed “Garden Gang” spent a Saturday morning mulching, weeding, pruning, fertilizing and otherwise tending the gardens all around the outside of the building, with the promise to return and work some more later. New banners for the outside have been purchased and were recently displayed in the Village Square during the Chamber’s Summer Showcase Street Fair giving notice that we are not just “that pretty church on the hill” but that we are an active fellowship of joyful, diverse, inclusive, justice-seeking people.
Peace,
Betsy
Gregarians Return
The Gregarians have made a comeback. This social church group that was so active years ago has been reinstated under the capable leadership of Eleanor Rapelje. The group now sponsors English Country Dancing and Covered Dish Dinners. See the Gregarians tab at left for information on their next event. So far these events have generated much enthusiasm and newcomers, as well as longtime members and friends are finding their way here. All are welcome and there is instruction for everyone, all ages, at the beginning of the dancing. In addition, this group is sponsoring films, walks and other events on the 2nd Sunday of each month, following worship. Holocaust Museum Showcase
Presbyterian Women Gather
There will be an island-wide gathering of Presbyterian Women at the Presbyterian Church of Garden City. These gatherings always include a great speaker, a lovely lunch and the opportunity to develop great friendships. You are guaranteed to learn more than you can imagine about the wonderful ways Presbyterian Women are reaching out to the world for Christ and helping others locally, nationally and internationally. If you would like to attend with Pastor Betsy, please let her know.
OutNAbout Glen Cove
New this years is a group called OutNAbout. Headed up by Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, this group initiated Gender Free Contra Dances in our community as a way to reach out to folks who might not otherwise feel welcomed in a church, and also to introduce us all to the fun and fellowship of Contra dancing. So far we have hosted 5 of these dances and have enjoyed great success. Please see the OutNAbout tab at left for information on the next dance. For those unfamiliar with Contra dancing, it is somewhat similar to square dancing. There is a small band – piano, fiddle and sometimes clarinet – and a caller. The moves are taught both before the dancing begins and then along the way.
In addition the OutNAbout group has begun offering films on the last Sunday of the month following worship. There have been two films shown so far with more to come. Coordinator of the film series is Dean Yoder and you can learn more about the series by visiting the OutNAbout page.
Pride Week in Glen Cove
Pride Week a Gigantic Success!!!
Following last year’s 1st Annual Pride Sunday, the OutNAbout group, along with several other organizations kicked off a Week of Pride with one of their Gender Free Contra Dances on Saturday, May 30, with at least 80 in attendance. Then on Thursday, June 4, they hosted, along with the church, a presentation of the full length documentary film, “Equality U”, about a group of college students traveling around the country visiting 20 colleges and universities to discuss the schools’ discrimination policies concerning GLBT people. It was a powerful film and the church will be showing it again some Sunday after worship.
Sunday, June 7, was our 2nd Annual Pride service and included a wonderful duet by our own Beda Lyon and Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, music by the Long Island Pride Chorus, directed by Cindy Quart, who also played piano, filling in for our organist, Maureen Husing, who was sadly out with the flu. There was a moving litany of remembrance which included the lighting of memorial candles and a display of the nationally acclaimed “Shower of Stoles”.
We received numerous letters of commendation from community leaders such as U. S. Senator Charles Schumer, Nassau County Legislator, Diane Yatauro, Suffolk County Legislator, Jon Cooper, New York State Assemblyman, Charles Lavine, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, Sea Cliff Mayor Bruce Kennedy, and others, most notably, New York City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, who, it was announced, will receive OutNAbout’s first Harvey Milk Leadership Award at next year’s service. Many of these community leaders were with us in worship and offered their congratulations in person during the Fellowship Hour.
Talks with North Country Reform Temple have already begun to expand next year’s Week of Pride to include a Friday night Shabbat service at the Temple. Other events are also in the mix, but will be announced as plans become more solidified. Needless to say our congregation is humming with new life and energy. The Spirit is on the move.
Mothers
Submitted by Eleanor Rapelje
Real mothers don’t eat quiche; they don’t have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids. Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn’t come out of carpets. Real Mothers don’t want to know what the vacuum just sucked up. Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’ and get their answer when a little vice says, ‘Because I love you best.’
Real Mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade… It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother…
The Images of Mother
4 years of age – My Mommy can do anything! 8 years of age – My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot! 12 years of age – My Mother doesn’t really know quite everything. 14 years of age – Mom doesn’t know that, either. 16 years of age – My Mother? She’s clueless. 18 years of age – That old woman?! 25 years of age – Well, she might know a little bit about it. 35 years of age – Before we decide, let’s get Mom’s opinion. 45 years of age – Wonder what Mom thinks about it? 65 years of age – Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.
Higher Visions
