Stewardship Sunday

October 16th we will celebrate Stewardship Sunday, but before you book your trip to "anywhere-just-so-I-don't-have-to-listen-to-another-sermon-on-giving," let me explain. We're going to look at stewardship in the larger sense of our custodial responsibilities, as God's children, to all of God's creation. What are our Christian obligations to the earth we share, the air we breathe, the water we drink? What is our responsibility to to our family, friends,community and complete strangers.

Joyful Noise Christmas Concert

The third annual "Joyful Noise" Christmas Concert is planned Sunday, December 12th at 3pm at Burdett Presbyterian Church. The "Joyful Noise" choir and special guests will present a program of traditional and contemporary Christmas music. You're invited to join the fun and sing-along. Light refreshments will be provided.

Soup n' Sandwich Luncheon

The Soup n' Sandwich winter luncheon series returned to Burdett Presbyterian Church Saturday, November 20th, from 11:30am to 1pm. Enjoy homemade soups, made-to-order sandwiches, dessert and beverage for just $6 per person. Take-outs will be available. The Soup n' Sandwich series continues the third Saturday of hte month through next April.

Thanksgiving Dinner

November 25th brings the fifth annual Burdett Presbyterian Church community Thanksgiving Day dinner. Thanks to the generous support of volunteers and local businesses, we will again offer a FREE Thanksgiving Day dinner to anyone who wishes to join us. The menu will include roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, escalloped corn, green beans, squash, fruit salad,rolls, apple or pumpkin pie and beverage. Dinners will be served between noon and 2pm. You may eat in or take-out and deliveries will be made in the Burdett area. Reservations are requested by November 17th by calling 607-546-8560. Anyone wishing to make a donation may send it to Thanksgiving Dinner, c/o Burdett Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 218, Burdett, NY 14818.

Burdett Presbyterian Church is grateful for ongoing and generous financial support. Without it, we could not afford to keep the doors of our small church open. And therein is our dilemma. Our nation and the world continue to face tough economic times. Millions, including folks in our congregation, have lost jobs and are searching for work. Others have seen retirement plans impacted by unsettled financial markets. Even our church’s small trust fund has taken a hit.

You work hard to pay bills, provide food and shelter for your family and plan for retirement. It seems unfair to ask for your continued financial support of our church---let alone an even greater financial commitment.

In his devotional novel, In His Steps, author Charles Sheldon imagined an entire small town asking “What would Jesus do in this situation?” and, “What would further Christ’s cause?” Merely asking those questions transformed lives. That was fiction….this is reality. That was “Raymond, USA” and this is Schuyler County, New York.

During tough times, the church must keep its doors open. Jesus asks us to care for those who are sick, hungry, lonely, abused and forgotten. And the reality of keeping the doors open requires money. Fuel, electric, insurance and phone bills must be paid, along with Dick Evans. Not to mention mission efforts to care for those less fortunate.

November 28th marks the start of the Advent season. Consider the many gifts God has poured upon you. Reflect on the celebrations and joys of your heart. In prayer, contemplate what God has given you and what you should return to God and others. Ask yourself “what you can afford,” but also ask “What does Jesus need?” Christ needs committed disciples, loving hearts and cheerful, generous stewards of the gifts entrusted to us.

Who knows, if enough of us ask the right question, and if enough of us answer it in faith, maybe we really can change reality!

BUSY WEEKEND

A busy weekend around our church. Volunteers have been busy for two weeks getting ready for tonight's annual Harvest Supper. The menu includes roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, escalloped oysters, squash, coleslaw, rolls, cranberry relish, apple or pumpkin pie, and beverage. Family-style servings are planned at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30pm......Tomorrow is Crop Walk Sunday. Walkers will gather at Watkins Glen's Clute Park at 2pm for a 6-mile walk to raise funds for Church World Services, Schuyler Outreach Food Pantry and the Chaplaincy program at Schuyler Hospital. Over the years, the annual Schuyler County Crop Walk has raised more than $85,000 to battle hunger at home and around the world.

Welcome home

Marty and I, along with son Jonathan and son-in-law Rob, were on hand last week when our youngest daughter, Kayla, returned home after a year-long deployment in Iraq. Words can not describe the waves of emotion as our eyes spotted the plane descending towards us---just as the sun was rising above the horizon. Hundreds people, family and friends of the returning troops had gathered to say Welcome Home! There were hugs, kisses, smiles, laughter and tears. Kayla and Rob have returned to San Antonio amid plans to begin preparing for their move to Colorado early next year. We ask for your continued prayers for our men and women in uniform and for their families and friends. We also ask for prayers for those seeking peaceful resolutions to ongoing violence around the world. We pray too for those who commit violence, hoping they come to know a loving, compassionate and inclusive Creator.

Good News on Heifer Project!

We recently turned on 1,400 deposit bottles and cans, collecting $70 for Heifer Project International. When we add to that figure, the $160 from the August Ice Cream Social and the $200.25 from the bake sale, we’ve raised over $430 towards the kids’ goal of $6,500. And that doesn’t include the “piggy banks” we’ve all been filling since Pentecost. Remember, we’ll be collecting those October 3rd on World Communion Sunday. Thanks to John Hunt, who took our bags of cans and bottles to a redemption center in Valois, where they paid us 5 ½ cents for each can or bottle. Please continue to save your deposit bottles and cans. Our young people are collecting them to raise money for their Heifer Project. You can drop off your empties anytime. Please leave them at the bottom of the outside stairwell to Fellowship Hall.

October Means Harvest Supper

It’s not too early to be thinking about how you can help with this year’s Harvest Supper. It’s on the calendar for Saturday, October 16th, with servings at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30pm. Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, escalloped oysters, squash, rolls, cranberry relish, dessert and beverage. Fran’s looking for volunteers. You’re also welcome to make a cash donation to help defray the cost of food. Tickets are $8.50 for adults, $4 for kids under 12. Kids under age 5 eat free. This is one of the church’s major annual fund-raisers. We’ll need everyone’s help to make sure it’s a big hit!

Cewmetery's Lookin' Good!

It’s been a busy two weeks in the Burdett Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Two weeks ago, Jud, Don and Jack Standish managed to set the large obelisk that laid on the ground near the front of the cemetery. The same day they also completed repairs or built new bases for several other stones. Last Thursday, the boys were able to reset the heavy granite stone that was toppled in 2008 when a large limb came down off the big oak tree at the north end of the cemetery. Again, the work bee included repairs or bases for an additional 9 or 10 stones. And speaking of large limbs, that very old oak tree shed another huge limb a few weeks ago. Thanks to whoever has been cutting up and hauling away what will surely amount to almost a full cord of firewood. Once that old oak seasons, it will keep somebody warm on cold winter days! Today, Ruth and Marty pitched in, planting perennials in an area near the south end of the cemetery. Not only will the plants give us color through the summer and fall, it will mean less mowing and trimming. If you get a chance, take a few minutes and wander through the cemetery, taking note of the great work done over the past two summers. If you take the time to look at the stones, you’ll discover a real art gallery, in terms of the etchings and designs on many of the stones.

Memorial Day

My thanks to Don Thompson for organizing a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at our church cemetery. Veterans in our congregation, including Don, Joann, Randy, Jack and Dan carried a flag daughter Kayla sent from Iraq. The veterans folded the flag and placed a wreath at the grave of Civil War veteran George Cutter, while taps played in the distance. GAR veteran Duane Paterson is also buried in our cemetery and flags were placed at both stones. The men of the church began restoration of cemetery markers last year, repairing or re-setting 30 stones. Several church volunteers have already been at work this summer, clearing brush and weeds, trimming and mowing. There are plans to continue repairing and re-setting markers that have fallen over the years.

SURPRISE!

I've never been good at handling surprises. I don't care for surprise parties and prefer to know my destination before getting into the car. So Sunday morning, May 30th, will go down in history as one of those days. Youngest daughter Kayla and husband Rob are both serving in the US Army. Kayla's been overseas since last November. Rob's stationed in Texas, awaiting her return. So to say I was speechless when they appeared at the church door just before worship started is a gross understatement. I tried to remain calm, cool and collected. Thought I was doing a good job until one of the guys said "It's okay to cry when you're happy. We do it too?!" Kayla and Rob, son Jon and his wife, Jen and daughter Heather and wife Marty brought our family fully together for the first time in over 2 years. We spent a few days catching up before Jon, Jen, Rob and Kayla headed out........I still don't like surprises, but that's one I'll always treasure and keep close to my heart----right next to the one daughter Heather pulled when she was attending Trinity College in Ireland and showed up to celebrate Christmas. Art Linkletter had it right....Kids do the darndest things.....no matter how grown up they are!

Time flies

Doesn't seem possible March 12th was my last post. So what's been happening since then.....A lot! My duties as director of a 2-county Retired Senior Volunteer program began March 16th. Our church hosted A Seder meal, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Tenebrae services. We have moved forward with the first phase of a stained glass window restoration project, launched a Sunday School Heifer Project International effort and resumed restoration work in our church cemetery. My thanks to all of you who have supported, and continue to support, our busy schedule. I had the privilege and pleasure of spending three days at The Chautauqua Institute in late April to complete work on a course begun last fall through Auburn Theological. Part of the time was spent discussing the need for "keeping the Sabbath." It's something that hit very close to home when I realized how long it had been since I penned a new post for our blog. But this isn't just my blog......those of you more familiar with this technology than I am know this forum can be a dialogue. So, please, feel share your reflections on your faith journey. Tell us about your struggles to "keep the Sabbath." And feel free to drop by our little church any Sunday morning at 10 to worship with us.

Spring De-cluttering

My wife reminded me the other day it's almost time for our annual spring ritual. We have different names for it. She calls it spring cleaning. I call it de-cluttering. While she's pre-occupied with the vacuuming and dusting, I hoe out the winter accumulation of "stick-it-in-the-closets." That's what our youngest daughter long ago named our tendency to "bag, tag and stick in the closet" all the things that pile up on the dining room table over time. She'll insist everything's a "keeper." I'll point out the closet's full and we need to make room for the next cycle of "things we really don't need right now, but might someday come in handy." Maybe we should use the same ritual to "de-clutter" our lives. Perhaps it's time to sort out the anger, envy and desire for control that's taking up room in our spiritual closet. Spring, the season of Lent, may be the perfect time to make more room in our lives for God.

Surprise!

As Christians, we are constantly challenged to be open to God's presence in our daily lives. We are asked to be aware of ways in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives and faith to serve others. Sunday, our young people asked us to help them with a Heifer Project International endeavor. They hope to raise enough money to purchase animals to help a family pull itself out of poverty. They've asked the Heifer Project to send us more information about these projects. We'll be sharing that information with you in the coming weeks and hope you'll become excited about the effort as the young people are!

DEADLINES AMUSE Me

For a long time, a sign on my desk read "Deadlines Amuse Me!" I've always loved deadline---for everyone else. I'd run for president of the Procrastinator's Club of America, but I never get around to sending in the nomination form. Give me a deadline, and I'll drag my feet until the eleventh hour. But then, stand clear, cause that's when I dive headlong into whatever it is I've had weeks to do, but have put off until the last minute. I've thought and planned, but haven't taken action. Guess I'm no different than Lot, who hung around Sodom too long. Not that much different than the foolish virgins in Jesus' story about the wedding hall doors being locked. Mom and Dad always told me, "never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." How many of us handle our faith the same way, telling ourselves "there's always tomorrow?"

Much to Ponder

We are asked to be stewards, caretakers if you will, of this earth we share. There is much debate about natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and a process called "fracking." We need to learn all we can about the pros and cons of this process. The Mayor of Dish, Texas, recently visited the area, sharing his experiences in dealing with process. For more information on drilling in DISH, Texas, visit www.ogap.org or baddish.blogspot.com. For information from America’s Natural Gas Alliance, go to America’s Natural Gas Alliance go to www.netl.doe.gov.

A Different Take on Fasting

One of the readings at our Ash Wednesday service was Isaiah 58:1-12

The Lord says, Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me. The people ask, why should we fast if the Lord never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention? The Lord says to them, the truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that? The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things.
I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.

Hunger Close to home

Some folks find it hard to believe there are hungry people in Schuyler County. If you have any doubts, or if you have trouble putting a face on hunger in your own backyard, check out the website for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier (www.foodbankst.org). It includes a link to the Hunger in America Report: 2010 and a local summary.

Lenten Adult Study Group

The focus of our Lenten study group will be “Community of Promise” by Rev. Dr. Wayne Gustafson. The book is a short novel that offers a different story of Moses in the wilderness. The story raises many social, religious, theological, political, psychological, and economic issues.” We’ll use the book as a launch pad for discussions about those issues. If you’d like to learn more about Community of Promise, visit http://www.entospress.com. The books will be “hot off the press” March 1st. If you’d like to be part of the group, talk to Dick Evans.