Grace Notes January 2017 ● Vol. 166

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ▪ 882 BOSTON POST ROAD ▪ RYE ▪ NY ▪10580 / 914-967-0842 / WWW.RYEPC.COM

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your

own insight. In all your ways acknowledge God, and the Lord

will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for

your flesh and a refreshment for your body.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)

After all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, some folks

welcome the quiet of January, while others long for the excite-

ment of the season just past. In the Church’s liturgical calendar,

all of the joys of the Advent and Christmas seasons come to a

conclusion with Epiphany, which is on January 6. Then we

move into what is known as Ordinary Time, where nothing spe-

cial seems to happen until we reach Transfiguration Sunday, and

then the beginning of Lent on the following Wednesday, which

is Ash Wednesday. Otherwise, liturgically speaking, there is

nothing special happening in January.

Not so for us as a country, nor as a congregation. On January

20, we as a nation will experience again the peaceful transition

of power as a new president is sworn into office. Closer to

home, we as a congregation will move into a transition in Janu-

ary as we bid Rachael Huntley and her family goodbye, and then

begin the search for our third pastor.

Friends, transitions can be scary. In the midst of the change,

we may question God’s plan and wish we could gain wisdom to

understand. The Book of Proverbs tells us that to find wisdom,

we must first fear (to stand in awe of) the Lord. The writer of

Proverbs is speaking to his son and telling him to trust in God.

The passage does not tell us how God will direct our paths, but it

says to trust in God. Sometimes we run and look for answers to

our questions in the Bible that are not there. The Bible was not

written to answer all of our questions. In times of transition, the

Bible does not tell us exactly what we are to do next. Instead,

the Bible tells us about our Savior. The Bible tells us of God’s

continuing love and grace to all people. The Bible invites us to

join God and enter into God’s story of redemption.

As we move into these transitions, may we trust in the Lord

with all our heart, not relying simply upon our own insight. May

we be in prayer for our country and our congregation, asking that

God’s Spirit might be moving in us, and through us, even as we

seek to be a part of God’s story of redemption.

I close with a prayer that is in our Book of Common Prayer. It

was written by the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow

Wilson, who was a Presbyterian.

Almighty God, ruler of all the peoples of the earth, forgive, we

pray, our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and

love truth; give wisdom to our counselors and steadfastness to our

people; and bring us at last to the fair city of peace, whose founda-

tions are mercy, justice, and goodwill, and whose builder and mak-

er you are; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

What’s Inside? Page 2: Adult Education, Coming Home

Page 3: Stephen Ministry, Stop Hunger Now,

Christmas Elves, Concert Series

Pages 4-5: Christmas Pageant

Page 6: Christian Education, Gingerbread

House Party, Youth Carolers

Page 7: Women’s Association, Communion

Workshop

Page 8: Weekends in January, Bible Study

Page 9: January Calendar

Page 10: Rye Presbyterian Nursery School

SAVE THE DATE . . .

The Imagine Initiative

celebrates one year! Sunday, February 12

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (2)

Adult Education, Coming Home

Click here

for Winter/Spring

Brochure

Progressive Realignment

Sundays, January 22 and 29

This two-week course is for people

who are stuck between career and the

next phase of life, or would like to

begin planning for this eventuality. It

is a series of thinking tools that will

give people fresh insight into their

own vision for the “third half” of

their lives.

This course will be led by our own

Campbell Gerrish. Mr. Gerrish, a recognized leader in

the insurance industry, co-founded Winged Keel Group,

one of the leading independent life insurance brokerage

firms in the U.S. He dedicates significant time to men-

toring future leaders. He is a 1973 graduate of Princeton

University.

Michael Corcoran

Rye Police Commissioner

Sunday, January 8

Join us as we welcome Michael Corcoran,

Rye’s new Police Commissioner. He will

share with us his vision for how the Police

Department works within the community.

Q&A to follow.

SUNDAY MORNING OFFERINGS 9:00-9:45 A.M., WESTMINSTER ROOM

(No classes January 1 or January 15—MLK Weekend)

“Coming Home” Program

Is Coming Back!

There are many ways to be engaged in our

Coming Home program, which is an 18 week

life skills program for returning citizens

(formerly incarcerated). You can serve as a

mentor to one of the program partici-

pants. There are other ways to engage that are equally as im-

portant to the program’s success. The cornerstone of the Coming

Home program is a shared meal provided weekly on Thursday

evenings. Participants in the Coming Home program have often

told us that this is the first time in their lives that they have expe-

rienced a sense of community, belonging, and acceptance.

Please consider joining us for our first dinner on Thursday, Feb-

ruary 2, at 6:00 p.m.

Please also consider providing a meal for the Coming Home

program. Since we encourage congregants to join in the dinner,

we expect to have approximately 25-30 people in attend-

ance. You might want to partner with a friend or group to pro-

vide a meal. Of course, providing a meal also includes the won-

derful experience of joining us for supper, and assistance in

clean up! Linda Otness (otness.linda@gmail.com) is our dinner

coordinator.

Perhaps you have a special talent or area of expertise that

might be useful to our participants. We are looking for volun-

teers with experience in the areas of job readiness (resume writ-

ing, interview skills, etc.), basic financial self-sufficiency skills

(creating a budget, choosing the best credit card option, opening

a checking/savings account, etc.), clinical expertise in recovery

from trauma, building healthy relationships. We work with our

participants to bring them a well-rounded life skills program and

are looking forward to drawing from the vast experience and

knowledge of our congregation!

For more information or to volunteer, please contact our Pro-

gram Coordinator, Janet Donat (donatjanet@yahoo.com) or at

(914) 645-8822.

Christmas Carolers at RPC All three RPC Choirs

Stephen Ministry, Stop Hunger Now, Christmas Elves, Concert Series

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (3)

Thank you to our

2016 Christmas Elves for

The Greening of the Kirk . . .

Daya Carunia, Philip Cicchiello, Kristen Doran,

Kristin Jautz, Lisa Keegan, Pam and Roger

Moyer, Dee O’Brien, Katherine Olsen, Stefan

Radtke, Allison Sellon, Ron Sizemore, Sarah

Snell, Birgit Townley, Elizabeth Zahm

and, of course, a very special thank-you to

Juan Velasquez and Alonso Osorio!

Celebrate!

The Jackson Memorial Organ &

The Peter B. Knock Scholarship

Friday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.

Caroline Robinson and David von Behren,

the winners of the 2016 Peter B. Knock

scholarships for the study of sacred music,

will perform on the recently-upgraded

Jackson Memorial Organ (dedicated in

1982). Freewill donations received will go

to the Knock Memorial Fund as it fosters

a new Internship in Sacred Music at RPC.

Cantus

Friday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.

Cantus, the highly-acclaimed nine-voice

men’s professional choral ensemble,

will present a concert, No Greater Love

Than This, which explores the life of a

soldier. Admission: premium seating

(limited to 50) at $20 each; general seat-

ing at $10 each.

Concerts

2017

This season’s concerts are made possible in part by the Imagine Initiative of Rye Presbyterian Church.

DAY OF

SERVICE

AT RPC

January 22

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

(A light lunch will be served.)

This program will be returning to RPC on Sunday, January

22. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief

agency. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this meal

packaging event; an immensely fun, hands-on, and reward-

ing experience. A group of 40-50 volunteers can package

10,000 meals in just two hours! These meal packages are

then shipped around the world to support school feeding

programs and crisis relief. Please contact Rachael Huntley

at rhuntley@ryepc.com if you are interested in volunteer-

ing for this event.

“Walk…with all humility

and gentleness,

with patience, bearing with one

another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.”

Could it be possible that Paul’s prod within his letter to

the Ephesians was an attempt at encouraging a New

Year’s resolution for the community? January seems to

be a natural time to reflect upon what we learned in the

previous year as well as set our sights on ways to learn

new things. Over the last thirteen years, Rye Presbyterian

Church has joined Stephen Ministries in equipping men

and women willing to learn more about “bearing with one

another in love.” Jerralee Ernst, a trained Stephen Minis-

ter, is the twenty-eighth Rye Presbyterian Church member

to attend the Stephen Series Leader’s Training Course

(LTC), an engaging week of learning, discovery, worship,

relationship building, and catching a vision for all that

Stephen Ministry can be for our congregation. Please join

us in praying for her as she travels to Orlando, Florida and

returns with new ideas to help “maintain the unity of the

Spirit in the bond of peace.”

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (4)

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017

Christian Education

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Sunday School

We will be focusing on Matthew’s gos-

pel during the month of January: paving

the way for February, when we will have

a four-week session covering the Sermon

on the Mount.

On January 15, there will be no Sunday

School; children will be welcome in the

Westminster Room for Enrichment ac-

tivities.

On January 22, the children will join

Lisa Rawson for Singing Our Faith.

The January Family Fellowship is the

return of the Stop Hunger Now program

on Sunday, January 22, from 11:30 a.m.-

1:30 p.m. Please join us for some fun

meal packaging!

Middle School Connection

RPC’s Middle School Youth Group, is

open to all 6th –8th graders.

Regular Meetings—January 4 and 18,

5:30-6:45 p.m. at RPC

Confirmation 2017

Sunday, January 8,

4:00 p.m. (A-L) and 5:00 p.m. (M-Z)

Westminster Room

Sunday, January 22,

4:00 p.m. (M-Z) and 5:00 p.m. (A-L)

Westminster Room

Sunday, January 29,

4:00 p.m. (A-L) and 5:00 p.m. (M-Z)

Westminster Room

High School Youth Group

Happy New Year! All 9th–12th graders

are welcome at RPC’s High School

Youth Group! \

Sunday, January 8,

6:00-7:15 p.m.: Dinner & Fellowship,

RPC Youth Rooms

Saturday, January 14,

10:00 a.m.-Noon: Community Service

at The Sharing Shelf

Sunday, January 22,

6:00 p.m.-7:15 p.m.: Dinner & planning

session for Bingo Fundraiser,

RPC Youth Rooms

Contact Rachael Huntley with any ques-

tions: rhuntley@ryepc.com.

High School Youth Caroling at Nesta d’Addario’s home

Gingerbread

House

Party

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (7)

Women’s Association, Communion Workshop

Monthly Reflection

The Thrift Shop Christmas Sale . . . The Thrift Shop Ladies worked like CRAZY to price

Christmas items for the annual Christmas sale held on

December 4! Here they are at the pricing party the Sat-

urday before. The number of Christmas boxes they

went through was beyond imagination.

Women’s Association

January International Lunch

Thursday, January 19,

12:30 p.m.

Go EAST, Young (and Youthful)

Ladies! We’re taking a trip to the

Far East, but we only have to go

as far as Harrison! Hajime—it

means “original” in Japanese.

Great sushi, to judge from the

reviews. Break out of the ordinary and brighten up

your winter day when you join with other interesting

RPC women and friends.

ALL are welcome! This is an AD HOC get-together—not a group of

“regulars” who all know each other! Different people

come every time, so it’s a great way to get to know

some other RPC-ers in a fun, casual setting.

Feel free to bring a friend.!

RSVP: Email Cindy Kuster, or call (914) 282-1956

Hajime, 267 Halstead Ave., Harrison

Tel: 914-777-1543

COMMUNION

WORKSHOP

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4,

10:00-11:30 a.m.

The body of Christ?

What is that all about?

And what exactly is in that cup??

If your child or children have been curious about the

Lord’s Supper, this is a great opportunity for children to

learn more about it, to be officially welcomed at the com-

munion celebration of the church, and for you to grow in

your faith together.

On Saturday, February 4, from 10:00–11:30 a.m., children

in the second through fifth grades are welcome to come with

a parent to this special workshop. Together we will explore

the meaning of the sacrament and how we celebrate it here

at Rye Presbyterian.

Space is limited, so please sign up by contacting

Rev. Love – dlove@ryepc.com.

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017

Weekends in January, Bible Study

Bible Studies

Men’s Bible Study

Sundays. January 8 and 22, at 8:00 p.m. in the Library

This month, the men of Sunday evenings will be wrapping up

their work with the Wisdom of Solomon and moving on to

new green pastures. As we begin a new year and a new book,

if you’d like to join in and be a part of this ongoing fellow-

ship and conversation, plan to gather on Sunday evenings,

January 8 and 22, at 8:00 p.m. in the church library.

Contact Dan Love if you’d like to be on email reminder list.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Wednesdays, January 4 and 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the Library

Our tour of the greatest hits of the Old Testament continues!

All are welcome to join in this ongoing reading and discus-

sion. No homework—no prior bible knowledge needed!

Contact Dan Love if you’d like to be on email reminder list.

Women’s Bible Study

Saturdays, January 7 and 21

Please join the Women’s Bible Study twice monthly on Satur-

day mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the RPC Library. A warm wel-

come and hot coffee await!

For further information, contact Cynthia De Santis.

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Note: No 8:30 a.m. service this day 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship & Communion in the Chapel No Sunday School—No childcare today

5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Sunday School 4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library

5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message.

5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Stephen Ministry Commissioning Children’s Choir sings Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message. 10:30 a.m. Stop Hunger Now / Assembly Room 4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library

5:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Communion in the Chapel

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel 8:40 a.m. Prayer Gathering / Library 9:00 a.m. Adult Education / Westminster Room 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary Ordination & Installation of Officers Youth Choir sings Sunday School -Children attend worship through children’s message.

4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (A-L) / Westminster Room 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class (M-Z) / Westminster Room 8:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study / Library

Sunday, January 15

Sunday, January 1

Saturday, January 7

Saturday, January 14

Saturday, January 21

Sunday, January 8

STEPHEN MINISTRY COMMISSIONING Sunday, January 22,

during 10:00 a.m. worship

ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION

OF OFFICERS Sunday, January 29,

during 10:00 a.m. worship

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, February 5,

following 10:00 a.m. worship

Sunday, January 22

Saturday, January 28

Sunday, January 29

FAREWELL TO

RACHAEL HUNTLEY

Sunday, January 29,

at coffee hour

NEW OFFICER ORIENTATION Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Westminster Room

RPC OFFICER RETREAT Saturday, January 7, 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m.

Westminster Room

CHURCH OFFICES AND BUILDINGS CLOSED

MONDAY, JANUARY 2, IN OBSERVANCE OF THE NEW YEAR’S DAY HOLIDAY, AND MONDAY, JANUARY 16, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

BOARD MEETINGS

Deacons: Wednesday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Library

Trustees: Wednesday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room

Session: Wednesday, January 25, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room

WORSHIP AND STUDY

Worship on Saturday evening:

Saturdays, 5:00 p.m., January 7, 14, 21, & 28

Worship on Sunday:

8:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Chapel

10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary; January 1 in the Chapel

Prayer Gatherings: Sundays in the Library at 8:40 a.m.

Adult Education:

Sundays, 9:00-9:45 a.m., Westminster Room: Michael Corcoran, Rye Police Commissioner: January 8

Progressive Realignment: January 22 & 29

Sunday School: Regular Sunday School on January 8, 22, & 29

January 1: Family Worship (Note: no childcare available)

January 15: Enrichment activities, Westminster Room Confirmation: Sundays, Westminster Room, January 8 (A-L at 4:00 p.m., M-Z at 5 p.m.);

January 22 (M-Z at 4:00 p.m., A-L at 5 p.m.); & January 29 (A-L at 4:00 p.m., M-Z at 5 p.m.)

Men’s Sunday Bible Study: January 8 & 22, 8:00 p.m., Library

Wednesday Morning Bible Study: January 4 & 18, 10:00 a.m., Library

Women’s Bible Study: Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., January 7 & 21, Library

Women’s Discipleship: Tuesdays, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Library.

YOUTH

Boy Scout Troop #2: Every Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Assembly Room

Connection: Wednesdays, January 4 & 18, 5:30 p.m., Youth Rooms

High School Youth Group: Sundays, January 8, 14, & 22 / Youth Rooms

MUSIC

Chancel Choir Rehearsal: Sundays, 9:15 & 11:30 a.m. (No Chancel Choir on January 1.)

Children’s Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays, 3:45 p.m., Choir Room

Youth Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays/Sundays TBD

OTHER CHURCH MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS

3 Ts: Tuesday, January 17, 10:00 a.m., Westminster Room

Family Fellowship: “Stop Hunger Now,” Sunday, January 22, 11:30 a.m, Assembly Room

Mission & Outreach: Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., Library

RPC Officer Orientation: Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m., Westminster Room

RPC Officer Retreat: Saturday, January 7, 12:00 p.m., Westminster Room

Stephen Ministry:

Stephen Leaders: Tuesday, January 3, 5:30 p.m., Library

Continuing Education and Supervision: Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 p.m., Library

Thrift Shop: Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.-l:00 p.m.

Women’s Association: International Lunch, Hajime, Harrison, Thursday, January 19, 12:30 p.m.

Worship & Music: Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room

OUTREACH AND SUPPORT GROUPS

AA Rye Harrison Group: Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Room

AA Group: Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Room

Mr. Westchester/Al-Anon Group: Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Library

Sandwichmakers: Thursday, January 19, 10:00 a.m., Kitchen & Assembly Room

RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017

January Schedule of Meetings, Events, and Programs

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RYE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • GRACE NOTES • JANUARY 2017 (10)

Rye Presbyterian Nursery School

The Rev. Daniel Love, Co-Pastor

The Rev. Dr. John Miller, Co-Pastor

The Rev. Rachael Huntley, Minister of Christian Education

Jason Charneski, Director of Music and Organist

Lisa Rawson, Director of Choirs for Children and Youth

Maida Robinson, Chief Administrative Officer

Rosemary Annunziato, Church Secretary

Denise LeVan, Pastoral Assistant

Juan Velasquez, Head Sexton/Building Manager

Rye Presbyterian Church 882 Boston Post Road

Rye, New York 10580

Tel: 914.967.0842

www.ryepc.com

We are a Stephen Ministry church.

Greetings to the RPC Community

from Kristin Bassett Kumar

Rye Presbyterian Nursery School held its

annual Holiday Caroling Party on Satur-

day, December 3. The event is funded

by sponsorships and all proceeds go to-

wards tuition scholarships for the up-

coming school year. Over 50 parents and

staff volunteered to organize and run the

event. The festivities for the party in-

cluded a sing-along with children’s mu-

sicians from Songs for Seeds, caroling

lead by The Rye High School A cappella Group, an outdoor petting zoo and a

horse-drawn hay ride. Our studio teach-

er, Gail Walter, organized a fun art pro-

ject for the children. The children were

able to create their own snow globes

with watercolor paint and salt. After

painting a scene on their paper, they

sprinkled salt on the wet paint to create

the texture and sparkle of snow.

In addition, families enjoyed buying

delicious homemade treats from the bake

sale and getting their photo taken with

Santa. Beautiful themed baskets for

children were given away in our annual

raffle. During the week before the par-

ty, the students in each classroom made

an ornament to adorn the Christmas

tree in the Church assembly room.