November Newsletter

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

November is here! Of course, when we think of November, we think of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time that we remember and are thankful for all of the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.  

It was the day after Thanksgiving. A woman caught her husband weighing himself on the scale. He was sucking in his stomach. “That won’t help you, Fred,” the woman said. “You know that, don’t you?” “Oh, it helps a lot,” said Fred. “It’s the only way I can see the numbers!”

I hope you’re ready for Thanksgiving--and not just for the turkey and all the trimmings. Giving thanks is important to a successful life. A growing body of research is indicating that a sense of gratitude is vital if we are to be happy and whole.

When we become truly grateful for God’s gift of love, we can’t be the same anymore! We are changed! We are turned around. We are converted, transformed. Real gratitude gives us a new relationship with God.

When we realize that God is loving, accepting, and forgiving, it changes our lives. You don’t have to be afraid or anxiety-ridden anymore. Gratitude becomes the lifeblood of your lifestyle.

Gratitude also gives us a new reason for living. Every now and then I try to think of a new idea about what it means to be grateful. Here is my thought for this year: If gratitude is the celebration of God’s generosity, then the Christian lifestyle is the imitation of God’s generosity. That is, the best way to express our gratitude to God is to imitate, to model, to emulate God’s generosity in our daily living.

We have so much to be thankful for. I was reading recently that we lose as much in loose change every year as the rest of the world has to live on. Figure it for yourself. These figures are a little out of date, but adjusted for inflation they are still valid. The cash lost each year in the United States amounts to about seventy-five dollars per capita, money that has fallen out of pockets, is misplaced, and so forth. The total average income for most of the earth's people comes to about sixty-nine dollars per person. The average American thus loses more money each year than a lot of people earn.

Do we have any idea how fortunate we are? And yet we whine, we complain, we act as if somehow life has mistreated us.

Kent Crockett, in his book, I Once Was Blind, But Now I Squint, tells about his father who had to undergo radiation treatments for throat cancer. “The therapy damaged his taste buds so that he couldn’t taste food. His inability to enjoy a meal made eating a dreaded duty. The doctors told him his taste might return after the treatments were finished, but no one could say for certain. “Weeks passed, then months. Every meal became a forced feeding to keep him alive. After eating flavorless food for over a year, he sat down for dinner one evening. Reluctantly, he forced the fork inside his mouth and discovered that his taste had returned. What most people would call a bland dinner became the best meal he had eaten in his life.”

Through losing his taste and then regaining it, Crockett’s father learned to relish each morsel as never before. He became thankful for the ability to taste because he now had a reference point. He would never forget what it was like to eat tasteless food. “You don’t have to lose something in order to be thankful,” says Crockett. “You can develop a ‘taste’ for your blessings by simply realizing what life would be like without them.”

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to think about some of the blessings you enjoy. And then think about what it would be like if those same blessings were taken from you. When they were restored. Can you imagine how grateful you would be?

Have a peaceful, thoughtful, and thankful Thanksgiving!

 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Bonnie

November  Bible Study

Tuesday evenings our Bible Study is “Words of Life – Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today”  by Adam Hamilton.  It begins at 6:00 pm on Zoom.  Contact  Pastor Bonnie if you would like to be added to the “Zoom” email invitation.

 

November 7  Annual Harvest Ham Dinner

The Harvest Ham Dinner is an annual event occurring the first Saturday in November. This year will be the 29th year it has been offered. The dinner includes baked ham, scalloped potatoes, squash, cabbage salad, homemade rolls, and gingerbread or apple crisp for dessert.  The cost is $12.00 for adults and $4.00 for children ages 5-12. Due to COVID-19 the dinner will be available for TAKE-OUT ONLY. THERE WILL BE NO PARKING IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT THAT DAY FROM NOON ON .  TO BUY YOUR TICKETS AND PICK UP YOUR MEALS YOU WILL ENTER THE PARKING LOT STAYING TO THE RIGHT AND GO TO THE BACK DOOR WHERE SOMEONE WILL BE SELLING TICKETS AND TAKING DESSERT ORDERS (APPLE CRISP OR GINGERBREAD).   Then proceed to the main church door and pick up your meals.

Volunteers will be needed on Friday, November 6th at 1:00 PM to help with the cabbage and onions and on Saturday, November 7th at 9:00 AM to peel potatoes.  Additional volunteers will be needed for baking gingerbread or apple crisp.  To sign up to help or for further information, please contact either Colleen Ulrich (518-774-4627) or Janet Kucel (661-7682). Many thanks in advance for all of your help!!

 

November 10 &24

The new men’s Group will be meeting at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall on Wedenesdays, November 10th and24th.  They are discussing the book Manhood Restored, by Eric Mason.

 

November 16  Pie Orders Due

Tuesday, November 16th is the last day you can order your apple or pumpkin pie by calling the church at 518-661-6566.  If you would like to donate canned pumpkin (not pie mix), evaporated milk, cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves to the pie fundraiser for Debbie Blayzor those should be brought in by November 16th also.

 

November 18  Parkinson’s Group

The Parkinson’s Group has begun to meet again at the church at 2:00 pm on the third Thursday.

 

November 21 and 22  Thanksgiving Baskets

Thanksgiving baskets/boxes will be made up after church on Sunday, November 21nd and picked up on Monday, November 22rd from 12:30 to 3:00pm.

 

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship letters have been mailed out and if you would like one but have not received one call the church office 518-661-6566.  They should be returned by Stewardship Sunday, November 21.

 

OFFERING ENVELOPES

Offering envelopes for 2022 will be available for pick up in Fellowship Hall in December.  Envelopes will be given to those who used them last year and any who requested them with their pledge slips. 

 

WORSHIP NOTES

Our beautiful sanctuary is even more beautiful with all the lovely things brought in and left by our congregation.  Thank you all so much.   The communion table is just bursting with flowers, gourds, leaves, squash, filled cornucopia (thank you Crystal), and so much more  and the flowers, and pumpkins surrounding it  just were too beautiful for words.  If you haven’t seen it yet, please walk up and take a look the next time you are in church.     We will keep this lovely display until after Thanksgiving when we will change to Advent and Christmas.     It has been so much fun to be changing the displays for each season - but this one was special.   As always a heartfelt thanks to the Worship Committee members.    You are all so generous and so willing to help make this such a successful endeavor.  Hugs to everyone.        Mary Seaman  and  Nancy Frank

DIRECTORY UPDATE

The good news is that the changes in addresses, phone numbers, names have been submitted to Jessica Ford who is putting this together.  The coming pages will replace what is currently in your directory.

 

The bad news is that many people still have not submitted a photo.  The original intent of the directory was to not only give phone, address, etc. but  also to be able to connect a name to a face for new members and for for current members.  That ability is lost when there is no photo to connect with a name.  Cough it up folks!  

 

NO PHOTOS

 

Kate Annunziata

Georgia Dutcher

Dawn/Jeff Frank

Kris /John Hart

Carol/Ron Jablonski

Joan Klohe

Lare Orcutt

Katrina/Rich Ruberti

Olivia Orth

Brittany Frank

David/Linda Sammons

Mariann/Mark Brower

Linda Dyer

Joyce/Carl Frisch

Shannon Bizzaro

Lorna Johnson

Janet/Stan Kucel

Sylvia Parker

Nora Saunders

Dottie Person

Shirley Galpin

Nikki Svolos

Jen/Bill Derby

Mary Jean/Bob Ely

Chris Gerber

Katria/Mark Hitrick

Lisa/Luke Klim

Tom Newton, Jr.

Bonnie/Jack Putman

Kim/Rich Travis

MaryLou Warnick

Eileen Lynaugh

Mike DiCaterino

Debbie/Bill Ford

Kelly Harper

Shirley Hitrick

Ginny/Ben Kline

Mark Olson

Kara/Chris Relyea

Valerie/Bart Warner

Cindy Davidson

Kathie Russell

 

 

Some may be on the thumb drive when Joni took photos.  If so, I apologize.  It is difficult to keep track of so much information.  Do let me know if your photo has been taken and we will try to track it down.  Otherwise, send your photo to me, mlandj@frontiernet.net OR the church, Mayfield preschurch@ gmail.com.  Thanks for your efforts.               Mary Lou Bryan and Joni Wilson

 

BUILDING & GROUNDS NOTES

I want to thank everyone who help to move mulch, dirt, and leaves around the labyrinth on 10-23-21. Everyone worked hard and we were able to accomplish a lot. If you haven’t had a chance to view the new bricks and landscaping, I urge you to do so while the weather is still favorable.

Brick Orders: Commemorative bricks can continue to be ordered. Just fill out the form on the entrance table or see me.

Fall Cleanup: We will have a fall cleanup to rake the leaves on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 9-11:00 am. The raindate will be Nov. 20th. Bring a rake and join the party!

Anyone who is interested in helping on the B&G Committee, please give me your email as we welcome all new volunteers!

Thank you.

Gary  DiSanto-Rose

 

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

The Sunday School keeps plugging along but they are thinking of some changes or additions like meeting at a different time and have projects to work on to spur more  interest and get more youth involved.  If you have any suggestions please let Pastor Bonnie or Kelly know what they are.

 

OUTREACH NOTES

CROP WALK FOR HUNGER

So far this season we have raised over $1,000.00.   Thank you to all who contributed!   I will be collecting money for the next two weeks and will then  send it all in together on November 8.   Great job everyone.

Mary Seaman

 

FOOD PANTRY

Boy Scouts are doing their annual food drive. They will be putting out the bags on November 6th and collecting them on November 13th. If you don’t get a bag and want to donate, bring food to church. We’ll see to it that the Scouts get credit. The food pantry crew is getting ready for the upcoming holidays and will be going through a lot of food.  Especially needed are desserts and, fruit cocktail for Thanksgiving baskets, pancake syrup and soups. We will take anything. Check for expiration dates and we can’t give out homemade food.  We need 20 more boxes for Thanksgiving. Please consider giving a donation to support the food pantry.  We continue to see new families each week and average 40 families each time distribute food. 

Volunteers are always welcome to join us on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 12:30-3. 

 

FRIDAY’S TABLE

Friday’s Table continues to take place. To be safe we are still only having 4-5 people prepare and serve the take-out meals. The 60 or so recipients greatly appreciate the meals, and it is good to touch base with them as they pick up their dinners. The Mayfield Group will be serving again on Friday December 10th.    

  

Please let Mary DiSanto-Rose know if you would like to help by email: mdisanto@skidmore.edu or phone 518-224-2080.  

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Happy Birthday to these members and friends:

Vicki Kucel     November 2                                        Colleen Ulrich             November 8

Noah Rafus     November 2, 2017                              Sandra Ann Sparks     November 12

Mike Frank     November 5                                        Judy Gieseler               November 26

Jean Gifford    November 8                                        Wilma Bant                November 27