|
|
|
|
Here's what's happening this week...
above: beans and peas sprouting in the Groundswell Gardens
IN OUR PRAYERS
* Mildred Howse, WPH
* Edith Liu, in Calvary Hospital
* Wanda Van Woert, at home
* Jean Perin, at home
* Steve Lewin, at home.
* Nancy Caprari, at home.
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS
*May 12 Charles McCrea
*May 13 Sydney Walsh
*May 14 Edith Mangiacapra
*May 17 Barbara Horan
THIS SUNDAY: PENTECOST
This Sunday is Pentecost, recalling the day the Holy Spirit first fell upon Jesus' frightened followers and turned them into bold witnesses. Jon Riss will deliver the children's message and the Word will be preached by active members of the Presbytery Prison Partnership. The choir will sing "Spirit," and the 2016 Pentecost special offering will be received. Following worship, the Prison Partnership will be leading an informational class on the scope and challenges of prison ministry within the eight counties included in our presbytery. Plan to grab your coffee and stay.
YOUTH GROUP TO HOLD FUNDRAISING PARTY
On Sunday afternoon, our youth group is holding a fundraising event at Norma Smikle's apartment as they get themselves ready for a transformational experience at this summer's National Youth Triennium. You will hear more about this on Sunday, May 22.
THE PENTECOST OFFERING
A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering is retained by our congregation to make an impact in the lives of young people within our own community (we have, for example, several times supported the Mayor's Scholarship Fund for summer camps). The remaining 60% is used to support ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency:
- Young Adult Volunteers
- Ministries for Youth
- Children-at-risk
We will continue to receive contributions to the Pentecost Offering through Sunday, June 5. Your generous support makes a difference.
REPORT FROM THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard preparing for this meeting, revising reports and answering questions in a advance, so that we could efficiently dispatch the business before us. On Sunday,
- we adopted new by-laws;
- we received the financial statement for 2015; and
- Ruth Doehring was elected an elder.
Coming soon...
BOOK GROUP
The book group will meet in the Conference Room on May 17th to discuss The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. 11:00 AM. All are welcome.
BENEFIT ORGAN CONCERT - SUNDAY MAY 22, 4:00
Award winning conductor and organist Jon Riss will play a recital on the III/48 Austin organ (1964) in the sanctuary of the White Plains Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 22nd, 2016. Masterworks of Sowerby, J.S. Bach, Bruhns, Berlinski, Conte, and Widor will be performed, and a high tea reception in the conference room will follow the recital. Please download the poster HERE and distribute in your office, building, neighborhood, coffee shop. You can join the Facebook event HERE.
CAN YOU HOST A FELLOWSHIP HOUR AFTER WORSHIP?
In addition to signing up at church, you can now sign up to host fellowship from the convenience of your desktop, phone, or office. Check the online sign-up sheet for available dates and simply fill in your name. This linked web page includes instructions for hosts. Hosts are needed for the next three months. If you have any questions – See Nancy Re in person, call 949-3340 or email nancyre@yahoo.com.
In Mission...
DID YOU SEE OUR CHURCH ON/IN THE NEWS?
Yesterday, a press conference was held on the front steps of the church with several concerned members of the Westchester community who support #RaisetheAgeNY legislation being passed this session. Did you know that New York is still one of only two states (the other is North Carolina) that prosecutes all youth as adults when they turn 16 years old? Well, it’s true! New York’s antiquated law is still in place despite research that shows it jeopardizes public safety by increasing the likelihood of reoffending. Research has proven that the adolescent’s brain is not fully developed until they are in their 20s. This is why youth are sometimes more impulsive --- and also why youth are more receptive to rehabilitative services.
Representing 37 faith leaders who signed this letter (including Pastors Geary, Henkel, Damico and de George), Pastor Jeff, along with Briarcliff Congregational Church's Pastor Rosborough, Calvary Baptist Church's Reverend Erwin Lee Trollinger and Bart Worden from the Ethical Culture Society of Westchester, helped send a powerful message to Senator John Flanagan, Speaker Carl Heastie, and Governor Andrew Cuomo about what our communities need!
New York’s children and youth cannot wait - Help us to Raise the Age Today - by sending a letter to Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Flanagan, and your legislators urging them to agree to Raise the Age this session.
CONFERENCE ATTENDEES LEARN AND SHARE
On Friday and Saturday, members of our Discipleship Committee (formerly Mission and Congregational Life) attended the 8-State Prison Re-Entry Program held at Stony Point Center. Participants learned about and shared effective re-entry practices from across New York, New Jersey and six New England states. We look forward to participants sharing with us what they learned as we deepen our commitment to ending mass incarceration, interrupting the school to prison pipeline, and advocating for criminal justice reform.
speaking of which...
OUR PRESBYTERY'S PRISON MINISTRY
Recognizing the increasing national attention on criminal justice and prison issues, the Prison Partnership Program (PPP) has just introduced a new Facebook page to provide information relating to prison outreach, rehabilitation and reentry issues. We invite you to visit and ”like” the emerging page.
|
|
|
|
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
|
Every Wednesday
Children's Choir 5:30
Chancel Choir 7:30
Conference: Raise the Minimum Age,
at Berkeley College
May 13
HRP Prison Partnership
May 15, in worship
Book Group
May 17 11:00
Red Cross Blood Drive
May 20, 12:00-6:00
Youth Group Faith Sharing in worship
May 22
Memorial Day Parade
(gather on the front lawn)
May 30
Church School Sunday,
Teacher Appreciation &
Church Picnic
June 12
|
|
|
SERMON ARCHIVE
Missed worship last week? Want to share a sermon you heard with someone else? An index of sermons preached at WPPC can be found on Pastor Jeff's blog.
NURSERY SCHOOL NEWS
Check out what's going on in the White Plains Presbyterian Nursery School at their new website and Facebook page.
SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY AND MISSION
Use this link when you make purchases on Amazon.com and a portion of your purchase will return to the church. Or make a direct contribution below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
