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Bay Road Presbyterian Church 1167 Bay Road Lake George, NY 12845 518-793-8541 Reverend Sung Hee Lee, Pastor
"Knowing Christ, Living Christ, Sharing Christ"
FROM PASTOR SUNG’S DESK:
“Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la ….” Indeed. Advent is the season to be jolly. Advent is the beginning of the Christian year, and it is the season to prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. Although it happened 2000 years ago, every year, we are preparing for the birth of Christ as we enter the season of Advent. Why do we celebrate and remember the birth of baby Jesus? Some scholars claim that Jesus was not born on Christmas day, providing the different evidences. “The shepherd would not be outside if it was December.” “December 25 was a Roman holiday dedicated to a pagan god, later adopted in Christian church,” they say. As I hear these arguments, I just don’t get their point. What are they trying to prove? Even if it was not exactly December 25 when Jesus was born, so what? Some liberal scholars believe that the uncertainty of the historical birthday of Jesus is evidence that Jesus was never born or the Bible is wrong. But this kind of argument is not even funny. My birthday is April 29 but I was not born on April 29. In Korea, we have two calendars: the solar calendar and the lunar calendar. The solar calendar is the same calendar that we use in America, and the lunar calendar is the traditional Korean calendar according the activity of the moon. Although the solar calendar is an official one, there is great number of people in Korea still following lunar dates. I was born on the 29th day of the fourth month according to the lunar calendar in the 4303rd year since the origin of Korea. And that day happened to be May 23, 19XX. In the solar calendar, my birthday is different every year, that is why I just have my birthday on April 29 of the solar calendar although that is not my birthday. I am sure that some of you might be thinking, “Oh, my Gosh! The birthday of Sung is not historically correct, and that means Sung does not exist and whatever he does is lie!” ^^ The meaning of Christmas is not in the historical date of it. Rather it is the fact that the Almighty God desired to be with us. He wanted to pitch His tent in our camp (that is the literal meaning of Emmanuel), the grace of presence. This is why we celebrate Christmas. It is the motive of God in the season of Advent that humbles us and fills our hearts with warmth. In our first Advent Bible study, we talked about the presence of a “vulnerable” God as suffering people in the world. And there are so many people near and far, in our family and in our community who are suffering and vulnerable from pains, loneliness, and heavy burdens of life. When we are overwhelmed by all the cards that we need to write and all the gifts we need to buy (and later suffer from the credit card bills), let’s stop for a minute and remember. What is the reason we celebrate Christmas? What is it that makes the Advent so precious?
SUNDAY MORNING MINISTRIES/
December 2006 Greeters Dec 3 Carol Bayle Dec 10 Ed Benway Dec 17 n/a Dec 24 n/a Dec 31 n/a
Ushers Dec 3 Rodger & Chris Henneke Dec 10 Lou Russell Dec 17 Ed & Emily Goddard Dec 24 Ed & Emily, Doug Kenyon, Lou Ann Holt Dec 31 Doug Kenyon, Lou Ann Holt
Coffee Hour Dec 3 n/a Dec 10 Ellen Pezzi Dec 17 n/a Dec 24 Etu’s Dec 31 n/a
Tithe Counters Dec 3 Lou Ann Holt, Skip LaRose Dec 10 Eva Heroux, Denise Osuchowski Dec 17 Cathy Reed, Lou Russell Dec 24 Pat Hart, Wendy Waite Dec 31 Jan Bell, Sharon Meinrenken
OPEN DOOR MINISTRY (Wed., Dec 13th at 4:30 pm) The Open Door Ministry is located on South Street in Glens Falls. BRC serves the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The sign up sheet is posted in Anderson Hall on the bulletin board if you are interested in serving. Remember to bring 3 gallons of milk (one each). Thank you to our volunteers last month: Eileen Cummings and Jeanne Hayes
BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY LIST God Bless You on Your Special Day... DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Joyce Compson 6 Gary Linindoll 6 Guthrie Collin 8 Lisie Carr 10 Pauline Sexton 11 Mark Meinrenken 12 Bobbi Allen 12 Ed Benway 12 Melanie Swinton 14 Tim Engwer 15 Wes Carr 16 Elsa Paszek 16 Sandy Bird 19 Ray Barber DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 24 Jeff & Vickie Guy If you have a birthday or anniversary to add to our list please call the church office or leave a note in the newsletter editor’s mailbox in the church office. Thank you! Bay Road College Student Christmas Card List
Christopher Auffredou Siena College SPOB 2941 515 Loundon Rd Loudonville, NY 12211-1462 cr08auff@siena.edu
Scott Bell SUNY College at Oneonta 548 Hulbert Hall Oneonta, NY 13820-1768
Becky Clark Messiah College Grantham, PA 17027
Meghan Graves St. John Fisher College, Box 659 3690 East Ave Rochester, NY 14618 Blayne Knapp (Room 343) 1715 west 48th Street Norfolk, VA 23508
Margaret McDowll Princeton Theological Seminary SBN 231 PO Box 5204 Princeton, NJ 08543-5204
Jennifer McDowell CPO 1658 Houghton College 1 Willard Ave. PO Box 128 Houghton, NY 14744-0128
Karis Tyner 221 Gillette Houghton College 1 Willard Houghton, NY 14744
Bay Road to the Bayou 2007 Bay Road Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a mission team to return to the Gulf Coast March 3-10, 2007. This year’s destination will be Houma, LA where Andrea Mitchell served as the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance village manager from March-October 2006. We will be helping to rebuild homes and lives devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Plans are underway to put together a team of 40 volunteers. Andy Holding and Marcia Etu will be the co-leaders—as a contractor, Andy will head up the construction end of the mission, and Marcia will organize the team, flights, worship experiences, etc. Steve Myhrberg and Paul Etu have agreed to help with fundraising and publicity. Last year’s team of 16 served in many ways: sheetrocking and taping two 3 bedroom houses, providing plumbing at multiple sites, assessing homes that were damaged, providing an administrative assistant and a chef for the volunteer village. We also had opportunities to worship at the Gautier, MS Presbyterian Church, share devotional times each morning and evening in camp, and to spend time and pray with families who survived the storms. It was an experience that everyone on the team will always remember—having lived the mission statement of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, “Out of Chaos, Hope.” We are thankful to everyone at Bay Road who supports the mission, with prayers and encouragement, and contributions toward the team’s ground transportation, as well as building materials. Each team member will be responsible for the cost of his/her flight to New Orleans, and room and board while there. We hope to raise enough money to rent three 15 passenger vans to get the team to and from the airport, and between the volunteer village and the work sites. If time permits we hope to drive along the Gulf Coast to see what progress has been made since last year. We also hope to have lots of money to buy the building materials we will need. Two fundraisers are coming up soon!! The Men’s Ministry will be hosting a breakfast on Saturday, December 16 from 8-11 a.m. at the church. Please bring family and friends for a big breakfast before starting your Christmas shopping that day! There will be eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, toast, juice, milk, coffee and tea (Adults $6, Children $3). And on Friday evening, January 5 there will a Cajun dinner at the church. We will be serving up some gumbo, and jambalaya and other Southern treats. Please save the date!! The Mission Team will be meeting again on Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m. at the church. We currently have about 20 confirmed team members, but need 20 more. Please get the word out to your friends and family that may have construction skills, or are willing and able to learn!
News of the Session The Sacrament of Holy Communion was observed on November 5, 2006. Bill and Florence Seibert (Carolynn Raven’s parents) received communion in their home at 26 Pinion Pine, Queensbury, Frankie Waite received communion at the Orchard Nursing Home in Granville, Pat Engwer at Glens Falls Hospital and Janice Kingsley in her home; all served by Elders Chris Henneke and Laura Mitchell. The session is pleased to accept the transfers of John & Janet Murphy, Will & Faith Wiesner, Harry & Jan Spahn and Kathleen O’Day from Caldwell Presbyterian to Bay Road Presbyterian Church. Please join us in welcoming them to our church on December 10, 2006. A reception of new members will follow the service. Marcia Etu and Andy Holding are off to a great start in organizing the Gulf Coast Mission Trip for March 3-10, 2007. Mark your calendars for the December 16, 2006 breakfast and the Cajun Dinner, January 5, 2007. If interested in knowing more about this trip contact Marcia or Andy. The next session meeting will be on, December 19, 2006. Christmas Blessings to our Brothers & Sisters at Bay Road Presbyterian Church We are ever grateful for the faithfulness each one of you shares with one and other and the community. May your hearts be filled with His Spirit shining brightly to all you meet, now and throughout the New Year. With Christ’s Love, The Elders of the Session
DEACONS CORNER The Board of Deacons met Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at Janice Kingsley’s home. Treasurer reported a balance on hand of $3,535.15. Communion elements were prepared for Sunday, November 5, 2006. Cards were sent to church members to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, to offer sympathy and to give encouragement. Flowers were sent to a church friend and a church member. One hospital visit was made to a church member. Telephone calls were made to various church members. Thank-you cards were received from a church friend and a church family. Church Youth Group helped to clean the yard of a church friend. Deacons contributed funds to take debris to the dump. Holiday food boxes were prepared and delivered to four families. A gift certificate was presented to our pastor and his family in honor of Pastor Appreciation Month. Non-perishable food is being collected in Anderson Hall for the Salvation Army. Deadline for donations is December 10, 2006. Deacons are sponsoring the Angel Tree Project for Christmas. Paper angels will be on a tree in Anderson Hall on Sunday, Dec. 3rd. Those interested in participating should take an angel and buy a gift ($20 limit) for the child indicated on the angel. All gifts are to be returned to the church, wrapped and with the angel attached, by Sunday, December 17, 2006. Deacons are providing these gifts to children involved with the Domestic Violence Project of Catholic Charities of Glens Falls, NY. It is hoped that each of the 25 children participating will receive one toy and one article of clothing from our church members. Deacons have ordered 25 poinsettia plants from Garden Time. These will be paid for by church members and friends. Order forms will be in the weekly bulletins. The next Deacons meeting will be December 12, 2006, 7 p.m. at Janice Kingsley’s home.
Church Member Professions Page Welcome to our Church Member Professions Page! This page is available to church members who would like to share their business/store/profession information. This is a great resource for utilizing our church members’ professions. Everyone is welcome to participate, send your information, business cards, etc. to the church office by email at bayroadchurch@adelphia.net or drop off in the church office. If you have any questions please call the church office, 793-8541. Melissa Bramlage SaraBear ™Company Keeping Them Within Reach™ diaper caddies.gift solutions www.SaraBearBaskets.com
George S. Knapp, DO McGregor Medical 520 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs (Rt. 9 Town of Wilton, 1 m. North of Saratoga Springs) 583-4268
Janice Holding Explore! Learn * Play * Discover Touch tank w/sea creatures, four-story climbing loft, 16 ft. water table, birthday parties, ball coaster, story times, arts & crafts, toddler area, pirate ship, castle...and more! 103 Warren St., Glens Falls ExploreInGlensFalls.com Open M-F 9-5 Sat 10-5 (starting this month—Sun 12-5)
Faith Wiesner, M.A. and Professional Diploma Piano Lessons 106 Coolidge Ave. Queensbury, NY 12804 761-3128
Your Space Here
Do You Have a Testimony to Share? If you have a personal story as to how God has touched you in your life please consider having it printed in the monthly newsletter. All submissions are welcome. We will do our best to accommodate any and all stories and/or original poetry you wish to share that exemplifies the love of God in your life.
“THE GOOD NEWS FLASH” Saturday, Dec. 17th at BRPC (7:00 PM) Sunday, Dec. 18th at Oneida Community Church (7:00 PM)
You won’t want to miss the upcoming Christmas pageant presented by the Sunday School students of Bay Road Presbyterian Church and the Oneida Community Church. In this play, "The Good News Flash", the past and the present are combined. Although the times have changed, Jesus Christ is present and is the same "yesterday, today, and forever."
Christmas Eve Nursing Home Services Westmount Nursing Home (Gurney Lane) and Eden Park (Warren St.) Both Services at 1:00 P.M. Can you help serve by singing Christmas songs at our local nursing homes this Christmas? Children and adults are welcome to participate. Two other churches will participate (Queensbury United Methodist and Our Lady of Annunciation). Help make this Christmas special for the nursing home residents; warm their hearts with your gift of singing. Not a singer? We can use some Christmas cookies to share with the residents. Sign up in Anderson Hall or call Robin Mattes at 793-8541 or 798-4473. His Love…….Reaching Right from the beginning God’s love has reached, and from the beginning man has refused to understand. But love went on reaching, offering itself. Love offered the eternal...we wanted the immediate. Love offered deep joy...we wanted thrills. Love offered freedom...we wanted license. Love offered communion with God Himself...we wanted to worship at the shrine of own minds. Love offered peace...we wanted approval for our wars. Even yet, love went on reaching. And still today, after two thousand years, patiently, lovingly, Christ is reaching out to us today. Right through the chaos of our world, through the confusion of our minds. He is reaching ...longing to share with us...the very being of God. His love still is longing, His love still is reaching, right past the shackles of my mind. And the Word of the Father became Mary’s little Son. And His love reached all the way to where I was. - Gloria Gaither Submitted by Faith Wiesner
Trustee’s Report by Edward Goddard · Minor repairs were made to the retaining wall. · Two circulating pumps were replaced on the heating system. · The events sign was painted white. · The Fall cleanup was completed with fourteen volunteers. · New air fresheners were placed in the sanctuary. · Both septic tanks were treated with digesting bacteria. · Snow shovels and salt buckets were placed at each outside door. · Sand barrels were put out on the driveway. · Repairs were made to two areas of the roof soffits.
The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, December 4th at 7 PM.
Saturday, December the 9th
Bring warm clothes (for a bon fire) and a generic wrapped present for a Chinese action gift exchange (around 10 dollar value). It’s in the theme of our Mexican friends so we’ll have a piñata, tacos and nachos. Any parent wishing to help with food can contact Jackie (668-4324). Youth are encouraged to bring friends. It’ll begin at 5:30 and end around 8:00.
Women’s Candlelight Christmas Dinner Thursday, December 14 6:00 PM
Please come and enjoy a night out with the girls! Leave the stress at home and come and relax during this busy time of year. Treat yourself. Laura Mitchell and Esther Lee will be speaking at the service following dinner. I’m sure we’ll all be blessed to hear what they have to say. Please bring a dish to share to our pot trust dinner. Dinner will begin at 6 PM and the service at 7 PM. Bring a guest to enjoy the fun and fellowship! Hope to see you all there. Thank you. The Women’s Association Carrianne Durkin
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