Brookville Church

N E W S L E T T E R

REV. VICKY L. EASTLANDPastor of Congregational LifeRev.Vicky@verizon.net

2 BROOKVILLE ROADBROOKVILLE, NY 11545

516-626-0414Brookvillechurch@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/BrookvilleChurchwww.BrookvilleChurch.org

Where our doors are always open!December 2014

But this year there would be no presents from Grandpa to open; no giant smile and shining eyes to look into when I said an exuberant “Thank you” for his thoughtful gift.

What was wrong with all these people? Didn’t they know that I was grieving? How dare they put out the Christmas decorations so early. Were they trying to make me feel worse than I already did? I looked around at the shoppers. I saw families with little children. I saw old couples walking hand in hand. I saw teenagers congregating outside the ticket booth waiting for a late friend to arrive so they could buy their tickets and go into the movie they were longing to see.

I also saw a girl about the same age as me with a white haired man who was walking with a cane. Was that her grandfather? Didn’t anybody care that my grandpa was gone? At that point I couldn’t stand being in that loud, obnoxious Christmas filled mall any longer.

Holidays can be difficult after your loved one has died. Holidays are typically steeped in tradition; a time when we gather with family to celebrate, but when you are grieving you don’t feel much like celebrating. Since we can’t skip the holidays and go directly from October to January, we have to find ways to cope. I eventually drove back home from the mall and rejoined my family as they sat around the house. We talked about our favorite memories of grandpa, looked at photo albums together, cried a little then got up and started making plans for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t isolate yourself and don’t be afraid to grieve either. Go out with friends, talk about your loved one and what traditions you shared during the holidays. And know that for the first few years, you will be sad during the holidays and it will feel like someone important is missing. But that is OK and someday you will enjoy the holidays again. If you have lost someone close to you in the last year or so, I offer my condolences. And instead of hoping that you don’t think about that loved one when sitting around the Thanksgiving table or Christmas tree or as you light the Menorah, my hope is that you DO remember the person who is no longer with you; that you acknowledge all that loved one contributed to past holidays and I hope you will be thankful for the ones that are still with you, sharing the experience.

With love this holiday season,

Rev. Vicky

It was the week of Thanksgiving and I had to get out of the house. I was tired of sitting around staring at the relatives that had arrived days earlier because of the death of my grandfather. The funeral had been on Saturday and by Tuesday I couldn’t stand being cooped up in the house any longer. With no particular place to go, I decided to drive to the mall. As I pulled into the parking lot, the sun was descending behind the large structure that contained department stores, a movie theater, restaurants and shops. I parked the car and as I approached the mall I looked up and saw huge snowflakes sparkling on the side of Macy’s. Next to Macy’s was the entrance to the theater and over the doors was a huge colorful Christmas wreath illuminated with bright colorful lights.

It felt strange to me. What was it that seemed so out of place? I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. “Maybe I’ve been in the house too long,” I thought. I couldn’t shake the sadness that started washing over me. As I walked the mall, I saw Christmas trees and garland in all the shop windows. I heard Christmas music playing and then it hit me. “It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet!” My timeframe was all out of whack. My regular routine had been interrupted since my grandpa’s death. What day was it? Wait, what month were we in? Oh, that’s right, Thanksgiving is in two days. Where were the fall colors? Why was everything red and green? I hadn’t been “out of it” for that many days!

It is strange enough to see Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE on a normal Thanksgiving, but when I was grieving it seemed much brighter, much louder than in previous years. That’s when the realization hit me! This would be the first year I wouldn’t have my grandfather saying grace at the Thanksgiving table like he always did. I wasn’t going to see his face on Christmas Day when he watched us open the presents he had spent so much time contemplating and planning to buy and give us. Grandpa always put so much thought into his gift giving. He seemed to be able to intuitively know just what we wanted. Maybe my mom was the little bird in his ear sharing our wish list with him each year. But I like to believe that it was the fact that he would listen to me for hours on end sharing my stories of teenage angst, or because he came to all my plays and dance recitals and knew I would LOVE a new pair of ballet shoes or a gift card to my favorite shop.

Blue Holiday

Choir News!!!! By Carol Goglia, Minister of Music I would like to thank everyone who participated in the choir for the Multifaith Thanksgiving Celebration. This was an amazing event filled with talent from all faiths. The Brookville Church sang a beautiful anthem for this service. Thank You Lisa Denison, Antonia Petrash, Fran Kaufmann, Nancy Worsham, Nan Coffey, Hal Davidsaon, B.J. Worsham, Michael Flanagan, Mark Kaufmann and John Coffey. On November 23, we were happy to hear the talents of Halle Horvath and Mike Johanson as they both performed on piano for the service. We have so much to look forward to as we enter Advent. Please mark your calendars and attend the preparations for the birth of Jesus. I am always astounded at the volunteer commitment of the choir, the youth play actors and their parents. Just think about these numbers….. there are 18 actors volunteering 2 hours a week for rehearsals (a TEN week commitment). The actors have a combined 14 parents (driving back and forth to rehearsals, bringing snacks for the kids and ALWAYS asking me what they can do to help). The Adult Choir has 17 singers committed to rehearsing almost every Wednesday evening. A total of 49 people are giving so much of their talents and time to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season. The number grows exponentially as I think about all the people involved in the receptions that follow these events. I am in awe of every single person involved. They deserve full attendance and our heartfelt thanks. December 14, 10:00 a.m. - ‘The Camel Lot’ ~ The youth of the church and the interfaith community will perform this delightful play, which has deep meaning and is also filled with humor, dancing, and music!! You must see this play and bring everyone you know!

December 21, 10:00 a.m. - ‘Child Of Hope’ ~ The Adult Choir will present this cantata containing beautiful contemporary songs fused with traditional Advent/ Christmas hymns that all will know.

December 24, 6:00 p.m. - Family Christmas Eve Service ~ Some of our talented youth will share their talents during this service.

December 24, 11:00 p.m. – Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service ~ Our Adult Choir will be singing during this service.

December 28th 10:00am Worship Service at the Community Reformed Church of Manhasset - 90 Plandome Road, Manhasset. (No service at Brookville on this day.) Blessed is the congregation in which the Word is proclaimed and prayers and praise are offered not only through words, but also through artistic expression. Blessed are the artists who offer and discipline their gifts so God’s people may testify to the goodness of God and offer thanks.

LONG ISLAND CARES FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED!

Everyone has hopefully noticed the two Long Island Cares donation boxes in front of the kitchen in Fellowship Hall and in the Narthex of the sanctuary. Please remember to bring a donation of non-perishable food (for humans or for pets!) by December 15th, when Long Island Cares will be picking them up for distribution to the needy. There are currently some donations from our Thanksgiving event in the boxes but we need more! THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far, and please ask your friends and family to donate as well. This time of year is especially vulnerable for children in need, so let’s step up and give the largest donation we can!

The Children & Youth Education CornerBy: Lesley Mazzotta, Dir. of Multifaith Education

In late November, we delivered 30 giant turkeys (over 500 pounds of turkey meat!!) and 16 bags of non-perishable groceries to the families at the Glen Cove Tenants Housing Association. Thanks to the generosity of our Multifaith Campus, dozens of people were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones. It was a wonderful day!

For me, it was also wonderful because it brought on the spirit of Christmas (a month early!)…. that feeling of joy and wonder, when I realize how blessed I am to have the simple things and more in life. This comes most alive when I find opportunities to celebrate with loved ones and serve others in need. It’s a time when I feel the loving presence of God, making everything seem possible and new. There is a lot going on at the Brookville campus in December to help us feel the spirit of Christmas. Here are some opportunities for us to celebrate and serve together.

Blessings to you and your loved ones this wonderful season,

Lesley

• Participate in our Christmas Giving Program by purchasing a gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts, Stop & Shop, Walmart or Target for the underserved mental health outpatients at Nassau University Medical Center.

• We are holding our annual Secret Santa toy drive for boys and girls, aged 3 – 12 (up to $25 per gift) for children at the Glen Cove Tenants Housing Association (formerly the Glen Cove E.O.C.). All gift cards and unwrapped toys must be returned to the church by Sunday, December 21. Please contact Lesley for specific names and ages at (917) 623-4554 or lesley@interfaithli.org.

• Don’t miss two special holiday services on campus: the Children's Christmas Play on Sunday, December 14 and the Adult Choir Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 21. Both at 10:00am! It’s a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the season with family and friends!

• Youth (ages 12-17) are invited to join us on Friday, December 12 for a trip to NYC! We’ll see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and 5th Avenue windows, shop at the Holiday Market and have dinner at a fun and fabulous Times Square restaurant. Meet at the Manhasset train station around 5:00pm to travel into the city together. Cost of train ticket and dinner is $40, paid by each youth.

• Come to a Special Family Hanukkah Celebration Dec. 19th from 5:30-8:30 pm.

• If you love to sing, join us for Brookville Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 21 at 4pm. Come spread some Christmas cheer as we offer our smiles and voices, singing carols of the season around the community. We will meet at Brookville church at 4pm, then return afterwards for hot chocolate to end our evening.

January Save the Dates!• Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, Youth Group Ski Trip Retreat, West Dover, VT• Sunday, January 18, Interfaith Children’s Classes, 10:00am – 11:15am; MLK Service Project 11:15am-12pm• Monday, January 19, Youth Group MLK Service Project to Day Laborers, 6:30am

Sign Up Now!Summer Youth Mission Trip, West VirginiaSunday, July 19 – Saturday, July 25, 2015Mark your calendars now for an amazing week of service and fun in the rural community of Pipestem, WV. Our home for the week is the Appalachian Folklife Center, which provides acres of a beautiful campground, a nearby lake, recreational facilities, cabins with bunk beds, and plenty of outdoor adventures. We will work six hours a day restoring and repairing homes for at - risk and vulnerable homeowners. In addition, we will participate in our own worship services, educational programs and social activities around our service experience.

Please contact Lesley Mazzotta to register for any of these events - (917) 623-4554 or lesley@interfaithli.org.

ReflectionsReflectionsI have remembered a story for no accountable reason and for longer than I can recall, perhaps just so I could use it as the start for this month’s column. A man had just retired and he and his wife, who was still working, were discussing what he could do during the day. He was writing notes on an index card. Making the bed after he gets up, hanging the towel after the shower, doing some laundry, making breakfast and doing some shopping were dutifully written down. She asked him what he would like to have for his breakfasts and he replied, “Fried eggs, pancakes, toast, oatmeal and cold cereal,” and he wrote them on the index card. So, she explained where the eggs, pancake mix, oatmeal box and proper pots, pans and toaster were kept. She said she would expect him to clean up the kitchen just like he did in the bedroom and that would mean washing the dishes. She said that making the oatmeal needed to be carefully attended to lest it boil over, then the pot and stove had to be cleaned with cold water before the oatmeal sticks to the surfaces. He made some more notes on the card. A few days later, on the weekend, she saw his card on the counter and read his notes which matched their conversation, except for one separate entry. “No more oatmeal.”

Oatmeal is one of my comfort foods reminding me of home and Vermont. Anyone can ask BJ about our winter ski weekends there. On Friday night, after school and work, we would load into the station wagon and drive the seven hour long trip, this was before the Interstate Highways were finished. Nancy’s parents were there ahead of us and had everything ready for our arrival. The next morning we would wander down to the kitchen where Lillian, the housekeeper and cook, would have a double boiler on the stove filled with oatmeal –fortifying us for a morning on the slopes.

At home, every winter, I always bought Quaker Oats and made it frequently, often just for myself. A week ago I went into Shop Rite for this year’s supply and saw some boxes that said IRISH OATMEAL so I stopped and studied. There were three imported brands, Flahavan’s, McCann’s and, from Scotland, Wessex. Reading the labels more closely I found Regular and Steel Cut and the prices were in the $4 to $6 range. This seemed to be the gourmet section of the cereal racks so I looked for Quaker Oats. Way down at the other end of the cereals, along with Cream of Wheat, Grits and Porridge were the familiar round cylinders of Quaker Oats and they were in the $2 range, but they also had more than the “Original” and confusion abounded. In addition to myriad instant flavors and multi-flavored boxes was the reliable Original version and, like everywhere else, the new variety - Steel Cut. It appears that Quaker Oats had to include it to keep up with the competition.

After some hesitation and walking back to the ‘gourmet’ end I decided upon Flahaven’s Irish Oatmeal because it takes less than five minutes to prepare and was worth a try. My comments about this? Yes it is good, smoother than Quaker’s Original, a treat of sorts but probably not worth double the price for something that takes only five minutes to cook and five more to eat. The man in the joke above would not have selected the new Steel Cut because it costs twice as much, takes twenty minutes to cook, tastes no different and offers no better nutrition.

Now, as you have just read, there can be something worthwhile to write about and to be thankful for --- every day.

Branch Worsham BEAT NAVY

END WORD: As a kid I got three meals a day: Oatmeal, miss-a-meal and no meal. Mr. T

Except for God and Jesus there is nobody above Santa. ~ Georgia Leppard my eight year old granddaughter

Prickly Pears Are Picked For Pickles No Peach Picks A Face That Prickles

Something worth writing about crosses your path every day. To celebrate this fact I’m planning to write my own “Oatmeal” poem someday… ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ~Les Kay 2007

Sunday Afternoon(s) of Yoga

January 11, 2015 and March 8, 20152 pm - 5 pm ~ $45 per date

Please register no later than one week prior to date atBrookville Reformed Church, 2 Brookville Road Brookville

Presenter: Karyn Van Name, Certified Practitioner of Yoga, Meditation, Chakra Yoga, Yoga Therepy, Chair Yoga and Reiki

Karyn will present an afternoon consisting of well-paced, hatha yoga postures with focus on breath and alignment, pranayama (yogic breathing), meditation and relaxation. Her intention is to help facilitate a

state of ease and centeredness with an overall feeling of wellness and wholeness. This workshop is for all levels and highly recommended for those who are currently practicing yoga regularly to enrich your

practice. If you are new to yoga or have limitations or are recovering from surgery, illness or injury, please contact Karyn keyoga62@hotmail.com or 516-280-2774 to discuss your concerns. A private session or a

shorter, smaller group class may be recommended first.

Please bring a yoga mat, cotton throw blanket, yoga blocks and belt (if you have them). Wear comfortable clothing in layers that allows freedom of movement. Please do not wear any perfume or cologne. Please

practice with an empty stomach and barefoot.

* * * Karyn is a student of yoga since 1997 and teaching since 2000. She gratefully taught 90 students a week for 11 ½ years at St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset till it closed in 2013. Currently she is teaching 7 classes weekly in Williston Park and studying Ayurveda which is based on the timeless wisdom of India's 5,000 year old medical system. As Karyn integrates these wisdom practices of aligning with nature into her own life, she naturally offers them to her students to help them live more holistically with the rhythm and seasons of life. Karyn holds certifications in Kripalu Yoga and Hatha Yoga - Anusara Inspired with Todd Norian, Chair Yoga, Meditation, Yoga Therapy, Chakra Yoga and as a Reiki Master. Having practiced Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy & Anusara Yoga Therapeutics, Karyn brings a comprehensive knowledge of yoga as therapy and a deep understanding of body-mind healing to her work with clients. She creates a sacred, safe space for healing in each modality or in combination, if needed, and is devoted to bringing compassion and understanding with heart centered awareness to each encounter with her students and clients. Karyn offers an integrative approach to wholeness with private and semi-private sessions at Lisa's Holistic Day Spa in Greenvale and in Williston Park and Locust Valley. She is available for classes and retreats for your group at your location. Call Karyn for details about tailored private or group programs.

Registration Form ~ Sunday Afternoon(s) of Yoga

Name___________________________________! Phone________________________________

Address_________________________________! Cell__________________________________

________________________________________! email_________________________________

Yoga Experience: Number of years practicing and type of yoga ______________________________!

Date(s) of Session(s) you wish to attend: Jan 11, 2015 ______ March 8, 2015 ______ Please check all that apply. Please remember to include your full payment of $45.00 per session. You can register for all dates at one time or individually and by one week prior to the event! Please make check payable to and send to: Karyn Van Name, P.O. Box 152, Locust Valley, NY 11560

An Excerpt from Rabbi Paris’ Sermon from the Multifaith Thanksgiving Celebration

In the Bible in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 12, it says:

“And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he married; for he had married a Cushite woman.”

Today we know the word Cushite in Torah to mean a person of color. Moses married a black woman named Tsipora who is also of another religion, the daughter of the Mediante priest, Jethro.

Miriam was smitten with "leprosy." Often in Torah, leprosy, a disease of the skin, is a result of “an evil tongue” and can be fatal. Moses learned that Miriam was ill, he said five words, the shortest prayer in the Bible: "Please God heal her please." In Hebrew he said, “El Nah Refah Nah La”, and Miriam was healed.

Some years ago I co-officiated at a wedding for a Christian groom and a Jewish bride in Connecticut. At the wedding, the sister of the groom who was 18 years old was confined to a wheelchair. During the processional, she actually raised herself from the wheelchair and walked down the aisle with crutches. After the wedding ceremony, I noticed the groom's sister once again sitting in her wheel chair motioning to me. She wanted to tell me her story.

She was a very talented softball player, was a high school All-American who had been recruited as a student athlete by Stanford University. She had just recently completed her freshman year with good grades and a starter on the varsity softball team. She told me that she was stricken with Lyme disease and was told that she would never play softball again, she would never walk again, and she needed to leave Stanford and return to her home because the stress of the classes was too great for her. I told her the Moses story to try to give her some comfort and hope. She asked me if I would place my hands on her head and bestow that blessing on her. We closed our eyes, I placed my hands on her head and I said, “El Nah Refah Nah La, please God heal her please." She tearfully thanked me and I left soon thereafter to return home.

About a year later I received a letter at my home in an envelope from Stanford University. In the letter, the same young woman told me that the blessing that I gave her at her brother's wedding restored her hope and strong desire to get well. As a result, she was now back at Stanford University, resuming her softball and academic career and she was completely healed. She thanked me and signed the letter with the words "God bless you and thank you."

What I learned from this experience is that each of us has the ability to bring healing to others. In fact, in the Talmud of Hillel and Jesus, we are taught that the greatest act of charity is to visit the sick (Beekoor Cholim). During any visit to a person who is not well, if we bring the divine light that is within each of us the healing becomes possible. You see, healing and faith are directly related, as we are taught by Jesus and Moses, and there is a strong possibility, nay, a strong probability, that we can have a positive effect on the person who is unwell by our very presence. We need to be mindful of our own conscious contact with the God of our understanding praying only for knowledge of His or Her will for us and the power to carry it out.

PBS (Public Broadcasting System) is visiting the Synagogue on Friday night, Dec. 5th at 7:30 for our regular Shabbat Service. They will be filming the service and interviewing families from the Interfaith Community of Long Island to air at a later date on PBS. Please come, for everyone is welcome.

In December, the Hebrew month of Kislev, we celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Hanukkah (alternately spelled Chanukah), meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews remember the victory of the Maccabees and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E.

According to tradition, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare

a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle, the miracle of the oil. The modern home celebration of Hanukkah centers around the lighting of the chanukiyah, a special menorah for Hanukkah; foods prepared in oil including latkes (potato pancakes)

and sufganiyot (jelly donuts); and special songs and games.

It is customary to play dreidel games on the holiday of Chanukah. A dreidel is a pointed, four-sided top and bears four Hebrew letters: nun, gimmel, hey, and shin, which stand for the first letter of each word in the Hebrew statement “Neisgadol hayah sham,” which means “A great miracle happened there” and refers to the re-dedication of the Temple. The

only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money. Submitted by: Rabbi Stuart Paris

Multifaith CampusPot Luck Dinner

Friday Jan. 30, 2015 7:00 p.m.

in Fellowship Hall

Come with family, friends, or on your own to hear Rev. Vicky & Lesley Mazzotta

share about their recent trip to Oman. They will talk about the peace efforts between

Muslims and Christians that is happening at the Al Amana Centre and we will enjoy

good food together.

Please bring a food dish to share!RSVP (516) 626-0414

If you can’t make it for dinner, join us for dessert when Rev. Vicky and Lesley will have

their presentation.

Akj’p Ckncap Qk Ln`an Vkqn @dnespi]s

Mkejsappe]s!

Our sanctuary is always so beautifully decorated with

evergreens, wreaths and poinsettias during the Christmas season. If you wish to order our Christmas poinsettia plants, please fill out the enclosed form. Be sure to indicate the quantity and color of the poinsettias, and whether the plants should be dedicated in honor of or in memory of someone. Each plant costs $19, and may be ordered through the mail by using the attached order form, or you may call Lauren, at the church office and place the order over the phone. Please make all checks payable to the Brookville Reformed Church. In order for us to include your memorial information in the Christmas Eve bulletin, ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY DECEMBER 12th. Thank you!

2nd Annual Multifaith !anksgiving Celebration - Nov. 16, 2014

Alma Young Keshk reciting the Muslim Prayer Al-Fateha

Rev. Vicky Eastland and Rabbi Stuart Paris

Cantor Irene Failenbogen

Please cut out form and mail to:

Brookville Church2 Brookville Road

Brookville, NY 11545