The Old Man’s News A Newsletter of Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, UCC - May 2020

Message from the Minister

Easter is not a day, it is a season. From Easter Sunday

through Pentecost, we celebrate the resurrection of Je-

sus Christ. Maybe we need a season for Easter because

there is more to this than can be learned or understood

in just one day. Perhaps we need more practice than

one Sunday allows.

Whatever the reason for it lasting 50 days instead of

just one, we are living in

Easter right now. We are

living in the resurrec-

tion. Bringing that

awareness to our days,

where do you see new

life? What is bringing

you peace? How have you found hope? Who do you

want to become in your life of faith?

May the joy of Easter, and our lives in it, surpass the

difficulty of our days.

Reverend Phil

Old Man’s News

Published by the Mt. Sinai Congregational United Church of Christ formerly

known as The Congregational Church in the Community of Old Man's, Mil-

ler’s Place & Rocky Point, established 1789.

If you would like something in the church’s monthly newsletter, the deadline

is the 15th of every month. Please, keep in mind that your submission may

be edited for content and for space. Email the OMN Editor with all submis-

sions and questions.

Contact Us

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church United Church of Christ 233 North Country Road

Mt. Sinai, NY 11766

Phone: 631-473-1582 Fax: 631-474-0556

Rev. Dr. Philip Hobson,

Minister revphilmsucc@gmail.com

Caroline Lavopa,

Christian Education Director clavopa@optonline.net

Music Director

Roberta Walsh, Church Administrator mscc1@optonline.net

Carol Wiebelt,

Old Man’s News Editor cdwiebel@optonline.net

Find Us Online

Email mscc1@optonline.net

Website www.msucc.org

Please visit our website if you would like to be added to our

email list.

1

The 50 Days of Eastertide

Worship in the Time of COVID-19

Dear Friends and Members,

Worship will continue to be 100% on-line for the time being, as we continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situa-

tion. We stream the worship service from the church at 10 am Sunday mornings, on our church’s Facebook

page and on YouTube. I will send an email weekly with the links. Whether via Facebook or YouTube, you will be

able to watch and participate in the service.

A few more things to keep in mind:

We will be doing “Communion Where You Are”, so if you want to have some bread

and drink available, you can join in.

Prayer Requests - Because our services are broadcast publicly and saved on

YouTube, we are able to offer prayers by first name only or by a description of the

need without identifying the person. This is a very different way than our much

more personal way of offering prayers when we are together, but it seems the wis-

est way forward. Regardless of how we lift them up, we know that God hears the

prayers of our hearts. If you have a prayer request , email it to me

at revphilmsucc@gmail.com.

There will be an offering time. While we won’t be passing the plates, we will be reminding people that there

are ways to donate via the church website https://www.msucc.org/giving/, by mailing in a check, or by setting

up bill pay through your bank.

Take care of yourselves, wash your hands; check on your neighbors.

Grace and Peace, Phil

2

A Word about Our Calendar

As you know, all church events have

been canceled, including our Fellow-

ship groups and AA meetings; and all

Action Team meetings are being car-

ried out electronically. So what does

that mean for our website calendar?

For now, the calendar will go into slum-

ber-mode with the usual activities still

listed, but not reflecting the current

situation. Hopefully we can wake it up

soon.

For now, find ways to

keep in touch with oth-

ers! FaceTime, Skype or

just call someone; since

contact is so important to all of us.

Sunday School

While we miss you all we

hope you are enjoying the

activity packets we have been

sending to our four groups:

PreK-3rd grade

Children’s Bible Study

5th and Up and

Youth Group members.

If you know a child who would like to receive a pack-

et please email the information to Ms. Caroline

at clavopa@optonline.net. We’ll be sure to include

them from now on.

Stay well, with love and thanks, the

Christian Ed Team - Rev. Phil, Ms.

Caroline, Ms. Stacey, Ms. Cheryl, Ms.

Jamie and Mr. Ray.

I’ve decided it’s really important to try to keep my church mind at work. So, here are a few things I’ve been trying to handle while keeping my distance, wearing my mask, and learning new technology...

Council met in April via Zoom and discussed the work on the church building, which con-tinues (see Page 4); worship services to be presented via YouTube and Facebook; and how to manage our staff work schedules dur-ing the mandated shutdown. Regarding the latter, Roberta Walsh will continue her regular part time hours in the office; Mike Dionisio will cut back to a four-hour week; Caroline LaVopa has been working from home developing Sun-day children’s messages and mailing home church school activities for children; and Rev. Phil is maintaining his schedule while working at home most of the time. Kudos to him for figuring out how to do our online worship ser-vices!

A Music Director Search Temporary Action Team has been formed. Members of that team are Mel Keister, Ira Apsel, Noelle Dun-lop, and Bob Sinclair. Rev. Phil and I will also participate, as needed. They will begin their work by imagining what our music program might look like as we go forward.

As one who generally pays my pledge with a check each Sunday, in the absence of in-person worship services, I have scheduled those contributions using the bill pay feature on my bank’s website. I would encourage you all to continue your financial support for the church with that banking feature or PayPal, using the “donate” link on our msucc.org website. Of course, you can always mail a check to the church at 233 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai, NY 11766.

I’m not so sure it’s safe or even sane to think, “Things will get back to normal once this is all over.” For one, I wasn’t all that pleased with what constituted “normal” in the before-times. And the pandemic is revealing serious systemic flaws in what had been “normal.” God is certain-ly doing a new thing! I urge everyone to take some time during this enforced hiatus from “normal” to envision what new things God is calling us to do—as individuals, as a nation, as a church. There will be a “new normal,” and, God willing, we can make it a better one.

~Sue Hoff

3

Message from the Moderator

Grief Support In this Time

The Grief Support Group is currently following the stay at home policy, but hopes to meet again once

the policy is lifted. In the meantime, if you or anyone has experienced a loss and would like to talk, you

can reach out to Diane Corson, Coordinator of the Grief Support Group, at 631-903-1660. She would

be happy to talk on the phone and add you to our email list to notify you when our group resumes.

Diane can also send out booklets we are using for our discussions that may be of help in processing

grief while staying home.

We know the difficulty of this time can be exacerbated by grief over the loss of a loved one. Reaching

out to those who are also processing grief, can be comforting and healing.

You may be gone from my sight, but you are never gone from my heart.

-Winnie the Pooh

Have you driven by the church and wondered

what is going on with the building? Barbara De-

Bree, Lead of the Building and Grounds Action

Team is here to update us:

Long Hill Carpentry was

chosen by Building and

Grounds and contracted to

begin the external restora-

tion of the Church. Since

that time through April 17,

John Schoendorf and his

professional carpenters

removed rotten wood

around the sides of the

church and restored the

areas. They also secured

the overhang roof with new columns in the

'Kitchen Courtyard'. They worked consistently

each day with a scaffold to complete the work.

This project has been a 2 year plus undertaking

for Finance Planning and Building and

Grounds. The intent is to restore the external

areas prior to painting the church. The steps

from the lower parking lot were also secured for

safety.

We lost another large

branch from the large

tree to the left of the

church, which fell during

one of the storms. The

branch was removed by

a landscaping compa-

ny. Then, there was a

plumbing problem which

has been resolved.

Building and Grounds

continues to be busy to maintain the Church with

care so that when we all return we can come to a

safe, clean, healthy area.

We wish you all safety and health.

Barbara DeBree, Lead

Buildings & Grounds Update

4

Adult Fellowship

Our next adult fel-

lowship activity, the

backyard hors

d'oeuvres & fire pit

conversation, has

been cancelled due

to... well, you

know.

We are all hoping

that we will be able

to enjoy the next planned activity on June 13th at the Bayard

Cutting Arboretum. More details will follow.

Greetings from the Island Heart Food Pantry! In

these crazy times, we continue to fulfill our mis-

sion to feed those in need. Although our practices

have significantly changed, we feel confident that

our clients are receiving a healthy supply of food

each week. We are all getting used to the "new

ways", and are continuously re-modifying to in-

crease efficiency and safety for both volunteers

and clients

Our Island Heart Food Pantry hours are still offi-

cially Wednesday and Thursday, 3-4:30 pm, how-

ever we start giving out food as soon as clients

arrive, usually by 12:30. Then, we are on a con-

sistent roll until closing. Aside from the deliverers,

the pantry crew is small; 3 to 4 people max, as

safety is number one.

We continue to pre-box food and add in meat,

fresh produce, eggs, milk, etc. when clients arrive.

Volunteers load all food into open car trunks, as

clients must stay in their cars. All volunteers must

wear gloves and masks, and practice social dis-

tancing as much as possible – easier said than

done.

A huge thank you goes out to those who are con-

tinuing to do pick-ups, deliveries, box packing,

shopping, giving boxes, and removing trash. We

are also blessed to have received many generous

food and monetary donations to keep us going; a

true testament to the human spirit. And thank

those of you whose job at this time is to stay safe

and well so you can return ASAP!

I look forward to seeing you again soon and, if

you need anything, please reach out. Patrick also

sends his well wishes and looks forward to seeing

you all again soon!

Sincerely, Kathy Lahey

Church Food Pantry

The church food pantry is also seeing more visitors.

We have pre-boxed supplies of food ready, with fro-

zen meat to be added and put outside when a client

calls. Thank you again, Roberta!

The Island Heart Food Pantry

Thank you to everyone who donated food this past Saturday, April 25th.

Your generosity was inspiring!

Throughout the month of May we will continue to need items such as jelly, rice,

cereal, oatmeal, beans, tuna, and juices. We have funds to purchase

but finding items in bulk is challenging. Boxes are also need.

We appreciate your support. Please leave your donations in the

church (buzz for help) or under the overhang if no one is at the

church.

5

Mission Ministry Board - Island Heart Food Pantry

Quietly Going Stir Crazy?

Feeling restless? Bored? Helpless? Well, the Mission Ministry Action Team would like to remind you

that there are some things you can do to help out with our current and future missions while you

while away the hours:

The Women’s Fellowship is encouraging those who sew to make (or continue to make) face

masks for those who need them now that we must all wear them out in public. If you are

able to help, please give Barbara Lyon a call at 631-928-4317.

The Women's Fellowship and Membership/Community Outreach Team will be joining hands

(figuratively speaking) to make lap blankets as part of a welcome package (including our

new church brochure) to be given to seniors living at the new Bristol assisted living facility in

Mt. Sinai. We plan to have a special day of blanket-making when we can gather again,

but in the meantime, if you would like to begin making lap blankets at home, please

do! All inquiries please contact Kathy Lahey.

Are you cleaning and organizing your closets, basements and attics? Finding some treas-

ures? The Mission Board asks that you consider putting aside new/barely used items for two

upcoming activities:

Hope Starter Kits - new/barely used household items for donation to our Starter Kit

Drive. All items will be gifted to women who are forced out of their homes and need

to begin again. For more information, contact Patrick Duffy.

Self-Help Library - We all go through difficulties in life, buy the self-help book, and

then thankfully get to the other side. Well, now we have a place to pass on that sup-

port and wisdom. Our new MSCUCC Self-help Library will be located on the down-

stairs big room bookshelves. Donations accepted; borrowing encouraged! Books

considered "self-help" only please.

Please hold on to everything until we are able to meet again. Thanks!

6

The Caring Ministry has continued to stay in

touch with our church community through cards,

phone calls, emails, Face-

book and video chats.

Some of our members have been making face-

masks (mentioned above) which

have gone to church members and community

nurses.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from

Caring Ministry contacts, please let us know by

calling the church office.

Peace ~ Barbara DeTurk

Caring Ministry

Mt. Sinai Congregational Church

We are a congregation committed to justice. All are welcome into our full life

and ministry regardless of age, race, abilities, economic or marital status, gen-

der, sexual orientation, or gender identification. We are a church that is open

and affirming of all people, as we are each made in the image of God.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

7

I’m writing this in early spring on Earth Day in the midst of a pandemic during Eastertide. When I think about this convergence, I can see how each presents the opportunity for revolu-tion or repentance—choose either word, for both essentially mean “systemic change.” Spring was my mother’s favorite sea-son. She loved the almost neon yel-low of the forsythia and daffodils, the brilliant green of new leaves in the woods, and the pinks of every kind of blooming tree. And, of course, she loved being released from winter’s grip to es-cape the house to start her garden. From the earliest skunk cabbages to the sweet-est of roses, nature reassures us that the cycle will begin again. Rebirth! Earth Day celebrates its 50th anniversary this year during a terrifying pandemic. Yet

Earth Day finds us seeing the ex-traordinary image of a jelly fish swimming in the clear water of a Venetian canal. People in India can see the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, and crystal blue skies have emerged from the smog banks of cities around the world. These are Earth Day lessons to be taken. Regeneration! Easter calls us to notice and act on these things. Easter assures us, “All things are possible!” Easter

reassures us, “Fear not.” And Easter urges us to “Go and tell the others.” Eastertide demands our attention to possibilities we have forgotten how to imagine. Resurrection! Bless you all,

Sue

Moderator Musings

In Passing…

It is unusual for the OMN to make this kind of announcement, but George Zois of George's Kitchen in Sound Beach has passed. He lost his battle with cancer on his favorite holiday, Greek Easter. George was a big part of the lives of our social groups: Men’s Breakfast, Women’s Breakfast and Lunch Bunch, as well as many other people. He will be missed.

A GoFundMe account has been set up in his name by a former worker to help family cover funeral costs. George’s wife, Mary, and family greatly appreciate your generosity.