Liam Battjes to Join Staff Please welcome Liam Battjes as the Director of Christian Development of our congregation. Liam was ordained in the RCA and has an MDiv from Western Seminary. He also has certifications in Spiritual Direction, Elementary Education, and a Master's Degree in Special Education.

He was co-pastor of Herkimer Reformed Church for 9 years and more recently has been working with special education and children's ministries in Michigan and Australia. He has a deep commitment to the church and to the creative well-being of children and is pleased to be able to meld his interests with us for the long haul.

Liam will be starting in September so stay tuned for a time to meet him.

What Doesn’t Happen in

July and August

Consistory Meetings Committee Meetings Regular Rehearsals

Bible Bunch

All these start again in September.

First Forum After worship most Sundays at 11:15am in the Sanctuary, we gather to learn about new ideas and existing efforts. Suggestions for programs are welcome. Contact: Amy Brule, Peggy King, Frank Ralbovsky or Joe Doolittle. See the Sunday chart for what is up. Sunday, July 15, Jacob Ettkin, who recently attended General Synod as a Regional Synod of Albany Youthful Observer will present his reflections on his time there. Jacob will soon be returning to college, so we would like to advantage of hearing his stories from the Youth perspective.

Our building program is almost over, and as you might imagine, there are some things that we would like to do that weren’t in the original funding. If you have been waiting on the sidelines, now is the chance to get in the game! You can designate funding for some of these projects:

Huntly Garden upgrades

Donor recognition tree

Library and Bookstore upgrades

Indoor plants

New Church School furniture

Camp Fowler Open House August 4 This summer, you are invited...

...to get a taste of what summer camp is really like! Each summer we invite everyone up to Camp to experience what Fowler is like in the summer. Trust us when we say it is a truly unparalleled experience.

Get a tour of camp, swim in Sacandaga Lake, take a wander through our Camp Store, eat some of the best-barbecued chicken you have ever had, and spend time getting to know your fellow Fowler people. This is a great event to bring someone to who has never been to Fowler before. Come celebrate with us before the summer is over! www.campfowler.org

Preaching on July 29 Rev. J.M., former minister here now mission co-worker in Middle East will be preaching on July 29 as a part of his interpretive duties since we support them.

New Addition

Carson Jack Weber joined us in May 4 at 10:33am he weighed 10lbs 1oz and was 21 inches long.

First Things

A Newsletter of the First Reformed Church, Schenectady, New York July/August 2018

Music &

Worship Sunday Music Calling all singers and musicians. Choir will be starting again on Thursday evening Sept 6 at 7:30 for the Sept 9 Sunday service. Please join us this year to sing a beautiful and joyful variety of musical styles coming up in the new season. Please contact Corine Salon if you have any questions about the choir at csalon@nycap.rr.com or 518 346-9060.

July 15 – Kate Rose July 22 – Kitty Trimarco July 28 – Gail Blinckmann August 5 – Johnny Willis and Olivia Cox. Avery’s last day. August 12 – John Norton and Paroma Lahiri, flute August 19 – Choir ensemble and Paroma Lahiri, flute August 26 – Andy Chestnut September 2 – Nate Phipps

September 9 – Choir resumes

Fellowship Dinner & Contemplative Worship

Join us the second Wednesday evening of July and August for good food, fellowship, and the holy feast of God. A bring-whatever-you-like (or not) informal dinner is shared at 6pm in Dirck Romeyn room. At 7pm a contemplative service in the sanctuary chancel begins including music with ukuleles and guitar, meditation upon Scripture, communion, prayers, blessing, and Christ's peace.

Adult Ukulele

Adult Ukulele will resume on August 1. We meet Wednesday evenings from 7 - 8:15pm. No experience is needed and we have a few ukuleles that can be borrowed temporarily. Call the church office 518-377-2201 or contact Jamie Ipsen 518-399-6848.

FRC Orff Group The FRC Orff Group meets following church service from 11:15-12:15pm. We will meet in the church balcony and will play throughout the summer. Children ages 4 and older and adults are welcome to join in with singing and music-making on percussion instruments. Orff music is great first step into learning to play music, so absolutely no experience is necessary! Please join us in making some joyful noise as we celebrate God in song!

Post-Worship Hospitality Needs

Please consider hosting our post-worship fellowship by signing up for a couple of Sundays during the year. The sign-up sheet and instructions are in Dirck Romeyn room. Questions you may have to James Gonda at 607-765-5349 or jgonda12309@gmail.com.

August Preacher Liturgist Reader Jazz Vespers

5 Bill Levering Daniel Carlson Liz Mastrianni Nat Phipps, piano; Pete Toigo, bass

12 Bill Levering Daniel Carlson Gene Rowland Wayne Hawkins, piano

19 Bill Levering Daniel Carlson Norm Kuchar Peg Delaney, piano; Bill Delaney, bass

26 Bill Levering Daniel Carlson George Trimarco Tim Olsen, piano

July Preacher Liturgist Reader Jazz Vespers

1 Bill Levering Amy Brule Nat Phipps, piano; Pete Toigo, bass

8 John Barclay Bill Levering Brad Lewis Azzaam Hameed, piano

15 Daniel Carlson Marilyn Leach Peg Delaney, piano; Bill Delaney, bass

22 James Gonda Kristin Lion Mike Lamkin, piano

29 J.M. Bill Levering Ellie Rowland Dave Gleason, piano

Christian

Education

Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 recipients of the Al Smith Education Fund Scholarship:

Grace Le Jie Bennett- University of Massachusetts Amherst

Calvin Cleworth- University of Maine

Olivia Cox- Albany Law School

Jacob Ettkin- Vassar College

Dorothy Linder-Mitchell- SCCC

Hunter Scribner- University at Buffalo

Tricia Shaw- SCCC

Church School Children in grades K-5 are invited to go upstairs for

church school after the Children's Message. Those in grades 6-8 may choose to remain in the service or help with the younger children. Tom Mancuso is teaching our K-2nd grade youth and Dave Pizzolo is teaching our 3-8th grade youth.

Youth Ed Committee We will be having a mid-summer meeting to discuss the upcoming school year and work on planning. Meeting will be Saturday, August 11, 12 noon at the Ettkin’s house. This will be a Potluck lunch meeting!

Thank You Alexis! Alexis has been

our great

assistant in

Kinderwyk.

August 19 will

be her last day with us, as she heads

off to SUNY Oneonta to pursue her

Bachelor’s in Education. Thank you

Alexis for your dedication to the

youngest members of our church

family and all the joy and laughter you

have brought to Kinderwyk! Best of

luck on your continued education!

Kinderwyk Staff Needed

With Alexis’ departure, we are in need

of a new Kinderwyk Staff member! If

you, or anyone you know is interested

in working with young children and are

18 or over, contact Dorothy! We are

looking for someone to be dedicated to

work Sunday’s from 9:30-12 and as

needed for special youth events.

Kinderwyk is a fun place to be with a

wonderful group of little ones who are

all growing up too fast and eager to

learn about God and the bible!

Kinderwyk and Sunday School Volunteers Needed Sign up with Dorothy and reserve your time to nurture our growing youth! This will be a year of transition as we move mid-year into our new education wing! We will start out the school year in our classrooms in the Walton House for Sunday school and Kinderwyk will continue to be downstairs in Friendship Hall. If you are interested in Teaching Sunday School Classes, but cannot commit to a full 3 month block, let Dorothy know as we are working to create an alternating schedule to fit our volunteers availability!

Mission

SICM Summer Lunch Thank you to all the volunteers, who help serve lunches to the children at Quackenbush Park. Schenectady Community Ministries, SiCM, sponsor the program. You did a great job rain or shine. Thank you to all the volunteers: Mary Bailey, Joanne Bedell, Sally Bestgen, Amy & Wayne Brule, Daniel Carlson, Carol DeLaMarter, Jeanette Davidson, Gay & Joe Doolittle, Dick Gardner, Mary Jewett, Peggy King, Narilyn & Don Leach, Phyllis Melideo, Inge-Lise Pangburn, Del Pierce, Ellie Rowland, Frieda Tanski, Carol Troost, Barbara & Ernie Walton, Alexis & Daryl Wisniewski.

Empty Pill Bottle Donations We are collecting empty pill bottle donations to be sent to places where medical supplies are needed. Look for donation boxes in Dirck Romeyn room, Lobby of Mohawk House, and outside the church office. For questions, contact Scott Ebeling at (518)424-2813 or sebeling8954@gmail.com.

Union Presbyterian Church Mission Fund The committee selected 2018mission projects to fund as follows:

Local Joan Nicole Prince Home, $2,500

for washer and lawn mower. League of Women Voters, $1,000

for students to the conference. Home Furnishings Program, Elsie’s

Room, $2,500 for supplies. Schenectady YWCA, $2,000 for

children’s program funding. Working Group on Girls of

Schenectady, $2,000 for conducting workshops and girls’ circles.

Court Appointed Special Advocates Program, $1,000 for training volunteers and supplies.

Schenectady Inner City Ministry, $1,300 for modernizing the Community Resource Center.

Schenectady Inner Ministry, $5800 for summer lunch program.

Regional Northville United Presbyterian

Church, $1,000 for “Feed the Kids Program.”

Troy Area United Ministries, $3,400 for furniture program.

Labor Religion Coalition NYS, $3,000 for “Poor People’s Campaign for Social Justice.”

National/International Hope Mission School in Liberia,

$1,500 for school program expenses.

Iglesia Bautista de Marney in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, $1,500 for construction supplies.

Haiti Mission School, $1,000 for school supplies and meals.

Presbyterian Mission (PCUSA), $1,000 for Presbyterian Mission selected project.

Here’s a list of some of the events happening this summer! Keep your eyes and ears open for any other updates and additions to the list. Dorothy will send out e-mail reminders and updates! If you’re not on the list and would like to be added, send Dorothy an e-mail at: 1stReformedEducation@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 24 at 6:30pm Jumpin’ Jacks and Water Ski Show at 7pm. Grab some food from the counter; bring your chairs and blankets to enjoy a fun night cheering on the local water ski team celebrating their 50th year! (Fun Fact – Dorothy and her family were a part of the Water Ski Team when she was younger!)

Saturday July 28 at 10am Youth Group Breakfast at Puzzles. Hello FRC Youth! We hope your summers are going well. We miss you and think of you often. We would like to see you! So please join us for breakfast at Puzzles Cafe in Schenectady (515 State St). There is no real agenda. This will just be a time of fellowship with your leaders and peers. If you are new to FRC and/or the FRC Youth Program, this will be a great low-key chance to meet some new people and get connected. We would also love to gather your ideas about topics to discuss this fall and activities/events you may want to try. Hope to see you there! Any questions? Need to carpool? Email cmjones514@gmail.com.

Friday, August 10 at 6pm BBQ Potluck for Youth Families hosted by the Pizzolo Family 1682 Providence Ave. Niskayuna. RSVP to Natalie Pizzolo 518-867-6502 by 8/7 and let her know what side dish, salad or dessert you will be bringing! There may also be a visit by the ice cream truck!

Friday, August 17 at 11:30am Picnic in the Park. Everyone welcome! Let us meet at Collins Park and enjoy the playground and brand new splash pad! Bring your Frisbee, soccer ball, kite, or any other outdoor toy/game you enjoy playing!

Wednesday, August 29 at 5:30pm BBQ Potluck and Game Night Location: Church – Mohawk House Who – Anyone who wants to have fun! Come one come all to a BBQ potluck with Burgers and hotdogs grilled outside the Mohawk House! Bring your favorite game, whether it be a board game or card games! Let’s get the energy flowing in the Mohawk House!

Loch Ness, starring Gabby Pizzolo

Summer Youth Events

Support

and Care Whenever you are ill, hospitalized, homebound, needing a meal, transportation to a doctor, or grieving a loss, we would like to know...so we can do what our Committee is named for: support and care! Please help us to help you when you are in need by calling Support and Care Chair, Barb Walton 518-346-1943 or Rev. Daniel Carlson 518-366-6416.

Stephen Ministry offers Glen Eddy group Maria Todd is leading a new monthly group at the Eddy. It is an informal get together to share our life experiences and enjoy Friends from First Reformed Church. The meeting takes place every 3rd Monday at 10:30am - 11:30am in the Fireside room at the Eddy.

Entered into Eternal Rest

Marjorie McSwain – April 19

A service will be 2pm. July 24 at

Griswold's Funeral Home; calling hour

1-2pm. A minister friend of the family

will be leading the service

Shirley Manning Barnes – June 3

A service was held on June 11

Amy Ramio – July 1 A service will be held on July 14 at City

Center in Saratoga at 2pm

Special Prayer and Support Times Open Hearts – Every Other Sunday Please join us every other Sunday at 11:15am in the Mohawk House for a brief time of sharing and praying in an intimate and safe group. Please see Karen Gonda if you have questions. Care & Prayer – Last Sunday Need a moment for prayerful support after worship? Trained Stephen Ministers will be available in the Dykstra Chapel right after the service on the last Sunday of each month to sit with, listen to, and pray for and with you. Please stop by if this sounds like it may be just what you need.

Creation Retreat at Camp Fowler Registration is now open for our Creation Celebration and Preservation retreat in the Adirondacks at Camp Fowler October 5-7! Immersive, interactive and inspirational worship, hikes, paddles, meals, activities, presentations, and conversations are on the schedule. This time away is open to singles, couples, and families of all ages and stages who wish to grow in awareness, affection and appreciative stewardship of God's beloved world, our common home. To register use the link the Creation Celebration and Preservation link on our church website or visit: campfowler.org/creationcelebration

Water Conservation at Home This month’s article regarding Care of Creation is about Water Conservation. Here is some ways to conserve this precious resource: 1. Use drip hoses to water gardens.

Spray hose methods lose significant amounts of water to evaporation. Also, water in the cool of the morning.

2. Turn off water while brushing teeth.

3. Shower judiciously. Wet your body. Turn off water. Soap up, etc. Turn on water and rinse.

4. Utilize a low flow toilet. 5. Replace showerhead with a

shower saver. They are very inexpensive and they improve the pressure of the water.

6. Don't bother rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher. It is not necessary with today's efficient machines. And don't run the machine until it's really full.

7. Load washing machines fully (and did you know that cold water cleans clothes as well as hot? Save energy!).

8. Consider collecting rainwater for garden use, etc.

9. Empty dehumidifier water on your plants.

10. If you feel compelled to wash your car, take it to a car wash that recycles the water, rather than washing at home with the hose.

These helpful ideas are brought to us by Carrie and Bill Brooks.

Groups

Committees Forming Have a new idea? Want to cheer on a

project? Here are the chairpeople:

Worship Amy Brule

Mission and Benevolence

Andy Chestnut

Property Ralph Rosenthal

Personnel Bill Levering

Finance Dave Hjelmar

Membership and Fellowship

Barb Mancuso

Youth Education Sarah Bachorik

Adult Education Marilyn Leach

Support and Care Barbara Walton

Justice Action Liz Mastrianni

Archives and Historical Concerns

Kitty Trimarco

Creation Care Del Pierce

Prayer Shawl Knit Group We will be taking a break for summer and will not be meeting in June, July and August. Starting back in September we will meet on the 4th Thursday of the month at 10am in the home of Gini McDermott at 21 Carrie Ct, Niskayuna.

New Edition One, two, buckle my shoe, three, four, shut the door, five, six, pick up the Spring 2018 Beverwyck Anthology in the book store. Your free copy awaits your perusal.

Faith Book Shop Prayers to Live By “Now I lay me down to sleep…” “…and we thank you for this food” These or other comforting phrases may resonate in your mind and heart stirring up memories from childhood or from raising your own children. Or perhaps you did not grow up with prayers and are looking for prayers to use on your own or with your family and friends. The Faith Bookshop committee will publish a collection of our church family’s prayers to live by—prayers used at mealtime, bedtime or any other time. With your submission, please share author attribution if you know it or a brief message about who introduced you to the prayer. Please send any prayers you are willing to share for this purpose to Christina Jones at cmjones514@gmail.com. Please send in your contributions by September 30. The collection will be available before Thanksgiving and in our new location (God willing).

Horizons Bible Study

The Horizons Bible Study group invites you to join us on Tuesday mornings beginning in mid-September. Our first study each program year is always the nine-week series of lessons prepared by the national association of Presbyterian Women. This fall’s study is entitled God’s Promise: I Am with You and considers selected passages from both the Old and New Testaments. Leadership of each week’s discussion rotates among participants who want to lead, so we have variety in presentation styles, but always a caring support group of learners. A member of the Horizons group will be at coffee hour each Sunday this summer with a lesson booklet, eager to discuss our study with you. Please consider joining us.

Kerygma Summer Adventures July 18, 9:30-11am; Mohawk House to reflect on serving lunch to youth who are hungry. To participate in this discussion, you will need to sign up (on Sunday or contact the church office or Ellie Rowland) in this SICM sponsored ministry at Quakenbush Park on date when our congregation is responsible to assist. August 15, 9:30-3:30pm; Road trip to grave of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin with lunch at Culinary Institute of America. For our final summer adventure, we will travel south for what will be a thought provoking meander through the Jesuit cemetery where this famous and famously silenced, scientist/philosopher/theo logian is buried. We will continue our musing on Chardin's contributions to our understanding of God's work--and ours--in the world over a delicious meal at one of the highly acclaimed restaurants onsite, returning home afterword’s. Contact Daniel Carlson to join the journey.

Group V We will not meet again until October. Contact Maria Todd with questions at 518-882-6555.

Short-Short Writing Group The FRC Short-Short Writing Critique Group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7pm., Short-Shorts include fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, essays, and travel pieces told in 1,000 words or less. The group’s mission is to help one another improve as writers.

Fall Picnic – September 9 All are invited to stay after worship on September 9 for a time of fun, food, and fellowship! Please bring a dish to share. Volunteers are needed for set-up before the picnic and breakdown /clean-up after the picnic. Sign-up at the church office.

Help with Communion Preparations The Worship Committee is looking for volunteers to help with communion preparations. Gerry Meyers and Amy Brule are now preparing communion and we would like to add others to our team. Contact Amy Brule at 518-785-8201 if you can help.

Need a Break?

Our new Mohawk House has a Sitting room with coffee and tea and a place to chat

with friends. It is open before and after church and weekdays from 9am to 3pm. Grab a cup or read the paper while waiting for the kids to finish choir or chat with a friend during the week. A free living room.

What’s What at

FRC – Sept 2

This is a relaxed time for folks to learn more about First Reformed. It starts at 3pm in the church office.

Parking Reminder We designate our

handicap parking lot for contractors Mon-Fri. Please park in our other two available lots. Also, please leave the spaces in front of the church open on Sundays for drop off.

Accessible Restroom If you are looking for a first floor handicapped accessible rest room, the Mohawk building is open.

Dr. Levering’s Blog

dailygazette.com/blogs/spiritual-stew

First Reformed Church

8 North Church Street

Schenectady, NY 12305

(518) 377-2201

1stReformed@gmail.com

www.1streReformed.com

July Birthdays

August Birthdays

1 – Emma Kowaleski Ryan Muse Robert Ridgway Vernetta Thuener 2 – Marlene Risseeuw 3 – Herbert Bachorik Wales Brown Aniko Fellegi-Bobok Kevin Shultes 5 – Eric Burgoyne 6 – Samantha Erickson Samantha Hjelmar Kristin Lion 7 – Luke Carlson Therese McCarty 9 – Virginia McDermott Deborah Troost 10 – Eugene Cox Kurt Redman 12 - Cecilia Lawrence 13 – Bradley Lewis

14 – Carol De La Marter Lee Pennant Lois Stickney 15 – Ben Masiatis Greyson Karl 16 – Dorothy Linder-Mitchell William Martin Maurice Robbins 19 – Eric Evans Owen Evans Carlos Grande Moran 20 – Emile Walraven 21 – Brad Hjelmar 23 – Emilio Pagan-Yourno 25 – Sharron McCullough 26 – Kaitlyn Hjelmar Carolyn Jones-Assini Valerie Ramsey 28 – Dave Pizzolo 29 – Jeannette Davidson 30 – Jenny Overeynder

1 – Timothy Gallagher Nancy Wainwright 2 – Matthew Mitchell 3 – Barbara Piper 4 – Sarah Bachorik Jessica Daniels Ann Hammett Kenneth Roinos Shannon Shultes Philip Yourno 5 – Tom Lindsay Krista Vena 7 – Amanda Bogatka Art Casey 8 – Camila Grande 9 – Brianna Bogatka Rachael Cox Barbara Mancuso 10 – Cathy Lewis Kassandra Vena 13 – Ellie Colby

15 – Olivia Cox 16 – Janet Lawrence 17 – Barbara Matthews Mark Wemple 18 – Tom Mancuso 19 – Chris Erickson Jessica Lawrence Sue Zeltmann 20 – Douglas Phillips 21 – James Mc Cullough 22 – Karen Norton 25 – Becky Draffen-Grande 26 – Sue Settle 29 – Nancy Rimany 31 – Gary Nelson Margaret Schadler Birthdates! If you do not see yours listed in our birthday calendar, please let us know. Call or email the church office.

During July & August

Weekly Monday: Men’s News Group, 9am Wednesday: Kerygma, 9:30am Adult Ukulele, 7pm Every Sunday Worship, 10am Church School, 10:15am Orff Group, 11:15am Vespers, 5pm

Monthly Meetings Writers Group, 1st & 3rd Tues., 7pm Archives, 2nd Tues., 6pm Contemplative Worship 2nd Wed, 7pm Stephen Ministry at Glen Eddy 3rd Mon., 10:30am

Upcoming Events July 11: Fellowship Meal 11: Contemplative Worship 15: First Forum Event 18: Summer Kerygma 22: Guest Preacher - James 24: YG at Jumpin’ Jacks 28: YG at Puzzles Café 28: Guest Preacher - Justin

Upcoming Events August 1: Adult Ukulele Resumes 4: Camp Fowler Open House 8: Chords of Love Resumes 8: Fellowship Meal 8: Midmonth Worship 10: YG BBQ Potluck 11: Youth Ed Committee 15: Summer Kerygma 17: YG Picnic at Collins Park 19: Alexis Reception 29: YG BBQ Potluck

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