486 TOWNLINE ROAD, COMMACK, NEW YORK 11725

(631) 499-7310

THE MESSENGER

JULY 2017

COMMACK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Celebrating over 230 years of Christian Service

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I give thanks for your partnership in the gospel over these nine years that we have journeyed together. We have worshiped, served and given thanks to God for all the goodness and strength that God gives us. It has been a blessing to me and I pray you have also been touched by God’s grace. I can’t even begin to highlight the events and occasions that have been part of our time. I am filled with thanksgiving. Your goodbye brunch was lovely and I will treasure the tablecloth. It’s so much fun to read! My thanks to the United Methodist Women for their donations to the Guide Dog Foundation; that is something that is very close to our hearts. I treasure the cards and well wishes that have been offered in our leaving. God will continue to go with us even as our paths now separate. But prayer crosses space and time and my prayers will be with you as I know you will also be praying for me and my family. Blessings abound and may God’s grace touch your heart and soul! Peace,

Prayer: Jesus, I am so undeserving of your gift of an abundant, forgiven and eter-nal life. But I believe it is mine because of all you’ve done for me. I journey on, strengthened by your presence and promises. Amen

Fair Work Shop We will continue to meet every Tuesday from 10-1 pm each month until the

October fair. Crafters will be notified

for any cancellations due to extreme heat.

We invite any who may be interested to join us with your crafting ideas.

August Birthdays

4th Matt Gamby 8th Eileen Waidelich 8th Rob Freilicher 10th Anne Tammaro 10th Dotty Megna 13th Cyndi Pinkham 19th Matilda Gollatz 21st Tim Sampson 23rd Nick Mondelli 25th Mark Prasad Christine Amato Marylee Arfer Caroline Reddo

July Birthdays

1st Peter Stellmann 3rd Logan Theofield 5th Gery Spory 6th Harry Gahrman 10th Connie Jarvis 11th John Kessler, Sr 21st Dagmar Mackay 28th Andy Kessler Michael Kopping Ryan Kopping Jessica Mallgraf Erin Sullivan

Mitten Ministry

Mittens, hat and scarves for the homeless continued to be knit, crocheted and stored until the winter weather. We are in need of worsted weight (#4) yarn for

this. You may give donated yarn to me on any Sunday or

leave in the church office Thank you, Kathy Muller

July 14-16, 2017

Mission U @ Stamford Hilton, Ct.

(registration deadline July 1st)

August 14th:

Women’s retreat planning at the

home of Ginny Eichenauer

August 24th:

Visit to Olsen’s Nursing Home

October 7th:

LIE UMW Annual Fall District

meeting in Coram Trinity UMC,

9 am - 1 pm

Dates to

Remember:

United Methodist Women (UMW) Debbie Stellmann led the June program which was enjoyed by all. There will not be any UMW meetings during July & August. A visit to Olsen’s Nursing Home for a sing-a-long will be held on Thursday evening, August 24th. We will carpool from the Church

A UMW retreat panning meeting will be held at Ginny’s home on Saturday August 19th We will resume in September with the program “A Community of Women Empowered”

to be led by Matilda Gollatz and Tracey Kopping. Ginny will provide refreshments. We assisted our adopted Appalachian family by helping to pay for their car repairs,

which is much needed in their mountainous West Virginia locale. Deb Hervey visits them and continues to update us on the family. We thank all who contributed to our Mother’s & Father’s Day booklets. All proceeds do

go to support our ongoing mission projects.

Lydia Circle

Meetings are usually held the first Wednesday of each month. July & August meetings will be announced if held.

HISTORIAN’S CORNER

Submitted by:

John Muller, Church Historian

Huntington Arsenal Tour: 1st Sunday from June-October 1-4 pm

Huntington Independence Day on Huntington Village Green 7/16/17

The Fourth of July is more than just barbecues and fireworks.

As most are aware, it commemorates the day in 1776 that the 13 original colonies signed

the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution.

Although the declaration was signed on July 4 in Philadelphia—New York was represented

by Lewis Morris, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis and William Floyd—the news didn't reach

Huntington until later in the month. July 22 or 23, to be sort of exact.

On that day in 1776, a crowd was assembled on the Village Green located at the intersec-

tion of East Main Street and Park Avenue. The document arrived and was read to a large

crowd. The reaction was mixed. Those loyal to the King George III were upset, but those in

support of the patriotic cause of independence rejoiced.

The flag flying at the time in Huntington was probably the British Red Ensign, a red flag

with the King's Colors—pre-1812 Union Jack— in the upper left hand comer. In the year of

Huntington's Declaration of Rights, 1774, the word "liberty" was added to the front of this

flag and George III to the back.

Upon the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the patriots lowered the flag from

the pole on the Village Green and the King's Colors and the word George III were ripped off

the fabric. This left a red flag with only the word liberty left.

An effigy of George III was constructed by patriots, which was stuffed with those parts of

the flag that had been removed. The effigy was run up a gallows and blown up with a gun-

powder.

Note: These events will be reenacted by the Huntington Militia on July 16 (rain date July

23) on the Village Green.

The euphoria patriots felt on July 23, 1776 was short-lived. Following the defeat of the re-

bel forces at the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776 Long Island was occupied by the

British Army. Residents were required to take oaths of allegiance to the British crown.

If a man refused to take the oath, he and his family could be turned off their property, los-

ing everything. In 1782 the occupying army established an encampment in Huntington's

Old Burial Ground located behind the Soldiers and Sailors Building. Located on Main Street,

it was the final resting place of many ascendants of names still familiar today, such as

Sammis and Conklin. In preparing the foundation for their fort, the British razed 100

tombstones. The townspeople were outraged, waging guerilla warfare until the war was

over and the British left in 1783.

Huntington was also the site of American spy Nathan Hale's landing on Long Island. Hale

crossed Long Island Sound from Norwalk on the armed sloop Schuyler, landing on the

I wanted to express my thanks for all the cards and prayers and well wishes sent my way as a result of the recent car accident in which I was involved. Thanks so much,

Phyllis D'Amato

KNIT & CROCHET

We meet every 3rd Saturday, 1-3 in the parlor. Bring your

needles. We have free yarn to share and a certified instructor.

shore of Huntington Bay, probably near Bay Road. Although unconfirmed, local legend

tells that he spent the night at Mother Chick's Inn, also known as Widow Chichester's or

Mother Chidd's Inn before continuing on his spy mission disguised as an unemployed

school teacher. The inn is now a private residence on Bay Road,

Not long after arriving in New York, Hale was discovered and captured by the British in

Manhattan. The 21-year-old was hanged at what is 66th Street and Third Avenue in Man-

hattan on September 22, 1776.

The Huntington hamlet Halesite is named for him and there is a memorial plaque set in-

to a large boulder on Mill Dam Road, which was removed from the beach nearby where

Hale is thought to have landed on his fateful mission.

Hale is probably best remembered best for a speech supposedly gave before being

hanged following the Battle of Long Island, in which he said, "I only regret that I have

but one life to lose for my country."

To learn even more about Huntington history during the Revolutionary War, contact the

Huntington Historical Society or visit the Town Clerk's Archives. Items from the Revolu-

tionary War collection include receipts for supplies and books, oaths of loyalty and town

accounting records.

The Archives is located in Town Hall and is open on weekdays, except holidays, from

9a.m.- 4p.m. For additional information, call (631) 351-3035 or e-mail Town Archi-

vist Antonia S. Mattheo at amattheou@town.huntington.ny.us.

Continued from previous page

stay up to date visit our calendar on line;

http://www.commack-umc.org/Calendar.shtml

stay up to date visit our calendar on line;

http://www.commack-umc.org/Calendar.shtml