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“Separating the Grain from the Chaff” by Rev. Mark Duncan Allan THE CLARION A Publication of Christ Church on Quaker Hill One of many special moments from our trip to Scotland was a chance to go to church. Our place in Culloden was just feet away from a Church of Scotland parish named the ‘Barn Church’. The ‘barn’ played a part in the Battle of Culloden in 1746 when Jacobite soldiers stayed there the night before the battle. That barn still stands as part of a larger building now. I was told that the original doors were directly opposite each other on the longer walls. They were too narrow for a horse and cart so it is believed their real purpose was for the winnowing of grain. On a windy day, both doors would be opened, and the grain stored in the loft would be poured through the trap. The chaff and lights would be carried away by the wind, while the good grain remained. Barb and I thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday morning in the church but the image of the winnowing has really stayed with me. Farmers in modern countries probably don’t use this method any more, but “separating the grain from the chaff” can speak to other places in our lives. Our lives are filled with many things some good, some bad some needed, some unnecessary or unwanted. At a couple of points during this summer I have talked about how overfilled and hectic our lives are. No matter what our lives are, all of us have to “separate the grain from the chaff”. We need to prioritize and decide what is good and important, from that which is not. Letting go of some things, lets us pick up other ones that are more needed. As September approaches, most of our lives will get busier. It is a time to question what is the grain in our lives, and what is the chaff. We hope being an engaged part of church is some of the “grain” of your life – nurturing and sustaining. As summer nears its end, there will be many things happening here and many places to be engaged. Our Annual Chicken BBQ, under the tent, on Saturday, August 18 th . Then comes our big “Welcome Back Sunday” and potluck picnic after, on Sunday Sept. 9th. This is always one the best days of our church year. Sunday School will back in session that same day. An informal meeting for 9 th graders (or older) and their parents is scheduled for Sept. 19 th to discuss this year’s confirmation program. Our various music programs start in again, as well a new “Inquirers Gathering” for those who wish to explore membership in our church. A new class of Stephen Ministers will also begin this fall, not to mention a new “Pastors Class”. And you don’t want to miss the return appearance of the amazing and talented “SymphoNYChorus” on Saturday, Sept. 29 th . As we did last year, we will have a potluck dinner afterwards in which we will host these wonderful musicians. I hope each of you had a good summer and that you got a chance to unwind and take a deep breath. It really is important physically and spiritually. I also hope you will be a part of some of these programs, or the many others that will be happening. While Sunday mornings are the center of our common life (and the most visible), they are just the beginning. To find the fullness of what church means, and the joy of faith, we need to be a part of more than just that hour. All of our lives are demanding; all are filled with grain and chaff. God invites us to see what really matters and what really feeds us. Be a part of all that is happening and sink your roots deeper into the life of your church. I promise you will find even more nourishment and renewal. I look forward to sharing it all with you. Peace, Rev. Mark+ Volume 31 No. 3 SUMMER 2018

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“Separating the Grain from the Chaff” by Rev. Mark Duncan Allan

THE CLARION

A Publication of Christ Church on Quaker Hill

One of many special moments from our trip to Scotland was a chance to go to church. Our place in Culloden

was just feet away from a Church of Scotland parish named the ‘Barn Church’. The ‘barn’ played a part in the Battle

of Culloden in 1746 when Jacobite soldiers stayed there the night before the battle. That barn still stands as part of a

larger building now.

I was told that the original doors were directly opposite each other on the longer walls. They were too narrow

for a horse and cart so it is believed their real purpose was for the winnowing of grain. On a windy day, both doors

would be opened, and the grain stored in the loft would be poured through the trap. The chaff and lights would be

carried away by the wind, while the good grain remained.

Barb and I thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday morning in the church – but the image of the winnowing has really

stayed with me. Farmers in modern countries probably don’t use this method any more, but “separating the grain

from the chaff” can speak to other places in our lives.

Our lives are filled with many things – some good, some bad – some needed, some unnecessary or unwanted.

At a couple of points during this summer I have talked about how overfilled and hectic our lives are. No matter what

our lives are, all of us have to “separate the grain from the chaff”. We need to prioritize and decide what is good

and important, from that which is not. Letting go of some things, lets us pick up other ones that are more needed.

As September approaches, most of our lives will get busier. It is a time to question what is the grain in our

lives, and what is the chaff. We hope being an engaged part of church is some of the “grain” of your life – nurturing

and sustaining.

As summer nears its end, there will be many things happening here and many places to be engaged. Our

Annual Chicken BBQ, under the tent, on Saturday, August 18th

.

Then comes our big “Welcome Back Sunday” and potluck picnic after, on Sunday Sept. 9th. This is always

one the best days of our church year. Sunday School will back in session that same day.

An informal meeting for 9th

graders (or older) and their parents is scheduled for Sept. 19th

to discuss this

year’s confirmation program.

Our various music programs start in again, as well a new “Inquirers Gathering” for those who wish to explore

membership in our church. A new class of Stephen Ministers will also begin this fall, not to mention a new “Pastors

Class”.

And you don’t want to miss the return appearance of the amazing and talented “SymphoNYChorus” on

Saturday, Sept. 29th

. As we did last year, we will have a potluck dinner afterwards in which we will host these

wonderful musicians.

I hope each of you had a good summer and that you got a chance to unwind and take a deep breath. It really

is important – physically and spiritually.

I also hope you will be a part of some of these programs, or the many others that will be happening. While

Sunday mornings are the center of our common life (and the most visible), they are just the beginning. To find the

fullness of what church means, and the joy of faith, we need to be a part of more than just that hour. All of our lives

are demanding; all are filled with grain and chaff. God invites us to see what really matters and what really feeds us.

Be a part of all that is happening and sink your roots deeper into the life of your church. I promise you will

find even more nourishment and renewal. I look forward to sharing it all with you.

Peace, Rev. Mark+

Volume 31 No. 3

SUMMER 2018

The Clarion Page | 2

SymphoNYchorus

Saturday, September 29th

Come hear a wonderful choral group and then share a Christ Church on Quaker Hill potluck supper with SymphoNYchorus. Bring a cover dish, side or dessert to share. Drinks will be provided. Remember last time this group came, we blew them away with the church supper that we provided. Let’s do it again! (see more about this event on page 5)

The Worship Team is looking for a few people to be on the chancel committee. This would include decorating the windows and pulpit area during Christmas and other holidays. Use your artistic skills to make our sanctuary an even more beautiful and inspirational worship area. See Linda Chase if you are interested.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE:

Sunday, September 9th is Welcome Back Sunday & Picnic!! Come to worship on Sunday, September 9th and stay for a potluck picnic following service. Bring a cover dish, side or dessert to share. Drinks will be provided. This is a great time for fellowship, a time to reconnect with each other. If you want to bring a lawn game, please do so. If weather permits we will be outside. Help will be needed in table & chair setup and take down. Hope to see you there! Any questions please contact Nancy Reilly: [email protected]

www.thesymphonychorus.com

Another successful BBQ took place on Saturday, August 18th. Guests enjoyed: BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Corn on the Cob, Salad, Watermelon, Homemade Desserts, 50/50, Raffles and more! A special thank you to the following for their donations: Advanced Shooting Sports, Aneu Salon, Annex Florist, American Pie, Ruth Comunale, Forrest Side Street Café, Good Tidings, Carol Greiner, Karen’s Diner, Camille Ludington, Ming Guang, Pawling Firehouse, MJ Phelan, Resolution RX, Paul Ruane, Sauros, Texas Roadhouse, Vinny’s Deli, Fran Wathley, and Dottie Woods.

Annual

The Clarion Page | 3

St. Pauly Clothing Shed

With the change of seasons arriving in the near future, we often think about cleaning out

closets and cupboards of summer gear and outgrown items. Please remember our

clothing shed in the church’s parking lot for clean clothing, bedding, blankets and even shoes, belts and pocketbooks that are no

longer used. This is a “quiet” fundraiser for our church’s operating budget that generated over $650 last year. MJ Phelan volunteers to oversee the shed and sorts donated items for upcoming Mid-Night Runs. We appreciated

her efforts with this project!

It is not too late to consider paying your

2018 pledge through automatic

deduction or a credit card monthly

charge. The fees for automatic

deductions from your bank account are

much lower for the church than the cost

for credit cards transfers. This process is

extremely helpful to managing our

church’s operating costs and payment of

expenses. It is very convenient for

members who travel or have other

Sunday obligations that interfere with

weekly attendance. The Church Council

is very grateful for all who regularly

contribute now through process.

Stewardship Update…..

Outreach Team Update by Kevin Kitowski

The Outreach team has recently conducted a successful Breakfast Run and Midnight Run to help feed and clothe the homeless of NYC and the every-fourth-Friday soup kitchen at the Lunch Box in Poughkeepsie is going very well. There are always opportunities to help with outreach! There will be another Midnight Run on September 14th. Please see the bulletin board for details. We can always use extra cooks and servers at the soup kitchen. We serve dinner on the fourth Friday of every month, leaving the church around 3:00 PM and returning around 7:00. Plans are being discussed for some kind of mission trip, probably in 2019, and perhaps through Habitat for Humanity or Bridges to Community or a similar group and possibly jointly with another local church. Any ideas or comments on this are solicited and greatly appreciated. Please contact Kevin Kitowski at [email protected] if you want to help!

2018 BENEVOLENCES The Christ Church Outreach team is pleased to announce the payment of our 2018 benevolences. Our benevolences are funded by the proceeds of the Christmas Bazaar and we are happy to be able to support all these worthy causes. We are very, very grateful to the many people who put so much effort into making the Christmas Bazaar a success year after year, thus making these benevolences possible.

2018 Benevolences

AmeriCares $1,600

Camp Valor Outdoors $400

Dutchess Outreach $350

Grace Smith House $350

Guideposts Foundation $600

Heifer International $600

Hudson River Housing $1,100

The Oasis International $600

Midnight Run, Inc. $800

Midnight Run Supplies $800

Pastor’s Discretionary Fund $2,000

Pawling Resource Center $5,100

Rebuilding Dutchess $300

Salvation Army (local) $1,100

Salvation Army (national) $1,100

TOTAL $16,800

The Clarion Page | 4

Rev. Mark & Barbara Allan’s 10th Anniversary! On Sunday, July 1st the congregation came together to celebrate Rev. Mark’s 10th anniversary as pastor for Christ

Church on Quaker Hill! Following the worship service there was a delicious catered luncheon put together by Nancy Reilly with the help of the Congregational Life Team. Beautiful succulents adorned the tables and the

room was filled with so much love and laughter! Congratulations Rev. Mark! Thank you for 10 years of spiritual leadership, guidance and friendship.

We can’t thank you all of you enough for the celebration of my 10th anniversary as your pastor. Time flies when you’re having fun! We were moved by the special day, the wonderful party and the generous gift. Our gratitude for the day, and for each of you, is hard to overstate. Such moments invite us to look back. It is easy to see how God has worked among us for these years, and many years before that. The sense that Christ Church was the place we were supposed to be is just as strong now as it was when we accepted your search committee’s invitation in the spring of 2008. But such moments also invite us to look ahead. What might the next 10 years bring? We can’t say for sure, but we can trust that God is preparing the way for us. That is his promise to us. Faith in Him, and his word to us, will lead us to the fresh horizons we are supposed to encounter. We are excited that we can journey together with you. Thank you for the celebration and the gift. Thank you for your love, support and affirmation. But most especially thank you for making Christ Church the special place it is. May God bless our church and the days that lie ahead. Gratefully, Rev. Mark and Barbara

THANK YOU!!

A Note from the Pastor…..

The Clarion Page | 5

‘The SymphoNYChorus’ is Coming Back to Christ Church!

On Saturday, Sept. 29th

of this year, The SymphoNYChorus will be performing in our church once again.

Last year, they shared an incredible concert with us. If you were there, you know how incredible they

were. If you missed it last year, you will want to make sure you don’t miss this one!

The SympnoNYChorus is a faith based community of vocalists and instrumentalists committed to sharing

the message of God’s love with musical creativity, passion and excellence.

Currently with 35 singers and an 18 piece orchestra, TSC members are volunteers and perform widely

across the tristate area. TSC’s performances include different musical genres, including spirituals, gospel,

contemporary classical and Broadway.

You can learn more about this exciting group at their website: www.thesymphonychorus.com

The concert will be open to the community, but there will also be a potluck dinner afterwards for church

members and the TSC musicians.

This is definitely an event you won’t want to miss. Be watching for more information as the date gets

closer.

SAVE THE DATE

Christmas Bazaar Breakfast Gathering!

We know it’s early…..but please mark your calendars for our pre-Christmas Bazaar breakfast for Saturday, September 29, 2018 in Lankler Hall at 9:00 am. Along with our team captains and their volunteer group, we welcome anyone else who is interested in joining our bazaar activities. More information to come in our September Clarion. Any questions, please feel free to call me.

Rosemary Gieseking (845) 661-6529

Exciting news!! The weekday Creative Blessings group is moving to Thursdays after yoga class with Julia Harrer. Julia has a wonderful yoga program every Thursday at 10AM in Lankler Hall that some Creative Blessings members have been already enjoying. Starting August 30th 2018, Creative Blessings group will stay after yoga and do our crafts every week! We also have a Creative Blessings group that meets on the third Sunday of the month after coffee hour. Please tell your family and friends to come join us to learn a new skill or work on your own UFO’s (unfinished objects). We have knitters, crocheters, quilters, artists and always great conversations. – Rene Rogers

CREATIVE BLESSINGS

The Clarion Page | 6

from Toni LaPietra, Music Director

Opportunities for Christ Church Music Ministry Among the lessons I have learned this year is: Try new things, and step out of your comfort zone! I have always known, but have more recently appreciated that music is healing, validating, and connects our souls. There are plenty of ways to deepen your experience at Christ Church, especially through music. So if you aren't already involved, take the plunge into one or more of our musical opportunities~ Christ Church Singers: Established over four decades ago by Bob Roland, the Singers rehearse on Thursdays at 7pm in Lankler Hall, and at 9:15am on Sundays in the church, when we are singing. Up to four-part harmony. Rehearsals resume September 6. App. ages 16 and up. Reading music not essential. Seasonal Singers: For the Christmas concert, (December 9 at 5pm) Though there have been concerts in the spring as well. There are only 12 rehearsals: Tuesdays at 7pm in Lankler Hall beginning October 2, Thursday, December 6, and Saturday morning, December 8. App. ages 13 and up. Open to the community as well. Added perk: We are usually invited to sing for our lunch at the Rotary Club Luncheon a few days after the concert! Ringers: Hand Bell choir rehearses Sundays at 11:30am in the Music room. If you can count, you can play bells! Age 11 and up. Rehearsals resume September 16. Youth Singers: Established in 2016, Youth Singers sing in up to 3 part harmony. Rehearsals are first and third Sundays of the month, at app. 10:30 in the Music Room. For ages 11-18. Rehearsals resume Sept. 16. Double Quartet: The 'DQ's' are tenors and basses that sing in 4 parts. Rehearsals are first and third Thursdays at app. 8:20pm in Lankler Hall, beginning September 20.

Sunday School Singers: As part of Sunday School program, we learn songs and sing in church on various occasions and at the Christmas Pageant. Rehearsals are first and third Sundays of the month, at app. 10:20 in Lankler Hall. For ages 0-18.

Come join us! Contact Toni LaPietra at [email protected] or at 845-724-5867

CCoQH MUSIC NEWS

The Clarion Page | 7

2018-2019 Confirmation Program

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, September 19th at 7PM in the Pastor’s Study for all 9th graders (and above) along with their parents. We will be discussing this year’s confirmation program, what to expect and answering any questions. We will be looking to begin classes in October. For more information please contact Rev. Mark Allan or Stephanie Giordano.

Ever Thought about Becoming a Stephen Minister?

They are among us. No, we’re not talking about angels or aliens. We’re talking about

individuals who care about others. The Bible describes their service well: “Remember those in

prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves

were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). If you or someone you know wants to do more as a Christian

caregiver, consider Stephen Ministry. This is our congregation’s one-to-one caregiving ministry.

Christ Church will be training another class of

Stephen Ministers this fall. Stephen Ministers

work alongside our pastor to care, encourage,

and provide emotional and spiritual support to

people who are going through a difficult time,

such as divorce, grief, hospitalization,

unemployment, terminal illness, relocation,

chronic illness, or loneliness. If you have gifts for

caring, encouragement and listening please

begin to prayerfully consider whether you might

want to be part of this exciting ministry. If you

think you might be interested, talk with Rev.

Mark or one of our Stephen Ministers.

Grief Support Group “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Did you know Christ Church has a Grief Support Group? It is open to all adults in the community who are

grieving the loss of a loved one. One of the biggest and most difficult challenges in life comes when someone we love, leaves us through death. This facilitated group meets every other Tuesday evening from 7-8:30pm, with our next meetings on August 28th, September 11th & 25th . We meet in Memorial Hall. If you have any

questions or to learn more about it, please contact the church office.

The Clarion Page | 8

____________________________________________________________

Does this Feel Like Home? Inquirer’s Gathering

The B&G Team has been busy this year addressing both major capital improvement projects as well as ongoing maintenance issues coming to our attention. Our thanks go to John Burweger for his leadership to replace the Church’s cove ceiling lights with new LED lightening. Some of our florescent fixtures were over 50 years old, and we were very fortunate that we had no major issues with them that could have caused an electrical fire! Kevin Kitowski oversaw our premier project with Steeplejacks of America to repair and cover our steeple and belfry in a new vinyl coating that should last for 30 years. Our refurbished, shining white steeple is now a beacon for our church property. Church bell ringers please note: be careful not to spin the bell by pulling the new rope too hard!

This year we put out to bid for the maintenance of our Remembrance Garden, and the bid was

awarded to Organic Gardener, Mary Ann Pitts. The electrical connection to the garden was repaired. In addition, we have contracted our outdoor maintenance with Steve Foster. This allows him to have his son assist him with the required tasks. In addition, our 2018/19 heating season contract for our three buildings was awarded to Heritage Oil of Somers. The broken gutters on the west side of church’s back addition were replaced and the gutters by the round room fixed. The church’s outdoor flood lights were upgraded to LED. John Burweger and Len Kulk organized a work day to remove all the building materials from the first floor of the Thomas Center. They could use more help in reorganizing the storage area behind the Nursery School lobby. AJ Thomsen reglued the letters on the Thomas Center’s signs. Steve Nash recently replaced all the screws on the church’s front doors; this should hopefully keep them from sticking in the future.

The team is still investigating solutions to the church basement insulation project, repairing the

Manse’s front porch and updating the Thomas Center’s kitchen. We would welcome new members to join us in our discussion and share their expertise. Our Team usually meets the third Tuesday of the month at 5 PM at church; however, we are willing to reschedule to meet others’ availability. Please call Betsy Brockway, 845-447-4169 to discuss.

________

The journey of faith is a personal one, but it is not meant to be traveled alone. While all are welcome here, there is a difference between attending a church and making it your home. Maybe you have been thinking about making Christ Church on Quaker Hill your church home. A few times each year we host informal gatherings for those who wish to learn more about Christ Church and about membership here. Please know that there is no obligation to join. You are welcome to just come, explore and find out more about us. We will be holding our next Inquirer’s Gathering on Sunday Sept. 23rd at 11:30AM in the Pastor’s Study. Rev. Mark will be facilitating. Those who wish to join the church will do so in the worship service on October 7th. If you are interested, please contact the church office (845-855-1188) to get more information or to let us know you will be coming. Please think about joining the Christ Church family and making this your spiritual home!

The Clarion Page | 9

The Impact of Outreach By Maggie Everett

Last November my siblings and I took an 8-day trip on the American Queen paddleboat, sailing from New

Orleans to Memphis. It was fun and relaxing, with interesting shore excursions that highlighted the culture and

history of the area.

Since we didn’t sail until 5 PM and had flown into New Orleans the night before, we had the better part of

the day to explore. For me, having been there several times with our church mission trips post Katrina, it was a

thrill to be back, seeing the places where we “hung out” after a full day of cleaning out and restoring homes

devastated by the storm. Lots of memories of our experiences from those trips came flooding back.

Since Liz had never been to New Orleans, I suggested that we take the city tour offered by the American

Queen. We had a wonderful guide who made the city come alive as he interspersed his narrative with stories of

his experiences during and after the hurricane. Of course we saw the areas that had been the most devastated and

how the city is prepared for the next “big one.”

One stop was the St Louis cemetery, a fascinating burial ground because all graves in the city are above

ground. All of these beautiful tombs had been under water during the storm surge following Katrina. On the way

back to the bus I asked the guide how these tombs had been so beautifully restored. “Of course the families

helped,” he said, “but mainly it was the work of thousands of volunteers who came from all over the country to

help.” I told him that I and other members of my church had come down to work for a week for 6 years after the

hurricane. He stopped, looked at me intently and said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. This city is so grateful

for you and all the others who came. We never would have made it without you.”

After I got back on the bus I felt overwhelmed by his sense of genuine appreciation and I realized that

even after 12 years the city’s gratitude for the volunteers like me and our mission teams is still deeply felt.

I also realized that if it hadn’t been for John Brockway our trips there never would have happened. We

never would have had the profoundly moving experiences those work weeks gave us. As chair of the Outreach

Committee at the time, he picked up the ball and ran with it. He researched the areas hit by Katrina, found an

organization that we could work with, located housing, sent out the call in the church and took care of all the

details. Eleven of us were on that first trip in 2006.

Outreach has always been an important part of Christ Church’s mission. Prior to New Orleans, a team

went to Nicaragua, helping to build homes with Bridges to Community. John Brockway was involved with that

trip as was MJ Phelan. After 6 years of working in New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity and the Saint

Bernard Project several of us went for two years to an area flooded by Hurricane Irene in Schoharie, NY.

Closer to home, Christ Church has been feeding and clothing the homeless in New York City with

Midnight Runs, helping renovate homes through Rebuilding Dutchess, volunteering as drivers at the Pawling

Resource Center, serving meals at the Dorothy Day Center in Danbury, and currently at the Lunch Box, part of

Dutchess Outreach. There may be others that I don’t know about.

There are many ways to serve, some big, some small – all important. We, as individuals and as a church,

need to continue to be aware of areas and people that we can serve. By so doing we are being God’s hands and

feet in the world. As we give, we are also are enriched by the experience. I can attest to that personally.

John Brockway started us on this path and I will always be grateful to him for the experiences I had. I

hope that in the near future someone will feel called to provide leadership for another mission trip. Those who go

will be blessed and Christ Church will be enriched by their experiences.

blessed and Christ Church will be enriched by their experiences.

The Clarion Page | 10

Calling all children, we need your help to support our church’s foundation! I can’t help but notice, as time goes on, I am seeing less and less children and families volunteer for things in our church. In the next few years our older children will have graduated from High School and headed for college. We will see them less and less. When we first started in the church approx. 13 years ago, there were so many children, volunteering for everything. We had a separate youth bell choir. There were so many. They have either gone to private school or have gotten too old. Some just disappeared and we see them every so often. Youth Group was full of kids when Stephanie first started it, now only one or two show up, that includes Jake. Without children as a foundation for our church, only God knows what will happen. We need to get our kids involved again!!!! Our church needs our children’s participation! There are so many great benefits for our kids as they participate in our church. It makes their faith stronger; it gives them a sense of community. Their church friendships are stronger. The breakfast run shows them how important it is to help people in need. I could go on and on. I am so happy we made church so important in our daughter’s life and so is she. Can you imagine not having a Meghan or Morgan? Well, that is going to happen very soon, who is going to take their place? It is time for Autumn to look for a job, but she is concerned, she does not want a job that will take her away from church. Yes, I like to stay in bed on Sunday, just as the next person does. Sometimes I debate about it and Autumn makes me feel guilty. Well, now then, isn’t the shoe on the other foot, but that lets me know we did something right. We have a wonderful church community, they are family, and they care! I don’t know what we would have done without them. Show this to your children. We have a wonderful youth director who really tries so hard to engage them, let’s take advantage of her! Last but not least we have a wonderful pastor who genuinely cares for our children, we need him and he needs us! Thank you for reading, I hope you can help.

Calling All Children! By Janice Laughlin

On Sunday, October 28th we will hold our annual Trunk or Treat!! This has been a fun family event for the past few years! So mark the date on

your calendars, start planning your trunks and get ready for the best one yet!!!! More information to come in the weeks ahead!

SAVE THE DATE!

ANNUAL TRUNK or TREAT!!!!!

The Clarion Page | 11

OUTREACH UPDATE

One of the mission partners our church supports is the Salvation Army. Our own Gail Orser

works for this organization and provided us with this story about some of their work in Puerto Rico

following the hurricanes.

Your financial support allows Christ Church to support 15 different organizations, including the

Salvation Army. These partners supply a variety of services including housing, food, services to the

homeless and disaster relief. Their work is spread from places right here in Pawling to countries on the

other side of the globe.

We are pleased to support these organizations, including Salvation Army. We appreciate the work

they are doing there, and in many other places. Your contributions to your church allow us to assist

them, and help us be “His heart, hands and feet.”

Thursday, March 8th

, 2018

Barranquitas, Puerto Rico

Hope During Dark Times Since the impact of Hurricane Irma and Maria, just six months ago, Puerto Rico remains devastated.

Power remains out for many, and some areas have no running water. The Salvation Army continues to

determinedly serve those in need, going to remote pockets where supplies and resources are scarce. It’s hard to

imagine what life is like when it is a struggle to recover even the basic essentials. A sense of sadness and

tragedy is practically palatable, but there remains hope and help. The true face of humanity at its greatest.

The Salvation Army’s warehouse in Caguas opens at 8:00 am, where partner groups of churches and

organizations are already gathered, waiting in line for necessities including food and water to pack and give to

communities in need.

The Chapel at Mount Claire Church of New Jersey came to Puerto Rico to volunteer with The Salvation

Army for a week during spring break. On this day, the volunteer church group drove key resources from The

Salvation Army to Barranquitas, the site of the day’s distribution, where approximately 300 people were

waiting. As the trucks were unloaded and distribution began, members of The Chapel at Mount Claire went to

their assigned stations. A variety of much-needed supplies were given including milk, mixed fruit, rice, peanut

butter, nutrition bars, beans, soup, toiletries, baby supplies, water filters, socks, and fuel containers. Although

the language barrier was challenging, the look of gratitude and appreciation were apparent. Smiles, hand-

holding and hugs were abundantly given and the outpouring of love from the people of Puerto Rico was felt

deep in the souls of The Salvation Army’s volunteers.

One such survivor, Cindia, a mother of a sixteen–year-old boy from the Barranquitas area, was grateful

to receive these supplies that would help her family for about a week. She still has no power, 200 days after the

hurricanes struck. “It’s been very difficult, really upsetting,” Cindia said. Even traveling to the distribution site

was not easy for Cindia. There’s a mountain to cross, and she knows when she returns home, she will enter a

dark house. “It’s very difficult. I look at my watch every night – 5, 6, 7 o’clock and still no power.” Her mother

recently had a heart attack and the night before, her uncle fell, compounding her situation.

As Levid Ortiz, a volunteer of this distribution and organizer of PR 4PR looks on to those families being

served, he processes and feels thanks. He said, “Maybe God sent me to do what I’m doing,” Ortiz said. “The

Salvation Army has been all around the island. They bring a lot of hope.”

The Clarion Page | 12

Christ Church on Quaker Hill 17 Church Road Pawling, NY 12564

Return Service Requested

To:

Christ Church on Quaker Hill 17 Church Road Pawling, NY 12564-1802 (845) 855-1188

www.ccoqh.org

You are invited to join us for worship Sunday mornings at 10:00 am

Summer 2018