The LAC

PROMPTER Volume XLIX, No. 2 Advent & Christmas 2015

CHRISTMAS AT LAC . . .

December 16 7:30 p.m. Blue Christmas

Service

December 24 Christmas Eve Worship

5 p.m. Candlelight Family Worship

8 p.m. Candlelight Worship Prelude of Christmas Music

11 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the celebration of Holy Communion December 27 First Sunday of Christmas

10 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols

continued on page 3

On Being Busy

So I’m trying to eliminate a word from my vocabulary—or at least reduce the number of times that I use it. And I’m noticing that I

use it frequently these days, as I continue to get on board at LAC and experience the fullness of this congregation’s life and ministry.

The word is “busy.”

I don’t think I can stop using it all together, and I don’t expect you to stop using it either. Because the fact of the matter is that we are

busy, and that LAC is a busy place. On any given day, there are meetings for staff and congregation members, gatherings of outside groups, preschoolers who fill the classrooms and hallways with their

energy and chatter, construction workers who are completing the renovations in the Carhart Room, rehearsals and service projects and study groups. And Sundays, our day to pause and worship, are probably the busiest of all.

I was struck several months ago by an article in the Huffington Post

called “Busy is a Sickness.” (If you haven’t read the article, I highly recommend it—you can easily google it.) It’s author, Scott Danne-miller, is a former Young Adult Volunteer, a mission program of the

continued on page 2

Happy New Year

Already Happy New Year! Yes, the calen-dar still says 2015. “But wait a mi-nute,” you say, “It’s still 30 days until January (depending upon when you’re reading this). 2016 is yet to arrive. I know things are moving quickly but…”

The Christian calendar marks Ad-vent – at the fourth Sunday before Christmas – as the beginning of the year. With appreciation for the past, Advent has two orienta-tions. It looks to the past with a great sense of longing; at the same time anticipation from the bygone era for the coming of God’s Mes-siah. Advent also looks to the fu-ture in an attitude of expectation for what God has yet to do in the life of humankind.

The time of Advent calls us to an-ticipation with an “active” wait-ing on the Lord. We move for-ward with the promise of a future in which God meets us. We often experience anticipation with some degree of anxiety. Anxiety can become a driving force in our an-ticipation.

The Harvard chaplain, Rev Dr. Peter Gomes, tells of his gradua-tion address years ago to the Brearley School in Manhattan. He

The Prompter

A newsletter published quarterly by The Larchmont Avenue Church, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont, New York 10538

914-834-1800

You may reach staff members directly at the following extensions:

Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. William P. Crawford 308

Associate Pastor: Rev. Elizabeth Smith-Bartlett 303

Director of Music Ministry: Douglas Kostner 307

Director of Christian Education: Liz Reumann 309

Coordinator for Congregational Life Rev. Jean Holmes 300

Bookkeeper: Marjorie Bee 310

Church Secretary: Melanie Murray 300

Church Secretary (part-time): Eleanor McNamara 302

Sexton: Frankie Madrid 304

Evening Sexton: Franklin Taylor 304 Fax: 914-834-1832 www.lacny.org

Prompter Editor: Jane Land

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CHANCEL CHOIR OPPORTUNITY

Advent is here and Christmas is approaching. Make this season the one where you add your voice to the Chancel Choir! Join us for a limited run, no obligation, money-back guarantee: sing with us for the remaining Advent Sundays and Christmas Eve 8 p.m. service with our Larchmont Symphonia. The music is beautiful, you will be uplifted, and you will lend your gifts to the worship of your congregation. Come to Russell Hall on Wednesday evenings at 7:45 p.m.

Presbyterian Church (USA) through which young adults spend a year in service to various communities, both domestic and abroad

(LAC’s Mark Godwin is currently a Young Adult Volunteer in North-ern Ireland).

Dannemiller says that he has tried to make a similar shift in his vo-cabulary, after he noticed that his typical response to the question, “How’s it going?” was some variation of “busy”, and that constantly

living out of a framework of busyness was creating unnecessary anxiety in his life. On a deeper level, he realized that his self-created busyness was a way to prove to the world his worth. I find

myself relating to this more than I like to admit.

When we are anxious or stressed out, our bodies produce the hor-mone cortisol. From an evolutionary perspective, we are wired this way so that in times of danger we can hyper-focus on the situation at hand. But we were not built to endure long periods of stress, and

when we do, that cortisol inhibits our ability to access previously stored information. In a sense, it makes us forget what we know.

As we approach Advent and Christmas, our busy lives become busi-er, and in the midst of it, we can easily forget what we know—that

this season is about far more than the stuff of the Christmas sea-son. But I mean more than just remembering that this season is about the birth of Christ. I mean really remembering what the birth of Christ means—that God, in whose image we are created, shares

with us in our deepest vulnerabilities in the person of Jesus Christ. That the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. That we do not walk this road alone, for God is with

us.

My Advent prayer is that we experience the fullness of this season rather than the busyness, ever mindful of the One who calls us wor-thy just as we are.

Peace,

Elizabeth

On Being Busy, continued from page 1

2016 Women's Retreat — SAVE THE DATE - April 8-9

It's never too early to begin thinking about the LAC annual

Women's Retreat! This year, we will discuss Roz Chast's book, Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir and explore the theme "Something More Pleasant: Faith for a Life-time." Many of you know Roz Chast's work as a cartoonist for

The New Yorker. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleas-

ant? came out in 2014 and can be found on Amazon.com. (It makes a great Christmas gift.) The Retreat is open to women of college age and beyond. We hope you can join us!

Yours in Faith, The LAC Women's Retreat Committee: Julie Faith Parker, Dale Anderson-Kelly, Peg Mayo,

Theresa Michna, Stacy Styles & Judith Wong

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Happy New Year…, continued from page 1 Help LAC bring Christmas cheer to 24 individuals in 8 local families

The Christmas season is the perfect time to celebrate the spirit of giv-ing. This year, the Church & Society committee has three ways LAC members can participate in the Christmas basket program:

• Adopt one of 24 individuals assigned to LAC by the Town of Ma-maroneck. Wish lists and sizes will be provided. It’s an opportuni-ty to purchase the perfect gift for someone who could use a little something special. Sign up at coffee hour.

• Donate cash. The C&S committee will use monetary donations to purchase gift cards for families. This way, families can purchase the basics they need or they can choose to purchase gifts for their loved ones and experience the joy of giving themselves.

• Drop off goodies to fill the family baskets. We’re looking to add a little luxury to help make the holidays special. Ideas include: body lotion, gloves, hats, scarves, hot cocoa, Christmas candies, small games or puzzles. These items should be brought to the church office.

Please visit our table in Russell Hall after worship to sign up or donate.

LAC

CHRISTMAS

BASKET IDEAS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

BRING TO CHURCH

AT COFFEE HOUR DEC 13TH

PERSONAL ITEMS

GLOVES, HAT, SOCKS, LOVELOVELOVELOVE, SCARF,

WALLET, HOLIDAY PAPER PLATES AND NAPKINS

FOOD SNACK ITEMS

HOT COCOA, HOMEMADE GOODIES, CANDY CANES,

FAITHFAITHFAITHFAITH, CHOCOLATES

HOBBY ITEMS

MARKERS, PAPER, BLANK NOTECARDS,

ENTHUSIASMENTHUSIASMENTHUSIASMENTHUSIASM, PUZZLES

PERSONAL BEAUTY/HYGENE ITEMS

SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, CARINGCARINGCARINGCARING,

BODY LOTION, BATH SOAP, NAIL POLISH,

NAIL CARE KIT, HOPEHOPEHOPEHOPE, HAIRBRUSH, SMALL HAIR DRYER,

MONEY FOR GIFT CARDS

THANK

YOU!

spoke about Jesus’ call to antici-pate God’s presence and grace citing reliance on Christ’s mes-sage to “seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, and all the things will be yours.” He urged the graduates to “relax.” After the speech he was encountered by a father of one of the gradu-ates who was not pleased with what the preacher, Dr. Gomes, had to say. “He came up to me with the crazed look of a man who had paid one tuition bill too many, and he looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘that was utter nonsense, and not only was it ut-ter nonsense, it was irresponsible nonsense. It was anxiety that got my daughter into Brearley. It was anxiety that got her through Brearley. It was anxiety that got her into Radcliffe. And it will be anxiety that gets her into the law firm of her choice’.”

Anxiety can be a culprit leading us to leave no room for grace, crippling us with the conclusion that God is not at work, driving us beyond devotion, or worse.

Sure, we have lots to do. But God is doing more. May you live with anticipation for God’s gifts, being alert and alive to the love and hope that is born for you in God with us, Emmanuel.

Happy New Year! Blessed Ad-vent! Bill

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BRING A GIFT TO THE MANGER

The congregation is encour-aged to bring gifts for the Midnight Run and lay them at the “manger” at the end of our Christmas pageant on Sunday, December 20. Blankets and men’s jackets and sweatshirts are desper-ately needed for cold nights on the street. New men’s un-derwear and tube socks, gen-tly used pants, and travel-size toiletries are also im-portant and useful in this im-portant ministry to the home-less.

Dinners for Eight

This fall we held the first of what we hope will become a wonderful new part of the ongoing ministry of LAC. Two evenings of Dinners for 8 were hosted on two separate Sat-urday nights. Three dinners were hosted on October 24 and four din-ners on November 14. All feedback is good, including comments about the ease of going to only one house (as opposed to the previous Pro-gressive Dinners) and the depth of the conversations due to the small number of people at each home (between 6 and 8). The goal of Din-ners for 8 is to enrich the sense of community here at LAC. We seem to be achieving this goal because of the new relationships that are being forged. The next dates for dinners will be January 23, February 13,

March 12, April 9, and May 14, 2016. We would like to embrace the entire congregation through these dinners, so if you have not yet attended one, please consider signing on as a host or a person at the table (contact Rev. Jean Holmes at jholmes@lacny.org). We believe you will be pleasantly fulfilled by the fun that is shared

while enriching the sense of community at LAC.

It's Pageant Time! Our Sunday School children - under the direction of Brittany Beaver - present the Christmas pageant during the December 20 worship service. Tryouts for speaking parts were held during Sunday School on November 29 for students in grade 3 or above. The cast list, scripts, and costumes were distributed on Sunday, December 6. The rehearsal will be on Saturday, December 19 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Liz Reumann, Director of Christian Education at lreumann@lacny.org or (914)834-1800, x309.

Please let us know/confirm your email

address by emailing the Church Secretary

at mmurray@lacny.org

Thanks!

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All are welcome for our annual Blue Christmas service, December 16 at 7:30 p.m., a service of remembrance and re-flection. For some, Christmas is bittersweet. As the world seems to be frenetic with joy, some find this time filled with sorrow as they negotiate the feelings of grief at the loss of a loved one, de-pression wrought by darkened days, or painful memories of past Christmases. Others might be overwhelmed with the consumer-driven culture that seems to miss the mark of the true meaning of Christmas. If you are seeking a quiet space in the midst of the busy season, a small light in the midst of the darkened days, time to light a candle for a loved one gone and be surrounded in music and prayer, please join us in the Chapel for this time of special worship.

SAVE THE DATE!

for the

2016

LAC RUMMAGE SALE

APRIL 28 - 30, 2016

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

Christmas calls us to a most heartfelt rever-ence for life, and the celebration of hope born in God’s love. The colors, sights and sounds of the season sharpen our senses. The Church is alive and bustling with activity. The gifts of our people are evident in wonderful ways. We are most grateful for the Spirit we share at this precious time, and the journey before us as a church family. As has been our custom here at LAC, individuals’ contribu-tions toward our Christmas decorations have helped in great ways to enhance the beauty of the Church. We hope you will consider such a gift in this current season. If you would like to join in this year’s efforts to prepare the Church with the flowers and decorations of Advent and Christmas, please send your contributions (suggested donation $25) marked “Advent Flowers” to the church office by December 21. Please be sure to include the name(s) of the person(s) in whose memory or tribute the gift is given and the name of the person making the donation, so this information can be added correctly in our bulletin. If you would like to take your poinsettia home with you on Christmas Eve, please let us know that as well. All other flowers will be delivered to LAC members who are in need of a little extra cheer this Christmas. Thank you for your commitment. May the fullness of Advent’s anticipa-tion and the joy that is Christmas be yours.

Advent

Workshop

Our Annual Advent Workshop, held on the first Sunday of Ad-vent, November 29 was wonder-ful. Church family members of all ages were busily at work on advent wreaths, “stain glass” candle holders and more, includ-ing Chrismons.

A Chrismon is a Christian sym-bol representing Jesus Christ. The term comes from the Latin phrase "Christi monogramma", meaning "monogram of Christ". Over the past four decades, Chrismons have been made by LAC Sunday School children for decorations on our families' Christmas trees, and here at the Church. This year's Chrismon is a heart; come see our Deacons’ collection of LAC's Chrismons over the years now adorning the Christmas tree in the sanctuary.

For more information, contact Liz Reumann, Director of Christian Education at lreumann@lacny.org or 914-834-1800, ext. 309. Advent wreaths with candles and “meditation booklets” for family reflections, as well as Chrismons are still available . . .

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CHURCH Family NEWSCHURCH Family NEWSCHURCH Family NEWSCHURCH Family NEWS

Births

Samuel Alexander Beaver was born on September 20, 2015 to Bill and Jessica Beaver and big brother Evan. Blessings!

Liam Rodgers Leahy was born to Taylor and Jamie Leahy on October

31, 2016. Happy grandparents are Richard and Lynne Leahy.

Otto Andrew Helfst arrived on November 4, 2015 at 1:06 p.m., at 9

pounds, 5 ounces and 21 inches long. Born to Heidi and John Helfst,

and big brother Gus. Blessings!

Weddings

Ron Gibson and Judy Lupien were married on September 26, 2015.

John Thompson and Jean Colby were wed on September 26, 2015.

In Memoriam We hold their families in our prayers

Rev. Dr. Everett C. Parker, father of LAC member, Ruth Weiss, passed away September 17, 2015 at 102 years of age. He was the Director of the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ for many years.

Mary Wells passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2015 sur-rounded by her beloved husband Jack, son Chris and daughter Cathy, daughter-in-law Kristi and grandson Jack.

Ron Riggs, father of Stacy Brandom, passed away on October 28, 2015 at their family home in Kansas City.

Sheryl Feder, longtime LAC member, died in Wellington, NZ on November 17, after an extended illness. Active in the life of LAC, Sheryl co-chaired the rummage sale for several years, among other activities with the church. Sheryl and Dan moved to New Zealand in 1991 and lived in Egypt, Bahrain, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan before moving back to NZ when Dan retired. They returned to Larchmont for weddings, funer-als, and visiting LAC and friends. She is survived by Dan, daughters Sam, Alex (Andy), three granddaughters in NZ and daughter Kate who lives in Sydney, AUS. Dan Feder can be reached at Dan_Feder@hotmail.com.

Messiah Sing-Along with the Westchester Chorale on

Saturday, December 19 at 4 p.m. in the LAC sanctuary. Your $10 admission includes refreshments and the use of a rental score. For further information, contact the Westchester Cho-rale at 914-309-0279 or www.westchesterchorale.org.

ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL LACLACLACLAC

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CAROLINGCAROLINGCAROLINGCAROLING

Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday December 20December 20December 20December 20

Please save the date and mark your calendars for our beloved annual caroling tradi-tion: Sunday, December 20, 2015. Gather at the church at 4 p.m. We will break into groups which will carol throughout town and then return to the Käufer Family home for a buffet dinner at 6 p.m.

If you know of a family, sin-gle person or public location that could use the P-R-E-S-E-N-C-E of song, please contact

Meg Käufer at margaret.kaufer@verizon.net We are always happy to con-sider ways to expand our cir-cle so that we reach more folks for whom the joy of mu-sic might be the only present that they need to receive during the holiday season.

This is an intergenerational event with plenty of room for the young as well as the young at heart!

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Meet Liz Reumann LAC’s New Director of Christian Education

Liz Reumann comes to the Larchmont Avenue Church with a background in both ministry and teaching. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English, Liz did a year-long campus ministry internship and joined the staff of Chi Alpha Christian Ministries at her al-ma mater. Her interest in urban ministry and overseas mission work eventually led her to un-dergo further training with Youth With a Mission, a non-denominational Christian organization. She then took a staff position with Youth With a Mission in inner-city London, England, where she worked closely with Christians from many nations and spiritual backgrounds.

The teaching part of Liz’s career began in college, when she earned a secondary teaching certif-icate in English and history. Soon after graduation, Liz did the first of several stints of teaching English as a second language through a university program for the families of international stu-dents, and while engaged to her future husband, Liz taught English in Germany. Back in Michi-gan for her husband’s graduate work, Liz taught ESL in an adult education program, before tak-ing a job as a high school and middle school English and drama teacher in a public school dis-trict. Her most recent teaching position was in a program for international students at Concor-dia College in Bronxville. She is very happy that her position at LAC makes use of her back-ground in both education and Christian ministry.

Over the years, Liz has been a part of many different kinds of churches, including Episcopalian and Lutheran, Baptist, charismatic, Pentecostal, and, most recently, a non-denominational church with a diverse membership, including many who identify with Reformed theology. She is enthusiastic about building bridges between all of the diverse branches of Christ’s body on earth and is excited to be a part of the loving and welcoming congregation at LAC.

Liz enjoys reading and writing fiction, running, baking, gardening, and the idea of doing crafts (though she doesn’t tend to stick with them very long). She lives in northern Westchester with her husband and two school-aged daughters.

Liz will be working in the DCE office two days a week, including Wednes-days and usually Tues-days, when she can be reached at 914-834-1800 ext. 309. She can be emailed at any time at lreumann@lacny.org.

DCE Liz Reumann, seated at center, met on Sunday, November 15 with LAC Sunday School teachers.

PERIODICAL

THE PROMPTER (U.S.P.S. 784-820) is published quarterly by The Larchmont Avenue Church, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont, N.Y. 10538. Periodicals postage paid at Larchmont, N.Y. 10538. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE PROMPTER, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont, N.Y. 10538.

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Coffee Hour Hospitality

The fellowship of coffee hour is one of the joys of Sunday at LAC. Please sign up to provide hospi-tality for the congregation one Sunday this winter. Coffee, bever-ages, platters, napkins and plates are all provided. Food will be laid out - you just have to bring the goodies. Too busy to bake? Purchased food is fine. Put your name on the sheet at coffee hour. LENTEN/EASTER PROMPTER DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 19 Please send all submissions to Jane

Land at jland@optonline.net and

Eleanor McNamara at

emcnamara@lacny.org

Welcome, New Members!

Kate Guenther, Ted and

Beth Keith, David Kinnear and Katherine Sinsabaugh,

Jennifer Stevens and Sa-mantha Udondem were re-ceived by the Session as new members of the Larchmont Avenue Church on Sunday, November, 15, 2015. and Matt and Kelly Philip on Sunday, November 22.

Blessings and welcome!

Newly Elected Church Officers

At the meeting of the congregation of the Larchmont Avenue Church on

Sunday, December 6, 2015, the following members of the church were

elected to the offices shown below.

For Ruling Elder, class of 2019

Kristen Carpenter

Steven Clemens

T.A. McKinney

Clark Morehouse

For Deacon, class of 2019

John Irving

Karen McGill

Leigh Anne Smith

Anne Wassen

Jane Wulf

For Youth Deacons (one year term)

Cortland Chambers

Ryan Huang

For Trustees, class of 2019

Chris Jogis

Ian MacGregor

Jeffrey Smith

For 2016 Nominating Committee, At-Large

Kristin DeFelice

Greg Hawkins

Karen Regan

Wendy Wanninger

Storey West

Judith Wong

The 2015 Nominating Committee:

Session: Greg Hawkins, John Sykes

Deacon: Sharon Hawkins

Trustee: Barbara Christiansen

At Large: Kristin DeFelice Jill Sarkozi

Garr Di Salvo Dan Walden

Susan McLaren Judith Wong