A PCMK Field Trip

When you were in school, didn't you love going on a field trip?  You boarded a bus with your friends, saw something new and made some memories together.  Well, the PCMK family went on a field trip Sunday.  After a fabulous Sunday School Sunday we packed into cars and headed to the Fellowship Hall in Bedford Hills.  The Hall is a senior housing community that was initially sponsored by PCMK and we continue to support the community in a variety of ways.  Members of our church serve on the board and the social justice committee has provided financial support and work teams.

On Sunday we brought the Angelikids choir who put on a little program for the residents.  It is easy to say that they enjoyed every moment and every note that was sung.  Many of them were singing along or tapping their feet.  I was so proud of our kids as it had been a very long morning for them.  Elisabeth does a marvelous job organizing and motivating them and she has great help from her assistant, Lindsay Emery.  Watching them let off steam and play after the program was a truly joy-filled moment.

Nancy Osborne and the adult education committee organized the field trip to inform the congregation of this tremendous community resource.  Thanks to her and the committee for making this happen (and bringing along the cookies!).  Thanks also go to Coz Procopis who gives such steady leadership to the Fellowship Hall year in and year out.

It is amazing all the ways our church connects with the larger community.  We have a good reputation out there--let's keep it up.

See you in church,
Pastor Dale

A Perfect Day

I am still recovering from the excitement of Saturday, May 24th.  It was the wedding of our son, David and his lovely wife, Saerom Yoo.  The entire wedding celebration was held at the church and the manse, so we were busy for weeks cleaning and preparing.  Then family started to arrive, including my  84 year old father from Edmonton, Canada.  Finally the big day was here.  The kids started with pictures in Central Park and then a beautiful limo brought them to Mount Kisco about 1pm.  After a light lunch on the upper patio of the church we went over to the gazebo on the property of Gov. Cuomo and Sandra Lee.  The Gov. had graciously given us permission to take pictures with the beautiful lake and landscaping as a background.

Then it was show time.  the ceremony was the most beautiful I have ever seen, with David and his friends playing one of Respighi's "Ancient Airs and Dances" on their instruments as Saerom came down the aisle with her father.  It was quite a moment.

There were two receptions.  One was on our portico with hor d'oeuvres and music.  The highlight of that event was David and Saerom coming around the front of the church on their scooters.  The dinner reception was in our Great Hall, which never looked better.  The food was excellent, music continued from the mezzanine and the couple was toasted into their married life in English and Korean.

Elisabeth and I are so proud and pleased with how things turned out.  We are grateful to the entire PCMK community for helping us pull this off.  We are especially grateful to Kelly Marlow who was our wedding coordinator extraordinaire; Love Wooten who prepared stunningly beautiful flowers; and Terry Flanagan who provided wonderful organ music.  Others helped with food service and clean up.  It was a wonderful family event that we will never forget.

See you in church,
Pastor Dale

Silver Linings

Perhaps I should title this blog "Blue Linings" rather than "Silver Linings."  What I am referring to is the way the mini-disaster of the flooding we had last fall has finally revealed its silver lining.  The insurance claim from the flooding has paid for beautiful carpet throughout the church.  While there has been disruption and inconvenience during the installation process, the final result is going to be worth it all.
The sanctuary carpet is a rich blue color, taking its cue from the beloved blue walls.  The carpet in the hallways compliments this blue, but is more durable and brings in colors from the rest of the church palette.
The committee that worked on this carpet selection included trustees, elders and congregation members.  The joke is that they will remain anonymous until we know that the carpet is well-received, as I am sure it will be.  I am proud to say I was a member of the team and I was impressed by the good taste and cooperativeness of each person on the committee.
We don't know exactly when the old carpet was installed, but it has probably been 20 years.  So as they say when you sell a used car with over a hundred thousand miles, "it doesn't owe us anything."
I am pleased that this new carpet will be in place and the whole church will look nice for our son's wedding a little over a week from now.
See you in our beautiful church,
Pastor Dale

In the Glow of Easter

The week after Easter has been a very busy one.  It has been full of meetings and 'things to do,' but it has also been full of meaningful interactions with people.  And the glow of Easter has permeated it all.

My second Easter as pastor of this amazing church was spectacular.  It captured the joy of the resurrection in a powerful way.  The sanctuary was packed a with long-time members and first-time visitors.  The music was inspiring and the liturgical dance was worshipful.  As always, the children (60 of them!) were excited and full of life.

During the week I met with families who have lost a loved one and finalized preparations for a memorial service on Saturday for Michael Sullivan.  It was a comfort to me to do that pastoral work having just been reminded of the power of Easter.  Death, though it is a painful experience for those left behind, simply does not have the final word.  There is life beyond death.  There is more to this life than what we see and experience in our mortal bodies.  We may not understand it all, but we believe it!  And that Easter service renewed my faith--I hope it did yours as well.

See you in church,

Pastor Dale

Children's Time 

Jenna's liturgical dance

Kids, Kids and More Kids

Rehearsing for Palm Sunday 

Agelikids climbing the backyard

Baby Shower for Hyunjoo Ki

Welcome baby Charlie Mignone!

Sunday was another great day at PCMK.  It was Palm Sunday and what would Palm Sunday be without children?  We are blessed to have so many.  The children's choir processed up the center aisle, flanked by the adult choir on the sides (the kids waved their palm branches a little more enthusiastically than the adults!).  Then they sang a lively Hosanna which got the whole congregation involved with the waving of our branches.  Worship then moved from the joy of Palm Sunday to the sober reflection of the week that is to come.  We ended worship with "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

After worship the Angelikids Choir and their parents came to the manse for a baby shower for the choir's volunteer accompanist, Hyunjoo Ki, who is expecting her third baby at the end of the month.  It was a beautiful day so we could be out on the deck grilling hot dogs and pretending it was summer.  The kids had a great time watching Hyunjoo open gifts and then we all had cake.

And here's the best news of all.  While we were holding a baby shower for the Ki family, Charlie Mignone decided to make his arrival.  Paul and Jessie are now the proud parents of two beautiful children.  Celeste has made herself at home at PCMK and now she will have to show Charlie the ropes.  We hope that includes joining the Angelikids choir in a few years!  Palm Sundays of the future are waiting for more kids to wave palms and sing, Hosanna!

See you in church,
Pastor Dale

A Great Team

Sanctuary of Scarborough Presbyterian

Site of PCMK Session Retreat, March 29, 2014

No, I'm not talking about U Conn or Florida headed for the Final Four.  I'm talking about a great team right here at PCMK.  Saturday was our annual session retreat where 14 elders and pastor get together to talk strategy for the upcoming season.  And let me tell you, we have a winning game plan.

We looked back to our story five years ago, our story today and what we want our story to be five years from now.  We strategized about the roll out of our new church logo and branding.  We discussed forming a new youth ministry committee to support Sarah Lucas in her ministry with our teenagers.  We reflected on how to build on our strengths and fill in our gaps.  The good news is there aren't many gaps.

From opening worship to lunch to heading home, it was an inspiring day.  I've worked with lots of sessions in my 20 years of ministry, and this is certainly a championship team.

See you in church,
Pastor Dale

Showing Off PCMK

Wednesday PCMK hosted a luncheon for pastors in Hudson River Presbytery, and we made a good impression.  It was a sunny day so the Great Hall was bathed in bright light through those massive windows.  The tables were beautifully set and our new chairs looked great. Since it was March 18th we stayed with the St. Patrick's Day theme in decorating and the menu.  Elisabeth prepared the food and Kathy Anderson was a big help serving our guests.
These pastors serve churches with 250 or more members, so we have a lot in common.  Hudson River Presbytery has a wonderful sense of collegiality which is not always the case.  I have made many good friends among these men and women.  Some have been in the pulpit at PCMK in the past, including Rev. Tami Siedel from the Yorktown church.
The new tables and chairs have not only made the Great Hall more attractive, they are easier to set up and put away.  Soon we will have new carpet as a result of the insurance claim for the flood last fall.  So renewal of the building is symbolic of the spiritual renewal taking place in our church.
See you in our beautiful church,
Pastor Dale