Christmas Pageant

Sunday was a day to remember.  It was our annual Christmas pageant, and my first while pastor at PCMK.  What a blessing it is to have such talented leaders and kids.  The Christmas Quiz Show was not only entertaining, but it told the Christmas story in a wonderful way.  The packed church was buzzing with excitement and joy. 
Now we look forward to the busy weekend of Lessons and Carols (Saturday at 8pm), Sunday worship (10am) and Christmas Eve services (5pm and 10pm).  Plan now to attend Sunday any one of these special services.  The music and the message will really make it feel like Christmas.  But don't expect me to cartwheel down the center aisle like Steve did at the pageant!
See you in church.

Here are a few of Lisa Flanagan's excellent pictures from the pageant.

Our Neighbors in Newtown

Like you, I am in shock over the tragedy that took place yesterday in Connecticut, less than an hour away from us.  Our hearts break with the families who had to hear that their beloved child would not come home from school.  There are also many families who lost a mother or sister, and an entire community has been traumatized.
At times like this we turn to our faith for comfort.  Churches and synagogues in Newtown were filled to capacity as people followed an inner desire to be together in a house of prayer.  I am grateful that we will gather tomorrow morning as a faith community and cherish our children.  It is our annual Christmas pageant, and it is going to be so wonderful.  It is also going to tell the story that gives us comfort at a time like this--the  story of Emmanuel, God with us.
If you want to talk about your reaction to this tragedy, please feel free to call me.  I don't have answers, but as a parent I can share your feelings of loss and anger.  As your pastor I can join you in prayer for the families in Newtown and for school children everywhere.
See you in church.

The Spin Cycle

I had a pastor friend in Oregon who liked to call this time of year the "spin cycle."  Like the washing machine when it starts to spin faster and faster, you have to make sure things are in balance or the machine will start banging and crashing.  Advent is like that.  There are so many things to get done it is easy to get out of balance and start banging your head against a wall--and that's no way to prepare for Christmas, is it?
So each and every year we vow to not get so busy this year.  Keep it simple is the rule.  But then there are so many parties and concerts to go to, how can it not be busy?
Perhaps what we need to do is stay focused in the midst of the busyness.  Try to see the purpose of the busyness.  For example, make shopping a time of gratitude for the loved ones in your life.  Make parties a time to treasure old friends and make new ones.  Let the music of the season enter your heart at concerts and on the radio.  Try an alternative gift from our "Advent Conspiracy" program.  These are some ways that even a long to-do list can have meaning and purpose.
I'm looking forward to my first Advent and Christmas season with you.  It is a special time of year.  I'm so thankful for all the children in our church.  What would Advent be without children?
I'm off now to our Family Fun Night where we will make Advent wreaths and begin the Advent journey together.  After a great worship service this morning with communion, I can't think of a better way to end the first Sunday of Advent.
Enjoy the spin cycle!
Pastor Dale

Truly Blessed

Blessed to be a blessing has been the theme for our stewardship season this year.  As we approach stewardship Sunday I have been reflecting on how blessed I am and we are as a church.  After the recent storm I heard so many encouraging stories of neighbor helping neighbor.  Our church building had power so members came by and sat in the library to use their computers, charge their phones, and just warm up.  The narthex was packed with items needed by those who lost everything in Long Beach.  At the same time our colorful Haiti house in the Great Hall symbolized our partnership with the people of Haiti.  This church really knows how to share its blessings.
So as we prepare to fill our our pledge cards for 2013 we should count our blessings.  Remember the old gospel song, "Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings, see what God has done." That song is in now in my head and as I count my blessings I keep coming back to the privilege of being your pastor.  I am blessed.  We are blessed.  Now we have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.
See you in Church

From Hot to Cold

Whew!  What a week it has been since we returned from Haiti.  The experience in Haiti was amazing and we wrote several entries to this blog while we were away.  But we were also able to watch the news about the hurricane that was pounding everyone back home (it had already passed through Haiti).  We were working in 90 degree weather looking for shade whenever we could and then we came home to the aftermath of the hurricane and then my first Nor'easter.  I don't think I have felt this cold since growing up in Alberta, Canada.
Fortunately the manse and church had power so Elisabeth was busy hosting families for meals and hot showers.  It's hard to believe there are still many families in our church who have no power almost two weeks after the storm.  How ironic, the intermittent power supply in Haiti was more than what thousands of folks have here in Westchester.
I have been pleased to see how much people have reached out to one another during this difficult time.  We have shared homes and donated clothes.  In the meantime some of our members have been in hospital and through it all I keep hearing about how much we appreciate our PCMK family--especially in times of need.
This Sunday will be a special reporting time from the Haitian team.  There will even be special food after worship on a Haitian theme.  Come hear stories and see pictures of all we saw and learned on this mission outreach to a beautiful, but struggling country.
Pastor Dale

Invitation to Soup at the Manse

If the events of the last week have gotten you down, what could be better than a pot of soup and good company with PCMK friends?  Everyone is invited to come to the manse after church this Sunday for a simple hot soup lunch.  If your house is without heat or power, come on over and warm up.  We've had power and heat, and we would love to share it.
Pastor Dale and Elisabeth

Last Day Celebrations

Today was our last day of rebuilding at the Lambi site and I am happy to report that we finished and presented all six homes to brand new homeowners at about 4:30 pm.  We started the day off with a short trip to Grace International Village. Here about 7,000 families still live in tents and hopefully wait for a chance to move into better living spaces. Also we visited the boys and girls homes (orphanages) where residents ages range from infants to adults. The village also run elementary school program for kids living in tents and the homes. We were privileged to visit temporary classrooms and visit briefly with the kids.  Grace village, in addition, runs "The Lord's Kitchen", a feeding program for the families living in the tents. Then we scrambled back to the work site where all hands were on deck to finish painting the last two homes. That was group work at its best!  Ours was an outstanding team! This was my first international service trip and I had the great pleasure of working alongside such great wonderful, hardworking and caring people.  After a long week of construction, it was rewarding to watch the six blessed and beautiful families graciously, with tears of joy and relief, receive the keys to their new homes. From Leogane, Haiti Mesi anpil - Lami Adebayo