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First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown (FPCP)
The Church of the Open Door
Community News
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One person can make a difference. . . |
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"One person can make a difference -- and every person should try." I'm paraphrasing JFK here. Actually, I'm paraphrasing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who was paraphrasing her husband. Bobby Kennedy quoted it while campaigning, then Bill Clinton quoted Bobby. . .phew! I don't envy the historians who have to sort this stuff out. Anyway: Back in the '70s, this quote was on tons of inspirational posters, the kind my teachers plastered on every classroom wall. Those posters have gone the way of rotary phones and Walkmans, but the quote is popular again, in memes.
One person can make a difference: President Kennedy believed this. He was a terrific champion for public service. He inspired a generation to do important things for their community, their country and their world. He proposed civil rights and voting rights legislation, as well as programs to help the elderly and the poor. He launched the Peace Corps, eased the Cold War, and encouraged us to reach for the moon and the stars. Was he perfect? No. Did he make mistakes? Yes. But in his short time in office, he gave us purpose. He gave us hope. As The Atlantic writes, he helped Americans believe we "could solve hard problems, and accomplish bold deeds."
One person can make a difference: Rev. Joseph Gilmore must have believed it, too. His life and work stand as a shining example of the powerful good that one person can do. At his online memorial service last night, Joe's passion for helping others and fighting for justice and equality were celebrated in music and poetry and prayer. Rev. Joe founded the nonprofit Midnight Run, which coordinates over 1,000 volunteer relief missions a year, bringing food, clothing and friendship to homeless people in Manhattan. In the 1990s, Rev. Joe was deeply involved in the struggle for equal rights for LGBT people in the Presbyterian Church USA. He risked losing his ordination when he performed same-sex marriages before gay marriage became legal within PCUSA. He also founded the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry at South Church.
One person can make a difference: We believe it! That's why members of our FPCP community are always working hard to do good and help others -- by donating and volunteering, standing up for social justice, protecting our environment, teaching and creating and comforting and so many other beautiful things. The pictures in the mosaic above are just a fraction of hundreds I collected this year of FPCP members and friends who are making a difference -- including Rev. Joe, in the top left corner.
One person can make a difference: Yesterday, the sitting U.S. President incited rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power that should follow a free and fair election process. Yesterday, we saw the terrible impact of one person's words and actions: Anger. Violence. Fear. Shame.
What do we do with this kind of example? Do we give up on the idea of making a difference? Do we sink into rage and disgust, or exhaustion and helplessness?
I started with JFK, so I'll end with him. "I think the American people expect more from us than cries of indignation and attack," President Kennedy once said. "The times are too grave, the challenge too urgent, and the stakes too high to permit the customary passions of political debate. We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future."
This week, let's try not to curse the darkness. Let's make a difference by helping to light the candle that guides us to a better future. Remember we are still together, even when we're apart. And the best news is that all of us are loved, all the time.
-- MZ Smith, Community News editor
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Join us SUNDAY, JAN. 10 at our 10:30 am service!
Our online worship services via Zoom are lovely, lively, friendly, warm, and informal. Meet new friends on screen!
Watch for an email with your secure Zoom link for our Sunday service. Or, you can request a link by emailing us at: 1presbyterian@gmail.com.
Cathy Carnevale will be our worship leader. As always, we look forward to beautiful music by Music Director Tom McCoy. And: We welcome Rev. David Harkness back to our virtual pulpit this week! Rev. Harkness is currently serving as the Moderator of our Session. Now retired, he was the longtime pastor of the Irvington Presbyterian Church, and was very active in adult education classes throughout his ministry. His theological degrees are from Yale Divinity School. He is married to Rev. Martha Louise Harkness.
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Anyone can join us from anywhere for our live, online services! Use these handy links to connect with us.
For info about online services and a link to download Zoom, click here.
To download the bulletin for this service: Click the picture above!
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Our Next Midnight Run is Saturday, January 30 |
Our next Midnight Run will be on Saturday, Jan. 30! This outreach trip will take food and critical supplies to people experiencing homelessness. Ron Sopyla is coordinating, and he needs 2-3 volunteer drivers to caravan with him to NYC that night. Also: For this trip, we will look for donations of T-shirts, socks, and underwear, and coats: winter-weight ONLY. To donate, please contact Ron at rsopyla@verizon.net. Thank you!
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The Philipstown Food Pantry started many years ago on the front porch of pastor's house. This critical mission now operates every Saturday morning and plays a major role in battling hunger in our community. During the Covid-19 health and economic crisis, the need has grown exponentially, and our Food Pantry is now serving 150% more households. Help us help them!
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Stewardship is LOVE!
Make your pledge today.
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The year 2020 challenged us all, in ways that we never could have imagined. Our church family is working to meet those challenges, to help neighbors in need, and to offer support to our community.
We still can't worship together in our beloved sanctuary, but the life and work of our church goes on! We're offering online worship services, pastoral care, and education programs. And we all know how critical our mission projects are right now, such as the Midnight Run, PAPA Meals, and Philipstown Food Pantry (left).
Please support The Church of the Open Door by making your 2021 giving pledge today! If you have not received a letter from us, email 1presbyterian@gmail.com. Or, click the Food Pantry picture at left to download a form. THANK YOU!
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Please help if you can. During this health and economic crisis, we are grateful that we can serve neighbors in need through our critical mission programs like the Food Pantry and Midnight Run. If you feel called to support this outreach, we warmly welcome any and all contributions. If you are a member of our church family and can maintain your giving at this time, we humbly thank you.
To make an online donation, click the image at the left, or right here. Bless you!
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Call or email us today.
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