24 Circular Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

by Rev. Kate Forer

For worship during the month of May we will be focusing on the theme of “Sabbath.” As I as pastor, and you, as the church, prepare for my Sabbatical this August, I think it appropriate that we explore this theologically rich concept. Please join us for worship in May and, if possible, please join us in person. Although we are so thankful for zoom and streaming technology, there is something nurturing and sustaining about being in our sanctuary together. Because of the rise in COVID cases, we will be masking and keeping worship as safe as possible.

As we enter into this season of contemplating sabbath living and sabbath rest, I leave you with this poem from Nicola Slee’s book Sabbath: The Hidden Heartbeat of our Lives:

Blessings,

Thinking about becoming a member of the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church? Join us to ask questions and explore becoming a member of our church.

Pastor Kate will be our featured speaker. She will talk about her doctoral studies at Boston University's School of Theology and her dissertation. Cost per person is $15. If you don't think you are already on the call list, reach out to Chuck at Chuck@PNECChurch.org.

We will gather in the sanctuary to vote on changing our name.

We welcome Mariia and her children Oleksii and Anna from Ukraine and Arinze from Nigeria as temporary residents of Nolan House.

Many thanks to Terry and Anne Diggory for getting the accommodations prepared, to Jim MacNeill for upgrading the plumbing fixtures, and Jim and Harry Meehan for installing appliances in the kitchen.

This is a poem Mariia wrote for her English class. It is printed here with her permission.

These are of those days

  when I feel lost.

There are too many feelings

  and I’m its host.

Where to strive for and

  what should I do?

I’ve spent so many days and

  nights without you.

All things we shared

  had left behind

I’ve grabbed my bags

  but not my mind.

Only kids and I had escaped

  by the plane.

The world has totally changed

  since evil came.

I don’t understand

  where to move on.

How to help my kids when

  I’m on my own?

I know that I’m strong

  I just need time,

Breath in and exhale

  the sadness of mine.

Our unique Nolan House family -- Arinze, Oleksii, Anna and Mariia, celebrating Oleksii's 12th birthday.

The correlation between education and potential earnings is clearly documented; the higher the degree an individual acquires, the more earnings can be made. This relationship is even more obvious in fields such as health services, engineering, and other highly skilled job areas. Yet, access to or completion of postsecondary credentials, such as degrees, is not equitably distributed across this country’s population. Using 2021 data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, I compared those with postsecondary degrees to those without. The results are striking.

In this country, 48% of adults (age 25 years and older) have a college degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate). The distribution of those who hold degrees across race and ethnicity groups shows great disparities (see Chart 1), with white adults seven times more likely to have a college degree than other race or ethnicity groups. Note: White, Black, LatinX, and Asian are the only race/ethnicity groups reported in the census data tables available to the public.

Comparisons within each of these four groups show even more disparities (Chart 2).

So, what does all this data mean?

In this country, one out of six adults have some college and no degree. Of those, the highest percent are Black adults; they also have the highest student debt load. The number of LatinX adults with a high school or less education surpasses the number of white adults with a degree. Credentialing in this country is an equity issue.

The majority of family-sustaining wage jobs in this country require at least an associate but more commonly a bachelor’s degree. That means those without a college degree are less likely to have jobs that can support a family and live in a home like you or I do. And, those who have some college but no degree are less likely to be in a financial position to pay off college debt. The economic cycle does not allow non-degreed individuals to get ahead.

This does not mean that people without a college degree do not have or cannot develop knowledge and skills needed in most jobs. What it does mean is that the credentialing system in this country is failing too many people across this nation. The system does not formally capture and credential people for what they know and can do; rather, it documents only those who reach one of four degree-tiers (associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate) and leaves everyone else to fend for themselves.

We need educational reform that provides appropriate access to and supports for postsecondary education for everyone AND an equitable system that formally captures learning along the way. We are working on a national effort called Credential As You Go (www.credentialasyougo.org) to change the system and provide formal documentation of what people know and can do all along their life so that they have more opportunities for work and furthering their education.

Coffee Hour Snacks You are invited to drop off cookies, fruit, cheese and crackers, etc. in the kitchen before worship on Sunday. You are also invited to stay for some extended fellowship afterward.

You may pay your pledge by mail (PO Box 582, Saratoga Springs) or click the donate button on our website.