One Body, One Spirit: Connecting the Faithful

September 25, 2026

Our next issue of One Body, One Spirit will be published on October 9, 2026.

Letter to my Flock

Dear friends,

On this day in 2011, I was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament! Also, on this day in 2022, I was installed to serve as your shepherd. Thanks be to God!

We had the joy of baptizing Valentina Bella McMaster-Castro, daughter of Savannah McMaster and Jahn Castro, last Sunday, Sept. 20.

Our Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs were blessed with beautiful weather on Sept. 12 for their annual choir gathering at the Lipinski’s home on Fire Island. This coming Sunday, Sept. 27, we will commission our choirs and welcome the Albarella family into our fold.

World Communion Sunday is Oct. 4! We will begin receiving the World Communion Offering that day; 25% of the offering will be given to the New Jerusalem Food Pantry in Saint James. That afternoon at 4 p.m., we will have a Blessing of the Animals on the church lawn to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis. If you would like to help with set up, certificate writing, reading, or treating, let me know!

Rally Day on Sept. 13 was fantastic! We commissioned our teachers and helpers and many of the children brought their backpacks to be blessed. Thank you for your continued prayers for our Sunday School, especially our teachers: Kathy Seymour, Jessica Carbonara, and Phyllis Oakes. After worship, the parish hall tables were loaded with delicious food for our potluck. Thank you to those who brought food to share and Year of Christian Fellowship, Deacons, and others working hard behind the scenes.

Our Book Group met at the manse on Sept. 16 to discuss One Summer in Savannah with author Terah Shelton Harris. The discussion of the novel, with themes of forgiveness and hope, was rich. Terah shared about her writing process and personal connections with the story. Our group was invited to ask questions. Thank you to Kim Fix for making the interview arrangements with the author and to Isabel Buse, who leads our group. We have already started reading Theo of Golden, a first novel for Christian author Allen Levi. Copies are available in the church office.

Peg Holthusen celebrated her 104^th birthday on Sept. 16! She was honored at a luncheon at the senior center.

I was blessed to be with the family at the birthday picnic on Sept. 13, when she blew out the candles on her chocolate raspberry cake and opened her gifts.

Liz Ewing is celebrating her 100^th birthday on Oct. 17! Will you join me in sending her our love and best wishes? Send cards to her new address:

Elizabeth Ewing

c/o Atria of Briarcliff Manor, Room 21

1025 Pleasantville Road

Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510.

God bless us with peace,

Pastor Karen

Barbara Ruoff took these photos while walking on the Greek Island of Monemvasia recently. The town was devastated by an earthquake hundreds of years ago but rebuilt slowly through the centuries. “All rock. No cars. Beautiful little village,” she says.

Recent Messages from the Pastor's Blog

Timothy

https://pastorkaren.org/2026/09/21/amazing-children-of-the-bible-series-timothy/

Sept. 20, 2026

The Boy with Loaves and Fish

https://pastorkaren.org/2026/09/14/amazing-children-of-the-bible-series-the-boy-with-loaves-and-fish/

Sept. 13, 2026

Daniel

https://pastorkaren.org/2026/09/08/amazing-children-of-the-bible-series-daniel/

Sept. 6, 2026

Cheerful Chickadee by Stushie,

used with permission

Blessing of the Animals

CWS School Supplies: Last Days!

OOMPA Coat Drive

FPCS Book Group

New Beginnings Circle

New Beginnings Circle meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. We will post the location of the meeting each month (host’s home or at church).

All women are welcome to join! Contact Kathy Seymour.

Calling All Bridge Players!

Bridge Players, veterans and beginners are invited to join us.

Bridge will be starting soon!

Please contact Carol Link for more information.

A Card Shower for Liz Ewing

Highlights from the August 25 Session Meeting

We opened the meeting with the original “Serenity Prayer” from Reinhold Niebuhr in 1926. Lori Yastrub shared a devotion based on Philippians 1:12-25.

Lynne Leftenant, Vice President of the Trustees, visited to share about the carpet for the Narthex that a couple from the Yoga class would like to donate, lights that will be installed on the River Road side of our property, the AED needing new batteries, the cesspool work on Aug. 27, and the gutter work that will soon be scheduled. Session approved the gift of the Narthex carpet and asked Lori Yastrub to lead the committee. We shared joys and concerns and prayed for healing. We approved the wedding of Madeleine Buckley and Daniel Garamvolgyi at 3 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2027, and reviewed the Member Roll, making a list of those who haven’t attended in a while and will be contacted by Pastor Karen.

Art by Stushie, used with permission

Terri Miller, Liaison to the Deacons, shared that the group would like to do a mission project, making “soup in a jar” mix, selling to the congregation, and giving to families at the homeless shelter (CHI). Session approved Tony Scarlatos’ request to allow OOMPA to hold a coat drive in the parish hall on October 24 and a toy drive on November 14. (Dates were changed to Oct. 17 and Nov. 21 after the meeting.)

Lori Kenney volunteered to assist Lori Yastrub with Faith Formation Committee. Treasurer Jocelyn Pajares shared how the cost of building repairs and snow removal has gone up since last year and that giving was down 2% this summer, as compared to last. Pastor Karen shared highlights from her ministry this summer, such as Deacon, Trustee, and Session picnics at the manse; GA in Milwaukee; House Blessings; the Sunday School Pool Party; and more. Session will meet next on September 29 at 7 p.m.

October Birthdays

Please contact the church office if you have an October birthday but are not on this list.

September 27 – Tom Deakins

September 30 – John Canning

October 2 – Grayson Nocito

October 3 – Jackie Milo

October 3 – Laura Matturro

October 5 – Peter Auer

October 7 – TJ Garcia

October 8 – Susan Harrison

October 9 – Arthur Leudesdorf

October 9 – Lori Yastrub

October 10 – Theresa Miller

October 10 – Grace Simonette

October 12 - Joanna Marmelstein

October 15 – Amanda Booth

October 16 – Thomas Satriano

October 17 – Liz Ewing

October 18 – Robert Davidsen

October 29 – Bill Russell

October 31 – Tammy Blaszkiewicz

In our Hearts and Prayers

Suzanne Perri’s sister, Donna, recovering from cancer surgery
Carol Miller’s daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Armando Crecco, cancer
Valentino Olivera, great-grandchild of Tom and Marci Deakins, brain surgery
Cathy Kelleher, chemo, preparing for cancer surgery Oct. 6
Kathy Seymour, cancer
Sienna, a child with cancer
Bill Brenner, Lisa Hubbs’ father, suffering from Parkinson’s and other health challenges
Liz Ewing, Atria of Briarcliff Manor, Apt. 316,1025 Pleasantville Rd., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
Janet Ashby, Woodbridge Pl, 1191 Rappf Bam Rd, Apt. 225, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Eleanor Schwinn, Luxor at Mills Pond, 273 Moriches Rd, Saint James 11780
Richard Heath, Gurwin, 68 Hauppauge Rd, Commack 11725
Virginia Newcomb, Bove Health Center, Rm. 142, 500 Mather Drive, South Setauket 11720
Jean Lown, The Bristal at Mt. Sinai, 400 Sutton Court, Mount Sinai, NY 11766
Mary Charlene Harris, Whisper Woods, 71 St Johnland Rd, Smithtown 11787
Evelyn Saddlemire, Water’s Edge, 150 Dark Hollow Rd, Port Jefferson 11777