TheMESSENGER   Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street, Albany, New York 

February 2002

 

Lenten Worship to Feature Five-Part Oratorio

The Westminster Choir will sing at the Ash Wednesday service to be held in our sanctuary on February 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m.   The Rev. Sandra Hanna will conduct the service, and interpretive dancer Beth Jacobs will also participate.

 

On the first Sunday in Lent, February 17, morning worship will center on the first of five sections of The Glories of God’s Grace, an oratorio composed by Al Fedak with text by the Rev. Dr. Carl P. Daw Jr.

 

The Rev. Dr. Daw will be present at the February 17 service to help introduce the oratorio, and then to lead the service.  The oratorio includes parts for soloists, the choir, the congregation, and instrumentalists.

 

Known throughout the world for his hymn writing, Dr. Daw is Executive Director of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, which has its headquarters at the School of Theology at Boston University. His wife, May, will accompany him to Albany for the service.

 

Dr. Daw is an Episcopal priest, and his hymns have appeared in a wide range of denominational  and  ecu-menical hymnals in the United States, Canada, and England. His most recent project, A Hymntune Psalter, was published in two volumes in 1998 and 1999.

 

The Glories of God’s Grace oratorio was written in 1996 and first presented at the 75th anniversary of the Hymn Society in Savannah, Georgia.  Its theme is God’s grace, and the five sections to be presented during the Lenten Sundays are (1) the Creation, (2) the Fall, (3) the Exodus, (4) the life, ministry and passion of Jesus, and (5) Easter, Ascension and Pentecost.

 

Each section lasts about 30 minutes and includes many opportunities for singing by the congregation.

 

Everyone is urged to take ad-vantage of this wonderful opportunity to experience the inspiring musical talents of both Al Fedak, Westminster’s Minister of Music and Arts, and Carl Daw, his collaborator on this Lenten oratorio.

 

 

Percept Task Force Leader Thanks All Participants

By Anne Older

 

About a year ago, the congregation began planning for the future of Westminster Church.  As Chairman of the Revision task force, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments.

 

The document “Percept Revision” was used to initiate the strategic planning.  Small groups of people met with a leader throughout the winter of 2001 to discuss various aspects of the church.  This was followed by a retreat at Rensselaerville  for  the  task force and the Session.  The results provided an adult education class after the church

happened without everyone’s will-ingness to be involved.

 

A great many people have helped with this planning process, and have provided the leadership to initiate the changes we needed to accomplish our goals.  I am most appreciative of the leadership of Sandra Hanna.  Her style has encouraged more individuals to contribute of their time and talent to the life of the church.  This is essential if the church is to grow and prosper. 

 

It has been my pleasure to have been a part of this process. Thank you.

 SUPER SUNDAY KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

Presented by the Organ Restoration Fund Committee

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2002

 

Immediately following worship

 

No charge for lunch, but call 436-8544 for a reservation

 

See how the organ works – or doesn’t

Get an update of fundraising so far

Hear fundraising strategies for the year

Understand why this project is so important

 

CELEBRATE AND PRAISE GOD THROUGH MUSIC !

From the Church Records

 

Baptism: 1/6/02 Jacob Tyler Konisky, son of Amy and Stephen Konisky, grandson of Richard and Helmi Loesch.

 

Directory change (temporary):

Nancy Burton and Peter Leue

84 Winthrop Avenue

Albany, New York 12203

 

Lectionary for Lord's Day

 

February 2002

 

 3    4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Mic. 6:1-8; Ps. 15

    I Cor. 1:18-31; Matt. 5:1-12

 

 10   Transfiguration of the Lord

    Exod. 24:12-18; Ps. 2 or Ps. 99

    2 Pet. 1:16-21; Matt. 17:1-9

 

 17   1st Sunday in Lent

    Gen. 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Ps. 32

    Rom. 5:12-19; Matt. 4:1-11

 

 24   2nd Sunday in Lent

    Gen. 12:1-4a; Ps. 121

    Rom. 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

 

McCall to Preach Here

 

H. Carl McCall, Comptroller of the State of New York, candidate for Governor, and an ordained minister, will participate in the morning worship service at Westminster on Sunday, March 17.  He recently accepted an invitation from the Speaker Series Committee formed at the retreat held last spring.  Look for more details in the March Messenger.

 

The Messenger is a monthly publication of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street (mail to: 85 Chestnut Street),  Albany, NY 12210.

Phone: 436-8544; Fax: 436-8599; E-mail info@wpcalbany.org; Website: www.wpcalbany.org.

 

Interim Pastor.................... Sandra Lee Hanna

Parish Associate.............. James R. Thompson

Minister of Music and Arts..... Alfred V. Fedak

Associate Minister of Music and Arts..... Susan Hermance Fedak

Editor................................. Ann O. Treadway

Administrative Secretary........... Nancy J. Sokil

News deadline: 15th of preceding month.  Contributions welcome.

 

Lenten Devotional Guides Available

Under the direction of the Rev. Debra Jameson, the FOCUS Director of Community Ministry, members of the FOCUS congregations have prepared a Lenten Devotional Guide for use by individuals in the six member churches, and the community, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 13.

 

Marianne Rings, a member of the FOCUS Executive Council, was the Westminster representative for this project.  Several Westminster members have participated.  Writers were assigned a spiritual text and asked to prepare a short meditation and prayer.

 

The devotional guides were first distributed at the joint FOCUS service on January 27.  They will also be available at Westminster on February 3 and 10.

 

 

Church Notes...

Don’t forget the showing here of the movie Wit on Friday, February 8, based on the Broadway play of the same name and featuring Emma Thompson as a professor fighting cancer. It will be preceded by a potluck supper starting at 6 p.m., so bring a dish to share, and  friends, and be prepared for an emotional experience...Fifteen WOW (Westminster Outreach Workers) members went to the South Mall Towers on Saturday morning, January 12, to visit with residents there and help with some general apartment cleaning...The ‘second hour’ program following worship on February 10 will be on mission opportunities, and will be presented by the ReVision Steering Committee...The Mission Committee has ordered coffee from Equal Exchange, a Presbyterian project that ensures that a fair price is paid to small coffee farmers, for serving during our weekly fellowship hours after church...Congratulations to Arts Minister Al Fedak on his recent surprise recognition from the John Ness Beck Foundation in a musical composition competition (the best surprise was the monetary award)...And congratulations also to Eric Schell on attaining the rank of  Eagle Scout.

 

 

Focus on FOCUS

Emergency Shelter Opened

Concerned by the rapid increase in the rate of homelessness in our region, a consortium of faith groups and service providers has opened a new “overflow” emergency shelter.

 

“As a community we cannot sit by while people are without shelter during the winter months,” the Rev. John U. Miller, executive director of the Capital Area Council of Churches, said recently.  “This immediate response is designed to take care of the people who are already on the streets, as well as any people who cannot be accommodated by the existing shelter system, which is already near capacity.”

 

In response to this crisis, the Capital Area Council of Churches recently began a campaign to raise funds for the overflow shelter, which will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. seven days a week, and will be a “low demand” facility that will accommodate individuals who have no other options and who cannot tolerate requirements that they participate in the Social Services system. The shelter will not use government money.

 

Other organizations participating in the project include the Albany Housing Coalition, the Albany County Coalition on Homelessness, the Catholic Charities Housing Office, Equinox, the FOCUS churches, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, the Homeless Action Committee, HATAS (Homeless and Travelers Aid Society), Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, and the Veterans Administration

 

Volunteers are needed at the overflow homeless shelter, which will be open through April 7, any time between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., or  1 a.m. and 8 a.m., any day of the week. Volunteers are asked to interact and develop a rapport with guests and assist the on-duty staff.  Sleeping is allowed on the overnight shift.  For more information, call FOCUS at 465-5161.

 

Food Pantry News

There is an on-going critical need at the pantry for baby food, diapers and powdered infant formula.  Our Mission Committee has placed a baby crib in the Assembly Room for placement of contributions.

 

The Pantry Advisory Committee has established a fundraising sub-committee. Anyone with a talent for raising money is welcome to serve on the committee. 

 

A Faith Response to Hunger

On Saturday, February 23, FOCUS is hosting and co-sponsoring the  Faith and Hunger Network Regional Conference, from 9:30 a.m. to  3 p.m., at the  First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany.  People of faith from the entire Capital Region will gather to learn about local hunger issues and ways to respond.

 

The Faith and Hunger Network is a collaboration between faith communities, the Hunger Action Network of New York State and Bread For The World.  For more information or a registration form and schedule for the day, please see your FOCUS representatives.

 

Breakfast Program News

More help is needed for the breakfast program held here.  We’re still looking for substitutes who can help out one or two times a month, either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, from 6:30 to  9 a.m.. Please call Deb Jameson at 465-5161 if this is a way you could help people in need.

 

Annual Report

The 2001 report has been given to the FOCUS representative at each church. Please ask them for a copy or visit the FOCUS website: timesunion.com/communities/focus/.

 

Tour of Cohoes Center Set

Are you interested in learning about dementia and how to treat it?  Do you know:

·      How to access health insurance services to help a dementia patient continue to live at home? 

·      How to support a family of a person who has dementia-like symptoms? 

·      How to talk with a dementia patient?

·      How to determine if a patient has dementia, an underlying medical problem, or a combination thereof?

 

If you are interested in the answers to these questions, you are invited to take a tour of the Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center in Cohoes on Thursday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, and to participate in a discussion led by its program director. The center is one of the leading facilities in the country for Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia; both in-patient and out-patient assistance is available.

 

Please arrive at the administration wing of the Rockwell Center (last facility on the Eddy Cohoes campus) shortly before 10 a.m., or meet at Westminster at 9:15 a.m. to car-pool.

 

Call the church office (436-8544) by February 4 to indicate whether you wish to meet at Westminster or drive directly to Cohoes.  Directions are available. Call me at 439-4791 for more information.                      Lois Wilson

 

 

Worship Service 10:15 a.m., Taizé Service 5 p.m.    Church School 10:15 a.m.  Church Office: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.