We love the wonderful carols sung during Advent. We will sing a different verse of “Come, Thou Long-

Expected Jesus” each Sunday, as we once again prepare for the coming of the savior. This carol with such

beautiful, meaningful words was written by Charles Wesley in 1744, and still rings true today.

“Advent” means “coming.” Each week the excitement builds as we embrace the themes of hope, peace, joy and

love. We begin Advent on December 1st, with the lighting of the first candle, which symbolizes “hope.” We

need the reminder that there is always hope, thanks to God’s gift to us of the tiny baby born in a Bethlehem

stable. The world has had its ups and downs from time beginning, yet our hope should remain solid, as we

know that all things are possible with God. The first verse of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” does offer us

that hope.

Another favorite song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” reminds us that when we work together for good, great

wrongs can be righted and great things can be accomplished. The lighting of the second Advent candle

symbolizes “peace.” The first line of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” is followed by “and let it begin with me.”

It points out that, with God as our father, we are all brothers (and sisters) who should walk together in “perfect

harmony.” By sharing the love that God has for us with our brothers and sisters everywhere, we can achieve the

hope, peace, love and joy of the Advent season, not only as we prepare for the coming of Jesus this Christmas,

but throughout the coming year, as well.

Wishing you a joyous Christmas full of hope, peace, and love.

The Parish Visitor First Reformed Church of Fishkill

December, 2019

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free.

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit,

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

O come, O King of nations, bind

in one the hearts of all mankind.

Bid our sad divisions cease

and be yourself our King of Peace.

OUR CHURCH TODAY

December Calendar 1

Advent I Worship/Communion 10 am

Hanging of the Greens* 11:15 am

15 Advent III Worship 10 am *

Sunday School* 10:15 am

Caroling* 2:30 pm*

Girl Scout Tr. 10398 4:30 pm 3 CCS Pajama Party*

Worship and Music Comm. 11 am

Boy Scout Troop 65 7 pm 16 Scout Tr. 65 Committee 7 pm

17 Boy Scouts 7 pm

Consistory 7:15 pm 4 Bible Study 1 pm

Pastor Search Comm. 18

Bible Study* 1 pm

Pastor Search Comm. 6 pm 5 Choir Rehearsal 7 pm

6 Pizza and Play Practice* 5:30 pm 19 Choir Rehearsal 7 pm

7 Ugly Christmas Sweater Party* 5 pm 22 Advent IV Worship 10 am

Sunday School 10:15 am 8

Advent II Worship 10 am

Sunday School Play* 11 am

Sunday School 10:15 am 23-27 Church Office Closed

10 Boy Scouts 7 pm 24 Christmas Eve

Family Service* 5:30 pm

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 8:30 11 Bible Study 1 pm

12 Consistory reports due

Homebound Gifts* 10 am

Choir Rehearsal 7 pm 25

13

29 Worship – Lessons and Carols 10 am

31 New Year’s Eve Church office closed

*Asterisk indicates related article within

Please submit articles for the January “Parish Visitor” to the Church Office by December 13th:

office@fishkillreformed.org. Thank you.

Church Calendar – Before scheduling a meeting or event at church, please contact Pat in Church Office

(ph. 845 896-9836) to check availability on church calendar and to reserve your meeting space.

Sunday Bulletin Announcements – Please submit your information to the church office no later than the

preceding Wednesday to ensure inclusion in the Sunday bulletin/announcements. (Exception: Tuesday,

Dec.17th, is the deadline for Dec. 22nd bulletin announcements).

Prayer Chain – To be added to the church prayer chain contact list or to request prayers for yourself or

someone else, please contact Toni Houston at prayerchain@fishkillreformed.org.

Worship service broadcasts – 5:00 pm (please note new time), Sundays on Cablevision Channel 21.

Church website includes the Church newsletters, worship service links, church history and Facebook page.

Go to: www.fishkillreformed.org.

Directory changes: Chuck and Lois Heady’s new phone number is 845 831-3203.

Parish Visitor articles due

OUR CHURCH TODAY

Consistory Notes from November, 2019 Victor Chao led devotions based on Deuteronomy 15:10: we are reminded that when we give liberally, not

begrudgingly, the Lord will bless us in everything we do. If we follow Jesus and do his work, God will provide

for our needs. When we give, we are listening to God and doing what is and just. We will be remembered not by

how much money we have, but what we give.

• Treasurer's October report: Total YTD revenue –$169,031.05 Total YTD expenses – $136,780.57

• The Food Pantry provided 10,485 meals during the month of October.

• Pulpit supply for December 29th (Lessons and Carols and Meditation): Bill Resling

Nick Miles will be leading our worship for the entire month of January.

Our heartfelt thanks to both for their dedication to our church and to Rich Lanni for the fine job he is

doing in scheduling such excellent preachers to lead our worship!

• The Christmas offering is to be directed to Hudson River Housing and will be matched ten times with

funds from the Mission Bequest Set-aside.

• The Building and Grounds Committee will be getting quotes on improving our walkways and installing

an irrigation system in order to begin work in the spring.

• The Pastoral Search Committee is pleased with the quantity of applicants they have received and is

proceeding with interviews to determine the suitability of a number of these.

• Elder Phyllis Lake and Deacon Manny Valdivia convened a meeting of people from churches in Fishkill

and Beacon to discuss forming a coalition to serve the homeless in southern Dutchess County. Sixteen

people from nine different churches attended and heard Nikole Johannesen, Director of Resident

Services at Hudson River Housing, outline a number of things individuals and churches can do. A

follow-up meeting is set for December 11th. Further discussion will outline what we as a church can

contribute to this effort.

Support from Elders and Deacons

If you need temporary transportation, a meal delivered, a visit or a phone call, please contact a deacon:

Kim Albra, Beacon Victor Chao, Hopewell Junction

John Cliffe, Wappingers Falls Sally LeDioyt, Fishkill

Manny Valdivia, Wappingers Falls

If you would like to receive home communion or a pastoral care visit, please contact an elder:

Phyllis Lake, Beacon Rich Lanni, Wappingers Falls

Ruth Porter, Fishkill Bill Resling, Fishkill

Celeste Rudberg, Wappingers Falls

“Friends of Seniors” are available to help those with various needs, when a deacon is not available. Please

read about them in the” Bulletin Board” section of this newsletter.

Christmas offering Decent housing is a basic human need that should be, but isn't available to all. To address local needs, the

Deacons have designated the Christmas Offering to Hudson River Housing. They provide opportunities for

people of all ages and incomes to live in the Hudson Valley through affordable housing. They create pathways

out of homelessness through empowerment, education, and advocacy. They also provide outreach, care

management, and support services for youth, veterans, the homeless, and other special needs populations. The

offering will be matched from the blessings of our mission bequest fund.

The consistory is pleased to announce the slate of nominees for terms beginning Jan., 2020:

Office of Elder: Evelyn Bobb; Office of Deacon: Linda Baron

The election will be held during a brief congregational meeting following December 8th Worship.

Sunday Coffee hour is made possible by rotating the responsibility throughout the congregation, while each

week Dorrie Hansen assists by setting up the coffee pots. Below is the list of monthly coffee hour hosts.

First name on the list, the lead host, is responsible for calling the others and coordinating what each brings,

including milk and juice. The hosts divide up the tasks; set up, refills, cleanup of kitchen and

coffee pots, wiping down of all tables and countertops with the water/bleach solution. Please take home and

wash the dirty dishtowels and potholders, and return them the following week.

With our different abilities and limitations, let’s all help by busing our own tables, and helping out

where we can.

To have your name added to the rotation, or to address any concerns about serving please contact the

scheduler, Karen Twohig.

Not able to serve on your scheduled date? Please find a replacement, and inform the lead host and

Church Office of the name of the replacement.

If you plan to bring food to Coffee Hour for a special occasion please notify the lead host.

Thanks to all for helping to provide a wonderful time and place for fun, food and fellowship!

Coffee Hour Hosts and Hostesses

December January t

1 – Faulkner, Carruthers, Price 5 – LeDioyt, Sanders, K. Spencer

8 – Van Nostrand, Devine, Bobb 12 – Saya, Lane, Resling

15 – Smith, Cliffe, Baron, Schallenberg 19 – VanVoorhis, McGann, Porter

22 – Twohig, Elves 26 – Albra, Garcia, Utter

29 – Leftover Cookie Fest* – D. Hansen, Gillert

*Please bring your leftover Christmas cookies to share during the December 29th Cookie Fest.

Readers & Greeters for December, 2019

December 1 Greeters – Barbara Harty and Bill Resling

Reader – Bill Resling

December 8 Greeters – Owen, Katrina and Lisa Skorewicz

Reader – Lisa Skorewicz

December 15 Greeters – Ruth and Don Porter

Reader – Ruth Porter

December 22 Greeters – Thea and Elmer Schallenberg

Reader – Thea Schallenberg

December 29 Greeters – Richard and Marge Faulkner

Reader – Marge Faulkner

Coffee Hour

Hanging of the Greens – Sunday, December 1: Everyone is invited to help. Some of the tasks are done

outside and others are done in the church and Fellowship Hall. Please help to make our church extra beautiful

for the Advent season.

.

Christmas Caroling – Sunday, December 15: It is time for all our Christmas elves to band together and go

caroling to our beloved homebound. Your presence and warm smiles are all that is required. We will provide

bells if you are more of a ringer than a singer. Meet in the DuBois House at 2:15 pm. A light supper will follow.

Please bring a plate of cookies to share for dessert. Sign up in Fellowship Hall. Please come and see the smiles

of those we visit and feel the spirit of Christmas.

From the Education Committee This year grades 2–12 learned about David, Solomon, and the prophet Elijah. Children learned how Israel

became a divided kingdom and the people slowly slipped away from following God.

The Education Committee is busy planning for the Christmas season.

Children received Advent Calendars on Nov. 24th. Parents can help their children understand how God’s

people waited thousands of years for the coming of the Messiah, and how we await His return.

Sunday, Dec. 8th, Sunday School presents the play “Christmas Letters” in Fellowship Hall at 11:30 AM

during Coffee Hour. We invite you to stay a little longer, as the interesting letters present the emotions of

the people in the Christmas story. PARENTS, please mark your calendars:

Pizza and Practice on Friday, Dec. 6th, 5:30, DuBois House parlor. We need all of our students to present

this play.

Sunday School will not meet on December 29th and will resume on January 12th.

From Worship and Music 2020 Flowers for the Sanctuary can be ordered by signing up on the flower chart and form on the Fellowship

Hall bulletin board. Make your $40 check payable to First Reformed Church of Fishkill, with “Flowers”

written on the memo line and place in the envelope by the flower chart. You may pick up your flowers in

DuBois House after Worship or leave them to be given to someone who needs some extra love. If you would

prefer to mail your order to the Church Office, please note on envelope: “Attention: Flowers.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name________________________________________wish to give flowers on (date)_____________________

I have enclosed my check for $40 and would like the following in the bulletin: The flowers are given by

__________________________________________________, in (circle one) memory, honor or celebration of:

____________________________________________________________________________________

The Worship and Music committee thanks you for your donation.

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party – Dec 7, 5 pm, in Fellowship Hall. The potluck menu dinner

will include lasagna, salads, Italian bread, an ugly Christmas sweater cake, hot cocoa, coffee, &

tea. We will have a prize for the ugliest Christmas sweater. Holiday games, music & lots of fun

will prevail. All are welcome! Bring a friend! Sign up in the Ed Bldg.

Gifts for our Homebound Friends will be assembled Wednesday, Dec. 11th, 10 am, in the

DuBois House parlor. Needed are cookies, candies and fruit, including some sugar and gluten-free.

Items can be brought to church Sunday, Dec. 8th

Piggy Bank Bazaar – Dec. 7th, 9 am – noon at New Hackensack Reformed Church, 1580 Rte. 376,

Wappingers Falls. This secret Christmas shopping event for children is a favorite in our area. No gift over $3,

with free gift wrapping available. Girl Scouts and Youth group members are available as guides. Coffee area

with baked goods is a delicious place for parents to wait while children shop. NHRC ph. 845 462-0810.

Friends of Seniors Is There to Help Support services are available to you if you can’t drive yourself to a doctor appointment, or if you live alone,

and are recovering from an accident or a medical procedure and need food. While our Parish Visitor lists the

names of deacons who can be called to help out, there are times that all five deacons are otherwise engaged.

Friends of Seniors is an organization you can turn to for help at such times. For 15 years now this volunteer-

based program has provided FREE basic support services to the Dutchess County older adult community (age

60 and older) with the following services: non-emergency medical transportation, grocery shopping for those

who have no means to obtain food, visiting services, telephone reassurance, respite for primary caregivers and

referrals to other agencies when Friends cannot assist an individual.

If you think this sort of service might be helpful for you, please call Friends of Seniors at 845-485- 1277 and

speak with someone. They will be happy to speak with you, to answer your questions, and to determine whether

you are eligible for their help. This may be just the kind of program you need to make your life a little easier.

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes – This year, with the help of the Girl Scouts of Greater Fishkill,

we collected 137 shoeboxes. In the 24 yearss we have participated, we have collected at least 1,300 +

shoeboxes! Last year I tracked my shoeboxes, and they went to the Dominican Republic. If you are tracking,,

please let me know where your boxes went this year. Thanks to all who participated, Toni Houston

Counting Our Blessings

Huge thank you’s to: the Activities Committee for a very fun Potluck Oldies Night and the lovely Church Family

Thanksgiving dinner. A church that prays, dines and plays together stays together!!!

…and to the Property Committee and all who helped clean and tend our properties on Fall Clean-up day.

Congratulations to Amy Nyland on receiving her doctorate degree! Rev. Dr. Nyland also thanks us for our

participation in her research.

Reverend Nick Miles seen on CNN: Rev. Miles was recently shown on CNN singing a traditional Algonquin

song during a Washington D.C. ceremony, in which the Powhatan/ Algonquian name “Arrokoth” (translation:

sky) was given to a celestial object found in the distant Kuiper Belt, 4 billion miles from Earth. The object was

located when NASA’s New Horizons probe conducted its farthest-ever flyby early this year.

See the full article on the Main bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

OUR CHURCH IN MISSION

Children’s Community Services

Heather Hansen, Director

Learn more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/childrenscommunityservices.org/index

*The mission of the Grace smith House is to enable individuals and families to live free from domestic violence

by providing shelter, apartments, advocacy, councelling and education. Donations should be new, unused sets

of pajamas or nightgowns for children ranging from infants to 12 yr. old sizes, Small to XL. Thank you for

your help.

As I'm writing this I am beginning to realize how quickly

this year has flown by! The temperature is reminding us all

that seasons change and it's time to get into the "Holiday

Swing" of things!!

CCS is always busy, and now our focus is on the season of

giving thanks and giving in all sorts of other ways. As we

look forward to the Christmas season, we hope all take time

to enjoy the love sent to us all. As a part of our "Preschool

Pajama Party", we are collecting new pajamas or night

gowns (infants to 12 yr. old sizes) for the Grace Smith

House. All donations need to be received by December

5th.*

Our Parent and Tot families are really bonding and it's such

fun to watch...sometimes I'm not sure who's enjoying the

program more, the kids or the parents! They love to paint

and glue, and you should see them dancing!!

Our preschool will be sharing "Stone Soup" for

Thanksgiving. It's the well-known tale of sharing

what we have, and how together we create

something really good! There have been lots of

stories about the Mayflower and the native

friends the pilgrims met. Turkeys have been

created in lots of different ways, and all sorts of

corn activities have happened.

The Before-and-After School keeps ever-busy

with games, artwork and dramatic play. We hope

you get a chance to read about all we are thankful

for on the feathers of the bulletin board

turkey. As the holidays approach, our creativity

will be demonstrated all around!

Happy Holidays!

Heather Hansen and the staff of CCS

By the time you are reading this, we will have completed our third annual Project Turkey. This event was

started in honor of one of our longtime volunteers, Andy Sue Adams, to make some of our neighbors experience

a less stressful holiday. Another of our longtime volunteers, Nellie Briggs – who suggested and is the driving

force behind Project Turkey – spends countless hours in the Food Pantry planning and analyzing numbers for

the upcoming event. It would be difficult to tackle this huge project without her.

In addition, our supply team has been working hard bringing in items needed for a complete Thanksgiving

meal, including turkeys, stuffing, vegetables and desserts, in addition to stocking the pantry with food to fill

regular orders.

The other component that makes this all work is our wonderful community support. We are so impressed and

touched by the generosity of our neighboring banks, businesses, schools, churches, families and individuals who

support our mission.

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For indeed, that’s all who ever have”

Margaret Mead.

https://www.facebook.com/FishkillFoodPantry

Fishkill Food Pantry 1153 Main St., Fishkill, NY 12524 Phone 845 896-4546 Hours: M – F, 9 – 12

One of our largest supporters is the Town of Fishkill

Police Cadet organization, having held a 2 weekend food

drive for the past 15 years. These young people stand out

in front of Walmart – usually in the cold – collecting for

the Fishkill Food Pantry. The results are impressive! With

every successful organization, there’s usually a driving

force, and since 2004, that’s been Detective Jason Betley.

Through his guidance and leadership, 32 Cadets have gone

on to careers in law enforcement.

Don Van Nostrand & Detective Jason Betley

Town of Fishkill Police Cadets at Walmart

See recent letter posted on Missions Bulletin Board in Fellowship Hall.

Our Church Sponsored RCA Missionaries

Jeremy and Susan Beebout - Jeremy is an agronomist working with agricultural development efforts and Susan

is a doctor developing the church's health ministries in Niger, Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world.

Grace Covenant Ministries is committed to holistic community development and healing in the Kentucky

Appalachians, an area suffering some of the deepest poverty in the U.S.

Josh Bode serves as pastor, teacher, and caregiver for the English-speaking congregations of the Protestant

Church in Oman (PCO) so that those who are part of these faith communities may deepen their faith and show

the light and love of Christ in the places where they live and work. Learn more at www.rca.org/bode.

(See Missions bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for the latest newsletters from our missions partners.)

RENEW San Diego - This young RCA church plant recently

outgrew its smaller community center meeting place, and is now

sharing a much larger space nearby with St. Luke’s Episcopal

Church. RENEW follows an order of worship very similar to ours,

and also takes its ministry to the streets. Its congregation is

comprised primarily of young families with children, but they

regularly welcome the friends they minister to on the streets. We are

excited to partner with this city-center San Diego church plant,

whose mission is to help their friends and neighbors to be reunited

with God, reconnected in community, and redirected in Jesus’

mission to renew all things.