Tag Archive | “The Gathering”

The Gathering Sundays following Worship

Mar7

During Lent, the Gathering will meet in Miles Hall following a brief coffee hour.

The following four Sundays, March 17, 24, and 31 and April 7th the Gathering will  offer opportunities for group discussion on our new life as one congregation under the following themes:

March 17               How we worship

March 24               How we govern ourselves

March 31               What is the future of our buildings?  Issues and ideas.

April 7                    What is our Mission both local and global?  How do we achieve it? –                                         Massapequa location

These sessions will be planned and led by the Pastor with input from elders and other members.

 

Mar1

Pastor’s Post

Dear Members of United Presbyterian Church:

What a joy it is to address you in this new way!  We have traveled a long way over the past three years, we have gotten to know each other well, and we have learned to worship and work as one body of Christ’s followers.  Now, our shared experience is being validated in official unification of the two historic churches.

I am thankful that the ecclesiastic and legal processes of unification have synchronized, so that we can move in coming weeks to consolidate our legal and financial management even as our new, unified session will begin to make decisions.  We need to work on creating a new system of committees, being clear about the tasks each committee is assigned, and appointing chairs.

 

Most important, I believe, is that during the next several months, we need to systematically think about the nature of our life together and our mission in this new era.  In 2016, almost three years ago, a joint committee wrote a “Plumbline Report” to assess the community we serve and the direction we wished to take in congregational life and mission.  The Report was accepted by both sessions.  Now, we need to re-visit that report, and see if we can develop a more specific set of goals as we consider where we are now.

To assist with this new process of discernment and planning, I am organizing the Gathering sessions for the Lenten season Sundays of March 17, 24, and 31 and April 7.  We will meet in Miles Hall (4/7 will be held in the Massapequa Social hall) following a brief coffee hour.

 March 17         How we worship

March 24         How we govern ourselves

March 31         What is the future of our buildings?  Issues and ideas.

April 7              What is our Mission both local and global?  How do we achieve It? 

These sessions will be planned and led by me with input from elders and other members.

I will create a summary of points made and ideas brought forward.  This will become a background paper for a one-day member planning retreat I hope to organize sometime in May.  (I should add that this plan of mine will be discussed at the first meeting of the unified session, so it is subject to change.  Stay tuned.)

 

-Pastor Lou

 

 

Welcome Back the “Gathering”

Aug21

THE GATHERING:  FALL, 2018

The Gathering will begin to meet on Sunday, September 16th.

The September session s will meet at the Levittown church.  The October and November sessions will meet at the Massapequa Church.

 

DATE TOPIC LEADER
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/16

 

 What the Bible Teaches About Immigration

 

On Sunday, September 16 and Sunday, September 23 the Gathering will present a discussion series about what our Scriptures have to say about immigration and refugees.  The discussions will use Bible verses and contexts and personal experience to look at a very important and controversial current topic.

Please join us.

 

 

“What the Bible Teaches About Immigration”

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria Studer

 
9/23 “What the Bible Teaches About Immigration” Maria Studer
9/30 The Gathering does not meet on this date  
10/7 The Gathering does not meet on this date  
10/14

10/21

10/28

 Book Study:

Heart and Soul by W. Douglas Hood Jr.

 Janice Kincaid
11/4

11/11

11/18

11/25

 Book Study:

Heart and Soul by W. Douglas Hood Jr.

 Janice Kincaid
December The Gathering will not meet in December.

The Gathering will resume on January 6, 2019

  

What the Bible Teaches About Immigration.

Aug1

What the Bible Teaches About Immigration

On Sunday, September 16 and Sunday, September 23 following worship, the Gathering will present a discussion series about what our Scriptures have to say about immigration and refugees.  The discussions will use Bible verses and contexts and personal experience to look at a very important and controversial current topic.

Please join us.

Bible

 

The Special Club will meet on March 13th. at 7pm at the Massapequa Church.

Feb27

“THE GATHERING”  WELCOMES THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

The “Special Club” will meet on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 7pm. hosted at the Presbyterian Community Church of Massapequa

(Massapequa, NY) — In an almost club-like environment, parents of local “special needs children and teenagers” are coming together, in an informal way, to share stories and offer support.

“Parents have ‘special needs,’ too,” says Stacie Armstrong, organizer of the group. “We all share a common bond, have common challenges and need to recognize that we’re not alone with facing the challenges to provide a satisfying life for our children without losing ourselves.”

“It’s an outreach to special needs families to provide a welcoming environment within the community” says Armstrong. “We’re looking forward to seeing the group expand and, eventually, divide into other groups devoted to various age ranges, as each experience different struggles as children grow older.”

Reservations are required so we can allocate our resources accordingly. For further information on this “Special Club” call Joan Tischner.  There is no cost to join, but donations will be accepted to defray the cost of coffee and pastry.

The Gathering Meeting Dates for March and April.

Feb27

THE GATHERING: MARCH AND APRIL 2018

Mar. 4 Congregational meeting. The Gathering does not meet.
Mae. 11, 18, 25 Janice leads book study on Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down
Apr. 1 Easter: The Gathering does not meet
Apr. 8 Janice continues the book study
Apr. 15 Janice leads final meeting for book study
Apr. 22, 29 Stella leads The Gathering

THE GATHERING FEATURES A BOOK STUDY IN MARCH

All four Sundays in March and April 8th Janice will lead a book study on: Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down, by Kirk Byron Jones.
Books will be made available for purchase for all those who chose to participate.

The following is the information on the back cover of the book:
Does life have to be fast to be fun and fulfilling? In Addicted to Hurry, Kirk Byron Jones debunks the “need for speed” mentality that so many people have embraced. He goes beyond social and psychological analysis to include spiritual perspectives on the dangers of letting hurry become a chronic condition.

“THE GATHERING” WELCOMES THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

Sep26

The “Special Club” will meet on Tuesday, October 10th. at 7pm. hosted at the Presbyterian Community Church of Massapequa.

(Massapequa, NY) — In an almost club-like environment, parents of local “special needs children and teenagers” are coming together, in an informal way, to share stories and offer support.

“Parents have ‘special needs,’ too,” says Stacie Armstrong, organizer of the group. “We all share a common bond, have common challenges and need to recognize that we’re not alone with facing the challenges to provide a satisfying life for our children without losing ourselves.”

According to a recent government estimate, some 19 percent of children in the U.S. fall into the ‘special needs’ category, with 35 percent of all children having some type of learning or intellectual disability.

The first meeting will be October 10th from 7pm – 8pm, and will continue, on the second Tuesday of every month thereafter. “The Gathering,” which is the Outreach Program of The Presbyterian Community Church of Massapequa is serving as host, at 150 Pittsburgh Ave. in Massapequa in the Church Fellowship Hall. A social worker will act as the facilitator and church members will watch and entertain the children.

“It’s an outreach to special needs families to provide a welcoming environment within the community” says Armstrong. “We’re looking forward to seeing the group expand and, eventually, divide into other groups devoted to various age ranges, as each experience different struggles as children grow older.”

“Raising a child with special needs is a full-time job in itself,” says Armstrong” And for a single, working parent, it can, at times, be overwhelming, so it’s good to know there’s support and assistance available to help out. Plus, it’s a night out.”

Reservations are required so we can allocate our resources accordingly.

For further information on this “Special Club” call Joan Tischner. There is no cost to join, but donations will be accepted to defray the cost of coffee and pastry.

 

 

Join us at the Gathering Sundays at 11:30am

Aug31

 

the-gathering-formal-worship

The Gatherings will meet Sundays after coffee hour.

 

Starting Sunday, September 10 11:30-12:15. 

 

 This year the goal is to provide an opportunity for members to talk about their faith and grow in their individual walk with God.  With this goal in mind, this is the proposed format for the upcoming year.  Stella and Janice is alternate leadership of The Gathering.  Stella will lead the Gathering at the Levittown Church on the first and third Sunday’s of each month.  Janice will led the Gathering at the Massapequa Church on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

 

Janice will lead a special activity on the Fifth Sunday of October.  Activities for the remaining fifth Sundays of the year will be announced as they occur.

 

 STELLA

 

The sessions led by Stella will focus on centering prayer and meditation.  Some Yoga may be included in her sessions.

 

JANICE

 

Janice will lead a book study on: Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World,by Henri J. M. Nouwen.  Books will be made available for purchase for all those who chose to participate.

 

 The following is the information on the back cover of the book:

From the Back Cover
“All I want to say to you is, ‘You are the Beloved, ‘ and all I hope is that you can hear these words as spoken to you with all the tenderness and force that love can hold. My only desire is to make these words reverberate in every corner of your being – ‘You are the Beloved.'” This personal witness to a God who calls us the Beloved is the fruit of a long friendship between journalist-writer Fred Bratman and Henri Nouwen. Henri is trying to respond to Fred’s concern to live a spiritual life in the midst of a very secular world. A remarkable aspect of this book is that while Henri writes to a personal friend, he in fact found a language that speaks clearly and convincingly to all who search for the Spirit of God in the world. Here is a ringing affirmation that everyone is loved by God and can enjoy “the life of the beloved”. It reveals the wonders of the spiritual journey and renews the fire of faith.

 

 

 

Senior Scams, Sunday, March 12th. at 11:30am at The PresbyterianCommunity Church of Massapequa

Mar7

Learn How to Protect Your Loved Ones From

Senior Scams

Speaker

Timothy Hatter

Long Island Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

Sunday, March 12th. 11:30am

The Presbyterian Community Church of Massapequa

150 Pittsburgh Ave

Massapequa 11758

(Across from Lockhart Elementary School)

Coffee & Cookies

 This is a FREE Community Event