Thursday, December 27, 2018

This week at Old South Haven Churdh



This Week                    December 27, 2018
Members and Friends
As we return to our normal routines this week let us remember that while most of us gathered around abundant tables for Christmas not everyone had that luxury and blessing. From neighbors who live among us who must make difficult choices between food and heat and which bills to pay, to migrants seeking hope and better life along so many borders. To those trapped by wars and politics or huddled on city streets. Countless people are hungry and not simply for a good meal. It costs so little for most of us to add a few extra non-perishable items to our food carts. Remember Jesus' words, "I was hungry and you fed me. . .when you fed the hungry one you fed me."
Peace,
Pastor Karen

It's not too late: Please remember that the Session needs your input as they prepare for 2019. Please return your pledge card today if you have not yet done so. Every pledge regardless of size matters. Thank-you for your ongoing support of Old South Haven.

Remember the Food Basket: Bring your non-perishable food items Sunday, January 6th. Especially appreciated are shelf stable milk, hearty stews and soups, canned vegetables and fruit, jam, tuna and spices. Every donation makes a difference to neighbors who are food insecure in our midst.

Sunday, December 30     10:00 am    Worship
                    Fellowship after Worship

To reach Pastor Karen: 973.592.7392, pastor@oldsouthhavenchurch.org, or khybertsen@aol.com






Thursday, December 13, 2018

This week at Old South Haven Churdh



This Week                    December 12, 2018
Members and Friends-
This Advent season I have been pondering some actions that all of us find challenging from time to time—Watching and Waiting. Watching for something that has yet to be requires of us a clear idea of what we are looking for lest we miss the signs of its appearance in our midst. Here I think of the regularly befuddled disciples who ask Jesus when was it that they clothed and nourished him. His reply: each time you do so to another, you do so to me. Then there is waiting. Not something we do well. We live in a culture rushing ahead without much regard for that which we rush over or by. We want what we want right now. Yet that is not always the best path forward as in our rush to get there we all too often find that we arrive somewhere else altogether often missing what is most important. We fail to consider what is our next best step forward, to ponder where we have been, or to listen to one another or wait on God. Watching and waiting are the active side of patience or discernment. As we move into a period of reflection and conversation in the New Year we will need to practice patience to give full measure to the next steps in Old South Haven's journey. Remember the journey is of this faithful community of which pastors are but a small part.
In Christ,
Pastor Karen
A special thank-you to everyone who helped put up the tree and trim the Chapel for this season.
Stewardship Reminder: Please remember that the Session needs your input as they prepare for 2019. Please return your pledge card today if you have not yet done so. Every pledge regardless of size matters. Thank-you for your ongoing support of Old South Haven.
Poinsettias: If you wish to have a poinsettia in memory or in honor of someone in this season of Advent and Christmas please speak to or contact a Deacon.
"Blue Christmas Service": Christ Episcopal Church will hold a "Blue Christmas service Sunday, December 16th at 3 pm. This service is for anyone experiencing a sense of loss this Christmas season – whether a loved one or a personal setback. It will be a quiet contemplative service with hymns and is open to all. The church is located at 64 South Country Rd in Bellport
Interfaith Blood Drive - Temple Beth El in Patchogue is attempting to organize a blood drive for a date in January 2019. The blood center now requires a verbal commitment of at least 70 donors before committing to hold a drive at Temple Beth El. Their deadline for this commitment is Friday, December 14th. Currently they are short of this number. If you are interested in being a part of this drive please let Pastor Karen know by the 14th.

Calendar
Wednesday, December 13    8:30 am    Pastor w/Clergy Cluster
Saturday, December 15    9:30 am    Property and Finance
Sunday, December 16     10:00 am    Worship
                        Sunday School
                        Fellowship after Worship
Monday, December 17    7:00 pm    Session Meeting
Sunday, December 23        10:00 am    Worship - Pageant
                        Fellowship after Service
Monday, December 24    11:00 pm    Christmas Eve Service

To reach Pastor Karen: 937.592.7392 or pastor@oldsouthhavenchurch.org
khybertsen@aol.com








Wednesday, December 5, 2018

This week at Old South Haven Churdh

December 5, 2018

Members and Friends:

The Session has asked me to provide you with an update as to where you are in the process of moving to call a new pastor. The first step of the process was to bring on board an interim pastor something that has happened numerous times in the long history of Old South Haven. An interim pastor's job is two-fold. First, to guide the congregation through the process of transition and the issues that arise when a pastor leaves. Here at OSH, as we all know, Pastor Tom died while in service here. It is a different kind of transition than most churches face when a pastor leaves. There is an element of grieving but not enshrining Pastor Tom so that the congregation is prepared to make a healthy transition for the future of the church. Grief is a process that takes time and it is important to allow that time in the life of the congregation. The next step of the interim process is to begin, what the Presbytery of Long Island calls a Plumb Line Study (other terms are Mission or Self-Study). This is an intentional process of assessment that will engage the entire congregation of OSH. While the questions may appear simple and easily addressed they are intended to encourage serious intellectual and spiritual reflection on OSH today and going forward. This process will begin at the New Year as the Session first designs the process and then seeks your input. Beyond this step will be approvals from Committee on Ministry (remember that any pastor's call is tripartite –pastor, congregation and presbytery), preparation of a Mission Information Form (think resume for a church), and finding a new pastor.
As your interim pastor my goal is to work with you through this process so that at its end you are able to bring to OSH the pastor with the best gifts for leading you into the future. In essence my job is to, when that day comes, to leave you.
One other update: Recently the Session endorsed Kirsty Dickson-Maret to the Committee on Preparation to become an Inquirer (the first step in the ordination process). The Committee concurred and enrolled Kirsty as an Inquirer. As a way of supporting Kirsty in this process the Session approved her serving OSH as a Pre-Seminary Intern under my supervision. In addition they approved her living in the manse while so serving.
Questions? Concerns? Talk to me.
In Christ,
Pastor Karen

This Week
It is time to Trim the Church Tree. Please join us December 9th at 6:30 pm as we decorate the Sanctuary. Pizza will be provided.
This Afternoon (4 -6 pm): Deborah Mayo and Steven McCloskey, with music by cellist Laurinel Owen, will present a fire-side performance of two American Holiday classics; The Gift of the Magi and A Christmas Memory, at the Brookhaven Free Library. Donation- 2 lbs of non-perishable food. Refreshments following.
Community Caroling: Bring some holiday cheer to patients at Bellhaven center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 -8 pm All are welcome. Please register with Brookhaven Free Library
Stewardship Reminder: Please remember that the Session needs your input as they prepare for 2019. Please return your pledge card by December 16th. Every pledge regardless of size matters.
Poinsettias: If you wish to have a poinsettia in memory or in honor of someone in this season of Advent and Christmas please speak to or contact a Deacon.

Sunday, December 9     10:00 am    Worship
                        Sunday School
                        Fellowship after Worship
Thursday, December 13    8:30 am    Pastor Meets with Presbytery Clergy Cluster
Saturday, December 15     9:30 am    Property and Finance
Sunday, December 16 10:00 am    Worship
                        Sunday School
                        Fellowship after Service