103 1st Street, Riverhead, New York 11901, United States
Beacon Light Newsletter
MARCH/APRIL
THE BEACON LIGHT (March/April 2023)
Dear Friends and Members of our First Congregational Church,
March is here and it’s not only the thaw that’s exciting but there are also many exciting happenings in the hopper. First, though, it’s a matter of getting through Lent, the season of introspection, reflection, repentance, and prayers for restoration and renewal. Although Lent is seldom considered exciting, for us it can certainly be
meaningful in a variety of ways. Once again we’re encouraging prayers of thanksgiving and a small offering with mealtime. Lenten Banks have been taken home by many and we continue to have them available in the back of the sanctuary. The hope is
that when you sit down to eat, you’ll take the time to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and drop a coin or more into the bank which is certainly small enough to sit on your table. The offering will be collected the Sunday following Easter and will be used to support local hunger-action ministries, including our soup kitchen and local pantries.
To help boost your spiritual life, the Riverhead Clergy Council is again offering midweek prayers services in area churches of our membership. There is a different preacher each week and so the services afford the opportunity to hear a variety of ministers tuned to bring meaningful messages in throughout this season. Each service is at 7:00pm and usually runs well short of an hour. The schedule for the remainder of the season is as
follows:
March 8: St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Riverhead
March 15: Salvation Army, Riverhead
March 22: Our church
March 29: St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Riverhead
Lent concludes with Palm Sunday and Holy Week. This Palm Sunday we’ll be handing out palms early in the service and we’ll try something new. We’ll gather in front of the church, and then will follow with joyful shouts and song behind a team of donkeys to the main rear door and process into the sanctuary for our communion service. The hope is that service will also be celebrated with Old Steeple worshiping with us.
On Maundy Thursday, we’ll gather at Old Steeple Church in Aquebogue for a combined service with their congregation and that of Baiting Hollow Congregational Church. Then on Good Friday, we’ll gather for a solemn service at Baiting HolloCome Easter morning, we’ll begin with an early service with the people of the Riverhead Clergy Council. That will be held at 7:00 am in Grangebel Park. At 10:00 am, we’ll gather in our sanctuary for our joyful celebration of the Resurrection, complete with lots of great music. Early plans include a flowering cross and a “Breads of the World” coffee hour.
As the Easter Season is one in which we celebrate the joy of new life through the grace and power of Jesus, the hope is that we will see the reception of 9 members into our church: Three to be received by confirmation, six to be received through reaffirmation of faith, and one to be received upon renewal of previous membership. If
you’re interested in joining the fun as a new member, it’s not too late. Please speak with me and I’ll arrange a brief membership meeting with you.
And, of course, as always, in both Lent and the Easter Season we will hold our 10:00 services of worship now complete with fine choral music and our organ. The hope is that you’ll join us for all, or at least for many, of the fine offerings throughout these seasons that fill March and April. New life is coming. Celebrate all the good that God is bringing.
Be blessed by God. See you in church,
~Pastor Sean
Please update your Zoom information for the church. This is a link for both Sunday Worship and Friday Bible
Study. When you can’t make it in-person, you can join us online:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88517704747?pwd=bmJZenJNUFlHK2I1eHl4dHFmbmRsdz09
Meeting ID: 885 1770 4747
Passcode: 7272621
Meeting ID: 885 1770 4747
Passcode: 7272621w, again with the three congregations. (Those services are also at 7:00 pm.)
TRUSTEES
The church continues to move forward following the “Covid Years”. We are delighted to have George Moravek and our choir back in church. They are a wonderful addition to our service. Financially, we remain solvent and stable. The thrift shop continues to be a welcome source of additional income and we are grateful for all the volunteers who give of their time. Thank you to all our members and friends who provide financial
support and/or volunteer their time, skills and talents.
~Nancy Repp (Chair)
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Overall our building and grounds are in good shape. Future projects to consider are to repair and paint the west exterior portion of our church. Several shingles have broken off and the windows need some care. Our gardens have been cleaned and weeded and after some fertilizer is spread will be ready for Spring. If you have some spare time and would like to help clean out the basement please let Allan Repp know. We need to dispose of some items leftover from past yard sales. If you see anything in need of repair, let Pastor Sean or Allan Repp know.
PUBLIC RELATIONS & EVANGELISM
While we are all aware of trying to bring more members into our Community of Faith, we hope that by example we are evangelists spreading the news of what our church is about and how we welcome everyone to worship
with us. We know that having George Moravek and the choir back has added much to our worship service. Invite a neighbor or a friend to join us on Sunday morning. If you have any ideas that the Committee might try to broadcast the wonderful things that are going on here at First Congregational, please let a Committee member know. Members on the Committee are Melinda Topping, Nancy Repp, Collene Richardson, Jane Kulesa and Sandy Gruner. We are talking about planning a trip to Israel in the next year or two. Perhaps that might encourage people to join us for worship in anticipation of a once in a lifetime trip. As far as Public Relations, the reopening of the Alley Cat Thrift Shop was broadcast on WLNG. All events are included on the radio and in
the News Review when applicable.
~Sandy Gruner
MUSIC and WORSHIP
Our church has experienced great changes in the music program at our worship services since the beginning of the year. George Morevak returned as our music director and organist. Along with bringing back his wonderful gift on both the organ and piano keyboards, he has brought back the choir as part of the Sunday service. In addition to Sunday services, George and the choir offered a beautiful Ash Wednesday anthem
which added a lot to the evening service at the beginning of the Lenten season.
New music for our church has also been provided by Marguerite Volonts. She is singing with the choir, but she is also a very gifted violinist. Marguerite has twice added beautiful violin music during the morning service, with George accompanying her on the piano. We look forward to her continuing to bring special music to our worship hour.The choir is back to having rehearsals immediately before church at 9:00. Anyone thinking about singing in the choir is more than welcome. As George Morevak always says, reading music isn't necessary, just a desire to sing.
~Melinda Topping, Music Committee
PASTORAL RELATIONS
Pastoral Relations Committee: The PRC is designed to be a liaison between the Pastor and the congregation. It is meant to be a supportive committee stressing our successes and building on open and honest communication. To further explain the function of the Committee, we are in the process of developing a covenant between the Pastor and the congregation. If at any time you have a question, a concern or a comment please speak to a member of the Committee. The current Committee members are Jane Joerchel, Sandy Gruner, Dee Martin and Gloria Foley. Please use this Committee to offer praise, squelch rumors, begin dialogue, support change and create a healthy relationship between the Pastor and our congregation.
~Sandy Gruner
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
As a fairly new member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry group, it didn’t take long, sitting in my home office, crochet hook in my hand, looking into the faces of a number of women looking out of my computer screen [via ZOOM], didn’t take me long to realize I had stepped into a stream of friendship and shawl-creating that has
been going on for a very long time. The group meets weekly, on Monday evenings, and offers conversation –some trivial, some heartwarmingly emotional – and companionship while crocheting. Women seemed to be signing in from all over the eastern half of the country. At first, I wondered how they all knew each other, and
how this group came to be, but in time I realized that it all began at First Congregational Church, Riverhead.
And the shawls make their way back to FCCR. The product of those meetings can be seen displayed over the pews in the front of the sanctuary. Those prayer shawls are available for anyone to take, for yourself, for a friend. Take a look and see if one calls to you and bring it home. Over the years the shawls have made their way to rehab facilities, nursing homes, shelters, hospitals.
You are invited to join us on Monday evenings [speak with Barbara Parsons for details] or to take a shawl for someone who might need a warm reminder that we are not alone. God’s love, and the companionship of other believers surrounds us always.
~Lorraine De Armitt
FUNDRAISING & PROJECTS
Due to the success of our thrift shop we have not had to hold any fundraising events. If you have a couple of hours during the week and would like to volunteer at the thrift shop, they are always looking for help. We are open to holding social events should you have a suggestion. Events do not have to be fundraisers and can be a time of social fellowship. Plans are underway to hold a quilt show in memory of Alice Summerville during the Riverhead Fair in the fall. More details to follow as this develops.
~ Marion Maino & Nancy Repp
BREAD & MORE
Bread and More Kitchen continues serving takeout dinners which include hot soup, a complete meal, dessert, and water on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:00. The number of guests has been ranging from the 40s to 70s. Dinner is provided for Maureen’s Haven on Wednesdays to be served at the overnight program. “Take-home” peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are also provided for guests each
Thursday. Beach Bakery in Westhampton and the Riverhead Stop & Shop continue to donate baked goods. The guests are very appreciative of the meal received.
~Jane Kulesa
LADIES NIGHT OUT
After a brief end-of-the-year hiatus for the holidays, our Thursday Ladies’ Night resumes our last Thursday of the month schedule for this year. We gather at the Pulaski Street Grill at 5:30 P.M. for a meal and informal social hour. If you’d like to join us, please let me know, so the restaurant can arrange for our seating. All are
welcome.
Hope to see you!
~Janet Sanford (home) 631 591 -1063 (cell) 516 507- 7897
THRIFT SHOP
The Thrift Shop is back to full operation, running on its regular schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00-2:00, and Saturdays from 9:00-1:00. Volunteers are always welcome, even just for a few hours. Saturday volunteers are particularly needed.We do have a new Thrift Shop worker, Steve, who is working as Doug used to. As for Doug, please note: we are planning on having a memorial service in our sanctuary in his honor:
***DOUG TATE MEMORIAL SERVICE***
SUNDAY AFTERNOON MARCH 12, 2023: 4:00PM
IN OUR SANCTUARY
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Our Adult Bible Study, Friday mornings 10:00-11:00 in the Fellowship Hall, is on-going. We’ve been studying the 12 Minor Prophets whose books conclude the Old Testament. Confirmation Class meets every other Sunday after worship and we now have three students. Confirmation will be held this Easter Season on a date that has yet to be set. A New Membership Class was held Sunday, March 26. Additional private classes are
being scheduled. The hope is receive the new adult members on the Sunday after Easter.
FELLOWSHIP & SOCIAL
Coffee hour is a great time for fellowship. It is an opportunity to catch up with members and friends. Please consider signing up to serve coffee hour. Please know all it involves is making a pot of coffee and bringing any kind of treat. Store bought cookies, cheese and crackers, or some fruit. Anything you wish to bring is fine. Barbara Parsons is available to walk you through the process. Just sign up on the door to the kitchen.
Easter Sunday is a special coffee hour in memory of Alice Summerville. It is “Breads of the World” where the congregation is asked to bring their favorite bread, perhaps reflecting their heritage, to share with each other.
~Barbara Parsons
MISSIONS/BENEVOLENCES
Each year our church collects four special offerings through the United Church of Christ. These include “One Great Hour of Sharing”, “Strengthen the Church”, ”Neighbors in Need” and “The Christmas Fund”. For additional information on each of these offerings, please go to the United Church of Christ website
(https://www.ucc.org/ocwm_special-support/). In addition, we distribute Lenten Banks during Lent and the monies collected are donated to local food banks or the soup kitchen. Lenten Banks are currently available in the church sanctuary or the church office.
Church members recently generously donated about $700.00 to the UCC Turkey/Syria Earthquake Disaster Ministries. The UCC website provides information on how these funds will be distributed.
In addition, due to the prosperity of our thrift shop, we have allotted $2500.00 to be donated to local charities. Last year we donated to Maureen’s Haven (homeless shelters), provided school supplies to local students and supported St. John’s Social Ministry & North Fork Spanish Apostolate with food donations, provided gift bags to new mothers via Suffolk County Social Services and donated to families of overdose
victims. Additionally the Thrift Shop donated $500.00 to Open Arms Food Bank. Please speak to a trustee or deacon if you know of a worthy organization to support.
~Shirley Bergman and Nancy Repp
VISITATION
We truly miss Janet Sanford as the driving force of this Committee. Janet's love and caring always was there with a phone call, a card or a visit. We will try to maintain the standard of Janet's work on this committee to let those who are in need of a visit or a call be contacted. This is such a vital Committee as many of our
members are getting older and need the reminder that although they may not be in church for one reason or another, they are not forgotten. We will work closely with Pastor Sean to make sure that visits and calls are made. If you know of someone in need of a visit please let Pastor Sean know and he will convey it to the
Committee.
CALENDAR ITEMS
- Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - Take out - 5:30-6:00pm: Bread & More/INN
- ALLEY CAT THRIFT SHOP: Thursday 10:00AM – 2:00PM Saturday 9:00AM-1:00PM
- Bible Study Fridays 10:00 – 11:00AM
