THE MESSENGER From Pastor Megan's Desk - First Reformed Church of Scotia
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
The Rev. Megan Hodgin, Senior Pastor The Rev. Jason White, Associate Pastor
THE MESSENGER
From Pastor Megan’s Desk…
Waiting is not new to the people of God.
Noah and his family waited for the flood waters to recede. The ancient Hebrews waited to be freed from
slavery in Egypt. Part of the nation of Israel was held in captivity in Babylon, waiting to return to Jerusalem.
A woman with a great illness bled for 12 years, waiting to be healed. Mary and Joseph waited for what may
have been the longest nine months in history for the birth of their son, the one that would be called Jesus.
The disciples waited for the three longest days of their lives after Jesus was crucified, uncertain about
whether or not he would be resurrected. And ever since the risen Jesus appeared to them and then ascended
to be with God the Father, the people of God in every age and every land have been waiting for his return.
Each of these stories, and the others like them, had its own
challenges. In some cases there was severe danger, death, and
disease. In each case, there was a level of fear, sometimes forms
of doubt and depression, and often great difficulty with patience.
Waiting is a struggle.
The word of God is a helpful guide in times of waiting. While the
Isralites were held captive in Babylon, God gave them direction
through the prophet Jeremiah: “… to all the exiles whom I have
sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in
them; plant gardens and eat what they produce… seek the welfare
of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord
on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your
welfare,” (29:4-7). Similarly, when Jesus departed from the
disciples, he gave instructions for continuing his ministry while
they waited for his return (Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8).
While we wait for the dangers of this pandemic to subside, we can take comfort in knowing that we stand in a
great tradition of waiting. We, too, are assured that God is with us and will never leave or forsake us (Heb.
13:5). Our waiting will be a struggle, but we can do it. Especially if we wait together, finding ways to
connect while we are apart. And we can still be part of God’s work in the world - seeking the welfare of our
city and our neighbors, teaching others about the love and grace of God with our words and our actions. We
are the people of God, commissioned to participate in God’s mission in the world. As we seek the welfare of
the world - wholeness and flourishing for friends, and strangers, and all of creation - we will find our welfare
too.
If we have to do all of this waiting, and it looks like we do, I praise God for the privilege to wait with each of
you. To worship God together, while we are apart. To serve God and others, even from our homes. I am
eager to gather with you again, but until it is safe to do so, I pray that the Spirit of God will sustain us all
through the challenges we face and help us find joy in the ministry opportunities before us.
-Pastor Megan
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !1
MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Mission of the Month for May: The Mission of the Month for May is the Scotia Glenville
Backpack Program, which, in conjunction with Trinity Presbyterian and a grant, supplies over 80 backpacks
every Friday to hungry students in the Scotia-Glenville School District. We serve Sacandaga, Glen Worden,
and Glendaal Elementary Schools, as well as 14 students at the Middle School. We had originally said we
would provide 30 backpacks per week but, because the congregation has been so generous, we have not had
to say "No" when we get an email from a social worker or principal. Our church is committed to this
ministry for the foreseeable future. It costs $183 for a year for each backpack, amounting to $5,490.
This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Food Bank's BackPack Program. From one rural school serving
30 kids to 195 schools across 20 counties with 5,200 students served each Friday, the program continues to
reach needy children to help them grow and thrive throughout the school year. Teachers regularly report that
students show improved energy levels on Monday mornings, are less anxious about food throughout the
week, and are excited to see the food they receive each Friday. Kids who participate in the BackPack
Program show improved academic performance and attendance and decreased disciplinary actions.
As always, thank you for your generous support of this important program for our community.
Communion Offering:
Sunday May 3: Eyes Wide Open
Eyes Wide Open NENY, Inc. was established because there is a need to educate the world, our communities,
families and friends that human trafficking is a 32 billion-dollar criminal industry that exploits women and
children; and we can do something about it.
In the fall of 2015, Her Treasure Box was opened. The store is a thrift shop selling only arts and craft
supplies; run totally by volunteers. All proceeds go to the funding for continual awareness of human
trafficking in the community and the establishment of a home where victims of human trafficking can begin
their healing process.
Their mission is to provide restorative care and a sanctuary of healing and hope for women survivors of sex
trafficking. They are a community of advocates seeking to change a culture that still allows humans to be
bought and sold. They do this through a campaign of public awareness, advocacy, networking and
collaboration with law enforcement, health care professionals and existing community organizations.
Pentecost Offering:
Sunday May 31: Things of My Very Own
Things of My Very Own, also known as TOMVO. Things of My Very Own is a crisis prevention center,
providing emergency clothing, backpacks, school necessities, toiletries and toys for children who are quickly
moved into foster care. Emergency situations for foster children may include abuse or neglect. Glenville
resident, Rayn Boncie, founded TOMVO in 2008. For more information, go to www.tomvo.org
Attention All Graduates: In next month’s issue of The Messenger (June
2020) we want to publish the names of everyone in our church who graduates this spring
from high school, college, graduate school, and trade school programs. Please help us
make sure we don’t miss anyone. Call the church office, 518-370-4751, or e-mail
office@firstreformedscotia.org by May 22 and tell us the name of your graduate, the
school issuing the diploma or certificate, and what the graduate’s future plans are.
Thanks for your help!
Thank You’s: Since we published the last issue of The Messenger we received the following thank-
you notes and letters. They are posted on the tack strip outside of the pastor’s office. Read and enjoy them
there for yourselves.
• From Karl Schoch: Please know how much I have appreciated your kind thoughts on the passing of
Mary Ellen.
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !2
MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
From Pastor Jason’s Desk -
You remember Groundhog Day, right? All the way back in February 2020, you know, five years ago…
It’s hard to forget Groundhog Day these days, one, because winter doesn’t seem to be ending, and two,
because many of us are now repeating a similar kind of routine, day after day after day, reminding us of the
Groundhog Day movie starring Bill Murray. His weatherman character, Phil Connors, grumpily lives out
February 2nd, goes to bed, wakes up and it is February 2nd all over again, day after day. He soon realizes
that he is stuck in some sort of time loop, with no clear way out. This sounds awfully familiar to me these
days, and maybe to many of you as well.
Perhaps many of you don’t really have any special connection to Groundhog Day, and don’t worry, that’s
normal! I happen to be a bit partial to Groundhog Day myself, it being my birthday and all. This year it was
particularly special because it fell on a Sunday, and the choir sneakily planned and executed a surprise
rendition of the Happy Birthday Song. I happened to listen to that recording a couple days ago while looking
for music for our online worship services, and I think I’m still blushing! Luckily, Maggie and the cat are the
only ones around to see my rosy cheeks, so it’s all good. And I got thinking, I would love to relive
Groundhog Day 2020. Not only because it was my birthday, and the Super Bowl was on (which meant
amazing food and fun commercials, oh and the Chiefs won, shout out Pastor Megan!), but we all got together,
in person, to worship as a body of Christ. We shared our joys and pains through communal prayer and song,
we laughed and shared stories, and embraced. I long to relive moments like that.
But for now we reach each other through things like this newsletter, and the church Facebook page. We share
joys and pains and worship as a body of Christ through technologies like iMovie and YouTube. We laugh
and share stories over things called Zoom and FaceTime. This is not what we want - but it’s what we have.
Which brings my mind back to the Groundhog Day movie. Bill Murray’s character Phil was living out one
day, the same day over and over again. It was not the day he wanted. Eventually (spoiler alert, but the movie
is from 1993 so if you haven’t seen it, now’s a good time) he realizes this day is what he has. In later parts of
the movie he focuses on learning to love and care for those around him, and how to love himself despite his
own struggles and flaws. Throughout the movie Phil often asks, “what day is this?” The answer is usually
some form of, “Today is today.” Eventually for Phil, after a period of transformation, today becomes
tomorrow.
This time will change us, this time will transform us, and we can’t quite say how. Our todays are today, but
eventually today will be tomorrow. We will be on the other side of Groundhog Day. I suppose the first thing
we can do is lean into love, loving those around us (in person and through technology), and learning to love
ourselves as God created us.
-Pastor Jason
Vacation Bible School:
Vacation Bible School is planned for August (dates to be
announced). We will again partner with our neighbors at
Trinity Presbyterian Church in Glenville and we’ll focus on
fun Bible stories and people! If there are still COVID-19
restrictions in place, rest assured we will still provide a
Vacation Bible School experience within our safety
boundaries.
Contact Sarah Stygles for more information (education@firstreformedscotia.org). Registration will be
available at the end of May and as always, volunteer opportunities are available and appreciated.
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Prayer at 2:24 ● 224 at Prayer:
Our daily prayer at 2:24pm continues. Please join us!
224 is the address of our church building. Inside those walls we have held worship,
gathered for celebrations, grieved losses, and made a multitude of memories. While
that building may be empty during this time, the church is still ALIVE! We are active
in ministry and mission, caring for one another and our neighbors. Still, we feel the
impact of the distance.
So let’s reach out to one another in prayer! Set an alarm for 2:24pm each day, stop for one minute, and pray,
knowing that your brothers and sisters in Christ are doing the same thing.
• Thank God for all who are healthy and well and for those giving their time and energy to care for
others.
• Pray for those who are at risk daily (all of those who are still working in public places because their
tasks are “essential” to the community).
• Praise God for those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries (see the list in the Messenger)
• Pray for our church staff.
• Pray for those who are unemployed or laid off.
• Pray for each other by name, if you can. Make it as personal as possible.
• And if you don’t know what to pray, just let yourself be silent for a minute. The Spirit will intercede.
Need Prayer???
It is more important now than ever that we stay connected with one another, in joys and challenges. If you
have a praise or prayer request, we would love to hear it and join you in prayer.
All prayer requests can be shared with either one of the pastors: Pastor Megan
(pastormegan@firstreformedscotia.org) or Pastor Jason (pastorjason@firstreformedscotia.org). You can also
email them to the church office (office@firstreformedscotia.org) or leave them messages at 518-370-4751.
✦ Please share your request and let the pastors know who else to inform:
• The elders and deacons?
• The staff?
• The prayer chain?
It is our privilege to walk alongside one another as siblings in the Body of Christ. When we cannot gather in
person, prayer is one of our greatest tools for continuing to love and care for one another. We look forward to
hearing from you!
May is National Meditation Month:
Meditation:
✤ Reduces stress
✤ Controls anxiety
✤ Enhances self-awareness
✤ Lengthens attention span
✤ Reduce age-related memory loss
✤ Promotes emotional health
✤ Reduces blood pressure
✤ And more!
Meditation can be done as an individual or family activity. It's a
great goal for adults to strive for 10 minutes spent in meditation each
day. For Children, it can be fun to time the length they can stay
calm and quiet in meditation, and try to beat their goal each day!
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
NEW Ways to Connect to Worship
While social distancing guidelines remain in place, we continue to gather virtually for worship each week.
We are grateful that so many have been able to connect to the online services, including friends of our
congregation who live in different states. We are also continuing to learn about new ways to make worship
accessible, so we want to share some updates:
We will continue to:
• Send emails on Fridays with a link to the worship bulletin for each Sunday.
‣ If you are not signed up to receive these emails, please contact Kristen Shave at
office@firstreformedscotia.org
• Post links to the worship video on our First Reformed Church of Scotia Facebook page and YouTube
channel. (These links are also online at firstreformedscotia.org. Click on the worship tab and select
“online worship.”)
Beginning Sunday, May 3, we will also:
• Make the worship videos available beginning at 8am on Sundays (for those who prefer an earlier
worship experience).
• Hold a virtual coffee hour, beginning at 9:30am each Sunday.
‣ We will use a program called Zoom which allows people to connect from a computer, tablet,
smart phone, OR a regular telephone. (See instructions below.)
• Share worship over Zoom at 10am each Sunday.
‣ This will allow anyone without a computer to have an audio experience of worship. By calling
into Zoom, they will be able to hear the service.
‣ Those who wish to engage the video conferencing feature are also welcome to participate and
enjoy a “shared” experience of worship.
ZOOM Instructions: Zoom is a conferencing program that allows users to connect with video and audio.
Much like FaceTime, users can connect with cameras and microphones in order to see and hear one another
in real time. Other users who may not have access to video technology can also call in with any telephone in
order to hear and be heard by others.
• In order maintain security on Zoom, all participants must have a “meeting ID” number and a password
to login or call in.
‣ This information will be shared on the Friday Constant Contact email each week.
‣ If you do not receive these emails, you can contact Kristen Shave for the login information
(office@firstreformedscotia.org; 518-370-4751)
• To connect with a computer, smart phone, or tablet:
‣ Click on the link that will be shared via email. (Depending on your device, you may need to
download the Zoom app.)
‣ When prompted, enter the password that has also been supplied.
‣ You will be directed to a virtual “waiting room” and the host of the meeting will admit you as
soon as possible.
‣ Choose whether or not to enable your video and microphone. (You will also be able to test
these tools to be sure they are working.)
• To connect via telephone:
‣ Simply dial the phone number provided.
‣ When prompted, type in the password that has been provided.
‣ You will be admitted to a “waiting room” (put on hold), and the host of the event will admit
you to the gathering as soon as possible.
‣ Once admitted, it will be like joining a conference call.
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Family Yoga Enrichment Class: World Labyrinth Day 2020:
Attention all First Reformed Families… you are Saturday, May 2
officially invited to join Sarah on Saturday, May 2, Celebrate the 12th annual World Labyrinth Day
for a fun filled family friendly event! Sarah will and “Walk as One at 1:00” in the afternoon to
lead everyone through an energizing yoga sustain a wave of peaceful energy across all time
sequence, mindful activities, breath-work practice, zones. Build a labyrinth,and walk along with
and even a little nature education too! No thousands of people in dozens of countries around
experience needed. Please email the world, from South Africa to the Americas and
education@firstreformedscotia.org, to sign up for from Norway to New Zealand.
the class. Class will be offered online, in a Zoom
conference format. Once you are signed up you There are so many fabulous ways to participate
will receive the conference link, and bonus class even in this socially distant time. Draw a chalk
materials. :-) labyrinth in your driveway or in your
neighborhood. Create a finger labyrinth with
playdough. For more great ideas on how to
celebrate a socially distant National Labrynth Day,
please visit this site:
https://labyrinthsociety.org/activities-for-kids
Mother’s Day Tea Party:
Let’s join together on Mother’s Day for tea and
fellowship. Bring your favorite cup of tea, and a Giving:
smile! Each month we report our giving.
Here is how we gave this year:
(*Giving is through 04/19/20, **Expenses are for the entire month)
Annual YTD Total +/-
Budget Budget to Date Budget
Congregational
$350,228 $116,743 $96,914 -17%
Giving*
Other Giving $122,510 $40,837 $26,844 -34%
Total Income $472,738 $78,790 $123,758 57%
Total
$472,738 $157,579 $150,057 -5%
Expense**
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Kids Hope USA News – Life Together is Life at Its Best
Isn’t it a great feeling to walk to your US Postal Service mailbox, open the little door and find a personalized
card or letter sitting there waiting just for you? Over the past several weeks that is what we hope is
happening for our Kids Hope USA students and families. During this time of digital and screen saturation,
mentors and prayer partners are taking Kids Hope USA in a new direction utilizing our national mail service
to send a variety of cards, notes, pictures, drawings, worksheets and printed emails once a week. ‘Super
Mentor’ has even revived the Pony Express to make sure every student receives a piece of mail from the
program each week. With eight students graduating from Kids Hope and moving on to middle school,
creative ideas are flowing for ways to use the mail service to bring healthy closure and a loving farewell in
the best manner possible to all Kids Hope students for the 2019 – 2020 school year. Each student is provided
a return stamped envelope in case they wish to write the mentor or prayer partner and some students have
already done so. The Sacandaga Elementary School social worker also emailed parent feedback from a
household stating how much they ‘love receiving mail from the mentor!’
It is also time once again to thank Stewart’s Shops for their generous donation to First Reformed Church of
Scotia in recognition of our church’s Kids Hope USA program and its commitment to the Scotia-Glenville
community. For ten years, Jane Lansing has offered her expertise with grant writing to navigate the
application process and Stewart’s has responded. We thank Stewart’s www.stewartsshops.com/community-
giving and Jane for their continued support!
“Accept the burgeoning plant of humanity, and tend it, since without your sun, it will disperse itself wildly
and die away.” -Teilhard de Chardin
Direct Debit for Your Offering:
While we are worshiping from our homes, many have inquired about options for contributing gifts and
offerings to the ministry of the church. The Administration Council and the Consistory want to be sure that
everyone is aware that there are two methods by which these gifts can be offered:
1. First, checks can still be mailed to the church office: 224 N. Ballston Ave.
• Please be sure write your giver number on the check. (If you need a reminder, please contact
Kristen Shave.)
• If you would like to designate your gift for separate funds (i.e., mission of the month, Back
Pack Program, etc.), writing separate checks helps our counters ensure that your gift goes
where you have intended.
2. You can also enroll in our Direct Debit Program. This program was launched last year and enables
users to identify a monthly gift that they would like to have automatically debited from the account of
their choosing and transferred to the church.
• This is a great option during this time when we cannot gather in person.
• The one page enrollment form (included in the Messenger) can be completed in only a few
minutes. After that, your gifts will be automatically given to the church each month.
- This service is free of charge for parishioners.
- This service is provided by the First National Bank of Scotia (FNBS), but users are not
required to have an account with FNBS.
• Completed enrollment forms and all questions can be directed to Ken Swain, our Assistant
Financial Secretary:
1st National Bank of Scotia
C/O Kenneth Swain
201 Mohawk Avenue
Scotia, New York 12302
Phone: 518.370.8579 Email: kwswain@firstscotia.com
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MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
First Reformed Church of Scotia
AUTOMATIC DEBIT AUTHORIZATION FORM
I hereby authorize the First Reformed Church of Scotia to initiate debit entries from my checking or savings
account in accordance with the information below. I understand that I am in full control of this authorization,
and that I may make changes to this agreement at any time simply by filling out a new Automatic Debit
Authorization Form, or by notifying the church in writing of the changes I desire.
This is a:
New Automatic Debit agreement
Change to my existing Automatic Debit agreement
Cancellation of my existing Automatic Debit agreement
Your Name:
Name of your Bank:
Your 9-digit Bank Routing Number:
Type of account: Checking account Savings account
Account Number:
I would like to make the following monthly contribution to the General Fund: $___________
If you would like to make monthly contributions to our mission offerings, in addition to your monthly pledge,
please indicate that below.
I would like to make a monthly contribution to the following accounts:
___ Communion Offering in the amount of: $________
___ Mission of the Month in the amount of: $________
Please note: Your transfer will occur monthly on the 5th of every month and will appear on your bank
statement as one total debit (the church office will keep a record of contributions designated to
different funds). If the 5th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal Holiday, the transfer
will take place the following business day. This document will be maintained at the First Reformed
Church of Scotia Business Office (224 N. Ballston Avenue, Scotia, New York) until further notice.
Account Holders Signature:____________________________________ Date: ___________
PLEASE ATTACH A DEPOSIT TICKET OR A VOIDED CHECK AND RETURN TO THE
CHURCH OFFICE – ATTENTION: KEN SWAIN. A $15.00 FEE WILL BE CHARGED ON ANY
DISHONORED AUTOMATIC DEBIT FROM YOUR ACCOUNT.
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !8MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Health and Wellness Note: Music Ministry -
Right now, the media is super saturating us with Quarantine Style:
COVID-19 reports and how to better handle our anxiety What have you been listening to? I mean
and fears. As it happens, May is National Mental Health what music do you turn to after you’re able to
Awareness month, and each year Mental Health America turn off Raffi, Berkner Breaks, and the daily
prepares a “Tool Kit” to educate people about illness. roulette game of Disney soundtracks?
This year also included a special section about coping
with this virus. Here is some of their advice: For me, it’s been nostalgic listening. Going
back through brass quintet recordings,
One of the most frustrating things about COVID-19 is looking for tracks to use in the online
that so much about the virus and the limitations on where services, felt just like looking through old
you can go are out of your control. However, there are pictures.
things that you can control, and focusing on those things
Here are three albums that I’ve listened to
can provide you with some comfort. Some of the things
recently, I’d love to know what music you’ve
you can control include:
been leaning on through these past weeks...
• Keep a healthy diet
• Exercise at home (Need ideas? Check 1. Counting Crows - Live Across a Wire
YouTube to try tai chi or other videos.) (disc 1)
• Get enough sleep All-time favorite of mine. Beautiful
acoustics, rearranging and revoicing
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol excessively
songs that I didn’t think could sound
• Take care of your mental health different from the radio version, but came
• Maintain self-care and personal hygiene out with a new perspective. Plus, adding
• Your house, your bedroom, your closet, your band members as the concert goes on
kitchen – now is the time to clean and get really gives the performance a sense of
organized growth (if you listen to it straight
• Limit the number of people you come into through).
contact with 2. Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music
• Work from home if you are able to Society
• Don’t overdo your news and information Don’t let the “jazz” label deter you, this
intake is just really fun music with a great
• Get your information from reliable sources groove, expertly played. The first track in
like the CDC or WHO particular is like a perfect cup of coffee.
• Watch TV, movies, and videos that make you I got to see Esperanza (yes, I’d like to
feel good imagine that we’re on a first-name basis)
• If you are experiencing emotional distress at the Egg a while back, and seeing her
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis play those intricate basslines while
counselors are available 24/7, 365 days a singing a rhythmically and melodically
year. divergent vocal line wasn’t just beautiful
• Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “Talk With Us’ musically, but amazing to witness as a
to 66746 performer.
• If you are in crisis or thinking about 3. R.E.M. - Document (No. 5)
suicide, get connected to a local crisis unit and I feel fine…
and get in touch with someone
Take care of yourselves.
immediately. Call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
-Barret
or text MHA to 741741
For complete access to this year’s tool kit, go to:
https://mhanational.org/2020toolkit.
Help is a click away!
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !9MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Backpack/Emergency Food:
We will have completed our fourth week providing boxes of emergency
food to families in need in the S-G district. The "we" is not just our
congregation. This is truly a community cooperative effort. In addition to
volunteers from our church family, there are many others helping in this
effort. The school district staff continues to contact families, provide
volunteers to distribute the boxes and backpacks each week. In addition,
the district is providing two buses that deliver directly to 31 families
without transportation. The Schenectady County ARC sends a bus and
helpers to the Regional Food Bank making it much more possible to
transport the increasing amount of food needed. For instance, this past
week we packed 72 boxes of food weighing 3,060 pounds!
We are able to purchase this food only because of contributions from the
congregation and others in the community. Our Deacons' Fund has made a
sizable contribution as well as individual members of the church. One
member who lives in the Bronx but receives this newsletter has supported
the backpack program and also made a significant contribution to the
emergency food fund. In addition, the Glenville Rotary Club has given
$2,500 and the Scotia Rotary has pledged $1,000. It costs approximately
$1000 a week for the boxes of food and milk and egg cards (a gallon of
milk and a dozen eggs subsidized by Stewarts).
We continue to need contributions if we are to continue to help families through the end of June. If you are
able to contribute, the easiest way is to send a check made out to the church with "Emergency Food" written
on the memo line. We purchase food from the Regional Food Bank
because we receive many items for free and all other food at greatly
reduced cost. Recently, examples of free food included raisins, apple
sauce, sliced peaches, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, chicken in a pouch,
tomato soup, brown rice, dried cherries, chili, orange juice, snacks, and
apples and oranges. In addition, we purchase items such as canned corn
and green beans, pork and beans, graham crackers, saltine crackers, beef
stew, ravioli, cereal, macaroni and cheese, tuna fish, and pasta when
available. In addition to the boxes of food (weighing from 25 to 30
pounds), we continue to pack 65 to 70 bags for the backpacks which are
picked up at the schools or delivered directly.
The families, all of whom already were considered "food insecure" even before the pandemic, are
understandably anxious about being able to feed their children. They are extremely grateful, as are the
teachers and other school staff, who know they can look to us in this time of crisis. It has been said that "It
takes a village to raise a child." We are showing that it also takes a caring community to feed its children.
May Anniversaries:
Bob and Laurie Cooper 11 Fran and Nancy Landry 23
Steve and Fran Mathes 15 John and Kathy Lehman 23
Jim and Mary Lynne Davidson 16 Dave and Linda Schaefer 25
David and Laure Bicknell 17 Ken and Elaine Willcox 26
Bill and Diane Faubion 19 Lonnie Hojnacki & Martha Gilgore 30
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224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !11MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
May Birthdays:
2 Louise Gregory 10 Denise Lansing, Ed LeGere 21 Bill Faulkner Sr.
3 Teresa Lopez 11 Kerlan Balgobin 22 Alex Gilgore, Jill King
4 Nelson Austin 13 Bobbie Nelson 24 Phyllis Beck, Dave Bicknell
5 Katelynn Conroy 14 Madalena Crisci, 26 Edward Graber, Mark Graber
6 Steve Mathes, Shannon Sill Margaret Holley 29 Alicia Hermance,
7 Martha Eberle, Elaine Willcox 15 Emilee Rosenberg, Linda Shaw Steve Warfield
9 Chris Almy, Laure Bicknell, 17 Dorothy Carpenter, Ron Shaw 30 Matt Parker
Benjamin Doyle, 18 Ann Armstrong, Stacie Marré
Kirk Willoughby 19 David Miller, Ken Swain
Contact our staff by e-mail at:
Senior Pastor: Rev. Megan Hodgin pastormegan@firstreformedscotia.org
Associate Pastor: Rev. Jason White pastorjason@firstreformedscotia.org
Administrative Assistant: Kristen Shave office@firstreformedscotia.org
Sexton: Lee Poremba sexton@firstreformedscotia.org
Family Ministry Coordinator: Sarah Stygles education@firstreformedscotia.org
Kid’s Hope USA Director: Tee Munson kidshopeusa@firstreformedscotia.org
Director of Music: Barret Germain music@firstreformedscotia.org
Visit us online at: http://firstreformedscotia.org
Address Service Requested
(518) 370-4751
Scotia, NY 12302
224 N. Ballston Avenue
First Reformed Church of Scotia
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !12MAY 2020 FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
224 N. BALLSTON AVE, SCOTIA, NY 12302 !13You can also read
