CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

CONNECTION

 November 2008

  72nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Worship Service

The Cathedral of All Saints

(corner of So. Swan and Elk Sts., in downtown Albany)

 

 

All are welcome to join us at our annual community-wide, ecumenical worship service on Thanksgiving morning.  The Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, will be the homilist. Readers, greeters, and ushers will come from various member congregations of the Council of Churches. The Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, under the direction of Mr. Woodrow Bynum, will provide special music.  During the service, a free will offering will be received to support the ministries of the Council in the City of Albany.  The service will be signed for the hearing impaired.  Please invite your family and friends to worship with us on Thanksgiving Day.

 

A Message from the Executive Director @

“Word Sounded Forth”

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord…”  This quotation from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians resonates with me, for it is in “imitatio Christi”, the imitation of Christ, where I discover ministry. St. Paul had a special love for those Thessalonian Christians, for they were consistent in the reception, proclamation, and early work of the Gospel despite social opposition and even persecution.  The word sounded forth in that community’s imitation of St. Paul and their Lord, and it was a word that consisted in work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope.  They were a remarkable model for others to imitate, and they “became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia,” indeed, wherever their faith became known.  “Imitatio” is a remarkable way to express one’s faith and to do ministry!

                                                                                           --John U. Miller

 

CWS/CROP WALK News

HELP!  Church World Service has an urgent need for Gift of the Heart kits (school kits, hygiene kits, baby kits, and clean up buckets) to respond to recent disasters. Visit www.cwscrop.org/newyork/kits or call 1-800-297-2767.

 

Peace and Justice Forum

Volunteers are needed to serve on the committee that plans the monthly forum. Please call the CACC office if you are interested or have an idea for a speaker/topic. There will be no Forum in November due to the Veteran’s Day holiday.  Coming up on Dec. 9, a program dealing with “Torture as Moral Issue”.

 

Kieval Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies Colloquium-Nov. 2-3

Held at Siena College, the topic this year is “The Lure of the Apocryphal: Why the fascination with non-canonical writings?” Visiting scholars are Martha Himmelfarb (Princeton University) and John J. Collins (Yale University). Free and open to the public.  Call Prof. Peter Zaas @783-2361.

 

Transitions

We welcome the Rev. Diane Marquit to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Castleton, the Rev. John Henry to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Clifton Park, Fr. Paul Butler to Holy Cross Church, and the Rev. Ginny Ogden as Interim Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Delmar. Best wishes to the Revs. Leslie Hughs, William Hinrichs, and Daniel Maher on their retirements.

 

Congratulations to….

--Edith and Ian Leet, this year’s recipients of the Carlyle Adams Ecumenical Award!

--the Clarksville Community Church, celebrating its 50th anniversary!

--Bob Ludwig on receiving the Bishop Howard Hubbard Fear to Friendship Award!

--the Rev. Miriam Lawrence Leupold, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her ordination!

--Holy Cross Church in Albany on its 150th anniversary!

 

Capital Region Theological Center

An ecumenical program offering training for laity and clergy. Call 462-2470 or visit www.capitalrtc.org to register or for information. Group discounts available.  Upcoming events/courses: “Introduction to World Religions” Sessions on Hinduism (11/2), Buddhism(11/9), & Judaism (12/2). Led by Br. Linh Hoang, Ph.D. Cost: $45 per session, $120 for all 3. “Boundary Awareness Workshop” 9am-4pm on 11/8. “Generations! We’re Better Together!” 9am-4pm on 11/15.  See web site for details.

 

Thanksgiving Fast and Action Against Hunger-Nov. 24

The Faith and Hunger Network urges you to consider joining the fast on the Monday before Thanksgiving to call attention to the serious economic problems facing many people in our State. Please take time to contact Governor Paterson to ask him to include an increase in the basic welfare grant in his proposed budget for 2009. Call Mark @434-7371 or write to info@hungeractionnys.org.

 

Church Women United World Community Day-Nov. 7

Celebration theme: God’s Wisdom Sets us Free

Albany: 11:30am registration, The First Church in Albany (Reformed), 110 No Pearl St., Albany, 12207. Bring a bag lunch. Speaker: George Herrick from Upper Hudson Kairos Prison Ministry Team

Rensselaer & vicinity: 10am registration ($1), Emmanuel Reformed Church, 1150 Maple Rd., Castleton. Bring a bag lunch. Beverage & dessert provided.

 

Kristallnacht Interfaith Commemoration-Nov. 11

7pm, Page Hall, UAlbany downtown campus, 135 Western Ave.  Kristallnacht, “The Night of Broken Glass”, is considered by many as the beginning of the Holocaust and will be marked by this special interfaith service. Call the Holocaust Education Center @ 694-9984 for information.

 

Homelessness/Shelter News

November is Homelessness Awareness Month. We will call attention to this growing problem with a Press Conference and Open House at the Emergency Overflow Shelter at First Lutheran Church from 3-5pm on Monday, November 3.  The Shelter opens that evening and will operate 7 nights a week, from 7pm-7am, until the end of April. Hot meals, clean clothing, showers, toiletries, and referrals to appropriate services will be provided to up to 19 guests per night. Volunteers, donations of cleaning supplies and paper goods, and financial support are still needed. Call the Shelter phone @ 426-1227 to volunteer or ask for specific items to donate.

 

 

A community coalition providing social events, holiday gifts, homework help, clothing, etc. to homeless families and veterans needs volunteers and support for their programs. Groups/individuals/families needed to fill shoeboxes with small gifts for the holidays, donate household items for families moving out of shelters into apartments, provide homework help for kids Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, collect gifts and staff a “free holiday shop” so parents can choose gifts for their children, and /or help with Bingo games and holiday parties. Contact Lois Wilson (LWilson502@aol.com) or Patsy Bellizi (pmbellizi@hotmail.com).

 

This and That

There will be an African Family Night from 5-8:30pm on 11/1 @ Westminster Presbyterian Church, featuring food, dancing, games, crafts. Etc. Free will offering to benefit the Osu Children’s Home in Ghana. Call 436-8544….….Greater Capital District Night to Honor Israel, 7pm on 11/ 2, Light of the World Christian Church, 28 Sparrowbush Rd., Latham.  Call 786-3529, ext. 202…The Capital District Community Loan Fund will hold a reception, silent auction, and borrower fair from 5:30-7pm on 11/6 at the NYSUT building, 800 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Latham. Call 436-8586…Interfaith Impact of NYS presents a free forum on “Progressive Religious Values in the Public Policy Arena” from 3-5:30pm on 11/9 at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave. Call Robb @441-3231… The Interfaith Story Circle presents “Stories of Pilgrimage: Our Sacred or Spiritual Journeys” at the College of St. Rose Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary, 7:15-8:45pm on 11/10. The evening begins with a vegetarian potluck at 6pm, followed by storytellers from various faith traditions. Call Gert @ 374-0637…Community Hospice will hold its Annual Celebration of Life on 11/10 at the Palace Theater in Albany. Dessert reception at 6pm, program at 6:30, and entertainment at 7:30pm. Free and open to the public…The Albany Guardian Society and the NYS Office for the Aging present a workshop/community forum on “Cohousing and Senior Cohousing: Communities that Create Environmentally and Socially Vibrant Sustainable Neighborhoods” from 8:30-11:45am on 11/14 at the Carondolet Hospitality Center of St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Latham. Continental breakfast and registration begin at 8am. The program is free, but registration is required by calling 434-2140 before Nov. 7…. The Uptown Churches will meet at 11:45am on 11/25 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Hackett Blvd. in Albany. Pastor William Hempel will speak about the Albany Maritime Ministry to seafarers at the Port of Albany..…Equinox will serve its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on 11/27. Volunteers needed for preparation, delivery, and cleanup.  Call 434-6135 to volunteer or to order a dinner.