Please join us for a church potluck supper in honor of Randy on Saturday, February 18th at 6pm in the fellowship hall.

We will be asking everyone to bring either an entrée dish or side dish AND dessert.

You must RSVP for this event as it is important that we have an accurate head count. Please email Lisa Ruvo  or call her at 845-206-6067 by February 6th. In your response please include how many people will attend and specifically what you will be bringing (enough for 4-6 people please).

We will be presenting Randy with a gift. If you would like to contribute towards that you may either mail it to the church or leave it in Cyndy Warren’s box. Please note on the envelope or check “Randy”.

Free Basic Reading Training will be offered on

2 Saturdays, April 14^th & 21^st

9:30 to 4:00

Learn more about this organization at http://www.literacyconnections.org/

Arlington Reformed Church

22 Raymond Ave Poughkeepsie,NY 12603

Call 845-452-8670 to register

or for more information.

_______________________________________

Literacy Connections

Spring 2012 Tutor Training Schedule

Call 845-452-8670 or 518-697-8227 to register for a volunteer tutor training.

One complete workshop is featured in each box.  Make-ups can be done as long as sessions are taken in numerical order.  Those with low enrollment will be cancelled.

Light refreshments will be available, but it’s a good idea to bring a bag lunch.

Reachout Family Worship Ctr,

 Sat, March  24^th    9:30 to 4:00     English Immersion   Sess. 1 & 2  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEERING SPIRIT!

In 2012…    167 x 52 = 8684

The staff was on retreat this past Wednesday at Linwood Spiritual Center.  My pastor friends asked me on Thursday why we go on “retreats” and not “advances.”  It was a day of advances as we spent time looking at goals for 2012.  We will be sharing those goals with you as we move into the New Year, but in this “In Touch” I want to share with you some planning for preaching for 2012.  I would like your feedback on these themes and others you think should be included.

Starting off the year we will be looking at the three arcs of 167 Living: worship, discipleship and mission.   The goal of 167 living is fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, not just for one hour a week, but for the rest of the 167 hours of the week.  This year’s theme will be Living Into the 167 all year, thus 167 x 52=8684.  Don’t worry you won’t have to start using a new number, 8684, but you get the vision.   We will start the year looking at 167 Worship, 167 Discipleship, 167 Mission and 167 Stewardship.

As we move into Lent we will look at the spiritual disciplines.  167 followers of Christ can all go deeper in the inner disciplines of prayer, meditation, fasting and study, the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, service and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance and celebration.  Richard Foster’s classis book: “Celebration of Discipline” will be a text that will help guide us in this time.

After Easter we are looking at a series titled: “Really??? The Intersection of Faith and Doubt.” We are hoping to combine this with an Alpha course for those who are seekers, doubters, or just not sure about the Christian faith.

In the summer, we will be taking a look at some of the tougher texts of the Old Testament, especially in the book of Judges (some strange stories in there).

Later in the summer we hope to look at theme of “Using Scripture in Making Moral Decisions”.  This will be a time to look at some “hot button” ethical issues of the day.

For the Fall of 2012 we are considering an understanding of the twelve steps of AA from a biblical and psychological perspective.

As the preachers are in the planning stages we want to advance and not retreat so, if you have some ideas on themes or scripture that you would like to be considered, please let us know.

In Advancement,

Taylor

 A Day Away

He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Mark 6:31-31)

Last Saturday I was in Times Square; it was packed.  This Saturday I will be at Graymor; it will be peaceful.  The only way I can handle a Times Square world is to come away to a deserted place. I have found that our yearly “Day Away” is one of the most important ways that I get ready for Christmas. Usually when we hear that question: “Are you ready for Christmas?”, it is about to-do lists, decorations and present purchases, but I ask the question in a way that invites you to get ready with a focus on the spiritual disciplines of silence, meditation, prayer and scripture.  The Day Away is a great way to get ready.

This year our Day Away will be led by Colette Varanaouskas.  Colette is an elder who is particularly passionate about discipleship.  As elders, we have been discussing what the resources are that we have available to help people move into 167 Living.  I believe a focus on spiritual disciplines for each follower of Christ is key.

We intentionally do our Day Away when people are busy.  Many cannot make it because they have too many things to do.  It is in just such moments that we need to ‘be’ instead of do.  There is still time and a place for you to join us at the St. Francis Chapel up on the hill at Graymoor.  On clear days you can see Times Square, at least NYC.  The only way I can keep the craziness of this world in focus is if I take time away from Times Square to be still.  I hope you find quiet, deserted places this Christmas.

Peace,

Taylor

Looking for The Real Jesus

 ADVENT – Gospel Lessons from John 1

Vietnam in HD

I planned to register my mom’s car today.  I didn’t think that 11/11/11 would be Veteran’s Day and the DMV would be closed.  I imagine you would not forget that if you were around when “The Great War”, World War I, ended on November 11, 1918.  It would be a day etched in your consciousness, and you would work hard to honor those young men who fought that “war to end all wars” in Europe.  Our wars have not ended and young men and woman are still serving.

I buried two veterans this week, James Birdsall and Don Valk.  I reflected on how common it was for ordinary Americans to serve in the military in their day.  I thought of how few of my generation are veterans. I have heard figures that our current military comes from around 2% of the population.  With a volunteer army, the angst of Vietnam and the impact on a large percent of the population is diminished.  The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq take up less and less space in our papers and national consciousness.

This week the History Channel ran a series titled “Vietnam in HD.”  I watched the remembrances of that war and the veterans who served.  The confusion that they felt and the hostility of a nation for that war and even for those veterans was made painfully clear.  My heart went out to those guys who had been called by their country and did the job they were called to do. Of those killed in Vietnam, 61% were younger than 21.  I thought of my son and others who are 18-21 years old.   In a twist of irony, this week Xbox released “Modern Warfare 3,” a simulated war game. Very few of those who buy the game will be confronted by the realities that earlier generations have faced.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13 that the state is given the power of the sword.  It is a challenge to interpret this thought in the complex situation of nations, but we certainly need to honor those who serve our country in the military and fight the battles into which our leaders send us.

At Don’s funeral one of his nephews was in uniform. I stopped and thanked him for his service.  And I am glad that the DMV is closed today.

Gratefully,

Taylor

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