The Church of the Messiah

This year the Rhinebeck Reformed Church was the host for our community VBS which is held each year in partnership with Third Lutheran Church and Church of the Messiah. This ecumenical event, welcoming all, was held July 28th – August 1st from 8:45 AM – 12:15 PM with lunch provided. The program was
“Power Lab – Discovering the Miraculous Power of Jesus!” with roughly 50 kids participating.

The stations were:
Sonic Sing and Play: lead by Kim Kahan. We started each day at this station. Here we learned fun songs and learned hand motions praising God. Each day we focused on a Bible point; Jesus gives us the power to be thankful, Jesus gives us the power to help others, Jesus gives us the power to be brave, Jesus gives us the power to live forever and Jesus gives us the power to tell others about God.

Cinema Science: At this station we watched a daily exciting cliffhanger video segment. Chadder Chipmunk explains the daily Bible point, and then kids do exciting, memorable activities to help them apply what they’ve learned about Jesus power in their daily lives.

Bible Blast: lead by Lewella Jane and Laurie Craft. Each day’s Bible story was experienced in a hands on way because it was acted out with children participating followed by a discussion. Stories included Jesus healing 10 lepers, Jesus gives sight to a blind man, Jesus gives Peter the courage to walk on water, Jesus dies and comes back to life, and the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost.

Hyperspeed Games: lead by Joanne Plass. This station involved playing games and doing science experiments that connect to the daily Bible point. This was a really fun station!

Test Tube Treats: lead by Cara Silvernail and her crew. Lunch!!! Lunches were great…. mac and cheese, sliders, pigs in a blanket, and ziti, all complimented with zucchini from Pastor Ness’ garden, celery and carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, applesauce, chips, juice and milk. On the last day we had the special treat of cupcakes!

Wacky Works Crafts and Missions: lead by Tammy Del Giudice. Here kids made a Bible point craft to remind them of the day’s Bible story and point. They made a Buddy beaker (filled with sparkles and goo) to hang on a cord around their neck also to hold their name tag and Bible buddies (which they received each day with that days lesson). Other crafts were a Gotcha Guy, Incredi-ball, Oozy Slime, Brainybopper, Prayer Wristband and a Wacky Hacky.

Every year there is a Kid-to-Kid Mission project. The project this year lets our kids send soccer balls to children who are deep in poverty. They are called “GO Balls” (Gospel Outreach ball) because they have special colors that are related to sharing the Gospel. Our kids touched, prayed over and personalized the GO Balls. This year the Reformed Church teens are going on a mission trip (August 12th) to set up a sports camp in the Dominican Republic. They will deliver eight GO Balls from our VBS kids. Kids helping kids!

We appreciate all the volunteers who helped out. We’d like to thank Janeth Thoron for helping with registration and Father Jerry stopped to share the fun.

We’re already talking about next year. It will be our turn to host VBS! We will begin planning early in ’09 and hope to have lots of support from church members. This is certainly a community event and it is very special to have the opportunity share VBS itself, our faith, and our kids with other churches. Our kids learn to experience God’s love in many places, not just your own church.

Hope to see you at VBS next year!
Laurie Craft

RHINEBECK - The Dutchess County Fairgrounds will present its second annual Youth Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Last year’s inaugural event drew an estimated 2,500 school children, ages 5-18, from Dutchess County schools. This year, the event is being expanded to students from throughout the Hudson Valley.

www.dutchessfair.com

Admission to the event is free.

MASS CPR TRAINING! May 17th 2008

Our Community Vacation Bible School is scheduled to be held July 28th-August 1st from 8:45 AM until 12:15 PM with lunch being provided. The Program chosen is “Power Lab—Discovering the Miraculous Power of Jesus!” designed for children K thru 5th grades (just completed). Register online at https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/rhinebeckvbs. The cost is $20 for 1 child, $35 for 2 children or $50 for 3 or more children. Scholarships are available. This year, Rhinebeck Reformed will be hosting VBS and volunteers are needed—teenagers and adults! Look at your calendars and sign up now. Please contact Laurie Craft or Tammy DelGiudice at Church of the Messiah, Joanne Plass at Third Lutheran or Abby Clark at Rhinebeck Reformed and let them know if you are available.
When you register for VBS, add your name to a Beaker and put it in “the lab” on our poster. If you don’t have children attending VBS, you can still adopt a beaker, to help send those in need of scholarships or just to financially support VBS. The cost for 1 child is $20—but any donations will be received with many thanks. Watch for the poster to appear in upcoming weeks.
You can view a sample of the program at https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/rhinebeckvbs

Easter Sunday March 23rd - 2008

Please join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt after 10:00am service

Help the Bunny-You’re welcome to bring New plastic eggs. Small wrapped soft candy(toddlers can’t eat the hard stuff.) Small toys would be great too! All must fit in the eggs.

Drop off in parish hall. Thank You!

March 23^rd - 2008

Easter Sunday Coffee Hour

We are asking for everyone to donate a goodie for all to share.

Things that you may think about bringing.

Fruit, Cheese, Breads & Spreads.

Appetizers, Hot or Cold Main Dishes, Salads and Desserts. EGGS!

                      WANTED !

 The Milan rec committee is looking for middle & high school students

 Are you interested in helping others, leaving your community better than you found it, making new friends?

Then the Milaners Youth Group is looking for you! 

If your a student in the Rhinebeck, Red Hook or Pine Plains School Districts, or a concerned parent that lives in the Milan area and would like to be a part of our community projects please contact us.

 www.milan-ny.gov/ 

Email us at: Milaners4Milan@gmail.

www.milaners.wordpress.com

We are thankful for your support

HAPPENING #4 in the Diocese of New York

Friday-Sunday, April 4-6, Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, Garrison, N.Y.

Happening! is a spiritual retreat weekend designed to deepen the Christian experience of youth in grades 9-12. The weekend, which includes worship, prayer, youth talks, group discussion, fellowship, activities and singing, is led by youth leaders with the presence and support of adult leaders and clergy of the Diocese of New York. Youth who have never attended Happening are encouraged to attend.

Please note: Parishes registering three or more youth will be required to register and send an adult parishioner to serve as a chaperone for the entire weekend. The cost is $70 per person and the registration deadline is March 19, 2008. Information and registration materials will be mailed
to all parishes in the next week and are also now available on the youth page of the diocesan web site:

http://www.dioceseny.org/index.cfm

Action=Programs.YouthEvents Click in
the Related Info box at the top of the page. For further information, please contact Canon Patricia Mitchell at pmitchell@dioceseny.org or 212-316-7433.

The Christmas Pageant scheduled for December 16 has been rescheduled: it will now take place on January 6 (Epiphany Sunday) at the 10 a.m. service.

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal – December 15

Christmas Pageant – December 16 at 10 am; Holy Communion Service

Christmas Caroling – December 16 at 7:00 pm

The Hanging of the Greens—Dec. 22, 10:00 am

ESL Classes, Tuesday, Parish Hall, 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday, Parish Hall, 7-9 p.m.

The children of the parish hold our November 4th service.

The Diocesan Youth Convention is open to all current High School Students. Youth will meet at Christ Church, Bronxville on Friday night for youth convention activities and overnight stay. In the morning, youth will travel by bus to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for the Eucharist and the morning session of the Diocesan Convention. Following lunch the bus will return to Christ Church for parent pickup. Nov. 9-10. kmiller @ ccbny.org or (914) 377-3544 for more information. See the flyer on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Registration forms are there also. Register by 10/31, 2007. No cost.

The Diocese of New York and Trinity Church, Manhattan, are launching an initiative to strengthen public education. Bishop Roskam is co-chairing the planning group. The mission is “to help Episcopal parishes create a youth-led movement to give all public school students and families equal access to a true education.” This movement will give youth an opportunity to share their perspective on what is and isn’t working in the public schools they attend. A gathering is planned for Sat., Oct. 27th at St. Ann’s Church, Bronx, at which the morning’s agenda will be devoted to listening to youth talk about their schools. The planning group hopes that youth, clergy, parents, and educators will attend this gathering. See the flyer on the Parish Hall bulletin board.

1. Choir starts promptly at 9:30  a.m. on Sundays.
2. We only have 30 minutes and we have to get a lot accomplished.
3. If we have a special event Children’s Service, singing with the adult choir, etc… Please let Kimberly Kahan, the director, know, if you can’t be there. Her contact information can be found in the Parish Hall; if you haven’t signed up yet, please find forms there, or come to the Parish Hall at 9.

1. Choir starts promptly at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
2. We only have 30 minutes and we have to get a lot accomplished.
3. If we have a special event Children’s Service, singing with the adult choir, etc… Please let Kimberly Kahan, the director, know, if you can’t be there. Her contact information can be found in the Parish Hall; if you haven’t signed up yet, please find forms there, or come to the Parish Hall at 9.

Sunday school has begun! If you have not yet registered, please be sure to fill out the forms. They are available on the bulletin board in Donegan Hall. Please remember that registration forms must be completed for all children attending Sunday school, even if they have been with us in previous years. This year’s classes will be Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade, and a middle/high school class. If anyone has small or med-size bookshelves they would like to donate, please speak with Tammy DelGiudice.
Thank you to the Fishers, the Camps, the Francises, the Virgas, and the Andricks for their donations of a desk chair, computer desk, coffee table, love seat, and floor lamp for our junior/senior high school room.
Parents: Please remember to sign up to host at least 2 coffee hours. Thank you.

Nursery Care is available in Donegan Hall during the 10:00 service.

Sunday school registration is today in the Parish Hall. A registration table will be available from 9 AM until 11:30 AM. Please remember that registration forms must be completed for all children attending Sunday School, even if they have been with us in previous years. This year’s classes will be Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade, and a middle/high school class.

For our middle and high school students we are preparing a wonderful new surprise. This year we will be creating a room just for them! The students will be designing and creating a wonderful space with God! They will paint, arrange, and stuff the room with comfortable learning material including a computer. If you have furniture you would like to donate please let us know! Here’s a list of what we’re looking for: Love seat (or two), End tables, Reading lamps, Chairs, Throw rugs, Bean Bag Chairs.

Please speak with Tammy DelGiudice before making these donations so that she can coordinate the donations with the Sunday school’s needs and take spatial limitations into account. Thank you in advance!

Thank you to the Fishers, the Camps, and the Francises for their donations of a desk chair, a computer desk, and a coffee table.

Wed., Aug. 8th, 6:30 pm: Donegan Hall; If you are interested in helping out in the Sunday School this year, please attend this meeting.

Sign up for Rhinebeck’s Community Vacation Bible School! August 13 through 17. 8:45 AM-12:30 PM at Third Lutheran Church, 31 Livingston Street. Once again co-hosted by Third Lutheran, Church of the Messiah, and Rhinebeck Reformed Church. Register at any of the participating churches or online at https://www.groupvbs.com/myvbs/?churchid=3669 . Advance registration is requested. Cost: 1 child-$20, 2 children-$35, 3+ children-$50. Make checks payable to Third Evangelical Lutheran Church. Scholarships available. For more information call, 876-4471, 876-3727, or 876-3533.

As the Sunday School year winds down, we are looking forward to our end of year party. It will take place June 10, during Sunday School and on through coffee hour. Please have children come in play clothes that day. They may get dirty and possibly even a little wet! Also, to help with the festivities we are asking for the following contributions of goodies:

Preschool class: drinks (water bottles, juice boxes, large bottled drinks with cups, please)
K, 1st, and 2nd grade class: baked goodies (cookies, muffins, bagels, brownies, etc.)
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade class: fruit and veggie snacks (baby carrots, grapes, etc.)
Middle and High School class: paper goods (napkins, plates, towels)

We are also in need of parent volunteers to help out that day. We will need help setting up at about 8:45 a.m., keeping the goody table stocked and neat, helping with activities, and of course, everyone’s favorite, clean up. Also, while we do have a number of games and activities planned, if you have an idea and/or supplies for something the children may enjoy, please let me know! With everyone’s help this should be a fun day for the children and enjoyable for the adults as well.

One other reminder: Vacation Bible School registration forms are now available; please see me or Laurie Craft if you have any questions.

Bless you,

Tammy Del Giudice
Church of the Messiah Sunday School