THE OPEN DOOR The Briarcliff Congregational Church 30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510 914-941-4368 www.briarcliffchurch.org “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” Revelation 3:8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Dedicating a New Year 2 From the Deacons 2 Christian Ed News 3 Notes from Fimi 3 Roof News 4 Butterfly Garden 4 Women’s Society News 5 Puppet Workshop 6 Sunday School Starts 7 Moderator’s Report 8 September Calendar 9 Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church, Recently I had a conversation with an acquaintance who told me he had “stopped following the news” because the world’s troubles had begun to overwhelm him. “I can’t stand it anymore,” he confessed, “because I have no way to respond or help.” A big part of me sympathized with this fellow’s frustration and fear. Truth is this summer has been full of wrenching, demanding and exhausting troubles: Hoards of immigrant children from Central America arriving unaccompanied at our southern borders; Ebola outbreaks in West Africa; intensified aggression between Israel and Hamas; a passenger flight shot down over disputed areas of the Ukraine; outrage in Ferguson, Missouri; more violence in Iraq; wildfires in the Northwest; the list goes on. It’s no surprise the grievances overwhelm and threaten us. The lament of our world moves me to church. Church offers sanctuary, the balm of respite. Church reminds me that God’s dream and intent for creation may be frustrated but is not defeated, no matter the news. Church affords opportunity for response, both in prayer (Karl Barth wrote, “A clasp of the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world”) and in concrete service. Church gathers us into a community of shared concern, dialogue, support and learning. Church assures us we are not alone; so while we may be tempted to ignore what’s happening around us, we’re strengthened to engage it instead – as people of faith. Many of us have been away from church through this turbulent season. It will be good, therefore, especially good, to gather as a full congregation again, revisiting and renewing the strength we are blessed to share. I’m looking forward to it and hope you are, as well. Thankfully, The Rev’d Dr. Bonnie Rosborough Pastor SAVE THESE DATES SEPTEMBER 6, 13 Puppet Workshop 11 Women’s Society 14 Gathering Sunday, Church Picnic 20 B&G CleanUp 22 Church Council 27 W.S. Fall Brunch, Heim Concert Contact Us At: rosborough @briarcliffchurch.org AND church-office @briarcliffchurch.org Volume 67 Number 1 September 2014
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1
THE OPEN DOOR
The Briarcliff Congregational Church 30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510
914-941-4368 www.briarcliffchurch.org
“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” Revelation 3:8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Dedicating a New Year 2
From the Deacons 2
Christian Ed News 3
Notes from Fimi 3
Roof News 4
Butterfly Garden 4
Women’s Society News 5
Puppet Workshop 6
Sunday School Starts 7
Moderator’s Report 8
September Calendar 9
Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church,
Recently I had a conversation with an acquaintance who told me he had “stopped
following the news” because the world’s troubles had begun to overwhelm him.
“I can’t stand it anymore,” he confessed, “because I have no way to respond or
help.” A big part of me sympathized with this fellow’s frustration and fear. Truth
is this summer has been full of wrenching, demanding and exhausting troubles:
Hoards of immigrant children from Central America arriving unaccompanied at
our southern borders; Ebola outbreaks in West Africa; intensified aggression
between Israel and Hamas; a passenger flight shot down over disputed areas of
the Ukraine; outrage in Ferguson, Missouri; more violence in Iraq; wildfires in the
Northwest; the list goes on. It’s no surprise the grievances overwhelm and
threaten us.
The lament of our world moves me to church. Church offers sanctuary, the balm
of respite. Church reminds me that God’s dream and intent for creation may be
frustrated but is not defeated, no matter the news. Church affords opportunity for
response, both in prayer (Karl Barth wrote, “A clasp of the hands in prayer is the
beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world”) and in concrete
service. Church gathers us into a community of shared concern, dialogue, support
and learning. Church assures us we are not alone; so while we may be tempted to
ignore what’s happening around us, we’re strengthened to engage it instead – as
people of faith.
Many of us have been away from church through this turbulent season. It will be
good, therefore, especially good, to gather as a full congregation again, revisiting
and renewing the strength we are blessed to share. I’m looking forward to it and
hope you are, as well.
Thankfully,
The Rev’d Dr. Bonnie Rosborough
Pastor
SAVE THESE DATES
SEPTEMBER
6, 13 Puppet Workshop
11 Women’s Society
14 Gathering Sunday,
Church Picnic
20 B&G CleanUp
22 Church Council
27 W.S. Fall Brunch,
Heim Concert
Contact Us At:
rosborough
@briarcliffchurch.org
AND
church-office
@briarcliffchurch.org
Volume 67 Number 1 September 2014
2
DEDICATING A NEW YEAR
Gathering Sunday, to be celebrated on the second
Sunday of September this year, will include a new
liturgical element: All those worshipping will be
invited to dedicate our very busy lives to the
purposes of God. We’ll do this by offering
symbols of our lives to be blessed in the liturgy.
Students are invited to bring their backpacks, for
example. Adults might offer cell phones or
appointment books or anything that represents
how we spend our time and resources in the
world. Whatever symbolizes the occupations, pre-
occupations and commitments of our lives will be
offered up as blessings are invoked and as we ask
God to work through us, whatever our labors, for
good in our world. Remember the teaching of
Jesus: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and
God’s righteousness, and all things will be given
to you as well.” Let’s dedicate our busyness to
God’s realm! And, inasmuch as we’re called to be
a blessing to others, we’re invited to bring school
supplies for others on Gathering Sunday. How
blessed we are to be able to share!
CALLING ALL BAKERS! Desserts are being
solicitated for the Annual All-Church Picnic which
follows worship on Gathering Sunday! Contact
Bev Aisenbrey or Barbara Rink to help!
FROM THE DEACONS
The period between Pentecost and Advent is
known as “Ordinary Time” but somehow the
summer of 2014 has seemed far from ordinary to
the Board of Deacons.
Some of it was quite “normal” if you will. At our
June 4 meeting we welcomed a new/old Deacon,
Bruce Wilson and bade farewell to retiring
Deacons Mel Corbett, Janet Moulton and Sarah
Yergeau. Anna Papayanis was elected Senior
Deacon (Chairman) and Joan Austin Vice
Chairman. The various other tasks of the Deacons
were apportioned out. On June 29, the Church
observed Gay Pride Sunday. In early July the
Deacons enjoyed their annual end of year Dutch
treat dinner at the Briars. Arrangements were
made to welcome guest ministers while Pastor
Bonnie was on vacation. We greeted two old
friends – Lynda Clements and Derrick McQueen –
and Gene Palmore who came here for the first
time. All this was well within the realm of the
routine.
And then there was the roof…. Replacement of
the roof of the Church building made the
sanctuary uninhabitable for the month of July so
the worship service was held in the Parish House.
This necessitated moving hymnals, bibles, and
other paraphernalia across the street to Beebe Hall.
Thanks to the creativity of Pastor Bonnie and Jan
Aiello, we had an attractive, appropriately sized
space to hold our services. However, since the
building is used by the Ossining Children’s Center
on weekdays during the summer, everything had
to be taken down and reassembled every week.
Various people pitched in to take care of this each
week. Camping out in Beebe Hall worked out
well and church went on. We welcomed the
Sounds of Life choir from the Walter Hoving Home
in Garrison on July 20. Their music and their
testimonies were inspiring; the Deacons served
lunch after the service. On July 27, we all rejoiced
in the baptism of Suzie and Geoff Harter’s grand-
daughter, Molly Cowan, who is absolutely
adorable.
The roof was completed on time and by the end of
July we were preparing to move back into the
sanctuary. This was no easy task. The sanctuary
had to be thoroughly cleaned and all the stuff that
had been removed four weeks earlier had to be
brought back across the street and re-arranged.
Again, everyone pitched in and we had the first
service in August back in the usual place. The
church looks wonderful; it is probably cleaner that
it has been in about 100 years!
As summer slips away, the Deacons are making
plans for 2014 – 2015 and looking forward to the
challenges and opportunities which will
undoubtedly present themselves in the coming
year.
Joan Austin, Board of Deacons
3
CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONS NEWS
The CE committee has met over the summer,
continuing to brainstorm our mission. First on the
agenda was to establish a calendar of events,
including Gathering Sunday and Opening Day for
Church School on Sept. 14th, the Craft Advent Fair
- Dec. 7, Christmas Pageant - Dec 21 and the Heifer
Fair - May 10. An emphasis on hunger is planned
for 2014-15. It is also hoped that we will find a part
time youth minister soon. We look forward to
“Opening Day” and once again thank our Sunday
School teachers for their dedication. We are happy
to welcome back Joan Beicke for our first graders.
We would also like to thank Charlotte Bomma for
her many years of teaching our little ones. She will
be greatly missed as she travels in and out of our
lives. I can see the little ones with big smiles as she
played the piano and helped them to learn a song.
David Saliamonas, a concert pianist
who currently lives in Paris, will be
performing in the sanctuary of Briarcliff
Congregational Church on Sunday
September 28, at 8 p.m. Originally from Glen
Ellyn, IL, David received his Bachelors and
Masters degrees from the Manhattan School of
Music.He will be performing music of Poulenc,
Schumann, Brahms, Chopin and Gershwin.
NOTES FROM FIMI
Welcome back! It was a
fantastic summer,
beautiful weather for outdoors. In July I went to a
choral convention at Smith College in
Northampton, sponsored by the American Choral
Director’s Association. This was the first time I
participated in the ACDA convention. It was so
much fun to sing with these guys because these
teachers/directors are mostly singers. The sound
was just wonderful! We started out with a
“Conducting Boot Camp” every morning for an
hour. The workshop was wonderful, the teacher
was funny, encouraging and right to the point.
Then we broke into different classes each day,
including reading sessions for church music,
children’s music, world music, and reading shape
notes from mid 1700s. The shape-notes hymns
were very interesting. We learned a couple of
African songs, and skyped a professor in South
Africa who coached us on movements and
pronunciations. It was pretty cool!
The Senior Choir sang for Rev. Martha Jacobs’
installation service back in June at the First
Congregational Church of Chappaqua. Their choir
loved our choir so much that they invited us to
sing with them in November. But since our choir
doubles the size of theirs, I invited them to come
for a Christmas concert instead. They gladly
accepted the invitation. Therefore during Advent
season, we will have a choir concert with our
Senior Choir, Christmas Choir and FCC Choir,
accompanied by a small string ensemble for a
Christmas concert. I am really looking forward to
it.
On Saturday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m., we will
have our first Heim Concert, featuring soprano
Naomi Merer, clarinetist Eric Drucker, and me on
the piano. The program includes solo piano music
for the first half as I have several concerts this fall,
including the Chaminade Music Club, Sacred
Heart Univ. and Sea Island Presbyterian Church in
South Carolina. The second half of the program
will feature Naomi Merer, a soprano living in
Chicago but from Westchester originally, and Eric
Drucker, one of the most prominent clarinetists in
Westchester. For the last two years we have had
several out of town groups performing. This
season I am going to use more local musicians to
bring more audience.
I am looking forward to another musically active
year at the BCC. I hope you are all well rested
from the summer and ready to start the year!
Blessings, Fimi
4
ROOF NEWS FROM THE TRUSTEES
This has not been a quiet summer for the Trustees
or Buildings and Grounds Committee given the
new roof project during the month of July - it was
a HUGE job! We were fortunate to have two
talented people oversee the project: Dave
Gasparik, outgoing trustee and chair of B&G
provided continuity, and Keith Austin provided
daily monitoring and worked with our roof
consultant, Russ Watsky, in evaluating the project
as it went along. Canopy Roofing, our contractor,
is an excellent company; numerous issues arose
which could have been stumbling blocks, but
Keith and Canopy Roofing overcame them as if
they were low hurdles. Others involved were
Brian Lewis, new B&G chairman, and Barry Bosak;
both were constant visitors and helpful in
decision-making.
Needless to say, the new roof is beautiful, and
with a completely new under-roof, it should last
for decades. Certainly the copper gutters provide
an artistic touch and are functional as well.
Retaining the painted aluminum downspouts
saved money and perhaps wisely thwarts theft
since copper is a prized material. While most of us
do not see the Norman Tower roof, the option to
replace it and its rotted underpinnings was a wise
decision since we had the expert craftsmen on site.
In addition, the old wooden louvers in the tower
were refurbished.
When the roof work was complete, the inside
cleaning and removing of all the coverings in the
sanctuary began - another gargantuan job.
Cleaning involved the ceilings, lights, windows,
carpeting, altar and uncovering and cleaning the
pews, cushions, piano and organ. Many thanks to
Pastor Bonnie and the deacons, Rosalie Matsuoka,
and Yasna, who all toiled mightily for a week to
have everything ready for worship on August 3. In
addition, front lawn recovery is underway with
Keith Austin and the Buildings and Grounds
committee coaxing new growth watering.
We are still finalizing numbers but it looks like the
total cost of the roof work was about $150,000,
including asbestos abatement, and sanctuary
cleaning. We have borrowed about $17,800 from
the Endowment Fund, a temporary loan to be
repaid with interest as soon as possible. We are
extremely grateful for several directed gifts for the
roof which lessened our borrowing. Any further
gifts would be greatly appreciated.
Barry Bosak, Carol Mickel, Trustee co-chairs
PLANTS WANTED FOR BCC
BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Allie Herskovitz has planted a
Monarch Waystation Garden
beside Beebe Hall as part of her Girl Scout Gold
Award. The habitat for Monarchs has been
severely affected in recent years by pesticides,
mowing and crop field conversion. The numbers
of these beautiful butterflies are dropping steadily.