11/18/2020: Grateful for (Re)Discovery

Oh, feed me this day, Holy Spirt, with
the fragrance of the fields and the
freshness of the oceans which you have
made; and help me to hear and to hold
in all dearness those exacting and wonderful
words of our Lord Christ Jesus, saying:
Follow me.

Excerpted from “Six Recognitions of the Lord”
by Mary Oliver, Devotions,
Penguin Press, 2017, pp. 125-128

Dear LAC Community,

Every year about this time when jackets become less optional and there are more leaves on the ground than in the trees above, I am surprised to look out my kitchen window and see – way out, almost at the horizon – a glinting, shimmering expanse of blue. I always exclaim to my boys, “Look! It’s the Long Island Sound!” It’s a bit silly but I never fail to be surprised. Even though the Sound was there last year in the very same spot. And, actually, it was there all Spring and Summer too. Hidden from our view by leaves that are now lost to Autumn. I miss the warmth of the Summer sun and fear the chill of Winter. But I am grateful for the return of the Sound to my window. It seems that in times of transition God sometimes reveals His gifts this way – through a loss followed by grace and the (re)discovery of God’s love and favor – which was actually always there unabated.

As our church moves along its own path of change and transition, the LAC community and lay leadership are continuing to work steadfastly. The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) and Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC) are both working in earnest to find new clergy that will lead LAC into the future. Meanwhile, the Session, the Deacons, and the Trustees are each performing their necessary roles to support the successful, daily operations of LAC and the LAC Preschool. And, most significantly, LAC’s worship, Christian education, and administrative staff are all working harder than ever to ensure that our congregation can continue to worship and study God’s Word even in the midst of a global pandemic.

All of this “behind the scenes” work by laypeople, professionals, and the ordained is enduring evidence of our community’s commitment to living Christian values and manifesting God’s Love every day. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I pray that we will be grateful for the blessing that we have in each other as a congregation. And that we find comfort in remembering that we have been here for each other and for LAC all along.

Worship This Sunday

Please join us for worship this Sunday! The Sermon “This Is Our Time” will be delivered by

Ruling Elder Deborah Milcarek, General Presbytery of the Hudson River Presbytery. Ruling Elder Milcarek has 23 years’ experience working in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Before becoming General Presbyter of the Hudson River Presbytery, she worked as a Christian educator, guided the mission and social justice work of the Presbytery of Baltimore, and taught congregations how to foster deeper engagement in their neighborhoods and communities.

Sharing Abundantly

I also want to remind all members to make a generous donation to LAC’s special Thanksgiving offering in support of our Mission Partners who work tirelessly to reduce and eliminate hunger in Westchester County. If you missed last week’s service led by the Church & Society Committee, you may watch it here [LINK] to learn more about how our Mission Partners are serving our community.

You can give in three ways:

Checks mailed to LAC attn: Gloria Haq
Online at www.lacny.org/giving (Fund: “Thanksgiving”)
Smart phone app: Realm

Wishing you all good things,
Leah Griggs Pauly
Co-Clerk, Session