October 2023 Newsletter

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive"

-Matthew 7:1-2

By now you've probably heard that at some point during the month of August, someone entered my office and left with my bass guitar and an older laptop of mine. The week they went missing was a hectic one at Hammond Presbyterian - there were a benefit dinner that Thursday and a funeral on Saturday, and to top it off we had out of town house guests for most of the week. With so many extra people passing through the church and my attention divided in half a dozen different directions, it's hard to say exactly when the items were taken, let alone by who.

That hasn't stopped some folks from trying, though. As word has gotten around town, I've had multiple people approach me with their suspicions about what happened. Some are outright accusations of individuals who "seem like the type." Others are more general: it must have been some teenagers looking for a thrill; or it was definitely someone looking to support an addiction; or it was most likely someone who was coming from out of town; or it was probably those people that drove through the village with the rap music blasting.

To be honest, I'm more concerned about these accusations than I am about the theft of my property. Any one of them could be correct, but if it is, it's a lucky guess. There is no concrete evidence, just people assuming the worst about their neighbors; or teenagers; or those suffering from addiction; or strangers; or people of color. 

Sure, maybe someone took my bass to sell it to support an addiction. Or maybe they took it to sell it because they're one of those folks we pray for each week who lack access to the basic necessities of life. According to some ancient commentators on Scripture, one who is starving cannot be guilty of theft, for it is the duty of the one with excess to feed them. 

I'm not at all happy my bass is gone. I sure would like it if it came back. But it is gone just the same, and its disappearance is an opportunity for me - and, frankly, for all of us - to try and practice the non-judgment and generosity of spirit to which we aspire.

Blessings,

Pastor Shea

  We would like to invite everyone to join us for the dedication of our founder’s monument on Sunday, October 15th following the morning worship service (around Noon).  This project has taken many long months to come to completion and we are proud to honor and remember the original seventeen folks who started what is now the Hammond Presbyterian Church. Please join us as we celebrate and remember.  If you are a descendant of any of the original seventeen, we hope you can be there to celebrate.  

I was at a meeting the other day with a guest speaker, and she asked, “what are some routines you do when you want to get creative?” I’ve tried sitting in different seats, listening to music, writing something and then realized I have no idea where I’m going with that thought, so I delete it, I really don’t have a set routine that I do to get creative. I’ve always joked and said that I do my best creative thinking while I’m taking a shower. I don’t know if it’s the sound of the water, the heat of the bathroom, or the smell of the soap that I use, but some of my best thinking is while I’m taking a shower. And once it hits me, I’ve popped out of the shower before, soapy bubbles still all over me, dripping water everywhere, run into my room where I keep a pad of paper and a pen, and start writing down my thoughts. I really need to invest in waterproof paper and just keep it in the shower with me, so when I have those moments, I’m not running around looking like a lunatic, because the minute I am finished with my shower, it’s almost like I haven’t saved the information in my brain, and it’s all gone.

There are days when I think, God really does enjoy watching me be a lunatic. After years of reading my newsletter articles, if you don’t know me personally, you know that wherever I go, chaos follows. I don’t know if this is God’s sense of humor, or His way of showing me how to be creative, but when I come up with a solution, no matter how crazy I look, I realize at this is all a part of Gods plan. This is His way of making sure I continue to do the right thing and walking down the road that He has made for me and not roll my ankle into a pothole of chaos. And when I do fall into chaos, the chaos cycle continues where again, I’m sure He’s looking down on me giggling.

 The next Hammond Food Pantry will be Thursday, Oct. 26th between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Food Sense pick-up will be the same day, in the afternoon. For further information about either program, contact Joan Hadlock at (315) 324-5517. Hammond Food Pantry serves Hammond, Brier Hill, Morristown, Heuvelton, Rossie and surrounding area. Any income eligible families may come to pick up free food on the designated day. We are presently serving around 80 families each month, with new families coming each month. We do receive local donations of food, for which we are grateful. I order most of the food from the Food Bank of Central NY in Syracuse, at a cost of approximately $3000.00 per month. The food, which is delivered to us by tractor trailer once a month, is stored in the Food Pantry building next to the Hammond Fire Hall. On food distribution days, the food is brought into the Fire Hall by volunteers and given to the families who line up behind the Fire Hall. As the holiday season is coming up, we are seeking the help of the community to provide additional funding to enable us to give gift cards to help support these families with the additional expenses of the holidays, such as gifts for the children, extra food, etc. Please do your part by making a donation through our church. Checks should be made our to Hammond Food Pantry and can be given to me or to Tara or placed in the offering plate during worship service. We certainly appreciate anything you can do to provide for these families at a time of year when more income is needed to cover extra expenses families may have. With thanks, Joan Hadlock 

 New volunteers for Marion Medical Mission arrived in Malawi, W. Africa, on Sept. 10th to begin a new well season, with a goal of having 3500 wells in place in rural West Africa. The following are the thoughts from a volunteer from Illinois: We had hiked down a long hill from the village. The team had installed a well, and we were waiting for more villagers to arrive for the well presentation. I noticed an elderly woman making her way to the well site. She was dressed in the bright colors of Africa with lines etched in her face. She stood silently with me, staring at the well. Did she think her village would ever receive the gift of clean water so the children would no longer fear death from bad water? She began to sing, soon joined by other women nearby. The song they sang, spoken in their language, used the words, "The hands that give are the hands of God". The hands in the village had prepared for the well through digging, brick making and site preparation. The hands of generosity in America have given so the well could be completed with pumps and pipes. Surely a gift from many hands. 

Sustaining Our Future

I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.

-2 Timothy 1:5

Dear Members and Friends of Hammond Presbyterian Church,

On July 23, I addressed this passage in a sermon entitled "Legacy," in which I suggested that the best gift we can ever give the church is future generations, and the best way to do that is to truly give the church to those generations. The sermon was mostly focused on the need to empower our youth to shape the church, welcome their input in decision making regarding the church, and entrust them with the authority to do the work of the church. Prior generations gave us that gift, and it is our turn to do the same.

In that sermon, I also briefly addressed the way finances play a factor in giving the church to the next generation. Those who went before us made intentional efforts to provide for the work of the church not just in their own lifetimes, but into the future as well. Some of these generous individuals are still brought up on a monthly basis when the finance committee reviews the funds which bear their names.

For a long time, small churches such as ours have understood that our humble endowments were in need of regular replenishment. A fund would be established by one generation to sustain the work of the church. Then a significant expense would present itself that would cause the next generation to deplete those funds below the point of sustainability. Then that generation would, in turn, establish new funds for those who came after, and so the cycle would continue.

Over the last few decades, however, our church - like many other churches - has seen the depletion part of the cycle take place without new sources of sustainability being made. In fact, it has been over 40 years - a full generation - since the last time an endowment was created.

As we look to the future of our congregation, church leadership have committed ourselves to doing what we are able to provide a sense of sustainability to future generations, be it the one currently being raised in our church and blessing us with vibrance and new life, or the ones to come after who are as yet unborn. To that end, we have worked with the Northern New York Community Foundation to create a new Sustaining Fund, which we have seeded with the moneys in our Memorial and Designated Funds accounts, with protections in place to make sure those funds are used only in keeping with their designation.

I would like to ask that you consider helping us accomplish this goal of sustainability. This could look like a direct contribution to the Sustaining Fund today; including it in your estate planning or planned giving; or both.

Two years ago, I had the joy of leading this congregation during the celebration of our bicentennial year. While none of us may be around to see it, I truly believe it is our responsibility to pave the way for Hammond Presbyterian Church to still be doing vital ministry when my distant successor leads the tricentennial celebration. 

Will you join me in this work?

Blessings,

Pastor Shea

 The fifth installment of Immerse will begin gathering on September 10, and continue through October 29. Chronicles is a reading Bible volume which works through the latter historical texts of the Hebrew Bible. This eight-week unit takes a fast paced, book club style approach to Scripture, and invites participants to approach the text as readers, not scholars. Adults are invited to gather in the Pastor's Study at 2 PM, while youth will meet at 5:30 in the youth room. Books are available in the pastor's office or can be ordered at https://www.tyndale.com/p/immerse-chronicles/9781496424198 The weekly readings are also available to listen to for free at https://www.immersebible.com/chronicles/ 

It’s 8am and I’m on vacation. Everyone is still fast asleep. I make myself a cup of coffee, sit down in the recliner and notice this beautiful red bud amongst so much green. A rose is almost ready to bloom. I continue to drink my coffee and the feeling of happiness comes over me. I love mornings like this. The hustle of the day hasn’t even started yet, the room is cool, the coffee is hot and I’m getting time to enjoy a moment. A moment that I try to force into my memory bank for those crazy, hectic days where nothing is going right. Right now, this is a memory I want to keep forever. All my troubles have melted away. It’s a soothing feeling, as if I just put an ice pack on a burn, and yet I’m just sitting here, enjoying my coffee. I have a long car ride today and will go back to work tomorrow, but right now, the world has stopped moving for me and I’m enjoying the view.

With working in a church, I’ve always jokingly said, “God and I have an understanding. He gives me this insanity road that I walk down daily, and in return, I’m allowed to grumble and groan as loudly as I want.” Then there are moments like this. The quiet house, the hot coffee, the beautiful flower, and I think, yes, God and I do have a very good understanding. He has made me learn to stop and appreciate the beauty that lives around me. That at this moment of peace, this is when I really feel God’s work and just sitting back and appreciating all the hustle and hard work, He has put into the world for me to have at this moment. When was the last time you had this kind of moment? It it’s been a long while, and you feel burned out, I truly hope that you get to have your cup of coffee and moment with God soon.

 The next Hammond Food Pantry will be on Thursday, Sept. 28th, from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Hammond Fire Hall. Everyone is asked to line up behind the Fire Hall and in turn, sign in and the food will be brought out by the volunteers. Food Sense program is the same day at noon or after. Food Sense has no income requirements. A monthly listing of the food is available, and orders must be submitted and paid for ahead of time. Anyone interested in either program may contact Joan Hadlock at (315)324-5517. 

 Hey Everyone, 

It's here and installed!

Check out the new Founder's Monument in front of the church!

We waited a long time, but the monument has been installed and we will be having a dedication soon. Keep watch for the date and time. Please join us for this special event. 

 We are collecting items for Church World Service School Kits. These kits will be sent to CWS for distribution anywhere where there are children who do not have the basic materials to succeed in school. Each kit consists of the following: Three spiral bound, 70-page notebooks, one handheld pencil sharpener, 6 unsharpened pencils with erasers, one large eraser, one pair of blunt scissors, one 12-inch ruler, one box of 24 crayons. If you choose to donate several of one item, these will then be combined with other donations to complete the kits. This project will be ongoing for another month, so there is lots of time to take advantage of all the back-to-school sales going on. Let’s help all those eager students who will benefit from your help. There is a donation box in the dining room and lists of items on the back table at church. Many thanks for your generosity. Joan Hadlock 

  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”
-Luke 6:37-38

The idea that you get out of life what you put into it is common across many religious and philosophical traditions. So is the desire to change the parameters for evaluation until the idea is made true, or at the very least can't be proven false. 

In some Eastern religions, the idea has been made true by the introduction of reincarnation - you may not get what you put in this life, but in your next life you will reap what you've sown. 

In more collectively minded cultures, the idea has been made true by ideas of legacy and inheritance - you may not personally reap what you've personal sown, but your descendants surely will, and you owe it to them to provide a good harvest.

In Christian tradition, "you get what you give" has been made true by way of appeal to the afterlife, where reward and punishment are both said to await. 

This is a problem for our tradition, however, because while that's certainly a popular narrative, it sits at odds with the widely accepted Christian belief that no person is capable of earning eternal reward, but that such is the gift of God alone.

It's an unresolvable tension, and not one that I'm going to try and harmonize in a brief newsletter article. Instead, I'm going to propose that the Christian notion of "you get what you give" is not meant to be about a transactional idea, but rather a qualitative one.

What do I mean by that? In these verses from Luke, Jesus says those who don't judge won't be judged, those who forgive will be forgiven, and those who give will receive back more than they give. 

A transactional reading of this verse would say "I don't judge, so nobody should judge me. I forgive, so nobody should hold a grudge against me. I give, so I am owed."

A qualitative reading, on the other hand, would say "I am nonjudgmental, and in so doing I am influencing others to be nonjudgmental. I model forgiveness, and inspire to do the same. I am generous with what I have, which contributes to a culture of generosity. Even if I am never repaid what I put in, fostering a culture with these qualities is a benefit to myself and others."

I believe this is demonstrably true. Living a life with generosity of spirit inspires others to do the same. If we all live generously, there are some who will always have more of some resource or other, and as such will give more than they ever receive in return. Yet they will benefit just the same from being a part of a community which seeks to model God's extravagant, radical welcome.

In July, we will have several sermons which explore more broadly this idea of generosity and how it can shape culture and community. I look forward to taking that journey with you.

Blessings,

Pastor Shea

On July 16, Hammond Presbyterian Church and Theresa Presbyterian Church will hold a joint worship service at 12 PM at 32155 Cottage Hill Rd, Redwood, NY

13679, followed by a meal and fellowship period. Pontoon boat rides, live music, and other activities will be available during this time. Neither congregation will hold its normal Sunday morning service that day. We hope to see you there for this time of fun and togetherness.

For the past couple of months, every night before bed, my daughter has wanted to snuggle with me. It has been an extremely long time since we used to do this, so I agreed instantly because I miss that time she and I used to share. It’s not the same snuggles as when she was little, because we used to watch tv together and I would play with her hair as she would fall asleep on me. Now it’s her playing on her tablet and I’m laying there listening to these strange shows that she likes to watch on YouTube, understanding why my parents hated the TV shows I used to watch and adore as a kid. This goes on until I’ve had enough and tell her that it’s bedtime. She chit chats with me as we walk down to her room and I tuck her in, and then off to bed I go, to watch something that is “boring” in her eyes. Maybe one day she and I will find a common show that we will enjoy together, but until then I’m willing to make the small sacrifice to enjoy 20 mins of snuggle time with my daughter.

My kids are growing up so quickly and with things changing all the time, the one thing I try to remind my kids is not to forget the importance of God because as a young adult, I might have forgotten the importance of God, but He never forgot the importance of me. God has not forgotten the importance of everything big and small. There are times when we struggle through things and wonder, has God forgotten me? But you know that the answer is no. You know that God is always there making sure that you receive the guidance that you need, the love you need, the help you need. As my kids continue to grow, I pray that their faith continues to grow with them and that they understand, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been, God has not forgotten you and will be waiting for you, like a mother waiting for her child to want to snuggle again at night.

  The next Hammond Food Pantry will be Thursday, July 27th, from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Hammond Fire Hall. Everyone is asked to line up behind the Fire Hall and in turn, sign in and the food will be brought out by the volunteers. Food Sense program is the same day at noon or after. Food Sense has no income requirements. A monthly listing of the food is available, and orders must be submitted and paid for ahead of time. Anyone interested in either program may contact Joan Hadlock at (315)324-5517. 

 Church World Service Blanket Fund is an important mission to which our church has contributed for many years. For a $10.00 donation, a gray, utilitarian; full sized blanket is given to a family in need somewhere in the world. These blankets may be used for warmth in cooler areas, may be hung for a wall between family units and used in many other ways as needed. This year on Mothers’ Day, our church held the Blanket Fund drive and collected $155 to be sent to Church World Service missions. Many thanks to all who participated in sharing our love and support to people we don’t know in places we will never see. Joan Hadlock 

 Our church family is invited to celebrate Nolan's graduation on July 29th at 2pm.  It will be at our home at 884 County Rd 3, Redwood (Rossie), NY 13679.  You can RSVP to Jen at JenGardner1@gmail.com or 315-528-7303.  Hope to see you there! 

 Come One, Come All to the Hammond Presbyterian Church Yard Sale on July 7-8

On Fri., July 7 1-5 PM, & Sat., July 8 (the date of the town-wide yard sale) 8 AM-2 PM, there will

be a yard sale at Hammond Presbyterian Church. Please come and check it out. You never know what treasures you may come across.

If you want to sell your items at the sale, please contact Anne at (315)324-5485 or email thegasguys527@gmail.com soon for details and to reserve a spot. All sale items remaining at the end of

the day will be taken home by the seller. There will be no fee for hosting your sale at the church, but monetary donations will be accepted if you wish to offer.

Many folks we are asking for the recipe of the white sauce we had at the Pulled Chicken BBQ we had recently. Please enjoy!

Alabama white sauce
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp each garlic powder and black pepper
2 tsp each brown mustard and Worcester sauce
Stir together.

 A few members of the Hammond Presbyterian Women’s Organization recently put on a dinner for the Hammond Black Lake Masonic Lodge. The Masons’ Annual Rose Banquet had several out of town and regional visitors, with a guest speaker from Bella Brooke Winery. Thanks to all who helped with this dinner. Joan Hadlock 

We are pleased to announce the return of Summer Music Camp under the direction of Ms. Bridget Sherman, Director of Music for the church and Music Instructor for Hammond Central School. An amazing week of music has been planned for the week of July 10th-14th from 9am-noon so sign up for the Fune! This year's theme is the Magic of Music! We will be singing, playing instruments, games and more! This will be another fun year of music making so kids don't want to miss out on the fun.

As a program of the church, and as a gift to the children of our community, we offer Music Camp each year for children having completed grades 3-6 for only the $10 cost of the Camp T-Shirt. Should that expense create a hardship for your family, please let us know. There are scholarships available to cover that cost.

To register, call the church office at 315-324-5665 between 9am and noon or you can email Mr. Sherman at bsherman@hammondk12.org We look forward to seeing all the children in July!!

  "A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds."

-Proverbs 17:8

"A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice."

-Proverbs 17:23

At a recent youth Bible study, several of the kids drew attention to the confusing way the book of Proverbs talks about bribery. The verses above are two of the four proverbs which address the subject of bribes, and the other two follow the same pattern. As one teenager put it, "So, according to the Bible, taking bribes is bad and you should never do it, but bribing other people is smart and a good idea."

He's not wrong in that assessment. A plain reading of the text clearly recognizes the benefits of bribery, while denouncing those who accept bribes. So, why the disconnect?

Like the rest of the biblical Wisdom Literature, the Proverbs exist in a tension between two competing narratives: the world as it is; and the world as it ought to be. 

On the one hand, Proverbs wants to impart guidance on the benefits of living a life of righteousness and good moral character. Accepting bribes is unethical, and people who do it are corrupt. Don't be one of those people.

On the other hand, wise instruction should reflect reality. Like it or not, there are people who do accept bribes, and if you can't put a stop to the corruption, the next best option is to ensure you're the one who benefits from it.

I would argue that this is not so much a contradiction as it is a necessary part of providing wise instruction. If we only ever describe the world in regard to how it should be, we wind up with a naive idealism that does not survive contact with reality. If we only describe the world in regard to how it is, we wind up cynical and unable to imagine a better way. 

Be prepared to confront the world as it is. Never stop working to make it as it should be.

Blessings,

Pastor Shea

Renewal House for victims of domestic and sexual violence located in Canton, NY is the focus for this month’s mission.  Jackie Washburn works for renewal house. She is also a resident of Hammond and for many years a part of our church community. She  spoke about the many services Renewal House offers and the population they serve.
Their  mission statement is to respond immediately to the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in St. Lawrence County through services and empower victims and increase community.
Some of the services offered are crisis counseling/intervention, women’s support group, advocacy, information and referrals, children/youth program, transportation, safe housing, sexual assault nurse examiners, and community outreach/ education. Renewal House helps women, men, elderly, teens, individuals and families.
In 1981, a group of concerned citizens got together because they saw there was no help for victims of domestic abuse. In 1982, Renewal House became certified as a safe home network provider and a safe dwelling provider. Renewal House is the only agency in St. Lawrence County doing this kind of work. This time listening to Jackie, I started to tear up realizing how difficult life is for some people, how fortunate I am for all the love experienced in my family and the gratitude I felt that there are dedicated people like Jackie doing this work. I plan to donate.
There are many ways to help Renewal House. Let people know there is help available. You can donate through the Renewal House mission envelopes on the table as you enter church and place them in the offering plate. If you pay by check, the check should be made out to HPC with a memo note Renewal House. Their website is SLVrenewalhouse.org and they offer a way to donate directly. They also are in need of clothing, furniture and household items. You can contact them during business hours: 8-4, M-F at 315 379 9845 to check on what they currently need.
Their 24 hour crisis line is 315 379 9845.
 

Elizabeth Scarlett

My daughter and I were talking today about what mommy does for work. Since I work for Hammond Presbyterian Church and for the Presbytery of Northern New York, I do a lot of Church talk at home. If I have meetings that happen on a weekend, there’s a good chance that I will be bringing my daughter with me, and she enjoys seeing different churches and meeting new people. After all, she has grown up in a church, so going to another church is like going to a family member’s house. It’s a little different, but still very comforting. So, when my daughter asked to be liturgist for a Sunday service, I saw a little glimpse of myself in her. She sees how much I love being at church and doing the work that I do, and it was almost as if I was watching her trying to walk in my footsteps. Almost like when a little kid tries on their parent’s shoes. They clop around and stumble a bit, but you can’t help but to think that one day they will be in their own big shoes, and you hope that whatever steps they take in those shoes are the right steps to take. For a moment, I saw my daughter loving church the way I do and I thought one day, she might be doing what I do, something that she loves and makes her happy.

We all are walking the road that God has made for us. Each step we take, whether it’s good or bad, is where we need to go. For a moment, I was able to see my daughter on my path with me. Wondering if she will continue my journey, but also knowing that she has her own journey to walk. Have you ever stopped and looked back on the road that you have walked so far? Knowing that if anything had changed, you would not be where you are in life and that this is exactly where you were meant to be. And we continue to walk our road know that God has weaved us all together knowing that wherever Gods Road takes us, we are never alone.

 This June, you are invited to join a three week book study group discussing Enough: Scarcity, Contentment, and the Temptation of Jesus, by Rev. Dr. Shea Zellweger. This book is an in-depth reflection on the temptation story found in Matthew chapter 4, which will also be the subject of a three week sermon series. Gatherings will be at 2 PM in the Hammond pastor's office, or you can join via Google Meets. The first meeting will be on June 11. See pastor Shea to request a copy of the book, or order yours at https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Scarcity-Contentment-Temptation-Jesus-ebook/dp/B0BLP793QH/ 

 We will be having a Pulled Chicken Dinner on Thursday, June 15 from 4:30pm-6pm for Dine in or takeout. Adults are $15 and Children are $8. 

We would love to have you join us for a Sunday service or one of our events. Click below to plan your visit and learn more about what to expect when you come to Hammond Presbyterian Church Church.

"I rejoiced with those who said to me 'let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

-Psalm 122:1

In ancient Israel, there were three festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot) during which all those able were expected to journey to Jerusalem and be present in the temple. With so many people traveling from so many locations, the resulting gathering was equal parts religious observance, business trip, and family reunion, with additional traditions growing over time. 

One such tradition was the introduction of traveling songs, known now as the "Psalms of Ascent." Psalms 120-134 were all written specifically to be sung by those making the festival pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Most of them are joyous, and all of them are hopeful. 

In some ways, May marks the beginning of a contemporary pilgrimage season. The weather improves, colleges wrap up their year, beaches open, and people start getting the urge to travel. Some of us look forward to favorite activities. Others are excited at the reopening of destinations we love to frequent. Still others look forward to reuniting with friends and family after a winter apart. And in this part of the world, we rejoice at the chance to gather in worship with those who make pilgrimage here each summer.

Maybe somebody should write a song.

Blessings,

Pastor Shea

Our Easter Missions provided over $350.00 in donations for our Missionary in West Africa, Josh Heikkila, as well as beautiful floral decorations for the sanctuary. Thanks to all who helped. The following is a list of the memorial names:

In memory of Allen and Donna Chase given by Nancy Chase.

In memory of Alice and Joseph Kaselow, and Paul, Fred and Lilian Saphier by Evie Saphier

In memory of Rob Scarlett and other deceased loved ones given by Liz Scarlett

In memory of Thom DiCaprio given by the Begel family

In memory of Fred Lind, given by Laurie and Ray Petersen

In memory of our parents and Doris Maloy and Paul Young given by Gary and Marilyn Hunter

In memory of Ed Hadlock and other deceased loved ones given by Joan Hadlock

In memory of Mr.& Mrs. Phil Decker and nephew James Decker, Jr. from

Doug and Joan Delosh

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Delosh and Linda Kilmer from Doug and Joan Delosh

In memory of Malcolm and Roberta McGregor given by Jennifer McGregor

In memory of Goob Gardner and Grandpa Hadlock given by the Nick Gardner family

In memory of Milo and Eleanor Hollister, Grace and Lewis Paddock, and Orphia Hollister Given by Wayne and Lana Storie

 You ever have one of those nights, or even day, when you look at your watch and go “Really? It’s only (enter early time). It feels so much later.” My husband and I did this the other night. We put the kids to bed, and we sat around talking about everything that happened from the day, what we needed to take care of tomorrow, what we needed to get done during the week, just our usual conversation. My husband says to me, “I am so tired and I’m ready for bed. What time is it?” I look at my watch and giggling say, “It’s not even 9pm. It’s 8:58pm” Jaw dropped, my husband looks at me and says, “How is it not after 10pm right now? It feels so much later than what it is right now.” We joked about it and giggled for a bit, and we were both asleep before 9:30pm. I remember being a younger adult and staying up until after midnight going to parties, too fast forward to being exhausted at 9pm. In our defense, we had a very crazy week before and a much crazier weekend, so sleep and relaxing was on our back burners while we were taking care of everything that was going on in our lives. 

I like to think that God and I have an understanding that, he’s allowed to make my life extremely chaotic, just as long as the people who I consider “Rocks” in my life, continue to hold strong with me. There has been a lot going on in my personal life that has made me stop and think how lucky I am to have those people who continue to encourage and support me. And mainly of those people have been my church family. There have been times where I am second guessing what I am doing, if I’m doing the right thing, and just general questioning myself and when I walk down that dark road in my head, I have been so blessed to have so many people surround me with such a bright light. God brought these people to me when I needed strength and support. And I just want to thank everyone for all their support and help. I could sit here and write out each person’s name, but I try to keep this article short and simple, but please know you are all amazing to me and I thank God constantly for all of you.

All day long a little burro labors, sometimes
with heavy loads on her back and sometimes just with worries
                              about things that bother only
                                                     burros.
 

And worries, as we know can be more exhausting
                             than physical labor.
 

              Once in a while a kind monk comes
                              to her stable and brings
                                    a pear, but more
                                            than that,
 

he looks into the burro’s eyes and touches her ears
 

            and for a few seconds the burro is free
                          and even seems to laugh,
 

                                  because love does
                                                   that.
 

                                          Love frees.
 

Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
LOVE POEMS FROM GOD

The next Hammond Food Pantry will be on Thursday. May 25th, from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Hammond Fire Hall. Everyone is asked to line up behind the Fire Hall in their cars and in turn, sign in and the food will be brought out by the volunteers. Food Sense program is the same day at noon or after. Food Sense has no income requirements. A monthly listing of the food is available and orders must be submitted and paid for ahead of time. Both programs provide a variety of meats, fresh produce, family meals and canned goods. Anyone

interested in either program may contact Joan Hadlock at (315)324-5517.

On Mothers’ Day, May 14th, we will be collecting Blanket + donations. Most of our funding will go for blankets, which are used in this country, as well as all over the world in places of hardship and homelessness. Families may use these blankets for warmth, as a divider wall in dwellings with more than one family, for a warm floor covering, or many other ways. The "+" in Blankets+ refers to other uses for our donations, such as farming implements and animals, support for small businesses and investments in better water sources. Blanket fund envelopes will be on the back table. Joan Hadlock

 For the month of May, we are highlighting the work of MINC (Ministries in the North Country). This summer teams of workers will build wheelchair handicap accessible ramps for people who need help getting in and out of their homes. This is the only organization in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties doing this kind of work. If an individual or family already receives HEAP assistance, there is no charge. If their income is above the HEAP income level, they can share in the cost of materials. The labor is done by volunteers. If you or anyone you know needs help with this, contact the church office (315 324 5665). If you wish to donate toward these projects, there are envelopes in the back of the church marked MINC or you can send a donation to Hammond Presbyterian church marked MINC.