Two of the beautiful trees in our churchyard are on their last legs. We have consulted a number of tree experts in the community, all of whom have told us that the trees need to come down. One of the trees is a beautiful oak with a hollow trunk that is right off of driveway up to the church about halfway up. The other is a maple on the other side of the driveway, a little farther down. It split in half a few years ago and the remaining half is not doing well. It is always difficult to lose and old friend, but this work needs to be done. We will plant new trees to replace those we are losing.
St. Philip's Church in the Highlands
Three Angels came forward and volunteered to share the cost of this year's tickets for the 'Picnic and Play' fundraiser at Boscobel. We also have an angel who has volunteered to provide wine for the event. Thank you all. We are expecting delivery of the shades for the two large windows in the parish office. These shades will keep out the heat and sun during the summer months. The cost of the shades is $300. In addition, we have to undertake serious tree work over the next few months (see article below). This will involve taking down safely two of our beautiful old trees which are on their last legs. The price tag for this work will be $1,500. After the trees are down, we will be looking for angels to provide new trees. A new tree would make a wonderful Memorial gift for someone you love. The cost of such trees obviously depends on their size and variety. Angels help us with small to medium size projects around the church that otherwise might never be taken on. Be an Angel! Talk to Frank or call the church at 845 424-3571. Please plan to join us for the Nursery School White Elephant Sale in the Parish House from nine to one on Saturday, March 20th. The sale will feature loads of treasures, ancient and modern. Also baked goods, clothing and toys, games and other fun items for children. All are welcome.Donations of toys, clothing, books and household items in gently used condition will be gratefully accepted at the St. Philip's Parish House between now and the date of the sale. Please no computers, large appliances, exercise equipment or large furniture. "Is torture ever justified? Would you steal a drug that your child needs to survive? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? How much is a human life worth?" These are the introductory questions posed by Harvard's Michael Sandel in his extraordinary class which fills Sanders Theater to capacity every week. Harvard University has offered videotaped lectures, readings and many other resources free of charge in hopes that our society can benefit from advancing our abilities to grasp the underlying moral philosophies beneath our differing approaches to Justice. For anyone with a computer and a free hour these lectures and the students' participation make for compelling watching. They also make the viewer yearn to talk to others and debate the issues themselves! Here at St. Philip's we will explore these lectures for four consecutive Friday evenings beginning on March 5th. Led by guest moderators of different ages and backgrounds you can explore Justice: What is the right thing to do? and learn why it is Harvard's most popular course. For a glimpse of what is in store go to justiceharvard.org and save your Fridays in March 7:30-9:00pm for this amazing philosophical voyage. The Annual Parish Meeting has been set for Sunday, February 28. The meeting will take place in the Parish House after our 10:30 service. The meeting will include a potluck luncheon. Please bring a main course, side dish, salad or dessert to share. Keep in mind that we will also be making important budget decisions for the upcoming year. Report of the Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee puts forward the following persons for election to parish offices at this year's annual meeting on February 28: Jan Anderson for a first two year term as warden. Belle Newton for a second three year term as a member of the vestry. Jeff Sculley for a first three year term as a member of the vestry. Mike McKee for a first three year term as a member of the vestry. The candidates listed above have all agreed to serve if elected. Wardens are limited to serving three consecutive two year terms and members of the vestry are limited to serving two consecutive three year terms. The present roster of parish officers is as follows: Cynthia Murray, warden (eligibility ends 2010) Nat Prentice, warden (2013) Bell Newton, clerk of the vestry (2013) Jeff Allman, treasurer (2012) Dan McEvoy, vestry member (2010) Jeff Dain, vestry member (2012) Chris Sandlund, vestry member (2012) Nancy Sayles-Evarts, vestry member (2010) Jan Anderson, vestry member (2011) Shelagh Speers, vestry member (2014) Carol O'Reilly, vestry member (2014) Cynthia Murray is concluding her term as warden and Dan McEvoy and Nancy Sayles-Evarts are concluding their terms on the vestry. We thank them for all their hard work and loyal service to St. Philip's Church. Parish Elections Each year at our annual meeting we elect one warden and three vestry members. The parish Nominating Committee choses candidates to run and contacts them to make sure they will be willing to serve if elected. The slate of candidates put forward by the Nominating Committee is published for three weeks prior to the election. Additional nominations can be made at any time during those three weeks by contacting the Rector, Frank Geer. He will contact the person being nominated to make sure that they will serve if elected and then place their name on the ballots. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting itself, but these will be write-in candidates as the ballots need to be prepared before the meeting. On Good Friday (April 2) at 7:30 PM, the Choir will present the Mozart Requiem. Choir members have decided to make this year's concert a fund raiser for Haitian relief. Reflect and renew at a winter yoga retreat to benefit the St. Philip's Nursery School. The retreat will be held at Cat Rock, a landmark home overlooking the Hudson River, on Sunday, February 28 from 2:00 to 5:00. The retreat will include an hour and fifteen minute session of yoga (all levels) led by certifed instructors Krista Osborn and Diana Lapiano, a healthy snack and tea, and a Winter Wonderland hike. The cost for the event will be $40 per person if pre-registered and $45 per person at the door. The snow date is Sunday, March 7. December has arrived and it's time to prepare for Christmas. The choir is getting ready for their concert on Sunday, December 13 at 4:00. The Sunday School children and teachers are hard at work on special Christmas projects: wreath making, cookie baking and ornament creating. The first rehearsal for the pageant, which will take place on Christmas Eve at 5:00, is on Sunday after our 10:30 service. Scripts will be handed out and major roles assigned. Along with these activities, an important inner task is also underway. You are preparing yourself emotionally and spiritually for the coming of Christmas. Think about people that are most important to you. Do little things to help people in need. Take time to step back and observe the joy that is unfolding. Make gratitude a practice everyday. Use love to smooth out the rough places this holiday season. Advent is a time of light, a time when that single match or spark can banish the darkness. Nurish the flame and enjoy the growing pulse of Advent. Here at St. Philip's, we have a close relationship with both the Philipstown Food Pantry, which is housed in the Presbyterian Church in Cold Spring, and the food pantry in Peekskill that is run by the Salvation Army. There are two ways to help. The first is to bring a donation of non-perishable food items to church on Sunday. Especially helpful are hearty items like spaghetti sauce, canned stew, tuna fish, pork and beans, soup, cereal and instant oatmeal. The second way to help is to write a check to St. Philip's and to designate on the check that it is for the local food pantries. You may either mail it to the church or put it in the collection plate on Sunday. These funds will be used to purchase perishable food items in bulk at discount prices. |  The Rev. Frank Geer
CategoriesAll ArchivesOctober 2010 |
RSS Feed