COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLASTON

“ANCHOR”

Rev. Dr. Linden DeBie Rev. Adrienne Flipse Hausch

Senior Minister Minister of Congregational Care

October 2013

Dearly Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ:

I just finished a wonderful Ph. Dissertation by Christopher Ganski. He wrote about how the

Holy Spirit works through Holy Communion. His conclusion was really quite thrilling. He

revealed that in the Holy Communion we have the offer of the most profound spiritual

awakening and quickening, all because of the work of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit binds us to

Christ.

That is an amazing promise. Still, I think many of us aren’t quite sure what Holy Communion is

all about. We see different practices of Holy Communion or Eucharist, as it is also called,

among the various churches. Some of us are aware of the different ways the churches go

about it. A few of us may even be aware of the disagreements among these bodies in their

communion practice. But what really happens at Holy Communion, as well as what might be

the proper effect of communion on a person, remains a mystery to many.

That ―mystery‖ surrounds the meal is only fitting. It is meant to be a mystery. But it is not meant

to be so impenetrable a mystery as to render it beyond our experience. Ganski’s point is

that, while some might disagree about what exactly takes place, the encounter with Christ

through the Holy Spirit can be transformational and awe inspiring. It might seem strange to

compare the results of a communion service with a rapturous altar call at the end of a

revival, or the dancing, weeping and crying drama of a Pentecostal service. But that is to

assume that some wild display of uncharacteristic emotion must accompany a true

encounter with the Holy Spirit. In fact, as Ganski points out, an uncharacteristic outward

emotional display is neither necessary nor is it common.

At times we in church are brought to quiet tears in the celebration of the Word or in our

music or in a moment of shared fellowship. This is by no means less profound than the more

conspicuous displays. For some of us, this happens quite often in church. Ganski writes that

that same visceral moment of spiritual excitement and perhaps even awakening is not only

available in the Eucharist, it is an essential aspect of it. Moreover, the result of that

emotionally powerful encounter with Christ in Holy Communion, is far more transformational

than most of the ordinary sources of inspiration typically associated with Protestant worship.

Union with Christ in the Holy Supper can indeed bring about the most profound feelings of

being in the presence of God and being utterly altered in body, mind and spirit by that

"Hope is like an anchor for our lives,

an anchor safe and sure" - Heb. 6:19

experience. But without access to that

overwhelming offer of grace, many miss

out on the power and effect of

communion with Christ.

In the weeks and months ahead, we are

going to offer several opportunities for

further study of Holy Communion and its

power and effect. Keep an eye on the

Anchor and the bulletin for events that you

can participate in and look for articles and

notices that you can read. This might go a

long way in helping us all better

understand the Church’s teaching on Holy

Communion. Ganski is right! There is no

better Pentecostal experience found

anywhere in the world, then in the full,

authentic celebration of Holy Communion:

His life in our life!

Yours in the Spirit,

Linden

MORE THAN

A CHURCH

WE 'RE A

COMMUNITY

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe enthusiastically in the centrality

of Christ as our Savior and Lord and in the

Bible as a solid guide for living in today’s

world. The Reformed perspective is

centered on the overwhelming Love of

God toward us. We believe that God is

three in one--God the Father, God the Son

in Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are saved by grace

alone through faith. Our good works don’t

earn our salvation, but they are a way for

us to thank God for that free gift He gave

through His Son.

The Reformed Church in America (RCA)

celebrates two Sacraments: Baptism, and

Holy Communion, celebrated the first

Sunday of each month. They remind us of

God’s promises to us and help us to claim

those promises as our own. We believe that

in worship and Sacraments, Christ is truly

present with us, guiding us on the way.

Special Worship Opportunities at CCD

Christmas Choral Vespers • Children’s

Christmas Pageant • Christmas Eve •

Christmas • Good Friday Choral Service •

Easter Sunrise Service • Easter Family

Festival Worship • Galilean Service at the

Dock • Healing Services

GOD WITH US

FOLLOWING JESUS DOES NOT MEAN

holding in our imagination the memory of

someone who lived 2,000 years ago and

trying to apply his teachings to our time.

No, following Jesus means following the

risen Lord, who is with us at this moment,

drawing us more fully home into

deepening communion with God.

―I am with you always; yes to the end of

time‖ (Matt. 28:20). That is the promise.

Who is God? What is God’s name? The first

time God reveals this name is in the

encounter with Moses at the burning bush.

The name of God is ―I AM‖ (Exodus 4:14).

God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob. When God is revealed to the

people, they know God as the God with

them. God is the one who comes to the

people – to us – the one who stays with us,

journeys with us through the desert, and

helps us find new life. In Jesus, we see how

serious God is about being with us. God

became one of us. There is nothing human

that God has not shared with us.

- Henri Nouwen John S. Mogabgab, Editor

A Spirituality of Homecoming

From pages 52-53 of A Spirituality of

Homecoming by Henri J. M. Nouwen,

edited by John S. Mogabgab. Copyright ©

2011 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. All

rights reserved. Submitted by Linda Mulé.

THE ELDERS’ CORNER

Pray Persistently

Although I like to think of myself as a realist,

when it comes to unexpected and

potentially threatening events, I’ve often

been a ―glass half-empty‖ person. It’s

embarrassing considering my professed

faith. Some elder I am.

Rather than to depend on God, I’ve often

defaulted to my producer’s mentality, and

tried to solve problems all by myself.

Whether it was health issues, career or

financial problems, family conflicts, or just

plain bad luck; I often tried to solve

everything on my own. This attitude has

never really worked, and it cost me lots of

unnecessary worry, stress, and sleepless

nights.

As you can see, I may not always practice

what I preach; however, when we really

understand God’s love for us (i.e.:

Surrender to Love) and His plan for us, only

then can we begin to realize the doors

that He wants to open for us. But we’ll only

realize these things when we’re constantly

talking to Him, listening to His voice, and

growing deeper in our relationship with

Him.

“Keep on asking and it will be given

you; keep on seeking and you will

find; keep on knocking (reverently)

and (the door) will be opened to

you.” Mathew 7:7

Mathew 7:7

So many times when we reach the end of

our rope, we turn to prayer; but when our

prayers are not instantly answered, we give

up. Today, I encourage you to not only

pray, but to pray persistently. Don’t stress

out trying to make things happen on your

own. Give it to God as you pray.

Remember, He promises when we seek

Him, we will find Him. Let’s pray and seek

Him with all our hearts. Here’s a prayer

starter:

God, remind me to bring my

problems to You. I’m tired of living in

my own strength. I need Your

guidance and Your direction. As I

seek You daily, I will put my trust in

You.

I wish you God’s blessings as you travel the

journey.

In His Service,

Ed Palafox

Joanne Iorio, LCSW-R

Psychotherapist

718-229-4269

Available Tuesdays

Afternoons and Evenings

at

Community Church of Douglaston

Affordable

INTER CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES OF JUNE 29, 2013

The Inter Church Council represents CCD

and the two other churches that worship

and serve their congregations at CCD

each week: All Nations Disciple Church of

New York and Grace Christian Church.

These June minutes were inadvertently

omitted from the September Anchor.

1. The first item of business was to

consider sharing information

together in our newsletters. It was

decided that each meeting we

would distribute the minutes to be

translated into each language and

made available to our

congregations.

2. Grace Christian Church will provide

CCD with a copy of the proof of

liability form to satisfy our insurance

company.

3. The council would like to see the

church consider a ramp or stairs for

the back of the parking lot. Linden

this will bring to the attention of the

Property Committee for

consideration.

4. The three churches would like to

celebrate Thanksgiving Eve together

on Wednesday, November 27, 2013.

The service would be at 6:30 and be

followed by dinner together in the

Parlor. The Council would prepare

the service at our November 16

Council meeting which is at 10 AM.

5. The Council asks its leaders to

consider also a shared Maundy

Thursday Communion Service on

April 17—also to be arranged for and

planned by the Council, along with

a meal afterwards.

6. Members of CCD, Grace Church

and All Nations were joyfully invited

to pledge toward the new sign for

our church. This sign will display all

the important news and services of

the churches that support the fund

drive. It was also clearly stated that

this will be the only permitted

signage on the property except for

the occasional banners that will be

used to highlight occasional key

activities.

7. The Council set its meeting dates for

2013-14. September 14, November

16, April 5 and June 28.

8. All Nations and Grace church are

cordially invited to attend and

participate in our annual Christmas

Vespers Service and our annual

Good Friday Service. Both are

musical services and will remain in

the great tradition of the ancient

Church.

JUNIOR/

YOUTH

CHOIR

Children from 4 to 14 are invited to join the

Junior/Youth Choir. The first rehearsal is

Sunday, October 6, beginning at 9:30 am

in the Chapel under the direction of Linda

Mulé. Future rehearsals begin at 9:45 am.

The children will again sing every Sunday

during worship, and will participate in the

Christmas Pageant under the musical

direction of Kimberly Iannuzzi Pidherny. No

prior musical training is required to

participate, just the ability to listen and

learn.

THOSE AMONG US

Anna was born in New York. She attended

Sacred Heart School in Brooklyn and P.S. 49

in Queens. She went to Newtown High

School and St. John’s University; one year

of which was spent in Aix en Provence

near Marseille. Then Anna attended Pace

University where she earned a Doctor of

Professional Studies degree in

Management Science, Behavioral

Psychology and International Business.

While in school, Anna Elaine spent summers

with her grandparents on their farm/ranch

where there were horses. To reach them

she traveled as an unaccompanied minor

to Rome where she was joined by cousins

who then went with her to Tunisia where

she learned French, Arabic, and Italian.

Today she is fluent in French, okay in

English, and can get along in Italian.

Anna’s first job was with TWA (Trans World

Airlines) for whom she worked in Paris, New

York, Bombay and Hong Kong. From there

she went to Union Carbide, and then to

Wall Street where she was Marketing

Director for Prudential Securities.

St. John’s University asked her to teach an

evening course in International Marketing,

because she is a woman, had experience

in the field, and was needed to fill a void

when professors were older men and

students were mostly women. After one

year at St. John’s and while in Hawaii, Dr

Anna Elaine received a 4 a.m. phone call

from St John’s offering her a full-time

position. Disillusioned with male dominance

and pressure as well as a lack of ethics, the

Doctor left business and became a

professor. Now she could share the positive

and negative realities of a career in

different industries.

Now Anna is a tenured faculty member at

St. John’s University and has created

educational curriculum programs and

effected the futures of many young

people.

As an undergraduate Anna took courses

at the Fashion Institute of Technology and

has always had a second job in the fashion

industry, i.e. theme marketing at F.I.T. or

Parsons School of Design.

Anna just returned from Sydney where on

TV, the radio, and in newspapers she

helped establish a fashion district for the

U.S. Study Center, U.S.S.C.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Anna was sent to

Spain to teach the use of game theory in

education. She has taught in East Europe

as well.

After she had established her career, Dr.

Anna Elaine Andrea Licari married a

widower who was not interested in

children. They bought a big house for

themselves and life took over and Edward

La Grassa changed his mind. Now they are

blessed with Alexandra, age 17 and

Hunter, age 14.

Andrea concludes, ―The world is not that

big a place. People are not all that

different. We all have the same aspirations,

hopes and dreams.‖

Joan Hoffman

CONGRATULATIONS

Rod O’Connell, a friend of CCD,

often in our prayers, was recently

presented with an award from the

Douglaston Civic Association. In

addition to being a DCA board

member and former treasurer, he

was recognized for his long time

dedication to civic activism.

PRAYER LIST

IMMEDIATE PRAYERS

FAMILY OF DR. HEIDI SUNG, JOHN

BLOCK JR., KATHLEEN KOENIG,

ANDY AND MARIE, EVELYN,

CHRISTINE, PATRICK

CONTINUED PRAYERS

FAMILY OF COLIN MASON, NELSON COLLINS AND

FAMILY, HELEN KAHN, CLIFF CROCOLL, KATHY,

BARNES FAMILY, KEITH, LAURA LEONE, VICKY, LYNDA,

MS. DISTANT, HEIDI SUNG, DANIEL BOYLE, LEA,

JULIA, THE H.T. FAMILY, WALTER GRILL, ROD

O’CONNELL, SUSAN ROSE TRUSSUX, MAIA

O’DONNELL, BILL ROSE, SALLY.

WANTED

FOR

LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

@

PASTOR ADRIENNE’S BENCH

Donations of school supplies, diapers,

canned meats, toiletries, personal care

items, small household goods, and

shopping bags are welcome.

Winter clothing for all age groups is

needed and sneakers in good condition.

Blankets, linens &towels are needed too.

LICC’s Riverhead pantry particularity

needs donations of peanut butter, jelly,

canned meats and canned fish.

Toiletries are always needed.

Pastor Adrienne will deliver any of these

items.

Items are desperately needed by

Long Island Council of Churches

for those who depend on donations

and our good will.

Please leave items on the inside bench

by the back Church door.

TO ALL OUR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS:

If you took the table cloth home

to wash it, please return it. It's the

one in your linen drawer that you

keep looking at and asking "Does

anyone know where this table

cloth came from?" We are

running short.

And if anyone has extras--104

inches long are the best but we'll

take anything--we can always use

them.

Pastor Adrienne

NEWS FROM THE INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL

September 2013 Meeting

At the September meeting of the Inter-

church Council we discussed several items,

the most important of which was our

shared services together with all three

churches participating.

We will have a shared Thanksgiving service

Wednesday night November 27. We still

need to finalize the time as we differed as

to the best time for this. It will be

announced well ahead. A second service

will be of a Maundy Thursday service.

We will also hold an evening study on

Reformed tradition in all three languages

with a fellowship meal to follow. The time

and date for this is being worked out.

Both Grace and All Nations are invited and

pleased to attend both our Christmas

Vespers Service and our Good Friday

Service.

Finally, we talked about items that effect

us both such as church signage and better

inter-church communications. To that end,

we committed ourselves to publishing

reports from our meetings in our respective

newsletters.

TUESDAY MORNING MUSIC CLUB

The Tuesday Morning Music Club invites

you to attend their monthly concerts in the

CCD Parlor followed by lunch. A donation

is appreciated for the meal. Enjoy a variety

of fine music works and performers

representing members and guest artists.

They meet the 4th Tuesday of the month

from 11am to 2pm, from October thru May,

except for December.

For more for information please call Carol

at 646 824-6446.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Bring your beloved animals as we

bless the animals and celebrate

the Feast of St. Francis during our

10:30 am worship service on

October 20.

With no disrespect to St. Francis, the

the Blessing of the Animals was

moved to avoid conflict with the

Columbus Day weekend

so all our children and adults, and

their animals may participate.

JOYS

FOR

NEW GREAT GRANDPARENTS

Bill and Joan Rose welcomed

their first great grandchild in

September, Logan Rose.

WANT TO LIVE LONGER?

GO TO CHURCH!

Attending weekly religious services can

tack on an extra 1.8 to 3.1 years on to your

life expectancy, according to a review of

research published in 2006 in the Journal of

the American Board of Family Medicine.

This longevity benefit could lie in church's

stress-relieving benefits, though it's also

possible that "being in a religious

community helps you make meaning out

of your life," the researcher of that study,

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's

Daniel Hall, told LiveScience.

DEACONS REPORT

The Deacons continued our discussion

after the summer break about what

possible mission projects we could suggest

for the older Sunday School children to

participate in locally. We are looking

forward to the annual Brown Bag Sunday

food collection coming up in November

for Star of the Sea, the women’s shelter in

Jamaica. With the generous donation of

personalized CCD recyclable shopping

bags from the DeLuca family, the kids will

proudly distribute them in the

neighborhood for the collection of foods.

The Souper Bowl Sunday is another annual

project in January that collects monies for

children who are physically and mentally

challenged so that they can attend the

APEC Arts Center to learn about the

animals and their habitat. We are also

looking into a mission project during Lent,

possibly to help a family in need of re-

building. This project will likely be done in

conjunction with the Long Island Council of

Churches (LICC) where Pastor Adrienne

serves on the Board. The donations to

"Pastor Adrienne's Bench" go to the LICC

food and merchandise pantry.

On the global front, we have been given

mission updates through the RCA on Amos

Liang’or in Kenya and Bruce and Tamar

DeJong in rural South India. Amos, a

trained nurse, administers a clinic in a

remote part of western Kenya. He visits

villages near the clinic, finds opportunities

to share the gospel and teaches people

about the healthy practices and disease

prevention. Bruce is a physician in a village

in India where he treats poor villagers in an

outpatient clinic and Tamar a workshop to

help local women support themselves.

If you have any ideas of a worthwhile

organization or individual in need, that you

would like the deacons to consider, please

contact one of us: Michel Fiechter, Ed

Muccini, Annette Mohammed, and our

pastoral advisor, Pastor Adrienne Hausch

or, yours truly, Caroline Warshaw.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

Help adorn the Church

Sanctuary and altar on

Sunday mornings with

fresh flowers!

Celebrate a person or

an occasion or

remember a loved

one. Please sign up on the Flower Sign-up

Sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway

opposite the Library or call the Church

Office during the week.

returns to

The Community Church of Douglaston Saturday, October 5, 2013

8:00 PM

~ Opera Night has been entertaining audiences across Long Island since July 2004 ~

Adults - $20 Students - $5

For ticket reservations, contact Kimberly at (516) 869-1410

www.harvestofsong.eventbrite.com or 156 627-3494

Warm your heart and inspire your soul!

All funds go to the CRC music ministry, which includes outreach and service in the Manhasset community.

Community Reformed Church At Manhasset 90 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030

CONTINUE - Pastor Adrienne’s BACK PAGE

had to spend eight hours each day just collecting potable water—that’s what WE do with

your dollars—make it better.

Do. Participate in charitable events. Bring in others. Instead of just attending a concert,

attend one where the proceeds will go to charity (the good ones—not the ones that have

85% administrative costs). Walk. Run and play for the good of others.

That should keep you busy until next month. --Pastor Adrienne

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLASTON

39-50 Douglaston Parkway

Douglaston, New York 11363

(718)229-2169

www.communitychurchofdouglaston.org

Change Service Requested

PASTOR ADRIENNE’S BACK PAGE

I love autumn. It has always been my favorite season and although when I was a child I

always felt sorry for those who did not have a white Christmas, I could never imagine life

without fall; life without changing leaves; life without orange and red and gold everywhere. I

guess I was really lucky to be born and raised in the Northeastern United States. As you read

this I will be in New Hampshire proving my point!

Most people call Spring the time of renewals and new beginnings. For sure, we

celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord in the spring and our own rebirth through Him. But with

the end of summer and the beginning of school, the start of new ―program years‖, juries

coming back and my trials moving into high gear—yep: this is truly ―the beginning.‖

SO it is time to get a head start on those New Year’s Resolutions that the Gregorian

calendar calls for on January 1. I find if I don’t do it now, by December I have messed up so

much it hardly seems worth bothering. An oldie but goodie: do one nice thing for no reason

every day—one of those ―random acts of kindness.‖

Tithe. I get it—ten percent is rough these days. So, just pledge. Make a promise to give

to God—whether it be through CCD or wherever you worship (or SHOULD be worshipping).

Nothing that meets that description? Give to CCD and designate for benevolences—we

don’t ask for anyone’s membership card before we feed them or clothe them. God’s

children are God’s children. Hungry hurts. Homeless hurts more. And imagine if your mother

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