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Who Is My Neighbor?
REV. VICKY L. EASTLAND, PASTOR [email protected]
2 BROOKVILLE ROAD BROOKVILLE, NY 11545
516-626-0414 [email protected] www.BrookvilleChurch.org
Where our doors are always open! May 2016
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
In the spirit of inclusion on our multifaith campus, Rabbi Stuart Paris, invited both Dr. Sultan of our Muslim Reform Movement Organization and myself to speak at last Saturday’s Passover Seder. All three of us, Rabbi Paris included, spoke of the similarities of our faith traditions, which is something we emphasize here at Brookville. The Passover Seder retells the story of the Israelites being led out of slavery by Moses depicting the night that the spirit of death passed over the doors of the Israelites, sparing their first born sons, to the parting of the Red Sea and the leading out of captivity to freedom. Dr. Sultan spoke of how these stories were also included in the Quran, that Islam is a continuation of Judaism and that even though most Muslims do not speak of this parallel in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Holy Quran, the stories are in both and unite us in our faith.
It was easy for me to speak of the stories being the same because the first five books of the Christian Bible are the same books that make up the Jewish Torah. On Long Island, where there is a large Jewish population, we tend to think only of Judaism when we see the Hebrew language in writing, like on the Ark in our shared sanctuary. But Christians must remember that the origins of our faith are birthed out of Judaism. Our Old Testament was originally written in the Hebrew language and as a seminary student studying to be a Christian pastor, I had to learn not only the Greek of the New Testament, but Hebrew as well.
Another uniting belief between the three religions represented at Brookville is our core belief that we are to love God and our neighbor. This is our main focus here on our multifaith campus, and is why Rabbi Paris chose to have it written on the front of the beautifully ornate Ark that was built specifically for our New Synagogue of Long Island congregation. In an article by Rabbi Paris written for our November 2015 campus newsletter, he said:
“The Ark in the front of our synagogue has two of the most important statements in the entire Torah written across the top and down each side.
V’ahav’ta et Adonai Elohecha, b’chol l’vav’cha, u’v’chol naf’shecha u’v’chol m’odecha And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
Ve’ahav’ta lere’acha ka’mocha “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:17-18)
Continued on Page 2B
Brookville Church News 2B
~Rev. Vicky
Who Is My Neighbor? ~ Continued from page 1B
These two Torah portions were also selected by Jesus and Muhammad as the two most important teachings to their followers … The Ark in our shared sanctuary therefore embodies the true spirit of each of our communities and honors all who call the Multifaith Campus their home.”
I am proud to announce that on April 14th our multifaith campus was written about in the Washington Post! The article was written by Susan Katz Miller who wrote the book, Being Both - Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family. She interviewed our very own Interfaith Community (IFC) for much of her research in writing this book. She came back on March 20th to speak to the IFC and was so impressed with what we are doing as a multifaith campus that she wrote an article for the Washington Post where she lives.
In the article, Miller quotes Dr. Sultan:
“Prayer, charity, good neighborliness, the idea that what we do to others comes back to us, forgiveness, equality of all people: These things are in mainstream Islam. Judaism and Christianity also believe in these things. On the campus, this is our focus.”
The faith communities that make up our multifaith campus all share the same vision; a vision to love God and to love our neighbors. We have defined “neighbor” to be anyone God brings across our path. Neighbor is not just someone who is in our own affinity group, our own religion or ethnic makeup. Neighbor is EVERYONE we encounter along life’s path.
Have you ever heard the saying from Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall,” that good fences make good neighbors? The idea is that defining the boundaries keeps us civil to one another. Even though I am a dreamer and want to believe that world peace is possible, I also live in the real world and know that there will always be fences which represent boundaries. Since we will always live in a world with fences, I believe that good fences are the ones that have gates. Gates are the opening that allow our neighbors in; gates are what make hospitality possible. Catholic priest and one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, wrote about our society becoming increasingly fearful and defensive; clinging to our property and looking at the world with ever growing suspicion. One of the primary spiritual needs of our world is to “convert” hostility into hospitality, to turn the “other” into our guest; the neighbor we are called to love.
We are blessed to belong to a mixture of faith communities that are living out hospitality right here in Brookville; we are making a difference by countering fear with faith - a faith that is inclusive!
Thanks be to God!
Life Line Screening: Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure? Have members of your family suffered from these ailments? Do you have a poor diet? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider being screened through the services of Life Line Screening. Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to view the plaque build up in your carotid arteries, the main arteries that carry blood to the brain. Blockages in these arteries are a leading cause of stroke. We are pleased to host this Life Line Screening event on 6/6/2016 at Brookville Church. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.
Brookville Church News 3B
Brookville Church Received a Donation from Amazon Smile!
Yes, this really works! Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Brookville Church every time you shop. This time our donation was small, but we can grow that number with your participation. It’s easy, and if you already shop on Amazon, follow the steps below to donate to Brookville Church!
Ready? Here’s how it works: To shop at amazon.com, go to smile.Amazon.com. Simply log in to Amazon as you normally would. In the search box in the lower right, type Brookville Church. From the list that appears, pick our Brookville, NY location. At the top of the Amazon page you will see: Supporting: Brookville Church. Shop as normal, and 0.5% of your eligible purchases will be sent to Brookville Church at the end of every quarter. It’s that simple!
Thanks to everyone who has already signed up to support our church!
The Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau
County, Inc. The low income community in our immediate area is constantly in need of assistance. If you would like to help, please contact:
Janice Wardlaw, Director Glen Cove EOC
4 Mason Drive, Apt. BB (Lower Level)
Glen Cove, NY 11542 [email protected]
Office Phone (516) 801-2672 Office Fax (516) 676-4958
Give to Brookville Church using your Apple or Android products! It’s easy. First, download QR Code Reader to use the scan code to the right or go into the App Store and search “online giving.” Next, download the “Online Giving: Our Sunday Visitor” app. Once you open the app, click “Register,” then enter our organization ID: 1787, then hit search, which will bring you to the Brookville Reformed Church account. Click on the church name, and it will take you to a register page. Once you’ve set up your account, click “Register” and you’re ready to go!
Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while,
but their hearts forever. ~ Anon
LuDay Provides Superior Education for Children
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To see what LuDay has to offer your child contact us today at: 631-754-4424 x224 or [email protected].
ReflectionsReflections
Branch Worsham
WE CAN’T ~ PROVIDE YOU ~ WITH DATE ~ BUT WE DO SUPPLY ~ THE BEST DARN BAIT
My grandfather, Arthur Anderson, was born on a ship heading to New York from Sweden. Isabelle Paulson was born in Wisconsin, where my grandfather and she later met and married. They first lived in a tarpaper shack in Fort Frances, Canada, on the Lake of the Woods just north of the Minnesota border. Their daughter, Alma, my mother, was born there; the first of twelve children, six boys and six girls. Arthur was a locomotive engineer and when iron ore was discovered in the middle of the state, he moved his growing family to Crosby, on Seventh Street, at the north end of town. It was a small house, two bedrooms upstairs for the children, each with two beds and three in a bed. I knew this house well and often stayed there, sleeping in one of the beds with two uncles. (Yes, it was strange.) They had a huge garden that helped feed the family, and Bossy the cow in a shed. Hans Anderson left Sweden, and in Minneapolis, met Anna, who’d also come from Sweden. They married, and in 1890, bought an 80 acre farm just north of Crosby. Several years later, in 1912, iron ore was found under their home and the mining company bought their land and started the Croft underground mine. That money helped them build a house in town, on Serpent Lake, big enough for twelve children. The mining company thus provided the funds to pay for eleven of their children to attend college at a time when high school was the best most people could accomplish. Two of their boys, Allen and Alfred, were to be part of my life.
Tomma tunner skramler mets. Empty barrels rattle most. (About braggers) The Croft Mine was just half a mile north of my grandparents small home, and years later when the mine was closed, I would play amongst the buildings, fish for sunfish in the small lake formed when the mine shafts collapsed, and hunt squirrels and rabbits in the nearby woods. We lived on Sixth Street North. Olga Peterson lived in Northfield, Minnesota on St. Olaf Avenue and attended St. Olaf College, graduating in the 1920’s. She taught in a few places and eventually arrived in Crosby on a Greyhound bus to become the teacher of Senior English in a room on the northwest corner of the school. As a new and young teacher in town, Olga attended a social event popular among many people in the small community. Olga met Alfred Anderson, son of Hans Anderson. Alfred had stayed in Crosby after college and became the Superintendent of the Inland Steel Mining Company. Olga and Alfred soon married. She had to quit teaching, though, because at that time there was a school policy that married women could not teach. Sometime in that short stint as teacher one of her students was my mother, Alma Anderson. The Greyhound Bus Company started in Hibbing Minnesota, another mining town about 80 miles away. Also on that bus with Olga was Dorothy Castle, who was to become the Home Ec (Economics) teacher, and she was still teaching that class when I attended high school.
I morkret ar alla Katter gra. In darkness all cats are grey. (As an excuse for a mistake that wasn’t easily avoided.)
Olga and Alfred had five children, and their son, Paul, became my classmate when we arrived at the Crosby-Ironton Junior-Senior High School in 1949 as seventh graders. Paul had a small party at his home that year and I was invited. I remember I rode my bicycle over to Ironton, and Paul’s mother (Olga) was especially kind to me every time I visited their house. Was it because my mother was her student? Everybody knew almost everybody in those two small towns. (The two sons became friends and are still friends nearly seventy years later.) There was one more connection: Paul worked after school at the JCPenney company store in Crosby, and so did my mother, and they got to know each other better. I do remember stopping in to see her on the way home from school. The store is a long time gone, but it is still there in my mind.
Hur lange var Adam I paradise? How long was Adam in Paradise? (One should be prepared that happy conditions won't last, or won't get prolonged.)
Over the past two months I discovered delightful things I did not know were connected. Paul’s mother, Olga taught English in the same classroom he and I were taught English in by Berger Aulie, a WW2 Army Vet. (Aulie was ecstatic for me when I got my appointment to West Point.) Paul’s uncle Allen became a dentist, and after WW2, was our family dentist until I went east to the Academy. I just learned he is still alive, and will contact him with a copy of this column. My father, Branch Sr., although a woodsman, worked a short time at the Inland Steel mine, which was run by Pauls’ dad. My dad designed a system of magnets on the conveyor belt that moved the ore about. The magnets kept the ore from falling off the belt thus eliminating mess, dust, and clogging the belt rollers. For this he was awarded $2000, which was designated for the future education of my brother and me. I used $1200 for the initial allotment of cadet uniforms at West Point. How Swedish is my friend Paul? He says, “Half, which is the worst kind of Swede because the other half is Norwegian.” How Swedish am I? In searching online I came across a pleasant, casual test, which answered that question. After finishing the test, the result appeared on the monitor screen. I got 60%—better than half Swede. For sure, if I still lived in Minn-ee-soew-ta I would have scored higher.
Why is it that when I set out to write a poemI end up writing a Scandinavian saga? Why can't I write poetry that's short?
Like this. ~ Alyanne Cooper
END WORD: There’s something I love about how stark the contrast is between January and June in Sweden. Bill Skarsgard (Swedish Actor) Gubbar har almanackan I benen. Old men carry the almanac in their bones. (Swedish proverb to which I say AMEN.)
My name is Yon Yonson I come from Visconsin I work in the lumber mills dere; Ven I valk down de street, All de people I meet, Say, “Hello, vat’s your name?” (repeat ad nauseam)
Shavuot is the “Festival of the Giving of the Torah” at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot is a two-day holiday which falls on the 6th – 7th of the Hebrew month of Sivan, this year corresponding to June 11 – June 13. The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of God’s gift, and
God “re-gives” the Torah. After the Exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel proceeded to Mount Sinai. According to the Torah, it took precisely 49 days, or seven weeks, for the ancient Israelites to travel from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai. Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks.” The name Shavuot, “Weeks,” symbolizes the completion of this seven-week journey. It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot because Jewish tradition compares the words of Torah to the sweetness of milk and honey. Blintzes and cheesecake are among the popular foods to make and enjoy for the holiday. Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is read during services on Shavuot. Ruth was a Moabite priestess whose love for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her love of God and Torah led her to convert to Judaism. Ruth has a further connection to Shavuot because she is the great-grandmother of King David, the second King of Israel. The Book of Ruth records King David’s ancestry. Shavuot is also thought to be the day King David was born and the day he died. David revealed himself as more than a harp-playing shepherd and poet when he courageously stood up to the 9-foot giant Goliath, slaying him with a few rocks and sling. In addition to becoming a great king, the depth and heart of King David is revealed in h i s p o e t r y -
turned-prayers-turned-songs called Psalms, which he wrote. Each one of us has a unique song that lies deep in our soul, just like King David. It is the most pure type of music that stems from who we truly are, in all of our splendor and beauty, the one that reveals us completely, imperfections and all. Every experience of pain, every experience of sorrow, every experience of joy, and every experience of happiness are notes that we weave together to make a song that no one else can sing. When we sing that song back to God through prayer, just as King David did in the Psalms, we fulfill the spiritual purpose for all we are given. When we stop fighting against why we have a certain life circumstance and
accept the Divine Plan, we can finally make use of all the beautiful, sometimes off-key notes we possess to compose the special song only our soul can sing. When we face the opportunities, tests and challenges that are given to us, we write new stanzas to our life’s
song; and we can rely on God for help and guidance. The Torah is more than the rules of life. The Torah is a living encounter with God. The revelation of God at Mount Sinai wasn’t simply an opportunity for the Jewish people to receive God’s laws, but to experience God’s love. The Torah embodies not only a way of life, but also a way to love. The wisdom and commandments of the Torah empower us to love each other and to love God.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
The Torah is Life. The Torah is Love. The Torah is Knowledge. The Torah is Joy.
Enjoy your cheesecake and blintzes, sing your song, and have a happy Shavuot!
~Rabbi Stuart Paris, HaKohen
Brookville Multifaith Campus News 2M
The Saturday Night Live Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the Brookville Church every Saturday night at 9pm. (Coffee and cake starting at 8:30!) As one of Nassau County's oldest AA groups, this meeting has been in existence for over 40 years. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend this meeting.
For more information, feel free to contact
Carol B. at (516) 428-0479.
Our Together We Serve meal ministry is up and running, ready to meet the needs of individuals and or families in the Brookvile Church and Multifaith Campus. A birth? Illness? Surgery? Let us help make life a little easier by bringing a meal, making a dish that can be frozen/reheated easily
in the future, ordering a local food delivery, pizza, etc. Anyone can initiate a “meal train" simply by calling the church office (516-626-0414) and providing our Administrative Assistant, Janîce, with the name of the recipient(s), along with pertinent information. Let us help make life a little easier for someone in need! Currently, we have one member of the church who is on the receiving list. If you would like to sign up to bring a meal, please call the office and speak to Janîce.
Children’s Play & Multifaith Campus Spring Picnic June 12, 2016 ~ play at 10:00am, picnic at 11am
Don’t miss out on the fun!
May Birthdays
Pam Gawley - 2nd
Susan Connors - 3rd
Joyce Perret - 5th
Andrew Bergman - 5th
Austin Stadler - 9th
Kris Baggelaar - 11th
Shirley Morris - 13th
Hal Davidson - 14th
Michael Johanson - 15th
Pamela Rowley - 22nd
Amy Schombs - 26th
Andrew Pinto - 30th
Brookville Multifaith Campus News 3M
Pizza, Popcorn & The Prince of Egypt On Saturday, April 16th, the Interfaith Community (IFC) transformed Fellowship Hall into a theatre for a pre-Passover viewing of the Dreamworks movie, The Prince of Egypt. The event continued the yearlong emphasis on family as parents and children settled into their places for an evening of entertainment and education. Parents hustled to pass out slices of pizza and bags of popcorn to the eager young audience awaiting the show. A short preview of the movie challenged children to observe the movie with curiosity and prepare any questions for a discussion after the film. Judging by the focused attention of all participants during the movie, this was a great way to awaken interest in this central story in not only the Jewish but also Christian and Islamic traditions. The post-show discussion was orchestrated by Michael McBride because Michael had studied much of the Exodus passage for his Bar Mitzvah Torah portion. Michael made a special critical note that elements of the sibling relationship between Moses and Rameses were added to give the audience a more emotional connection with the characters. Also, he said “this added increasing tension and drama to an already dramatic tale.” All of us went home energized by this great story celebrated in a spirit of freedom and family fun.
The New Synagogue of Long Island Shabbat Service
Rabbi Stuart Paris, Hakohen Cantor Irene Failenbogen
First Friday of Each Month at 7pm
All are welcome to attend.
Rev. Justin Meyers is the Director of Education at the Al Amana Centre in the Middle East. The centre’s mission is to seek deep understanding and peace between Muslims and Christians. If you would like to make a donation to our Meyers Fund, please visit www.brookvillechurch.org and click the Online Giving link. You will need to create an account. Once created, you can select: Rev. Justin Meyers-Oman Support to make your donation. Or send a check written to: Brookville Church with Meyers Fund written on the memo line. These gifts are tax deductible. Thank you to the Muslim Reform Movement Organization for contributing 10% toward our $6,300.00 yearly commitment. Remember to pray for our Partner in Peace and Education, his wife Stephanie and their sons, Collin and Gavin as they serve in the Middle East.
~ Rev. Bill McBride Co-director of Education for the IFC
Brookville Multifaith Campus News 4M
Save the Date! Monday, August 8, 2016
The Reformed Church of Locust Valley Sixth Annual Golf Tournament
at Glen Cove Golf Course
Join the Muslim Reform Movement (MRMO)
for Quran Studies in May!
Sunday, May 1 - 2:30pm - 6:00pm
Sunday, May 15 - 2:30pm - 6:00pm
Sunday, May 29 - 2:30pm - 6:00pm
All are welcome!
Hosted by: Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed, author of The Quran and the Life of Excellence
Attention: Parents,
Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc.
If someone in your family is graduating this year from any school, we would like to share your news with the congregation. Call or email the church office with their names, where they are graduating from, what school or profession they will be going on to, etc. We will publish your good news in the June newsletter.
Please remember to get this information to Janîce in the church office by May 15th.
Thank you!
Church of Our Saviour, LutheranWomen’s Wellness Ministry presents:
Breaking the Sugar Habitwith Adrienne Nagy, CWWE
Saturday, May 21, 20169:30am - 11:30 am
Church of Our Savior, Lutheran1901 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset, NY 11030Please join us for this FREE workshop as we explore the reasons we crave sugar as well as the connections between sugar consumption, stress and weight gain.
*Identify your sugar footprint*Break free of your dependence on sugar-laden foods by getting to the source of cravings*Work with nature to satisfy our inherent need for sweet tastes using whole foods instead of refined sugar
RSVP requested.Email: [email protected] or
call/text: (917)834-0215Adrienne Nagy is a Certified Women’s Wellness
Educator and long-time member of COSL
From left to right: Rev. Bill McBride, Cantor Irene Failenbogen, Dr. Sultan Abdulhameed, Rev. Vicky Eastland, Rev. Enid Kessler, Rabbi Stuart Paris
Brookville Multifaith Campus Clergy
