PRELUDE, November 2002

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS IF YOU DARE

As Thanksgiving approaches I find myself counting the reasons I have to be grateful to God. As John Jurik, pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran in Huntington Station, recently observed, counting our blessings puts us on dangerous ground: if we admit that we received these gifts without earning them, than shouldn't others have them, too? My blessings raise questions:

1. I was blessed to be born in this nation, with freedom and plenty of food at least if we share it. Shouldn't children elsewhere have these, too?
2. I was blessed to be born to a father who received GI Bill benefits, allowing him to learn a trade, earn a living, and contribute to his community. Why do we provide so little training to those who want to do the same today?
3. I was blessed to be born at a time when VA and FHA loans allowed a working class family to buy a decent home. Will this possible here?
4. I was blessed to be born at a time when working people had adequate medical coverage for their entire families, helping me to grow up healthy. So why do we tolerate the lack of any coverage for 400,000 of our neighbors in Nassau & Suffolk, of whom 100,000 are children?
5. I was blessed to be born white, awarding me preferential treatment. Our town desegregated its schools only the year before I was born, and everything from text-books to standardized tests assumed that ours was a nearly-all-white world. How might I felt about myself, and how might I have been treated, if I had been born black, Hispanic, or Asian?
6. I was blessed to be born into a Christian family. Our town was fairly tolerant of other faiths, but my best friend in grade school came from a family so traumatized by the Holocaust that Jerry was forced to conceal from outsiders that they celebrated Hanukkah and had relatives in Israel.
7. I was blessed to be born to an English-speaking family. In the 1950s, fluency in more than one language was actively discouraged. In a neighboring town, nearly 40% of the students in "special ed" were Latinos, since IQ tests were given only in English. I spent a brief, pleasant time in such a class myself, because I was so bored in the first grade that I spent the day staring out the window. I returned to Normal when the special ed teacher asked about the puppet show she had just presented, featuring two of my favorite cartoon characters, and I gave her a lively, verbatim account. How different life might have been if I had answered "Que?"

I would like to think that I have earned everything I have received, but the truth is that I have been blessed: I have received benefits and advantages as unmerited as God's grace. Have you have been blessed?

Shalom/Salaam/Shanti/Pax
Tom

Our New Mission Statement:

"The Long Island Council of Churches unites diverse Christians to work together to improve living conditions on Long Island and to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation."

A MIDRASH ON OUR MISSION STATEMENT

How do we explain what we do? And how do we explain our commitment to interdenominational and interfaith work in a way which both evangelicals and ecumenicals, both Christians and non-Christians, can understand?

During a recent discussion of our new mission statement, the LICC's Board of Governors discovered that the same word can mean radically different things to two different people. When ecumenicals speak of interfaith cooperation, they think of cooperation only in positive terms of "working together" (the original meaning of the word "cooperate") and do not assume that those who are cooperating agree with one another on all matters of faith. One Board member spoke of "the need to promote interfaith cooperation to address injustice and suffering in the community." For evangelicals, though, "interfaith cooperation" may sound like a dangerous sort of syncretism, an amalgamation of different religions rather than a way of working together despite differences. For many evangelicals, cooperation implies mutual acceptance of core beliefs: for some Baptists, a "cooperative association" is an organization of like- minded Christians, something others might call a denomination. When ecumenicals talk about cooperating with Jews or Muslims, they do not mean they are ready to unite in a denomination with them.

So, here is what our Board meant when they drafted the new mission statement:

• We are called as Christians to oneness in Jesus Christ and to pursue visible communion between denominations.
• Our call to oneness in Christ leads us to seek understanding between Christians and non-Christians, but not to pretend all faiths are the same. Our call to work together as Christians to address injustice and suffering in the community leads us to work with non-Christians for the common good.
• Working with other faith communities does not mean that we are endorsing the beliefs of other religions, but rather that we are seeking to serve God together despite our differences.

WHAT WE ASK:

• pray for our work at least once a year
• announce LICC events in your bulletin or newsletter
• urge your members to participate in our work of serving those in need and building greater understanding between diverse people on Long Island.
• collect food each month for the LICC's emergency pantries or for a local food pantry.
• take up a special offering for the LICC each year, put us in your budget, or have an annual fundraiser.
• publish opportunities to give to the LICC.

FROM THE EDITOR:

SOMETHING TO PONDER:

Most people are unaware of positions on the war with Iraq taken by their judiciaries, and many support President Bush's position. It is a dilemma faced often in churches like that of United Methodists, who, while acknowledging Iraq President Hussein's intransigence, states: Upon the powerful rests responsibility to exercise their wealth and influence with restraint...war is incompatible with the teachings of Christ."

In the Saturday, October 12 Faith issue of NEWSDAY, Paul Moses raised the question of a just war in the context of the growing anti-war activities around Long Island, the country and the world, and noted the following:

• The U.S. Catholic bishops fielded a letter on 9/13 urging Bush to "step back from the brink of war....a preemptive unilateral use of force is difficult to justify at this time."
• The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, among others have also raised similar concerns.
• Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, wrote, "I do not believe such a war can be justified under the historic principles of a just war."

A WORD OF THANKS

Many thanks to all who planned, spoke at, and attended our "Room in the Inn" Convocation on the housing crisis at the 1st Baptist Church in Riverhead on September 28. And a big thanks to our keynote speaker, Fr. Charles Stroebel, and our sponsors: Washington Mutual Bank, Commerce Bank, KeySpan, Greenpoint Foundation, Riverhead Building Supply, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Suffolk County National Bank, HSBC, and Hamptons State Bank.

Additional thanks to all who walked in Washington Mutual's "Walk On Home" walk-a-thon for affordable housing on September 29 and to those who sponsored LICC walkers Tom Goodhue and Cynthia Cooper.

And thanks to all who took part in the Oct. 20 CROP Walks in Wantagh and at Hempstead Lake State Park, both of which raised funds for Church World Service and the LICC's Emergency Food Program. The latter included walkers from the LICC, Community Presbyterian in Malverne, Holy Trinity Lutheran and the United Church of Rockville Centre, The Congregational Church of South Hempstead, 1st Presbyterian in Freeport, Incarnation Lutheran in Cedarhurst, Community Congregational in New Hyde Park, 1st Presbyterian in Baldwin, and Christ Episcopal in Garden City.

TV WORTH WATCHING: "AND THOU SHALT HONOR..."

If you missed this two-hour documentary about caring for our aging parents, spouses, and friends when it premiered on Oct. 9 on PBS, you have another chance. WLIW/21 airs it on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 9:00 p.m. It includes a nice profile of the Rev. Lois Knutson, a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota who has a passion for ministry with the elderly. Some other WLIW programs of note in November include:

• "One Thousand and One Voices: the Music of Islam" Monday, Nov. 11, 9 p.m.
• "The New Klezmorim" Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m.

DID YOU KNOW?

• All clergy are invited to a meeting at Refuge Temple, 106 Broadway in Freeport, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. where there will be a chance to learn more about the resources for responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis. For further information, call Bishop Carter at 868-0400.
• The next event in our ongoing interreligious dialogue on the Middle East conflict will be at Temple Beth Sholom (100 Hempstead Avenue in Rockville Centre) on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. Yossi Klein Halevi is the author of "At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew's Search for God with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land," a wonderful book which I reviewed in the Nov., 2001, Prelude (www.ncccusa.org/ecmin/licc). Halevi will speak on "A Jew's Journey into Christianity and Islam in the Holy Land: Is Reconciliation Possible?" Rabbi Barry Dov Schwartz, Chaplain Sanaa Nadim, and I will respond from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian responses. There is no charge but reservations are required. Please call 516-942-2651 or 516-496-0328 to RSVP so that we'll be sure to have plenty of noshes! A flyer is attached.
• Church Women United will be celebrating World Community Day this month with a focus on "Daughters of Abraham": Jewish, Christian, and Muslim women. The Freeport-Baldwin CWU will gather on Friday, Nov. 1, at 1:00 at Christ Lutheran/Iglesia Luterana, 61 North Grove Street in Freeport. On Friday, Nov. 8, at 1:30, for example, Chaplain Sanaa Nadim will speak at Christ Lutheran Church, 3384 Island Road in Wantagh.
• Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, which many congregations observe with special prayerss for those affected by this disease. All clergy are invited to a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. at Refuge Temple, 106 Broadway in Freeport, where information will be available on how to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For further information, call Bishop Carter at 516-868-0400.
• The Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of the South Fork, the home congregation for the LI Multi-Faith Forum's seminary intern Allison Cornish, is breaking ground for their new Meeting House on Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 12 noon on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike at Scuttlehole Road. Refreshments and reception will follow at the site, or if weather is inclement at the Water Mill Community House, Montauk Highway, Water Mill. To RSVP, call 631-728-9102 or email: merrick102@aol.com.

OFFERED/NEEDED

Offered:

• Bethany Methodist Home in Brooklyn is offering respite care to seniors who need non-medical rest and care after an illness or hospital stay or who need short-term care while a home care giver is away on business or vacation. The cost is $75 a day, including three meals. Call Marie Piccolo at 718-462-6292.
• Nassau County's Office of Consumer Affairs offers speakers to church and community groups on such topics as how to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous, unlicensed home improvement and landscape contractors and how to avoid Identity Theft, one of the fast-growing crimes. Call Deputy Commissioner Jim Reed at 516-571-3284 to request a presentation.
• Project Literacy/Outreach provides tutoring in reading, writing, and spelling in Nassau and Western Suffolk. Call 516-676-7066 or email lu@projectliteracy.org.
• New videos available in the LICC's lending library in Hempstead:
  • "Uncle Saddam"
  • "And Thou Shalt Honor: Caring for Our Aging Parents, Spouses,and Friends"

Needed:

• Donations for the LICC's Thanksgiving baskets are needed in Hempstead by Nov. 10. Donations also are need for our Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Dinner in Riverhead .
• Peconic Housing Initiative needs warm winter jackets for adults and children. Call Doreen Fartello at 631-727-6820 or Lorry Werner at 631-727-6820 for further information. The LICC office at 235 Sweezy Avenue in Riverhead, is a collection point.
• Job leads. We receive a constant stream of requests for organists, choir directors, church secretaries, youth ministers, and guest preachers. As the LICC assists those who lost their jobs as a result of the 9/11 attacks, though, we are meeting more and more workers with other skills and great experience. Do you know anyone who is looking for a computer programmer, software consultant, or financial analyst? Call Anne Vaughan at 516-565-0390!
• Clergy willing to extend welcome and pastoral care to visitors who have AIDS or are HIV positive. AIDS Interfaith Long Island (which the LICC helped start) is updating its roster of "friendly clergy." If you would like to be included, contact Cornelia Rudin at Nursing Sisters Home Care, 516-683-1336, ext. 4117. If you would like to be notified of future AILI meetings and events, give your e-mail address to Tom Goodhue at licchemp@aol.com or give your snail mail address to Cornelia Rudin.
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Roosevelt is looking for someone who can repair an old Galbranson electric organ. If you can help, call the Rev. Colvin Goddard at 516-623-9548.
• Habitat for Humanity in Suffolk is seeking new (or in good condition) windows, doors, cabinets, plumbing, vinyl siding, hand tools, and electrical fixtures. Call 631-924-4966.
• 1st Church of God (Anderson) in New Albany, Indiana, is sending a youth group to volunteer at the New York State Special Olympics at Hofstra June 9-15. They need a church where they can throw their sleeping bags on the floor, use the bathrooms, and gather for meetings. If you can help, contact Pastor R. W. Moody at 812-945-2361 or rdub2@juno.com.
• Center of Hope Ministries is seeking space for Sunday worship and a weekday Bible study anywhere in the Town of Islip. Contact the Rev. Tonie Gayle at centerofhope2001@yahoo.com.

JOB OPENINGS:

• The United Methodist Church of Hempstead is seeking a full-time secretary, 35 hours a week. MS Word required; MS Publisher helpful. Send resume to the Rev. Ralph Mueckenheim, 40 Washington St., Hempstead, 11550.
• The People's Church in Long Beach, which describes itself as a "small, active, non-denominational, traditional Protestant church," is seeking a part-time, ordained pastor. Call 516-239-4885.

SPANISH-LANGUAGE WORSHIP SERVICES

The LICC encourages you to make sure that Hispanic churches in your community are included in local ecumenical and interfaith clergy associations and in community worship services for Thanksgiving, Epiphany, Martin Luther King Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, etc. Those studying Spanish might also benefit from visiting these services. Here are the ones we have found thus far. If you have additional information, please call 516-565-0290 or e-mail licc@netzero.com).

NASSAU COUNTY:

Elmont:

St. Boniface Fr. Angelo Resulto - Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Farmingdale:

St. Killian - Saturday, 6:15 p.m.

Freeport:

Iglesia Luterana de Cristo Sunday, 10:00 a.m.- Pastor Michael Wilker 516-378-1258

Our Holy Redeemer - Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Church of the Nazarene - Alex & Amanda Madrigal 516-867-3351

Glen Cove:

St. Patrick--Fr. Santiago Londono Sundays, 9:15 a.m.

Iglesia Apostolica at 1st Presbyterian - Rev. Christinos Fuentes

Seventh-Day Adventist--at 1st Presbyterian - Rev. Samuel Arozco 516-294-0745

Great Neck:

St. Aloysius - Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Hempstead:

Hispanic United Methodist Pastor Victoria Luna, 516-486-8495

Iglesia Presbiteria Pastor Rudolfo Saborio, 516-564-0201 - Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Iglesia Lutherana Pastor Heriberto Prudencio, 516-486-3287

Our Lady of Loretto

• Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday, 9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
• Mon-Wed-Fri, 7:30 p.m.

Inwood:

Our Lady of Good Counsel - Sunday, 8:15 a.m.

Long Beach:

St. Mary of the Isle - Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Manorhaven:

Our Lady of Fatima - Saturday, 7:00 p.m.

Mineola:

Corpus Christi Rev. Tomaz Gomide - Saturday, 8:00 p.m.

New Hyde Park:

Notre Dame - Sunday, 7:00 p.m.

Oceanside:

St. Anthony - Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

Oyster Bay:

St. Dominic - Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Rockville Centre:

St. Agnes Cathedral - Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Roosevelt:

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

Uniondale

St. Martha's

Valley Stream

Church of the Nazarene - Rev. Magdiel Alvarez 718-323-1954

Westbury:

St. Brigid - Sunday, 11:30 a.m.

SUFFOLK COUNTY:

Aquebogue:

Ministerios Sion (at 1st Parish Church) Pastor Enrique Carbajal
Sunday, 1:30; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Amagansett:

St. Michael's Lutheran - Saturday, 7:00 p.m. 631-267-6351
Pastor Richard Mowery & Diacona Emilce Alguera

Babylon:

St. Joseph - Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Bay Shore

Church of the Nazarene - Rev. Florentino Murillo 631-968-5269

Brentwood:

Christ Episcopal Church

Church of the Nazarene - Rev. John Robalino 631-952-3226

St. Anne - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9:00 a.m.

St. Luke - Saturday, 8:00 p.m. & Sunday, 9:00 a.m.

Center Moriches

St. John the Evangelist Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Central Islip

Grace Lutheran Church - Rev. Morales 631-234-8514

United Methodist Church - Sundays, 1 p.m. & Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. - Rev. Enrique Lebron 631-234-6539

Copiague:

Our Lady of Assumption - Sunday, 11:45 a.m.

Coram:

St. Frances Cabrini - Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

East Hampton:

United Methodist Church - Sunday, Wed., Fri., 7:30 p.m.

Most Holy Trinity - Sunday 5 pm (winter), 7 pm (summer)

Farmingville:

Resurrection Church - 1st &n 3rd Sundays, 6:30 p.m.

Greenport:

St. Agnes - Saturday, 8:00 p.m.

Hampton Bays:

St. Rosalie - Sunday, 4 p.m.

Huntington:

St. Hugh of Lincoln - Sunday, 8:45 a.m. & Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Mattituck

Church of New Jerusalem - at Mattituck Presbyterian - Pastor Roberto Salcedo

Montauk:

St. Therese of Lisieux - Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Moriches:

Fuente de Jacob Church - Pastor Enrique Guadelupe 631-878-0566
Sun., 11:00; Tues., 7:30 p.m.; Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 p.m.

Patchogue:

Iglesia Bautista Beth-El Rev. Juan Carlos Rivera 631-395-4003 Sunday, 11:15 & 12:15

St. Francis de Sales - Sunday, 9:15 a.m. & Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

Port Jefferson:

Infant Jesus Church - Sunday, 10 a.m.

Port Jefferson Station:

Emmanuel Church of God Sunday, 2:30 & Wednesday at 7 p.m. - Pastors Eli & Annie Turnil 631-737-5303

Riverhead:

St. John the Evangelist - Sunday, 7:00 p.m.

Southampton:

Sacred Heart - Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

Wyandanch:

Miraculous Medal - Sunday, 9:45 a.m.