TABLE OF CONTENTS
From Our Executive Director:
SHOULD WE LET POLITICIANS TOUCH THE BIBLE?
A great question posed by many a pastor asks, "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Perhaps we also need to ask whether our actions might embarrass the One we claim to follow: if you were on trial, and Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, or the Buddha were called as a character witness, would he admit that he knew you? Would your behavior be an embarrassment to the teaching you claim to hold dear?
I've been thinking lately about whether or not God might be chagrined by our saying that we revere Holy Writ. As you may know, the first Muslim elected to Congress, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, has stirred up a ruckus by announcing that he plans to take the oath of office on Jan. 4 with his hand on a Quran, the Muslim holy book. Members of the House of Representatives traditionally raise their right hands and are sworn in together on the floor of the chamber. The ritual sometimes seen as the swearing-in is actually a ceremonial photo op with the speaker of the House that usually involves a Bible. "They can bring in whatever they want," says Fred Beuttler, deputy historian of the House. One ill-informed radio talk show host (I know: that last phrase may be redundant, though I am sure there are some exceptions) protested that no Mormon elected official has "demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon," but it turns out that Republican Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, carried a volume of Mormon scriptures that included the Bible and the Book of Mormon at his swearing-in ceremony in 1997. And quite a few Jewish members of Congress have chosen the Tanakh (a.k.a., "the Old Testament," "Hebrew Scriptures," and "First Testament").
What's worse, a Virginia Congressman warned his constituents that unless immigration is restricted, there will "likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran." This, Rep. Virgil H. Goode claimed, might undermine "the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America . . ." Goode thus demonstrated his profound ignorance of both American history and his new colleague, who is not an immigrant but rather an African American whose family has been here since at least 1742. As C.T.R. Hewer points out in his new book Understanding Islam (which will be reviewed in next month's Prelude), Muslims have been here since the 1500s: probably one-fifth of those brought here in chains were followers of Islam, though most were forced by their masters to convert to Christianity - despite the belief many of their owners professed in "soul freedom." In fact, the first known non-native settlement in what is now the USA, by slaves who rebelled in Santo Domingo and fled to the Peedee River in the Carolinas, certainly included many Muslims. In comparison to them, my Puritan ancestors were latecomers when they landed in Massachusetts in 1636.
You have to wonder, too, if the gentleman from Virginia has ever read the Constitution he swore to uphold, which insists that we will have no "religious test" for public office, or the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of worship. If he put his hand on a Bible when he was sworn in, it might also do him some good to study Deuteronomy 26, which tells us to celebrate our freedom and good fortune with "your family, the Levites, and the immigrants who live among you." Tolerance and respect for people of other faiths are among the values and traditions that have made this nation great.
You may wonder why Mr. Ellison chose the Quran. Theoretically, a Muslim should have little objection to using the Bible, since the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him, as Muslims say) claimed that he was merely teaching pagan Arabs the same lessons that had been taught by Judaism and Christianity. He also told his followers to respect Jews and Christians as fellow "People of the Book," which suggests that we are reading similar books. Ellison's decision should prompt some heart-to-heart interfaith dialogue as to whether or not modern Muslims really do honor the Scriptures we do, or whether they see them as corrupted texts. There's a certain tendency in multi-faith education to think that you should ignore our differences, sing a few verses of Kumbayah, and "smile on your brother, try to love one another right now." One of the strengths of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum is that we have created venues in which we can talk pretty openly about our peculiarities as well as our commonalities. How we view each other's Scripture is an important topic for all of us who are living in a multi-cultural society. Civility may demand that we not ridicule one another's fairy tales, but no one should be required to profess allegiance in beliefs that he or she does not hold. As both Baptists and Muslims have taught, there should be no coercion in matters of faith (Quran, 2:256).
Still, it is understandable that Rep. Ellison might prefer his own version of Scripture, even if he respects the Tanakh and the New Testament. In much the same way, many Christians prefer the parables of Jesus to the Book of Numbers: we're not knocking the Ten Commandments, but we like 1 Corinthians 13 better. And, no offence to Senator Smith, but I sure wouldn't want to hold the Book of Mormon when I swore an oath, even if I were doing so in Utah. That isn't my book.
Which gets me back to my original musings. Is the Bible our book? And how might the Almighty feel about Holy Writ being used in a photo op? What does our Creator want from the new Congress, anyway? Is it not, as Isaiah 1:17 suggests, that we "stop doing wrong and learn to live right and see that justice is done…"? Is it not, as Scripture repeatedly demands, to "defend the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant among you"?
To do these, politicians have to do more than touch a closed Bible - or any other holy book. They need to open it and read it.
Shalom/Salaam/Shanti/Pax,
Tom
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A WORD OR TWO OF THANKS
Sara C. Weiss, Director of Development
Special thanks to the following:
- The Suffolk Health Improvement Partnership (North Shore-LIJ Health System) for its final installment of $6,666.66 for prescription and eyeglasses assistance to Suffolk County residents.
- The Nassau County Bar Association’s WE CARE Advisory Board for a gift of $5,000 for our Freeport (Nassau) Emergency Food Center.
We also thank the following for their generous support during the month of November for the blessings these gifts bring to our needy clients:
| Anonymous Donor | $2,000 Payday Loan Alternative Fund |
| Bethany Congregational Church | $1,000 Where most needed |
| Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq. | $500 Thanksgiving Programs |
| First United Methodist Church, Amityville | $500 Unrestricted & Emergency Food |
| Garden City Community Church | $1,000 Emergency Food |
| Garden City Community Church | $1,100 Unrestricted |
| Long Island Cares, Inc. | $600 Freeport Food Pantry |
| Orient Congregational Church | $500 Unrestricted |
| United Way of Long Island | $1,491 Monthly allocation |
| Wading River Congregational Church | $550 where most needed |
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We also thank the many other individuals who gave but asked that we don’t publish their names, and we thank the institutions that gave less than $500. We are grateful for all of these gifts.
Most Urgent Need
Many of our clients don’t drive. They cannot afford to own and maintain a car, and so they depend on public transportation to get to work, medical and dental appointments, and our emergency food centers for assistance. For example, a man came to Long Island from Puerto Rico looking for work, but could not afford to pay for transportation so he could pursue job interviews. A number of single mothers with young children found that the Department of Social Services had prematurely closed their cases and declared them no longer eligible for assistance. They needed transportation to DSS to find out why. Others need transportation assistance to get to medical treatment follow-ups, and many need help for job searches.
We have had no transportation funds for four months, and therefore have been unable to help any of these people. Each household needs between one and five round-trip fares, depending on household size. $500 would enable us to serve between 25 and 60 families, and $1,000 would enable us to serve between 100 and 125 families.
Memorial/Tribute Gifts
A great way to remember a loved one, whether living or deceased, is to give a memorial or tribute gift in his/her name. In your letter accompanying such a gift, please tell us who the gift is in memory of or in tribute to, and who is giving the gift. We will send a thank you letter to the contributor and to the family of the loved one in accordance with your instructions. Please send your contribution to the LICC: Attention: Sara Weiss. If you have questions, call Sara for further information at 516-565-0290, ext. 207.
Naming and Tribute opportunities are also available for our programs. Call Sara for a list. We also have planned giving opportunities that will sustain these programs in perpetuity.
You can contribute to the Long Island Council of Churches using your Visa or MasterCard.
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WORTH WATCHING:
"Shakespeare Behind Bars"
Michele Smith, a member of the LICC's Pastoral Care Committee, which oversees our jail chaplaincy program, highly recommends the film SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS, which is now available on VD and VHS. A theatre group composed of convicted felons imprisoned at Kentucky's Luther Luckett prison is seen rehearsing and performing Shakespeare's "THE TEMPEST," a play whose theme is forgiveness. While rehearsing the play, the men gradually reveal their personalities as they wrestle with their own need for forgiveness for the crimes they have committed.
"The Nativity Story"
Fr. Robert Lauder writes in The Long Island Catholic about this new film:
“The filmmakers take the events reported in sacred Scripture and faithfully transpose them to the screen. The film provides the opportunity for . . . reflection on our own journey of faith.”
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WORTH READING: “Great Women of the Bible”
“Great Women of the Bible in Art and Literature,” published in hardcover by Fortress Press (ISBN, 0-8006=3557-4, $29)
Written by the late theologian Dorothee Soelle and historian/journalist Joe Kirchberger, this lavishly illustrated book surveys Biblical heroines from Eve to Mary of Magdala. Soelle and Kirchberger have provided fascinating commentary on both the artworks reproduced here and the stories that inspired them. The limitation of this book is that it covers only European art. With the exception of brief references to Sarah and Hagar in Islam and one picture of Adam and Eve from Istanbul, we see or read almost nothing about Africa, Asia, or the Americas. There is great material here, and “Great Women of the Bible” is certainly worth buying, reading, and studying, but much of the world has been left out. One wonders if Queen Esther or Martha of Bethany would recognize herself anywhere in these pages. Our Executive Director’s full review of this book can be found at reporterinteractive.org in the Book Review Archives.
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HELP FOR UNINSURED NEW YORKERS
According to Nassau-Suffolk Law Services, the overwhelming number of people who file for bankruptcy are forced to do so because of medical debt. We are, of course, the only industrialized nation in which this is the case, and even those who are called up for National Guard duty in Iraq often lose their family’s insurance when they lose their jobs or business while serving in harms way. There is a lot that is wrong with all this, and the LICC has long favored universal health coverage, but in the meantime we also support nearly any piecemeal efforts to insure more Americans. New York State took one small step toward medical justice last April when it passed legislation that both provides uniform charity care and financial assistance for all low-income uninsured New Yorkers at hospitals in our state and also makes it clear what hospitals need to do to collect money from the state’s Bad Debt and Charity Care Fund.
Those who are uninsured need to know that they should ask for help from the hospital billing office rather than trying to ignore hospital bills. Real help is available now, both for patients and hospitals, but people do need to ask for it. Rosemarie Guercia, MD and Donna Kass, PT, from the LI Coalition for a National Health Plan (to which the LICC belongs) summarized this bill for the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island:
“New York State passed legislation in April 2006, which provides for uniform charity care and financial assistance standards at all general hospitals for low-income, uninsured individuals. Hospitals’ continued eligibility for Bad Debt and Charity Care funds is tied to their implementation of this law, which will go into effect January 1, 2007. The following are the major provisions of the legislation:
- For uninsured patients with incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), $ 20,000 for a family of 4, the hospital shall charge no more than a nominal amount.
- Uninsured patients with incomes between 101% and 150% of the FPL ($30,000 for a family of 4) shall be charged according to a sliding fee scale but no more than 20% of the fees negotiated by the largest group insurer such as Medicaid, etc.
- Uninsured patients with incomes between 151% and 250%($50,000 for a family of 4) shall be charged according to a sliding fee scale no higher than that negotiated by the largest group insurer.
- Uninsured patients between 251% and 300%($60,000 for a family of 4) shall be charged the fee negotiated by the largest group insurer.
- Assets used in determining fees may not include the primary residence, assets in a tax-deferred or comparable retirement savings account, college accounts or family cars.
- Policies and procedures must be available in writing as well as information on how to apply for assistance. They must be posted and language appropriate. Information must also appear on hospital bills.
- Reports to the Health Department by each hospital (as a condition for participating in the bad debt and charity care pools) must include hospital costs and uncollected amounts for services to eligible uninsured patients, the number of patients by zip code, whose applications were approved and those whose applications were denied and the amount of the reimbursement for indigent care from the pool.”
For a copy of the legislation, visit www.lihamp.org and see “legislation.”
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FROM THE MULTI-FAITH FORUM:
How my faith keeps me sane: A UU PERSPECTIVE
Arvind Vora has challenged the volunteers in the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum (an interfaith education project started by the LICC and Auburn Theological Seminary) to tell others “How my faith keeps me sane” in a world that is sometimes nuts. Gabi Parks, a ministerial intern at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington and a new volunteer with the LIMFF offers her thoughts as a UU:
“In most Unitarian Universalist congregations, the word faith is not used very much. Since we are a mixture of people from many different religious backgrounds, we don’t have much of a common religious language.
And yet, most of us have faith. We might call it by different names: trust in the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, hope for the future because we are all apart of the interdependent web of all existence; confidence that together we will reach the goal of liberty and justice for all.
When I felt the calling to become a minister, I had this trust, hope, and confidence. But this alone would not have given me – an older student - the stamina to make it through three years of seminary and the ensuing internship. In the beginning, I joked around and said, `yes, I was called, I just don’t know by whom . . .’ but with each new experience in seminary or during fieldwork and chaplaincy training, I became more aware of a strong force in my life that guided me. The knowledge of the Spirit working in and through me has given me courage and strength.
But what keeps me going even more is the faith in humanity. Seeing fellow Unitarian Universalists live their faith on a daily basis makes it possible for me to keep going, in life as well as in ministry. It enables me to be optimistic despite the continuous flood of bad news from all over the world; despite racism, homophobia, ageism, intolerance of any kind.
I have found that for every crook, for every corrupt politician, there are hundreds of thousands of honest, decent, and peace-loving folks out there. Whenever I get discouraged by yet another report of violence, insensitivity, cruelty; I look at all the work the people in my congregation do to fight injustice and selfishness. I look at the wonderful cooperation of different churches to reach out to those fellow humans who are so much worse off.
I have faith that the Spirit that moves within me is present in all humans, and this faith helps preserve my sanity – which is often challenged by the demands of ministry.”
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HOW TO DEAL WITH THE MEDIA
Members of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum Board recently asked our Executive Director to share his words of wisdom on how to deal with reporters:
- Reporters usually are on deadline and need to reach someone quickly for their opinion or for background information and suggestions as to whom they should interview, but it is always okay to say, “Can I call you back in 15 minutes?” Give yourself time to think, particularly if the issue is controversial or complicated.
- It always is okay to say, “I don’t know,” or to suggest someone else who can answer the question better than you can.
- If you are sending a response via email, always re-read what you wrote, print it out, and run your spell-checker and grammar checker before hitting “send.” Most of us are lousy at proofreading our own writing (which will be the subject of next month’s column), and you may otherwise send embarrassing mistakes—such as leaving out the word “not.” In fact, I double-checked and just discovered that I had misspelled proofreading, which would be doubly embarrassing, though this perhaps proves my point….
--twg—-
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ECUMENICAL & INTERFAITH MLK SERVICES
In recent years many communities have begun ecumenical or interfaith worship services to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Does your congregation take part in one that you’d like the LICC to help publicize? Here are some on Long Island:
- Great Neck’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat Service is at Temple Beth El (5 Old Mill Road) on Friday, January 12, at 8 p.m.
- On Sunday, Jan. 14th, 6:30 at St. Hugh of Lincoln (New York Ave. at East Ninth Street in Huntington Station) the Huntington Interfaith Coalition for Affordable Housing Now (ICAHN) will have a multicultural, interfaith Prayer Service and Choir Concert called "A Blessed Community: Hearing Every Huntington Voice - a Multicultural, Interfaith Prayer Service and Choir Concert Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King's Commitment to Economic Justice for the Working Poor." They already have choirs from 7 congregations. This will be followed by a reception, an exhibit by local agencies that assist struggling families, and a health fair.
- The Nassau County Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service will at Our Lady of Loretto Roman Catholic Church, 104 Greenwich Street in Hempstead, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14. The theme this year is "Love, Justice, Compassion, and Inclusion."
- LICC Board member Deedee Newcomb will be honored at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 15, at the Hyatt Regency Windwatch Hotel in Islandia, organized by 1st Baptist Church of Riverhead.
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DID YOU KNOW?
- The Western Nassau CROP Walk raised $5493 this fall for the worldwide relief and development work of Church World Service and for the Long Island Council of Churches’ emergency food pantry in Freeport. Many thanks to Walk coordinator Don Neugebauer and all the walkers and their sponsors!
- Riverhead Elementary School recently collected 2180 cans of food for our emergency food pantry, plus many boxes of dry goods. Mrs. Hubbard’s class even carried their donations to 407 Osborne Avenue and spent most of the day there stocking our shelves. Many thanks to the students and staff!
- Tom Lyons, a member of our Public Issues Committee, and his wife Barbara were profiled in Newsday on January 24 by Rhoda Amon. If you missed the article you can read it on-line at www.newsday.com.
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NEEDED/OFFERED
Needed:
- Fruitcake and other Holiday Goodies:
- Do you have fruitcake tins in your cupboard, either received in recent weeks or placed there by the Ghost of Christmas Past? Why not donate them to the LICC or your local emergency food pantry? Food donations are slow after the holidays, and there is actually a fair amount of nutrition in these desserts. Do you have anything else that needs to be cleaned out of your cupboard? Fancy jellies and jams? Flavored coffee that is not your cup of tea? Most of us have food in our homes we will never eat, food our neighbors need. This is a good time to go through the canned goods and give away anything that you are not going to use that is not dented, many years old, or otherwise inedible. These can be dropped off at their Riverhead office (407 Osborne Avenue at Lincoln, opposite the Polish Town Civic Association, 631-727-2210), their Hempstead office (in Christ’s 1st Presbyterian Church at the village green on Nichol’s Court, 516-565-0290), or their Freeport Emergency Food Center (450 North Main Street, 516-868-4989).
- Souper Bowl of Caring:
- Last winter more than 11,000 congregations from 50 denominations took part in the Souper Bowl of Caring. They asked each worshiper for $1 to feed the hungry on Super Bowl Sunday, raising more than $3 million dollars for soup kitchens and emergency food pantries, plus substantial donations of canned goods. In doing this, they also encouraged people to remember our neighbors in need even after the Christmas-Hanukkah-New Year’s Eve season has passed. Will your congregation take part in Souper Bowl this year? If so, please consider collecting food and money for the LICC’s pantries. Information on the Souper Bowl of Caring is available at 1-800-358-SOUP or www.souperbowl.org.
- Singers and Dancers for Easter Dawn Worship:
- The LICC is seeking volunteers willing to sing or do liturgical dance for our Easter Dawn worship service at Jones Beach.
Offered:
- New video in the LICC lending library at the Presbytery Center in Commack:
- “Picturing Mary”—the recent public television special, with artwork form Europe, Ethiopia, and Mexico
- “Tim Janis: the American Christmas Carol” the recent PBS special, with the stories of favorite American carols and contemporary carols composed by Tim Janis
- Sunday School Curriculum from the Protestant Committee on Scouting:
- As an adjunct to your Sunday School program you might want to consider the “God and Country” series from P.R.A.Y. Any boy or girl grades 1 through 12 can earn this award. It is given by your church and may be worn on the Boy Scout or Girl Scout uniform. There are four age appropriate programs:
- God and Me (grades 1-3)
- God and Family (grades 4-5)
- God and Church (grades 6-8)
- God and Life (grades 9-12) based on the life of the Apostle Paul
For further information on P.R.A.Y., visit www.praypub.org or email rfschlegel@optonline.net.
If you would like information on starting or sponsoring an existing Cub Pack or Boy Scout troop, please contact iroqdist@trcbsa.org. The Protestant Committee on Scouting of the Boy Scouts’ Theodore Roosevelt Council in Nassau County is also planning classes on the God and Country award for Scouts. For information about either God & Country or the Adult Religious recognition awards, contact edt351@aol.com.
- Affordable Coops—particularly for clergy and seniors:
- The Long Island Housing Partnership is working in partnership with Nassau County and a private developer to assist in marketing 125 homes in a six story cooperative residence located in the Village of Hempstead, near the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. Cedar Valley is in the process of being thoroughly renovated and each unit will be sold at affordable prices. LIHP is administrating $25,000 in homeownership assistance from Nassau County to eligible first-time homebuyers for down payment and closing costs. Spacious studio, one- and two-bedroom co-ops are being completely restored with new kitchens, bathrooms and carpeting. The monthly maintenance charges are a bit high, averaging $700-$1,200, due to high property taxes, but clergy may be able to get their taxes substantially reduced (thanks to a New York State law that compensates for the way parsons must pay double for Social Security), and seniors may be able to get a STAR exemption that will reduce their monthly costs. Here are the purchase prices and monthly charges—before the clergy or seniors tax reduction:
- Studios (sales price does not exceed): $78,125
- One-Bedroom (sales price does not exceed): $120,625
- Two-Bedroom (sales price does not exceed): $145,000
For further information regarding Cedar Valley, please contact Nieves Mari at the Long Island Housing Partnership (631) 435-4710.
- Affordable Enriched Housing for Seniors:
- Catholic Charities is proud to announce the Grand Opening of a state of the art Enriched Housing Program in Inwood. Our facility is now completed and we are accepting applications. The Program is available exclusively to seniors who have SSI (Supplemental Security Income), are 65 years of age or older, and need minimum supportive care in the activities of daily living. This distinctive program provides two delicious meals daily in our lovely dining room and personal care aide services. There are many daily activities and recreation, in addition to 24-hour supervision. If you are interested and would like to apply, please contact: Mary Coyle, LMSW. at 516-371-1376 or 516-733-7076.
- NEW DIRECTORY of Long Island Churches & Synagogues:
- We have mailed our new directory of churches and synagogues of Long Island to all our member churches, the Friends of the LICC, those who have ordered a copy, and major donors. We will also be distributing it at upcoming Board and committee meetings. If you pay your 2007 dues, we’ll fire off a copy to you. This directory is the most comprehensive list of congregations in our region and includes Unitarian Universalist fellowships, contact people for local ecumenical and interfaith organizations, and rosters of chaplains and campus ministers. We can also email you the updated copy, which includes some changes in pastors that have occurred since November. You can charge your purchase or your dues (which gets you a free copy) to your VISA or MasterCard if you call 516-565-0290 with the relevant information. And if your organization pleads poverty, we might be willing to trade your denomination’s directory for one of ours.
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RESOURCES FOR THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Is your congregation observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25?
We urge you to remember the LICC in your prayers during this week—and to consider taking a special offering to support our work. If you would like envelopes for a special offering, contact Sara Weiss (saraweiss@optonline.net or 516-565-0290, ext. 207) or Tom Goodhue (licchemp@aol.com or 516-565-0290, ext. 206). Free resources for the Week of Prayer are available from the Graymoor Institute at www.geii.org.
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HELP KEEP KIDS SAFE
National Income Life Insurance Company, a large provider of supplemental insurance, is offering free these potentially lifesaving kits to help you gather vital data, photos, even fingerprints so if your child is lost or abducted you can quickly get this critical data to authorities. They are endorsed and supported by the International Union of Police Associations, and NILCO would be happy to supply them to all the members of your congregation. Included at no cost is:
- Family Information Guide
- When emergencies occur, families can avoid confusion and additional stress by having all of their critical information organized in one place. We will provide every family with a document that helps them catalog information such as beneficiaries, estate data, professional contacts and health records.
- Identity Theft Prevention Brochure
- educates families on what steps to take to avoid Identity Theft and what do if their identity is compromised.
- Health Services Discount Card
- provides working families with discount at point of services on vision, hearing. prescription drugs, dental and diabetic supplies for a $10 activation fee.
For more information, contact their representative, Richard Suarato, at 516-359-040 or rsuarato@aol.com
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BOB EDGAR T0 SPEAK IN MANHASSET MARCH 2
The LICC is co-sponsoring a speech by the Rev. Robert Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Shelter Rock on Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. He was the much-praised speaker at our annual Convocation last March at 1st Baptist Church in Riverhead. He recently published Middle Church: Reclaiming the Moral Values of the Faithful Majority from the Religious Right (Simon & Schuster, $25), which will be reviewed next month in this newsletter. Middle Church explores the themes Edgar discussed at the LICC’s Annual Convocation in March at First Baptist Church in Riverhead: how can mainstream Americans of faith (whom he calls Middle Church, Middle Synagogue, and Middle Mosque) come together to address the crucial issues of global warming, war, and the growing gap between rich and poor. Save the date! Come if you can!
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WHERE CAN YOUR CONGREGATION ADVERTISE?
Most religious organizations have at best a very modest budget for advertising and need to focus their ads geographically to reach the folks who are most likely to come to worship, enroll their children in your school, or patronize your church fair. For most churches, it is not worth the cost of advertisements that go out to an entire county. Several of our member congregations have asked me to find out if “narrowcasting” is possible at Newsday. I am pleased to report that the answer is “yes.”
Three days a week, Newsday’s advertising is “zoned” into eight different regions, each a bit larger than a township. Religious/non-profit organizations can get the best rate (48 week) without placing ads frequently. Regional sections are sold for Sat/Sun together, and for Wednesday. The advertiser is offered a 50% discount if they decide to run their ad a second time within the same week. For example, if they buy a Sat/Sun regional ad, they will receive 50% of the price for the Wednesday within the same week that they already ran or vice/versa. Joseph Marmer (631-843-3158/joseph.marmer@newsday.com) would be glad to talk with you about advertising in the paper!
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SAVE A LIFE—DONATE BLOOD
Blood donations are usually slow over the holidays, which makes it all the more important for those who can give to do so in January. Here are some drives that are being run by Long Island Blood Services this month:
| Event Date | Site | Address | Start/End Time | Chairperson/Phone |
|---|
| 1/7/07 | Allen AME Cathedral | 110-31 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica | 8:30 AM
2:00 PM | Roosevelt Dixon
(718) 276-5257 |
| 1/8/07 | St. Andrew's Lutheran Church | 54 Nassau Blvd.
W. Hempstead | 3:30 PM
7:30 PM | Doris Fritzen
(516) 292-3224 |
| 1/10/07 | Christ Lutheran Church | Carleton Ave. & Nassau St.
Islip | 4:00 PM
9:30 PM | Joan Heitz
(631) 665-0925 |
| 1/13/07 | United Methodist Church | 130 W. Old Country Road
Hicksville | 9:00 AM
2:30 PM | Ginny Visceglie
(516) 931-0157 |
| 1/20/07 | First Presbyterian Church | 89-60 164th Street
Jamaica | 9:00 AM
2:30 PM | Sarah Bennett
(718) 276-2597 |
| 1/21/07 | Rockville Centre Donor Center | 333 Merrick Rd
Rockville Centre | 10:30 AM
2:30 PM | Michael Pariti
(516) 376-0388 |
| 1/23/07 | Presbyterian Comm. Church of Massapequa | 150 Pittsburgh Ave.
Massapequa | 3:00 PM
8:30 PM | Joan Tischner
(516) 293-3250 |
| 1/23/07 | St. Paul’s Church | 31 Rider Ave.
Patchogue | 4:00 PM
8:00 PM | Christine Saas
(631) 475-3078 |
| 1/24/07 | First Presbyterian Church-Northport | 330 Main Street
Northport | 3:15 PM
8:45 PM | Christine Spiller
(631) 757-8167 |
| 1/29/07 | Garden City Community Church | 245 Stewart Ave.
Garden City | 3:00 PM
8:30 PM | Cindy Campbell
(516) 334-6325 |
| 1/29/07 | Three Village Church | 322 Route 25A
E. Setauket | 3:00 PM
8:30 PM | Sue Krause
(631) 584-9579 |
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ADVERTISING IN THE PRELUDE
Each month, 2700 copies of our newsletter The Prelude are mailed to both the clergy leaders and lay leaders of 1350 faith organizations. Filled with timely articles, news briefs, updates and notices affecting Long Island’s communities and churches and the wider world, The Prelude is a must read for all who would “work together to improve living on Long Island and promote interfaith understanding and cooperation.”
The LICC accepts paid advertising...both sponsorship ads, display ads and simple listings (classifieds). Advertising in The Prelude is a great way to reach clergy, lay leaders, and volunteers in Long Island’s congregations. To receive a “media kit” with advertising rates, copy requirements, and copy deadlines, please call 516-565-0290 or email licchemp@aol.com. Congregations that join the LICC and groups that join the Friends of the LICC receive a free classified ad in thanks for paying their annual dues!
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ADS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Organist/Choir Director Wanted
Bethany Congregational Church in East Rockaway is seeking an organist/choir director for one Sunday morning service each week, occasional holiday services, and Lenten Wednesday evening services, beginning immediately. They have a pipe organ, piano, and a small choir. Call 516-599-5768 for further information or email resume to revlu@aol.com or fax to it 516-596-6233.
New Spiritual Renewal Center In Northville
The Spiritual Renewal Center at the First Parish Church UCC in Northville would like to extend an invitation to all those interested in being on our emailing list, for a current schedule of events at the Center, to send your address to cbonura@optonline.net. Our mission statement expresses: Out of the love of neighbor, we are committed to offering a wide variety of spiritual renewal experiences through Holy traditions and practices, both ancient and new, offered by Practitioners, in a home of trust and sacred Hospitality. Some of the events we have scheduled include: Reiki Healing Circles and classes, Dances of Universal Peace, Seasonal workshops, Jazz Alive, Soul Session workshops, Book Signings, Angel Workshops, Workshops for Creating Abundance, Nurturing the Child, Beyond Diagnosis (for those diagnosed with terminal/chronic illnesses), Grief and bereavement workshops, all to name a few.
Parish Resource Center
89 Hallock Landing Road
Rocky Point, NY 11778
Tel: (631) 821-2255 - Fax (631) 821-7073
e-mail: info@prcli.org
For immediate release
Divorce Support group meets weekly to help you face the challenge of divorce and separation and move toward rebuilding your life. If you would like information about upcoming groups and fees, please call us at 821-2255. This support group is held at the Parish Resource Center, 89 Hallock Landing Rd., Rocky Point.
Healing Prayer Study Group: The Parish Resource Center will be forming another six week study group on Healing Prayer. If you would like to learn about Healing Prayer and experience it yourself, please contact us. Topics will include what is Healing Prayer and beginning to pray using prayer exercises and how to start a Healing Ministry in your local church. If you would like information about upcoming group and fees, please call us at 821-2255.
Marketing for the Church - Effective Outreach
Saturday, January 20, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Leader: Rev. Robert "Bob" Fritch
This workshop will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Port Jefferson Station
This workshop presents the “next step” in evangelism, marketing your church. Once you have "started" the process your church is ready to embark on the exciting journey of effective outreach. You will learn easy, inexpensive techniques, see examples of good practice materials from many churches, and hopefully, come away armed with new skills and new ideas. Your church can do this; it's not as hard as you think!
Member of a Subscribing Church, $5 w Member of a Non-Subscribing Church, $35
WHAT ARE PEOPLE THINKING AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
THE TRUTH ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION POLLING & THE VALUE OF SURVEYS
The Center for Survey Research at Stony Brook University and Civic Performance and the Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund invite you to a workshop on the value of public opinion surveys:
| Friday, Jan. 19 | Mattituck-Laurel Library |
| Friday, Feb. 9 | Port Washington Library |
| Friday, Feb. 16 | Middle Country Public Library |
For more information, call 631-632-4006 or email lpfeiffer@note4s.cc.sunysb.edu
To register by mail: Center for Survey Research, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY 11794-4392
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NEED A TAX DONATION?
The Long Island Council of Churches is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that unites diverse Christians to work together in ministry with the poor and to promote interfaith understanding. All donations are tax-deductible and much appreciated. You can receive a tax donation for 2006 if you mail a check to 1644 Denton Green, Hempstead NY 11550.
You can charge donations to the LICC to your VISA or MasterCard if you call 516-565-0290 with the relevant information.
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The Long Island Council of Churches is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Long Island Council of Churches unites diverse Christians to work together in ministry with the poor and to promote interfaith understanding. All donations are tax-deductible and much appreciated.
The Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue
Executive Director
Long Island Council of Churches
1644 Denton Green
Hempstead, NY 11550
voice: 516-565-0290, ext. 206
fax: 516-565-0291
email:licchemp@aol.com
Web: www.ncccusa.org/ecmin/licc
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