TABLE OF CONTENTS
From Our Executive Director:
HOW TO HELP WHEN YOU'RE HURTING
These are certainly challenging times for all of us. Each month, more and more people are turning to congregations and charities such as the LICC for assistance at precisely the time when parishes and other faith based organizations are struggling to keep the lights on. In 2008 we fed 16% more people at our Freeport pantry, for example, than we did the year before and 48% more people in Riverhead. It is difficult for clergy and fundraisers to ask for money when they know that their usual donors have lost jobs, lost income, or lost half of their IRAs. And yet, I sense that in this recession, we Americans are far more aware than usual of the plight of our neighbors in need and we really do want to help them, even while we worry about our own finances. Here is some unsolicited advice on how to be generous, confident, and faithful in fearful times:
Keep Giving What You Can
Suze Ormand, the personal finance guru, recommends that you write a check to your favorite charity before you pay any other bills each month. If you put off giving until the end of the month, she observes, you are likely to feel guilty or broke until you make that contribution. Being generous up-front, she says, reassures you that you really can survive on your income and help those who are less fortunate. It also helps us to be more disciplined in our spending: going without that daily latte, Lottery ticket, or pack of smokes so that we can help people who may otherwise go without food or medical care. Christians traditionally have prepared for their celebration of the Resurrection by doing without some extravagance during their preparation for Easter. Perhaps this year you might fast in some way so that others might be fed.
Give Wisely
If you are old enough, for example, that you are facing a tax burden from the "annual minimum distribution" of your IRAs, the money you transfer directly to the LICC or another charity before December 31 may be exempt from taxation.
Even if you cannot give much today, you may be able to help your neighbors who are in need by planning a gift tomorrow. Our Development Director Sara Weiss would be glad to talk with you about how you can receive current income and minimize the tax burden on family members through planned giving.
Give Your Time and Talents
Even if you cannot give as much money this year to your congregation or favorite charity, you may be able to help by giving your skills and service. Many of those who have recently lost their jobs in this recession or have less work now, in fact, have precisely the experience and skills that the LICC and nearly every other not-for-profit and congregation desperately need - and often cannot afford. Among the volunteers we'd love to have are:
- Trust officers
- Computer consultants
- Those with fundraising experience
- People with marketing experience
- Those with public relations or media relations experience
- People with financial expertise such as accountants and financial planners,
- People with human resources and managerial experience.
And nearly every congregation and charity could use these talents. Even if you have only a little time to give, it might be an enormous help to your neighbors in need. Every volunteer who occasionally hauls food donations to our Riverhead or Freeport emergency food centers or takes bagged groceries from our Freeport pantry to our Hempstead office frees up our staff to better serve the hundreds of folks who come each week for emergency food. Each volunteer who knows how to replace a bad lock or fix a balky intercom saves us time and money that we can put to better use. If you volunteer, you may be able to deduct your travel expenses from your income taxes. If you own a business, you may be able to deduct from your business taxes the value of the services you give. And those who are looking for work have been known to find great jobs while volunteering - at the very least "volunteering" is a better answer for the "What have you been doing since you were laid off?" than "playing fantasy baseball.".
Give Stuff
One of Goodhue's Laws is that possessions expand to fill all available space - and then we rent storage units. Most of us have food in our cupboards we will never eat, clothes we may never again wear, books we will never read again , etc. etc. ad nauseum. Sadly, many of us are paying more each month in storage fees than the junk we store is worth. Last month at our personal finance seminar at Grace Episcopal Church in Riverhead, Rich Murphy from Wells Fargo told how getting rid of the junk in his storage unit reduced someone's monthly expenses enough to quality for a great deal on a mortgage. So give the usable, undented cans of food you are not going to use to someone who needs it, such as our clients. Give away the baby formula, baby food, or (unused) diapers that your little darling has outgrown. If you have pet food that your cat or dog refuses to eat, give it to your local shelter or food pantry - we can easily give it to someone who needs to save a few bucks. Give those books that are falling off your shelves to your local library or to our Riverhead office or to some other organization that will put them in the hands of eager readers. Give those gently-worn clothes you no longer wear to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army or some other good cause.
The same goes for your congregation or parish: you probably have food in the kitchen and other items someone needs that you can easily give away. And if your congregation wants to help the poor without it costing a dime, we'd be glad to help you put a St. Vincent de Paul collection box in your parking lot.
Show Up
Many of us tend to show up less often when we have less to give, but it is precisely during hard times that your presence may be needed most, regardless of how much you can contribute financially. If your congregation cannot pay the musicians what they are worth - and who can? - it will still do their spirits good to have a goodly number of people hear and appreciate their efforts. If your rabbi knocks herself out preparing a sermon while also spending hours with congregants who are in financial trouble, she needs you there to hear and reflect on what she says. If your pastor or executive director is worried about making the budget in a difficult year, your showing up for worship or Bible study or a meeting may help him to avoid despair.
Few of us parsons ever say this out loud, but I suspect it is true of nearly all of us. I have hauled my own carcass out of bed in the wee hours before a cold, drizzly Easter dawn for our sunrise worship at Jones Beach (6:30 a.m. on April 12 at the shore in front of parking field 6, just east of the East Bathhouse!) wondering if anyone else would show up - and I have been grateful for every intrepid soul who did. Your presence, whether or not you can put much in the offering plate, reassures all the rest of us that we are going to get through this together.
Shalom/Salaam/Shanti/Pax,
Tom
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A WORD OR TWO OF THANKS
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Sara C. Weiss, Director of Development
Special thanks goes to Setauket Presbyterian Church for its generous donation of $4,000 for our Emergency Food Programs. We thank one individual who gave $1,200 for unrestricted support, an individual who gave $1,000 for emergency food, and two individuals who gave $1,000 each for unrestricted support for our mission to serve Long Islanders in need. We also thank an individual who gave $500 for emergency food and Women at the Well, and another who gave $500 for emergency food. We are most grateful for their generosity.
We thank the following institutional donors for their gifts of $500 and more:
| Community Church of Syosset | $750 Where Most Needed |
| Congregational Church of Manhasset | $500 Where Most Needed |
| Energy Wise Distributors | $1,000 Where Most Needed/Riverhead |
| Long Island Cares, Inc. | $1,950 Emergency Food Programs |
| Presbyterian Church East Moriches | $500 Where Most Needed |
| Reformed Church of Locust Valley | $850 Where Most Needed |
| Roslyn Presbyterian Church | $1,098 Community Resources |
| United Church of Rockville Centre | $1,050 Migrant Dinner Riverhead |
We also thank the institutions that gave less than $500, and all of our individual donors, though we do not list them because they, too, have asked to remain anonymous.
Most Urgent Need
This month again, our most urgent need is for transportation assistance for our Riverhead clients. Typically these clients need public transportation for medical reasons, for example, they have been injured in an accident and their doctor prescribes eight weeks of physical therapy three times a week. They have no personal transportation and would have to pay $3 round trip every day they go to therapy. Each client would need $75 to pay for the trips required to go to the doctor and complete physical therapy.
Others need help with bus fares to get back and forth from work because they do not earn enough to pay for food, shelter, and also transportation. A number of our homeless clients stay overnight in shelters and work during the day. They need bus fare assistance to get to work and back.
A gift of $500 would enable us to provide 167 bus tickets @ $3 for these and other clients in similar circumstances.
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 or 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 any questions, call Sara for further information at 516-565-0290, ext. 207. Naming and Tribute opportunities are also available for our programs. Please call Sara for a list. We also have planned giving opportunities that will sustain these programs in perpetuity.
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IDEAS YOU CAN USE
This winter, Garden City Community Church is trying three things that you might want to try:
Take Your Show on the Road
Each year, countless amateur thespians across the land spend untold hours rehearsing plays and musicals in community theatres, drama workshops, and Way-Off-Broadway productions, then perform them only a few times. Recently at Garden City Community Church, the Garden City Community Theatre decided to perform selections from their latest musical production to a local nursing home. The players brought joy to both the residents and the staff, who gave the production a rave review, and a grand time was had by all.
Try Alternative Worship Styles
Garden City Community Church has been exploring how they might offer alternative styles of worship besides their early-Sunday prayer service and their traditional Sunday worship. They decided this year to offer a rich variety of experiences during Lent: a new liturgy for Ash Wednesday, a Celtic liturgy, a healing service incorporating the meditative music of the ecumenical Taize community, and U2charist on April 4, the latter featuring the music of rock star/Christian activist Bono and his band U2.
Fast in Lent with a Support Group
This March and April, the Rev. Lynn Sullivan will host a weekly support group on Sundays at noon for those who want to fast from unhealthy food during Lent. The group will share healthy snacks, help one another deal with unhealthy habits, and share one another's journeys.
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WORTH QUOTING
What You Are Worth
"Our worth does not come from the things we own or the valuables we treasure, rather it is grounded in the relationships we nurture and our relationships we have with a God of forgiving love, a God of Covenant faithfulness. Our hope, joy, and peace are not connected to our escape from the current financial crisis but in the intuitive sense, the awareness of the power that is ours when we travel in the strength of God's nurturing spirit - it is not about a divine 'rescue plan' so much as it is about our strength, in spirit, to overcome adversity, to outlast it."
--the Rev. A. Erik Rasmussen, Church Life (Bellport United Methodist Church) Feb 2009
Fasting & Resurrection
"In this season of growing poverty, a fast might be observed in a solidarity with those whom Christ would have called "the least of these" or the most vulnerable of these. In such a fast, we would "do without" so that, in prayer, we might give ear to God's call (in immediate care and long-term advocacy) seeking to both alleviate the distress and work for changes in the rules and laws by which so many are kept in poverty. In such a fast we would, hopefully, set aside something for care of the poor. If we fast from meals then the cost of that meal might be set aside (or non-perishable cans). If we fast from other things (TV time, snacks, etc.) then some offering for that act of self-denial would be offered. . . . Lynne Baab, author of Fasting, notes that fasting should not be a sad or suffering experience (see Jesus' words in Mathew 6). It is rather, freedom to embrace the practice of radical spirituality…to listen to God…to practice the rhythm that moves from denial to the celebration of the "Feast" of Easter, the food of life and love found in the resurrection proclamation."
--the Rev. A. Erik Rasmussen, "A Lenten Invitation To Go Hungry"
The Murderous Children of Abraham
"When praying, Jews call on the God of Abraham. How about Islam? They also pray to the God of Abraham. What about Christians? They also believe in the God of Abraham. Of course, the titles of God are different from each other, but their God is the same God . . . people pray to their God for help to kill their enemies who also pray to the same God for the same reason. Imagine how God feels. We want to see our children loving each other. So does God."
--the Rev. Dr. Sungmu Lee, The Spire (Bay Shore United Methodist Church) Feb. 2009
How To Help Those Who Oppress
"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.' The Prophet was asked: 'It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor? He replied: 'By preventing him from oppressing others.'"
--Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 624
Prayer for the Day
"Allow me to be gentle with myself. Allow me to savor my humanness and my limitations. Allow me, Holy One, to fall into your arms. Help me this day, this month to love all others even as I am loved by You. This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
--the Rev. Kathy Nealand & the Rev. Jim Barnum, The Visitor (Bellmore Presbyterian Church) Feb. 2009
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TV WORTH WATCHING:
“HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT”—Tradition & Timely Reminders on PBS this March
WLIW/21 is a national leader in ethnic heritage programming, bringing us both nostalgic documentaries about our roots, such as “A Laugh, A Tear, a Mitzvah” and programs such as “The Armenian Americans” that have gently probed painful chapters in our past. Their latest offering, “Highland Heartbeat,” based on a concert given in Glasgow, premieres Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. on WLIW21 and repeats Sunday, March 8 at 8 pm, and airs nationally on PBS in March. It is both wholesome family entertainment and a timely reminder of the immigrant experience. This reviewer should note that he is a wee bit Scottish, but was hooked from the first bagpipe notes of the very first song, “Raise the Flag for Scotland (Lightly Swims the Swan).”
Produced by Fiona Kennedy, daughter of the renowned Gaelic singer Calum Kennedy, “Highland Heartbeat” has a number of traditional favorites, including “Down in the Glen” and Robert Burns’ “My Heart Is in the Highlands,” and, of course, “Auld Lang Syne.” Darren Maclean gives an impressive performance of Scottish Gaelic puirt a beul or “mouth music” — something like fast, tuneful scat singing or rap music. Interesting, though not entirely successful, are the show’s attempts at pop music. Even though shots of lovely Scottish scenery are incorporated into renditions of Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water” and we hear Burns’ “My love is like a red, red rose” before Daisy Chute tackles Bette Midler’s "The Rose,” it isn’t exactly clear what these piece are doing in this program.
The staging, though, is quite good and adds depth to this concert. Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox reads the works of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, with stunning footage of Scotland interspersed between songs. Maclean’s mouth music is accompanied by both traditional Scottish dancers and modern dance. 18th century songs by Robert Burns, “Welcome Willie Stewart” and “Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin,” and “Ae Fond Kiss” are performed in a tavern setting that gives the audience a taste of the traditional “Burns Suppers” celebrations. And Brian Cox gives “Loch Lommond” new poignancy when we learn that it was a song about friends captured by the English after the battle of Culloden in 1745, and that the one who sings about his true love is about to be hung as the victors began to slaughter and enslave the vanquished. Reminding us that our ancestors endured oppression, this introduction lifts the concert above simple nostalgia.
The most beautiful song in this program, “The Kist,” sung by Fiona Kennedy, Jillian Isbister, Maureen McCullen, and Daisy Chute, is also the most powerful. Newly composed by American singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, who has written for Faith Hill, Shania Twain and Bonnie Raitt, it could not be more deeply rooted in Scottish history—or more timely. Immigrants are often unwelcome these days, both in Scotland and in United States, but “The Kist” celebrates the mass migration of Scots who sailed to North America in search of a better life. They carried, she notes, “the family Bible, a christening robe, and a prayer for our survival,” and Chapman insists that their “values hold today.” As bagpipers, the cast, and the concert audience close the show with “Auld Lang Syne” we are left to ask ourselves if we will extend the hospitality that our ancestors needed in days gone by.
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ALSO WORTH WATCHING: "SAVING GRACE”
“Saving Grace” is not exactly family fare. Oscar and Emmy-winner Holly Hunter stars as Grace Hanadarko, a tormented, fast-living, easy-loving, hard-drinking Oklahoma City police detective in this dramatic series, which deals with all sorts of material inappropriate for young viewers. There is also profound theological reflection in this series, though, about God’s unmerited love for us, confronting evil, facing our wounds so that rage does not destroy us, love God gives us, and how we may find angels in the strangers we meet. “Saving Grace” returns with six new episodes Monday, March 2, at 10 p.m. (Eastern Time) on TNT.
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DON'T MISS: THE LICC ON "RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY"
A crew from the outstanding PBS program "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" recently visited our Riverhead and Freeport emergency food pantries to explore the new face of hunger In America and also interviewed Neelofer Chaudry, the LICC's Advocacy Director who coordinates the MICAH campaign, the Mobilized Interfaith Coalition Against Hunger. The completed report will be broadcast the last weekend in March or early in April. Locally, it airs on WNET13 Saturday morning at 10:30 and Sunday evening at 6:30 and is always worth watching. We'll keep you posted as to the broadcast dates for our segment. Don't miss it!
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WORTH CHECKING OUT: “DISCOVERING SECRETS OF THE VATICAN”
This program was not available in advance for review but might be worth catching. The Vatican is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, yet much remains unknown about the city-state that is separated from Rome only by its bordering walls and travertine pavement. “Discovering Secrets of the Vatican” offers a rare look inside the world’s smallest independent state, which covers just 110 acres with a population of 800. The program explores in depth the private, yet renowned, city’s government, military, culture, economy, communications and history. “Discovering Secrets of the Vatican” premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 8 pm on WLIW21 and Monday, March 9 at 8 pm on WNET13.
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ENCOURAGING KIDS TO SAVE
Nearly everyone involved in the LICC’s personal finance seminars at some point expresses concern about whether students today are learning how to manage money well. Several banks and credit unions have recently launched efforts to encourage students to save money and spend it wisely. Bethpage Federal Credit Union, for example, offers youth savings accounts to members who are under the age of 21. The account can be an individual or joint. The account is opened with the minor as the Tax Reported for Owner, and then is converted to a basic savings account when the minor becomes 21 years of age. These accounts currently pay 4.00% interest APY for the first $1,000 and 2.00% APY for balances over $1,000, a pretty decent rate of return on savings. These accounts also provide:
- an ATM card,
- free online banking (with parent consent, if the student is under 15), and
- quarterly statements (monthly if linked with student checking accounts).
Suffolk Teachers Federal Credit Union has mini-branches in many high schools, where students as well as faculty, can conveniently do their banking. And most credit unions now partner with other FCUs to allow members of one credit union to make deposits and withdrawals from other FCUs.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Episcopal Church Honors Its Rebels
In a gracious display of ecumenicity and all-is-forgiven, the Episcopal Church honors two of its rebel/reformers, John and Charles Wesley, on March 3 on their calendar of saints, as does the Church of England. The Wesley brothers, who launched the Methodist movement, never intended to form a new denomination, of course, and both remained Anglican priests.
Temporary Residents Now Can Give Blood
Donating blood is a great way to help your neighbors and receive a free blood pressure check and cookies and coffee at the same time. Did you know that donors are no longer required to provide a Social Security number to donate blood, which means that people who are in the U. S. on tourist visas, student visas, and such can give “the gift of life”? New York Blood Center now can use other donor data (such as name, address, and date of birth) to ensure proper identification of each individual who donates blood. For further information, please call 1-800-688-0900.
If you cannot donate but still wish to help bring the Gift of Life to those in need, please consider volunteering at your local blood drive. For information about volunteering, please call 1-800-933-2566.
New and Improved Nutrition Packets Now Available
South Brookhaven Family Health Center in Patchogue is among the first in the nation to issue “new and improved” food packages to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women and to infants and children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk. Residents who meet criteria may receive food, nutrition counseling and health services through the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC participants at the South Brookhaven Family Health Center now receive new food packages that provide additional fiber, iron, vitamin E and folate. Included are whole grain breads and cereals, beans, brown rice, tofu, low-fat or non-fat milk, and fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. Substitutions are available to accommodate cultural preferences. Studies show that women who participate in the WIC program during their pregnancies have lower Medicaid costs for themselves and their babies than do women who do not participate. With these new, healthier food packages, we expect to see additional health and cost benefits. For more info contact Nancy Keating at (631) 853 -8288 or nancy.keating@suffolkcountyny.gov.
Habitat Is Seeking Families in Nassau
Habitat for Humanity in Nassau County is receiving applications from families who would like to buy a home for the cost of construction. No down payment is required and no interest is charged on the mortgage, but applicants must contribute “sweat equity” and must be employed and relatively debt-free. For further information or applications, call 516-627-6047.
Free Coin Counters
Both Suffolk National Bank and TD Bank will count your loose change for free.
At our finance seminars, Rich Murphy from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage often suggests that one way to encourage saving in your home is to put in a jar each day the pennies or other loose change that you can part with, then periodically take it to the bank. Give it a try!
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NEEDED/OFFERED
Needed:
- Webmaster for New Multi-Faith Forum Web Site:
- Lisa Bilello has designed a great-looking Web site for the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum. Check it out at http://www.limff.org. Now we need a Webmaster to post pictures and such on the site. Do you know how to do this? Do you know someone who does? In the meantime, you can find some info about the Forum on the LICC’s site, which Carolyn Moon administers (long-distance from the West Coast, no less) at www.liccny.org.
- Gently worn clothing - and clothing collection sites:
- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, like so many other agencies, is seeing a sharp increase in requests for clothing assistance from fellow Long Islanders. They provide clothing for free or sell it at very affordable prices, to people in need of assistance at their stores in Garden City Park, Bethpage, Huntington and Huntington Station. Congregations/parishes are welcome to refer people in need for free clothing, particularly if the church is willing to have a St Vincent de Paul Clothing Donation Bin placed at your location. The LICC would be glad to help place a collection box on your church's grounds, and to even put both LICC and SVP logos on it, demonstrating to your neighbors your commitment to ecumenical cooperation. For additional information on this program, please call, Tom Abbate (516) 822-3132 or email, tabbate@svdprvc.org
- Literacy Volunteers:
- Did you know that nearly 20% of Nassau County adults are functionally illiterate? These adults – our neighbors - are unable to do things most of us take for granted: reading street signs, filling out job applications, understanding dosage instructions on a prescription. For more than forty years, Literacy Nassau has been providing one-to-one or small group instruction to adults who struggle at the lowest levels of literacy. Students are matched with a volunteer tutor, meeting two hours weekly at a local library and working together to achieve the student’s goals and improve their lives. Volunteer tutors are needed to meet the demand for services. No experience is necessary. Literacy Nassau provides training. Contact Literacy Nassau to learn more: 516-486-2789 or program@literacynassau.org.
- Spanish-speaking volunteers:
- The LICC’s chaplains at the Nassau County Correctional Center could use more volunteers who can sing, read Scripture, pray, or preach in Spanish. If you can help, please call Dick Lehman, Nancy Shaffer, or Larry Swensen at 516-572-3625.
- Soup Kitchen Seeking New Home:
- Open Arms, a ministry of 1st Baptist Church of Riverhead, is seeking a new home for its Monday through Friday lunch program. They have a temporary site at the Long Island Rail Road station until at least April, but need to find a permanent home. They would like to be close to downtown Riverhead, since the 80+ people they feed now mostly live there. If you might be able to host this soup kitchen, please contact Zelma Stroy at (631) 208-3655 or zstroy@optonline.net.
Offered:
- Wooden Office Desk:
- Please take me to a new home. 5 ft 6 in. (66 Inches) wide wooden office desk, 33" deep, 30 1/2" High. 4 drawers on each side, 1 middle drawer & 2 pull out writing shelves. Located at the Commack United Methodist Church, 486 Town Line Road, just north of Jericho Turnpike, behind White Castle. Call (631) 499-7310 (9am-2pm) or email mail@commack-umc.org if you want it.
- Free Parent Seminars:
- Available to parent groups in schools, churches and other community programs in all five NYC boroughs, Long Island and Westchester: Lutheran Counseling Center is scheduling free parent education seminars to help parents understand and deal with issues relating to their pre-teen or teen daughter’s self- esteem. This program is made possible, in part, through grants from the Lutheran Services for Children Endowment at the ELCA Foundation and the Laura B. Vogler Foundation. These 90-minute seminars for parents of girls will teach:
- tips in communicating with their daughters,
- danger signs of self-injurious, harmful or addictive behaviors, and
- approaches to deal with their daughter’s behaviors and their own guilt feelings.
To schedule a seminar for your church, community or school’s parents’ group or to get further information, call Lutheran Counseling Center at (516)741-0994.
- Health Fair in Medford March 22:
- Fidelis Care will be holding a Health Fair in conjunction with Human Solidarity and the Farmingville Residents at St. Sylvester church in Medford on Sunday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For further information please email Diana Hernandez at dhernand@fideliscare.org.
- Cancer Support Group in Manhasset:
- The Long Island Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is offering a free Myeloma Support Group, facilitated by an oncology nurse practitioner and a social worker, on Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. Pre-registration is required. To register call the Society at 631-752-8500.
- 2009 College Scholarships for Students with Parents with Disabilities:
- Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families are pleased to announce new scholarships specifically for high school seniors and college students who have parents with disabilities. These scholarships are part of Through the Looking Glass' new federal grant (New National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families). Please note that these are new awards and have different application procedures than in the past. There are two separate scholarship awards, and each has separate eligibility requirements:
- High School Seniors. To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by Summer 2009, planning to attend college in Fall 2009 and have at least one parent with a disability. Five separate $1000 awards will be given out in Fall 2009. Individuals may submit only one application per award period.
- College Students. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a college or university, be 21 years of age or younger as of March 16, 2009, and have at least one parent with a disability. Five separate $1000 awards will be given out in Fall 2009. Individuals may submit only one application per award period.
Selection criteria for all scholarships include academic performance, community activities and service, letters of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.
These Scholarships are also part of a research study on young adult children of parents with disabilities. As explained in the Consent Form in the Application, you may be willing to participate in an optional survey about young adult children of parents with disabilities. The additional information you submit on this survey will not affect your scholarship chances and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the project researchers; all identifying information will be removed. If you consent to participate in this optional survey, we will email you the survey after we have received your completed application. All application materials must be completed and postmarked by March 16.
- Credit and Debt Counseling:
- In previous issues of the Prelude, we’ve mentioned some excellent mortgage counseling resources that are available to help those who are either shopping for a home or are struggling to keep theirs: Kisha Wright at the Long Island Housing Partnership (631-435-4710), the foreclosure prevention hotlines established by Nassau County (516-571-HOME) and Suffolk County (631-853-4800), and the free foreclosure-avoidance counseling referral clearinghouse NeighborWorks (888-995-HOPE). But what if you need budget or credit counseling to help you manage other debts? The LICC has long recommended the Family and Children’s Assn. and the Family Service League to our clients. We recently learned about another resource. American Debt Resources is a HUD-certified, IRS-approved non-profit organization that provides help with managing debt, coping with mortgage problems, reducing interest rates, and other aspects of handling your money well. Their main office is in East Northport. You can call them at 800-498-0766 or visit www.americandebtresources.com.
- Personal (or Congregational) Finance Seminars:
- The LICC offers seminars on how to manage your money well - and not get ripped off on loans. Our presentations usually run an hour to 90 minutes, and we will tailor it to the needs of your audience. We can do shorter programs, for example, for a college class, campus ministry group, or youth group and their parents. They could be a great addition to your congregation’s stewardship campaign, helping people to think faithfully about our stewardship of all our resources. Each presentation is shaped around the needs of the audience and we are prepared to address a wide variety of topics.
We would also be glad to do presentations for religious leaders on how to manage a congregation’s money more effectively, reduce expenses, pay for energy conservation measures, etc. And as the Wall Street Journal reported recently, a growing number of houses of worship are in trouble with their own mortgages, so we’d be glad to help your congregation think about its options in borrowing money.
The LICC will arrange speakers, educational materials, and other freebies. There is no charge for this program. Thanks to grants from Astoria Federal Savings, Bank of America, Bank of New York, Citibank, Washington Mutual, Greenpoint Bank Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Ridgewood Savings Bank, TD Bank, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage for making it possible for the Long Island Council of Churches to provide this free program. We have speakers who can handle a variety of languages. If you would like to have such a seminar, call 516-565-0290, ext. 206, fax 516-565-0291, or e-mail tomgoodhue@optonline.net.
- Financial Education April 4 in Manhasset:
- Recognizing that soup kitchens and emergency food pantries across the land are being swamped with folks in need, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock recently began collecting donations of nonperishable food every week rather than once a month and set up a place where members could drop off canned goods during the week while dropping by for meetings, classes, choir practice, etc. They soon noticed that a surprising number of folks were also dropping by to ask quietly for food, since they were having trouble making ends meet.
This made it clear to the congregation’s leaders, if any proof might be needed, that many folks in the Manhasset area are having a hard time coping with hard times.
The Long Island Council of Churches will be offering a seminar at UUCSR (48 Shelter Rock Rd. in Manhasset) on Saturday, April 4, from 9:00 to 12:30. All Are welcome.
- Job Seekers Group in Setauket:
Long Island Job Seekers Group, A ministry of Setauket Presbyterian Church
Ecclesiastes 2:22 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should … find enjoyment in his work. This is … from the hand of God”
With those drawing unemployment benefits at an all time high (6.5 million), falling home values, retirement savings in shambles and an economy wallowing in recession, there are many people hurting from the devastating effects of job loss. As an outreach to our neighbors looking for help in their search, Setauket Presbyterian Church’s Adult Education Committee is starting an educational, networking and outreach program. The first meeting will be on Saturday, March 28, at 9:00am in the Church Parlor. Coffee, fellowship and networking will start at 8:30am. Practical topics such as resume writing, networking, interviewing, salary negotiations, personal finance, and the emotional strain of unemployment will be discussed. We are hoping to tap the expertise of our congregation gifted in areas of counseling, human resources, personal finance and other areas of need where out of work people need help. If you are so gifted, please contact Ron Loveland at 631-941-4271. This meeting is open to the public, so please extend a personal invitation to anyone you know who would benefit from this ministry.
- Free Counseling for Soldiers and Their Families:
- The Soldiers Project, which started in California and is now on Long Island, is a group of volunteer psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage counselors, and family therapists who provide free, confidential counseling for military service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and for their families. Veterans and their wives, husbands, children, parents, and other loved ones are all affected by military service and the challenges of returning home. Project Soldier can make the transitions easier. For further information, call (toll free) 1-877-576-5343, email info@thesoldiersproject.org, or visit www.thesoldiersproject.org.
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FREE TAX HELP AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE
Nearly 12,000 free tax preparation sites will be open nationwide this year as the Internal Revenue Service continues to expand its partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations performing vital tax preparation services for low-income and elderly taxpayers. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $42,000. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older. Both programs also help people file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, too, the government's largest cash assistance program for low-income Americans. Taxpayers need to bring to the VITA/TCE sites:
- Photo identification
- Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents
- Birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
- Current year’s tax package, if received
- Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
- Other relevant information about income and expenses
- Total paid for day care
- Day care provider's identifying number
To file taxes electronically on a Married Filing Jointly tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
Trained community volunteers can help eligible taxpayers with all special credits, such as the Child Tax Credit or Credit for the Elderly. Also, many sites have language specialists to assist people with limited English skills.
In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, most sites use free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper — even faster if taxpayers have their refund deposited directly into their bank accounts.
As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at nearly 8,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special attention to people age 60 and older. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP's Internet site.
The military also partners with the IRS to provide free tax assistance to military personnel and their families. The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families. Volunteers are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the EITC guidelines.
An IRS phone number has been assigned to assist callers in finding the locations of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) free return preparation sites. The number is 1-800-906-9887. To find the nearest location for the AARP Foundation’s free tax preparation and assistance program for low- and middle-income taxpayers, call 888-AARP-NOW or visit aarp.org/taxaide.
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TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
The Earned Income Tax Credit is for people who work, but have lower incomes. Here are some things you may not know about the EITC.
1. A quarter of all taxpayers that qualify don’t claim the credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit is money you can use to make a difference in your life. Just because you didn’t qualify last year, doesn’t mean you won’t this year. As your financial situation changes from year-to-year you should review the EITC eligibility rules to determine if you qualify.
2. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $4,800 this year. If you qualify, you could pay less federal tax or even get a refund. The EITC is based on the amount of your earned income and whether or not there are qualifying children in your household.
3. Your filing status cannot be Married Filing Separately. Your filing status must be married filing jointly, head of household, qualifying widow or single.
4. You must have a valid Social Security Number. You, your spouse (if filing a joint return) and any qualifying child listed on Schedule EIC must have a valid SSN issued by the Social Security Administration.
5. You must have earned income. This credit is called the “earned income” tax credit because you must work and have earned income to qualify. You have earned income if you work for someone who pays you wages or you are self-employed.
6. Married couples and single people without kids may qualify. If you do not have qualifying children, you must also meet the age and residency requirements as well as dependency rules.
7. Special rules apply to members of the U.S. Armed Forces in combat zones. Members of the military can elect to include their nontaxable combat pay in earned income for the EITC. If you make the election, the combat pay remains nontaxable, but you must include in earned income all nontaxable combat pay you received.
8. You can visit the IRS Web site to estimate your credit online. It’s easy to determine whether you qualify for the EITC. The EITC Assistant, an interactive tool available on IRS.gov, removes the guesswork from eligibility rules. Just answer a few simple questions to find out if you qualify and to estimate the amount of your EITC. You will see the results of your responses right away.
9. E-file programs will figure the credit for you. If you are preparing your taxes electronically, the software program you use will figure the credit for you. If you qualify for the credit you may also be eligible for Free File. You can access Free File through the IRS Web site at IRS.gov.
10. Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit. You don’t have to wait until you file your tax return to receive your EITC. Advance EITC is a portion of the EITC that qualified workers may be able to receive in advance payments, added to their wages throughout the year. For more information, see Form W-5, Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate.
For more information about the EITC and Advance EITC see IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit. This publication (available in both English and Spanish) and Form W-5 can be downloaded from IRS.gov or ordered by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
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LONG ISLAND BLOOD SERVICES: Blood Drives in March
| 3/9/09 | St. John's Church, Cold Spring Harbor | 10:00-8:00 |
| 3/10/09 | Archangel Michael Church, 108 Warner Ave., Roslyn Heights | 3:00-8:30 |
| 3/22/09 | Presbyterian Community Church, 150 Pittsburgh Ave., Massapequa | 11:00-3:00 |
| 3/22/09 | All Saints Episcopal Church, 214-35 40th Ave., Bayside | 9:00-1:00 |
| 3/22/09 | The Church in the Garden, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills | 10:00-3:30 |
You can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org to verify the date and time of the blood drive.
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ADVERTISING IN THE PRELUDE
Each month we mail about 3000 copies of our newsletter The Prelude to the clergy leaders and lay leaders of 1350 faith organizations. We also email this newsletter to 2200 religious leaders and post it on our Web site (www.liccnyorg), which receives about 1200 visitors each month. 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 Long Island and promote interfaith understanding and cooperation." The LICC accepts paid 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
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER March 6
World Day of Prayer will be held on March 6 at noon at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Westhampton Beach. Women from the churches on the south shore of Long Island from East Quogue to East Moriches will take part in the worship service written by the women of Papua New Guinea. All are invited to join us. Please bring a sandwich and join the Episcopal Church Women for beverages and dessert. For more information or if you need a ride please call Ridgie Barnett 288-3628.
“MY LIFE UNDER THE GUN”
with Lydia Cacho
Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset
Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho, who also runs a shelter for battered women and children in Cancun, has exposed a web of business and political elites behind a child pornography ring there. She has been detained and harassed by authorities, received numerous death threats and survived to win international human rights prizes from Amnesty International, UNESCO and the U.S. State Department. Since her expose the list of her enemies has grown to include some of the most powerful men in Mexico. In the last eight years at least 21 reporters in Mexico have been killed. Her international visibility has kept Cacho alive. Cacho is donating her speaking fee to her shelter for battered women and Children, CIAM Cancun (www.CIAMcancun.org/eng)
Suggested donation $5
Directions:
From LIE, exit 35 north (from east) or 36 (from west). North 1-1/2 miles on Shelter Rock Rd. Entrance on left by white fence.
From Northern Blvd. Go South 1/2 mile on Shelter Rock Rd. Entrance on right.
For more information, call the UUCSR Shelter Rock Forum at 516-627-6560, ext 122
EFFECTIVE CHURCH OUTREACH
North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing. Each year 3000 churches in the United States close forever. Effective Church Outreach is the program that can help you attract and keep new people.
Topics include:
- The Ministry of Welcome
- Web site design
- What people are really looking for in a church
- Your church's identity (what you think and what the community sees)
- Assorted tips and ideas you can use TODAY
Roslyn Presbyterian Church
140 East Broadway, Roslyn, NY, 11576
(516) 621-3139
Saturday, March 14, 9:30am - 12:30
$25.00 per person, $20.00 per person for groups of 3 or more
CALL (516) 621-3139 TO REGISTER
EASTER SUNDAY
April 12, 2009 - 6:30 A.M.
EASTER DAWN SERVICE
Preaching: Rev. Jonathan Hopkins
Music by: Soh Young Lee-Segredo &
The Multi-Cultural Peace Mission Choir
Jones Beach State Park•Parking Field 6
East of the East Bathhouse
Dress warmly & Bring beach chairs/blankets
Sponsored by: THE LONG ISLAND COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Information/Questions: LICC Office (516) 565-0290
CENSUS WORKERS SOUGHT
Temp. part-time jobs with U S Census: must take short test & be over 18. US citizens preferred. $14 to $21 per hour. Call 1-866-861-2010.
PASTOR AVAILABLE
Retired United Methodist Pastor 25 years serving local churches available for preaching, interim pastorates, seminars, Bible Studies, vacation coverage, etc. Excellent pastoral record, references available. Contact Rev. Stephen Shick at (516) 655-4686 or steve353@mac.com.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR NEEDED
Brookville Reformed Church is seeking a Christian Educator to coordinate curriculum, train teachers, and teach a small Sunday School in a warm and embracing congregation. Please call the Rev. Allan Ramirez at (516) 626-0414.
LOCUST VALLEY CHURCH HAS SPACE TO SHARE
Locust Valley Reform Church has a fellowship hall that they would be happy to share with another congregation or organization. It is available anytime except Sundays from 8:00 to 1:00. For further information, contact the Rev. Paul Quevedo at Pastor.lvrc@verizon.net.
PLAINVIEW CHURCH HAS SPACE TO SHARE
Sanctuary available Mon-Sat, Classrooms available at various times Monday-Saturday. Call (516) 851-4383 for more information or visit www.plainviewreformedchurch.org for email contact.
WORSHIP/MEETING/SCHOOL SPACE AVAILABLE IN GARDEN CITY
The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island (38 Old Country Road in Garden City, near Mineola) has space available to share with another congregation or not-for-profit organization. Our auditorium can seat up to 250 people, with flexible seating and storage for unused chairs. There is a platform, lectern, microphone and piano in a large, bright room. There is an adjacent kitchen and lounge. This space is available weekdays and Saturdays early each morning and at other times by special arrangement weddings, meetings, or celebrations. The Board room upstairs is available for meetings of up to 20 adults. A large room downstairs (about 16 x 30 ft.) is equipped for a nursery school and is available weekdays.
There is a large parking lot, parking is also permitted on Old Country Road, and the Mineola LIRR station is nearby. Please contact Muriel Neufeld at (516) 482 5321 or ethicalsociety@optonline.net, for further information or to visit the facility.
LEAD SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER SOUGHT
Sayville Congregational UCC is seeking a creative, warm, and dynamic lead teacher to help us grow our small Sunday school. The lead teacher will coordinate the volunteer schedule to assure continuity; act as the primary point of regular contact with school families; and collaborate with church members to organize lessons and special events. Up to six hours per week; modest stipend commensurate with qualifications. Reply to sayvilleucc.teacher@gmail.com
YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT MINISTER SOUGHT
The Community Church of Great Neck is seeking a Youth/Young Adult Minister for their English congregation to develop year-round youth fellowship groups, teach Sunday School, lead Bible study, assist in curriculum development, lead mission projects, create a young singles program, and create a young couples group. Contact Rev. Dan at (516) 482-0672 or send resume to CCGN, 2 Stoner Ave., Great Neck 10021.
ARE WE SENDING YOU THIS NEWSLETTER BY MISTAKE?
Please let us know if we are sending you a weekly update by mistake. If you would like us to send these messages to another address, if you would prefer to get only the monthly emailed newsletter rather than these weekly updates, if you would prefer that we snail mail you the hard copy version of The Prelude, or if someone gave us an incorrect address and you have no idea why you are getting this, please let us know.
In addition, we have received requests to list the Web site addresses, fax numbers, and email addresses of congregations in our 2010 directory. We don’t want to expose you to more junk faxes and spam email without your permission, but if you would like us to list any of this information about your church, synagogue, Unitarian Universalist fellowship, etc. please send it licchemp@aol.com and we will include it in our next directory. Thanks!
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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.liccny.org
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