WHAT’S HAPPENING IN

AND AROUND OUR CHURCH

This will be the last issue of the Disciple until September.
Please send any changes of address or phone number to the Church Office 245-2186 or office@fpcyorktown.org so they can be included in the newest directory which goes to press in June.

MISSION STUDY GATHERINGS HELD IN MAY
As part of the Pastoral Search Process, nine Mission Study Gatherings were held in May and were attended by approximately 80 church members.
Thank you to all who attended—your opinions and insights are invaluable to the search process and will be compiled for use in the Team’s final report.
Thank you also to the following people who graciously hosted the gatherings: John and Deanna Collins, Kevin and Cheryl Lodewick, Michael and Ruth Deemer, Erik and Carol Jensen, Carl and Kathy Anderson, Marsha Henderson and Judy Chessa.
The Mission Study Team will be hard at work this summer assembling demographic data and writing the formal report which will be presented to the Church’s leadership and then be approved by Session and the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry.
We are excited about this next step in our journey and look forward to sharing the report with you in the fall.
If you were unable to attend a session, or have additional thoughts, you can email them to Jeff Kephart (kephart@us.ibm.com) or Katharine Frase (frase@us.ibm.com)


Prayer Shawl Group - June 4 at 9:30 a.m. & June 18 at 10:30 a.m.
This group meets right before the morning women’s circle on the first Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. and on the third Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Call Marianna Sherman at 737-8294.

Women’s Bible Study Morning Circle June 4
The morning Women’s Circle meets in the lounge (Room 15) at 10:30 a.m. (the first Wednesday of the month). All women are invited to join.
Their new study is entitled, “Above and Beyond: Hearing God's Call in Jonah and Ruth” by Carol Bechtel, an Old Testament professor. Please call Kathy Anderson (603-3408) if you have any questions.


The Knit Togethers
Next Meeting Dates: June 9 & 23; July 14 & 28; August 11 &25; September 8 & 22
We meet on alternate Mondays, 10:00am to 11:30am, in Lounge 15. All who knit are welcome.
In early May nine of us met with Patient Service representatives at The Hudson Valley Community Hospital. We were pleased to give them 13 baby blankets and 5 layette sets for the OB Department to distribute as needed. The staff was very appreciative and thankful for the items donated. We celebrated another year of knitting together by going out to Grandma’s Pies for lunch.
We continue to make children’s hats and mittens for Fall giving as well as baby items.
All who knit are welcome to join in the joy of creating and giving to others. For information call Norean Radke (962-4370) or i(962-2809).


Annual Progressive Dinner on June 14
Save Saturday, June 14, Sign ups begin in May in the Gathering Place.
This is a great event to meet new people or become better acquainted with other church members. Appetizers will be served at 6:30 at a home yet to be determined. Different hosts will serve dinner for 8-12 people in their homes at 7:30 p.m. Everyone will meet again for Dessert at 9:30 in Fellowship Hall. Cost is $7 per person.
We will need approximately 10-12 host homes for dinner. You provide the house and your guests will bring the dinner.

Graduates To Be Recognized June 15
Graduates will be recognized during our Worships on Sunday, June 15. If you or anyone in your family is graduating, please call the Church Office (245-2186) as soon as possible and let us know the details: name of high school, college, university, type of degree, plans for next year, etc.

Summer Worship Schedule
June 15 - August 31
Summer offers many of us an opportunity to kick back, try for a little more relaxation in our lives, and take a breather from the hectic days of school and work. For the First Presbyterian Church at Yorktown, it is a time of coming together, and celebrating our unity as a faith community. The Worship Commission, with the approval of the Session has proposed that we hold one worship service each weekend in order to bring us together in fellowship and worship.
The schedule is as follows:
Summer Worship Schedule - One service at 9:30 a.m. begins June 15th and goes through August 31 (which is Labor Day Weekend).
The Parish Picnic and Service will be Sunday, Sept. 7 at 10:45 a.m. in Downing Park.
Two Services at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. will resume on September 14th.
Let us come together in peace, fellowship, and the celebration of God! See you this summer on Sundays at 9:30!
Church School will resume on September 21
The Worship Commission

Seniors’ Lunch Bunch
June 18: The Seniors’ Lunch Bunch will gather on Wednesday at 12 noon for a potluck meal in Fellowship Hall. Everyone please bring something to share. Call Florence Malcolmson for information 245-3794.
After a summer hiatus, the Senior Lunch Bunch will resume meeting on September 17.

Saturday Socials: June 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Save the third Saturday of the month for church fellowship! We’ll gather at about 5:30 in Fellowship Hall to enjoy one of our renowned potluck suppers and the pleasure of each other’s company. Come dressed as you are, by yourself or with family and friends, with or without food to share—there’s always room for everyone and more than enough food for all. On April 19, we’ll follow supper with a movie that all ages will enjoy. Questions? Call Karen LaBonté at 245-2462.

Hudson Valley Folk Guild Open Mike and Coffeehouse - June 28
Will meet in Fellowship Hall. Sign up at 7:30 Show starts at 8:00.

Come Sail on the Clearwater on June 28
Signups have already started for our Clearwater sail on Saturday, June 28. If you are interested and need to signup, please contact the church office. The boat carries up to 50 passengers, so there's plenty of room for us all. Children over six are welcome. The cost will be $40 for adults and $20 for children under 16. To make it easier for families, we've set a family "cap" of $120.
Our Church is only about 7.5 miles from the Hudson River, yet most of us are unaware of the beauty and environmental significance of this great river. As a part of our environmental emphasis for this year and as a fun congregational event, we'll sail on the Hudson River Clearwater on June 28 from 2 pm to 5 pm, starting from Verplanck. (This has been changed from Peekskill because of problems with the Peekskill dock.)
The Clearwater is a reproduction of a wooden sailing sloop of the 18th century. For the past 30 years, this sloop has been a symbol for environmental issues. The Clearwater organization lead the successful effort to cleanup the Hudson River. It has been in the forefront of environmental education via an onboard "Classroom of the Waves" environmental education program that many of our children have attended through the local schools.
On our sail, we'll have a chance to see the magnificent Hudson River from the water, to raise the massive sail and guide the tiller, to throw out a fishing net to see what lives in the water, and to enjoy the afternoon together. We'll also hear something about the environmental issues that face the river and us all today. It will be a unique opportunity to get together, enjoy the River and the outdoors, and learn about our environment from the perspective of the River.
Mark Linehan, Communications Chair

Vacation Bible School - July 7-18, 9:30 - 12 Noon
Vacation Bible School will be held July 7- 18, Monday - Friday 9:30-12.
Children from preschool(age 4) to those finishing grade 6 enjoy group worship, singing, small class lessons, crafts, outdoor activities and fun for $20 per child or $45 max per family.
Our church joins with Yorktown Methodist and St Andrew's Lutheran to celebrate the 43rd year of Yorktown Cooperative Vacation Bible School which will be hosted by St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church this year. We are always looking for helpers and teachers, so bring the children and join us in this joy-filled two weeks.
Registration forms will be available in the church office.
For more information call Barbara Santagata 528-5226 or Liz Gilbert 739-4235.

Pool Party - July 30 from 5-8:30 p.m.
Come and enjoy fun & food & swimming at the Child house on Wednesday July 30th (raindate Thursday July 31st) from 5:00pm - 8:30pm. All children should be accompanied by an adult. Hot dogs, Hamburgers & drinks will be served. Please bring a side dish, salad or desert. Todd & Rita are at 2302 William Court, Yorktown (off White Hill Rd). Any questions or directions call 243-0806.

Parish Picnic - September 7 at 10:45 a.m. in Downing Park
The annual Parish Day Worship and Picnic will be held at 10:45 on Sunday, September 7 in Downing Park ( across the street from the church). Please bring a salad, a picnic covered dish or dessert and a lawn chair for you comfort. There are picnic tables to sit at if desired. The church will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages. Many hands will be needed to set-up the tables, transport the food to the park, clean-up, transport items back to church and cook. Look for the sign up poster in August.



CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES
Hannah Anderson graduated with honors from Lakeland High School and is going to Rochester Institute of Technology and will major in computer engineering technology.
Keith Froehlich graduated from Lakeland High School and is going to SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica, majoring in computer science.
Peter Hodgkinson graduated from Yorktown High School and will attend Lehigh University, majoring in business.
Matthew Lazarus graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry and will attend Middlebury College in Vermont.
Ruth Linehan graduated from Horace Mann School and will attend Reed College in Portland, Oregon and is considering majoring in history or anthropology.
Sean McAuliffe graduated from Yorktown High School and will go to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs NY with a double major in business and theater.
Kristen Lynn Corbi graduated from the State University of New York at buffalo with a B.A. in Environmental Design/Planning and a minor in Architecture.
Desiree de Jong graduated from Fairfield University with a BA in psychology. She is going to University of Alabama at Birmingham for her PhD.
Jed Amato graduated from Marist College with an MBA degree.
Sal Gaetani, Jr. graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland with a BS in Finance. He will work for T. Rowe Price.
Angela Skinner graduated from Union Seminary in NYC with a Masters in Sacred Theology (STM).

Staying Connected - Two Multi Generation Families
Instead of introducing new members to our existing members as we do twice a year, I thought I would turn things around and reintroduce some of our long time members to many of our newer members. I was searching for a list of our three generation families (we have many) only to discover that we have two four or five generation families still with us.
The first is the Clarence Keller family, who joined the church in June 1942.
Generations #1: is headed by Great Grandmother Nellie Keller. Nellie will celebrate her 100th birthday this August with a huge gathering of the clan. Two of Nellie’s daughters stayed in Yorktown as members of this church.
Generation #2: Daughter Jacqueline Keller Gilbert, now deceased, was confirmed in 1943, married Dr. Stanley Gilbert, a Yorktown pediatrician, and raised a family of 6. One of her daughters - Melissa- has stayed in Yorktown.
Generation #3 & 4: Daughter Melissa Gilbert was confirmed in 1981. She married Larry Fraser and has raised her 3 sons - Dylan, Zachary and Jacob here in Yorktown.
Generation #2: Barbara Keller Wilkens, was confirmed in 1944, married John Wilkens and ran Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm with him. Of Barbara’s 7 children, two daughters have stayed in Yorktown as members of this church.
Generation #3: - Tricia Wilkens Dineen was confirmed in 1975 and Barbie Jo Wilkens Pratt in 1969. These sisters, including husbands Jerry Dineen and Randy Pratt, have formed a collaboration to carryon Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm and to run a law office together.
Generation #4 Daughter Barbie Jo and husband Randy Pratt have 3 daughters - Kristamarie, Katrina and Stephanie Pratt

Our second multi generation family is the Clark Strang, Sr. family
Generation #1: Clark Nelson Strang, Sr., deceased, joined the church in 1912.
Generation #2: is currently headed by Clark Nelson Strang, Jr., and his wife Joan Hallock Strang. They joined in 1950. Their daughter Denise Strang Pinatello has also stayed in Yorktown as a member.
Generation #3: Denise Strang Pinatello, was confirmed in 1969 and married Richard Pinatello.
Two of their children are currently connected to our church.
Generation #4: Son Jason Pinatello, confirmed in 1992 and was recently married in our church.
Daughter Tarah Pinatello Oubina, was confirmed in 1994. She married Roger Oubina and has 3 children.
Generation #5: Brianna Yeager and Audrey and Matthew Oubina.
Barbara Darragh, Administrative Assistant

If Pastoral Care Is Needed, Please Call The Office
If you are in need of Pastoral Care or Hospital Visitation, please inform the Church Office of your need. Please let us know of an upcoming hospitalization or surgery by touching base with our Church’s Caregivers. Russ, Angela, our Elder Teams and the Deacons are here to meet your needs, but we will never know unless you keep us informed!

The Brasserie Swiss Will Donate $10 to the Food Pantry for each church member who has dinner at the restaurant, which is located at 118 Croton Avenue in Ossining.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
The session held its regular meeting on May 6. We began joys and concerns, and then moved to a proposal from the Personnel Committee.

Russ Feroe’s wife will be starting a new job and the Feroes will be moving to Hartford Connecticut. The Personnel Committee and Russ presented a proposal that will involve reduced hours for Russ and a realignment of Angela’s job responsibilities (as outlined in the letter that you received recently). The Session approved the proposal.

The session received reports from the clerk, the pastor and the commissions. The sessions learned that the Mission Study is progressing nicely, and we expect to have a draft to review by the fall. Commission Chairs were asked not to schedule meetings during the time that the Mission Study small group meetings will be taking place, which is from May 12 until May 22. The Stewardship co-chairs, Connie Knapp and Judy Chessa, will be attending a Stewardship Workshop on Saturday, May 17, conducted by the Hudson River Presbytery.

We appointed Squeegee Mills to represent us at the next Hudson River Presbytery meeting on May 20 at Stony Point.

We will be meeting on May 27 at 6:30 to meet the Confirmation Class, rather than on the first Tuesday in June. The May meeting will be our last meeting until September.
Elder Connie Knapp