Many thanks to Garden City Community Church and 1st Presbyterian Church of Freeport for organizing their Fifth Annual “Will Sing for Food Concerts” to support our emergency food pantries. And many thanks to all the performers and everyone who attended! The two concerts raised more than $18,000 for our pantries! You can read more about Will Sing for Food at the Garden City News, http://www.gcnews.com/news/
And thanks to Suzie Alvey for these photos:
%202016.jpg "WSF (S. Alvey) 2016")
The concerts feature some remarkably talented young muscians:
And some who are still young at heart, such as the Rev. Jim Adelman, who played bluegrass gospel music:
They are wise enough to not ask me to sing, but I did dance in the aisles:
STORM CLOSINGS
Many congregations have cancelled worship and other events this weekend, due to the blizzard that has descended upon us.
The LICC’s, which I commend to others, is this:
*Whenever schools close or delay openings due to snow or storms, we follow suit and close or open the office late. If a storm hits during the day, we will close early so that we avoid traveling on slippery roads during rush hour.
* And we close our offices whenever the winds exceed 50 mph, because it is not safe to drive under these conditions.
*If we lose power in any location, we close that location.
Be careful out there!
FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS FEB. 11
The LICC’s new Board member Howard Capell, an attorney with extensive experience representing religious denominations and congregations, is volunteering his services at the LICC to provide one or two free legal consultations to religious leaders. He can discuss property matters, building use agreements, dealing with challenges to congregational tax exemption, and other such questions. He has hour-long slots available in our Hempstead office on Thursday, Feb. 11. To request an appointment, please call Maria at the LICC at 516-565-0290. Please bring a copy of your congregation’s by-laws and/or denominational rule book.
Congregational Financial Asset Management Roundtable March 3 in Huntington
The New York Landmark Conservancy, which helps houses of worship to preserve historic buildings, including sometimes making grant to them, is offering a financial asset management roundtable for congregations at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington on March 3rd at 5:30 p.m. The program will be led by financial advisors from Morgan Stanley specializing in nonprofits, and The Rev. Jerry Keucher, author of Remember the Future: Financial Leadership and Asset Management for Congregations (attendees will be sent a copy of the book). They will discuss planned giving programs and other relatively simple strategies for establishing endowments and growing reserves. Participation is limited to the first 25 registrants. I’ll post more info as soon as I receive it.
ECUMENICAL WORSHIP SERVICES
Wednesday, Feb. 10, noon & 7:00 pm
Ash Wednesday Services with Old South Haven Presbyterian at Bellport United Methodist
The Rev. Yuri Ando, pastor of Bellport UMC will lead worship.
The Rev. Tom Philipp will assist and impose ashes for those who wish to receive them.
Yes, some Protestants do ashes.
ORGAN DONATIONS
*Gloria Peropat has a Wurlitzer Organ (model 580a) to donate to a congregation in memory of her mother, a church organist for more than fifty years. She describes it as a high quality instrument with a third keyboard synthesizer producing solo and percussion voices (clarinet, guitar et. al) that enhance the pipe organ quality. It needs to be picked up in Riverhead before July 1st. If you are interested, please email her at gperopat@gmail.com.
*Elvira Lovaglio-Duncan has a Wurlitzer in working condition that she would be glad to donate to a congregation or any other organization that might want it. If you are interested, please call her at 516-307-1820.
NEEDED THIS WEEK IN OUR FOOD PANTRIES Our Riverhead pantry needs peanut butter and diapers this week, particularly larger sizes We need Spanish-speaking volunteers in Freeport and donations of food that contains protein: meat, fish, beans, cheese, etc. And, of course, monetary donations to support our emergency food centers would be greatly appreciated.
These should be sent to The Long Island Council of Churches 40 Washington Street Hempstead, NY 11550 Or call 516-565-0290 to charge your contribution to a credit card. You can also donate on-line through https://www.LICCDonate.org: