Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FOCUS
Vol. 7, No. 1 January 2013
Looking Ahead
February & March Take the Food Stamp Challenge! February 3 FOCUS Worship, Emmanuel Baptist, 10 a.m. February 27 ES2: Empire State Economic Security Lobby Day, State Capitol March 13 Faith & Hunger Network Hunger Conference (w/ Bread for the World) March 16 Pancake Breakfast for FOCUS Food Pantry, Delmar Reformed March 31 Easter Sunrise Service, Capitol Park, 6:30 a.m. April 5-8 Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Washington, DC May 5 Capital Region CROP Walk, starts at First Lutheran Church, I p.m.
FOCUS is the collaboration of six covenanting churches, joined by five faith affiliates, united in a common calling to serve neighbors' needs in Albanys Capitol Hill and beyond as Gods servant people in a broken and hurting world.
If you hang around FOCUS long our programs. Peoenough you are bound to run into ple are amazed at someone who is wearing a colorful butour level of collaboton declaring WERE ALL IN THIS ration, cooperation, TOGETHER. and solidarity. This refers to an assortment of Behind this are FOCUS congreopportunities where you get to put feet gations living out a promise to each to your faith, action to your words, and other. I tell our churches that FOCUS presence to your values, and where is not an organization you have joined. you find food for your soul. FOCUS It is a covenant you have made with other communions to live out your mission statement declares that we unity in Christ. We are intentional at have a common calling to be Gods servant people in a building up that sense of covenantal broken and hurtrelationship. As far as we do that, I ing world; to think we make the boundaries beprovide a mintween the churches more porous, and istry of preswe make denominational identity ence, support, more open to the gifts that the other and advocacy churches have received. In openness for the victims and in oneness, we can invite others to of societys inwalk with us. justice and neglect; to speak the truth Sunday, Feb. 3, is our annual in places of power on behalf of the FOCUS Winter Worship. We gather to powerless; to offer new possibilities of remember who we areand to whom we wholeness to the lonely and alienated; belong. It is a time to rejoice over the How well do we do this? Its not gifts given to us and a time to be empowalways an easy thing to measure but I ered as Gods servant people in a broken know one thing for sure: we do this and hurting world. better when we do it together. Please come! Invite a friend! People are always amazed when Expect a blessing! After all, WERE they ask about FOCUS and find out ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. that we are a group of covenanted churches who are at our best when we open Sunday, Feb 3, 10 a.m. our doors wide and share Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State St. this with affiliate interfaith partners, community Guest Preacher: Dr. Robert White, folks religious or not, antiNYS Council of Churches poverty organizations, poliInvite a friend! Expect a blessing! cy makers, and our dear Details at www.focuschurches.net guests who have need of
FOCUS Advocates join representatives of many other groups to rally at the State Capitol in support of a higher minimum wage.
FOCUS Advocates will take their advocacy efforts to Washington, D.C., where they will attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) on April 5-8. The conference is a national gathering of people of faith who want to be a force for change in making a better society. Its focus is the injustice in the global food system, and its culminating event is meeting with Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. If you are interested in attending EAD, FOCUS has scholarships available. Please call the FOCUS office at (518) 443-0460. For complete information about the conference, go to www.advocacydays.org.
Support from Businesses, Organizations, & Faith Communities Undergird FOCUS Programs & Outreach
FOCUS is grateful for the many expressions of support for its work from area businesses, not-forprofits, and faith communities. They include: ADIRONDACK BEVERAGES ADVANCED PHYSICAL THERAPY ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN POTENTIAL ALBANY SPRING SERVICE, INC. ANGELS TO EACH OTHER - ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH BERKSHIRE BANK BEVERWYCK WORSHIP COMMUNITY BRICKMAN PRODUCE CO. CAPITAL DISTRICT PHYSICIANS' HEALTH PLAN CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CONGREGATION BETH EMETH SOCIAL ACTION FUND
CAPITAL REGION THEOLOGICAL CENTER
CAPITAL DISTRICT PHYSICIANS HEALTH PLAN CAPITAL REGION THEOLOGICAL CENTER DELMAR REFORMED CHURCH EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM
FEINSTEIN FAMILY FUND FIRST LUTHERAN OF ALBANY FIRST UMC CHURCH, DELMAR FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ALBANY FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY, REFORMED FIRST UNIVERSALIST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF ALBANY
FORT ORANGE CLUB HANNAY REELS HIBERNIAN MEN DIVISION 5 HUNGER ACTION NETWORK OF NYS JOHN KEEGAN MAGIN AND KEEGAN FUNERAL HOME JOURNEY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST LARK STREET BID MAZON: A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER NEW COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY SEFA SEFCU STARK AND BASILA, CPA STEWART'S HOLIDAY MATCH THE TROY SAVINGS BANK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TROJAN TELE COMMUNICATIONS
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEIGHBORS IN NEED
PRESBYTERIAN USA HUNGER PROGRAM ROSETTI ASSOCIATES RCW, HELDERBERG REFORMED CHURCH SCALES TEAM
UNITED WAY WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W.J. LYONS JR. FUNERAL HOME
Reflections on Giving
by Vee Abbitt When people identify a worthy cause, if they are able, they may want to contribute to it. Most often money comes to mind when we think of ways that we can give, but the very personal gift of volunteering is another way that people can contribute. FOCUS Churches of Albany makes a difference in the lives of many people. It would not be able to have the positive impact that it does on the community it serves without the work of the many volunteers who give of their time to staff its programs. But aside from the act of giving, which is an expression of our faith, what, if anything, should we hold in our hearts as we do so? Jesus spoke about giving in his Sermon on the Mount. He tells us: Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6: 2-4 (NRSV) Some people volunteer to help others because they genuinely have empathy for those less fortunate than themselves and want to help for no other reason than that they see the need and want to improve the lives of others. For others, volunteering carries some prestige or gives them some recognition within their communities or amongst their friends. It is the thing to do. Then there are those who volunteer because it is a way for them to feel better about themselves, not necessarily because they are doing good, but because, in some way, the unfortunate circumstances of others make them feel a little bit better about who they are and where they are in their lives. The questions to ask ourselves when we volunteer are What kind of volunteer am I? and What are my motivations for doing good works? If we substitute the word time for the words alms, how do we see ourselves? In addition to the outward practice of doing good, when we volunteer we can engage in the inward spiritual practice of selfreflection. We can use our experiences in volunteering to grow in our faith, by looking at our intentions, the nature of our relationship to God, and how we let God work through us.
IN FOCUS is a publication of the FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc. Rev. Debra Jameson, Editor. Graphic design and production by EHL Editorial Services, Albany NY. The FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization covenanting with Delmar Reformed, Emmanuel Baptist, First Presbyterian, First Israel AME, Trinity United Methodist, and Westminster Presbyterian. Affiliates of the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry Program are Congregation Beth Emeth, First Church in Albany, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, New Covenant Presbyterian, and St. Andrews Episcopal. The FOCUS office is located at 275 State St., Albany NY 12210. Phone: 518-443-0460 FAX: 518-443-0461 Email: info@focuschurches.net
www.focuschurches.net
Katharine B. Harris Randee Hartz Virginia Hayes in honor of Sarah Hayes Virginia Hayes in memory of Ruth Patton Lorelei Heidenstrom Joseph Roche & L. Lee Helsby celebrating Miriam and Glenn Leupold Janet and Arthur Hengerer Paula Hennessy Josephine Hennessy Benjamin and Ann Hill Gail and Sam Hill in honor of Carol and Rit Keith, Kay and Tom Zolezzi, Pat and Bob Hunziker, and Pat Campbell Gail and Sam Hill in honor of Pat Hunziker's birthday Fatmata Hilton Kathleen Hodges Joyce Holley Paul and Susan Houpt Glenn and Donna Humphreys Pat and Bob Hunziker E. Louise Jameson in loving memory of Donald Jameson from his family Wilma Jenssen in memory of Dorotha Conklin Annette Johnson Dolores Johnson in memory of Ralph and Mary and John Rapello Jim and Mary Kalas Fran & Robert Kamp Karen Kaufmann Carole & Rit Keith Virginia King Margaret and Steve King in honor of my brothers and their families: Paul, Mark, and Jim Lamar, my step-brother Fred Tietz, and Jennifer John B. Kinum in honor of Debra Jameson Paul Koberger Betsy Kuzia Tom and Barb Lahut in memory of Kurt and Lois Klingbeil Ian and Edith Leet Amy Lent
Rev. Glenn Leupold Lawrie Lierheimer Kathy Linhardt in honor of FOCUS staff and volunteers Roseann Lohrey Bill and Anne Long in memory of Ned and Muriel Pitkin Louise and Michael Lounsbery Kara Macpherson Tony and Marilyn Malone Barbara and Chuck Manning Josef Markowski Julie & David Martin in memory of Frank Martin Mrs. Frank Martin in memory of Frank E. Martin Doug Martin Reuben and Ronda Martinez in memory of Michael Howard Jeff Matthews William and Margie Mayer Linda Mayou Lorna McCartan in memory of William "Mac" McCartan Elizabeth & David McMillan in honor of Deb Jameson & Lorelei Heidenstrom Elizabeth & David McMillan celebrating Christmas Tom McPheeters Peter and Donna Meixner Ellen Messina in memory of Michael Howard Elizabeth Miller Holly Montgomery Esther Moore in memory of Arthur T. Moore Paula and Steven Moskowitz Eileen Hoffman and David Munro David Musser Rebecca & Russ Myer Shirley and Rudy Nelson Lynnette Noonan in honor of Howard Otty Kathryn Nuding Pam and Jim O'Bryan Thomas M. Older Nancy Ost John and Donna Overbeck/Crego Miriam Paska in memory of Michael Howard Karen Pass Dr. Robert Pennock
Nancy Pierson in memory of Joanna Gould Jean Poppei Harvey and Iteke Prins Kaitlyn Proto Ruth Pushee Dennis Radliff Margaret and Paul Randall Eric D. Randall Kathy Ravida Matthew Reilly Martha and Jim Reisner Andrea Ricard Marilyn and Phillip Riddle Nancy and John Rodgers Faustino T. Chuck Rodriguez Mrs. Clayton E. Rose Evelyn and Spencer Ryan Colleen Ryan in memory of Michael Howard Mary Rogers Ryther in memory of Bob Rogers Peter C. Sarinelli Kathleen Scales in memory of Lena Pioggia Peter and Nancy Schiff Alice Schrade grateful for being able to help! Mary P. & Keith Scott Bob and Virginia Seelye Robert and Pamela Selover Abraham and Mona Selover Valerie W. Shanley Geraldine L. Shanley in memory of Norine Murray Sandra Shapard Julia Shaw in honor of Lorelei Heidenstrom and Deb Jameson Peter B. Shawhan Sheryl Sheraw grateful for the ministries of Eric and Deb Fagans Judi Simek Alfred & Barbara Simpkins Edie Simpson Elizabeth Sipe Peggy Slocum Irving and Diane Smith in honor of Col. Irving Smith III Robb Smith (continued on page 8)