THE OPEN DOOR

The Briarcliff Congregational Church

30 South State Road, PO Box 290, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510
914-941-4368
www.briarcliffchurch.org
Volume 67 Number 4

December 2014

Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. Revelation 3:8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

From the Deacons
Messiah Sing-Along
Greening the Church
Benevolence News
Womens Society News
Notes from Fimi
Christian Education News
Celebrations
Thank You!
December Calendar

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SAVE THESE DATES

DECEMBER
Womens Society Greens
5 Greening of the Church
7 CE Advent Fair
Messiah Sing-Along
15 Cookie Packing
21 Christmas Pageant
24 Christmas Eve Worship
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JANUARY
4 Epiphany Brunch
8 Womens Society
26 Church Council Meeting

Contact Us At:
rosborough
@briarcliffchurch.org
AND
church-office
@briarcliffchurch.org

Dear Good People of Briarcliff Church,

Lo! He Come with Clouds Descending is one of my favorite hymns for early
Advent because it so beautifully acknowledges a profound Christian idea:
What we await and prepare for in Advent, at least in the early days of the
season, is not so much the Babe of Bethlehem (the Incarnation) as it is the return
of Christ (the Parousia). That Christ should return to earth in glory is an odd
notion Christians have held and puzzled about since the first century.
Concerning it, this nineteenth century hymn text by Charles Wesley reads, in
part, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign. Its a joyous
thing, this return of Christ. But it is also complicated and not without judgment.
So the hymn also imagines the deep wailing involved.
Messiahs return is emphasized in the Biblical readings prescribed for the first
part of the Advent season, as well. Those lessons anticipate the end of time as
we know it and the beginning, or realization (advent), of Gods holy realm on
earth. Because of this, the spirit of our early Advent worship is somber. This, in
turn, makes the first days of December in the church feel very different than
what the seasons secular gaiety all around us suggests. In the tradition of the
church theres dark foreboding, diffused only by the fragile light of one Advent
candle. It is an awe-full time. And most of us resist it. In fact, most of us dont
like Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending at all and some have asked me
not to include it in our liturgies as a hymn for the congregation!
Cant know about you, but Im eager for Advent this year not prepared, just
eager. The crises in our world are rampant and the anxiety they cause spills
into our daily lives lives that are already stressed by personal troubles and
concerns. That the traditions of Christendom and church-life provide a time for
us to acknowledge our fear, express our sense of powerlessness and voice our
yearning for joy is, I think, a great gift. Where else is the gnashing of teeth
appropriate? And where else do we really dare, or ever find, hope? I like the
bleakness of early Advent: It resonates in the places where my soul seems to
dwell.
Continued page 2
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Anyway, Im rambling, as I often do. The simple

truth is Advent, the season we keep in the church
before Christmas, is a rich, multi-layered time.
Our worship is full of wonderful music for choir
and congregation, provocative texts from Scripture
(and my stumbling efforts at reflecting on them),
and rituals that feed our spirits in ways nothing
else can. I find all this to be full of deep meaning
and I commend it to you. Through its disciplines
well welcome Christ, Messiah, Salvation,
Reconciliation, a Baby together; and with the Holy
Childs advent, we might be ourselves born anew.

reading and discussing as a group via email -the daily reflections in the UCC book of Advent
reflections. This was well received, and repeated
again at Lent earlier this year.
This Advent season we will be continuing this
community practice and we will again be using
the UCC Advent reflections as a guide for reading,
reflecting and sharing. To help the discussion flow
freely, the Deacons have established a dedicated
Google Group to act as a virtual meeting place -anyone interested in joining the group can send a
short note to: briarcliff-church-advent-discussiongroup@googlegroups.com. All that is needed is a
working
email
address. Discussion
group
members can participate as frequently as they'd
like - whether that's posting daily, occasionally, or
just entering the online space to follow the group
discussion. Members can also choose how often
they'd like to be notified of new postings to the
online discussion. The UCC Advent reflections
booklet can be picked up at the church, and is free.
We look forward to again sharing the Advent
season in this special way.

Looking forward to sharing all this and more

with YOU,

The Revd Dr. Bonnie Rosborough, Pastor

FROM THE DEACONS

On Saturday, October 25th the Deacons had their
annual spiritual retreat. This year the day which
turned out to be a beautiful sunny fall day was
spent together at the Mariandale retreat center,
and reflected on the roots of our faith, utilizing
both Scripture and reading from To Begin at the
Beginning by the Reverend Martin Copenhaver.
Pastor Bonnie and the Deacons will be sharing the
fruits of this experience as we move further into
the church year.

MESSIAH SING ALONG,

7 DECEMBER, 3 P.M.
Once again, BCC will welcome the New
Westchester Symphony Orchestra for its now third
annual Messiah sing along on Sunday afternoon, 7
December. The orchestra is comprised of local
amateur musicians, like Janet Moulton (flute) and
Dave Gasparik (violin), who enjoy playing
together under the direction of Benjamin
Niemczyk . The two hour Messiah program will
include the complete choruses and select arias. As
this is a popular event and seating capacity in the
church is limited, tickets are necessary and can be
procured on line from the orchestras site
(www.newsymphony.org). Tickets include the
lease of a full score. Visit the site, reserve your
ticket (and score), warm up your vocal chords and
look forward to attending. Its a wonderful way to
keep the season!

October 28th Reformation Sunday was a

particularly busy Sunday. Geoff and Suzy Harters
grand-daughter was baptized, and the refurbished
entryway to the sanctuary was dedicated to the
memory of the late Van Porter.
As the holidays are now upon us and sweep us up
in hectic activity and many commitments, we can
feel the urge to step away and reflect, to become
quiet and contemplate the coming Good News.
Last year at BCC we began an Advent practice of
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holiday baskets and gifts

Hope's Door, Pleasantville-Ossining shelter for
abused women and children
Ossining Food Pantry, local food group which
provides food and Xmas gifts for clients
Ossining Prison Ministry, Sing-Sing prison group
providing gifts for inmate families
Please help yourself to some of these tags,
purchase the indicated item and return them (with
tags attached!) to BCC's Sanctuary Tree by
Sunday, December 14th. Gift cards with tags can
be placed in the specially marked box under the
tree and physical gifts should remain unwrapped
but with tag attached and placed under the tree.
Additionally, there are opportunities to provide a
Christmas gift for a grandchild being raised by a
grandparent or foster grandparent and also
Christmas sponsorship of a needy family from the
Ossining Children's Center. Both of these require
you to sign up on the designated sheets in Beebe
Hall IMMEDIATELY! Or contact Martha Yergeau
(914-941-5608, mcyer@aol.com) to be a sponsor or
for more information.

AFTER GREENING THE CHURCH,

COME TO THE MANSE; OR,
JUST COME TO THE MANSE!
Friday, 5 December; 8 p.m.
True to BCC tradition, volunteers
will join the Womens Society and
others to decorate (or green) the
sanctuary for Christmas on Friday
evening, 5 December, beginning at
7:30. Following this feat (If you think getting the
lights on your family tree is a challenge, doing it in
church is a MIRACLE!), we retire to the Manse,
Pastor Bonnies home next door, for refreshments
and fellowship. Everyone is invited, whether
greening or not.
The party is pot-luck
(coordinators will be soliciting contributions),
relaxed, crowded and fun. And, if your schedule
or proclivity is such that you cant help decorate,
plan to party just the same no matter; just come
for a nibble, a quaff and some good time together.

For the many individuals who will receive

Christmas gifts because of your generosity, thank
you and God's Blessing to all in this most
wondrous season of love and giving.

NOTE CHANGE IN CHRISTMAS EVE

WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES !!!
In consultation with the Pastor and Director of
Music, the Deacons have changed the hour of our
late Christmas Eve Worship Service this year: We
will begin at 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.. This is
the only change in the service as usual, it will be
full of candlelight, wonderful music, traditional
lessons, etc. but the time change is important to
remember. As has been the case in the last couple
of years, the earlier service, intended to be less
formal and briefer, will begin at 5 p.m.

WOMENS SOCIETY NEWS

As we prepare for Advent, the Womens Society
calendar is full of a number of things to which
everyone is invited.
Thursday, December 4, 10:00Greens workshop
in Beebe Hall. Please bring assorted greens to
decorate wreaths for the church and parish house.
It would be helpful if you brought clippers and
gloves too.
Same day, at noonChristmas luncheon in Beebe
Hall. Please contact Carol Mickel at 914-944-9160
or mickelcj@aol.com to find out what you can
contribute to the menu.

BENEVOLENCE NEWS
Christmas Giving at BCC
'Tis the season when BCC's amazing
and generous spirit is in full force! The
Giving Tree is up in Beebe Hall and is
festooned with colored tags from four agencies:
For All Seasons, Briarcliff-based group providing

Friday, December 5, 7:30Greening of the

Sanctuary.
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Monday, December 15, 7:30-9:00Cookie

packing at Rosalie Matsuokas home, 16 Hollow
Oak Rd, Chappaqua, NY. Watch for an email with
directions and details or call her at 914-238-8814.
Three dozen cookies are recommended, preferably
homemade, to be packed that night into festive
bags and given to members of
the church who could use a
little extra cheer or attention.

will sing an Advent anthem, Watchman, Tell Us

of the Night.
On 12/21, we will have a special presentation of
Christmas music by the Holiday Choir, Senior
Choir, and a string quartet. The string quartet will
play prelude and postlude. The Holiday Choir, led
by Peter Frost is bigger than last year, including
three teens and several new members. They will
sing a spiritual, Rise Up and Follow That Star,
the Senior Choir will sing Song of Mary, and
then the two choirs will join to sing two anthems
John Rutters What Sweeter Music and Handels
And the Glory of the Lord, accompanied by a
string quartet. Suzie Harter will also sing a solo
from the Messiah. Between the two choirs, we
should have 35 choristers. This is a special
occasion, I would encourage you to bring friends
and family to hear this wonderful music.

Poinsettias can again this year be ordered to

decorate the sanctuary and can be in memory of
someone or to celebrate something special. The
plants cost $20 and can be ordered thru the church
office, checks to be made out to the BCC Womens
Society.
We have three ongoing knitting projects.
(1)
Project LILY continues where we knit or crochet 8
squares to be sent to Turkey to be sewn into
blankets for Syrian refugee children.
(2) The
Heifer Project Afghan has commenced production.
We are recruiting knitters to knit squares that will
be sewn together and raffled off in the spring to
benefit the Heifer Project. Please contact Valerie
Nelson
at
914-941-5218
or
Valerie.lynn.nelson@gmail.com for details. She
has the yarn and instructions and is keeping the
master list of knitters. (3) Prayer Shawls are also
still being knit.

For the Christmas Pageant in the afternoon of the

21st, our Junior Choir will sing, Charlotte Luttkus
and Talene Basil will sing a duet, and Charlotte
will also sing a solo.
On Christmas Eve family service, the Junior Choir
and Charlotte Luttkus will participate in the
service. At the later Candlelight service, we will
have dulcimer/guitar duet, a solo by Kathy
Browning, and of course our wonderful Senior
Choir lead us in worship. Connor will play the
trumpet for both services as well.

Women of the church, women of the community

you are all welcome to come to our meetings,
events and luncheons. Wed enjoy getting to know
you.

All of our choirs are working hard to bring you

good music for the season. Please come and enjoy
the beautiful music as we anticipate the birth of
Jesus.
Blessings,
Hui-Mei Lin (Fimi)

NOTES FROM FIMI

In November, the Cherub Choir led us in worship
on Commitment Sunday, and the Youth Choir
(Junior and Teen) sang for Thanksgiving Sunday.
All of our choirs have been busy rehearsing
Advent/Christmas music since November.
On 12/14, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Karen Sharman
and Kathy Browning will be playing dulcimer and
guitar, as well as an octet from the choir members
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hour. We need the usual cast of angels, shepherds,

wise men and Mary and Joseph so please look for
the sign-up sheet in Beebe Hall.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS

Advent Craft Fair
This year's Advent Craft Fair will be on Sunday
Dec. 7, 2014 during coffee hour. We are serving a
light brunch and expect to have about a dozen
different crafts for the children to make. We will
also be encouraging the Sunday School children to
invite a friend and expect to have some little
visitors with us that day. Please contact John
Panagacos if you would like to help the children
make Christmas ornaments and small gifts.

CELEBRATIONS
There are many things to be grateful for
but as I ripen with the seasons of life,
the many reasons blend into a sacred

Caroling at Sunday School.

On Sunday December 7th the children will be
caroling at Beebe Hall before going to their
Sunday School Classrooms. Please drop your
children off at Beebe Hall at 10 a.m. and do not go
to the church first on that day. The Children will
also be caroling before Sunday School on the 14th
and 21st of December.

mystery. And, most deeply, I realize

that living gratefully is its own blessing.
Michael Mahoney
Happy December birthdays to our friends:
Richard Prewitt, December 14
Thomas Vincent, December 22

Christmas Pageant
The Christmas Pageant will be on the Sunday
before Christmas, Dec. 21st. The pageant will start
at noon right after a light brunch served at coffee

Ann Munier, December 23

Marjorie Paddock, December 29

Again, this year the big evergreen on the Beebe House lawn
will be lighted for the holiday season, thanks to the
cooperative work and generosity of many; including Tom
and

Rachel

Leihbacher,

Bob

Blair,

Brian

Lewis,

Rosy

Matsuoka, the Memorials Committee and the Briarcliff Fire

Department.

Tom, Bob and Dave Caspar are exceedingly

dear to put the Nativity in place on the church lawn at this

time of year, as well.

Both the church and the larger

community are encouraged by these signs of Emmanuel, and

we thank those who work to make them possible.

BRIARCLIFF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

TEL: 914-941-4368

FAX: 914-941-1513

EMAIL: church-office@briarcliffchurch.org

DECEMBER 2014
Sun
Childcare is available
during worship.

Mon

Tue

Wed

Fri

Sat

Womens Society
Greens Prep and
Luncheon, 10-12

Sunday School meets

simultaneously.

Thu

Deacons, 7:30 p.m.

Benevolence
7:30 p.m.

By-Laws Committee
7:30 p.m.

15

16

10

Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.

11

Greening of the
Church, 7:30
Christmas Party at the
Manse, 8 p.m.

12

13

19

20

26

27

WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
Peanut Butter Sunday
Advent Craft Fair
Christmas Choir
rehearsal, 12:30 p.m.

Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.

Messiah Sing-Along
3 p.m.

14

17

18

WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
Christmas Choir
rehearsal, 12:30 p.m.

Deadline for
Poinsettia orders

21

Cookie Packing
7:30 p.m.

22

Senior Choir
rehearsal, 8 p.m.

23

24

25

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS
DAY

WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
Christmas Choir
rehearsal, 12:30 p.m.

Trustees, 7:45 p.m.

Church office
closed

Worship Services

5 and 10 p.m.
(note time change)

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29

30

31

WORSHIP, 10 a.m.
NO Sunday School

NEW
YEARS
EVE

Our best wishes to all for a Blessed

Advent Season and a Healthy and
Happy New Year in 2015 !