Pastor’s Report
The year opened with our first covered dish dinner as we were favored with the music and testimonies of the ladies from The Walter Hoving home. This continues to be one of the best attended activities of the year.
We continued our normal format for our Good Friday service. Deacons and Deaconess participation
is much of the service. Communion is served using our antique utensils.
Mother & Father Sundays are normally well attended Worship services. I continue the practice of providing an item of remembrance to all participants. This year “special” luncheons were held on Saturday mornings for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebration.
The Annual Beekman Memorial Day parade was supported by much of the same BBC members as in the past. The town officials, as always, asked me to offer the Invocation.
“Outreach to our community” services include participation in the Annual Beekman Community Day. We returned to our original location and contacts were significantly increased. We had 2 BBC people and Phil Morrison represent us at the event this year.
I was again invited to attend the Pastor’s Convention
sponsored by a NYC radio station. The event is always well attended by
Another of our established “outreach to our community” programs was the continuing of men’s breakfasts. This was the 6th year of our Men’s Breakfast Fellowship on Saturday mornings during Spring and Winter. We have had some great guest speakers. The local Deli provides a “neutral” facility to those who are un-churched and provides a more non- threatening (religious) environment. These breakfasts are an activity that is regularly requested.
This year, as another “community outreach” ministry, I instituted an Annual Patriotic Sing-along picnic. The sing-along is conducted on the Sunday evening before July 4th. We had three guitar players and several lead singers. Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, and refreshments were all supplied by the church. Nearly 40 people participated in this initial 2 hour event.
Invitations continue to be received from the Guidepost
Corporate Office in
I performed one Baby Dedication, Willam Jordan III, and one funeral, Edith Senior.
Our small Group Home Bible Study continued into its fourth year. Our group remains about the same in size.
The Golz family continue to host the every other Thursday meeting. We primarily focused around the Book of James led by Don Smith and backed-up by Ed Tunmer. We interrupted the class during November due to an abundance of activities during the month of November/December.
The Vision Casting Committee presented a plan of improvement in our Fellowship hall. The Congregation approved the plan and the work was begun and completed this year. There is more on the table for 2009..
The nursing home ministry continues to be one the most personally rewarding “outreach” project of the BBC.
We now serve an external (to BBC) congregation of
approximately 67 people on a regular basis. The service at the McClelland Adult
home is conducted as a “regular” Sunday Worship Service. This has proven to be
a more personal interaction approach of involvement with our “extended
congregation.” Putnum Nursing and
The Four Corners Development Association had graciously gathered and provided food products for Thanks-giving meals again this year. As their partner, we provided meals for nine families this year, an increase of four families. Six of the families had a family size 6 or more members. Betty Wisor, Debbie Bernard, and Crystal Bernard caught the vision this year, and provided most of a Saturday to organize the food distribution.
I have regularly attended two monthly Clergy breakfasts and
luncheon. The local group of clergy provide items that are of a local nature.
The “Evangelical” pastors assemble monthly for prayer for the lost of the
Thanks to the leadership of Tina Golz, we have continued to participate in supporting the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie and The Walter Hoving Home with Christmas gift giving...
I continue to teach for the Hudson Valley New Life Bible Institute. This semester I am teaching the Evangelism Course material. In addition, I currently serve on their Board of Directors.
We have been graced with visits from two “candidate” Missionaries this year, who are hoping to be
“sent into service” in 2009. . We much appreciate our missionaries keeping us
updated with their work and prayer requests. We thank God that we are blessed
to be able to share in their work with our financial and prayerful needs. In a
sense, we are fulfilling part of the “great commission” through their lives and
work inside and outside the
The personal highlight of the year, was the invitation from
Our now ”infamous” group of the “Beekman Players,” presented “The Christmas Spirit,” as they performed at the 8th Annual Living Nativity. The sheep and goats provided by the Golz family are always a big hit with the children. It was a great presentation and all the players performed wonderfully. The Caballero-Rivera Family portrayed the Baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary. We had smaller attendance this year, due to the extreme cold. Many attendees were “first timers.” We also changed our musical presentation. As always, I received many comments of appreciation for the evening.
Our Annual Christmas Eve Candle light service began with the oboe playing by John McIntyre. We had a good attendance. The candle light portion of the service is always a moving experience. This was another great service.
We must always be quick to give God all His due honor and glory. May our God continue to bless and lead our elected leaders and our congregation in the coming year as we seek to serve Him His daily cup of water, clothing, and visitation.