Members and friends of our congregation were recently asked to select a local agency to be the recipient of our annual Pentecost Offering. Your votes have been counted, and the winner is…..too close to call! As a result, your Pentecost gifts will be shared equally by the Center for Safety & Change (formerly Rockland Family Shelter), Nyack Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Multipurpose Center in Spring Valley. All three organizations work to support families and nurture children in our community. What a great way to let our Pentecost spirit shine in the community! It’s not too late to give!
Mission
Jazz at NHPC – Sunday, Feb. 26th at 4pm
New Hempstead Presbyterian Church is proud to partner with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra for an exciting afternoon of music, featuring the Bill Crow Jazz Quartet! Bill Crow is a premier jazz bassist who has played and recorded with many luminaries of the jazz world, including Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, and more. Join us on Sunday, February 26th at 4:00pm for a cool afternoon of hot jazz! General admission is $20; Seniors $15; Students $10; Children under 12 – Free. More info at: http://www.rocklandsymphony.org/
Annual Meeting – Sunday, February 19th, 2017
Due to inclement weather on February 12, the Annual Congregational Meeting of NHPC has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 19th in the Sanctuary, immediately following the worship service. All members are urged to attend. Those who are not yet members are also invited.
It’s Movie Time at NHPC! Saturday, January 28th at 3PM
Come join us for a fun afternoon of watching the movie “Secretariat.” Witness the spectacular journey of an incredible horse named Secretariat and the moving story of his unlikely owner, a housewife who risked everything to make him a champion. Refreshments will be provided! Join us for fun, fellowship and an inspirational film from Walt Disney Productions.
Join us at the “Unity Celebration” – Monday, January 16, 2017
New Hempstead Presbyterian Church is once again a proud sponsor of the Unity Celebration, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This annual event celebrates the life of Dr. King by showcasing community groups, performers and speakers who carry on Dr. King’s dream to create the beloved community. Doors open at 3:00pm on Monday, January 16th at Ramapo High School, located at 400 Viola Road, Spring Valley, NY. Stop by and see us at the NHPC table!
Safe Haven Update
Thank you to all our volunteers who shopped, cooked, served and provided overnight chaperone for our recent Safe Haven nights at NHPC. Thanks to your efforts, over 25 homeless men and women had hot meals and safe, overnight shelter on the cold nights of December 28-30th. Special thanks to our friends from Germonds Presbyterian Church, who provided meals and served our guests on Thursday night!
It has already been a tough season for our homeless neighbors. Already, several have been hospitalized with bouts of pneumonia–just one of the health hazards of life on the streets. NHPC is proud to partner with Helping Hands Interfaith Coalition of Rockland County, to provide warm meals and overnight shelter to men and women in need. Helping Hands also offers other support services to assist in ending the cycle of homelessness–case management, housing and job search assistance. Learn more about Helping Hands at http://www.helpinghandsofrockland.org.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – 8:00PM
Join us at 8:00pm on Christmas Eve as we share the beauty and wonder of Christmas at our traditional Candlelight Service. All are welcome!
Thanksgiving Baskets 2016
Thanksgiving has come and gone, but for 50 needy Rockland families the holiday was a little better. Through donations from our congregation and the St. George Church, we were able to assemble 50 Thanksgiving baskets complete with turkeys. On November 20, six of us shopped at ShopRite for the basket items. Seeing the mountain of food that we were buying and hearing the reason why, one kind shopper even gave us a $20 donation. Once we got back to the church, we made an assembly line to pack the bags with food. Since the turkeys had to be kept cold, Percy donated the use of his van to store the turkeys – a freezer on wheels since the night temperature was fairly cold.
On Monday morning, Carmen came to the church with a bag of bagels and her list of basket recipients. The baskets were ready to go and by 11 AM, they had all been picked up. Thanks to everyone who contributed donations, shopped, assembled the baskets, and distributed them. You made a difference to our neighbors in need.
Baskets awaiting distribution
Our Thanksgiving basket makers
Donated Thanksgiving turkeys
Help make Thanksgiving a little brighter for a needy neighbor. New Hempstead Church has a long tradition of donating “Thanksgiving Baskets” to local families in need. Be sure to bring your food items to church on Sunday, November 20 so that we can distribute them before Thanksgiving. You can also sponsor a basket, and we’ll do the shopping for you. We’ll need volunteers on November 20th to shop and assemble the baskets. Contact Laura Bidon with any questions, or Carmen Bermudez if you know a family in need.
Welcome Back Luncheon – Sunday, September 18th
We will be having our annual Welcome Back Luncheon on Sunday, September 18th following worship. Bring a dish to share, or just bring yourself and a friend. All are welcome!
Special Guest on Sunday, August 21st
Pastor Lori will be away for continuing education on Sunday, August 21st. In her absence, Toney Earl, Jr. will be our special guest at worship that day. He’ll be sharing his personal story, and telling us more about the work of his organization–MADE (Making a Difference Everyday)–bringing hope and change to formerly incarcerated individuals. All are welcome! Join us Sunday at 10AM.