Central Presbyterian Church - Our Programs and Activities

In addition to our Sunday Service, Central Church is a very busy place with educational and social activities for all ages. Many of these are summarized here.

There are several organizations who meet regularly at Central Church. They include the monthly meetings of the board of Chances & Changes, the local center for Battered Women and their children; twice weekly meetings of Motion Promotion, a senior citizens exercise class; a monthly Healthy Heart Program; bi-monthly meetings of Geneseo Garden Club; bi-monthly Free Hearing Aid Check Up; and two weekly play groups, one on Wednesday morning and one Friday mon ring. Anyone interested in any of these can call the church office, 243-0669, for more information.

EDUCATION

Adult

Adult Education has several great components:

(a) Weekly bible study (Monday mornings) – this program runs about 1 1/2 hrs on Monday mornings, throughout the year, and is led by the pastor. Between 12-16 people regularly attend and it involves in depth study of the bible with interpretations and various meanings of scripture discussed- at times this can get quite lively! The Sunday service/sermon is also usually discussed. This provides the pastor with feedback, and also gives members the opportunity to ask questions and seek additional insights.

(b) Sunday topics can involve a presenter(s) or video on loan from the Presbytery library. For example in the past year we have had presenters providing information about Fair Funding for Public Schools, book reviews (such as The Gnostic Gospels) and a discussion of the large number of minority individuals in prisons.

(c) Sunday video materials included the series Wrestling With Angels, which had discussions about difficult life topics by various authors and theologians.

(d) A series of recent movies were played on Sunday evenings (which included great suppers!) followed by in depth discussions about the theme, significance and its meaning in modern life. One memorable movie was a Disney video for children, who brought their pillows and blankets and “camped out’ in front of the monitor. A great multi-generation discussion followed!

It’s expected that this year’s Adult Education Program will follow with similar topics and themes.

Youth

We have 35 children enrolled in a developmentally-appropriate Sunday School program. Seasons of the Spirit, with its relatively progressive theological focus, will guide us through the 2004-05 church year. The Central Presbyterian Church puppet theatre has been used as a teaching tool for storytelling. Children have listened to stories as well as participated in creating puppets and telling stories to increase comprehension and expression of Bible stories and religious-based children's literature.

While encouraging family worship time and participation in children's sermons, we also provide a staffed nursery and children's fellowship time during Sunday services. Youth participate in services by playing bells, ushering and greeting, assisting the minister prior to services and in preparing snacks for Sunday coffee hour.

We actively participate in a summer Ecumenical Bible School. The curriculum for the week-long program in June 2004 promoted the following five topics: loving, forgiving, serving, accepting, and comforting all.

BOARD OF DEACONS

Geneseo Central Presbyterian Church has 12 Deacons serving at this time.

THE BOARD OF DEACONS
Moderator	Linda Hatheway
Secretary/Treasurer	Ruth McConnell
Acolytes	Zach & Jill Matzek
Cards and Tapes	Tracy Clarke
Communion/Linens & Baptisms	Marilyn Cleveland & John Vonglis
Flowers	Shirley Cox & Linda Hamilton
Greeters and Ushers	Leslie McCurdy
Nominating	Shirley Cox
Transportation	Mike DaBramo
Home Communion	Betsy Matthews
Coffee Hour	Linda Hatheway, Cathy Janson, Betsy Matthews & Janice Willer

The title deacon comes from a Greek word (diakonai) which means "to serve", a word which is used most often in the New Testament to mean service to others by helping to fulfill their physical needs. In Mark 10:45 we are taught that Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Thus, in most general terms, a deacon is one who sustains ministry of Christ in the world by serving those who are in physical need or hardship.

Central's Deacons are working toward visiting the infirmed, feeding families in the community at Thanksgiving and Christmas and being available for help when needed. Each Deacon and Elder have a Shepherding group of about 20 congregation members and friends of Central to oversee. Call your Deacon, Elder or the church office if you have a need for their help or the pastor's help.

WESTMINSTER CLUB

Westminster Club, which was formed several years ago by merging the Seniors group and the Singles & Doubles, meets several times a year for fun and fellowship. They just completed a Progressive Dinner at the homes of 3 families on Second Street. On Saturday, August 28 at 5:30 PM, they meet at the Field of Dreams for a Clambake.

The Club is open to all adult members and friends of Central, whether married or single. Other events have been OctoberFest, decorating the sanctuary for Christmas, attending plays, high tea, canal boat trip, etc. The event is left to the group who volunteers to plan it, so the
activity depends on the committee. Gretchen and Jeff Crane have bravely led the group for several years, and we applaud them for their willingness to do so.

FUNDRAISING

CPC's "Dreams" Golf Tournament

This year, Central Presbyterian Church will hold its 10th Annual "Dreams" Golf Tournament. The tournament serves two purposes: 1) to enable great fellowship on and off the golf course, and 2) to raise monies to support two areas. Begun in 1995, the original tournament was founded to help raise funds for the building of the "Field of Dreams," our outdoor pavilion and playground located adjacent to the church parking lot. Later, as we entered our most recent capital campaign, half of the proceeds were designated to fulfill our "pipe dreams," i.e., support of the renovation of our organ. Today, we continue to split the proceeds as the tournament supports both the ongoing upkeep of our FOD and our capital campaign which is nearing completion. Last year, over $700 was raised! The tournament has grown over the years from a few foursomes to an event where over fifty church members and friends enjoy a great afternoon of golf and/or a cookout. We are always delighted to be hosted at the home of Lynda and Phil Bracchi for the cookout, with delicious steaks provided by C&R Foods, aka Craig and Sharon Bolesky. We never know what the weather will bring...from sunshine to hail...but we always enjoy the fellowship!

This year's Tournament will be held Sunday, September 12th, following worship. Golf will begin with tee times starting around 12:30 at Old Hickory Golf Course in Livonia. The awards / dinner portion will be held immediately following at the home of Lynda and Phil Bracchi in Geneseo. All are encouraged to play as the format is a scramble, and even beginners will have a great time. All non-golfers are invited to sign up for the steak cookout. Many prizes will be awarded. If you are interest in playing, please contact Anne Bishop at 226-3050 (home) or 259-8282 (cell). If you have a particular foursome in mind, please indicate. Cost for golfers will be $50, including cart and dinner. Dinner only will be $10.

Food Concessions

A major fun(d) raising effort is through food concessions. Central puts on three chicken barbecues a year - one in the spring, one at the Summer Festival and a final one in the fall. We have become so well known for our high quality chicken dinners that a local pundit suggested a few years ago that CPC really stands for the Church of the Perpetual Chicken!

The Summer Festival barbecue is a major undertaking, as 800 dinners are served. Cooking occurs at the Village Park and the aroma of the barbecuing birds spreads throughout the Village.

During both full days of the Festival another component of Central's family is staffing the Ye Olde Presbyterian Grille. In addition to the common fare of burgers, dogs and sausages, the Grille features items such as chicken breast sandwiches, portobella mushroom sandwiches and Caesar salads.

While the food is enough of a draw in itself, what makes the Grille and the barbecue so successful is the attitude of those that staff the event. Central's family is able to demonstrate to the larger community its sense of fellowship and camaraderie.

Rent-A-Vine

For the seventh consecutive year, friends and members of Central Presbyterian Church are invited to participate in the Silver Tendril Rent-A-Vine program at the home of Shirley and Gary Cox on Route 36 in York.

The benefits of participating include (1) fellowship with other participants during an August Sunday afternoon tasting of Rent-A-Vine wines on the patio (silver tendril grape juice available in lieu of wine if you prefer); (2) more fellowship and wine-tasting while lending a leisurely hand with the early- to mid-October harvest, with the opportunity to crush and/or STOMP (!) grapes, and to work the press – this is a kids-friendly activity – bring your cameras; (grape juice from the vineyard again available); (3) your photo next to your rented vine, (4) four bottles mainly from the 2003 vintage and (5) the knowledge that ALL of your rent will be contributed by Shirley and Gary to the work of Geneseo Central Presbyterian Church.

As in recent years, Shirley and Gary will designate this donation for the Mission Commission and its Session-approved mission projects, which include Livingston County Habitat for Humanity, NY State education finance reform, and the Mission Commission's outreach to Mexico and the peoples of Mexico.

At this writing it's too early to judge how badly this year's Riesling crop will have been hurt by the extremely low temperatures in January. We may be harvesting varieties that are more winter-hardy than Riesling. That might result in our harvest date being shifted slightly. Time will tell.

In addition to the benefits listed above, all participants agree to share three minimal responsibilities: (1) MAIL A CHECK payable to Gary and Shirley Cox for $62.50 to 3054 Main Street, Route 36, Piffard, NY 14533 – the roughly thirty-six vine renters for 2004 will be those whose checks are received first; other checks will, of course, be returned; (2) PICK UP your bottled benefits at either the August or the October event, or make other arrangements to do so; (3) RETURN your well-rinsed Rent-A-Vine empties to the case provided in the CPC kitchen, or to our home. As usual, Shirley and Gary will tend the vineyard, make the wine, host the tasting's, etc., and contribute the rents to Central.

Avoid disappointment and mail your Rent-A-Vine for Central check this week.

Church Members Baking Extravaganza

Church Members met July 8th to bake 70 pies for sale at the Geneseo Rotary Festival Days Sidewalk Sale. The ingredients are donated by members, so the proceeds go to support our Mission efforts. The Women's Association sponsors the event.

Photo by Wilbur Harold Wright

COMMON THREADS

Common Threads is a group of members who like to work in the fiber arts. We have made the eight Confessional Banners of the church, which we use on Pentecost and Reformation Sunday. For the Women's Association, we make banners for each child baptized here. We also do craft items for sale to raise dollars for Mission programs.

We also stand ready to teach those fiber arts that we do to any who wish to learn. We meet only as necessary; we sell craft items during our two chicken barbecues and in conjunction with the Women's Association Christmas baked food auction. Most of our work is sold to members as they have need of baby gifts, etc. We have been able to provide more than $1000 per year to supplement our Mission budget.

WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

All Central's women are members of the Women's Association, a.k.a.CPW (Central Presbyterian Women). We have fun in our fellowship, working and playing together. Some of our Mission Giving has gone to the Capital Fund, Gertrude Black Library, kitchen supplies, Habitat for Humanity, Teresa House, Chances & Changes, Nursery School scholarship, and Literacy of Livingston County.

Our calendar for 2004: March 2, Video Veg-Out; Mar. 26-27, Rummage Sale; May 2, Mother-Daughter Dinner; June 12, Retreat on Conesus Lake; July 9, Geneseo Festival Bake Sale; July 29, Salad Supper @ Lake; Sept. Bible Study; Oct. 1-2, Pajama Party at Tadmor Farm; Oct. 22-23, Fall Rummage Sale; Dec. 12, Holiday Bake Sale.

Our Statement of Purpose reads as follows: As women sharing a common faith in our Lord and Savior, we unite through the church to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to demonstrate His love in all areas of life, to declare our oneness with fellow Christians everywhere, to grow in
Christian faith and responsibility. We shall seek to implement this purpose by study, prayer and service, supporting with our giving the work of the Board of national Mission, the Board of Christian Education, and the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations."

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Geneseo Cooperative Nursery School

Geneseo Cooperative Nursery School was founded in 1964 by a group of local mothers who were interested in a quality nursery school program for their children. It is run by a volunteer board of parents of children currently enrolled in the program. The program is open to children between the ages of 3-5 years old and runs Monday through Thursday mornings from September through May.

The program is staffed with a NYS certified teacher and teacher’s aid. As a cooperative nursery school there is a parent working in the classroom each day as well. The Geneseo Nursery School prides itself on the loving and warm environment it creates while providing an academically structured program to the families of the local community. The children are introduced to literature, alphabet letters, numbers, colors etc as well as learning to follow directions, share and participate in a group. All of the things the children learn and participate in are done through the use of play, crafts, music and movement. The program helps to prepare the children for kindergarten. The children of Geneseo Nursery School are also involved in a few field trips each year. Some of the trips they generally take are to the Fire Department, the dentist’s office, the post office, the zoo and a children’s museum.

Registration for the nursery school is generally held in the beginning of March for the following school year.

LIBRARY

The Gertrude Black Memorial Libraries in our Central Presbyterian Church were created, and are being maintained for the enrichment of various aspects of our church family. Mrs. Black was a much revered educator and devoted long-time member of our congregation.

Attempting to incorporate the interests, needs, study topics and stated missions of our church, items of both print and non-print formats are purchased and processed for circulation by our children and adults. On occasion, items are also given to the Libraries in honor, or in memory of someone; much appreciated and specially recognized gifts! We continue to act upon the suggestions and recommendations of our avid readers and users, as well as professional review sources, and regularly add new books to our adult library and a variety of materials to our Children's' and Young Adults' Collections.

The Adult Library is located in the Jane Ward Room on the second floor of our church, and the Children's' collections are in the room which houses the young children; nearby to the the Church School classrooms, and the Geneseo Nursery School which is held in our building. All of the members of our congregation are invited, and encouraged, to browse the collections, and
to circulate whichever fiction and non- fiction items they would enjoy reading, studying and hearing.

The Libraries are presently managed under the auspices of our Christian Education Committee.

PRAYER CHAIN

The Prayer Chain is composed of dedicated individuals who have volunteered to pray seriously and daily for those who are undergoing stress in their lives, due to illness, accident, death, or other major upheavals.

The Chain is activated on request to the Church Office, 243-0669, by the person in need, or someone on their behalf. Details of requests are always kept in strictest confidence.

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