Boards/Committees

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church

1845 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, New York 11793
Phone (516) 785-1829 - E-mail: WMCC1845@verizon.net Pixie (516) 785-1247

Boards & Committees

Church Boards - If you would like to serve on one of the Church Boards please submit your name. Call the church office for more information at (516) 785-1829. Thank you.

Message From The Board of Trustees - The Board of Trustees understands that there are individuals and groups within the church that would like to do work to improve the church. Please remember any type of structural changes or painting or changing things that includes bushes, gardens, etc. must go through the Board of Trustees first.

Message From The Deacons - In order that all members of the congregation can clearly hear the announcements on Sunday morning, it is requested that anyone with an announcement to be given, please give their notice, in writing, to the Chancel Deacon before 10:30 a.m. Thank you!! Also, anyone wishing to take communion, but cannot attend church service, please call the church office and arrangements will be made for you. Anyone who would like a visit from the minister may call the church office for an appointment at (516) 785-1829.

Message From the Minister - Dear Friends,
The time of waiting is over! Your new pastor has arrived. It
seemed a bit strange to lead worship on my first Sunday just as the Sunday School year was coming to an end. I’ve already been cautioned by a few of you that summer attendance at worship will be significantly lower than what we might expect during the fall, winter and spring. That’s understandable.

A few week’s ago The Messenger included an article about such times of transition and change. It also mentioned this summer’s hiatus. As I have thought about it, I see my arrival at this particular time in the calendar year as fortunate. We can use this time to get to know one another and we can also use this time to think about the future. What are our expectations for our shared ministry? What role do you want your pastor to play in that ministry? What expectations do we have that are based on past realities that are no longer realistic, at all? What expectations do we have that limit our ability to be Christ’s body in the community around us? Are we humble enough to admit that God’s expectations might be quite different from our own?

My first sermon will be on the topic of ‘expectations’. But let me tell you of a couple of things you can expect from me. Invariably, whenever a new pastor arrives changes will be made. But, I can assure you that I don’t make changes unilaterally. I will rely on discussions with members and friends, Boards and Committees as a key factor in implementing any changes. That leads to a second expectation you can have of me. I believe in open lines of communication throughout the church. Please know that I am always available to discuss any matter of concern with you. That being said, I will religiously guard my day off except in an emergency! I have set hours of which I will make every effort to be in the church office and will be available at other times as requested.

I believe that with our shared expectations and an openness to what God might expect from Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church we can be a lively, viable, and distinctive church in our community.

In closing, Maurene and I want to thank all of you for the overwhelmingly kind reception we have received. The parsonage is beautiful, everything we need to ‘survive‘ until our household goods arrive from England has been provided, and the kindness of everyone has made us feel most welcome.

Grace and Peace,
Ron

Read Ron's Biography

Check out Rev. Garner's blog at:

www.wmcclive.blogspot.com

Pray for the Hungry - The Westbury Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (also known as the Quakers) is beginning silent meetings for worship with a concern for those who are hungry and in need. These will be held every Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:00 PM, in cooperation with the Long Island Council of Churches. Participants in the interfaith gathering are invited to bring an offering of nonperishable food, which will be delivered to the Long Island Council of Churches food pantry. Money contributions are welcome. As LICC Board member Dick Goodman explains, his wife Irene felt led to host silent worship meetings so that non-Quakers and non-Christians can easily take part in them. The Meeting is at 550 Post Avenue, Westbury, at the corner of Jericho Tpke. And just north of exit 32 from the Northern State Parkway. For additional informations call (631) 271-4672.

E-Mail Address - The church e-mail address is: wmcc1845@verizon.net. Please make a note of it.

Reminder to Our Old Friends - We loved getting letters from some of our church members and friends who have moved away over the years and we hope to continue getting those letters. We will include them in the Messenger as we get them. We've heard from a bunch of friends already, but maybe we haven't heard from you. Please drop us a line and let us know how you are doing, we'd love to know.

Please Keep in Your Prayers - Please keep in mind all those who need our prayers.
Our Prayer List

Prayer Requests - If you would like to request prayers for someone in need of them, whether it be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, etc., whether it be for physical, emotion or spiritual healing, etc. please contact the church office at (516) 785-1829 to add them to our prayer list. There will also be a form in the Sunday Bulletin for this purpose.

Get Involved - Feeling lost or alone? Need a change in your life? Why not get more involved in the church? There are many opportunities for you to get involved in our church family. There are numerous committees looking for new members, plenty of activities that we can always use more volunteers for. Imagine how rewarding that could be, or maybe you are a handy person who could help with some minor repairs. For information please stop by or call us at (516) 785-1829. What are you waiting for?

Join The Choir - Do you like to sing? If so, maybe you’d like to join our Sunday choir. Please contact our Choir Director for more information.

Calendar Planning - If anyone is planning to use the church or parish hall, please submit those dates as soon as possible to secure the dates and times. That means all boards, committees, organizations, should call as soon as possible to inform the church office of those dates you will be using any church building. Thank you.

Ushers - If you are a regular here during Sunday worship, please consider signing up to be an usher. It’s not very hard work, the only requirement is that you be here for church on Sunday. We try to alternate ushers so that you only have to usher once or twice a month, and a schedule is printed up and handed out every three months so that you would know ahead of time when you would be serving. Anyone can do it! Call the church office at (516) 785-1829. If you are scheduled to be an usher or greeter, and are unable to serve on your scheduled day, please switch with someone else from the usher list and notify the church office of the change. Thank you!

Birthday/Anniversary List - Our birthday/anniversary list is not quite up to date, so if we inadvertently forgot to mention your special day let the church office know so we can correct it. Otherwise, enjoy your day!!

Communion Table Flowers - If anyone would like to place an order for flowers in memory or honor of family/friends, please call Joan Holdsworth at (516) 221-0942. The flowers will be placed in the Chancel, and it does not have to be just for a Communion Sunday. Thank you.

Church School - Our church school children attend the first part of the church service. After the children's story the children depart for their classrooms. The church school has classes for Pre K through 6th graders. 7th and 8th graders attend a 2-year pre-confirmation program. There is also a quiet room in the church for parents with younger children to use if they so desire. The warm, supportive congregation is dedicated to their children and building their faith together in Christ. All are welcome and invited to attend.

Borrowing Church Items - If anyone wishes to borrow anything from the church, such as chairs, tables, coffee pots, etc. please make your requests through the church office. All items being borrowed must be signed out. Thank you!

Cleaning Up - To all boards, committees, organizations, etc. using the Parish Hall, if you are using the hall for an event on a Sunday, please make sure to clean up after yourselves completely as our sextons are off on Sundays. This would include the floors, the stove, the sink, the bathrooms, etc. We realize an effort is made to clean up after these events, but as with anyone renting the hall we always specify that the hall must be left in the condition it was found in. Thank you!

Parish Hall Rentals - Anyone wishing to book a party in the Parish Hall please call the church office at (516) 785-1829. You do not have to be a memeber of the church in order to use the Parish Hall. The hall is a great and inexpensive place to have a party. The hall is also available for weekly or monthly group meetings.

Messenger Articles - If anyone has an item, whether it be something spiritual, funny, informative, new about the family, etc., for the Messenger, please feel free to submit them to Cheryl Tribley, Editor, or call the church office at (516) 785-1829. Thank you!

Endowment Fund - Dear Friends, do you ever think about the future of our church in a rapidly changing economy? In order to be sure that our church will be able to continue its mission and maintain its plant in the future, an Endowment Fund was established in 1984. This fund has been maintained by receiving bequests and gifts from members and friends of our church. These funds are held in trust and safely invested. Only the interest may be used for maintenance, repair, improvements or additions to buildings and grounds. Only in an extreme emergency would the fund itself be touched. At the present time, the Endowment Fund is growing and guaranteeing the future of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church. But new gifts and bequests are essential to keep up to the changing economy. It is hoped that interested people will want to be a part of our future with gifts now, or by remembering our church in the wills. Donors' names will be entered in a red leather book and will be displayed in the rear of the church. Anyone interested in contributing to the Endowment Fund or getting more information may contact a member of the Committee.

Memorial Fund - A great way to remember a loved one, whether living or deceased, is to give a memorial or tribute gift in his/her name. If you would like to do this please tell us in your letter accompanying such a gift, who the gift is in memory of or tribute to, and who is giving the gift. We will send a thank you letter to the contributor and to the family of the loved one in accordance with your instructions.

Food Pantry - Our Freeport Emergency Food Center needs nearly everything: cereal, canned vegetables, meat, fruit, peanut butter and jelly, pancake mix and syrup, coffee, tea, flour, sugar, vegetable oil, condiments, Enfamil, baby formula, diapers, toiletries, paper towels, toilet, and paper shopping bags. We also need shelves or bookcases. Do you have one you would be willing to donate? We need volunteers at the Freeport pantry, too, particularly Tuesday and Thursday mornings and any afternoons Monday through Friday. If you can help, please call Alric Kennedy, our Director of Community Resources at (516) 565-0290, ext. 204, or Barbara Harrison at (516) 868-4989. And, as always, donations of all kinds of nonperishable foods are welcome.

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