Circuit Rider News

November & December

As many of you know, I have been painting our buildings at Polleejc Farm. Our old, weathered garage has gone from faded blue, flaking cedar shakes to Barn Red with white enamel Trim and Black Shutters. It is a work in progress. Three quarters of it are completed. It is kind of like we Christians, “What we shall be has not been revealed; but when He…Christ appears; we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” Thus says God’s Word. The garage reveals what used to be and what is to come. So does His Word!
Our house had the same old blue color paint upon cedar shakers too. The past two weeks the back part has been scraped and received a primer coat of white, followed by Behr’s Honey Locust Yellow coating. What a complete difference that has made. Yesterday, I spent the hours of 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. applying the yellow coat. It looks like a new house. Polly is so pleased that she sent pictures to the family. One wanted to know who we had do it. She said: “Lee did it.” The new renovations I received and am receiving come from the application of Jesus blood to my sinful life. The old discolored stains of sin have been cleansed and painted white through “The Blood Of The Lamb Paint Company” headquartered in Heaven.

This morning as I walked out the door….the sunlight glinting off the new yellow coat made everything brighter on the porch. Jesus’ touch to our lives does the same. His cleansing us new joy; new views, and new perspective to life. “If any man or women be in Christ Jesus, he/she is a new creation, OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE COME NEW.”

Pastor Juanita has gone home to be with the Lord this week. She is thoroughly enjoying the newly fashioned mansion Christ has made for her…His faithful servant. There is a much greater gold glow than I could ever paint…and the joyous smile of wellness cannot be erased from her totally healed person.
The more we allow Jesus to scrape away the old dross, and allow His renovation to happen to us; the more our transformation for Heaven will be completed for the journey from here to eternity.
May your old person though wasting away outwardly every day, be renewed inwardly to be more and more like Him.

-Pastor Lee D. Gangaware

REMEMBERING PASTOR JUANITA
Juanita came to us September 5, 2004 after she retired from the Pine Plains Methodist Church. I found her to be friendly, sincere and she had a quiet quality about her. Soon after she joined us as a new pastor we had to deal with the decision of selling the parsonage. A beautiful home, but one that we just couldn’t afford to maintain anymore. She was so good about the whole thing, as she would let us go back and forth with the pros and cons and when asked gave her opinion.
She was with us when we celebrated our 200th anniversary in the Hillsdale
church. What a day that was. She guided our young people through two confirmation classes and they did love her. When she did a baptism, she was in her glory when she held up the
child and introduced them to the congregation. Her face just shinned with joy. She dealt with a number of deaths in both churches and spent much time with those in hospitals and nursing facilities.
Sometimes she had the patience of a saint, as when we held Bible Study and the conversation got off track and personal. She just seemed to know that a few had a need to talk about something that was bothering them.She loved the music that Delana brought to the church and of course we were blessed to have a beautiful piano donated to us.
At business meetings she came and gave an opening prayer and sat back to let the chairperson run the meetings. If asked, she got involved, but it seemed she had great trust in us to make the decisions.

Juanita’s services were always very well received and as said at our October 12th service, no-one can top her Maundy Thursday and Good Friday service.Juanita leaves behind a daughter and two sons, grandchildren, great grandchildren and Angel all of whom she adored.She left us with a heart full of wonderful memories.

BAPTISM
Kellen James Bobbins son of Alissa Kraft and Kerry Robbins was baptized on Sunday, August 31stat the Hillsdale Church. - Grandparents are Scott and Laura Kraft.++

STEEPLE RESTORATION
If you have driven by the Hillsdale church you have seen a lot of work being done on the church steeple. The restoration work is being done by GB Restoration out of Belchertown Mass. Some of the work that they have done is to remove all deteriorated wood. Replace wood with Azek. Install new roofing system on top of the four cornices. Caulk all open seams with 35 year caulking, prime all wood. Apply two full coats of finish paint to all woodwork, repair or install new ball at base of the weathervane, guild weathervane with 23 karat Italian gold leaf. And remove all debris from interior of the bell. If you would like to know more about the project please speak to Rob Maher.We are at this time trying to apply for some Grants to help defray the cost.If you would like to make a donation please send your donation to:
Hillsdale Methodist Church
P.O. Box 217
Hillsdale, New York 12529

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our Sunday school is up and running every Sunday. Thanks to Amanda Hayes and Lisa Hassinger we offer a class every Sunday. The children come up at the start of the service and Betty White or Pastor Lee delivers a Children’s sermon. (Of course those of us in the congregations enjoy these sermons too).If you know of any child that would like to start Sunday school please let us know.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Janetta received a phone call from Inga May a few weeks ago. She was thrilled with all the birthday cards and wanted to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness. We hope that Inga has
another happy, healthy year.

PRAYERS FOR WAYNE

As Wayne Hassinger and other veterinarians head to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian
work could everyone please hold him and those with him in prayer. Wayne we are so very proud of you. Be safe.

PRAYER AND PRAISE SERVICE
Every Wednesday at 6:00 P.M.

@ the Hillsdale church

NORTH HILLSDALE CHURCH NEWS
Saturday, October 4th was a damp rainy day, but that didn’t keep the men of the North Hillsdale church from doing a superb job of barbequing the chicken and roasting those potatoes. Two tables of home-made desserts really did top off the meal when you when to pick them up. The fall BBQ is a take-out meal only and it was very well attended. To those that barbequed and served, you did a great job. They cleared $1,407.18 and want to thank all that donated. Pat Atwood said that some from North Hillsdale church went to Pastor Lee and Polly’s picnic back in September. They had a very nice time and the food was not only plentiful but delicious. They were both very gracious hosts, and it was a very relaxing day.

THE CROSS AND FLAME
If you ever go by a Methodist church that has the Cross & Flame on the side of their building or standing proudly on their front lawn it is just a magnificent site. I saw this symbol on the lawn of a Methodist church is Michigan and it was so awesome to see as we drove by. Of course as you know you can find anything on the internet, and I thought I would like to share some information about the Cross & Flame with all of you.
Indeed, the Cross and Flame emblem is a powerful reminder of who we are as United Methodists.That’s why protecting and preserving its use and integrity are just as important as when the insignia was created and registered as No.917,433 with the United States and Trademark Office more than three decades ago.
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE
The history and significance of the Cross and Flame emblem are rich and diverse as The United Methodist Church. The insignia’s birth quickly followed the union of two denominations in 1968: The Methodist church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Following more than two dozen conceptualizations, a traditional symbol-the cross-was linked with a single flame with dual tongues of fire. The resulting insignia is rich in meaning. It relates The United Methodist church to God through Christ (cross) and the Holy Spirit (flame) The flame is a reminder of Pentecost when witnesses were unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and saw “tongues, as of fire” (Acts 2:3)
The elements of the emblem also remind us of a transforming moment in the life of Methodism’s founder, John Wesley when he sensed God’s presence and felt his heart “strangely warmed”. The two tongues of a single flame may also be understood to represent the union of two denominations.
The insignia, one with lettering and one without, was formally adopted by the General Conference in 1868 and registered in 1971 with the U.S. Patent and trademark Office. Since 1996. The General Council of Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist church has supervised the emblem’s use.
Only official United Methodist agencies, including local churches, may use the insignia to identify United Methodist work, programs and materials. It should not be used by individuals for personal purposes.

DATES TO REMEMBER
Hillsdale Administrative council meeting - November 5th @ 5:00pm
Men’s & Mary/Martha Breakfast - November 8th at 9:00am in North Hillsdale
Thanksgiving Service - November 26th @ 5:00pm in Hillsdale
Hillsdale Administrative Council meeting - December 3rd @ 5:00pm
Hudson Valley Choral Society Christmas Program - Saturday, December 6th

More info will follow
Men’s Mary/Martha Breakfast in Hillsdale - December 13th @ 9:00am
Noon Clericus meeting - December 17th
Sunday School Christmas Program - December 7th (snow date – Dec. 21st)
Christmas Eve Service in North Hillsdale @ 7:00pm
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BIRTHDAYS

NOVEMBER

Pat Atwood November 11
Peg McGhee November 12
Tom Bishop November 13
Carmen Barbato November 25
DECEMBER
Dan Tompkins December 6
Zachary Van Alphen December 7
Jesse Stalker December 10
Carol Briggs December 20
Elizabeth Bordeaux December 29
John Grenon December 22

ANNIVERSARIES

Rob & Deb Maher November 12

Jim & Lynne Colclough December 26

Autumn
The days of summer dwindle down and autumn song I hear, The leaves will soon desert the trees when frosty nights appear. The air now holds a promise of the season’s golden glow,
And as summer takes her leave fall soon will overflow. The beauty of each season is always on display, Summer, winter, fall or spring hand in hand on God’s highway