Spring Meeting of Classis

I have heard that a photo is worth a thousand words.....

Here is Sarah Palsma who was taken under our care at last nights meeting. Sarah just gradutated from Northwestern and is heading to Western in the Fall. She will spend her fifth summer at Camp Fowler before heading off to Seminary. Sarah is the daughter of Nolan and Phyllis Palsma. In her address to classis she stated, "I have wanted to be a minister since I was four. I have loved growing up helping my mom and dad at church". Sarah may God bless you now and always. You will be in our prayers and thoughts!

We also commissioned Marlene Cuykendall to the office of Preaching Elder within the bounds of the Classis of Montgomery. Marlene is a member at Owasco Reformed Church. Marlene our prayers are with you!

I will post more later...hope this gives you a feel for some of the joy we had last night.

Synod of Albany Meeting

Hello Classis friends. Check out this picture. Do you see a mother and her child praying? Turn it on its side and you should. Prayer is such an important part of what we do together, apart, for each other and for ourselves.Tomorrow is the Synod of Albany meeting. Please pray for the delegates, staff, guests, and all who will be working on making the Synod healthy and successful in these next months. The Synod is also underway with its search for a new Executive. Keep that process in your prayers as well. I would be interested to have the Classis delegates to this years meeting post anything of interest in the next few days. Lets get the conversation going. More later. Peace for the day, Nancy

Capital Region Theological Center

Capital Region Theological Center

The Scoop

Christ Community Church, Utica has much to be thankful for and to celebrate! Carolyn Raar has accepted the offer of a contract (long story short, since CCC is a re-start a contract and not a call is offered, once the Consistory is reconstituted a Call can be extended) and will begin in Utica sometime soon. The Management Team along with the congregation is to be congratulated on the hard work, vision, risk, and stick-to-it-ness of these last years. God is at work and it is wonderful to see you at work with God!! Bravo and our prayers to you all.

We need to keep one another held up in prayer. I have been made aware of three concerns from our Classis: Shirley VanderSchaaf is recovering from a fall; Jim Foster is undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer; and Gene Jennings had quadruple by-pass and is in cardiac rehab at Sunnyview in Schenectady. Joyce reports that Gene is doing well and is in her eyes and the doctors a walking miracle. Please forward or blog any other concerns you may know of and I will add them to our list. Please keep each church and her ministry in your prayers and the work of our Denominational staff, Synod and staff and Classis officers.

If you need assistance in figuring out how to respond to this blog please e-mail me. I have noticed no activity and wonder if this is working out for others or if it is a hassle or if you just like reading it, but see no need at this point to respond to the blog. I will continue on with it as I am finding it useful in my role as President of Classis. It is my hope to get a discussion going via the blog...so if you have a discussion topic let me know.

Peace and blessings for this day and everyday. Pastor Nancy

MISSION BRUNCH A HUGE HIT!!

The Brunch hosted by the Herkimer Reformed Church for all the congregations in Classis was well attended, well recieved, and delicious. THANK YOU! The idea started in the Mission committee and came to life when we arrived and were greeted with smiles and conversation. The 'program' was us. We played a little game to get to know one another, we prayed, then we shared fellowship over a wonderful meal prepared by the members of the Mission committee. It felt good to know that all month our churches have been lifted in prayer at Herkimer and by the members of Herkimer. What a great idea! I hope this will be an annual event (hint, hint) and I hope that all of us will offer prayer for one another and seek out ways to get to know each other.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Blessings to you all on this miraculous Easter Morning! I am praying for each pastor, worhsip leader and worshipper this morning. May the joy of Christ's resurrection reach out beyond our sanctuaries into the communities that we serve!
I read this in the Christian Century this week: The Christian news is that Jesus of Nazareth had been raised from death, that death no longer has dominion over him. I have bet my living and now I am able to bet my dying that Jesus will have the last word."(Walter Bouman) And that indeed is the truth of all that we know and believe.
Blessing to you all this day and everyday. He is risen! Live in the peace of knowing that Christ is at hand, Pastor Nancy

Holy Week

As I prepare for services on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter I wonder how my sister churches celebrate this week. If you find a minute it would be interesting to know what you are doing this week coming. One of the programs we are adding this year is a Lenten youth Lock-in. We will have the kids over after school on Holy Thursday into Good Friday. They will make the bread for Communion, participate in the service by stripping the church of items that point to Christ, they will also keep me up all night I am sure! We will spend some time at dinner talking about Holy Thursday and Holy Week, and then on Easter they will process bringing the items removed on Holy Thursday back into the sanctuary as we celebrate Christ's resurrection. I am looking forward to a new 'twist' to the old, old story. Kids always seem to help us gain a perspective that is fresh, exciting, and challenging. It will be interesting to hear the questions and watch as they 'get it'. When Lent began I talked with our kids about the practice of giving something up as a sacrifice of solidarity with Christ. We have kids of all ages, so some caught on right away, others who are much younger did not. For instance, one little one immediately responded that she 'gives up' trying to open the door when she can't turn the knob. Still another reported to her mother about a week into lent that she would give up feeding the cats for the remainder of lent because Pastor Nancy said she should give something up. (Trust me I got in a little hot water over that one). Anyway, something new for us but always the Good News. My prayers are with you all as we come into this most blessed time. I look forward to hearing what is happening in your congregations as well. Peace for this journey, Pastor Nancy

Deadlines Approach

Hello Everyone,
Two events that are FAST approaching and need your attention: The Women's Lenten Communion Breakfast at Mohawk is on March 15, call 315-866-6253 to reserve a space. The Herkimer Reformed Church has focused its prayer attention on the churches of Montgomery Classis for the month of March. They are also hosting a brunch on March 29th at 11am for all Classis Churches. All you need to do is RSVP to Carol Kinney 315-866-8468 by March 19. These are two events that are sure to bring us together as the people of God doing ministry in this place, and they ought to be a lot of fun too.

What is happening at your church? Please use the comment tab and tell us so we can come and participate or at the very least pray for your event.

Palm Sunday is at our doorstep and Holy Week and Easter will soon follow. Please know that you as Pastors and Elders are in my prayers. The Fort Plain Reformed Church will host the 8th annual Prayer Day on Good Friday from 10am to noon. Please feel free to join us as we pray for the various needs of our churches, communities, and families. If you would like to add a prayer request please e-mail it to me at revnancyryan@yahoo.com.
Friends, have a peacefilled day. Pastor Nancy

Opportunities to Get Together

Hello everyone,
This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
There are many events happening in our Classis. I encourage all of you to 'BLOG' your events for us, and I encourage all of you to take the time to read each others postings so we are CONNECTED!! God's blessings to you all! Peace for the journey, Pastor Nancy

Let's Get Started

O.k., I may have opened a can of worms here...but if that is the case, I say let's go fishing!! I e-mailed the whole Classis of Montgomery, at least as many of the Classis folks whose e-mails I had and said that it was my intention to connect to one another...I would serve as the hub. You have responded positively to this idea. THANKS! Phyllis P. and I had breakfast and she suggested I start a Classis Blog....so here goes. I am new at this so please bear with me. Let's see if we can build a stronger Classis using all of these wonderful technology's available to us.