Friday April 19, 2024 
Hearts for the Hungry
Hope Lutheran Church (470 Winter Street Extension, North Greenbush) has a long history of collecting food for area food pantries, dating all the way back to when CoNSERNS-U was located in the basement of a building on First Street in Rensselaer. The congregation realizes that the need for food pantries has grown over the years. We are reminded now that the Christmas season collections have ended, but the hungry are still with us. Hope LC jumps at any chance to create a special collection event.
During the month of February, Hearts for the Hungry was a month-long drive to collect shopping bags full of non-perishable food items. A calendar was provided to each member listing one suggested food item for each of the 28 days in February. The food was brought into church each Sunday and displayed in the sanctuary.
On the last Sunday of February, Pastor Pamela Hoh blessed the food and sent it on its way, equally divided between CoNSERNS-U (Rensselaer) and Doors of Hope (West Sand Lake). We collected a grand total of 50 bags, exceeding expectations.
More opportunities for the community to participate in will be presented in the coming months. For more information, check our website: www.hopelc.org.
First United Methodist Church Storytelling Night
We are people of story. Our traditions, religions, histories, and biographies are compilations of stories told and received, handed down, edited, redacted, metaphorized, dreamed up.
Storytelling Night is a monthly evening of food, fellowship, and storytelling. We gather monthly around the stories of people. And, we believe that each story – of our fears, of our hopes, of our lives, of our families, of our undoing, of our renaissance, of our redemption – can be inspiring to us and to others . . . but only if that story is shared. The practice of storytelling (and of story-hearing) is an essential part of being human, and we want to encourage, uplift, facilitate, and gather around the telling and hearing of stories. Join us if you want to share or hear a story!
Wednesday April Fifth: Roberta Reno, East Greenbush Town Historian.
Wednesday May Third: Robert Thomsen, the Choir Director of the First UMC of East Greenbush.
Wednesdays at 7 PM
Wednesday Lenten Meditations Planned
First United Presbyterian Church of Troy will open its sanctuary Wednesdays during Lent (March 1-April 29) for drop-in meditation and prayer. Lunchtime and evening meditation will be held at 11:30am – 1:30pm and 7-8pm.
Prayers stations including guided prayer mediation, sand labyrinth, art supplies, Taize music, and a special Kid Zone with intergenerational activities from Illustrated Ministries will be available. All are welcome.
The church is located at 1917 Fifth Avenue in downtown Troy between Grand and Fulton Streets. For more information call 518-272-2771.
Gilead’s Body & Soul Pantry,
March 30, 2023
The end of March already? Close your eyes and think of all those flowers you will be planting soon. Well, back to reality now and what’s on the menu for this month. Looks like Roast Loin of Pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and applesauce and dessert(?)
The reservation system worked well last month, so we would like you to call 518-279-3576 to reserve your meal again this month. We are still doing our work at the same location, the intersection of Route 7 and 278 in Center Brunswick and are still at Gilead Lutheran Church.
Church of the Redeemer
The final day of Thrift Shop’s clothing bag sale is Thursday March 9. Bags will be provided. Hours are 3-6.
Hot Mess Crafters meets at 10:00 on Wednesday. We are working on tea towel toppers to brighten your kitchen. We have patterns for hats for those experiencing chemotherapy.
Later on Wednesday at 2:00, there will be Bible Study. We are continuing Max Lucado’s series “How Happiness Happens”.
Sunday, March 12, service will be at 9:00. Coffee hour and socializing follow the service.
The Church of the Redeemer is an Episcopal church located on at the corner of Third and Catherine Streets. There is handicap parking, a ramp in front, and a parking lot in the rear.
Fr. Robert Haskell may be emailed at rhaskell2@nullnycap.rr.com
Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Troy
If you are looking for a church home, come visit us! During Lent, we will have the Stations of the Cross at noon on Fridays, led by Deacons Bill and Sandra Tatem. On March 10, 17, 24, 31 from 5 to 6 pm we will enjoy our candlelight meditations, where we are invited into the beauty of our candlelit sanctuary in silence, with music playing intermittently. Musicians this year will include: March 10th, Angelina Valente, soprano; March 17th, Tiffany Dzembo, soprano; March 24th, The Rev. Darius Mojallali, violin; and March 31st, Lauren Hunn, piano. Take home a lavender jar candle to prolong your meditation at home, our gift to you.
Sunday in-person worship gathers at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The 8 a.m. spoken service follows a more ancient Eucharistic Rite in Elizabethan English. The 10 a.m. modern Eucharistic Rite is preceded by hymns on the tower chime and is both live-streamed and in-person. During Lent, however, we will observe the more ancient rite until Easter. Hymns are accompanied on the regal pipe organ, and Communion music is often from contemporary repertoire. For more information about music at Saint John’s, be in touch with Tiffany Dzembo, Choir Director, at tdzembo@nullstjohnstroy.org. Coffee hour follows the 10 a.m. service. Join us!
Sunday School has resumed! Children can draw near to God as they reflect on passages of Scripture and elements of liturgy in a hands-on curriculum, Sundays at 10 am. For information about this and our Thursday after-school program, be in touch with Gaby Gastelum, Children’s Christian Education Director, at ggastelum@nullstjohnstroy.org.
The Thrift Store thrives. Hours for shopping and dropping off are from 9 to 12 on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Do stop by!
Our next food pantry, which includes fresh produce, will be Saturday, April 1st, from 10 until noon. All are welcome.
All activities are at 146 1st Street in Troy (518)274-5884. The Rev. Judith Malionek, rector, can be reached at rev.jmalionek@nullstjohnstroy.org
Thrift Shop
The Johnsonville Methodist Church Thrift Shop, 22 Bridge St., Johnsonville, NY 12094 is open every Wednesday and the first Saturday of each month from 9- 12. Closed on major holidays. Look for our sign at the corner of Rte. 111 and Rte. 67.
A great selection of adult and children’s seasonal clothing, vintage, special occasion and career clothes, jewelry, shoes, boots, purses, toys, linens, puzzles and games, household and decorative items. Our well-organized book room has over 1,000 books.
Cancer Support Group
BRUNSWICK – There are very few of us who have not been affected by cancer, either as a patient, family member, or friend. If you are dealing with the stress of this disease for whatever reason, talking with others in similar circumstances can be very beneficial.
A warm invitation is extended to attend a Zoom cancer support group, led once a month (the third Monday) by retired pastor Ted Wright, he himself a cancer patient. If you have any questions or would like the zoom link, please contact Ted at twright@nullbrunswickchurch.org.
This is a ministry in conjunction with Brunswick Church at 42 White Church Lane (just off Rt. 351). Our worship services are Sundays at 9:30 AM and all are welcome. Church participation is not required to have cancer support.