Saturday April 27, 2024 
Church of the Redeemer
RENSSELAER – Thank you to Sean Lee and Amneris and David Morales for sharing their musical talents with us during our Thanksgiving service on November 21.
Sunday service is at 9 AM followed by coffee hour.
Hot Mess Crafters meets on Wednesday at 10 AM in the Hearth Room. Join us to learn or share a skill while enjoying good company.
Bible Study will be held on Wednesday at 4 PM.
Thrift Shop will be open every Thursday in December from 3-6, and on Saturday, December 4, from 9-2.
The Church of the Redeemer is an Episcopal church located on CDTA bus route #214 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 – Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Troy – Sunday School has resumed! Children can draw near to God as they reflect on the liturgical colors, Advent stories and Messianic prophecies of this rich season, Sundays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. In addition, a Children’s Bell Choir, ages 3 and up, will rehearse right after church on December 5th, 12th, and 19th in anticipation of their playing at the 4 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. Be in touch with Katie Brillat, Children’s Ministries, at kbrillat@nullstjohnstroy.org.
The Thrift Store features clothes for adults and children, household items such as small appliances, quilts and decorations, and the popular holiday room, all available at low prices for masked patrons to peruse. Hours for shopping and dropping off are from 9 to 12 on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Our next food pantry, which includes fresh produce, will be Saturday, December 4th, from 10 until noon.
Advent meditations: Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. December 8, 15 and 22: enjoy a quiet hour of beautiful, candlelit meditation in the Church, accompanied intermittently by instrumental music.
Chime Concert: Sunday, December 6th, there will be a chime concert by Andy Mace beginning at noon. Come to Saint John’s parking lot or the parking lot at Sage, and in the warmth of your car, drink cocoa from a thermos, and enjoy the music of the season with the beauty of our chime. And Andy is taking requests! Be in touch with the office by phone or email to make your suggestions for this concert of seasonal favorites: office@nullstjohnstroy.org
Christmas services: Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. Eucharist and Children’s Bell Choir; 9:30 chime concert, 10 p.m. Eucharist. Lessons and Carols will be on Sunday, December 26th at the 10 a.m. service. This will be the traditional 9 Lessons and Carols—no sermon, no Eucharist.
All activities at 146 1st Street in Troy (518) 274-5884. The Rector, the Rev. Judith Malionek, can be reached also at rev.jmalionek@nullstjohnstroy.org.
The Tri-County Lutheran Parish Christmas Cantata
RENSSELAER COUNTY – The Tri-County Lutheran Parish invites you to a Christmas Cantata to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Bring the whole family to experience His birth in joyful song! The Christmas Cantata will have 2 performances: Saturday, December 4th at 3:00pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, 68 Green Ave, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033. Sunday, December 5th at 3:00pm, Zion Lutheran Church, 102 N. Washington St, Athens, NY 12015.
The Tri-County Lutheran Parish Christmas Eve and Blue Christmas Worship
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Blue Christmas Worship: December 22 at 7:00pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1010 Kinderhook St., Valatie, NY. For those having difficulty feeling the joy of the season or needing a more quiet, contemplative worship experience, the Blue Christmas service may be for you. This service will have candles and singing, but there will be quiet time to be in God’s presence. Please join us as we remember and embrace the grief that often overwhelms us at Christmas time.
The Tri-County Lutheran Parish has many opportunities to worship on Christmas Eve. For many Christians, the highlight of the church year. We sing carols, read the Christmas story from the bible, and celebrate Holy Communion, we celebrate Holy Communion with an open table so ALL GOD’S CHILDREN ARE WELCOME to receive the Bread (body of Christ) and Wine (blood of Christ).
Christmas Eve Schedule December 24th:
3:00pm – Emanuel/St. John’s Lutheran Church, 20 S. 6th St, Hudson, NY
5:00pm – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 96 Oak Hill R, Oak Hill, NY
6:00pm – Emanual Lutheran Church, 506 County Rd. 46, Stuyvesant Falls, NY
7:00pm – Trinity Lutheran Church, 68 Green Ave, Castleton, NY
7:30pm – Zion Lutheran Church, 102 N. Washington St., Athens, NY
8:00pm – Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 19 Park Row, Chatham, NY
9:00pm – St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 751 County Rt. 7, East Schodack, NY
10:00pm – St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1010 Kinderhook St., Kinderhook, NY
Please visit the TCLP website at TCLParish.org or contact clergy by email: clergy@nulltclparish.org
Navigating Family Landmines: A Holiday Gathering Survival Guide
STEPHENTOWN – Do you sometimes feel that pit in your stomach around holiday gatherings—and it has nothing to do with the rich foods or treats? The holidays are a time of celebration, family, and fun. They can also be a time where disagreements surface, old fights are rehashed, or stories told we’d rather forget. When politics and masks/vaccine practices can divide a family as much as a nation, it’s helpful to have a few tricks to navigate the landmines. Join our workshop open to the community on how to steer clear of the conversations that feel potentially explosive, if not relationally unsafe. Pastor Chris Garrison leads this discussion at the Stephentown Federated Church, 1513 Garfield Road on Sunday December 12th at 4pm. All are welcome. Handicapped accessible. Masks required.
Christmas Services at First United Methodist Church
EAST GREENBUSH – 1 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush – Worship services are every Sunday at 8:30 AM (in person) and 9:30 AM (in person and livestreamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FUMCEG.). Starting Wednesday, December 15, 2021, a “Blue Christmas” tree will be in the church entryway for the season, for you to hang written remembrances or prayers on to acknowledge grief or loss. Heart-shaped ornaments will be available for you to write on.
December 24 – Christmas Eve worship times: Family Service at 5:00 PM; Traditional Candlelight Services at both 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Calling All Knitters
BRUNSWICK – Are you someone who likes to knit, but you’ve already made everything you need for yourself and your family? We have a great opportunity where you can use your skill to help others! You are welcome to participate in our Prayer Shawl Knitting Group every first and third Thursday at 12:30 PM in the lobby at Brunswick Church. Shawls are made to share and bring comfort to those who are ill or suffering, and they have always been very much appreciated. For more details about joining the group, or if you know of someone who could use a prayer shawl, please call the church office at 518-279-3792. This is a ministry of Brunswick Church at 42 White Church Lane (just off Rt. 351). Our worship services are Sundays at 9:30 AM and all are welcome; however, church attendance is not required to join the knitting group or to request a prayer shawl.
Blue Christmas Service: Honoring Life and Loss in the Holidays
STEPHENTOWN – The Christmas season has an amazing ability to trigger nostalgic memories—both of happy and sad, gratitude and grief. The Blue Christmas tradition honors the fact that for many of us we experience all kinds of loss—the loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy. Authentic spirituality does not hide this truth, and instead allows us the space for honesty, reflection, community and practices of support. No matter your circumstance, this is an open welcoming service of candlelight, songs, prayers, and hope. Pastor Chris Garrison leads the service at the Stephentown Federated Church, 1513 Garfield Road on Sunday December 19th at 4pm. All are welcome. Handicapped accessible. Masks required.
Christmas Eve on the Mountain
SAND LAKE – Come join us at Zion’s United Church of Christ for our annual Christmas Eve service on Friday December 24th starting at 6:30pm, 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake, NY 12153. We end the service with everyone given a candle and leave with the lights out.
Christmas Eve Service
STEPHENTOWN – Join us at Stephentown Federated Church 1513 Garfield Road, Stephentown, NY as Pastor Chris Garrison leads us in a family friendly service of carols and candles on Friday, December 24th at 7:30. All are welcome. Handicapped accessible. Masks required.
Love Lutheran Church Christmas Schedule
EAST GREENBUSH – O Come, All Ye Faithful…Come Worship with us this Christmas! Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Friday, December 24th at 7 PM. Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25th at 10 AM. Love Lutheran Church is located at Middlesex Road and Pheasant Lane, East Greenbush. For more information or directions, please call (518) 477-8685.
Keyes Scholarship
TROY – Center Brunswick United Methodist Church offers Keyes Scholarship for 2022 graduates of Tamarac High School
The finance committee of the Center Brunswick United Methodist Church has announced that it will award $500 to a student to be selected from the Tamarac High School Class of 2022. The money may be used for any type of expense related to further education. Students do not have to belong to this church or any other church to be eligible.
Interested student must apply for this award no later than March 1,2022. The application can be obtained from the school’s guidance department.
This award is given in memory of Harold and Mabel Keyes through a trust funded by their last will and testament. Mable taught in the Brunswick Schools and continued teaching Sunday School at Center Brunswick UMC for many years after she retired. Through this award, her love of helping young people learn and grow will continue to reach the youth of our community.
Center Brunswick UMC is located at the intersection of Routes 7 and 142 in Troy.
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.