Deacon's Corner June 2024

 

When you think June, three things come to mind: Summer, Fathers' Day and the end of the school year. Summer is the fruition of spring's lush awakening of trees and flora, once again filling in and shaping the hills and fields. It's the savory smells wafting from grills and smokers in backyards flooded with the sounds of unabashed laughter, splashing pools and the gleeful shrieks of happy children free from the burden of school.  It's when families intentionally make time to be together, relax and enjoy each other.  But summer, especially where we live, is also the time to get things done in preparation for whatever demands fall and winter will place on us. (“...she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Proverbs 6:8).

Relaxation and preparation are also elements of the Deacons' Summer. The Annual CROP Walk kicked it off for us last month when 33 walkers, accompanied by two volunteer crossing guards, strolled through the Village and raised $1,750. Thank you to all those who walked, volunteered and donated. As per usual APC received 25% of what we raised ($437) which will be used to supply our own Food Pantry in the yellow house.

Like most folks in the North Country a good portion of our preparational focus is on winter. Our ongoing volunteer efforts at the Open Door Code Blue shelter and Soup Kitchen are dependent upon staffing. Of late that process has become confusing and a bit frustrating for the volunteers. But fear not because technology may provide an easy fix. Open Door has established a volunteer web site that will allow folks to pick the times and days that best fit them, as opposed to only being able to choose between Wednesdays or Thursdays. Log on to: https://opendoor-ny.org/volunteer/ and you will be able to choose between daily breakfast, lunch or dinner sessions. Any problems reach out to Kelsey Tuttle at 518-926-9724 or greenek322@gmail.com.

We can't talk about winter without talking about Christmas. In the spirit of giving, the annual Christmas Jars were made available last month. In past years folks who were able would fill them with spare change and anonymously gift them to someone. We would like to offer an alternative to that method by suggesting that instead of coins simply place a gift card in the jar with whatever greeting you feel compelled to add. This was something we discussed at our last meeting on the premise that it would be more like a gift than an afterthought. We'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

          Moving back into the FUN column, the Deacons' annual picnic is in the planning stages for possibly early July or possibly early August. Stay tuned I'll keep you posted.

To acknowledge Father's Day, I would like to share something I took away from the recent Iron Sharpens Iron men's conference that a group of Argyle men attended in May. I wish these were my words but they came from a better source; these are the main points of the opening session of the conference given by Dave Wilson, who served as chaplain for the Detroit Lions for 32 years. They are the Four Pillars of Manhood which are presented as the acronym REAL.

     “A real man: Rejects passivity, Engages with God, Accepts Responsibility, Leads courageously.” Happy Fathers' Day Christian men of Argyle!

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:16)

Respectfully and in Christ's name, Tom Genovese

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