Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church

Sometimes, it feels like we're just running headlong through life. I find myself saying, "Wasn't it just January?" and "Wasn't it just 1988??" It's good to pause, to stop and breathe and take things in. And bonus points if, when we pause, we pray! If we're tired or stressed or angry, certainly - but also, if we're grateful, or happy. Pause, and turn it all over to God, the source of true joy and comfort. If you can pause with us today at virtual Pleasant Plains, all the... better. Enjoy casual conversation - a.k.a. The Grind - from 9:30 to 10:30am, followed by Prayer Group until 11 or so. All are welcome; drop in whenever you can. Tonight at 7pm, we will meet once more on Zoom, for fellowship and crafting; scroll down for more details and the link to that meeting. Blessings on your day! Luanne The Grind & Prayer Group:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83324385085or call in by Phone from NY: +1 646 558 8656 or, find your local number at:https://us02web.zoom.us/u/khqELzYaCMeeting ID: 833 2438 5085 A Wednesday Gathering in Need of a CleverName: Those of us who met weekly on Zoom for the Lenten Project found the time so uplifting, we have decided to continue meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 7pm. We are in the process of contacting local hospitals, nursing homes and animal shelters to seewhat handcrafted items would be useful to them, so that we can plan future projects. In the meantime, we’re crocheting, knitting and sewing bonding hearts for the Mighty MiraclesFoundation (the patterns can be found here: https://mightymiraclesfoundation.org/get-involved. We hope you’ll join us this week for crafting, or just for the good company,. Here’s the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88950134545

The first poppy blossomed in my front yard today. What a flouncy show-off! Over the next few days, the rest will follow suit, the bed bursting into technicolor bloom. The fabulous red-orange petals are so showy, you might never notice the more elegant beauty at the very center of the poppy: the stigma disk, with its rays of velvety deep purple. You have to pause, and look past the obvious flamboyance or you’ll miss it. We humans are easily distracted by flash, and too oft...en focus on superficialities. God doesn’t seem to have that problem. Scripture says that the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b). I have days when that sounds like a promise, and others when it feels like a threat! Mostly, I hope that, on average, God looks on my heart and sees at least something to work with. In tomorrow’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter will be counting on God’s heart-seeing power once more. Won’t you join us at virtual Pleasant Plains to hear more of the story? We’ll gather for worship at 9:30am on Facebook Live; the bulletin is attached. Until then, may the Lord’s peace be with you. Luanne

Most Wednesdays, I show up at the virtual Grind with a mug of tea and a bowl of oatmeal. It feels right to be eating there, like we used to, even if it's not the danish we'd share when we could meet in the Little Schoolhouse. But while that danish surely put on the pounds, it was the conversations that fed me, and that have continued to feed me throughout this pandemic. Together we have pondered, encouraged, reminisced, laughed, mourned, rejoiced, prayed and yes, even disa...greed and argued in that virtual room, as church families do - and it has been an oasis in my week, a place to be refreshed and fortified by this community. Won't you stop in for a bite? We'll enjoy casual conversation (a.k.a. The Grind) from 9:30 to 10:30am, followed by Prayer Group until 11 or so; the Zoom link is below. All are welcome; drop in whenever you can. Blessings on your day, and bon appétit! Luanne The Grind & Prayer Group: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83324385085 or call in by Phone from NY: +1 646 558 8656 or, find your local number at: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/khqELzYaC Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085

Another Wednesday morning, and it's business as usual: friendly conversation - a.k.a. The Grind - from 9:30 to 10:30 or so, followed by Prayer Group, on Zoom. All are welcome; drop in whenever you can. The access information is below. Hope to see you there! Topic: The Grind & Prayer Group at Pleasant Plains Time: Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am... To join the Zoom Meeting, please click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83324385085 Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085 Password: 022123 To call in by Phone: +1 646 558 8656 You'll be asked for the Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085, then press # You'll be asked if you are the host or a participant: press # Enter Password: 022123

What a perfect day for a CROP walk! Beautiful weather, a great cause, good company, and a chance to remember a dear man. Here's to you, Emerson.

The proverb says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The lawyer says it’s a copyright infringement. The Apostle Paul says it’s the way to live faithfully as children of God. Copy that. Join us for Sunday morning worship; we’ll be on Facebook Live at 9:30am, or you can view the recorded service anytime thereafter. The bulletin is here to download.... Until then, peace be with you.

On Sunday, some members and friends of Pleasant Plains will be walking - masked and properly distanced! - to raise funds for the CROP Hunger Walk, in memory of Emerson. If you'd like to support this effort, we welcome your prayers and best wishes tomorrow afternoon, and also would be grateful for any financial contributions you can give to help end hunger. To make a memorial donation, please send a check made out to PPPC, with "CROP Walk" in the memo line, to Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church, 2 Fiddlers Bridge Road, Staatsburg, NY 12580. You can also make your check payable to "CWS Crop" and send it to the same address. All donations will end up at the same place - Church World Service - who will distribute the funds to meet local, national and global hunger needs. Thanks, and blessings!

Come together this morning - to converse, to pray, to build up our community while we are physically apart. Join us each Wednesday morning on Zoom for friendly conversation - a.k.a. The Grind - from 9:30 to 10:30 or so, followed by Prayer Group. All are welcome; drop in whenever you can. The access information is below. Hope to see you there! Topic: The Grind & Prayer Group at Pleasant Plains... Time: This is a recurring meeting: Wednesdays, 9:30-11 amTo join the Zoom Meeting, please click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83324385085Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085 Password: 022123To call in by Phone: +1 646 558 8656 You'll be asked for the Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085, then press # You'll be asked if you are the host or a participant: press # Enter Password: 022123 See more

First time live-streaming from the church since March! Many thanks to Rob Renbeck and John Severance, for all the time and energy invested in getting a strong signal in the sanctuary; to Frank, for enriching worship with his voice; and to Jennifer, for the beautiful music we have been missing so. **And how could I forget (answer: sleep deprivation) my left-hand man, Stefan Feibel? He has been there without fail since March 15, setting things right and helping with prayer requests and offering calm, encouragement and good sense. Thank you so much. A pastor isn't supposed to play favorites in a congregation, but I think I get a pass on this one. Love, Mom

Dear friends; Mark Twain once said, The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. Join us this morning, as we worship our Creator, and pray special blessings over the dogs and cats and other creatures that share our homes and our world. We’ll be on Facebook Live at 9:30am, or you can view the recorded service anytime thereafter. The bulletin is here to download.... Until then, peace be with you. Luanne

What will you become today? Join us each Wednesday morning on Zoom for friendly conversation - a.k.a. The Grind - from 9:30 to 10:30 or so, followed by Prayer Group. All are welcome; drop in whenever you can. The access information is below. Hope to see you there! Topic: The Grind & Prayer Group at Pleasant Plains... Time: This is a recurring meeting: Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am To join the Zoom Meeting, please click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83324385085 Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085 Password: 022123 To call in by Phone: +1 646 558 8656 You'll be asked for the Meeting ID: 833 2438 5085, then press # You'll be asked if you are the host or a participant: press # Enter Password: 022123

"There’s not a plant or flow’r below, but makes Thy glories known..." (Isaac Watts) Our lovely church, bedecked for autumn, and the memorial garden that grows more beautiful each year. Thank you, Holly!

Dear friends; For a few long years, I was a landlord. I hated everything about it. I didn’t know how to fix anything myself. I dreaded the phone calls about clogged plumbing or broken appliances. And, finding really responsible tenants wasn't always easy. Tell me about it, says God.... Join us this morning, when Jesus tells the parable of some truly problematic tenants. He’s also invited you to supper! Find a bit of bread and juice, or whatever you might have, and we will celebrate communion together. We’ll be on Facebook Live at 9:30am, or you can view the recorded service anytime after. The bulletin is here to download. Until then, peace be with you. Luanne