Dear Church Family,
We are back after a full ten days of activities on the road.  We had a great time preaching and seeing old friends at the 150th anniversary celebration of the Oyster Bay Presbyterian Church the weekend of September 16-17.   Then it was on to Maine for 3 days to see our close friends of 50 years.  And finally, to a cousins’ reunion in Ocean City, NJ, where, although four straight days of rain and strong winds prevented us from going to the beach even once, it didn’t diminish the good time we had visiting. 
I am so grateful to Henry Frueh and Terry Ryan for leading worship in my absence. It is good to know the congregation is in good hands when we are gone!
We raised $1345 for Church World Service through the CROP “walk,” which I think is quite remarkable for a small congregation like ours.  Thanks to you for your generosity and to Tracy Atwood for his leadership of this effort, which supports hunger relief, refugee support, and water purification in developing nations.    The effort continues through September, so monies can still be donated through Tracy. 
Worship will pick up the ongoing saga of Joseph, with this week’s reading narrating the reconciliation of the brothers (we’re down to our last 2 sermons in this series).     The texts are Genesis 44:16- 45:5, 13-14 and Matthew 21:28-32.  The sermon is titled “The Signature of Love.”   We’ll be celebrating World Communion Sunday. 
This Sunday the Outreach Committee will be hosting one of our triannual meetings of the congregation following worship.  They’ll give a brief report and provide opportunity for questions and concerns about our congregation’s life.   And don’t forget the “porch picnic” is resuming  on Friday, October 6, beginning at 4 p.m., after a 3 year Covid hiatus.  Sign up on Sunday. 
We look forward to being back in church and seeing you on Sunday. 
Peace and Joy,
Rich