March 2025 Pastor's Letter
Pastor Dustin speaking at a rally for the NY Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act.
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Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. - Luke 4: 1-2
Dear siblings in faith, I write you late at night after what I think had to be the best Congregation Council meeting in years. As René Dunda-Martin, Kristen Olochnowicz, Penny Incitti and Crystal Murray wrapped up their time leading our Spirit filled congregation, we focused on evaluating the performance of our Council over the past year and we also discussed how to improve in the year ahead. We named how much Messiah has changed since COVID19 lockdowns, and mourned how in a couple areas, things will never quite "be the same." We also celebrated new journeys the Holy Spirit is calling us on. From dreams of strengthening the variety of joyful live music in our Sunday Mass to rebuilding our capacity to care for our Faith Center to focusing on building more small groups where people can make friends and regrowing our programming for older youth, goodness, the Holy Spirit felt deeply present. As we prepare to begin our annual journey through the wilderness of Lent, I am so thankful for René, Kristen, Penny and Crystal's leadership over many years. I am also excited for Scott Heller, Chris Jordan, Cheryl Borski and (hopefully) Douglas J. Chilton to take the wheel next month along with continuing Council members Brian Maki, Dave Barnett, Kären Telfeyan, Tammi Crowther and Merle Longwood. Thank you, dear friends, for your amazing leadership! in hope, Pastor Dustin |
Newsletter and Annual Report Articles Due
We are working hard at Messiah to get back in the regular swing of monthly newsletters with Heather back from parental leave and after so many significant changes in our Spirit filled congregation in recent years. One great way you can help us improve our internal communications is getting newsletter articles in on time. Please send all newsletter articles to Heather at [email protected] by the following dates: March 24th, April 21st, May 26th
Office Hours for Heather and Pastor Dustin
As part of our efforts to "provide better internal communication" both Heather and Pastor Dustin will begin holding expanded in person office hours this autumn! Heather will be in person at Messiah on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30am - 2:00pm and Fridays at the Rotterdam Community Center from 9:30am - 2:00pm. Pastor Dustin will be in person on Wednesdays at Messiah from 2:00pm - 4:00pm.
March 2025 Financial Update
At the end of January 2025 we had a significant $33,065 surplus compared to a $4,810 deficit in January 2024. While this is a great way to start off the year, much of this surplus is due to end of the year grants coming into the Rotterdam Community Center, and until RCC is able to hire a bookkeeper (that is in process), the spinoff will not be able to be complete. THANK YOU for your amazing generosity!
Leadership Opportunities in 2025
As you can see from looking at our current Committee Roster (digitally linked with a paper copies in the Parish Administrator's Office) there are SO MANY of our members (and some non-member friends!) who have signed up for one of our 24 committees and one of our 6 new volunteer lists.
We would like to thank Linda-Slovacek Price for her many years chairing our Care & Concern Committee and are thankful that Gloria Maki has volunteered to step into this critical role.
There are now only 8 areas remaining where we are looking for new leaders:
Faith Formation Ministry Team (Chaired by Kelly Jordan)
Fellowship Ministry Team (Team Chair Needed)
Social Action Ministry Team (Chaired by Karen Keenan)
Stewardship Ministry Team (Team Chair Needed)
Worship & Music Ministry Team (Chaired by Heather Zimmer)
If you are interested in serving in one of these roles in the coming year, please speak with Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray!
Finally, as our new Congregation Council starts another year of leadership in March, we will need members to serve in the following appointed positions:
If you are interested in these roles, please contact Pastor Dustin.
We would like to thank Linda-Slovacek Price for her many years chairing our Care & Concern Committee and are thankful that Gloria Maki has volunteered to step into this critical role.
There are now only 8 areas remaining where we are looking for new leaders:
Faith Formation Ministry Team (Chaired by Kelly Jordan)
- All set!
Fellowship Ministry Team (Team Chair Needed)
- Lutheran Men in Mission Chair
- Young Adults Committee Chair & volunteers
Social Action Ministry Team (Chaired by Karen Keenan)
- Community Service Committee Chair
Stewardship Ministry Team (Team Chair Needed)
- Archives Committee Chair
- Property & Grounds Committee Chair & volunteers
- Publicity Committee Chair & volunteers
Worship & Music Ministry Team (Chaired by Heather Zimmer)
- All set!
If you are interested in serving in one of these roles in the coming year, please speak with Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray!
Finally, as our new Congregation Council starts another year of leadership in March, we will need members to serve in the following appointed positions:
- 2025 - 2028 Audit Committee Member
- 2024 - 2027 Audit Committee Member
- Two 2025 - 2027 Mutual Ministry Committee Members
- 2025 - 2027 Safe Church Team Co-Chair
If you are interested in these roles, please contact Pastor Dustin.
2025 Accessibility Campaign Continues
In memory of our beloved saints Richard and Barbara Hallett, on November 18th, 2024 our Congregation Council voted to rename our existing Hallett Accessibility Fund the "Richard and Barbara Hallett Accessibility Fund" and further, to designate contributions to the fund to pay for a new push-button entrance to our Faith Center. With many thanks to our new Accessibility Campaign Co-Chairs Gloria Maki and Heather Zimmer, we already have $3,808 of the $7,500 goal to complete this holy work! For every dollar contributed to the campaign before Easter Sunday, April 20th, 2025, a generous Messiah family has agreed to match 1:1 up to $1,000, so we encourage you to contribute today! You either put a check in the collection plate with "Accessibility Fund" in the memo line or select the "Richard & Barbara Hallett Accessibility Fund" on tithely. Thank you for joining us in making Messiah eve more welcoming to everyone without exception.
The Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck Mental Health Fund
In June 2021 as part of our commitment to prioritize mental health as a congregation our Congregation Council voted to create the Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck Mental Health Fund. This fund is designed "to support members in paying for necessary mental health care" and as of the end of December 2024 has $1,039 in contributions but has not yet been used. If you are someone struggling to pay for mental health care, please contact Pastor Dustin for a confidential conversation. If you are someone who would like to contribute to this fund, please visit our Donate & Volunteer page, click "Give" and select "Mental Health Fund" in tithely's "Give To" box.
Rotterdam Community Center Bottle & Can Collection!
Want to contribute to the growth of the Rotterdam Community Center as we work to knit community closer together here in beautiful Rotterdam, NY! One way you can support that important work is donating your bottles and cans to the Rotterdam Community Center's account Green Bottle Redemption Center! Located at 1809 Altamont Avenue, the redemption center is open Tuesday - Friday from 9a - 4p & Saturday from 9a - 2:30p! Thanks so much and please help us spread the word! We've already made hundreds of dollars in contributions to the Community Center through this fund since the beginning of the program.