United Methodist Church of Islip
350 Main Street
Islip, New York 11751
United Methodist Church of Islip
350 Main Street
Islip, New York 11751
Rev. Douglas Madlon, Pastor
Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 9 - 2, Wed. 9-1, Fri. 9-11.
Worship Service Sunday 10:00AM
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Day of Pentecost is the fiftieth day and the last day of Easter, when the church received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). On Pentecost Sunday, the church celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the early church. It is considered as the birthday of the church.
Pentecost is also the time of the year when we celebrate confirmation, where our fifteen young men and women are invited to join the church. Our confirmands are also invited to share in the light of Jesus just as Jesus invited his disciples to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling the promise of John at Jesus’ baptism.
As the apostles went out that day of Pentecost, they gave the newly baptized the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. This completes the grace of baptism and continues today in our church as the central part of our confirmation service.
On Saturday, June 6th, 2009, beginning at 2:00pm we celebrate Adam Charuk, Eddie Charuk, Christian Crawford, Michael Graziano, Jonathan Gunther, Kevin Irace, Savanna Juengerkes, David Lipsky, Shanygne Maurice, Matthew Murphy, Casey Nolan, Jessica Piga, Michael Pigott, Madison Schaefer and Brandi Smigiel’s confirmation as full members of the Islip United Methodist Church. Our confirmands wrote some God-filled, thoughtful faith statement. The Confirmation Creed 2009 written during our confirmation retreat at Camp Quinipet on Shelter Island reflects a strong faith in God as we experience God in so many ways.
By the way, we all had a wonderful confirmation retreat this year. Our confirmands glowed and shined with the love of God as we went on a spiritual weekend with the Amityville First UMC and Massapequa’s Community UMC confirmation classes. Thank you to Michael Gunther, Eric Lipsky and Andy Nolan for your assistance in cooking, cleaning, teaching and overseeing our retreat. I am so blessed to be associated with such a wonderful church family here in Islip and I am so proud of our fifteen young men and women being confirmed on June 6, 2009. Being associated with our confirmands has been such a blessing for me this year. Thank you!
Looking ahead to our church year, the Season of Pentecost, also called Ordinary Time, begins the day after Pentecost and ends the day before the First Sunday in Advent.
Ordinary Time does not mean boring time where nothing interesting happens. The term Ordinary Time derives from the word “ordinal”, as in “numbered” and, the Sundays that fall within Ordinary Time are often designated in such ways as the Second and Third Sunday after Pentecost. So, Ordinary Time refers to any period of time that falls outside the major seasons of the liturgical year. Where within the times of Christmas and Easter, we focus on specific aspects of Jesus’ life and meaning to us, during Ordinary Time we think about what Jesus means to the entirety of our lives. It is, after all, during “Ordinary Times” of our life that Jesus can, and should, mean as much to us as he does at any other time.
So, stay focused on our Lord Jesus, come to worship on Sunday morning, read scripture and volunteer your time helping in the chores around the church especially during the summer. We need everyone to stay focused during the Ordinary Time.
Upcoming Church Celebrations include:
June 6th – Confirmation Saturday beginning at 2:00pm
June 7th – Recognition of Merry Arnott’s dedication as Sunday School secretary
June 14th – Promotion Sunday
August 2nd – Celebration of our own Ken Kieffer’s appointment as District Superintendent.
May God bless you! During the summer, find time for rest, relaxation, outdoor fun, BBQ’s, beach but do not forget our Lord Jesus and the Islip United Methodist Church.
See you in church.
Yours in the Love of Christ,
Douglas Madlon