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- Written by: Frances Marion Platt, HV One
- Category: Blog
(HUDSON VALLEY ONE) Unless you’re a rank newcomer to Ulster County, you’ve heard about the Center for Creative Education (CCE). The highly esteemed not-for-profit organization, whose mission is “to enrich the social and cultural awareness of our youth and community through arts, wellness and education,” has been making its mark for 35 years now. If you’ve been to a parade or other mass public event in these parts, the odds are high that you’ve seen and heard the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston (POOK) and the Energy Dance Company in action. The Energy dancers have performed everywhere from Jacob’s Pillow to the Apollo Theater to the United Nations and won a long list of regional and national awards. CCE itself was the 2021 honoree for Mohonk Consultations’ 2021 Distinguished Achievement Award.
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- Written by: Redeemer
- Category: Blog
Adult Academy will present a panel discussion and community conversation, taking place at Redeemer Lutheran Church on March 10, 2024, and featuring Richard Heyl de Ortiz, director of the LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston, and Nico Martinez, LGBTQ+ Program and Diversity Manager, Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion for SUNY New Paltz confirmed to join us.

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- Written by: Stewardship
- Category: Blog
A Sunday snowstorm catapulted us back to full remote worship on Jan. 7, reminding us of the worldwide pandemic when gathering via Zoom was our only option.
We praise God for guiding us through adversity and bestowing gifts to those in our community with the technological know-how to bring us together to continue God’s ministry through hybrid worship.
Post-pandemic, this option remains a gift to our faith community, as we were reminded last weekend.
Whether we are experiencing a snowstorm, a temporary cold, flu or bout of COVID, recovering from surgery or a longer-term illness or disability, or required to travel for personal or professional reasons, tuning in remotely allows us to hear God’s word through communal experience and continue God’s life-changing ministry for the world.

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- Written by: Deacon Bill Mennenga
- Category: Blog
There’s much that distresses us in our world. And people ask me, “What can I do?” To which I reply, “There’s much you can do!”
As we enter 2024, I have renamed my Deacon Ministry from “Outward Facing” to “Community Ministry”.
I don’t practice proselytizing, rather I practice presence.
And I take my evolving call from: 2 Corinthians 5:20:which says,
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making God’s appeal through us. “
God DOES make God’s appeal through us! (Think about this - how else would it be made?)

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- Written by: Deacon Bill Mennenga
- Category: Blog
I hear these words at this time of year.
They are almost drowned out by Christmas music and ads instructing me what presents I should purchase.
And there are moments when I find it difficult to feel thankful, when I don’t feel blessed, when I feel burdened, when I feel sad.
How about you?