Suffern churches to reach out to community this weekend

Suzan Clarke
The Journal News

SUFFERN - If you belong to Suffern Presbyterian or the Second New Jerusalem Spanish churches in the village, don't go to service on Sunday morning.

That's because the two congregations are teaming up for a weekend of community activities and outreach in the village.

As part of the Faith in Action weekend, the congregations will perform various acts of community service on Saturday, and on Sunday will hold a large yard sale-style giveaway to needy families.

On Sunday, people in financial need are invited to come to the church's front lawn and fill their grocery bags full of free food, baby supplies and household items, the Rev. Allen Kemp, pastor of Suffern Presbyterian, said yesterday.

Beneficiaries won't be asked to show any documentation to qualify for the giveaways.

"If somebody comes and they're making $150,000 a year and they're taking stuff, that's a problem," Kemp said. "And last year some people came and they didn't realize it was a giveaway for people who were struggling financially, and they took some things that they really liked and then they apologized and made a financial donation."

Those who are truly in need, Kemp said, can come and take anything they want.

This is the churches' second year of doing the event. Last year, when his congregants were told they would be forgoing the church service for community service, Kemp said some were initially skeptical. But not for long.

"It was the highlight of our fall," he said.

Household furniture and clothing also will be given away during the Sunday event. Donations of food, clothing and other items are being accepted at the church, 81 Washington Ave., through Saturday.

There also will be a health fair for attendees - staffed by two doctors and a nurse - with Spanish speakers on hand to help with translation.

Refreshments will be provided, and the event is free, said the Rev. Edwin Polanco, the co-pastor along with the Rev. Carlos Samayoa of the Second New Jerusalem church.

"One of the most important things for us as a church is to let the community know that, you know, to show them the love and compassion of Jesus by sharing with them, not only the word of God" but also, Polanco said, "understanding their needs and offering them help in any way ... as spiritual leaders in the community."

The churches will kick off the weekend on Saturday by painting the village's gazebo, performing musical selections for residents at Ramapo Manor Nursing Home and helping seniors and other homebound people with household chores - including cutting grass, cleaning windows and vacuuming carpets, Polanco said.

Spreading the word about the event is key, and Kemp and Polanco said they've been placing fliers in Spanish at various points around the village.

Some people have questioned how the church can be so generous, Polanco said. It is the duty of the church to be a tangible example of Jesus' love, he said.

"We show them that as Jesus loves us, we love everyone and we can give things away cause we're being blessed by God so we want to bless everybody in whatever way we can do that," he added.

Second New Jerusalem worships at Suffern Presbyterian Church.

The two churches' efforts are part of the national Faith in Action, a four-week campaign in which churches across the county engage in outreach and service in their communities. One canceled worship service is replaced by a day of community service.

The national campaign is a partnership between Zondervan, a national Christian publisher, Outreach Inc., a national provider of church communication resources, and World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization.