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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , August 22 , 2018

PUBLIC AGENDA

WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 22

Village of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

THURSDAY , AUGUST 23

Wallkill Board of Education , 7 p . m . Wallkill High School Library Media Center .

MONDAY , AUGUST 27

Valley Central Board of Education , 6:30 p . m . Administration building , 944 Route 17K , Montgomery . Maybrook Village Board . 7 p . m . Village Government Center , Schipps Lane .

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 4

Walden Village Board of Trustees , 6:30 p . m . Village Hall , 1 Municipal Square . Town of Shawangunk Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill . Montgomery Village Board , 7:30 p . m . Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

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The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

By LAURA FITZGERALD lfitz @ tcnewspapers . com

United Methodist Church and Bullville United Methodist Church , she plans to increase both churches ’ influence in the community with involvement in social programs . She plans to build children ’ s and women ’ s ministries before Walden ’ s physical church is built . She plans to make the church accessible beyond one hour every Sunday .

“ 2018 is the year of moving forward ,” Dorsey said .

Dorsey said she also wants to expand the church ’ s involvement in social programs and become a resource to the community , opening as a space for organizations and community groups to use . This is especially important for the Bullville church , which already has a building .

“ If the doors of the church were to close , what would the community miss ?” Dorsey said . “ To claim a ministry that is truly a ministry that enhances the community , that works hand in hand with the community , that is the goal .”

The focus of the Walden church is to build its ministries first so the church has a solid foundation to start with when the physical building is complete .

“ I ’ m hoping to bring a church forward that is working and doing kingdom building and the actual building is erected , all the ministries are in place and they will just have a home ,” Dorsey said .

One of the main ministries Dorsey plans on developing is a youth ministry , providing a safe space for young people who may experience bullying or other stressors at school and home . An after and before school program would provide affordable childcare and comfort troubled youth .

“ My prayer is that if there is a child that ’ s struggling , than we can reach that child ,” Dorsey said . “ And if we can save one child from going into a school with a gun or feeling that there ’ re bullied or feeling that there ’ re alone , then the church has done their part .”

She also wants to develop ministries that cater to women , such as battered women or single parents . She wants to build a sense of sisterhood and a way for women to grow together .

Dorsey said one of the challenges that many churches face is a decline in membership .

“ Unfortunately , in the world that we live in , where there is so much hurt and

Pastor Scharlise Dorsey started as the pastor of Walden and Bullville United Methodist Churches on July 1 .

so much desperation , you would think the church would be the first place that ’ s filled on Sundays and that people are running to the churches but that ’ s not the case ,” Dorsey said .

Dorsey would also like more services at night and during the week for those not able to attend on Sundays .

She said some families may have children ’ s sports games scheduled on Sunday mornings , forcing families to choose between church and activities . Some children spend weekends with parents who are divorced and may frequently change locations on Sundays . Other kids might not grow up going to church at all .

“ Sometimes the old ways that we ’ ve done things just aren ’ t working today and we give honor to the old ways because that is what we stand on the shoulders off , but where we are right now , we definitely need to be more flexible ,” Dorsey said .

Dorsey said she enjoys witnessing how Jesus changes people ’ s lives . She also enjoys seeing how people grow in their faith and become active in ministry .

“ To see how Jesus changes people ’ s lives , to witness that and to be a part of that is wonderful ,” Dorsey said .

She was very involved in her home church , Newburgh First United . Walden and Bullville would be the fifth and sixth churches she ’ s served with in her 14 years as a pastor .

Her love of God is the joy that gets her through the good and the bad times , and the joy that she has dedicated her life to sharing with others .

“ What keeps me going is I know who wakes me up in the morning and I know how good God has been to me and my family so that ’ s my strength , that ’ s my joy ,” Dorsey said .

The town board has approved the sale of the Holland Ave property for $ 82,500 . The 1.8 acre property was originally purchased for a municipal water supply well , but further site investigations demonstrated the property was not suitable for that purpose .

Proceeds from the sale will go towards the water supply development project for Pine Bush .

The propery could be subdivided into two or three single-family lots .