“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear – you are more valuable than many sparrows”

In this season of crisis and national emergency, we are all being challenged. Some within our congregation have been diagnosed with strep throat & influenza. Others with pneumonia and some with the latest coronavirus – entire families & households being affected. Still others of us are awaiting test results while under quarantine as the entire state of New York is under a directive from the governor to ‘hunker down’. We must remember that NONE of this happens apart from the loving and watchful eye of our Heavenly Father. Straight from the Savior Himself – from Jesus’ lips to our ears: Your Father is with you! Your Father is intimately familiar with you and you are highly valued by Him! Don’t dare entertain the thought that any challenge you face escapes His notice for even a moment. It does not. 

As the Father is with us, so we are called to be with each other. Regardless of what you are experiencing in this hour, please know that you are not alone. This is the time for us to rise up as best we are able under the circumstances, to support one another, particularly any and all who are being physically affected by this crisis. 

If you are affected or in need & would like prayer or assistance, please REACH OUT to us by phone or Facebook message. Our commitment to you is that we will work to help connect people in need with resources and / or helpers who will prayerfully respond. Options are limited, due to certain NYS directives at this time, but our Heavenly Father’s resources are NOT limited! We will call on the God of all Comfort as we join our faith together & look for ways & opportunities to address any need that arises. 

We are being called as individuals to commit to pray more than ever in this season & to pray for one another in particular. It would be easy to become distracted with the ‘news of the day’ or be drawn into the fear & hysteria surrounding the turmoil. But we are not of those who ‘shrink back’; we are those who have faith to the ‘saving of the soul’! Let us commit, by God’s grace, to renew our resolve to give thanks in everything and pray without ceasing, amen?!

These are perilous times we are in… but we are in them together! May the Lord bless and keep you each – praying for you all…

Pastor Joel

PLCC Office: (516)432-5990

Eric Torsten: (516)642-1444

***PASTOR GREG UPDATE***

Hello friends & family of the PLCC! We are so thankful & happy to report that Pastor Greg is scheduled to return home next week. The rehab has served him well & has helped to prepare him & Tina for his reentry into daily home-life.
Some other good news is that this past week for the first time, Pastor Greg was able to begin moving his right hand! Thank you, Jesus!!! This is an encouraging indication that the rehab is still in process and should continue as should all the prayers that everyone has been lifting up. Thank you for your love & continued intercession on behalf of Pastor Greg, Tina & the Kemper family – God bless you all!

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58

***Pastor Greg’s Update & Prayer Request***

Pastor Greg continues his daily therapies and rehab at St Johnland. He is making gradual & measured progress. For any who did not see, we recently posted a short video to our Facebook page, in which he was walking under his own power, with only the assistance of a quad-cane & leg brace – praise the Lord! Although he still lacks strength on his right side, with the assisting devices he is even able to go up & down a few stairs if help is nearby. We are thankful for these improvements!

In recent days, Pastor Greg has developed an infection in his hand that is being treated with anti-biotics. Since the infection hasn’t responded as quickly as his doctor would like to see, they are taking him to Huntington Hospital where they can administer more potent & effective medication. Please continue to pray for Pastor Greg’s healing from the infection as well as his complete recovery. And if you would, please lift up his dear wife, Tina Kemper – that she would have peace as she cares for her husband & endeavors to trust in the Lord with all her heart. God bless you all!

***Update on Pastor Greg as of 2/1/2018***

We are grateful to let you know that Pastor Greg has now transferred to St. Johnland Rehabilitation in Kings Park, NY, where he will remain for the next few weeks as he continues rehab in anticipation of his return home. This is an answer to prayer as St Johnland specializes in brain injuries and is closer to home. Pastor Greg will continue daily rehab similar in scale to his experience with Burke. We are thankful that Pastor Greg does seem to be experiencing some incremental improvements, including some limited responsiveness on his right side as well as a slightly increased vocabulary – both good indications!

Cards & letters are welcome at this time, as are limited visitations. St Johnland’s policies are unique to their facility & they advise calling ahead of any visitations. Please use discretion when visiting so as not to pre-exhaust Pastor Greg before his many daily therapy sessions. Evenings & weekends are usually a good time to visit. Thank you, Father in heaven, for your Faithfulness! Thank you friends & PLCC family for your love & prayers!

St Johnland Nursing Center
395 Sunken Meadow Road
Kings Park, NY 11754
Phone: (631) 269-5800

***Pastor Greg Update***
Busy day for Pastor Greg – Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy & medical evaluations in between. Somehow, he still found time to host multiple visitors! With Tina by his side, Pastor Greg also shared in communion and prayers for healing & restoration. Now in his third week at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital (Building #7), he has acclimated well and is progressively engaging in an appropriately rigorous routine. He will likely remain at Burke for the next couple of weeks.

Multiple people have mentioned that Pastor Greg has specifically asked them if they wanted to pray. He is trusting in the Lord and his faith is unwavering. We are believing & asking God for his full restoration. Thank you for your cards, letters, visits and prayers for Pastor Greg & Tina. Leslie Carlone was kind enough to create a binder / scrap-book with Bible verses & additional sleeves for adding personalized notes, drawings or other encouragements. This is being kept in the cabinet beside Pastor’s bed and all are welcome to add to it as desired.

Visitors are welcome (and much appreciated!) from 8am to 8pm. If you have time constraints and would rather visit while pastor Greg is not undergoing therapy of any kind, feel free to call ahead – otherwise come any time. Thank you for crying out to the Lord on behalf of our dear friend and brother. God is GOOD!

Psalm 118:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”