RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Interim pastor will serve Hudson church

The Rev. Kathryn Beilke, pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Hudson, 369 Warren St., will be on leave for the next 2 1/2 months after giving birth to a baby boy.

While Beilke is on leave, John Erik Swift of Leeds will serve in the pulpit. Swift currently works as a youth counselor at Berkshire Farms. His background includes a stint as chaplain at St. Peter’s Hospital, followed by work at Community Hospice of Columbia-Greene Counties in Catskill.

“I’ve generally worked outside the church at institutions,” he said in a press release. “Most people call me ‘Chaplain Swift.’ That’s where that comes from.”

Before Rev. Beilke’s maternity leave, Swift had already discovered the First Presbyterian Church and was attending as a member of the congregation. “My first visit was during Lent,” he said. “I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the congregation, the smaller setting

(during temporary housing at Hudson Solaris) and the diversity of the people.

“It was a variety of colors, ages and economics,” he added. But, for a group with a lot of differences, there was a wonderful feeling of love and kindness. I thought that, if I were to attend a church, those were the qualities I would look for.”

His tenure will begin in the recently re-opened sanctuary, and his hope is to create renewed interest in the church. We all need to get re-acquainted with the new space,” he said. “I haven’t been in this community and this setting before. My hope is that it will spark new interest and bring people in off the street. If they like the message and the environment of the church and feel loved, that’s the key. The best plan is to spread that message.”

Church services begin at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday in the church’s reopened sanctuary. Swift is also eager to handle any outreach needed. “If someone needs a visit in the hospital or

jail, or anything along that line, please contact me,” he said in the release. “It is part of my faith practice with or without the church involvement.” He can be reached by email at FirstPresbyterianChurchHudson@gmail.com.

The church is continuing to raise funds for the replacement of its 100-yearold roof. Contributions can be made by visiting savethebuilding.org/