the window - february 2016 - congregational church · folding money! all proceeds will go to the...
TRANSCRIPT
The Window - February 2016
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
An Open & Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07656
Rev. Mark Suriano, Pastor………………………………201-391-5800
Ms. Terri Bertani, Administrative Assistant.....................201-391-5800
Ms. Julie Luce, Handbell Choir Director………………..201-391-5800
Mr. Alan Newman, Music Director……………………..201-825-7388
Rev. Thomas Willingham, Director,
Community Counseling Service …..….…..…………......201-391-1935
Church Office…………………………………….Phone 201-391-5800
http://www.congregationalchurch.net Fax 201-307-5988
Office Hours: M, T, Th, F: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
W: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
COME TO WORSHIP, LEARN & WITNESS Sundays at 10:00 A.M. Worship, Sunday School & Child Care
God is Still Speaking
FIR
ST
CO
NG
RE
GA
TIO
NA
L C
HU
RC
H
13
1 P
AS
CA
CK
RO
AD
P
AR
K R
IDG
E, N
J 07656
Ad
dress S
ervice R
equ
ested
We h
old
it to b
e the
missio
n o
f the C
hu
rch to
witn
ess to th
e go
spel o
f
Jesus C
hrist in
all th
e
wo
rld, w
hile w
orsh
ipin
g
Go
d, a
nd
striving
for
truth
, justice a
nd
pea
ce.
COME, WORSHIP
WITH US: February 7-Transfiguration Sunday Souper Bowl of Caring Exodus 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-43
How like Jesus to turn the idea of “glory” into a reminder of the suffering often necessary in order to achieve it! A brief glimpse of what is to come fogs the vision of the disciples just enough that they need to be reminded that there is a long, hard, road ahead. February 14-First Sunday in Lent Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Luke 4:1-13
Lent starts, as it always does, with Jesus’ temptation in the desert. This is his “vision quest” or “walkabout” through which he will confront his own demons in order to discover his true calling. Lent is a time for our own “vision quest” or “walkabout”—a time when we are driven into the desert in order to confront our own demons, and to discover our true selves and our true calling. February 21- Second Sunday in Lent Psalm 27 Luke 13:31-35
We may not like to think about it but Jesus may be lamenting over us. In the Gospel, he addresses the city of Jerusalem and bewails its corruption and lack of faithfulness; this is not judgment, it is grief. His heart is filled with both sorrow and longing for what is meant to be. February 28-Third Sunday in Lent Psalm 63:1-8 Luke 13:1-9
The only way to make things right is to repent. In fact, it is one of the big themes of the gospels, including our text for today. We cannot repent unless we have the awareness of our own participation in evil. This is a sobering but necessary challenge if we are to be open to fullness of life now and in the future.
February Birthdays
Thanks for volunteering!
Liturgists Needed! The Worship Team is looking for some “fresh faces” to participate in our Sunday service. The process is not complicated and quite satisfying for those who currently serve. Please contact me with any questions. I’ll be happy to go over anything with you. Thanks, Doug
We will begin the season of Lent with an Agape Meal on Ash Wednesday, February 10th, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
5 Gean Chin 6 Randy Napolitano
13 Samantha Green 17 Douglas LaMere
Alyssa Prisco 23 Jane Trojan 24 Ruth von Bradsky 25 Margaret Michaud 27 Kristen Kerner 28 Reg Duncan
Feb 7 Deacons
Feb 17 Dee & Bill Ledgerwood
Feb 21 Jeff Ellingsen, Barbara Nelson
Feb 28 Robin & Dave Huber
Pastor’s Page
As I write this, we have just passed the first snowstorm of the season—“snowzilla” or “snowmageddon” to some—and people are still telling stories about how they spent a snowy Saturday in January. We were on vacation in Mexico when we noticed the storm creeping up the coast and we decided to come home early. Our Annual Meeting moved by two weeks and morning worship became a prayer service in the parlor. Everywhere along the East Coast, and here in Northern New Jersey, people hunkered down, put away their “to-do” lists, and spent a Saturday doing as much or as little as they cared to do without having to go outside. What a gift. For those of us who were not driving plows, and for those of us for whom shelter and food are not a concern, we were given a day to take a pause. And this is what Lent is all about. The season of Lent is like a giant snow day, creating a six-week pause in our daily and usual lives that invites us to go deeper, to cast off the shell that defines us and confines us, and to open ourselves to the deep mystery of dying and rising. Instead of filling these weeks, we empty them so that we can contact the Loving Center in whose image we all are created. Early in the week of February 8th you will receive a mailing that will contain some helps to make Lent your time of fruitful pausing: a book of meditations for every day, an invitation to bible study, to prayer time, to journal, to serve. You can find information about some of these things elsewhere in this newsletter, so read carefully!
To begin, we will gather February 10 at 7:00 p.m. for Ash Wednesday worship in the Fellowship Hall where we will share a simple meal, receive ashes, and decide what we will do—and what we will NOT do—for our Lenten pause. Join us and bring your friends and family who may need to be invited to rest in the sacred, if even for a little while. Make the most of this gift of time so the timeless God may renew you and strengthen you. Pastor Mark
Faith Formation for Lent Children For the Sundays in Lent, we will explore “Jesus’ Temptation in the Desert” during our Sunday school time. All children through 8th grade are welcome and invited to participate. Children will be an integral part of the Palm Sunday (March 20) worship, if you are interesting in helping lead worship that day contact Pastor Mark! We need readers, prayer leaders, palm wavers, and more. Youth The Youth Group will be hosting the Souper Bowl of Caring on February 7 after worship. We will accept spare change as well as folding money! All proceeds will go to the Pascack Food Center at Pascack Reformed Church.
The Youth Group met January 31 and participated in a Labyrinth Walk. Use of labyrinths in Christianity dates from the 4th century, the most famous example
The Chartres Labyrinth (above) dates from the 11th century. A Labyrinth walk is a kind of contemplative or centering prayer that gradually draws you into the center (God) and then gently leads you out into the world.
Adults The Messiah study will resume on February 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor. This part of the study will continue for six sessions through March 15. The same study will be held at noon on Wednesdays, February 10 through March 16. If you did not participate in the Advent sessions, there are a limited number of books available for purchase from Pastor Mark. Mondays at Momma’s will continue through June! If you have not joined in the conversation yet please know you are welcome and expected. We eat and discuss whatever thoughts people have about faith and life, engage in dialogue over meaningful questions, and generally enjoy one another. These gatherings are at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. A daily prayer and meditation booklet will be mailed to you the week of February 8. Please look for it in your mailbox and make it part of your Lenten practice. COMING SOON: We will be starting a centering/mindfulness prayer group in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the bulletin and the March Window about further details.
Music Chancel Choir Have you noticed new enthusiasm in the Chancel Choir? It is always encouraging to welcome new members since they bring enthusiasm and purpose. The new members include Gina, Rob, Ray and Randy. The choir also welcomes back Julie Bliss after an extended trip to visit her family over the holidays. Christian Luce is also home from studies in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before deploying for the US Army Band. Congratulations, Christian! New members are also welcome and everyone is invited to swell our ranks
even more. We have extra folders, extra music, extra robes and even extra chairs in the Choir Room! We rehearse every Thursday evening for one hour – from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. Park out back and come in the left rear door leading to the flight of stairs to the Choir Room. We hope to see and hear you at our next rehearsal. $40.00 an Anthem Since coming to the First Congregational, I have instituted a program where folks can contribute to the purchase of new choral music. Not only do these gifts help to increase our Music Library, lessen the burden on the Music Budget, but serve as a tribute to a loved one – either as a memorial or in honor of someone. So far, five anthems have been purchased through this program. You are invited to contribute $40.00 per anthem. You can speak to me about a musical choice or leave it to my discretion. Envelopes are available in the Narthex near the Parlor doors. Baby Grand Piano The Music Committee thanks Doug Pruett for his diligence in maintaining the moisture level in our new Yamaha Baby Grand piano in the Sanctuary. A humidifier was installed in the instrument to prevent the pads and mechanism from drying out due to the heat. A special chemical is added to water to keep the piano “watered.” A gauge indicates when water needs to be added. Doug takes care of this every couple of weeks during the winter months. We thank him for his efforts and this is another example of how folks in our congregation work quietly behind the scenes to take care of things that need attention. Thank you, Doug! Special Instrumentalists The following people from our congregation have added their musical skills to our worship services and we thank them: Cyndi Avedon, Katie Black, Nancy Goodyear, Christian Luce and Barbara Nelson. Thank you, Alan Newman, Director of Music
Save the Date - February 26-27 “Evita,” presented by Bergen Academies Our own Rose Hutchison will appear in the musical production “Evita.” Come support Rose and have a wonderful time at this musical! Friday at 7:30 pm. Saturday at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm. Bergen County Academies, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ Adults $15, Students and Senior Citizens $12; Tickets can be purchased through a link on the school's website: www.bcts.bergen.org Once on the homepage, click the box for Bergen County Academies and you will see a link for Evita tickets on that page! Reserve you tickets soon, as these shows sell out fast!
Our Church Mission & Outreach Through One Great Hour of Sharing, United Church of Christ members reach out in the name of Christ to: • Build sustainable communities. OGHS supports self-help programs in more than 80 nations to build sustainable communities that enable people and communities to stand against and rise above hunger, disease, illiteracy, and other forces of injustice that deny and destroy dignity.
• Respond to disaster. OGHS provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in the aftermath of hurricanes, tornados, storms, floods, tidal waves, fires, explosions, technological disasters, civil strife, war, or other natural or human-caused events. On average, OGHS responds to a disaster once every 2.5 days.
• Minister to refugees. OGHS responds with advocacy and help, hope and hospitality for people who have been uprooted from their home of origin. More than 30 million of the world's people are uprooted at any given time. This special offering (OGHS) will be taken on March 13th.
Church World Service’s Blanket Offering For over 60 years, CWS has worked in partnership with local communities to identify their needs and access the resources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future, including: -Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster. -Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields. -Wells for families living in drought prone areas to provide clean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens. -Literacy training and microcredit for women struggling to realize their potential. We will be taking this offering on March 20th (Palm Sunday). Family Promise Thank you to Nancy Goodyear, Lois & Debbie Terrace, Mike Hurlbut, Eric Bechtel and his family for staffing the family center on Saturday, Dec. 26th. They played video games on the computer with the kids, helped straighten out the books and were just there with the families. Thanks go out to Bill & Dee Ledgerwood, Lois & Debbie Terrace and Julie & Jon Bliss for covering the family center on Saturday, January 23rd. The next date to have a chance to make a difference is Saturday, Feb. 27th at the family center.
Thank you to our Youth Group from
Chancellor Academy…
On behalf of Chancellor Academy, we would like to thank you, your congregation and the First Congregational Church Youth Group for the unselfish act of providing presents for many of our needy children. This kindness and generosity from your church brought not only smiles to their faces but also created happiness for a large number of students whom received the gifts.
Some students choose to take the gifts and open in private, some ripped the paper and box then placed the item on and left my office. One young lady, who received a few generous gifts, opened her gifts, was so excited, tried everything on, and then asked if we could rewrap the gifts so she could re-open on Christmas morning.
With our population the reactions may be initially different, but the end results are the same. The First Congregational Church members and Youth Group made young men and young women very happy.
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts! Sincerely, Kevin McNaught, Executive Director Christopher Pagano, Director
Thank you from Youth Consultation Service (YCS)…
On behalf of the YCS Board of Trustees, thank you for the kindness and generosity you have shown to the children of YCS this holiday season. Your gift of $230 provided the children with a holiday filled with happiness and hope.
We deeply appreciate your taking the time and effort to ensure that holiday dreams did come true for each and every child in YCS care. Through your generosity, you helped them to believe in their dreams…and in themselves.
Thank you for giving the children of YCS a happy, hopeful holiday memory to carry with them as they continue to travel on the path toward healing. There are 366 days in 2016. May they all be happy, healthy and prosperous ones!
Sincerely, Ruthie Harper, VP of Development, YCS Foundation
Thank you from Church World Service (CWS)…
Your generous donation to the CWS Blankets+ program tells people in crisis, “You’re not alone. Someone cares.” We are deeply grateful for your support. Because of your compassion: . Families who have lost their homes to tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters are getting help with blankets, emergency food and shelter - and with rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. . People struggling against crushing poverty and harsh climates are learning sustainable farming practices that will help them keep food on the table - and take it to market. . Vulnerable children have access to clean, safe water and the nutritional food essential to growth, development and life itself. On behalf of all the people who feel more hopeful and less alone because of your generosity, we thank you. May God bless you for your support, Rev. John L. McCullough, President & CEO, CWS
The Rummage Sale is Coming… Friday, April 22, & Saturday, April 23 We need your help! This is a major fundraiser and mission to the community and beyond. We want to continue doing it but cannot do it alone. The Rummage Committee is looking for additional people to help administer, oversee, and work (hands-on) for the sale and set-up. If you can help, please contact Carol Kobbe at 201-391-2042 or email at: [email protected]
Carol and Shelley Alexander (Barbara Inglese’s cousins) Larry Bischoff (friend of Theresa Muti) Pete Bogulaski (friend of the Bigos family) The Burnett family Melissa Cosmos (Jean Ayton’s granddaughter) & her
husband, Joshua on his deployment to the Mideast
Victoria & Ryan Currens, on Ryan’s deployment
to Afghanistan (Sue Bonvissuto’s daughter&
son-in-law) Betty Egli Kathy Franchina (friend of Pat Kerner) Please pray for Nancy and Mike Hurlbut to allow their love to overcome any obstacles Alzheimer’s may present. Ashley & Anthony Kerner (Ryall’s niece & nephew) Helen Kovacik Gim Fung Lee (Gean Chin’s mother) Helen Lenhart (mother-in-law of Barbara Inglese’s sister) Denise Noble (Sheila Schneider’s sister) Maggie Francke Olano (Ruth Francke’s daughter) Jeremy O’Neal (Pastor Mark’s nephew) Sally Pruett (Doug’s mother) Betty Rutishauser Janice Socha (Helen Kovacik’s daughter) Harold Swiers (Ryall Kerner’s brother-in-law) Elizabeth Tapley (friend of Ann Angarola) Lauretta Vogel (Pat Kerner’s mother) Peter von Bradsky ~ Ruth von Bradsky Carol Yankosky (Barbara Nelson’s sister) Gus Yepes (friend of Jeff Ellingsen) Frank Zeoli Those who serve in our military and their families The people of France, Beirut, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Palestine Please call the church office if you would like to update or add someone to our prayer list.
EASTER FLOWERS
The altar flowers that help beautify our sanctuary for Easter are donated each year by members and friends of our congregation.
Lilies will be available for purchase this year, as well as tulips and daffodils. If you would like to order flowers, please fill out this form and return it to the church office by March 6th. Plants may be taken home after the 10:00 a.m. Easter Service or left to be delivered to shut-ins.
All plants are $13.00 each
I would like ________ lilies I would like ________ daffodils I would like ________ tulips
It would be appreciated if payment accompanied this order. Make checks payable to First Congregational Church (notation: Easter flowers). Please print message(s) for bulletin:
In honor of
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
In loving memory of _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Other message
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________ ________ take home ________ deliver to shut-in
NAME: _____________________PHONE: ___________ TOTAL # OF PLANTS: ______AMOUNT PAID: _________ Check # ________ Cash _______
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
10:00 am -
Mission Team
7:00 pm - Monday’s
at Momma’s
2
3
12:00 pm – Bible Study
(Parlor)
4
7:00 pm - Handbells
8:30 pm - Choir
5
3:30 pm -
Brownies #5491
(FH Lounge)
6
10:00 am -
Brownies (CE
Wing)
7
10:00 am - Worship
Congregational Meeting
11:15 am - Fellowship Coffee
7:30 pm - Sr. Girl Scouts
#449 (FH Lounge)
8
7:00 pm - Monday’s
at Momma’s
9
7:00 pm - Messiah
Study (Parlor)
10
12:30 pm – Bible Study
(Parlor)
7:00 pm - Agape Meal
(Fellowship Hall)
11
7:00 pm - Handbells
8:30 pm - Choir
12
13
14
First Sunday in Lent
10:00 am – Worship
11:15 am - Fellowship Coffee
15
President’s Day
(office closed)
16
12 noon – Shawl
Ministry (Parlor)
7:00 pm - Messiah
Study (Parlor)
17
12:30 pm – Bible Study
(Parlor)
18
7:00 pm - Handbells
8:30 pm - Choir
19
20
10:00 am -
Leadership Retreat
12 noon - Jersey
Gamers (CE Wing)
4:00 pm - Girl Scout
World Thinking
Event (Fellowship
Hall)
21
Second Sunday in Lent
10:00 am - Worship
11:15 am - Fellowship Coffee
22
12 noon
Ruth Circle
7:00 pm - Girl
Scouts (Youth Rm)
7:00 pm - Monday’s
at Momma’s
23
7:00 pm - Messiah
Study (Parlor)
24
12:30 pm – Bible Study
(Parlor)
6:30 pm - Valley Ringers
8:00 pm - Choir
25
7:00 pm - Handbells
8:30 pm - Choir
26
27
Volunteers needed
to staff Family
Promise Day Center
28
Third Sunday in Lent
10:00 am - Worship
11:15 am - Fellowship Coffee
6:30 pm - Youth Group
February 2016