File - United Presbyterian Church of Millstone

The Good News
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF MILLSTONE
211 Millstone Road, Millstone Township, NJ 08535
732-446-5350; e-mail: upcm@monmouth.com
Visit our website at www.upcm.org
Don’t forget to LIKE us on Facebook too!
No. 23
May 2016
In lieu of an editorial, a little collection of inspiring thoughts,
blessings and reflections is offered for your meditation.
Peace be to you all.
United Presbyterian Church of Millstone
211 Millstone Road / P.O. Box 202
Perrineville, NJ 08535
Kind Words
God’s pleasures are simple ones; health, the rapture of a May morning,
sunshine, kind words, benevolent acts, the glow of good humor.
~ F.W. Robertson
Take a Deep Breath
Problems do not seem as overwhelming when you take a few moments to
count your blessings and appreciate what exists in your life. Emotionally,
gratitude is the equivalent of taking a deep breath and relaxing.
Research shows that people who actively practice appreciation and
gratitude in their lives are happier. The expression of gratitude is a
feeling, a sense of awe, wonder and appreciation for what you have,
and what is around you.
~ Susyn Reeve
Sundays at 10:30 am
Be Glad
I am grateful for my family and friends,
A job to earn my keep, and the health to do it,
And opportunities and the lessons I’ve learned.
Let me never lose sight of the simple blessings
That form the fabric and foundation of my life.
I am blessed, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
~ Abby Willowroot
12
Love is Everywhere
Nature is too thin a screen; the glory of the omnipresent God
bursts through everywhere.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
To Be of Use
God gave man work, not to burden him, but to bless him,
and useful work, willingly, cheerfully, effectively done,
has always been the finest expression of the human spirit.
~ Walter R. Courtenay
No Worries
Do not fear or be dismayed!
~ Joshua 8:1
I will save you that you may become a blessing. ~ Zechariah 8:13
Fight the good fight of the faith. ~ 1 Timothy 6:12
Only God Himself fully
appreciates the influence of a
Christian mother
in the molding of character
in her children.
~ Billy Graham
Second Chances
We give thanks for all those times we have arisen from the depths
or simply taken a tiny step toward something new.
May we be empowered by extraordinary second chances.
And as we enter the world anew,
let us turn the tides of despair into endless waves of hope.
~ Molly Fumia
Planting Blessings
I spent my summer on my grandparents' farm in Texas,
and my grandfather, in particular, taught me so much.
He put a seed in the palm of my hand once and didn’t say much about it.
But I came to see the blessing of what a seed is,
what it takes to be nurtured, to plant it, to protect it,
to keep it in harmony with the elements, with the sun, the vermin,
and to help it to realize its deep space of potentiality.
My grandfather taught me all of that, without ever saying much.
I think that lesson has informed everything about me.
~ Forest Whitaker
Only Connect
Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy—
They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
~ Marcel Proust
Be as a Little Child
Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier.
Love everything, you will be happiest.
~ Sri Chinmoy
From Scripture & ‘The Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers & Graces for the Daily Meal’ by Brenda Knight
2
11
The next meeting of
the Book Club will be
held on Monday,
May 9 at 7:00 pm at the
Church Ministry
Center. The title of our
next book is a New
York Times best seller,
“A Man Called Ove’
by Fredrik Backman.
We hope to see everyone that night! For info, contact Patti Keeley 609
-259-0769.
Surf ’s Up!
Vacation Bible School 2016 is coming!
Are your children registered yet?
Don’t miss out.
Surf Shack VBS has everything you need
to keep your Surfers in the pocket
so they’ll hit the impact zone with a deeper
understanding of God’s awesome power!
Our Vacation Bible School will be held June 27 - July 1st
from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm each day.
The cost will be $25 per child
and programs are available for kids Pre-K (4 years old) through 5th grade.
We cannot wait to catch the wave of God's amazing love with you
through missions, dramas, crafts, games, science activities,
music and LOTS of fun!
Please see our website www.upcm.org to register.
Synopsis
Sharing Our Future Congregational Dinner
Join us...
as we prepare to find our direction as a church
and call a new pastor.
Friday, May 13th at 6:00 pm
Pizza Subs Dessert
Childcare provided
Rsvp to Cindy Mayer at cmayer99@optonline.net.
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3
Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County is starting to
build a new home at 112 Center Street in Freehold. The kickoff and ground blessing for this home will be Saturday, May 21
from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
This new home will be a ‘House that Faith Built’. UPCM and a number of
other local churches will be co-sponsors of this project. UPCM will contribute
$500 from our Mission budget to this project. In addition, members of the
congregation will be able to participate in the construction and also be able
to donate construction materials through Home Depot. There will be more
about these opportunities in the coming weeks and months.
Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County has a goal of building 3 or 4
houses a year and repairing at least 50 others. This is a good opportunity
for UPCM to help less-fortunate people in our surrounding communities.
UPCM Finance Update
As you know, UPCM entered 2016 with a $40,000 budgeted deficit.
The end of Pastor George’s contract and other changes in expenses and
income have reduced that deficit to a projected $5-10,000. We are
asking each member to prayerfully examine your heart and if possible,
increase your giving by 1% of your annual income. If we all make this
commitment, our deficit can be erased. Thank you for helping us to be
good stewards in caring for our and your historic church.
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May 1st, 8th, 22nd
The Reverend Joanne Petto
The Rev. Joanne Petto is a Law Enforcement Chaplain with the Plainsboro Township
Police Department and the NJ State Police. As a member of the NJ Crisis Intervention
Network, she responds throughout the state to assist first responders who have been
involved in traumatic incidents. She is a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and a
Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress.
May 15th
The Reverend Christina Hindley
The Rev. Christina Hindley is a minister member of Monmouth Presbytery. After
studying music, finance and law, she attended Columbia Theological Seminary.
She served The First Presbyterian Churches in Cranbury, NJ and Poughkeepsie, NY,
and started the pastoral care department in White Plains Hospital. Christina recently
retired from The Presbyterian Church in Lakehurst, NJ, and continues to remain active
with the Presbytery of Monmouth.
May 29th
Mr. Seth Saathoff
Our Princeton Theological Seminary intern, Seth Saathoff and wife Katy are both from
Texas and fortunately for us have been with us for two years. Seth leads our Sunday
morning Bible Study, has taught our Confirmation Class, and led us in worship several
times in the past two years. Last summer, Seth was accepted as a candidate for
ordination, and spent his clinical pastoral education in a hospital in Lubbock, TX
ministering to folks during critical times of need. He attended McMurry University in
Abilene, TX, earning a degree in English Literature. In college, Seth was a member of
the NCAA football team and a Ministry Team Coordinator for the campus Religious Life
Dept. Seth and Katy met in college and married in June of 2013. He has attained
ministry experience working with youth and campus ministries, but now feels called
towards parish ministry. His particular interest is in the original languages of the Bible
and how they change the way we interpret scripture.
Inspiring Preachers
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Millstone Community Garden
Currently Two Bible Studies Running….
Sunday mornings 9:00 am— Studying the Book of Acts and anyone can
jump in and attend at any time. Led by our PTS intern, Seth Saathoff
Tuesday morning Bible Study at 11:00 am –12:30 pm also at the ministry
center. Led by Claude Heller
~ Serving coffee at both ~
We have a couple of plots left 10.5' x 10.5' for $25.
We will be scheduling a speaker who will give a talk on
Vegetable Gardening. Time and place TBA.
Please contact Anne Haines at 732-299-7827 or
syringa12@aol.com.
Website - www.millstonegarden.org.
Photo by L. Cier
We give thanks for our Sunday School Teachers!
Our blessing of teachers are Kati Shields, Jenny Strickland,
Laura Musgrove, Laura Townsend, Dave and Kelly Greaney.
Thank you for sharing your gifts and skills, ideas and imagination,
time and love with our children during this past year!!
Teach Me Series
Thursday, May 19—Alcohol Inks on Paper &
Tile with Tess ($25) at 7:00 pm
Friday, June 3— Flip Flop Friday (wreaths)
with Barbara Truscinski at 7:00 pm
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Cleaning Your Closets? Know someone who is?
Want to get rid of those toys? Or stuffed animals?
We will hold our annual clothing drive on SUNDAY, May
15th. We will be collecting all donations 9:00-12:00.
If you have any questions or need to drop off before hand
Please call:
Sharon Peake
732-317-4700
Please remember we are collecting:
Wearable & Usable Clothing (Men’s, Women’s & Children’s),
Shoes, Belts, Handbags, Linens (Bedding, Curtains, Towels),
Stuffed Animals, Small Hard Toys, Small household items.
Please bring all donations in tied plastic bags.
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UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
Sunday
CHURCH
Monday
3
10:30 Worship—Rev.
Joanne Petto - Guest
Preacher/ Sacrament of
Lord’s Supper/ No Sunday
School /Deacon Coffee Hr
Scholarship applications
due
Mother’s Day
9
10
9:00 am Bible Study @ MC 7:00 AA
10:30 Worship– Rev. Joanne
7:00 pm Worship Mtg MC
Petto/ Sunday School /
Scholarship Interviews Held
7:00 pm Book Club Mtg
at Ministry Center
15 Day of Pentecost
16
22 Trinity Sunday
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 Bible Study @
Ministry Center
7:00 –8:30 pm Adult Choir
17
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 Bible Study @
Ministry Center
7:00-8:30 pm Adult Choir
Game Night 6:30-8 pm at
Ministry Center
No Bible Study
10:30 Worship 7:00 AA
Rev. Christina Hindley /
Sacrament of Baptism–
Sofia Grace Bayate/ Sunday
School
Clothing Drive 9:00A-12 N
23
24
No Bible Study
10:30 Worship—Rev.
Joanne Petto / Teacher
Recognition
7:00 AA
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 Bible Study @
Ministry Center
7:00-8:30 pm Adult Choir
29 2nd Sunday after
30
31
Last Day of Sunday School
Pentecost
9 am Bible Study @ MC
10:30 Worship—Mr. Seth
Saathoff Leading worship
Memorial Day Parade &
Veterans Ceremony,
Clarksburg - 9:30 am
May
MILLSTONE
Tuesday
1 9:00 am Bible Study- MC 2
8
OF
Wednesday
4
Thursday
2016
Friday
5 Ascension of the Lord 6
7
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Men’s Breakfast 9:00 am
at Church
National Day of Prayer
7 pm Christian Ed Team
Mtg at Ministry Center
9:00 Breakfast @ Gus’
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 am Mission Study Team
11:30 Prayer Circle
11
12
13
14
5:30 pm Sewing Circle
at Church
9:00 Breakfast @ Gus’
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:30 Prayer Circle
7:00 pm Session Mtg. at
Ministry Center
18
19 9:00 Breakfast @ Gus’
20
21
26 9:00 Breakfast @ Gus’ 27
28
5:30 pm Sewing Circle
at Church
25
5:30 pm Sewing Circle
at Church
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 am Mission Study Team
11:30 Prayer Circle
7:00 pm ‘Teach Me’ Class:
‘Alcohol Inks on Paper &
Tile’ w/ Tess
‘Sharing Our Future’
Congregational
Dinner
6:00 pm
Leadership Training
Working Group at
Old Tennent Church
9:00 am—2:00 pm
Armed Forces Day
Presbytery Meeting
at Pt. Pleasant
9:30 am—1:00 pm
Habitat for Humanity
Kick-off & Ground Blessing,
Freehold 8:30 am-3:00 pm
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:30 Prayer Circle
9:30-5:00 Office Hours
11:00 Bible Study @
Ministry Center
7:00-8:30 pm Adult Choir
followed by BBQ for participants
at Clarksburg Inn
6
Saturday
7