A Letter From our PAstor - Presbytery of Genesee Valley
Transcription
A Letter From our PAstor - Presbytery of Genesee Valley
-BXSFODFWJMMF .0/5)-:/&84-&55&30'5)&13&4#:5&3*"/ $)63$)0'-"83&/$&7*--& %&$&.#&3 letter A L e t t e r F r o m O u r Pa s t o r PASTOR’S LETTER 1 ADVENT SERVICES & EVENTS 2 STEWARDSHIP 4 OUR CHURCH FAMILY 4 PCOL IN MISSION 5 FAMILY MINISTRIES 6 HAITI TASK FORCE 8 NEWS AND NOTES 9 MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS 11 DECEMBER CALENDAR 13 The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville 2688 Main St. Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 (609) 896-1212 www.pclawrenceville.org I don’t know if there are many of you who remember the 1990s TV show “Twin Peaks.” I was an avid watcher each week, but realize now that I remember little about the mysterious goings-on related to the murder of Laura Palmer, the event around which the show revolved. But it’s strange to think now about the one or two random things about that show that did stick to my brain. For some reason, this is a scene I remember vividly: the intrepid sheriff of Twin Peaks, Harry S. Truman, and FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper have just walked into the Double-R Diner, the local hang-out known for its home-made pie and excellent coffee. They’ve just received some important new detail about the Laura Palmer case. “We better get going,” says the Sheriff. Agent Cooper, looking longingly at Shelly, the waitress he has a crush on, holds the sheriff back and replies: “Harry, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it, don’t wait for it, just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a cat napping in your office chair, or…two cups of good, hot black coffee.” To which Sheriff Truman replies. “A present. Like Christmas.” And they proceed to enjoy together a moment there at the counter, sipping hot, black coffee in the presence of the beautiful Shelly. (Thank you, YouTube, for refreshing my memory). It strikes me that this little scene says it all about how we might actually practice Advent. As you likely know, Advent is about waiting. When we read those texts from Isaiah and Luke, it’s about waiting for something big, something monumentally huge – the return of the Savior. That indeed is something to wait for, and prepare for. But we can’t make it happen; it’s something that happens as a matter of grace, as a spontaneous gift: someday, the universe is going to receive a massive present. But what Agent Cooper is talking about is a bit more human-scale, a way to practice that Advent message in the every day. When the gifts we do plan for – the huge stack of presents, purchased in a holiday frenzy; the cocktail parties; all the spending – tend not to satisfy us, maybe it’s good just to practice Agent Cooper’s little secret here. Every day, at least once a day, the universe wants to give you a gift. It may be a simple thing, but it stands for something more. It’s something you can’t plan for or make happen. Receive it. The urgent thing can wait. And stopping for that, you may realize the true nature of things: the universe is conspiring in the present moment to disclose to you the love and beauty at the heart of it all. One ordinary moment, with a cup of hot, black coffee, or a walk through trees blazing with fall color, or the feeling of a 5-year-old’s little head resting on your shoulder: every day, once a day, receive that gift. Blessings during this season of light and hope, Jeff V. A dv e n t S e r vic e s and Ev e n t s Advent Potluck Dinner Sunday, November 30 5:30 -7:30 pm in the Fellowship Center Mark your calendars for this traditional gathering of our church family. We extend a special invitation to our Worship in A New Key service go-ers as our church family and friends share food, fellowship, crafts, an Advent meditation, and singing Christmas carols. If your last name begins with A–J please bring a side dish, vegetable, or salad for 10 people. If your last name begins with K-Z please bring a main dish for 10 people. The deacons will provide drinks and desserts. Many thanks to the Board of Deasee page 12 for cons for sponsoring this a summary of much anticipated annual event. Questions? Please seasonal events feel free to contact deaand music con coordinators, Mike Leahy, m.leahy.sr@gmail. com or 609-512-1103. Encountering Jesus: PCOL’s 2014 Advent Devotional “Encountering Jesus” is a daily devotional written by congregation members for congregation members. Its aim is to provide food for thought and inspiration during this Advent season. There is a brief passage of Scripture, a reflection, an action step and a prayer for each day in Advent. There are two formats: hard copies given out at the Advent Potluck Dinner (November 30) and available on Sundays during Advent, and an online version that can be dropped into your email box (if you have already signed up for this feature in years past, then you will have this devotional sent automatically). Thanks to all who have contributed to “Encountering Jesus.” Institute for Christian Living “Profiles of Faith: Joseph and Mary – A Perspective from Film” November 30 and December 7 11:30am in the Lounge, childcare provided During the Advent season we typically spend most of our time thinking and talking about Jesus the Messiah. And rightly so! But this Advent, we would like to take you through an exploration of the other two characters of the holy family: Joseph and Mary. Using the medium of film we hope to get a sense of their characters and the lives they lived, while also being careful to reflect on how film itself can profoundly shape what we see, feel, and believe. Please join us for a Sunday lesson of Film, Faith, and Fun! Popcorn included! “Bach’s Magnificat with Jim Moyer” December 14 11:30am in the Lounge, childcare provided During worship on Sunday December 21, the PCOL Concertsingers, guest soloists and orchestra will present Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Magnificat.” This large-scale composition premiered at a Christmas festival of sacred music during Bach’s first year in Leipzig. It is an exhilarating and innovative ride through swift contrasts, alive with freshness and vitality, embodying Mary’s youthfulness in light of her profound calling to be the mother of the Messiah. Learn about the background story of this masterwork from our Director of Music in preparation for hearing it in worship. Mission Boutique and Poinsettia Sale November 30, December 7, and December 14 11:00 am in the Fellowship Center Create and Relate will have a wonderful variety of handmade articles for sale. The money raised benefits our mission projects. Please plan to purchase your poinsettias this year at the boutique. Thanks again to the Petersons for providing a beautiful and wide variety from which to choose. Large poinsettias are available by special order and can also be picked up at the boutique. Please call Colleen Exter-Huckel at (609) 497-4862 for special orders. A Service of Lessons and Celtic Carols Sunday, December 7 at 10am Possibly the best-known Christmas service in the Western world is the festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (as begun on Christmas Eve 1918 at King’s College Cambridge, England and broadcast throughout the world every year since). This service celebrates the birth of Jesus by telling the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus in a series of short readings from the Bible. This year “A Service of Advent Lessons and Carols” (using Celtic style music) at our church will celebrate the season of Advent with readings, prayers, carols and anthems sung by the PCOL Concertsingers and guest musicians. Please join us in worship for this special Sunday of Advent Celtic Music wrapped around the “Lessons and Carols” format! Participants include the Concertsingers, David Hogue as organist, bagpipes, drums, guitar, fiddle, tin whistle, bodhran (celtic drum) and more. “Magnificat in D” by Johann Sebastian Bach Sunday December 21 During 10am worship In 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach traveled northeast from Cöthen across the fertile plain into Leipzig. The city was in its prime as Germany’s intellectual capital. Its prosperity and appreciation of art lent it an international flavor that earned the city the nickname “Little Paris.” In moving to Leipzig, Johann ended employment at a series of courts under despotic or capricious princes to begin lasting municipal employment as Kantor of the Thomasschule and director of music for the city’s four main churches. Once in Leipzig, Johann made the unprecedented decision to create a new cantata for every Sunday and feast day of the ecclesiastical year–60 concerted pieces of music annually. He had been hired to make changes, and his intent in using his own music was to completely reshape Leipzig church music. In that task, he inventively perfected the art of counterpoint. He also had 12 more children, six of whom survived early childhood, to go with the surviving four of the seven children from his first wife, Maria Barbara, who had died in 1720. In his first year in Leipzig, along with nearly 40 new cantatas and more than 20 reworked pre-Leipzig ones, Johann created the Magnificat for Christmas. This first large-scale composition was premiered at a Christmas festival of sacred music. It is an exhilarating and innovative ride through swift contrasts, alive with freshness and vitality, embodying Mary’s youthfulness in light of her profound task. Please join us in worship in Sunday December 21st as the PCOL Concertsingers, guest soloists and orchestra present the “Magnificat” of Johann Sebastian Bach during worship. WiNK: Blue Christmas Service December 21, 5pm Please join us for a special WiNK Blue Christmas service on Sunday, December 21st at 5pm. This is a special service designed to seek hope and light during the Advent season, when hope may not be easy to find due to a loss, a grief or a sadness that we carry. The service will include blues music from the Lament Bros. Blues Band, testimonies, and prayer. Christmas Pageant December 24, 4pm The Christmas Pageant will be held on Christmas Eve at 4pm. All children Pre-K through Grade 8 are encouraged to participate in the pageant. Registration began November 16 with rehearsals on Sundays, November 23, November 30, and December 7, and 14. All rehearsals will take place in the Chapel following worship. Our final rehearsal will take place on Sunday, December 21 at 11:30am in the Meetinghouse. Costumes will be handed out on Sunday, December 14. Christmas Eve Youth Cinnamon Bread Sale A group of our youth from PCOL will be going to Taizé, France this June. Taizé is a monastic-type community that is a place of spiritual pilgrimage for young people from all over the world. They will spend 6 days going to prayer services, living life in spiritual community, and doing simple chores as a part of a work group. They will also spend a few days in Paris visiting historical churches and sites and talking about the history of the Church in Europe as it relates to American churches. On Christmas Eve, following our 4:00 and 8:00pm Christmas Eve services, the youth will be selling cinnamon bread to raise money for the trip. Please support the spiritual enrichment of our youth by purchasing some delicious cinnamon bread for your family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy this Christmas! Angel Tree Project This year, we will once again be providing gifts to area children through the Angel Tree Project. Gifts will be due on Sunday, December 14. Christmas Joy Offering This Special Offering–one of four Special Offerings of PC(USA)–will be received during worship on Sunday, December 21. A gift to the Christmas Joy Offering helps provide financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families, and it also enables deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools. If you are unable to be in worship on December 21, you may mail a check to the church. Please indicate “Joy Offering” in the memo line. O u r C h u r ch Fa m ily Birthday Endowment Fund Are you a December baby? Do you know someone who is? On the first Sunday of December, we invite all who have a birthday this month or would like to honor someone who does, to pick up a Birthday Endowment envelope (look for the balloons) in the Fellowship Center and the vestibule of the church. The suggested gift is $1 for each year of life. This money supports the endowment funds of the church. You may place your envelope in the offering plate any Sunday or send your gift to the church office. All ages can take part. Additionally, check out the birthday board in the Fellowship Center to see who has a birthday this month - no ages listed, of course! You may want to send a card to someone listed there. Contributions to the fund to date total more than $35,800. Gifts to the church’s Birthday Endowment Fund were made in celebration of the following persons who had a birthday in October: Betty Blazer, Skip Conover, Colleen Exter-Huckel, Jim Morley, Kathy Reitz, Rick Steen, Sue Steen, Ann Walker. A gift to the Birthday Endowment Fund was made in memory of Emma M. Cadwallader. Births Congratulations to grandparents Denise and Bill O’Sullivan upon the birth of grandson Quinn Jack O’Sullivan, son of Bill and Meredith McWilliams, on November 3; and to grandparents Mary and Ralph Ferguson upon the birth of Brooke Binion, daughter of Barbara and Bob Binion, on November 17. S t e wa r d s hip C a m pai g n Updat e The Stewardship Committee is extraordinarily pleased to report that as of Friday, November 14th, we have $520,000 pledged to the 2015 budget. This represents an increase in dollars of 10.9%, roughly $51,000, and counting only those who have pledged for next year and last year, an average hike in pledges of 10%, percentages close to our goals for this pledge drive. These numbers testify powerfully to how generously our congregation is responding to our fiscal challenges in support of OUR CHURCH. Although we still need another $155,000 in pledges to balance the preliminary 2015 budget, we are enormously heartened and grateful by these results and urge those who have not yet made their commitment to do so as soon as they can. The chart at right tracks our giving over the last four years. Again, many, many thanks for your support! QMFEHFEWTPGEBZTTJODF$PNNJUNFOU4VOEBZ Marriage Congratulations to Michael McGeehan and Jim Kroll upon their marriage on November 11. Sympathy The sympathy of the congregation is extended to the family of our member Tom Loser upon his death; to Linda Pomeroy and her sons, Zach, Jake, and Alec, upon the death of her mother, Ingrid Fleischer; to Ni and Chris Golaz upon the death of their daughter Kendina in Haiti; to Jan and Marty Everett upon the death of Jan’s niece; and to the family of David Icenhower upon his death. P C O L in Mi s s i o n An occasional series highlighting the mission activities and commitments of The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. And We’re Off to the Nursing Home Are you aware that members of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville have been involved in a monthly worship service at the Lawrenceville Nursing home and have been doing it consistently since the late 1970s? The project was spearheaded by our beloved past member, Mary Frances Souders, who felt there was a need to get our church more involved in the local community by sharing our time and talents. We asked Gooitzen van der Wal if he would share with us how he feels about his opportunity to serve and what it has meant to him: Joan Semenuk introduced me to this service a few years back, where I saw how much this service meant to the residents. Joan seemed to know each one and had a short chat with each one. I have attended most of the services for quite a few years now, and schedule the musicians for this service. To me it is so heartwarming to see and feel the appreciation of the residents during and at the end of the service. For many of them it provides the comfort of church service, of being appreciated, and strengthens or renews their connection with God. It is much more than just another activity at the nursing home. It is an emotional struggle for most to have to be there, and this service provides an uplifting of their struggles into the hands of God. Personally it also represented a visit to my mother in Holland, whom I could not visit very often. To give back a little of the care and comfort she gave me. I would like to thank Joan and Jill for keeping this service going, and a special thanks to all the musicians and volunteers. Some musicians, and volunteers have been coming for many years, including John Huchler, Beverly Nester, Anne Lewin, Beverly MacDonald, Mary Ferguson, Jan Everett, Jeanne Aicher, Keith Dewey, Jessica Cincotta, Nancy Tanchak, and Ann Walker. It is a very special service when some of the children or youth of our church attend. It is so uplifting for the residents to see young people! Thank you to all. –Gooitzen van der Wal We have a brief service that has some scripture, prayer, and lots of music. When they sing along, we know we’re doing it right! The residents, almost without exception, need to be wheeled into the Dining Room so we need lots of volunteers to gather them in. We also need singers! Many of us have been greatly blessed by this opportunity to exercise our Christian faith through action. Won’t you please consider joining us? Please contact Gooitzen van der Wal at gooitzen. [email protected] or 609-466-8537. Inset: Our own Jill Cifelli smiling and chatting with one of the residents of the Lawrenceville Nursing Home. Fa m ily Mini s t r i e s Children’s Ministries News PCOL strives to protect our children. We think that it is important for long time members and those new to our congregation to know that we have had a child protection policy for many years. In 1998 a presentation was made to session on the national child abuse crisis. A motion was passed by session to study and appoint a task force to prepare a policy and procedures manual on how we could best prevent this type of behavior and protect our children. In addition, the policy would help protect anyone working with our children/youth from false accusations. This policy was approved by session in September 1999 and applies to all volunteers and staff who work with children and/or youth from ages birth through 18. The policy was updated and revised in 2014 by Session. Please contact Robyn Campbell with any questions. Nursery Care is provided every Sunday in the nursery, room 103 during worship. Cara Taylor is our permanent childcare provider. Silent beepers are available. Childcare is provided for all children nursery-grade five prior to worship for Scripture Meditation and during forums, adult education, and new member classes. Volunteers are needed! Christian Education and Worship News Preschool Sunday School is held each Sunday for children ages three through Pre-Kindergarten. Class begins at 9:45 and is held in the classroom located at the bottom of stairs. Each Sunday free play, Bible story time, crafts, music and snack will be provided. Volunteers are needed! Thank you to Amy Maurer for teaching preschool during the month of November. Sunday School: We will continue to use the PCUSA’s We Believe workshop curriculum for children in Kindergarten-grade five. Children will have the opportunity to learn one Bible story for four weeks in a different rotation each week! Our rotations include art, drama, computers, and audio-visual. Unit Three: Mary’s Song (Luke 1:26-56). According to the PCUSA’s We Believe curriculum, “the educational emphasis of this unit is that Mary’s song is and has been throughout the ages, a wellknown and beloved Scripture in our faith tradition. This is a key part of what we want tp convey in our workshops. As we teach the children that the Magnificat is a central part of the story of the birth of Jesus, we also want them to begin to see it as part of their own story as Christians. We can begin to make this happen as we invite them to consider Mary’s point of view. With this hymn of praise, Mary celebrates what God has done, is doing, and will do in her own life and in the life of the world. We want the children, as they consider Mary’s perspective, to also see that they, too, are a part of what God has done, is doing, and will do in our world today. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate not only what happened two thousand years ago, but the newness God continues to bring into the world today as well.” Don’t worry if this concept sounds too abstract for the children, especially the younger ones, to fully grasp. Many of the ideas we teach and share in our workshops may be too big or too deep for children to understand on an intellectual level. But, these same ideas will often be intuited in a way that surprises us and they will be remembered as lessons of faith that children will draw on later in life, when they can more fully grasp the true meaning. The message and meaning of the Magnificat is timeless in more ways than one! Thank you to our Unit Three Sunday School teachers: Will Dennis, Kathy Reitz, Tom Roper, Lindsay Sanford, and David Wall. Children’s Chapel will be held on Sunday, December 21. At the end of each four-week unit the children will attend Children’s Chapel, which will be held from 9:4511am in the Chapel. Children will worship together and are encouraged to participate. If your child would like to read a prayer, play a musical instrument, or lead a hymn, please contact Geneva Steck. This month the children are learning about the Magnificat. On Sunday, December 21, the 10am worship service will include the Magnificat. Parents, please discuss with your children whether they would like to remain in worship with you to experience worship with the “Magnificat” or attend children’s chapel. Children’s Choir: The Kindergarten through Fifth Grade children’s choir will be singing in worship on Sunday, December 14. If your child would like to participate and is not enrolled in the Logos program please have your child attend choir rehearsals held on Wednesday, December 3 and 10 from 5:00-6:00pm in the Chapel. Calling All Parents The Children’s Ministries Team would like to invite you to an open conversation regarding the current and future children’s programs at PCOL. The next conversation will be held in the Lounge on December 21 following worship. This is Your Children’s Ministries: How can we be most faithful to our children? Please help us brainstorm ways in which we can best meet the spiritual needs of our young families. No idea is too big or too small: • • • • Family retreat Sunday school during WiNK Vacation Bible School Weekday programming Please contact Robyn Campbell if childcare is needed. LOGOS 2014-2015 Theme: Stories of the Bible! LOGOS is a midweek enrichment program for children ages three through grade five. Each week the children will have the opportunity to build positive relationships with their peers, youth, and adults in the congregation and nurture their relationship with God through Music, Playtime, Art, Family dinner hour, and Bible study. December Schedule • December 3 Advent: We will spread cheer to PCOL friends at home with cards. • December 10 Advent Worship Service and Christmas Banquet: Come celebrate with our LOGOS families. LOGOS children to arrive at 5:00pm. A worship service for Logos families will begin at 5:30pm in the Meetinghouse. A buffet dinner will be served following worship. The evening will conclude with Christmas Carols around the Mitten Tree. • Wednesday, January 7, 2015 LOGOS Resumes: The theme will be Happy New Year! Mission News • • • • • • Sunday, November 30: Pageant rehearsal following worship in the Chapel Monday, December 1: Children’s Ministries Team will meet at 7pm in the Computer Lab. Sunday, December 7: Pageant rehearsal following worship in the Chapel. Sunday, December 14: Pageant rehearsal following worship in the Chapel. Sunday, December 21: Children’s Chapel will begin at 9:45am in the Chapel. Sunday, December 21: Final Pageant rehearsal in the Meetinghouse following worship. The Story of the Mitten Tree More than 15 years ago, Chic Clowes, a long-time member, donated a Christmas tree to the church. With the help of John Burke, they cut down a tree from Chic’s yard and hauled it over to the church. Over the years, Chic donated many trees and delivered them with the help of John Burke. The children and the congregation decorated the tree with mittens, hats, gloves, and scarves. These items were then donated to local children in need. As time passed, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, children from Temple Micah, and the Preschool children “decorated” the tree with donations, too. After Chic’s passing, his family wanted to do something to honor Chic and his generous spirit. They decided to donate the “mitten tree” each year. We give thanks to Chic for his generous spirit, and we give thanks to Chic’s daughter, Norma Fish, and to his grandson, Ken, for keeping Chic’s tradition alive. The children have made a real connection with the spirit of giving thanks to one tree, the Mitten Tree. All of our programs are open to the community. Please feel free to forward information to other families that may be interested in participating. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about any of our programs, please contact Robyn Campbell either by e-mail [email protected] or at the church office, 8961212 x107. During November, the children collected canned and nonperishable food items. All food donations will be distributed through Crisis Ministry. In December, please decorate our Mitten Tree with new mittens, hats, gloves, and scarves! All donations will be delivered to children in need through HomeFront. A few dates to remember • Sunday, November 23: Pageant registration following worship. The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville Institute GPS Christian Living Advent Classes Fall/Winter 2014 November 30 and December 7 “Profiles of Faith: Joseph and Mary A Perspective from Film” with Jordan Loewen December 14 Bach’s Magnificat with Jim Moyer *OQSFQBSBUJPOGPSIFBSJOH JOXPSTIJQPO%FD BNJOUIF-PVOHF $IJMEDBSFQSPWJEFE pc o l I N h A I T I The trip to Haiti for the dedication of the new sanctuary in Port-au-Prince has been postponed until all the work on the new church can be completed. Work on the new church is progressing; the balcony and half of the main floor of the sanctuary has been tiled. The windows and doors are in and most of the electrical work has been completed. The front of the sanctuary is still under construction. Pastor Luc has set a new goal for the completion and the dedication for Sunday, April 12. We will learn more when Pastor Luc is in Miami in December and after the Pinnacle Church trip in January. One thing that will slow down the completion of the sanctuary is the purchase of the pew benches. Pastor Luc estimates that he needs to purchase 145 benches at approximately $350 each. Combined these benches will hold thousands of worshippers. A small plaque with your name or the name of the person you want to remember will be added to a bench. If you are interested in purchasing a bench, please contact Robyn Campbell ([email protected]) or Ann Wiley at ([email protected]) or call the church office at 609896-1212. Inset: Tyler, Maia and Julianne Hughes, Aaron Wright in Haiti News & Notes Peace Islands Institute Film Showing Thursday, December 4, 7pm Princeton University For 5 years we have enjoyed 3-faith gatherings with Turkish friends from the Peace Islands Institute (PII) as we have sought deeper understandings of Judaism and Islam and their relationship to our own Christian faith. Now we have an unusual opportunity to “meet” the dynamic and influential spiritual leader of PII, Fethullah Gulen, in a documentary of his life that will be shown at Princeton University on Thursday, December 4. This film will show why our PII friends insist that the Muslim faith need not be incompatible with the modern world in which women are afforded the same opportunities as men, education is highly prized and peaceful coexistence is a central goal. A group from the church will meet to travel together at 5:15 pm to attend the reception before the film showing at 7:00pm. New and Exciting This Year from the Preschool Please join us at the Thanksgiving Farmer’s Market and Bake Sale, organized by the LPP Fundraising Committee. Many thanks to our own LPP family Chris Thern and Matt Conver of Cherry Grove Organic Farm for helping to make this event possible through donating their produce and encouraging other local farms to contribute vegetables and fruits for your Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh produce and baked goods will be available on Tuesday, November 25, noon through 6:30pm in the PCOL Fellowship Center. Proceeds will benefit two causes: Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) and a new LPP Scholarship Fund. Afternoon events will include music and children’s crafts. • • • 12:30pm: Music Together Family Singalong 2:30pm: Riverside Bluegrass Band 4:30pm: Singalong Pete Bring a nonperishable food item to donate to TASK, and be entered in a drawing for local business coupons. Meanwhile, daily activities in our preschool will include Christmas festivities, our learning through blocks initiative, and Music Together. The focus for December will be on giving gifts. Children will be creating gifts for each other, making secret surprises, and making holiday crafts. Our Christmas Program in the meetinghouse, will be held on December 18, when Pastor Jeff Vamos will share a nativity story with the Ducklings, Chickadees, and Owls. Parents are invited. Classroom parties will be held on December 19. During December, Rabbi Vicki will join the classes to talk about Hanukkah. On behalf of the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Preschool, we wish all our families a blessed Christmas. Holiday Decorations for the Meetinghouse The holiday decorations are being paid for by the Christmas Flower Fund. If you would like to contribute, a small donation from each of us will cover the cost. Look for the donation envelopes in the pews or send a check to the church office with (“C. F. F.” in the memo line). Please note: Names of donors will not be listed in the Order of Worship. Composting Composting plans are in the works at the church. We want to be a leader in efforts to promote sustainability and good ecological practices. To that end, the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville has signed on with the township as a participant in the composting effort that will begin once 300 residents/businesses have registered. We will start in a limited way—collecting compostable organic materials on Sunday mornings and at our LOGOS program. Our hope is that we will expand the program as time goes by. For now, all the church’s disposable dinnerware, including utensils, cups, plates, etc. are made of compostable material and will be collected in special containers. These organic materials—things like food, paper products, weeds, anything that once lived—will be collected once a week by the township and taken to a special facility to turn into usable soil. These efforts will remove 20-30% of the trash in the township, keeping it out of landfills; help create usable soil in our gardens and on our farms; and decrease much of the methane gas produced when the organic waste decays over time. If you are a Lawrence Township resident and would like to join this program, please go to Lawrencetwp.com for more information or call 609-587-1894. There are also brochures explaining the program on the information tables in the hallway of the church. The cost is minimal and the gain is great! Christmas Cards This season, consider sending a Christmas card to PCOL’s friends at home and far away: Rocco Chiaradia, 21 Greenwood Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Karen Clarke, 709 Harding Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Bill Coleman, Apt. E-106, 1382 Newtown- Langhorne Rd., Newtown, PA 18940 Edith Darling, Woolman 44, 1382 Newtown- Langhorne Rd., Newtown, PA 18940 Jennie Denow, c/o D’Annunzio, 2994 Golden Eagle Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32312 Len DiDonato, 2 Tall Timbers Dr., Princeton, NJ 08540 Bill Driver, 13 White Beech Dr., Trenton, NJ 08618 Wayne and Gail Edwards, 20 Merion Pl., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Don Field, 101 Denow Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Ruth Gilman, Apt. I-103, 900 Hollinshead Spring Rd., Skillman, NJ 08558 June Hansen, 30 Trafalgar Ct., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Hank Hoffman, Brandywine Senior Living at Sycamore, 5 Meridian Way, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 Charlie Hullfish, 844 Waterside Ln., Bradenton, FL 34209 Charles Hunt, 29 Cuyler Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540 Florence Hurley, 161 Carter Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540 Louise Klockner, 87 Federal City Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Gloria Longhi, 548 N. Main St., Apt. 311, Ashland, OR 97520 Carol Loser, 290 E. Winchester Ave., #434, Langhorne, PA 19047 Ruth and Bob Predhome, 5113 Bramble Ct., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 10 Pastor Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Vamos ([email protected]) Associate Pastor for Congregational Life Rev. Dr. Louise Johnson ([email protected]) Associate Pastor for Youth, Young Adult, and Worship Ministries Rev. Matthew Pigman ([email protected]) Associate for Pastoral Care Ministries Jill Cifelli ([email protected]) Director of Music James D. Moyer ([email protected]) Organist David Hogue ([email protected]) Director of Children’s Ministries Robyn Campbell ([email protected]) Nursery Childcare Provider: Cara Taylor Church Administrator Jeanne Aicher ([email protected]) Edna Ranke, 1015 Whitehead Rd., Apt. 212, Ewing, NJ 08638 Marian Reading, 62 Titus Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Virginia Rosenthal, 105 Horsestable Ct., Mooresville, NC 28115 Muriel Schafer, 15 Matt Hoxie Trail, Plymouth, MA 02360 Joan and Nick Semenuk, 146 Bluff Rd., Yarmouth, ME 04096 Kay Smith, 201 Crosswicks St. #M211, Bordentown, NJ 08505 Ruth Smith, Apt. J-208, 1382 Newtown- Langhorne Rd., Newtown, PA 18940 Claire Stuebben, 34 Merion Pl., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Barbara Tucker, Heritage Assisted Living, Room D211, Route 206, Hammonton, NJ 08037 Charles Vanderbilt, 128 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Peg Waldron, 5 Green Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Dick Will, 14106 Anns Choice Way, Warminster, PA 18974 Kay Yoder, 100 Hollinshead Spring Rd., Apt. B- 104, Skillman, NJ 08558 Home Communion On Sundays when we celebrate communion in morning worship, elders and deacons are interested in sharing the sacrament of communion with members in their home. We visit after worship in teams of two for about a half hour. The next date for communion during our Sunday morning worship service is November 30th, Advent Communion Sunday. Contact Jill Cifelli for more information or to let us know you’d like us to come share communion with you on November 30th. 896-1212, x. 103 or [email protected]. Stay in Touch! Would you like to be on our eNews list for weekly emails? Get info about our Men’s Ministry events? Receive the monthly newsletter by email? Sign up for any of these lists at our website, www.pclawrenceville.org. You can also find us on twitter@pclawrenceville. Office Manager Beverly Mills ([email protected]) Communications Coordinator Aaron Sizer ([email protected]) Administrative Assistant Ruth Conover ([email protected]) LPP Executive Director Alison Young ([email protected]) Office Volunteer: Linda Myers Mission Publicity and Volunteer Coordinator: Jan Everett Custodian: Victor Rosado Parish Associate: Dr. Thomas Baker Visiting Parish Associate: Rev. Robyn Whitaker Mission Affiliate: Pastor Luc Deratus MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, Fall 2014 WALT BITNER 209 Mountain Road Ringoes, NJ 08551 609-309-5193 [email protected] I was raised in Ascension Lutheran Church in Haddon Heights, NJ. I was a teacher in Ewing Township public schools for 40 years. I coached football, basketball and baseball at Ewing High School. I am married with two adult daughters and two granddaughters. ChERyL CuRBIshLEy 42 Birchwood Knoll Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609-882-3828 [email protected] I am a New Jersey native who grew up in Hunterdon and Warren county but have lived in the Lawrenceville area for the past 2 decades. I am a mom to two teenagers, Gwyneth (17) and Tristan (13) and have been married to my loving husband, Tom for 22 years. I was a public school teacher and took time off to raise our children. For the past 8 years I have been working part time in the fitness industry at PEAC Health and Fitness as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. In my spare time I enjoy, among many things, the outdoors, scrapbooking, volunteering and my newest hobby, quilting. If you ever see me running on the Lawrence Hopewell trail with our dog, Bristol, a wheaten terrier mix, be sure to say “hello!” NoRmAN KIm-sENIoR PO Box 6763, 2500 Main Street Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 804-301-9073 [email protected] I am from Jamaica. I did most of my education there until I left to go to an international school in Wales for two years. After that, I came to the US to study at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, where I also met Tran. fI also have a masters in Spanish from Middlebury College. I have two kids (Amaya and Damani) and three sisters. The majority of my family is in Jamaica, so Tran, her dad, and my kids are the centerpiece of my world over here in the US. For my job, I teach Spanish at the Lawrenceville School, and I am the housemaster of the Griswold House. In general, I love to learn and I would love to sing as confidently as my wife does, but that´s likely to take a lifetime. In the meantime, I enjoy reading, watching TV, playing most sports, and I am still fascinated by economics, particularly development economics, community development and finance. Of course, it should go without saying that I love speaking Spanish, travelling to Spanish speaking countries and learning the various dances from these cultures. Well, that’s enough of that for now! Cheers. and then moved to Greater NY State upon graduation where I worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative before making the decision to go back to graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. I completed my degree at Seton Hall University and lived in North Jersey, where I met my husband, Kevin, an elementary school teacher. We moved to Lawrenceville approximately 1.5 yrs ago and currently reside there with our precious son Max, born 12/12/13, baptized in September at this church. We enjoy anything outdoors, whether beach or mountains, and our free time has been spent with Max, enjoying watching him grow and learn more every day. I am excited to join the church community and build new and lasting relationships within the congregation! CARmEN VALENTIN 1 Village Court Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 862-290-1564 [email protected] I was born and raised in Brookyn, NY and then moved to Passaic Park, NJ with my two children. After meeting my second husband there, we had three other children and raised seven of them (including two of my second husband’s). I’m divorced now after thirty years and had moved to Skillman. I was offered a job to do live in care of an autistic person. They are a beautiful family and bought a house locally where I care for him. I believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for us. I have church in my heart. It is a plus if I can be a member of the church, continue growing in Christ and share the love with brothers and sisters in Christ. ThE WhITTAKERs (ELIzA, WILL, TAggART ANd LANCE) 26 Elm Ridge Road Pennington, NJ 08534 609-737-3041 [email protected] The Whittakers are really happy to be returning to the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. We are really enjoying our life in Hopewell and are amazed at how time is flying by. Taggart is 20 years old and a junior at Gettysburg College. He is majoring in Economics and Business. I think it is demanding but he is finding time to enjoy his fraternity and is also playing on the hockey team. Lance is 18 and is a senior at Hopewell Valley High School. He is busy with his college search right now, but will be captain of the golf team this spring. Will is VP of sales at FLW Wood Products which is a family business. He enjoys golf and getting into projects around the house. I am a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and enjoy supporting people in improving their diet and making changes in their lifestyles. I also love to get exercise, cook and read. We are looking forward to reconnecting with our old friends and meeting new friends. Thanks so much for welcoming us back with such warmth. sARAh PfLugE 101 Cold Soil Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 610-909-0848 [email protected] I was born and raised in Downingtown, PA. I attended the University of Delaware 11 Advent dAily devotionAl: “encountering Jesus” “Encountering Jesus” is a daily devotional written by congregation members. Subscribe or obtain an electronic copy via our website, pclawrenceville.org, or obtain a hard copy by calling or visiting our church office. Advent Potluck dinner Sunday, November 30 5:30 -7:30 pm in the Fellowship Center Join us for this traditional gathering of our church family! Contact Jill Cifelli (609.896.1212, [email protected]). institute for christiAn living (Adult educAtion) “Profiles of Faith: Joseph and Mary–A Perspective from Film” Sundays, November 30 and December 7 11:30 am in the Lounge, childcare provided. “Introducing Bach’s Magnificat” with Jim Moyer Sunday, December 14 11:30 am in the Lounge, childcare provided. Mission Boutique And PoinsettiA sAle November 30, December 7, and December 14 11:00 am in the Fellowship Center PCOL’s crafting group will have a wonderful variety of handmade articles for sale; poinsettias will also be available for purchase at the boutique. christMAs PAgeAnt Christmas Eve at 4 pm in the Meetinghouse All children Pre-K through Grade 8 are encouraged to participate in the pageant. Contact Robyn Campbell for more information (609896-1212 x107, rcampbell@pclawrenceville. org). christMAs eve youth cinnAMon BreAd sAle A group of our youth from PCOL will be taking a spiritual pilgrimage to Taizé, France this June. Please support the spiritual enrichment of our youth by purchasing some delicious cinnamon bread following our Christmas Eve services for your family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy! A Service of LeSSonS And ceLtic cAroLS Sunday, December 7 at 10:00 am Begun Christmas Eve 1918 at King’s College Cambridge, England, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is possibly the best-known Christmas service in the Western World. Our Service of Lessons and Carols will celebrate the Advent season with readings, prayers, carols and anthems sung by the PCOL Concertsingers and guest musicians, featuring music in the Celtic style. Organ, bagpipes, drums, guitar, fiddle, tin whistle, bodhran, and more! Music of Advent and Christmas The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville 12 WorShip With chiLdren’S choir Sunday, December 14 at 10:00 am The Children’s Choir will be singing in worship on Sunday, December 14. If your child would like to participate and is not enrolled in the LOGOS program, please have him or her attend choir rehearsals on Wednesday, December 3 and 10, from 5-6 pm in the Chapel. JohAnn SebAStiAn bAch “MAgnificAt” in d Sunday, December 21 During morning worship, 10 am Bach’s first large-scale composition, written in 1723, is an exhilarating and innovative ride through swift contrasts, alive with freshness christmas and Advent events 2014 the Presbyterian church of lawrenceville 2688 Main St., Lawrenceville 609.896.1212 www.pclawrenceville.org and vitality, conveying Mary’s youthfulness in light of her profound task. Please join us in worship on Sunday, December 21 as the PCOL Concertsingers, guest soloists, and orchestra present the “Magnificat.” WorShip in A neW Key: bLue chriStMAS Service Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm in the Chapel This is a special service designed to seek hope and light during the Advent season, when hope may not be easy to find due to a loss, a grief or a sadness that we carry. The service will include blues music from the Lament Bros. Blues Band, testimonies, and prayer. Please join us! chriStMAS eve ServiceS Wednesday, December 24 4:00 pm christmas pageant 8:00 pm festival Service with Adult Choir singing and candle lighting. Receptions to follow both services. chriStMAS SundAy ceLebrAtion of cAroLS December 28 at 10:00 am Come sing and learn about some familiar and new Christmas hymns as we gather for worship this morning. No sermon. DECEMBER 2014 The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville MON 1 10:00 7:00 7:00 TUE 2 3:00 7:00 HomeFront cooking Personnel WED 3 5:00 5:30 7:00 7:30 7:30 LOGOS Junior Highs Worship Committee Open Door Peacemaking 1:30 7:00 Deborah Circle Concertsingers THU 4 Create & Relate Children’s Ministries Team LPP Junior Highs to Johnsonburg FRI 5 11:15 11:15 11:30 5:00 6:30 Pageant Rehearsal Strategic Focus Group ICL WiNK Senior Highs Christmas Party MON 15 10:00 6:45 Create & Relate Adult Ed Committee TUE 16 HomeFront cooking 3:00 WED 17 7:00 Session THU 18 9:00 1:30 7:00 LPP Christmas Program Deborah Circle Concertsingers SAT 20 Men’s Bible Study 9:00 SAT 6 9:00 Men’s Bible Study SUN 7 9:45 SUN 21 9:45 11:00 11:00 11:15 11:30 5:00 6:30 Nursery & Toddler Care, Preschool Sunday School Worship, Lessons and Celtic music, Sunday School (K-Gr. 5) Stewardship Mission Boutique Pageant Rehearsal ICL WiNK Senior Highs MON 22 10:00 Create & Relate 10:00 7:00 7:30 January Newsletter deadline Create & Relate Deacons Buildings and Grounds Committee TUE 23 Haiti Task Force Youth Baking Mission Committee 7:00 WoW 10:00 MON 8 TUES 9 WED 10 5:00 7:00 LOGOS banquet Trustees THU 11 7:00 Choir FRI 12 TASK Junior High Christmas Party 10:00 5:30 SUN 14 9:45 10:00 11:00 11:00 7:30 Concertsingers Nursery & Toddler Care, Preschool Sunday School Worship, Children sing in Worship, Sunday School (K-Gr. 5) Angel Tree gifts due Mission Boutique 10:00 11:00 11:15 5:00 7:30 1:00 7:30 Nursery & Toddler Care, Preschool Sunday School, Children’s Chapel Worship, Bach Magnificat, Joy Offering Children’s Ministries Conversation Pageant Final Rehearsal Blue WiNK WED 24 4:00 Christmas Eve service with Pageant, cinnamon bread bake sale 8:00 Festival service with adult choir, cinnamon bread bake sale THU 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! SUN 28 9:45 10:00 2:30 MON 29 10:00 Nursery & Toddler Care, Preschool Sunday School Worship, Carol Sing Lawrenceville Nursing Home Create & Relate Please note times in italics are p.m. 13 The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville 2688 Main Street Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Return Service Requested BACH . "( / * ' * $"5 DzF1SFTCZUFSJBO$IVSDI PG-BXSFODFWJMMF$PODFSUTJOHFST +BNFT.PZFS%JSFDUPS DECEMBER 21, 2014 JONPSOJOHXPSTIJQBN The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville 2688 Main St., Lawrenceville 14 Non-Profit Organization U. S. POSTAGE PAID PRINCETON, N. J. Permit No. 421