Tower Newsletter - April 2016 - Springfield Presbyterian Church

THE TOWER
First Presbyterian Church
37 Church Mall
Springfield, NJ 07081
www.SpringfieldPresbyterian.com
VOL. 68 NO. 08
APRIL 2016
DUTCH TREAT MOVIE OUTING – THURSDAY, MARCH 31ST -1:15PM
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is based on the incredible true story
of the Beam family. When Christy (Jennifer Garner) discovers
her 10-year-old daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers) has a rare,
incurable disease, she becomes a ferocious advocate for her
daughter's healing as she searches for a solution. After Anna
has a freak accident and falls three stories, a miracle unfolds in
the wake of her dramatic rescue that leaves medical specialists
mystified, her family restored and their community inspired.
Pastor Vicky invites members and friends to watch “Miracles from Heaven”
together at the Mountainside 10 Loews Theater on Route 22 East on Thursday,
March 31st.
If you need a ride to the theater, there are drivers available. Please call the
office no later than noon on Wednesday, March 30th to request a ride. Otherwise,
please arrive in the lobby at 1:15pm on Thursday, March 31st so that we can get
seats together.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SPRINGFIELD
OUTREACH COMMITTEE PRESENTS:
Spring Bus Trip
Thursday, April 14, 2016
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
$90.00 pp
We’re Going to the New York Botanical Gardens to
see "Orchidelirium"
We will take a tram tour of the gorgeous orchids.
(little or no walking)
…Then to Fraunce's Tavern and Museum
Lunch
Appetizer: Choice of Chowder of the Day or Field Green Salad
Entrée:
Choice of Chicken Salad Sandwich or rib-Eye Steak Sandwich
Dessert:
Brownies with whipped cream (includes coffee, tea, or soda)
On to the Fraunce Museum for a self-guided tour
See the John Ward Dunsmore Gallery with
the famous "Give 'em Watts, Boys" painting
and other Revolutionary War paintings and
the room where George Washington bid
farewell to his officers after the war.
Please remit with the form below to First Presbyterian Church Of Springfield
37 church mall, springfield, nj 07081
Please put “bus trip” in the memo
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name:_________________________________________________________________________
Address/phone_________________________________________________________________
Cell phone # for day of trip__________________________________________________
Check amount enclosed $___________________
A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR
“I will lift` up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV)
Someone once said that cares (problems) are God’s chariots, sent to take us to
high places of triumph. But most of the time, these cares, these difficulties or
problems, look like enemies that are ready to crush us.
Many of us have seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way of our lives.
But if you look at them through God’s eyes, you might see God lifting you above
the “insurmountable.”
Take a look at some very famous people who seemed to have “insurmountable”
obstacles in their lives:
Ludwig van Beethoven—He was born to an alcoholic father and chronically
depressed mother. He became a master musician and composer, and he composed
many of his greatest works after he became deaf.
Sir Walter Scott (Scottish novelist and poet)—He was crippled. His work as a
translator, editor, biographer, and critic, together with his novels and poems, made
him one of the most prominent figures in English romanticism.
Albert Einstein—As a child, he was labeled a slow learner, possibly retarded,
and was written off as incapable of being educated. He went on to win the Nobel
Prize in physics for originating the theory of relativity. He was a true genius.
Now, how about you? Are there obstacles in your life that you need you to
turn over to God? That’s what the new life of Resurrection is all about. God had
the power to raise Jesus from the dead, and he has the power to give us new life
right now! We can’t live the life God intended if we’re full of fear and anxiety and
anger. Those kinds of things block us from the grace and power God wants to give
us. Why not pray about them and turn them over to God? Keep in mind the
following quote from Hannah Whitall Smith:
“This is the prayer we need to pray for ourselves and one another:
Lord, open our eyes that we may see.
For all the world around us is full of God’s horses and chariots,
Waiting to carry us to places of glorious victory!”
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Vicky
APRIL 2015
7th – Rodney Shinners
13th - Doreen DeRenzo
15th - Russell Helsel
16th - Ernestine Gierman
23rd - Jean Zabelski
24th - Douglas Leite
26th - Gladys Reed and Beatrice Roth
27th - Walter Ivankow
28th - Thomas Clark and Emily Goldberg
29th - Carissa Clark
30th – Millie Huska and Richard Ney
WE ARE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAYS OF ALL OUR CHURCH FAMILY! IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS
NOT INCLUDED IN OUR BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AND PROVIDE MONTH
AND DAY, AND WE’LL ADD YOU TO OUR LIST
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The April PW meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20th at
1:00pm in the Parish House. The program, “What it Means to be a
Presbyterian Woman”, will be presented by Mary Pat Deane.
Any member who has not already paid her dues, should do so at this meeting.
Payment for the May 18th trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse is due. ($54pp) If you
have any questions or are interested in going on this trip and have not already signed up,
please speak with Barbara Spital. The trip is open to all members and friends of the church.
All members are encouraged to attend this last regular meeting of the season, at
which we will be making decisions on plans for the Fall.
Interested in joining the Presbyterian Women’s group? Please speak to Gloria
Southward, President.
SPECIAL (AND MANY) THANKS:

To Lisa Guida and all the helpers (including members of our Youth Group) who
made our Easter Craft and Parents’ Night Out a wonderful event for the children on
March 11.

To all the individual church groups who made our soup and helped prepare for our
Lenten suppers and Bible Study.

To our wonderful Music Director Liliya Khobotkova, our choir, our soloists, and
members of the brass ensemble that brought us heavenly music for both Holy
Thursday and Easter.
LUNCH AND A MOVIE
Come one! Come all! If you haven’t been to one of our popular
Lunch and Movie afternoons lately, you’re missing a great time! The
food is excellent (the Outreach Committee is loaded with great cooks!)
and the fellowship with friendly folks couldn’t be better. So what are you
waiting for?
Join us on Wednesday, April 13th at noon in the newly renovated
Parish House auditorium for a terrific lunch and a fantastic, riveting
movie. The movie will be “Spotlight,” starring Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo. The film
follows The Boston Globe’s “Spotlight" team, the oldest investigative journalist unit in the
United States, and their investigation into cases of widespread child sex abuse in the
Boston area by numerous priests. It is based on a series of stories by the actual Spotlight
Team that earned The Globe the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. This movie won
Oscars for Best Picture of the Year and Best Screen Play this past February.
As always, church members, friends, and neighbors are invited. Please call the
church office (973) 379-4320) so that the Outreach Committee will be able to prepare
sufficient food.
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Last month, our “Ask the Pastor” program was well
received and it was very successful. We were able to
explore many topics related to our Presbyterian heritage as well as where some of the
present worship practices originated.
In April, we are having representativea from the Shriners’ branch of the Masons as
our presenters. This organization works in many areas providing help to children who are in
need of medical assistance. As part of their fundraising activities, they participate in and/or
sponsor parades, sporting events, and other forms of entertainment. In fact, at least one of
our guests acts as a clown in at least one of their productions.
Please put April 9th at 9:30am in the Parish House Conference Room on your
calendar. This should be a fun and informative meeting. All men of the church and
community are cordially invited.
YOUTH GROUP
Hey everyone! We’re planning a movie night in April around school vacation
time. Mrs. Guida will be texting details to all of you. Hope to see you then!
Lent was filled with activities to prepare body, mind and soul.
From Soup & Bread Suppers, to Bible Study, to Easter crafts
and Children’s sermons, to the background work in the office –
something for everyone to help prepare for Easter!
(clockwise: May Smith, Russ Werner and Linda Amiano prepare the palms
for distribution in church; Pastor Vicky presents the Lenten Bible Study
after the Soup and Bread Supper; Samantha Werner sings a solo during
the Palm Sunday worship service; “Time with the Children” portion of the
worship service is enjoyed by one and all.)
The Easter crafts were a hit thanks to the help of our teen and senior helpers.
(photos courtesy of Cathy Gleicher)
Pastor Vicky presented a program to the
Men’s Fellowship in March about the
theological differences of various
religions. (photo by Don Rathjens)
THE FIRST CONGREGATION OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT SPRINGFIELD
37 CHURCH MALL
SPRINGFIELD, NJ 07081
Place
Stamp
here
PLACE ADDRESS
LABEL HERE
Dates to Remember:
Sunday, May 1st Honoring our 50+ year members
Sunday, June 5th Honoring our graduates and awarding our
2016-2017 Scholarships
Monday-Wednesday, June 27-29, Vacation Bible Camp in the Parish House.