APRIL 2015 - First Presbyterian Church, Hackettstown, New Jersey
Transcription
APRIL 2015 - First Presbyterian Church, Hackettstown, New Jersey
LIGHT FROM THE STEEPLE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 298 MAIN STREET, HACKETTSTOWN, NJ 07840 OFFICE: 908-852-4011 e-mail: [email protected] FAX: 908-852-4976 Church website: http://www.fpchackettstown.org REV. BIRDA BUZAN FERGUSON Barbara DeBoer, Newsletter Editor APRIL 2015 Pastor: Rev. Birda Ferguson Choir Director/Organist: Lorinda Ravo Treasurer: Al Ravo Financial Secretary: Deborah Gulick Shepherd Church Secretary: Head Usher: Lyman M. Gulick Sexton: John Mark Wojcicki THE SESSION Clerk: Sandra Sentner Class of ’15: Carl Erickson John Mark Wojcicki Peg Russack Brian Ligarzewski Class of ’16: Dan Gardner Donald Luques Pam Covert Ryan Van Orden Class of ’17: Diane Hull Jim Butts Ron Heil Grace Clegg BOARD OF DEACONS Moderator: Lorinda Ravo Vice-Moderator: Barbara DeBoer Corresponding Secretary: Barbara DeBoer Recording Secretary: Donna Erickson Treasurer: Brenda Neice Class of ’15: Brenda Neice Donna Erickson Lorinda Ravo Cynthia Luques Class of ’16: Kim Newton Barbara DeBoer Haeja Kim Charles Lee Class of ’17: Alisa Dartnell Sharon Heil Patricia Butts Nicole Keane HEAVEN SENT NURSERY SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Office: 852-2006 Alisa Dartnell Pam Venturini Ginny Plumbo Kim Ligarzewski Dear Friends in Christ, My family knows I often cry at sweet or touching movies, TV programs, or commercials. My church family knows I sometimes cry during worship when telling a story, or singing a hymn. As a member of the Adult Choir, I can attest that sometimes the message expressed in the words of the anthems and cantatas are so powerful it’s difficult for many of us to sing! Now that Holy Week is upon us and Easter is very near, the colors, symbols, words, and music all tell the powerful and touching story of what God was willing to do through Jesus to reveal the depth of God’s love. I urge you to be part of our worshiping community as we share the Lord’s Supper and the drama of the Tenebrae on Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. Members of the Confirmation Class will participate and the Tone Chime Choir and Adult Choir will offer music to set the mood of the last day of Jesus’ life. Easter Sunday, you are invited to our community-wide, very early Sunrise Service at Alumni Field at 6 a.m. Wear warm clothing, bring a blanket to sit on, and a lamp or flashlight to light your way. We’ll sing, pray, and listen to the words of surprise and delight as the disciples discovered the tomb was empty! Our sanctuary will be fragrant with the blossoms of dozens of Spring flowers as we celebrate the Resurrection at 10 a.m. Bring your family, neighbors, and friends to hear and sing the greatest story of hope and new life ever told! I am grateful for the love you have shared with me the last few weeks when my husband was hospitalized. I can never thank you enough for your support and expressions of concern and care. I’m so happy to be a part of this faith family as we celebrate the Good News that God’s love is victorious in the face of sin and death. Alleluia! Birda Ferguson, pastor GOD’S LOVE ENDURES FOREVER Please keep the following individuals and families in your prayers. Diane Hull, whose uncle recently died in Georgia. Kim Newton, whose father died in Florida and the Del Plato family,. Chris’ mother died in March. Keep the Fryauff family in your prayers as we remember Robert Fryauff, who died in March. May God’s love surround you with hope and peace in the Resurrection faith. LISTEN TO SERMONS AND ANTHEMS Thanks to our new sound system purchased by the Deacons a few years ago, Sunday services in the sanctuary are now recorded. These recordings allow shut-ins or members who missed the service to listen to the sermons and musical anthems. There are 2 ways you can listen to the recordings: 1. On the Library page of the church website, www.fpchackettstown.org, you can find the sermons and anthems of recent months. 2. CDs are available for shut-ins or others without access to the internet, or for our friends of the congregation who would like a permanent recording that they can listen to when and where they want. Available music CDs that feature the choirs and the FPC Ringers: - Anthems from January through June 2013. Anthems from September through December 2013. Anthems from January through June 2014. Cantatas from December 2013, May 2014 and December 2014. CDs of sermons are available by requesting the specific service(s) you would like. CDs can be requested by emailing Al Ravo at [email protected] or mailing a request to the attention of Al Ravo at First Presbyterian Church, 298 Main Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey, 07840. When requesting a CD, please provide the address where the CD is to be mailed along with the specific sermons or music anthems you want. APRIL GREETERS 2 Apr Maundy Thursday 5 Apr Easter Carol and HermanGranitzski Maria Koskulics - Back Door Russ Read - Front Door 12 Apr Cynthia and Donald Luques 19 Apr 26 Apr Jen and Owen Cooper - Back Door Sandy Lindstedt - Front Door Pat and Jim Butts FISHING AND CHILI Saturday, April 4th, the fishermen of the Hackettstown are invited to enjoy a hot bowl of chili after a morning of the first day of trout fishing! You don’t have to be a fisherman or woman to enjoy this chili! Just come to our Chapel between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a bowl of hot chili--$5. The proceeds will support the Appalachian Service Project, assisting people in need in Tennessee in the summer of 2015. ANNUAL FISH & CHIPS DINNER Our church will hold its annual Fish & Chips dinner on Friday, April 24, 2015, at our Chapel Building. The dinner is open to church members and the general public. The meal will include the fish and chips (French fries) provided by Tastefully British, homemade coleslaw, green beans, applesauce, bread & butter, beverages and dessert. Sit down meals and take-out orders will be served between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $14.00 for adults and $8.00 for children under age 12. This is a church sponsored event being coordinated by our Dinner Planning Team. Tickets will be sold after worship at the church parking lot entrance by Dinner Team members, or you can contact Vicky Lee (813-3418) or Barbara Yankiv (852-3025). In order to make this a successful event, we need your help! Please let us know if you can: provide baked goods for the desserts; buy and sell tickets; assist with set up; serve and/or clean up afterwards. We anticipate that the Boy Scouts will once again provide their services at the dinner. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy good food and fellowship, so bring a few friends and neighbors along! Part of the proceeds will be designated as our church’s annual contribution to the Presbytery to assist with the mission work of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The remaining funds will be used for church purposes as decided by the Session. FEBRUARY 2015 FINANCIAL $NAPSHOT The Expenses Paid and Income amounts below do not include the funds transferred from the Endowment to meet the operating expenses. Income Expenses Paid Net Operating Income / (Deficit) Amount Needed from Endowment February $10,324.06 $17,591.24 ($7,267.18) Year To Date $24,840.33 $32,657.41 ($7,817.08) $7,500.00 $7,500.00 The 2015 Per Capita is $33.00 for each of the 238 members of our Church. The total amount due in 2015 is $7,854.00 or $654.50 monthly. Four quarterly payments of $1,963.50 will be made to the Newton Presbytery in March, June, September and December. In February, $579.00 was received for the Per Capita bringing the Year To Date total to $2,419.00 or 31% of the annual amount due. Please contact Al Ravo if you have any questions or would like to discuss Per Capita, the Church’s operating finances or the Endowment Funds. SOCIAL MEDIA AND FPC Social media can be a terrific way to find out what’s happening in your church and the church’s nursery school, especially if you can’t always make it to events, activities, and/or worship services. During the month of March, Facebook had videos of the FPC Ringers Chime Choir performance. There were pictures of the Sunday School in action. There were updates and photos from our Lenten Bible Studies. There were cute and clever cartoons to give you a chuckle, and there were pictures from the past for “Throw Back Thursdays The church website has information about what to expect at worship services. It had reminders of special programs happening. It has information about our congregation and our denomination. Have you checked out either site yet? You’ll want to! Check out these pages that are regularly updated! On Facebook you can find us at First Presbyterian Church of Hackettstown, and on the web at fpchackettstown.org. GLORY TO GOD THE NEWEST PRESBYTERIAN HYMNAL We have been enjoying our new hymnals, Glory to God, since Reformation Sunday last October. The books are filled with songs we know and songs we have yet to learn. The nameplates have been placed into hymnals for those dedications received to date. Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution! There are still a number of hymnals which may be dedicated in memory of, or in celebration of, your family members or friends. The cost to sponsor each hymnal is $15. Please provide the necessary information on the form below. Checks should be made out to First Presbyterian Church and write “new hymnal” on the memo line. Given by:______________________________________________________________________ Number of hymnals _______ Amount enclosed _______ (@ $15.00 each) Dedications: In Memory/Celebration (circle one) of: In Memory/Celebration (circle one) of: __________________________________________________________________________________________ CHOIR NOTES Anthems for the month of April include: April 2: Maundy Thurs Lead Me to Calvary-Sr. Choir Were You There? -FPC Ringers Both our FPC Ringers Chime Choir and our Senior Choir will be providing music for this emotional and beautiful worship service. April 5: Easter Because He Lives-Sr. Choir He Is Alive-Sr. Choir Jesus Shall Reign Our choirs celebrate the joy of the resurrection with beautiful and uplifting music of the season. April 12: Soloist Our choirs take a well-deserved Sunday off after their very busy Lenten season and Holy Week. April 19: SENIOR CHOIR CANTATA This morning, our talented Senior Choir performs their annual Spring Cantata. We present this year’s work in loving memory of Scott Tomlinson who sang in the choir for many years. April 26: Blessed Quietness Today’s anthem brings to the listener a sense of peace and comfort. YOUTH CHOIR NOTES The children in our Youth Choir are enthusiastic, energetic, and filled with joy-filled spirit. In March, they WOWED us when they joined with members of The Grace Notes, singing “His Eye is On The Sparrow” that featured Emily Ligarzewski as the soloist. Choir members rehearse on Thursday evenings from 6:00-6:30 pm for their performances with the Senior Choir during morning worship. If you have a child who loves to sing, they are welcome to join us! For more information, contact Lorinda. FPC RINGERS Our ringers took their show “on the road” in March. The played two pieces during The House of the Good Shepherd’s Sunday afternoon worship service, and received much appreciated feedback from the HOTGS residents. During Holy Week, the chime choir will be playing on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and on Easter morning. You can hear recordings of the Chime Choir performances on both the church’s website and Facebook page. We welcome new ringers, of all ages, at any time! You don’t need to read music to be a ringer, and we’ll help you learn how easy it is to play! If you would like to find out about ringing, come and try it on a Thursday evening at 6:40 pm in the music room. There is no commitment, but we’re pretty sure that you’ll find yourself returning, because ringing is so much fun! CONFIRMATION CLASS NEWS Our confirmation class helped to lead worship during Lent, by serving as readers for the Lenten wreath opening of worship, and by doing readings at the Maundy Thursday service. They’ve been learning more about being Presbyterians, and what makes our denomination different from other denominations in our area, and what we all have in common. They have explored why they believe in God, who their faith role models are, and they’ve met their mentors who are walking through this preparation with them. As they get near the finish line, these remarkable young people are bringing such joy and inspiration to their teachers. We ask our congregation to keep Christopher Bramley, Isabelle Fernandez, Christina Risko, and Morgan Risko, and their mentors Ryan Van Orden, Pam Venturini, Jen Aquino, and Sharon Heil, in your prayers throughout the coming month. TAKE A HIKE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! May 2, 2015, the local chapter of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is holding a fundraiser and awareness walk in Meadow Breeze Park, Washington, NJ. They ask supporters to form a team, fundraise, support a loved one, and celebrate recovery! Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. You can register at WWW.NEDAWALK.ORG/WASHINGTONNJ2015. You can also register in person at the walk. The Opening Ceremony is at 11 a.m. Church member Haley Del Plato has challenged us to form a team to walk together, raise money, and help the organization. For more information, contact Haley at [email protected] or 908-852-5632! Thanks! HEAVEN SENT NURSERY SCHOOL March certainly came in like a lion…but it also went out like a lion! We were surprised to celebrate the first day of spring with a snowstorm! In March, the children learned about St. Patrick’s Day: leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, the Blarney Stone, and learning about the Holy Trinity by using a shamrock were all part of our March lessons. But March this year was also the time when we were getting VERY close to Easter, so we learned about Jesus, the cross, the empty tomb, the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, and spring flowers. Our many and varied art projects made our hallways come alive with color and fun! We are delighted to be welcoming Mrs. Jen Bujno into our classrooms on most days. Jen will be the new director of Heaven Sent when Lorinda retires in June. She is in getting to know our program, our students, and all that she’ll need to know when she assumes her leadership role. Jen will be a wonderful asset to Heaven Sent and we are thrilled to know that Heaven Sent stays in very capable hands! When we return after Easter vacation, our 4 year olds will be learning about community helpers-the jobs in our community, and our 3 year olds will be learning many of the wonderful classics TIME TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS As the warmer weather approaches, (have faith; it will arrive soon.), it is time to clean out all those winter clothes and make room for a new spring / summer wardrobe. Pack up all your unwanted clothes, shoes, linens and stuffed animals in garbage bags and bring them to the Deacons’ Clothing Drive on Saturday May 16th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Church’s parking lot. All the clothing will go to a new home and be reused – it is never shredded. The proceeds from the Clothing Drive go to help the Deacons’ mission work in our local community. Can’t make it on May 16th? No problem, you can drop off your bags beforehand in the garage at your convenience. Thank you for your support! THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE NEWS Tuesday, March 17, 2015, a majority of presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to approve a change in the official definition of marriage in our church’s constitution. Our constitution has now broadened the definition of marriage from being between “a man and a woman” to “two people.” According to an article by Laurie Goodstein in the New York Times, other religious denominations that have officially decided to permit their clergy to perform same-sex marriages include the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the Quakers, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Churches and, in Judaism, the Reform and Conservative movements. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America left it open for individual ministers to decide.” Our own Presbytery of Newton voted in January to approve this amendment. On June 19, 2014, in a letter to all of the churches, the Moderator of the 221st General Assembly (2014) wrote: “Earlier today, the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a recommendation from its Assembly Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues allowing for pastoral discretion to perform ‘any such marriage they believe the Holy Spirit calls them to perform,’ where legal by state law. “They also approved a recommendation to change language in the Book of Order to indicate that ‘marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman.’ Both decisions came with much thought, discussion, and prayer, and clearly the entire body that is the PC(USA) will be interpreting these actions for some time.” If you have any questions about these actions and how they will or will not affect life at First Presbyterian Church in Hackettstown, please ask your pastor, Birda Ferguson. VBS! Yes we know it’s April, and we’re excitedly planning for the third Annual Vacation Bible School at FPC. We’ve had our first planning meeting, and we know that our dates will be July 6-10, and our Theme is “The Miracle Machine!” We’ll be teaching the children about Miracles from the Bible: Feeding the 5,000, Jesus Walking on Water, Jesus Healing the Blind Man, Moses parting the Red Sea, and Jesus helping the first disciples catch nets full of fish. So start spreading the word that we’ll be hosting children that week, and please prayerfully consider teaching a class or helping as a member of our support staff. We can’t do it without LOTS of adult assistance! And we promise, you’ll get more out the week that you give! Watch for information about the next planning meeting! Sharing God’s Bounty - April What’s Your Gift? Perhaps you haven’t spent much time, if any, pondering that question. God has given each of us at least one gift, though, and if even one of us does not use that gift, the Body of Christ suffers. Paul, in Ephesians 4:16 writes, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and build itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Christian stewards tend to have a lower opinion of themselves than they ought, denigrating their abilities and talents and even their financial capabilities. When we keep in mind that it is God himself who has chosen our gifts and blessed us materially, we realize that to belittle these gifts is to question God’s wisdom and generosity. Again we read Paul’s words, now from Romans 12:5, “. . . in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” He goes on to say that whatever our gifts are, we are to use them as effectively as we can. Yes, it is the pastor’s job to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments, but we, as stewards who have received the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19-20, are to be obedient also to Jesus’ command to tell the Good News to the whole world. Yes, there are those in your congregation who seem to have more abilities and talents than you, and there may be members who have more money than you – perhaps may even be very wealthy. Does that exempt you from the responsibility to serve or to give? By no means! In 2 Corinthians 9:7 we’re commanded, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Each one is to give and to give cheerfully – of his time, his talents, and his treasures. God looks at the size of the heart of the giver rather than at the size of his gift. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). If you are not using your gifts, if you are not giving your money, if you are not sharing your time, the Body of Christ suffers. We need each other and our individual gifts in order that we might carry out our responsibilities as stewards to the end that the name of Christ might be made known. Stewardship is not about large giving, but gifts in small ways. A child’s gift, although small, gives glory to the Lord in many ways. Stewardship does not have to be in monetary ways. A gift of time to an elderly shut-in serves the Lord, too, A gift of a loaf of bread to a homeless family could mean the difference between going to bed hungry or going to bed satisfied. © Copyright Parish Publishing, LLC May not be copied without permission. www.parishpublishing.org APRIL BIRTHDAYS 3: Sharon Heil 4: Nancy Budd 7: Brenda Neice 8: Kate Sobolewski 10: Sean Wallace 11: Heather Fleischman Ryan Gelsinger Brendan Pierson 12: Ron Shepherd 13: Ashley Kimble 15: Gerald Grover 18: Cynthia Chipko 20: Chip Cochran Michele Cameron Brian Ligarzewski 21: Ryan Pierson 24: Shane Stone 26: Linda Allegri 28: Isabelle Fernandez 29: Pastor Jeff Archer APRIL ANNIVERSARIES 5: Jerre & Nancy Budd 15: Harry & Annette Knauer 16: Les & Dana Carpenter PRAYER LIST Please keep the following in your prayers: Dottie Agens Betty Brodo Mary Brodt Jane Buzan Richard Clegg Pam Covert & her dad Jim Alisa Dartnell and her mother Glenn Ferguson Maria Ferguson, Birda’ sister-in-law FPCH Robert Fryauff Family Ron Heil Bob & Rosalie Hollenfer Miki Kellum Dorothy Knauer Judy Kolwicz Dottie & George Landiak Barbara Ligarzewski Janet Lowery Maikuu congregation, Kibwezi Kenya Diana Merzoian Those in the Armed Forces Gail O’Brien Shaun O’Brien Helen Pace Edith Payton (mother of Sharon Heil) Elizabeth Robitsch Pamela Sampson (daughter of Barbara Courtright) Lauren Scavo (niece of Glenn Ferguson) Barbara Sly Dean Starr Mark Tilney Ray Van Orden DATES TO REMEMBER FOR 1: 1: 1: 2: 4: 5: 5: 6: 6: 8: 8: 9: 9: 11: 12: 12: 13: 16: 16: 16: 18: 19: 19: 20: 21: 22: 23: 23: 23: 24: 26: 26: 27: 28: 30: 30: 30: April 2015 Lenten Bible Study; 11:00AM in the Conference Room Yarn Girls; 1:00PM; in the Conference Room Lenten Bible Study with Soup Supper; 6:00PM in the Chapel Maundy Thursday Service & Communion; 7:30 in the Sanctuary Fisherman’s Chili Brunch; 10:00AM – 1:00PM in the Chapel Easter Sunrise 6:00 AM; Alumni Field Easter Service 10:00 AM; Sanctuary Blood Drive; 3:30PM – 8:30PM; in the Chapel Building & Grounds; 6:00PM PW Ruth’s Circle Bible Study; 11:00 AM in the Chapel Adult Bible Study; 7:00PM in the Conference Room FPC Ringers Rehearsal; 6:40 - 7:25PM: in the Music Room Senior Choir: 7:30PM in the Music Room Men’s Breakfast; 8:30AM in the Chapel Worship, Sunday School; 10:00 AM; Sanctuary Confirmation Class; 11:15AM; Balcony Building & Grounds; 6:00PM Youth Choir; 6:00 – 6:30PM in the Music Room FPC Ringers Rehearsal; 6:40 - 7:25PM: in the Music Room Senior Choir; 7:30PM in the Music Room Ladies’ Breakfast; 9:00 AM at the River Star Diner Worship, Sunday School; 10:00 AM; Sanctuary Confirmation Class; 11:15AM; Balcony Building & Grounds; 6:00PM Session; 6:30PM in the Conference Room PW Meeting; 11:00AM in the Chapel Youth Choir; 6:00 – 6:30PM in the Music Room FPC Ringers Rehearsal; 6:40 - 7:25PM: in the Music Room Senior Choir; 7:30PM in the Music Room Fish & Chips Dinner; 5:00 – 7:00PM in the Chapel Worship & Sunday School; 10:00 AM; Sanctuary Confirmation Class; 11:15AM; Balcony Building & Grounds; 6:00PM Deacons; 6:30PM; in the Conference Room Youth Choir; 6:00 – 6:30PM in the Music Room FPC Ringers Rehearsal; 6:40 - 7:25PM: in the Music Room Senior Choir; 7:30PM in the Music Room