NOVEMBER
Wednesday, 2nd
Crazy Love online post
1:00 pm The New Testament
6:30 pm Men of St. Paul’s
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Thursday, 3rd
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 5th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 6th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service/Communion
Sunday School
11:30 am Children’s Choir – Chapel
5:30 pm 1017 Mission Trip Meeting
6:00 pm Junior & Senior Youth Groups
Wednesday, 9th
Crazy Love online post
1:00 pm The New Testament
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Thursday, 10
7:00 pm Sr. YG Lock – In – Meet in Sanctuary
Friday, 11th
Rummage Sale Set Up
Saturday, 12th
9am-3pm RUMMAGE SALE
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 13th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Sunday School
11:30 am Children’s Choir – Chapel
Thanksgiving Candy by Donna
Monday, 14th
7:30 pm Consistory
Wednesday, 16th
Crazy Love online post
1:00 pm The New Testament
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Thursday, 17th
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
****TIDINGS DEADLINE****
Saturday, 19th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 20th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
Sunday School
11:30 am Children’s Choir – Chapel
12-4pm SYG Leaf Raking
5:00 pm Thanksgiving Worship @ UMC
6:00-8:00 pm Junior Youth Group
Thursday, 24th HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Friday, 25th
Church Office closed
Saturday, 26th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 27th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
Sunday School
11:30 am Children’s Choir – Chapel
Wednesday, 30th
Crazy Love online post
1:00 pm The New Testament
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Pastor Rich takes Friday Off.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Dec 4 – A Night in Bethlehem
Dec 11 - Bethlehem Joy presented by the choir
Dec 18 - Christmas Pageant presented by the Sunday school children.
- Caroling
Dec 24 - Candlelight Services 5pm & 8pm
Dec 25 - Christmas Service
NOVEMBER 2016
Greetings
I share this month a thought by Max
Lucado about the election and a prayer of thanksgiving.
We are really ready for this presidential election to be over. We’re ready for an end to the rancor and tackiness. Voters on both sides feel frustrated, even embarrassed by it all. There is a visceral fear, an angst about the result. What if so and so wins? When we wake up to November 9, post-election, when the confetti is swept away and the election is finally over, what will we see?
I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 9 will bring. Another day of God’s perfect sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. He will still manage the affairs of the world. Never before has His providence depended on a king, president, or ruler. And it won’t on November 9, 2016. “The LORD can control a king’s mind as he controls a river; he can direct it as he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1 NCV).
On one occasion the Lord turned the heart of the King of Assyria so that he aided them in the construction of the Temple. [1] On another occasion, he stirred the heart of Cyrus to release the Jews to return to Jerusalem. [2] Nebuchadnezzar was considered to be the mightiest king of his generation. But God humbled and put him in “detention” for seven years. [3] “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations” (Psalms 22:28).
Understanding God’s sovereignty over the nations opens the door to peace. When we realize that God influences the hearts of all rulers, we can then choose to pray for them rather than fret about them. Rather than wring our hands we bend our knees, we select prayer over despair. - Max Lucado
God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace:
We thank you for the gift of life: for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures life, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life.
We thank you for the mystery of creation: for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear, for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder, for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.
We thank you for setting us in communities: for families who nurture our becoming, for friends who love us by choice, for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding, for children who lighten our moments with delight, for the unborn who offer us hope for the future.
We thank you for this day: for life and one more day to love, for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace, for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved, for your grace and one more experience of your presence, for your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.
For these, and all blessings, we give you thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Godspeed,
Pastor Rich
WORSHIP
6 COMMUNION
1 Timothy 6:6-19
What’s On Your Plate
13
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Creed or Conviction
20
Palms 100
Philippians 4: 4 - 7
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
How Excited, Joyful & Thankful Are We?
27 ADVENT
Romans 13:11-14
Time to Wake Up
MEN OF ST. PAUL’S
Qualifications: You must be a male!
The men of St. Paul’s are invited to gather on Wednesday November 2 at 6:30pm for supper and fellowship.
Sr. YOUTH GROUP
Sunday, November 6th 5:30 p.m.
Mission Trip Planning Meeting
Sunday, November 6th 6 to 8 p.m.
Invent/Design/Create:
Church Appropriate Dance Moves
Discussion: Fan or Follower PART 2
Thursday, November 10th 7 p.m.
Lock-In
Friday, November 11th
Rummage Sale Set Up
Saturday, Nov. 12th 8:30 a.m to 3 p.m.
Help at rummage sale and clean up.
Sunday, November 20th 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Leaf Raking
MISSION TRIP 2017
All youth along with a parent need to meet with Pastor Rich on Sunday, November 6th at 5:30 pm if you are interested in participating in the July 2107 mission trip to Eastern Shores Virginia.
YOUTH GROUP RETREAT
Fri - Sun, Feb. 8-10, 2017
Registration form is included.
Please return to Pastor Rich NO LATER then Sunday, December 4th.
JR. YOUTH GROUP
Sunday, November 6th 6 to 8 p.m.
Devotion & Letter to Ronnie:
Michelle Murphy
Theme: Hunger & Poverty
Snack/Help: Danette Murphy
Sunday, November 20th 6 to 8 p.m.
Devotion & Letter to Ronnie:
Aralyn Torres
Gifts for the Homebound
Snack/Help: Sandy Torres
COMMUNION OFFERING
November’s communion offering will be sent to World Renew to help with relief efforts in Haiti. Haiti was devastated by hurricane Matthew.
FINANCIAL
Sept Yr To Date
Expenses $26,079.43 $220,806.89
Income $22,815.84 $179,930.42
Gain/(Loss) ($3,263.59) ($46,876.47)
EVERY TIME YOU GIVE
you help continue the life changing work of this church. Your gifts fuel what we do. It makes possible the fulfillment of God’s vision for this church.
Saturday, Nov. 12
9 am - 3 pm
Proceeds will benefit our church’s ministries.
You may bring clean, salable items to the Youth Room.
Are you willing to help with set up, selling and clean up. If you are contact Robin Sullivan by phone @ 732-565-3669 or by emailing
NOVEMBER 13
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
The agenda is:
to approve the budget for 2017,
to elect the following people to serve on consistory.
The nominees are Karen Gourley, Beckie Rumen & Greg Reeves for a first term and Robert Ramsen and for a second term.
There are 2 vacancies for anyone willing to serve as elder or deacon.
THANKSGIVING CANDY
By DONNA
Candy will be available for sale on November 13 during coffee hour. Proceeds to benefit Mission Trip ’17.
LEAF RAKING
If you need help raking the leaves on your property please call the church office. The senior youth group rakers will be out in full force on November 20th.
NURSING HOME GIFTS
Our Christmas tradition of collecting toiletries and other misc. items to be distributed to the residences at the Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge will continue this year.
You will find boxes wrapped in Christmas paper in the narthex of the church and the social hall for you to deposit your donated items.
A complete list of items needed will be in Sunday’s bulletins. December 11th is the deadline to bring in gifts.
Embrace Kids Foundation
Holiday Wishes Program
We will be adopting a family again this Christmas. Look for details to come.
ADVENT EVENTS
Dec 4 - Communion
- A Night in Bethlehem
Dec 11 - Bethlehem Joy presented by the choir
Dec 18 - Christmas Pageant presented by the Sunday school children.
- Caroling
Dec 24 - Candlelight Services 5pm & 8pm
Dec 25 - Christmas Service
A NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM
Sun. Dec 4th 1pm - 4pm
Join us for an amazing night in Bethlehem. Kids and families will explore the city at the time of Jesus’s birth. Through hands on experience you’ll find out about the most important baby ever and learn that Jesus came to save us.
Consistory Minutes
October10, 2016
In Attendance: Don Wesen, Greg Reeves,
Julie Park, Dick MacDowell, Joanne Ciaccio, Sean Sullivan, Frank Devine, John Garback, Kathy Shanabrook and Pastor Rich Weyer.
Meeting called to order by Pastor Rich at 7:35 pm. He read a devotional which described “hearing God’s directions,” followed by prayer.
September’s meeting minutes were approved without change. Motioned by Dick M/seconded by Sean S.
Correspondence:
Interfaith Network of Faith thanked St. Paul’s for the communion offering.
Finances:
- September’s financials were discussed and approved. Motioned by Julie P/seconded by Greg R.
- East Brunswick Crisis Room will receive the church’s tithe in October.
- There was a discussion on helping food banks since they are in need this time of year. Will ask parishioners to bring food items to church on Sundays for the duration of the year.
Consistory:
Communion:
- Team 4 will serve on November 6th
Communion Offering:
- November: Hurricane Matthew Relief efforts
- December: Embrace Kids
Worship:
- 144th Anniversary Service on October 16. Marge Conger’s great-granddaughter Lillian Rae will be baptized during the service representing the 5th generation being baptized. The puzzle pieces will be collected and brought to the social hall to be assembled into the puzzle.
Ministry Teams:
Church Family:
- Discussion focused on growing the church.
Spiritual Life:
- Joint Thanksgiving Service including the 3 Milltown churches will be held at the Milltown Methodist Church on Sunday,
November 20 at 5pm.
Education:
- How can we help church families whose children are enrolled in Summer SACC program come to Vacation Bible School.
- Jr Youth Group – Dawn Milburn and Sean Sullivan are assisting.
- Sr Youth Group – Jeff and Beckie Rumen and Lindsey Ruppert are assisting.
Property:
- Paving of west driveway of Education Building
- Repairing of outside stairs that lead into the Chapel and Sunday School Room
- Social Hall A/C enclosures are being installed
- October 30th Workday
- Grounds – weeding/hedge trimming
- Washing windows
- Scrubbing or repainting wall by kitchen counter
- Snake drain for water fountain
- Discussed ways of increasing security of fellowship hall. Police suggested a safe room for Good Day children to go to when using the social hall for recreation. Suggestions: install steel doors, with an interior dead bolt on the walk in closet, as well as installing a panic button to the police station and the alarm company.
Old Business:
- Organ repairs have begun
- Rummage sale is scheduled for November 12. A bake sale will also be held at that time.
- There will be no changes to the 2017 Budget. To reduce expenses would jeopardize our ministry.
-Nominees for Consistroy:
- Dick’s & Emma’s 2nd term as deacon ends 12/31/16
- Due to Dianne Andruela being out of state for a prolonged time to care for her mother there is a need for someone to complete her unexpired term - 1 year
- Re-elect Rob Ramsen & Greg Reeve
- Elect Karen Gourley and Beckie Rumen. We are in need of 2 more people.
New Business:
- A Night in Bethlehem is in the works
- FB4Church-Paster Rich will look into a seminar that shows how to use Facebook to grow your church.
- A discussion was had regarding the future of Ministry Teams and how they could become more task oriented.
Future Dates:
- Congregational Meeting November 13
- November 14 Consistory
Meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm, motioned by Dick M/seconded by Greg R.
Respectfully Submitted, Kathy Shanabrook
FELLOWSHIP HOUR
Julie Park & Tracy Rucinski are coordinating fellowship hour. Sign up at coffee hour or be in contact with:
Julie at 732-545-4266
or
Tracy at 732-545-6982 .
YOUR ASSISTANCE is still needed
to provide refreshments for fellowship hour. You are responsible for providing eats, and milk for kids. Sunny D is generously providing juice.
Coffee and cups are provided.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
BAPTISM OF LILLIAN RAE DOMINICUS
Marjorie Conger
ORGAN FUND
RAYMOND OSMAN
Janet Finch & Family
JACK WEBER
DorisWeber
Music at St. Paul’s
ORGAN WORK UPDATE
On Oct. 5th, RK Organworks began its repairs of our organ by removing three leaking air regulators, which will be rebuilt in the shop and reinstalled. At this stage, we remain able to use the entire organ, and as work proceeds, the company will try to stage it such that we have most of the instrument functioning at any one time.
Thanks be to God for your financial support of this project!
We have raised about $20,000 for our Organ Fund!
HOLIDAY CHORAL OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in joining the choir for Thanksgiving, Advent, or Christmas? Here is the schedule:
Christmas / Advent rehearsals:
Thurs., Oct. 27
Thurs., Nov. 3
[no choir on Nov. 10 -- Em on vacation]
Thurs., Nov. 17
[no choir on Nov. 24 -- Happy Thanksgiving!]
Thurs., Dec. 1
Thurs., Dec. 8
Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, Nov. 20, 5 pm at Milltown United Methodist
Rehearsal at 3: 15 pm
Sun., Dec. 11, 10 am - Choir presents "Bethlehem Joy" by Stan Pethel during morning worship.
Sun., Dec. 18 - Christmas pageant -- no choir
Sat., Dec. 24 - Choir will sing at the 8 pm service
WANTED: DECEMBER SOLOISTS
Interested in playing a musical instrument or singing in worship this December? Please speak with Emily!
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Thanks be to God for our Children’s Choir, which sang the baptism response in our Oct. 16 worship.
Beginning Sun., Nov. 6th, the choir’s rehearsals are devoted to Christmas pageant music. All children grades 1 – 6 are invited!
HEAD USHERS FOR
NOVEMBER
6 Consistory Team #4
13 Chuck Rucinski
20 Fran Christ
27 Jeff Rumen
GREETERS FOR
NOVEMBER
6 Arlene Mowery & Jane Osman