MARCH
Wednesday, 1st
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Ash Wednesday Service at
United Methodist Church
Thursday, 2nd
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 4th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 5th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service/Communion
Sunday School
11:15-1 Bake Sale for Ronnie Jr. YG meeting
11:30 am Children’s Choir
6:00 pm Senior Youth Group
Wednesday, 8th
1:00 pm New Testament Study
6:30 pm Lenten Family Dinner
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Thursday, 9th
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 11th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 12th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
Sunday School
Congregational Meeting
11:30 am Children’s Choir
FISH
Monday, 13th
7:30 pm Consistory
FISH
TUESDAY, 14th
FISH
Wednesday, 15th
1:00 pm New Testament
6:30 pm Lenten Family Dinner
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
FISH
Thursday, 16th
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
FISH
****TIDINGS DEADLINE****
Friday, 17th Happy St. Patrick’s Day
FISH
Saturday, 18th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Men of St. Paul’s Breakfast
FISH
Sunday, 19th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
Sunday School
11:30 am Children’s Choir
12:00 noon Senior Youth Group meeting
6pm-8pm Junior Youth Group
Wednesday, 22nd
1:00 pm New Testament Study
6:30 pm Lenten Family Dinner
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Thursday, 23rd
7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 25th
9:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
Sunday, 26th
8:00 am Praise Team Rehearsal
9:30 am Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
Sunday School
Soup Swap
11:30 am Children’s Choir
4:00 pm American Guild of Organists
Hymn Festival
Wednesday, 29th
1:00 pm New Testament Study
6:30 pm Lenten Family Dinner
7:30 pm Confirmation Class
Pastor Rich takes Friday Off.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 16 – Easter Sunday
April 21-22 – JYG Lock-In
April 29th – Vera Bradley Tricky Tray
MARCH 2017
Greetings:
It was a busy morning at the urgent care center, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
His vital signs were taken and told to take a seat. The number of people in the waiting room made it obvious that it would be an hour or more before he was seen by the doctor.
The intake nurse saw him looking at his watch and decided, since she was not busy with another patient, she would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so she talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, she asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman said no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
The nursed inquired as to her health. He told her that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. The nurse asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
Surprised by his answer the nurse remarked, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted the nurse’s hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
The story reminds me of the many visits my parents made to see his Mom in the nursing home, visits that never stopped even when she had no idea who they were.
Like the cross of Christ, those visits defined what love is.
True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
It was once said that, ’Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'
Godspeed,
Pastor Rich
WORSHIP
01 ASH WEDNESDAY @ Meth. Ch
Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18
Self Centered OR God Centered?
05 COMMUNION
Exodus 33
Un-clutter Your Schedule
12
Philippians 4:10-14
Un-clutter Your Finances
19
Ecclesiastes 3
Un-clutter Your Work
26
2 Timothy 1:3-7
Un-clutter Your Fears
AT THE CROSS
The season of Lent tells the story of the Passion. Each Sunday of Lent a monologue will be presented designed to tell the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, mistreatment, death and resurrection from several points of view.
March 5: Simon of Cyrene
March 12: Lamenting Woman
March 19: Sneering Ruler
March 26: Jesus’ Mother
CONGREGATIONAL
MEETING
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
We will have our annual congregational meeting on Sunday, March 6 following worship. The meeting is:
- to review last year’s ministries
- to provide YOU an opportunity to voice your concerns, hopes and visions.
PRAYER of the MONTH
Father,
Ithank you for giving mecourage to keep praying, to keep marching, and to keep fighting the good fight of the faith! Good fights are fights Iwin, and with you with meand in me, Iwill win over each challenge Iface.
Iask for the Holy Spirit’s constant presence in my life today. May His fruit be evident in me, even while under intense pressure. Let love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control be found in me, even when pressed on every side.
Give megrace, encouragement, and unrelenting faith. Thank you!
In Jesus’ Name Amen!
SOUPS ON!
On Sunday, March 26th we will have a third homemade soup and biscuit sale.
There is a sign up sheet in the back of the church and in the social hall if you are willing to make some soup.
Containers are available.
Questions? Contact Tanya Roberts by phone: 732-651-1257 or
email:
LENTEN FAMILY
NIGHT DINNERS
Lenten family night dinners will begin Wednesday, March 8th and go through Wednesday, April 5th. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm followed by a worship service at 7:30pm. The worship theme is the 6 Miracles of Calvary.
We need a head count for the purpose of food preparation. So please sign up in church or call the church office by the Sunday before.
LENTEN FAMILY
NIGHT MENUS
March 8 - Chicken Marsala & Penne w/ Broccoli
March 15 - Sausage, Peppers, Onions and Potatoes & Tortellini w/ Peas in Cream
March 22 - Chicken Francaise & Rigatoni Pomodoro
March 29 - Chicken Murphy & Tortellini Tossed with Ricotta
April 5 - Chicken Parmigiana & Five Cheese Lasagna.
All dinners will be provided by Affordable Caterer
COMMUNION OFFERING
March’s communion offering will be used to help with the cost of hosting FISH Hospitality
FISH
Hospitality Program
Our Education Building will be used by FISH Hospitality the week of March 12th through 19th.
YOUR help is needed to:
Unload the beds
Provide a dinner meal
Transport residents to the shower
Sleep over one night
Please speak to either Dawn Ramsen or Jeff Rumen.
Sr. Youth Group
We will have our regular fun and faith filled meets Sundays, March 5 and Sunday, March 19.
On Sunday, March 19 we will have lunch in the social hall at noon and leave for the movie to see the 1:10PM showing of the Shack.
Jr. YOUTH GROUP
March 5 11:15-1 p.m.
Bake Sale for Ronnie*
Devotion, Letter to Ronnie: Owen Bernstein
Help: Heidi/Ross Young
March 19 6-8 p.m.
Theme: Conflicts with Friends
Devotion, Letter to Ronnie: Cynthia Rucinski
Help: Tracy Rucinski
2016 FINANCIALS
JAN
Income $21,192.11
Expense $27,001.64
Gain/(Loss) $ (5,809.53)
We were off to a GREAT start until the education building furnace needed to be replaced. The initial payment of $8,222.47 sky rocketed our expenses for January from $18,779.17, which would have meant we ended the month of January in the black to $27,001.64 which means a deficit of ($5,809.53)
Unfortunately we could not take the money out of our capital improvement account because it was depleted in 2016.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
On Saturday, March 18 at 9:30am the men of the church are invited for breakfast.
Breakfast will be served at 9:30am.
The breakfast is in place of our usual Wednesday night dinner on the first Wednesday of the month. Due to Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Family Night dinner we are able to meet at our usual time.
The Greatest Gift Comes From the Heart
Too often we think that the value of a gift is in its price. The only time price matters is if the cost of the gift is a sacrifice for the giver. The key to the value of a gift is the motivation of the heart.
The offering time at church is no different. Each of us gives differently. The amount of what we give is not the issue. Paul said, “If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don’t have. Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
The acceptable gift is the gift given from the heart that springs form love not compulsion.
VERA BRADLEY
TRICK TRAY
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Circle the date, tell all your friends, and get ready to buy your tickets.
This fund raiser is to benefit the Senior Youth Group Mission Trip.
If you have any questions AND/OR would like to help contact Diane Weyer by:
phone 732-543-1387 or
Letters…
I want to thank each of you: Tyler, Michele, Aralyn, Christopher, Amanda, Alex, Savannah & Cynthia for the beautiful Christmas gift. The work that went into it is amazing – all those tiny pieces into a work of art. I am an artist and really appreciate a thing of beauty – the bag it was in matched the beautiful blue along with the card – it was all “Just Perfect” and I appreciate the time and the work that went into it.
My first thought was to put it on my Christmas tree next year, then I thought it’s too beautiful to put away with my Christmas decorations until next year. I want to see its beauty all year round – so I hung it in my window where I can look at its beauty every day. Thank you.
Much Love!
Lois Monaghan
Dear St. Paul’s,
Now that I have graduated college I want to thank my St. Paul’s Church family for always being there for me! Thank you for all of your prayers and well-wishes! It was an absolute pleasure growing up at St. Paul’s from Sunday School until now! Thank you all!
Love,
Stephanie Paley
FELLOWSHIP HOUR
HOSTS NEEDED:
You are responsible for providing treats and milk for coffee. Sunny D generously provides juice for kids.
Coffee, cups, plates, napkins, plastic utensils and sweeteners are provided.
SIGN UP TO HOST
@ coffee hour or contact:
Julie Park 732-545-4266
or
Tracy Rucinski 732-545-6982
.
MEMORIAL FUND
JOHN “SPIKE” ADOCHIO
Bob & Carmela Winter
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
RAY CONGER, who passed away March 18, 2006
Marjorie Conger and Family
ORGAN FUND
DOROTHY L. GERHART
Ruth Karren
REPLACEMENT CANDLES
In memory of Victor L. Karren, M.D., by Ruth Karren
HEAD USHERS FOR
MARCH
5 Consistory Team #4
12 Julie Park
19 Fran Christ
26 Nicholas Bamond
GREETERS FOR
MARCH
5 Debbie Cheeseman
12 Arlene Mowery & Jane Osman
19 Debbie Holsten & Gary Holsten, Jr.
26 Greg Reeves
Greeters are asked to arrive at church by 9:20 a.m.
GREETER COORDINATOR
Judy Skalla
Music at St. Paul’s
REHEARSALS BEGIN FOR HOLY WEEK
Adult Choir
Beginning, Thurs., March 2, our Adult Choir will be rehearsing music for Holy Week.
We are learning special pieces for Palm Sunday (April 7), Maundy Thursday (April 13), and Easter Sunday (April 16). Join us for any or all!
We rehearse at 7:30 pm on Thursdays and welcome additional singers for the season!
Young Singers wanted!
On Palm Sunday (April 7), our Children’s Choir will sing a special processional anthem with the Adult Choir. However, we could use some youth singers to bolster our littlest musicians! Speak with Emily if you are interested. We will rehearse on Sun., March 26 and Sun, April 2 after church.
HYMN FESTIVAL
Hymn Festival (Sun., March 26, 4 pm) at St. Paul’s, sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. Come journey through the story of Jesus’s passion through song. This sacred concert includes organ, cello, flute, choir, and audience participation! All ages welcome. Admission is free, but we will take a freewill offering.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!
We are running an online Rada Cutlery fundraiser this spring. You can select all the items you like and they will be shipped directly to you. No waiting for the order to be sent in and then waiting again for your items to be distributed to you.
Just log into www.HelpOurFundraiser.com
At the sign-in prompt please enter:
Internet Ordering #: 506189
Password: stpauls (all lowercase, no spaces)
If you do not have access to the internet, or do not wish to place an order online, we will be placing an order through the church office at the end of March. Catalogs will be available in the church office or after worship in the social all. Please contact the church office at 732-828-0020 or Joanne Ciaccio at 732-249-1295 with any questions.
CONSISTORY MINUTES
February 13, 2017
In Attendance: Don Wesen, Greg Reeves, Julie Park, John Garback, Steve Kircher, Beckie Rumen, Nick Bamond, Dave Hastings, Karen Gourley, Kathy Shanabrook and Pastor Rich Weyer
-Meeting called to order by Pastor Rich at 7:45 pm. Pastor Rich opened the meeting with a prayer.
-January’s meeting minutes were approved with changes. Motion by Greg R/seconded by Beckie R.
Correspondence:
-EMC sent us a $131 rebate for electric savings with new lighting.
-RightNow Media wants to have a seminar at St. Paul’s February 22, 2018. Pastor Rich is getting specifics and will keep us informed.