Ewing Presbyterian Church 100 Scotch Road Ewing, NJ...
12
Ewing Presbyterian Church 100 Scotch Road Ewing, NJ 08628 Vacation Bible School 2015 The newsletter of Ewing Presbyterian Church August 2015
Transcript of Ewing Presbyterian Church 100 Scotch Road Ewing, NJ...
Ewing Presbyterian Church
100 Scotch Road
Ewing, NJ 08628
Vacation Bible School 2015
The newsletter of
Ewing Presbyterian Church
August 2015
Transition Thoughts
Greetings all. It has been a busy summer at Ewing
Presbyterian Church. We have been having fun in
our worship; members of our leadership have been
meeting with leadership from 7 other congregations
to talk about how together we might provide an
effective and strong Christian witness in the
Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, Hamilton area; new
roofing has replaced the leaking portion on the back
of the Church Office building. And, we have just
completed our Vacation Bible School where we
celebrated God’s power to provide all that we need
to overcome any challenge we face.
That will be a good lesson for us to remember over
the coming months. I say that because we have
what I believe will be a very large challenge to face
as we return from our summer and move into the
new ministry year at EPC. As many of you will
already know, Preservation New Jersey and the
Historic 1867 Sanctuary Committee are hoping to
be able to reopen the 1867 Sanctuary for public
events this fall, possibly as soon as November. For
many in this congregation this is very welcome
news, and for some the anticipation is that soon we
will return to the old sanctuary for worship. For
others in this congregation, this is very unwelcome
news, for they fear the loss of what is now
cherished if we should move our worship back
across the street. For others the question is not
where we will worship, but if we will return to the
acrimony, the conflict that marred the life of the
congregation in the recent past.
The issue for EPC is not the reopening of the 1867
Sanctuary. It is how we will respond to this reality.
Yes, there is the question of if and how that space
might become a part of our worship life. There are
questions of if and how this congregation will
connect with Preservation New Jersey to use that
space as we extend the ministry of this congregation
to the broader community. Yes, the reopening will
add to the administrative work for the church;
coordinating calendar, parking, etc. will be
necessary.
So, the question for the people of EPC is how will
we join with one another in addressing the
challenges and opportunities that the reopening of
the 1867 Sanctuary brings? What have we learned
from the past experience of dealing with the
question of the Sanctuary, and will we return to old
patterns, or form new paths marked by forgiveness,
reconciliation, and shared purpose as a church, the
Body of Christ.
Here are some thoughts for us to consider, and
perhaps to help frame our considerations as we
move forward:
First, we are followers of Christ, children of a
loving God, all of us, no matter what our thoughts
are regarding a particular issue or question. As such
we are subject to Christ’s command to love one
another, to care for one another as God has cared
for each of us.
Second, there are no sides in this. We are together
in this, seeking to be faithful to Christ’s call to feed
His sheep. We may differ in our ideas of how to do
this, but we are joined by this common call. As the
recent report of the Transition Team reminds us, we
are “Inspired By Christ’s Unconditional Love”.
Third, we need to forgive each other and ourselves
for whatever has happened in the past. I know that
there are those on all “sides” and no “side” who still
feel deeply hurt by the words and actions of others
during the controversies of the past years. They are
looking for accountability and penance for those
who hurt them. But the reality is that desire can
never be satisfied. Instead, there is a need to come
to the place of forgiveness, one that accepts one’s
own pain, sees the other as a child of God, and
offers forgiveness even as God offers us forgiveness
in Christ; forgiveness that is unconditional without
expecting justification of one’s own self. I
recognize this is extremely difficult. I will work
with any individual or group to help them come to
that place of forgiveness.
Fourth, we need to listen with one another. I started
to write “talk with one another.” But what we
really need to do is listen to one another. The
Transition Study Team highlighted the value of the
home and Café conversations that took place during
the transition study. Not only did people feel they
had the opportunity to say what they wanted to say,
but they also found that they were heard. During
this time leading to the reopening of the 1867
Sanctuary we will need to listen to one another.
Why is it that there are those who do not wish to
return to that place for worship? What is it that
makes others feel that that is only place they can
truly worship? How might the historic Sanctuary be
a part of the future witness of this congregation?
We will have the opportunity over the next few
months to share with one another. Please be sure
you are a part of the listening.
There were five particular lessons that the
participants in our VBS learned this summer.
God has the power to provide.
God has the power to comfort.
God has the power to heal.
God has the power to forgive.
God has the power to love us forever.
May we “hold on” to those lessons as God provides
all that we shall need to overcome every challenge
that we may face.
In Christ’s service
Paul Rhebergen
August Worship at EPC
Sunday, August 2nd
18th
Sunday in Ordinary time
10:30 Worship
Combined worship service at Covenant
Presbyterian Church
Rev. Paul Rhebergen preaching
“More Than Crusts”
2nd
Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 61:1-12;
Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35
Sunday, August 9th
19th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Rules to Live By”
Rev. Paul Rhebergen preaching
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130;
Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51
Sunday, August 16th
20th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Will You Mary Me?”
Rev. Paul Rhebergen preaching
1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14; Psalm 111;
Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Sunday, August 23rd
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Paul Rhebergen preaching
“Proper Attire”
1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-23; Psalm 84;
Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
Sunday. August 30th
Rev. Melissa Moore preaching
Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9;
James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Sunday, September 6th
Week 1 in We Make the Road by Walking
Rev. Paul Rhebergen preaching
“Alive in the Wonder of Creation”
(Beginning this Sunday the lectionary Texts follow
the chapter readings in We Make the Road By
Walking)
Genesis 1:1-2:3; Psalm 19:1-14; Matthew 6:25-24
Genesis 2:4-25; Psalm 8; Mark 3:1-6
The Conversations Continue
Since this past winter, leadership from EPC has
joined with leaders from the West Trenton,
Covenant, First Trenton, Slackwood, Lawrence
Road, Westminster, and Christ, Hamilton
Presbyterian Churches in conversations about the
realities in ministry facing the 8 congregations.
Each congregation is facing its own challenges and
opportunities, and each has found their own
particular ways of responding. The conversations
have helped us gain insight into our own
congregation, and offered some new ways of
seeing things. We have looked at financial
questions, viewed the buildings and grounds
challenges posed by the properties of the differing
congregations, looked at administrative questions,
and considered ways that the current staffing of the
churches, paid and volunteer, might assist or
compliment ministries among the churches.
The conversations have taken different forms and
focused on different questions. Some of the leaders,
EPC’s among them, have carried on a continuing
conversation with the Presbyterian Foundation
about how to better manage our financial resources
and seek out additional income to support our
ministry. Others have focused on the very practical
dimension of providing for the maintenance of
facilities, and how we might be able to cut costs by
working together. And, we have only begun to
touch on ways the pastors of the different churches
might support the ministries of the different
churches involved in our congregation.
The conversations will continue into the future, with
each church participating to the degree that they
will address the needs of that congregation, and as
they help address the greater question of what is our
broader vision for a distinctly Presbyterian witness
in the community shared by these eight
congregations.
__________________________________________
Join in Making the Path by Walking
Beginning this September, we at EPC will be
participating in a “year-long quest for spiritual
formation, reorientation, and activation through a
shared journey through the biblical story. The
Session, at the recommendation of Pastor Paul has
agreed that it will be valuable for our congregation
to engage in a shared focus for our ministry; our
worship, faith development, and witness to the
community. Serving as the guide for this quest will
be Brian McLaren’s book, We Make the Road by
Walking: a Year-Long Quest for Spiritual
Formation, Reorientation and Activation.
Over the 52 weeks beginning September,
McLaren’s book will provide the lectionary of
biblical texts as we move through the story of God’s
interaction with all of creation. This sequence of
biblical texts will serve as the focus for our weekly
worship. His reflections on the texts from
scriptures will provide a backdrop for our Bible
Study, reflection and conversation.
We are undertaking this quest out of the sense that
we as a congregation would benefit from a focused
retelling of the biblical story, and from faith
conversations that can be shared among all the
people of our congregation. We are inviting all of
our members and friends to read McLaren’s book,
to reflect on the weekly scripture readings, to join in
one of several study groups to grow through
discussion. In addition our weekly worship will be
structured around the weekly readings and themes
provided by We Make the Road By Walking. At
least once a month, the Sunday morning Adult
Class will focus on that month’s themes, and our
children and youth Sunday School will engage the
passages and themes.
Copies of the book will be available at church later
this month. It is available as an e-book, and can be
ordered on-line, or through your local book store.
We encourage you to get a copy for you or your
household, to develop the discipline of reading and
reflecting on the weekly chapters, to join in a year-
long exploration of the Bible through some new or
different lenses, to become part of a study group
that will engage you in thinking about how we live
out our faith in this world, and become a part of one
extended fellowship making the road by walking.
Thank You
Well we did it! We conquered Mt. Everest with the
Power of God’s Love and a lot of support from you
all! So many of you participated, not only visibly to
the kids, but also behind the scenes. Many of you
donated goods- plates, cups, silverware, food items
for our dinners, snack items for craft/ snacks. Thank
you.
Many people put in their time to make VBS a
success- Harriet, Pam and Liz spent time ironing
transfers onto 25 tee shirts. The Women’s Circles,
the Deacons and Janice Rockmore provided
dinners. Becky Lovett, Alice Haines and Mary
Hough ran the kitchen and signed the kids in each
night.
Bonnie Brandt came every day not knowing what
she was getting herself into. She worked in the
kitchen, helping Trek, I mean Natalie, with the daily
skit and even played games with the kids.
Helen Kull helped Carol Houghton lead the singing,
introduced the days animal character and the daily
bible message. She even threw in some knowledge
about Mt Everest.
Carol Houghton was Sherpa Carol our music and
dance leader, teaching the kids the songs and hand
movements to all the songs. She makes it look so
easy and fun!
Cindy Strain created wonderful snack creations for
the kids at the Mountain Top treats station: trail mix
to get the kids up the mountain, a Rock Rambler
Parfait and s'mores to name a few.
Lisa King became the Sherpa of the Imagination
Station. station: kids got a little bit of science in by
experimenting with snow seeds, bubble blasters and
incrediballs!
Rachel Morgan, once again, was our recreation
coordinator or leader of the Glacier Games. The
kids played all kinds of games from The Everest
Relay, to Loopy Volley ball. She had the perfect
week to play games outside on the front lawn.
Pastor Paul was the leader of the bible Expedition,
along with some help from Pastor Katie, acting out
a bible story each day. He also did the Summit
Celebration to close the evenings. Each day was a
different surprise from comforting our fears with
dry ice bubbles, covering our fears with a big
bandage, to figuring out what lasts forever- Pop
Rocks, a remote controlled race, or God’s love.
The Expedition Crews or group leaders were
Michelle Stewart, Kylie Pezzillo, and her cousin
Julia, Jeff King, Maddie Stewart, Joey and Leyla
Genovay, along with their friend, Olivia Ross,
Patricia Mulligan, Randy Stewart, and Amanda
Vargo. They all provided invaluable help.
You know there are kids who come back year after
year to our VBS and then return to be youth helpers.
Thank you to all for a great week. We appreciated
all that you did to make a successful week for our
kids.
Thank you to all of you.
Carol Hecky
“Do What Matters”
On Friday evening and Saturday, October 23-24,
EPC will be hosting “Do What Matters:
Reimagining Faith Formation Together.”
Sponsored by New Brunswick Presbytery, and
presented by Vibrant Faith, this workshop is a
Friday evening and Saturday interactive training
experience to help church leaders imagine and
implement effective faith formation practices for
today and for future generations. The workshop
will guide participants toward:
· Understanding the profound cultural changes
affecting faith development today.
· Exploring the process of faith transmission
from generation to generation through the family
and the church
· Experiencing and developing innovative
ministry approaches that apply faith-forming
processes to people of all ages
· Developing a practical plan for the future of
faith formation with all ages in the congregation
Contact Pastor Paul if you would like to join him as
part of EPC’s team at this workshop. It begins
Friday evening, 6:30-9:00 p.m., and runs from 8:30
a.m. through 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
_________________________________________
Islamic Center of Ewing Celebrates Its’
10th
Anniversary
On Saturday, August 15th
, the Islamic Center of
Ewing will celebrate its 10th
anniversary with a gala
at Central Valley of New Jersey. Imam Quareeb
Bashir leads this congregation as its serves Islamic
members of the Ewing, Trenton and Mercer County
area. A very diverse community, the Islamic Center
provides a witness to the teaching of the Prophet
Mohammad as a prophet of peace, recognizing the
shared heritage of all the people of the Book. Imam
Bashir and the Center are a partner with us in the
United Mercer Interfaith Organization, has joined in
the Unity in the Community Walk and response to
violence in the broader community, and has invited
members of our congregation to break fast with
them during the Ramadan. The Session has shared
its congratulations on the Center’s 10 years of
growth and service to the community. In a time
when we all too often fail to listen to the voices of
our Muslim brothers and sisters, let us listen to and
celebrate the voice of the Ewing Islamic Center in
our community.
__________________________________________
4th
of July Parade
____________________________________
Mercer Street Friends Closing the Gap
During the warm and sunny days of summer when
the earth produces an abundance of fresh produce, it
is also the time when child hunger is at its worst.
Low income children who rely on school breakfast
and lunch programs for their meals are often left
without access to a summer feeding site.
Mercer Street Friends Food Bank is helping to fill
the gap by sponsoring four summer feeding
programs in Trenton and Hamilton. The meals are
served at sites such as summer programs, summer
school, parks and recreation centers, summer
camps, and youth centers. Unfortunately, federal
regulations require a child must be on site to
consume a meal. Many children are unable to travel
to the sites.
MSFFB and others are looking at options to help
reach more children. A bi-partisan sponsored bill is
moving through Congress to address this issue, The
Summer Meals Act of 2015 which will expand
eligibility and increase the number of meals served.
The Conversations Continue
Since this past winter, leadership from EPC has
joined with leaders from the West Trenton,
Covenant, First Trenton, Slackwood, Lawrence
Road, Westminster, and Christ, Hamilton
Presbyterian Churches in conversations about the
realities in ministry facing the 8 congregations.
Each congregation is facing its own challenges and
opportunities, and each has found their own
particular ways of responding. The conversations
have helped us gain insight into our own
congregation, and offered some new ways of
seeing things. We have looked at financial
questions, viewed the buildings and grounds
challenges posed by the properties of the differing
congregations, looked at administrative questions,
and considered ways that the current staffing of the
churches, paid and volunteer, might assist or
compliment ministries among the churches.
The conversations have taken different forms and
focused on different questions. Some of the leaders,
EPC’s among them, have carried on a continuing
conversation with the Presbyterian Foundation
about how to better manage our financial resources
and seek out additional income to support our
ministry. Others have focused on the very practical
dimension of providing for the maintenance of
facilities, and how we might be able to cut costs by
working together. And, we have only begun to
touch on ways the pastors of the different churches
might support the ministries of the different
churches involved in our congregation.
The conversations will continue into the future, with
each church participating to the degree that they
will address the needs of that congregation, and as
they help address the greater question of what is our
broader vision for a distinctly Presbyterian witness
in the community shared by these eight
congregations.
__________________________________________
Join in Making the Path by Walking
Beginning this September, we at EPC will be
participating in a “year-long quest for spiritual
formation, reorientation, and activation through a
shared journey through the biblical story. The
Session, at the recommendation of Pastor Paul has
agreed that it will be valuable for our congregation
to engage in a shared focus for our ministry; our
worship, faith development, and witness to the
community. Serving as the guide for this quest will
be Brian McLaren’s book, We Make the Road by
Walking: a Year-Long Quest for Spiritual
Formation, Reorientation and Activation.
Over the 52 weeks beginning September,
McLaren’s book will provide the lectionary of
biblical texts as we move through the story of God’s
interaction with all of creation. This sequence of
biblical texts will serve as the focus for our weekly
worship. His reflections on the texts from
scriptures will provide a backdrop for our Bible
Study, reflection and conversation.
We are undertaking this quest out of the sense that
we as a congregation would benefit from a focused
retelling of the biblical story, and from faith
conversations that can be shared among all the
people of our congregation. We are inviting all of
our members and friends to read McLaren’s book,
to reflect on the weekly scripture readings, to join in
one of several study groups to grow through
discussion. In addition our weekly worship will be
structured around the weekly readings and themes
provided by We Make the Road By Walking. At
least once a month, the Sunday morning Adult
Class will focus on that months themes, and our
children and youth Sunday School will engage the
passages and themes.
Copies of the book will be available at church later
this month. It is available as an e-book, and can be
ordered on-line, or through your local book store.
We encourage you to get a copy for you or your
household, to develop the discipline of reading and
reflecting on the weekly chapters, to join in a year-
long exploration of the Bible through some new or
different lenses, to become part of a study group
that will engage you in thinking about how we live
out our faith in this world, and become a part of one
extended fellowship making the road by walking.
H. Wayne Berens
Shirley Brower
Bull Burton
Eleanor Ciccone, grandmother of Julie & Joey
Ciccone
Nancy Clark, friend of Nancy Coleman
Janet Corbin
Doris Cregar
Quentin Fabiano
Peggy Formaroli, mother of friend Gino – Gerri
Apostolos
Karen Fuchs, sister of Laura Wallin
Emily Haines and husband, Nathan Spence
Ken Harvey
Kevin Hecky
Beth Hensler
Lydia Hill, cousin of Cathy Holland
Cathy Holland
Jean Hopkins
Dan Hough
Nadine Kunz, mother of Becky Lovett
Bob & Marion Letts
Robert MacLaury
Charlie Magee, brother of Judy Carapezza
Maureen Magee, sister-in-law of Judy Carapezza
Kevin, Megan & McKenna Maisto, friends of
Barb Salles
Margaret Marcks
Matt Massimi
Samuel Meservey, grandson of Lois Meservey
Sue Milstead
Aaron Morgan
Jerome Moore
Leslie Nevius, cousin of Barb Salles
Alice Olson
Joyce Pillsbury
Marissa Porfirio
Cara Pressman, friend of Laura Wallin
Bill Raughley, friend of Jane Perelli
Robert Rodgers, friend of Laura Wallin
Barb Salles
Michael Baily Schafer, grandnephew of Mary
Hough
Dick & Dottie Schenck
Ann Skeeter, mother of George Renwick
Jane Snedeker
Ceil Szeg, friend of Bette Schubert
Frank Szachtowski, step-dad of Mike Hecky
Gene Taylor
Gwen Thomas
Travis Turner, nephew of Gay McGraw
Skippy Twining, friend of Barb Salles
Gloria Vernam
Leisal Vidal, aunt of Nancy Kriegner
Nelson Wallin, father of Laura Wallin
Harold Walter
Kaitlynn Webster, granddaughter of Nancy
Coleman
Mary Lou Weinstetter
Alfred Wensley
Eileen Whang
Marva Wyckoff
Grace & Norm Yates, friends of the Letts family
August 2015
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
On Sundays 9:30 Worship, FH
10:30 Hospitality
On Mondays
5:15 AA, AL
6:00 Yoga, CR
On Tuesdays
7:30 Al-Anon,CR.
8:00 NA, AL
On Thursdays
4:30 Yoga, Rm. 3
7:00 Scouts
7:00 Guitar Rm. 3
8:00 AA, AL
On Saturdays
3 pm AA, AL
*MUSIC BY THE
BLAWENBURG
BAND BEGINS
AT 4:30 P.M.
1
2
Combined
Worship with
Covenant at
Covenant
10:30 a.m.
3
UMIO
Prayer Vigil
& Meal
6:00 p.m.
4
BIG
COMMITTEE!
7:00 P.M.
5
6
EPC at
Trenton
Thunder
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Mercer Street
Friends Food
Collection
17
18
Mission
Sewing
10 - 2
Deacon’s
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
19
20
21
22
23 L.O.G.
1:30 – 4:00
*Ice Cream
Social
4:00 p.m
______________
30
24
Breakfast at
Michael’s
9:00 a.m.
___________
31
25
Session
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
26 27 28
29
Church Information
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
609-882-3673
If you need to drop anything off after hours, there is a mail slot in the door of the Church Office.
Staff
Reverend Paul L. Rhebergen, Transitional Pastor
(office) 609-882-3673 (cell) 609-947-3748
Reverend Katie Mulligan, Youth Pastor
805-448-9641
Pamela Rauh, Office Manager
609-882-3673
Lois Meservey, Bookkeeper
Barbara Greschak, Assistant Bookkeeper
609-882-3677
Jovon Sykes, Facilities Manager
609-977-3848
Carol Houghton, Music Director
Marianne Lauffer, Pianist
Suzie Wentworth, Nursery School Dierctor
609-883-5364
Ewing Church Cemetery
Office hours Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
609-883-0979
