The Friendly News The First Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Heights April 2015

Dear Friends: As well as we know the details of the Easter story, there are some parts of the story that are left out – almost entirely. For instance, Peter had a meeting with the Risen Christ on Easter. When we don’t know; where we don’t now; what was said between the two of them we don’t know. We just know it happened. Jesus’ brother James also met up with the Risen Christ sometime on Easter – again we have no details; we’re just told that it happened. And wouldn’t we all like to know their conversations? Peter, the last time he was near Jesus, had denied Him. And James, apparently, rejected the possibility that his older brother was the Messiah. These two conversations must have been very interesting, to say the least. Maybe Peter and James told the others who were involved in the first Easter. But I wish they had also told us. Their experiences, I think, might be enlightening to us as we celebrate our own Easter experience. Perhaps that is a reminder to us. We will all meet the Risen Christ on Easter in some way. Perhaps it won’t be as dramatic as the meetings Peter and James had, but it will happen. And it is incumbent upon us to share that meeting with someone else, to tell someone we know just what happened to us, to bring our experience into the light.

Because when we discover the meaning of Easter – the real meaning of Easter – it’s not something to be hidden. Who will you tell?

In Christ, John

Get well wishes are sent out to Lois Cooper, Dorothy Johnson, Chuck Elliott, Ed Elder, Bea Truitt, Dave Kershaw, Dick Shaw, Bonnie Sweeney, Bob Rebyak, Joe McDonnell (Pat’s husband), Joe McDonnell, Jr (Pat’s son), Judy Grantham (Quint’s wife), and Marie Heggie (Dottie Shedwick’s step-mother). Our sympathy is extended to Peg and Patrick Schoen on the recent death of his sister.

Our Deacon of the Month is Cassandra DeFinizio. She is in her second term on the board, serves on the Special Projects Committee, and is our nursery coordinator Thank her for her service to the Lord. Our Elder of the Month is Charles Bagnell. Charles is in his first term on Session, and chairs our Stewardship and Finance Commission. Plus, he provides the soup for our Ash Wednesday meager meal (as he works for Campbell’s. Thank him for his service to the Lord.

MARCH SESSION NOTES Here are some notes, quotes and dates to remember from Session’s March 18 monthly meeting in the annex conference room: Pastor’s report: Rev. John Shedwick requested and received permission to take vacation time from April 7 to 13. The elders will run the April 12 church service with elder Brad Gilmore delivering the sermon. Rev. Shedwick also received the OK to attend a May 7 workshop on ways to deal with difficult people, at a cost of $20.                      Website update: Although no formal vote was taken, Session agreed that the Communications and Outreach commission would be responsible for oversight of the website. Barrie Dawson, who will run the website with Janet Koehler’s help, asks that submissions for the website and newsletter be sent to whpresby@comcast.net . Those who take pictures for the website are also asked to submit their photos and text no more than seven days after the event. Mission committee: Our church will again participate in the annual CROP walk, which begins at 1:45 p.m. May 3 at the United Methodist Church, 201 Mantua Blvd., Mantua, and concludes 6.2 miles later at Saint Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 230 N. Evergreen Ave., Woodbury. The church will again sponsor a rest stop, for which volunteers and supplies are needed. Building and property: We are awaiting the arrival of the new door for the shed on the 4th Street side of the property. … Plans are being drawn for the narthex bathroom project, and ceiling repairs will be made in both the annex conference room and the center office. … The annual spring cleanup day is set for 8 a.m. April 11, with April 12 as the rain date. It will include the usual mulching and raking around the church complex. … A second yard cleanup day, around the church manse, is in the works for late spring. Christian education: Sunday school children are working on crosses with a stained-

glass look for Palm Sunday. The crosses are being made out of paper and will be displayed on Palm Sunday and around the church afterward. … The Sunday school plans its closing program for June 14, and summer plans are in the works. A Strawberry Festival is also planned for the 14th. Stewardship and finance: As of the meeting, Current Expense was temporarily operating in the red, largely because heating bills for our frigid February were far higher than had been budgeted and because snow and ice conspired to cancel a mid-month Sunday service. It is hoped that offerings during the Easter season will rectify the problem, as they have in the past. … The commission will provide church members with a first quarter financial update during the April 19 service. … Plans to make the 2016 budget available earlier in the fall are being weighed. Worship and program: The Deacons will serve communion during the Holy Thursday service April 2. … Four nighttime slots remain open for the Easter prayer vigil, which begins Friday evening, April 3. … The Covenant Players will be featured during the Sunday service on May 3. Church members willing to be hosts, providing food and housing to cast members on Saturday night, May 2, are needed. … The April 26 church service will be at Mount Zion – Wesley United Methodist Church, 1470 Glassboro Road, Wenonah, starting at 9:30 a.m. Communication and outreach: As part of its yearlong 100th anniversary celebration, Woodbury Heights plans a Fun Day for May 16. Session discussed the feasibility of buying an advertisement in the community’s program, which will be handed out at several celebrations during the year. With other churches and businesses in town sponsoring free food and merchandise for those who attend, the church is looking into the costs of handing out pens that show the church name and address.

April Birthdays 4/07 David Elliott 4/12 Kaitlyn Reim 4/12 Janet Sims 4/14 Christina Geltmacher 4/15 Carol Siciliano 4/16 Stephen Elliott 4/16 Austin Golding 4/19 Ron Fennimore 4/19 Dorothy Johnson 4/19 Carol McDaniel 4/27 Tressa Dehner 4/28 Libby Fennimore 4/28 Carolyn Ronketty 5/05 Leighanne Eachus 5/08 Debbie Becker 5/08 Quint Lerch April Anniversaries 4/01 Chris and Beth Sheehan 4/13 Ken and Barbara Kratzer 4/20 William and Sue Reim 4/25 Joe and Pat McDonnell 4/30 Edgar and Jesse Pizarro

Youth group fights hunger, raises $2,230 By Elisha Elliott, Youth Director Seventeen middle- and high-school students representing our church fasted for 30 hours and raised $2,230 for World Vision's 30 Hour Famine on the weekend of March 7 and 8. During their weekend together, the students made 515 peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches for Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, collected more than 300 items for the Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry, held a candlelight vigil for the children who went hungry the night of March 7, learned of the travesties that children in Ethiopia have to endure every day and bonded through various team-building exercises, such as a Trash Bag Fashion Show.

Prime Timers enjoy pizza and a St. Patrick’s Day quiz The Prime Timers met in the church lounge at noon March 9 for a pizza party with 15 members present. We were eagerly anticipating the delivery of the pizza, being that he was five minutes overdue. He was new to the area and went to the Woodbury Presbyterian Church instead of Woodbury Heights. We forgave him. Paul Milio gave the prayer, and considering our empty stomachs, kept it short. Since it was close to St. Patrick’s Day, Paul decided to give us a quiz on St. Patrick and followed that with a lighter, more humorous quiz about the Irish. Reports were read and approved. Paul mentioned that Janet and Dick were both having surgery today. Later, Barbara dropped by to give us a report on Dick. He will stay in the hospital until Thursday to make sure he can navigate steps. It was noted that former member Esther Korn, now living in Warminster, will have a birthday this month. Paul gave thanks to Judy for her help in setting up the table and for bringing a dessert of cookies and pineapple upside-down cake; to Esther for ordering the pizza and bringing the soda, to Ginny for making coffee and to Bob for coming early to put on the heat, so we would be comfortable. He also extended our gratitude to the callers. Ginny said she would like to put extra copies of the newsletter in the narthex. Judy reviewed a wide variety of possible trips for us to take that were not too far away. We will make a decision at our next meeting which ones we would like to pursue. Our April meeting will be at the Olive Garden restaurant. By Esther Culbert and Janet Koehler

DEACON’S CORNER: Next Deacon’s meeting April 28, 7 pm Annex  Welcome  Spring!!      

The Deacons have been busy as usual! Our meetings are usually later than newsletter deadlines, so forgive some of the “older” news. News:

• Deacons visited 56 members in February. • New photo directories were placed in the Pew Racks…please enjoy them, but do not remove from

your pew racks...thank you. • Food Bank: Sixty-three food items were collected for the month of February (163, year to date) • Food items for April: cereal, cold or hot, pancake mix (no eggs needed), syrup

(& of course these are only suggestions – all non-perishable food is welcome!) • Made a Move: The Deacons have moved their storage closet down the hall. There will be a lot of

left over stuff – up for grabs -- TBA • End of the Year reports: If you missed the yearly congregational meeting, please pick up a copy of

the year-end reports for 2014. Lots of great things were accomplished! Check out the Deacons’ webpage for our year end reports!

Ongoing events/Programs:

* “Hospitality bags” * Being Green: Recycling Sunday Bulletins * Children’s reusable doodle pads, toys and books for service * Gift cards for the ShopRite and Acme food markets * Food collection

Please continue your donations in the green offering envelopes!

And most importantly: **Please inform us of anyone needing assistance or a visit. ** God Bless - In Christ’s service, Your Board of Deacons: Liz Billings, Jeff Brenner, Clay Cary, Cassandra DeFinizio, Kim DiNoia, Steve Elliott, Kayleigh Fishwick, Connie Harley, Judy Milio, John Pedicone, Andrew Reynolds, Margaret Schneeman, Dottie Shedwick, Joe Williamson. Joyce Woodrow, moderator

Upcoming Events: March 29: Palm Sunday April 2: Maundy Thursday/Communion April 5: Easter April 18: Chicken BBQ May 6: Sunshine Luncheon - invitations mailed soon June 7: Graduate Sunday/Luncheon: invitations mailed in May

Notes from the Organ Bench by Quint Lerch

April 2015

A Study of the Psalms  Of all the places to look in the Bible, the Book of Psalms (150 in all) is probably home to the most familiar passages we can easily quote from memory. And the wonderful things about these ancient writings is how varied they are and how many topics they cover. The Psalms were songs that were sung by the ancient peoples, and some of their words are part of some of our most beloved hymns today. The 23rd Psalm is the inspiration for the hymns “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” and “The King of God My Shepherd Is.” Psalm 90 gives rise to “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and Psalm 103 to “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven,” along with many others. Scholars over the years have done what scholars do, and that is to categorize them. They have been classified into about 13 different recognized categories, such as songs of Praise and Thanksgiving, creation, salvation, the Lord as King, praise of/to Jerusalem and the King of Jerusalem, Psalms of Lament (the largest category at 52), ones of Trust, ones about the Torah, wisdom, liturgy, and finally a set of 13 mixed types that defy classification. In a devotional booklet I have used throughout Lent this year, written by ordinary church members young and old, 40 devotions were assembled from a wide variety of Psalms that had great significance to the writers who chose them. One of my favorites was a devotion based on a lament in Psalm 37, verses 1-4, and talks about evil and suffering in the world. Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. But trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of the heart. We live in a very difficult world today -- one that seems to change daily. I think we have all prayed prayers of lament over the difficult and disturbing situations we, and the world, face each day. But when we do, what always follows for me, and what the devotional writer chose, too, is that prayer of trust in the Lord. In these troubled times, we must trust that the Lord is in control. Jesus did just that as he made his Lenten journey to the cross. As dark as it got for Jesus, it can get just as dark for us. But the saving light of God lies in our trust in Him. Never forget that, and never forget that He is in charge. Have a Blessed Easter!

Important Upcoming Dates

Palm Sunday, March 29 – 11 a.m. worship

Maundy Thursday Communion – April 2, at 7:30 p.m., with Sanctuary Choir and soloists Easter Celebration – April 5, at 7 a.m. (Sunrise service) and at 10 a.m., with the Youth, Bell and Adult choirs

Joint Service at Mount Zion - Wesley United Methodist Church – April 26, 9:30 a.m. worship

Sunday   Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday   Friday   Saturday  

      1   2   3   4           7:30  p.m.  Holy  

Thursday  communion  

Noon  -­‐-­‐  Good  Friday  service  at  New  Sharon  Methodist  Church  9  p.m.,  Prayer  Vigil  starts  

 

5   6   7   8   9   10   11  7  a.m.  Easter  sunrise  service  10  a.m.  Worship  service  

  7  p.m.,  Esther  Circle,  annex  

      8  a.m.,  Church  yard  cleanup  

12   13   14   15   16   17   18  9:30  a.m.  Sunday  School    11:00  a.m.    Worship    

Noon  -­‐-­‐  Prime  Timers,  Olive  Garden,  Deptford  

  6:30  p.m.,  Mission  7  p.m.,  Session  

6:45  p.m.,  Bells    7:45  p.m.,  Choir    

  4  p.m.,  Chicken  barbecue  

19   20   21   22   23   24   25  9:30  a.m.,  Sunday  School    11:00  a.m.    Worship    

Noon  -­‐-­‐  Sarah  Circle  

    6:45  p.m.,  Bells    7:45  p.m.,  Choir    

   

26   27   28   29   30      9:30  a.m.  ,  Worship  at  Mount  Zion  –  Wesley  Church,  Wenonah  

  7  p.m.,  Deacons     6:45  p.m.,  Bells    7:45  p.m.,  Choir    

   

             

             

How to help at our chicken barbecue Thank you to the many members and friends who have signed up to help at the BBQ since the first announcement last month! There are still important jobs to fill. Please contact Joyce Woodrow ASAP if you can fill these positions: Jobs still available: ... Traffic coordinator ... Beverage person … Lounge take-out helpers, see Bonnie Dawson … Dining-room servers, see Jeanne Mangano … Potato-salad makers, see Barbara Daugherty … And – someone to wear the all-important Chicken Suit! ** If you wish to help out in this event please see or call Joyce Woodrow, 468-0645 or email: woody1@comcast.net ** See Denise Pitchford, Joyce Woodrow or Carrie Flynn (church secretary) to purchase tickets. The price is $13 per meal (2 for $25 ): Tickets are sold after church in the lounge. It is very important to buy tickets ahead of time so we can order the correct number of chickens. If you have a large group. please buy tickets in advance to assure we have enough chicken. ** Donations lists were available on three Sundays in February and March, and now Sue Golding and her callers will make -- or have made -- phone calls. The list will be posted on the wall by the kitchen door upstairs for you to cross your name off. Please put your name on your product if the list is not on the wall. Thank You.  Post  this  reminder  or  give  to  a  friend:                        ANNUAL  CHICKEN  BARBECUE!    April  18,  2015                                            Where? First Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Heights 335 Elm Ave., Woodbury Heights, NJ, 08097 (Enter via Fourth Street) When? April 18, 2015                                         What time? 4 to 6:30 p.m. What do you get? Half a chicken (grilled by the Smilski family), homemade potato salad, special-recipe green beans, applesauce, homemade desserts and beverages Choice of take-out or family-style dining-in for great fellowship, and once again the DRIVE THRU SERVICE! (no beverage with take-out) Cost? $13 per meal (2 for $25) -- Make checks payable to “First Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Heights” and write, ‘Women’s Association’ on the ‘memo’ line Delivery service is available to Colonial Manor, Woodbury Mews and Lakebridge (before 4:30 p.m.). Call  the  church  office  to  purchase  tickets  or  arrange  a  delivery:  (856)  845-­‐0139.

Help Wanted…