February 2014
Volume XX Issue 2
“In worship, fellowship and service we seek God’s peace as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”
The Madison Methodist The Madison Methodist The Madison Methodist
MessageMessageMessage
The United Methodist Church in Madison
24 Madison Avenue Madison, NJ 07940
“at the corner of Drew University”
[email protected] www.umcmadison.org
Tel: 973.377.1231
A Message from the Pastor
School. Each week we get students from Madison High
School, members of the church and Drew University and
travel down to Newark. The hope is to establish a two-
way street this spring when the Newark students will visit
us, as well.
We have also started a Conversational English class
with Korean spouses of students at Drew University who
desire to sharpen their English speaking skills. Several
lay members from the church are now part of this
(Continued on page 2)
I spent a weekend with my wife with our daughter and
granddaughter in Boston. My son-in-law was visiting
friends so it gave us a good chance to visit. Boston is a
wonderfully manageable city. It is fairly easy to get
around but confusing to newcomers or visitors like us.
As an old city, many of the neighborhoods were not
prepared for the onslaught of motor cars and therefore
community streets are often one-way. And that is a
challenge. Driving to the next block may be quite an
excursion; go down one street and over two (or over two
and down one), then a left and a left just to get back
where you started.
I like two-way streets. It also presents challenges but
it makes for easier travelling … easier to get where you’re
going.
I am finding Christian ministry (that includes all of us
by the way) over time can become a one-way street. We
are not prepared for future change and getting where we
want to go becomes arduous and difficult. Two-way
streets allow more traffic and communication and growth.
As many of you know we are working on continuing
our tutoring program in Newark at Chancellor Avenue
Finally, Back to a Two-Way Street!
2
Staff & Elected Officers Pastor
Rev. Robb W. Shoaf, Ph.D Student Assistant Pastor
Chelsea Jackson Director of Music & Organist
Susan McAdoo, D.M.A. Director of Christian Education
Peggy Merrick Worship Arts Coordinator
Amanda Rohrs-Dodge Admin/Editor Linda Langstaff Sexton Marlice Borecki
David Green Chair, Church Council Jim Balfe Treasurer David Green Assistant to Treasurer Scot Guempel Financial Secretary Alan Voorhees Finance Chair Gordon Fleming Facility Management Vic Schumacher President, Trustees
Program Facilitators Nurture Ministries
Lisa Moro Outreach Ministries
Jeanne Eisele Witness/Igniting Ministry
Kris Pfeifer Worship Ministries
Lisa Carballo Education/Youth
Peggy Merrick & Chelsea Jackson
Trustees Vic Schumacher Gordon Fleming Mike Kroeger Luke McKinnon Shin-Ok Ha Wade Merrick JoAnn Van Sciver Nori Tadano
Stephanie McCormick
February 2014
United Methodist Women
Two-Way Street
program. And the need is greater than our resources, so
we can use YOUR help.
What makes these ministries exciting for me and for
those involved? We are trying to help others? Surely that
is part of it. Serving others is the fabric of our faith?
Certainly, Christ expects nothing less. But there is some-
thing that makes all the difference; it is a two-way street.
Working with others and giving of ourselves to others is a
blessing we not only give but receive. It allows more
exchange (traffic), communication, growth, and lest I
forget, JOY.
Grace and Peace,
(Continued from page 1)
T he Naomi Circle will be attending the Music at
Noon Series at Morristown United Methodist
Church on Thursday, January 30, when the Heritage
Quartet (two pianos, cello and violin) will be performing.
As always, a delicious soup and salad lunch will follow.
The cost for lunch and the concert is $11. We’ll meet
in the church parking lot at 11:30 a.m. and proceed to
Morristown together. All are welcome to join us.
Contact Laurie Hagerich at 973–377–9407 to let me
know you can come or for further information.
D uring the month of January, as a new year is just
beginning, I often find myself reflecting on where I
have come from while simultaneously looking ahead to
where this new year will take me. It seems I am not the
only one who does this — many of our gospel lessons for
the month of January did the same thing, as they centered
around two themes: the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by
John, and the call of the first disciples to drop everything
and follow Jesus.
Now that we have remembered our baptisms, and
opened our hearts and spirits to the ongoing call God has
for us (something I hope you do each and every day),
there are a few things that we should know. Throughout
February our worship will turn from remembering those
moments in which God named us, claimed us, and called
us to focusing on Jesus’ teachings on how to treat one
another and live as Children of God in this world. So get
your pencils ready (just kidding!) as we learn how to be
the light of the world, who it is we are to love, and just
what those Beatitudes are all about.
Amanda
Worship Notes for February
3
J oin us on Monday,
Feb. 3 at 7:15 p.m. as
we begin our study and
discussion of The Heart
of Christianity: Redis-
covering a Life of Faith
by Marcus J. Borg.
The book provides a
new way of looking at
and understanding the
Christian faith for our
day and time by one of
the most renowned Bibli-
cal scholars of our day.
The group will meet weekly from 7:15–8:30 p.m. on
Monday evenings through March 3. Please let Robb know
if you would like to attend and need a copy of the book.
Other News ... Bits and briefs
February 2014
Conversation Partners Needed for
Conversational English Group
O n Jan. 13, several church members met here at the
church with members of the Korean student com-
munity at Drew to help them with conversational English.
The group is composed of Koren-speaking spouses of
Drew seminary students and their young children.
This first meeting was very enjoyable and useful for
all, and the group is continuing to meet each week on
Mondays at 10:30 a.m.
We have a need for more volunteers to serve as
conversation partners in this ministry. Please contact
Robb ([email protected]) if you are able to help.
T he Gateway North District Day of Learning will be
Saturday, Feb. 8, at Morrow Memorial UMC (600
Ridgewood Road, Maplewood). Registration begins at
8:30 a.m. and worship starts at 9 a.m. The day concludes
with lunch at 1 p.m. Some of the workshops offered are:
Have We Lost Them? Why young people are
leaving the church (disconnection, irrelevance, dis-
comfort, perceptions, etc.) and how to address this.
United Methodist Women: Faith Hope and Love
in Action - UMW mission projects and initiatives.
Laity: Understanding Your Role: How to develop
leaders, how to be spiritually engaged, and to work
effectively with your pastor.
Growing Youth Ministry through Mission: Ways
to get a youth mission ministry started or expanded.
Mission ministry for youth is a great entry point into
the church, and to deeper involvement and faith.
Vital Small Groups: Whatever the size of the
church, you can be equipped to initiate small group
ministry, bringing together church and community.
New Small Group Study
Begins Feb. 3
District Day of Learning is Feb. 8
Anniversary Sunday Is February 23
W e will celebrate our local heritage on Sunday, Feb.
23 with recognition of members who entered the
Church Triumphant last year, memorial and special gifts,
and recognition of 10- through 50-plus-year members.
Our church was organized on February 27, 1843.
Please join us on Feb. 23 to celebrate our 171st year!
O ffering envelopes for 2014 are in the Sanctuary for
you to pick up. If you have not been assigned offer-
ing envelopes and would like to start using them for your
weekly giving, please contact the church office. Your use
of envelopes is greatly appreciated by our counters!
2014 Offering Envelopes
4
February 2014
March Newsletter Deadline: Feb. 19
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour
3 10:30 am Conversational English Class
3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA
4 1 pm Women’s Spirituality Group 7:30 pm Trustees 8 pm AA
5
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA
6 8 pm Chancel Choir
7
8
9 8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour
10 10:30 am Conversational English Class
3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA
11 8 pm AA
12 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA
13 8 pm Chancel Choir
14
15
16
8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour
17 Presidents
Day Office Closed 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA
18
1 pm Women’s Spirituality Group 7:30 pm Church Council 8 pm AA
19 Newsletter
Deadline 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA
20 12:30 pm Worship Meeting 8 pm Chancel Choir
21
22
23 Anniversary Sunday
8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour Church Council
24 10:30 am Conversational English Class
3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA
25 8 pm AA
26 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA
27 8 pm Chancel Choir
28
5
H ello Everyone!
I hope your New Year is off to a good start and you
are staying warm!
I want to remind everyone that the youth will be
participating in Souper Bowl of Caring this Sunday, Feb.
2. They will be collecting monetary donations for Market
Street Mission after the 10 a.m. worship service.
Although monetary donations are preferred, cans of soup
are also welcome!
On Sunday, Jan. 26, we held a Youth Council meeting
to discuss upcoming youth projects and fundraising. The
biggest project we are planning is a “Stop Hunger Now”
event. The youth are teaming up with our Outreach
Ministry Team and others in the community to hold this
meal packaging event in the spring. I will continue to
provide details as they come, but for now, know that big
things are happening!
We also discussed smaller projects and taking local
mission trips to Boston and the Jersey shore, and brain-
stormed fundraising plans for these trips. If you would
like more information about youth events or the meeting,
please contact me.
Lastly, the confirmation class is at its halfway mark,
and I would like to thank both the students and congrega-
tion members who have helped with the confirmation
process thus far. These kids are dedicated to the process,
and have done an outstanding job, and we could not have
a successful program without the support of the church.
Thank you!
If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns please
do not hesitate to contact me, and have a happy February!
In Peace,
Chelsea
February 2014
Sunday School
News It’s Time for the Super Bowl
and the “Souper Bowl of Caring,” Sunday, Feb. 2!
Our “Teens Take Charge” will man the entrances to
the Sanctuary, holding soup pots. They will be collecting
dollars to donate to the
Market Street Mission.
This effort is a national
event that churches across
the country will be par-
ticipating in on Super
Bowl Sunday. It’s a great
opportunity to remember
those who are hungry as
we root for our favorite
teams. Total amounts are
called in to a central loca-
tion and the total amount collected nationwide will be
announced during the Super Bowl game.
Confirmands Become Student Teachers!
Our Confirmation students will prepare to take over
the Sunday school classes on Sunday, February 9! I will
be preparing them for this opportunity the previous
Sunday, Feb 2, during their class time. Confirmands tradi-
tionally have been given the opportunity to teach Sunday
school upon completion of Confirmation. As part of their
curriculum, they will have two opportunities to test the
waters of teaching. The next opportunity will be in the
spring. Preparation will give them practical applications
and organization skills for any presentation they may
make, but especially for teaching a lesson.
The Sunday School program will continue in a normal
pattern throughout the rest of the month.
Peggy Merrick
From the
Student Assistant Pastor
W e will begin our Lenten
Journey on Ash Wednesday,
March 5. As we’ve done in the past, a
Pizza Dinner will be offered at 6:15
p.m. in the church library. At 7 p.m. a
family-friendly service of worship
and imposition of ashes will be held
in the Sanctuary.
Please join us for this meaningful time in the life of
our church family.
Lent Begins March 5
Interfaith Food Pantry
Current Needs
The Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry is distribut-
ing approximately 1.7 tons of food per day. The following
items are particularly needed at this time:
Rice (1 or 2 pound size)
Parmalat (shelf-stable, 32 oz. size)
Dry Milk (1 quart package)
Tuna Fish
Canned meats and meals
Soups (regular, hearty and low-sodium)
Canned Fruit
Canned Beans (Pork & Beans, Pinto, Red, White, Black)
Ensure and Glucerna
Baby Food (Stage 1, Stage 3 fruits and vegetables)
6
T hank you for your generous support of the Advent/
Christmas Offering. The donations totaled $3,630
and supported two disaster relief and recovery organiza-
tions, one local and one global.
A Future with Hope (AFWH) has been established as
a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency for relief, recovery and resto-
ration efforts within New Jersey. It was set up to manage
the grants received by the Greater New Jersey Annual
Conference following SuperStorm Sandy. Through
collaboration with civic and faith-based partners, AFWH
will work with families, community leaders and national
organizations to further the recovery efforts.
UMCOR International Disaster Response in the
Philippines—Typhoon
Haiyan Relief: Advance
#982450 is part of the
global mission ministries
of UMC. The devastating
Typhoon Haiyan in the
Philippines inspired our
choice for this outreach
effort.
Typhoon Haiyan damaged or destroyed more than one
million homes, disrupting the lives of more than 12
million people across the Philippines. It was the deadliest
typhoon to ever strike the country. UMCOR has been
continuously involved in providing assistance in the form
of emergency food supplies, health kits and water for
those affected. UMCOR forms partnerships such as one in
the Philippines with Dambana, an ecumenical disaster
relief organization whose name literally means “altar.”
Their effort will continue throughout 2014 and expand to
include psychosocial support, reconstruction or rehabilita-
tion of housing.
Syria: UMCOR relief with refugees International aid agencies believe that refugees from
Syria seeking shelter in neighboring countries totaled
three million by the end of 2013. An estimated one mil-
lion Syrians have taken refuge in Turkey. One refugee
site in the city of Kilis, with a normal population of just
88,000, has swelled with the addition of 70,000 refugees.
As part of the relief effort, UMCOR is supporting a
special program to provide refugee children with opportu-
nities to play and interact and learn. The program, known
as “Child-Friendly Spaces” (CFS), is implemented by
UMCOR’s Turkey-based partner, International Blue
Crescent (IBC) and provides a combination of informal
schooling along with emotional, psychological and health
February 2014
Advent/Christmas Offering Report
OUTREACH MINISTRY TEAM Honoring God’s gift of Jesus by sharing with others
care. UMCOR’s assistance ensures that the children get to
enjoy daytime snacks in addition to two meals.
Supporting about 600 children now, UMCOR is
actively considering extending the much-needed Child-
Friendly Spaces program in both time and scope.
Other Outreach News SAVE THE DATE! March 29, 2014:
Gateway North District Volunteer Day
Saturday, March 29 is planned as a Gateway North
District Volunteer Day to Help Sandy Victims move back
into their homes! Please mark your calendars and plan on
joining a team from our church as we join others from
across our district to help rebuild and restore homes in
New Jersey communities.
If you are interested, please email Jeanne Eisele
([email protected]) or Rev. Shoaf ([email protected]).
More specifics about the day will follow.
Chancellor Avenue School Tutoring Rev. Shoaf has spearheaded the effort to continue the
tutoring relationship with students at Chancellor Avenue
School in Newark. The students began coming to
Madison for tutoring through SCEEP when they were
second or third graders and are now in seventh grade!
While our relationship with PCCI/SCEEP ended this
past spring, Rev. Shoaf met with Jose Fuentes, Principal
at Chancellor, and together they made sure the students
would be able to receive the extra help from UMC in
Madison and our dedicated tutors, who travel each Mon-
day afternoon to spend time in learning activities. There is
an effort underway to begin transporting the students to
Madison for some of their sessions. Many thanks to Rev.
Shoaf for his dedication to this crucial ministry.
In Christ’s service,
Jeanne Eisele
Outreach Ministry
7
Ellie Miller Family of Jane Ochs
Brandon Cicogna Family of Margaret Walling
Family of Dotty Scott Charlene Hanson
Family of Jess Merrick Gita Kandalavala
Our Church Family People we remembered in prayer
February 2014
Known Birthdays in February
Vivienne Camilla Bull
Megan DiNorscio
Drew Galton
Jennifer Hitchcock
Katie McCarter
Kristen Paddack
Aubrey Mae Pasciak
Katelyn Grace Pasciak
Emily Pierro
Emily Scaturo
Daryl Anthony Vanella
Jill Van Hook
Elizabeth Van Sciver
T hanks to everyone who contributed Angel Tree gifts
for the Family Promise guests currently in the
shelter. The gifts were wrapped by youth from our church
and delivered by Jeanne Eisele in plenty of time for
Christmas enjoyment at the Family Promise Holiday
Party on Dec. 18.
Family Promise is still seeking help in providing
“Wish List” items, which go to families in shelter,
families who have moved into their own homes and into
Abigail House, the Transitional Housing Program. The
“Wish List” is posted on the bulletin board in the church
library, and any contributions will be greatly appreciated.
These items will be a big help to families impacted by the
recent food stamp cuts and other financial hardships.
Our time to help with the families hosted at St.
Vincent Martyr Church during the week of Feb. 16 will
be here very soon. Some volunteers have already signed
up, but a few more are needed. The times our church is
responsible for are:
Friday, Feb. 21
5:30–7 p.m. – 2 or 3 volunteers to provide dinner
7–9 p.m. – 2 volunteers to provide companionship
9 p.m. – 8 a.m. – overnight volunteers are needed
Saturday, February 22
11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. – 2 volunteers to provide
companionship and help with lunch
Family Promise’s Winter newsletter has lots of en-
couraging news about the families, the staff and facilities.
Through a partnership with Liquid Church, life-changing
improvements have been made to Family Promises Day
Center/offices, including a new shed, landscaping, patio,
new washer and dryer, reorganization of the garage and
Wish List items. Construction work is being completed on
the Day Center’s family room renovation project through
a partnership with Morris Habitat for Humanity. Work
crews are busy three days a week at the site to complete
the project. The full newsletter can be accessed at
www.familypromisemorris.org.
The Family Promise annual Volunteer Recognition
Dinner will be held on Thursday, March 20, 6 – 9 p.m., at
Meadow Wood Manor, 461 Route 10 East, in Randolph.
This is always a good time of food and fellowship for the
volunteers and families, so please save the date now.
Please call, email or see me in church if you are able
to help during our week in February or would like more
information.
Laurie Hagerich, Coordinator
973–377–9407
News from
Family Promise
Fair Trade Coffee Sale — Feb. 2
During coffee hour in the church library
Scriptures for Sundays February 2: Micah 6:1–8, Psalm 15,
1 Corinthians 1:18–31, Matthew 5:1–12
February 9: Isaiah 58:1–12, Psalm 112:1–10,
1 Corinthians 2:1–12, Matthew 5:13–20
February 16: Deuteronomy 30:15–20, Psalm 119:1–8,
1 Corinthians 3:1–9, Matthew 5:21–37
February 23: Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18, Psalm 119:33–40,
1 Corinthians 3:10–23, Matthew 5:38–48
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Worship Schedule
Early Morning Worship 8:30 a.m.
Family Worship & Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers.
Coffee and Fellowship 11:15 a.m.
Coming Up: February 3 Book Study Begins, 7:15 p.m.
February 9 Mustard Seeds Pancake Fundraiser
February 16 Teens Take Charge meets
February 23 Anniversary Sunday, Church Council Meeting
March 5 Ash Wednesday—Lent Begins
Check our website for more information: www.umcmadison.org
Just for fun...
A Pastor Explains Why He Quit Going to Sporting Events
1. The coach never came to visit me.
2. Every time I went, they asked for money.
3. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.
4. The seats were very hard.
5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.
6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!
7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.
8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.
9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.
10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway.
12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
13. The game was always the same and they followed the same rules every time.
Enjoy the Super Bowl and please contribute to the Souper Bowl of Caring
conducted by the Youth on Sunday, February 2!
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