Point Pleasant
Presbyterian Church

Weekly News for

Sunday,

January 4, 2015 

      SPECIAL Pancake Breakfast!
                           (See below for details...)

Dear Friends,

We all know the cast of characters who typically show up in a Christmas pageant. Besides Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, there are shepherds, angels and wise men. Sometimes there's an innkeeper. Maybe there's a farm animal or two, contentedly looking on.

This year, at our 4:00 Christmas Eve service, we even had someone playing the star. Little Payton stood high on a ladder and shone for all to see.

There's one character from the biblical Christmas story we rarely see: King Herod. He's the villain of the piece. Nobody wants him around, and with good reason. He was not a nice person.

We'd rather keep our Christmas tableau pure, a picture of sweetness and light: 
"O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars roll by."

We don't want a bloodthirsty tyrant like Herod to intrude on that peaceful scene. But, like it or not, he's part of the story.

Were the world as serene and beautiful as our ideal nativity scene, there would hardly be a need for a savior. But the truth is, the world does have more than its share of Herods. And - as our Interfaith Hospitality Network ministry reminds us - there are more families than we'd like to admit who have no roof over their heads.

No, in order to tell the Christmas story in all its completeness, we've got to keep Herod in. Because Jesus wasn't born into an ideal world. He was born into the world as it really is.

Praise God for that!

Join us this Sunday for the Second Sunday of Christmas, the first worship service of the new year and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. We'll talk about keeping the faith in the real world.

Happy New Year!  

  

Pastor Carl

 

This Sunday
 

Sunday, January 4 - Second Sunday after Christmas

Matthew 2:13-23

 

Dr. Wilton preaching: "LET'S KEEP HEROD IN CHRISTMAS"

 

IHN Arrives

9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection

10:00 a.m - Worship/Communion/

Chancel Choir

10:00 a.m. - Sunday School starts in Worship

11:00 a.m. - Special Communion Breakfast 

11:15 p.m. - Inquirers Group

4:00 p.m. - Webelos


 
Prayerfully Consider
 

"Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people." - Ephesians 6:18 (CEV) 


The Prayer Family for the week of January 4 is the Dunston family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Bob and Emily, as well as all our members and friends.

Other prayer concerns: Nancy Smith; Mary McSweeney; Marilyn Coppolino; Diane (Linda Lee Smith's sister); Nicholas Hudnut; Michael Limpantsis; Margaret Olsavsky; Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); Karen Larsen; all those in the military, as well as those struggling with addictions and mental illness.

SPECIAL * PANCAKE BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY * SPECIAL

In lieu of our regular Communion Brunch, Patrick Cox of Boy Scout Troop 6 is organizing a Pancake Breakfast as a fund-raiser for his Eagle Scout project. Patrick's project is to recruit, motivate and organize volunteers who will renovate and redecorate the church office - a project that's much-needed and long overdue.

Patrick and the scouts of Troop 6 would like nothing better than for you to stay after worship, fill up on delicious pancakes and sausage, and make a GENEROUS donation to help make this project happen.

Patrick gets his Eagle Scout award, the church gets a brand-spanking new office and WE ALL GET TO EAT PANCAKES!!!

What's not to like?
 
         PPPC NEWS


News and Notes

CHECK FOR SNOW CANCELLATIONS - In case of snow, please check the main page of the church website or the voice mail message about worship service times (732-899-0587) for the latest information about cancellations of church activities. 

 

CHURCH ORGANIZATION LEADERS: Information for the Annual Reports is due by THIS FRIDAY, January 9, 2015. One paragraph highlighting events in the past year is sufficient length for most reports. Also, if your organization maintains a separate treasury or bank account, these reports must include a financial reporting. Reports can be emailed directly to Kim Gaydos at [email protected]. Call or email the Church office if you would like a digital version of the 2013 report.  Reports will be ready for the congregation on Sunday, January 18, 2015.

 

VALENTINE HOUSE GIVING TREE - Gifts will be handed out to residents at our annual Epiphany Party coming up this week.  If you have not brought your gift in, please do ASAP.

 

AN INQUIRERS GROUPwelcome_mat for those exploring membership in the church, will take place THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON, January 4, 2015. Come to the CE Annex for the Pancake Breakfast; we'll walk over to the Chittick Lounge around 11:30 and will continue there until 2:00 p.m. Child care can be made available upon prior request. New members will be received in worship on January 11. Please call the Church Office to sign up, or to find out more!

 

CONFIRMATION: HOLD THE DATES! A meeting for parents of the Confirmation Class (for young people grade 7 and above) will take place on Sunday, February 22 at 11:15 am. Confirmation classes will meet on various Sunday evenings from 5:00-6:00 pm. There will be 8 meetings of the class in all, including a retreat to Camp Johnsonburg, March 6-9. Confirmation will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. For more information, please contact the church office.  

                                   STEWARDSHIP

Did You Miss New Year's in November?

No, you didn't! Even though we received New Year's giving resolutions (estimates of giving for 2015) back in November, if that somehow slipped your mind, we'd still be very glad to hear your best estimate of how you will be able to support the work of Christ through Point Pleasant Presbyterian in the coming year.

The Session will be finalizing the 2015 budget at their meeting on January 13th.

The easiest way to submit your estimate of giving is to send a (confidential) email to financial secretary Donna Ferry,
 [email protected] .

CAMPAIGN UPDATE - The latest "prayerful resolutions" figures from the fall stewardship campaign are 91 households for a total of $218,044. Thanks to all who have submitted an estimate of giving for 2015!

 

New Offering Envelopes 
 
envelopes
2015 offering envelope boxes may be picked up in the Narthex. If you cannot find your envelopes, please write your name on the pad provided.

Please use only 2015 envelopes beginning this Sunday, January 4th. (Please note: your assigned envelope number may have changed.)

You can also call the church's Financial Secretary, Donna Ferry, in the church office with any questions.

Checks dated December 31st or earlier will be credited to the 2014 year. Please avoid putting 2014 donations in 2015 envelopes. Thank you!
Save Time, Save Stamps - Give Online!

More and more people are paying their bills online these days. If you're one of those people, you may find that one of the last paper checks you're still writing, each week or each month, is for your church contribution.

It doesn't need to be that way! There are three easy, convenient ways of contributing electronically by direct debit from your bank account. Either of these options can be used to make one-time gifts, or they may be configured to enable a recurring gift on whichever day of the month you choose.

Give Through the Church Website

The church has a safe and easy online giving option available through our website. Just go to the website and scroll down to the "Make Donation" button at the bottom of the page. Click on the button and follow the easy instructions there (you'll need to key in the routing number and account number of your bank account - but if you set up a recurring donation, you only need to do this once). Our online donations are processed through Vanco Services, a company with years of experience managing church online donations efficiently and safely.

Give By Smartphone

Each week, our worship bulletin contains this QR code (similar to a barcode). Using your smartphone, scan the code and it will take you to the church's online giving webpage, which is optimized for mobile phones. You may do this anytime, at your convenience - even during the worship service.

Give Through Your Bank's Website

You may already be paying some of your bills electronically through your bank, but you may not realize you can designate any recipient - including the church - for an online payment. Just got to the bill-paying portion of your bank's website, type in the church's name and address, and the bank will add that information to your list of online bill-pay recipients. Immediately after you request an online  payment, the bank mails the church a paper check, indicating that you are the giver. (This option is actually the most economical for the church, because the bank covers the small transaction fee for the online payment, which the church would otherwise have to pay.)

If you're concerned about letting the offering plate pass you by without putting anything in it, then please feel free to use one of the online giving cards in the pew rack. Just drop one of those cards in the offering plate as it goes by. Many electronic givers find this to be a meaningful way to participate in the offering as an act of worship.
 
                             ADULT EDUCATION

Covenant Bible Study to Begin Again

The Covenant Bible Study second unit, "Living the Covenant," will begin again on the week of January 26.  There will once again be two separate groups, meeting weekly:
Mondays, 10:00-11:30 am, led by Rev. Linda Chase
Wednesdays at 7:00-8:30 pm, led by Rev. Dr. Carl Wilton

COVENANT is an in-depth group Bible study that centers around our relationships with God, with each other and with the world. It emphasizes the biblical concept of covenant - the enduring commitment between God and people - as a unifying pattern throughout the entire Bible.  This is a learning experience where scripture meets everyday experience - not only within the church, but in every area of our lives.  

If you're interested in joining one of these groups, please call or email the church office!  Books are available in the office for $20.   Did you get a new tablet for Christmas?  The best rate of all is available to iPad users. Search for "Covenant Bible Study" is also available from the  iTunes Store, for $9.99 - half the price of the printed version.  

You can learn more about the program at the CovenantBibleStudy.com website.


      POINT BEACH PREP

Point Beach Prep News For the Week 
 
Point Beach Prep Open House Point Beach Prep will be having an Open House January 31st from 10 am - 12 pm.  The registration fee will be half price ($50) for anyone who registers at the Open House.   Our Pre-K class has limited space available for the remainder of this year and we are accepting registrations for the next school year.  Our Nursery class is currently full.  This is the time to register for next year!  Space is limited - if you are interested, please check us out!

Point Beach Prep Preschool makes learning fun, while building self-esteem and a positive attitude toward learning!  We promote kindergarten readiness and provide the tools to prepare the children for school and life.

We are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-12pm, with an optional lunch bunch 12pm-1pm.  Call us today 732-701-9900 or visit us on the web: www.pointbeachprep.com
                                       MISSION

Volunteers Still Needed for Claremont Care Center Worship Service

On the 4th Sunday of the month our church takes on the responsibility for a worship service at the Claremont Care Center nursing home. This short service is held at their facility from 2:30 to 3:00 pm. We are in need of volunteers to lead a simple worship service. Generally there are two people to lead this service. With a scripture reading, a short message/devotional reading (five minutes), a prayer and several hymns, you have made their day! There are song sheets in the church office with the words of familiar hymns. We are also in need of musicians to play simple hymn accompaniment. Your ideas and suggestions are also welcome.

The following dates are open:
January 25, February 22, March 22 and April 26.

Please speak with Linda Chase if you are interested in learning more.  
Interfaith Hospitality Network Guests Arriving this Sunday January 4
 
IHN hosting starts  this Sunday, January 4-11. 

We are still in need of people to help in different areas for the week.  Please sign up in the Narthex or call Dorothy Tolley at   732-892-9306 to volunteer to help.  Thank you. 
Presbyterians in Egypt

Not many Presbyterians are aware of the significant role Presbyterians have played for more than 150 years in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to Egypt. That's longer than Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church has been in existence!

Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), recently listed some of the accomplishments of the Egypt mission:

Presbyterian work in Egypt has grown over the years into the largest Protestant church in the Middle East, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt, with half a million members.

The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo has grown tremendously in size and is currently training more than 300 full-time students from 5 Middle Eastern countries.

The youth camp, founded in Alexandria almost a century ago has enjoyed significant growth over the last decade and this year, despite much uncertainty in Egyptian society, will receive growing number of Egyptian youth and young adults to learn how to love God and neighbor.

Presbyterians in Egypt work closely with the Coptic Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations.

You can read more of Hunter's reflections on the very significant Presbyterian work in Egypt on the Presbyterian World Mission web page.

Luxor Presbyterian Church, Egypt


                   ROUND ABOUT THE CHURCH

Farewell, Tree

On New Year's Eve, workers from R.T. Davies & Co. came by the church, to remove a large tree that has stood for many years beside the Sanctuary. The tree has been ailing for some time, and most of its limbs had died - so, there was no question but that it had to come down.

We're grateful to the Scarpone family, who have offered to pay for the cost of a new tree, which we expect will be planted in the Spring.

 

      THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR

 

The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 

 

Sunday, January 4

IHN Arrives

9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection

10:00 a.m - Worship/Communion/Chancel Choir

10:00 a.m. - Sunday School starts in Worship

11:00 a.m. - Special Communion Breakfast 

11:15 p.m. - Inquirers Group

4:00 p.m. - Webelos

 

Monday, January 5

IHN

6:15 p.m. - Choral Bells

7:00 p.m. - Deacons Meeting

 

Tuesday, January 6

IHN

 

Wednesday, January 7

IHN

9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner

10:00 a.m. - Prayer Chain, Chittick Lounge

5:00 p.m. - Dove Choir, Choir Room

 

Thursday, January 8

IHN

7:30 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs

7:00 p.m. - Judith Rachel Circle

7:30 p.m. - Chanel Choir Rehearsal

 

Friday, January 9

IHN

6:30 p.m. - Webloes Den

 

Saturday, January 10

IHN

10:00 a.m. Troop 6 Communications Merit Badge , CE Classroom

 

Sunday, January 11

IHN Leaves

9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection

10:00 a.m - Worship/Special Music/Baptisms/Healing Prayers

11:15 p.m. - Inquirers Group

4:00 p.m. - Webelos

Birthday Blessings

  

Jan 4
Jan 5 
Jan 6
Jan 7 
Jan 8
Jan 9 
Jan 10  Ami Gallagher
Jan 11 Brianna Harvey
Jan 12 Madeline Iadarola, Pat Shoppell,
Jan 13 Judy Antonucci, Jason Krayl, Rod Smith
Jan 14 Jean Whittaker
Jan 15 Stephen Ferguson, Nicholas O'Hara, Calvin Potter
Jan 16 Chris Nelson
Jan 17 Allison Milancewich
Jan 18 Patricia Hewitt
Jan 19 Ann Lappke
Jan 20 Lauren Braaten, Mary Beth Schroeder
Jan 21
Jan 22 Michele Cleveland, Donald May, Trevor Sellman, Londa Scarpone, Joan Vitale
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 25 Jason Braaten, Christopher Muraglia
Jan 26
Jan 27 Samantha Trainor
Jan 28 Jordan Cooper, Connor Durante
Jan 29 Blake Birdsong, Jaime Williams
Jan 30 Michael Fanizzo, Ronald Krayl
Jan 31 Vincent DeMartino, Donna Ferry, Maria Tirpak 

      COMING UP




Sunday, January 18, 2015
Blanket Sunday Special Offering

Sunday, January 25, 2015
10:00 am Worship
11:00 am Annual Congregational Meeting

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
6:00 pm - Ash Wednesday Soup Supper, followed by Communion Service 

  

       CONTACT US

 

Pastors   

The Rev. Carl Wilton, Ph.D., Pastor

The Rev. Linda Chase, Associate Pastor

 

Office Staff 

Kim Gaydos, Church Secretary 

Donna Ferry, Financial Secretary

Dee D'Amore, Volunteer Village Bookkeeper 

 

Music Staff

Sara Hoey, Organist

William Shoppell, Chancel Choir and Choral Bells Director

Rebecca Muraglia, Acting Dove Choir Director

 

Christian Education Staff

 Courtney Rzeplinski, Youth Connection Coordinator

Tricia Stoffers, Sunday School Coordinator 

Devlin House, Point Beach Prep Preschool Director

Quick Links 

Full Calendar of Events

Make a Safe, Online Contribution

Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church

 701 Forman Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

(Corner of Bay and Forman Avenues) 

 

Church Office: 732-899-0587 Fax: 732-899-2946

Visit us at http://www.pointpresbyterian.org

Church Office: [email protected]