|
|
Point Pleasant
Presbyterian Church
|
Weekly News for
Sunday,
April 12, 2015
| |
Friends,
The resurrection of our Lord was a world-changing event, but it was also a life-changing event for Jesus' closest followers. "Great grace was upon them all," says Acts 4:33.
What do we mean by that word, "grace"? It's a very common word, one we all use with some frequency. A young dancer is "graceful" in her movements. A person who fits in with the crowd at a dinner party demonstrates the "social graces." An upscale restaurant offers "gracious dining." A student graduating from college looks forward to a "grace period" before the educational-loan payments begin. All these meanings pale before the meaning of grace as a theological term: the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther built the Protestant Reformation on the concept of "justification by grace through faith." Because of what Christ has done, we can stop trying to overcome sin on our own, can cease struggling to justify ourselves before God by our good works. We could never save ourselves that way. But because of Jesus Christ, we don't have to. "Christianity," says Archbishop Desmond Tutu, "is not a religion of virtue; it is a religion of grace. And there's a difference. A religion of virtue says, 'If you are good, then God will love you.' A religion of grace says, 'God loves you.' God loves you despite your foibles and failures, not because you're so good but as a sinner in need of mercy." Those early disciples - having seen their Lord crucified and then raised, then having so recently received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - were fairly swimming in grace. Sometimes we, immersed in our own efforts to be strong and independent, forget what a great thing it is to be gifted with God's grace. It's worth reminding ourselves of that every once in a while. Come to worship this Sunday, as we celebrate amazing, wondrous, life-giving grace! Pastor Carl
|
|
|
This Sunday
Sunday, April 12 - Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:32-35
Dr. Wilton preaching: "GRACE IS FOR GIVING"
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary/Special Music/ Baptism/Healing Prayers
11:00 a.m. - Brunch with Sandwich Sunday
5:00 p.m. - Confirmation Class
|
|
HEALING PRAYERS
 During the final hymn of the Sunday service we will offer healing prayers. Those who wish to come forward for prayer with one of the pastors are invited to do so.
|
|
Mackenzie Lynne Philipps
daughter of
Timothy Philipps & Melissa Meklin
|
|
Looking for something special to do after church this Sunday? Well, why not come over to the Annex this Sunday for a combined Brunch/Sandwich Sunday. The Kitchen Team will once again be creating a splendid spread of scrumptious delights including stratas, pork-roll-egg-and-cheese sandwiches and quesidillas. Come enjoy the company of friends and family! A free-will offering will be received to cover expenses, with anything left over going to Mission.
|
|
|
"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 Person for the week of April 12 is Stan Thornton. Let us be prayerfully aware of Stan, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer concerns: The family of Jean Collins; the family of John Kelly (Point Beach Prep family); Robin Lee Mason; Bill Leach, Lou Couche, Bob Hankins; Sharon Hock, Helen Unglaub, Julie Budrick; Cherisse Petruzzi; Irene Meserlin (grandmother of Greg Hall); Margie McGhee, Joe Auriemma, Dolores Deisler (mother of Elaine Conheeney).
Long term concerns: Vincent DeMartino; George Elliott; Nicholas Hudnut; Jeffrey Mathews; Gerda Mooney; Nancy and Ralph Smith; Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); Andre Bucsek; Michelle Avary and Chris Loeffler (family of Andrea Purtell); Bill Blauvelt (Jacque Thornton's brother in law); those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Michael Limpantsis; all those in the military.
|
ATTENTION GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS - Applications are now being accepted for the Griggs Scholarship. Please provide a printed synopsis of your church, community and school activities. All graduating high school seniors seeking further study are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sunday, April 26, 2015. Further questions? Contact Diane Legriede.
COVENANT BIBLE STUDY - TRUSTING THE COVENANT - The last part of the Covenant Bible Study Trusting the Covenant will begin April 20 at 10:00 a.m. The class will run for eight weeks (no class of May 25). If you need a book please stop in the Church office.
 IHN BENEFIT - The Richard J. Allen Memorial Concert with the Bill Lawlor Quintet will take place at Christ United Methodist Church, 678 5th Street, Lakewood, on April 19 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and are available at the door and through the IHN office 732-736-1550. Net proceeds to benefit Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County. PRESBYTERIAN CAMP JOHNSONBURG OPEN HOUSE is Sunday afternoon, May 3, 1:00 pm till 4:00 pm. Come and get a taste of what camp is like. Ideal for first time campers (and their families) and those considering summer camp as an option. Come tour the site, meet some of the staff, and learn more about the program. Can't make it to the Open House? Call for an appointment. Visit the camp website or call 908-852-2349 for more information.
|
PW Clothing Drive NEXT Saturday
 Don't forget the Presbyterian Women clothing drive, NEXT Saturday, April 18, 8:00 am till 12 noon.
PW is collecting all wearable and usable clothing, including shoes, belts, handbags and linens. Please put all items in well-tied heavy-duty plastic bags and bring them to the church that Saturday morning. PW will receive a donation from the recycling contractor for the total poundage collected. All monies will support the mission of the Presbyterian Women. For more information call 732-581-1882. |
Make Your Opinion Heard: Join the Presbyterian Panel
Would you like to become a part of the Presbyterian Pand, and occasionally answer surveys for the PC(USA)? The Presbyterian Panel, providing research results to church leaders since 1973, is seeking a diverse group of individuals to share their perspectives on issues of belief and faith.
The online application process is simple. You will receive a welcome letter if you are selected to participate. If you are not selected at this time, your name will be reserved for future participation and can be removed by request at any time.
Thank you for considering participation in the Presbyterian Panel through Research Services.
|
Have You Made THE JUMP to Electronic Giving?
We know more and more people today are paying their bills online. This is true for every generation, not just younger people.
Yet, there's a strange phenomenon many churches (including our own) have been noticing. Even members who are comfortable with electronic giving are slow to contribute to the church online. For some, their check to the church is among the last ones they're still writing, each week or each month.
Part of the reason may be the unique way churches receive contributions: the offering plate.
There's something about the physical act of placing something in the offering plate that feels spiritually satisfying - the visual image of our gifts being pooled with those of so many friends in Christ, then being carried forward by the ushers, to the glory of God. For some, there's also a negative factor: a fear that - as unlikely as it may be - others worshiping beside us are noticing (and disapproving) if we don't drop something into the plate when it passes by.
As a way of making the jump to electronic giving a little easier, we' done two things.
First is the electronic-contribution card (pictured here), which is in the pew rack. All you do is take it out and drop it in the plate. You don't even need to write your name on it, because your gift is logged in the church office when it comes in. (All gifts received in this way are reported on the quarterly giving statements, along with those that arrive by means of the offering plate.) You don't need to specify an offering-envelope number.
Second, there's the QR code (the square sort of bar code) that we print in the worship bulletin each week. Scanning that code with a smartphone takes you directly to the church's electronic giving web page. With this technology, you can actually make an electronic contribution during the worship service. There are two convenient ways of making electronic gifts. One is through the online bill-pay service on your bank's web page (simply enter the church as a bill-pay recipient, as you would with any other bill). The second is through the church web page, where - using Vanco Services, the church's electronic-giving contractor - you can authorize a direct-debit payment from your bank account.
With either of these two means, you have total control over the funds-transfer process. You can schedule gifts at a regular interval, or you can go online each time you make a gift and authorize a one-time payment. If you have any questions about how this works, please feel free to call the church's Financial Secretary, Donna Ferry, in the church office.
Electronic giving is convenient, safe and - increasingly - widely used, by people of all ages. Why not make the jump?
|
|
Sunday School Recap
Last Week: I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!! We had such a great time in Sunday School. We worked on crafts celebrating Jesus' rising. The Easter egg hunt after Sunday School was SO much fun. It was a gorgeous day and the kids had a blast! 
This Week: We will be talking about Doubting Thomas. Sometimes it is hard to believe in the impossible until you see it with your own eyes. Thomas represents a struggle of faith, which I think everyone can identify with at some point in their lives. We will be discussing what it means to just have faith and believe in God, no matter what the test.
Upcoming Events:
Don't forget to join us for Big Hero 6 night!!!
 April 17: Join us for a Friday Fun Night- Movie Night! This month we will be showing Big Hero 6! The fun starts at 6 p.m. We will have crafts and activities before the movie starts. Pizza and snacks will be served. Cost is $5 per child. This is a drop off event, but parents are welcome (and encouraged) to stay!!
See you on Sunday! Peace and Blessings.
Tricia Stoffers
|
|
Volunteer Village
 We're just a couple of weeks away from welcoming the first of many volunteer work groups who will be staying in our Volunteer Village this spring and summer. Here are the bookings so far: 2015 Scheduled Groups Sunday April 12 - Presbytery of Detroit, MI/Webster Presbyterian, Webster NY Sunday, April 19 - Lend A Hand & Presbytery of Western NY Sunday, May 17 - Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA Sunday, June 14 - Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN Sunday, June 21 - Langhorne Presbyterian Church, Langhorne, PA Sunday, June 28 - Presbytery of West Virginia, South Charleston, WV Sunday, July 12 - St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Orange Park, FL Sunday, July 19 - First Presbyterian Church Yorktown, Yorktown, NY Sunday, July 26 - Pine Run Presbyterian Church, Apollo, PA Sunday, August 2 - Presbyterian Church of Morristown, NJ Sunday, August 16 - Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA Sunday, Sept 20 - Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA Sunday, Oct 4 - Helping Hands, PA Sunday, Oct 11- Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA Sunday, Oct 18 - Scioto Valley Presbyterian, Columbus, OH
|
|
The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
Sunday, April 12
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary/Special Music/Baptism/Healing Prayers
11:00 a.m. - Brunch with Sandwich Sunday
5:00 p.m. - Confirmation Class
Monday, April 13
11:30 a.m. - EliSabeth-Verdella Circle
6:15 p.m. - Choral Bells, Fellowship Room
Tuesday, April 14
10:00 a.m. - Eye Openers
1:00 p.m. - Lydia Day Circle
4:30 p.m - Daisy Girl Scouts
5:30 p.m. - Tiger Den
6:30 p.m. - Wolf and Bear Den
7:00 p.m. - Lydia Evening Circle
Wednesday, April 15
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
5:00 p.m. - Dove Choir
6:30 p.m. - Tabitha-Dorcas Circle
7:00 p.m. - Sandy Team
7:30 p.m. - Troop 6
Thursday, April 16
7:30 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir
Friday, April 17
6:00 p.m. Big Hero 6 Family Fun Night
6:30 p.m. Webelos
Saturday, April 18
8:00 - 12:00 p.m. - PW Clothing Drive
9:00 a.m. - Sessional Review
Sunday, April 19
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Chancel Choir
4:00 p.m. - Webelos
5:00 p.m. - Confirmation Class
|
|
 Birthday Blessings
April 12 Jean DeMartino, Ania Wilton
April 13 Tyler Colonno, Joseph Decker, James Liotta, Kaitlyn Marshall, Kimberly Scott, Janet Smith, Henry Stout
April 14 Kaitlyn Potter
April 15
April 16 Christian Fiorentino, Kelsey Fiorentino, Marilyn Rice, Regina Stoffers-Reinhold
April 17 Alice Brzyski, Robert Norton, Thomas Sadowski
April 18 Susan Friedrich, Betty Gilbert, Anesa Oquendo
April 19 Marion Blackford, Robert Bissey, Ian Cooper, Katelyn Cooper
April 20
April 21 Richard Lees, Will Landre
April 22 John Pasola, David Satterlee, Ralph Smith
April 23 James DeBenedett, Ellen DeMartino, Taylor Lappke, Kelsey Norton
April 24 Rachael Bomenblit, Kyle Leach, Brian McCrossan, Austin Simpson
April 25 Henry Honeywell
April 26 Edward King
April 27 Audrey Stolfe-Legreide
April 28 Christopher Parish, Evangeline Reid, Dorothy Weidele
April 29 Isabella Barbieri, Diantha Mathews-Brown
April 30
|
Saturday, April 18, 2015
8:00 -12:00 p.m. - Presbyterian Women Clothing Drive
Sunday. April 19, 2015
Anniversary Sunday
Sunday, April 26, 2015
12:15 p.m. - Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering
Sunday, May 17, 2015
11:00 a.m. - Congregational Meeting to elect Ruling Elders and Deacons
Sunday, May 24, 2015
10:00 a.m. - Confirmation and Ordination/Installation of Elders & Deacons
Sunday, May 24, 2015
2:30-8:30 - Fishing Trip Fund-Raiser on the Miss Michelle
Sunday, August 19, 2015
10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. - Church Picnic, YMCA Camp Zehnder, Brick (includes Sunday worship)
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
