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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| Weekly News For
Sunday, May 10, 2015 | |
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Announcing:
the Summer Heat
campaign!
We've got to raise $20,000 in special gifts and pledges this summer, for new boilers to heat the Education Annex and the church offices and Nursery. Pledges may be paid over a six-month period. Can you help? (More news to come....)
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 Dear Friends,
When I was a kid, my Mom always tried to make sure I had healthy after-school snacks. Moms have a reputation for doing that. No matter how much my brothers and I craved Ring-Dings or Twinkies, what we got - more often than not - were grapes, apple slices or stalks of celery smeared with peanut butter.
Moms provide us with fruit in more ways than one. There's the fruit that nourishes our bodies and the fruit that nourishes our souls.
They also raise us to be fruitful, making a difference in the world.
Mother's Day is a great time to reflect on what it means to live a fruitful life. Our Christian faith teaches that we're placed on this earth to be of service: to identify the fruits of the Spirit we've been given and share them with others.
In a famous passage from John 15, Jesus compares himself to a grapevine, rooted in the love of God. We're connected to him, further on down the vine. Were we to be pruned - cut off from him - we could do nothing worthwhile.
What fruits have nourished our lives along the way? More importantly, how are our lives fruitful for others? Join us in worship, as we examine the teachings of Jesus in John, chapter 15.
Pastor Carl
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Sunday, May 10, 2015 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
Genesis 4:1-12; John 15:9-17
Dr. Wilton preaching: "THE FRUITFUL LIFE"
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Healing Prayers/ Dove and Chancel
4:00 p.m. - Webelos
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 Following the service on Sunday, there will be a time of healing prayer at the front of the Sanctuary. Please come forward if you would like to offer or receive prayers for healing.
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THIS SUNDAY: Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast Sponsored by the Youth Connection
 This Sunday we would like to take the time to honor our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers for their contribution to our families, our church family, and to our community! Join us this Sunday, May 10th for a Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast immediately following service sponsored by the Youth Connection. Come celebrate with us on Mother's Day...but also know you will also be helping someone less fortunate down the road, just like what most Mothers do best!!! The Youth will also be collecting donations on Mother's Day so as to raise monies for their Mission trip to New York City in June of this year. PPPC's Youth Group will be led by the Youth Serve Opportunities Project (YSOP) in hands-on volunteer service to NYC's most vulnerable, which may include preparing and serving meals for New York's homeless. Dad's are welcomed too! Come treat your loved one! (If you would like to help the Youth prepare and serve Mothers on Mother's Day, please contact Carol Bonebrake at (tele) 732-581-1554 or email: carolbonebrake@comcast.net) |
"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 May 10 is the Lambie family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Jane and Craig, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer concerns: The family of Robert Desiderio (father of Robert Desiderio, Jr.); the family of Kathleen Bongiovi (mother of Glenn Bongiovi); Connor Durante (son of Ted and Kathy); Peter Farwell; Betty Schroeder; Londa Scarpone; Billy Eckert (friend of Bill Williams); Sharon Hock, Julie Budrick;.
Long term concerns: Cherisse Petruzzi; Margie McGhee, Joe Auriemma; Vincent DeMartino; George Elliott; Nicholas Hudnut; Jeffrey Mathews; Gerda Mooney; 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.
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FISHING TRIP FUND-RAISER on the charter fishing boat Miss Michele III. Sunday, May 24, 2:30-8:30 pm. $75 per person, space is limited. Benefits the church's music programs. To sign up, please call Jason Parrott at (732) 814-9914.
 AN INQUIRERS GROUP, for those exploring membership in the church, will take place next Sunday, May 17, 2015. Stop by the Sandwich Sunday brunch for something to eat, then we'll leave about 11:30 and go across to the Chittick Lounge in the Sanctuary Building, continuing until 2:00 p.m. Child care can be made available upon prior request. New members will be received in worship on May 31. This will be our last Inquirers Group until the Fall. We would love for you to join us and learn more about the church. Please call the Church Office to sign up, or to find out more!
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING UPDATE To date, we have collected $2,095 for One Great Hour of Sharing. Your generous gifts to this Special Offering help provide relief to those affected by natural disasters, provides food to the hungry, and assist in helping to empower the poor and oppressed through programs including Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People.
PART TIME JOB OPENING - Seeking a part time bookkeeper for 15-20 hours a week. Quickbooks-oriented preferred, but not mandatory. Candidates must be honest, trustworthy and professional. Position is located in a nice work environment in Red Bank. For more information call Diane Manzo at 732-581-1882.
ATTENTION VETERANS: The County Connection, Ocean County Mall, is proud to host a day for veterans this Wednesday, May 13 from 11am-2pm. Guest organizations will be Veterans Administration, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. They will assisting with pensions, job training and job placement and resume development. Veteran IDs from the Clerks Department will be issued. For further information please contact the County Connection at 732-288-7777.
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Congregational Meeting
 A meeting of the Congregation of the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church will take place next Sunday, May 17, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting is to act on the report of the Nominating Committee, which will be presenting the following names: Deacons, Class of 2018 Jean Campbell, Robin DeRosa, Karen Luicci,
Christina Parrot, William Williams
Youth Deacon: to be announced
Elders, Class of 2018
Lynn Hahm, Diane Manzo, Frank Perkowski, Londa Scarpone, Diane Sikora.
Youth Elder: to be announced
Ordination and Installation will take place on May 31, 2015.
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 Coffee hour is an integral part of our fellowship with each other and also a great way to meet and greet visitors to our church.
It is a good idea to check the kitchen for needed supplies prior to Sunday morning. Sharing Coffee Hour responsibilities with another person can be more fun!
Each person/group who volunteers for coffee hour will be responsible for:
- The Chittick Lounge should be set up and ready to go by the conclusion of the worship service.
- Use your own tablecloth or a tablecloth obtained from the north hall closet. If you chose one from the closet, it must be returned clean & pressed. (Plastic cloths are cheap and colorful.) A centerpiece is optional.
- Hot cups, cold cups, plasticware, white plates and napkins are provided by the church and are either in the plastic draws under the counter or in the buffet in Fellowship Room. Serving plates are under the counter next to the stove.
- The menu is your choice. It can be cookies, cupcakes, pastry, cake, cheese/crackers, fruit, etc. It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. IT IS NOT A CONTEST. Teas bags and sugar are in the top cabinets next to the refrigerator. Extra baked goods may be left in the freezer for future use.
- One half gallon of milk and one quart of half n' half should be plenty. Keep the pitchers filled. Please take leftovers home. (Don't leave them to go sour.) Milk pitchers are in the cabinet next to refrigerator.
- Cold drinks such as juice, punch, lemonade or iced tea during the summer months are appropriate and appreciated. Cold drink pitchers are located in the cabinet over the sink.
- Clean- up Both kitchen and lounge area. Patrick will empty coffee pots approximately one half hour after the coffee hour starts. Clean off tables, put all supplies away. all dishes used from the kitchen need to be washed dried And put away. If you use a punch bowl ( in PW closet in Fellowship Room) or pitchers, they Must Be Left Clean. TAKE MILK HOME. Take goodies home or wrap and leave in the freezer marked "coffee hour for use at another coffee hour.
- Patrick puts the coffee on and starts the coffee pots. in case you make coffee each pot makes 45 cups. You will need 2 1/2 cups of coffee for each coffee pot. Each pot will make 45 cups. Use the measuring guide on the front of the coffee pots to decide the appropriate water levels.
A sign-up sheet in located on the bulletin board on the kitchen wall near the water cooler.
Any questions please contact Elaine Conheeney at 732-295-1884.
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Sunday School Recap
Last week: We had a great time in Youth Sunday. The Doves did an excellent job singing and the Youth Connection put together a great service. I'm so proud of our youth program here at PPPC and I hope you all are too!
 This week: It's all about Mom! Where would we be without moms? We will be reading a few passages from Ephesians, Leviticus, Thessalonians, and Proverbs that talk about how important mothers are to us. We will be making nice surprises for our Moms to show them how much we appreciate them too. Hoping you can all join us for the Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast put on by the Youth Connection upstairs, following the service!
Happy Mother's Day!!
Peace and Blessings,
Tricia Stoffers
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News From Point Beach Prep
The teachers were honored during Teacher Appreciation Week with daily gifts from our students and their families! They even made a wall of appreciation, with kind notes about each teacher. Our Board also surprised us with a beach-themed lunch. It was a fantastic week! Thank you to all of our families and to the Board for all of your efforts to make us feel special! We appreciate YOU!
 We honored our Point Beach Prep Moms with our Mother's Day Teas on Thursday and Friday. The children sang songs, then joined their moms to enjoy lovely snacks and iced tea together. They presented their moms with projects they had made especially for them. We wish all Moms a very happy, relaxing Mother's Day!
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Help OCLTRG Win the Ocean First Charity Challenge!
 The Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group is our essential partner in our Sandy Recovery work. Not only do they handle the construction management for some of the sites our volunteers are working on (in cooperation with the United Methodist agency, A Future With Hope), but their case management services help a great many more homeowners navigate the tricky maze of Federal and State grants. The OCLTRG is a private, non-profit organization, set up in the days following Sandy. All their financial support comes from foundations and individuals - not a penny comes from either the State or Federal government. They make direct grants to qualifying Sandy survivors, deploy volunteer groups (like the PDA work groups who stay in our Volunteer Village) and offer much-valued case management services to help people find and correctly apply for all the sources of aid, both public and private, that are available to them. Our own Peter Farwell works as Volunteer Coordinator for the OCLTRG, and Gail Birdsong works with the OCLTRG as a case manager for A Future With Hope. Kathy Durante volunteers her services as chair of the organization's Funding Committee.  The Ocean First Foundation is currently running the Ocean First Charity Challenge. It's a fund-raising contest among various local charities, toting up online gifts to those charities through a special Crowdrise.com website. The OCLTRG is one of those charities. Recently, the PPPC Session voted to make a grant of $15,000 to the OCLTRG, and - at Peter Farwell's suggestion - we directed it through the Ocean First Charity Challenge. Our gift has catapulted the OCLTRG up to the #1 position among all the local charities participating in the contest. If they're still #1 on May 15 - the last day of the Challenge - the Ocean First Foundation will give them ANOTHER $15,000. If they're in second place, they'll get $5,000, and if they're in third, $2,000.  Here's where you come in. If you've ever considered making a personal gift, large or small, to the OCLTRG, now's the time. Just go online to the special link below, click on the picture of an American flag that says "Help Ocean County Veterans Rebuild," and follow the instructions to make your tax-deductible online gift. (The veterans aspect is just something the OCLTRG decided to highlight in this appeal, because 16% of their clients happen to be veterans; in fact, they serve everyone in need - so, any gift to the organization helps them keep the doors open, the lights on and their services available to thousands of Ocean County residents who are still hurting from the storm.) The OCLTRG has distributed well over $3 million in direct aid to Sandy survivors to date. We've all been reading lately about the bureaucratic red tape that's keeping other Sandy-recovery dollars bottled up in Federal and State agencies. For many Sandy survivors, the OCLTRG is the ONLY agency whose case workers sit down with them and help them navigate this complicated maze, so they can receive the grants they need and complete their home reconstruction. After clicking on the OCLTRG's Ocean First Charity Challenge link, just scroll down until you see the picture of our church steeple, click on that photo, and you'll be able to add your gift to the $15,000 already given by the church. Please help keep the OCLTRG in first place in the Charity Challenge. Thank you for your generosity!
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A Thank-You for Us
Sue Marticek, executive director of the Ocean County Long Term Recovey group, sent along this thank-you message for our $15,000 gift to support the work of the OCLTRG:
"I just wanted to reach out to you personally and express my deepest gratitude to you and the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church for your generous donation to the OCLTRG.... and also for all that the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church has done and continues to do for our Sandy families. I will always say that you were THE church that launched the volunteer hosting in Ocean County and have run one of the most successful hosting sites in the state."
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Responds to Nepal Earthquake
 The death toll from the massive earthquake in Nepal continues to rise. Over 6,000 are known dead and even more were injured when the 7.8 quake struck just west of the capital of Kathmandu on April 25. The quake and its aftershocks, the worst in more than 80 years, has also caused damage in parts of India and Bangladesh.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing emergency relief and short-term recovery in the impacted areas through our partner, ACT Alliance. This immediate response provides needed food, water, supplies and medicine to the impacted towns and villages. As long-term recovery plans are developed, PDA will accompany and further financially support our partners in the area to insure that a comprehensive recovery is sustained.
 Please pray for those who suffered loss of family or those who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, humanitarian aid, and spiritual and psychological support. For more information, visit the PDA website.
"And after the earthquake....the sound of sheer silence,
and a Voice said: 'what are you doing here?'"
(1 Kings 19:12-13)
Be the presence of God with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for the people of Nepal. |
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Volunteer Village
 It's just a week until our next group of volunteers arrives. After that, we'll be very busy hosting volunteers through most of the summer! Here are the bookings so far: 2015 Scheduled Groups 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 and First Presbyterian Church, Warren, PA Sunday, Oct 11- Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA Sunday, Oct 18 - Scioto Valley Presbyterian, Columbus, OH
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Special thanks to Frank and Celishia Scarpone for donating
three new trees for the churchyard. Two sugar
maples are pictured here; there's also an
American plane tree. Signs of new life!
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The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
Sunday, May 10 - Happy Mother's Day
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Healing Prayers/Dove and Chancel
11:00 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast
4:00 p.m. - Webelos
Monday, May 11
10:00 a.m. - Covenant Bible Study, Chittick Lounge
11:30 a.m. - EliSabeth Verdella Circle, Fellowship Room
6:15 p.m. - Choral Bells, Fellowship Room
Tuesday, May 12
10:00 a.m - Eye Openers
1:00 p.m. - Lydia Day Circle at the home of Sue Hankins
4:30 p.m. - Daisy
5:30 p.m. - Tiger Den
6:30 p.m. - Wolf and Bear Den
7:00 p.m. - Lydia Evening Circle at the home of Nancy Stout
Wednesday, May 13
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
7:00 p.m. - Troop 6
Thursday, May 14
7:30 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
7:00 p.m. - Judith Rachel Circle
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir
Friday, May 15
6:30 p.m. Webelos
Saturday, May 16
3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Private CE Annex Hall Rental
Sunday, May 17 - Bell Recognition
9:00 a.m. - Youth Connection
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Choral Bells
11:00 a.m. - Congregational Meeting
11:15 a.m. - Inquirers Group
4:00 p.m. - Webelos
5:00 p.m. - Confirmation Class
6:00 p.m. - Session Meeting with Confirmads
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 Birthday Blessings
May 10 Sean Cleveland, Lydia Pokler
May 11 James Mosmen
May 12
May 13 Donna Sellman
May 14 Stephen Freer Balko, Lillian Pokler
May 15 Susan Zimny
May 16 Kevin Legreide, Faythe Matullo, Charlene Mendelsohn
May 17 Nancy Jalowski, Ashley Wilson
May 18 Jessica Banach, Andrea Crate, Frank Jones, Naomi Lappke, Celishia Scarpone
May 19
May 20 Kimberlee Trainor
May 21 Peggy Bierach, Lois Fischer Geene
May 22 Gerard Jalowski, Calvin Rice, Daniel Scarpone Jr.
May 23 Jacob Freer Balko, James Sahadi, Reina Santos, Catherine Walker, Jack Whitman
May 24 James Hudnut, Andrew Hudson
May 25 Deirdre D'Amore, Diane Legreide, Hannah Ploskonka, Barbara Sobel
May 26 Jane Lambie, Matthew Savage
May 27 Alexander Grebel, Rylan Parrott
May 28 Jo Anne Adamo, Diane Manzo
May 29 Bernard Fiorentino III, Ryan Pasola
May 30 Ryan Grebel, Jeffrey Johnson
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Sunday, May 17, 2015
10:00 a.m. - Choral Bells Recognition with four bell anthems
11:00 a.m. - Congregational Meeting to elect Ruling Elders and Deacons
11:15 a.m. - Inquirers Group for those wishing to explore church membership
Sunday, May 24, 2015, Pentecost
10:00 a.m. - Confirmation Sunday, May 24, 2015
2:30-8:30 - Fishing Trip Fund-Raiser on the Miss Michelle III
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Interfaith Hospitality Network Week Begins 10:00 a.m. - Install Ruling Elders & Deacons; Receive New Members; Dove Choir Recognition
Sunday, June 14. 2015
10:00 a.m. - Chancel Choir Recognition with sermon of anthems.
Monday, June 29 through Thursday, July 2
Youth Mission Trip to New York City
Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7
5:30-8:30 pm - Vacation Bible School: "Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus Was a Kid"
Sunday, August 19, 2015
10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. - Church Picnic, YMCA Camp Zehnder, Brick (includes Sunday worship)
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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
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