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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| Weekly News For
Sunday, July 5, 2015 | |
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 Friends,
This Sunday, Linda and I are beginning a sermon series that will take us through the end of the summer. It's called
"STORIES JESUS TOLD."
We'll be focusing on the parables: those pithy tales Jesus told to his disciples. As any preacher knows, the details of a sermon listeners are most likely to retained are the stories. Stories speak to the human imagination in rare - and sometimes unexpected - ways. This was just as true in Jesus' time as it is today. Jesus' parables quickly became a part of the oral tradition passed on by his earliest disciples. A generation or so later, when the Gospel-writers started to write things down, these stories figured prominently in the church's memory. The Gospel-writers exercised some literary license, both in where they located the parables in their narrative, and in their understanding of the parables' meaning. That means we're never entirely sure, when the Gospel-writer announces the "moral of the story," whether that's an explanation given by Jesus, or whether it represents the thinking of the early church. Studying the parables seems a bit like archaeology: we've got to dig down through levels of accumulated tradition before we come to the treasure. The treasure is this: of all the sayings attributed to Jesus in the Bible, the parables are most likely to have come down to us exactly has he told them. Because parables are often intended to surprise or challenge readers with new perspectives, they sometimes make readers uncomfortable. This was just as true in Jesus' time as it is for us today. In this series, Linda and I intend to simply let these ancient stories speak, as best we can. We'll be using, as a guide to our thinking and preparation, a book called Short Stories by Jesus: the Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, by Amy-Jill Levine. Amy-Jill, who teaches at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, is a rarity among New Testament scholars: she's Jewish. That makes her unusually well-equipped to understand Rabbi Jesus from a Jewish perspective. She's also alert to anti-Semitic interpretations that have arisen over the years, quarantining them so they don't get in the way of the story.  This Sunday, it's the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin ( Luke 15:1-10): "WHAT'S LOST IS FOUND AGAIN." Next Sunday, as I'll be away on vacation, Linda will preach on the parable of the Prodigal Son - which is actually part 3 of a three-part series of stories on things that have been lost and found again. Come, join the worshiping congregation this Sunday as we begin our study of Stories Jesus Told, and as we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Pastor Carl
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Sunday, July 5, 2015
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 15:1-10
Dr. Wilton preaching: "WHAT'S LOST IS FOUND AGAIN"
10:00 a.m. - Worship - Communion
11:00 a.m. - Sundae Sunday, Chittick Lounge
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Sundae Sunday Has Returned
Join us after worship for Sundae Sunday in the Chittick Lounge. On the first Sunday of the month, Communion Sundays, during
 July, August and September we will be making ice cream sundaes as part of our fellowship. You won't want to miss the delicious treat!
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Something New: A Facebook Discussion on the "Stories Told by Jesus" Series
 Join us in a new adventure in Bible study, via Facebook! We've started a Facebook group for members and friends of PPPC to connect with one another and discuss Jesus' parables. It's called "Stories Told By Jesus Discussion."
It's a closed group - for the sake of avoiding inappropriate posts by advertisers and internet trolls - but we'll very happily add anyone who asks to join. Let's talk about Jesus' parables, especially those passages that form the basis of the sermon series that Carl and Linda are preaching this summer. Send a Facebook message to "Carlos Wilton" if you're interested in checking it out - we'll send you an invite!
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"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 July 7 is the King family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Ken, Sandra, Keira and Kenneth, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer concerns: The family of Joe Auriemma; Joan Auge; Margaret (Cousin of Eva Welch); George Griffiths (Cousin of Heidi Steinert); Jane Millar; Edith Pula; Courtney Norton Rzeplinski; Londa Scarpone; Tyler Swiggart (Maryanne Leach's grandson).
Long term concerns: Bill Blauvelt (Jacque Thornton's brother in law); Andre Bucsek; Vincent DeMartino; Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); Nicholas Hudnut; Chris Loeffler (father of Andrea Purtell); Robbie Mangan (Uncle of Kerry Jones); Jeffrey Mathews; Margie McGhee; Gemma Roberts; Ralph Smith; Gail Ward; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Michael Limpantsis; Matthew Warren; all those in the military.
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THE CHURCH PICNIC - Will be at Camp Zehnder, Herbertsville Road, Brick Township on August 9, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. followed by Food, Swimming Fishing and Games (including a playground). We ask that you sign up to bring either an Appetizer, Salad or Dessert. You can email Kerry at kljones70@comcast.net and let her know how many and what you will bring or look for the Orange Sign up sheet in the Narthex. Like in years past, we need 100 people to sign up to reach our goal.
SUMMER GENEROSITY - Wherever you find yourself during these summer months, we hope you'll continue to remember the church in your financial giving, even if you aren't present each Sunday in worship. You may want to take advantage of our secure online giving option, which is a great way to maintain your regular giving even while you're away. You can even pre-plan automatic deductions from your bank account for whatever dates you specify. Thanks for being a good Christian steward, all year round!
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS - During the months of July and August the church office will be closing at noon on Fridays. Please have all bulletin information in by Thursday mornings.
DR. WILTON'S VACATION - Dr. Wilton will be on vacation July 6-24. In case of pastoral emergency, please call the church office. After hours, please call the Rev. Linda Chase at home, (732) 899-2513.
MUSICIANS NEEDED FOR PPPC's CLAREMONT CARE CENTER SERVICES - We are in need of a few musicians - singers and instrumentalists - to help with the services at Claremont on the 4th Sunday of each month. Pianists are ideal, although the residents appreciate musical offerings of any kind. Please contact Linda Chase for more information. Even signing up for one occasion would be appreciated.
COOKBOOK UPDATE - Nine (9) new recipes just this week, now we're cookin! We even got a recipe via our email at ptpresbypwcookbook@gmail.com remember the deadline is August 24th, please submit recipes to our gmail address, put them in the offering plate or bring them into the office and place them in the red folder in the PW Mailbox, "easy peazy!" Don't forget to include your name. Here at the beach we are getting mighty parched, any punch recipes out there? Nancy and Karen INFORMAL SUMMER SING: REQUIEM - W.A. MOZART - On Tuesday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, Josh Melson, conductor and accompanist Karin Gargone will be having an informal "sing-through" of the timeless classic, the Mozart Requiem, open to all in the community who enjoy singing. Free of charge - Come and sing!
FUNERAL SERVICES for Joseph Auriemma, husband of Margie McGhee, will take place at the Colonial Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 7, at 11:00 am. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be Monday, July 6 from 4:00-8:00 pm.
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AUGUST 3-7
Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church is happy to provide a Vacation Bible School in the air-conditioned Education Annex this Summer. Preparations for this fun-filled week are now being made. This program is for all children who have finished grades Pre-K through 5 and is open to kids from the entire community.
We will be exploring Nazareth and hear stories about Jesus' childhood from the best source of all...his mom, Mary! Everyone knows what it's like to hear your mom tell stories from your childhood. Can you imagine the kinds of stories Mary could tell? Take your kids back to Hometown Nazareth, where they'll stand up for their faith among people who doubt that the carpenter's son is really God's son.
Bring your friends as we explore ancient Nazareth each evening from 5:30-8:00 pm. Our adventure will begin and finish downstairs in the CE Annex classrooms. Registration Forms can be downloaded or picked up in the Narthex and returned to the church office.
We could use help in the planning and during the week. Please email Christina Parrott (christinaparrott57@yahoo.com) and let her know you can help. Teen helpers are especially welcome! |
A Request from the Deacons
We who serve on the Board of Deacons are ever grateful for our congregation's continued monetary support as we offer emergency financial assistance to those in need.
If you are in a position to help the Deacons, please consider making a donation this Sunday (Communion Sunday) using the Deacon envelopes in the pews. In making a donation, you will be helping people directly and immediately through the Deacon's vital ministry.
Thank you. The Board of Deacons
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Point Beach Prep Summer Camp
Point Beach Prep Preschool is still enrolling students for Summer Camp! This year's Summer Camp will be held 8:30am-12:00 noon,July 6th-July 31st. We have lots of fun activities planned including visits from the town Librarian, Crazy Hair Day, Karaoke Day, daily art projects, circle time, music, Hoffman's ice cream and much more! |
How I Spent My Summer Vacation - with God!
 Now that school's out - both public school and Sunday School - parents are facing the perennial challenge: how to make summer for the kids a time of both fun and growth.
Christine Gough is a schoolteacher who cares deeply about her own kids' faith development. In a recent blog entry, she writes of how she's adapting an old teacher's trick - the lesson plan - to summer parenting: So this summer, I am making a plan book of sorts for our days. It won't be nearly as full as my teacher lesson book at school, but I am blazing a pared down trail. A path for giving some structure to our days. Time for reading. Time for figuring out what to do. Time for a few fun outings. Time for s'mores. Time for trips to the library. Time for sprinklers. Time for the park and friends. And weaving it all together, just like the in the classroom, I am slogging through the process of management. When the "troops" are restless and structure-less and lacking respect, the mission is rarely accomplished.... For some reason, this feels so much scarier and more challenging at home, then when facing my classroom of students during the school year. But this summer, it's going into my Lesson Plans. This summer, I am reminding myself that parenting and faith isn't something we just magically arrive at if we close our eyes and say, "POOF!" It can feel like, and it truly is, work. It means discipline and planning and follow through. I am convinced with a little pre-planning and mental wrestling, we can create a structure that allows for freedom and choice, but also with a mix of responsibility and fun. Here at PPPC, kids are most welcome during the summer months. We're always glad to see kids in worship with their parents or grandparents, and we'll offer a children's sermon each week, just for them. And don't forget Vacation Bible School (August 3-7), the Church Picnic (August 9) and the Point Beach Prep "summer camp." Why not make these experiences part of the summer "lesson plan"? |
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This week's PDA volunteer work group is from the St. Giles Presbyterian Chuch in Orange Park, Florida. Many more PDA work groups are on their way, through the rest of the month, then we'll have a break for the first couple of weeks of August. Here are the bookings so far: 2015 Scheduled Groups
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 16 - Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA
Sunday, Sept 20 - Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA
Sunday, Oct 4 - Helping Hands of Lehigh Presbytery, PA and First Presbyterian Church, Warren, PA
Sunday, Oct 11- Lend A Hand, Carlisle, PA
Sunday, Oct 18 - Scioto Valley Presbytery, Columbus, OH
Sunday, Oct 25 - Crossroads Community Presbyterian Church, Leechburg, PA
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Participants in the Youth Mission Trip, all packed
and ready to depart last Sunday for New York City:
Alissa Pazienza, Blake Birdsong, Kyle Jones, Chris Nelson,
Vivian Reid, Cecelia Collins, Joe Maimone, Anthony Maimone,
Patricia Stout, Hannah Ploskonka |
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The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
Sunday, July 5
10:00 a.m. - Worship - Communion
11:00 a.m. - Sundae Sunday, Chittick Lounge
Monday, July 6
9:00 a.m. - Princeton Review SAT Class, Chittick Lounge
Tuesday, July 7
9:00 a.m. - Princeton Review SAT Class, Chittick Lounge
10:00 a.m. - Busy Hands, Fellowship Room
Wednesday, July 8
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
9:00 a.m. - Princeton Review SAT Class, Chittick Lounge
Thursday, July 9
7:30 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
9:00 a.m. - Princeton Review SAT Class, Chittick Lounge
Friday, July 10
Saturday, July 11
Sunday, July 12
10:00 a.m. - Worship
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 Birthday Blessings
July 3 Eileen Boenning, Lorraine Williams
July 4 Justin Leach
July 5 Jane Millar
July 6 Emily O'Connor
July 7 Robert McSweeney
July 8 Ronald Claeys, Sara Hoey, Kyle Jones
July 9 Kelly Iadarola
July 10 John Cutting, Jason Decker
July 11 Carol Eckenfelder
July 12 Christine Conway, Tisha Cox
July 13 Laura Landre, Marjorie Watson
July 14 Claire Pula
July 15 Kathryn Barbieri, Kerri Lee Hank, Doris Pennypacker, Lauren Rauffer
July 16 Lindsey Knehr, Thomas Reinhold
July 17 Isabella DeRosa, Savannah Guerry, Kelly Hughes, Lauren Hughes
July 18 JoAnna Liotta
July 19 Eileen Jinks, Ruthanne Paulus
July 20 Emily Dunston, Ryan Milancewich, Isabella Reid, Scott Smith
July 21 Robert Conway Jr.
July 22 Erin McGuire, Sandra Pasola, Sarah Sarbello
July 23 J. Louis Couche, Deborah McCrossan
July 24 Perry Collins, Allison Cox, Rebecca Crate, Steven McDermitt, Marion Search
July 25 Christopher D'Ambrosio, Billy Findlay, Vivian Reid, Virginia Waldie
July 26 Janice Carter, Shae Simpson
July 27 Nicholas Bamburak, Dana Ferguson, Felicia Nelson
July 28 Lauren Fix, Nancy Pazienza
July 29 Elizabeth Weber
July 30 Carol Bonebrake, George Koch, Jonathan Yount
July 31
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Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7
5:30-8:00 pm - Vacation Bible School
Sunday, August 9, 2015 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. - Church Picnic, YMCA Camp Zehnder, Brick (includes Sunday worship; handicapped accessible)
Monday, August 24, 2015 PW Cookbook Recipes Deadline Sunday, August 28, 2015PPPC Night at the Blue Claws Game
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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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