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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
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Sunday, August 23, 2015 | |
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Friends,
Anyone who's ever tended a garden knows what miracles lurk beneath the surface of the black, loamy topsoil, waiting to reveal themselves.
Seeds go into the ground as such tiny, insignificant things. Give the forces of nature a few weeks, though, and those seeds are transformed. They crack open, then blast their way up through the surface of the soil with a force so strong it can sometimes lift a slab of concrete.
When that happens, we no longer call them seeds. Their seed-nature is no more. Rising before us, now, is a young plant, a blessed bundle of potential - yielding food to nurture the body or flowers to nurture the soul.
Seeking to unpack the mystery that is the kingdom of God, Jesus likens it to a seed - and not just any seed. He says God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, which is among the tiniest seeds of all. That unassuming fleck of organic matter will grow, after the fashion of all seeds, to become an impressive plant.
That little seed has a lot to teach us. So often, in life, we think success depends on our efforts alone. We believe big is beautiful and small is not worth our time. We forget that, when we undertake Godly work, God is working alongside us. Our efforts, then, are less like the orderly progression of the builder's trade - brick upon brick, plank upon plank - than the wild profusion of organic growth, verdant as a garden in late summer.
What's the growing edge in your life right now? What is most truly alive, and makes you feel the same way?
Come to worship, as we examine what this simple but powerful parable has to teach us.
Pastor Carl
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Sunday, August 23, 2015
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Wilton preaching: "IT'S ALIVE!"
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Noisy Offering
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"Noisy Offering" for Cents-Ability will be received this Sunday to support ministries to relieve hunger locally, regionally, and globally. |
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Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) Arriving This Week 
Once again we have the privilege of hosting the IHN families August 23-29. As a reminder, we need church members and friends to provide meals each night, host(s) to welcome the families upon their arrival and get acquainted with them and 2 members to stay overnight each night. In the past we have had no trouble getting members to provide meals and to be hosts.
Our biggest need is for people to stay overnight. If you know how to sleep, you can do this! Just a reminder of what that entails:
- Being in the annex by 9 p.m. when the doors are locked for the night.
- Sleeping on a bed which is set up downstairs in one of the Sunday school rooms.
- Being available in case of any emergency.
- Leave shortly after 7 am when the families leave for the day.
Why not find a BUDDY ( a spouse would be just fine) and spend a night in the Education Annex?
The sign-up sheet is in the church Narthex; or, just call or email Kim in the Church Office.
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"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
Prayer concerns: The family of Jerry Stover; the family of Dorothy Weidele; the family of Warren Bratt; the Errickson family and mother Carol: Elaine Flannelly; Carol Clayton; Nick Cox; Vincent DeMartino; Lois Francello; Faith Gallagher; Ethel Lemke (mother of Carole Smith); Jacob Mendelsohn; Joanne McGuire; Maureen Oakley; Barbara Reid; Courtney Norton Rzeplinski;, Mary Steinert, Pat Vermeal (friend of Linda Lee Smith).
Long term concerns: David Allen; Charles Badami; Bill Blauvelt (Jacque Thornton's brother in law); Fred Bierach; Jules Bierach, Jr; Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); Elise Cason; George Griffiths (Cousin of Heidi Steinert); Nicholas Hudnut; Robbie Mangan (Uncle of Kerry Jones); Margie McGhee; Jane Millar; Maureen Oakley (Aunt of Heidi Steinert); Cherisse Petruzzi; Edith Pula; Gemma Roberts; Nancy Smith; Gail Ward; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Michael Limpantsis; Matthew Warren; all those serving in the military.
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COFFEE HOUR - Please join us for coffee hour this Sunday as we following Sunday's service. We are in need of people to host coffee hour in the Fall. There are simple guidelines for hosting coffee hour. A sign up sheet is in the church kitchen.  LAST CALL FOR BLUE CLAWS TICKETS - Join us for a family fun night at the Blue Claws. The game will be on Friday, August 28 and starts at 7:05 p.m. at First Energy Park in Lakewood. Admission is $10 per adult and $8 for children 5-12 years old. That evening there will be a Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular - the biggest, brightest, most colorful fireworks show at the Shore! This Sunday is your last chance to be added onto the list. We are up to 38 people! To sign up please call or speak with Dee D'Amore ( 732-552-9861) who is organizing the event for the Caring Committee.
 PW COOKBOOK UPDATE.....The boat has sailed. The recipes are in. A total of 88 recipes have been contributed by several of our "foodies" and now the next step will begin. Publishing will be done through the Ocean County Vocational School Graphic Design Department. We will keep you posted on the progress of the PW Cookbook because somewhere down the line we may need additional help, ie. Typing. Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes, your time, and clever titles. Your intra-coastal help is greatly appreciated. - Nancy Cook and Karen Norby  CLAREMONT CARE CENTER NEEDS YOU - What if you never could come to church again? What would you miss? Worship services, fellowship with friends, the music? Those living at Claremont Care Center are not able to attend church at a time in their lives when they are most in need. For quite some time now the pastors have been bringing church to those in Claremont Care Center on the fourth Sunday of every month. Over the past year, several of our members have stepped up, both young and old, and volunteered to lead this simple service. In the half-hour of volunteering, they receive quite a blessing in return. There is an opportunity for every person and every group in the church to be a part of this ministry. Point Pleasant Presbyterian has identified three areas of mission for us as a church: Strengthening Families, Sowing Friendship, Serving Community. You can do all three by helping with the Claremont Care Center services, even if you do it just once. For more information, speak with one of the pastors. You may be surprised at how easy it is. A sign up sheet is outside the church office. PW COORDINATING TEAM - Will be meeting this Monday at 9:15 a.m. in the Chittick Lounge. See you then!
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Yes, "joyful noise" time will soon be upon us... Please mark
your calendar for the start of Sunday School, which is:
Rally Day
September 13th
We'll be having a special, kid-friendly worship service,
followed by a barbecue lunch!
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We've got a breather, now, until October, which will be a full month of hosting volunteer groups. These groups will be our last for 2015, before our winter recess.
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 Presbyterian Church
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The Genesis Center - Christian Resources for All!
 Mission in the Presbyterian Church happens at all levels. An important mission of Monmouth Presbytery - the 46 churches comprising all of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and a few communities beyond - is the Genesis Center, an innovative online provider of Christian Education resources for every church, and every Presbyterian. There's a real, live person behind the Genesis Center - Sherri Adler, a trained and experienced Christian educator, who's always happy to speak on the phone with Sunday School teachers, Bible study leaders, youth advisors or even individuals wanting to know what resources they should explore to strengthen their faith. You can call Sherri at (732) 276-9800, or email her at resources@monmouthpresbytery.com
 The heart of the Genesis Center is its website, which is more than just an online catalogue of resources. A great many of those resources have been translated into online formats, so you can access them without leaving your home. Categories include: Adult Education, Children Education, Youth Education, Spiritual Resources, Seasonal Resources and Special Resource Pages. If you would rather browse through publications and curriculum in the old-fashioned way - paging through books and other print formats - the Genesis Center has a resource room in Hope Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, where you can do that. You can drop by during business hours (Mondays & Wednesdays, 10:00 am till 4:00 pm or by appointment), or even phone ahead and ask Sherri to pull some helpful resources off the shelf for you. She can even mail items to you.
The Genesis Center's ministry is supported by per capita and mission giving to Monmouth Presbytery, through local congregations like ours. Thank you for your support!
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Our photo of the week is not a photo at all, but a video. It's from the Lend A Hand website, portraying the first meeting of the LAH leadership team with the PPPC Sandy Team not long after the storm, as well as images from around our local communities. The piles of debris are no more, but God's work continues, through LAH and other groups of volunteers staying at the Volunteer Village.
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CHURCH CALENDAR - The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
Sunday, August 23
IHN Arrives
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Noisy Offering
Monday, August 24
IHN
9:15 a.m. - PW Coordinating Team Meeting
12:00 p.m. - Lunch at the Rainbow Diner, all welcome
6:30 p.m. - Princeton Review SAT class, Chittick Lounge
Tuesday, August 25
IHN
9:30 a.m. - Busy Hands, Fellowship Room
10:00 a.m. - Eye Openers, Chittick Lounge
Wednesday, August 26
IHN 9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
6:30 p.m. - Princeton Review SAT class, Chittick Lounge
Thursday, August 27
IHN 8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
Friday, August 28
IHN
7:00 p.m. - Family Fun Night at the Lakewood Blue Claws game, First Energy Park
Saturday, August 29
IHN
9:00 a.m. - Princeton Review SAT class, Chittick Lounge
Sunday, August 30
IHN Departs
10:00 a.m. - Worship
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 Birthday Blessings
Aug 23 Jessica Nagan
Aug 24 Zachary Leek-Clayton
Aug 25 Sean McCrossanAug 26
Aug 27 Danielle Allgor
Aug 28 Courtney Bixby
Aug 29
Aug 30 Lynn Hahm
Aug 31 Elaine Flannelly, Lisa Van Winkle
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Start Up Dates in the Fall
August 24 - PW Coordinating Team Meeting
August 31 - Deacons Meeting 7:00 p.m.
September 9 - Dove Choir Rehearsals Begin
September 10 - Chancel Choir Rehearsals Begin
September 11 - Point Beach Prep Orientation
September 13 - Rally Day
September 14 - Choral Bell Rehearsals Begin
September 15 - Session Meeting
September 16, 7:30 - "GRIEVING WITH HOPE" Sandy Survivor Group Begins
September 20 - Youth Connection Begins
September 20 - Sunday School Begins
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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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