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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| Weekly News For
Sunday, Sept 27, 2015 | |
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Friends,
It would be fair to say that Pope Francis has taken America by storm. Besides causing epic traffic jams in several of our largest cities, this Pontiff has borne a remarkable witness, speaking truth to power: both to our nation's highest leaders and to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
One of Francis' most consistent themes is what some have tagged "the preferential option for the poor." The phrase, borrowed from Latin American Liberation Theology, derives from many sayings of our Lord about our obligation to care for the neediest in our midst. The poor - far from being pushed off to the margins, as they so often are - possess an honored place in God's coming kingdom.
The above photo is of a scene that took place in Washington, DC. The Popemobile was slowly making its way down the parade route, when five-year-old Sophie Cruz slipped under the barricade and began running towards Pope Francis - a gift and a letter for him in her hands. A police officer scooped the little girl up before she could get very far, but the Pope saw the commotion and ordered his driver to stop. "Let her come to me," he said to an aide - echoing the biblical scene when Jesus said "Let the children come to me." Moments later, a member of the Pope's security detail was holding little Sophie up to receive his blessing.
You can view the whole incident in this brief video...
Sophie is a native-born citizen of the USA, but her her parents are undocumented immigrants from Mexico. The letter she presented to Francis said, in part, "I want to tell you that my heart is sad. I would like you to ask you to speak with the president and the Congress in legalizing my parents because every day I am scared that one day they will take them away from me."
While some are saying Sophie's immigration-activist parents used her to convey a political message, a newspaper interview moments later confirmed that the heartfelt appeal in her letter was, in fact, written in her own words and expresses the desire of her heart.
Immigration law is a difficult subject. Christians of good faith differ on what, precisely, our nation's political response ought to be to the millions of undocumented workers and their children who are living within our borders. But there's one thing Jesus' own witness compels us to agree on, regardless of whether our political preferences veer closer to the red or the blue. It's that we dare not treat the poor among us as though they were invisible. The Lord calls us to offer the poor an honored place in the Christian community and to do whatever we can to make their lives a little easier.
This Sunday's parable - the last in our "Stories Jesus Told" series - is the tale of the Rich Man and Lazarus. It's one of those parables with the potential to make us squirm. Day after day, the Rich Man fails to notice Lazarus, a destitute man lying on the ground outside his house. He looks right through him.
Until, that is, the rich man dies and starts to observe Lazarus from the vantage-point of his new digs in the hereafter. From that place - on the far side of what Jesus terms "a great chasm" - the rich man discovers that he's gained a new appreciation for Lazarus' tribulation.
The words and actions of Pope Francis have led a great many of us to view the world a little differently this week. Let's see if the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus can do the same for us!
Pastor Carl
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Sunday, September 27, 2015
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Wilton preaching: "WHAT WE CHOOSE TO SEE"
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Chancel Choir
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
11:00 a.m. - PW Sponsored Coffee Hour
12:00 p.m. - PDA Care for Caregivers Luncheon
1:00 p.m. - PDA Care for Caregivers Retreat, CE Annex
2:30 p.m. - Claremont Care Center Worship
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We all have some--in a jar on the dresser, in a desk drawer, in the car, maybe even in the cushions of the couch. Loose change accumulates in various locations of our household. Those humble coins can help feed someone. This Sunday, we'll collect the Noisy Offering that - through Monmouth Presbytery's Cents-Ability appeal - supports ministries to relieve hunger locally, regionally, and globally.
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 Coffee Hour This Sunday
The Presbyterian Women will be hosting the Coffee Hour this Sunday. The PW here at Pt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church offers a variety of ways for women to live out their faith in an inclusive, caring community. For more information, see the Presbyterian Women brochure and PW Circle information brochure in the pews. The women hosting coffee hour would be glad to answer any questions you may have.
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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
The Prayer Person for the week of September 27 is the Ferguson family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Stephen, Dana and Shane, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer concerns: Carol Walker Clayton; Vincent DeMartino; Lois Francello; Dennis Ivany (family of Jacque Thornton); Jacob Mendelsohn; Erna Meyerle (friend of Susan Robbins); Courtney Norton Rzeplinski; Les Thornton.
Long term concerns: David Allen; Bill Blauvelt (Jacque Thornton's brother in law); Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); Elise Cason; George Griffiths (Cousin of Heidi Steinert); Nicholas Hudnut; Ethel Lemke (mother of Scott and Carole Smith); Margie McGhee; Jane Millar; Cherisse Petruzzi; Edith Pula; Gemma Roberts; Nancy Smith; Barbara VieBrock; Gail Ward; Bill Williams; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Michael Fahey III; Matthew Warren; all those in the military.
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CAR WASH THIS SUNDAY, BENEFITING POINT BEACH HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM - Sunday, September 27th from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Fire Company #2 Laurel Ave. Point Pleasant Beach
 INQUIRERS GROUP - An Inquirers Group, for those exploring membership in the church, will take place NEXT Sunday, October 4, 2015. We'll begin at the Communion Brunch following the service. We'll continue until 2:30 p.m. Child care can be made available upon prior request. New members will be received in worship on October 18. Please call the Church Office to sign up, or to find out more! HOW ABOUT AN ADVENTURE FOR YOUR CHILD? Boy Scout Troop 6 is looking for new members. Parents of boys in first grade through 5th should contact Suzanne Hanf at 732-581-1059 and Boys in 6th grade - 18 years old should call Troop Leader Jim McGuire at 908-783-7193.
BREAD TEAM - The "Bread Team" is a mission to welcome visitors to our church. If a visitor has signed the pew pad, a cloth bag (provided by Donna Whitman, thank you Donna) is filled with a loaf of fresh baked bread and brochures about our church and all of its activities. How welcoming it must be to arrive home after a busy day and find the bag hanging on your door or share a welcoming word with one of our members dropping off the bread. If you are interested in joining our small band of missionaries, we would love to have you. We each take a month for bread and delivering it. It is not a lot of work and very rewarding. Please contact, Karen Norby 732-295-8174 or e-mail hueforyou@gmail.com.
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 New Bible Study Begins Next Monday (Oct. 5)
On Monday, October 5th, we will begin our 5 week Fall study. The class title is "Embracing Forgiveness: What It Is and What It Isn't."
There is a video and a workbook for each class member. The Rev. Barbara Crafton is the presenter of the materials. This is an in-depth look at forgiveness and would be well worth anyone's time.
The class, led by Pastor Linda, will meet from 10 till 11:30 in the Chittick Lounge. The cost of the book is $13; it's available now - after worship on Sunday or during the week in the Church Office.
Please sign up in the Narthex or call the church office.
Participants will need to read the first session before coming to class on Oct 5. |
Dates: Tuesday, July 19 - Saturday, July 23, 2016
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Who Can Come: High School Age youth and accompanying adult advisers
(Entering freshmen through graduated seniors; adult advisers must be 21 years of age).
The theme is: "GO"
GO and See
GO and Do Likewise
Teach me the way I should GO
Let my people GO
GO into the world
Registration: Registration will open in January 2016 and will conclude in early May 2016.
You can find out more about the Presbyterian Youth Triennium
by attending an upcoming information session:
Sunday, September 27 - 7:00 p.m. Hope Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, NJ
Sunday, October 11 - 6:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Hightstown, NJ
Sunday, October 25 - Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Brunswick, NJ
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Hello and Welcome Back!
 Last week, we started Sunday School the best way we could think of: A PARTY! I'm so excited to welcome so many new friends to our program, and it was so wonderful to see so many smiling faces return for another year. We kept it simple last week, the played the "Name Game" and got to know each other a little better. Then we got to enjoy some yummy treats and do a craft that will be displayed on our bulletin board. This week, we will be jumping into our Workshop Rotation lessons. The next 3 weeks will be spent on a unit called "101 Ways to Pray". Over the course of the unit, we will be exploring different ways we can pray as well as a few ways people in other cultures pray to God. We are going to have art projects, cooking projects, music projects and much more! Can't wait to see you all on Sunday! Peace and Blessings Tricia Stoffers
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Our Pre-K class met our letter doll, Miss A. She has allergies and sneezes "a-a-a-choo!" We learned the different sounds A makes and what it looks like as a capital and lower case letter. We wrote the letter A with pencils, chalk, and markers. We read many stories such as Ten Apples Up On Top, Amazing Apples, Autumn, Ant in Her Pants, and Johnny Appleseed. We talked about who the author and the illustrator of the stories were. At our project table we made apple stamps, counted fingerprint ants, made an apple project and labeled each part of the apple, and used painter's tape to reveal an A. We also made a first day of Autumn project. We were busy!
At snack time we sampled red, yellow, and green apples to see which one was our favorite. We then made an apple graph to determine which color more students liked. What is your guess? Check out our graph hanging in the hallway to see if you are right!
We celebrated 3 birthdays in the Pre-K this week. A special thank you to all of the members of the EliSabeth Verdella Circle of PPPC for the wonderful birthday bags for each child.
We showed the class our sight-word tree and made our first leaf the word "a." Yes, it is a letter and a word! We talked about what sign language is and why we use it. This week the children learned "a" and "amazing." Our Nursery class met A the ape. They read Animal Boogie, 10 Red Apples,There's an Alligator Under My Bed, and The Lady With the Alligator Purse. Their activities were marching like ants, apple printing, blasting into space like astronauts, flying paper airplanes, and making apple trees. They celebrated 2 birthdays in their class and also enjoyed their gifts from the EliSabeth Verdella Circle.
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Peace & Global Witness Offering (Formerly Peacemaking Offering) - World Communion Sunday
 Help bring the peace of Christ to communities of conflict. Today, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is actively engaged in peacemaking and reconciliation in more than 50 countries. Through our partner churches and organizations, our reach is extended to 100 countries. Your gift helps us do even more. In too many places around the world, peace is merely a hope. Conflicts between nations, peoples, and ideas put peace at risk everywhere. During the Season of Peace, we recognize that too many people live in situations that are both unsettled and unjust.
Your gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering works to address these deep-seated problems by supporting efforts to inspire, equip, and connect Presbyterians engaging in ministries of reconciliation and peace around the world. Through mission, work projects and education, we witness to the peace of Christ for our sisters and brothers as they face some of the greatest challenges of our time. To learn more, visit presbyterianmission.org/peace-global. |
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CROP Walk October 18, 2015
Help provide food and shelter both here at home and worldwide by supporting this year's 35th annual Ocean County "Pat Donohue" CROP Hunger Walk. Over one million dollars of CROP Walk money was made available for Superstorm Sandy relief efforts. This year's 5K walk is on Sunday, October 18 and begins at The Presbyterian Church of Toms River, Hooper Ave. & Chestnut St. Our walk is a celebration of the hope we give to hungry people everywhere. Registration is at 1:30 and the walk starts at 2:00. As always, there will be music and refreshments. For information contact Alan Reifenheiser at 732 349 0665 or email him at areifenheiser@comcast.net - or contact Courtney Rzeplinski.
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Here are the upcoming volunteer groups who will be staying in the Volunteer Village this fall:
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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Excitement is building
for this weekend's special Volunteer Village events
sponsored by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance!
It's PDA's way of saying "Thank you"
to those wonderful folks who have pitched in to
offer hospitality through the Volunteer Village,
and those who are continuing to do so.
Latest news is that Ben Wilton will be
providing music (after the
delicious dinner catered by Joe Leone's).
To those who've signed up...
you won't want to miss it!
(Details below...)
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FEMA NFIP Review Process -
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
 If you filed a flood insurance (NFIP) claim after Superstorm Sandy, & you were not satisfied with the amount of money you received from your insurance company you can request a review of your flood insurance claim through FEMA.
If you need help in understanding or navigating the review process you can get FREE assistance from trusted community advocates who are on hand to provide one on one assistance. If you're interested in learning more about the NFIP review process and what you need to do to opt-in for a review, please call the Long Term Recovery Group.
732-569-3484 ext. 24
We strongly encourage policyholders to ask for a review as there may be additional funds that are rightfully yours.
As you may know, the deadline for opting in was extended to October 15. This provides just a short window to get the word out to the 85% of eligible people who have, so far, not taken advantage of this opportunity. According to a September 15 article in the Asbury Park Press, the average additional flood insurance payment was $15,994. This amount can easily make the difference for people who are on the edge in their recovery and should make it worthwhile for almost everyone to drag that paperwork out again. And according to a second article on September 17, HUD announced that they will not consider any of the first $20,000 a duplication of benefits. This was one of the big reasons many people were hesitant to go through all the effort of having their claim reviewed ... go through all the effort just to give it back to the government. Now not a factor for the average claimant.
Let's make sure that Sandy affected homeowners don't leave money that is theirs on the table.
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Mark your calendar now for...
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FREE Screening by the Film-Maker
October 24, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church Annex
Two years after Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, Heartbreak & Healing After Sandy examines the tremendous progress made, and the daunting challenges remaining in recovery from the storm. The one-hour film focuses on northern Ocean County where some of the worst damage occurred, and captures the Herculean tasks of clearing tons of debris from the land and water; the rebuilding of beloved boardwalks-twice; and the inspiring work of volunteers and community groups that bolster the healing.
Produced by Jersey Shore native Sandra Levine, Heartbreak & Healing After Sandy tells poignant stories of families and business owners struggling with tough decisions: how- and whether-to rebuild, when insurance payments often won't cover the costs, and with expensive, new elevation requirements in place. While an uneven recovery is underway, the people's fierce love for the beautiful Jersey Shore never wavers. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, amid a keen awareness of the shore's vulnerability-and with rebuilding in full swing-weather experts predict rising sea levels mean future flooding is inevitable.
The Producer: Sandra Levine, of Toms River, NJ, and founder of Sandra Levine Productions, is the documentary's producer, director and narrator, who also shot and edited the film. Levine felt compelled to produce the documentary after seeing so much destruction in her home region, and witnessing the struggles of area residents-including her own father-with recovery from this historic storm. Levine has worked in the television industry for 30 years, spending most of her career at NJN Public Television as a producer, reporter, writer and host. She has been nominated 10 times for regional Emmy Awards, for her television news and documentary productions, and for her extensive reporting on animal welfare issues. (Some may know her as the host of NJN's Homeless Tails pet-adoption segments.)
Levine is a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore, whose family moved to Toms River in the 1950s, when her parents opened Toms River Veterinary Hospital. Sandy has a deep love for the beach and the area's culture; she grew up swimming in the Toms River and Barnegat Bay, and sailing - even iceboating - on those waters, too.
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It won't be long before our Volunteer Village
bunks are full again!
Next work team arrives October 4th...
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CHURCH CALENDAR - The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Chancel Choir
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
12:00 p.m. - PDA Care for Caregivers Luncheon
1:00 p.m. - PDA Care for Caregivers Retreat, CE Annex
2:30 p.m. - Claremont Care Center Worship
Monday, Sept 28
9:15 a.m. - PW Coordinating Team, Fellowship Room
12:00 p.m. - Lunch at Rainbow Diner, all welcome
5:30 p.m. - Wolf Den, CE Annex
6:15 p.m. Choral Bells
6:30 p.m. - Princeton Review SAT class, CE Annex
Tuesday, Sept 29
Wednesday, Sept 30
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
10:00 a.m. - PPPC Staff Meeting
5:00 p.m. - Dove Choir Rehearsal
6:00 p.m. - Bear Den, Basement
6:30 p.m. - Princeton Review SAT class, CE Annex
7:30 p.m. - Grieving with Hope, Chittick Lounge
Thursday, October 1
8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
7:00 p.m. - Webelos Den
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Friday, October 2
6:00 p.m. - Youth Connection
Saturday, October 3
Sunday, October 4
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Communion/Chancel Choir
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
11:00 p.m. - Communion Breakfast
11:15 a.m. - Inquirers Group
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 Birthday Blessings
Sept 27
Sept 28 Quintessa Baker
Sept 29 Rylie Rampone, Leigh Reinwald
Sept 30 Donna Fahey, Dalton Garner, Taylor Van Wagenen
Oct 1 Michael Iadarola
Oct 2 Owen DeBenedett
Oct 3 Robert Desiderio, Gail Watson, Kristin Murat, Bill Shoppell, Edna Soper
Oct 4 John Liotta, Caden Lucich, Aaron Semanski
Oct 5 Alexa Ianniello, Nicholas Ianniello, Kerry Jones, Brandon Rodgers
Oct 6 James Liotta, Kathleen Schmidt
Oct 7 Cyrus Marden, Donald Quimby
Oct 8 Min Curtis
Oct 9 Bruce Larsen, Keith Reilly Jr
Oct 10 Bob Martin, Steven McDermitt
Oct 11 Elizabeth DeRosa
Oct 12 Ginger Decker
Oct 13
Oct 14
Oct 15 Jacquelin Woods
Oct 16
Oct 17 Thomas Bamburak
Oct 18 Jessica Holloway, Zachary Paulus
Oct 19 Jamie Jaekels, Marjorie McGhee
Oct 20 Phyllis King, Carol Reid
Oct 21
Oct 22 Michael Aiello, William Smykowski
Oct 23
Oct 24 W N Smith
Oct 25 Riley Fiorentino, Adrian Jensen
Oct 26 Cailey Hudnut
Oct 27 Joan Reitmeyer
Oct 28 Sydney Hurley, Cynthia Kells, Rosanna Maimone, Carl Wilton
Oct 29
Oct 30 Claude Hurley, John Pasola, Frank Perkowski, Lisa Simpson
Oct 31
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October 18, CROP Walk Toms River
October 24, 7:00 - Heartbreak and Healing After Sandy film screening
October 25, 11:00 a.m. Youth Connection Pancake Breakfast
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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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