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Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church
| Weekly News For
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 | |
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 Friends, What's the life of a pop music tune? A month or two? A year? They don't last long, most of them. But every once in a while, a song comes along that really sticks. That's true of this little ditty published by the pop superstar of his era, Stephen Foster, in the year 1854: "Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears, While we all sup sorrow with the poor; There's a song that will linger forever in our ears; Oh! Hard times come again no more. Chorus: 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary, Hard Times, hard times, come again no more Many days you have lingered around my cabin door; Oh! Hard times come again no more."
Here's an folk-music supergroup performing it (including Emmylou Harris, Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Rufus Wainwright, among others):
Modern stars such as Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris and James Taylor continue to sing it: surely because of its timeless message. None of us live in log cabins anymore, but most everyone's known hard times. And we don't want them to come back. But if they do, what then? Where do we find the strength to journey through life's trying experiences and come out the other side? This week's Old Testament lesson tells us how: trust in the Lord. For God is the one who says: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you....
Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you..."
This Sunday, we'll take a look at that scripture text that delivers such a powerful message of comfort. But before that, we'll baptize a little girl named Reese Elizabeth, who will pass through the waters for the first time.
When she does so, God will be with her. And God will always be with her, through all the days of her life.
It's true for all of us who number ourselves among the Christian family. We don't journey through this life alone. We do so in good company.
And that's something to celebrate!
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Sunday, January 10, 2016
Baptism of Our Lord
Dr. Wilton preaching: "IN GOOD COMPANY"
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Healing Prayers
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
11:00 a.m. - Congregational Breakfast
11:30 a.m. - Inquirers Group, CE Annex
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Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism This Sunday
Reese Elizabeth Reinwald
daughter of
Scott Reinwald and Leigh Walker
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Photo Directory Photos to be Taken this Sunday in the Chittick Lounge
 We will be taking pictures in the Chittick Lounge following the service. Stop in the Chittick Lounge before you head over to the Congregational Brunch. In order for our directory to be a success we are looking for everyone's participation. We will continue to take pictures at various times. As a reminder, photos can also be emailed to pppcdirectory@gmail.com. Files must be in jpg format.
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 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.
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For Those Interested In Exploring Membership
 The next Inquirers Group for those exploring membership in the church, will take place THIS Sunday, January 10, 2016. A light lunch (Communion Brunch has been moved from January 6th to the 10th) will be served in the Annex beginning around 11:30 p.m. and will continue until 1:30 p.m. Child care can be made available upon prior request. New members will be received in worship on January 17. Please call the Church Office to sign up, or to find out more!
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 Following the service this Sunday, the Kitchen Team will be once again be offering a Congregational Brunch in the Education Annex. A free-will offering will be received to cover expenses, with anything left over going to Mission.
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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 Family for the week of January 10 is the Iadarola family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Michael, Kelly and Madeline, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer Concerns: Laura Burton (relative of Donna Fahey); Doug Chase; Bill Leach; Linda Sage (Mother of Sheri Hall); Brian Satterlee; Les Thornton; Stan Thornton; Jean DeMartino; Jim Millar; Rod Smith; Shirley Wilton.
Long term concerns: Bill Blauvelt (Jacque Thornton's brother-in-law); Cliff Brendler; Elsie Cason; Kathryn Feldman (Bill Shoppell's sister); George Griffiths (Cousin of Heidi Steinert); Kim Kearns (sister-in-law of Rusty and Mindy Gilbert); Maryanne Leach; Ethel Lemke (mother-in-law of Scott Smith); Margie McGhee; Gerda Mooney; Edith Pula; Gemma Roberts; Mary Steinert; Bill Williams; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Michael Fahey III; Matthew Warren; all those in our nation's service.
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CHURCH ORGANIZATION LEADERS: Information for the Annual Reports was due on Friday. If you have not submitted your information, please do asap. Reports will be ready for the congregation on Sunday, January 17, 2016.
OFFERING ENVELOPES - Are still located in the Narthex. Please try to save the church money by picking up your envelopes by the end of the month. Thank you!
COOKBOOK UPDATE - The recipes have all been typed and proofread. Thank you all so much for your time and dedication to getting them correct! Next step: Creating the vision!
FLOWER CHART - A new flower chart is posted outside the church office. Please consider signing up to donate money for fresh flowers to mark a special occasion or "just because." The flower prices for 2016 remain the same, $20 per vase or $25 for a bowl of flowers. An order form next to the chart can be filled out and sent into the office along with your payment. Future events such as Anniversaries and Birthdays can be reserved on the flower chart and payment can be submitted closer to the date. Flowers are God's gift to us all!
 AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) OCEAN COUNTY CHAPTER -Will be presenting Sacred Choral and Organ Music on January 31, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. This choir festival will take place at Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street in Toms River. A free will offering will be accepted.
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Annual Congregational Meeting
 The Annual General Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church will take place on Sunday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m.
The Congregation will elect officers, elect the Nominating Committee (for the election of officers), approve the Pastor's terms of call, and conduct any other business that may properly come before the Congregation.
An extended program for Church School children will be available in the Education Annex, so parents may attend the Annual Meeting.
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Meals for the Rzeplinskis
 Dee D'Amore is coordinating meals for Courtney and John Rzeplinski with the birth of their daughter Lily.
If you would like to sign up to bring them a meal, visit the website at http://www.takethemameal.com. Find their schedule by using the last name Rzeplinski with a password Lily. Click on the date you would like to signup and add your name. It is that easy.
For questions call Dee D'Amore at 732-552-9861.
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Dear Parents With Young Children in Church...
 If you're a parent of a young child, this is something you really need to read. This article from the Huffington Post, written by Jamie Brusehoff of Vernon, NJ - the wife of a Lutheran pastor - begins like this:
"You are doing something really, really important. I know it's not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came to church already tired. Parenting is tiring. Really tiring.
I watch you bounce and sway trying to keep the baby quiet, juggling the infant car seat and the diaper bag as you find a seat. I see you wince as your child cries. I see you anxiously pull things out of your bag of tricks to try to quiet them.
And I see you with your toddler and your preschooler. I watch you cringe when your little girl asks an innocent question in a voice that might not be an inside voice let alone a church whisper. I hear the exasperation in your voice as you beg your child to just sit, to be quiet as you feel everyone's eyes on you. Not everyone is looking, but I know it feels that way.
I know you're wondering, is this worth it? Why do I bother? I know you often leave church more exhausted than fulfilled. But what you are doing is so important...."
Read the rest of the article here. Better yet, when you visit that page, click on the video link at the bottom for an interview with Jamie. |
 Youth Connection Re-Gift Silent Auction
This Sunday look for the drop-off bins by the Church Doors and in the CE Annex for our Youth Connection Re-Gift Silent Auction.
Thank you to everyone who has already dropped off their gift donation. We can always use more. Gifts dropped off this week can be unwrapped for we will have time to wrap them. Gifts that are dropped off on the day of the event must be wrapped. Minimum bids begin at $10 and gifts go up in value.
This is the perfect opportunity to give unwanted gifts a chance to find a home the second time around - and help send a Youth to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at the same time.
Don't forget to join us next Sunday, January 17, 11:00 am
for the Re-Gifting Silent Auction Fundraiser
How to Participate & Join the Fun:
- "Gag" as well as multiple gifts are ok!!
- Don't share with others what's inside your wrapped gift!!
- Our Youth Group will assign an auction form for your wrapped donation!
- PPPC friends will walk around and place a bid on your wrapped gift (not knowing what's inside it!!).
- We will announce winners after everyone has had an opportunity to place their bids - gifts will be opened before all!
All donations will be going to help our youth participate in the Presbyterian Youth Triennium being held this July at Purdue University in Indiana. Thank you in advance for your support.
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Happy New Year!
 This week we learned the letter L. We went on a lion hunt, did the limbo, and tasted lemons. At our project table we made lambs, lions, lego paintings, lollipops, and laced shoelaces. We talked about our likes and made a class list. We made a new dramatic play post office and enjoyed pretending to mail letters. We learned sign language for "L" and "love."
We also had a speech pathologist come in to conduct speech and language screenings for any child whose parents were interested in having an evaluation.
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 Looking for a Preschool? Save the Date
Saturday, January 30
More details to follow
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Blanket Sunday is Next Sunday, January 17
 Next Sunday, January 17, we will be collecting money for Church World Service Blankets+. Contributions to CWS Blankets mean Church World Service will be ready to help families around the world recover from disasters and displacement, and build viable, sustainable lives and communities. CWS helps to provide primary health care for displaced and other families in need. In such far-flung places as Sudan, Pakistan and Nicaragua, CWS gives comfort and care to moms and babies, and helps children get the nutrition they need to grow up strong and healthy
And here in the U.S., CWS Blankets provide comfort in many communities hit by disaster, and in shelters or agencies assisting those experiencing hard times.
- $50 can provide five warm blankets for a family left homeless by a tornado or other disaster.
- $110 can provide an emergency food package for a family of five for one month.
- $200 can provide 20 mosquito nets to help keep families safe from the bite of mosquitos and the illnesses they bring.
- $1,000 can equip a village well with a pump and provide hygiene training.
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Peyton was our shining star
at the Family Christmas Eve Service!
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CHURCH CALENDAR - The latest edition of the church calendar is available online, on the church's website. 
Sunday, January 10
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Healing Prayers
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
11:00 a.m. - Congregational Breakfast
11:30 a.m. - Inquirers Group, CE Annex
11:30 a.m. - EliSabeth Verdella
6:15 p.m. - Choral Bells
Tuesday, January 12
10:00 a.m. - Eye Openers, Fellowship Room
1:00 p.m. - Lydia Day Circle
4:30 p.m. - Daisy Girl Scouts
7:00 p.m. - Lydia Evening Circle
Wednesday, January 13
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
5:00 p.m. - Dove Choir, Sanctuary
7:30 p.m. - Troop 6, CE Annex
6:30 p.m. - Youth Connection
8:00 p.m. - Sandy Team
Thursday, January 14
8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs
7:00 p.m. - Judith Rachel Circle
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Friday, January 15
6:00 p.m. - Pinewood Derby Setup
Saturday, January 16
Sunday, January 17 10:00 a.m. - Worship/Chancel Choir 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in Worship
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BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS
Jan 10 Ami Gallagher
Jan 11 Brianna Harvey
Jan 12 Madeline Iadarola, Pat Shoppell
Jan 13 Judy Antonucci, Jason Krayl, Rod Smith
Jan 14 Jean Whittaker
Jan 15 Stephen Ferguson, Nicholas O'Hara, Calvin Potter
Jan 16 Chris Nelson
Jan 17 Allison Milancewich
Jan 18 Patricia Hewitt
Jan 19 Ann Lappke
Jan 20 Lauren Braaten, Mary Beth Schroeder
Jan 21
Jan 22 Michele Cleveland, Donald May, Trevor Sellman, Londa Scarpone, Joan Vitale
Jan 23
Jan 24
Jan 25 Jason Braaten, Christopher Muraglia
Jan 26
Jan 27 Samantha Trainor
Jan 28 Jordan Cooper, Connor Durante
Jan 29 Blake Birdsong, Jaime Williams
Jan 30 Michael Fanizzo, Ronald Krayl
Jan 31 Donna Ferry, Maria Tirpak
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January 24 - Annual Congregational Meeting
January 30 - Point Beach Prep Open House
February 7 - Interfaith Hospitality Network Arrives
February 10 - Ash Wednesday
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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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