May 22 will be a day of celebration for our church as Rebecca Crate will be ordained as a Teaching Elder (Minister of the Word and Sacrament) by the Presbytery of Monmouth, here in our Sanctuary. From her baptism, to her confirmation, to her call to ministry, Becca has been a part of this congregation, and we are honored to be a part of this great occasion. The Presbytery of Baltimore has voted to receive Becca as a member upon her ordination, and she will begin her ministry as Pastor of the Springfield Presbyterian Church of Sykesville, Maryland.

After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Arcadia University, Becca went on to Princeton Seminary and earned her Masters of Divinity degree in 2012. Becca and her wife, Lorna, then moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was there that she attended the University of Edinburgh's New College, earning her Masters of Theology in Ministry.

As an artist, Becca has become very interested in liturgical-based art, primarily in the form of 3D installations. During her studies in ministry at the University of Edinburgh, she explored the use of art in Reformed Worship through her dissertation, "Visual Art as an Enhancement of or Distraction from Reformed Worship." Some of you may remember her Bethlehem Star this past Christmas. Once again her own creations will be incorporated as part of the Ordination service.

Please join us, with the entire Crate family, in the Sanctuary on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m. for this joyous occasion. A reception will follow in the CE Annex.

Next Saturday, May 21, from 9:00 am till mid-afternoon, we're going to be hosting the meeting of Monmouth Presbytery. The Presbytery is composed of 45 Presbyterian congregations including PPPC, and is the next higher council, or governing body, above the Session.

Approximately 100 people will be joining us: pastors and associate pastors of the Presbytery's congregations, ruling elder commissioners elected by the Sessions, as well as specialized ministers, all make up the Presbytery.

The Chancel Choir will be singing for the morning worship service, which begins at 9:45 am, and the Rev. Larissa Kwong-Abazia, Vice-Moderator of the General Assembly, will be the preacher.

 

HOW TO GIVE BY TEXT: Try using your smartphone to make a gift to the church - it's easy, fun and secure! Just text a dollar sign followed by the dollar amount, (example: $10) to our church's dedicated give-by-text phone number, 732-451-7575. The first time you give, you'll receive a text reply telling you how to enter your preferred payment method (credit/debit card number information or your bank routing and account number). You'll get an immediate text message back, confirming that the gift has gone through. The system will remember your payment details - so, after your first gift, future gifts are easier and quicker than writing a check! Electronic gifts are reported on the quarterly pledge statement we send you, just like any other gift. When you're in church, feel free to take one of the Alternative Offering cards from the pew rack and place it in the offering plate, as an act of worship.

Throughout the year, we offer various opportunities to support Church World Service in its relief and resettlement work around the globe. Blanket Sunday, PW's appeal for emergency kits and the CROP Walk all support various aspects of CWS' work.

This brief video tells one mother's story, who credits CWS with saving her child's life through a community nutrition program in the tiny nation of East Timor, located just east of Indonesia:

 

Monday, May 16

7:00 p.m. - Committee Meetings

8:00 p.m. - Session Meeting

8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast at US Subs

7:30 p.m. - Tiger Den

8:00 p.m. - Webelos Den

2:30 p.m. - Claremont Care Center

3:00 p.m. - Ordination Service Rebecca Crate