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Rick and I are dog lovers. Indeed, my morning usually starts with our Boarder Collie, Fiona, walking up to Rick's side of the bed and Rick petting her while saying enthusiastically, "We love dogs!" I think Fiona believes it.
We adopted Fiona from a "kill shelter" in Alabama, although why anyone would have given her up is beyond me. Boarder Collies are purported to be the smartest breed of dog, and Fiona lives up to that reputation. She was so well trained when we got her that she would never get onto furniture, jump on people, or take food that wasn't given to her. She is very friendly and docile with children and other dogs.
The first thing I do after dressing is take Fiona for a long walk. When we walk I've noticed that every time we reach an intersection, Fiona pauses and looks back at me to find out in which direction we will be going. It made me think of the parallel between our walk of faith and Fiona's walk with me.
How often do we turn to God when we reach a crossroad in life? Do we look to our Master for direction? Do we pray about the decisions we have to make and listen for the guidance God gives us through our conscience and trusted friends? Do we study the scriptures and learn from Jesus' life and teaching so that we can apply what we learn to our own lives?
I am humbled that Fiona has complete trust in me. She is not a brave "alpha" dog, but she will go wherever I lead her. We should have that kind of trust in God, our Father. The more time we spend "tethered" to him, the greater our certainty about the path he is leading us on, and the more we experience his love. When our walk with God becomes a daily habit, we cannot lose our way!
In Christ,
Pastor Jean
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There will be a coffee hour Sunday, March 1st, at 10:15 AM in Fellowship Hall. You are invited to stop by for fellowship, coffee and refreshments.
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NEW CHURCH PICTURE DIRECTORY
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This spring, we are doing a new picture directory of our church family. The dates for photographs are April 24th and 25th. You will have the first of many opportunities to schedule your appointment on Sunday, March 1st during coffee hour. You can also call the church office, 585-5770 to make an appointment. More information will be available in the weeks to come.
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Come to Bertolet Lounge each Wednesday from Feb. 25 to April 1 from 7 to 8 p.m. to participate in "Catching Fire Becoming Flame," a guide for spiritual transformation. Ever wonder how some people become enthusiastic and on fire about their relationship with God? This six-session video presentation features Father Albert Haase, a Franciscan monk, former missionary to China, and award winning author of six books. He will give you the tools and kindling to prepare for the spark of God in your life and then show you how to fan it into flame until you are set ablaze. Jean Pinto will facilitate the discussion of the video, reading suggestions, and reflection questions.
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UNITED PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
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The United Presbyterian Women are planning to hold their monthly circle meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall. All women are invited to attend. We will have our coffee and fellowship time from 10:00 - 10:15 followed by our Bible study. This month we will be studying Deborah from our book, Women of the Bible. After the Bible study, we will have our business meeting and then all those who want to will be going for lunch at a local restaurant.
On March 3rd at our circle meeting, we will be collecting the Birthday Offering. This is a free will offering, a "birthday gift", given by all Presbyterian Women of the church at large to help fund mission projects that improve the lives of women and children in need. This offering will be dedicated at the Spring Gathering of the Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Monmouth in April. This Birthday Offering is one way Presbyterian Women fulfill their commitment to improve the lives of others and answer the call to show Jesus' love to the world. Also UPW members, please remember to bring men's white tube socks to Tuesday's circle meeting. These will be donated to the Trenton Soup Kitchen.
We hope that the weather cooperates and we will be able to meet as planned in March since our February meeting had to be canceled due to the snow and ice.
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The Survivors Senior Group will meet at Golden Dawn Diner, 2090 Whitehorse-Mercerville Rd, Mercerville, NJ 08619, for breakfast on March 11th at 10:00 a.m. to enjoy breakfast together. After breakfast we will come back to the church, Fellowship Hall, to welcome Rev. Joanne Petto, a member of Monmouth Presbytery, as our guest speaker. Rev. Petto is a Law Enforcement Chaplain with the Plainsboro Twp. Police Department and the New Jersey State Police. As a member of the NJ Crisis Intervention Network, she responds throughout the State to assist first responders who have been involved in traumatic incidents. Rev. Petto is certified through the NJ Div. of Mental Health Services, Disaster & Terrorism Branch, as a Disaster Response Crisis counselor. Please contact Rita Peterson at 259-7256 or email [email protected] if you plan to attend. All seniors and their friends are most welcome.
The Survivor Senior Group will meet on April 15th (the third Wed. in Apr.) at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 960 Rt. 130 South, Hamilton, NJ 08690 (former location of Harley Davidson) for a tour of their new facility and following the tour we will enjoy lunch at Long Horn Steak House in the Hamilton Marketplace. Please make your reservation with Rita Peterson at 259-7256 or email [email protected].
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Come to the Youth Group's Annual Pasta Dinner on Saturday, March 14th, 5 to 7 pm. Tickets from Youth Group members or at the door. Cost:
Adults $7; Children $5.
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The United Presbyterian Men's Group will have a Breakfast Meeting on March 28th at 9:00AM, at the TOWN AND COUNTRY DINER, ROUTE 206 BORDENTOWN. This will be a DUTCH TREAT EVENT. Come join us for the fellowship and spiritual up-lifting as we continue to share ways of socializing and serving our church. Notify Jim Dixon by Sunday, March 21, 2015. If you have any questions, contact Jim at 609-298-3398.
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 The Women' s Book Club will meet on March 31st (last Tues. of the month) at 7:00 pm in the Bertolet Lounge. We will be discussing UNPLUGGED written by a local author, Robert Egby. The novel is a science fiction which involves a UFO which crashes onto a ranch in Texas. All women of the church and their friends who enjoy books and fellowship are encouraged to join us. April selection: ORDINARY GRACE by William Krueger.
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All are welcome to join the choir as we present our Easter cantata "The Weeping Tree" on Sunday, March 29th, during the 11 a.m. worship service. Weekly rehearsals began on Thursday, Feb. 4th at 7:30 in the sanctuary (there will be a dress rehearsal on Sat. March 21st at 10 a.m.). There are listening CDs available to assist in learning the cantata. "The Weeping Tree" is a poignant rendering of the cross that uses beloved hymns, newly composed music, thoughtful narration and simple sacred symbols to create a touching testament of grace.
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Birthday greetings to the members and friends whose birthdays are in March:
2 Elle Gurlavich
3 Bruce Oliver, Stanley Rudziewicz
5 Matthew Oravsky
6 Robert Kilby
8 Janine Bates, Judy Sheehan
9 Jordan Bates, Kelly Joy McAnlis
10 Guy Hendrickson, Jr.
11 Aaron Stanley
13 Anthony Minore
14 Sierra Grace Latham
15 Amir Chhedi, Frank Thewes, Anthony Varga
17 Jeslyn Bernhard, Carol Conner
21 Liam Robert Pingicer
24 Thomas Everett
25 Dennis Morolda
27 Margaret Archibald
31 Owen Wagner
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Click on the link below to view our March calendar of events:
http://upcnj.view-events.com
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Order your Easter flowers from Camille Nami by March 22nd. Tulips are $6.00; daffodils are $6.00; and lilies are $6.75.
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All good things come from God and our Wedding Day proved that God is with us. We want to thank everyone for their support during our happy time of life.
Marietta and Pierre
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We Pray for
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Healing for: Beverly Tabor (lupus)
; Jean Principato (cancer treatments); Carolyn LaCrosse's 92-year-old mom (uncontrolled hypertension); Michael Swistack (hospitalized with an infection); Kelly McCarthy (hospitalized with stomach problems); Albert Zuckes (rehab); Lori Galvin; Nando Avila; Pat Howell; Wendi Lyons (leukemia and in need of a bone marrow transplant); Baby Kora (premie) and her parents; Pam and Dan Rose; Susan Anthony; Maryann and Anita (successful cancer treatments); Dottie, Maria, and Melissa (cancer); John; Jenn and her premie babies, Thomas and James; Michelle (cold); Carol Stahl (chemo and radiation for cancer); Marilyn Rogalski (stroke); Patty (shoulder surgery); Chick Kelk (coma); and Donna Pulhalski (for successful treatment of complications following a procedure).
Prayers of concern for: healing of Vincent's overwhelming sadness; and for him to be safe and know he is loved; Donna's
continued progress for healing her hip; Johnny, that God give him hope;
Joyce Vaughn's cousin, Carole Wagg, in dealing with COPD, and in hospice care in the last stage of life;
Jen awaiting a biopsy report;
those taking certification tests for nursing this week.
Traveling mercies for: Maria going to the Philippines to see her sick father; David Geijer's brother, Dan, going overseas for his team.
Comfort for: the bereaved families and friends of George Edwards; John Covington; Bob Krauss (Peachy Kozlowski's twin brother); Robert Hobson (Karen Ashe's father); Richard Mathews (Amy's stepfather); Mr. Marshall; Jim Burch; and Patricia Ashe.
Thanksgiving: that Robert Neuman is responding well to chemo; that Jodi Adelmann was delivered safely through her surgery;
that Soam Chhedi's surgery went well and prayers for continued healing;
that surgery removed all of Nancy Border's cancer; that Howard Stoeckel is home after 3 months of rehab; and that Glenn's TEE was successful.
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March Mission
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The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) is a private, non-sectarian, charitable organization that depends almost entirely on the help of dedicated volunteers and generous financial support from individuals, churches, local businesses and community organizations.
TASK provides more than 3,000 free meals per week to people in need in the Trenton area. We direct our activities toward helping patrons achieve healthier lifestyles, increased self-esteem, and self-sufficiency. To this end, TASK and agencies using our facility provide a wide array of social, community, and health services.
In March, all the donations earmarked for Mission will be given to TASK so that they may continue to provide their important nutritional and educational programs.
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Spring Clean Up Day, March 28
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Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 9 a.m. to noon, come to the church with your rakes, gloves and trowels to help beautify the church grounds for Holy Week. The Boy Scouts will be working with us as we weed the beds and rake leaves from the lawn. If you prefer indoor work, bring your vinyl gloves and cleaning supplies. We will be scrubbing the bathrooms, and polishing the hardwood floors and pews. The more the merrier, so plan on participating!
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Around the world, people lack access to food, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. Each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) serves to help change the lives of people who are in these challenging situations. The Offering provides us a way to share God's love with our neighbors in need. One Great Hour of Sharing, received in the season of lent, makes a difference in the world through three impactful programs: Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self -Development of People.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)
* Works within communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters.
* Receives 32% of funds raised.
Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP)
* Takes action to alleviate hunger and its systemic causes, and helps create access for entire communities to sufficient and healthy food.
* Receives 36% of funds raised.
Self-Development Of People (SDOP)
* Partners with people and communities, leveraging development and education to alleviate poverty, oppression, and injustice.
* Receives 32% of funds raised.
Started in 1949, One Great Hour of Sharing is a long-standing ecumenical effort aimed at raising the funds necessary to provide relief and reconstruction for communities in the aftermath of disaster. What started as an hour-long radio appeal has evolved over the years, varying from eight to 29 participating denominations, and has grown to be the most participated-in Offering in the PC(USA).Today, projects supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are underway in more than 100 countries.
We will receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the 11:00 a.m. service (there will be no E3 Service that day because of the cantata). Please give generously. OGHS Envelopes are in the pews.
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Have Questions?
We're happy to help answer any questions you have.
Rev. Jean B. Pinto, Pastor
United Presbyterian Church
12 Yardville-Hamilton Sq. Rd.
Yardville, NJ 08620
[email protected]
(609) 585-5770
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See what's happening on our social sites.
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