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United Pres January, 2015
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It is a New Year, which means we have new elders and deacons joining our boards and I would like to introduce them to you. I am delighted that Bill Guld is returning for a second term on Session and Ann Castor, Soam Chhedi, and Bob Lasser are returning to the Board of Deacons. I am also very excited that Jeremy Martino, Irene Mason, Chris Neuman, and Noah Pinto will join Session as new members. Finally, we have a new Deacon that I am thrilled to have joining the board. His name is David Geijer and I'd like to tell you a little more about him.
David joined our church by letter of transfer from the Cranbury Presbyterian Church where he had served as a Deacon before. David has developmental challenges and his mother, who is a senior citizen, wanted to find a place where he could live with assistance, preparing for the inevitable day when she would no longer be on this earth to care for him. They found the Visitation Home on Yardville-Allentown Road which they thought might work for David. But if he were going to take the enormous step of leaving home, it was just as important for David and his mother to find a church for him. That is when they began coming to United Presbyterian Church, before David even moved to the area. They were glad to find a faith community that embraced David and made him feel at home. I am especially proud that our Member Care Ministry Team, under the leadership of Kathy Thewes, and our Deacons, moderated by Joyce Vaughn, took David under their wing.
Once David made the move to Yardville two years ago, he became a regular attender of church and transferred his membership as soon as possible. I love to read David's prayer requests. They are written in large block print and they are quite detailed. When his mother was going to have some tests he asked for prayers that the tests would find "that her heart was good because she is the best mother in the world!" He works part-time at Target and prays regularly that he might be given more hours. Since he lives right next door to St. Vincent dePaul Church, he volunteers his time helping there on his days off.
When I asked David, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, if he would be willing to be a Deacon here at United Presbyterian Church, he was the happiest I have ever seen him. He said, "Oh, Pastor Jean, you have given me the best Christmas present ever!"
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10:15). David's child-like faith and his desire to serve are a model for all of us. I hope you will get to know David, if you don't already, and that his ministry among us, and that of all our Elders and Deacons will be blessed throughout the New Year.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jean
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On Tuesday, December 17, 2014 the Session met and took the following actions:
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- Approved a request by Marietta Burnett and Pierre Williams to be married in the sanctuary on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11 a.m. by Pastor Jean Pinto and Pastor Emeritus Terry Fouse.
- Approved a letter of transfer for Gary and Patti Stanley to the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, NJ.
- Approved a request by the Kenosis Prison Ministry to hold a training session on Saturday, January 10, 2015 in Bertolet Lounge from 9 a.m. to noon.
- Set the date for ordination and installation of deacons and elders for Sunday, January 11, 2015 at both services.
- Approved a proposal by Chris Neuman that the Garden State Sound Quartet perform an evening of barbershop and sacred music as a benefit concert for the church with a free will offering on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 7 p.m.
- Approved a call for the Annual Congregational Meeting to be held in Fellowship Hall immediately following the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, January 25, 2015.
- Approved a thank you gift for Joe Bruno for opening the church each Sunday, and turning on the heat and lights.
- Approved a balanced budget for 2015 with anticipated revenues of $183,015.00 and anticipated expenses of $181,642.
- Approve the Stewardship Ministry Team Finances Committee's request to hold a Pancake Breakfast on April 18, 2015 from 8 a.m. to noon and a Flea Market on Saturday, May 30, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Approved the Stewardship Ministry Team Facilities Committee's plan to change snow removal services and to contain costs by spreading salt ourselves.
- Thanked Megan Gadsby, Dan Mucha, and Tom Zeyack, who have now completed their terms, for their dedicated work for session.
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Garden State Sound Quartet to Hold Benefit Concert at UPCNJ on Saturday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
Garden State Sound Quartet is made up of Kean University students and alumni, including United Presbyterian Church's own Chris Neuman, who sings tenor. The Quartet wants to bring barbershop and sacred music to the area in hopes of creating interest and of course to entertain the public. Their premiere concert will be held in the sanctuary on Saturday, January 24, at 7:00 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken to defray the quartet's expenses and support the work of the church. Come and you will get to hear voices that harmonize like angels!
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Mark Your Calendars
There will be a congregational Meeting following the 11:00 am worship service on January 25,2015 for the purpose of receiving annual reports and conducting any other business of the corporation. The meeting will take place in Fellowship Hall.
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Annual Reports Due
All treasurers and chairs of committees, please turn in your annual reports on disk or e-mail them to: [email protected] by January 12th. We need to compile and print the reports so that they are available a week before our annual meeting. |
Coffee Hour
There will be a Coffee Hour on January 4th at 10:15 am in Fellowship Hall, hosted by the Member Care Committee. Come and enjoy fellowship and refreshments. |
UPW
The United Presbyterian Women will hold their m  onthly meeting on Tuesday, January 6th at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall. Our Bible study will be from the book, Women of the Bible. We will be studying Miriam. Following our Bible study, we will hold our business meeting. After our meeting, those who want to will be going out to lunch at a local restaurant. Please join us for a time of fellowship, study and decisions as we plan our missions for the new year. |
Survivors
The Survivors Senior Group will meet at the church, Fellowship Hall, on Wed., Jan. 14, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. for a program presented by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to address mental illness and give many the courage to seek help and treatment. Following the presentation we will enjoy lunch at Iccara in Yardville. If you plan to attend please make your reservation with Rita Peterson 259-7256 or email [email protected]. All seniors of the church and their friends are welcome to join the Survivors for an informative presentation and a great lunch and fellowship.
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UP Men's Breakfast
The United Presbyterian Men's Group will have a Breakfast Meeting at Town and Country Diner, Route 206, Bordentown, on January 17th at 9:00 am. This is a Dutch Treat event. Come join us for fellowship and spiritual uplifting. Sign up in the Narthex. Call or e-mail Jim Dixon for more information, 609-298-3398; [email protected].
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Women's Book Club
The Women's Book Club will meet on Tuesday, January 27 th (last Tues, of the month) at 7:00 pm in the Bertolet Lounge. We will be discussing I AM MALALA by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai. The book tells us the remarkable tale of a girl and her family uprooted by terrorism and why Malaga became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. All women of the church and their friends are invited to join us. February selection: TUCK EVERLASTING by Natalie Babbitt.
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January Mission Focus: Johnsonburg
In 1959, Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center was established to provide  experiential Christian education in support of the Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. Johnsonburg today is a place where city kids meet country kids, where black and white discover common ground, where the rich and poor of means and spirit are valued equally, and where each is encouraged to take another vital step toward realizing oneness in Christ.
Their services include: summer camp, programmed retreats, spiritual sanctuary, conferences, special needs camp, and service to the homeless through a partnership with Interfaith Hospitality Network.
All the gifts designated for Mission in January will support the mission of the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center at Johnsonburg. Please give generously so many more lives will be touched.
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Dear United Presbyterian Church Family:
Thank you for all of the prayers, cards, emails and calls that you have sent to me during my surgery and recuperation. They are and have been greatly appreciated. I hope to be back in New Jersey in mid- to late January and back to some of my activities. May each of you have a Blessed Christmas and New Year! Carolyn S. Reynolds
**************** Dear United Presbyterian Church members and friends, Thank you all for your prayers, calls, cards, and concerns during my recent knee surgery and recuperation. Pat Anthony **************** WITH GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION Dear Pastor Jean,
Your message at the service of celebration for Peggy's life was heartwarming and beautiful. The support of you and your congregation to her as she battled the big "C" was so appreciated by her. She loved reading the many cards that helped brighten her days.. She enjoyed the phone calls and the visits from friends in the congregation. On good days she enjoyed the taste of small portions of the soup, and on our time with hers we enjoyed larger portions all so delicious. And most of all she was happy to have friends play with her pal Truman. We thank you from the bottom of our heart.
We too, are grateful for the contributions in her memory to your church and to other charities of her choice, your cards many with beautiful hand written notes, your personal phone calls and presence at the church service were all comforting.
A special thanks to all who helped set up the beautiful room and prepared foods and the buffet table. The luncheon was superb and enabled us to enjoy some memories with our family and friends and to meet so many of her friends from UPC.
Peggy loved UPC and all of you. We know how much you loved her.
As we are in the Season of Advent, awaiting the Coming of the Lord, let us be reminded of the Incarnation providing God's greatest gift to us His Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. Joyce Allen (Peggy's sister), Jill Belviso and Kathy Lambert (Peggy's nieces)
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Birthday greetings to the members and friends whose birthdays are in January:
1 Pat Mason, Jayson Roberts, Rudy Stark
2 Diane Kilby
3 Kevin Latham, Amanda Yost
4 Morgan Gravatt, Kristen Malpas
6 Irene Worek
7 Randy Carpenter, Jr., Daniel Walter
8 Chris Neuman, Jody Sheppard
11 Glenn Cruser
12 Matthew Varga
13 Diane LoPresti
14 Tyler Baldwin, Renee Cass, Laura Mraz
15 Jennifer Hafner
16 Isabella Hartwig
17 Jean Malloy
18 Gillian Worek
19 Adrienne Kaliszewski, Marty Scharnitz
20 Jan Oliver, Josh Ramos
23 Julianna Gazzillo, David Stec
24 Jason Bloodgood, Virginia Hulick
25 June Wyrwas
29 Donna Bade, Gary Machunze, Dorothy Sexton
30 Colin Bernhard, Heide Vandegrift
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Winter Memories When it snowed in the night
And a mantle of white
Covered all within sight
Did you laugh in sheer joy?
When you rose from your bed,
Spread some jelly on bread,
Grabbed your old, worn red sled
Bundled up and rushed out.
Was it so long ago
You played in the snow
With faces aglow
From the crisp, winter air?
As you sped down each hill
Never feeling the chill
You heard the air fill
With excitement of friends.
Yes, but though long ago
Your memories glow
Of the dear ones you know
And those who are gone.
And you're still keen to go
Though your hair's white as snow
And your movements are slow
So what! You're alive!
And you meet each fresh day
With the hope that you may
Remain strong on life's way
Square your shoulders and smile!
Best wishes to all January birthday members --
Margaret Archibald
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We Pray For:
Healing of: Kaleigh Kline (surgery for brain tumor); Nancy (breast cancer); Bob and Lois; several members of Betty Lou Dolci's family (various health problems); Patty Hobson Henry; Nando Avila; George Edwards; Pat Howell; Pam and Dan Rose (leukemia); Elaine; Susan; Nicole; Dottie, Maria, Melissa, Marianne, Anita (all dealing with cancer); John; Donna (healing from broken hip); Carolyn Reynolds (recuperating from heart surgery); and Howard Stoeckel (rehab at Masonic Home); Robert Neuman (lung cancer); Jean Principato (cancer); Liza's husband, Jeff (cancer); Patty (post-surgery); Donna Bade (continued progress in rehab); Dawn Porter (cancer); Mrs. Rosenberg;
Comfort for Bill Malloy and family upon the death of his sister, Pat; and for the families of David Errickson, Peggy Ayres, and Dave Smith.
Prayers for the New York police officers and their families.
Thanksgiving for the marriage of Marietta Burnett and Pierre Williams; that Kaleigh's tumor is benign; for Ed and Bernadette; Bill and Jane; for kindnesses during the holidays experienced by Michelle; thanksgiving for Marilyn Jose's healing from lung transplant. Also thanksgiving that Kathy Thewes' son, Frank finished his Master's Degree.
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Lifetree Cafe
You are invited to a stimulating time of discussion & thought every Friday night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 746 Klockner Rd. / 20 Armour Ave. Hamilton, NJ. Coffee & light snacks will be served. Everyone is welcome, just as you are. Upcoming topics include: Finding Peace; What Would You Do for Love?; Family Do-Over; and Declutter Your Life. For more infomation call John @ 609-498-5800 or visit the website: www.facebook.com/ltchamilton. |
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United Presbyterian Church | (609) 585-5770 e-mail: [email protected] | website: upcnj.org |
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