This Sunday
Dear Friends,
The title of the sermon this Sunday is
"The Language of the Cross."
The language of the cross is often in direct opposition to the language that the culture
 and the world speaks. The language of the cross can be found in the Beatitudes -
Matthew 5:1-10.
The language of the cross embodies humility and vulnerability. The language of the cross does not oppress or exploit. The language of the cross relies on the power of God rather than the power of the powerful. Below is a poem I came across written by Thom M. Schuman from his book
"The Jesse Tree." It is a way of speaking the language of the cross in concrete ways. The poem is called "blessed."
blessed are the dog-walkers,
for they will discover the streets of the kingdom;
blessed are those who welcome refugees,
for they will embraced with unimaginable love;
blessed are those who read to children,
...
for they will plant seeds that bear fruit;
blessed are those who shelter the homeless,
for they will be shawled in God's grace;
blessed are those who stock food pantries,
for they will taste God's hope;
blessed are those who reach out to the outsiders,
for they shall be called bridge-builders;
blessed are the faith-full foolish,
for they shall be called the clowns of God.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Come to church this Sunday as we together strengthen our resolve to learn the language of the cross as we are gathered around the communion table.
Blessings,
Pastor Linda
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Communion Breakfast 
Please join us after worship in the C.E. Annex for our monthly Communion Brunch, in lieu of coffee hour. A free-will offering defrays expenses. On the menu this Sunday is the special St. Patrick Days menu of Mini Reubens, Potatoes O'Brien, Rich's Chunky Porkroll, and Corned Beef Hash as well as our regular favorites.
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Prayer Concerns This Week
The Prayer Family for the week is the Muraglia family. Let us be prayerfully aware of Chris, Becky, Jack, Sam and Jordan, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer Concerns: The family of Bill Tolland; Patrick Henry; Jim Millar; Bill Shoppell; Maryann Leach; Bob Bissey; Mary McSweeney
Long term concerns: Jacob Basilotto; Bill Birdsong; Despina Koch; Bruce Larsen; Cody MacPhearson; Edith Pula; Susan Robbins; Zach Russo; Agnes Skowronek; Nancy and Ralph Smith; Grace Philhower; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Kyle Barker; Sarah Davis Brown; Morgan Daniels Colberg; Michael Fahey III; Jeffrey Hanrahan, Matthew Warren; all those in our nation's service.
For our Church: Wisdom, guidance and patience during this transitional time.
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Easter Flowers
We are now taking orders for Easter Flowers.
NEW This Year - Easter arrangements will be purchased to decorate the Sanctuary and not individual flowers for each contributor.
All who contribute in memory or honor of loved ones will be listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin insert. Monies not used for the Easter Arrangement will be used for the Big Cover Up Roof fund.
Donations are still $15 each.
Payment must be included with
the order form.
Checks should be made payable to Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church, and please be sure to indicate "Easter Flowers" on the memo line of your check! Order form and payment may be placed in the offering plate or mailed/delivered to the church office.
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The Big Cover Up Weekly Update 
Several ideas are planned to help generate additional funds for our roof. Please consider supporting the Big Cover Up through the purchase of Easter Flowers, a Roof Capsule as well as lunch or dinner at Simkos on the two dates offered. Information on all these fundraisers can be found below. To date we have raised $47,140.76.
Gold envelopes are still available in the pews. A check made out to PPPC with a note "Roof" may be sent or placed in the offering plate. If you prefer electronic giving visit our
website.
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Sign The Roof This Sunday
This Sunday at the Communion Breakfast, look for Kyle Jones to s
end a message, memorialize someone and make a personal remark that will be put on our new roof.
In the Annex, there will be sheets of plywood that will actually be used on our new roof to create a "Roof Capsule" that you can write a personal message on.
Sign your Family's name, draw a picture or send someone a message who is looking down on this new roof! Be creative!
Kyle will be available the next two Sundays, at the Communion Brunch and in the Lounge at coffee hour the following week.
He will give you an indelible marker and you use your creativity to put your signature message on the roof.
All it takes is a $20 donation and your creativity. If Kyle gets 50 people we can raise another $1,000 toward the roof.
Come have some fun and help us down the home stretch.
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Simko's Fundraiser to help the Big Cover Up
We have planned a fun - and delicious - way to raise a little money to help with the Big Cover Up. We have made arrangements with Simko's Restaurant in Brielle for two days, Tuesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 15 in which a percentage of your bill will be donated back to the Big Cover Up.
If you eat lunch or dinner at Simko's on any one of those days - and
BRING THE SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FLYER (in the Narthex and Fellowship Room) with you - Simko's will donate 20% of your check to our cause. You MUST bring a copy of the flyer with you in order to participate. Copies will not be available at the restaurant!
So grab a bunch of your friends, plan on taking a night (or two) off of cooking and come to Simko on March 13 and 15th for either lunch or dinner. Take out is also included.
Simko's Grill - 403 Higgins Ave, Brielle, NJ
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New Beginnings Groups Starting
Starting this week you are able to sign up for one of the small group meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to discern the new mission and leadership of the church. We are able to offer groups throughout the week at various times and locations.
The groups will meet for a total of four sessions and will cover specific information each week. Depending on discussion, each session will be an hour and a half to two hours.
Look for the Sign up sheets in the Narthex. The following groups are being offered:
Sunday
11:30 a.m. Lead by Mary Beth Schroeder and Hosted by: TBD - At the Church, Beginning March 18
5:00 p.m. Lead by Mandy Rauffer and Hosted by Sue Hankins - At the Church, Beginning March 18
Monday
6:30 p.m. Lead by Diane Manzo and Hosted by Karen Lucci - 2007 Old Bridge Ave, Point Pleasant
6:30 p.m. Lead by Marjorie Meklin and Lynn Hahm, and Hosted by Marilyn Rice - 41 Tennyson Road, Brick, Beginning March 12
Tuesday
7:00 p.m. Lead by Peter Farwell and Hosted by Susan Robbins - 2104 Middle Avenue, Point Pleasant, Beginning March 13
Tuesday or Wednesday Evenings - Group to decided location and time Lead by Henry Stout Hosted by Kerry Jones
Wednesday
TimeTBD Lead by Donna Wittmann and Hosted by Bette Hughes - location TBD, Beginning March 14.
6:30 p.m. Lead by Kent Lorentzen and Hosted by Craig Lambie - 323 Tide Pond Road, Mantoloking, Beginning March 14
7:00 p.m. Lead by Frank Perkowski and Hosted by Sue Perkowski - 61 Theresa Court, Toms River
Friday
1:30 p.m. Lead by Nancy Stout and Hosted by: TBD - At the Church, Beginning March 16
Please make every effort to join a small group. Being a part of a small group will open us to where God is calling us individually and collectively.
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Phillipians 2:13
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Interfaith Hospitality Network Coming March 18
Many families today are facing crisis. Beginning on Sunday evening, March 18 and continuing all week until the next Sunday morning, families currently in need will be arriving here at PPPC for overnight housing. They will be arriving as part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) program. Up to 15 people may be arriving.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network creates a vital safety net for such families in churches and synagogues all over Ocean County. All client families include at least one child. Were it not for IHN, the County's Board of Social Services would have no choice but to house them in motel rooms - which, in the long term, are not optimal settings for children's healthy development.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of IHN. Beyond providing meals, staying overnight and other services essential to the program, volunteers offer compassionate assistance. So many of you have continuously volunteered over the years. You do simple but immeasurable things. You talk to the guest...and listen. You have responded to them with much compassion. To some, you have been their source of hope.
We have several opportunities to volunteer but are always in need of overnight hosts especially. What do I need to do as an IHN volunteer? There are three types of volunteers needed to welcome our families each night:
1. A Meal Provider - Dinner hosts arrive by 5:00 p.m. and leave by 7:00 p.m. Prior to your night of cooking, you will be notified as to the number of adults and children needing dinner, as well as any special diet concerns. A simple meal is often best.
2. Hospitality Hosts arrive at 7:00 p.m and leave by 9:00 p.m. Hosts visit with our guests as they enjoy it and even play a game with some of the kids.
3. An Overnight Host - You have to be good at one thing to do this job: sleeping. Well, it's a little more than that, because you'll be staying in the building as a contact person, in case any of the families experiences an emergency. You arrive by 9:00 p.m. when things are usually pretty quiet. A comfy bunk bed or cot downstairs is provided as well as a continental breakfast. You'll be finished and on your way by 7:00 am.
Could the Lord be calling you to give of yourself in this way? If you feel that little nudge from the Lord, then please call or speak with Dorothy Tolley (732-892-9306), and let her know you would be glad to help. Sign up sheets are now in the Narthex.
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Don't Forget About our Altered Book Call for Art
It is not to late to start an Altered Book. For those who have started already we hope you are enjoying being
creative.
All or part of a book can be transformed into a new work of art. F
inal pieces can take many different forms including sculpture, collage, assemblage or jewelry as long as the book features heavily in its final appearance.
Submissions will be on display starting at Palm Sunday, March 25. Both students and adults are encourage to participate.
Drop off date for artwork is Monday, March 19, 2018 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Church
Artwork must be displayed throughout exhibition (March 25-May 20, 2018). The
pickup date is Sunday, May 20, 2018 after worship.
For questions, please speak with Karen Norby or Celisha Scarpone
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Do You Need A Desk? 
The Volunteer Village wants to give away the desk it has been using for the past 5+ years. I
t measures 60" L X 30" W X 29" H.
It's empty and ready to be taken away.
You must be able to remove it from the second floor of the annex.
If you're interested, contact Nancy Stout at
nlstout@optonline.net
or call her at 318-436-9865 and leave a message.
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PW Retreat - Next Month
Hosted by Point Pleasant Presbyterian Women
Saturday, March 17, 2018,
at the Brick Presbyterian Church
111 Drum Point Road, Brick, NJ
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join us as we learn and practice a practical prayer method for nurturing an intimacy with God. Whether your interest is in relief from the stress of daily life, deepening an ongoing spiritual quest or practice, or you are simply curious about prayer, please join us as we focus on Prayer Is My Rock. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.
The retreat will be lead by Amy Clarkson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Certified Practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociodrama, and Group Psychotherapy. She has a private practice in Hillsborough, NJ, and is an adjunct faculty member at Montclair State University. For more than 15 years, Amy has been involved in teaching and facilitating Bibliodrama with adults, youth, and children in retreat, educational, and worship settings. She enjoys encouraging others to draw on creativity and imagination as pathways into a deepened and energized spiritual walk.
If that is not enough to pique your appetite, our day will include a simple breakfast, lunch and fellowship, sharing and caring, culminating in an interactive worship experience. All for just $20.00!
**Make check payable to Presbyterian Women
For more information call PPPC at 732-899-0587.
To Register: Please fill out the
form attached and mail/ bring to the church office. Additional forms are available in the Narthex or office.
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Congregational Meeting March 25
A meeting of the Congregation of the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church will take place on Sunday, March 25, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting will be to act on a report from the Finance Committee.
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Coffee Hour Hosts For The Month
Please call Marge Meklin at 908-433-3957 for questions or concerns. Sign-up sheet is in the Church Kitchen.
March 4 - Communion Breakfast
March 11 - Girl Scout Troops 360 and 443
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Sunday School Update 
Hello everyone!
Last week, we had so much fun in Sunday School! We continued on our journey exploring the miracles of Jesus. We learned about the time Jesus healed a blind man. Our first through 6th grade friends combined and had a very cool lesson from Ms. Joann where we experimented with different activities using our senses and learning about how much our sense of sight helps us.
This week, we will be talking about how much Jesus loved children. Jesus believed that children were so important to us because they carry on the lessons we teach them. We here at Sunday School couldn't agree more! It is sometimes hard for kids as they can feel lost or overwhelmed in church. Sometimes they may not understand what is being said and things can go over their heads. This week is all about teaching our kids how important they are to our congregation and the church as a whole! We will be reading from Mark 10:13-16.
See you all on Sunday!
Peace and blessings,
Tricia Stoffers
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This Week At Point Beach Prep 
This was letter S week. On Monday, we had a special visit from New York Times best selling author, Beth Ferry. She read us her book, Stick and Stone, which is a story about friendship. We made Stick and Stone finger puppets and wrote our own stories!
We began Show and Tell this week and it was a big success. We saw superheroes, sprinkles, submarines, shells and much more. One student brought in her brother, who is a soldier!
Some of our projects included spin art, making snakes, spider web art, stamping and making straw necklaces. Some of the books we read were Stars, Splish Splat Splash, and There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Shell. We danced and sang to Stand Up Sit Down, Shake My Sillies Out, Surfing in my Imagination, and Baby Shark.
Our Students of the Week brought in their Mommies for special class time. One mom read a flashlight book(where pictures magically appear when the flashlight is shown on them) about gardening and then the children took home newly seeded tomato plants. Another mom read a story about feelings and then did a sunshine project.
On Friday we celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss! We read the Cat in the Hat and brought out numerous Dr. Seuss books for the children to enjoy.
What a splendid week!
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PW Clothing Drive
Mark your calendar for the PW Clothing Drive coming up April 21 from 8:00
 -12:00 noon. Gently used clothing (no children's toys nor pots & pans) will be picked up and resold or re-donated. None of the clothing will be shredded. Shoes should be wrapped in pairs in separate bags. More information will follow.
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Happy Birthday To Our Members And Friends
March 1 Evelyn Hazard
March 2 Harrison Stolfe-Legreide, Jill Watson
March 3 Justin Hurley, Max Rauffer, Barbara Reusch,
March 4 Londyn Hall, Paige Landry, Brayden Landry, Kellen O'Hara, Michael Welch
March 5 Courtney Rzeplinski
March 6 Jessie Bissey
March 7
March 8
March 9 Michael McGuire
March 10 Robert Dunston
March 11
March 12 Payton Stoffers-Ott
March 13
March 14
March 15
March 16 Maggie McGuire, Marilyn Powell,
March 17 Kerri Hurley
March 18 Jean Campbell, Wendy Childers
March 19
March 20 Stephanie Smith, Alexa Wright
March 21 Carole Adamo, Shane Smith
March 22
March 23 Layla Brian
March 24 Madailin Phillips, Nancy Smith,
March 25 Kathryn Ebner
March 26 Lauren Hums, Weston Johnson, Carl Lappke, Dana Perry
March 27 Addison Reinwald, Brian Satterlee
March 28 Karen Dunham Luicci
March 29 Susan Hess
March 30 Jordan Muraglia
March 31 Gail Birdsong, Elizabeth McGuire
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Up Coming Events
Sunday, March 25 - Palm Sunday
Saturday, April 21
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PW Clothing Drive 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon
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Church Calendar For The Week
Sunday, March 4
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Communion/Special Music
10:00 a.m. Sunday School begins in Worship
11:00 a.m. - Communion Breakfast
Monday, March 5
6:15 p.m. - Choral Bells, Fellowship Room
7:00 p.m. - Deacon's Meeting
Tuesday, March 6
10:00 a.m. - Busy Hands
Wednesday, March 7
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast at the Rainbow Diner
4:30 p.m. - Webelos
5:00 p.m. - Dove Choir
6:30 p.m. - Wolf Pack
7:30 p.m. - Boy Scouts, CE Annex
Thursday, March 8
8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast, US Subs
6:00 p.m. - Webelos
7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir
Friday, March 9
Saturday, March 10
Sunday, March 11
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Healing Prayers/Chancel Choir
10:00 a.m. Sunday School begins in Worship
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Photo of the Week
Thank you to Kent and Susan Lorentzen and Peggy Bierach for leading worship at Claremont Care Center last Sunday.
Every fourth Sunday of the month, members of our church prepare a simple service for the residents. This past Sunday, Kent picked a few favorite familiar hymns and spoke about the life of the Rev. Billy Graham. It was very much enjoyed by all.
Our members have found leading the Claremont Care Service a very simple and rewarding experience. A simple bulletin is prepared in the office with music chosen by those leading. A brief sermon is given. We have a couple of people who volunteer to play the piano. If this is something you would like to know more about, please speak with Pastor Linda or see the sign up sheet outside the church office for open dates. Anyone willing to play or sing for the service is also welcomed.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that
the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7
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