Prayer Concerns This Week
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgiving be made for everyone, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
The Prayer Person for the week is Ginger Decker. Let us be prayerfully aware of Ginger, as well as all our members and friends.
Prayer Concerns: Deb Brendler; William Kappler (Father of Liz Ploskonka), Michael Monica, Mary Katherine Stout.
Long term concerns: Jacob Basilotto; Bill Birdsong; Irene Cash; Gerard Cosimo; Despina Koch; Jim Millar; Melissa Millar; Dale Norby; Susan Robbins; Geoff Reilly; Bill Shoppell; Jean Stoll; Chad Suhoskey; Ralph Smith; Jim Tabor and Baby Christian; Bill Williams; those struggling with addictions and mental illness.
Military: Kyle Barker; Sarah Davis Brown; Morgan Daniels Colberg; Michael Fahey III; Robin Fiorentino; all those in our nation's service.
Notice: Please keep the office updated on any prayer concerns
you may have, including ones previous submitted.
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Welcome Molly Mason
Molly Mason, a native of Seattle, is the daughter of a Presbyterian minister who met her husband Isaac Dye, also the offspring of a Presbyterian minister, at a Presbyterian college. Their love of music and their desire to develop their musical skills brought them to the East Coast, where Molly earned a Masters in Classical Voice from Boston University and Isaac, a Masters in Jazz Studies (Saxophone) from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Molly's focus switched from opera to jazz when she found a love for the freedom and creativity that the style offers, but she is as comfortable with classical and sacred repertoire.
Beyond running a very successful voice and piano studio in South Brunswick, Molly served as the Music Director at Six Mile Run Reformed Church for three years ministering with Pastor Osy. After years of performing in clubs and concert venues across the Tri-State area, Isaac and Molly are planning to return to the West Coast in the near future. Molly will be our guest soloist at the fourth Sunday of Advent service, December 23.
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Christmas Eve Services - December 24, 2018
4:00 p.m. Service for Families with Young Children
Advent Candle Lighting: The Hall family
7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service with a variety of musical soloists
Advent Candle Lighting: The Sarbello family
11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service with Communion and music by
Chancel Choir
Advent Candle Lighting: The Nuesch family
First Sunday after Christmas Day
December 30, 2018
Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols
No Sunday School, Christmas Story by Pastor Osy
Communion preparation for children after worship
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Attention Parents: Important Upcoming Dates
Dec 23, 10:15 a.m.
Sunday School is ON! We will be having regular Sunday School
Dec 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pageant dress rehearsal. This rehearsal will be held in the Sanctuary.
Parents: We ask that you do NOT stay to watch. We really really want to make this performance a surprise! This will be the final practice and it is imperative that all children participating in the pageant attend this rehearsal.
Dec 24, 3:00 p.m.
Please have all children participating in the Christmas Pageant in the Chittick Lounge by 3 p.m. so we can get them costumed and ready. Kids are welcome to bring water and "clean snacks" ie: pretzels, goldfish- anything non greasy that will not stain costumes. The pageant will start promptly at 4 p.m. After the service, we will need several volunteers to help take down the prop and platforms.
Dec 30, No Sunday School. Communion preparation for children after worship
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Children and Communion
Parents of younger children should know that church teaching allows for baptized children to be welcomed at the Lord's Table after some basic instruction. Parents often ask when children should be encouraged to partake of the sacrament. The simple answer is: once they start showing some interest about communion and start asking questions. Pastor Osy will be available immediately after worship on Sunday, December 30 to review the basics so that your children may partake of the Lord's Supper at the service on Sunday, January 6, 2019 with some understanding and a clean conscience.
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2019 Offering Envelopes
The 2019 offering envelope boxes with your name on them are now available in the Narthex to pick up. Please feel free to pick up a friend's box if you know they won't make it to church to pick it up. Also, if you do not find a box and wish to receive one, write your name on the pad or contact Donna in the office at
[email protected].
Using your numbered envelopes makes the counters' jobs easier and ensures proper contribution credit. Please note, your assigned envelope number may have changed. Please submit your 2018 donations by December 30th (the last Sunday in December), as we will be printing the 2018 statements after that date. Anything received after December 31st will be posted to your 2019 statement. Thank you for your faithful giving!
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Challenged and Sustained by Faith
 We are happy to report that the number of responses to Challenged and Sustained by Faith, our 2019 stewardship campaign, has reached the 80 responses mark! The total of anticipated contributions now stands at $193,646. We are still waiting for information from several faithful givers this year (are you among them?) because when these finals pledges come in we could definitely reach our goal of 90 pledges and the elusive $200,000, which would pave the way towards a balanced budget in 2019 - a sign of a healthy congregation. We are almost there!
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Sanctuary Heating Update
Session was delighted to learn that only $3,000 will be required from our Emergency
 Fund in order to pay for the replacement of the two furnaces that supply heat to the Sanctuary (and that amount may be lower still). This was made possible by the rapid response of groups and individuals demonstrating a helpful and caring spirit.
Deep thanks are expressed to The Board of Deacons, Presbyterian Women, and Point Beach Prep Preschool who combined contributed $3,000.00, and to the 12 individuals, whose generous gifts amounted to $2,725 (as of December 23).
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Session Highlights
At their monthly meeting this week, the Session took the following actions.
Motion made and seconded to change membership status of the following:
Active to Inactive: Christina and Jason Parrot, Kevin and Elaine Conheeney, and Sandy Grebel.
Inactive to active: Laurie Pearce. Motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to approve the members of the Transition Team: Lynn Hahm, Sue Lorentzen, Karen Luicci, Sue Hankins, Sue Perkowski, Howard Gilbert and Dan Scarpone. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to take up to $3000 from the Emergency Fund to pay for the new furnace. So far the Furnace Fund receipts are $5,725; if additional donations are received, then money not needed to be added to donations will be returned to the Emergency Fund. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to approve the preliminary budget which will be finalized on January 14, 2019 and presented at the Congregational Meeting on January 27, 2019. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to approve the 2019 Benevolence Distribution of $5000, a list composed by the Finance Committee. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to approve ten office holidays for 2019: January 2, February 18, April 22, May 27, July 4, September 2, October 14, November 28 and 29, and December 25. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded to approve the training and participation in worship of acolytes, in grades four through six, to light candles at the beginning of worship, starting on Epiphany Sunday. Marjorie Meklin will serve as acolyte coordinator. The motion was approved.
Motion made and seconded for Diane Legriede to assume the position of chairperson of the Congregational Nominating Committee, with thanks to former chairperson, Donna Wittmann. The motion was approved.
There will be no Sunday School on December 30th. Children may wear their pajamas and attend worship with their parents. The sermon will be a story for all ages.
Craig Lambie reported that while attendance has increased at worship services, contributions have not. Year-to-date: PPPC is $19,000 below our adopted 2018 budget.
Karen Norby is working with historical societies to re-decorate the North Hall Gallery which will also feature an exhibit of people portraits from around the globe, as created by artist Jeff Childers. The Gallery exhibit will be completed for viewing in January or February 2019.
There will be a called Session meeting on January 13, 9:00 AM, for meeting with new members and giving final assent to the 2019 Budget. A Congregational Meeting has been called for January 27, 2019 following worship to hear the Annual Reports (which are due in the church office by January 11th). The next Stated Session Meeting is January 15, 2019.
New Beginnings coaching sessions will follow Communion Brunch from 11:45-1:30 on the following dates: January 6, February 3, and March 3, 2019.
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Poinsettia Orders
Thank you to everyone who ordered Poinsettias this year. Our Sanctuary is filled with the beauty. A list of donors can be found
online and in the Christmas Eve bulletins.
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Choir Rehearsals
The Chancel Choir is taking a short break following the Christmas Eve services. The Chancel Choir will resume rehearsals on January 3 and the Choral Bells will begin again on January 7. We are always grateful to all our choirs for their dedication and hardwork throughout the year but especially each December we are reminded what a blessing they are to our congregation!
If you have been considering joining one of these groups, January would be the perfect time!
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Christmas Day Dinner
Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church will again be hosting Christmas Dinner in the CE Annex, from 12:00-2:00 pm on Christmas Day for those who, for whatever reason, have no place to go for Christmas and would like to enjoy an old-fashioned holiday feast with congenial company.
We need:
Cookie Bakers - In baking your own cookies, please plan on baking a little extra for our Christmas dinner guests. Cookies can be dropped off at the Church during office hours or on Sunday.
Christmas Morning Volunteers - We need volunteers to help from 8:30-10:30 a.m to bring the food up to the kitchen, slice bread, etc.; 10:30 a.m - 12:00 noon to make local home deliveries; noon - 2 p.m. to serve desserts, hand out gifts, visit with our guests, etc., and finally, cleanup beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Donna Wittmann is coordinating this event. Please call her at 732-948- 8934 if you would like to volunteer. You can also email her at [email protected]
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Thank You
A Great Big Thank You to all those from PPPC who helped with the St. Gregory's Toy distribution.
To those who gave toys, to the Sunday school parents who helped to set up Wilton Hall Sunday afternoon where the toys were arranged on tables; to the people who sat with the clients in the sanctuary waiting their turn to pick out gifts for their own children; to those who worked in the annex kitchen making coffee, taking care of the food and cleaning up the kitchen; to those who were "shoppers" accompanying clients as they selected their toys; to the ones who came the day after distribution to help with the clean up and close down of the wonderful toy drive of 2018.
To each one of you I say thank you for helping some of the "least of these." And an extra special thank you goes to our Boy Scouts for stepping up at the last minute to carry tables (in the pouring rain, no less) across the street from the church and set them up in Wilton Hall. The Scouts also took the tables down, got them back to where they belonged and arranged the chairs for the sing-a-long for the Preschool children and their parents on Thursday. So to all of you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Blessings, Linda Chase
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Floor Waxing and Help Needed
We will be having the CE Annex floors waxed right after Christmas.
Starting at 11:00 a.m on December 26th, Frank Jones will need help moving tables and chairs in preparation for the floors to be waxed. This would be a great service project for anyone looking for community service hours. If you can help please call or text Frank at 732-580-1857.
There will be no access to the building beginning on Thursday, December 27. Activities in the Annex may resume on Saturday, December 29. Please plan accordingly.
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2019 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 2019 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!
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Cookie Sale Thank You
We want to thank all the PW circles for baking all of the amazing cookies and all of our church members who suppported and helped us with our "Cookie Walk" this year. It was again a great success and we look forward to doing it again next year.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Kerry Jones and Heidi Steinert
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This Week at Point Beach Prep
This week was busy! On Monday and Tuesday, our morning and afternoon classes took field trips to Jenkinson's Aquarium. Each class had their own tour guide who walked us around and taught us many educational facts about the various animals. We learned about seals, sharks, fish, turtles, parrots, monkeys, and more. We were able to touch a horseshoe crab, a whelk, and a sea star. We even had a focused lesson on penguins in a special room, where we were able to meet a penguin! We learned so much and had a great time.
On Thursday and Friday we had our Christmas Sing-a-longs with our Point Beach Prep families. We sang such classics as Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We also danced to the Reindeer Pokey and recited a snowman poem. It was a nice send off for the holidays.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2019!
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Coffee Hour Hosts For The Month
Please call Marge Meklin at 908-433-3957 for questions
December 23 - The Rauffer Family
December 30 - The Paradise Family
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Happy Birthday To Our Members And Friends
Dec 23 Lillian Rzeplinski
Dec 24 Dorothy Tolley
Dec 26 Anna Landre
Dec 27 John Curtis, Christopher Cook, Mackenzie Philipps
Dec 28 Dustin Cottrell
Dec 29 Peter Dunne
Dec 30 Dale Leasure, Magda Giase
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Up Coming Events
January 6
- New Beginnings Coaching Session
January 13 - New Members Received during Worship
January 20 - Interfaith Hospitality Network Arriving
More information to follow on these events
The church office will be closed the following days
December 25
December 26
December 31
January 1
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Church Calendar For The Week
Sunday, December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 a.m. - Worship/Special Music
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School begins in worship
11:00 a.m. - Coffee Hour, Chittick Lounge
11:15 a.m. - Christmas Eve Usher Meeting, Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. - Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal, Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. - Chimes Rehearsal, Choir Room
2:30 p.m. - Claremont Care Center Worship Service
4:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service with Pageant
7:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service with Special Music
11:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service with Communion and Chancel Choir
Tuesday, December 25
Office Closed
12:00 p.m. - Christmas Day Community Dinner, Wilton Hall
7:00 p.m. - NA, Wilton Hall
Wednesday, December 26
Office Closed
9:00 a.m. - Women's Breakfast, Rainbow Diner
Thursday, December 27
Floor Waxing in Annex
8:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast, US Subs, Point Pleasant
Friday, December 28
Saturday, December 29
7:00 p.m. - NA, Wilton Hall
Sunday, December 30
10:00 a.m. - Worship with Lessons and Carols
11:00 a.m. - Coffee Hour
11:15 a.m. - Communion Instruction for Children
No Sunday School
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Images of the Week
Christmas Distribution This Week
Thank you to everyone who helped with the distribution this past week.
Over 500 children were helped this Christmas.
Our church is blessed to be a part of this large well run community event.
Let us continue to serve our local community this Christmas with the Christmas Day Dinner. Cookie makers and volunteers helpers still needed.
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