Dear Church Family,
As we move toward the end of the season of Epiphany, and into Lent, I want to just express gratitude for all the ways different people have stepped forward to help us, collectively, see the light of God shining through to us. I anticipated January would be hard. This pandemic drags on, the nights are long, the isolation is damaging…but still we gathered, in dozens of different ways, to pray and share and sing. Through worship services on-line and in-person we’ve explored the texts of the manifestation of Christ seen in the birth, the star, the baptism and the first miracles. Through adult education different congregants have led us in conversation about ‘guiding lights’ that have been offered up for us. Each morning, through on-line morning prayer, a good-sized group prays together and experiences God’s light shining through. In confirmation, and youth group and Sunday School and in Wednesday worship and Wed. singing time, kids and youth have experienced the light of God breaking into this moment.
I’m excited for February. We’re coming out of this thing—this pandemic. And we’ll keep right on praying and singing and living into our identity as children of the living God, not overwhelmed by anything. I hope and pray that this newsletter inspires you to include involvement in church in February as a way to stay intentionally wrapped in the presence of God.
The Peace of Christ to you,
Pastor Seth
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Upcoming Events
Cancer Action Week: A Message from NJ Congregational Center for Cancer Care
This week, February 1st-5th, is New Jersey Cancer Action Week with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network! As part of our commitment to faithfully engaging in advocacy, NJ4C will be participating in the ACS CAN World Cancer Day Virtual Rally Thursday, February 4th at 4:30pm and would love for us all to attend!
Hear from fellow cancer survivors, leading state health professionals and NJ lawmakers - all working to battle this disease and help provide New Jersey residents with a brighter and healthier future.
There will be a moment to honor cancer survivors and those who have died due to cancer. All are invited to participate by holding a photo of your loved one (on your phone or an actual photo) and/or print and place their name(s) on one of our rally tribute signs attached to hold up during the ceremony, and/or adding their names in the chat box. Join us at https://windrosemedia.zoom.us/j/86353540432
February 13th, Nature Hike to John Phillips Preserve in Old Bridge/Spotswood:
On February 13th join RCHP friends for our monthly nature hike. This month we’ll explore a new location. The drive is a bit further than some of our hikes, so please meet promptly at 9am and expect that we’ll be driving for approximately 25 minutes. We should be home around noon. For more info., click on this link
Ash Wednesday Opportunities:
Lent is the Season in our church year when we turn our attention to Christ Jesus as he turns his attention to the cross and to the challenges he must face in Jerusalem. We start the Lenten Season with Ash Wednesday.
On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, a pastor or church leader will be in the RCHP sanctuary from 9am-1pm. There will be ashes available for you to put on yourself, and, we hope, this might also serve as a moment for us to pray with you, one on one, in person.
Also, each year we gather with other local Reformed Churches for an evening Ash Wednesday service. This year we will gather virtually with other churches for a 7pm service. The zoom link will be sent out closer to Ash Wednesday.
Lego City Building is open all month, Mon.-Fri. (break down is February 28th) Come and create on site (we have plenty of spare Legos if you don't have your own at home), or bring your own creations to add to the Beloved Community!
RCHP - OTR (On the Road)
Some folks in the RCHP congregation haven’t been to a church service since last March and are really missing it - are you one of them? Or do you know people in the congregation who haven’t been able to connect at all because they’re not comfortable with video calls? Starting in March, RCHP will send out small teams of two or three church family members to visit with anyone who would like to sing, pray, read scripture, etc. The visit can take place on your porch, in your yard, at a park - wherever you’re comfortable; we’ll also make sure it’s safely distanced. You decide what you’d like your visit to look like; we’ll do our best to honor your request. For more info. please contact Austin Morreale at retroboi319@gmail.com OR Carol Turner at 732-339-1171 or email cjteddpc@mac.com
Firepit Fridays, 6pm
Each Friday in February come and warm yourself around a fire pit outside of church! It’s a great way to get to know new friends and connect with old as together we sing songs of faith for 45 minutes or so. Back in the fall we’d last an hour…but given the temperatures we’re shortening things up a bit!
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Worship and Education Opportunities
Sunday morning Education and Worship Schedule
Every Sunday in February we will continue with our fully on-line worship service, coupled with our 30 minute in-person worship at 11:30am. We will also continue with online Sunday School. We intend to rethink things come March.
Every Sunday in February all Education Classes will be online at 10:00am.
Wednesday Night Worship Music: Every Wednesday evening, from 8:00 to about 8:30, Pastor Amos, Derek, Ian, and Keiko lead a time of singing and prayer over Zoom. This week will feature a special "hymn-sing" with Ian. The Zoom link is found on the top of the RCHP Home page
RCHP is preparing for a Lenten Virtual Journey - Choose your own adventure!
Throughout the Wednesday nights of Lent (starting February 24th), from 7pm-8:30pm, you are invited to gather on Zoom, and then into break out rooms for faith-development opportunities (for bible study discussions, card writing, art projects) before reconvening for 30 minutes of songs of praise. Watch for a dedicated newsletter that will explain, in detail, the offerings for Wednesdays in Lent.
The Table: Sundays at 5:45 pm, (social hall)
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Children and Youth
Global Citizens Project Book Drive
My name is Kenneth Chao and I am a senior at HPHS participating in the Highland Park Global Citizenship Program. This program challenges students to investigate the world and enact meaningful change in their communities. For my project, I am tackling access to books for youth in NJ.
Reading is the core of education for young students and with this book drive, I hope to help students in NJ who do not have a reliable source of literature. I am working with the charity, Bridge of Books which specializes in distributing used books to youth across NJ. However, your help is needed and any book donations you can make are highly valued!
If there are any used books you have that meet the following criteria feel free to donate them! This is a great opportunity to clean out your house!
• Books geared towards youth K-12
• If a book makes a sound or has pop-ups, it must work;
• If a book has parts, it must be complete;
• Please NO magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, coloring books, or workbooks.
The following locations have collection boxes and where donations are accepted:
• HP High School (102 N 5th Ave) (Front Entrance)
• HP Middle School (330 Wayne St) (Front Entrance)
• Bartle Elementary School (435 Mansfield St) (Front Entrance)
• Irving Primary School (121 S 11th Ave) (Front Entrance)
Reformed Church of HP (19 S 2nd Ave) (Social Hall)
The book drive will run from Feb 1 - 16th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact kchao2016@gmail.com Your support is greatly appreciated!
Best,
Kenneth Chao
'Tweens and Teens Connections
Sundays at 6 pm, Confirmation Class (basement or outdoors)
Sundays at 7 pm High School Youth Group
Wednesdays at 7 pm, Middle School Youth Group (basement or outdoors)
Confirmation Class in full swing. Please pray for our confirmands!
Since October a group of 4 confirmands have been meeting weekly with Pastor Terry and other pastor-assistants to think through big questions of faith. In our tradition we baptize infants—recognizing that God says ‘yes’ to us before we have a chance to say yes or no to God. But then, in the course of time, it is our job to learn more, to reflect more, and to see the ways that God has indeed been at work in our lives. Please pray for Cora and Eva Sofia, Melissa and Ethan as they journey together to grow in the knowledge and love of God.
Choirs
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Connecting With God
Daily Online Prayer: Join your church family Monday thru Saturday at 9 a.m. for a time of reflection, prayer, support and sharing our joys and sorrows. For Zoom link, go to https://www.rchighlandpark.org/
Wednesday morning Bible Study: Every Wednesday, at 7:45, Pastor Seth leads a socially distanced bible study in the social hall. Join us!
Wednesday evening Bible Study: Every Wednesday, at 5pm, Anna Langholz leads bible study. This too, for February, will be socially distanced at 5pm in the social hall. You can join this group through zoom as well! NOTE: This will move to 7 p.m. starting Feb. 24 - stay tuned for details!
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Connecting With One Another
Thursday, February 18th, NJ Congregational Center for Cancer Care presents “Controlling Your Cancer Risk”
For a few months our Cancer Care program has been co-hosting educational sessions with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Our final event is February 18th. Please click on the image for info on how to join this important and informative session, viewed through the lens of a faith-based perspective.
Weekly Virtual "Drop-In"
All are welcome to drop-in for an hour of friendly, free-wheeling conversation on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Contact our host, Carol Perry caca98@aol.com for more information and for a Zoom link.
"LitLovers" Reading Group
If you love talking about media and arts, and would like a lightly structured format for sharing, give LitLovers a try on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Each week, participants are welcome to share about books, movies, TV shows or your latest Covid cooking creation. Contact our host, Carol Turner cjteddpc@mac.com for more information and for a Zoom link.
Keeping in touch with our church family members in extended care homes.
We have new addresses for 2 of our cherished RCHP family members. Please consider sending them a card with words of comfort and care:
Linda St. Pierre
All American Assisted Living at Hillsborough
Frank Corcoran
Complete Care at Willow Creek
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Serving and Working For Justice and Peace
Special Request from NeighborCorps - Plese click on the image for more details about how you can help prepare for the arrival of a baby boy into the NeighborCorps family. Donations of necessities (and fun stuff, too!) are greatly appreciated!
Helping with Food Pick Up from Trader Joes—We are very fortunate to have 3 nights a week when we are able to ‘glean’ hundreds of dollars of groceries from Trader Joes. If anything is nearing an expiration date they give those items to us. Hundreds of people have benefited because of the generosity of Trader Joes. We could use a couple more drivers who can make a commitment to regularly assisting with food pick ups. Reach out to Pastor Seth if you are interested in assisting.
RCHP-Affordable Housing Corporation Handles Code Blue with and for HP
The Affordable Housing Corporation signed a memorandum with Highland Park this winter to handle all Code Blue responsibilities. It has worked magically. Since November 17th there have been nearly 50 nights where Code Blue has been ‘called’ by the County and each night we have responded by having the Code Blue Apartment (located on Main Street) ready for anyone in need. Paul Rubentwari, who arrived in our community through IRISE, runs the program and has made it a huge success. If you would like to drop off washcloths and towels, toothpaste and brushes, and any sort of snack food at church to support Code Blue it would be much appreciated.
Thrift Shop, Global Grace Marketplace and Global Grace Cafe—all need staffing, all need customers! Some of the ‘bread and butter’ programs of RCHP are needing a boost of volunteer commitment. Winter is dragging on, and the pandemic has drastically changed our volunteer base. Can you join us? Probably the best way to hear how you can serve is to reach out to Pastor Seth at 732-882-3193 for a discussion about where the needs are most clear. Hours of Operation:
Global Grace Marketplace: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm,
Global Grace Cafe is preparing meals for deliver and for purchase M-F
Thrift Shop: M-S 9am-Noon, and Sunday noon-2,
HP Food Pantry
During COVID our community is in need of the food pantry more than ever. The HP Food Pantry is collecting donations via an Amazon Wishlist. To donate badly needed items, click on https://tinyurl.com/s7pxpzn In addition to the Amazon wish list, items may be purchased from big box stores like Costco or Sam's Club. Contact Kathi Lombardi with questions: foxyrox18@gmail.com The items needed most this month are:
Soup (most especially needed)
Peanut Butter
Oatmeal (especially needed)
Cereal
Travel size toiletry items for care packages
Diapers
Femine Hygiene products
INTERFAITH RISE
Thursday, February 18th, Interfaith-RISE Meeting - Call Pastor Seth if you want to be included in this meeting.
DIRE
Thursday, February 11th, DIRE Meeting -Call Pastor Seth (732-882-3193) if you want to be included in this meeting about meeting needs of undocumented immigrants facing detention and deportation.
Abolish the Drug War, NJ
On February 1, a new coalition was launched, facilitated by Pastor Amos and Salvation and Social Justice, seeking to replace punitive drug policy with public health and restorative justice models. The war on drugs, declared 50 years ago by President Nixon, has led to the current forms of mass incarceration and modern-day segregation. Abolish the Drug War, NJ will be holding public education events and drafting legislation in the coming months, but to support now, please sign on to the Drug War Emancipation Proclamation today!
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Supporting Each Other During Difficult Times
Church Based Mental Health
Asking for help is a sign of strength. Call our bilingual (nosotras hablamos Espanol!) Warmline for free non-crisis confidential mental health care (866) 777-2380 Email: ayuda@improvingNJ.org www.NJCommunityMentalHealth.org
Stephen Ministry has been an important part of RCHP for many years. This program gives trained Stephen Ministers the opportunity to be paired with care receivers in order to be a supportive, compassionate presence during a difficult time. We are so grateful that last month a new class of Stephen Ministers began the training program! Please pray for the 8 class members and 3 Stephen Leaders who are leading the class.
Bereavement Calendar
RCHP remembers all those who died in February and all those who still mourn
The following names have been offered for remembrance in February 2021:
Elizabeth Barrett, Beloved Mother of Mary Barrett
Robert Cerrone, Beloved Father of Bettye Chant
Thomas J. Cotton, Sr., Beloved Fiancé of Melanie Lincoln Potter,
and Beloved Grampa of Ellie Vardao
Jeannette WhitelawHill Marcal, Beloved Mother of Marcia Marcal Persiano
Thomas Wilpiszeski, Beloved Brother of Cathy, and Beloved Uncle of Anna Laycock
If it would be a comfort to include your loved ones in a monthly memory calendar, call Lisa at the RCHP office at 732-249-7349.
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Wishing the Kalinda Family a fond "Farewell"
The Kalinda family, one of the first refugee families ever resettled by Interfaith-RISE, moved to Maine a couple of weeks ago. They are settling in to a new community, school system and jobs. We wish them well in their move even as we miss them already!
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Celebrating Our Budding Servant Leaders - January Service to the Community
Middle School and Senior High Youth Groups are Painting Pros and Shovel Savvy!
Pastor Terry, and his fabulous youth in middle school and high school, have done some wonderful work the past couple of weeks. First, the high schoolers helped paint a house for a newly arrived refugee family. We welcomed a new family of 6 to Highland Park into a freshly painted house. David and Monica Day get serious props for helping multiple days!
Then, the middle schoolers painted two of the rooms in the thrift shop! What a blessing to have strong support for key programs like this.
It was sure nice to have Middle Schoolers helping shovel the church on Monday! Thank you to Pastor Terry and Seamus and TJ.
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January Fun - Good Times!
The Jr. High Youth Group enjoyed a Saturday of Soccer Golf and Capture the Flag, but the temperatures were too cold to capture any of the fun activity with photos!
The Senior High had a wonderful trip mini golfing.
Kids from throughout the community have been coming to church, for the past 10 days or so, to build a Lego City that is built on God’s love.
The January Nature Hike was wonderful! Despite a very rainy Friday night, this committed nature hike crew was ready to go on Saturday!
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