Packanack Community Church
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Read the articles and click the links for more information about our church.
For information about upcoming events, see "This Week at a Glance," our weekly email. To receive the latest edition, send a request to
Office@packanack.com
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"
Here There Be Tigers
"
Last Saturday, April 27
th
was Spring Cleanup at PCC and I had such an enjoyable time working with you all on beautifying the church, I wanted to reflect on that experience with you. I’ll start with a movie.
They said it couldn’t be done, but against the odds, director Ang Lee released a pioneering movie in 2012 based on a supposedly unfilmable book, “Life of Pi.”
Briefly, a young man named Pi loses his family in a shipwreck. Lost at sea, he is the lone survivor on a life boat or so he thinks- he didn’t know about the fearsome Bengal tiger on board!
Once he finds out, Pi is naturally terrified but eventually develops feelings for the tiger and begins to take care of him. After all they have nowhere else to go. So, they learn to live on the small boat together. Pi provides the tiger with fish, soothes him with words, and even embraces the tiger after a terrible storm.
Paradoxically, the tiger helps Pi survive too. Pi’s focus on the tiger's needs keeps him going. Author Andrea Polard in her book,
A Unified Theory of Happiness: An East-Meets-West Approach to Fully Loving Your Life,
writes:
“Focusing on someone else gives us a reason to get up, live healthily, and keep ourselves out of trouble and away from high-risk activities. For example, when we have a life partner, we tend to live longer. When we have children, little trouble-makers who wreak havoc, we tend to live longer. Even when we just have a dog, we tend to live longer."
When we become engaged in helping behavior we become energized. In fact, we may become so absorbed in what we are doing that time seems to go by without us knowing it-we seem to have entered into an altered state of consciousness, a complete immersion experience which is very beneficial for us. Some psychologists describe this experience as “flow.”
You may have had this experience where you felt somehow connected and energized and time may have passed without your knowing it. Studies show that elite athletes have this experience often; they refer to this as being in
The Zone
.
According to the founder of
flow theory
, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi "When goals are clear, feedback relevant, and challenges and skills are in balance, attention becomes ordered and fully invested. Because of the total demand of psychic energy a person in flow is completely focused. There is no space in consciousness for distracting thoughts, irrelevant feelings. Self-consciousness disappears, yet one feels stronger than usual."
One feels stronger than usual, that's an interesting way to put it. Look what Paul writes in Galatians, “
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Gal. 6:9-10).”
“Doing good” is a mandate with repercussions, there are great physical, psychological and spiritual benefits. Besides making the world a better and more beautiful place for everyone else, being a do-gooder is truly good for us and besides, it pleases God as we are working in God’s vineyard.
Pastor, b
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Sydney Taylor Perry's Confirmation
Sunday, April 28
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Many thanks to all who celebrated with Sydney on her day of Confirmation in church on Sunday, April 28
th
and helped make it such a special day for everyone.
By God’s grace, Sydney is specially blessed with the Gifts of the Spirit and may she share those blessings with her family, friends, church and greater community.
We give thanks for our teachers and family and all those in our lives who influence, share and celebrate with us on this great and wonderful journey of life.
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Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service
In the cool of the just dawning morning, we gathered lakeside. The rain had passed as the sun slowly struggled to shine through the retreating clouds. Moments before the service began, a single photo captured Pastor Bernie, in quiet reflection, just prior to conducting the Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. As the birds serenaded us from the trees above, in fellowship, we celebrated the message that indeed, Jesus had risen for us.
It was truly a beautiful morning!
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Sisters of Faith
This Friday
May 3, 7:00-10:00 pm
The next social event is planned for this Friday, May 3, 7:00-10:00 PM
at Kim Depetris home, 120 Chestnut Drive.
The cost will be $5.00 which will include drinks. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.
Save the Date for the next event on Friday, June 21!
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Men's Breakfast
This Saturday
May 4 8:00 AM
Join the men of our congregation as they share coffee and conversation together during this monthly opportunity for fellowship and faith. The group meets
at 8:00am at the Alps Diner
,
located on Route 23 North in Wayne at Packanack Lake Road on the first Saturday of every month. All men are invited!
Our next breakfast will be held on
Saturday, May 4 8:00 AM.
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Our annual diaper drive is now underway through Mother's Day. Please help out a family with your donation of a box or two of diapers. The Fr. English Center in Paterson supports 5000 families a month with food and supplies. Your donation will help a family defray the cost of expensive diapers. Larger sizes are especially needed.
Drop off M-Th 9-12 or Sundays 9-12.
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YOU’RE INVITED!! to a Ramadan Iftar dinner with our Muslim friends at Peace Islands Institute.
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Please join us for a night of Food, Fellowship, and Music by our own Daniel Mullens.
Let’s break bread together and celebrate Interfaith peace
When:
Saturday, May 18, 7PM
Where: Packanack Community Church
RSVP (required) by May 12.
See invitation in our Sunday bulletin or call Lisa Seela 908-337-8061 for your RSVP.
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New Member Orientation Sunday, May 19
Immediately after worship Childcare available
Have you been thinking of joining the church? Come learn more about our church, our denomination and how you can be a part of it. On
Sunday, May 19 – immediately after worship – we will hold an orientation where you can get to know others who plan to join the church and discuss all that PCC has to offer you and your family. Childcare and lunch will be provided.
Orientation will be in the conference room on the lower level. Please email Lauri at
lauri@cdkevents.com if you would like to attend.
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Update on Senior Minister Search
The Transition Team is working on completing the UCC profile which will go out to prospective candidates to help them learn about our church. It is a lengthy document with many sections, all aimed at answering the following questions:
Who are we as a church?
Who are our neighbors?
Who is God calling us to become?
On
June 23, we will have a special worship service exploring these questions. We want to hear from you! Please attend this special service to voice your opinions. More to come on this soon.
Transition team: Jennifer & Neil Kelly, Carey Lochridge, Lauri Masur,
Steve & Karen Rusiniak, Bob Seela
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Liturgist and Coffee Host Schedule
Coffee Host needed for May 19 and June 16
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Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to serve our congregation as a Liturgist or Coffee Host & Greeter on Sunday mornings. This is a valuable ministry of our church and your participation as a worship leader is greatly-appreciated.
The schedule for the upcoming weeks is shown below. If you have volunteered, please check the list to make sure the information is accurate.
If there are any errors (or if you would like to volunteer), please contact the Office Manager, Kathy Swede, at Office@Packanack.com.
Liturgist
May 5: Martha Edgar
May 12: Sandy Cantwell
May 19: Melissa Kaus
May 26: Lisa Seela
June 2: Danielle Alviano
June 9: Jill Tiger
June 16: Linda Baker
June 23: Kathy Schneider
Coffee Hosts & Greeters:
May 5: Phil and Lenore Ochs
May 12: Joann Hansen
May 19:
OPEN
May 26: Rosemarie Gala
June 2: Brenda Kurtyka and Elfreide Schneider
June 9: Sue Maxon
June 16
OPEN
June 23: Bob and Linda Heimburg
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Please Sign Up To Provide Flowers for the
Communion Table
Flowers are needed for June and July
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The 2019 Flower Chart is now posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. Please sign up for a Sunday to provide flowers for the communion table.
Flower dedications should be emailed to Office@Packanack.com at least one week in advance in order to appear on the Sunday announcement sheet. Thank you.
Upcoming flower signups:
May 5- Communion
May 12- Jody Smith
May 19- Joan Riley
May 26- Lauri Masur
June 2-
OPEN
June 9-
OPEN
June 16-
OPEN
June 23 -
OPEN
June 30-
OPEN
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Worship Calendar
Sunday, May 5
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:00am
Holy Communion
Monthly Food Collection: Hot and Cold Cereal
Sunday, May 12
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:00am
Sunday, May 19
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:00am
Sunday, May 26
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:00am
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Broadway Arts Lab 2019 Season
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Broadway Arts Lab has announced their 2019 Season.
Highlights include Into The Woods, Dance Classes, and even a Make Up Magic Workshop.
Please lick
HERE to visit their website for more information.
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Packanack Personals
Please send cards to Church Members Who Have Moved Away
Several church members have moved from our area to be closer to family members. The following individuals would greatly appreciate receiving cards and staying in touch with our congregation:
Judy Corvino,
Arbor Terrace, 361 Speedwell Avenue, Unit 365A, Morris Plains, NJ 07950
973-694-8993 (they are keeping their same home telephone number)
Alva Breithaupt,
1275 Turnpike Street, Unit 203, North Andover, MA 01845
Alva will turn 94 on October 20. A recent letter from her family expressed how much she appreciates our cards and phone calls. Her phone number is 978-258-0604. She can best be reached in her apartment at the following times: 11am - 12noon, 3-5pm, and after 7pm.
Betty Fenyo,
Bickford of Suffolk, 6860 Harbour View Blvd. #405, Suffolk, VA 23435
Jessie Goehner,
132 Warwick Road, Apt. 1-C, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
The Rev. Dick Batchelder,
9115 Warrens Way, Wanaque, NJ 07465
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Our Prayer List
Cindy Clarke
Wilma Nydam
Bill and Trudy Leonhardt
Jim Klein
Laura Lefelar, Lynne Lefelar's daughter
Mike Barch, Lynne Lefelar’s son-in-law
Kathy Pallone, sister of Ginny Mullen
Bob Butler, Claire Butler's son
Kerry Babcott, Jessica De Haan’s friend
Claire Butler
Stella Almroth
Patrick Bosma, Ray and Diane Bosma’s grandson
Regina Erwood
Helen Barton, Claire Butler’s sister
James Gould, Virginia Gould's son
Judy Corvino
Bridget Davis
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PACKANACK COMMUNITY CHURCH
Putting God's Love in Motion
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Sign Up for "This Week at a Glance"
To receive a copy of "This Week at a Glance," our weekly email detailing all of our upcoming events, send a request to Office@Packanack.com.
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