Dear Church Family,
Our praying life makes a difference. I want to tell you a story. In 2015 the kids of RCHP sang a song in worship, “I want Jesus to walk with me.” They sang the song in worship interspersing the song with quotes they’d taken from Syrian children living in refugee camps in Lebanon. We were, as a church, moved by the wisdom of our children and by the heart-felt concern they had for victims of the world’s warring madness. Within a couple of months we responded to God speaking through children in our sanctuary and we launched Interfaith-Refugee and Immigrant Services and Empowerment (I-RISE). That program has welcomed over 250 refugees.
In 2017 and 18, as we learned about ‘kids in cages’ at the border and we learned about draconian enforcement policies that kept children from their families, we were praying about these things in worship. We were calling on Jesus to guide us as to how we could support immigrants. A few of our church members travelled to the Mexico border to help folks apply for asylum. While we were praying, and doing the first work of engaging, the Washington-based organization that funds I-RISE reached out to ask if we’d like to start serving unaccompanied children trying to be reunited with family in the states. We enthusiastically said ‘yes’! Now we are starting our third year of this program, and our capacity has grown dramatically. Each day, at RCHP, there are 8 Case Managers working to care for children as they are released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement Shelters at the border and are rejoined with their families around our region.
Church family, I am often asked if prayer ‘works.’ It does. When we gather to adore God, when we confess the brokenness, when we long for the assurance, it often results in God’s invitation to participate in the renewal of all things. This year our church-based program, Accompany Now!, will work with 500-600 children who are journeying to New Jersey, to join their parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts who have come before them.
The prayers of RCHP are powerful, because the God we reach to is powerful, and that God, through Christ and Spirit, is journeying our way, and then journeying with us, into a world that needs repair.
(see below for an ‘ask’ for Unaccompanied Minors)
The Peace of Christ to you,
Pastor Seth
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Upcoming Events & Happenings
Easter Flower Orders & Remembrances
Spring is coming, and so are the flowers! If you wish to order flowers, you can either print out this Easter Flower Order Form or pick one up after worship on Sundays in March. Deadline for orders is Friday, March 26th; pickup is on Good Friday, April 2nd. Payments may be made by cash or check (made payable to RCHP) or online (please add “Easter Flowers” to memo field). Questions? Please call or text Illona Faust at 732-991-9156 or Lisa in the church office at 732-249-7349.
March 13th, RCHP Nature Hike, 9am-noon
Join us for what promises to be a wonderful morning of exploring part of God’s beautiful natural world in central NJ!
SAVE THE DATE! Easter Party, March 27th at 10:00 a.m.
All are invited to join us for an outdoor party to celebrate Easter - a wonderful opportunity for the community. Egg hunt for little kids, games, crafts, egg toss…It’ll be super fun!
Vaccine Registration
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE registering for the COVID-19 vaccination? Please call Lisa in the church office (732-249-7349). Additionally, if you would like to volunteer to drive someone to their vaccine appointment, please call the church office as well.
HP Borough now offers FREE COVID-19 tests
Beginning on Monday, March 1st Ridgewood Diagnostic Lab will be on-site at the Highland Park Community Center (220 So. 6th Avenue) to administer COVID-19 tests. Click on this flyer for info on days and times.
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Worship and Education Opportunities
Sunday Mornings in March
Sunday School 10am, In-Person/Virtual Worship 11:00-11:45pm, Outdoor Songs of Praise 12-12:30
Limited Reopening of Indoor Worship - THIS SUNDAY, March 7 at 11 a.m.
For those wanting to attend Sunday's service, our registration form will be available Fridays and Saturdays. Please visit our registration page
The Table: Sundays at 5:45 pm, (social hall)
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HOLY WEEK:
Easter Labyrinth - We are pleased to announce that the Easter Labyrinth is back this year! The worship arts installation will be open to the public in the sanctuary Friday, April 2nd 12-4 pm and Saturday, April 3rd 9 am-1pm under the guidance of RCHP Covid safety protocols. The labyrinth will also be posted online during Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service, April 1, 7pm-8pm In-person/zoom
This year, due to Covid concerns, we will not have our Seder Supper & potluck, nor footwashing. We will, however, have worship in our sanctuary at 7pm. The entire service, also, will be available on through our website.
Good Friday—7pm-8:00pm in-person/zoom, April 2, with 20 minutes of song and candlelight outside as we complete the service.
Join us for a service of high participation as we remember the words of Jesus, on the cross, in light of our Lenten theme ‘following Jesus into the heart of God.’
The Franco Juricic Memorial Easter Sunrise Run, April 4, 5:30am
Each morning, for 11 years, Franco Juricic would run from his home to our Easter Sunrise Service. I always imagined the women, early on Easter morning, rising to go and see the tomb where Jesus had been laid. He was alive! God has raised him! Join us for an early morning run, to the gazebo at Donaldson Park, where, together, we will remember the shocking news that Jesus rose from the dead and the earth, and everything, will be made new in Christ!
Easter Sunrise Service, April 4th, 6:00am, Donaldson Park Gazebo
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Children and Youth
'Tweens and Teens Connections
March 7th, Confirmation Nature Hike, 1-4pm
Wednesday Middle School Youth Group: 7pm-8:15pm (in person, in The Cave)
Sunday High School Youth Group: 7pm-8:3opm
Choirs
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Connecting With God
Wednesday is Bible Study Day: 7:45am with Pastor Seth, 5pm with Student Minister Anna Langholtz
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/
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Connecting With One Another
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 & Culture 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.
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Serving and Working For Justice & the Beloved Community
Covid, Indoor Air Quality and You
Dear RCHP Community,
Rutgers University is studying if air cleaners can reduce the level of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air. This may be a way to protect others in the home. The study participants receive a $50 gift card and also can keep the air cleaner. You may be eligible if you: · Are an adult (18 years of age or older) and live in NJ · Recently (within the past 3 days) received a positive test for the coronavirus · Plan to stay mostly in one room in your home for two days during the study. The study involves: · 2 days of air measurements and air cleaner use in your home · 3 visits by the study staff · Questionnaires about your symptoms and your home. For more information, please call or email Alicia Legard: at 848-445-6086 abl104@eohsi.rutgers.edu Thank you! Dr. Nimmi Myers
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REQUESTS FROM DIRE
We also need a volunteer for March 30 at 8 am. One of our clients has an ICE check-in and needs transportation. If anyone is available, please contact Alejandra: diresupport@improvingnj.org
Our monthly DIRE meeting will be next Thursday, March 11 at noon. Here’s the Zoom link:
INTERFAITH RISE
Interfaith-RISE Monthly meeting March 18th, noon-1pm via Zoom
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REQUESTS FROM ACCOMPANY NOW!
BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KIDS NOW STARTING IN-PERSON SCHOOL:
So many of the unaccompanied children who have come through our church have entered a world where all schooling is online. They came from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico a year ago, and just now they are starting to attend school in person! Many do not have a backpack or any school supplies that they usually would have had under normal circumstances. Please reach out to Pastor Seth if you’d like to give money and/or school supplies to help these kids get a healthy start to their education!
REQUEST FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY WATCHLINE
As we continue to respond to God by addressing structural racism we are invited to join Black Community Watchline in their efforts to push for NJ S2656, which is about Officer Transparency. Please prayerfully study the bill and support transparency in law enforcement disciplinary records. Transparency is essential to ensure officers with a record of excessive use of force and anti-Black violence are held accountable. NJ S2656 requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records. BCW calls for the disciplinary records of law enforcement officers to be open to the communities that officers are paid to protect and serve.
Global Grace Farm
Global Grace Farm Spring Garden-Bed Preparation: March 20th, 10am-1pm
Thrift Shop, Global Grace Marketplace and Cafe - Hours of Operation
Thrift Shop: Open weekdays from 9am-Noon, Saturday 10-1 and Sunday 12-2
Global Grace Marketplace: Open M-F from 10am-4pm
Global Grace Cafe: Open M-F for lunch!
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 Contact Kathi Lombardi with questions: foxyrox18@gmail.com The items needed most this month are:
Diapers sizes 2 & 4
Stay free Maxis
Snack Crackers
Tomato Sauce
Oats
Soup
Tuna
Pasta
Peanut butter
In addition to the Amazon wish list, items may be purchased from big box stores like Costco or Sam's Club; contact Kathi for further details.
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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
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Bereavement Calendar
RCHP remembers all those who died in March and all those who still mourn
The following names have been offered for remembrance in March 2021:
Heinz Betz, Beloved Husband of Kathe Betz
Esther Buck, Beloved Wife of Ray Buck, Beloved Mother and Grandmother of the Buck Family
Sarah Buell, Beloved Great-Grandmother of Sarah MacKinnon
Mavis Dyght, Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Mother-in-Law of the Beckford Family
Franco Juricic, Beloved Husband of Jacquelyn and Father of Noah and Ana
Nana Lee, Beloved Mother of Tim Cassidy
Tom Monroe, Beloved Husband of Ellie Monroe
Walter Wilpiszeski, Beloved Father of Cathy and Grandfather 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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Winter Resilience and Expanding Horizons
Despite the weather challenges, snowy conditions did not stop RCHP from providing spiritual sustenance for the congregation. And our new Covid Relief van is giving hope to vulnerable populations who have struggled to find easy access to testing. Volunteers and medical personnel will soon be providing vaccines, as well - what a blessing!
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Having a Senior Moment? Absolutely! |
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Despite the pandemic, life goes on for our youth. On Feb. 25, HP High School celebrated basketball seniors Sena Kaper-Dale and her teammate, Joy Umutoni. Congrats and blessings to both as they prepare for the next path on their academic and athletic journeys! |
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