Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank! |
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Connections
Thursday, January 20, 2022
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Worship Sneak Peek
January 23, 2022 at 10:00 am
Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online at 10:00 am as we continue our series on the story of Moses. This week, we’ll reflect on the story of the exodus, the liberation of God’s people from slavery in Egypt and see what we can learn about God and ourselves. Hope to see you either in person or online!
Reminder: We have resumed in-person worship and continue to live-stream the service on our website and YouTube channel.
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Masking Policy Update
In light of the high transmission rate of COVID right now, and highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant, we are rolling back our masking policy - requiring masks for EVERYONE in shared spaces throughout the building, regardless of vaccination status.
When you are heading to the church for any reason, please don't forget to bring your mask.
Let's keep one another safe and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Thank you!
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Children's Sunday School & Youth Groups Temporarily Shifting to Virtual
In response to the surge in COVID-19 cases in our area, our Children and Youth Sunday School programs will be meeting online. K-6th grade Sunday morning classes will meet online at 11:30 am, and our 7th-12th grade Confirmation and SS classes will meet at 8:45 am. Youth group will meet online on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Links can be found on the church calendar on the website.
We are hoping to be able to return to in person classes and youth group meetings in February as the COVID case numbers decline.
Contact Bonnie Deroski for more information - bderoski@umcredbank.org.
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Celebrating Stewardship-
Thank You for Supporting Our Church!
Many, many thanks to all who submitted a pledge card throughout our Stewardship Campaign. Our 2022 financial pledges totaled $240,167 as we closed out our campaign, which is 80% of the way to our goal of $300,000. Through God’s faithfulness and the generosity of our congregation, we look forward to a strong and vibrant year of ministry in 2022! Together, we make a positive difference in our community.
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No More Racism Virtual Storytime-
Saturday, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19 & 2/26 at 10:00 am
All children ages 5-11 are invited to join us as we hear the following stories being read and have some discussion about the themes as they pertain to their lives. Register to get emailed the zoom link for the sessions. Kids can attend any or all sessions. Parents are welcome, as well.
Led by Bonnie Deroski, director of Children and Youth Ministries at the UMC of Red Bank and member of the NJ Social Justice Remembrance Coalition, and various, diverse guest co-facilitators.
Children’s literature is just one part of fostering a child’s positive sense of self and others and raising an anti-racist and anti-bias child. Children are not colorblind. When we talk about race, we honor who children are as learners. A conversation with a caring adult allows children to feel safe and ask questions instead of drawing conclusions about race and racism based on implicit and explicit messaging from the world around them and their own limited knowledge.
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Free COVID Tests Now Available for Order
Order your free COVID tests through the USPS by clicking here. Every household is eligible to receive 4 tests at no cost.
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Code Blue Warming Center-Flash Collection
Help us give the gift of warmth through a quick collection to help our local homeless community through the Pilgrim Baptist Warming Center. Men’s nylon gloves, white socks, and scarves can be dropped off at the church (or shipped here through our Amazon Wishlist) until January 30th.
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Feeding the Hungry with Family Promise-
Thank you to all volunteers!
The UMCRB Mission and Service Committee, together with the United Methodist Women and Backpack Crew are excited to, in collaboration with Family Promise, help feed needy families. Volunteers have prepared and will be delivering 25 meals each Monday throughout the month of January. A big thank you to all who have volunteered their time and culinary skills!
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Backpack Crew Pantry
Donations Welcome
The Backpack Crew has continued to serve the increasing number of people who are impacted by food insecurity in the midst of this health crisis. Food donations are greatly appreciated on the back porch of the church, Monday though Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.
The current donation request is CEREAL OF ANY KIND.
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Book Club - All are Welcome!
Book Club will be meeting Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 1:00 pm in the library.
The book selection for this meeting is The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd.
Contact Helen Vetter at (732) 741- 0051 with any questions.
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Adult Education In person or Online
Beginning in January, we will be starting a new book, "The Power of Parable - How Fiction by Jesus Became Fiction About Jesus” by John Dominic Crossan. This is a brief look at parables and discussion of why Jesus chose to teach primarily this way. It starts with some parables from the Old Testament and moves to the Gospels, eventually looking at each gospel as a parable of its own. Crossan says at one point that a parable is designed to make you think. If one left one of Jesus’s parables and said, “Great parable today Rabbi, what an inspiring message…”, Jesus would have been disappointed. A parable should spark discussion, questioning, differing opinions and perspectives, and challenge our thinking. I hope our class will do that for you.
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We are no longer collecting bottle caps and plastic bags at church
Read on to find out why and discover easy ways to continue your recycling efforts for a greener earth!
At a recent visit to Mazza’s recycling center, we learned Bottle Caps are now accepted in our single stream recycling! However, unless they’ve been twisted back onto a bottle, they can fall through spaces in sorting equipment. So before tossing into the blue bin, make sure caps are screwed on.
Because it is now so easy to recycle caps from home, we will no longer be collecting caps at church.
Single Use Plastic Grocery Bags and other stretchy plastics do not belong in your single stream recycling as they can damage sorting equipment. However, they can easily be recycled at any number of locations in the area. Recycling sites include a variety of local grocery and department stores such as Target, Whole Foods and Kohl’s.
We ended our plastic collection efforts in February of 2020 when we completed our TREX Challenge and received a free bench. If you haven’t seen the bench stop by the playground and check it out!
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Pastoral Care
If someone is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care,
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