Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank! |
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Connections
Thursday, March 17, 2022
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Worship Sneak Peek
March 20, 2022 at 10:00 am
Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online at 10:00 am as we continue our Lenten sermon series entitled "Drink from the Fountain of Grace". On this third Sunday of Lent, we’ll be reflecting on the choices of faith we make on a daily basis, and how the cup we choose impacts our life and the world around us. 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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As of Monday 3/7, for day to day operations and small group gatherings within the church building masks are encouraged and optional, for all except children and youth ministries and Sunday morning activities.
As we shift into this new optional masking policy, it is important for us to remember that masking is a personal choice based on comfort level and individual health concerns. Whether people choose to mask or not is up to each individual and it is extremely important that we respect the choices of one another. If you are in a vulnerable population, we encourage you to take advantage of the better quality masks that are now readily available to the public and we recommend all stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, when these major shifts in COVID safety policies have been rolled out in the public sphere, we as a church have taken additional time to observe how the shift is reflected in COVID numbers. Church Council is meeting on March 22nd to decide on our masking policy going forward for Sunday morning worship and for Children and Youth Ministries. Stay tuned for future announcements.
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Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner This Saturday!
3/19 from 4:00-6:30 pm
Hope to see you at the Annual Scholastic Assistance Committee Fund-Raising Takeout Only Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner this Saturday, March 19, from 4:00 to 6:30. The cost of the dinner is $15. You may also become a patron of the work of our committee by donating $20 and receiving one free ticket or donating $35 and receiving two free tickets. Again, we do not discourage larger donations.
We no longer are asking you to send in your ticket orders and/or patron donations through the mail to Peg Rizzo. If you have already, we will contact you to let you know we have received your order/donation and reserve tickets for you. Tickets may be purchased at the takeout dinner itself.
We have not been able to have a regular fund-raiser for two years, but we still have given out scholarships to 21 of our deserving young people in that period. Please help us to replenish our treasury. And, as always, thank you for your continued and generous support of the work of our committee. Any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to call Barbara Guenther at (732-203-1970).
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If you missed this week's Lenten Musical Reflections, click here to watch
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"Winds of Change"-
Online Forum
Sunday, 3/20 at 4:00 pm
The League of Women Voters of Monmouth County is hosting a free online forum on NJ's offshore wind energy this Sunday, March 20 at 4:00 pm. Pre-register here.
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Support Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine through UMCOR
Contribute to the UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery fund to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country through Advance #982450. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries. Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450 or by check made out to our church with "UMCOR Ukraine" in the memo line.
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UMW Chocolate Sale Starts April 3
Don’t miss the chance to purchase delicious chocolates, handmade by our own UWM members. Chocolates will be on sale in the Fellowship Hall on 3 Sundays in April - 4/3, 4/10 and 4/17. Proceeds from this Spring fundraiser go to support the UMW mission fund.
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Special Charge Conference- March, 22
Our District Superintendent, Rev. Sang Won Doh has approved a Special Charge Conference of the UMC of Red Bank on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:30 PM for the sole purpose of acting on the following business:
-The approval of Cameron Overbey's clergy compensation package (Effective July 1, 2022)
-The acceptance of a bequest from the Mildred Schmidt charitable remainder trust in the amount of $87,469.83 to be deposited in the endowment account.
-The acceptance of a bequest from the Janet Schmidt charitable remainder trust in the amount of $50,054.33 to be deposited in the endowment account.
-The acceptance of a bequest from the estate of Shirley Davis in the amount of $10,000 to be deposited in the endowment account.
-The approval of up to three mid-year nominations for the Staff Parish Relations Committee.
It is with grateful hearts that we anticipate accepting these three very generous bequests. We are thankful for all the saints who have gone before us and are continuing to have a positive impact on our church still today and into the future. If you would like to learn more about how to include the church in your will, please contact Pastor Jess or Bobbie Ridgely, the President of our Trustees.
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Craft Group- Tuesday, 3/22
Craft Group will be meeting between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Lobby above the Church Library. Come for all or part of that time to help us make our greeting cards. If you like to knit or crochet (or do another craft), you are welcome to bring your handiwork to do during Craft Group meetings. Bring a snack/cold drink for a short lunch break -- or you use the hot water tap in the kitchen to make a hot drink.
Easter cards will now be available in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings after Church, along with our assortment of cards for other occasions. Your purchases (at $1.00 each) will help UMW fulfill our budgeted mission donations.
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Book Club Meeting-
Thursday, 3/24
Book club is meeting on Thursday, 3/24 at 1:00 pm in the lounge.
The selection for this month is "The Code Breaker" by Walter Isaacson. All are welcome to attend.
Contact Helen Vetter for more information.
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Easter Flower Orders Now through 4/10
Help beautify the Sanctuary and bring spring to our Easter Service. Orders can be placed by paper order form to the office or on our church website. Pots of these bright and beautiful flowers are $20 each. They make great gifts for family and friends, too!
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Men's Pollinator Garden Work day-April 2
Green Faith Still Needs Your Input!
Spring has sprung! Men’s group will work on preparing the area and adding soil on April 2, and we will work on collecting seeds and native plants to add to the garden after we see what comes back up from last season. It was lovely, colorful, and productive and attracted a number of birds and butterflies and other pollinators. We need helpers of all ages, and this is a call out to the families who founded the garden. Please plan to participate this year as we will need planters, painters of signs, weeders, watering teams and photographers and observers keeping track of our special place. Let us know what flowers and plants you would like to see in our garden. We also need your input on upcoming projects and ways to be green. Look for sign up and idea sheets at the church in the coming weeks! Sign up to help in Sunday School or contact Janie Schildge at jschildge@optonline.net for information.
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Solar Panel Carbon Reduction of One Million Pounds of CO2 Emissions!
Our solar power project, owned by partners in the congregation, has been in operation since 2011! Hudson Solar, as of March 13th, 2022, has avoided carbon emissions of over 1 million pounds since start up. 1,001,871 pounds is about 454 metric tonnes of carbon that our project has not put into our environment. CONGRATULATIONS on this achievement, and let’s really get behind solar and wind power and continue our GREEN JOURNEY!
Thank you Hudson Solar Partners and our free energy from the sun.
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LGBTQ+nnection is a free virtual workshop for teens, young adults, youth leaders, pastors, congregational leaders, and anyone who works with youth/young adults. Our time together will include story-telling, education, devotions, breakout discussions, and resources for next steps. |
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Prayer Labyrinth Walk- Saturday, 4/2
Join us for a church wide labyrinth walking. Attendees will gather at 10:00 at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 177 Princeton Hightstown Rd, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550. There will be an opening prayer, introduction to walking a labyrinth and a hands on activity. This visit is appropriate for all ages and there is a playground adjacent to the labyrinth. All are welcome to come and stay as long as they wish. Contact Bonnie Deroski for more information
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Invasive Plant Pruning-
1st Saturday of Each Month
Join in helping to remove invasive plant species from our parks and forests. Contact Janie Schildge for more information or sign up on the GreenFaith bulletin board.
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UMW General Meeting- May 10
Calling all ladies! Mark your calendar for the next United Methodist Women General Meeting on Saturday, May 5th at 10:00 AM in Room 114.
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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 FRUIT CUPS. Thank you for your continued support. Email us at backpackcrewnj@gmail.com 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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Pastoral Care
If someone is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care,
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