Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank! |
|
Connections
Thursday, January 6, 2022
|
|
Worship Sneak Peek
January 9, 2022 at 10:00 am
Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online at 10:00 am as we kick off a new 8 week sermon series on The Story of Moses. We’ll journey through the life story of this prophet of old to learn how God is at work in our lives and how we are being called to step up and step out in faith. 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.
|
|
Use Caution for In Person Gatherings
While COVID-19 is in such a high community spread rate in our area, please use caution when deciding whether to attend in person gatherings at the church. If there is even the slightest suspicion that you or someone in your household may have been exposed to COVID, or if you are in a high risk category, please remain home.
Many of our small groups are offered remotely and Sunday morning worship is livestreamed to our website. You can use the links below to access Sunday's service, or view any of the archived service videos.
To be abundantly cautious, our children and youth Sunday school classes will be taking a two week break (Jan 9th and 16th), and our youth groups have switched to a remote gathering for the time being. The Sunday morning adult education class will continue to meet in person, unless you hear differently before Sunday.
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!
|
|
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!
|
|
Congregational Singing Has Resumed
Warm up those vocal cords, for we are inviting the congregation to sing with the choir on the hymns in worship again.
Everyone in the building on Sundays is asked to abide by our masking policy and keep masks covering their mouth and nose at all times. Also, please remember the socially-distanced seating is always available under the balcony in the rear of the Sanctuary for those who prefer to ensure distance between themselves and fellow worshipers.
|
|
To Our Church Family:
On behalf of the whole staff, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love we all felt through the generous staff Christmas gift. It is a joy and a blessing to serve with you.
Thank you!
Rev. Jessica, Evan, Amanda, Rick & Bonnie
|
|
Feeding the Hungry with Family Promise-
Meal Preparation- 1/8 & 1/15 from 10:00-12:00
The UMCRB Mission and Service Committee, together with the United Methodist Women and Backpack Crew are excited to begin a campaign, in collaboration with Family Promise, to help feed needy families. We will be preparing and delivering 25 meals each Monday throughout the month of January. Volunteers will be hard at work on Saturday, January 8th and January 15th preparing meals for Monday deliveries.
|
|
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.
|
|
Book Club - All are Welcome!
Book Club will be meeting 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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
YMCA Virtual Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.- Friday, January 14, 2022 at 8 a.m.
The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County proudly celebrates the life and service of MLK at our Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration, being held virtually this year on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 8 a.m.
Register for the event by following this link -
|
|
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 Middletown Reclamation Center (for residents only) and 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!
|
|
Stewardship Season 2022
There is still time to pledge-Ends 1/16/22
Our 2022 financial pledges currently stand at $217,467 so we are well on our way to our 2022 pledged giving goal of $300,000. To those who have already pledged, Thank You! Our stewardship campaign will officially wrap up on Sunday, January 16th, so if you have not sent in your pledge card, you’re not too late! Together, we make a positive difference in our community.
|
|
Pastoral Care
If someone is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
