Dear Church Family,
I am so thankful to God for our church community! I wake up thinking about this. Somehow, by the grace of God, through this past 13+ months of major interruption to the rhythm of life, we have stayed together. Sure, we’ve had more absence than we wanted. Sure, some programs (especially for young children and for our oldest members) have really ‘taken a hit.’ But we are rebounding! I hope that all church members start seeing the church buildings as ‘theirs’ again. Whether it’s coming by to play Gaga Ball with friends, or stopping in at Global Grace Market, helping in the Thrift shop, having lunch at Global Grace, sitting in the sanctuary for silent prayer or joining a bible study, I hope you’ll find multiple ways to get back to your spiritual home!
And then, of course, there are Sundays. While you always will have the option, now, of worshiping from home (and we’re thankful for that) we are providing indoor and outdoor worship each Sunday, hoping that as many people as possible will feel comfortable gathering to adore God and to hear a fresh word. And Sunday School, for the youngest children-adults, is back in swing.
I am thankful to God, this May, for Covid-19 vaccines. I’m thankful, too, that one of our newest programs happening through our church allows us to help get vaccines to all who are vulnerable. Please see below in the Events & Happenings section for details about our next Global Grace Health-Be The Change vaccine event!
May God’s world open up for you at this time, and while it is opening here, let us turn our eyes toward places like India, and focus in on ways we can participate in efforts to address this virus globally.
Get outside in New Jersey, friends, see the beauty of God’s earth, be around people, and breathe in and breathe out the breath of life.
The Peace of Christ to you,
Pastor Seth
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Upcoming May Events & Happenings
Friday, May 7th from 12:30pm -1:30pm - Meet & Greet Walk in Donaldson Park - Join members of your church family for an hour of peaceful walking and conversation. Meet at the entrance to the park where South Second and South Third converge. Carol Turner will be your greeter. All are welcome!
Friday, May 7th—Join church community member Nobuko Hori for a rally in front of Bank of America New Brunswick (410 George Street) to draw attention to a campaign to defund Line 3, the Tar Sands Pipeline that is currently under construction through Indigenous lands, rice fields and lakes and would create the carbon equivalent of 50 new coal fire plants. Nobuko will be traveling in June to Minnesota to take place in protests and actions. Come at 9:00-10:30am for a “Stop the Money Pipeline” Rally.
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Saturday, May 8th—Nature Hike “Pond Skimming” with Jim and Vicki Zarra. There are 18 year olds who have long outgrown the monthly nature hike, who make a point of returning, annually for this fan favorite! We hope you’ll join us at 9am, in the church parking lot, and that you’ll make a point of bringing children. We catch minnows and toads and frogs and turtles and just have a wonderful time exploring. We’ll be at bicentennial park at 176 Hardenburg Ln, Milltown, in case you want to meet us there.
Sunday, May 9th—Mother’s Day Lunch: For the second year in a row the men of RCHP will serve all women in the church a special lunch. We won’t be doing the regular potluck style, but we will, instead, prepare meals and invite you to sit either in the social hall (socially distanced) or outdoors under tents to enjoy a meal with your church family. If you’d like to help pull off this event please reach out to awdigrigoli@outlook.com
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Compassion Sunday at RCHP - May 9th, Mother’s Day 10am and 11am on the RCHP Church Lawn
Have you felt God calling you to make a difference, to provide hope for a child living in poverty? Stop by the information table on the RCHP church lawn between first and second service on Sunday, May 9th to learn more about Compassion sponsorship at RCHP.
Many of us have a difficult time on Mother’s Day, but God’s love can transform our pain into care. When we say ‘yes’ to sponsorship we offer hope to a child who desperately needs it. Your faithful financial contribution (about $1.50 per day) will connect a specific child to a local church, like ours, that will insure ongoing growth and development. Plus you will be able to build a personal relationship with your child through thoughtful letter writing.
Learn more about what it means to sponsor a child through Compassion International. Stop by the outdoor information table on May 9th. Contact Carol Turner, cjteddpc@mac.com or go directly to the website for Compassion International, https://www.compassion.com to learn more.
Tuesday, May 11th—On May 11th, in the morning, Pastor Seth will be going to Long Branch to fill a dumpster with items lost in a fire in the Long Branch parsonage that occurred on Easter Sunday. We’ll also try to recover some items that were lost to the previously homeless residents that were residing there at the time of the fire. All 5 tenants are being resettled in other locations.
Saturday, May 15th - Meet and Greet - On Saturday, May 15th at 11:00am the Fellowship committee is hosting a Meet and Greet on the church lawn. Come for a joyful, informal time of talking with your church family! And mark your calendars for subsequent months....we will meet at 11:00am on the 3rd Saturday of each month (weather permitting). Masks and social distancing will be used. All are welcome!
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Saturday, May 15th—Blood Drive at RCHP: For the third time in 8 months RCHP will host a blood drive. We are more aware than ever of the life saving possibilities that the church can participate in. This Blood Drive is sponsored by Raritan Valley Road Runners. This is one of the many groups that meets at RCHP. Click on image for more info.
Sunday, May 23—Pentecost Sunday/Confirmation Sunday: Throughout this year of social distancing we are so pleased that a faithful group of 4 confirmands have diligently held to meaningful discussions as a group with Pastor Terry and other pastors and leaders as well as developing a relationship with their confirmation mentors. On Sunday, May 23rd, we get a chance to hear these 4 individuals share their Personal Faith Statements—words that give us a sense of where these young people stand and how they understand their faith at this particular moment. Confirmand creeds will be included in the liturgy at first service (with some confirmands present) and all confirmands will be present for a combined education hour (teens and adults) at 10am and for second service at 11am
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Wednesday, May 26th—Join us for another Vaccination Clinic of Moderna. Most of the folks getting appointments will be getting their second dose but there may be room for initial doses as well.
Sunday, May 30th - Memorial Day Somerset Patriots Game: Pastor Terry will take the Middle School Youth Group to a Patriots game on Sunday night of Memorial Day!
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Shop for Mother’s Day at Global Grace Marketplace, each day from 10am-5pm! On Friday, shop at Global Grace at the Farmer’s Market.
New Interns Coming on Board! Starting May 9th we’ll be introducing 4 new interns to RCHP. Olivia, Kelsey, Connor and Kendal will soon be joining us for a good portion of the summer. Prepare to welcome them warmly!
SAVE THE DATES!!
May 14th, Friday Afternoon - Save the date for a possible Press Conference with Our Congressional Delegation Concerning the Indonesian Christian Community and the Dealings of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE).
A Listening Session to Reconnect with Families ol Young Children and Babies: The pastors of the church and many other ministry leaders are anxious to rebuild robust children’s programming in the areas of education, music, worship, fellowship. However, we don’t want to create programs and ideas that don’t meet the new realities that people are facing coming out of the pandemic. On Sunday, June 6th, from 12:15-1:15, we invite all families with kids to gather in the side yard of the church to talk frankly about your wants, needs and hopes for you and your children as it pertains to the life of faith. We won’t be coming in with staff-driven ideas. We’ll just be there to listen. Childcare will be provided (outside).
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Worship and Education Opportunities
Choir Rehearsals Resume Outdoors
For at least the next month, Gospel and Chancel Choirs are resuming rehearsals on a rotating basis, every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30. We meet in front of the church and rehearse songs that the choirs will lead on the following Sunday during the 11am outdoor service. Here is the rehearsal schedule for the rest of May:
May 5 - Gospel Choir
May 12 - Chancel Choir
May 19 - Gospel Choir
May 26 - Chancel Choir
In the case of inclement weather, Pastor Amos will email the choirs to arrange a virtual choir experience for members to join via Zoom. To be placed on the email list for either or both choirs, please email Pastor Amos at amoscaley@gmail.com
Sunday Worship
For most of the month of May, we will be sticking with our current Sunday morning worship schedule:
9:00am - 1st Worship Service (in Sanctuary & Live-streamed)
10:00am - Education Hour (adults in person, children & youth hybrid)
11:00am - 2nd Worship Service (outside, weather-permitting)
Click on this link for registration for Indoor Services
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Special Adult Ed Conversation in the RCHP Parlor - Maintaining Mental Health
May 16 2021 from 10:00am -10:45am
During this past year of Pandemic, most of us experienced distress in mind, body, or spirit. All of us have had some painful and difficult things happen to us, or to someone we love. Join us as we begin to identify the mental health needs of our RCHP Church Family, available resources, and develop a vision for moving forward as a welcoming, inclusive, supportive and engaged church community. For additional information contact Carol Turner cjteddpc@mac.com
On the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, we will have only one worship service, outside the church at 10:00am. There will be no education hour that day. In case of rain, we will be worshiping inside and live-streaming.
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The TABLE: Every Sunday night at 5:30pm (except for Mother’s Day) join church friends for a delicious dinner and fellowship. We call this event The Table. All are welcome!
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Children and Youth
'Tweens and Teens Connections
Wednesday Middle School Youth Group: 7pm-8:15pm (in person, in The Cave)
Sunday High School Youth Group: 7pm-8:3opm
Kid’s Choir, 3pm-3:30pm, in-person, outside, rain or shine. Pastor Seth will also always have a zoom link for those interested in joining virtually.
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Connecting With God
Wednesday is Bible Study Day:
7:45am with Pastor Seth (social hall)
5:00pm with Cori and Liz
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
Sewing Circle
This treasured group of sewers/quilters has been meeting remotely for the past year but is happy to announce that they will start meeting in-person again starting in mid-May, and welcome new members! Send a text or call Ellie Monroe at 330-732-7165 for more info.
Prayer Shawl Group
If you or a loved one have ever received a prayer shawl, this is the group that created it. Though currently meeting virtually, they hope to resume in-person gathering by late Spring. Please contact Selma Colmant at scolmant@mac.com New members welcome!
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. FOR MAY we will explore: Full inclusion of people with "disabilities".
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Serving and Working For Justice & the Beloved Community
Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership
Seeking volunteers for Bluebird nest monitoring at historic Elmwood Cemetery
As a result of habitat loss and fragmentation, use of pesticides, and competition from aggressive non-native birds, starting in the early 1900s, populations of many native bird species like Bluebirds plummeted. In recent years, with human help in installing and monitoring nest boxes, these trends have reversed. Help keep up the momentum! For more info, click on this link
DIRE Monthly Meeting at noon. Thursday, May 13th— Call Pastor Seth if you want to participate.
IRISE Community Meeting, noon - Thursday, May 20th— Please write to Fida Ayoubi, the volunteer coordinator, if you want to be added to the e-news and if you want the link for the meeting. fida@interfaithrise.org
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Edna Mahan Correctional Facility Mother’s Day Vigil
Please join NJ Prison Justice Watch in supporting our sisters who have endured horrific abuse at the hands of correctional employees, and let them know they have NOT been forgotten. Click on the flyer image for more details.
Naloxone Kit Assembly with NJ Harm Reduction - May 30, 1:00pm
On Sunday, May 30, on the front lawn of RCHP, NJ Harm Reduction Coalition will be constructing kits of Naloxone (an overdose-reversal medication), which they freely distribute during street outreach in NJ cities like New Brunswick. This is a good opportunity for adult volunteers (or supervised youth) to support learn more about the importance of harm reduction efforts in providing live-saving drugs freely to those who most need it.
If you would like to learn more about this event, and why RCHP supports these efforts, please reach out to Pastor Amos at amoscaley@gmail.com
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Global Grace Cafe continues to serve hot meals to all who are in need as we come through this pandemic but we are also ready for business. Come in and buy a meal, and with your purchase support our efforts to provide meals to those who are hungry.
Global Grace Farms invites YOU to come out to help with turning soil and planting seeds any Saturday or Sunday 9am-1pm. This Sat/Sunday option gives tremendous opportunity to our interfaith community to serve on a day that is not conflicting with their worship services. All questions about the farm should be addressed to Pastor Seth or to Ashar Hafeez Ghumman at ggfarms@interfaithrise.org
Global Grace Marketplace is inviting volunteers to join in again! Please reach out to Pastor Seth immediately at seth.kaperdale@gmail.com if you’d like to start coming, regularly, to help staff the shop and to encourage your friends to come out to visit and make purchases.
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Accompany Now! is receiving a record number of youth into its programs as the southern border issues continue to get worked out. On a practical level, we’ve got a lot of middle/high school age youth who are in need of school supplies! If you’d like to donate to Accompany Now, to help purchase backpacks and fill them with supplies, please let us know.
Thrift Shop, Global Grace Marketplace and Cafe - Hours of Operation
Check out the Thrift Shop any day, Monday-Saturday from 9:30am-Noon, and after church on Sunday 12-2 pm !
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:
Cereal
Shelf Stable Milk
Peanut Butter
Adult Diapers (med. And large)
Stayfree Maxi Pads
Baby Diapers (2, 3, 4)
Toasted Snack Crackers
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
Peer-led Support Group
Join co-leaders Jess Munger and Terry Horyn for nurturing support for the body, mind and spirit every Monday and Thursday from 4-5 p.m. in the parlor. Seating is socially distant and masks are required. Topics addressed can be anything from Covid fears to physical ailments to emotional challenges. All are welcome!
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
Seeking Part-time Mental Health Counselor
"Are you a licensed mental health counselor looking to make a difference? Church Based Mental Health Services is hiring a part-time mental health counselor to serve its Somerset, Monmouth, and Ocean County locations. Candidates should be licensed or license-ready. Please contact CIC@ImprovingNJ.org for the job description or with questions.
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Bereavement Calendar
RCHP remembers all those who died in May and all those who still mourn
The following names have been offered for remembrance in May 2021:
Geneva Burawski, Beloved Mother of Renee Burawski and Mother-in-law of Nicci Spinazzola
Susana Keszler, Beloved Mother of Illona Faust, Susanne Kucsma, and Luanne Downey
Frank Malkiewicz, Beloved Husband of Kathleen Malkiewicz
Debbie McKay, Beloved Sister of Kathy Lombardi
Kathleen Mroz, Beloved Grandmother of Michael Zalewski
Clara Pangemanan Giam, Beloved Mother and Grandmother of the Pangemanan Family
Frank Perger, Beloved Father of Susan Perger
Richard Petersen, Beloved Father of Kathleen Malkiewicz
Muriel Snyder, Beloved Mother of Deb Convery
Beulah St. Pierre, Beloved Mother of Linda St. Pierre
Floyd D. Turner, Beloved Father of Jonathon Turner
Pauline W. Wilpiszeski, Beloved Mother of Cathy Laycock,
and Beloved Grandmother 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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Change is in the Air
Is it Michelangelo? No, it’s Pastor Amos giving the shepherd window a makeover to reflect the geographic reality of Jesus Christ. And we say a fond farewell to the Kuhdr family (pictured here at their RCHP going away party), the very first I-RISE family, who are moving to Florida. We send them with blessings and love as they continue on their American journey!
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Chick Magnets
The attraction was mutual as the RCHP Meet & Greet group visited with Global Grace Farms “egg layers in training” on a recent Saturday morning.
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New Members!
RCHP welcomes new members Carol Perry, Melody Wren, Jennifer McKiernnan and Nazia Arbad. (Pictured are Carol Perry and Jennifer McKiernnan)
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Arbor Day Tree Planting
In honor of Earth and Arbor Days, members of the RCHP Creation Care committee and congregants blessed and planted a Magnolia tree on the church front lawn. Thanks to Tosin, Kathryn and Mark (and Mary Denver from the Native Plant Society) for making it happen!
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