Dear Church Family,
I hope that August 2021 is providing you an opportunity to reconnect with anyone who you found yourself quarantined from last summer. As I go through Highland Park I am aware that a tremendous number of people are out of town—there is hardly a car parked in front of the church. I hope you are visiting family and friends and having wonderful, restful experiences that refresh you before we launch into the flow of a New Jersey autumn.
Even though things are ‘slower’ here, during the summer, I don’t mean to suggest that there isn’t a lot of wonderful stuff going on. I feel so invigorated each and every day as I walk around RCPH and see all the ways that God’s love is being made manifest in our building.
Take today, for example. A group of teens from our church and a Baptist church in New Brunswick took off for a fun-day at 6 Flags (the middle day of their 5 day mission trip). In the parlor, a group of teen Cancer-Care Ambassadors were meeting with an oncology chaplain. In the Quilt Rm piles of free food from Trader Joes was slowly getting smaller, as people in need came in for free groceries. In the social hall a couple of dozen people enjoyed meals at Global Grace Cafe and a handful of shoppers helped support a fair trade global marketplace. In the basement, and the side yard, kids at Camp Cool Environmental were clearly enjoying themselves. In offices all around the building, staff and volunteers were working with refugees, re-entering citizens, victims of trafficking and unaccompanied children. Our immigration lawyer was considering cases from all around the world. All afternoon, and into the evening, the Global Grace Health team was vaccinating people in the RV and then, in the quilt room. All I can say, as I walk around and witness this work, is “thank you God.” I am well aware that the hum of encouraging energy in our church is the hum of the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing through this space.
The Peace of Christ to you,
Pastor Seth
P.S. Check out the photo gallery at the end of this email for church family highlights!
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Upcoming August Events & Happenings |
Tonight @ 7 p.m.! Embodied Faith Friday Night Firepit & Singalong
Week 5 of our Embodied Faith series continues as we connect with our voices and each other. Come to RCHP with your instruments (any instrument is welcome), your song ideas and your enthusiasm for singing and spending time outdoors with your RCHP family - all are welcome!
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Meals for Jess Munger
We’re looking for folks who can either take or send a meal to Jess Munger as she’s recovering from her accident. Any help you can give is appreciated! To sign up, click on this link: https://takethemameal.com/AIBG8192
New Members Class
RCHP wants to officially welcome newcomers as full members of the church. On Monday, August 16th, from 7pm-9:00pm, join Pastor Seth and a couple of Consistory members for a 1-session New Members Class. We’ll officially receive new members at our service on August 22nd.
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Vacation Bible School, August 23-27
RCHP’s most important August community contribution, for years now, has been our Vacation Bible School. We basically transform the entire building into a space that is all oriented toward helping young children experience the love and presence of God in a super fun and supporting way. The highpoint of VBS is always Pastor Amos’ musical. This year is no exception. The theme of Vacation Bible School is With God…We Can Do Hard Things. Send your children! (As new Covid protocols are being announced we will be, almost certainly, requiring masks for all children and adults in our VBS program.)
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Interfaith-RISE Interfaith-RISE is working so hard to set up apartments for newly arriving families. If you want to help, or if you can connect us to new interfaith-friends, we’d be so thrilled. For more info. send an email to interfaithrise@gmail.com
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Global Grace Cafe and Marketplace is fully open!
Each weekday, come and enjoy lunch at Global Grace Cafe. In addition to purchasing a delicious, affordable, global lunch, you can purchase delicious tomatoes and other produce from Global Grace Farm. If you’d like to assist at the Marketplace of Cafe please let Pastor Seth know.
Helping Global Grace Health Church, if you have ideas for where our RCHP-AHC’s Global Grace Health RV can go to deliver vaccines we’d be so grateful if you’d share! Contact Pastor Seth.
Accompany Now! Many RCHP members came out on Tuesday August 3rd to learn more about how we can support the thousands of youth coming to NJ this year across the southern border. If you’d like to be included on regular mailings to learn more about this matter please write to Pastor Seth at seth.kaperdale@gmail.com
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Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a ministry of presence, in which trained Stephen Ministers listen, support and pray with people who are going through a challenging time in life. If you would like to learn more about being paired with a Stephen Minister, please speak with Renee DiGrigoli, Anthony DiGrigoli, John Rametta or Pastor Stephanie.
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Worship and Education Opportunities |
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In-person Worship (at 10 a.m.) & Mask Wearing
Given the current situation with the Delta variant and the CDC guidelines about mask usage, we feel it is best to request mask usage again for indoor gatherings. We ask that masks be worn in worship with the exception of when people are leading worship and are socially distanced. You may have seen this article, or others similar to it. We appreciate your cooperation at this challenging time. We will get through this!
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The TABLE
Every Sunday night at 5:30pm, join church friends for a delicious dinner and fellowship. We call this event The Table. All are welcome!
Do You Have a Potential Adult Education Idea?
For the past few years RCHP has offered Sunday morning as a place for church members with particular focus areas relevant to our faith to offer classes for the edification of all of us. Pastor Amos would love to hear from you, to reflect on ideas that you might have for 1 week, 2 week or 3 week adult education sessions. Contact Amos at amoscaley@gmail.com
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Youth Group Gathering Opportunities
All middle schoolers are invited to a game night on Wed, Aug 11, from 7 to 8:30 pm, at the church. Bring your favorite board or card game to play!
All youth are invited to join Pastor Terry for a Somerset Patriots baseball game on Friday, Aug 13. We'll leave from the church at 6:30 pm and arrive back around 10:30. Cost covered by the church.
Lastly, please let Pastor Terry know if you're interested in volunteering for VBS. He will be leading games and would love your help.
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Sunday School starts in September!
Bible stories, games, crafts, music and time with friends - Sunday school will begin again on September 12. Stay tuned for more details about our kick-off Sunday. If you are new to our church and would like to register for Sunday school please contact wendyjager3@gmail.com
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Wednesday Morning Bible Study with Pastor Seth
Join us at 7:45am every Wednesday morning, outside by the willow tree, as we read the book of Exodus (1 chapter each week). This is a great way for congregants who are regular bible readers to deepen their understanding of scripture and it’s equally a great study for newcomers to scripture.
Morning Prayer, every day @ 9 am on zoom
Since March 15th, 2020, RCHP has had a 6 day a week (Mon. thru Sat.) morning prayer online. If you’d like to start your day with inspiring words, the sharing of prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of petition join us by going to rchighlandpark.org and clicking on the coffee cup that scrolls on the home page.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study is taking an August break. Stay tuned for info on starting up again in September.
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Connecting With One Another |
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"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, music and culinary delights. Contact our host, Carol Turner cjteddpc@mac.com for more information and for a Zoom link. FOR AUGUST, in the spirit of enjoying a more relaxed summer pace we'll be doing a round-robin format, including the optional "what I did on my summer vacation" (even if yours was a "staycation"). All are welcome!
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Weekly Virtual "Drop-In"
All are welcome (including your companion pets!) 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.
Thursday Sewing Circle
Each Thursday you are invited to the church Quilt Rm for a morning of sewing, crafting and preparing for the annual Holiday Bazaar. This is a great space for good work and wonderful community. Come at 10am and stay for lunch at noon at the Cafe!
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Serving and Working For Justice & the Beloved Community
All church members are encouraged to see our “Justice Collaboration Newsletter” (sent on August 2nd) for more details on engagement each month. Here’s a short list of happenings associated with the life of the church and beyond.
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New Labor Book Club - Sunday, Aug 15th, Sept. 12th, Oct. 10th via Zoom
Join New Labor Exec. Dir., Lou Kimmel and guest authors, Celeste Monforton & Jane M. Von Bergen, as they explore "On the Job: The Untold Story of America’s Work Centers and the New Fight for Wages, Dignity, and Health". "On the Job" is a decisive narrative on worker centers like New Labor (featured in one chapter of the book). It not only tells the story of their work, but offers an analysis of the common trends in worker center organizing across the country.
The book club is bilingual and the books are available in English and Spanish. For more info, and to register for this event click on this eventbrite link. For a bit more background on the project and the book club, check out this conversation and molasses cake baking experience on YouTube
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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:
Urgent Needs:
Peanut Butter
Canned Tuna, Salmon, Chicken
Tomato Sauce
Diapers- all sizes
Stayfree Feminine pads
They also need
Pasta
Cereal
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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Thrift Shop - Hours of Operation
We are so proud of the fact that 7 days a week the Thrift Shop serves our community. If you’d like to be a regular helper in our Thrift Shop please reach out to Pastor Seth! Check out the Thrift Shop any day, Monday-Saturday from 9:30am-Noon, and after church on Sunday 12-2 pm !
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Supporting Each Other During Difficult Times |
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The Self-Help 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! For more info, contact Jess at jessmsn409@gmail.com
Church Based Mental Health
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Bereavement Calendar
RCHP remembers all those who died in August and all those who still mourn
The following names have been offered for remembrance in August 2021:
Richard Homeyer, Beloved Father of Michael Zalewski
Yves Emeline Jeremie, Beloved Mother of Gihane Jeremie-Brink,
and Beloved Grandmother of Mateo, Naya, and Yael Jeremie-Brink
Bruno Juricic, Beloved Father-in-law of Jacquelyn Juricic,
and Grandfather of Ana and Noah Juricic
Blanca Martinez, Beloved Mother of Carmen Baum
Blanche McCartney, Beloved Mother of Pat McCartney
Edward Mroz, Beloved Grandfather of Michael Zalewski
Michael Nussman, Beloved Father of Wendy Nussman
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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JULY HIGHLIGHTS AND MILESTONES |
Youth Group members at Camp Fowler!
Pictured are Mac, Noah, Cora, Dani, Leyda and Amaya
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Youth Group Summer Mission Trip
The RCHP and New Brunswick First Baptist Church youth have been busy this week with projects that included helping out at Global Grace Farm.
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The Kolawole Crew Cares for Creation
The Kolawole family is faithful to stewarding our planet with weekly cleanups or tree plantings. We give thanks for the love they show to Mother Earth!
And Jumoke Kolawole Cares about Mental Health
Congratulations to Jumoke for being awarded NAMI's Volunteer of the Month! Jumoke facilitates their new monthly Connection Online Support Group for Asylees & Refugees, and, as someone who shares a common experience, can offer comfort, as well as encouragement and inspiration to reassure them that better days are ahead.
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Embodied Faith
Week 4 of our 6 week Embodied Faith series featured a contemplative walk through Rutgers Gardens on a perfect clear blue sky day. Basking in God’s creation were
Seated L-R: Nazia, Pastor Terry, Carrie and Roger; Standing: Pastor Stephanie and Mary. We give thanks for a most glorious day!
Jim Hudson Classic
Who won? Everyone! Players and spectators alike, good food, good fun, team t-shirts, and time in the great outdoors - nothing beats that!
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