Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank!
Connections
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Worship Sneak Peek
January 2, 2022 at 10:00 am
Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online at 10:00 am as we ring in the New Year with our Epiphany celebration. We’ll be focusing on how we plan to “live in the light” in the coming year. 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.
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.
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.
Thank you for your continued support. Email us at backpackcrewnj@gmail.com with any questions.
Advent Options
Thank You, Donors!
A big thank you to all who donated to Advent Options this Christmas season.
Your generosity helped us raise over $4000 for UMCOR, Family Promise and No Limits Cafe!
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. 

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
We Need Your Help!

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,
please contact Rev. Jessica Naulty at 908-400-2343 or jbnaulty@umcredbank.org.