Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank! |
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Connections
Thursday, February 10, 2022
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Worship Sneak Peek
February 13, 2022 at 10:00 am
Join us for worship this Sunday in person or online at 10:00 am as we continue our series on the story of Moses. We’ll be reflecting on how God sustains us through our journeys, like the mannah that was provided for the Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness. 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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Celebrate God's Love on Valentine's Day-
This Valentine’s day, do something different. Sure, talk about love, but talk about true love—the love that God has for us and the love that we are invited to share with others. Let’s embrace the kind of love we hear about in 1 Corinthians 13 - a love that is patient, kind, not arrogant or rude, selfless, bearing and believing all things - for this kind of love is from God, and meant to share with the world.
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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!
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No More Racism Virtual Storytime-
Every Saturday in February at 10:00 am
All children ages 5-11 are invited to join us as we hear the following stories being read and have some discussion about the themes as they pertain to their lives. Register to get emailed the zoom link for the sessions. Kids can attend any or all sessions. Parents are welcome, as well.
Led by Bonnie Deroski, director of Children and Youth Ministries at the UMC of Red Bank and member of the NJ Social Justice Remembrance Coalition, and various, diverse guest co-facilitators.
Children’s literature is just one part of fostering a child’s positive sense of self and others and raising an anti-racist and anti-bias child. Children are not colorblind. When we talk about color, we honor who children are as learners. A conversation with a caring adult allows children to feel safe and ask questions instead of drawing conclusions about color and racism based on implicit and explicit messaging from the world around them and their own limited knowledge.
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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 COFFEE, TEA & HOT CHOCOLATE.
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Pollinator Garden Returns-
We Need Your Help and Ideas
The Pollinator Garden will be returning to our back yard at church. Men’s group will work on preparing the area and adding soil on April 2nd, 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. 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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Come Lend a Hand-
Church Work Day Saturday, February 26th
Come to a church work day on February 26th from 9:00-11:00 am. We need your help to reorganize the basements and various areas of the church. Some heavy lifting may be needed and all who are able are welcome to come and lend a hand. Contact Bobbie Ridgely at bridgely@yahoo.com for more information.
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Free COVID Tests Now Available for Order
Order your free COVID tests through the USPS by clicking here. Every household is eligible to receive 4 tests at no cost.
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The "Best Corned Beef in Town" Has Returned-
Saturday, 3/19 from 4:00-6:00 pm
The Scholastic Assistance Committee is excited to announce that the Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner is back, and will be take-out only. Proceeds, as usual, will go toward our Scholarship Fund which provides undergraduate scholarships for the youth of our church. Details to follow. Contact Barbara Guenther at bjguenther@verizon.net for more information and ways to get involved.
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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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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 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!
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Pastoral Care
If someone is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care,
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