Dear Church Family,
What a beautiful Holy Week! I was touched, on a very profound level, by the candles and readings and quiet of Thursday, the insights from the '7 last words through the lens of resilience' on Friday, the crew that showed up for the Franco Juricic 6:00am memorial sunrise service run, the sermon from Anna on Easter Sunrise morning and all the great elements of Easter Sunday services. Stepping out of 1st service, into a church yard swelling with families, ready to sing and worship, was very moving. We have been blessed to have remained close to each other, and active, throughout this year. Easter really did feel like an experience of bursting forth into new life!
May each day forward, this year, be a day of beauty, connection, and response to God.
The Peace of Christ to you,
Pastor Seth
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Upcoming April Events & Happenings
Handing out Millions (literally) to NJ Immigrants
RCHP worked with DIRE and Faith In New Jersey to pre-register immigrants for stimulus checks after they were left out of any of the stimulus funding from the past year. We were disappointed last July, when 2772 people who pre registered were denied. But now, we’ve been granted over 2 million dollars in gift cards that we are distributing to those families! This tremendous volunteer effort will continue (at least) through April 8th.
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Global Grace Health—Be the Change NJ
RCHP will play host to three vaccine events for vulnerable populations in April. Most appointments have already been set, but if you are particularly vulnerable, or connected to individuals who are particularly vulnerable, please reach out to Pastor Seth to try to be included in this. If you are interested in helping to host/run these events please reach out to Pastor Seth as well. 732-882-3193.
DIRE Monthly Meeting, April 8th: Join us at 12 Noon at this zoom link to learn how RCHP (through DIRE) is invited in Immigration matters in NJ.
Join Zoom Meeting
Nature Hike this Saturday
RCHP will hold its April 10th Nature Hike from 9am-Noon. Join us in the back parking lot at 9am for a trip to one of the wonderful Central NJ parks
Tour the Easter Labyrinth Throughout the Easter Season!
Easter is more than a single day for us at RCHP—it’s a whole liturgical season. For that reason, our website will continue to feature each of the nine labyrinth stations, featuring artwork from some of our talented community members. Please continue to enjoy these beautiful exhibits at www.rchighlandpark.org/labyrinth
Save the Dates!
Church Camping Trip: Reach out to Pastor Seth if you would like to join us for the 2021 Church Camping Trip. We are trying to secure a site for May 21st.
Church Soccer Game: Donaldson Park, April 25th, Time TBD
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Worship and Education Opportunities
Choir Rehearsals Resume Outdoors
Every Wednesday in the month of April, we will be resuming in-person, outdoor choir rehearsals from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the front yard outside the social hall. Everyone is welcome to join either or both choirs! These rehearsals will alternate between Gospel Choir and Chancel Choir, and we will be rehearsing songs that will figure prominently during the Sunday morning outdoor singing time before second service. Here is the choir rehearsal schedule for the month of April:
April 7 - Gospel Choir Rehearsal
April 14 - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
April 21 - Gospel Choir Rehearsal
April 28 - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Are You Interested in Helping with Worship Leadership?
As we’ve gradually but intentionally begun worshiping inside the sanctuary, we’ve also been exploring ways to incorporate additional voices, musical instruments, and expressive movement into the Sunday morning worship services. If you are interested in being involved in the worship leadership—inside or outside the sanctuary (or both) during our Sunday morning worship, please reach out to Pastor Amos at amoscaley@gmail.com
Sunday Worship
Each Sunday in April, May and June the church community can expect the following worship and education experiences on Sunday.
9am—Worship (in sanctuary/virtual)
10am—Sunday School (outside, for all ages—children’s Sunday School has a virtual opportunity if there are families that choose to participate from home.)
10:45am—11:05 Outdoor Singing with the whole church
11:10am—Worship (in sanctuary/virtual)
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Children and Youth
Summer sleep away camps are opening again!
This year RCHP is offering $150 scholarships to any and all RCHP kids who would like to go to Crossroads Summer Camp in NJ or Camp Fowler in NY. There are 4 different weeks that kids can sign up for, but we thought it might be more fun if our RCHP kids went in groups to allow them to build community with each other, as well as make new friends. We are looking at sending kids to either Youth Camp 1 from July 11 - 16 which is for kids finishing 2nd grade - 8th grade, plus there is a high school camp running that week too, or Youth Camp 2 from July 18 - 23 for 2nd - 8th grade only. https://www.crossroadsretreat.com/summer-programs/
Camp Fowler is in the Adirondack Mountains. Pastor Terry will be going to Camp Fowler from July 4th-July 9th and will serve as a cabin counselor. We are encouraging any interested RCHP 6th-12th graders to sign up too! We have reserved 10 slots (5 males, 5 females) but we could have a few more attend if we act swiftly. This camp includes a 5hr drive each way. https://www.campfowler.org/
Additionally, for any campers who need more financial support, there is an RCHP summer camp grant your child can apply for. Please contact Wendy for an application or with Crossroad camp questions. wendyjager3@gmail.com Please contact Pastor Terry for questions about Camp Fowler. Summer camps are filling up quickly so if you're interested in sending your child, please register as soon as possible.
'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 Student Minister Anna Langholtz
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
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 APRIL: LitLovers reviews Outrageous Verdicts, including the OJ Simpson murder trial and the infamous McDonald's scalding hot coffee verdict.
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Serving and Working For Justice & the Beloved Community
Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership - “Rowing on the Raritan Boat Building Project”
The LRWP’s new “Rowing on the Raritan Boat Building Project” seeks volunteers (ages 18+) to participate in boat-building to provide the inaugural fleet of a community-based rowing program on the Raritan River. The goal is to construct two cedar strip rowing boats during a 90-day building period which started the week of January 24, 2021. No experience required. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn through hands-on activities, as well as through live-streaming and recorded instructional sessions. https://lowerraritanwatershed.org/2021/01/13/rowing-on-the-raritan-boat-building-project/?mc_cid=43a34b9680&mc_eid=8022774f9f
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T-shirt Fundraiser for Undocumented Pandemic Relief
To help support DIRE's pandemic relief fundraiser, two young people, Josie Estes and Maeve Silverman, (daughter of Liz Estes and friend) have designed a t-shirt and created a fundraising campaign using an app called Bonfire. Funds go directly to CIC, DIRE’s parent org. Please consider purchasing a t-shirt and promoting it on your social networks Click on this link for Bonfire:
Global Grace Farm
FARM DAYS AT GLOBAL GRACE FARMS: April is a great month to prepare beds and plant seeds for Global Grace Farms. These dates, in April, there will be community events at the farm. In addition, anyone who wants to work on projects at the farm is invited to reach Emily Wilkes at Emily@interfaithrise.org
Interfaith-RISE Monthly Meeting, April 15th @ 12 p.m.
If you'd like to learn about RCHP's involvement with Refugee Resettlement join the IRISE monthly meeting!
Join Zoom Meeting
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Supporting Newly Arriving Unaccompanied Minors
One of our most relevant programs, in terms of national issues, operating out of RCHP right now, is Accompany Now! We were funded, starting in 2019, to help youth coming across the border to resettle well with family and guardians in New Jersey. This year, with a record number of youth anticipated, we are happy to be fully staffed with 8 case managers!
Thrift Shop, Global Grace Marketplace and Cafe - Hours of Operation
Thrift Shop: Open weekdays from 9am-Noon, Saturday 10-1 and Sunday 12-2
Global Grace Marketplace: Open M-F from 10am-4pm
Global Grace Cafe: Open M-F for lunch!
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:
Mac-n-Cheese
Rice
Instant Potatoes
Tomato Sauce
Canned Veggies
Toasteds Crackers
Stayfree Maxis
Diapers- sizes 2, 3 & 4
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
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
Stephen Ministry
Continue to pray for our Stephen Ministers in training!
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Bereavement Calendar
RCHP remembers all those who died in April and all those who still mourn
The following names have been offered for remembrance in April 2021:
Andy Colmant, Father of Liz Estes and Grandfather of Liv, Josie and Michael Carey
John Faust, Beloved Husband of Illona Faust,
Beloved Father of Sarah and Jonathan & Sarah-Jean,
and Pop-Pop to Jake, Kennedy, and Charlotte
Bruce Jackson, Beloved Brother of Gail Green
Michael Kalnok, Beloved Father of Laura Kalnok
Joseph Neves Marcal Jr., Beloved Father of Marcia Marcal Persiano
Clara O’Neill, Beloved Long Time Member of RCHP
Jordan Riley Parlatore, Beloved Daughter of Tiffany Baker
Nana Rachel, Beloved Grandmother of Jess Munger
Loretta Romeo, Beloved Mother-in-law of Rich Lord
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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............and Celebration! |
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We give thanks to all who organized and participated in our Holy Week events, including the Easter Party, Franco Juricic Memorial Easter sunrise run, and the Adopt a Chick Global Grace Farm day! |
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