Dear Church Family,

Welcome to the last month of the year!  Yes, in our Christian calendar the new year starts on December 1st as we enter the Advent season and reflect on the arrival, the emergence, the dawn of Christ coming into our lives through the love of God.  

November is, in many ways, the culmination of the year.  It’s convenient that the cultural holiday of Thanksgiving comes right at the end of our Christian year.  It’s great to end the year with a special time of gratitude. 

There are four things coming up that I’d really like to highlight for the church family.

November 3rd, at 2pm, is our Interfaith-RISE Walk for Refugees.  It’s a great moment for our church community to join with lots of other faith communities in a shared display of welcome and embrace for all people.  Especially this year…indeed especially this week…this living example of welcome is important.  Please join us and invite friends who are involved in other churches, mosques, temples, synagogues etc!

On November 23rd, join us all day, for the Holiday Bazaar. From 10am-3pm invite friends to come and make purchases of beautiful items, a delicious Indonesian lunch and baked goods that all are being sold to support the life of our church. This ends up being one of the great fellowship days of the year.

On November 24th, at our Morning Services, we have a special morning that is shaped by a message of Thanksgiving. A handful of families come together and set a ‘match challenge’ for the rest of the church family, helping us raise, in one Sunday, a substantial fund that helps the church break even and puts us in a good place to finish out the fiscal year. Matching Gift Sunday has become one of the great moments of generosity for our church over the past 20 years or so.

Finally, on November 24th, in the evening, we’ll have our Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Join us at 7pm for a gathering where congregants from many different traditions offer something up to all of us that speaks of the place of gratitude in the life of all faiths.

I love November. I love the rhythm of gratitude that rounds things off. I’m grateful for each of you and for the life God has given us together.

The Peace of Christ to you,

Pastor Seth

Check out our photo gallery at the end of this newsletter for October church family highlights!

Upcoming November Events & Happenings

Saturday, November 2nd, A Memorial Service for Dorothy Maitland—longtime church member Dorothy Maitland will be remembered and her life-in-God celebrated at this service at 10am on Saturday. We invite all to come and pay respects and to join us for worship and a fellowship meal.

Walk for Refugees and Asylum Seekers!, November 3rd—One of RCHP’s dreams that turned into something larger than we could have imagined is the program Interfaith-RISE. This gigantic program will receive nearly 900 approved refugees over the next year to enter NJ with legal status, working papers, wrap-around services and the tools needed to start well here. Once a year we try to get as many people as possible to join us in walking for refugees. We hope you’ll join us from 2pm-4pm on November 3rd!

Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day.  Join us for Election Day Taize Music and Prayer, 9am-5pm in the sanctuary.  There will be a short guided prayer at 5pm.

Friday, November 8th, Senior Prayer Breakfast, 10am, join us for food and fellowship and to receive support from a loving community.  

Saturday, November 9th, On November 9th at 9am join Pastor Seth at Global Grace Farm as we help the farm team put much of the farm to sleep for the winter months ahead (and maybe we'll plant garlic too!)

Saturday, November 9th, South River Clean Up - On Saturday Nov 9th, from 9am-1pm, a group of folks will be heading to South River Church to do some cleaning up and organizing within the church. If you’d like to join in, please contact amandabruehl@gmail.com  We will have a bus leaving from RCHP.  

Men’s Fellowship Ministry meets Saturday, November 9th and November 23rd from 12pm - 1pm

All who identify as male are invited to this new group which will meet every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month for a prayer breakfast and more! For more info, contact Justan at jmitchell5770@gmail.com

D.E.P.T.H. - Thursday, November 14th at 7pm

The next DEPTH (Discussing and Exploring Personal Theologies Honestly) meeting will be held virtually at 7pm on Thursday, November 14th and we'll discuss how the concept of omnipotence fits into our personal spiritual beliefs. If you'd like to join the conversation and aren't on the email list, email Austin at retroboi319@gmail.com  for the Zoom link and some thought-starters. 

Upcoming Blessing Bag Ministry Gathering!

On Saturday, November 16 at 10:00am, we will continue our ministry to support the work of Dr. Norma Bowe and her team, who serve the unsheltered and under-served people in and around our community. Last month was wonderfully resourced, and was fun and meaningful for all ages.

We would like to create about 120 bags this month, so we need your help! Please consider joining us to assemble bags, or support us by purchasing and donating any of the needed items on our Sign-Up Genius list!

If you have any questions, and/or to provide any additional items for future months, please talk to Pastor Amos.

Tuesday, November 19th—The last New Members/Inquirers Class of the year will be held on Tuesday evening from 7pm-9pm.  This is a 1-session class to learn about where RCHP fits within the life of the Christian family tree and to share about what brought you into this community.  This is a great opportunity to meet other newcomers to the church.  Please reach out to Pastor Seth if you’d like to learn more.  732-882-3193.

Holiday Bazaar Saturday, November 23 10:00am-3:00pm

A Message from the Bazaar Planning Committee

Spend the day & bring your friends, family and anyone you think would enjoy! Lots of handmade gifts from the Ladies Sewing Circle, holiday decor & gifts, Yarning Around- scarves, hats and more. Pottery, Handmade Jewelry, Bake table and delicious Indonesian lunch! and more!!!

BAKE TABLE ! Thank you for thinking about making or donating something for the bake table. 

PLEASE NOTE All bake table donations should be Individually Wrapped & Ready for Sale, Unless it can be sold as a whole pie, cake or dessert bread loaf. 

Please bring all bake table donations, including cans of soda or iced tea to the Bake Table located in the Social Hall after 8am on Saturday November 23. 2024 We are so very grateful for your help.

VOLUNTEER ! ​Volunteers are most welcome for pre-bazaar setup at 8am, help throughout the day and post bazaar cleanup at 3pm. If you would like to volunteer to help please text Maria or simply stop by the day of the bazaar 908-208-2623.

INDONESIAN FOOD ! will be available for pick up during the Bazaar. Immediate donations of cash to help with the purchase of ingredients can be made directly to Harry P. 732-527-5489 , Yana P. or give to Lisa in the church office 732-249-7349.

Looking forward to seeing you at the bazaar on Saturday November 23, 2024. Thank you! ​​Thank you !​​Thank you !

November 24th—RCHP Matching Gift Sunday

November 24th—Interfaith-Thanksgiving 7pm

(See descriptions for these two events above in Pastor Seth’s letter)

Signs and Wonders

Be on the lookout for new signs in and around our church home! The blue sign will be in the front on South Second Avenue. The Welcome sign will be in the rear by the door at the top of the steps and ramp. Under the guidance of and with hard work from our CARE and Property Committees, we are also installing signs identifying and pointing to the rooms people regularly look for.

Do you have any ideas about how to become even more accessible? Our CARE Committee, which oversees the Welcoming and Accessible Initiative, continues to address any issue you wish to raise. Send an email to LL DuBreuil at RevLL@aol.com with your ideas.

PLEASE SEE OUR "SUPPORTING EACH OTHER DURING DIFFICULT TIMES" SECTION FOR ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS INFO

SAVE THE DATE!

Gingerbread House Making! - Saturday, December 7th

Save the date: make your own gingerbread house, Saturday Dec 7th at approximately 12 noon.

Immediately following the Fall hike and Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Lunch provided.

Optional: do you have too much leftover Halloween candy? We have the solution! Bring your candy to Lisa in the church office for the gingerbread house event. 

For more information, call or text Wendy Nussman: 732-715-9025

Global Grace Marketplace 

The Holidays are coming! 

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The Table, (We hope to do every Sunday after 2nd Service)

In mid September we relaunched “The Table” as an afternoon meal (after 2nd service) that is for the homeless, poor, and all who are lonely and need a meal and for those who just attended church. It’s for everybody! If you’d like to assist us with the Table you can:



-donate money (bring it to Lisa or put it in the food pantry wagon on Sundays)

-donate non perishable goods (rice, beans, pasta, sauces, canned veggies etc…)

-offer to help with set up and food prep while 2nd service is going on.

-offer to stay and help with dishes.

-prepare something at home that you can bring in to share.

These are just a few ways to be a part of this ministry!

Manna Cafe—Every Thursday Night in South River: Please join our South River members for this important community meal ministry! Contact amanda.calderon@alum.ptsem.edu for more info

Adult Education Classes in November

Each Sunday in November, the adult education class will be considering several issues of interest, all dealing with the theme of "Scarcity and Abundance." Here is a sneak-peak of our class schedule for the month, subject to change if necessary:

Nov. 3 - "Countering the Scarcity Narrative for Immigrants & Refugees"

Nov. 10 - "Dealing with Our Election Anxiety"

Nov. 17 - "Consumerism, Excess, and Scarcity Scars"

Nov. 24 - "Testimonies of Provision and Abundance"

A reminder that the education hour is held between the services, beginning promptly at 10:20am. Adult education is held in the parlor, with an alternate adult bible study held in the Social Hall.

Wednesday Nights are Music Nights (Continuing through the Fall) 

Kids Choirs 5pm-5:30pm…followed by Pizza! If you are 3yrs-6th grade join us for one of the two choirs offered to kids at RCHP. Pastor Amos leads “Voices of Praise” for the older kids, and Pastor Seth leads “First Voices.” These opportunities are so much fun! 

Gospel and Chancel choirs meet on Wednesday evenings

:

Gospel choir meets at 6pm

Chancel choir meets at 7pm

Come out and give one or both choirs a try!

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Amos at amoscaley@gmail.com.

High School Youth Group meets on Sunday nights 7-8:15pm

Middle School Youth Group meets on Wednesday nights 7-8:15pm

Kids in the Cave meets 1st and 3rd Sundays after 2nd service

Fun Zone - Gathering Opportunity for Youth - Every Wednesday Evening!

Every Wednesday in the Cave from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. all kids ages 9 through 12 are welcome to join us for an hour of Billiards, Board Games and more! Questions? Please reach out to Justan Mitchell at 732-621-6064 or jmitchell5770@gmail.com 

Opportunities for Daily/Weekly Spiritual Growth, through discussion, study and prayer

Morning Prayer, 9am-9:30am, Zoom: Each morning, Mon-Sat, since the pandemic started in March of 2020, RCHP has held a daily morning prayer. Different church members and pastors share for 10 minutes or so and then there is a time of prayer and sharing. All are welcome. Cut and paste this link into your browser to access the Zoom call:  

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/442816580?pwd=cTBQT2xwWWpOL3UrM0t2emRlUzU0Zz09#success

Wednesday Morning Bible Study in Full Swing, 7:45am (RCHP)

Weekly bible study is amazing right now. Join 12-14 of us on Wednesdays to discuss The Book of Revelation and to apply it to our lives! This study is led communally, but facilitated by Pastor Seth

South River Morning Bible Study, Friday November 8 and November 22nd, 7:45am

Pastor Seth has always loved morning bible studies. Join him and Pastor Amanda at 40 Thomas Street, the second and fourth Friday of November, to explore scripture together. Please encourage folks who live in or near South River to attend! And, if you want to drive over with Pastor Seth, he’ll be leaving HP at 7:15am.

Contemplative Spaces

We are continuing our practice of creating space for contemplation and meditation, journeying in reflection groups through the traditions of Christian mysticism. We now offer two separate times for gathering:

• Every other Thursday evening, from 6:00 to 7:00pm, we meet in the community room above the social hall (Room 201). This group is exploring a book and podcast with Richard Rohr.
• Every other Friday at noon, we meet in the RCHP sanctuary to reflect on a collection of letters and memoirs of Etty Hillesum.

Contact Carrie Dirks for more information, or visit this webpage.

Crafts and Conversation

Once a month (usually on a Wednesday) a small group of adults get together to do a craft. The crafts are simple and fun, the materials are provided, and you'll leave with a cute gift for yourself or someone you love! It’s a great way to meet new people. No artistic ability is required, and there’s no charge for supplies.

If you'd like to be included in the monthly invitation, please text Wendy Nussman at 732-715-9025, and you'll receive a text message each month with date, time, and other details. 

Game Day

Do you like getting together with friends to play board games? About one Saturday morning per month, a small group gathers at church for non-competitive fun with board games. Lately, it's been Rummikub, but suggestions are always welcome, and there are many games available to choose from.

If you'd like to be included in the monthly invitation, please text Wendy Nussman at 732-715-9025, and you'll receive a text message each month with date, time, and other details. 

Movie Mondays - Join us!

On most Mondays at 10:30 am, a small group gets together in the church parlor to watch a "feel-good" movie that the group has decided on. All are welcome! Examples of movies that have recently been seen are The Perfect Game, Mamma Mia (Both 1 & 2!!), Hidden Figures, Big, and Fly Away Home. Your suggestions are also welcome!  

If you have any interest, please contact Cecilia with your cell phone number. You will be included in the text invitation, which is on a week-by-week basis. Bring your own snack and drink, and join whenever you'd like to hang out for a casual Monday morning with your church friends! Cecilia: (732) 809-2638, czr852@yahoo.com 

"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. For more info, contact Cecilia Rowedder czr852@yahoo.com Please email to receive the Zoom link.

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.

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth through Sewing & Knitting/Crocheting

On Thursdays, from 10am-1pm, the Women’s Sewing Circle meets to create beautiful items that are incorporated into the annual bazaar.  This group, meeting year round, also is a wonderful form of support and encouragement for all who are involved.

On Tuesdays, from 7pm-9pm, the Prayer Shawl Ministry creates beautiful shawls that are then distributed to church members and to others who are prayed for in our worship services.  All are invited to learn this craft and to contribute in this way.

Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership

November 15 – Tour New Brunswick Water Utility 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

With thanks to City of New Brunswick Water Authority Superintendent Eric Ekoue, we welcome you to join the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership for a tour of the New Brunswick Water Utility treatment plant on Friday November 15, starting at 10am.

During this tour we will learn about the various sources of drinking water for the City of New Brunswick, the treatment process that cleans the water taken from its source to make it safe to drink, and how water is distributed to the tap.

The tour will be followed by conversation with Mr. Ekoue regarding watershed planning for the Lawrence Brook, an ecologically important part of New Jersey’s Lower Raritan Watershed Management Area #9.

Space is limited. Pre-registration required. We will send detailed instructions for parking and arrival a week before the event.  To register, click on this link 

HP Food Pantry

Food Pantry needs for November:

During these challenging times the Highland Park Community Food Pantry is currently not taking individual donations. Instead we now have an Amazon Wishlist where folks wishing to donate have several options to choose from as well as an option to donate Gift Cards. We appreciate greatly any donation as we are facing an increase of folks in need. Thank you all so much. You can access the Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/11AKRFJFUGZPF?ref_=wl_share

Most needed items:

Soup

Pasta

Pancake Mix

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: foxyrox18@gmail.com

Fall Grief Support Group continues through November

This Fall, as we approach the holiday season, we are reminded that this is a time we spend with loved ones. This season of celebration has been engraved into our hearts and into our families from a young age. Holidays are one way we mark the passage of time. They are one of the many milestones we share with each other, and they often represent time spent with family and friends. For many of us, this is the hardest part of grieving our losses. Together in our support group we create a circle of healing to hold each other up during our most difficult times.

Our group is a safe and welcoming space that allows us to explore our thoughts and feelings related to grief and loss. It is a place to receive and provide support and understanding, while finding new ways to approach the challenges presented by grief. Come and meet others who seek meaning, offer perspective, and lessen the sense of isolation so many of us have felt as we walk through this process. Our group will provide you with emotional and spiritual support in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

Please join us at 6:30pm in the Parlor at RCHP. We continue to meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. If you would like to be part of our group, please contact Pastor Stephanie at RCHP, Kathleen Malkiewicz at kathmaldtr@gmail.com or Nicci Spinazzola at niccispinazzola@gmail.com  

Online Chronic Pain & Illness Support Group - New Members Welcome

Has your life has been changed by physical pain or chronic illness? Are you willing to share your experience, strength and hope with others on this lonely journey? Drop in to a Weekly Support Group on ZOOM that meets throughout the summer on Tuesdays from 5pm-6pm. Contact Facilitators: Carla Epstein-Teliha, epsteinteliha@verizon.net or Pat Kaufman, patbkauf@gmail.com  for additional information and for a Zoom Link

Bereavement Calendar

RCHP remembers all those who died in November and all those who still mourn

The following names have been offered for remembrance in November 2024:

Ruth Epstein, Beloved Mother of Carla Epstein-Teliha

Charles Jackson, Beloved Father of Gail Green

Mary and Stefhan Horyn, Beloved Parents of Terrance Horyn

Walter Koscienski, Beloved ‘Uncle Wally’ of Carrie and Paul Hudak

Deirdre Martin, Beloved Daughter of Michael Martin,

 and Beloved Stepdaughter of Tammy Lane

Carl Hoshin Peterson, Beloved First Husband of Lucille Alderman

Pat Rockman, Beloved Friend of Pat Kaufman

Harold and Ruth Thornton, Beloved Parents,

 Patricia Snyder and Mary Alice Heinemann, Beloved Sisters, 

and John Thornton, Beloved Brother of Janet Peterson

Bossila, Beloved Mother,

 and Todor Timev, Beloved Brother-in-law of Vessa Timeva

Ralph Voorhees, Beloved Elder of RCHP

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. 

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS AND MILESTONES

Blessing Bag Bonanza! - Our first Blessing Bag gathering was a great success, assembling over 100 bags in less than an hour!  See the blurb above in our Events & Happenings section for details on how you can contribute items and/or participate in our next monthly gathering.

Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - a visit from our friends at Lazos Americanos Unida rounded out our month of exploring the theme of Saints of Ancestors; Jill displays her alter creation

Halloween Fun!  Every year, our church and community kids (and adults, too) have a blast at our annual party.  Thanks to everyone who made this night special!

Keiko leads the Youth Group in pumpkin carving and Fright Fest activities!