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Hearts Open to Christ - Doors Open to His World
Glad Tidings First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield • September • 2021
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We’ve Been Ringing the Memorial Bells for 19 Years
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Our ringing was initiated by Joseph Routon who also contributed the three best photos.
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WORSHIP In Person
Fellowship Hall 10 AM Sundays Masks required
Live Streaming Go to website and click on Watch Live
1st Presbyterian Church 20 Kings Highway East Haddonfield, NJ 08033
www.haddonfieldpres.org 856-429-1960
GLAD TIDINGS (formerly Haddonfield Presbyterian Messenger) (USPS-555-260) vol. 9 number 7.
Published monthly by First Presbyterian Church, 20 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Periodicals postage at Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
POSTMASTER Please send address changes to First Presbyterian Church, 20 Kings Highway E., Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
Glad Tidings
Betsy Westermaier, Editor
— Church Staff —
Rev. Dr. Douglas Gerdts Transitional Senior Pastor
Rev. Nikki Perrine Passante Associate Pastor
Peter Leibensperger Music Director
Nancy Ruth Wainwright Children’s Choirs
Lucas Brown Principal Organist
Gabrielle Heimerling Director of Youth and Family
Ministries
Marisa McGovern Preschool Directors
Anne Vial Office Administrator
Kris Bean Financial Secretary
Ed Hess Community Caseworker
Rebecca Mannion Receptionist
Travis Bogetti Building Manager
Mark Hall Security
Parish NewsIn this and future issues of Glad Tidings we would like to celebrate the joys of births, baptisms, and birthdays; marriages and wedding anniversaries, graduations, awards, and other significant accomplishments of our church family. Please send your good news to Betsy Westermaier at the email address on the masthead at right.
September Wedding Anniversaries: Robert and Patricia Myles - 70th Brian and Lorelei McGlade - 24th
Baptisms: 9-12-2021
Talia Brielle Keating, daughter of Krysta Shereen Johns-Keating &
Christopher John Keating
Pastor Nikki’s Installation
You are cordially invited to the Installation of the Rev. Nikki Perrine Passante at First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, NJ, on October 17th, 2021, at 3:00 in the afternoon. Speakers will be the Rev. Dr. Douglas D. Gerdts, the Rev. Dr. Debby Brincivalli, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery for Southern New Jersey, and the Rev. Dr. William D. Hess II who will be delivering the sermon for the afternoon.
Rev. 'Bill' Hess served as the Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in West Chester, PA for 27 years, and has served as a transitional pastor throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Bill currently serves as the summer pastor for Christ Union Chapel in Branchville, NJ. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to an open house and celebration at the church manse, directly adjacent to the sanctuary.
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After receiving the Covid Response Team’s guidelines, Nancy Ruth and I have come up with a vision for reopening our music program safely, with the understanding that these measures will be re-evaluated later in the fall. We VERY MUCH look forward to the day when we’ll be able to welcome back all of our choir members to “normal” choir (i.e., no PPE, no social distancing), but, at least for September, this is what our music program will look like. We encourage you to register for the season, even if you do not plan to participate in the beginning.
ENSEMBLE DAY TIME PLACE
Cherub Choir (4 – 5 yrs.) Wednesday 3:45 – 4:15pm Outdoors to start…Carol Choir (1st – 2nd gr.) Wednesday 4:30 – 5:00pm Outdoors to start…Chapel Choir (3rd – 6th gr.) Wednesday 3:45 – 4:15pm Zoom (Online)Alleluia Bells (4th – 6th gr.) Wednesday 4:45 – 5:15pm Sanctuary (PPE Req.)Whitechapel Bells (mixed) Wednesday 5:30 – 6:00pm Sanctuary (PPE ReqTSMC (7th – 12th gr.) Wednesday 6:30 – 7:15pm Choir Room (Vacc. Req.)
Kirk Ringers (9th – 12th gr.) Wednesday 7:30 – 8:15pm Sanctuary (PPE Req.)Moore Bells (Adults) Thursday 6:30 – 7:15pm Sanctuary (PPE Req.)Chancel Choir (Adults) Thursday 7:30 – 9:00pm Choir Room
(Vacc. Req.)
SPAGHETTI WEDNESDAYS!If your child is involved in rehearsals and other activities on Wednesdays, finding time for dinner can be difficult. Thank goodness for Spaghetti Wednesdays! Spaghetti will be provided from 6pm- 6:30pm in the Hospitality Room beginning Wednesday (6/22) for all choir members and anyone else who happens to be around. Family and friends are invited. Thank you to Gab Heimerling and her volunteers for making this possible!
Jane Nestory (right) created this colorful bulletin board in the Choir Room to welcome the returning choirs. She has graced the choir room with her masterful and original artwork for many years.
Peter Leibensperger Music Director
Music Ministry
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Christian Education
Summer Happenings with our Children and Youth
Summertime means Vacation Bible School (VBS) at First Pres. In the winter months the outlook didn't look good to be able to hold our beloved camp. But luckily by Spring we were able to rethink VBS to be more COVID friendly and bring our program back after missing last summer. And what a week it was! Our theme this year was Knights of the North Castle. The campers (36 total) were amazing, energetic, and fun. The shepherds (15 total!) brought their A Game every single day, and the station leaders (10 total plus 1 helper) were exceptional. On Friday at pick up we got so many goodbye hugs, lots of see you next years, and even some of our older campers asking to become shepherds. It was a perfect ending to a great week of camp. I am so grateful for everyone that help make VBS possible. Huzzah!
This summer also brought back the return of Children's Church and the Nursery. We were happy to host our youngest friends in the Nursery with our fantastic nursery workers, and also continue the bible stories and lessons in Children's Church. Thanks to our teaching volunteers!
Looking towards the Fall We are happy to bring back our Confirmation Class for rising 10th graders. The 2021-2022 confirmation class is forming now and notifications have already gone out regarding this year's confirmation class and if you have not received an email yet and want to participate, please reach out to [email protected] for more info. We are excited to bring back this rewarding year of learning and growth to our church youth after last year's COVID postponement.
Sunday School We are looking for Sunday School to start in person in October. Please use the following link to fill out the online registration to make sure your child has a spot in class and so your child can receive virtual Sunday School lessons while we are still remote. Can't wait to be back in the classroom soon! Any questions, please contact Gabrielle Heimerling at [email protected]. SS 21-22 Registration Form
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Preschool
Our Preschool staff members are eager to begin welcoming back students on September 13th! We have approximately 240 children enrolled this year and 42 staff members! We will begin accepting registrations for the next school year, 2022-2023 in September.
The transmission of COVID-19 continues to be an obstacle we are challenged with. Despite the challenges, we are enthusiastic about the school year and confident in the precautions we have taken to keep our staff and students safe.
All individuals inside the building will be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. The circumstances where masks will not be required include: those under 2 years of age, when eating, while outside playing, or when staff members are alone in a classroom or office. When eating, students will be spaced apart to ensure safety. We will continue with comprehensive cleaning, hand washing, and hygiene protocols that were implemented during the previous school year.
Staying home when sick is essential to keep COVID-19 infections out of our programs and prevent the spread to others. It is also essential for individuals to quarantine after exposure. Anyone with newly developed symptoms of infectious illness should be kept home.
As the school year gets underway, we will be agile and hopeful. We continue to rely on essential human qualities: kindness, patience, love, and acceptance. We demonstrate grace with one another and provide an atmosphere where optimism and hope shine through.
— Marisa McGovern
Youth Group
Please keep an eye out for upcoming youth groups get togethers starting late September. We will continue to meet outside weather permitting and are hoping to soon be able to meet inside in our new Youth Group room! If you are interested in joining our youth group, which serves our middle and high schoolers, please reach out to Gabrielle Heimerling at [email protected].
Nursery Helpers Wanted!
Looking to earn some extra cash? We need help taking care of our youngest friends during church services. Ideal candidates will be high school aged or older with ample babysitting experience and/or certification. Must love babies and toddlers! This is a paid position! Please reach out to Gabrielle Heimerling for more details at [email protected].
Confirmation Class
Attention 9th Graders! We have spaces available in our 2021-2022 Confirmation Class! If you are interested in joining the class instead of deferring a year, please email Lee Federline at [email protected] for more information and the class schedule. Classes start Sunday 9/19. Please make sure to mask up!
Sunday School Volunteers Needed
Please consider volunteering to be a Sunday School Teacher. Volunteers are needed to teach our young friends in grades PreK through 8th. All you need is a willingness to teach. We will provide the curriculum, teaching manuals, supplies and support.It is a fun, rewarding experience. Please reach out to Gabrielle Heimerling at [email protected].
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This week marks the 79th straight week that the Open-Door Clinic at St Wilfrid’s has distributed food during the pandemic;7,412 total. Over 185,300 pounds of food and dry goods, distributed by the all-volunteer, everything donated, nobody gets paid, Open Door Clinic at St. Wilfrid’s. Thank you all for your generous collections and contributions. There is Foodbank pick-up on Friday October 8th If you can help or would like to know more, please get in touch with Rose Guthrie: [email protected].
Now for even bigger news: It appears that plans have begun to implement the distribution of fresh vegetables in addition to our food bags. We may need last minute help. But the result of being able to distribute fresh vegetables, along with our dry goods is something very wonderful. To offer assistance and transporting to St Wilfrid’s on Saturday mornings between 8:00-9:00 am, please contact Paul Urian at [email protected]. Thank you to Paul and all the supporters for making this important project come to life.
Each year in the beginning of December, we donate gifts for parents to give to their children for Christmas. Here is a Christmas Registry on Amazon if you would like to help by donatingThe link is: https://smile.amazon.com/registries/custom/C0BPZCQM7V9W/guest-view?ref=cm_sw_em_r_gr_un_4L1bCni31qPWZ The delivery address is to: Rose Guthrie in Blackwood. As we proceed, we’ll report back. Thank you for all your prayers and consideration. Any volunteers can email Rose directly: [email protected]
Current Needs: Tuna…..pasta & sauce…..diapers size 6 and wipes. These may be left weekdays in the bin on the steps on the PATCO side of Grace Episcopal Church or on Sundays on the tables outside Fellowship Hall or between 11and 12 after church on the cart by the bench by the door to the office at FPC on the Masonic Temple side. (Think of it as a treasure hunt/deposit.)
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY Sandwiches. For the next 4 weeks, we are in need of at least 200 more sandwiches each Thursday! Families, service groups at school, sport teams,Scout troops….. think about it please! Thankfully, six
girls from HMHS tennis team helped out with 3 loaves of bread each and we had the 180 sandwiches we were short!!!!! If you are interested in making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, please select a donation week by signing up on this signup form: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0845aba72caa8-pbjs1
Special Hello: A special hello to the Grace Thrift Shop which reopened last Friday, and is usually open Friday and Saturdays. The Grace Thrift Shop was one of the earliest financial supporters of the Open Door Clinic, along with First Presbyterian Church and Grace Church itself. And Christ the King continually supports us with winter coats each year. Thank you all.
News from St. Wilfrid’s Open Door Clinic
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Presbyterian Women
What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus
Part of the Purpose Statement of Presbyterian Women is “to nurture our faith through prayer and bible study”. In that spirit PW is excited to announce the 2021-2022 Bible Study which may appeal to women not currently involved in a study circle of PW. We invite you to join us as we consider What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus by Merryl Blair with Suggestions for Leaders by Magdalena I. García.
We like to know where we came from. Stories told of our heritage connect us with family we may never have met and help to shape who we are. This study gives us that same feeling. We are invited into the family stories that shaped Jesus and, thus, shapes us too.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—Matthew names these women for a reason. We ask ourselves how might Jesus have heard the stories of his grandmothers? What might the young Jesus have felt as he heard about his family? What might the stories of these women have added to his sense of identity, as part of a particular family in a particular time and place?
What can these Grandmothers-of-the-Faith teach us? Their stories will lead us into the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ. By exploring these stories together, we will have a richer idea of what the good news is.
The author, Merryl Blair, teaches at Stirling Theological School in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is active in the worldwide ministry of women of faith. She is passionate about the power of story to engage and open the imagination.
The beautiful artwork for each woman in this study is created by Cody F. Miller. He has been inspired by the rich tapestry of women God has brought into his life in an overwhelming blitzkrieg of grace.
To join a circle for this study contact Carol Carty, ([email protected]).
God has called us to be together to SEE God’s people, and to SEE and explore what it means to truly SEE each other. Become part of the delegation representing the Presbytery for Southern New Jersey.
Open to Presbyterian youth who are entering freshmen through graduated seniors in high school.
Adult advisors who are aged 22 and over who serve as delegation chaperones.
Transportation will be by luxury bus. Delegates will be housed in hotels adjacent to the Convention Center.
Cost: Youth - $515 Adults- $535 Scholarships available
Registration opens February 1, 2022.
Watch for future information.
Call Sheila Palmer, registrar…..561-351-7148
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