Pompton Reformed Church 59 Hamburg Tpke.

Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 (973) 835-0541

www.pomptonreformed.org January, 2015

Thanksgiving Extended

Dear PRC Family,

It was truly a wonderful Advent/Christmas season at Pompton Reformed. One final look over the shoulder for items worth another mention:

> "As We Wait" Vespers program from our Chancel Choir was a powerful entry into Advent, with the melodies and message remaining long after the final note.

>The energy our youth brought to the "Bethlehem Bound" pageant on the Sunday before Christmas. Students and leaders alike poured plenty of time into making this a memorable morning.

> Our first sit-down Christmas meal served by volunteers to the guests who use our food pantry. Over a dozen households sat together for a fine feast, with gift distribution, and special appearance from Santa for the younger guests, who were genuinely thrilled.

> Delivering gifts to children of those who are spending this Christmas in prison. The Angel Tree ministry connects churches with families of the incarcerated, and we were privileged to deliver gifts to four households in Passaic County.

> Christmas Eve services were memorable, with choirs and bells, lovely anthems and hymns and readings, and candles ablaze with the glory of a Savior's birth.

> Four Advent "Messengers of Joy" brought God's Word in a memorable and meaningful way. Are there a new series of messengers willing to bring a message during the Lenten season? Watch for opportunities ahead.

>Fellowship Committee hosted a delicious catered luncheon for our seniors in the days before Christmas. Two-dozen+ attendees exchanged gifts and feasted well!

> Finally, deep gratitude to all who enable so much to happen: a gifted staff, and consistory and teachers and volunteers, singers and pray-ers and ringers and kitchen-cleaners, and pantry hosts, newsletter editors, and worshipers, greeters and ushers, and all who invest themselves in helping PRC toward being a community where all experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ. It's exciting to see what the Lord has in store for 2015! Keep Jesus front and center!

Pastor Tom Bartha

Wilson Family Update, December 2014

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

  Great joy, really? We don’t have to look far to see the things that can make us mourn- brokenness in us and around us. Here are just a few from this past week- a friend who is a victim of an acid attack, another friend diagnosed with malignant cancer, the loss of a family member on the other side of the globe, illness in our own family, conflicts within the national church, abuse of authority by public officials, and the list could go on. We long for a place and time when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

Good  news  of great joy? Yes, really! There is good news of great joy for all people because there is a God, a wonderful, powerful, gracious and saving God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has overcome the world and God is reconciling all things to Himself. He is Immanuel, God with us, making the way for life abundant both for all of eternity and also here and now. And so, while we mourn the brokenness in us and around us, we have peace and hope that is sure. We can dedicate our lives and our families to follow Jesus into this lost and broken world, wherever He calls us. We are empowered by His Spirit to be His hands, feet and voice, to proclaim and demonstrate this good news of great joy to all people. Here are some of the ways we have seen God at work around us…

A  Friend  In  Need  -­‐ Accompanied by Deb, a fellow missionary friend, Joyce Suh went to Bangkok for a breast biopsy early last week. We are thankful for the opportunity to support this family who has walked closely with us over the past 18 months of Mark’s illness. The results came back on Friday that she has early stage cancer and an immediate mastectomy is called for. The good news is that with prompt surgery (scheduled for tomorrow, 16 December, in Bangkok), the doctor said chemo therapy may not be necessary and complete cure would be possible. The family reports that there is “much to share how God has shown His grace and providential care for us in this situation so far. For one, Joyce's mom arrived for a planned visit from Canada even before the diagnosis.” For now, the family asks that we to continue praying for Joyce's healing and God’s continuous peace and strength for the family.

Phnom  Penh  Bible  School  -­‐ We give thanks for the 31 new students who starting at the Phnom Penh Bible School in October. This is one of the biggest classes ever! Please join us in praying for them as they adjust to student life. Pray too for wisdom as Mark continues to teach and mentors a small group of students this year. May God strengthen and protect them as they follow His calling.

Zach  -­‐  Please continue to pray for his focus and perseverance in school (he as studying for final exams as I type), and also for his plans for this coming summer and beyond when he returns to the US “fulltime” next year.

Mark’s   Health   Journey-­‐  Three months after Mark’s first surgery we did not see the hoped for improvements. He continued to be in pain. Because his doctor in Singapore did not have the expertise to continue treating Mark, he referred him to a specialist to “manage” the pain. Thankfully, Mark was able to continue in ministry, but at a more limited pace. However, because of the side effects of the pain medicine and the continued discomfort, we sought out another specialist who has experience with Mark’s condition. After three days of testing, the doctor proceeded with surgery on September 19th. The goal of the procedure is to more permanently diminish or eliminate Mark’s pain by surgically “stripping” away portions of a nerve bundle. While there were so many obstacles, there were more than an equal number of blessings and doors that were thrown open. We are thankful to report that Mark’s pain has been reduced by 70%, and we are hopeful that it will continue to decrease as he heals from the surgery. We are so very thankful that through all of this we have seen God’s grace

and provision over and over, many times through many of you, and Mark is being restored!

In  addition  to  the  points  of  praise  above,  please  pray  with  us  for  …   Grief and celebration- give thanks for the life and peaceful passing of Deb’s Uncle Herman. Herman served the Lord for many years in many ways and will be sorely missed. His daughter-in-law wrote: “We will ever be thankful for Dad's life and living, for his integrity, faithfulness, and kindness. He was an inspiration to us all to walk closely with God, continually looking to Him for guidance and direction for a settled peace and joy.” Please lift up Deb and family in your prayers as they celebrate the life and morn the loss of our beloved Uncle Herman.

Thank you for your continued support of our family and the various ministries to which God has called us here in Cambodia, it is invaluable to us. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

-Mark, Deb & Zachary It’s  a  Marshmallow  World     By  Elaine  Peacock     The  New  Year  is  upon  us  and  as  the  words  from  a  song  says  “it’s  a  marshmallow  world  in  the  winter  when  the  snow  comes  tumbling  down”  and  if  this  winter  is  anything  like  last  winter  we  will  be  shoveling  lots  of  the  white  stuff.    No  sooner  have  the  wild  bells  rang  out  across  the  land  welcoming  the  New  Year,  the  Christmas  decorations  are  put  away  and  we  think  ugh  a  couple  of  months  with  nothing  to  look  forward  to  but  snowy  weather.  I  know  it  looks  really  dull  after  all  the  Christmas  decorations  have  been  taken  down,  the  presents  exchanged  and  holiday  gatherings  are  over  but  January  has  its’  own  special  beauty.      It  is  a  quiet  time  to  reflect  and  slow  down  after  the  hustle  and  bustle  of  the  past  couple  of  months.  When  the  world  is  covered  in  white  the  peaceful  silence  surrounds  you.  It  gives  you  time  to  savor  what  got  put  on  hold,  that  letter  you  meant  to  write,  a  phone  call  you  neglected  to  make  or  the  prayers  you  meant  to  say  for  someone  you  love  or  just  for  GOD’s  world  in  general.    GOD  knows  we  need  this  time  to  slow  down,  so  take  your  favorite  hot  drink  in  hand  and  gaze  out  the  window  at  the  beauty  and  peace  of  GOD’s  marshmallow  world.      

Dearest Church Family, On behalf of our family, we praise God for each of you this past year during mom and "Ma's" diagnosis, treatment and final days. We felt completely surrounded by God's unconditional love with each hug, kiss, hand-holding, card, email, meal and prayer offered throughout the year and in Joan's final earthly days. Although this is a painful and sad part of life's journey, our faith sustains us. We are comforted knowing that Joan Anna Braunlin is resting peacefully and eternally in the Lord's House. May God continue to bless each of you, just as you have been a blessing to our family. With Our Love, Joanie, Mark, Christin and Michael Warner

Dear Church Family, Just a note of thanks for all the cards, prayers, phone calls, food and visits during my recovery from surgery. It's very comforting to know that others care. God bless you all. Corinne Tyndall (knee replacement surgery in recent weeks) Getting to know……..Stan Connor Mr. Stan Connor graduated from Lafayette College with an engineering degree. He settled in Caldwell and attended a Presbyterian Church. Upon moving to Pompton Lakes, he and wife, Elinor, began attending Pompton Reformed…the church on the corner. Stan worked in product development and a patent in his name helped increase a company of 100 or so people in Fairfield, NJ, to 22,000 employees world wide and a ten acre plant in North Carolina. Later he became active in territory sales driving about 2.5 million miles over 30 or so years in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and even New Jersey selling heating and air conditioning for commercial application. In retirement, Stan repaired model trains for 3 hobby shops eventually turning this into an Ebay business restoring brass locomotives. He is active on ebay daily. Mr. Connor has been an active choir member for many years.

Birthdays (editors note: due to a miscommunication, birthdays and memorials have been missing for the last few months…. We are catching up now!) August Christin  Warner          

Michael  Warner   Caroline  Winter    

In  memory  of  Joan  Braunlin  on  her  birthday  from  Joanie  Warner   In  memory  of  Nancy  Carnes  on  her  birthday  from  Eleanor  Haling   In  memory  of  Kathryn  Peacock  on  her  birthday  from  Elaine  Peacock      

November  Mark  Warner    December  Betty  Sisco

October  Jo-­‐Ann  Sisco   Emily  Davis   Bruce  Davis   Wanda  Scully   Roben  Roon   Allison  Ellen  Lockwood   Megan  Renee  Lockwood      

   

Memorials From In Memory of Designation Gerard  &  Barbara  Materiale   Ann  Buckley       Undesignated   Cas  &  Jean  Stark     Betty  Williams       Endowment   Lorna  &  Kevin  Carroll     Betty  Williams       Undesignated   Kay  Bergin       Dot  Ploch       Music  Fund   David  &  Janet  Hackbarth   Dot  Ploch       Building  Fund   Shirley  Montanari     Dot  Ploch       Worship   Kevin  &  Lorna  Carroll     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   John  &  Nancy  Nelson     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Carolyn  Stevens       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Corinne  Tyndall       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Helen  Wisbauer       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Nancy  Shimmel       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Thomas  &  Suzanne  Ploch   Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   August  &  Doris  Ploch     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Robert  &  Kathryn  Schlegel   Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Patricia  Warner       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Deborah  &  Donald  Ferralasco   Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Michael  &  Iona  Friedman   Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Philip  &  Rosemary  Bush     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   The  Estrada  Family     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Joan  Berk       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Ruth  Kracht       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Evelyn  Rooney       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Patricia  Pannicke     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Arlene  Corey       Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Wongduen  Mead     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Dani  &  Ed  Happe     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship    Helen  &  Chuck  Gioia     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Jean  Van  Broekhoven     Dot  Ploch       Scholarship   Andrew  &  Anja  Norman     “Aunt  Dot”       Scholarship   John  &  Nancy  Nelson     Bill  Widdowson       Undesignated   Ready  Cap  Lending,LLC     Bill  Widdowson       Undesignated   Theresa  Pereira       Bill  Widdowson       Undesignated   Ora  Ferralasco       Connie  Harriet       Undesignated   Ellen  Lockwood       Connie  Harriet       Undesignated   Kevin  &  Lorna  Carroll     Connie  Harriet       Undesignated   Clive  Van  Orden  &  Family   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Edward  &  Elizabeth  Mason   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Bruce  &  Susan  Davis     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Olga  Delaney       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Janet  Scales       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Robert  &  Bonnie  Henry     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship  

Memorials,  continued……….      Wendy  Warner       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Alfredo  &  Linda  Arroyo     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Karen  &  G.P.  Bailey     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Eileen  &  Anthony  Polcari   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Samuel  &  Carol  Lee  Brandes   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Sandra  &  John  Taranto     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Eleanor  Ritchie       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Nancy  Shimmel       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Barbara  &  George  Buckman   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Kevin  &  Lorna  Carroll     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Corinne  Tyndall       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   John  &  Nancy  Nelson     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   David  &  Janet  Hackbarth   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship    NJ  Speech,  Language,  &   Hearing,  Association     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Patricia  Manfredo     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Sara  Moir       Joan  Branulin       Scholarship   Drew  Altorfer       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Robert  &  Bonnie  Henry     Joan  Branulin       Scholarship   Chuck  &  Helen  Gioia     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Barbara  Bailey       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Eleanor  Finke       Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Shirley  Montanari     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   James  &  Erica  Weitzmann   Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Elizabeth  MacClary     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Mary  Lou  Douglass     Connie  Harriet       Endowment   David  &  Janet  Hackbarth   Bill  Widdowson       Costa  Rico  Mission  Trip    MaryLou  Douglass     Connie  Harriet       Endowment   Cas  &  Jean  Stark     Joan  Braunlin       Endowment   Jean  Van  Broekhoven     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   Angie  Norman       Dot  Ploch,Tony  Mead     Education  

And  Kenneth  Mead   Elinor  &  Stan  Connor     Joan  Braunlin       Scholarship   The  Boss  Family       Bill  Widdowson       Undesignated   The  Boss  Family       Jack  Weber       Undesignated  

Reminder to Youth--- High School Winter Camp at Lake Champion, Jan. 23-25. Speak to Mark Warner for a permission slip or more info.

Round Table of Thanks (from December consistory)

>Barbara and George Buckman, for over 12 years of picking up food donations for Butler Senior

Center and Paterson missions, and for the PRC Coffee Hour.

> All the volunteers who helped set up the outdoor nativity scene.

>Outgoing elder Elaine Peacock, and outgoing Deacons Gail Freeland and Stan Dunitz...for a job

well done

The End of the Beginning

Words & music by David Phelps

(See the video of the performance on youtube.)

I was taking a trip on a plane the other day, just wishin' that I could get out.

When the man next to me saw the book in my hand and asked me what it was about.

So I settled back in my seat. "A best-seller," I said, "a hist'ry and a myst'ry in one."

Then I opened up the book and began to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...

He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem.

Angels gathered 'round Him underneath the star singing praises to the great I AM.

He walked on the water, healed The lame, and made the blind to see again.

And for the first time here on earth we learned that God could be a friend.

And though He never, ever did a single thing wrong, the angry crowd chose Him.

And then He walked down the road and died on the cross and

that was the end...of the beginning."

"That's not a new book, that's a Bible," he said, "And I've heard it all before.

I've tried religion, it's shame and guilt, and I don't need it anymore.

It's superstation, made-up tales, just to help the weak to survive."

"Let me read it again," I said, "But listen closely. This is gonna change your life."

"He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem.

Angels gathered 'round Him underneath the star singing praises to the great I AM.

He walked on the water, healed the lame, and made the blind to see again.

And for the first time here on earth we learned that God could be a friend.

And though He never, ever did a single thing wrong, the angry crowd chose Him. And then He

walked down the road and died on the cross and that was the end...of the beginning."

"The end of the beginning?" he said with a smile. "What more

could there be? He's dead. You said they hung Him, put nails in

His hands and a crown of thorns on His head." I said, "I'll read it

again, but this time there's more.

And I believe that this is true: His death wasn't the end but the beginning of life that's completed

in you.

Don't you see, He did all this for you..."

"He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of

Bethlehem. All the angels singing praises to the great I AM.

He walked on the water, healed the lame, and made the blind to see.

And for the first time here on earth, did you know that God could be a friend?

And though He never, ever did a single thing wrong, He was the one the crowd chose.

And then He walked and He died, but three days later, three days later, three days later...

He rose! Three days later He rose!

You see, He came, He lived, and He died, but that was the end of the beginning.

PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY PAGE

  WHAT’S A PERSON TO BELIEVE?

  The news media and advertising of all kinds make claims about health and nutrition that may seem attractive to believe. Most of these claims have minimal and/or poorly conducted research behind them. So what’s a person to believe? The Tufts University Friedman School of Nutritional Science is a world renowned gold standard for research in food and health. Following are some facts gleaned from their research:

  If you’ve been told. . . . . .

• green tea is good for your heart

• apple-cider vinegar cures arthritis

• carb-rich foods are fattening

• vitamin B fights cancer

• aspartame sweetener is dangerous

• spray cooking oils turn into trans-fat

• saw palmetto wards off prostate cancer

you might be interested to learn that ALL are FALSE

  The good news is that there are many facts that can provide straight, reliable information about food and health (instead of the news stories that are likely to be contradicted in short order) and here are just a few of them:

• Here’s one supplement you should take: A daily dose of up to 1,000 units of vitamin D to guard against colon, ovarian, breast and possibly prostate cancer.

• Eating plenty of carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach can protect your eyes from age-related macular degeneration.

• To eat smarter, stay out of the center aisles in the super-market. That’s where most salt and sugar laden packaged goods are stacked.

• 94% of news media reports on health DO NOT point out that the results may not apply to humans.

• Eating breakfast helps control hunger and binge eating later in the day. If your breakfast contains some PROTEIN it will also extend your stamina later in the day.

• Frequent exercise does appear to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Brightly colored produce – oranges, bell peppers, pumpkins, tangerines, papayas – help protect against arthritis.

• Consuming more than five portions of fruits and vegetables per day can cut the risk of stroke by 26%.

• Fish prone to containing mercury – shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel. Fish low in mercury – shrimp, salmon, Pollock, catfish and canned light tuna.

• Ignore TV commercials. NO foods can “burn“ fat. Claims about grapefruit, celery and cabbage soup are false.

• Along with containing lots of added sugar, dried fruits lose much of their vitamin C.

• Urban legend: peanut butter is laden with evil trans-fat. Reality: testing of 11 brands of peanut butter found no detectable trans-fat.

• They may look like “health food”, but raw alfalfa sprouts (just like improperly cooked meat and fish) are frequently linked with food-borne illness outbreaks.

• Low-fat dairy products help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in both men and women.

  So you see, there IS hope for dinner time in America and it is reassuring to have some valid facts on hand. Keep these in mind and it is not necessary to live your life with a medical advisor peering over your shoulder. In addition, good common sense, asking good questions and keeping up on information from reliable sources will help to sort out the best way to maintain health and wellness.

 

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Deadline for Feb. Newsletter is Jan. 26 Submissions may be emailed to khuysers@msn.com

Ecclesiastes 3: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven