FROM THE PASTOR

We have entered the Lenten season. This is a period when we reflect on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross, as well as the wilderness periods in our own lives. As you enter the Old Greenwich sanctuary each week during this time, you will note the art installation that continues to grow and change, just as we do when we are traveling in the wilderness. It is intended to aid in your spiritual reflection, as the Worship & Music Team hopes all their ideas and efforts will. Additionally, Betsy Gaston, Tom DiGiovanni and I have met to develop a musical arc through Lent and Holy Week that we believe will engage and inspire.

Out of everything I do in enacting my duties as your pastor, worship is the thing I hold most dear. I love visiting you and praying with you in times of pastoral care. I love working with the young people in our congregation, whether it be on a fun trip like snow tubing or fasting in the 30 Hour Famine. I love sharing table fellowship with you, whether at the Roast Beef Dinner, or the Spaghetti Supper, or in smaller, more personal gatherings. I love to participate in mission activities, whether it is a local trip to Grow-a-Row, or a more distant one to the New Jersey shore. But my passion is offering worship to God – thanksgiving and celebration and joy for all that God has done for me, for us. More than anything else, I love to ponder the scripture, to wonder at God’s presence in the lives of those who have gone before us, and to consider ways that worship can bring us closer to the God we serve.

I am so delighted by the way that you, the congregation at OGPC, are open to new ideas and creativity. I appreciate the passion and honesty that you bring to worship on any given Sunday. I love the way that you love to bring your clap offerings to God in enthusiasm for the choir’s anthems and other special music. As we walk into Lent, however, and the more somber mood that is a part of journeying into the wilderness, I invite you to respond as you feel moved. In other words, if an anthem or special music delights and inspires you – literally moves you to clap, go for it! But, if an anthem or special music instead takes you into a place of quiet contemplation, go with that instead. It is totally okay to sit in silence after a piece of music, especially if that piece of music is one that has taken you there.

Both these responses are biblical. Psalm 150 tells us to “sing to the Lord a new song,… praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.” Likewise in 1 Kings 19:11-12, Elijah meets God not in the wind or earthquake or fire, but in “a sound of sheer silence,” what we have come to call a still, small voice. My greatest wish is that when you come to worship, during this Lenten season and at all times, you will meet God. That your faith journey will be enriched and enlivened. That you will leave the sanctuary knowing that God is with you in the good times, the bad times, the joyous times, the wilderness times, all times.

Sometimes when we are together, we can forget that Sunday mornings are times of worship and not performance. Believe me, the choir or soloists are even more aware than you are of how a piece of music can make us feel, since they are the ones singing it. But they do not need your praise, as they are singing God’s praise. When you clap, it is my sincere hope that you are not clapping in recognition of the singers, but in recognition of what God has done and is doing for you, for us, for the world. Let us celebrate and praise God’s name! With our voices, with our clapping hands, with music and dancing, and sometimes even with our silence.

Rev. Rebecca Segers

OLD GREENWICH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ’S MONTHLY

VOLUME MXVI ISSUE 3

MARCH, 2016

THE BREEZEWAY

SPECIAL

POINTS OF

INTEREST:

You can still sign up for the Scotland Trip!

YOU can be a part of Vacation Bible Camp planning!

Women’s Fun Nite

Easter Lily & Tulip order form

Holy Week & Easter Services schedule

INSIDE THIS ISSUE :

MEMBERSHIP &

FELLOWSHIP

NEWS

4

B IRTHDAYS &

ANNIVERSARIES

4

BULLETIN

BOARD

5

CALENDAR 9

PAGE 2 THE BREEZEWAY

Renee Herb’s friend, Kelsey M.; Bridget Beacht’s friend Eric & family; Heather Todd; Anita Campbell; Walt Campbell’s niece, Laura; Robin Glosser’s friends, Bruce & The-resa; Ernie Maso; Lisa MacKinnon’s nephew, Jeff; Deb Wilson’s son, Eric; Christine Lee’s colleague; Pastor Rebecca’s friend’s mom, Geraldine Eicher; the family of Terry Lee, brother of Bill Lee; the family of Brian Petras; the family of Betty Walker, mother of Richard Walker; the Diehl family, friends of Mike Lemons; the family of George Bowater, friends of Don Hannis; Dr. Jeremy Hewens; the family of Leona McLean,

Jim Shook’s aunt; Johan Nykvist, Arline Curtis’ dad; Candi Nagy’s client’s husband, Eugene; Pastor Re-becca’s friend, Pam Jusino; Walt Campbell’s sister, Elaine Loveless; Marie Smith; Robin Glosser’s friend, Rev. Gary Bishop; Shirley Sloyer; Sally Reinhard’s mom, Mary Ann Miller; Phyllis Dietz; Harry Pursel; Mary Laubach; Don Reinhard’s cousin, Pam; Pat Fisher; Evan Newbrough; Jack Reinhard; Ed Gardner; Shelly Papp & family; Joanne Macdonald; Betsy Gaston’s cousin, Tracie; Katy Davis; Doris Bartholomew; the Tumaini Church in Kenya and those serving in our Armed Forces: Jack Buckwalter, Matt Chambergo, Will Rimmler, Darren Pursel, Manuel Velez-Toledo

BEFORE MEMORIAL HALL

There is no one alive to tell us what the interior of our first stone church was like. We do know that there were galleries along the three sides of the sanctuary facing the pulpit. Were Sunday School classes held there in addition to the classes taught at our scattered outposts? We will never know. Our congregation covered a large territory and transportation of the time was horse and buggy or going it on foot. Snow and rain turned the roads into muddy ruts. It is quite likely that ‘church school’ began to be held at church only after our current stone sanctuary was built. Improved roads and autos would have made attendance easier. When the new church was built, the balcony space was designated to be used first by the Sunday School and then as a ‘cry room’ for parents with young children during the worship service. The glass wall that separated the balcony from the rest of the building could be opened enough so that the adults were able to listen to the service. The open floor plan allowed for adjustable seating on small wood-en chairs with a few tables for the younger children. It doesn’t seem possible, but somehow a piano had been brought up and put in front of the stained glass window. For everyone’s safety, a protective railing was installed between the piano and the window. In the 1930’s, and perhaps even earlier, that balcony accommodated the entire Sunday School, from three year olds through high schoolers. In addition to the children, an adult class met under the balco-ny. Now that was a ‘full house.’

Classes started at 9 am; worship service at 10:30. The balcony crowd began with a 15 minute ‘opening,’ usually conducted by the Sunday School Superintendent, which included the flag salute, the Lord’s Prayer, children’s hymns and the birthday barrel. A small barrel piggy bank sat on the piano. Birthday kids got to put a penny for each year of their age into the barrel before they divided into their individual classes. The ‘little ones’ were in front by the stairs, with the 6th, the 7th, and then the 8th grade classes behind them. The 3rd graders occupied the front left with the 4th graders in the middle and the 5th graders in the rear. By 1940, the high school class had been moved up to the manse.

Each child was given an age appropriate ‘Lesson Paper’ to take home every Sunday. These professional, one sheet (folded in half) tracts were almost certainly purchased from Presbytery, which meant that all Presbyterian chil-dren, including ours, were reading the same paper every week.

Teaching Sunday School is a no pay, highly intense, weekly commitment that deserves appreciation and praise under normal conditions. Teaching in that balcony could hardly be put in the ‘normal conditions’ category.

Thanks again to Marie Heritage Smith for sharing her memories with us.

~ Submitted by Sue Tintle for the History Committee ~ Gregg Pacifico, chair; Sue Tintle, Sharon Rimmler, Walt Campbell

PAGE 3 MARCH , 2016

Travel to Scotland - April 18-26, 2017

YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP - BY APRIL 3, 2016

If you like to travel and leave the details to someone else, sign up to travel with us to Scotland in 2017. While this nine day, eight night trip in April of 2017 will include three vocal perfor-mances by a choir (including participation in a worship service in St. Andrews), all members, family, and friends of OGPC are invited, whether you choose to sing in the choir or not!

The trip is being offered through Scotus Tours, based in Scotland. Website - www.scotustours.com. The tour has been custom designed for us and the details are in a bro-chure available from the church by calling 908-479-4449 or by picking one up on any Sunday in the narthex, at the back of the sanctuary. Registration information is in the brochure. Ques-tions may be directed to Pastor Segers via email at pastor@ogpc.org, or to Cathy Ahart at cahart6@msn.com.

A few highlights: ~a visit to the Island of Iona, where in the year 563 Saint Columba established the Christian faith in Scotland. Iona is described as a “thin place” where the veil between earth and heaven is at its most transparent. ~a drive through the highlands and to see Loch Lomond and Loch Ness (we are SURE to see Nessie!) ~Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Castle, the Royal Mile, Glasgow Cathedral and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum where you can see Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross. ~ a haggis ceremony (tasting is optional, for the less adventurous connoisseur) featuring some of Scotland’s beautiful songs.

The cost of the trip is $3,470 or less, depending on how many people sign up; does not include airfare, and payment schedule is as follows:

You can still sign up by April 3, 2016 with your $995 deposit/pp August 7, 2016 - one half of balance due December 4, 2016 - remaining balance due

Come along, ye lads and lassies, and invite family and friends to join in the fun!

MARCH , 2016 PAGE 4

MEMBERSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP NEWS

03/02 Barbara Frinzi Donald Mrotek David Buckelew Jacob McNear Craig Eagleburger 03/03 Stephanie Snyder 03/04 Jennifer Cichone Lauren Belsky Rachel Belsky 03/07 Meghan Whalen Francis Rienzo Mimi Rienzo 03/08 Evona Vliet 03/09 Susann Dalrymple Morgan Buckelew Liliana Snyder 03/11 John Oakes Marsha Proehl 03/12 Emily Perkins 03/14 Stacey Coe Trish Marino Andrew Wayne 03/16 Rebecca Sulla 03/18 Nathaniel Brown-Campello 03/19 Gail Buckelew John Menzak

03/20 BettyAnn Stetler Jake Rodriguez 03/21 Deborah Bartholomew Catherine Forgione Julia Pacifico 03/23 John MacKinnon Maria Viscel 03/24 Joan Pozsonyi Micha Fell Devlin Grelle Eliza Rindock 03/25 Carol Lee Doeringer Daniela Hill Karlina Juelch Emma Jagiello 03/26 Eleanor Cawley 03/27 Jacquelyn Kreichelt 03/28 Michael Ciavarella Ethan Ruzich 03/29 Louis Gorzsas Gretchen Alencewicz Jacob Epstein 03/30 Bianca Buckwalter 03/31 Penny Torcivia Laura Wilson

CELEBRATING WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES IN MARCH: CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS IN MARCH:

A Thank You note has been received from Family Promise thanking the congregation for their donation

from the IHN Craft Sale. It’s posted on the bulletin board in Memorial Hall.

Thank You to: Don Metz for installing an electrical outlet in the sanctuary so wires don’t have to be run

over the front rails and for continuing to fix the lights needing attention throughout the church buildings; Mike Viscel for the upper and lower hallways in Trinity Wing getting a fresh coat of paint; thanks also to Sherwood Williams, in P’burg, for ten gallons of paint for the hallways and ten gallons of paint for the classrooms; and to the Rainbow Painting crew and Bob Luzietti for their help with the painting. And this is a little late, but we also want to thank Gregg Pacifico and the History Committee for donating a full set of historic, painted slates from OGPC’s 275th anniversary celebration to the church. We are in the process of preparing the perfect location for them to be displayed.

Eric & Jill Lee 03/01/1996 Gail & Greg Sulla 03/04/1989 William & Marsha Proehl 03/09/1985 Lawrence & Gail Dugan 03/28/1981

- Change of aDDDRESS-

Weston & Leni Voorhees 8 Dawn Drive Belvidere NJ 07823

There will be a service CELEBRATING THE OF LIFE of BRIAN PETRAS at the church on Saturday, March 12, at 11 am, with a light lunch served in Memorial Hall following the service.

The Women's Morning Bible Study meets on Tuesday, March 8, at 11:30 am.

We’re working on Chapter Two in Aging Faithfully. Call/text Lisa Gray at 973-476-4720 with any questions.

Bulletin Board

PAGE 5 THE BREEZEWAY

MEMBERSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP NEWS - CONT’D

OGPC WISH LIST

Each issue of future Breezeway’s will contain a short listing of items which are needed at the church. If no dollar amount is listed, the item itself may be donated, or a check, noting what you’d like the money used to purchase. If the item is followed by a dollar amount, you may donate the total amount or a portion, by sending a check with that item listed in the memo line.

Coffee Decaf coffee Lemonade mix Powdered juice mix Dish towels Potholders Four two-and-a-half Christmas banners for Sanctuary - $50 each Chair for Pastor’s office - $200 Video camera for live streaming -$250

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Newton Presbytery is in the process of expanding their database so that everyone in the Presbytery will be kept up-to-date with what’s going on in the Presby-tery. Please provide your name, address and email to the OGPC church office at oldgreenwich@ogpc.org with the subject line ‘Newton Presbytery’ if you wish to be included in their emailing list.

VACATION BIBLE CAMP

Vacation Bible Camp is coming to OGPC and the Christian Ed Committee needs your help. Volunteers are needed to staff the camp and a camp director is also needed. Dates are not set until the director is ready to share the news. Please contact Jennifer Miller at njjmillers@msn.com or call her at 908-213-8640 with questions or interest in the position.

The OGPC Youth Group has been busy of late: we went snow tubing at Shawnee on the last Sunday in January (see pics next page), shared about our Mis-sion Trips in 2015 at a History Sunday Social (gaining two new participants for this year’s trips as a result!), and hosted our Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser (see pics, page 8), and coffee hour on the following morning, raising almost $900 toward this year’s trips. The 30 Hour Famine begins on Saturday, March 5 at noon and runs through 7 pm on March 6. A regular meeting will be held on the evening of March 20th as well as plans for a Joint Talent Show/Coffee House Fundraiser with the Choir in late April. Stay tuned for more good news as we continue to grow and thrive!

PAGE 6 MARCH , 2016

Bulletin

Pastor Rebecca, Emily Brown, and Cole Corbett prepare to go downhill.

OGPC Youth Group members Emily Brown, Jack Hart, Evan Cichone, and Cole Corbett lined up to snowtube caterpillar fashion at their outing on January 31.

Adrianne Carbine shares a smile while making a beautiful box in which to place her hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries.

Pastor Rebecca led a Women’s Retreat on February 19-20 at Villa Pauline in Mendham, NJ. It was attended by 12 of our own ladies: Sharon Bell, Susan Bradlau, Adri-anne Carbin, Sue Dalrymple, Carol Lee Doeringer, Barb Frinzi, Lisa Gray, Ginny Guthardt, Sue Lizotte, Sue Tintle, Pat Walker, and Donna Wollman, as well as women from Long Valley Presbyterian Church and six other congregations, who attended through Presbyterian Women. We pondered Psalm 34:8 “O Taste and See that the Lord is good,” ate lots of chocolate, and came away not only filled with good food, but renewed spirit.

Barb Frinzi, Sue Tintle, and Ginny Guthardt enjoy a moment in the sun on the windowseat.

Pastor Rebecca leads the Retreat Closing Worship Service.

PAGE 7 THE BREEZEWAY

Bulletin Board - Cont’d

Remember when the days of spring started with new Easter shoes, a dress, and a beautiful hat? Monday, March 7, at 7 pm, is your chance to bring back the beauty of spring by decorating your own Easter hat at the March Women's Fun Nite. Enjoy adorning a plain straw hat any way you like and just in time for Easter! Please sign up for this fun evening in Memorial Hall or contact Trish Millon at 908-319-5061. Hats and decorations, including ribbons and flowers, will be provided. Refreshments will be provided but bring your hot glue gun! Cost will be approximately $15 per person and can be paid that evening. Please be sure to sign up so we have enough for everyone!

Barb Frinzi, Sue Rutan, and Stefanie Rutan are hard at work making beautiful cards for veterans.

Barb Grimm and Sandy Frey share a smile and a valentine.

Sue Tintle, Candi Nagy, and Sue Petras stamp, stick, and sketch beautiful valentines for vets.

Just a few of the designs made at the February Women’s Fun Nite.

PAGE 8 MARCH , 2016

EASTER LILY AND TULIPS

ORDER FORM

Lilies and multi-colored tulips are purchased by the congregation to decorate the church for Easter Sunday. They are then taken to our Special People, members who are ill or home-bound. Once that need is met, you may take the one(s)you purchased, if so noted below.

A list will be printed in the bulletin on Easter Sunday, noting the purchaser and who is being remembered, etc.

# Lily plants ________ at $10 each

Give # _____ Plants Take # _____ Plants

# Tulip plants _______ at $10 each

Give # _____ Plants Take # _____ Plants

Purchaser: _________________________ Phone Number: ______________________ In Memory of: _______________________ In Honor of: ________________________ In Celebration of: _____________________ To the Glory of God: __________________

LAST DAY TO ORDER is Sunday, 3/20/16

Make checks payable to “OGPC Deacons” and include payment with order form.

Alexa and Kayla MacKinnon sell a Spaghetti Supper ticket to Pat Walker (who takes her meal to-go after such a food-intensive weekend at the Women’s Retreat!)

Brothers Abe and Caleb Frey wield their tongs in preparation of serving salad to diners.

Eli Mallory, dishwasher extraordinaire, mans his station.

PAGE 9

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Comm. &

Tech. - e-mtg. 7:30 pm

2 Jr. Girl Scouts

6:30 pm

BS Trng. Comm. 7 pm

Chr. Ed. 7:30 pm

Bible Study Alpha PC 7:30 pm

3 BS Vent. Crew

7 PM

Choir 7:30 pm

4

5 Youth Group 30

Hour Famine Begins 12 pm

6 Youth Group 30 Hr.

Famine ‘til 7 pm

Communion Worship Svc. - 10 am

AA Meeting - 3 pm

7 Home Communion

Visits

12 - 4 pm

Women’s Fun Nite 7 pm

Boy Sc. - 7 pm

8 Women’s

Bible Study

11:30 am

Presby. Mtg. Rockaway

4 pm

History - 7 pm

9 Bible Study

Alpha PC 7:30 pm

10 Choir

7:30 pm

11

12 Brian Petras’

Memorial Celebration

11 am

‘Spring ahead’ one hour

13 Daylight Saving Time

begins

Worship Svc. - 10 am

AA Meeting - 3 pm

14

Boy Sc. - 7 pm

Deacons - 7:30 pm

15

16 Jr. Girl Scouts

6:30 pm

Bible Study Alpha PC 7:30 pm

17 BS Vent. Crew

7 pm

Choir 7:30 pm

18

19

20 Palm Sunday

Worship Svc. - 10 am

AA Meeting - 3 pm

Youth Group - 6 pm

21 Boy Sc. - 7 pm

Session - 7:30 pm

22 Congr. Life

7:30 pm

23

Bible Study Alpha PC 7:30 pm

24 Maundy Thurs. Simple Supper

and Service 6:30 pm

Choir following

Maundy Thurs. service

25 Office Closed

Cross-Walk Shappell Pk.

2:30 pm

Good Friday Children’s Svc. - 4 pm

Good Friday Svc. - 7:30 pm

26

27 Easter Sunday Sunrise Svc.

6:30 am @ manse

Easter Worship Svc. - 10 am

AA Meeting - 3 pm

28 Boy Sc. - 7 pm

29

30

31 Choir

7:30 pm

MARCH 2016

Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church Non-Profit Org. 17 Greenwich Church Road PRSRT STD (A) Stewartsville, NJ 08886-2515 U.S. Postage PAID

Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 PERMIT NO. 400

Dated Material

Address Service Requested

The “Breezeway”

The Breezeway is published monthly by: Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church 17 Greenwich Church Road Stewartsville, New Jersey 08886-2515

W E ’RE ON TH E W EB !

www.ogpc.org

HOLY WEEK SERVICES:

March 24 Maundy Thursday - Simple Supper 6:30 pm and Service in Memorial Hall March 25 Good Friday Cross-Walk at 2:30 pm Shappell Park, P’burg March 25 Good Friday Children’s Service 4 pm March 25 Good Friday Service 7:30 pm March 27 Sunrise Easter Service at the manse 6:30 am (followed by Continental Breakfast) March 27 Easter Celebration Service 10 am