Treasurer’s Notes 2

2015 CROP Walk 2

Clothing Drive 3

Sunday School News 4

Birthdays & Anniversaries 5

Inside this issue:

South Branch

Reformed Church

870 River Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Office: (908) 369-4956

Fax: (908) 369-4602

Web:

www.sbrchurch.org

CONTACT

Newslet ter o f the South Branch Reformed Church

Summer is a special time of the year. The Summer months allow each of us the opportunity to take time off from our jobs or our daily routine and use that time to spend with family and/or friends. Some of us use this time to work around the house. Some of us used this time catching up on reading or other simple pleasures.

I pray that each of you found time for relaxation and refreshment. I look forward to hearing your stories about the adventures you took, the places you saw, and sharing your experiences.

The Summer for the church, however, brings a drop in attendance, a drop in finances and a drop in programs and/or activities. So, SBRC is excited to see September and we are

excited to get a “new season” started. It will be a welcomed sight to you all in the pews at

worship and at the various activities that are planned!

September means gearing up for the Fall and the activities that are normally associated with this time of year. I am certainly one of those people who enjoy the Fall season with the cooler temperatures, lower humidity, leaves changing colors as well as the “start up” of church activities that were dormant over the Summer months.

The Contact has information about what

has been planned and what we are hoping to plan this month and the coming months.

As always, if you have an idea or a suggestion, please let us know and we will certainly explore the possibilities.

Allow me to highlight a

few areas:

1) Sunday, Sept. 6th is our Annual “Jeans & T-Shirt” Sunday. This has become our way of remembering the work we accomplished together. This Sunday also marks the end of “Summer Worship”.

2) Sunday School is set to begin on Sept. 13th along with the Annual “Welcome Back” Picnic. A sign-up sheet has been posted.

3) A Ham Dinner & Bake Sale has been planned for Sept. 12th. A sign-up sheet has been posted for this as well and all help is greatly appreciated!!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in worship!

In Christ’s Service,

From the Pastor...

September, 2015

June 2015

The offering donations for June were $7,489 (four

Sundays -$1,962 avg.). We need $2,241weekly to

insure we make our budget as written. In addition

to the regular monthly June expenses, the church

made large quarterly payments: Insurance, Classis

Assessment, Pension and the Annual Workers

Compensation. Offering donations were down by

$1,800 compared to June 2014. Also, we moved

the Chicken Dinner from June to October and that

dinner usually generated some small revenue for

June. We started the month $1,694 in the black,

but ended -$5,479 in the red.

Comparison

Jan -June 2015 Total: $53,898 ($1,996 avg.)

Jan -June 2014 Total: $51,195 ($1,969 avg.)

July 2015

The offering donations for July were $7,164 (four

Sundays- $1,791 avg.), a little more than last July

($7,000). We started the month -$5,479 in the red,

but ended the month at -$3,795 in the red. We were

able to make up some ground due to the

Preschool’s reimbursement for their share of the

Worker’s Compensation cost. We still have some

ground to cover in order to make our budget,

especially since August is usually a poor month

donation-wise. Just a reminder, if you have not

sent in your Classis Assessment ($81.76 per

member), August is an excellent month to do so.

The total Assessment for SBRC is $7, 195 and to

date we only have received $5,017.

Menu

Baked Ham Au Gratin Potatoes

Corn Cole Slaw Applesauce

Tomato & Cucumber Salad Assorted Desserts

Coffee, Hot & Iced Tea, Lemonade

——————————————————————

Adults - $14.00 Children (ages 6-10) - $6.00

Children (age 5 and under) - FREE

Our Annual Ham Dinner & Bake Sale will be

held on Saturday, Sept.12th from 4:30 to 7:00

PM with Chef Tyson presiding over the kitchen.

A sign-up sheet has been posted for donations &

helpers!

Tickets & Take-Outs are available. Call (908)

369-4956 for tickets!

Treasurer’s Notes

Ham Dinner & Bake Sale!!

PAGE 2 CONTACT

SBRC hosting CROP Walk

The Annual CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2015! SBRC

has the honor of hosting this annual event for 2015!! This means that we

are going to need a lot of help. We will need help in setting up, providing

water and rest stops, vehicles for those walkers needing

assistance and cleaning up. More information will be coming.

If you are interested in helping out, please speak with Jean

Evers or Pastor Steve. Remember, many hands make light

work and let’s show everyone who walks true SBRC hospitality!

SBRC Consistory Committees

Did you know that SBRC currently has eight committees? Did you know that these committees are always

interested in having people from the congregation join and help out with the activities? Would you consider

joining one or more of these committees? If interested, please speak with the committee chair (listed on

the back cover of the bulletin) and/or Pastor Steve.

Flowers

Just a reminder that

if you have signed

up for flowers in the

Sanctuary on a

particular Sunday,

the cost is $40.00.

Make checks out to “SBRC” with

“Flowers” in the memo section.

Greeters & Coffee Hour

Opportunities to Greet on

Sunday and/or host Coffee

Hour are still available!

Please sign-up and

help keep this

important

fellowship activity

going strong!

The Women’s Group will be meeting on Sunday,

September 13th following worship. During this

meeting, the group will continue to work on the

stamps that have been brought into the Church

Office as well as to plan activities for the coming

year. All women are invited and encouraged to

attend. For more information, please speak

with Lynne Diehl or Jannie Johnson.

Lectionary Readings for

September

Women’s Group

Sept. 6th - Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9,22-23 Psalm 125 Isaiah 35:4-7 Psalm 146 James 2:1-10,14-17 Mark 7:24-37

Sept. 13th - Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 116:1-9 James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

Sept. 20th - Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 Jeremiah 11:18-20 Psalm 54 James 3:13-4:3,7-8; Mark 9:30-37

Sept. 27th - Esther 7:1-6,9-10,9:20-22; Psalm 124 Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29 Psalm 19:7-14; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50

PAGE 3 CONTACT

Adult Bible Study

Evening Bible Study will resume

meeting in September on the 2nd &

4th Mondays at 7:00pm at the

Parsonage. As always, our Bible

Study groups require no degrees or

formal training in order to attend.

Just an open-mind and a

willingness to let God’s

Word speak to you!

Clothing Drive: October 3rd 8:30am—12:30pm

Help support a Girl Scout Silver Award project which

will benefit the SBRC Preschool . Clean out your

closets & donate your unwanted clothing, shoes,

linens, comforters, accessories, bags, backpacks even

stuffed animals . All items must be bagged. Drive up

and drop! It’s easy to do! We will earn 20 cents per

pound donated. All proceeds of this

fundraiser will be used to purchase

supplies needed for the installation of

a sensory garden & a sense of sound

play station in the Playground. For

more information see the flyer on the

Church News bulletin board or speak with Fiona or

Erica Lenzo.

Adult Choir is set to begin

rehearsals on Thursday, September

10th at 7:30pm in the

Parlor.

Junior Choir & Angel Choir

meets on Sundays following

Worship. Schedules will be

listed in the church bulletin as soon

as the dates are provided!

One of the best parts about the

arrival of September is the return of

our SBRC Choirs after

their Summer break!!

We all enjoy the

dedication and the

talent of each our choir

members and look

forward to their voices leading us

and lifting us in our Worship!

The SBRC Choirs are always

looking for more people to join and

participate! There is no need to

have voice lessons or to be a vocal

artist. All that is needed is a desire

to sing praises to God and the

desire to inspire His children

through song.

If interested, please speak with

Emily Windus or John Colaiacovo.

SBRC Choirs Ramping Up for Another Season!!

PAGE 4 CONTACT

The Interfaith Hospitality Network announces it’s 2015 Raffle This year second and third prizes

have been added for the same ticket price of $20. The first prize is four (4) tickets to the Tony

award nominated play “ An American in Paris” with Limousine transportation and a wine and cheese

basket. The second prize is dinner for four ant the Washington House Restaurant and the third prize

is a 40” Flat Screen TV.

IHN provides homeless families with a home, training and support until they regain independence.

The agency is proud of their 98% long term success rate. Area churches provide over-

night accommodations and an evening meal. This service would fall to the County if

non-profit agencies such as IHN didn’t step in to help meet this need. Tickets are $20

each and are available through Kate Sarles or the IHN office on West End ave in

Somerville. Thank You!.

IHN Raffle

Sunday school classes will begin on Sept. 13th. If you are interested in learning more about

our program or are interested in helping out as a substitute teacher, please speak with

Danielle Burt or Tina Christie.

Sunday School students in the early elementary class (K-3) have been paired with an

elementary school through the program The Pencil Project. Students in the class will be

collecting new pencils to be sent to the Henry Heights Elementary School in Lake

Charles, Louisiana. The pencils will go directly to the students of the school for their

use. 78% of students at the school fall below the poverty level and therefore items

like basic school supplies are often difficult to purchase. Many times students are

unable to complete their homework because they do not have the writing instruments to do

so. If you are interested in donating pencils to the class collection, a basket will be available

in the church office. Donations will be accepted through Sunday, September 27th. If you

have any questions, please speak with Danielle Burt.

Sunday School News

A very Happy Birthday and

a blessed year ahead to

those who are celebrating a

birthday in September:

1 - Tom Bernard, Jr.

4 - Tom Evers

5 - Brad Ammerlaan

6 - Samantha Heckman

7 - Tracy Davenport

Danielle Messineo

11 - Gail Davis

Kristin Everett

Craig Fitzgerald

13 - Hector Padron

Ander Sarles

15 - Tom Marlatt

16 - Michael Powell

17 - Gil Warner

Ed Rebenack

18 - Benjamin Burt

19 - Megan Norz

24 - Greg Kane

25 - Jessica Kelly

27 - Joe LiBrizzi

29 - Tom Kletz

Also, congratulations and

Happy Anniversary to:

1 - Bob & Kay McCray

5 - Joe & Annette LiBrizzi

6 - Steve & Kim

Kowalchuck

10 - Michael & Heather

Shephard

14 - Joe & Julie Sikora

18 - Russ & Christina

Corleto

22 - Dan & Tracy Davenport

28 - Paul & Heidi Proodian

Ed & Allison Rebenack

30 - Brandon & Mindy

Shifflet

Birthdays and Anniversaries

For September

PAGE 5 CONTACT

Property Committee Progress The Property Committee has had an extremely busy summer! A number of projects were com-

pleted this summer and there are still more projects planned for the coming months. One of the

most notable projects in the church building is the new drop ceiling in the hallway and the Fire-

side Room along with an upgrade to LED lighting!! Be sure to check out how nicely (and bright)

the areas turned out.

Another major project completed was a project at the Parsonage. This project included replacing

the crumbling retaining wall, rebuilding the steps and a new walkway to the side and front doors

of the Parsonage. It truly has updated and upgraded the look at the Parsonage.

What is coming next? There is still work to be completed in the Parlor and the lower level bath-

rooms. Interested in helping out? Please speak with Joe LiBrizzi and/or Steve Hubscher.

PAGE 6 CONTACT

Coloring Page

PAGE 7 CONTACT

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South Branch Reformed Church

870 River Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Rev. Stephen Eckert ~ Pastor

Mr. John Colaiacovo ~ Music Director

Mrs. Erica Lenzo ~ Church Secretary

Mrs. Maureen DeMarco ~ Preschool Director

Mrs. Pamela Rojas ~ Sexton

Share in God’s Love

“Welcome Back Picnic”

The “Welcome Back” Picnic

will follow church services on

September 13th. A sign-up sheet

has been posted, please sign-up

for an item or bring something

to share!