this year’s annual ecumenical lenten lunches of rockaway ... · cal unrest he discovers the roots...

This year’s annual Ecumenical Lenten Lunches of Rockaway will begin on Friday, February 20 and go through March 27.

Each Friday at noon in Fellowship Hall, we’ll begin with a lunch served by that week’s church hosts and followed at 12:30 by a brief Lenten worship service. This year’s theme is “Leads Me Into Life.” The weekly church hosts and the Scripture lessons for that week are:

February 20 - First Presbyterian Church

Mark 1:9-15 - The Baptism & Temptation of Jesus

February 27 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Mark 8:31-38 - “Take Up Their Cross and Follow Me”

March 6 - St. Simon the Apostle

Roman Catholic Parish John 2:13-25 – Cleansing of the Temple

March 13 – Teabo United Methodist Church

John 3:14-21 - “For God so loved the world”

March 20 – The United Methodist Church of the Rockaways John 12:20-33 – Jesus foretells his suffering

March 27 – St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church

Mark 11:1-10 - Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

April 3 – Good Friday: All Participating Churches

**The Good Friday Service does not include lunch and will be held at 12 noon at the United Methodist Church of the Rockaways, 1 Hoagland Ave., Rockaway**

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Volume 15, Issue 02

February 2015

CHU R CH S TR EE T JOUR NA L

God Sightings: Stories of Faith and Growth

2015 Lenten Devotional

In 2014 our congregation began to recognize that our personal stories of

faith combine to show us God’s story among us. When we share our faith stories,

we see how we are connected, and how we can support each other through the

challenges and the blessings of life. This year, our devotional is a sharing of these

stories. The devotion will be available on Sunday, February 8th. The season of

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 11.

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be

Sunday, February 8, immediately following worship.

The purpose of the meeting is to review the committee and oth-

er organizational annual reports, and to receive the report of the

Nominating Committee and elect officers.

All committees must submit reports to the office no later than January 25.

Email: [email protected]

Or drop them off during office hours—M-F, 9-1

V OLU ME 1 5, IS SU E 0 2

Mardi Gras Pancake Party!

$8.00 for adults

$5.00 for children 12 and under

Without reservations you will be charged:

$10.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 and un-

der at the door

S U N D A Y ,

F E B R U A R Y 2 2

Come for an evening of food and fun festivities

for the entire family!

We’ll have tasty pancakes with delicious toppings and sides.

There will be bingo with small prizes, and activities for kids.

No tickets will be sold in advance!

We simply ask that you make a reservation

and pay at the door.

You can reserve your spot by calling

the church office at 973-627-1059 or by

signing up after worship in Fellowship Hall.

A Jr. High

Fundraiser

SUNDAY, FE BRUA RY 22

4 -7 P.M.

First Presbyterian Church

35 Church St.

Rockaway, NJ 07866

Phone: 973-627-1059

E-mail: [email protected]

Want to help out? Contact Rev. Sue Trigger


New Member’s Classes to Begin

We love that you are participating in church activities and we’re wondering, have you been

thinking about joining the church? Would you like to learn more about being Presbyterian and

the ministries of our congregation? Sign up for:

New Member’s Classes set to begin on March 8 at 9:15 a.m.

The class will meet for three sessions with new members being welcomed into the congregation

on Palm Sunday, March 29.

To sign up contact the church office: 973-627-1059.

For more information talk with Revs. Sue and Mitch or Diane Knipper.

Come Knit and Crochet with Us Thursday, February 26

6:30—8:00 p.m.

If you can knit or crochet, or if you want to,

We hope you will join us. We need more crafters.

Do You Often Feel Overwhelmed by Life?

Come to the

Overcoming Anxiety and Depression Support Group

The group is currently reading the book, “Sleeping with Bread:

Holding What Gives You Life,” by Matthew, Sheila Fabricant, and Dennis

Linn. The Linn’s are both counselors and Biblical scholars who combine

these disciplines to help reader’s find faith and healing. This book focuses on the spiritual

discipline of the examen as a means of dealing with depression. The group meets the 2nd and

4th Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Rev. Sue’s office. For more information contact Rev. Sue.


After a well-deserved break at Christmas, you Stephen Ministry trainees, Lillian Argueta

and Mary Anne Henselmann, and the Stephen Leaders have returned to their training ses-

sions with in-depth discussion, practices, prayer and reading. They’re about half-way

through the preparation to serve our congregation in this caring ministry! Please contin-

ue to pray for them as they read and discuss new ideas, incorporate these ideas with what

they have already learned, and transform this information into caregiving skills.

Lillian Argueta Mary Anne Henselmann

February 18, 7 p.m.

With the imposition of ashes


This year Christmas day was different for many of our volunteers. Christmas morn-

ing volunteers when to the Faith Kitchen in Dover and prepared and served 175

guests at the soup kitchen. The kitchen has our Community Breakfast cooks doing

their magic. They prepared pork, turkey and beef options with the appropriate sides

and salad. The reminder of our volunteers where the servers; seating and giving the

guests a catering feel.

Our team started at 8:00 am cooking and setting up. At around 11:00 am around 40 meals

were packed and delivered to shut-ins. At around 11:15 am to 12:30 pm we served. After

12:30 pm came everyone’s favorite time “Keep Up”…..

Taking liberty for talking to all that were there it was a great time to start our Christmas

day giving the greatest gift to others “US”.

Getting ready to prepare dishes Having too much fun over the stove…

Getting the tables ready Do they really know how to cook it?


Waiting for the door to open…. Getting the utensils ready

Scrip will be available after church

every week. Scrip order will be going

in on February 23rd. If you can’t

make it to church or if you miss buying

Scrip then, you can call Holly Len-

hardt at 973-879-0486 or email her

at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]


Come one—come all to the church on Saturday

morning, February 28th for breakfast. The

breakfast will include eggs, pancakes and coffee.

It is free so please come out and enjoy. Tell your

neighbors. Better yet bring them with you.

Church Library

Did you know that our Church Library is located in the Parlor which is

outside of Fellowship Hall? Please feel free to browse and choose one of

the books to borrow. We have all genres including historical, fiction, non-

fiction and informational. Please remember to sign out your selection.


A Gift of Love “Joined in Remembrance

Teddy Bear Program”

During the month of February, the church

school is asking the children and church mem-

bers to make a special offering by donating a

new Teddy Bear to this wonderful ministry. The Teddy Bear Program

was created by one of our church members, Lori Donaldson. The

bears are given to families who have experienced the loss of a new-

born. The bears will be dedicated to God’s ministry of caring on Feb-

ruary 15th.

A Note of Thanks

The Christian Education Committee would like to thank everyone who donated

hats, gloves, mittens and scarves that hung on our mitten tree. These

“ornaments” were distributed to children in our area during the month of De-

cember.


Sunday Morning, 9:15 a.m.

Monday Evening, 7PM, BK Room

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE

A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION!

We all make New Year’s resolutions to eat better,

stop smoking or workout more. Do we ever think of

working on our “spiritual muscles??”

How about making a resolution to start attending

Adult Bible Study!! All classes are held in the BK

Room. Here’s when we meet:

Sunday Morning 9:15-10:15-am—We use the

Feasting on the Word curriculum. We study what

the pastors preach each Sunday. Come and get all

the “behind the scenes” info on each Sunday’s scrip-

ture lesson. Taught by Diane Knipper and Tom

Winger

Monday Night 7-8pm—For all you folks who like

to sleep in on Sunday mornings, this is a repeat of

Sunday’s lesson. Check out the Feasting on the

Word curriculum at the church website

www.fpcrockaway.org under Educational Opportu-

nities. You can even download each week’s lesson!

Taught by Diane Knipper and Rich Basile

Tuesday Morning 9:30-11:30am—The topic of

this study is chosen by class members (see more in-

fo on this study in the newsletter). Taught by Betty

Shuman.

So give one of these studies a try and see what you

think. We think this will be one resolution you will

want to keep! Need more info?? Contact Diane

Knipper at 973-495-9312 or [email protected].

COME JOIN US!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Tuesday 9:30am-11am – B K Room We are reading and discussing of the book

“Where God was Born” by Bruce Feiler. This sto-

ry of the journey by the author to Israel, Iraq and

Iran, the land where the 3 major Abrahamic faiths

began is part geographical, part autobiographical,

part theological. Traveling into the midst of politi-

cal unrest he discovers the roots of all 3 religions

and it helps him understand his faith and deepen

his relationship with God.

This group meets every week from 9:30-

11:15 in the B King room, to learn together, pray

together and laugh together. We begin each ses-

sion with a sharing of joys and concerns where we

develop a network of disciples who care for one

another. This book was published in 2005 and you

may find it in used book stores.

For information contact Betty Shuman through

the church office.

Church School News

Sunday School, 9:15 a.m.

FOR KIDS, PRESCHOOL TO

HIGH SCHOOL

We have been excited to see that our average at-

tendance has continued to be 35 children or more

each Sunday. We have been discovering more

about God’s word through our lessons from the

“Feasting on the Word” curriculum.

During the month of January, the children learned

about being children of God; being the light of

Jesus by praying and helping others. They learned

about Jesus’s baptism, understanding that God is

always with them and learning ways that they can

be disciples of Jesus by following his teachings.

If you are interested or would like more infor-

mation about this, please contact Donna Van Duy-

ne (973-625-3912).

http://www.fpcrockaway.org/

mailto:[email protected]


WORSHIP HOUR CHILDCARE

The Christian Education Committee would like to announce a change to Worship

Hour Childcare. Beginning in January, the ages for children to go downstairs after

children’s time will be PreK to grade 3. Children from grade 4 and up will stay in

church with their parents. All children are always welcome to stay in church for the

entire service.

The Christian Education and Worship Committees would like to thank all those who have

agreed to help with Worship Hour Childcare. The following is the schedule for January

and February. If you cannot do your scheduled Sunday please try to switch with someone

or contact Donna Van Duyne. (973-625-3912)

February 1 –

February 8 – Karen Wales

February 15 – Lanie Ballard

February 22 –

March 1 – Linda Kirby

March 8 – Barbara Trappe

March 15 – Pat Warren

March 22- Nancy Martinez

March 29 - Krajcsovics

In February the Senior Highs hosted the National Souper Sunday which benefit-

ted the Rockaway Food Closet on 2/1. We are leaving for the Retreat to Mont Lawn in

Bushkill Falls PA on the 13th and return on the 15th. While there we will enjoy the

snowy outdoors, a warm fireplace and some comfort food. We will have a bake sale

fundraiser on 2/8 with Valentines themed goodies.

Thank you for your continued support of the Senior Highs!


Worship & Sunday School

February 1,8,15,22 Sunday School and Bible Study—9:15am February 1,8,15,22 Worship 10:30 Worship & Potluck 1,8,15—5pm No 5pm Worship on 2/22

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

February 2015


WEDNESDAY: 2/4– 7pm Worship 2/11,25—12noon Lunch Bunch too—BK Room 2/11,25— Overcoming Depression/Anxiety Group 7pm 2/11—7pm Outreach 2/18—Ash Wednesday Service 7PM 2/18—7pm Session THURSDAY: 2/5,12,19,26—Genesis Bells 6:15pm, Church St Ringers 7pm, Adult Choir 8pm—Choir Loft 2/12 TEKS—at Basile’s 7pm 2/26- Woven in Love 6:30pm BK Friday: 2/13-15– Sr High Retreat SATURDAY:11/1 2/7—Men’s Breakfast 8-10am 2/28 –Community Breakfast 8-11am

SUNDAY: 2/1—1st Sunday Food Collection 2/1- National Souper Bowl Sunday 2/1,15 Jr High Youth 6:30 FH 2/8— Annual Congregational Meeting following worship 2/8—Sr High Valentine’s Day Bake Sale 2/22 C-3 Meeting 11:30am 2/22—Mardi Gras Pancake Party 4-7PM 2/22—SR High Meeting—7PM MONDAY: 2/9 Finance Meeting 7pm BK 2/23—Sara Circle 7:30pm TUESDAY: 2/3,10,17,24—Bible Study 9:30am 2/3— CE Meeting—BK Room 7pm 2/3,10,17,24 SM:NB 7:30 Parlor 2/3,10,17,24 SM: NB2 7pm BK 2/3,10,17,24 SM 6pm-10pm Lounge

Committees and Groups—meeting dates and times

Schedule of Events

If the above information is incorrect or if an activity is missing from

the calendar, please update the calendar in the office by notifying

the office manager via phone (973-627-1059) or email

([email protected]).


Lent and Easter season coming soon already, my goodness! Make note, coming up in

early April on Palm Sunday we will have a guest musician, trumpeter Joe Romano,

another colleague of mine from West Orange. We work together at Edison Middle

School. He is very, very good. You won't want to miss this one. He used to play in the

Army Band and has recorded with Mariah Carey.

We are very pleased to have Joe Martinoni and John Pope back in the adult choir.

Three cheers for the guys!!

I would also like to extend an invitation to any singers that would like to join our choir for the Lent and Easter

season, please see me!

Yours in Christ,

When February comes I hope to find,

My mailbox filled with valentines.

It is a time for everyone

To join in all the holiday fun.

What a special time of year,

Remembering loved ones, oh so dear.

preschoolexpress.com

January came and went and we would like to thank the Lion's Club for providing a free eye exam to all our students. We also were able to conduct a wonderful parent workshop on Kindergarten Readiness. Thank you to Doreen Scheetz and Nicole Parzero from the Rockaway Township School District for volunteering their time to conduct the program. February is dental health month! The students would also like to thank Flanders Pediatric Dentistry and one of our

very own parents, Mrs. Spillane, for visiting the school and helping promote good oral hygiene.

It is that time of year again and PCCNS priority registration for the 2014-2015 school year will be on February 3rd and 4th and open enrollment will begin on February 5th. Please help spread the word about our preschool! For further information, please visit our website at www.rockaway-pccns.com or contact Maria Halkias at 973-586-3665 for more information about our exciting new programs and registration for the new school year! Church members receive a 10%

discount.

Maria Halkias

Please keep the food closet in mind and also let your

friends and neighbors know. Food can be dropped off

Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the church office and, of course, any Sunday - especially the 1st Sun-

day of each month.

Items needed most: cereal, tuna, peanut butter, soup, macaroni and cheese, canned meats and meals,

crackers, canned fruit, coffee, tea, cold drink mixes and vegetables. If you need to drop off food when the

office isn't open or have any questions, please leave a message for me at 973-627-1059.

Thank you for your continued support! Linda Kirby

http://www.rockaway-pccns.com/

The First Presbyterian Church—Rockaway

Co-Pastors: The Revs. Mitchell & Susan Trigger

Ministers: All the People

Music Director: Bonnie Pomeroy

Office Manager: Christine Zelinsky

Cemetery Sexton: Robert Nichols

Newsletter Editor: Bette Ann Lindsay

Clerk of Session: Carl Kline

Phone: 973-627-1059 Fax: 973-983-0090

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.fpcrockaway.org

Newsletter deadline: 15th of each month

Send e-mail submissions to: [email protected]

(Please put “Newsletter” in the Subject Line)

PCCNS—973-586-3665 Maria Halkias, Director


Woven in Love

Knit and Crochet Ministry BEGINNERS AND

VETERANS

Woven in Love has new members

joining all the time!

NEXT MEETING

February 26th, 6:30 PM

THE BK ROOM

SARA CIRCLE

Sara Circle meets on the 4th Mon-day of the Month at 7:30pm. We meet in the home of a circle mem-ber and enjoy refreshments, fel-lowship and outreach. For more information, please contact Nancy Kolbusch at 973-366-0873.

We will continue to provide the Church Street Journal either on the church website or in the Narthex. Only a few copies of the newsletter will be mailed to those individuals who either don’t have email or can’t make it to church. Everybody who has access to the internet has access to the newsletter. For those of you who have email, the church office will send you notification when the new issue is available on the website. For those of you without access to the internet, check your bulletin or listen for the announcement in church during opening time that the newest issue is available in the narthex. If you have any questions, comments, complaints, please do not hesitate to contact Wendy at [email protected] or by leaving a message at the church office at 973-627-1059 or in person.

FIRST

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

35 Church St.

Rockaway, NJ

07866-3027

GOD SIGHTINGS, ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING, MARDI GRAS PANCAKE PARTY

2 & 3

NEW MEMBERS CLASS, OVERCOMING ANXIETY & DE-PRESSION, WOVEN IN LOVE, STEPHEN MINISTRY, ASH WEDNEDSAY SERVICE

4 & 5

OUTREACH, SCRIP 6 & 7

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, CHURCH LIBRARY, TEDDY BEAR PROGRAM

8 & 9

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, SR HIGH, WORSHIP CHILD-CARE

10 & 11

CALENDAR, COMMITTEES & GROUP MEETINGS 12 & 13

FOOD CLOSET, PNNC, MUSIC NOTES, SARA CIRCLE, WOVEN IN LOVE

14 & 15

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this year’s annual ecumenical lenten lunches of rockaway ... · cal unrest he discovers the roots...

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