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September

EXPECTATIONS

Emmanuel’s Monthly Newsletter

January Edition

IN THIS ISSUE

Table of Contents

Welcome………………………..1

Pastor’s Message ………….2

New Officers/Council..…..3

Church Ministries.......4-12

News/Celebrate/Mission

Statement……………….13-15

Calendar …………………....16

Sunday Worship Schedule

10:30 am Worship

All are welcome!

14 Hope Street

Ridgewood, NJ

07450

(201) 444-7300

2017

THE MINISTRY AT EM

Ministers

Members of the Congregation

Senior Minister

Pastor Kenneth Gill

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Happy New Year

It may be a totally arbitrary date, but January 1 of each year represents an psychological, and spiritual moment in which we have the opportunity to start over. We need such opportunities and watershed moments in our lives. Every so often, we need to stop and take stock, to look back and look ahead, to dream and to let go. The last point may the most important, and difficult. Someone once said, “You can’t say hello to tomorrow until you say goodbye to yesterday.” Saying goodbye to yesterday is harder for some than others. It is not my particular strong suit. Take a few moments in contemplation sometimes before year’s end and think about all the things that have happened in your life. Every year I create a list, based on the David Letterman model, of Ken Gill’s “Top Ten” for the year. Some of these things are celebra-tory in nature, great surprises and unexpected blessings and others are big losses or things that came out of nowhere. In either case, I usually end up feeling thankful and grateful. I am still alive and breathing, I have survived, or maybe flourished and tomor-row will bring the gift of a new day and a new year. The Jewish “new year”, Rosh Hashanah, (“head of the year”) is celebrated in September during the harvest season, as it is in many other cultures. The theme can be distilled to something like: “Love, Life and Potential.” I suggest we make love, life and potential the theme of our new year as well. As Christians we are called to love and forgive as Jesus did, to celebrate “eternal” life as a gift from God and to reach for the divine potential that exists not only before us but inside of us. I see a blessed and prosperous new year for Emmanuel. There is much to do and much to receive. There are new persons who will wander into our church seeking love and friendship, healing and inspiration. There are relationships to be nurtured and conflicts to be resolved. There is a past to be remembered and, at the same time, to be let go of so that we can embrace a 21st century future. Selah!..Amen…”May it be so!”

Thoughts From

Pastor Gill

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Emmanuel Proposed Slate—2017 November 28, 2016 Officers Moderator—Marilyn Clark Vice Moderator—Nancy Shaver Treasurer—Jennifer Tu Clerk—Jessica Massler

Ministries Christian Education—Jennifer Tu, Nancy MacPhee & Diane Shaver-Rowles Communications—Patrice Foresman, Jessica Massler & Donald Wheeler Deacons—Napoleon Davila, Brent Sjaardema & Pat Walden Fellowship and Hospitality/Coffee—Carol Krzeminski, Florence Degelman & Heidi Ehman Missions—Joan Massler & Nancy Shaver Trustees—Audrey Cocheo, Frank Cocheo, Marie Krieger & David Shaver Worship and Music—John Giresi, Justin Kuo and Donald Wheeler

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In January, the Missions Ministry will again participate in a project for Habitat for Humanity in

Paterson. Boards will be brought in for people to sign and make a contribution for building a house

in Paterson. The boards will be placed in one of the homes being built.

Remember to bring in groceries to be given to The Board of Social Services of Ridgewood and Vicin-

ity for needy families in our area. A list of needed items is posted by the collection box outside the

sanctuary.

If

y

o

2016 Pledge Income

Current Year Last Year

Anticipated, based on pledges: $ 96,883.42

Received: $ 99,355.40

Ahead/(shortfall) $ 2,471.98 ($4,619.48)

(as of 11/30/16)

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Communications Ministry

From the Communications Director

There are several different major communication initiatives at Emmanuel. This update report is

divided into Emmanuel in the News, Event Publicity, and Social Media.

Emmanuel in the News:

Torrejon, R. “Christmas service welcomes those who don’t feel so jolly.” The Ridgewood News. 23

Dec. 2016. 5A.

Torrejon, R. “Christmas service welcomes those who don’t feel so jolly.” The Record. 18 Dec. 2016 at online NorthJersey.com http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2016/12/18/christmas-service-welcomes-those-who-dont-feel-jolly/95535952/

Photograph for Emmanuel’s Christmas Drive for Covenant House New Jersey. The Ridgewood

News. 67 Dec. 6456. 9A.

Event Publicity:

“Blue Christmas Service,” Christmas Eve Service, Christmas Day Service were publicized and advertised on Emmanuel’s Facebook page, NorthJersey.com, and in the local newspapers. Emmanuel’s donation to Covenant House NJ and to the Ridgewood Public Library was publicized.

In celebration of the church’s 125th Anniversary, Emmanuel’s two self-published history books (physical copy and electronic copy) have been donated and catalogued at the Ridgewood Public Library’s Bolger Heritage Center. Emmanuel’s history lives on and will be preserved and archived within the Heritage Center’s Special Archives, Preservation, and Research section of the library. Next time that you are in the Ridgewood Public Library stop by the Heritage Center and check it out. Press releases were sent out to the local newspapers.

Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce advertised the “Blue Christmas” Service, Christmas Eve Service, and Christmas Day Service on its event listing calendar website. Emmanuel’s 125th Anniversary Celebration was advertised within its’ chamber member email list.

Press Releases were sent to The Record, The Ridgewood News, Suburban News- Village News, The Glen Rock Gazette, Pascack Valley Community Life, Pascack Press, Hawthorne Press, the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, and other local newspapers, etc. If you happen to see Emmanuel featured in the newspaper, please bring the article or newspaper clipping to the Church office for our media archives.

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Social Media Data:

As of this report dated 12/27/16:

Facebook:

Emmanuel’s Facebook profile has 154 friends. Prior to my hiring, Emmanuel had only 1 friend on Facebook.

Emmanuel’s Facebook Page has 124 likes.

Emmanuel's Facebook page post with the Blue Christmas Service online article that was featured on NorthJersey.com reached 597 people. The Emmanuel Facebook page post reach is up 625 for the week of 12/14/16-12/23/16. Those are record numbers for Emman-uel’s Facebook page!

If you or your friends are on Facebook, please follow the church at https://www.facebook.com/EBCRidgewood/

Twitter:

80 Tweets

10 Followers

If you are on Twitter, please follow the church at https://twitter.com/EBCRidgewood

YouTube:

7 Subscribers

If you or your friends are on YouTube, please follow the church at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOj2Z_9lvRFalQmYo6vM8VQ

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Emmanuel held an annual Christmas Drive for the youth and collected Christmas Wish List items for donation to Covenant House New Jersey. (Left to Right: Rev. Pastor Ken Gill of Emmanuel; Marcia Mann, Senior Development Director at Covenant House of NJ; and Martin Massler of Emmanuel who headed the Christmas 2016 Drive).

Emmanuel's Men's Fellowship and friends decorated the Sanctuary with beautiful poinsettias, garland, and lights.

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Emmanuel's Christmas Eve Service brightens the Silent, Holy Night with luminaries, candles, and Christmas tree lights.

Pastor Ken Gill preaches at the Christmas Service.

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“How Does Christ’s Coming Revolutionize Our Understanding of God?”

Join us each Sunday at 9:15 as we reflect on Bible passages

and on Chapter 5 in our resource book,

The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian D. McLaren.

During the Christmas season, our kids enjoyed Breakfast with Santa at Christ Church. And Santa made a special visit to our kids at Emmanuel bringing gifts. He even brought some chocolates for our "kids at heart". Sunday School resumes on January 8, 2017 during Sunday worship, excepting Communion Sunday when the older youth remain in service. Looking ahead to 2017, all in Christian Ed wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year!

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Wider Circle of Prayer & Prayer Group

***Brian McLaren, The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World’sLargest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to be Christian. Convergent, 6456.

12/26-1/1/2017 The Bible in Labor Ch 6

New Section: The Missional Migration: From Organized Religion to Organizing Religion

1/2 PRAYER GROUP 7:30-9

1/2 -1/8 That Beautiful Romance Ch 7

1/9-1/15 Salvation from the Suicide Machine Ch 8

1/16-1/22 You are Social Poets Ch 9

1/23-1/29 The Broken Open Heart Ch 10

1/30-2/5 Afterword: We Stepped Forth. The Waters Parted

SAVE THE DATE: DISCUSSION WITH BRIAN MCLAREN,

Sunday, March 19, 2017. Westside Presbyterian Church

For a copy of The Great Spiritual Migration, please ask Jo Marie in the Church office, Pastor Judy or Don Wheeler

The Tuesday night Bible study will take place on the first and third Tuesday of the month. The first Tuesday we will be discussing sections of “Reading the Bible through Third World Eyes” BY Robert Macafee Brown. The third Tuesday will feature a forum/presentation on a contemporary social issue in a biblical context, and take place right after the Pasta Dinner.

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Women of Emmanuel SHARE luncheon was Tuesday, December 20th, and enjoyed by all in attendance. Thank you to all who helped make this a great event!

THE MITTEN TREE was a huge success! 235 hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, toys and clothing items were delivered to Children’s Services in Hackensack on the 8th of De-cember to assure that these items would be received by children in need for Christmas.

Thank you for helping to make a joyful Christmas for many children.

Women’s Reflection Group

Join us on Jan. 15th at 7 pm as we support one another in

beginning our faith journey for 2017!!

We’ll meet again Friday, January 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Nancy Shaver to discuss The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. Please call Nancy and let her know you are attending and what food item you’ll bring.

The Community Pasta Dinner

THE COMMUNITY PASTA DINNER is scheduled for January 17th at 6 p.m. Please come and bring friends. It is nice to know attend-ance ahead of time in order to plan accordingly, so please call ei-ther the church office, 201-444-7300, or Marilyn, 201-391-4720.

CULTURES and FRIENDSHIP INTERNATIONAL Celebrating 31 years of international friendships!

New Year’s Luncheon on Jan. 11th at noon Tofu House, Ridgewood

Men’s Fellowship

The Next Breakfast will be on January 7th at 9:00 am

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Do you have an idea, thought or topic that you would like to share in our

monthly newsletter? If so please send your submission for Expectations to

the church office at office@ebcridgewood.org.

If you are interested in being a part of the church choir and can

make a commitment to attending practice on Wednesday nights

please contact John Giresi at 201 906-3717 or email: giresi-

Let’s Recycle….Please consider donating your used eyeglasses.

Box is located in library.

The Brown Bag Discussion Group Monday at 12:00 pm.

Join us for a stimulating discussion on books ranging from

religion & culture, theology, politics and current affairs.

Bring a lunch. All are welcome.

ESL Community Outreach Program

Each Thursday evening at 7:30 English language learners practice speaking,

reading, and writing skills in a small group setting.

All are welcome to join our multicultural circle of learning.

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The Annual Meeting of Emmanuel will be Sunday, January 22nd, 2017, immediately following worship and will be held in the Sanctuary. Following the meeting we will celebrate our retiring Council Members at a re-ception in the Peace Lounge.

The January Council Meeting will be held Monday, January 23rd, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome, however, guests who wish to attend and speak at the Council Meeting please notify Marilyn Clark.

Baptism

Anyone interested in being baptized please

contact Pastor Gill or one of the deacons.

125th ANNIVERSARY TIME CAPSULE…

125th Anniversary Reminder: Bring your suggestions and items to go in the Time Capsule…

Peace and Justice Forum

“White Like Me: Race, Racism and White Privilege in America”, Tim Wise– video part II: discussion on the quest for racial justice and human rights. Tuesday, January 17, 7:00-8:45 pm, Church Library.

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The 35th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

in Ridgewood and Glen Rock

January 16, 2017

“Together in Hope”

10 am---Interfaith Service

Speaker: Imam Zaid Shakir

1130---- Rally and March

Noon--- Community Luncheon

All are invited!

Ridgewood United Methodist Church

100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood

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2– Ken Campbell

Ann McGahey

6-Heidi Ehman

17– Jean Smith

22-Souci Grimsley

Choon Hyun

25-Dave Shaver

Jo Marie Quinn

January Anniversary

28– The Grimsleys

January Birthdays

Meetings

We are no longer having the all board meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month . Individual ministry groups and

committees can convene at their own discretion.

EMMANUEL VISION STATEMENT

A growing community, celebrating the rich diversity of God’s people and treasuring our

common humanity, sharing and learning about Christ’s love in the contemporary world through

worship, spiritual disciplines, intellectual study, mission work, social and environmental justice,

advocacy and artistic, interfaith and multicultural experiences. We welcome everyone’s company

at our table, as Jesus did.

(Revised December 7, 2014 with input from the Congregation)

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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Office

Closed

7:30 pm Prayer Grp

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7:00 pm Bible Study

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8:30 pm AA

5

7:30 pm ESL

6

6:30 pm & 8:30

pm AA

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9:00 am Men’s Fellowship Breakfast

8 9:15 Adult Sunday School 10:30 am Worship

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12:00 noon Discussion Group

7:30 pm Deacons Mtg/Trustees Mtg

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CFI-Luncheon offsite

8:30 pm AA

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7:30 pm ESL

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6:30 pm & 8:30 pm AA

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15 9:15 Adult Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Baptism Deacons Luncheon 7 pm Women’s Reflection Grp

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Office closed 10 am Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration @ Ridgewood United Method-ist church

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6:00 pm Pasta Dinner 7:00 pm Justice/Peace forum

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8:30 pm AA

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7:30 pm ESL

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6:30 pm & 8:30 pm AA

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6 pm Renewal of Vows

22 9:15 Adult Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Congregational Mtg following Worship

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12:00 noon Discussion Group

7:30 pm Council Mtg

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25

8:30 pm AA

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7:30 pm ESL

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6:30 pm

Reader’s Choice

6:30 pm & 8:30

28

29

9:15 Adult Sunday School 10:30 am Worship

30

12:00 noon Discussion Group

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1

8:30 pm AA

2

7:30 pm ESL

3

6:30 pm & 8:30

pm AA

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