the cast of upc's production of godspell, jr. presents ... cast of upc's production of...
TRANSCRIPT
In Touch THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FLANDERS, NJ 07836
The Cast of UPC's production of Godspell, Jr. presents:
BROADWAY, HERE WE COME!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
6 pm Ziti Dinner 7 pm Performance of favorite Broadway hits
Ticket includes dinner and show $10 adults
$5 for kids under 12
To reserve tickets, contact: (973)584-8195
United Presbyterian Church, Flanders 58 Drakesdale Rd.
Flanders, NJ 07836
Page 2 May 2013 In Touch
I sit down to write this eight days after the tragic
B o s t o n m a r a t h o n bombing. Our thoughts
and prayers continue to go out to the Boston community
and to all those most affected by that hateful crime. I am grateful that my
daughter Sarah and Dennis and Karen Brand’s daughter Jessica, who works at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, are ok. News reports and Facebook postings continue to keep this story alive and no doubt will beyond the time when you get this issue of the In Touch. Questions about why these two young men did what they did, in spite of being naturalized American citizens, how they came to be radicalized by radical Muslim “jihad’ philosophy (as seems to be the case), how they learned how to created such small but powerful weapons of mass destruction, are all questions that beg to be answered and haunt the imagination. For us, like goes on, though we may hug our children a little tighter at night, stay a little closer in touch with absent relatives and friends by phone or email, a little more mindful of the fragility of life. The Psalms are always good places to turn on the spiritual journey, no matter what the situation, no matter what the challenge or opportunity we face. The opening words of Psalm 46, for example, always pop into my mind in a time of disruption or disorientation, on a personal or a larger scale:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Scripture is nothing if not brutally honest about
Rick’s
Ramblings
the troubles that can come our way. It never promises us protection from or exemption from difficulty. Yet it is equally honest and equally confident that in all things, God is faithful, God is trustworthy, always present in the midst of strife, even if not shielding us from it. The way of faith is to trust God, “even if”, sometimes “in spite of” the curve balls life tosses our way. Picking up that theme, I like the way one of the hymns in our hymnal puts it – “If you but trust in God to guide you, with hopeful heart through all your ways, God will give strength, whate’er betide you, to bear you through the evil days. Who trust in God’s unchanging love, builds on the rock that nought can move.” And all God’s people said, “Amen!” Grace and peace,
Rev. Rick
“Proof of Heaven”? If you keep up with the world of books, you may have noticed that lately there has been a spate of best-selling books telling stories of near-death experiences and what happened on “the other side”. The latest of these is called “Proof of Heaven, A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife”” by Eben Alexander, a prominent doctor and professor in the Boston area. ‘Proof of Heaven” will be the May reading selection of the monthly UPC Food 4 Thought Reading Group. This month’s meeting will be on Wednesday May 29 at The
After at 7:30 pm. If you are interested in joining us or would like more information, please talk to Rev. Rick. Whether or not anyone can offer proof of heaven, the book has certainly struck a chord and promises to be a fascinating read.
Page 3 May 2013 In Touch
Soup Kitchen This month we will be serving Cheesy Italian Shells Casserole at the Dover
Soup Kitchen on Thursday, May 23, 2013. We need 12 people to cook. Please sign up in the hall. All supplies can be picked up in the kitchen. Cooked entrées must be returned by Tuesday, May 21, 2013.
2013 Confirmation Class Enters The Home Stretch
Many thanks to all of our UPC families who contributed a small token of love through this year’s “Love Tsunami” donations. The class was presented with their gifts the first weekend of April at the annual Confirmation families’ dinner, this year held at Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, due to an issue with the use of the CE Wing that particular weekend. The class will be leading our annual Mother’s Day service on May 12 and meeting with the Session at a luncheon the following Sunday. Confirmation Sunday will then be on June 2. Please continue to pray for the class as they put the finishing touches on their Statements of Faith and enter the home stretch of their confirmation experience. In case you have forgotten, this year’s confirmation class is: Emily Silkowski, Jackie Plate, Charlie Plate, Paige Revelle, Kelsey Reynolds, Ryan Tom and Madison Peach.
Congratulations, Grads!
It’s about that time again, as college seniors are feverishly finishing up finals and final projects in
preparation for getting their coveted diplomas. High school grads have a little more time, but they have plenty to do to finish up, as well as finalize their plans for post-high school life. This year Rev. Rick and his family will be celebrating son Tim’s graduation from The College of New Jersey on Thursday May 16 and Friday May 17.
We always like to compile a list of this year’s high school and college (and if there are any, post-college) grads to print in the June In Touch. If you have a son, daughter or other relative who will be a graduate of some sort this year, please shoot an email to Danielle in the church office with the details. If he or she is a high school grad, and college or trade school is in the future, we would like that information as well.
We usually pick a Sunday in June to invite our high school grads to join us so we can honor them in the context of Sunday worship. We have a larger than usual crop of high school grads this year (remember that giant confirmation class of a few years ago? Yep, that’s them!) We’ll let you know as soon as that June date is set.
Welcome to the Fun ‘n’ Friends Zoo! The children made many different animals and then went to the “zoo” to learn more about each of them. We hope that you had the chance to check them out in the Christian Ed wing.
The school raised $150 that was donated to Turtle Back Zoo to adopt a Red Panda for one year.
Victor’s Mixed Martial Arts A BIG thank you to Victor’s Mixed Martial Arts for sharing their program with Fun ‘n’ Friends Junior and Senior children. The children really enjoyed themselves. We are pleased to announce that the Martial Arts Studio is donating all of the proceeds to Fun-N-Friends Nursery School!
Meet Rusty
Page 4 May 2013 In Touch
Let’s Play Ball!
Baseball’s Opening Day is now well behind us, but here at UPC we are just gearing up for another fun season in the local church co-ed softball league. This league brings men and women, and youth together in a fellowship rather than competitive atmosphere to enjoy some fun as a church with other churches. Even if you don’t play, please come out and “root, root, root for the home team”. See our schedule below. For more information, please contact Mike Dzurina or Marty Thompson. We’ll supply the popcorn and Cracker Jacks!
United Presbyterian Church, Flanders Softball Schedule
Date Home Team Visiting Team Field
Tues. ,April 30 Word of Life Christian Ministries
UPC, Flanders Crescent Street Field, Dover
Fri. May 10 Hope Church UPC, Flanders Virtual, Virtual City
Mon. May 13 UPC, Flanders Morristown United Methodist Church
UPC, Flanders
Fri. May 24 Christ Church UPC, Flanders Christ Church - Rockaway
Tues. May 28 UPC, Flanders Valley View Chapel UPC, Flanders
Tues. June 4 Succasunna United Methodist Church
UPC, Flanders Port Morris Park, Port Morris
Tues. June 11 UPC, Flanders Mount Olive Community Bible Church
UPC, Flanders
Tues. June 18 Presbyterian Church in Morristown
UPC, Flanders Harter Road Field, Morris Township
Tues. June 25 UPC, Flanders Hope Church UPC, Flanders
Tues. July 2 UPC, Flanders Grace, The Church on the Mount
UPC, Flanders
Rise Up, O Men of God!
Father’s Day (June 17) is just around the corner. As we have done in the past, we are putting out a call to any and all men of UPC to share in that day with us. We would like several of you to each speak for 5 – 7 minutes on some aspect of your life, faith or church involvement. Together you will collectively be the “sermon” for this Father’s Day recognition. This is a wonderful opportunity for church men to give brief testimony about what their faith, their families or their church means to them. If you are interested in stepping forward this year, please contact Rev. Rick or Tom Speer, who leads our Men’s Group.
Annual Congregational Picnic
When: Sunday, June 9, 2013 Time: Immediately following the 10:00 AM
Worship service Cost: $8.00 adult Free - children under 9 years Please fill in the reservation form insert and place it in the box in the Narthex and in this In Touch. Checks should be made to UPC, Flanders. Any questions, see Karen Brand (973-512-3308).
Page 5 May 2013 In Touch
Family Matters
Please Join the UPC Family Ministries Team “PENNIES FROM HEAVEN”
For Relay For Life
When: June 8 - 9, 2013 Where: Mount Olive High School Who: UPC Families
What is Relay For Life? The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.
Why Relay? Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a life-changing experience. At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember, and fight back. And every person who participates joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer.
No matter why you take part in Relay, however, one thing is clear: with every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives. With your help, we aren’t just fighting one type of cancer – we’re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Each person who shares the Relay experience can take pride in knowing that they are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or claim another year of anyone’s life.
Who? Anyone can participate in Relay For Life. Friends, families, neighbors, classmates, sports teams, etc., can form their own teams. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay.
Sign up your family/self on the sheet on the hallway bulletin board under Family Ministries
Lisa Silkowski – Family Ministries Elder
Page 6 May 2013 In Touch
The Immigrant Apostles’ Creed
The following is an affirmation of faith, recently accessed from a Facebook posting of the Rev. Dr. Neal Presa, current Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
I believe in Almighty God, Who guided the people in exile and in exodus, The God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in
Babylon, The God of foreigners and immigrants.
I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean, Who was torn away from his people and his
home, who fled His country with his parents when his life was in
danger. When he returned to his own country he
suffered under the Oppression of Pontius Pilate, the servant of a
foreign power. Jesus Was persecuted, beaten, tortured, and unjustly
condemned to Death. But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead, Not as a scorned foreigner but to offer us
citizenship in God’s Kingdom.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom
among us, Who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, And reunites all races. I believe that the Church is the secure home For foreigners and for all believers. I believe that the communion of saints begins When we embrace all God’s people in all their
diversity.
I believe in forgiveness, which makes us all equal before God,
And in reconciliation, which heals our brokenness.
I believe that in the Resurrection God will unite us as one people In which all are distinct and all are alike at the
same time. I believe in life eternal, in which no one will be
foreigner But all will be citizens of the kingdom Where God reigns forever and ever. Amen.
When God Made Moms
B y the time the Lord made mothers, He was into His sixth day of working overtime. An
angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?”
The Lord answered and said, 'Have you seen the special sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; have 200 moveable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up; have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart; and six pairs of hands. The angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No way!" said the angel.
The Lord replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem, it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have." "And that's just on the standard model?" the angel asked. The Lord nodded in agreement, "Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing, even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head are to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can and the third pair are here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word."
The angel tried to stop the Lord, "This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish." "But I can't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can feed a family of six on a pound of hamburger AND can get a nine year old to stand in the shower."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?" asked the angel. The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord objected. "That's a tear!" “What's a tear for?" the angel asked. The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief and her pride." - Author Unknown
Page 7 May 2013 In Touch
Su
nd
ay
Mo
nd
ay
Tu
esd
ay
We
dn
es
da
y
Th
urs
da
y
Frid
ay
Sa
turd
ay
1
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir I
6:3
0pm
Bells
2
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir II
6:3
0pm
Chancel C
hoir
3
10:0
0am
W
om
en o
f Faith
4
8:0
0 - 1
0:0
0a
m
AS
P B
rea
kfa
st a
t
App
lebe
e’s
5 C
OM
MU
NIO
N
10:0
0am
Wors
hip
& S
S
11
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m C
on
firma
tion
Cla
ss
6
7
7:3
0pm
New
Song
8
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir I
6:3
0pm
Bells
7:3
0pm
Com
munity
9
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir II
6:3
0pm
Chancel C
hoir
10
10:0
0am
W
om
en o
f Faith
11
12
C
onfirm
atio
n C
lass
Lea
ds S
erv
ice
10:0
0am
Wors
hip
& S
S
13
14
7:3
0pm
New
Song
Pre
sbyte
ry M
eetin
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15
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir I
6:3
0pm
Bells
16
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir II
6:3
0pm
Chancel C
hoir
17
10:0
0am
W
om
en o
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18
6:0
0pm
Ziti D
inn
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7:0
0pm
Sho
w
19
10:0
0am
Wors
hip
& S
S
11
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essio
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ts
with
Co
nfirm
an
ds
20
7:3
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Sessio
n M
tg.
21
7:3
0pm
New
Song
22
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir I
6:3
0pm
Bells
23
10:0
0am
Soup K
it. 5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir II
6:3
0pm
Chancel C
hoir
24
10:0
0am
W
om
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25
26
10:0
0am
Wors
hip
& S
S
27
28
7:0
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m F
un ‘n
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riends B
oard
m
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g
29
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir I
6:3
0pm
Bells
7:3
0pm
“Food fo
r T
hought” @
The A
fter
30
5:1
5pm
Alle
luia
Choir II
6:3
0pm
Chancel C
hoir
31
10:0
0am
W
om
en o
f Faith
F
un ‘n
’ Frie
nds
Gra
duatio
n
UP
C, F
LA
ND
ER
S
9:00
AM
2nd Saturday
May Day
Mem
oria
l D
ay
IN T
OU
CH
D
EA
DL
INE
Ch
urc
h O
ffice
C
los
ed
Lookin
g A
he
ad to
Jun
e
S
un
da
y, J
un
e 2
- Confirm
atio
n S
unda
y
Sun
da
y, J
un
e 9
- All C
hurc
h P
icnic
May 2013 In Touch The United Presbyterian Church 58 Drakesdale Road Flanders, NJ 07836
Phone: 973-584-8195 and 973-584-1450 Fax: 973-584-8253
Pastor: Rev. Rick Oppelt Church e-mail: [email protected] Website: www..unitedpcf.com In Touch e-mail: [email protected]
THE DEADLINE FOR THE June 2013 IN TOUCH is
May 22
P lease submit any information you want included in the June 2013 In Touch to
the church office or by e-mail ([email protected]) on or before that date. All are welcome to contribute. In general, each month the deadline for the In Touch will be the third Wednesday of the month (the Wednesday after the monthly Session meeting).
Page 9 May 2013 In Touch
VA
CA
TIO
N B
IBL
E S
CH
OO
L
RE
GIS
TR
AT
ION
Au
gu
st 5-9
9:0
0am
– 1
2:0
0p
m
Age 4
(by 1
0/1
3) to
com
pleted
5th g
rade
Ch
ild’s N
ame: _
_____
___
___
___
___
___
__
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___
___
___
Ad
dress:_
____
__
____
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__
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Ph
on
e #: _
____
___
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
Cell P
ho
ne #
:___
____
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
Paren
t’s Nam
e/s: ____
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
E-m
ail Add
ress:_____
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
Em
ergen
cy C
on
tact:__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
& N
um
ber:_
____
____
___
___
___
___
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__
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Allerg
ies: ___
___
____
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Birth
Date:_
____
____
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__
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Grad
e Co
mp
leted: _
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
Paren
ts & teen
s…..H
ow
can y
ou h
elp o
ut d
urin
g th
e week
?
___ T
eachin
g
___ H
elp w
ith sk
its, gam
es, vid
eo (1
or m
ore d
ays)
___ D
onate sn
acks
___ H
elp w
ith d
ecoratio
ns (2
week
s befo
re)
___ T
een h
elper 7
th grad
e & u
p
___ O
ther _
__________
_________________________________
Nam
e and th
e day(s) I can
help
______________________________
(There is also
a sign
-up sh
eet in th
e hallw
ay.)
Th
ere will b
e no
fee for th
is Bib
le sch
ool cla
ss, bu
t a d
on
atio
n w
ou
ld b
e
mu
ch a
pp
reciated
. On
ly a
s a g
uid
e, we u
sua
lly sp
end
ab
ou
t $25
-$30
per ch
ild to
run
this p
trogra
m.
Th
rou
gh
a
series of
ph
oto
grap
hs
taken
th
roug
hou
t th
e
entire w
eek o
f vario
us V
BS
even
ts, the U
nited
Presb
yterian
Chu
rch
Fam
ily
can
enjo
y
the
fun
and
ex
citemen
t
exp
erienced
by o
ur ch
ildren
.
We
respect
the
priv
acy
of
all in
div
idu
als, an
d
for
that
reason
we ask
that y
ou
please co
mp
lete the fo
llow
ing
ph
oto
release con
sent fo
r you
r child
(ren).
By
signin
g
this
photo
release
consen
t fo
rm,
I g
ive
the
Un
ited P
resbyterian
Chu
rch o
f Flan
ders p
ermissio
n to
use
my
child
’s p
ho
tograp
h
for
pub
lication
s, p
rom
otio
nal
pu
rpo
ses, w
ebsite,
med
ia press
release an
d
cov
erage,
bulletin
bo
ards,
UP
C
scrapb
ook
/ph
oto
alb
um
an
d
oth
er
such
pu
rpo
ses on
beh
alf of th
e United
Presb
yterian
Chu
rch.
Nam
e of p
arent/g
uard
ian (p
lease prin
t):
____
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
Sig
natu
re: ____
___
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
Date: _
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
OR
I do
not w
ish to
hav
e my ch
ild’s p
icture tak
en.
Nam
e of p
arent/g
uard
ian (p
lease prin
t):
____
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
Sig
natu
re: ____
___
__
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
Date: _
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
__
___
___
___
_
Page 10 May 2013 In Touch
AN
NU
AL
CON
GR
EGR
AT
ION
AL
PICN
IC
Su
nd
ay
, Ju
ne
9, 2
013
IMM
ED
IATE
LY F
OLLO
WIN
G
10A
M W
OR
SH
IP S
ER
VIC
E
CA
SU
AL D
RESS, LO
TS O
F F
UN
,
GO
OD
FO
OD
, FELLO
WSH
IP, A
ND
GA
MES
Ad
ults: $
8.0
0
Ch
ildre
n (u
nd
er 9
) Fre
e
Fill in
the
rese
rva
tion
form
be
low
an
d p
lac
e in
the
na
rthe
x in
the
bo
x la
be
led
“Pic
nic
”
no
late
r tha
n J
un
e 2
nd
Ple
ase
inc
lud
e p
ay
me
nt w
ith th
e fo
rm
(ch
ec
ks p
ay
ab
le to
UPC
)
Na
me
______________________________________________
Ph
on
e:_
_____________________________________________
# A
du
lts ________________ #
Ch
ildre
n _
_______________
I will b
ring
: Sa
lad
(an
y k
ind
) ________________________
De
ssert
_________________________________
I ca
n h
elp
: ___ S
etu
p S
atu
rda
y, J
un
e 2
5, 2
01
1
___ S
etu
p S
un
da
y
___ C
lea
n-u
p S
un
da
y a
fter p
icn
ic
___ c
oo
kin
g
___ g
am
es
SEE K
AR
EN
BR
AN
D (9
73
-512
-33
08
) WITH
AN
Y Q
UESTIO
NS
AN
NU
AL
CON
GR
EGR
AT
ION
AL
PICN
IC
Su
nd
ay
, Ju
ne
9, 2
013
IMM
ED
IATE
LY F
OLLO
WIN
G
10A
M W
OR
SH
IP S
ER
VIC
E
CA
SU
AL D
RESS, LO
TS O
F F
UN
,
GO
OD
FO
OD
, FELLO
WSH
IP, A
ND
GA
MES
Ad
ults: $
8.0
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ildre
n (u
nd
er 9
) Fre
e
Fill in
the
rese
rva
tion
form
be
low
an
d p
lac
e in
the
na
rthe
x in
the
bo
x la
be
led
“P
icn
ic”
no
late
r tha
n J
un
e 2
nd
Ple
ase
inc
lud
e p
ay
me
nt w
ith th
e fo
rm
(ch
ec
ks p
ay
ab
le to
UP
C)
Na
me
______________________________________________
Ph
on
e:_
_____________________________________________
# A
du
lts ________________ #
Ch
ildre
n _
_______________
I will b
ring
: Sa
lad
(an
y k
ind
) ________________________
De
ssert
_________________________________
I ca
n h
elp
: ___ S
etu
p S
atu
rda
y, J
un
e 2
5, 2
01
1
___ S
etu
p S
un
da
y
___ C
lea
n-u
p S
un
da
y a
fter p
icn
ic
___ c
oo
kin
g
___ g
am
es
SEE K
AR
EN
BR
AN
D (9
73
-512
-33
08
) WITH
AN
Y Q
UESTIO
NS