the parish newsfirst presbyterian church of metuchen, nj bible study circles — monday, may 2—...

May 1st marked this year’s Confirmation Sunday with 17 students confirming their faith as Christians in our church. They have been an exceptional class – both in size and “bondedness.” This was a family of friends. Our Special Session meeting with them gave a glimpse of what a kind and caring group they are, and the close friends they have become. On the Tuesday prior to Confirmation Sunday, our Confirmands are examined by Session for their aptitude to become members of the church. All the students wrote detailed Faith Statements describing themselves, their faith journeys and faith influencers, and their understanding of Creator, Son and Spirit. They expounded on what it means to be Presbyterian, sharing thoughts on Presbyterian “polity” with the insightfulness of political scientists. Our students gave overall approval of our Presbyterian governance system of democratic representation and the concept of a “connected” church. They answered questions about ways in which the church can serve them, nourish them spiritually, and be their “church family” that will always be there for them in times of need. And they also described ways in which they planned to serve the church – doing mission projects, providing Sunday School help, singing in choir, ringing handbells, participating in the youth mission trip, helping new ministries form, serving as youth elders and deacons, help-ing at the food pantry. Everyone had something to share and a goal to achieve at the place where their interests and the needs of our community meet. But what was most remarkable at the Special Session meeting was the way these ninth and tenth grade students interacted with our Ruling Elders in a convivial, friendly atmosphere – more like a dinner party conversation than an adversarial examination. One reason for the good feeling was that we have such a likeable group of Confirmands and a very caring community of Elders. Another reason was that we understand table fellowship. For the meeting, we organized three separate tables seating five or six Confirmands and five or six Elders at each. Instead of being asked to face a microphone under hot lights and a sea of adults

Pastor’s Peace continues 2

Presbyterian Women

Camperships for Johnsonburg

3

Spotlight on Buildings and Grounds

4

Treasurer’s Two Cents 5

Kyle Gunsser Culinary School Scholarship

Graduates 2016

Would You Like to Teach Sunday School this Fall?

6

Youth and Family Ministries

Vacation Bible School

H4H Fundraisers—Car Washes

7

Free Community Dinner 8

PW Coordinating Team

PYW Fundraiser—Thank You!

9

A Very Special Youth Group is Waiting to Get to Know You!

Church Staff FPC-Metuchen

10

All Church Picnic—June 5

Tools of Hope

11

Confirmation Class of 2016 12

Inside this issue:

The Parish News May 2016

PASTOR’S PEACE

First Presbyterian Church 270 Woodbridge Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840

Telephone: 732-491-2300 www.fpcweb.org

http://www.facebook.com/FPCMetuchen Sunday Morning Worship starts at 9:30 AM

Rev. Ellen Clark Clémot

May 15, 2016

Day of Pentecost


PASTOR’S PEACE (continued) staring them down with ques-tions, the students sat at tables and talked in small groups with adults who love and care for our kids. At each table, our small group leaders who helped me teach our weekly Confirmation Class for several months: Amy Bertelsen-Robles, Charlie Day, and Janet Aspinwall – all commit-ted Christians, strong in their own faith - started off the table conversations with introductions of the students and then invited each student to share a few thoughts from his or her faith statement. The discussion evolved into more general conversation from there and I quickly found the three conversation groups filled with smiling faces, thoughtful listen-ing, and occasional shared laugh-ter. Instead of interrogation, the groupings began to look more like new-found friendships for some, and renewed bonds for others. I watched as some of the Elders who have known our children of the church for years were now discovering the young adolescents our Confirmands are quickly becoming. I was proud of our students and not at all surprised by our Elders who welcomed them in, and approved them unanimously and enthusi-

astically for membership in the church. Another group of new members joins us on May 8th, Mother’s Day, as adult members transferring from other churches. They come from diverse backgrounds and together have completed their new member’s classes and will soon share the public affirmation of their faith on Sunday in wor-ship. With them come more children. You may know some of them already in our growing Sunday School, robust youth group, bustling choir and much-loved Christmas play. For all these new members and their families we offer our hearts and hospitality as we continue to grow our church in outreach, mission and ministry. One of the best examples of new ministry outreach that I have witnessed this year at our church came to life in the first Community Dinner held on Sunday, April 24th, and led by a Deacon team of Amy Bellisano, Cathy Wolpin, and a host of volunteers, from students to seniors, who prepared and cooked a meal of meatloaf, vegetables, potatoes, and salad - with brownies and ice cream for dessert. It was delicious! The deacons cooked for 100 and sent people home with the leftovers, others took food to the home-bound, and even your minister

received a generous plate of leftovers for Sunday night’s meal. We also included a brief, informal Communion Service after dinner held just outside the dining room for anyone interested. We had 47 people from the community eat with us at that first Community Dinner, about 20% from our congregation. Of those 47 diners, 31 of them worshipped after the meal – under a third of the worshippers were from our congregation. The outreach was a success. Every day since, I have seen or heard from a dinner participant expressing renewed interest in our church. One woman has told me she will start worshipping with us regularly. And that was just a trial run dinner! More Community Dinners will follow on May 31, a Tuesday night, at 6:00 p.m. and then again on Sunday evening, June 12th, at 5:00 p.m. All are welcome – no RSVP is required. The food, the warm hospitality, and loving care, all come to you, like God’s grace, free of charge. Come join us, at worship, in mission, as an officer, as a seeker, as a student, and know that you are welcome - all are welcome - always. Yours in Christ,

Pastor Cle mot

The Gift of Yourself If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person. —Fred Rogers

Article contained in Vol. 38. No. 5 of The NewsletterNewsletter which is published monthly by Communications Resources, Inc. © 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, NJ

Bible Study Circles — Monday, May 2— Esther Circle will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the

PW Lounge at the Social Center and the Mary-Ruth Circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the

Library at Whispering Knoll.

Combined PW Coordinating Team Meeting — Wednesday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the

PW Lounge at the Social Center.

PW 119th Birthday Salad Luncheon — Wednesday, May 18, at noon in the Social

Center Dining Room. Bring a salad, sandwiches, casserole — whatever you’d like to share. PW will provide

beverages and dessert. Entertainment to be announced.

PW Craft Circle — The group will meet again on Friday, May 27, at 10:00 a.m. in the PW Lounge in the

Social Center.

We are Blessed! A great big “thank you” from the Presbyterian Women to

all those who donated items and to our wonderful group

of volunteers from First Presbyterian Church, the YMCA,

and the community-at-large. We raised $9,096.93 and

your support enables us to continue our many mission

projects. Praise the Lord!

Presbyterian Women

Camperships for Johnsonburg

The Presbyterian Women and

the Board of Deacons are offering

Camperships to FPC Youth who

attend Camp Jburg this summer.

For information and to register, go online to www.campjburg.com.

To reserve your camper’s choice, only a $100 deposit must be paid upon registering. Online is this summer’s Schedule, Registration, Brochure, and Forms/Packet which must be completed. FPC Campers do NOT need to complete the “Church Reimbursement Acknowl-edgement Form”.

Parents, for further information or questions regarding the PW and the Deacon’s Camperships, please contact Dee Bonner ([email protected]).

After your camper has made his/her selection and is registered, please send to Dee Bonner:

Camper’s Name

Grade in School in September 2016

Birth Date

Name of Camp Event Attending

Date of Event

Applications for Camperships from PW and the Deacons are available in the Church Office and on the FPC website.

The deadline for submission is 12 noon on Friday, May 13th.

Open House – Camp Jburg

Saturday, May 7th

1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Camp Jburg is having an Open House on May 7th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet summer staff, get a tour, try out some of the program areas and more!

Get a true feel of what Camp Jburg has to offer.


How do we provide a

welcoming place for our congregation and

our community?

The Buildings and Grounds (B&G) Committee is responsible for maintaining our

facilities which include: seven acres of property, two manses, the social center, the church, and education building.

Our congregation meets in our beautiful church sanctuary to worship and praise God.

Our children are nurtured and taught the way of Jesus in our education building.

Members of our church family and the community at large find our Social Center to be a wonderful venue for meetings, programs, and celebrations.

Our two manses provide our pastors with living accommodations that enable ready access to our facilities, staff, and neighbors.

B & G also undertakes special projects that keep our facilities and property safe, clean, welcoming, and useful to our church family and our community.

Recent projects include:

Interior painting, wiring, and floor refinishing in the Senior Pastor’s Manse.

Repairs to the roof, gutters, and downspouts on the church and education

buildings.

New ceiling in the junior high room.

Current and upcoming projects include:

Major renovation to Laureldale manse.

Redesigned chancellery wall in the sanctuary.

Improved lighting in the sanctuary.

New fence between the cemetery and ball field.

First Presbyterian Church

of Metuchen

We serve our community by providing a pleasant, convenient venue for a broad range of activities:

In our Education Building… Community Nursery School, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and support groups

On our Ball Field… Youth baseball, soccer, and flag foot-ball

In our Social Center… Social events, including weddings, showers, birthdays, and anniversary parties

Presbytery and Synod meetings and Awards dinners

Local school district faculty retreats and training sessions

Food Pantry

SUPPORT US When you pledge to First Presbyterian, you help continue the tradition of responsible Christian stewardship of our property and facilities.

JOIN US We welcome your time and talents – no experience necessary!

Contact the church office: (732- 491-2300) or Gary Ostermueller via [email protected].

Buildings and

Grounds

mailto:[email protected]


ASSETS March 31, 2016 Current Assets Checking/Savings $ 46,449.39 Total Checking/Savings $ 46,449.39 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $ 46,449.39

LIABILITIES & EQUITY March 31, 2016 Equity Retained Earnings $ 14,469.08 Net Income $ 31,980.31 Total Equity $ 46,449.39

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY $ 46,449.39

Budget vs. Actual 3/31/16 Actual YTD Projected YTD Difference Income $ 243,787.68 $ 244,641.85 $ -854.17 Expense $ 211,807.37 $ 207,610.10 $ 4,197.27 Net Income $ 31,980.31 $ 37,031.75 $ -5,051.44

Special Accounts Haulenbeek Fund $ 2,315.84 Local Assistance $ 10,437.14 Local Assistance CD $ 17,404.74 Melko Fund $ 22,219.10 Memorial Gifts $ 38,848.45 [$29,579 designated] Social Center Renovation $ 24,313.47 Youth Mission $ 23,300.14 [$1,544 Balance for Triennium] Zundel Fund $ 1,397.47 I&E Balance 3/31/16 $ 4,623,136.64 Social Center Construction Principle Outstanding Phase I 4.5% term note maturing 08/04/2026 $ 306,796.48 Phase II 5.0% term note maturing 06/18/2029 $ 459,056.79 Phase II 5.0% variable $ 80,000.00 interest paid year to date $1,446.27

Treasurer’s Two Cents

Ruth — a Pentecost story? The disciples were celebrating Pentecost, originally a Jewish festival, when the Holy Spirit descended on them and birthed the church. Pentecost, which began as a harvest festival, had come to commemorate the giving of the law. The book of Ruth became integral to festival worship. Why Ruth? This short story doesn’t mention the law, let alone God giving it to Moses. Yet in Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law (“Where you go I will go …. Your people will be my people … ” [Ruth 1:16, NIV]), she fulfills not just the letter but the spirit of the law: loving kindness — all the more remarkable because she’s a foreign-er. Boaz, too, demonstrates exorbitant kindness to Ruth. As Christians celebrate the Spirit bridging differences in Jerusalem, uniting all nationalities by making the gos-pel message intelligible to all people, we too can remember Ruth’s story. For in it, God unites two enemy peo-ples for his grand purpose: Boaz and Ruth’s marriage leads to King David and, ultimately, to King Jesus. Today, the Holy Spirit continues to unite all categories of people under Christ’s reign for the good of the world.



Kyle Gunsser Culinary School Scholarship

The Mission Commission is establishing the Kyle Gunsser Culinary School Scholarship through Elijah’s Promise. Kyle is a graduate of the Culinary School. This scholarship can help assist a neighbor in need; who might be either unemployed, a displaced worker, have a disability or is a veteran. Elijah’s Promise Culinary School has been training individuals in the culinary arts for over thirty years and placing students in internship programs at local area restaurants and food service establishments as a way to get individuals back to being productive members of our community.

Yours in Mission,

Mission Commission

Would You Like to Teach Sunday School this

Coming Fall?

Our vibrant and awesome Sunday school is looking for a few new teaching faces.

We would love to see you share your gifts in this area of our children’s programming.

Training will be offered and you do not need to have your Bible memorized!

No questions are too big or small. Please call 732-491-2264 or email Nancy Leardi our Christian Education Director at [email protected] to discuss the opportunities of this rewarding experience.

GRADUATES 2016 Deadline - June 20

Please submit names of those graduating from high school and college. Deadline for infor-mation is Monday, June 20. Graduates will be recognized in worship on Sunday, June 26, and listed in the Son-Day Paper and the July-August Parish News.

You may email Merry Matlock at the office ([email protected]) with the information:

• Name of Graduate • School • Plans for further education

• Degree graduate obtained


Youth Group Youth Group —— May 4 May 4 (last meeting)(last meeting)

Wednesday Night

Junior & Senior High Combined

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Social Center

—— ALL ARE WELCOME ALL ARE WELCOME ——

SON WORLD ADVENTURE

June 27th - July 1st

Vacation Bible School Registration is now open! Join us for an amazing week, June 27th - July 1st for children entering

K-6th grade (age 5 by June 1).

Registration forms are online from our website and in the Christian Education Office.

OPEN HOUSE

on

May 2 & 3

Who: Children entering Kindergarten to 6th grade

When: June 27—July 1

Times: 9:00 am—11:45 am

Theme: Amusement Park— Choose Jesus!

The following fundraisers are to support our youth as they attend . . .

Habitat for Humanity Youth Mission Trip—July 24—July 30

We need your help to help people afford homes.

— CAR WASHES — May 7 and June 18

Scheduled 9 AM to Noon in the Church Parking Lot

Last Rehearsals for the Youth Choirs

Tuesday, May 10

Jubilee Choir Pizza Party

4:00 PM to 4:30 PM (Rm. 109)

Thursday, May 12

Junior Choir & Joy Ringers Combined Pizza Party

For information on

Christian Education

and

Children and Youth

Programming,

Please contact

Nancy Leardi

Director of Christian Ed.

[email protected]

732-491-2264

Junior ClubJunior Club

Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6

May 5 (last meeting)

Meetings usually are

1st & 3rd Thursdays

5:30 p.m.— 6:45 p.m.

in Social Center.

First Friday ClubFirst Friday Club

Kindergarten & Grades 1 & 2

May 6 (last meeting)

at 6 p.m.— 7:15 p.m.

Join us for some pizza and fun

in the Social Center.

* * * * * * * *

Watch Son-Day Paper

for details.

Youth & Family Ministries


Of Greatest Worth Not what I get, but what I give, this be the gauge by which I live. Not merely joys that come my way, but the help I give to those astray. Not the rewards of money and fame, but the loads I lift in mankind’s name. This be the pay at the end of the day, not what I keep, but what I give away.


THANK YOU, COMMUNITY DINNER VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to all who volunteered to participate in April 24th’s first Free Community Dinner. There were 47 guests and several more meals were deliv-ered to homebound in need. Leftovers were boxed up and given out to attendees to give them home- cooked meals this week. We took surveys and will see what type of information we can gather from them; however, our general observation was that we had a desired mix of attendees: seniors from the senior center, food pantry families, local seniors who dine alone, help group attendees and members who often dine alone. They were all thankful for the food and fellowship and we all felt blessed to be able to serve together. Whether you shopped, set up, cooked, served, cleaned up, greeted or sat and chat-ted with a lonely soul, your service and commitment was much appreciated! Thank you for doing God’s work in our Community!

Following the dinner, most of the attendees joined Pastor Cle mot in the reception area for a warm and welcoming Communion Service. It was heartwarm-ing to see people of all different situations in life praying together under Pastor Cle mot’s leadership.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for the Tues-day, May 31, 6 p.m. dinner, please reach out to Amy Bellisano, [email protected]. We will be reaching out in the weeks to come with some clear direction on the format for this dinner and our cook-ing strategy. Since this is a mid-week trial, we will promote this dinner via all methods used for the

April 24 dinner, and we will be adding a focus on commuters. After our three trial dinners, we will discuss the future of this program at our July Dea-con’s meeting.

With Sincere Thanks,

Amy Bellisano, Lisa Campbell, Cathy Wolpin, and Heidi Hoffsommer

mailto:[email protected]


Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team

Lorraine Bachman — Devotions

Dee Bonner — Treasurer

Carol Carr — Evangelism & Nurture Liaison

Lois Crespy — Co-Moderator and Acting Local Service Coordinator

Marie Hoffsommer — Corresponding Secretary

Nancy Kipnis — Co-Moderator and Moms on Monday

Cindy O’Neill — Fund Raising Coordinator

Rev. Mercy Rumengan — Indonesian Fellowship Liaison and Clergy Representative

Susan Short — Recording Secretary and PW Craft Circle Coordinator

Deb Teall — Program Coordinator

June Young — Sewing Bees and Smocks Coordinator

The Presbyterian Young Women are very thankful to the

congregation and the community for all the donations to

Distributing Dignity. The collection was a complete success.

We were given monetary donations and the girls were able

to shop in Target for additional items. Thank you to every-

one for your support!

(\O/)

/_\

Distributing Dignity’s mission is to distribute new bras and feminine products to enhance the dignity of women in need. They help shelters and organizations across the USA.

Please feel free to check out their website for more infor-mation: www.distributingdignity.org.

New members to the PYW group, Presbyterian Young Women, 9th grade and older are always welcome!

http://www.distributingdignity.org


CHURCH STAFF—FPC Metuchen

CLERGY

Rev. Ellen Clark Clémot . . . . . . . . . .732-491-2300 Temporary Senior Pastor/Head of Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Rev. Mercy Olga Rumengan . . . . . .732-491-2262 Parish Associate . . . . . [email protected]

Rev. Robert A. Beringer - Pastor Emeritus

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Nancy Leardi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2264 Director Christian Ed. . . . . . [email protected]

Justin Karmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2260 Part-Time Youth Pastor . . [email protected]

Wally Cook Youth Leader

MUSIC MINISTRY Brenda Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .732-491-2266 Minister of Music . . . . . . [email protected]

Elaine Hansen Assistant Bell Director and Accompanist

SUPPORT STAFF Merry Matlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2301 Administrative Asst. . . . [email protected]

Sue Harmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .732-491-2302 Church Treasurer . . . . . . [email protected]

Laura Cubbage-Draper . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2303 Office Assistant. . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Jonathan Hollenbeck . . . . . . . . . . .732-491-2270 Facilities Manager. . . . [email protected]

Roger Donnan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2270 Assistant Facilities Manager

COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL

Audrey Kowalski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2242 Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Ingrid Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2244 Administrative Asst. . . [email protected]

Fran Brennan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732-491-2241 Treasurer

A Very Special Youth Group

Is Waiting to Get to Know You!

The First Friday (Kindergarten to 2nd grade) and

Junior Club (3rd grade to 6th grade) is ready to welcome a few new leaders.

This exciting and loving group of youth have smiles and energy as they grow in their faith with games, fellowship and mission projects. Please call Nancy Leardi at 732-491-2264, if you would like to find out more!


TOOLS OF HOPE . . . your rainbow of caring to children and fami-lies the world over . . .

Tools of Hope

June 19 — Father’s Day

We choose to celebrate Father’s Day with a special offering. A contribution to the Church World Service Tools of Hope makes a wonderful alternative gift to honor your father. Complete and return this form to the Church Office. Make your check payable to the First Presbyterian Church ( P. O. Box 385, Metuchen, NJ 08840) with a nota-tion that the money is for “Tools of Hope.”

Deadline to submit forms: Wednesday, June 8, 2016. The Mission Commission will send an acknowledgment note to the person you are honoring. A list of donors will appear in a bulletin insert on Father’s Day, June 19. NAME ___________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER ______________________________________________________________________ AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION $___________________________________ ($5.00/Tools) PLEDGE ENVELOPE # ____________

INFORMATION FOR BULLETIN INSERT & ACKNOWLEDGMENT

GIVEN IN HONOR OF: __________________________________________________________________ HONOREE’S ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ GIVEN IN MEMORY OF: ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday,

June 5

Mark your calendar for the All-Church Picnic on June 5 immediately following worship.

Dress in your casual “picnic” clothes and be ready for games, food and wonderful fellowship.

We plan to hold our picnic on the edge of the ball field behind the Social Center.

Rain or Shine!

Remember to save the Remember to save the date!date!

Church Office

Summer Office Hours

8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Effective after

Memorial Day, May 30, to

Labor Day, September 5.

The Parish News May 2016 First Presbyterian Church P. O. Box 385 270 Woodbridge Avenue Metuchen, NJ 08840

TO:

Address Service Requested

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

PERMIT 746

The information contained herein is for Church use only. Individuals using this information must receive permission of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, NJ.

Welcome our Newest Members—Confirmation Class of 2016. Congratulations!

Dylan Blake

Sarah Jeney

Laura Knecht

Camille Lussier

Jared Manley

Nicole Mulligan

Rachel Sandbeck

Greg Shaver

Garrett Smith

Nate Strathman

Abby Thompson

Will Thompson

Liam Walker

Jordan Watung

Rachel Woran

Alex Yakowenko

Olivia Zolnowski

Special thanks to Laura Cubbage-Draper for taking the photo!

the parish newsfirst presbyterian church of metuchen, nj bible study circles — monday, may 2—...

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