First Press A publication of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, NJ

Transcription

1 February 2016 First Press A publication of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, NJ From the Pastor I f those who who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. - Galatians 6:3 Self-Awareness At the New Year, a lot of people have been thinking about self-improvement. But the key to self-improvement is self-awareness. One of the most difficult tasks we face is having the courage to look at ourselves and really evaluate: How am I doing? How am I doing as a relationship partner, worker, citizen, and above all, how am I doing as a follower of Jesus? This is not about beating ourselves up. Understand that identifying our strengths our true strengths is critical as well. Because simply identifying our weaknesses isn t the path to being the best person we can be. Our God-given talents lie in specialized areas, not every area. Sometimes we need to acknowledge and accept our weaknesses, learn to adapt to them, and focus on our strengths. In my experience, people tend toward three basic fallacies: Inside this Issue: News for the Congregation 3 1. They think they are better than they are in an area; 2. They either overestimate or underestimate their ability to improve in a given area; 3. They focus on their weaknesses instead of developing their strengths. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:3, If those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. I would argue the reverse also applies as well: if you think you are nothing when you are something, you also deceive yourself. FPC Family Ministries 4 FPC Mission: Help Build God s World From the Choir Room 5 People You Know 6 February Calendar 7 Church Contact Information 5 back cover Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Remember that the Bible is the best mirror. And then map a plan for Godinspired self-improvement that honestly evaluates yourself, develops your strengths further and improves the areas you can improve. Honesty is the best policy in a lot of ways. Self-awareness is one. Peace and blessings,

2 News for the Congregation SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the East Room. The Sunday Morning Bible Study meets at 10:00 a.m. in the East Room each week. We review the text that forms the basis of the sermon that day, illuminating issues of history and context. BREATHING ROOM: A FOUR-WEEK LENTEN DISCIPLINE Wednesdays, February 17 & 24; March 9 & 16 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the East Room Too often we find ourselves struggling with schedules, budgets, and relationships that leave us with no margin no room to breathe. Lent is a time for sacrificial discipline. Breathing room challenges you to consider what events need to be cut from your schedule, what spending needs to be cut from your budget, and which relationships you need to back away from. Join Pastors Rich and Kellie for this four-week discussion (using video and a participant s guide) that will help encourage you to reconfigure your life and breathe. SUPER BOWL PARTY, FEBRUARY 7TH Immediately after the Crossroads service ends at 6:30 p.m. watch the Super Bowl in the Chapel on the BIG screen. Bring a snack and/or (non-alcoholic) beverage to share. It s an especially friendly place to watch. You are all invited! Come to Crossroads and stay for the game. Page 2 ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of Teaneck, One Church St, Teaneck Come begin our observance of Lent with the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper and the imposition of ashes together with several area churches. LENTEN WORSHIP AND SOUP LUNCH Wednesday, February 17 through March 16 at 12 p.m. There will be a Lenten Worship and Soup Lunch series each Wednesday at noon in the Chapel from Wednesday, February 17 through March 16. Each week we will have a brief worship followed by fellowship around a simple meal of hearty soups and bread. Soup makers are needed! COME, WALK THE LABYRINTH IN THE CHAPEL DURING LENT The Labyrinth and Prayer Stations in the East Room are open on Friday, February 19, 4 7 p.m. and on Sunday, the 21st, 12 noon 4 p.m. to enrich your Lenten Journey. February 2016

3 GRIEFSHARE GriefShare is a faith-based, friendly, caring meeting with a group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life s most difficult experiences. Griefshare will be holding a spring 2016 session on March 30 June 1. COPE: CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP In partnership with the Bergen Family Center / Thursday, February 18, 7:00-9:00 pm in the East Room. Are you feeling the stress of being a caregiver? If you are looking for resources or a space to get it all out - come to COPE: FPC s Caregivers Support Group. COPE is led by Sheila Shur, LSW, of the Bergen Family Center. For additional information, contact Dorothy VanderWerf at dorothyv@englewoodpres.org. Please feel free to forward this invitation. All are welcome. SAVE THE DATE: ST. PATRICKS DAY DINNER Saturday March 19th 6 p.m. Look for information in early March for dinner tickets to this fun annual event featuring corned beef and cabbage! Come visit this FPC space that serves to stir the creative spirit! DRAWING SEEING AND THINKING: WATERCOLORS Look for more information as this art class moves to February Wednesday evenings in the Art Loft. Hope you can join in. For more information Elaine at elainevo@verizon.net. GET THE FPC APP! COFFEE & CONVERSATION Have a Sunday you can coordinate? We welcome your help and have made C&C very simple. Pastor Kellie to sign up for a Sunday in January and February. Kellie@englewoodpres.org. ADULTS PLAY BASKETBALL ON THURSDAYS Come, enjoy good friends and a fun game on February 4, 11, 18, & 25 from 7:30 9:30 p.m. in Elmore Hall. Philip Soo is the coordinator, soorealtors@gmail.com. First Press Watch the 90 Second Sermons, listen to past messages, check the church calendar, find out about Connect Groups even give online! Parents receive notifications with suggestions for faith-based family discussions. For Android or iphone just search Englewood Presbyterian in your app store. ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE There are two entrances which are barrier-free into the building. There is one into Elmore Hall from the Dwight Place side of the building near the Memorial Garden and the other is through the Playground down the sidewalk to the entrance door which leads into the long hall between Elmore Hall and the Sanctuary. Page 3

4 FPC Family Ministries Grow in faith and play with heart. A place for families to build God s world. SOUPER BOWL OF CARING Souper Bowl of Caring is youth across the nation working to fight hunger and poverty in their own community. FPC youth will be collecting donations on Feb. 7th at the doors of the sanctuary right after church. They will use the money collected to purchase food to prepare a meal for the families who stay in Elmore Hall in the summer through Family Promise. MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Middle Schoolers and families SAVE THE DATE for Tuesday February 9th at 5 p.m. for a Middle SCHOOL NIGHT Trip to feed dinner to the homeless in NYC (at our partner church Jan Hus Presbyterian Church.) More details to follow - bring a parent or jump in Pastor Kellie's car. HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Save the Dates for Sunday February 7th (Souper Bowl of Caring) and save the date for our next High School MeetUp on 3/20 (2 p.m.-4 p.m.). CAMP JOHNSONBURG Camp Johnsonburg, our Presbyterian camp in western NJ, is offering a Winter Family Weekend, 2/12-2/14. Stay in their heated lodges, all meals included for a chance to enjoy indoor and outdoor activities together. An option to add tubing at a local mountain is possible at an additional cost. Adults are $115, children are $65 for the weekend. Register online at campjburg.org or call Questions? ask Carol Schulzrinne. Page 4 EASTER TREASURE & EGG HUNT Saturday March 19th, 10:30 a.m. Children will help open the special treasure eggs so Pastor Rich can share the Easter story. Then kids will hunt for candy-filled eggs and gather to share a pizza lunch together. Bring a friend! PALM SUNDAY FAMILY MEETUP Sunday March 20, 10:15am, Elmore Hall Families, join us for a light breakfast of bagels and donuts as we gather as families to talk about the meaning of those palms we wave and you ll receive your palm for 11 a.m. Palm Sunday worship as we process down the aisle! February 2016

5 FPC Mobilize for Mission: Help Build God s World The FPC Mission Commi ee works to create opportuni es for FPC to be the hands and feet of Jesus. From Center for Food Ac on to Bergen County s Habitat for Humanity to strategic partnerships such as NYC s Food and Homeless ministry at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, thank you for all you do to build God s World. First Press FOOD TO FIRST ON THE FIRST FPC Mission collects food and nonperishable food items on the first Sunday of every month. Bring in your food on Sunday February 7th to support the Center for Food Action! TREATS FOR TROOPS ON VALENTINE S DAY Bring your supplies on Sunday February 14 th! Remember the fun you had this past Christmas filling those boxes for children all over the world? This February we ll treat our troops with some donations of the items listed below. Supplies will be collected the first two weeks in February culminating on Valentine s Day. -Event Planner Debbie Alvarez Batteries all sizes Beef jerky/slim Jims Breath mints Condiments Dental floss Deodorant Dry Soup Powdered drink mix Eye wash products Foot powder Gum Feminine Products Lip Balm Baby wipes Disposable razors Tea bags Shampoo Bar-b-que sauce (Taco Bell packets) Music CDs Handheld games Pretzels in hard container Hard Candies No chocolate Nuts in hard container MISSION TALKBACK: CUBA Sunday February 21, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. FPC Mission Committee Member Andy Bello returned from Cuba in December with pictures, videos and updates about this changing country. Don t miss this opportunity to ask questions and we ll imagine what a possible FPC Mission Trip to Cuba could look like. HAVE A HEART: DONATE A USED CELL PHONE (& CORD) IN FEBRUARY Many of us have old cell phones taking up space in a drawer, why not put them to good use for someone else? The phones will be collected in February and delivered to Park Ridge P.D. Please put phone and charger in a sealed plastic bag - you must provide the correct charger with it. FPC will hand deliver them with lots of heartfelt love and appreciation! -Event Planner Debbie Alvarez From the Choir Room EASTER BRASS EASTER CHOIR It s not too soon to start preparing for our beautiful Holy Week and Easter services. Anyone who is interested in joining the choir for the Lent/Easter season is invited to join us every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for choir rehearsal in the choir room. Light refreshments are provided. Consider singing in the choir as your Lenten service offering. All are welcome! Contributions are being accepted to defray the cost of the trumpets, trombones and timpani that uplift our Easter services. If you would like to offer one of the instruments in memory of a loved one, please see David Macfarlane for more information. Page 5

6 FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY IS COMING BACK On February 21, 2016 First Presbyterian Church of Englewood will be holding the Financial Peace University "FPU" course for the thirteenth time. During the first 12 classes more than 200 people have started on the path to financial peace using Dave Ramsey's seven baby steps. The course will run for nine weeks ending on April 24 th (taking off Easter Sunday). During this nine week class you will learn the following: budgeting techniques cash flow planning the best way to get out of debt saving for retirement as well as your children's college what insurance you need and how to get the most affordable policies how to give to charity as you had always wanted to In addition, you will get some great ideas from your fellow classmates. The cost for the course is $93.00 plus tax which pays for the membership kit (nothing is paid to the church). Two people can share the kit so husbands and wives are encouraged to come together or you can share the kit with a friend. In the kit you will receive a workbook, audio CDs for all of the classes, Dave Ramsey's book, "Complete Guide to Money" and more. The class is designed for young couples, newly married, recent parents, soon to be married or young singles. However, people of all ages have taken the course in the past and everyone has gotten a lot out of it. I encourage everyone to seriously consider taking this life changing course. In addition, please tell your friends and family about it as it is not limited to church members. If you are interested please go to the website daveramsey.com/fpu and look for the class at the church. If you would like additional information you may call me at There will be a preview of the class on February 21st at 12:30 p.m. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. - Paul Platek Page 6

7 CALENDAR Tuesday 2 Scribble Art 10:00 AM Art Loft Tuesday 2 Sensory Open Play 11:00 AM Art Loft Wednesday 3 Drawing, Seeing & Thinking 7:00 PM Art Loft Thursday 4 Worship & Music Cmte Mtg 7:30 PM Meeting Room Thursday 4 Basketball pick-up game 7:30 PM Elmore Hall Saturday 6 Boy Scout Troop 28 6:00 PM Basement Sunday 7 Crossroads 5:30 PM Chapel Sunday 7 Super Bowl Party 6:30 PM Chapel Tuesday 9 Scribble Art 10:00 AM Art Loft Tuesday 9 Sensory Open Play 11:00 AM Art Loft Tuesday 9 Staff Meeting 1:00 PM Meeting Room Tuesday 9 Middle School Mission Night 5:00 PM Meet at FPC Tuesday 9 Stewardship Mtg 7:00 PM Meeting Room Wednesday 10 Ash Wednesday Worship 7:00 PM Presbyterian Church of Teaneck Wednesday 10 Drawing, Seeing & Thinking 7:00 PM Art Loft Saturday 13 Boy Scout Troop 28 6:00 PM Basement Sunday 14 Crossroads 5:30 PM Chapel Wednesday 17 Lenten Lunch 12:00 PM Chapel Wednesday 17 Drawing, Seeing & Thinking 7:00 PM Art Loft Wednesday 17 Lenten Bible Study 7:00 PM East Room Thursday 18 Basketball pick-up game 7:30 PM Elmore Hall Friday 19 Labyrinth 4:00 PM Chapel Saturday 20 Boy Scout Troop 28 6:00 PM Basement Sunday 21 FPU Free Preview 12:30 PM Library Sunday 21 Mission Talback Sunday 4:30 PM East Room Sunday 21 Crossroads 5:30 PM Chapel Sunday 21 FPU Spring Session 7:00 PM East Room Tuesday 23 Scribble Art 10:00 AM Art Loft Tuesday 23 Sensory Open Play 11:00 AM Art Loft Wednesday 24 Lenten Lunch 12:00 PM Chapel Wednesday 24 Lenten Bible Study 7:00 PM East Room Wednesday 24 Drawing, Seeing & Thinking 7:00 PM Art Loft Thursday 25 Basketball pick-up game 7:30 PM Elmore Hall Saturday 27 Boy Scout Troop 28 6:00 PM Basement Sunday 28 Crossroads 5:30 PM Chapel Sunday 28 FPU Spring Session 7:00 PM East Room February 2016 Sun Mo Tue We Thu Fri Sat Every Sunday 9:30 am Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am Bible Study 11:00 am Worship Service 12 noon Coffee & Conversation Nursery/child care available from 10:30 am-12:30 pm 5:30 pm Crossroads Contemporary Worship First Press Page 7

8 F IRST PRESBYTERIAN C HURCH OF ENGLEWOOD ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED 150 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ Phone: Fax: Happy Easter April 5, 2015 First Press A publication of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, NJ 150 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ Voice: Fax: Staff Extensions and E mail Addresses Rev. Richard S. Hong x306 Office Manager, Cell: Danielle De Laurentis x304 rich@englewoodpres.org office@englewoodpres.org Parish Associate, Kellie Anderson Picallo x301 kellie@englewoodpres.org Director of Care Ministries, Dorothy VanderWerf x307 dorothyv@englewoodpres.org Office Assistant, Liz Girvin Marcus x304 office@englewoodpres.org Bookkeeper, Mary Stevens x308 bookkeeper@englewoodpres.org Music Director, David Macfarlane x310 music@englewoodpres.org