30 years is a long time

Transcription

1 30 years is a long time Collingswood Presbyterian Church The Pulse June 2012 Church Office: (856) collspres@verizon.net First of all A big thank you to the congregation, family and friends for your acknowledgement of my 30 th anniversary to ordained ministry last Sunday. Yes I was surprised and overwhelmed! As I looked at the pictures of my ministry and thought back on 30 years ago, I want to share a few thoughts as a woman who was the first woman ordained in her home church, home presbytery and in her first call. It s been a BIG change for the church and frankly a big change from being a high school majorette expected to be married by 21 and in the profession of an elementary school teacher. My church service actually began much earlier as a member of Concord Presbyterian Church, and my work as a Director of Christian Education at Trinity Presbyterian both in Wilmington Delaware. It was in 1978 when I entered Princeton Seminary as one of only 20% of the women in the class of I had never seen a woman minister or heard a woman preach. I did not look or act like the male ministers that had mentored me in my earlier church work. Ordination was for someone else much more worthy and I chose a masters in religious education as my course. Like our present seminarian at CPC has experienced, it was the actual work with people in churches, hospitals and leading amphitheater worship services in Wyoming that I began to feel a call. Sometimes I was thrust into ministry, leading church programs, calling on the sick, helping the needy and preaching. I began to think I just might have some skills that God could use in ordained ministry. Maybe it was the challenge of taking on the male bastion of the church that motivated me, but honestly it was a call to serve God, in spite of the difficulties and my fears.

2 2 The Pulse June 2012 So I started into ministry as an assistant and then called to be an associate at Trinity Church in Cherry Hill, NJ. I commuted from Trenton where Gary, my husband, was a Lutheran pastor. I served there five years and during that time my children were born. We were one of the first clergy couples, and a rarity to have two different denominations. From that work I moved on to be a hospital chaplain, interim pastor in Medford and was a trailing spouse as we moved to North Jersey for Gary s second call. I was a stay at home mom until I drove everyone nuts and took a call to serve as a mission and stewardship counselor for the Synod of the northeast. It involved lots of travel and an amazing journey into the mission of the church. Then in 2005 I accepted the call to come to Collingswood to serve, love and grow this congregation. For the first time, I was not the first woman to serve a church and that was a tremendous relief. The congregation has grown and changed since I have been here, and now after 30 years, I think I might be worthy of the vows I took many years ago to serve the church of Jesus Christ. What I have learned is this: Even if you think (or some say) you don t know everything or aren t worthy- Take a leap anyway. Listen and take the advice of learned mentors. You actually don t know everything. Special thanks to Gil, Tom, Stu, Sylvia, Jim G., Gary, Roger, Jim O., Pam, Debby, Wendy, Ellie, Jennifer, Marion, Don, Bill and especially the members of this church. I had a lot to learn and I thank you for teaching me. Believe and Trust that God has not led you this far to forsake you. Don t give up. Have Courage to speak up, stand up and advocate for those who have been trampled by life. Ignore some people ( nuff said.) Commend the good instead. Learn to forgive- forgive others, move on, don t let them define YOU and also learn to forgive yourself. Oh yeah, wear sunscreen Actually, learn to laugh at yourself and the hilarity of serving the church and God s people. Love, Pastor Kate

3 Merci beaucoup! Dankschen! Mahalo! Grazie! Domo arigato! Gratias! Xie xie! Well done! Muchas gracias! Jag tackar! a dank dir! Ngiyabonga! No matter what language you speak and/or understand, I want you to know the message Thank You! Thank you for your support and willingness to participate in the Worship Service each week at Collingswood Presbyterian Church. Sometimes things don t go according to best laid plans, like when the projector does not function properly (or maybe it s the operator!), or the mics are not turned on, or the air conditioning units make noise, but you are at Worship Service with us with an understanding smile. Thank you for being there and sharing the Peace of the Lord with each other. I also thank all the helpers the behind the scenes people that make each Worship Service so special! You are needed and appreciated! Shanna Morascini Worship Committee I would like to extend the heartfelt thanks of my family to everyone for their cards, prayers, thoughts, telephone calls, food, gifts, flowers, and memorial donations as we mourn the unexpected passing of Fred. I especially enjoyed the wonderful stories each of you shared with me as I have many fond memories of our ministry in the Collingswood Church from 1975 to I appreciate your continued prayers while my doctors strive to resolve my latest health problems due to the stress and depression this has caused. I am grateful for your friendship, support, encouragement, and love at this very difficult time. With Love, Jo Ann Westermaier 523 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ jwestermaier@comcast.net 3

4 Hello. For those who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am Gretchen Kolecki the new Director of Christian Education. I am mom to 3 beautiful boys, Tyler (9), Andrew (6) and Jackson (2). My husband Dennis and I will be married 12 years in June and have lived in Collingwood for 10 years and really love it here. The warmth and welcoming of the congregation has been overwhelming. I am truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with your children. They are so very enjoyable! Please come and enjoy our Summer Sunday School this summer. We will have activities EVERY Sunday for the children. If you would like to help with Summer Sunday School Please contact Gretchen Kolecki to help. There are several dates this summer that we could still use teachers. Please like our Facebook page Collingswood Presbyterian Church Sunday School Up coming events such as VBS and other exciting news will be posted there. Join us on our Adventure to Sonrise National Park Vacation Bible School where we will Point Your Kids to Jesus!! During that week, children will explore the great outdoors through the week s Bible theme, My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accordance with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) If you would like to register for VBS there are registration forms at the back of this booklet, in the bulletin on Sunday, and it can also be found online on our website: or a link can be found on our Facebook page. 4

5 The youth group will be sending 10 members to the Massanetta Springs Mission Work camp from July 8 th - July 12 th for Unique to Massanetta, partnerships that have been established with a wide-variety of local agencies to provide rich, rewarding service opportunities for each group member. Please pray for Annzoley Arroyo, Lindsey Ball, Emily Giordano, Griffin Maylath, Kurt Schuehler, Kelly Schuehler, Angela Sperlunto and Natalie Sperlunto as well as chaperones Ryan Appleby and Dana Ball. Travelers - Report to 9 AM on Sunday, July 8 to pack up the van! Thanks to all who supported our car wash on June 23. We raised $315.00! Please support the members of the youth group attending the trip by attending the Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee s in Audubon on July 7 th from 8am -10am. It will be a hot breakfast buffet. Tickets are available from any youth and will not be sold at the door so be sure to get them soon. Bells!! Bells!! Bells!! New handbell groups will be starting in September! Interested? Like to play? Want to have some fun? Watch for announcements in August. All ages and abilities are welcome. Save Wednesdays for practice. Questions? Ask Marjorie Miller

6 Welcome New Members! ~ OUR CONGREGATION ~ Welcome to New members from our 2012 Confirmation Class! On Sunday June 3, (from left to right) Annzoley Arroyo, Lindsey Ball, Griffin Maylath, Angela Sperlunto and Natalie Sperlunto completed their year long studies and affirmed the baptismal vows their parents made in their baptism. Welcome kids! We also welcome these new members: Jay and Louanna Sills- who live in Westville. Jay is a guitar teacher/player and likes music. Louanna is retired as a surgical nurse and likes gardening, Reiki and Mary Kay cosmetics. Gretchen and Dennis Kolecki- Gretchen now serves as our new Director of Christian Education and likes crafts. Dennis is a high school Physical Education teacher and likes sports. They have three sons- Tyler, Andrew and Jack. Brooke Truong- Brooke was married in our sanctuary in 2010 and works at the Camden Adventure Aquarium. Her husband Thai just returned from Cambodia where they met Thai s family and held a traditional Cambodian wedding ceremony. Michele and David Perrin- Michele is a speech teacher Collingswood elementary school and likes reading, cooking and scrapbooking. David is a computer engineer and likes to play drums, home improvement and real estate. They both will be busy caring for their new son Julian Frederick Perrin born on

7 ~ OUR CONGREGATION ~ Joys Happy Birthday to Mabel Cordier who celebrated 109 lively years! Special thanks to Nadine Vogel and Helen Mazarek who faithfully visit Mabel and others in the Collingswood Manor. Welcome to the World! Julian Frederick Perrin, born to Michele and Dave on Sunday June 24, Kudos to Candace and Bob Lowden for raising over $5,000 for Cancer Research in their Relay for Life. Keep Jessica Lowden AND Kim Lowden in your prayers as they both prepare for their upcoming weddings! Hurray to Andy Schuehler for competing in the Olympic trials for the United States Swim Team in Omaha Nebraska- keep up the good work Andy! We are praying for you for 2016! Keep in your prayers Art Dickol and his family as they mourn the death of Betty Dickol who passed away on June 14, Betty joined CPC on December 4, 1938 and was the longest serving choir member of our congregation. She joined the youth choir when she was 7 and stayed singing ever since. Melissa and Gus Corso upon the death of Gus s cousin Joey Sesito. Bob Marks & Jane Trent as they mourn the death of Bob s brother Rich. Gretchen Kolecki as she continues to recover from surgery. 7

8 WHY I BECAME A MEMBER My name is Dennis Kolecki. My wife Gretchen, my sons Tyler (9), Andrew (6), Jackson (2), and I are new members of Collingswood Presbyterian Church. My family and I were invited to visit CPC by the Pizzutillo family. The moment we walked into the church, there was a different feeling. It was the warm and friendly greetings we received from the members that made us feel welcome. Whether it was the pleasant smiles or a genuine Hello We felt comfortable right away. Why did I become a member??? I wanted to be part of something great. I wanted to experience everything through Collingswood Presbyterian Church. I wanted to join together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate fellowship at church. Throughout my life I played a lot of different sports and at many levels. I see a lot of similarities between being a member of a team and being a member of a church. DEDICATION and FAITH and DEVOTION: to God and teammates, to one common goal. SACRIFICE and COMMITMENT: giving up moments of wants for time with teammates or setting aside time for god and pray. SPIRIT and PRAYER: Preparing in practice with cheers or listening to your coach. SUFFERING and CELEBRATION: Losing a tough game and talking with your teammates or losing a loved one and talking to someone you love. Winning a championship or ultimately a strong relationship with GOD!!! 8

9 The Session of Collingswood Presbyterian Church voted to adopt the following guidelines recommended by the General Assembly of the PC(USA). 9

10 10 The Pulse June 2012 You know you're from New Jersey when... You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags. A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter. You've known the way to Ocean City since you were seven. You know what a jug handle is and you know how to properly negotiate a circle. You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving. You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery. You know that the state isn't all farmland either. At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know where Jon Bon Jovi is from. You know that WaWa means coffee not water. You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it. (Try it with Mexico, York, and Hampshire... doesn't work, does it?). You don't think "What exit?" is very funny. You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different." Yes they are! You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls. You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers. You remember the stores: Korvette's, Two Guys, Clover & Woolworths. And finally, you know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey -- there's the shore, and you don't go "to the Shore," you go "down the shore."

11 For the Kids The Pulse June 2012 Get ready for VBS by coloring these badges! 11

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