The Messenger First United Methodist Church Newsletter 446 Camden Avenue, Moorestown, NJ

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1 First United Methodist Church Newsletter 446 Camden Avenue, Moorestown, NJ Rev. Stephen Donat, Pastor Rev. HeyYoung Horton, Associate Pastor Glenn Rodgers, Director of Music Karen Murray, Director of Christian Education Sue Harris, Parish Nurse Brad Kenney, Director of Youth Ministries Devika Gill, Director of First Light Learning Center Join us for Worship - Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Visit us on the Web at: -or- us at: church@meetwithgod.com FAITH PROMISE 2013 Weekend Activities 4/12 Friday 6:30-8:30 PM Covered Dish Dinner for Everyone A-H bring vegetable dish I-P bring dessert Q-Z bring main dish Nursery care for infants - age 4 Inspirational Program with brief presentations by Neighborhood Center's Michael Landis and Nahamah Jackson Max Fisher: report on Superstorm Sandy work teams Info about Saturday's missions project in Camden 4/1 Saturday 8:30 Meet at church for local mission project at the Neighborhood Center 5:30 Faith Promise Worship Service with Stephen and Gail Quigg 4/14 Sunday 8:30 Faith Promise Worship Service, with Stephen and Gail Quigg 9:30 Faith Promise Worship Service, with Michael Landis and Nahamah Jackson During this time, the Quiggs will visit Sunday School classes 11:00 Faith Promise Worship Service, with Stephen and Gail Quigg During this time, Michael Landis and Nahamah Jackson will visit Sunday School classes 12:15 Faith Promise Luncheon in Fellowship Hall, prepared by Missions Commission See article on pg. 5 for more information APRIL 2013 Page 1 Location: Hours: RUMMAGE SALE April 24th & 25th First United Methodist Church (Fellowship Hall) 446 Camden Avenue Moorestown Wednesday Thursday 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm 9:30 am to 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Bag Night) **Soup & snack lunch served from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday Donations Only Accepted: Sunday, Apr. 21st, 3:00-7:00 pm Monday Apr. 22nd & Tuesday Apr. 23rd 8:30 am to 8:00 pm *Sorry, we may need to close doors early for donations if we are full. Please, no heavy items which require 2 people to carry. MEDICAL PROGRAM AND SCREENING OPPORTUNITY Wednesday, April 17th the Burlington County Office on Aging and County Freeholders will be sponsoring a program here in Fellowship Hall from 9:30 am - 1 pm. The program will feature several Virtua doctors speaking on various medical topics (actual topics will be determined in the near future), medical screenings, and general health care information. Continental breakfast and a boxed lunch are provided. If you would like to attend, call to register. These are very informative and enjoyable programs. Questions? Call Sue Harris,

2 FROM PASTOR STEVE Everybody's favorite subject or, not! Dear Friends in Christ, One letter I never sent home when I was in college was the infamous to-the-point letter that many of my peers were frequently putting in the mail. It went something like this: Dear Mom and Dad send money! Love, Me. I never sent that letter, not because I didn't need money, but because I knew my parents were doing their best, and giving what they could, when they could. My solution to my money issues was twofold - work harder (I had a job in the cafeteria) and do without. I find that I have a similar reluctance to 'asking' for money as a Church leader. I am very sensitive to the cultural perception that money is all the church is interested in, and really, it's the only reason we want people to come to church. We know that this isn't true, but until our guests get to know us, they can't be expected to know. When the church finds itself in strained financial times, I revert back to my old routines when its possible: work harder, and do without. And when I'm out of hours (and energy) and when we're running a vibrant ministry on a bare bones budget, with no more room to do without I start thinking about sending one of those college 'helpme letters'. So, here it is God was honored last year through your faithfulness. We made our budget, once again - and had another powerful year of ministry. It was a bit stressful by the end of the year, but you came through in the end. This year, however, we seem to be cash stressed earlier than usual. Our office is being forced to sort out bills into 'urgent' and 'hold on to this one'. With the summer just ahead, (when giving traditionally takes another dive) I'm getting concerned about our ability to keep up. Much of this is due to increased costs that we have no control over - i.e., our health care costs for our staff rose dramatically, as well as some other items. We are doing everything we can to keep cost down, but in the end, there is a limit to what we can do. So I'm writing this here, rather than spending a lot of time in a worship service talking about money. If you are behind on your giving, please catch up if you are able to do that. And perhaps someone can give a special gift to help us through this crunch. Let's keep the joy alive at FUMC! Thanks for listening, and for your faithfulness and generosity in supporting your ministry in your church! Pastor Steve OUR MISSION STATEMENT First United Methodist Church is a community of faith committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with a hurting world through words and actions. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Apr. 1st Church office closed Apr. 3rd Sing-Along at Mt. Laurel Center-10:30am Apr. 5th Grounds for Good - 8:00-11:00 pm Apr. 8th Miriam Circle - 7:30 pm Apr Missions Weekend Apr. 13th Saturday at the Movies - 7:00 pm Apr. 17th Office on Aging program - 9:30am-1pm Apr. 18th Evensong - 7:00 pm Apr. 20th Adult Fellowship - 6:00 pm Apr. 21st Men's Breakfast - 7:45 am Apr. 21st Light Harbor - 2:30 pm Apr. 24th Rummage Sale - 6:00-9:00 pm Apr. 25th Rummage Sale - 9:30am-2pm; 6-8 pm Apr Hour Famine Apr Stephen Ministry Retreat Apr. 27th Saturday at the Movies - 7:00 pm Page 2

3 FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 So now what? What happens after we sing all the great Easter hymns and proclaim that Christ the Lord Is Risen Today? (pg. 302 UMH) Where do we go from here? It is my experience that after enjoying the Lent & Easter season folks often feel an emotional let down. There is a loss of a sense of direction. So how do we really maintain our Easter Joy when all the decorations are down and life goes back to normal? I believe one way is to always keep in mind that Easter was not just a one-day deal but it is/was the turning point in the life of a believer and that because of Easter we have opportunities to serve, worship, love and rejoice in the God of our salvation. The online Free Dictionary by Farlex defines the word Salvation, in terms of Christianity as: a. Deliverance from the power or penalty of sin; redemption. b. The agent or means that brings about such deliverance. Scripture tells us that our deliverance from the power or penalty of sin is found in no one else, only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has delivered us from the gripping hands of Satan. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could be free. We have been delivered! My prayer for us is that we take seriously and wholeheartedly the sacrifice that Jesus made when He left His throne in glory to walk among us. Read His story, mirror His life to the best of your ability and stand strong in the belief that Jesus LOVES us no matter what! After all He died for us. Blessings to you as you live this post Easter Life! Special Events: Rummage Sale: Please come and do your part to support this outreach. Dates are April 24 th - 25 th, however MUCH help is needed to prepare. Please come and help on Monday & Tuesday (April 22 nd & 23 rd ) to prepare the Fellowship Hall building for this event. Confirmation Sunday: May 19 th, at our 11:00 Worship Service. Please pray for this class of beautiful students as they are preparing to join this Church. Family Fun Day: June 9 th,12:30-3:00 in the Church Parking Lot. Please pray for this event and please invite some friends to join you. Rides, games, food & so much more. ALL ages welcome! VBS: Registration has begun. Forms can be found on the Welcome Center or downloaded from the website, (VBS Week is Aug. 19 th -23 rd, 9am - 12noon & Aug. 25 th -29 th, 5:45pm - 8:00pm). Volunteers are NEEDED: to staff our Sunday School Year as well as our VBS weeks. If you are interested please contact Karen Deaths: Charles W. Bluhm, Sr. on February 16, 2013 He IS Risen! ~Karen M. Murray, DCE Page 3

4 The Messenger Page 4

5 FAITH PROMISE WEEKEND APRIL Faith Promise weekend is upon us and what a joy it is to be able to support so many missionaries throughout the world as well as helping those in our own country and local communities. In a matter of days the mission commission team will be heading up a weekend full of events which we hope you will be able to attend with your family and get to know just two of the people/organizations your money helps support. Last year the congregation was introduced to Bill and Brenda Antinore who started Seeds Of Hope in Camden and through your Faith Promise giving we were able to begin supporting their exceptional organization on a monthly basis. This year we will be learning more about the Neighborhood Center in Camden we currently support, through talks from Michael Landis and Nahamah Jackson Brown. We will also find out more about United Methodist Aviation Programs through talks by Stephen and Gail Quigg. Come out and join us for a potluck dinner on Friday night and become familiar with these caring, giving missionaries that devote their lives to spread the word of God through not only their words and gifts but through their life's work. If you cannot make Friday evening you can hear their message in any one of the church services on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. After you attend the Friday evening kickoff dinner, why not get the family up, meet at the church at 8:30 AM and travel to the Neighborhood Center for a morning work project? Family time is so restricted with everyone's busy schedule, why not spend quality time with your family while helping people less fortunate. Remember, many hands make light work. During Saturday evening and Sunday morning worship, pledge cards will be handed out and you will be asked to make a pledge above and beyond your weekly giving so missionaries like those you meet over the weekend will be able to continue to do God's work. Please try to be honest with your pledge because our budget is dependent upon your generous giving. Without your pledge money we would not be able to support all the missionary groups we currently support. A delicious lasagna lunch will be served after the 11AM church service. Let's make this the best Faith Promise weekend ever with excellent attendance and FUMC enthusiasm! Faith Promise Schedule of Events: Friday, April 12 Pot Luck Dinner 6:30PM Saturday, April 13 Work Project at Neighborhood Center 8:30AM (meet at church) Sunday, April 14 Luncheon 12:00PM Pledges will be collected at all church services Page 5

6 PERU 2013 MISSION TEAM From June this summer a team of 19 people from FUMC will be heading to Chimbote, Peru for a mission trip. We will be going with Charlie Hanak, a long-time recipient of missions support from FUMC Moorestown, and Ambassadors for Christ International's Regional Director of the Americas. Chimbote is a Pacific Ocean coastal city of 450,000 people located in a desert area west of the Peruvian Andes mountain range, about a 7 hour drive north of Peru's capital, Lima. from our hosts, and what can we offer? We are holding fast to Christ as he leads us into this new adventure, and counting on your prayers and support as we extend the ministry reach of FUMC Moorestown to Chimbote, Peru. Ken Hoffner, Peru Mission Team In Chimbote we will be hosted by three Methodist churches, and our overall aim is to live out Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 to be one body in Christ with our friends in Chimbote. Rather than simply being volunteer workers, we're seeking to share our lives for a week and to learn from them how the Lord is at work outside of our culture. Of course there will be times of work--- feeding school children breakfast each day at the Cristo Redentor School, teaching English, leading Vacation Bible Schools in four different locations, organizing meetings with the Women's group - but our main focus will be on fellowship by worshiping together, visiting church members in their homes, sharing meals together, and participating in the daily lives of our hosts. To prepare for the trip, we have already had several planning meetings, and we've recently begun to have weekly Spanish lessons from Mariana and Federico Peguero, and fellow Peru 2013 mission team member Evelyn Coral Mertz. We have been reading the online newspapers from Chimbote and monitoring the daily news events there for over a month. Through these online articles, we've learned that both fishermen and fish processing plant workers in Chimbote are out of work because of a fishing ban while ocean fish stocks in Peruvian waters replenish from overfishing. There are thousands of people who are regularly evicted from land where they have not had permission to set up their homes, and over 40% of the children under five in the area are anemic and malnourished. Chimbote is an urban area with many challenges. What does the Lord have in store for us as we travel to the southern hemisphere this summer? What will we learn GROUNDS FOR GOOD Friday, April 5th Enjoy an evening of free live music, coffee and tea and conversation at Grounds for Good Coffee House on Friday, April 5 in Fellowship Hall. The featured musician will be Ru Breau, and the event will include an art exhibit and homemade treats available for purchase. Donations and proceeds will benefit Kate's Place. Doors will open at 7:30, and music will kick off around 8. Hope to see you there! Page 6

7 WHAT IS IN OUR CHURCH BUILDING? WHERE DO I GO? HELP ME PLEASE!!! What is a narthex? Where is the parlor and what's it for? Do we have a welcome center? Where do we get a membership directory? How about that parking lot? Chapel, what chapel? When we refer to the NARTHEX, we mean that area of the church building that you could call a lobby, or an entrance to the actual church. At FUMC, when you enter from either the Pleasant Valley or Camden Avenue sides to worship, you are walking into the narthex. In our narthex, and right outside of the church office at the Camden Avenue entrance, we have a WELCOME CENTER. This is a rolling desk or counter, and you can find a friendly face behind the desk on Sundays as well as printed materials, sign ups, handouts, bulletins, the monthly Messenger, etc. And, if you come looking there for a copy of the MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY, it is available, usually in late summer each year. In the back of the narthex, is the PARLOR. This is an elevated room with a glass window that is used during church services for parents to worship with their children who are not yet ready to worship in the sanctuary (there's a toy box too!). An audio feed makes it possible to hear and participate in worship. The PARLOR also has a kitchenette (great for warming baby bottles!) and a powder room right outside the entrance at the back of the room. You can find lots of helpful things in the narthex: restrooms (in the hallway closest to the chapel as well as outside the church office); church-wide bulletin boards for small group sign ups, the white cabinet Food Pantry (in the hallway near the Pleasant Valley entrance); other bulletin board information for Music, Mission, Community, Outreach, Prayer, United Methodist Women, and Health. The CHAPEL is also located off the narthex near the Camden Avenue entrance. and our Parish Nurse are located in various places throughout the buildings. Now, let's make things even more confusing! We have separate lobby areas (these are NOT referred to as the narthex) at the music/education building entrance off of the Camden Avenue small parking lot, and at the education wing off of the large/side parking lot. This education wing lobby is where the elevator is located. This is really important where do we eat? After the 9:30 service each Sunday, find your way to FELLOWSHIP HALL for coffee, juice, bagels and danish. But where is Fellowship Hall? To enter from the outside, park at the back of the Pleasant Valley or Kings Highway entrance and enter through the double doors. To get there after worship, wind your way through the education wing or walk outside, up the hill, past the stained glass mosaic wall. Last but not least, HANDICAPPED PARKING is available in the front of the church at the Camden Avenue entrance as well as at the Fellowship Hall entrance and the Education Building entrance. We really didn't try to make it this complicated, it just worked out that way! The church office has copies of the FUMC campus map and you can pick one up anytime. Or, church@meetwithgod.com and we will send one to you. The main CHURCH OFFICE is located at the Camden Avenue entrance and all of the church staff and committees/commissions have mailboxes located here for your use. The offices for Youth, Education, Music Page 7

8 ADULT FELLOWSHIP On Saturday evening, April 20, our own Music Man, Glenn Rodgers, will entertain us after a delicious covered dish dinner. We meet at 6:00 PM for socializing; 6:30 PM for devotions and a short meeting. Dinner is at 6:45 PM. For reservations call: Sue & Lindsay Mitchell, or Lucy & Sam Townsend, Remember to bring: 1 - a delicious covered dish 2 - your own place setting Hope to see you! MIRIAM CIRCLE Ladies please come out and join us on April 8, at 7:30 in the Church Parlor. Ruth Gandek will lead us in devotions and will also present our program We United Methodist Women. Our hostesses will be Ricky Smith and Lucy Townsend. We welcome all for a night of Christian Fellowship. For questions call Barbara Dapper at IT'S NEVER TOO LATE to go green (and save your church some money at the same time!). If you would like to receive your monthly issue of the Messenger by ed PDF file rather than by postal service, just let us know. You can church@meetwithgod.com, or call the church office at TASTE AND SEE Sharing healthy recipes as we minister to the whole person Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes Ingredients 6 small sweet potatoes or garnet yams 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tsp. grated, fresh ginger 1/2 tsp. salt 2 lime wedges cilantro leaves and sesame seeds for garnish Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 2. Bake the sweet potatoes until tender (about 50 mins). {Personally, I would cook them in the microwave} 3. Allow to cool 4. Slice the potato skins open and scoop out the flesh into a large bowl. 5. Place scooped out skins on a baking sheet. 6. Mash the sweet potato flesh with a fork. Stir in olive oil, egg, ginger and salt. Mix together with a fork until smooth. 7. Spoon the filling into the reserved skins. 8. Bake until the tops are puffed and slightly golden brown (about 25 mins). 9. Sprinkle the potatoes with cilantro, sesame seeds and lime juice. Recipe found in Health Magazine, 11/2012. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed are those who who take refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 Page 8

9 You, like this interviewer did, are going to question whether Carlos Mocelo is really a senior citizen. He does meet AARP's criteria as a senior citizen but he has the terrible misfortune (???) of looking at least 10 years younger than his chronological age. Having a younger wife adds to this confusion too. His story is so remarkable that it needs to be told. Carlos was born in Havana, Cuba on April 18, (D.O.B.'s are not usually printed but there is so much history involved, it is necessary to do so). His father, his uncle, and another man were in a partnership owning a hotel and restaurant in downtown Havana. Carlos' father died when he was only 2 years old. The partners continued the business; his mother receiving her fair share of the business. In 1959, Fidel Castro took over Cuba and in 1961 he took over all private businesses. His family lost everything. Here was a young widow with 2 very young children trying to cope with the harshness of Castro's government. Tensions between Cuba and the United States increased as Castro enforced his Communistic views and harsh treatment of the Cuban people. The United States severed all relations with his government; but many Cubans held on to the hope that the U.S. would not tolerate communism only 90 miles for their shore and come to their rescue. This did not happen. Life became very difficult with food, clothing, soap, toothpaste and etc. becoming scarce and rationed. Carlos remembers waiting in line for 2 hours with his mother in the hot sun to get their rations only to have their bag searched by a soldier while on their way home. Soldiers were everywhere to monitor everyone's activity. Every street block had a house that served as a Committee of Defense to report any suspicious activity. Children were brainwashed in school by being told lies about the U.S. Christianity was discouraged - lies were told saying that Christ was the first communist and that there was no resurrection. Families wanted to leave Cuba but it was very difficult to do so. If they finally were able to leave, they would have to go via Spain with someone in Spain sponsoring them. Castro mandated a three year draft in Dec All young men between the ages of 15 and 27 would not be able to leave the country. Carlos' brother had just turned 14 making their mother realize it was now or never to get The Messenger SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS Our Featured Senior - Carlos Mocelo Page 9 out of Cuba. She immediately enlisted the help of an uncle in Spain to start the process to get them out. In April of 1966, they were able to leave being told that they could only take a very limited list of clothing - nothing else!!! The family lived in Spain for one year while awaiting their green cards to enable them to come to the United States. Life in Spain was not easy either as their economy was doing poorly. It was hard for a widow with young children to earn a living. They were able to leave Spain in March of 1967 going to a cousin's home in Collingswood, N.J. Carlos mother had a formidable education but it was not recognized in the United States. She had her Doctorate degree in Philosophy from the University of Havana. To earn a living, she taught Spanish at the Berlitz School of Languages in Philadelphia, taught in the Camden school district helping Spanish speaking adults get the equivalent of a high school degree. Never being able to obtain a full time job with benefits due to her degree not being recognized and the language barrier, they never had a lot of money but moved forward with faith and hope. This mother knew that education, personal freedom, and religious freedom were worth the risks and hardships they encountered to get out of Cuba. Both sons, through hard work and scholarships,were able to go to college. Carlos met his wife, Darlene, while socializing at what is now called Prospectors in Mt. Laurel. (Can you picture him telling her his history??). They dated for more than 2 years before marrying in the Shawnee Baptist church in They were married 7 years before daughters, Raquel and Dana were born. Both are in college now. The family has called FUMC their home church for 29 years. Carlos has been working for 35 years as an auditor for the federal government; nine for the Department of Energy, 26 for the Department of Defense, and is currently a supervisor located at Lockheed Martin in Moorestown. Darlene works for the State Department of Children and Families. Our President, in his State of the Union Speech, stressed the importance of being a good and responsible American citizen. Carlos is passionate about this considering his past in Cuba. He encourages everyone to always VOTE - VOTE - VOTE!!! You have the power to change things and make a difference.