September Sunday, October 1-1pm

Transcription

1 Homecoming Sunday S ept ember 10th Pastor Ron de Groot September 2017 September has become a page turning beginning of a new year time of the year. Summer has become this timeless magical suspension of time and the pursuit of survival. Think of all the summer music and songs that paint a picture summer bliss, From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel Mm-mm, you can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell Under the boardwalk, down by the sea On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be - The Drifters This all comes to a slow but certain end with the beginning of September. Back to school, back to work, back to the tasks of daily living. Our faith community is also caught up in the rhythm of the cultural calendar. For many people September means back to weekly worship. It can feel like coming home from an extended stay at the Shore and unpacking all the laundry and emptying the coolers. I think that is the inspiration for Calvary calling the first Sunday after Labor Day, Homecoming Sunday. I do hope you find your way back this year and that you are ready to turn the page on a new year of worship and service in the community of faith. We will return to our regular worship time of 10:30 am and enjoy a special worship service. This is also the second year we will be hosting a neighborhood Block Party on our property. Our worship theme will take its inspiration from St. Paul who quotes Jesus saying, The commandments are summed up in this word, love your neighbor as yourself. The theme is captured in this one phrase that calls us to Neighbor Up!. I believe what we are doing in this simple neighborhood celebration is at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The message of the bible can be summed up by saying that we were created to love God and our neighbor. We are never more human than when we love and desire God, neighbor and, yes, ourselves. If you share the anxiety of many in our country you can reinforce, in a very local way, the hope for healing by Neighboring Up at the Calvary Backyard Block Party on September 10 between noon and 2 pm. It is a way for all of us to appreciate coming home. Sunday, October 1-1pm THE BESSING OF THE ANIMALS Everyone is invited to bring their animals to Calvary on Sunday, October 1 at 1:00 p.m. and have them receive the blessing of God. All the while we acknowledge as we bless these animals they bless us everyday with their loyalty, affection and joy. They love us and we love them and in doing so God s goodness fills each and everyday! CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN MAKING DISCIPLES DISCIPLES IN THE MAKING

2 Page 2 A BLOCK PARTY INVITATION Connecting Neighbors with Neighbors We Would Like You to Come! SUNDAY, SEPT 10, noon to 2:00pm At the Deerfield Drive Extension & Calvary Church s Back Field WHY A BLOCK PARTY? We are hosting this informal gathering to neighbors so you can say hello to those you know as well as those you haven t met yet. Whether you have lived in the neighborhood for decades or just weeks, our goal is to give you an opportunity to meet, greet, and connect with each other. This event is sponsored and paid for by Calvary Church. There will be no costs, solicitations, or hidden agendas. Our only motive is to reach out to those living within a couple blocks of each other to foster friendships and a deeper sense of community. FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT We will have Food for All including Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Chicken Kabobs, Refreshments, and more. If you would like to bring something to share, that would be great - but it s absolutely not necessary. Children can meet new friends and enjoy unstructured playtime with a bounce house, face painting, playground time, sidewalk chalk, photo booth etc. Live Music provided by Matt Mattheiss & Rob Betrus (Soft Rock/Country) INSPIRATION for this BLOCK PARTY came from a short paragraph we recently came across: All holiday parades, picnics, and ceremonies started somewhere, with someone who wanted to give back to the community in which they lived. It s not too late to propose and execute a new tradition in your own community, whether it s a block party or an annual picnic. Your particular vision, gifts, and strengths are part of what makes your community unique, so as you recognize them in yourself, feel free to offer them to those who live in your vicinity. Whether your offerings are visionary or practical, they are the very essence of community.

3 Page 3 October 1, 2017 is World Communion Sunday when Christians around the world celebrate the Lord s Supper as one corporate body. The first Sunday in October has traditionally been designated as World Communion Sunday; the day that Presbyterian Churches become aware of peacemaking. As we celebrate this simple meal with other Christians, we are reminded that Christ is our peace, the one who broke down barriers and united us all. Christ brings us together to make us one family on World Communion Sunday. Peacemaking offering envelopes are available in the church pews. Your gifts will be received throughout the month of October. The Peacemaking Offering supports a variety of peacemaking efforts at all levels within our denomination. 25% retained by congregations 25% is used by presbyteries and synods 50% is allocated to General Assembly ministries Thank you for your support of God s work through this special offering. Volunteers Needed Hosting Block Party Saturday Set Up Pop Corn Machine Grills Sunday Set Up Sunday Clean Up Bounce House Assist Table Supply Assist Snow Cone Machine Photo Booth Assist Greeters Cotton Candy Machine Refreshment Station Pot Luck Table Can you Help? Contact Jeannette Howard Pastor Ron Nancy Mantone Children s Participation In Communion n the first Sunday of each O month the children of the congregation (4 & 5 yr. olds, older and younger elementary) worship with the congregation at the morning worship service. You are invited to attend the "Table Talk" session that is designed to orient parents and their children to meaningful participation in the Communion service. Preparing young people to receive the Communion may be done by children/parents/ guardians attending the "Table Talk" session, led by our Pastor on September 24 at 9:30 am. Sessions provide interactive instruction regarding the meaning and manner of participating in the sacrament. At Calvary Presbyterian Church, we worship as a community. Our community includes young people, and we welcome and include them all in worship. We encourage young people to worship with families or with caring adults who will help them worship as full members of our community. The Presbyterian Church recognizes how important it is for young people to worship through the sacrament of the Lord s Supper. Our constitution states Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity. Contact the Church Office to register your child for this event.

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5 Page 5 Briefly Noted Worship Time Change A reminder that the worship service starting time returns to 10:30 a.m. beginning on Sunday, September 10, Homecoming Block Party The Worship Team would like to invite you to attend the 2nd annual Calvary Backyard Block Party to be held at Noon following the worship hour on Sunday, September 10th. Volunteers are needed to donate salads (potato, pasta, fruit) for the event. Please let Jeannette Howard know what type of salad you are planning to bring. Fellowship Hour Hosts Preparing a place for people to gather for food and conversation is an offering and we would like to thank Michele Newhouse, Bob Newhouse, Janet Johannessen, Chet Lloyd, Ann Ritzer, Cheryl Jewell, Jeannette Howard, Kevin Howard, Sue Apgar, Lindsay Novalis, Jonathan Novalis, The Just Us Book Club, Debra Bruner, Jack Bruner, Michael Loeuis, Krystie Loeuis, The Chancel Choir, and The Bell Choir for hosting fellowship hour during the months of July and August. Calvary Dinner Club The Calvary Dinner Club would like to thank Sam and Gus Moussa for the lovely pool-picnic at their home on Sunday, August 13th. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the good food and fellowship. September Birthdays Ibtissam Moussa 4 Christopher Plummer 6 Janet Johannessen 7 Eleanor Ackerman 8 Robert Atchison 10 Laura Romanski 10 Adam Ruzicka 12 Richard Himics 16 Jene Hopping 17 Melissa Merkel 17 Timothy Stevens 19 Barbara Garing 9 Paula Romanski 24 Akkad Moussa 26 Carolyn Rose Allen 29 Thomas John Allen 29 Jordan Opoku Busumbru 30 Dorothy Reutlinger 30 September Anniversaries Gus & Sam Moussa 9 Matt & Carol Allen 16 Barry & Nancy Lack 22 Tom & Patricia Nash 27 John & Sandy Wright 27 LECTIONARY FOR SEPTEMBER 2017 SEPT 3 (22 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time) Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 SEPT 10 (23 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 SEPT 17 (24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Exodus 14:19-31 Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 SEPT 24 (25 th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 105:1-6, Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16

6 Calvary Presbyterian Church 144 Ridgedale Avenue Florham Park, New Jersey Phone: Fax: Website: calvarytodaylive.org A BLOCK PARTY INVITATION SUNDAY, SEPT 10, noon to 2:00pm Connecting Neighbors with Neighbors Location: Deerfield Drive Extension & Calvary Church s Back Field No charge FOOD REFRESHMENTS LIVE MUSIC Calvary Presbyterian Church, 144 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey Pastor Ronald J. de Groot Website: calvarytodaylive.org Director of Music: Olga Koutcherova Church Office phone: ; fax: