CONTACT. From the Pastor...

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1 CONTACT Newsletter of the South Branch Reformed Church January, 2018 South Branch Reformed Church 870 River Road Hillsborough, NJ Office: (908) Fax: (908) Web: Inside this issue: Family Fun Nights 2 Roast Pork Dinner 2 Lectionary Readings for January Women s Group 3 Birthdays & Anniversaries Benevolences 4 Monthly Calendar 5 3 From the Pastor... For some of us are sad to see 2017 gone so quickly and for others, we can t wait for 2018 begin with the hopes of a better year ahead. While I usually wait for Summer edition of the Newsletter to extend my thanks, I really would like to offer thanks now! First, thank you to Debbie Norz and her family for our Annual Live Nativity! It has become an event that we all look forward to participating in as well as attending. Thank you to all those that helped with replacing lights around SBRC. As we continue to move toward LED lights, the cost savings will greatly help us to continue the work that we are doing. Thank you to all in the church who provided baked goods for the two Repasts that were held in December. I posted on the Church s Facebook page that SBRC is a grand example of a family pulling together! Thank you to our Sunday School staff and children for an outstanding Christmas program! You all helped us to get deeper into the Christmas Season as you walked us through the story of Jesus birth. Thank you to our choirs (bell choir included)! Personally, I enjoy hearing your voices and bells during our time of worship. You help me center myself and my thoughts as we come before God in worship. I truly appreciate the time & talent you give to SBRC. Thank you to John Colaiacovo! SBRC is truly blessed to have you on the organ bench and your gift of music certainly elevates our worship! Thank you to the members of the Consistory. Your dedication to SBRC is amazing! Thank you to Robyn Friedlander & Joe LiBrizzi for attending CCCG with me and learning about generosity and SBRC. Thank you to those who participated in The Shack movie study. I truly enjoyed our time together. Thank you to all who participate in the Book Club! I look forward to our monthly discussions and value your presence. Thank you to the member of the Knit, Crochet & Pray group. Your prayer shawls have been a blessing to those that have received them. Finally, thank you to each and every member of SBRC! You are all amazing, gifted, dedicated and passionate about the ministry of Jesus Christ! May God s blessings be with you and SBRC as 2018 begins!

2 PAGE 2 With Sadness... December was a rough and sad month for SBRC as we gathered in worship to remember the lives of two long time members. On December 2nd, the Funeral Service was held for Dorothy Everett and on December 17th, the Memorial Service was held for Robert McCray. While SBRC mourns their passing and offers our deepest condolences to the members of the Everett & McCray families, we are also reminded that they rest in the embrace of our Gracious & Loving God. We also are reminded that just as Jesus Christ, our Lord, was raised from the dead, so too shall they be raised to a life that is imperishable. Christ is Risen! Ordination & Installation of Consistory On Sunday, January 7th those elected to serve on the Consistory will be ordained and installed during our regular worship service. Those elected to the Office of Elder: Ben Burt and Phyllis Zeban. Those elected to the Office of Deacon: Adam Franco, Mary Nunn, and Joanne Powell. Those elected to the Endowment Committee: Robyn Friedlander and Jennette Neske Please keep these individuals as well as the whole Consistory in your prayers as they continue to serve the Church of Jesus Christ. Save the Date!! Family Fun Nights are set to begin on the following Fridays: January 5th, February 2nd and March 2nd. Each Family Fun Night begins at 7:00pm in the Dining Room! This fellowship opportunity is a wonderful way to break the winter blues by joining your SBRC family for a night of games, fun and laughter! All members & friends are welcome and encourage to attend!! Bring your favorite game and snack to share with everyone and come prepared to have fun-filled evening! Roast Pork Dinner SBRC will be holding a Roast Pork Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 27th from 4:30 to 7:00 PM with Chef Tyson presiding over the kitchen. A sign-up sheet has been posted for donations & helpers! Tickets & Take-Outs are available. Call (908) for tickets! Menu Roast Pork Au Gratin Potatoes Corn Cole Slaw Applesauce Tomato & Cucumber Salad Assorted Desserts Coffee, Hot & Iced Tea, Lemonade Adults - $15.00 Children (ages 6-10) - $6.00 Children (age 5 and under) - FREE

3 PAGE 3 Women s Group The Women's Group celebrated their annual Christmas gathering at the beautiful home of Judy Coates on Wednesday, December 13th. Gifts, delicious snacks, and good conversation were shared and enjoyed. The Women's Group would like to thank the congregation for their generosity in donating 97 pairs of socks in November to homeless veterans at The Apostles House in Newark. This is the third year of making sock donations. Also in November, the Women's Group sponsored a Lantern Workshop for 21 people to create a decoration for their own home or a gift to share with someone else this season. It provided $225 to be used for church needs. We hope to hold an Easter Basket Workshop in March. Look for a save the date. The project to prevent river blindness in Africa collected $17 in coins in December and will be sending a check for $100 to them. Thank you to all those who empty their change into the plastic container before entering the sanctuary. Just 65 cents will buy one person medicine for a year to prevent this blindness. Please remember to save your cancelled stamps for the Women's Group to clip and send in for Spanish Sunday School materials. The basket for stamps is in the church office. ~Lynne Diehl Lectionary Readings for January Jan. 7 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 Jan Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139:1-6, Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Jan. 21 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62: Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 Jan. 28 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 With Celebration SBRC celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism three times in December. We welcomed: Kelly Hunter Keay, son of Christine & Hunter Keay, on Sunday, December 3, Violet Michelson Eastman, daughter of Laura & Samuel Eastman, on Sunday, December 24, Amanda Leilani Sarles, daughter of Maria & Richard Sarles, on Sunday December 24, We pray that God s continued blessings and protection be with them and their families! Sola Deo Gloria!

4 PAGE 4 Birthdays and Anniversaries A very Happy Birthday and a blessed year ahead to those who are celebrating a birthday in January: 01 Karen Simon 03 Wyatt Bowden Dana DePace 04 John Sheridan 05 Brent Kowalenko 15 Rich Sarles Becky Wendover 17 Marcia Houghton 19 Crystal DeCicco John Evans 20 Kyle Evers 21 Pam Warner 22 Alyssa Bernard Sharon Pantel 23 Dan Lenzo 24 Gillian Green Lowell Kreeger 25 Ruth Cilo Jean Evers 29 Brooke Marlatt 30 Amber LiBrizzi Susie Norz 31 Heather Shephard Also, congratulations and Happy Anniversary to: 20 - Adam & Valerie Franco 21 - Eric & Crystal DeCicco 22 - Jonathan & Christina Sarles 28 - Richard & Sally Seibert 2016 Benevolences Benevolence Funds for 2016 have been designated as follows: New Brunswick Seminary $ Hope College $ Central College $ Northwestern College $ RCA Pensions $ Community Care Hospice $ Habitat for Humanity $ Home for Displaced Children $ Chaplaincy to the Elderly $ Reformed Church Home $ Good News Home $ Interfaith Hospitality Network $ emi - Jason Reinhardt $3, Total Disbursed: $5, Thank you for your continued generosity SBRC!! Flowers Just a reminder that if you have signed up for flowers in the Sanctuary on a particular Sunday, the cost is $ Make checks out to SBRC with Flowers in the memo section. Greeters & Coffee Hour Opportunities to Greet on Sunday and/or host Coffee Hour are still available! Please sign-up and help keep this important fellowship activity going strong!

5 January 2018 Information for February s Newsletter is due on Jan. 16th! Leave your info. in the Church Office or to the Church at newsletter@sbrchurch.org with Newsletter in the subject line. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7 Communion Installation/ Ordination of Consistory Confirmation at 7p 14 Teachers Meeting in the Office Youth Group at 7p in Parlor 21 Confirmation 28 Youth Group Book Club at 7:00p in the Parlor at 6p in the Fireside Room Elders Mtg at 7p Knit, Crochet, Pray at 7:00p Consistory at 7:30p Choir Rehearsal at 7:30p in the Parlor Knit, Crochet, Pray 31 Choir Rehearsal Choir Rehearsal 25 Choir Rehearsal 5 Family Game Night at 7:00p Rug Hookers 10a-2p in the Parlor 4p in the Fireside Roast Pork Dinner 4:30-7:00p PAGE 5

6 South Branch Reformed Church 870 River Road Hillsborough, NJ Youth Group Live & Love Like Jesus Rev. Stephen Eckert ~ Pastor Mr. John Colaiacovo ~ Music Director Mrs. Karen Abbatiello ~ Church Secretary Mrs. Maureen DeMarco ~ Preschool Director Mrs. Maritza Acosta ~ Sexton The Youth Group will be meeting on Sunday, January 14th and 28th at the church. We will be gathering for some games, activities, and planning for the winter and spring ahead. Be sure to join us - we start at 7 pm!