THE TOWER First Presbyterian Church 37 Church Mall, Springfield, NJ

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1 THE TOWER First Presbyterian Church 37 Church Mall, Springfield, NJ VOL. 68 NO. 01 SEPTEMBER 2015 HOME COMING/RALLY DAY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 th Welcome Back and Ice Cream Social Come one Come all! Sunday, September 13 th will be our kickoff day for fall events. September 13 th is also our Homecoming Day at The First Presbyterian Church of Springfield! We welcome back all who have been away for a while and welcome any newcomers to our church family. After a joyful worship service, there will be an ice cream sundae social in the Chapel. Don t miss this exciting day at our church! SPECIAL THANKS Special thanks to CE Assistant Lisa Guida for organizing and directing our Vacation Bible Camp in late June. The Workshop of Wonders was a great success! It included bible stories, crafts, games, songs, and water fun, all related to the theme verse, Psalm 77:14a, You are the God who works wonders. Pastor Vicky even transformed the conference room into an oasis complete with palm trees to set the mood for her daily bible lesson! Many thanks to the loyal VBC helpers, Raffaela Conetta, Lynn Doll, Andrew Guida and his friends, Andrew L. and Skyla. MORE THANKS We are so grateful to Sue Gieser serving as accompanist for our worship services during the month of August. We also give thanks to our soloists during the summer months Kyle, Dale and Meg Doremus, May Smith, John Bunnell, Richard Ney, Cathie Kneese and new friend to our church, Clarence Davis. We thank them all for sharing their musical talents to praise God. BLESSINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS - It s a Girl..and a Girl! Pastor Vicky and Richard Ney are delighted to announce the birth of their granddaughter, Abigail Rose! Abigail was born to parents, Stephen and Kim Yakabi Yob at 3:20am on Tuesday, August 4, She measured 7 ½ lbs and 20 ½ inches long. Abigail was welcomed by her siblings, Brianna and Gabriel. AND Amy and Rob Smith are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Tory Hope who was born on August 7, She measured 8lbs7oz and was also welcomed by big brother Robbie, and grandparents, Nancy and John Hennessey. Her extended family includes the Mullans.

2 A WORD FROM THE PASTOR: As most of you know, the high point of my summer was the arrival or our new granddaughter Abigail Rose. She was very co-operative, I must say, waiting for her maternal grandmother to arrive from Nevada (3 days earlier), her daddy to have a day off, and my vacation to begin (3 hours into the 2 nd day of vacation!). Good start, Abby! Even though my little grandson Gabriel was born only 14 months ago, I must say I marveled all over again at how tiny Abigail is 7 ½ pounds everything perfectly in miniature. And what a gift God gives us in each child! Her life is just beginning, and her unique story is about to commence. Each of us has our own unique story to tell, and yet each of us has one that fits all we are all precious to God. No matter what we look like, no matter who we are or where we re from, no matter what we have done or will do, we are precious to God. As Christians, our Bible is the great reference book about God s love. My favorite passage is one I ve shared before: Isaiah 43:1-5a: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you he who formed you Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you You are precious in my sight and honored. And I love you. Do not fear, for I am with you In essence, the whole Bible is God s love story to us. It s a story of a God who never leaves us, who always stands by us, who is always with us. When we wake in the morning and greet the brand new day, a day we ve never seen before, God is with us. When we set about our daily routines at home, in the office, in the classroom, in the gym God is with us. When we sit to eat our meal at a table for one, in the midst of a large family, in the din of a cafeteria or restaurant God is with us. When we get a phone call, or an , or a text message, or a letter that tells us terrible news, or wonderful news, God is with us. When our hearts break, or feel they cannot be mended again, God says, I am with you. We happen to be a church family in a very old church, and we continue to walk into a future together. And all the time, through all the work we do together, we have the sure conviction that God will be with us. This is our story, this is God s promise: I am with you. Let s begin this new program year praying more, learning more, participating more, and rejoicing more in the blessings of God. Thanks be to God! Yours in Christ, Pastor Vicky

3 The Workshop of Wonders Crew June 24-26, 2015 TOP: MEMBERS AND FRIENDS POSE BEFORE THE WATER FUN BIGINS AT VACATION BIBLE CAMP MIDDLE: MEMBERS FROM OUR CHURCH AND THE RESTORE GROUP ON THEIR MISSION TRIP TO ATLANTIC CITY. THE ALL-BOY GROUP VOLUNTEERED AT TWO KITCHENS AND THEN ENJOYED SOME FUN TIME ON THE BOARDWALK. WITH LUCY THE ELEPHANT

4 MEN S FELLOWSHIP Dr. Richard Ney spoke to the group in June regarding the latest testing in education, called PARCC- The formal title refers to Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. In June, we had Dr. Ney as our presenter. Since that time, much has happened with the PAECC program in New Jersey. At our September meeting, we should present a short update of where the educators have gone with the program as presented by Richard. We have not finalized our September and future meetings at this time. Not to worry, as we are certain that we will have some presenters who will give of their time and talents to fill the calendar. If you would like to share some of your life experiences or know of someone who would, please see Frank Spital, Bob Meringer or Don Rathjens. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, September 12 th Conference Room. All men of the congregation are invited. at 9:30am in the Parish House For your calendars, our group will have a table at the Flea Market on October 24 th. Please gather your goodies for this event. Please see Frank, Bob or Don for details.

5 IN MEMORIUM Please keep these friends and their families in your prayers The sympathy of the Congregation is extended to The family and friends of Doris Reinhaus who died July 17, Her arrangements were private, officiated by Rev. Ney. & The family and friends of Robert W. Halsey who died on July 18, A 71 year member of this Congregation, Bob was very active in nearly all church activities, including the Men's Fellowship and Investment Cabinet. Bob was a Teaching Elder and past President of the Board of Trustees, serving both boards multiple times over his dedicated and faithful membership. Notes of sympathy may be sent to his brother-in-law, Mr. Jonathan Meeker, 23 Plymouth Place, Roseland, NJ A Memorial Service was held in our sanctuary on July 26th. & The family and friends of Nettie Urban who died on August 11, Although not a member, Nettie was part of the group from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church that Pastor Ney affectionately refers to as our adopted members. Pastor officiated her service at the funeral home on August 14 th. & Don Auer, his family and friends, in the loss of his beloved wife, Elaine Auer, who died on August 12, Elaine was a 49 year member who served our church as an Elder and as a Trustee through multiple terms and was a devoted member of the choir for decades. Elaine is also survived by her children, William, Kathy, Beth and Karen and their families. Pastor Ney officiated her funeral in our sanctuary on August 17 th. Notes of sympathy may be sent to Don at 18 Crest Place, Springfield, NJ

6 CHOIR RESUMES The adult choir resumes rehearsal on Thursday, September 10 th in the Chapel (building next to the sanctuary) at 7:30 pm. Come and join our enthusiastic Organist/ Choir Director, Liliya Khobotkova, in the ministry at our church. Liliya invites all interested members to come to rehearsal. There are no auditions! All that is needed is a willing heart and a love of singing. We do ask for a personal commitment to attend weekly rehearsals on Thursdays at 7:30pm and arrival on Sundays at 10am to warm-up. If you ve been thinking of joining the choir, now is a great time everyone is starting the new season together! LUNCH AND A MOVIE RETURNS! What a perfect way to start the program year than Lunch and a Movie on September 9 th at noon in the Parish House! Our Outreach Committee has a lovely luncheon planned plus a wonderful movie Woman in Gold. The film stars Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Katie Holmes, and Elizabeth McGovern. The movie is based on the true story of the late Maria Altmann, an elderly Jewish refugee living in Los Angeles. She and her young lawyer fought the government of Austria for almost 10 years to reclaim Gustav Klimt's iconic painting of her aunt, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, which was stolen from her relatives by the Nazis in Vienna just prior to World War II. Altmann took her legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. It s an amazing story and one you will not soon forget. Feel free to invite neighbors and friends to our wonderful monthly program. Please call the church office ( ) to let us know how many will attend. Our Outreach Committee wants to prepare sufficient food! SESSION AND TRUSTEE MEETING DATES IN SEPTEMBER The Session Board will meet on the second Monday in September (9/14) and the Trustee Board will meet on the 5 th Wednesday (9/30) to avoid scheduling conflicts. There are full agendas for both meetings, so please plan to attend.

7 FLEA MARKET The Presbyterian Women will conduct an indoor flea market again this year on Saturday, October 24th in the Parish House. Any member who may be interested in renting a table should call Gloria Southward. Tables (8 ft long) will be rented for $25 each. Gloria will be working very hard to expand the publicity for this event, to draw more shoppers in. Donations of household items, new or gently used giftware and jewelry will be accepted in the office for the Flea Market and Holiday Boutique. NO CLOTHING WILL BE ACCEPTED. (Please do not leave items anywhere else- the stage is now rented each week to another church and it must be kept clear). Please call the office for additional information The PW and their guests enjoyed lunch and a play at Hunterdon Hills Playhouse on May 20 th. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN The next Presbyterian Women s meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 1:00pm in the Parish House. The immediate work will be in organizing the Flea Market set for Saturday, October 24 th. Members! Please contact Linda J, or bring in your secret pal card on the 16 th so that we can create a master list. You can leave a message on her voic , too.

8 HAS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGED? In this age of technology, many of us have and cell phones. If you have changed your address in the past year, or would like Pastor to have a cell phone contact number for you in her files, please send an to the office, or leave a message on Linda J s voic , so we can update our records. Also, if you would like Pastor to have an emergency contact in her records (children or friend to call if you become incapacitated, please provide that, as well. We do not share this information with other members without your permission. Please use the form below if you prefer to send it in the mail or through the collection basket: Name Please update my contact information: Address: Home Phone # cell # Send the Tower Newsletter and announcements to my address - yes/no Emergency contact & relationship to you: Please place a * next to information you do not wish to be shared outside of office. Please call the office (973) or FirstPCOffice@verizon.net should any of your contact information change throughout the year. Thank you!

9 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS OCTOBER 5 TH We will have our annual special service for the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4 th at 2 pm on the Parish House lawn (37 Church Mall). Seniors, families, singles, and children are encouraged to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, fish, tortoises and turtles and other wellbehaved pets. After a brief service of worship, there will be individual blessings for each animal present. We will also observe a moment of silence during the service for pets who are unfortunately involved with sport dog fighting and other inhumane, unethical treatment of animals. We are delighted to continue this annual service at our church to honor the great bond and relationship between people and their pets. This is a community event and all are invited. This event is free and open to the general public. Human and animal snacks provided! 1 Frank Spital 2 Nancy Kalb 3 Evelyn Marshall 4 Sada Weber 8 Debra Kensicki 8 Anne Drexler 12 James Wills 17 Jennifer Kensicki DeTrolio SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS: 17 Andrew Guida 19 Russell Werner, Jr. 21 Kyle Doremus 24 Monica Skolnick 25 Dirk Schobel 29 Bernard Chelis 29 Julie Liem 30 Ryann Dubiel Nickerson PLEASE NOTE: BIRTHDAYS ARE PROVIDED FROM OUR MEMBER DATA BASE. (MONTH AND DAY ONLY) IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS MISSING FROM OUR NEWSLETTER, AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE WITH YOUR INFO.

10 Jessica (above) Lau The and Choir Daniel picnic Gutin was held on June 28 th at the Ney s home. Great food and fellowship was enjoyed by all! (above) Jessica Lau married Daniel Gutin on June 27 th in New York, officiated by Rev. Ney. Jessica is the daughter of Peter and Lisa Lau and granddaughter of Julie Liem. Best wishes and blessings to the bride and groom! (right) Pastor Vicky meets her granddaughter, Abigail Rose on her birthday! and enjoys lunch with her grandson, Gabriel the next day. (left) May God continue to bless this lovely family.

11 CHAT AND CHEW BIBLE STUDY The Chat and Chew Bible Study series will resume on Wednesday, September 16 th at 6pm in the Chapel. Please sign-up during Fellowship Hour on Sundays, or call the office to reserve your seat, and help us to adequately order the pizza. BUS TRIP TO 9/11 MUSEUM SEPTEMBER 23 RD On the road again This time we re on a bus trip to the 9/11 Museum in NYC on Wednesday, September 23 rd. We will visit the museum first, then have lunch at Buca di Beppo in the city, and finish our day with a stop for a very interesting visit to the Fort Lee Museum and Park. After speaking to the representative at the 9/11 Museum, I think I can reassure all those who have walking questions. In addition to a selfguided tour (meaning you can sit whenever you feel the need!), there are 2 movies about the tragedy itself and the bravery of the First Responders in a theater every ½ hour. Since we enjoyed the Bethlehem Buca di Beppo restaurant, we re trying them in NYC! Lunch menu includes 2 salads (Caesar and Apple Gorgonzola, Spaghetti with meat Sauce, chicken Parmigiano and cheesecake dessert. After lunch we will go to the Fort Lee Museum and Park in Fort Lee, NJ. Built atop a bluff of the Hudson River, the park was originally Fort Constitution of the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington. The museum gives us details of military life in the 1700s and is dedicated to those who fought in the Revolutionary War. The price of the excursion into the city is $70, which includes our bus (with lavatory), lunch and the cost for admission to both museums. We will leave the Church at 9 am and return by 4 pm. As always, this trip is open to everyone! Please sign up as soon as possible because tickets to the 9/11 museum must be bought in advance BUS TRIP REGISTRATION FORM PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM AND RETURN IN THE COLLECTION PLATE OR THROUGH THE MAIL NAME(S) CELL PHONE NUMBER FOR DAY OF TRIP: # X $70 ea = $ Make check payable to First Presbyterian Church and write bus trip in memo portion. Place in separate envelope Mail payment and form to: 37 Church Mall, Springfield, NJ as soon as possible. This trip is open to friends and family -First Paid, First Reserved. All forms and payment are due no later than Sept. 16 th.

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14 THE FIRST CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT SPRINGFIELD 37 CHURCH MALL SPRINGFIELD, NJ stamp PLACE LABEL HERE SAVE THE DATES FOR OCTOBER EVENTS! 10/05 Blessing of the Animals 2pm 10/14 Lunch and Movie - Noon 10/24 PW Indoor Flea Market 9am-3pm