You re joking right? There s some kind of hidden camera around here somewhere. And yet even the fundamental. story culminates with

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Martin Harrison
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W a lking Humbly - Pastor Ron de Groot I read recently of a graduation speech that urged graduates to go out into the world and risk attempting things for which they did not feel qualified.

Put on your best suit and exude confidence and talk big. Just put it on the credit card and figure out how to pay for it later.

And yet there is an underlying thread running through scripture that really struggles with this approach to life.

1 W a lking Humbly - Pastor Ron de Groot I read recently of a graduation speech that urged graduates to go out into the world and risk attempting things for which they did not feel qualified. At one point she said, If you are convinced that you don t have what it takes for the job, you ll just have to fake it until you make it! Whatever you do, don t let them see you sweat. Put on your best suit and exude confidence and talk big. Just put it on the credit card and figure out how to pay for it later. Now if you have ever had to sell yourself or your services in our culture and environment this sounds like a viable approach to attaining success. And yet there is an underlying thread running through scripture that really struggles with this approach to life. Whatever it is that God is trying to sell in the bible there is always a man or a woman involved in the sale who is a vulnerable and seemingly weak human being. There is a steady stream of men and women in the biblical story who when invited to be a part of the God-project to save the world, who responded with something along the lines of Who me? You re joking right? There s some kind of hidden camera around here somewhere. And yet even the fundamental Christian story culminates with a teenage woman responding to the call to allow her body to be the entry point for the birth of the Savior of the world. Her response is a poetic parallel to the phrase who me? or as Mary put how can this be? How can someone so powerless and vulnerable be the bearer of God s love for the whole world? And then you finally end up with the power and the glory of God in the person of a crucified and humiliated Jesus. These were not people who were faking it until they made it. They were all clay pots that Paul says contain the treasure that is God s presence and love. "Earthen vessels" is the elegant way the King James Version put it; "earthenware jars" or "clay pots" or the NRSV "clay jars" is more accurate. These were purely utilitarian; they were not repaired but thrown away. Paul contrasts the fragile vessels with the priceless treasure they carry. Christ's followers are depicted not as spiritual giants but as vulnerable human beings. Once again we are reminded that God c a l v a r y t o d a y l i v e. o r g June 2018 acts in ways that do not fit the world s criteria. "We have this treasure in clay jars," Paul says. The treasure, of course, is the gospel, which brings a new and totally different kind of enlightenment and wisdom. God is looking for vulnerable and fillable human beings to contain and pour out the love that our world so desperately needs. Which means we are not disqualified from the Jesus project because we are earthen vessels that really don t look like much. You don t need to fake it. You can be yourself with all the cracks, chips and stains that are your clay pot. There is a commencement speech that Jesus might give that would involve him saying Go for it, be God s treasured love for your world. And to the who me? response he would say Yes you! Pastor Ron de Groot

Page 2 The Garden The children s Food Pantry Garden will be planted on Sunday, June 3. The harvest of what the children plant will be given to the Community Food Pantry of Morris County.

Membership Orientation Have you been considering becoming a member of our fellowship and ministry?

2 Page 2 The Garden The children s Food Pantry Garden will be planted on Sunday, June 3. The harvest of what the children plant will be given to the Community Food Pantry of Morris County. This is a teachable moment for our children to understand the abundance of creation and the opportunity to serve our neighbors in generosity. Membership Orientation Have you been considering becoming a member of our fellowship and ministry? We are offering a Saturday morning membership orientation on Sunday, June 10 immediately following the worship service. It is an opportunity to explore the meaning of membership in the Body of Christ and Calvary Presbyterian in particular. You will have an opportunity to meet with the leadership and become familiar with our ministry structure and the many ways the blessings of membership can enhance and nourish your spiritual journey. If you would like to attend contact the office and register. Further questions can be directed to Pastor de Groot at truenorthrdg@verizon.net. Child care is available. Lectionary for June 2018 June 3 (9th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) Psalm 139:1-6, Corinthians 4:5-12 Mark 2:23-3:6 June 10 (10th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15), (11:14-15) Psalm Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35 June 17 (11th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13) Mark 4:26-34 June 24 (12th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) and Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, and Psalm Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41 c a l v a r y t o d a y l i v e. o r g

Page 3 THANK YOU CHOIR Choir Season is Concluding for Summer Break this month. It is a great time to pause and thank Olga, our music director, and the voices that have blessed us this year.

Fellowship Hour Hosts Preparing a place for people to gather for food and conversation is an offering and we would like to thank Michael Loeuis, Krystie Loeuis, The Chancel Choir, The Worship Team,

3 Page 3 THANK YOU CHOIR Choir Season is Concluding for Summer Break this month. It is a great time to pause and thank Olga, our music director, and the voices that have blessed us this year. Briefly Noted Church Office Summer Hours The church office will be closed on Mondays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Office hours will be Tuesday through Friday from 8:00AM. NOON. Fellowship Hour Hosts Preparing a place for people to gather for food and conversation is an offering and we would like to thank Michael Loeuis, Krystie Loeuis, The Chancel Choir, The Worship Team, Bob Newhouse, and Michele Newhouse for hosting Fellowship hour in May. Graduating Students Spencer Moore, grandson of Barbara Melcher, will be graduating from Madison High School and attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Just Us Book Club The Just Us Book Club will meet on Wednesday, June 6th at 6:00PM at the home of Sam Moussa. The book for June will be A World I Loved by Wadad Maksisi Coras. The book discussion will follow a covered dish supper. Please call Nancy Mantone at or Ann Ritzer at Thank You! My family and I would like to thank everyone for their sympathy cards, thoughts and prayers for our son, Drew, who died in PA on March 26. Kind words from our long time Florham Park and Calvary Church friends have meant so much to us during these difficult days. Blessings to you all! Bonnie McDonald Toms River, NJ Prayer List Update In order for the prayer list to remain current we ask that you contact the church office if you would like the name of a person you previously submitted to remain on the prayer list: please call or e- mailcalpresfp@verizon.net. Names which are not confirmed by June 10, 2018 will be removed from the list Directories Available The 2018 Calvary membership directory is now available for pick up in the Link. c a l v a r y t o d a y l i v e. o r g June Birthdays Ginna Zukswert 2 Robert Newhouse 4 Alexandra Tate 4 Lily Abate 6 Jenna Vitale 6 Jeremy Loeuis 16 Gregory Vos 17 Donna Eberle 24 Barry Lack 26 Irene Bittner 28 June Anniversaries Warren & Shirley Mauzy 20 Kenneth & Donna Eberle 22 Sam & Nancy Mantone 24

4 Page 4 The exchange of the peace! The giving of the blessing. Visitors from Canada. Pastor Ron s sister Judy (left) and her husband Keith (right).

5 Page 5 Pentecost worship and festival. A sea of red and the wind of the Spirit in song, fellowship and great food. Thanks to all of our chili makers! Photos by Steven Treebridge

Page 6 COMING THIS SUMMER July 4th at Calvary Calvary will be taking part in the national celebration of our nation s birth. We are asking our members to participate in our local community events.

Look for opportunities in the various events of the day. Volunteers will be needed for our float in the parade. You can ride with us, help out in the construction.

The temperature is typically high and people are so appreciative of our effort to attend to their thirst.

6 Page 6 COMING THIS SUMMER July 4th at Calvary Calvary will be taking part in the national celebration of our nation s birth. We are asking our members to participate in our local community events. We have had such wonderful response to Calvary s participation in the past and look forward to another great year. You can support our ministry to Florham Park in a number of ways. Look for opportunities in the various events of the day. Volunteers will be needed for our float in the parade. You can ride with us, help out in the construction. This year will be such a great entry to be a part of. We will once again be handing out water bottles to parade participants and observers. The temperature is typically high and people are so appreciative of our effort to attend to their thirst. You can help show the compassion of our faith community by volunteering to simply hand out water in front of the church at the conclusion of the parade. The evening fireworks draws many neighbors and out of town people in the evening who are searching for a place to park. Calvary has a parking lot that we offer to the community with attendants. And we hand out free glow stick neckwear to those who use our lot. If you want to bless people with these gifts there is a place for you in our parking crew and glow stick providers. If you d like to help out with the float, distribute bottled water, or assist with evening parking activities. Contact Pastor Ron at truenorthrdg@verizon.net.

Page 7 The neighbors are coming and the crowd 3rd Annual Block Party Sunday, Sept 9, 2018 The ministry and mission of Calvary Presbyterian is to create

This will be the third year we offer hospitality to our neighbors that invites them to connect to each other and our Calvary community.

It s a big undertaking that requires a lot of volunteers and love. Food, fun activities for children, live music, conversation and connections.

7 Page 7 The neighbors are coming and the crowd 3rd Annual Block Party Sunday, Sept 9, 2018 The ministry and mission of Calvary Presbyterian is to create community that joins men, women and children together in the love of their Creator. This will be the third year we offer hospitality to our neighbors that invites them to connect to each other and our Calvary community. What a blessing this gift has been to our neighborhood. This year we will be calling our neighbors to a festival of neighbor connection on September 9th. It s a big undertaking that requires a lot of volunteers and love. Food, fun activities for children, live music, conversation and connections. It is wonderful introduction to our faith community from so many people we have yet to meet and welcome. The call for volunteers is an invitation to the blessing of God to our neighbors! To help out or find out more contact Pastor Ron or Jeannette Howard at calpresfp@verizon.net

8 Page 8 June 17, 2018 c a l v a r y t o d a y l i v e. o r g Calvary Presbyterian Church, 144 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey Pastor Ronald J. de Groot Director of Music: Olga Koutcherova

September ast year I wrote the following;

September ast year I wrote the following; Homecoming Sunday S ept ember 11th Pastor Ron de Groot September 2016 ast year I wrote the following; L Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a