Newsletter of the South Branch Reformed Church South Branch Reformed Church 870 River Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844 Office: (908) 369-4956 Fax: (908) 369-4602 Web: www.sbrchurch.org Inside this issue: Treasurer s Notes 2 2015 Assessment 2 From the Pastor... It is hard to believe that not too long ago our houses were decorated, the aroma of cookies and pine trees filled the air and friends, as well as strangers, smiled and shared the Christmas Spirit. **blink eyes twice** Now, February is upon us and this year that means the Season of Lent is quickly approaching. Our Lenten Journey begins on Wednesday, February 18th and SBRC will have the opportunity to gather at our Annual Ash Wednesday Service at 8:00pm. While this service has been a normal worship service, I am thinking about changing it up a bit. Now, I can already hear some groans or sighs from a few of you, but I ask for your patience and support. Here is what I am thinking of doing. I would like to see if there are two to three people from SBRC that would be willing to share What Lent Means to Me during our worship time. I would certainly offer my help, guidance and support to those who would like to share and I think that it would be a wonderful time to hear from others as we begin the Season of Lent. In essence, this year would be more a Ash Wednesday Prayer Service. Are you interested in participating? If you are, please speak with me as soon as possible so that plans can be finalized. I pray that this upcoming Lenten Season if full of reflection, prayer and commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ s Service, February, 2015 Lectionary Readings for February Women s Group 3 Birthdays & Anniversaries Cryptogram 4 Monthly Calendar 5 3 4 Welcome to SBRC!! On Sunday, February 8th, SBRC will welcome xx people into Active Membership!! Those joining our church family are: Rick & Cindy Giurlando. We extend a big welcome to each of them and pray that God s continued blessings will be with them and the church! Please be sure to take the time to greet and get to know our newest members!!
PAGE 2 Treasurer s Notes... December 2014 The offering donations for December were $11,596 (four Sundays -$2899 ave.) We started the month in the black $858 in the Current Expenses and ended the month $745 in the black. This is outstanding considering this year s budget was up almost $4000 from last year s and last year we ended $2238 in the red. And, that was despite a couple of last minute unexpected bills in December besides the usual quarterly bills. We had a bill of $1400 for a new water tank and a new sump pump for the parsonage and another for $988 for repair/replacement of drain pumps that were in the ceiling of the Stovekin Room. W ended in the black also because this year s offerings were up over $6000 compared to last year. 2015 is also going to be a challenge. The 2015 budget is up $8000 from 2014. However, that increase may not be realized if our snow plowing bill for 2015 is more like 2013 instead of 2014 when we had an enormous plowing/salting bill of $12,000 instead of the typical $5,000 (the Pre-school pays half the bill). During the year it was stated several times we needed to average $2039 to make budget. We made it averaging $2033 with $745 to spare. Don t you wish our Federal Government could be that close. Comparison Jan. - Dec. 2014 Offering Receipts: $105,724 ($2033 weekly ave.) Jan. - Dec. 2013 Offering Receipts: $99,156 ($1,907 weekly ave.) Early Warning!!! Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8th. So, please be sure to mark this on your calendar(s) so that you don t forget to move your clock(s) ahead one hour! Ash Wednesday Service! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Feb. 18th for our Annual Ash Wednesday Service at 8:00pm in the Sanctuary. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Season of Lent and what better way to begin the time of reflection and repentance than joining together for worship. 2015 Denominational Assessment The 2015 Denominational Assessment is $81.76 per member and the total for SBRC is $7,194.88. All active members should have received a letter from Pastor Steve defining the Assessment along with an envelope. Additional envelopes are located at the hallway entrance to the Sanctuary. As always, if you have any questions about the Assessment, please speak with Pastor Steve.
Women s Group Our next meeting is Sunday Feb. 8th in the Dining Room following Worship. All women are welcome! The Women s Group would like to thank the congregation for all their stamp contributions. At the January meeting, the flying fingers of fifteen members cut, trimmed, and sorted 1,794 stamps into seven categories. The stamps are on their way to Alliance Stamp Ministry in Florida where they will be sold to earn money to support the preparation, publishing, and distribution of a new Spanish language curriculum for Sunday Schools. More than 50 lesson series have been published and are being used in churches of 40 different denominations and missions in 19 different Spanish speaking countries in South and Central America. The Women s Group has decided to continue this mission project beyond January. A basket will be left in the Office for anyone who would like to contribute more cancelled stamps. In February, in addition to trimming stamps, the members will create Valentine favors to give to the Foothill Acres Nursing Home. In March, they would like to hold a cooking and craft book/magazine exchange. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome. They would also like to learn of any places that might be interested in receiving some of the materials. If you know of any places, please speak with Jannie Johnson or Lynne Diehl. - Lynne Diehl Lectionary Readings for February Feb. 1st- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 111 1 Cor. 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 Feb. 8th - Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:11-20 1 Cor. 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39 Feb. 15th - 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 112:1-8 2 Cor. 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 Feb. 22nd - Genesis 9:8-17 Food Bank Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 PAGE 3 Remember that the first Sunday of each month is Food Bank Sunday. Items can be left in the boxes at the Sanctuary entrance and the hallway entrance.
PAGE 4 Birthdays and Anniversaries A very Happy Birthday and a blessed year ahead to those who are celebrating a birthday in February: 3 - Kyle Ammerlan and Debbie Sheldon 4 - Jaci Evers 6 - Frank Eckert & Brianna LiBrizzi 8 - Dick Coates & James Nunn 10 - Grace Coddington 12 - Jack Sarles 13 - Collin DePace 14 - Tom Bernard & Ashley LiBrizzi 15 - Matthew Burt, Blair DeRoner and Amanda Simon 16 - Joan Kane 17 - Steve Eckert & Megan Sheridan 20 - Kristen Kletz 23 - Dylan Hatcher 24 - Jim Ruocco 25 - Kay McCray 27 - Kacey Kowalchuk and Jacob Simon Also, congratulations and Happy Anniversary to: 14 - Charles & Jane Huck 17 - Anthony & Dana DePace 20 - Tom & Patti Kletz Brent & Holly Kowalenko SBRC Choirs Our Choirs always welcome new members! If you love to sing, we would love to have you join us! Adult Choir rehearses Thursdays at 7:30pm in the Parlor. No experience necessary! The Adult Choir sings most Sundays from Sept. through May. Angel Choir is for preschoolers through 1st graders, and Junior Choir is for 2nd graders thru 7th graders. Both children s choirs rehearse after worship on Sundays and sing in church about once a month from Oct. through May. Please see John Colaiacovo or Emily Windus with any questions.
February 2015 Information for March s Newsletter is due on Feb. 16th! Leave your info. in the Church Office or e- mail to the Church at newsletter@sbrchurch.org with Newsletter in the subject line. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Communion Elders Meet with New Members 8 Reception of New Members 2 3 4 5 9 Bible Study at 7:00pm at Parsonage 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 22 23 Bible Study at 7:00pm at Parsonage 24 25 Ash Wednesday Service at 8:00pm Consistory at 7:30pm in the Parlor 19 26 6 Family Fun Night at 7:00pm in Dining Room 7 13 14 20 21 27 28 Valentine s Dinner at the Parsonage at 7:00pm PAGE 5
South Branch Reformed Church 870 River Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844 2015 Church Dinners The following dates were set for the 2015 SBRC Dinners! Please be sure to mark your calendar so that you do not miss a wonderful meal and fellowship! Jan. 24th - Roast Pork Dinner To Know God and to Make God Known Rev. Stephen Eckert ~ Pastor Mr. John Colaiacovo ~ Music Director Mrs. Erica Lenzo ~ Church Secretary Mrs. Maureen DeMarco ~ Preschool Director Mr. Mark Messineo ~ Sexton Mar. 14th - Corned Beef Dinner Apr. 25th - Roast Beef Dinner Sept. 12th - Ham Dinner Oct. 17th - Chicken Francaise/Marsala Nov. 7th Roast Beef Dec. 5th - Breakfast with Santa