I The Reformed Church of Linden Winter 2014 600 N. Wood Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036 Serving Christ and the Community since 1871 Pastor's Ponder Advent 2014 As the days become darker and colder, we long for light and warmth. Advent looks forward to the Light who came into the world, Christ Jesus. Advent prepares our hearts and home for Christ( 30 November to 24 December). Advent doesn't commemorate Christ's coming, rather prepares us for Christ's coming. Advent is about getting our home and hearts ready for Christmas. While a lot of decoration and preparation is done prior to Christmas, Advent is about preparing our souls for Christmas. Much occurs before Christmas, buying gifts, preparing the tree, running to the mall,cooking food, etc. At the same time, our souls need equally as much attention, if not more. The holiday can be fun and rewarding, yet stressful. Be sure to rest, pray, and worship. To help you keep focus on Christ, we will offer the following services in addtion to our Sunday service 1030-1130: Sunday (after coffee hour) 1200-100pm a five week series on "Preparing our Hearts and home for Christmas" Nov 30-Dec. 21 Material will be provided. All are welcome. Christmas Eve Candle Light Service 11PM This is a can't miss service! The Christmas story in word and song. Bring the whole family. While this is the happiest time of the year, remember to make it the holiest time of the year. Join us for worship, prayer, study, fellowship, and fun. Together let us prepare our hearts and home for Christ's coming. May God bless you and yours into 2015. Blessed Christmas and New Years, Pastor Wilfredo The Church Chatter: Editors: Linda Cole Bill Boyle The Reformed Church of Linden Wilfredo Rodriquez, Minister Phil Latawiec, Sexton Diann Schweikardt, Music Minister Sunday Schedule Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship: 10:30 am Fellowship: 11:30 am Thursday Schedule Handbells: 7 pm Choir: 8 pm Women Together meets the second Website: http://rclinden.com Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm 908-486-3714 Church Chatter, Winter 2014 1
The Annual Christmas Bazaar The Christmas bazaar means different things to everybody. This year it will be Saturday December 6 th, and I know for me there are a few things I always look forward to. I enjoy seeing members who have moved away and come back for the Bazaar. I look forward to seeing Bill and Peggy Miskowitz. I am hoping to see Richard and Linda Miske this year. This is the first year that they have been away and it will be good to see them at the Bazaar. The lunch is always enjoyable, seeing all of the kids working hard serving the guests. I always get the turkey joe, it s the only time of year I have a sandwich like that. I always look at the meatball sandwiches but go back to my old favorite. The pies always look so good, I can never decide on which kind to have. The good thing, if there are any leftover pies, they most likely will be at coffee hour the next day. I could always have a different kind then. Santa will be visiting us this year. The children are fun to watch, because some are excited and some are scared to see him. At home we have a doorway lined with pictures of Santa from the Bazaar of years past. It is always nice to add a new one every year. I know that the Bazaar is a lot of work but so many people look forward to it every year. It means so much to the people who come and visit every year. Repairs to the Church- The work to the roof, fascias and gutters are complete just in time for the winter. You may have also noticed the windows in Stryker hall have been replaced as well as the one in the hallway leading to Stryker hall. The three windows in the offices have also been replaced. The carpeting is next on the list; we were hoping to have it replaced by now by due to some delays it will not be finished until after the holidays. Thanksgiving Baskets: The Reformed Church distributed 8 Thanksgiving baskets to area families. We would like to thank all who contributed time, food and money. God The original GPS, when you need direction- you know where to look Church Chatter, Winter 2014 2
Missionary update: News from Jennifer Dear Friends and Supporters, While so much of our work right now is focused on getting settled in Italy--learning the language and culture; building relationships with neighbors, community members, colleagues through the Waldensian and Methodist churches and local organizations; meeting with our integration group to begin the planning stages for the ministry we will provide; and making sure the needs of our daughters are being met during this time of transition--one of my goals as I go about day to day living is "putting myself out there" and engaging with immigrants on a one to one basis. One of the blessings of using public transportation and walking everywhere is the opportunities I have had to do this. Below is one of the stories shared with me by an immigrant from Africa. He told me this story in order to give you a snapshot into his life and also to ask for your prayers on behalf of the over 500,000 immigrants living in the Naples area. I previously posted this story--along with other information pertaining to ministry in Naples--on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tenclay. Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting another immigrant from Africa here in Naples. F is from Niger and speaks fluent English, which made it much easier for me to have a substantial conversation with him. He came to Italy via boat three years ago with his infant son, D. F has his permesso di soggiorno and D attends an infanzia program (preschool) at a public school, which means that five days a week D is assured a substantial four-course meal. F came to Italy three years ago because, as he says, life in his home country of Niger is terrible. He and D boarded a boat with around 100 other immigrants. His goal was to arrive in Italy, gain legal status here, and then move to another European country. It is a desire that has grown even further in the past three years due to F not being able to find regular, gainful employment. He tells me he wants to move to Germany, where he is sure he would be able to find a job, but his passport has expired. At first he didn't have enough money to pay for its renewal. Now he is afraid that if he tries to renew it government officials will deport him and his son back to Niger. For now, he walks around the streets of Naples trying to find odd jobs to make enough money for housing and food, but he tells me he is desperate to find regular work and provide better for his son. He proudly shows me a picture of D, who has his hair cut like famous Italian soccer player Mario Balotelli (Balotelli is, himself, an immigrant from Ghana) and stunningly beautiful eyes that melt my heart. We talked a little more about his experience about his passage here from Africa. He grew solemn recounting a few details of his journey, and I did not want to press him for more information than he was willing to share, but he told me four people died on the boat, and several others "lost their minds"--partly due to the journey itself and partly due to the stress and trauma they endured prior to boarding the boat. F thanked me for taking the time to talk with him. He said it was nice to be able to speak with someone in English and with someone who cared. He said he had seen me walking on this street before (as it is on the route I take to pick up the girls from school) and said that I looked kind. I hope I will have an opportunity to speak with him again in the future, as I have truly felt the power of God Church Chatter, Winter 2014 3
at work in my conversations with him and other immigrants. Please pray for S, his son D, and the hundreds of thousands of other immigrants in the Naples area like them. It is so easy to look at the immigrant situation here in Italy as hopeless. Every time there is a hope filled development--such as the work of Mare Nostrum, a program developed in October 2013 and run by the Italian government to patrol the Mediterranean Sea (a program which has reportedly saved the lives of over 138,000 immigrants)--there is a major setback (such as the dissolution of Mare Nostrum in October 2014 due to the European Union cutting its funding. I would encourage those interested in learning more about this program--as well as the recent decision to stop it--to conduct an internet search on the topic.) It is easy to feel hopeless when you read or hear the numbers of people affected: over 500,000 immigrants currently living in the Naples area alone, approximately 150,000 who have come to Italy in 2014, approximately 138,000 who were found to be in distress in the Mediterranean Sea since October 2013 and rescued, not to mention the thousands that have died trying to make the journey. But every time I'm ready to succumb to a wave of hopelessness, I meet one more immigrant or one more person working towards a just and humane solution whose story inspires me to not shift "from the hope promised by the gospel"--as Paul discusses in Colossians--and I press on, knowing that God is present and has a plan that is far bigger and better than I can even imagine. Rendiamo grazie a Dio--Thanks be to God. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all of you, JJ TenClay Mark your calendars: Women together will be hosting a spaghetti dinner on Jan 16 th. Museum Trip - 23 people enjoyed a trip to the Morris Museum where we enjoyed a talk about the Guinness collection of music boxes and calliopes. Congratulations: Arlene, Anne and Eric We had a special service on Sunday November 9th we welcomed a NEW MEMBER: Arlene Cairns she joins our congregation. Arlene was received by way of transfer from the Old North Church, Dumont NJ. Welcome to our church family, Arlene. We would also like to offer congratulations to Anne Moran, our newest deacon and Eric Seebergh installed elder. Church Chatter, Winter 2014 4
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service 11PM All welcome Bring your family and friends to this special service as we celebrate the birth of Christ in word and song. This service is a long standing tradition within the Reformed Church of Linden. The Reformed Church of Linden Fellowship Hour Thank you for all the cooperation as Fellowship Hour Hosts in the past. The Fellowship Hours have all been wonderful sharing experiences. We have had a few Pot Luck coffee hours on the second Sunday. So far it has been going well; we end up with plenty of food. Anne Moran arrives early and gets things going. Thanks to all who have helped with this set up and clean up. Advent Learning Series Following the Heidelberg Catechism classes Pastor Wilfredo will be presenting Preparing our Hearts for Christmas An Advent Series 1200-1PM on Sundays during advent following service. Nov 30-Dec. 21 Material will be provided. All are welcome. CALLING ALL YOUTH: We are forming a youth group. If you would like to volunteer, please speak with Ms. Madelyn Rodriguez Giving Tree: The reformed Church will be supporting the less fortunate in Linden by providing Christmas gifts to area children. We will have the giving tree in the sanctuary on Dec 7 th. People can select a child s name and make their Christmas a little bit happier English as a Second Language WE are teaching English to our Neighbors!! Tuesday 7-830PM, about 8-9 come to learn English. We hope to start a second class in January. If you would like to teach basic English, please speak with Orlando Ramos. No experience necessary. All material will be provided Thanks to Mr. Orlando Ramos Church Chatter, Winter 2014 5
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