First Class Mail Time Sensitive Please deliver immediately The Riverside Moravian November 2016 FIRST MORAVIAN CHURCH (Return Service requested) Riverside Moravian Church 228 E Washington St. Riverside, NJ 08075-1214 A Christ-Centered Protestant Church serving Riverside, Delanco, Delran, and Neighboring Communities Denomination Founded March 1, 1457 Congregation Organized December 31, 1865 228 E. Washington Street Riverside, New Jersey 08075-3629 Telephone: (856) 461-0132 Fax: (856) 764-7032 E-Mail: riversidemoravian@verizon.net George Richmond, Interim Pastor (215) 828-9929 grichmond@msn.com FIRST MORAVIAN CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT To welcome all to share and grow in a Christ-centered Community
From the Pastor, The month of November, 2016 is Thanksgiving Month for First Moravian Church, Riverside, NJ in more ways than one. It is a time of thanksgiving because we will be celebrating our 151 st Anniversary on Sunday November 20, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. It has been and is being a year of changes but the congregation has borne them well and there is much to give thanks for. We have continued the many ministries and have even added to them. We have been reaching out in new ways to others as we seek to bring the gospel to those who have not received it and the church to those who have not experienced the fellowship. We must give thanks for these ministries. It is also thanksgiving at the national level as we remember our history and early beginnings as a nation. It is my prayer that as we go through national elections we will be able at the end of it all to say that the Lord has been with us and continues to go with us. May we be able to say that as a church, as a nation, and be able to give thanks. We must also give thanks at the individual level. Let us never take for granted the blessings bestowed on us and on our families. As the hymn says: Count your many blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. The Psalmist gives expression to the wonderful sense of thanksgiving in Psalm 103:1-2 as he says: Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: All are invited to join in the anniversary thanksgiving celebration. Please bring the family and friends. Be blessed and be a blessing to others as we give thanks! George Richmond. Pg. 1 2016 Memorial Christmas Poinsettias 2016 MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA ORDER FORM Cost (6 inch potted plants) - $6.00 Ordering deadline, Sunday December 11, 2016 Please print clearly and include your phone number In Loving Memory Of: Given By: Payment to be announced Your order will remember your loved ones, and help to beautify the church at Christmas. Please use the order form below. $ Note: Can be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church office, 228. Washington St., Riverside, NJ 08075 (856) 461-0132. Please make checks payable to First Moravian Church. Pg. 14
Board of Elders Board of Trustees Rev. George Richmond - Interim Pastor Diana Koenig, President [2017] Jeanne Beard, Vice Chair [2019] Colleen Bruckart, Vice President [2018] Ginny Lyon, Secretary [2017] Elsa Lucas, Secretary [2019] Lisa Baker [2019] Andrea DeFlaviis [2018] Dave Barta [2017] John Gagliardi [2018] Nancy Eden [2019] Colleen Lightfoot [2017] Kathie Pippin [2019] Richard Winans [2019] Sharon Storm [2019] *Reba Kohn, Treasurer *Anne Wallace, Financial Secretary *Not a member of the Board Congregational Watchword for 2016 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your. Joel 2:26. (NRSV) Men s Retreat From the Board Highlights from the Board of Elders, October 6, 2016 Opened with Prayer. Prayed for those on prayer list. Mildred Leonard Allocation : $500.00 to the Board of World Mission for disaster efforts. Elder Angel Award recipient selected. Upcoming events discussed Next Meeting - November 3, 2016. Closed with Prayer. Moravian Women s Annual Advent Breakfast Saturday, December 3, 2016 9:00 am/hahle Hall Free Will Offering To begin the Christmas Season come and enjoy a delicious breakfast, good fellowship, and entertainment Reservations Appreciated Please RSVP to the church office no later than November 30th Pg. 13 To the Men of Moravian Church: My name is John Gagliardi and I was fortunate enough to attend a Men s Retreat at Camp Hope on October 14, and 15th. Our Spiritual leader was Rev. George Richmond. The other attendees were Mel and Dale Lucas (master chefs), Rich Winans and Rich Dreydoppel. Our agenda included a discussion on (how to be a better husband) and we discussed the movie Amish Grace. The meals and fellowship were very informative and heartfelt. The cabins that we stayed in were very comfortable and modern. Camp Hope grounds were very beautiful and allowed us time to meditate and pray. The weekend was very important and relaxing to me. I hope to see more men at our next retreat. Sincerely, John Gagliardi Pg. 2
November 1 - Joshua Lallo 4 - MaryAnn Fusco 7 - Julia Potts 8 - George Stemetzki, Jr. 10 - Jacquelyn Brown 11 - Elsa Lucas 12 - Tom Corridori 12 - Elsie Mollineaux 12 - Cynthia Moore 12 - Gianna Potts 12 - Olivia Potts 13 - Anya Hall 13 - Carley Jordan 16 - Richard Dreydoppel, Jr. 16 - Diane Schroeder 17 - Melissa Neamand 21 - Cristina Bolanos 22 - Bill Hassler 22 - Felicia Simmons 24 - Raymond Thompson 25 - Paige Mollineaux 26 - Edward Maher 29 - Halie Cox November 12 - Ray & Barbara Thompson 21 - Mike & Terri McGee 16 - Don & Elsie Mollineaux 27 - Greg & Cerena Roberts Please note: If you have additions or corrections to either list for future newsletters please call Mary at the church office Don t forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night, November 5th before you go to bed. Daylight Savings time ends on Sunday, November 6th. Pg. 3 Pg. 12
Dear Brothers and Sisters Our yearly commitment to support our adopted village of Mlogolo is coming upon us. Donations can be made at any time. Please note on the envelope or check that it is for Dear Brothers and Sisters. Anyone interested in obtaining a Christmas card with an insert, please contact Marie Dole. 2015 Unity Prayer Watch Through the Unity Prayer Watch, every moment of every day a Moravian somewhere around the world is praying for the work of Christ, and for the larger Moravian Church. Our congregation's turn to participate in the prayer watch will occur on Monday, December 12th, and you are invited to sign-up for a 1/2 hour block of time to pray. Times to be announced. The sign-up sheet and a list of suggested prayer topics will be made available during worship when we have the times. If you have questions, speak to any member of our Board of Elders. Community Thanksgiving Eve Service On Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 7:00 pm our congregation will be joining in with the other Christian churches in our Triple-Towns area for a Community Thanksgiving Eve Service at Resurrection RC Church. Plan on attending and lifting your praises to the who calls us to be One Church and one Body of Christ. Pg. 11 Pg. 4
Dear friends in Riverside, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to gather together on October 9th to observe my departure as your pastor last December 28. The requirements of the disability insurance company required that I terminate my functioning and relationships immediately and totally, which I regretted for all our sakes. Jill and I are settling in to our new home, and the work goes on and on. Your generous gift, for which we offer our heartfelt thanks, will go toward our ongoing efforts to make our house a home. We became grandparents twice over in recent months with the birth of Jackson to Ali and Brian in June, and the birth of Sebastian to Rachel and Josh in September. We try to see them as often as we are able. May bless you individually and corporately in the days and years to come. Rick and Jill Bruckart Brave Cave Family Adventure Thursday November, 10 6pm-8pm Food, games, fun for the whole family RSVP by November 3rd 856-461-0132 FREE! First Moravian Church Bridgeboro & Washington Streets Riverside The deadline for submitting articles for the December 2016 Newsletter is Tuesday, November 15th. Please submit articles to be included in the newsletter anytime during the month but no later than the above date. Articles received after the above date will be included in the January newsletter. Pg. 5 Coming Soon Annual Cookie Sale Watch for details. Sunday School classes for all ages at 9:30 am. every Sunday Pg. 10
Greetings Eastern District Churches and Pastors, We are back up and running with a new distance learning platform and it is quite exciting! Contact me with any questions! Thank you so much. Late Fall Semester: The Culture & Change course of Crossroads Lay Leadership at Moravian Theological Seminary begins Nov 3. We meet twice a week and will be done by Advent. This is a practical course in leadership that changes the way participants view their church. Why is it important to understand culture? Learn why your church culture might be working against you, how is cultural language keeping people away and how the reversal of traditions and values might be harming your church. Participate in a series of short projects that will reinforce the classroom activities. For those who live outside the Lehigh Valley, Real Time Distance Learning is now available for every Crossroads course through Zoom. Be part of the classroom, see and hear what is going on and participate in every discussion from your house. To register go to www.moravianseminary.edu/ crossroads or contact Jill Peters jpeters@moravian.edu for more info. Come and join us! Crossroads Info Session As a Lay Person, do you have a sense that is calling you to something more - a deeper relationship, a specific mission, an expanded leadership role within your faith community? Crossroads Lay Leadership is a great place to explore your call and gain the skills you need to live into that call. Join us Saturday, November 12 at 10 am at Moravian Theological Seminary, 60 W. Locust Street, for a presentation on the program and an informal Q&A to follow. Now is a great time to explore the intersection of your life and 's mission! Real Time Distance Learning will also be a topic. If you want to attend the Info Session by distance, please contact Jill Peters at jpeters@moravian.edu as soon as possible. Crossroads: Great people sharing faith, working hard and having fun! Dr. Jill Peters Missional Leadership Developer Moravian Theological Seminary Inside Yard Sale November 5th The Fund Raising Committee has scheduled an inside Yard Sale for Saturday, November 5th from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. You can rent a table for $10.00 or 2 for $15.00. Call Sharon Clauss or the church office to reserve. To donate for the baked goods call Colleen Bruckart. To donate for the food table (soup, salads, puddings) call Sharon Clauss. To donate used books call Joyce Walton. We are also having a white elephant table. All donations welcome. Volunteers are needed to work the church tables and set-up on Friday, November 4th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Those renting tables should also set-up on Friday, November 4th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Sunday, November 13th - Holy Communion in recognition of Christ the Chief Elder of the Moravian Church. Women s Fellowship and the Men s Group will begin on Sunday, November 13th following worship. Christmas is around the corner. There are Christmas cards available. Ten cards for $10.00. If interested see Kathy Pippin Pg. 9 Pg. 6
November 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 All Saints Day 2 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Assembly of Bible 3 7:00 pm Board of Elders Meeting 4 6:00 pm Set-up for Indoor Yard Sale 5 Turn clocks back before going to bed 9:00 am-1:00 pm Indoor Yard Sale 6 Daylight Savings Time Ends 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship 5:00 pm Assembly of 7 8 Election Day 9 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Assembly of Bible 10 6:00-8:00 pm Brave Cave Family Adventure 7:00 pm Board of Trustees Meeting 11 12 11:00 am Party/Hahle Hall 13 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Holy Communion Fishes & Loaves Women s Fellowship & Men s Group following Worship 5:00 pm Assembly of 14 15 December Newsletter Deadline 16 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Assembly of Bible 17 18 19 8:00 am Hospitality Breakfast 9:00 am-12: noon Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry Setting up for Anniversary 20 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship 4:00 pm 151st Church Anniversary Lovefeast/ followed by Dinner 5:00 pm Assembly of 21 22 23 7:00 pm Thanksgiving Eve Service at Resurrection Parish Assembly of Bible Bible Study 24 Assembly of Thanksgiving Dinner 25 26 Party/Hahle Hall 27 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship First Sunday of Advent Joyful Noise Sunday 5:00 pm Assembly of 28 29 Pg. 7 30 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Assembly of Bible First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2016 Pg. 8