THE MESSENGER
The Newsletter of
MEYERSVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
223 Hickory Tavern Road at the Circle in Meyersville
Gillette, NJ 07933-1038
The Rev. Barbara F. Aspinall, Pastor
908-647-0390 - www.meyersvillechurch.com - [email protected]
APRIL 2015
Holy Week and Easter
Thursday, April 2 Maundy Thursday
6:30 pm Covered Dish Meal followed by a
7:30 pm Communion Service around tables
Friday, April 3 Good Friday
7 am - 7 pm Vigil in our Sanctuary
7:30 pm Worship Service at First, Stirling
Sunday, April 5 Resurrection Day
7:00 am Early Easter Worship at Hillview Farms,
223 Meyersville Road
Coffee and Fellowship at Kielblocks’
10:00 am Worship Celebration, Sanctuary
11:00 am Fellowship Hour
email: [email protected]
April 2015
Dear Church Family,
In The Longing for Home, Frederick Buechner wrote about the
peculiar, when you think about it, fact that the gospel writers tell the
Easter story of Jesus’ resurrection in a whisper and not with exuberant
choirs of angels or a big brass band. Whether you read the story in
Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, it happens in the quiet of the dark of the
early morning. Women tiptoe; an angel or two calmly state the
obvious: “he is not here;” nobody shouts. Mary had a quiet
conversation with Jesus in the garden, not even knowing it was him at
first. Thomas was so unsure he had to have the evidence of the nail
holes. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus
until they sat down for lunch. And on the beach, they didn’t know it was
him until he’d cooked them breakfast.
Buechner says, “Jesus came back from death not in a blaze of
glory, but more like a candle flame in the dark, flickering first in this
place, then in that place, then in no place at all. If they had been making
the whole thing up for the purpose of converting the world, presumably
they would have described it more the way the book of Revelation
describes how he will come back again at the end of time with "the
armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen, white and pure" and his eyes
"like a flame of fire, and on his head many diadems." But that is not the
way the Gospels tell it. They are not trying to describe it as
convincingly as they can. They are trying to describe it as truthfully as
they can. It was the most extraordinary thing they believed had ever
happened, and yet they tell it so quietly that you have to lean close to
be sure what they are telling. They tell it as softly as a secret, as
something so precious, and holy, and fragile, and unbelievable, and
true, that to tell it any other way would be somehow to dishonor it. To
proclaim the resurrection the way they do, you would have to say it in
whispers: "Christ has risen." Like that.”
And so I whisper, “Happy Easter to all. May the truth and the
joy of Jesus’ resurrection enliven your life!”
Yours in Christ,
Holy Week and Easter
Maundy Thursday, April 2
Covered Dish Supper and Worship with Communion
When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the last time, it was
during the festival of the Passover. Many people had come
to the city for this week of celebration of God’s deliverance of the
people from slavery in Egypt. Fellowship around the table continues
to be an important part of our connection to one another, whether it is
in our homes or in the community of the church. Join us for two kinds
of meals - both for our bodies, minds and hearts. On Maundy
Thursday this year, we will join with our friends from First
Presbyterian in Stirling at our church for a Covered Dish Meal and
Communion Service around tables at 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday Vigil, April 3
The dictionary defines “vigil” as a purposeful period of
wakefulness and watchfulness. As part of our
congregation’s Holy Week observance, we will be holding
a vigil in our sanctuary from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Good
Friday, April 3. Volunteers can sign up to be in the sanctuary for ½
hour or more over the course of the day. This time may be used for
prayer, meditation, Scripture reading, or devotional reading that will
be provided. In this way, our congregation will be “awake and
watchful” during the time that Jesus was suffering in prison, on the
cross, and beginning his journey to hell and back. A vigil sign-up
sheet will be on our bulletin board or call the church office.
Good Friday Worship, April 3
Our congregation will be joining with our friends at First
Presbyterian Church for a Good Friday service at 7:30
p.m. The service this year will follow a pattern of
Scripture readings, silence and responses of prayers and
hymn verses.
Day of Resurrection, April 5
We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord at our 7:00 am
with our early Easter worship at Hillview Farms, 223
Meyersville Road. The Kielblocks have invited all for
coffee and fellowship afterwards. At 10:00 am, we have our
celebratory worship in our sanctuary followed by Fellowship Hour.
Almost Spring Rummage Sale
and Pancake Breakfast Buffet a Great Success!!
Our now annual spring rummage sale was a wonderful success
this year. Thanks to Kelly Roshto, our creative, hard-working and
highly organized Rummage Queen, and all her helpers, the sale raised
over $3,000 for the ministry of our church. The many helpers did a
great job sorting and washing rummage, counting pieces, displaying
treasures for sale. The kitchen workers provided a delicious pancake
breakfast, along with baked goods. Many thanks also to all those who
contributed items from their homes and baked goods from their
kitchens. The unsold rummage items were given to mission
organizations such as local missions, some to the Lupus Foundation,
Visiting Nurse Association and others to a ministry in Nicaragua.
Kelly
Pancake
flippers,
John and
Guy
Our initial
investment covered,
more raffle tickets
are available for a
chance at this
beautiful grill!
$20/ticket,
6 for $100
Karen sells lunch tickets.
Hotdog anyone?
Some great stuff!
Delicious pancake
and sausage
breakfast
Come help on Saturday, April
18th at 10 am when we will be
beautifying our church
property after a long, hard
winter. Projects include pew
cleaning, gardening, planting,
mulch spreading and shed
organizing. Bring gloves, clippers, leaf rakes, stone rakes. Coffee and
snack provided!
Old Testament Bible Study
Resumes
Sunday, April 19, 11:15 a.m.
Beginning on Sunday, April 19
after the worship service, we will be
resuming our study of the Old Testament.
The group will meet for approximately an
hour and a quarter and will be using an
excellent DVD lecture resource published by The Great Courses
program. Working more or less in the order of the Bible, we are now
up to the books of Samuel and Kings and the stories of King David
and glory days of the monarchy and the united kingdom. We will be
considering the Israelite monarchy - its successes and failures, its
principles and personalities. Who was David? What happened with
Solomon? And then with the end of the period of the great kings, how
did God speak to God’s people through the prophets?
The informative and entertaining 30-minute DVD lectures by a
professor of the Old and New Testaments at Vanderbilt University
provide in-depth historical and textual background on the passages we
are studying. This will serve as a jumping off place for discussion of
God’s Word to us in Scripture.
The class will continue each week and all are welcome to
participate every week or to come whenever possible. The discussion
will be led by Barbara Aspinall and we will meet in the Parlor after a
chance to socialize for a few minutes at coffee hour.
April 19 King David I Samuel 16-31, II Samuel, I Kings 1-2
April 26 From King Solomon to PreClassical Prophecy
I Kings 3 - II Kings 17
Meyersville Church Book Club
Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Meyersville Church Book Club will next meet
on Friday, April 10 at 7:30 pm to discuss bestselling author, Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train: A Novel.
Members, friends and not-yet-friends are all welcome. From the
publisher:
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly
from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest,
carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be
determined by pure luck. As a young Irish immigrant,
Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New
York City to an uncertain future a world away.
Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet,
peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the
memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But
in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a
turbulent past. Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows
that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out
her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as
Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she
discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A
Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes,
Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has
unanswered questions about the past. Moving between contemporary
Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful
tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected
friendship.
MULTIPLE CHOICE!
Taught by skilled members of our own congregation, our
church offers continuing and different learning experiences. Free
Gentle Yoga is taught by a certified yoga instructor, Rosanne
McGraw; Rug Braiding is taught by Peg Arnold who has been
making braided wool rugs for many years. Members and friends are
most welcome to participate in any (or all!) of these free classes.
Gentle Yoga: Continuing Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am
Rug Braiding: Continuing Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am
Weber Grill Raffle
As part of our Almost Spring Rummage Sale, (and before and
after) we will be selling raffle tickets for a beautiful new Weber grill,
the Weber Genesis S-330, that has a retail value of $950.00. The grill
winner will have the options of propane or natural gas and may use
the value of the grill toward an even fancier grill if desired. The
drawing will be on Friday evening, June 19th at a special spring dinner
that our church will be hosting. The raffle tickets will be $20 each and
$100 for 6 tickets. There will be only 252 tickets sold. Tickets are
available from the church office. Tell your friends! Sell some tickets!
The “specs:”
total cooking area: 637 sq. inches
38,000 BTU per hour input main burners
12,000 BTU per hour input flush mounted side burner.
three stainless steel burners.
10,000 BTU per hour input sear station
7 mm diameter stainless steel rod
cooking grates
stainless steel flavorizer bars
stainless steel shroud
center-mounted thermometer
stainless steel work surface
fuel gauge
SPRING Italian DINNER
PLANNED
for Friday, June 19th
The lucky winner of the Weber Grill
Raffle will be drawn at a special Italian style
dinner planned for Friday, June 19th. We plan to
serve chicken parmesan, spaghetti and
meatballs, salad, bread, and a fancy Italian
dessert and hope to have church members and many community
friends join us for this event. Mark your calendar!
Many thanks to all those who helped us
get through this snowy winter!
Many thanks to all those who took responsibility for plowing
and shoveling this winter: Robert Kielblock was our ever-conscientious
plower, and Ruud Zijdel, Doris Mertz and Kelly Roshto did a lot of
snowblowing, and shoveling.
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Joshua Leski (foreground) and his fellow Scouts work on his
Eagle Scout project: building a low stone wall and landscaping the
church property in front of the big sanctuary window. Come see the
results after the spring planting!
Our Steeple and
Bell Need Repair
The Property Committee
of the Session has been
investigating what might
be done about the
disrepair of our church’s
steeple, bell tower and
bell support. We have not
been able to ring our
1500 pound bell in some
time because its support
frame is unstable. The
property committee is in
the process of meeting
with a steeplejack and
church bell expert to
determine what repairs
need to be done and the
cost.
Village 2 Village Update
Laurie Kroll, V2V Director visited
Uganda recently. Some notes from her trip: The
staff has organized several local people to
speak on various topics and expertise, and it’s been fantastic. We’ve
had a couple come speak that does various empowerment and
development projects, in addition to motivational discussions about
education, and your typical teenaged issues. A nurse and Ugandan
board member came by and spoke about health issues, and after the
younger children were separated into another group, issues
surrounding romantic relationships and how that relates to
completing their education within this culture. This week a local
female police officer is coming by to speak about women’s rights.
Local speakers make
presentations to the
older children, staff and
caregivers.
Laurie walks along footpaths
to make home visits. She
always has an entourage of
curious children.
A home visit. Chairs are
for guests!
APRIL
SPECIAL
MISSION
One Great Hour of Sharing is a nationwide, united effort by
America’s Christians, in a joint program, to provide vitally important
relief and rehabilitation work to churches overseas and also prove to
the world how great the power generated when Christians join
together in a common use.
This effort began in 1949 as U.S. Protestant churches made
appeals for help to reconstruct in areas that were almost destroyed
completely by the fighting during World War II, primarily in Europe
an Asia. By 1954, One Great Hour Aid and the Jewish Passover
Appeal and space was donated for advertising through the
Advertising Council. The Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian
Disaster
Assistance and Self-Development of People all receive
about one third of the Contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing
are a powerful, tangible witness to the healing love of Christ for all
people.
April 2015
Lectionary Readings
April 5 - Resurrection of the Lord/Easter
Acts 10:34-43 or Isa. 25:6-9; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor. 15:1-11 or
Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8
April 12 - 2nd Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:32-35; Ps. 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
April 19 - 3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 3:12-19; Ps. 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
April 26 - 4thSunday of Easter
Acts 4:5-12; Ps. 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
We Keep in Our Prayers:
Mike Ambrosio, friend of Doug Smith
Jessica Arico and daughter, friends of Carol Boyle
Sal Badalamenti, friend of Barbara Aspinall
Pat Bankowski, church friend
George Barker, Marion Barker’s brother
Marilyn Barker, Marion Barker’s sister-in-law
Margaret Bauknight, friend of Lynne Hilf
Bird Family, community friends
Clark Carson, husband of Claudia
Claudia Carson, former member
Joanne Coker, Lynne Hilf’s mother
Ellen Dreyer, sister-in-law of Barbara Grillo
Betty Garrett, friend of Lynne Hilf
Betty Lembrich, church member
Eleanor Matthews, friend of Peg Arnold
George McDaniel, relative of the Skidmore family
Tyler McGuire, cousin of Michele Urbanski
Quaid Mobus, friend of Roberta Keller
Ian Rahimi, friend of Minaian family
Adrienne Schmitt, Deborah Schmitt’s mother
Beth Shaw, Kielblock cousin
Garland Smith, Joanne Smith’s brother
Theresa Soeth, Marcie Skrobacz’s aunt
Mary Stapperfenne, Jean’s daughter-in-law
Johnny Urbanksi, Michele’s nephew
Myles Urbanski, Michele’s son
Robert and Elva Wenz, Jean Stapperfenne’s sister & brother-in-law
Charlene Wilverding, friend of Kelly Roshto
“LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK!
Have you checked yet? Our church is
on Facebook, so you can check our page for
new information. And, if you “like” us, you
will receive the latest information on your
own page as it is updated. Have a look!
New Session Assignments 2015
Clerk of Session: Sandra Seymour
Christian Education:
Community Relations: Laura Minaian
Congregational Life: Loura Zijdel
Mission: Doug Smith and Rosanne McGraw
Memorial: Barbara Grillo
Personnel: Marion Barker
Property: Doris Mertz, Robert Kielblock
Stewardship & Finance: Rosanne McGraw and Doug Smith
Worship: Marion Barker and Doris Mertz
NEWS OF OUR CONGREGATION
Happy Birthday
April 8
April 10
April 17
April 25
April 27
April 28
April 29
Jeffrey Beltz
Natalie and Erik Gast
Carol Faison
Lynne Hilf
Alexander Sadowski
Betty Lembrich
Shanon Cook, Doris Mertz
April 5, 2015 COMMUNION
Preparing Elements: Lisa Kielblock, Carol Boyle
Elders Serving Communion: Class of 2018:
Barbara Grillo, Rosanne McGraw, Robert Kielblock
Call to Worship:
April 5
Art England
April 12
Carol Boyle
April 19
Sandy Seymour
April 26
Laura Minaian
MISSION for April
One Great Hour of Sharing