The Stewartsville Press
The Newsletter of the
Stewartsville Presbyterian Church
550 North Main Street
Stewartsville, NJ 08886
908-859-1399
e-mail: spchurch@bellatlantic.net
April 2000
D
ear FriendsLet it be said here first off…that in the last newsletter there was a mistake. Yes, it’s true, as difficult as that may be to comprehend, J your pastor made a mistake. I named Cat Stevens as the singer of the Song "Cat in the Cradle" and it should have been Harry Chapin. So if any member of the Cat Stevens or Harry Chapin fan clubs were offended, this is an offical apology.
I knew that it was wrong as soon as it left my hand, but alas and alack, it was gone, it could not be retrieved, and thus, as so many things are… it was out of my control.
It was, however, an eye opener to discover that there are people out there who read the newsletter, and further, that among us, there are so many music-philes who knew that a mistake had been made. It’s fairly well intimidating.
It reminds me of the little boy who was saying his prayers in the evening, and thanked the Lord for the pancakes he’d had at supper. His mother asked him why he thanked God for the pancakes, when in actuality they’d had a pot roast. He said, I just wanted to see if God was paying attenion."
Glad to see that you’re paying attention.
There is a Lenten point to these ramblings, and that is the issue of remorse for things said or done. Regrets are a part of life and some words can never be corrected or retracted, and some actions can never be undone.
I suspect, at its root is what lead one man who at a point in time, denied his Lord and then through repentance and faith later became head of the church, and the other who betrayed his Lord, to succumb to remorse, despair and suicide. The one man, Peter, has been revered in church history as a spiritual giant, and the other man, Judas, became a symbol of betrayal and treason.
How we deal with our failings and our sin is reflective of who we are and whose we are.
The Scripture reminds us that "God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Lent has been our season to reflect and repent, but Easter is the occasion to jump out of regret into resurrection and rebirth.
Join us in church as we leave behind the past and celebrate our victory in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who overcame the grave and offers life everlasting.
Grace and Peace,
jack
LAY READERS FOR APRIL
April 2 Colleen Roan Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3; 17-22; Ephesians 21:1-10; John 3:14-21
April 9 Linda Roan Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-2; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
April 16 Debbie Sansone Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15
April 23 Bill and Derek Schisler Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; I Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18
April 30 Sue and Roxanne Schisler Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; l John 1:1-22; John 20:19-31
ELDERS SERVING COMMUNION IN APRIL
Preparation: George Earling and Fred Gary
Serving: Ralph DeHaas, Dale Dykstra, George Earling, Fred Gary, Robert McFarlane
GREETERS FOR APRIL
April 2 Frank and Mary Baylor
April 9 Martha Sikra and Freda Berger
April 16 Tom Eichlin and Willard Gary
April 23 Sue, Roxanne and Tara Schisler
April 30 Esther Jones and Dorothy Dennis
WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The April meeting of the Women’s Association will be held on Monday, April 17th at 7:30 p.m. All women of the church are invited.
SYMPATHY
The congregation extends its deepest sympathy to Michelle Nicoll in the recent death of her mother, Gloria Morello.
Also, our sympathy to the family of Marvin Cole, Sr. who passed away on March 3, 2000.
NEW MEMBERS
Scott and Kimberly Horton were received into the membership of the Stewartsville Presbyterian Church on February 20, 2000. We welcome them into our congregation.
BAPTISM
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Horton received the Sacrament of Infant Baptism on March 19, 2000. She is the daughter of Scott and Kimberly Horton who reside in Easton, Pa. Kaitlyn was born on September 13, 1999.
SODA TABS
Mrs. Betty Hauber, the women from Wyoming that we have been collecting soda tabs for has passed away. We thank everyone for their participation and especially Tom Eichlin for his part in this project.
LENTEN SERVICES
Wednesday April 5 8:00 Joint Lenten Services at SPC
Wednesday April 12 8:00 Joint Lenten Services at 1st Lutheran
Sunday April 16 Palm Sunday
Thursday April 20 Maundy Thursday
6:30 Soup and Bread Meal
7:30 Communion Service
Friday/April 21 12 noon Good Friday Services Bloomsbury Methodist Church
Sunday/April 23 6:45 Sun Rise Service behind church
9:30 Sunday School
& Adult Bible Study
10:45 Worship
CROP WALK
The Phillipsburg Area Council of Churches CROP WALK will be held on Sunday April 30th starting at Pilgrim Presbyterian Church. Registration is at 1:00 p.m. and then a 10k walk begins at 1:30 p.m. Here in Phillipsburg, we belong to a long tradition-our churches have walked over 25 years and we have raised over $100,000 for CROP causes. Let us join hands in keeping this tradition moving forward.
BLOOD DRIVE CAMPAIGN
Please help reduce the critical shortage of blood. Donate Pints for Halfpints and give kids another chance. The Bloodmobile will be at Grace Lutheran Church, 300 Roseberry St., Phillipsburg, NJ on Thursday, April 6, 2000 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more info contact Jay Miers at 454-9551.
CHOIR FESTIVAL
In celebration of our 150th anniversary, our church is sponsoring a choir festival to be held on Sunday, May 7th at 4:00 p.m. We will be joined by choirs from Pilgrim, Greenwich and Bloomsbury Presbyterian Churches and Stewartsville Lutheran Church. Please mark you calendar for this event.
DEEP SEA FISHING
Men! We have chartered the Ol’ Salty II out of Belmar to go blue fishing on Saturday May 27th which is Memorial Day weekend. We can take twenty-five people and the cost is $60 per person. We need to have you sign up as soon as possible. So, either contact John Van Decker at 454-4340 or call the church office at 859-1399.
DINNER DANCE
A dinner dance in commeration of our 150 year celebration will be held on June 9, 2000 at 6:30 p.m. at the John Dolak Legion Hall in Alpha NJ. The cost is $14.00 per person. The menu will be fruit cup, relish tray, ham and turkey, succotash, mashed potatoes, gravy, filling, cranberry sauce, Italian bread & butter, ice cream and coffee or tea.
Music by John VanDecker. If you are interested in attending, please call George Earling at 859-1636 or call the church office at 859-1399..
MOTHER & DAUGHTER TEA
A Mother/Daughter Tea will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2000. More information will be available at a later date.
If you would like the congregation to be in prayer for someone, and that person agrees to have their name placed on our prayer list, please call the church office at 859-1399
PRAYER CONCERNS
| NAME | PERSON REQUESTING PRAYER |
|---|---|
| Benson, Nils | George Earling |
| Calhoun, Ronald | Pastor |
| Connelly, Linda | Mabel Cook |
| Decker, Matthew | The Hurte Family |
| Donahue, Mildred | The Crowell Family |
| Dunkin, Michelle | Barbara McFarlane |
| Fox, Meghan | Pastor |
| Galati, Christopher | Fred & Mary Lou Gary |
| Grabler, Joe III | The Hurte Family |
| Greer, Fran | Kathy Montgomery |
| Hoffman, Leah & Bob | Pastor |
| Hoser, Jonah | Ken Hoser |
| Jones, Bruce | Jay Miers |
| Jones, Esther | Esther Jones |
| Lombardi, Mina | Michele Nicoll |
| Loche, Kim & Children | Debbie Sansone |
| McFarlane, Doris (Family of) | Bob McFarlane |
| Merritt, Barbara (Hamlen) | Her Family |
| Meydagh, Billie | Wayne Howell |
| Middlebrook, Sally & Michael | Trenace Middlebrook |
| Miers, Sylvia | Jay Miers |
| Myers, Belinda & Family | Kip Fowler |
| Rey Ann | Wayne Howell |
| Rismiller, Thomas Barber IV | Jennifer Summitt |
| Sonia Sands | Jay Miers |
| Shaneberger, Lucas | Esther Shaneberger |
| Shay, Louis | Trenace Middlebrook |
| Slack, Thomas, Sr. | Slack Family |
| Treadway Family | Elinora McElroy |
| Turdo, Christian | Turdo Family |
| Waldron, Alexis | Philip Olesh |
| Westerfield, Ray | Wayne Howell |
| Wilson, Bob | Gertrude & Amy Wilson |
| Zeh, Nancy | Mr. & Mrs. Vogt |
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SUNDAY |
MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
SATURDAY |
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FIRST WEEK |
2 9:30 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP 6:00 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
3
7:30 Library Deacons |
4 10:00 Bible Study 6:30 Library Confirmation Class 7:00 Library+ Craft Group |
5
7:00 Choir Room Adult Choir 8:00 Lenten Svc. SPC 8:00 Fellowship Hall AA |
6
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7
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1 8:00 Fellowship Hall Men’s Group 8 |
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SECOND WEEK |
9 9:30 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP 6:00 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
10
7:30 Library Session |
11 10:00 Bible Study 6:30 Library Confirmation Class 7:30 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
12 7:00 Choir Room Adult Choir 8:00 Lenten Svc at FLC 8:00 Fellowship Hall AA |
13
1:00 Daisy Scouts 7:00 Fellowship Mtg. 7:30 Fellowship Hall Grange |
14 |
15 9:00 Jr. Class Room Needle Point Catherine Parkes |
|
THIRD WEEK |
16 PALM SUNDAY 9:30 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP 6:00 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
17
7:30 Fellowship Hall Women’s Association |
18 10:00 Bible Study 6:30 Library Confirmation Class 7:00 Library+ Craft Group |
19
7:00 Choir Room Adult Choir 8:00 Fellowship Hall AA |
20 1:00 Fellowship Hall Daisy Girls 6:30 Soup & Bread Meal 7:30 Maundy Thursday Communion Svc. |
21 Noon Good Friday Services at Bloomsbury Methodist Church |
22 |
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FOURTH WEEK |
23 EASTER SUNDAY 9:30 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP 3:00 Chapel Sve. At Lopatcong Care Cnt. 6:00 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
24 |
25 10:00 NO BIBLE STUDY TODAY 6:30 Library Confirmation Class 7:30 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
26
7:00 Choir Room Adult Choir 8:00 Fellowship Hall AA |
27 1:00 Daisy Scouts 7:00 Pictorial Book Meeting |
28 |
29 9:00 Jr. Class Room Needle Point Catherine Parkes |
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FIFTH WEEK |
30 9:30 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP 1:00 CROP WALK 6:00 Fellowship Hall Cub Scouts |
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