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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

FPC Leads Monmouth Presbytery Delegation to 2010 Youth Triennium


Youth delegates from our presbytery and others stopped at Central Presbyterian Church in Zanesville, Ohio while enroute to the 2010 Presbyterian Youth Triennium at Purdue University in Indiana this past July.

One of our nine youth delegates has prepared an article for an upcoming (presumably October) Lantern newsletter with her impressions on this year's PYT theme: For Such A Time As This. Our thanks to Kris Schoelkopf and Robyn Ioviero for chaperoning the delegation.

 

Click for link to article by youth delegate Emily DeMarco.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

How World Communion Sunday Became Peacemaking Sunday

Presbyterians have celebrated World Communion Sunday since the mid-1930s. At that time North Americans were experiencing the economic upheaval of the Great Depression, and many were concerned about the instability in Europe and the possibility of another world war. A group of Presbyterian ministers met to pray and talk about the church’s role in such a time. Rediscovering the unifying power of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, they reaffirmed that in Christ all Christians are one, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity. From their meeting came the first World Communion Sunday in 1936. In the years that followed other denominations began to celebrate this special Sunday.

In the mid-1970s a later generation of Presbyterians, also experiencing a time of challenge following the country’s defeat in Vietnam, revisited World Communion Sunday. Many members of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America were feeling a sense of urgency to work for peace. Thirty-one presbyteries sent overtures to the General Assembly asking that the church direct energy toward peacemaking. As a result, the 187th General Assembly (1975) commissioned the Advisory Council on Church and Society “to reassess the concept of peacemaking . . . in the light of our biblical and confessional faith.” The Advisory Council created a special task force, chaired by William Creevey, then pastor of St. Peters by the Sea, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, to study and prepare a report on peacemaking.

Members of the task force met, prayed, and studied, then came to the conclusion that peacemaking was central to the gospel and to the mission of the church, that it was at the heart of being a Christian, and that it ought to have priority in the church. Their work was a call directed at the inner life of Presbyterians to commit to work for peace individually and as a church. A commitment to peacemaking, though, would need to be reflected both in the structure and in the finance of the church so that it could be translated into action. The task force recommended creating a national peacemaking program and a special offering to fund the work of peacemaking.

According to Robert Smylie, one of the resource staff for the task force, Dean Lewis, director of the Advisory Council on Church and Society and another of the resource staff, saw that it was necessary to do something that had never been done with a special offering—recommend that the Peacemaking Offering’s receipts be divided among every level of the church so that congregations, presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly’s program could all find creative ways to work for peace. Congregations would keep 25 percent, synods and presbyteries would receive 25 percent, and 50 percent would go to the newly formed Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

The task force agreed that World Communion Sunday, when Christians of all nations and peoples celebrate their unity in Christ, was an ideal time to receive the offering that would be used for peace work in the name of Christ.

The 192nd General Assembly (1980) adopted the task force’s work, “Peacemaking the Believers’ Calling.” Thirty years later Presbyterians continue to work for peace and to receive the offering used to fund that work.

Thanks to Robert Smylie, William Creevey, and Dean Lewis for insights into the development of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Peacemaking Offering. 

About the Peacemaking Offering

The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly.

Most churches receive the Offering on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, which this year is October 3. We encourage churches to use whatever Sunday works best for them.

Each congregation is encouraged to retain 25 percent of the Offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within the church and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by presbyteries and synods, and 50 percent is used by the General Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

In accordance with the action of the 217th General Assembly (2006), we encourage congregations to consider directing a portion or all of their 25 percent of the Peacemaking Offering as a faithful Christian response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Find out what the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s International AIDS Ministries is doing.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Save the Date

  • New Church Service Hours: September 12, 2010 (yes, this Sunday), worship hours are changed to the Fall hours of 10:30 a.m. 
  • Sunday School Program for Children begins at 9 a.m., Nursery - Grade 12, September 12
  • Adult Church School begins on Sunday September 19th, at 9 a.m. Offerings Include:
    • A study of the book of Romans, a full year course, led by Sally Ann Jauch
    • Topical Studies, beginning with an overview of the General Assembly, (2 week course) led by Sue Ritacco, who was a delegate from Monmouth Presbytery, Location: Room 207
    • Other programs to be announced*
  • Take the online Survey - Laptops will be available in Fellowship Hall after worship to make access to the survey available to everyone
Upcoming Coffee House to benefit Mission Matawan - October 22
​As the time approaches we will be seeking performers and volunteers to man the tables and snack bar.


* Church school info courtesy of Tom Evans, CE Commission

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Exciting News as Promised

You may have received an e-mail about the every member survey. If you haven't go to our link to take the survey.

Spahr Found Guilty on Same-gender Marriage Charges

—Photos by Anitra Kitts, Presbyterian News Service
The Presbytery of the Redwoods Permanent Judicial Committee convicted the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr of performing same-gender marriages during the period that they were legal. The link to the full story as reported by the PCUSA is as follows: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/8/30/spahr-found-guilty-same-gender-marriage-charges/


The 11 page ruling acquitted Spahr on charges of performing 2 same-gender marriage ceremonies in 2005 on the grounds that since the marriages were not considered legal by the state of California at that time, then the ceremonies could not be rightfully said to be marriage ceremonies, although Spahr maintained that they were.    Spahr was however, convicted of performing 16 same-gender marriages in 2008 during the time that civil marriage between homosexuals was legal.  


The PJC rulled that the marriages performed by the pastor while legal under civil law, were to be differentiated  from the ecclesiastical aspect of marriage as blessed by the church.  In an interesting twist,  the PJC did not see any contradiction with it's ruling of no foul on the "ecclesiastical" blessing of the couples wedded by Spahr in 2005.


—Photos by Anitra Kitts, Presbyterian News Service
Spahr was acquitted on charges of failing to "further the peace, unity and purity of the church", and commended the pastor "for helping us realize that peace without justice is no peace."

Friday, September 3, 2010

Oct 2 Women's Conference Tickets Selling Fast: Troccoli and Lofaro a Major Draw

Despite receiving orders in over stuffed envelopes from the dunes of Neptune and the mountains of Virginia, the Spaghetti for the Women's Soul Conference still has tickets available.

The seating capacity been increased to 400 ensure that women in the Greater New Jersey area have every chance to secure a ticket.  The day begins at 8 am will provide food and beverages to participants.

I personally called up one woman who lived in Long Island, who reserved 10 tickets, and asked her how she found out about our conference.  She told me she never missed a opportunity to see Brooklyn natives Kathy Troccoli and Ellie Lofaro.  Once they moved from out of the area, it became much more difficult get a chance to get to a conference.  The Matawan church date of October 2nd is likely to be the best date she will get in the near future, so she and her friends decided to make it a field trip day.

To buy tickets and get directions, link to the forms page.

Lantern Update - September 2010

In Awe
Sometimes I stand in silence,
Sometimes, in awe, I gasp
At the wonders of creation
Too great for mind to grasp.
Oh, the mighty and the fragile
God's creative hands have made.
How carefully we should keep them.
What trust in us is laid!
Minnie Boyd Popish
September 2010
Dear Members,

Please enjoy the latest edition of The Lantern.
Click here to see the calendar for September.
Bless the lord, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God.
Psalm 103:2
Blessings,
Stacie DeChristopher
Editor
732-566-2663

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Every Member Survey Coming Soon

Watch Your Email for Exciting News!.

fpc church

Yes, Exciting News Coming Soon..... September 2010
Dear Members,

Keep watching your email for important and exciting news happening at FPC - to include an invitation to participate in an on-line every member survey. Please take a few minutes to do this as we need to hear your voice!
John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
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Below is what we say about ourselves on our website as the Congregation of FPC.

"Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, NJ. We are an active community striving to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. It is the people of our congregation who make this church a special place. Our faith family seeks to live in a Christ-like way, to learn stories of faith, to love as God loves us, and to share the grace of Christ. We invite you to join us on our faith journey and celebrate God's love." May we all live our daily lives to be these people that we profess to be!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
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REMINDER:
Church School for children and adults resumes on September 12 at 9:00 am. Worship Service returns to 10:30 am, with Fellowship Time at 11:30 am.
Mark 12:30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Blessings Everyone!
Communications Team Director
Kathy Plotner
732-566-2663 Visit our website at www.fpc-matawan.org