In their September 21, 2009 newsletter from Belfast, Doug and Elaine Baker introduced their newest Youth Adult Volunteers, who arrived on September 1. The students hailed from the states of Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennesse, Florida and Texas. Check out the Baker's site for information on their ministry.
Applications are currently being sought from those, aged 19 to 30, who wish to serve as YAVs in one of the national or international sites from September 2010 to July 2011. The program requires a commitment of one academic year. Young adults serve in communities of need.
The application deadline for international sites is January 20. Full information can be found at the PC(USA)'s YAV Web site.
To view a sample re-entry video on youtube by volunteers click here:
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
An Interfaith Journey to Turkey: A Journey of Hope
Joe and Sue Ritacco spent ten days in Turkey in June/July 2009, a trip organized by the Interfaith Dialog Center (www.idcnj.org). Joe recently delivered a presentation on their experience that they called An Interfaith Journey to Turkey: A Journey of Hope.They spent most of their time in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city (about 15M population). They also visited Izmir (ancient Smyrna), Selyuk, and Ephesus; Antakya (ancient Antioch) on the Mediterranean Sea; Konya and Cappadocia in central Turkey, and a day trip by ferry across the Sea of Marmara, from Istanbul to Bursa.
The interfaith experience in Turkey is much different than in the US. The Turkish Republic controls religion in its officially secular country through a Ministry of Religion. Muslim religious leaders are hired, paid, and fired by the state. In the US, a division of church and state keeps the two aspects of society separate.
There have been long periods of peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Jews, and Christians throughout the Middle East and Asia, yet history tends to mark time by conflicts and media focuses on brewing tensions to sell its news. The pattern results in a broad feeling of hopelessness. Zachary Karabell’s book Peace Be Upon You suggests that motives related to the pursuit of power and wealth are more likely causes for conflict than religious diversity. We should celebrate diversity and not abandon hopes for peace.
Turkey’s geopolitical situation puts it in the perfect position to serve as a bridge to peace between the West and the Middle East. Turkey already plays a pivotal role in peacemaking with Israel, and its relations with Syria and Iran make it a natural arbiter between the US and20those countries.
Joe recommends a trip to Turkey as one of the more interesting, yet manageable and affordable places to visit. He hopes to deliver his Journey of Hope presentation to other audiences in coming months.
Photos of Interfaith Journey to Turkey: A Journey of Hope: Photos
Our groups of 10 guests (and one Turkish American host) in front of the magnificent Haya Sofia: 900 years a major church, 400 years a mosque, and now almost 100 years as museum.
Recently constructed by Turkish Government - Garden of Tolerance: complex with synagogue, church, and mosque (left to right).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
FPC History: New Year's Eve, 1955
It was Sunday morning New Year's Eve 1955. The congregation of the Matawan Presbyterian Church gathered at the high school for worship that day, an arrangement made only the afternoon before. A rented organ played the introit. The choir wore borrowed robes. The women of the church had hung drapes and arranged desks on the school's stage. And in the center of that makeshift chancel was a table covered in maroon cloth, upon which stood an old brass cross recovered from the communion table during the awful fire that destroyed FPC Matawan's sanctuary on Main Street on Christmas Sunday the week before.
All signs of smoke and ash had been carefully removed from that cross, but the fire was on everyone's minds and in everyone's hearts. Memories of the blaze and the fight to save the edifice were of course fresh and raw. Their thoughts dwelt on an odd mixture of the heroic and the mundane, the corporate and the private, and the spiritual and the worldly. They had borne witness to the heroism and generosity of the firefighters, but also the drilling of holes in the sanctuary floor to drain inches of water from the building. Everyone was grateful that no lives were lost, but most didn't know that a widower had stood vigil the night of the fire over the body of his deceased wife, which had been in the burning building and safely evacuated.
Members had felt the hand of evil in the destruction of their historic church home, but also saw signs of hope in the preservation of the church's records, its pulpit Bible and brass cross, its communion set, and its baptismal font. Many had watched the last symbol of FPC's presence on Main Street -- the old Stanford White steeple -- as it was pulled down from its precarious vigil into the ashen debris below. They were wondering what would be next, so they gathered at the high school for words of encouragement and solace but also of hope in the future.
Most by now knew that the arson's torch had started in the choir's storage room early that Sunday evening, but it isn't clear that all were yet aware that the relatively small Church School fire on Christmas Eve had been his work as well. They didn't know what they as a church would do next, so they gathered to worship that New Year's Eve in odd surroundings but as a communion of faith with hundreds of years of corporate history that wasn't about to fade that winter.
Reverend Chester Galloway rose to deliver his sermon that morning. In his hand was the pulpit Bible he had used for the scripture lesson on Christmas Sunday. The Bible's cover had been charred and its pages soaked through when it was found, but it survived sheltered on the shelf within the pulpit where Reverend Galloway had left it. The Reverend stood for a new beginning when he opened his sermon with a bit of tough love, saying, "We can sit down and cry or we can pick up the pieces and start all over again."
A separate article will cover the rebuilding of FPC Matawan on Route 34.
Reference: "Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan," pp. 55 - 60
All signs of smoke and ash had been carefully removed from that cross, but the fire was on everyone's minds and in everyone's hearts. Memories of the blaze and the fight to save the edifice were of course fresh and raw. Their thoughts dwelt on an odd mixture of the heroic and the mundane, the corporate and the private, and the spiritual and the worldly. They had borne witness to the heroism and generosity of the firefighters, but also the drilling of holes in the sanctuary floor to drain inches of water from the building. Everyone was grateful that no lives were lost, but most didn't know that a widower had stood vigil the night of the fire over the body of his deceased wife, which had been in the burning building and safely evacuated.
Members had felt the hand of evil in the destruction of their historic church home, but also saw signs of hope in the preservation of the church's records, its pulpit Bible and brass cross, its communion set, and its baptismal font. Many had watched the last symbol of FPC's presence on Main Street -- the old Stanford White steeple -- as it was pulled down from its precarious vigil into the ashen debris below. They were wondering what would be next, so they gathered at the high school for words of encouragement and solace but also of hope in the future.
Most by now knew that the arson's torch had started in the choir's storage room early that Sunday evening, but it isn't clear that all were yet aware that the relatively small Church School fire on Christmas Eve had been his work as well. They didn't know what they as a church would do next, so they gathered to worship that New Year's Eve in odd surroundings but as a communion of faith with hundreds of years of corporate history that wasn't about to fade that winter.
Reverend Chester Galloway rose to deliver his sermon that morning. In his hand was the pulpit Bible he had used for the scripture lesson on Christmas Sunday. The Bible's cover had been charred and its pages soaked through when it was found, but it survived sheltered on the shelf within the pulpit where Reverend Galloway had left it. The Reverend stood for a new beginning when he opened his sermon with a bit of tough love, saying, "We can sit down and cry or we can pick up the pieces and start all over again."
A separate article will cover the rebuilding of FPC Matawan on Route 34.
Reference: "Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan," pp. 55 - 60
Thursday, September 17, 2009
FPC Matawan to Host COFFEE HOUSE October 9th!
The First Presbyterian Church of Matawan is holding its Fall Coffee House / Fundraiser. Please come to watch and support our missions and the performers. Due to the need to limit the show to a reasonable time, we are asking that entertainers please preregister by emailing Graham or phoning the church at 732-566-2663.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Are you looking for the right preschool for your child? - Fall 2009
Celebrating 40 years of success in educating young children, Presbyterian Nursery School in Matawan is a cooperative preschool offering families a strong educational foundation. We offer a variety of outstanding programs for children ages 2 1/2 through 5, and a curriculum endosed by experts. Please contact us to arrange for a personal tour!
School starts September 9th. Limited spaces are still available, so contact us soon!
Call 732-566-9246 or write presbyns@optonline.net for more information
Monday, September 7, 2009
FPC History: Women on the Boards
While the history of women in Christian service at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan doesn't begin with their being elected to church office, it is well worth noting the names of the following pioneers for their achievement in breaking down the gender barrier to board membership.
The Session was established in 1820. Two women were first named to the board in 1959.
The Board of Deacons was established in 1943. Six women were first named to the board in 1952.
The Session was established in 1820. Two women were first named to the board in 1959.
- Mrs Arnold C Massie
- Mrs William H Groft
The Board of Deacons was established in 1943. Six women were first named to the board in 1952.
- Mrs Henry Luhrs
- Mrs J Fred Robinson
- Mrs E Story Hallock
- Mrs John C Hessey
- Mrs Vernon F Beyer
- Mrs Walter Stamm
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