MARCH 2010
From the Pastor’s Desk
Shortly after 6:00 am today I wrote to the Presbytery Committee on Ministry to find out what documentation we will need to be allowed to start the Search process. As you may know we have Dana Green as our liaison to help us through the whole process. He and I will pool our efforts to make sure that we move along as fast as possible.
But do be patient! Remember a good search doesn’t try to cut corners, but takes all the time that is necessary. My guess is that we will have some work to do before we get the final all clear to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. Usually a Mission study is undertaken with groups meeting in the congregation for about 6 or 7 sessions. This is to identify what kind of minister is now best for a new chapter in the life of the Barrington Church. We may have to provide evidence of a stronger financial picture, though we are currently paying our way and have no debts.
Our membership is officially at 99 with a number of younger elders coming on to Session. That is always a good sign. Our new building is getting through the red tape with inspections and hopefully we will dedicate it next month. It has been a long time in completion, but will add a great deal to the possibilities for congregational activity.
This has been a tough winter and we were right to put a hold on the breakfasts. We will start again on March 14th – a date which is tentatively marked for the dedication. Please call folk whom you know and let’s really start off 2010 with a great celebration.
As I said at the AGM we have lots of strengths. Quite a good attendance – 58 yesterday - a good spirit, a new members class coming up before Easter, no debt, well run Sunday School and dedicated choir. We have much for which to be thankful. We can look forward to the future with anticipation.
As noted in the announcements I am more than ready to visit any member of the congregation who would like that. I know folk are very busy and of course I need to be invited! The offer is open especially as the better weather arrives. My phone number is 215-784-0677.
An interim minister does not take an active part in a search. Indeed he is required to leave that entirely to the congregation who will be guided by the Presbytery liaison. The whole process used to take two years. Now it is a little shorter with the help of electronic communication. My guess is that Barrington will have at least 60 candidates once the PNC gets under way. I would be very satisfied if we could get to the starting gate by Labor Day (Mission study and other documentation completed).
Meanwhile let’s move forward in good heart thanking God for his guidance and presence.
Watch for further information about the date of the dedication, and other activities in the newly renovated building.
March Prayer Families
Week of March 7 Ray & Irene Tralie
Week of March 14 Donald, Beth, Darian & Devin Truax
Week of March 21 Marion Truax
Week of March 28 Che & Lisa Vilnonis
March Celebrations
1 - Vicki Pollier
5 - Betty Fehlinger
6 - Stacey Taylor
9 - Ruth Guida
11 - Erin Gallagher
13 - Chuck Hutchins
13 - Alexis Rettinger
14 - Alyssa Rettinger
15 - Barbara Bunting
15 - Victoria Ingram
22 - Andrew Finch
24 - Judy Wells
27 - Richard Antrobus2
28 - Rebekah Westermaier
30 - Sherry Rutter
31 - Lorraine Finch
Anniversaries
1 - Joe & Ruth Guida
30 - Walt & Kathy Hunter
The Choir will present a Lenten cantata titled “Victorious” by Sheldon Curry during the worship service on
Sunday, March 21, 2010.
It will feature a solo by Diane Gallagher, narration by Charlie Gallagher, and be accompanied by Elisabeth Eastman. Mark this on your calendar and come out to enjoy another great presentation by our choir and to show your support for their hard work and dedication.
We send our heartfelt best wishes and congratulations to Ryan and Sarah Westermaier Deasy upon their marriage. Sarah and Ryan were married in our sanctuary on February 14, 2010, officiated by Rev. J. Frederick Westermaier. It was always Sarah’s dream to be married by her father in the church in which she was raised, and she and her family are grateful to the congregation for fulfilling that dream.
We extend our very sincere prayers and sympathies to the family and friends of Frank Marks on his passing on February 8th and to the family and friends of Roland Cunningham who passed away on February 12th
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”
(John 14:1-3).
Contacts for Bulletins, Prayer Concerns, Newsletter and GoodeNews
Bulletin information and prayer requests should be provided to Diane Gallagher by the preceding Sunday. Please submit all items for the newsletter by the 15th of each month to RuthAnn Fehlinger. Diane Gallagher also prepares the GoodeNews and should receive new entries as early in the week as possible. In addition, please verify that all upcoming meetings are listed on the calendar on the bulletin board in the Church Office to ensure the Resource Management Committee is aware of your activities.
The best way to keep up to date with Church news is to read your GoodeNews email every weekend. If you have an email address and do not receive the weekly GoodeNews, send a message to Diane Gallagher at the address above and she will be glad to add you to the distribution list.
Souper Bowl Sunday Update
Through February 14th the youth of our congregation collected cans of soup (or cash donations) for our Souper Bowl of Caring Day and set a goal this year of 150 cans of soup. THEY SHATTERED THAT GOAL BY COLLECTING 161 CANS and additional cash donations!!! The Youth and our congregation are both to be congratulated for such an incredible response. Members of our community in need are the true winners of the 2010 Souper Bowl. Thank you!
REMINDER
Your 2010 annual Per Capita assessment is now due. Each church in the West Jersey Presbytery is assessed $37.00 for each Active member, including all confirmed youth. Our church must pay the entire $5550.00, regardless of how much or how little is contributed by individual members; each uncollected portion depletes your church’s General Funds that are needed to pay on-going operating expenses, employee salaries, and property maintenance. Think of Per Capita as your membership dues to one of the finest groups around.
Dear church members,
This is to let you know that as we enter the new year that your Deacons are alive and well. We were able to help a church member to get their electricity turned back on, so if you happen to know someone even if they are not a member of our church who are in need of our financial help please let one of us know. We also just recently bought a home communion kit that is available to Pastor Jones to give communion to our shut in church members, so if you know of someone who cannot make it to church and would like to receive communion please let any Deacon know.
There are openings available for the 2010 Deacon’s Flower chart on the Narthex bulletin board to place chancel flowers in honor or memory of a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. The cost is $20 and you are welcome to take the flowers at the conclusion of the service or donate them to one of our shut-ins. Help beautify the church and honor someone at the same time. Please see Joyce Antrobus or Lois Siefert for more information. The Deacons thank everyone for their support of this successful project.
Thank You,
Joyce Antrobus, President of the Deacons
Circle of Women
Circle of Women will meet on Thursday, March 11 at 1pm in the downstairs office. Circle meets on the second Thursday of each month for fellowship and makes favors or other gifts for residents of Haddonfield Home. Devotions are given by Jean Yeats. If you have any questions contact our leader Dot Pawling.
Barrington Lions Club News:
Easter Flower Sale Friday & Saturday, April 2nd & 3rd B Corner, CBR & Haines Av
Monthly Meeting 1st Wednesday, March 3rd, 7pm Boro Hall
Dinner Meeting 3rd Thursday, March 18th, 7pm Anthony’s, Haddon Heights
Haddonfield Lions-
Pasta Bowl Dinner March 21st, 4-7 pm Christ the King gym
Call Ken Jackson for information about any of the above events
High School Juniors and Seniors
$1000 Scholarship opportunity thru the Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition.
For details, see www.barringtonboro.com_mayors_corner or contact the Mayor’s Office at at 547-8585.
Deadline is March 12.
CONTACT Community Helplines
CONTACT Community Helplines provides a toll free Helpline (877-266-8222) for residents of Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland and-Salem Counties. Highly trained volunteers provide callers with assistance on a variety of issues such as family and interpersonal relationships, addictions, grief and loss, mental health problems, depression and suicide.
Sponsored by the United Way, the Helpline provides appropriate information and referral resources and an opportunity for callers to talk about their problems.
CONTACT Reassurance (856-795-5073) is a program that provides daily calls to isolated and homebound senior citizens residing in Camden and Gloucester Counties. Trained volunteers, who will initiate emergency procedures should the senior fail to answer at a pre-arranged time, make the calls. The program’s goals are to not only check on the senior’s physical well being, but to also provide support and reassurance that someone cares. The service is free of charge.
Join in the celebration as First Presbyterian Church continues its next 100 years of caring for you.
Dedication of our church construction and renovations,
March 14, 2010,
10:00 Fellowship Breakfast,
11:00 Worship Service concluding with Dedication,
Coffee Hour to follow.
If you have a concern or question, please contact any member of the Session for assistance.
SESSION
CLASS OF 2010 CLASS OF 2011 CLASS OF 2012
Diane Gallagher Karen Hosey Jeremy Bupp
Robert Kessler Kathy Hunter Wayne Comley
Patti Pawling Dave Taylor Ethel Hawkins
Wayne Robenolt John Galliera Meghan Orem
BOARD OF DEACONS
CLASS OF 2010 CLASS OF 2011 CLASS OF 2012
Andrew Finch Barbara Bunting Kathy Antrobus
Phylicia Robenolt Patricia Krisher Laura Bupp
Lois Siefert Lois Herman RuthAnn Fox
Brittany Gallagher Joyce Antrobus David Orem
CO-TREASURERS
Stacey Taylor
Sylvia Hearne
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Dot Pawling
Pastor and Church Staff
Rev. Dr. Edmund Jones, Interim Pastor
David Eastman, Director of Music
Elisabeth Eastman, Organist
Diane Gallagher, Sunday School Superintendent
Sundays 11:00 am Worship with Child Care provided
Mondays 1:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous
Tuesdays 8:00 a m Tuesday morning work group
Tuesdays 5:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous
Wednesdays 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
Wednesdays 8:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursdays 5:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous
March 3 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
8:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
March 4 7:00 pm Resource Management
March 5 World Day of Prayer
March 7 9:30 am Sunday School
11:00 am Sunday Worship Service with Communion
Ordination/Installation of new Officers
March 9 7:00 pm Session
March 10 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
8:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
March 11 1:00 pm Circle of Women
March 14 10:00 am Fellowship Breakfast (no Sunday School)
11:00 am Sunday Worship Service
Dedication of Building Renovations
12:00 pm Coffee Hour
March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
8:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
March 21 9:30 am Sunday School
10:00 am Spiritual Care Committee meeting
11:00 am Sunday Worship Service with Easter Cantata
12:00 pm Outreach Committee meeting
March 24 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
8:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
March 28 9:30 am Sunday School
11:00 am Palm Sunday Worship Service
12:30 pm Deacons meeting
March 29 7:00 pm Christian Education Committee meeting
EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS
Easter is a time when we remember our loved ones with flowers. Please return to Lois Siefert or Joyce Antrobus by Palm Sunday, March 28th. Checks should be payable to the church.
Mailed requests must arrive at the church by Saturday, March 27th. Thank you.
MEMORIAL
In Memory of _______________________________________________
Placed By _______________________________________________
Amount of Donation $____________________________
HONORARIUM
In Honor of _______________________________________________
Placed By _______________________________________________
Amount of Donation $____________________________
DONATION
Placed By _______________________________________________
Amount of Donation $____________________________
Mailing address:
Easter Memorials-Attn Lois Siefert
First Presbyterian Church
401 Clements Bridge Road
Barrington, NJ 08007
