This year’s Pageant play was quite funny and yet very simple. Written by two pastors in Scotland (Alec Shuttleworth and Robin Hill), it presented the question of who is included and deemed appropriate versus those who are not. Without restating the whole play, let me summarize it quickly: an artist was depicting the nativity scene in its traditional grandeur: angels, the holy family, a cow, a donkey, a camel and sheep were included. But, this typical depiction was put under scrutiny particularly by a pig and a rat who claimed that they were also in the stable at the birth of the Christ child. However, they are always overlooked when it came to portraying the scene.
Obviously, they are considered too dirty, too unclean, too inappropriate. The list could go on, right?
This sketch may be distributed, adapted and for use with possible donations going to The Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project, and it does present the attitude most feel toward people with HIV/AIDS: we are afraid of them being in the picture with the rest of us. We had a great cast for the play, including those with no speaking parts. The donkeys and sheep were just so cute!!! Thanks to those of you who jumped in at the last moment because of the snow storm. The play was too good not to show to a bigger congregation, so we performed a shorter version on Christmas Eve as well.
Tagged as:
Christmas pageant
And all of a sudden, there was that BIG winter storm. Not too convenient from Mother Nature; she gave us quite a present on the day of our dress rehearsal for the pageant play and the pizza party. Nevertheless, more than twenty of us braved the cold weather and snow by coming to church, regardless.
While the children were practicing in the (cold) sanctuary, the walkways were shoveled by Frank, and in the kitchen all things were prepared for the pizzas. The kids were looking forward to the pizzas made by Ethel and Erie, with so many options and different variations. To make it a little healthier, a salad and carrots were available as well.
When we had devoured about seven pizzas and were getting ready for dessert, a jolly good old man appeared. He came with a bag full of gifts; all the children who came got their gifts, as well as the cooks in the kitchen. Dessert was a big birthday cake for all the Eckerts kids who had just celebrated their birthdays.
After all the dishes were done, the kids started playing in the nursery, some went into the tower with Pastor Hartmut, while some other adults (or at least all the women) gathered in a circle, on their laps a small present. Frank read us the story of how Mary and Joseph traveled to the inn with no room left. Of course, the story was filled with rights, lefts, and crossings. So the gifts when around and back and over again and again. Only to end up on the same lap as they started. We could not figure out how that happened but in the end, we solved that and everybody was happy with her gift!
After that, it was time to get the little ones home, and everybody else out of the snow! Thanks for all those that did show up and helped with all the celebrations!
Tagged as:
Christmas pageant
Calvary Chapel of New Brunswick has been using our facilities for over six years now. At first, they were located in our basement area and then eventually moved to the upstairs area of our education building. Daniel Fusco was there first pastor. Jason Falzarano succeeded him in the pulpit. They took good care of our second story area and even assisted us with the Men’s Shelter quite willingly. All in all, we have been living well – above and below – with one another.
However, after December, we had to ask them to move to a new facility because the second floor will be renovated by the Pine Grove Cooperative Nursery School. The school, which has been in existence since 1957 and located off the Busch Campus, will be making the education building’s second floor (excluding the Pastors’ and Music Director’s offices) ready for classes, which will begin in September 2010. Approximately thirty preschoolers will be divided into three classes from Monday through Friday.
We are very excited to have the Nursery School in our midst. It is just another opportunity for our church to open its doors to the community. We look forward to the children’s voices, play and laughter in our rooms. We are excited to be working with a great group of teachers: Tracy Hanzes, a teacher and Executive Director, Lolly Schenck, and Lillie Suabedissen. And, we anticipate future cooperative events that we all can offer to the larger community.
Most of us have heard by now that our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, wants to adopt the Belhar Confession from South Africa. Belhar is the location where this confession originated during the time of apartheid. Faced by the evils of racism, segregation, violence and discrimination, the Belhar Confession speaks of unity, reconciliation and justice.
Adoption of the Belhar requires that b of all Classes of the RCA ratify it prior to General Synod 2010. In order to bring us up to speed with this development, we organized a congregational forum following worship on Nov 15th. Ten women of our church had prepared special ethnic food from all corners of the earth and presented it on corresponding ethnic tablecloth. Thank you to Ellen Hamilton for organizing this!
Then we watched a DVD from the proceedings of General Synod 2009, when the parliamentary adoption process was formally launched. Following this, we had some discussion and received an introduction to the text.
When we left for home, most of us shared a feeling of satisfaction over the possibility that the Belhar Confession may become one of our foundational documents, a Standard of Unity, as we say. However, we also recognized that adopting a text from a different culture remains meaningless if we do not allow the liberation struggle of that culture to affect our own. If we adopt Belhar, we will have to face areas on our own home turf that need revision and change.
Would you like to spend an informative evening in good fellowship at our house in Jamesburg? Then please join us on Friday, December 11th at 8:00 p.m. for a time of tea and cake. We will be showing the John Calvin DVD the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) produced this year in commemoration of John Calvin’s 500th anniversary. The DVD will be of interest to us Reformed folks as well, as it features among other scholars Leanne Van Dyk, dean at Western Theological Seminary. Come join us that night for fellowship and a lively discussion about the founder of our branch of Christianity and his lasting impact today. We will sweeten the evening with cocoa and cake.
8:00 p.m. Friday night, December 11th. Please RSVP to the church office or to us directly: 732-545-1005.
The Christian Education committee wants to respond to our ever-changing society and congregation. Over the past two years, we have seen some membership growth (Halleluja!), which is interested in looking at Bible Study in a completely new way. In order to meet these interests, we have looked at a few options which may address this interest.
The approach offered by Rob Bell and the NOOMA DVD series appears to offer looking at our faith in a fresh new way. NOOMA is ground-breaking project that is changing the way that people in our world experience spirituality by viewing a series of short films that are amazing tools for group discussion. Each NOOMA DVD is approximately 10-13 minutes long and is accompanied with a 32-page discussion guide to get you thinking.
Okay, so, now it is time to get ourselves together and to set up a meeting time at someone;s house. All that is required is a few comfortable chairs, a DVD player, a beverage, and a welcoming attitude. Pastor Susan will be arranging the first Home Spirit Group, and then let’s see how it develops from there.
And, to be really “out there”, we have also considered gathering around a DVD player at Panera Bread or some other coffee shop. This way, those who are not immediately involved in our church may see and hear and our discussion. So if that would be your preference, please let Pastor Susan know and get ready for our first Home Spirit Group coming up in November.
This summer’s Vacation Bible School Discovery Canyon was hosted by Second Reformed Church August 24- 28. Approximately 50 children from the four greater New Brunswick Reformed Churches participated.
Also, about 20 volunteers with ages ranging from 12 – 85 helped out as well. Sandy Boyles, Walter, and Kathleen led the groups through games. And, as usual, the kids liked that station the most.
Pastor Susan, Lily and Allison all helped out on various days wherever they were needed. Joan Fekete was in the snack area, making sure that the kids didn’t get a sugar high from eating more than two cookies each.
As usual, we celebrated the end of the week with a combined Collegiate worship and picnic at the Van Wickle House. The children performed some of their songs and six clergy led the liturgy.
Tagged as:
Collegiate Worship,
Vacation Bible School
