United Pres      June, 2017
Celebrate the Birthday of the Church on Pentecost, June 4.

Imagine, if you will, being part of a faithful band of followers of Jesus. It has been 50 days since Christ rose from the dead. Since his ascension you've been waiting for a sign that fulfills his promise to send you The Advocate. Jesus promised The Holy Spirit would teach and strengthen you in your mission to spread the Gospel. In the meantime, you are in Jerusalem, lying low, fearful that the evil powers that put Jesus to death might have you in their sights as their next target.

"Suddenly, there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing; and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:2-4a)

This Sunday we will celebrate the miracle that took place that first Pentecost. Spirit-filled Peter spoke to the crowds in Jerusalem and thousands were convinced of Jesus' lordship and were baptized.

Two-thousand years later, people are still touched by the Holy Spirit to do Christ's work of teaching, healing, and sharing the Good News of God's gracious love and forgiveness. Our experience of the Holy Spirit may not always be as dramatic as that of the disciples on Pentecost, but it is just as real.

Jesus said those who follow him will do even greater things than he did. We can look back over the history of the church and see that this is true. The building of hospitals and schools can be traced back to the influence of the church, and virtually every movement of social justice - the abolition of slavery, the enactment of child labor laws, the pursuit of civil rights for women and minorities, and so on - was first championed by people of faith in Jesus Christ.

I invite you to come celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, that was so evident on Pentecost and that is still moving among us as powerfully today as ever. Join us for Communion this Pentecost Sunday, at the 9:30 E3 Service or the 11 a.m. Service. Come to the Coffee Hour between services, and the Adult Sunday School class will treat you with birthday cake!

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jean


Thanks to All Who Participated in the Church Has Left the Building

Miracles still happen when people filled with the Spirit reach out with Christ's love. Look at all we did:
  • Over 200 backpacks were filled with 4 meals for hungry children and forwarded to Mercer Friends Food Bank who distributes them to schools in our area.
  • With the help of Boy Scout Troop 91, (see picture below) our vegetable garden for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen was weeded, refreshed with topsoil, and planted and will produce food all summer and fall for this worthy cause.
  • The Youth Group planted flowers at Anchor House so that the young people who are fleeing from traumatic situations might have an home-like environment in which to heal.
  • A good time was had by all at a picnic party at the Visitation House, where the developmentally disabled residents were fed, entertained and most importantly shown the love of Christ through the actions of our church members and "Banjo Bob."
  • The litter along Rt. 156 was collected and disposed of by our Highway Clean-Up Crew.
  • A family with the challenges of raising a developmentally disabled child received a home-cooked meal and a movie thanks to the generosity and culinary skills of caring people.

Session Met on May 16, 2017 and took the following actions:
  • Approved a request by Chris Neuman to host a fundraiser for Little Wolf Productions with an entrance fee of $5.00. Chris and Tricia Curley will perform a review of songs with the theme "Summer Lovin'" on Saturday, August 19, 2017.
  • Elected Megan Gadsby and Rosemarie Wales as Commissioners to Presbytery at Lincroft on Sat., May 20.
  • Approved Pastor Pinto's request for a week of vacation from 5/22/17-5/29/17 and a second week of vacation from 7/1/17- 7/8/17.
  • Learned that VBS Registration is ahead of recent years, that the VBS mission project will be to restore bee hives in Guatemala through Heifer International, and that E3 will be having a series in worship on the BE-Attitudes for the summer to co-ordinate with VBS.
  • Learned that plans for the Church Has Left the Building are in full swing.
  • Learned that the problem of water in the basement continues and asked Facilities to get more estimates for waterproofing.
  • Thanked Bob Lasser for fixing the door in the Ladies Room as well as mopping up the water in the basement.
  • Learned that up through April plate and envelope giving had been ahead of budget, but that in May it has fallen behind and encourages everyone to remember to keep up with their pledges through the summer months even when on vacation.

U.P. Women

UPWomen - The United Presbyterian Women are having a tea on Tuesday, June 6th at 12 noon at the home of Rev. Jean Pinto.  All women are invited! Dress is casual but If you have a hat and gloves, you are encouraged to wear them!  We will meet at the church at 11:15 am and leave by 11:30 am to car pool to Jean's house.  There is no charge for the tea, you just need to sign up with Lois Dixon  (609) 298-3398   or Gloria Hanewald  (609) 528-0511   so we will have enough food for all.  If you are looking for an afternoon of fun and fellowship, come join us!


Women's Book Club

Women's Book Club - The Women's Book Club will meet on Tuesday June  20th  at 6:30pm.  Our annual dinner night out will be at Massim''s in the Foxmoor Shopping Center in Robbinsville .After dinner we will be discussing THE CURIOUS CHARMS of ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra  Patrick  We invite the women of the church and their  friends  who enjoy  books and  fellowship  to join us.




Survivors

Survivors - The Survivors Senior Group will meet in the church parking lot on Wed., June 14, 2017 at 9:45 a.m. to carpool to The Sea Girt Lighthouse, 9 Ocean Ave. & Beacon Blvd., Sea Girt, NJ. This is the last live-in light-house built on the Atlantic coast, opened in 1896. Built to bridge the 40-mile gap between Barnegat Light and the Twin Lights of Navesink. We will have a tour of the 114 year old lighthouse and following our tour we will enjoy lunch at The Parker House, Sea Girt. The cost for the tour at the lighthouse is a donation of $10.00 per person.  If you plan to attend please make your reservation with Rita Peterson 259-7256 or  ritapete@optonline.net .  All seniors of the church and their friends are welcome to join the Survivors for an interesting tour and wonderful lunch and fellowship.  This will be our last outing until September (no July or Aug. meeting).

VBS '17
VBS-S-S

VBS - Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum, Summertime!  Time to begin making plans to attend UPC's Vacation Bible School. Theme - SonQuest Rainforest. It is June 26th-30th. 6:00-8:00 pm. A registration form for each child/youth needs to be completed. The forms are available in the narthex as well as in the church office. Beside snakes, there are many other treasures in the Rainforest! Come see - hear - and PARTICIPATE!

Summer Music'17
Sing - Move - Play

Sing - Play - Move! Praise the Lord! - Summer is almost here! Music is all around us The buzzing of insects, grass and flowers   blowing in the breeze.  It is also a time of singing, playing moving through dance to share our talents in a less formal way! Please consider your talents and ability to share them during our service at 11:00 am service! We are all so appreciative! A sign-up sheet is placed in the Narthex for name sign-up! Thank you!  

birthday
June Birthdays
Birthday greetings to the members and friends 
whose birthdays are in June
 
  1  JoAnn Lawrence
  2  Ginny Demeter, Jennifer Martino, Jaclyn Wyrwas
  3  Theresa Briggs
  4  Karen Machin, Dolores Stark
  6  Sue Lanning
  8  Frank Casole, Brandon Stanley
 10  Marjory Bernhard, Mason DePew, James Dixon, Daniel          Latham
 11  Aaron Hafitz, Marie Steward
 12  Gloria Rentner
 13  Joseph Dinger, Lindsay Giordano, Linda Smyth
 15  Peachy Kozlowski
 16  Gideon Bernhard, Daniel Machin
 21  Gregory Cattley
 22  Cole Bernhard, Brad Hafner
 23  Michael Catana, Joseph Scharnitz
 24  Soam Chhedi, Tony Nami, Jim Neuman
 28  Nancy McHugh, Pierre Williams
 29  Rhea Mucha
 30  Sophia Morolda

Computer Newsletter
Monthly Calendar

Click on the link below to view our June happenings.

http://upcnj.view-events.com


We Pray For:

Healing for:

Concern for:ak, strength for dealing with her parents (Mr/Mrs Walter) and their illnesses; Randy's children and grandchildren


Thanksgiving for:  Successful surgery for Kimberly Hoff and Carolyn McPhee; for all military who gave their lives for our country past and present.

Blessings for:  the marriage of Kevin Ashe and Christina Masitti; for Bill Franz's 90th Birthday and Pierre Williams 91st Birthday; for Jean and Rick Pinto's 40th Wedding Anniversary.