CPC Ringwood Newsletter April 22, 2026

Volume 26-08, April 22, 2026

Church News and Updates

Where Grace Happens

Our next newsletter will go out on May 6th, 2026

Please let us know if you have news to share.

Our calendar on the Community Church website

CPC Ringwood YouTube Channel

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Revelation… it is a term that evokes images, and not always positive ones. Typically, when we hear the word “revelation” we think of the last book of the Bible with all its apocalyptical images. In religious terms, the word “revelation" is also often confused with future predictions, or prophecy. But the true meaning of the word is far simpler and much more promising than that. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, revelation is “a pleasant, often enlightening surprise.” I like this definition because it describes what happens when we let Jesus into our hearts.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of witnessing a revelation happen right before my very eyes, on the face of one of our church’s children. During the children’s sermon, Alexis was listening intently as I explained all the ways we hurt ourselves and others. As I did, I scribbled inside a heart drawn on an erasable whiteboard. Pretty soon, the heart was full of scribbles, and I explained these feelings are what is known as having a broken heart. But then, I started erasing those scribbles, as Jesus wipes away our sin and heals our broken hearts. Pretty soon, all the scribbles were gone.

I watched Alexis’ little face light up, as the message of Christ’s salvation was suddenly revealed to her young heart in a way that made sense to her. What a beautiful sight it was! THIS is what revelation is ALL about! The love of Christ reaching down from heaven, right into our heart and mind.

You don’t have to be an adult to receive God's revelation. You don’t have to be an academic. You don’t have to be ultra-religious, pious, or self-righteous. (In fact, these are often stumbling blocks to receiving God’s revelation.) All you need is to be attentive.

God speaks to us every day. Every day, God continually reaches down to us with messages of love, hoping that we are paying attention. So, pay attention! Open yourself up to listening for God because God is still speaking, still healing, still loving what God created—and that’s YOU!

Important Upcoming Dates - mark your calendar now

Deep Dive: Baptism - Sunday April 26 at 11:15 am in the Sanctuary

Becoming Disciples Confirmation Classes - immediately following worship on:Sunday May 3 - final meeting with church Elders

Confirmation in worship on Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day)

Women's Book Group - Monday, April 27th at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Read chapters 2 & 3.

Ladies' Zoom Coffee - Thursday, May 7 at 11:00am

National Day of Prayer

12:30-1:30 pm, Thursday, May 7 at the Ringwood Community Center

Pastor Arlene will be praying at this ecumenical event designed to bring together the community and lift our world up in prayer.

Women in Ministry Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 10

What a special day it will be, as the women of our congregation lead us in worship.

Calling All Current Active Elders: Save the Date

2nd Annual Session Retreat

9:30 am-2:00 pm, Saturday, May 16

Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland

Pizza and a Movie (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) on Sunday May 31, 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Bible Studies

11:00 - 11:40 am on Tuesday mornings on Zoom.

7:00 pm on Tuesday nights in Fellowship Hall

10:00 am on Thursday mornings at Pastor Arlene & Ron's house.

Support Groups

Special Needs Caregiver Support for adult caregivers of special needs children and youth. Meets on the last Monday of every month in the church office..

7:00 pm on the last Wednesday of the month - Caregiver Support Group for adults caring for the ongoing physical, medical, and emotional needs of others.

ALL are welcome.

Congregational Prayer Requests

"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18

Denise

Lily

Michele

David

Bob

Jessica

Jennifer

Susan

Trish

John

Barbara and Joe

Deep Dive: Event for Family Faith Formation*

11:15 am Sunday April 26—Baptism

This Sunday we will be celebrating the baptism of little Joseph Kelly in worship. What a joy it will be!

Join me in the Sanctuary after worship for another 30-minute class, this time discussing what the sacrament is all about.

Ladies Zoom Coffee

Join our Ladies Zoom Coffee call on the first Thursday of every month at 11:00am to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Click here to join the zoom call

Coffee Hour Hosts needed this Sunday!

Still on the topic of coffee, we have several sign ups for May - but nobody this coming weekend. If anyone - or several people - would like to volunteer, the rest of the congregation would be very grateful!

Click here to sign up now online - or call Alyssa in the office to volunteer!

Church Hiking Group

Now that Spring is here, we should be able to rely more on better weather, so we will resume our regular hikes this month. Our next hike will be SATURDAY APRIL 25th, so please put this date on your calendar. We will return to Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne for a relaxing stroll to enjoy the beauty that is Laurelwood at this time of year.

As always we hike weather permitting, so if it rains, we will not go. But it will not rain!! So we will meet as usual in the church parking lot at 8:00 am, or alternately in the first parking lot at Laurelwood at 8:30 am if you prefer.

Come one, come all. We look forward to seeing you!

Children, Youth and Family Ministries

Save the date: Enjoy a night with friends at the ballpark watching the New York Boulders playing Trois Rivieres Aigles at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY on June 19.

Ringwood Friends of Music Presents

Telegraph Quartet: Eric Chin, violin; Joseph Meile, violin; Pei-Ling Lin, viola, Jeremiah Shaw, cello

Works by Beethoven, Kern, Debussy

Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 pm

Community Presbyterian Church – 145 Carletondale Rd., Ringwood, NJ

Info: (973) 962-9025, (973) 216-4017

Free Admission & wheelchair accessible. To attend the performance, please register names at ringwoodfriendsofmusic@gmail.com

Prayer for Spring

The days of darkness and winter are slowly giving way to the light and promise of spring. This year, the season of warmth and renewal has seemed slow in coming. Yet at last, with the warmer days, trees are beginning to bud and blossom. The sun feels good on our faces. Our hearts are lifted by the lengthening sunlight and by the first spring bulbs pushing through the earth with glimpses of color and fresh beginnings.

Did you know?

Did you know that you can find all the videos from Presbytery workshops, meetings and other events on our web page? The last few years of videos are available for viewing now.

View the videos here.