Volume 26-03, February 04, 2026 | | |
Where Grace Happens
We're back! There is still plenty of snow on the ground, but it didn't keep us from having an in-person service last Sunday.Our events schedule suggests that we may be making up for lost time. Take a look at our newsletter to see what' happening - you don't want to miss any of it!
Our next newsletter will go out on February 18th , 2026
Please let us know if you have news to share.
Our calendar on the Community Church website
CPC Ringwood YouTube Channel
| | |
“Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful.” — Joel 2:13
Lent is a season of holy calling. Across Lent’s 40 days, God calls out to us to join in a journey that leads to deeper trust, clearer vision, renewed life, and faithful discipleship. God invites us into transformation of mind, body and spirit as our hearts desire grows toward following Christ more fully. The Lenten journey also invites us to give our whole selves over to Jesus’s persistent, gracious call to “follow me” (John 1:43.)
Our Christian faith is far more than a set of beliefs we claim. It is a lived experience that affects every aspect of our being. This is why some people choose to experience Lent through sacrifice—giving up some aspect of typical daily life to test one’s own spirit, just as Christ himself was tested along the way to the cross.
Twenty-one times Jesus is quoted as saying, “follow me” in the Gospels. Jesus willingly gave up his life for ours in order to show us the depth of God’s extravagant love in obedience to God’s divine plan. So, to follow Jesus means to release something of ourselves in order to grow. Lent is a season of renewed commitment to this growth, a time for trying on new spiritual practices in order to experience God’s extravagant love in new ways.
Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth is a reminder that our faith is not merely a practice of the mind, but of the body, as well, saying… "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body,” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)
Therefore, Jesus gave us spiritual practices that include our bodies. Communion, with its taste, touch and smell are a perfect example of this, as is baptism with its physical practice of water poured over the body as a symbol of Christ’s sanctification. Lifting our hands in prayer and praise, and even the physical act of coming together for worship are all examples of the physicality of our faith.
The Lenten journey is a call to join in the Spirit’s movement within, through, and among us. I pray that you find something new to experience this Lenten season.
| |
Important Upcoming Dates - mark your calendar now
Women's Book Group - February 9th in Fellowship Hall
Ordination and Installation of New Elders - Sunday, February 15
Join us in worship on Sunday, February 15, as we ordain and install our new Ruling Elders.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18. Join us for Soup and Salad Supper at 6:30 pm, and worship at 7:30 pm including the imposition of ashes. More details to follow.
Peace Islands Institute Iftar Dinner on 6:00 PM Friday, February 27
Join us at the church as we share a traditional Turkish Iftar meal with our friends from Peace
Islands Institute! Together we seek to “promote peace, love, respect, humanity, integrity, welfare, and understanding. PII aspires to facilitate a forum of mutual respect and collaboration, welcoming and acceptance.” (From PII’s website.) There’s no better way to make our world a better place than over a shared meal, provided for us by our friends from PII. Space is limited, RSVP no later than February 20 by emailing Pastor Arlene
Craft and Chat - 2nd and 4th Saturdays in February and March, 10:00-12:00
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
7:00 pm on the last Monday of the month - Special Needs Caregiver Support for adult caregivers of special needs children and youth. Meets on the last Monday of every month.
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.
| |
Facilities Committee
Do you enjoy helping things run smoothly behind the scenes? The Facilities Committee plays a vital role in keeping our church safe, welcoming, and ready for worship, learning, and community life. If you like problem-solving, hands-on work, or offering practical skills in service to the church, this is a meaningful and impactful way to get involved. The Facilities Committee is looking to grow, and YOU are invited to come on board! Call the church office, or speak to Gary Wogish for more information.
| | |
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
| | | | |
Bob
Jessica
Marge
Estelle
Ryan
Tommy
Debbie
Lisa
Jimmy
Mark
Kathryn
| | |
Karen
Barbara and Joe
Tim
George
Congratulations to the Rohn family on the birth of baby Esther on January 30.
| |
New Ruling Elders
Welcome to our Session’s new Ruling Elders, as they begin their service as leaders of our church:
Rich Crowe, Jerry Hampel, Jenna Kelly, Kathy Laviola, and Nancy Lavoie
God bless them all!
| | | | | | |
Have you been coming to CPC and are you interested in becoming a member? What are the perks of membership, you may ask? Members vote at the Annual Congregational meeting and may be asked to serve as an Elder on Session. But more than this, membership is an expression of one’s belief in God’s call and Christ’s mission, here at CPC.
We are about to begin a new, New Members Class. Anyone interested in joining should speak to Pastor Arlene.
| |
Women's Book Group
February 9 Chapters 13-15
February 23 Chapters 16-18
We meet in Fellowship Hall at 7:00pm
| | | |
Upcoming Events
Soup and Salad Dinner
It’s that time again! We are so excited to be hosting our now, Annual Soup and Salad Dinner to benefit our National Mission - Son Servants. Dinner will be at 6 pm on Ash Wednesday just before our service at 7:30. Take the night off from cooking and help our mission team get to Panter, WV this summer. PLEASE - sign up via email to Tracy @ tracyrynkowski@gmail.com or in person at our next two coffee hours. We can’s wait to spend dinner with you!
Craft and Chat
Calling all crafters - and want to be crafters (of all ages)! Please come join us for a time of sharing and visiting the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in Feb and March. If you already have a crafting skill or a project you are working on bring your supplies and come work together as a group. If you want to learn to knit, crochet, paint make paper crafts etc - come with an open and excited heart. These are not “classes” where one person teaches the entire group - it is just a gathering to share skills, supplies and stories. Please sign up for communications and information with Tracy at tracyrynkowski@gmail.com or in person this Sunday at coffee hour.
**PLEASE NOTE - this is for all ages, children are so very welcome - with an adult if they are younger than 14.
| |
From the Finance Chairman
Per Capita
WHAT IS PER CAPITA? Per capita is an annual per member apportionment assessed by the General Assembly (Book of Order, G-3.0106), and by many synods and presbyteries, to enable Presbyterians mutually and equitably to share the ecclesiastical and administrative costs of sustaining our witness to Christ through the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Over the past several years we have not been asking members to make a specific per capita contribution. It currently costs us $44 per member. If possible please make this contribution. I have updated the online forms to allow you to select this fund. Our total church commitment for 2026 is $6,204.
Please click here to pay your per capita contribution
Credit Cards
Also, if you pay your pledge via a credit card we are assessed a fee for each time you use it. Visa and Mastercard charge us 3.2%, Discover 2.97% and American Express 4.2%. Last year we had to pay $3,500 for these fees. If possible can you increase you payment to include these percentages. This will help to reduce our deficit. Please contact me if you need help adjusting your amount.
Rich Crowe
Finance Chairman
| | |
Children, Youth and Family Ministries
SO many things to do this winter!
Help the children and youth of CPC stock CFA’s shelves to the brim by joining us for Souper Bowl of Caring, a national food drive that helps bring awareness of food insecurity to both children and adults alike. We will be collecting through Feb 8th.
Calling all High School girls! Join us for a celebration of you on Monday, Feb 16th, from 2 - 4 in the Fellowship Hall. Come for some girl-time, some yummy goodies, a few prizes and fun. Please RSVP to Tracy @ tracyrynkowski@gmail.com by Feb 12th so I can make sure to have enough prizes and goodies.
** Church Family - if you would llke to contribute a yummy baked good or cut fruit to this celebration please reach out and let Tracy know - we will be happy for any contributions!
As always - if you have any questions - never hesitate to reach out to me @ tracyrynkowski@gmail.com
| | | |
Clarum Sonum
Clarum Sonum are holding their annual “Second Date: Songs of Love” on Sunday, February 22nd @ 7:00 pm at the East Hanover Elks Club located at 1 Kane Place. Dancing, cash bar and free desserts - $15 suggested donation to raise funds for the Elks.
Click here for more information
| | |
Ringwood Friends of Music
Ringwood Friends of Music presents:
Adam Golka, "Piano Tales"
Works by Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Zarebski, Ponce Rzewsski
Saturday, February 7 at 3:00 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 those who mourn and seek peace
Matthew 5: 1 -12
5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
5:2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Read more
| | | | |
Presiding at the Table - Spring 2026
The Presbytery Partnership of
Coastlands, Highlands, Long Island,
Northeast New Jersey, and Southern New Jersey
presents
⊕
Presiding at the Table:
A Class for Ruling Elders
February 26 and March 5 at 7pm on Zoom + one in-person class
Read more and register
| | |
Centering Prayer in the Presbytery - Lenten Season
In this busy season in the life of the church, we are reminded that Jesus took time to go apart for a while, and he would sometimes invite disciples to join him. And he invites us still.
We will gather by Zoom to pray in silence.
Fridays at 8:00am, February 20-April 3
Read more
| | | | | |
