CPC Ringwood Newsletter February 18, 2026

Volume 26-04, February 18, 2026

Church News and Updates

Where Grace Happens

There is still snow on the ground, but Lent starts today and Spring is on the way. There are plenty of new events taking place in the next 40 days. Read our latest newsletter to see what they are - you don't want to miss anything!

Our next newsletter will go out on March 4th , 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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It’s Ash Wednesday… and just like that, Lent has begun!

I love the season of Lent. It’s a season of purposeful intention, an opportunity to search our hearts and minds and realign our spirits with God’s will once again. It is an important time because the busyness of our lives has a way of distorting our vision and distracting us from what truly matters. That’s why I love Lent’s focus on reflection and repentance! But there’s another reason I love Lent, and that is because it signals the return of Spring!

Did you know that the word “Lent” has Germanic roots referring to the lengthening of days? The season begins in the cold darkness of winter, and over the course of 40 days (plus six Sundays,) the Lenten season marches ever-closer to the celebration of new life—the return of the sun, birds, leaves and flowers, and symbols of Christ’s resurrection promise of new life.

Tonight, we mark this holy day with worship at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. The ashes that will mark hands and heads are symbols of our finite reality and our soul’s deep need for God. With communion, we eat the bread and wine from Christ’s Table to strengthen us for the journey ahead. With intention, we will search our hearts and privately write out our confessions on paper, then offer them up to God through ritual burning.

I hope you will join us! It all begins with a Soup and Salad Supper at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.

Lent has begun!

Important Upcoming Dates - mark your calendar now

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.

Women's Book Group - February 23rd in Fellowship Hall

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

Becoming Disciples Confirmation Class -Sunday, March 1st, immediately following Worship

AfternoonTea Party - Saturday, March 7th at 2:00pm in Fellowship Hall. Tickets are necessary if you would like to attend this fun event, which is a fund raiser for the Center for Food Action. Don't miss it! See more details below for a QR code and link.

New Members Class - Saturday, March 14, 21, 28 from 9:00 - 10:30 am at 195 Magee Road, Ringwood (the Romaine home).

Search Your Heart Lenten Art Project at 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall

Join our friend and artist Rena Rubin for the next intergenerational art event. Everyone is encouraged to attend, it's good for the soul!

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

Monday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm in the Church Office - 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.

Hiking Group

Last month four of us braved the snow and cold to take a relaxing walk at Ringwood Manor. It was snowing by the time we finished, which was beautiful, but I have to admit I was glad to get home to a good hot cup of coffee! Seeing as we still have a lot of snow on the ground, we will give February a miss and plan to resume in March, when hopefully it will be warmer and we will be able to see signs of spring!

So please put our next hike on your calendar for SATURDAY MARCH 14th. If the weather cooperates, and it certainly should by then, we will meet as usual in the church parking lot at 8:00 am.

Any questions, comments or suggestions, please call or text Colin at 201-741-6090

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

Susan

Marge

Estelle

Beverly

Aimee

Carole

Bob

Sue

Lisa

Jill

Barbara and Joe

Installation of new Ruling Elders

Our new class of Ruling Elders were ordained and installed last Sunday. They are Rich Crowe, Jerry Hampel, Jenna Kelly, Kathy Laviola, and Nancy Lavoie

God bless them all!

New Members Class

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 on Saturday, March 14th. Anyone interested in joining should speak to Pastor Arlene.

Women's Book Group

February 23 in Fellowship Hall at 7:00pm.

We will be finishing this book and planning our end of term dinner. Bring your recommendations for our next book for consideration.

Upcoming Family Events

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.

Please Update Your Information in Realm!

If you are asking "What is Realm?", this item is for YOU.

Realm is our church management software but very importantly, it functions as a congregational online directory, helping us to keep in touch with each other between Sundays.

Realm can only be really useful as a directory, if we share our contact information with other members of CPC. We invite you to go into your Realm account and take a look at your information and privacy settings. If you need to make any changes - and maybe add a photo - the attached information should help.

Please click here to download some basic Realm 'how to' information.

Click here to reach your account - you will need your account user name and password.

If you need to set up an account, need help in making updates or have mislaid your account information, please contact Alyssa in the office for help.

Children, Youth and Family Ministries

If you have any questions - never hesitate to reach out to Tracy @ 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

Tuesday, February 24,2026

7:00pm - Zoom Meeting

Annual Reports

5 year Anniversary

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

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