Volume 58 - October 02, 2024

Church News and Updates

Where Grace Happens


This newsletter includes a 'Pastoral Pondering' from Pastor Arlene and updates about the current bible studies, hiking group, work on the garden, and Faith in Action. You can also read new information from the Presbytery of the Highlands.


Our next newsletter is due on October 16th - please let Sue or Christine know if you have news to share.

Community Church website



CPC Ringwood YouTube Channel

Pastoral Pondering...


“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”


These are the words of the renowned Twentieth Century psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Carl Jung. Jung believed that by living into our true selves, human beings tap into a transforming power—one of self-actualization that leads to a life lived in alignment with our innate nature.


In other words… the more we discover who God has created us to be, the more we discover our true path and live in harmony with God’s plan for us. But a few thousand years prior to Jung, the Apostle Paul also spoke of a transforming power—the power of our faith.


“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)


Transformation begins by God’s redeeming love that sets us free from fear, and freed to grow into the people God created us to be. In Christ, we become more genuinely ourselves, no longer fearing the need to be perfect or extraordinary—recognizing that we are imperfect people, loved by God to freely live into the plan God created us for.


You see… Christ’s own life and death has a lot to teach us about our human perceptions of failure. By all worldly appearances, Christ’s mission could be viewed as a failure—executed for what he proclaimed, suffering the shameful death of a criminal on a cross.


But, in faith there is no failure—only new opportunity! Opportunity to search ourselves and try again. Opportunity to learn from past mistakes and make new choices. Opportunity to give up control and let God do the leading. Opportunity to trust that we are made for a divine purpose and have been gifted for whatever it is. Opportunity to live into the plan that God will reveal, as our faith grows and God reveals our direction.


What a comfort it is to know that we need not be perfect or extraordinary—we need only be genuine. Community Presbyterian Church is that place where we get to be who we are, while living out the transforming power of our faith. We get to try on new ideas and new identities—becoming a new creation, surrounded by the love of other, imperfect people trying to become better versions of themselves, too! Together, we step out in faith, try new ministries, and discern who God is calling us to become. What an exciting time of transformation it is!

Pastor's Education Week

October 7-13


As part of Pastor Arlene’s Doctor of Ministry program, she will be engaged in a week of intensive learning on the subjects of Pastoral Care and Counseling and Digital Ministry. Please keep her in your prayers. Rev. Anne Russ will be leading worship on Sunday, October 13.

World Communion Sunday


Sunday October 6th


What IS World Communion Sunday, anyway? World Communion Sunday is a celebration observed by Protestant denominations, taking place on the first Sunday of every October, to promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. It focuses on an the sacrament of Communion and was begun in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church by Rev. Hugh Thomson Kerr.

Bible Studies


Tuesdays at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall

Thursdays at 10:00am at the Romaine residence, 195 Magee Road


Join us, as we read through the first-written book of the New Testament— the Gospel of Mark. All questions, ponderings, and doubts welcome! Just bring your Bible for this in-depth look, led by Pastor Arlene and Ron. The Tuesday sessions continue and we have now added another opportunity to join on Thursday mornings at 10:00am, starting this week, September 5th.

Church Hiking Group - Save the date!


Please note that our next hike will be on SATURDAY OCTOBER 19th, and it will be the turn of an easier walk, suitable for all. Details will be in the next newsletter. Look forward to seeing you then!


Any questions, comments or suggestions, please call or text Colin at 201-741-60

Garden Committee


A big thank you to the volunteers who showed up on a drizzly Saturday morning to help clean up the church garden last week. Much was achieved and we have had further support from several individuals who have come at other times to help, so many thanks to them also. We will be having two more garden days before winter, on October 19 and November 30, so please come and spend an hour or two helping out. We are also having a group of school children coming on October 25 to do some work for us. The more the merrier! If you have any comments or ideas for the garden areas please contact John or Jill Arnell.

More Tasks in the Garden!


Robin Sweeney has volunteered to lead the project to clear and improve the labyrinth. The photo to the left is a "before" version! Robin would very much appreciate volunteers to help her dig out the weeds and tidy things up. She will be working on the path on Mondays at 4:15pm. If you can help, please join her there/then or contact her with any questions via the church office.

Faith in Action


Noah’s Ark and the sign of hope from the rainbow… this was last Sunday's lesson. These drawings will be sent to a church in North Carolina and given to families suffering from Hurricane Helene’s devastation. A message of love for a world in need. That’s Faith in Action!

Presbytery Update

Prayer for Those in the Path of Hurricane Helene



You can support those who are being impacted by Hurricane Helene and other deadly storms by making a contribution to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Click here to give to PDA Disaster Relief - US Hurricane Response


Click here for the prayer

Save the Date


The 2025 Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT) will be held in Louisville, Kentucky Monday, July 28th – Thursday, July 31st, 2025. Programming and meals will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center with participants staying at nearby Triennium-designated hotels at special PYT rates.

Read more

Boundary Training Workshop


Online Training - Month of October Required Zoom Meeting

October 30


Every three years Pastors, Certified Ruling Elders, Inquirers and Candidates under care, Certified and Associate Christian Educators are required by Presbytery policy and now by the Book of Order (G-3.0106) to complete a Boundary Training program. Also included in our policy are Honorable Retired pastors who are serving a church or anticipate serving in a church in the near future, all pastors, elders and others who are part of the Presbytery’s Pulpit Supply list and those pastors serving validated ministries or are members at large.

Read more and register