Check out what's going on this week at the UMC of Red Bank!
Connections
Friday, October 16, 2020
Note: Connections will now be emailed weekly on Fridays
UMC of Red Bank Church Reopening Plan Update

As the ministry of UMCRB continues strong in the time of COVID, with the goal that zero infections are spread through our church activity, we bring you this update about our church reopening plan. Our church is working on a multi-phased plan for reopening our church building in the midst of the COVID pandemic. The church office is open in a limited way on Tuesday-Thursday from 9-2 and Fridays from 9-1:30 pm. The calendar of events on our church website has up-to-date information about ongoing ministries and how to join in. If you’d like to reserve our outdoor gathering space for your church small group, contact Sheila Leavitt.
Our Building Use Safety Team is hard at work on our upcoming phases, which include both small group church gatherings and small group worship experiences INSIDE the church building, and in time, when it is safe, large group worship in our sacred spaces. We are thankful for your patience as we work through this building reopening plan with care and caution. In the next few days, you will find information on our church website where you can read more about the policies that have been approved by church council. We encourage you to check back for updates as we move to upcoming phases.
Worship Sneak Peek
October 18th, 2020 at 10am

Join in our online worship service on Sunday, October 18th for the second week of a sermon series called The Enemies of Gratitude. We'll dig into a complicated scripture as we explore how a sense of entitlement can keep us from living with a spirit of gratitude for the blessings all around us. We hope to connect with you online!

Don't forget the Connect Card when you worship online
Each week while you are worshiping, please take the time to fill this out at some point during or after worship every week. It will only take a minute, but it will be incredibly helpful for us! Click here to submit your responses. Thanks in advance!
Online Fellowship Time Sundays After Worship
Join in a time to meet together and check in after online worship each Sunday. Sign in to the weekly Zoom call by clicking the following link - https://zoom.us/j/411045493. Or join by calling: (646) 558-8656  Meeting ID: 411 045 493#  Password: 7470446
Children and Youth
Online Sunday School
WELCOME to our Sunday School 2020/2021 season! Grades K–2nd, 3rd–5th, and 6th–8th are ALL scheduled to meet at 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM, and the 9th-12th grade Bagels and Faith class will be meeting at 11:30 AM . Class zoom links are available on the Church calendar. The Sunday School ministry team is so excited to welcome everyone home! For information or questions, please contact Tammy at young@umcredbank.org or 732-299-6203. 
Parents - please take the time to enroll your children in Sunday School today through our ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM to help our teachers prepare for their classes! Many thanks!
Youth Groups Meet Online - Wednesdays at 7 PM
Our Youth Group season is now underway! ALL Youth Groups will be meeting at 7:00 PM. Group links are available on the Church calendar. And don’t forget, Youth Groups love friends, so please feel free to B.A.R.F.!!! The leadership teams are all excited to start sharing the fun and fellowship once again! For more information, please contact Tammy at young@umcredbank.org or 732-299-6203. 
Crop Walk - THIS SUNDAY!
How YOU can help!
There are many ways you can show your support for this year’s crop walk. Here are some simple things you can do:

• Donate online. You can donate to a team a walker or make a general donation. Click here to learn more or make a donation now! Donation envelopes are also available in a small bin on our back patio.

• Participate in the Food Drive for Crop Walk. Donations of rice, beans, soup and peanut butter (HUNGER NO MORE WITH 4) are being accepted by the Back Park Crew Pantry and can be left on the back patio of the church. Suzanne Dice will be keeping it in Fellowship Hall and calling in the totals on October 18th for the Facebook live event.

Walk! Meet in small groups or walk with you family on a four mile or longer route through your town or park. Wave your bandanas as you walk, tie a kerchief on your dog, and take lots of pictures of your walk!

• Join the Live Facebook Event on October 18th from 2-5pm with virtual music and program to thank you for 40 years of walking for hungry neighbors. Send your photos and food count to our producer Eric Hackler. Our drive-through drop off will be curbside at the back entrance of UMC from 2-5 pm. 

Special thanks to Janie & George Schildge, Tiffany, Dillon & Jack McCann, Julia & Emily Sullivan, Gerri Poranski, Jenni, Amalia, & CeCe Foster and lots of helping hands at UMCRB.  
Photos Needed!
HUBOB (Help Us Balance Our Budget) is working on an exciting new holiday project and we need your help! Please check your archives for photos of our church family attending services and participating in church events. Do you have a photo or two of Corned Beef & Cabbage? The annual church picnic? Maybe Youth Sunday or Confirmation? Please share them with us! Email your photos to Suzanne Stonaker at sstonaker@gmail.com. For more information, visit the HUBOB page on the church website.
Beach Clean Up - October 24th
9 am - 12:30 pm at Sea Bright
Families, youth, everyone: Come join us as we partner with Clean Ocean Action to clean up the beach on Saturday morning Oct. 24th. Due to Covid 19, each person needs to sign up separately. Follow this link to the Clean Ocean Action website and read the Covid guidelines before you sign up. We plan on being at the Sea Bright Public Beach so designate that place when you register. We hope to see lots of you there to help make our local environment a cleaner place for all. Contact Kathy Hackler for more information.
Stewardship Season 2021
Be on the Lookout for your 2021 Pledged Giving Card!
Our annual Stewardship Campaign is underway with a pledged giving goal of 100 pledges and $300,000. You should be receiving your pledge card in the coming week or so. Please return your pledge card by November 15, Consecration Sunday, when we will celebrate all we can accomplish through the diversity of gifts we bring. Thank you for your continued financial support of our church. Your gift truly makes all the difference!
Your HUBOB Team organizes activities around social events like plays, dinners, food card and gift card sales, etc. So we are sure you will quickly realize that the pandemic has brought us to a screeching halt. Many different aspects of the coronavirus has interfered with our plans for the fall season. Our team has also suffered the loss of several members. At the most we are extending an invitation to anyone who would like to join us for a limited period of time...for one activity or project. We have some ideas but we need some willing hands. Are you the artistic one or one who is willing to help organize? Do you have computer skills? You may be just the person we are looking for. Please contact Marion Kleiner via email or phone, 732-918-9587.
Adult Education Class
Sundays at 9:00 am & Wednesdays at 7:00 pm
Join in this adult small group experience as we study together the book Speaking Christian by Marcus Borg. Christianity has its own language with all those "churchy" words, like sin, salvation, righteousness and heaven. But the funny thing is some of these don't mean what we think they do - or at least their original meanings are quite different from what first comes to mind today. The book is an interesting look at what various terms meant when they were written and how that impacts our interpretation of Biblical texts today.

All are welcome to join us by Zoom as we work through a term or two per week. For questions, please contact Mark Hackler at 732-918-0344 or via email. Zoom connection information for each session is in the church calendar on the website. Hope to see you there!
Collecting new and gently used books for school aged kids!
October we will be going back to collecting books for Bridge of Books Foundation. Our collection was cut short back in March. Bridge of Books supplies new or gently used books to low income schools all over New Jersey. You can drop books in new or good condition on the church porch that are school age appropriate (Pre-K through high school). You can learn more at www.bridgeofbooksfoundation.org
Backpack Crew Update
The Backpack Crew pantry is now open EVERY Monday evening from 5-7pm. The current donation needs are mac and cheese cups and granola bars! The Backpack Crew has continued to serve the increasing number of people who are impacted by food insecurity in the midst of this health crisis. Food donations are greatly appreciated on the back porch of the church, Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Thank you for your continued support. Email us at backpackcrewnj@gmail.com with any questions.
Bible Study with Pastor Jess
Thursdays 1-2:30 pm

Join us online as we explore the Book of Psalms and learn more about these poems that have helped people journey through the ups and downs of life with God. For more information and links to the meetings please visit our website. Contact Pastor Jess for more information.
Outdoor Small Group Gathering Space
Our church council has approved the use of an Outdoor Small Group Gathering space for church groups of 10 or less. Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing must be maintained. There are several places in the parking lot that we will be cordoning off and setting up chairs in to accommodate these outdoor gatherings. For more information or to request the space for your group, please contact Sheila Leavitt. Please know that Sheila is only in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The Outlook Monthly Newsletter
In case you missed it, please click here or on the image to the left to access our monthly newsletter, The Outlook. If you did not receive a hard copy of this mailing and would like to, please let us know. Also, please let us know if you would only like to receive The Outlook via email. Contact either Nell or Sheila in the office by clicking here or call 732-747-0446. Thanks!
Balance and Strength Training
Tuesdays and Thursdays
at 12:00 pm
Join us for online Balance and Strength Training with Janet Tartaglia. Beginners welcome! Items needed: chair (with no arms) and weights (can be 2 16 oz. water bottles), or you can choose to follow along without the weights. Exercises done with chair or standing, no floor work. Join the Zoom meeting by following this link: https://zoom.us/j/96916489677 or call: (646) 876-9923 Meeting ID: 969 1648 9677# Password 7470446
Online Yoga - Wednesdays at 9:30 am
Join us for online yoga with Tiffany McCann on Wednesdays. Join the Zoom meeting by following this link: https://zoom.us/j/958496669. Or call: (646) 876-9923 Meeting ID: 958 496 669# Password 7470446
Send in your application early to vote by mail ballot
As the Coronavirus pandemic stretches on, avoid the question of whether or not to venture out to the polls for the General Election in November. Plan ahead by submitting your application for voting by mail ballot. Click on this link to download and print your application today, then simply mail it in to the address provided.
Pastoral Care
If someone is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care
please contact Rev. Jessica Naulty at 908-400-2343 or jbnaulty@umcredbank.org.