Author: David Groeneveld

Volume 9, issue 5

News From the Pews

SEPTEMBER 2023

Reformed Church of freehold
Demonstrating god’s reconciling love

Inside this issue:

Fellowship, RCW	1
Pastor’s Pen, CROP	2
Celebrations of Life, / Backpacks	3
Senior Picnic, Tubing	4
Church Info, Odds & Ends, Worship & Music, Birthdays & / Anniversaries	5
Dates to Remember	6

It's been wonderful to have fellowship hour more frequently. Thanks for everyone's help from hosting and cleaning, to eating and enjoying!
Join us for movie night on Friday, November 10 at 6:30 pm. We are showing a lively, animated movie for all ages about a rat named Remy who can cook. We will follow Remy's adventures as he pursues his dream of becoming a great chef in a famous Paris restaurant despite being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. Please bring pillows, blankets, etc. for lounging. Snacks will be provided.
You are all invited to our very special Christmas Eve celebration this year. Since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, we will be meeting from 12 to 3 pm. We will begin downstairs with fellowship time, which includes a covered dish lunch and a Christingle craft led by Pastor David. The word Christingle originates from the German word, Christkindl, meaning "Little Christ Child". A Christingle is made from an orange, which represents the world that God made and a candle which represents Jesus, the light of the world. At 1:30 pm we will head upstairs with our Christingles for the Christmas Eve service to continue the joyous celebration of our Savior's birth. A sign-up sheet will be posted for the covered dish lunch. We will be looking for help in the kitchen as well. Thank you in advance. Any help you are able to provide is greatly appreciated. We look forward to seeing you all!

Fellowship

Reformed Church Women

The Holly Berry Boutique will be held on Saturday, November 18. We will again have many Christmas crafts, gifts, decorations and our Soup and Baked Goods sale. The soup sale order form is in the church lobby. This year’s soups include beef & barley, tomato, chicken gnocchi, chicken noodle, Italian wedding, butternut squash, and chili. Both activities are to raise money that we then donate to worthy charities so please support these events. Thank you for any help you can give with our efforts.

Pastor’s Pen

Volume 9, issue 5

Trunk or treat happened in the church parking lot today. Calm Academy parents decorated their cars and costumed students marched through the lot and collected treats. We will observe All Saints on Sunday, November 5, and then come Thanksgiving and Christmas. As Christmas draw ever closer and with all the turmoil in the world, I find myself focusing on what does it mean for Christ to be the Prince of Peace.
Because Christ is the Prince of Peace we are asked us to choose God rather than to choose sides between rival factions. I was first introduced to the Israeli and Palestinian debate when I visited Israel in 1984 immediately after graduating college. While there, I wondered about the toll on the Israeli citizens of fearing that a forgotten bag could contain an explosive. I also saw Palestinian refugee settlements without running water or electricity, appalled at their plight. There was right, wrong, injustice, and virtue on both sides. Choosing one side over another denied the complexity of the problem. What we can do is care for those who suffer, work toward peace, defend the innocent, and trust that God will sort the good and bad (or the wheat and tares as in the parable) knowing there is sin in all of us.
Because Christ is the Prince of Peace, we are reminded that God has chosen us. Jesus offers a peace that is different than the peace of Rome and the power of the empire. Rome kept the peace through strength and violence. Jesus does not defeat Rome; Jesus offers an alternative to violence and “might makes right.” He journeys with us, experiences our struggles, and conquers death through the humility of the cross, and a resurrection that sets things right, not allowing death to have the final word.
Let us prepare for the arrival of the Prince of Peace grateful for the saints who have taught us, thankful for all God is doing in our world, trusting that God has chosen us, and believing that God will set all things right in the end.
Peace, Pastor David

CROP Walk

Thanks to everyone participating in the CROP walk through walking, fundraising, or donating. This year’s walk is on track to exceed its CROP Walk goal. There were 112 walkers registered. This was the first year there was a big participation from Freehold High Peer Leaders and the Freehold Intermediate School. Hopefully, school, club, and organization participation will continue to grow. Contributions so far come to $23,032. CONGRATULATIONS, you did a great job! Freehold Area Open Door and the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program count on this support. It makes a difference for them! CROP Walk organizers extended a special thanks to Freehold Reformed for hosting.
This year the CROP Walk was tied into Thrivent’s Feed the Northeast Challenge. The first 100 teams who collected over 500 items are eligible to receive an additional $500 for their local feeding program. We easily raised over 500 items. THANK YOU for your faithful commitment to feeding our neighbors.

Community Arts Center of Freehold

Volume 9, issue 5

Community Arts Center has a busy season ahead. First, Fri. December 1, a Christmas concert and carol sing will take place in our sanctuary! This program will be a time to welcome the holiday season in our beautiful sanctuary. On Sat., January 20, 2024, CACF will host String Day with the Madison String Quartet. Participants will meet for coaching and performance opportunities, as well as a time for fellowship. On Sunday, February 18, members of the Princeton University Chapel Choir, under the direction of Dr. Nicole Aldrich, will present a choral concert. Check the bulletin for information about each of these exciting events.

THANK YOU!

At the risk of embarrassing Helen McKenzie, I want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for cleaning the church, maintaining the property, testing emergency lights monthly, replacing light bulbs and batteries, and countless other jobs. Thank you for coordinating repairs of the Fellowship Room ceiling, replacement of failed lights in the storage room below the side entrance, snow removal, parsonage boiler maintenance and repair, church boiler pump repair, masonry work on the front steps, a new front sidewalk and back steps on the parsonage, and new front doors. Despite the length of this list, I’m sure I’ve left something out. Helen has had help from her husband (Earl) her sister (Amy), John Lambert, Tom Moore, Bill Hull, Fred Fiorentino, and Superior Cleaning (Kelly and Victor’s cleaning company). However, Helen has been the leader in getting this work done. Most of these projects included meetings with contractors to obtain bids and references, which doesn’t happen easily. Thank you for your attention to what often feels like a thankless and endless job. We appreciate your work!
-Pastor David

Children’s Advent Project

This year the Sunday school children will be supporting the VNA Health Group’s Seasons of Hope Program for their Advent Project. For over 25 years, Visiting Nurse Association Health Group has provided gifts to patient families through its “Seasons of Hope” holiday program. VNAHG Staff identifies patient families who are in need of help to brighten their holidays and generous donors purchase new toys, warm clothing and food store gift cards to help make it happen. There are more than 1,000 children on the list. The Reformed Church of Freehold will help provide gifts for the many children under the age of 3 on their list. The VNAHG will provide us with tags of wish list items. The requested unwrapped gift can be left in the Narthex. Thank you so much for your anticipated support.

November’s Mission: Reformed Church Home

Volume 9, issue 5

Each December, the Reformed Church of Freehold contacts the Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge for their Christmas Wish Lists. This year they said they were in need of particular unwrapped items for those living in the Isolation and Rehabilitation Units. They have requested 6 men’s bodywash kits, 6 women’s bodywash kits, small personal radios for their rooms, and cozy blankets. Items can be dropped off in the Narthex or the church office. You can also give monetary donations which we will use to buy some gifts specifically requested by some of the residents.. Please make checks payable to the Reformed Church of Freehold and mark Angel Tree in the memo. Please have all donations in by 12/10, we will then purchase the items and deliver them. The staff and residents were so thankful for our donations last year. Lets make this year’s collection even bigger!

November Co-Mission: Open Door

Each Thanksgiving, Open Door distributes Thanksgiving dinner boxes to our neighbors in Freehold and surrounding areas. Last year 575 dinners were distributed, and Open Door expects to serve about the same this year. We can’t do this without your help thank you for your continued support. The following items are needed: Frozen turkey, turkey breast, or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned cranberry, turkey gravy, corn muffin mix, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, juice 64 oz, pasta and pasta sauce (no lasagna or shells please), aluminum turkey roasting pans, store bought pies - no frozen or homemade please.

December Mission: Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program

EHAP’s winter hospitality program takes place at Freehold Clergy Association member congregations and operates each year when the temperatures drop. The program is run almost entirely by volunteers who screen clients, cook and serve meals, and sleep over at some of the houses of worship while the men are there. Up to a dozen homeless men are hosted each night, from December 1 through March 31.
Hundreds of people come into EHAP’s office each month for help with housing, obtaining identification so they’re eligible for benefits, assistance with medical and mental health issues, and just to escape the harsh winter temperatures or the extreme heat of the summer. When they come into their office they can speak with their licensed social worker or with a volunteer, they can have a snack or a bottle of water, they can use the bathroom, and they can use the phones and computers that they provide.

Reformed Church of Freehold

Volume 9, issue 5

67 W. Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 462-1717

Pastor–David Groeneveld
dkgroeneveld@comcast.net
Treasurer– Jill Moore

Secretary–Lauren Redmond
office@freeholdreformed.org

CONSISTORY 2023
Wilfred Ojo– Vice President
Bill Barth–Classis Delegate
Barb Lyon–Hospitality & Congregational Care Bill Barth–Missions & Benevolences
Helen McKenzie–Buildings & Grounds Gabrielle Uchno–Fellowship
Lee Ann Newland–Worship & Music Sharon Sanicola–Education
Wilfred Ojo–Human & Financial Resources John Lambert–Building & Grounds

Odds and Ends

Communion Offering
On the first Sunday of the month we collect items for Open Door which can be left in the church Narthex. Monetary gifts are accepted at any time and can be placed in the offering plate. Please mark “Open Door” on your envelope.

Flowers
If you would like to have flowers given in honor or memory of a loved one or event, please contact the church office. The cost is $20. Please make checks payable to: “Reformed Church of Freehold” and write “flowers” in the memo.

Senior Group

Secretary’s Hours
Our secretary will be in the office from 8:15–11:45am on Fridays. She will continue to check and answer emails during the week. In case of emergency, Lauren’s cell number is 732-766-5147.

Our church has formed a senior group. They meet periodically for fun, parties, dinners, travel, etc. They enjoy their special time together. All folks who are retired or of senior age are welcome to join the group. If you would like to join the group, please see Barb Lyon or call her at732-677-2681. We would love to have you!

Thanksgiving

Join us for a church family Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, November 12, 2023, after the church service. All church members are invited. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board. Volunteers are needed to assist in setting up, serving, and cleanup needs. Please add your volunteer service to the sign-up sheet or see Barb Lyon.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

NOVEMBER: 4 John Lambert, 4 Ray Ojo, 9 Lorraine Yoncak, 17 The Murphys
20 Justin Moore, 23 Jules Redmond, 25 Barb Lyon, 25 Sue Vilagi
DECEMBER: 1 The Sanicolas, 5 Rich Krohn, 8 Michael Ojo, 18 Florence Ojo, 26 Earl McKenzie

Page #

The Reformed Church
Of Freehold

67 W. Main Street
Freehold NJ 07728

Phone: 732-462-1717
office@freeholdreformed.org
www.freeholdreformed.org

Demonstrating God’s Reconciling Love

Dates to Remember

NOVEMBER
5 Sunday	Communion Worship, 10 AM
8 Wednesday	Consistory ZOOM Meeting, 7 PM
10 Friday	Movie Night, 6:30 PM
12 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM / Thanksgiving Dinner after / worship
19 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM / GFCA Interfaith Thanksgiving / Service, 6 PM, First Presbyterian Church of Freehold
23 Thursday	Happy Thanksgiving!
26 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM

DECEMBER
1 Friday	Christmas Concert and Carol Sing
3 Sunday	Communion Worship, 10 AM
10 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM
13 Wednesday	Consistory ZOOM Meeting, 7 PM
17 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM– Christmas Pageant
24 Sunday	Christmas Eve / Luncheon and Christingles, noon, Fellowship Hall / Service of Lessons and Carols, 1:30 pm, sanctuary
31 Sunday	Worship, 10 AM