Travel to Israel next year (April 21-May 1, 2013) with Rev. Rusty & Rabbi Larry Malinger We’ve been offered a rare and exciting opportunity to participate in a joint trip to Israel with Temple Shalom in Aberdeen next year. Rabbi Malinger, who lived and studied in Israel, has invited Rev. Rusty and the rest of us to go on an interfaith Christian/Jewish excursion to the Holy Land – going to sites significant to each religion, while enriching each other with this unique blend. We will traveling to important sites for our faith: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Galilee and, of course, Jerusalem. We’ll see ancient Roman sites and synagogues. We will bath in the Jordan, the sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea; and travel to the fortress at Massada. Plus, we will take a side trip to Petra in Jordan. It is a trip of a lifetime. We will have an initial meeting for those interested on Wednesday, May 23rd at 7:30pm at Temple Shalom (6 Ayrmont Rd. – off of Church Street in Aberdeen); and an after church meeting at our own church on Sunday, May 27th.
Confirmation Sunday – Sunday, May 20th Our Confirmation completed its final overnight retreat this past Friday to Saturday at the beach home of Cliff and Diane Krause in Seabright. They will have their Confirmation Ceremony on Sunday, May 20th, which will include sharing portions of their “credos – belief statements”, blessings by parents, sponsors and this congregation.
Congregational Meeting – Sunday, May 20th Please plan to stay for a short while after church for a congregational meeting. We will be voting on our annual budget for our fiscal year which starts on June 1st, and our slate of officers presented by our Nominating Committee. We will also be voting to authorize our Trustees to submit an application for a building loan to the Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ. This is simply a vote to submit the application, and we will need to pass another resolution on June 24th to authorize the loan itself and the amount. We will need a quorum of 25% of our membership in order to vote, so please plan to stay!
Ordination of Doug Brown – Sunday, May 20th at 4pm May 20th will be quite a day! It will include Doug’s ordination into Christian Ministry at 4pm in our church sanctuary. We will be joined by representatives of the NJ Association UCC and members of our sister churches around the state. Please come to celebrate with him, and to pray for his vision of a new UCC church (Asbury Park Community Church).
The Holmdel Journal is sponsoring its annual Community Excellence Awards Luncheon on Monday, Feb 13 at the PNC Arts Center at noon. Janice Liebenow has been nominated for an “unsung hero” award for developing the Community Outreach Group! Kathy Logan, director of Bridges, is also being recognized. We have a number of tables for church members and friends who are interested in honoring Janice and Kathy. To make a reservation to attend, please call the Journal at 732-431-3886 and let them know you wish to attend the luncheon as part of the Holmdel Community Church group. We have a non-profit rate of $35 per person. The deadline for this special rate is Thursday, Feb 9. Please let Liz Mueller if you will be attending so she can try to seat everyone together.
Inclusion Group – Tuesday, Feb. 21st at 7:30pm (usually the 2nd Tuesday) in Fellowship Hall. Tery Michaud, a member of our church and a therapist, is running a support group for all who feel lonely or excluded, and who wish to share with others thoughts and feelings to foster healing. It is not specifically religious, but includes a spiritual dimension. Stop in and feel lifted up.
Ash Wednesday Service – Wednesday, Feb 22nd at 7:30pm
Begin Lent with a moving and meaningful service of prayer, repentance and ashes, reminding us of our sorrows, our debts‘ and also our hope for forgiveness and salvation.
Space4Grace – Lenten Evening Worship & Discussion with communion Wednesdays during Lent at 7:30pm starting Feb. 29th This Lent, you are invited to take some time to worship and join with friends to discuss exciting bible stories. The theme of the series is “Women’s Stories of Courage and Faith.” Men and women alike are welcome to learn from the examples of these strong women.
New Member Sunday—March 18th Become a Member of the HCUCC! On Sunday, March 18th we will be welcoming New Members into the life of our church. If you are not already a member, you are invited to join this community of God‘s people. Rev. Rusty will hold two Inquirer’s Classes to prepare those who would like to join: Sunday, March 4th after church in the church office, and on Sunday, March 11th at 4pm in the church office. Please speak with Rev. Rusty if you have any questions, or just come to the meetings. No obligation. And if these meeting times don’t work for you, Rev. Rusty can go over the materials with you individually. E-mail him at holmdelchurch@verizon.net