Life in the Church
Jensen Hall
Sunday, May 19 3PM - PLAY ABOUT ARLINE ALEXANDER
Today at 3:00 p.m., a play entitled "It Might Have Been," about the life of our own Arline Alexander, will be performed at the Nyack Village Theatre, 94 Village Street, Nyack. Tickets are $15, and more information is available at www.nyackvillagetheatre.com
Sunday May 19 4PM - The Big F.E.A.S.T. (Friends Eating and Sharing Together)
Hosted by the Lerch Family
Each Sunday, 12:15 - 1:30 PM - Adult Bible Study -- “Anger”
During the weeks leading up to Easter, we will continue studying “divine anger.” We will then take a few weeks off – to catch our breath!! – and then shortly after Easter, we will begin Part II of the Practicum, which will consider “Human Anger in the Bible.” If you have any questions, please speak with Pastor Scott.
Anger Bible Study Update, by Pastor Scott
This is another update on the progress of the Anger Bible Study that I am leading as the Practicum portion of my Doctor of Ministry studies. Well over 20 people have continued to gather after worship, to reflect on various texts dealing with “divine anger” in the Bible. We have now completed “Part I” of the practicum. During the last eight weeks, we have studied various dimensions of “divine anger” in the Bible. Up to this point, we have focused our attention largely on texts from the Old Testament. We have focused our attention on the Old Testament because there are, quite simply, a larger number of texts in the Old Testament that deal with God’s anger or wrath. But moreover, we will not properly understand what the New Testament says about God’s anger if we have not first explored what the Old Testament has to say.
Some of the questions that we will explore in Part II of the study is, “Does God’s anger change in the New Testament? If so, how? Where are the similarities between the description of God’s anger in the Old Testament and its description in the New? Where are the differences?”
A special meeting of the Session is called for Wednesday, May 29, at 7:15 p.m. for the purpose of examining the candidates for confirmation, by order of the Clerk
Book Drive - June
Start saving and collecting books you no longer need or want. We will be collecting books for the technical school in Ghana again this year. Books can be brought to church during the month of June, and can be on any subject for any age. Please contact the office with any questions
Summer Service Music
Do you sing or play an instrument? Then you should consider contributing your talents to one of our summer services! We are currently scheduling anthems for the summer and need soloists and other small ensembles to provide special music during the service. Please see Billy Baker if you are interested in sharing your musical talents with the congregation during the summer months.
Confirmation Class
The 2013 Germonds Confirmation Class has begun! Germonds is conducting our own Confirmation class, focusing on faith, knowledge, and mission in the world. We are off to a great start. Throughout the spring, Confirmands will be exploring questions like:
1) What is the Bible telling us?
2) What do we believe about God?
3) What exactly are we doing when we worship?
4) What is the nature of the church? Why do Presbyterians do everything by committees? Is there a reason for this?
5) What does it mean to be a “servant people”? How is that different from what the rest of the world is trying to do?
Important upcoming dates for the class:
Friday-Saturday, April 19-20, 2013, Confirmation Retreat at Holmes Conference Center
If you have any questions about the Confirmation process, please be in touch with Pastor Scott. It is a wonderful group of young people, and we are looking forward to a great experience of growing in our faith.
Each Saturday, 9AM in the Christian Education Building
We have formed a new group for women interested in eating healthy, sharing recipes, exercise tips, helpful apps/webites and more. Join us!
Log into the Member Section to get Member Directories (latest is March 10, 2013 available only on website). Also see our Christmas service videos and pictures.
See our Christmas broadcasts in our website (2012 Christmas Services link) and more videos and pictures in our member section.
Coffee Hour Hosts Needed
Please look up the coffee hour sign-up list in Jensen Hall and see if you can fill in any of the open spaces still remaining. Thank you so much.
Also, there are many openings on the flower chart. If you want to celebrate anything or in memory of someone dear, please fill out aflower form and leave it with $25 on the office desk. Again, thank you.
PER CAPITA FOR 2013
The sharing of financial support of each of the Presbyterian Church’s governing bodies above the session is called “per capita” because it is apportioned on the basis of a congregation’s membership.
Every person that has been confirmed by Profession or Reaffirmation of Faith or was received by Letter of Transfer is assessed $30.00 by Presbytery for 2013.
It is based on our total membership. We appreciate your participation in meeting this expense. Sometimes there are three or more members in one family. Thank you so much for your help.
STONY POINT FAMILY ASSISTANCE
The Stony Point Center has matched Germonds up with a family whose home was severely damaged in Hurricane Sandy. We will be working directly with them over the next few months, and there is an opportunity for us to provide financial assistance to them in their recovery. We will be looking to the congregation for help in assisting them. If you would like to give an individual gift to support our effort to help the family, you can make a check out to "Germonds Presbyterian Church," and write "Stony Point family" on the memo line. If you would also like to give to the larger presbytery effort to support multiple storm victims, you may make a check out to "Hudson River Presbytery" with "HRP Fund for Storm Victims" on the memo line, and mail it to: Hudson River Presbytery, 655 Scarborough Road, Scarborough, New York, 10510. Thank you for your help!!
Helping Hands, Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless of Rockland County, Inc. As we are entering the sheltering season and more people are visiting their outreach store, the Case Manager for Helping Hands has asked us to let the congregation know of their need for gently used or new men’s work clothing. Also men’s and women’s underwear. Especially useful are men’s waist sizes 30-38 and shoe sizes 9-12.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please fill out and return a Sunday School Registration form for all children and youth so that we have all the contact information and medical (allergy) concerns on file. Forms can be found in the church office and can be returned to the church office.
The Sunday School children (pre-K - 5th grade) will be divided into 2 classes this year. Pre-k and kindergarten will be in one class and 1st - 5th grade will be together in the other. We have ordered the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum for the upcoming year. This curriculum is lectionary based, so, on most Sundays, the children will be learning about one of the same Bible stories being read in church. Other elements of the service (prayers/hymns/etc.) may be tied in as well.
Sunday School Schedule
Classes for youth in grades 6-12 will generally take place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays during the entire service.
Classes for children up to 5th grade will be held every Sunday during the second half of the worship service. All children through grade 5 will start out in the worship service. At the appropriate time, they will be invited to come forward for the Time With Children after which they should be escorted across the street to their classroom. Special activities (Worship Workshop, music workshop, etc.) may be scheduled from time to time, but there is no specific monthly schedule at this time.
Volunteer Opportunities
We need classroom helpers for classes up to 5th grade.
God and Church Class
A God and Church class is being formed for 6th - 8th graders. This would be a 7 or 8 week class for anyone in those grades. The God and Church award is one of a series of 4 awards for elementary, middle and high school students published by the P.R.A.Y. Publishing Group. Upon completing the class the students will receive a religious medal. This is of special significance to both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who can wear the medal on their Scout uniform. Please contact the office or Pastor Scott if you would be interested in attending this class. The schedule of the classes will be determined based on the participants' and teacher's availability.
Church in Society
The purpose of Church in Society is to partner with local Rockland County agencies by providing goods, hands on services and support to those in need. CIS also administers Germonds’ benevolence program to provide financial support to local, national and global agencies in continued support of their missions. Everyone is welcome to join Church in Society and attend the monthly meeting, which occurs on the second Wednesday of every month.
Sew Be It: Led by Sue Ternquist, usually meets the first Saturday of the month for a morning of fellowship, coffee and sewing. Several projects were donated to organizations that Germonds Church supports.
Helping Hands: Our congregation continues to deliver nutritious lunches, water, toiletries and clothing to the homeless of Rockland County. There are numerous ways to be involved in this effort.
Music & Worship
The Joyful Noise Youth Choir rehearsals are each Sunday at 11:45 a.m. If you have any questions, please call Janet Hamann, the youth choir director, at 290-5258.
Home Communion is available to those who need it. Pastor Ramsey is glad to visit anyone whose situation does not allow them to attend regular Communion during worship services. If you would like to receive home communion please call the church office. (623-2120)
A flower chart is posted inside the church office and in Jensen Hall. Flowers are given to the glory of God and in remembrance of loved ones, to celebrate a special occasion, to honor someone special, or just because. All flower orders go through the church office. To order flowers just sign your name on the flower chart, fill out a form and leave the form with $25 in the church office. That’s it! Simple.
GRO (Germonds Reaches Out)
The GRO committee functions as an interface with our community for a source of new members. They also provide a Greeter for each service and organize the Coffee Hour and Lemonade ladlers list.
A new sign up for Coffee Hour is available in Jensen Hall. Please add your name so that we may continue with this tradition of fellowship.
Board of Deacons
The Board of Deacons, working in concert with the Pastor, is the primary care giving group for our congregational flock. They disseminate information about upcoming events, maintain the Prayer Chain, connect on a regular basis with flock members, make hospital visits, assist with home communion and oversee the Church Life committee that plans and coordinates the social events of our congregation.
We like to maintain contact with the college students throughout the school year by sending cards, notes, and care packages. Please help us keep in touch by providing your son or daughter’s college address to the church office as soon as you have that information. Thank you.
Stewardship & Finance
The Stewardship and Finance Committee educates, encourages, and monitors the ways in which God’s gifts of material goods, personal abilities and time are used in the church and shared with others in the world.
Personnel and Administration
The Personnel and Administration Committee uses their skills to ensure that the church is staffed and equipped to operate efficiently and effectively.
Meals on Wheels Programs & Services of Rockland, Inc.
The Homebound Program provides two meals a day to anyone who is homebound because of illness, disability or advanced age. A variety of combinations and alternatives for service delivery is available.
Bulletin Cover
Many thanks to Rick for all his hard work in updating the drawing of the sanctuary to incorporate the structural changes with the addition of the newly built restroom. Rick also did the original one many years ago.
