Presbyterian Church of Woodbury, NJ

Youth News 

YOUTH SERVICE ROCKS  Over eighty people crowded the chapel on Sunday night, October 20, as the youth led a rousing worship experience.  Under the direction of Youth Director Jonah Yamokoski, the youth welcomed not only our own members—children and adults—but also several youth groups from other churches.  Guest musicians led praise music, Laura Wipf, Megan Duble, Andrew Little, and Kaitlin Young led portions of the service including special music and a testimony, and Jonah gave the message.  The energy was apparent and the Spirit was alive and well.  Be on the lookout for this monthly worship service to come around again.  Following the service, the church members surprised Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Yamokoski with a “wedding reception” to mark their marriage this past summer.  There were goodies and gifts aplenty!  Thanks to all who helped make this a festive evening. 

After our youth worship service, Agnes and I were surprised and our marriage honored by the showering of gifts and reception given to us by the Woodbury congregation.  What a kind and thoughtful surprise it was to us. Thank you so much!  It makes our stay here with you all the more meaningful and fulfilling.  Thank you again and God bless you! Jonah 

FREEDAY EVENT FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27^th 6-8 PM:  We will hold a Heads Together group to smooth things out for the end of this month.  Topics of interest written by you earlier this year will be picked from a hat and discussed.  Pizza will be served.  Jonah will be away speaking at his former college so the task force will be with you this night.  Bring a friend! 

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FREE TURKEYS:  Please consider donating the free turkeys offered from the area supermarket promotions to our community food bank.  You can drop off your turkey at the church.  The GWCM Food Bank is also in need of staple items such as peanut butter, paper products, pasta, sauce, tuna, etc.  If you can help, please add these donations to the Deacon’s table in the chapel area.  Together we can make a difference in our community. 

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:  Charles Rolston in Underwood Hospital, Elaine Payne in Manor Care, Marion Lopez, Rollyn Winters, Mary Bunker, Helen Plank in the Health Care Center of Cadbury, Eleanor Davis, Dorothy Shryock, Grace Hunter, Gertrude Murray, Judy Knox, and members of our Prayer Support Group, Mabel Evans and Dorothy Wandall.

BUDGET UPDATE:
As you continue to consider your pledge for next year, the Board of Trustees wants to let you know where we stand on this year’s budget, as of Sept. 30. 

		Budget (thru Sept)	Actual Year to Date
Income	Pledges	$244,072	$235,571
	Interest Income	33,750	43,780
	Other	27,846	13,197
	Total Income	$305,668	$292,549
Expense	Total Operating Expense	234,990	237456
	Benevolence	71,548	71,290
	Total Expense	$306,538	$308,746
Income-Expense		-(870)	-(16,197)

 To date we are showing a deficit, as shown in the table.  We expect that our interest income (Income from memorial funds) will continue above the budgeted amount and that pledges will also continue on budget.  Expenses will continue slightly above budget. 

Considering the economy we are pleased that pledges are close to budget.  It is also understandable that the hoped for "extra giving" included in “other income” has not materialized.  We entered the year with this projected shortfall and any deficit will be made up from the contingency fund as planned. 

NEWS FROM NEPAL:
Dear Presbyterian Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Nepal!  We have been back for nearly five months now, and have become as settled as we can hope to be with all the unsettling business going on around us.  You probably know that Nepal is experiencing a state of political instability.  Most recently His Majesty the King dismissed the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in hopes of starting the government afresh with new, less corrupt leaders.  We shall see what happens.  For the time being, elections scheduled to take place in November have been postponed until further notice.  

Meanwhile, the Maoist rebels continue their terrorist tactics throughout the Kingdom.  Regardless of these events, the United Mission to Nepal has continued to carry out its work as much as possible.  We are pleased to be back at work with our colleagues and friends at UMN.  Andy has rejoined the Communications Office as Audio Visual Consultant, and I am doing some part-time consultancy work with women's groups while caring for our baby Jonathan and 2^nd-grader Christopher.  Here in Kathmandu, we feel relatively safe, although occasional bombs have caused a bit of a stir.  We ask for your prayers both for our own safety and for a peaceful solution to the problems Nepal is facing.                                                                       Andrew and Ellen Collins

A JOYFUL RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE:

 

The Worship and Spiritual Life Task Force is comprised of eight people who plan, discuss, and act to prepare services in which worship can take place and people can grow in their faith.

Well,… it really just takes Pastor Andrew and Jack Hill to make worship happen, right?  Oh, and Judy Platt, of course, she does the children’s message.  Well, there is the choir; there are about 45 people involved there, including children’s choirs.  Then, of course, there are the acolytes and their coordinator (6); ushers and their coordinator (25); the deacons who prepare communion (15); elders who serve it (15); and the greeters who greet at the doors (60); wow.

Now, we would also have to include the trustees who count the offering and prepare the sanctuary (9) and the flower coordinator.  I know someone tape records the service and makes copies for whoever wants one. 

Let’s see… that makes a grand total of one hundred eighty.  More than I thought.  Oh, I just remembered the nursery workers who care for children so their parents can worship.  I didn’t get a number on those, but let’s say there are 10.  We’re getting awfully close to 200 now.  It actually takes quite a large number of people to make a worship service happen.

Thank you, faithful stewards one and all.  You are making a “joyful response to God’s grace.”  He promises you a “Well done thou good and faithful servant” when you invest your time and talents in His worship.  Do you have time and talents or finances you could be offering?  Think about it.  Only you can offer him the gifts that he’s given to you.  And the rest of us will joyfully share in the blessing.

  Judy Ward

The Deacons are blessed by the generosity of this congregation.  You give us the tools to do our work.  You let us know when people are in need by putting notes in our Deacon’s “know a need box.”  You bring in food for the hungry, warm sweatshirts, socks and underwear, or Christmas presents for children in need.  You also provide the financial support for our ministry to people who are in difficult circumstances.  We have purchased formula for a sick baby, paid utility bills, and have provided love gifts to encourage families who are struggling.  We have been your hands in the community. 

The Deacons give the gift of time in serving this church, its members, and the surrounding community.  We host a Pancake Breakfast and congregational dinners.  With the help of members, we deliver flowers, visit the sick, send cards of encouragement, and take cookies or casseroles to shut-in members. 

Each time you bring food for the hungry, put money in the Deacon’s fund, wrap a Christmas present for a sick child, you are doing stewardship.  There are many ways to serve God in the church and the community.  We are in need of folks willing to drive members to church.  Anyone can help us in visiting the sick and elderly in our church, bringing God’s love and care to those who need it most.  I invite you to join the Deacons in the stewardship of time, talent, and finances, doing God’s work in the world.         Liane Haynes