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The weekly newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair
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PCUM E-NEWS
 
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Worship & Sunday School, 10 a.m.
Sermon: Sad Songs
Revelation 21:1-5
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Pastor Greg Horn preaching
 
 
January 24 - Regular Bible Study at 8:30 a.m. in the Library
 
See you there!
 

Experience
 the beginning of Lent!

Ash Wednesday worship
Wednesday, February 10 @ 7:30 p.m.

Start your preparations for Easter (this year, Sunday, March 27th) with PCUM's Ash Wednesday worship service for all ages this Wednesday, February 10th, at 7:30 p.m.
This is an experience-based service designed for the whole family.  Because God always reaches out to us first in Christ, our experience of God's Presence and God's love almost always comes before our understanding.  PCUM's 60-minute Ash Wednesday service is starts the season of Lent in a way that will deepen the meaning—and your appreciation—of Easter six weeks later!

Led by the Chancel Choir and guided by hymns and scriptures, we will focus on our shared humanness and need for God. The service concludes with the intimate imposition of ashes, as we set off together to follow Jesus through and beyond death--and then to resurrection joy!  
HE-MAN DUDES’ BREAKFAST CLUB:  All men in PCUM family are invited to a monthly men’s group, humbly called the He-Man Dudes' Breakfast Club (hmdbc).  The group gathers the 1st Saturday of each month to get to know each other better, focus on our journey of faith, and have a good meal. Next meeting: Saturday, February 6, from 8-9:30 a.m. at PCUM.  For more info, contact Tom McElwee at tom@navstem.com.
Pastor Lauren's Book Club

will meet on

Tuesday, February 16 @ 7:00 p.m.


The club will discuss the book
Little Bee by Chris Cleave

ALL ARE WELCOME

Contact Pastor Lauren at lauren@pcum.org with questions.
PCUM Starts Monthly
Sunday-afternoon Series

on “Incarceration & Race”
 
On Sunday, February 21st from 4 to 5:30 p.m., you and the entire PCUM family—along the wider Montclair and surrounding community—are warmly invited to PCUM for the first exciting session planned in a six-month series of discussions on the subject of “incarceration and race.” 
 
Each session will run 90 minutes and feature a different expert guest speaker.  Presenters will be drawn primarily from Montclair and neighboring communities and contributors to the conversation will include an Essex County public defender, a death row attorney, a filmmaker and representatives from organizations serving incarcerated persons and their families.
 
The series is designed to help the PCUM family follow our calling as Christ’s people as we gain insight from people with direct experience with issues of race and incarceration in order to stimulate awareness of the profound impact this problem of race-influenced incarceration policies has on our whole community and nation, and to inspire action.
 
The first presenter on February 21st will be George Kendall, a Montclair-based death penalty and civil rights attorney with a nationwide defense practice.  Mr. Kendall is an engaging speaker who has represented capital clients, wrongly-convicted citizens and indigent death row inmates since 1979.  He has served for many years as counsel to the NAACP and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Champion of Justice Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and from the Equal Justice Initiative and the Constitution Project. 
 
Hope to see you there!  Bring your friends!
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION AND CORPORATION of the Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016 in Fellowship Hall, immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service. A light lunch and child care will be provided.  The purpose of the meeting is to receive the Annual Report of PCUM’s ministry in 2016; to act on the nomination of leaders (elders on Session, Deacons, and Trustees); to act on the recommendation to approve the 2016 Terms of Call (compensation) for the Pastor and Associate Pastor; to review the 2016 church ministry budget as approved by Session; and to discuss any other business of ministry that comes before the congregation. All active members of PCUM have voice and vote at the meeting—and are encouraged to attend.
CAN YOU SERVE HUNGRY NEIGHBORS? â€“ Help make or/serve an evening meal to homeless neighbors right here in Montclair on Saturdays February 6 & 12 or March 5 & 19.  PCUM is part of a coalition of faith and community organizations that make up Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless (MESH).  To sign up, contact Elizabeth Riggs at elizriggs@verizon.net or 917-324-0052.

Middle Schoolers (grades 6-8) meet every Wednesday evening, from 7-8:30 p.m. for food, fun and fellowship.  Friends welcome.

PCUM Middle School Retreat:  PCUM’s annual Middle School Retreat is coming up!  The retreat is a time for our students to connect with God and with each other away from the pressures of school and activities. It is a weekend full of games, laughter, and worship.  This year’s retreat will be at the Lake Champion Retreat Center in Glen Spey, NY the weekend of March 18-20.   All 6-8th graders and their friends are welcome.  Register soon!  Click here for a registration form: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/074923654c658d8339641f384/files/Lake_Champion.pdf

Summer 2016 Sr. High Youth RETREAT @ Montreat, for high school students (rising 9th-12th graders) in the PCUM family, will take place July 10-16, 2016.  Please contact Pastor Lauren with questions.  Click here for a Montreat registration form: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/074923654c658d8339641f384/files/Montreat_Registration_1_.pdf
THE JOYFUL NOISE CHOIR (Preschool-1st grade) rehearses before Sunday School twice a month in the choir room with Ms. Denise. February Rehearsals are 2/7 & 2/14.  The children will sing during worship on Sunday, February 21st.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR (2nd-5th grade) PCUM’s Children's Choir ministry teaches children to love music and lead their church family in worship. Kids not only learn the song, but they also learn how to sing. They also grow spiritually, grow in confidence and self-discipline, and grow to feel more at home in their church. Children's Choir rehearsals are every Thursday from 4-5 pm in the Choir Room ( 2/4, 2/11, 2/18 & 2/25) For more info, contact Children's Choir Director Julie Platte at juliebplatte@gmail.com

YOUTH CHOIR (6th grade - HS) rehearses Sundays after worship and select Wednesdays from 6:30-7:00pm before Youth Group.  The choir sings during worship on the third Sunday of every month.  If you would like to participate, contact Anne Marie Juliano at jajulianos@gmail.com or (973)-930-5074. 

SING WITH THE CHANCEL CHOIR!  Love to sing?  Why not add your voice to PCUM's Chancel Choir? Regular rehearsals are Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Anne Marie Juliano at jajulianos@gmail.com.


"Do not forget to do good and to share with others,
for with such sacrifices God is pleased.“
  Hebrews 13:16
 
The Deacons meet on the second Sunday of the month.  

Support the Caring Ministry of the Deacons: PCUM’s Deacons minister to the entire congregation, particularly the sick, the elderly and those in need. On Communion Sundays, please look for the green envelopes in the pew racks and give generously to support the Deacons’ work.  Thank you!


Fellowship/Coffee Hour Volunteers: PCUM’s Fellowship Time/Coffee Hour is held in Fellowship Hall every Sunday after worship.  Will you sign up to help one Sunday?  The Deacons supply everything you’ll need—and the whole church will be grateful!  Please contact Deacon Julia Brad at juliabrad@comcast.net for available dates and more information.

Worship Flowers: To provide fresh flowers for the sanctuary chancel and symbolize the new life God makes possible in Christ, sign up using the Flower Chart located in the Deacons’ Corner between the narthex/sanctuary and Fellowship Hall or contact the church office. Many dates are available in the new year! 

Non-Perishable Goods for Montclair’s Human Needs Food Pantry and gently used clothing are collected year-round.  Just drop your donations in the baskets in the Deacons Corner (off the narthex).
         
                    


OFFERING ENVELOPES for 2016 are available by request.  If you would like offering envelopes, please sign the list on the sign up table in Fellowship Hall or you may email (pcum@pcum.org) or call the church office (973-746-3854).  A box of envelopes will be prepared for you and be available for you to pick up the following Sunday.

PLEASE RETURN 2016 PLEDGE CARDS – Worship. Serve. Grow. Give is PCUM’s theme for the fall stewardship campaign to support this church’s many worthwhile ministries in the year ahead.  If you haven’t yet pledged to be part of Christ’s work in and through this church in 2016, pledge cards are available in Fellowship Hall or by emailing the church office.

SUPPORT PCUM'S ONGOING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN by purchasing gift cars for Shop Rite, Kings, Acme and Fairway!  Since the cards may be redeemed at any location, they make great gifts.  Cards are $100 each, you get full value at the store and PCUM gets 5% of the value of the card.  Cards may be purchased (check or cash) at Coffee Hour or by contacting Erika Cowan at pcumerika@aol.com or by phone at 973-222-7186.
 
PASTORAL CARE:  If you are in need of pastoral care or know of someone who is ill or in the hospital, please let contact Pastor Greg at greghorn@pcum.org or 908-868-6441 or Pastor Lauren at 843-616-1370 or lauren@pcum.org.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE CHURCH'S EMAIL LIST?  Let us know! They will receive the weekly "PCUM E-News", and other important announcements. The church also sends out a weekly "Current Events" commentary from a Christian perspective on world events called "The Wired Word". Send email addresses to Denise in the office at denise@pcum.org.
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PCUM STAFF
The Rev. Gregory A. Horn, Pastor & Head of Staff        

The Rev. Lauren W. Scharstein, Pastor for Youth & Families
Denise Silecchia,  Administrator/Joyful Noise Choir Director
Mary Beckhusen, Director of Christian Education            

Anne Marie Juliano, Director of Music Ministries
Sue Sabo, Financial Secretary
Julie Platte, Children’s Choir Director
Henderson Downes, Sexton
Our mailing address is:
The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair
53 Norwood Avenue
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
phone:973-746-3854
fax:  973-746-4662
pcum@pcum.org
www.pcum.org
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