Sunday, February 21, 2016
Adult Bible Study, 8:30 a.m.
Confirmation Class, 8:45 a.m. Worship & Sunday School, 10 a.m. Second Sunday in Lent
Sermon: All I Do Is Win
Scriptures: Micah 6:6-8, Mark 8:31-38
Pastor Lauren Scharstein preaching
Monday Evening Lenten Study starts February 22nd!
“Pausing on the Road to Jerusalemâ€
Starting Monday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm, make deep group Bible study central to the six weeks leading up to Easter as part of PCUM's Monday evening LENTEN STUDY, "Pausing on the Road to Jerusalem."
Join other members and friends as together we take the time to pause and reflect on Jesus’ journey toward the cross. Together, we will explore what it means to call ourselves disciples of the crucified and risen Christ--looking at the great Lenten themes:
Temptation
Atonement (Why the Cross?)
Theodicy (Why do good people suffer?)
The breadth of God's grace
The place of wealth
The significance of Palm Sunday
Again this year, we'll be meeting, studying and discussing in people's homes. The first study on Monday, February 22nd will be at 7:00 pm at the home of Dan & Lyle Landon, 309 Park Street, Upper Montclair. See YOU there!
SATURDAY PLAYGROUP FOR YOUNG FAMILIES: Hey, parents and preschool children! You are warmly invited to gather at the church for a morning of fun and fellowship on Saturday, February 27th from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Parents, this will be a special time for you and your children to spend time together and to get to know other families with children in the church in a playful setting. Please feel free to invite another family along with you! Breakfast goodies and kids’ crafts will be available during your time together. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday the 27th! Contact Pastor Lauren with questions or for more information.
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.
Sunday, February 28th
from 4–5:30 pm (new date)
PCUM Starts Monthly Sunday-afternoon Series on “Incarceration & Raceâ€
On Sunday, February 28th 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.â€
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 Sunday, February 28th (new date) 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!
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, March 5, from 8-9:30 a.m. at PCUM. For more info, contact Tom McElwee at tom@navstem.com.
LEARN (or REFRESH YOUR) CPR – With the help of generous congregational support, PCUM’s Deacons have funded the purchase and installation of a new defibrillator, which will be accessible to both the church sanctuary and Fellowship Hall/classrooms. In addition to the defibrillator itself, the purchase includes CPR training for PCUM members, friends and staff. A CPR training session has been scheduled for Saturday, March 5 at 9 am. Sign up on the table in Fellowship Hall or contact the Church Office.
CAN YOU SERVE HUNGRY NEIGHBORS? – Help make or/serve an evening meal to homeless neighbors right here in Montclair on Saturdays 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! See Pastor Lauren for registration forms.
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. See Pastor Lauren with questions, for more information or for registration forms!
PCUM’S NEXT MIDNIGHT RUNIS SATURDAY, APRIL 23rd. PCUM’s Midnight Run program is a Saturday night trip into New York City to distribute food, clothing and personal items to homeless men and women at pre-determined meeting places throughout the city. Sr. Highs and adult volunteers are invited to participate. More information coming soon. Contact Pastor Lauren at lauren@pcum.org with questions.
THE JOYFUL NOISE CHOIR (Preschool-1st grade) rehearses before Sunday School twice a month in the choir room with Ms. Denise. The children will sing during worship this 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 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).
LOST - An adult size red knit winter scarf was lost in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 14. It has great sentimental value to its owner. If found, please call the church office. Thank you!
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.
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.
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
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.
HE-MAN DUDES’ BREAKFAST CLUB
LEARN (or REFRESH YOUR) CPR – With the help of generous congregational support, PCUM’s Deacons have funded the purchase and installation of a new defibrillator, which will be accessible to both the church sanctuary and Fellowship Hall/classrooms. In addition to the defibrillator itself, the purchase includes CPR training for PCUM members, friends and staff. A CPR training session has been scheduled for Saturday, March 5 at 9 am. Sign up on the table in Fellowship Hall or contact the Church Office.
LOST - An adult size red knit winter scarf was lost in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 14. It has great sentimental value to its owner. If found, please call the church office. Thank you! 
