First UMC Weekly Update for October 19 📬

Check out all that's happening at our church this week!

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The call of God is active, and it compels us to live out the Great Commission: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age” (Matthew 28:19-20, CEB)

Where in the Great Commission does it say, “Therefore, come!”? It doesn’t. It says, “Therefore, go!”

Jesus modeled the Great Commission for us as he sent out the seventy (or seventy-two) in Luke 10. These disciples went out in a vulnerable fashion. They heard people’s stories, responded to needs, healed the sick, and shared HOPE by proclaiming the message that “God’s kingdom has come upon you.” Did they wait for people to step through the door of the temple? No. Jesus sent them out, to reach out and to receive new people into the kingdom of God. Jesus taught them how they were to go out and make new disciples.

Join us for worship and fellowship this Laity Sunday as our Lay Leader, Joe Celentano, leads us in celebrating that we are all called, laity as well as clergy, to go and make disciples. We are called to be the church together in a world so desperately in need of hope. Therefore, go!

Below is a summary of our missions and ministries. To add an item to our update, please contact Pastor Dave or Cath by Wednesday. Have a blessed week!

Join us for Worship!
Sundays at 10:00 am
in the Sanctuary

Men’s Group
Thu @7p

Campfire & Cookout
Sat 6p-?

Worship Team Sun @8a;

Worship Sun @10a;

Finance Team
Tue @7p

Multiply Wed @7p;

Organic Outreach
Thu @10a;

Bishop’s Day on the Region
Thu @7p (Wykoff)

Stephen Ministers
Thu @7p

Donate Online

Facebook

Website

Free Community Campfire & Cookout

As the air gets crisp and the nights grow longer, come and join us for a free community campfire and cookout on Saturday, October 21, starting at 6 p.m. in the courtyard. Bring a dish to share and story to tell - hot dogs and hamburgers will be supplied by our men’s group. Be sure to bring your friends!

Town Hall Meeting with the Bishop

Each year, Bishop Schol schedules time with clergy and laity in our districts to listen and learn. This year, he will be spending time listening about how the clergy and congregational evaluations have gone. He wants to learn what has been helpful, what you have learned, and what you would modify. Evaluations are important to our continuing learning and growing and we want to make sure we are resourcing you well. He will also like to hear how the SPRC, pastor, and cabinet can align on the priorities for pastors and congregations.

For this reason, all members of the SPRC and Church Council, including the chairs of both committees, are encouraged to attend the evening laity gathering. Additionally updates will be provided on:

Our strategic ministry plan.
The development of a new strategic plan that will take us to 2023.
The work of the Commission on the Way Forward as the denomination prepares for a special General Conference about our policies on homosexuality.
Other matters clergy and laity want to discuss.

All laity are invited to meet with the bishop on Thursday, October 26 at 7p.m. at the Grace UMC in Wykoff, NJ.

All Saints Sunday Dedications

We will commemorate All Saints Day on Sunday, November 1. This is an opportunity to give God thanks for the lives of the saints, both known and unknown, who have nurtured people’s faith and served the people around them, and to acknowledge the company of All Saints that we worship with each and every day. If you would like to dedicate a flower in memory or honor of a saint in your life, please complete the insert in this Sunday’s bulletin, or contact the church office by Wednesday, Nov 1. Suggested donation is $1.

Why I Am a United Methodist

Pastor Dave will be leading two new small group classes for those who wish to learn more about membership in our church, or want a refresher on what United Methodism is all about. The classes will meet after church on Sundays October 15, 29, & November 12, or Tuesdays, October 3, 17, and November 7. To guide our conversations, we’ll be reading “Why I Am a United Methodist” by Bishop Will Willamon. To get a copy or learn more about joining our church, contact Pastor Dave.

Multiply Discipleship Study

Multiply is a simple, practical, biblical, and personal study to help you understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and live as the church. Through relevant readings and engaging conversations, you will learn about Scripture, how it gives meaning to our existence, our daily lives, and to every other story on earth; and about Jesus Christ, and the significance he has for humanity and the entire world.
Our 5-part study meets at 7:00 on Wednesdays, runs through June, with breaks for Advent and Lent. Material is available online or in print. To reserve a print copy of the book, please contact Pastor Dave. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!

Organic Outreach

Our Thursday Morning Study group resumes with a study of Kevin Harney’s book, “Organic Outreach for Ordinary People.” Organic Outreach will help you shape a personal approach to passing on the good news of Jesus in natural ways through a collection of biblical practices that you can incorporate into your life starting today. In this study, you will discover that sharing the good news of Jesus can be as natural as talking about your favorite sports team or telling a friend about a wonderful new restaurant. Study meets on Thursday mornings at 10a at our church. To reserve a copy of the book or find out more, contact Pastor Carla Costantino at hopestjohnsumc@gmail.com or 908-459-5759.

Make Change Stick - Be SENT Into This World New expressions of church start with being SENT out into the community and the world! On Nov. 11 at Aldersgate UMC in East Brunswick, a one day conference for church leaders will explore exactly that. Click here for details and register today!

Featured workshops include:

Storytellers | Excavate the Good News Through the Power of Story with Danielle Fanfair and Marlon Hall of Folklore Films

Changemaker | Making Change. Making Change Stick with Mark DeVries of Ministry Architects

Organizer | Planning to Fail with Christian Coon, co-founder of Chicago's Urban Village Church

Theologian | Acts of/and Imagination with Eric Barreto of Princeton Theological Seminary

Pastor | Reclaiming Wesley's Model of Relational Discipleship and Community Building with Michelle Matthews of Kingstowne Communion in Alexandria, VA.

Superstorm Sandy Changed Us Join congregations across GNJ remembering the anniversary on Sunday, October 29 in a day of prayer. Resources are available for your congregation here. Pray for recovery for the estimated 2,500 homeowners that are still on the path to recovery. Pray for thanksgiving for the 12,000 volunteers who dedicated their time and talents to our recovery. 389 congregations in GNJ have participated in recovery. Click here to join us in a day of remembrance.

Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria's destruction in Puerto Rico particularly impacts GNJ clergy and laity, many of whom have not been able to reach loved ones. We're continuing to collect funds to support victims. If you would like to donate to Puerto Rico relief please mark your donations for Puerto Rico Disaster Response and we'll make sure it's designated appropriately. Click here for details. Hurricane Relief and Recovery Updates GNJ United Methodists are encouraged to support the recent hurricane relief and recovery efforts in prayer and in action:

Donate to UMCOR. You can make checks payable to GNJ Annual Conference and mark in the note that it's designated for Hurricane relief. To date, GNJ has collected over $260,000 for UMCOR disaster relief for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Make relief and hygiene kits to restock UMCOR's critical supplies.
Please pray for those whose lives have been impacted. Please also pray for Early Response Teams, disaster coordinators, and the many volunteers who are working tirelessly to provide relief.
Get trained as an Early Response Team (re-certification and initial training) on Sat. Oct. 21. space is limited, sign up now.

Job Opening - Baking Assistant

Cozy Cabin Bake Shoppe is looking for a responsible and friendly individual with reliable transportation to help with baking and deliveries on Thursdays and Fridays. Please contact Randy Schmitz at schmitz7155@yahoo.com FMI.

A friendly reminder that in order to provide a welcoming and safe atmosphere to all people, our church campus is alcohol free, drug free, and tobacco free. Thank you for doing your part to extend hospitality to all of God’s children.

Red Bird 2018 - Save the date!

The 2018 Red Bird Mission trip will be from July 14-21, 2018. Please be sure to reserve this spot on your calendars if you wish to join us for this opportunity to serve others and be blessed in the process!