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The refrigerator. Not my bedside table. Not the kitchen counter. Not the dining room table...
I’m sure that I am not the only one who has ever done it. But this week, I did. I walked into the house with a handful of groceries and quickly scurried to put everything away. Three hours later, when I needed to rush out of the house to get Ally to her party on time, I looked everywhere for my car keys. As panic set in and we missed the official starting time for the party, we both frantically looked around the house for my keys. About twenty minutes later, Will (ever nonchalant and laid back), called from the kitchen: “Are you looking for these? They were in the fridge next to the milk.” He laughed. Ally rolled her eyes at me. Diane smirked. And I grabbed the keys and headed out to the car.
Have you been there? Have you looked in all the right places for something that you’ve lost only to find it in the most bizarre spot? I think that happens in our spiritual lives too. When we feel disconnected or displaced, we probably search for God in all of the expected places. I look for God in trusted friends in the community of faith, perhaps in the warmth of a sanctuary, often in the majesty of creation – particularly at the ocean. And often, God shows up to meet me there. But sometimes, I encounter God in unexpected places – delivering food to a local foodbank, conversing with a neighbor while raking leaves, driving in the car with my son, or in the silence of a dark, cold, and powerless house.
That’s one of the miracles of Christmas. God comes to humanity in the most unexpected place – a feeding troth in a barn in Bethlehem. The King of Kings, the deliverer of Israel, the savior of humanity – born as a babe in a manger. Unexpected. Shocking even. This Advent season, I invite you to focus your attention on finding God in the unexpected places of our lives. In the biblical stories that come to us during this season of Advent, we see how God comes to us in extraordinary ways at surprising times in unexpected places. Looking closely at the scripture and examining our own lives, I believe we can see God’s presence in our failures and disappointments, in our joys and celebrations, in the darkness of the world, and here in the present circumstances that we find ourselves.
I encourage you to open your hearts this season as you participate in worship in your church and prepare to encounter God in the midst of your Advent preparations. Even more, I encourage you to extend an invitation to join you in worship to someone in your life – a friend, a neighbor, a colleague at work, even a fellow student in high school – who in this season of their life needs the extraordinary gift of grace and peace that Christ brings. As Christians, we believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ and that a relationship with God through Jesus is truly life-changing. Won’t you take time this Advent and Christmas season to extend that invitation for someone to join you at church and to discover God’s grace – even in the most unexpected places!
Grace and Peace,
Drew
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Church Opportunities and Resources
Church Happenings
Click here to view all the church to church happenings on the Raritan Valley District! Church events and flyers are updated on a regular basis so you will never miss out. If you would like your church event to be posted on the district events page, please email raritanvalley@gnjumc.org.
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Central Region: Year-End Statistical Report Training
Date: Wednesday, December 7
Session 1: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Session 2: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick NJ 08816
Click here to register.
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Bishop's Day on the Central Region
Bishop Schol will give a presentation on items of importance to our Conference and answer questions of those in attendance.
Clergy Session:
Date: Thursday, December 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.
Location: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 568 Ryder Lane, East Brunswick NJ 08816
Laity Session:
Date: Thursday, December 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 568 Ryder Lane, East Brunswick NJ 08816
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Wesley Heritage 2017 Tour: Informational Meetings
Come hear about this wonderful opportunity to tour the great sights of England with your friends from the Central Region on a nine day Wesley Heritage tour leaving Newark airport on July 19 and returning on July 27.
Meetings will be held on each district as follows:
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Whiting UMC
Monday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Aldersgate UMC, East Brunswick
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 11:00 a.m.
St. Mark’s UMC Hamilton Township
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Mission and Resource Center, Neptune, NJ
Download Brochure Here
For more information and/or brochures, contact:
Glenn Ferguson, pastor at Fair Haven at gcrev@comcast.net or by calling 732.856.0699.
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2017 Registration opening soon!
PaCE is an initiative to facilitate peer learning groups that help shape pastoral identity, imagination and develop leadership excellence. This program supports clergy excellence by building trust, reducing isolation, exploring ideas through shared experiences, providing multiple viewpoints, unlocking creativity and engaging in group in deep conversations.
Click here for more information.
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2017 Bishop's Clergy Convocation
Date: January 23-25, 2017
Location: Ocean Place Resort, Long Branch NJ
Featuring plenary and small group sessions led by author, coach and consultant Susan Beaumont and a special event presented by The Music Paradigm
First price break ends December 15. Click here to register!
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Back to Basic's Leadership Training
2017 Central Region Training Dates and Locations
Saturday, January 28
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 446 E Camden Ave., Moorestown, NJ 08057
Sunday, January 29
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Rd., Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Tuesday, January 31
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Monmouth Grace United Methodist Church, 78 Wyckoff Rd., Eatontown, NJ 07724
The Back to Basics Leadership Training is for people who serve as a member of: Staff Parish Relations Committee, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Administrative Board or Council Members, Lay Members and Lay Leaders.
Please register by January 20 for which date you wish to attend.
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IGNITE Youth Leaders Day
Date: February 11
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Calvary Korean UMC, 572 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick 08816
Cost: $15.00
IGNITE Youth Leaders Day will provide practical resources and tools to help students grow in their faith. Churches of any size will leave with a better understanding of youth, youth ministry in 2017, how to organize and grow a youth ministry, and how to help students grow in their faith. Featuring Preston Centuolo, Kenda Creasy Dean, and Greater New Jersey church leaders.
Click here for more information.
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Revolutionizing Stewardship
A Clergy retreat led by Horizons Stewardship
Date: February 22-23, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. registration
Location: Congress Hall, Cape May NJ
Click here for more information and to register today!
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Save the Date: Graceful Controversies Event
Date: March 4, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: The Mission and Resource Center, 205 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune NJ 07753
Cost: $10.00
Bishop Schol invites all laity and clergy from GNJ into a deeper conversation to develop our hopes and aspirations for the future of The United Methodist Church and send them to the Commission on the Way Forward. Click here for more information and resources.
Registration will open February 10
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CUMAC Seeks Dynamic Executive Director
As the largest food distribution program in Passaic County, NJ, CUMAC offers an exciting opportunity for a passionate and collaborative leader committed to the continued growth of the organization. The next Executive Director of CUMAC will take the helm at an important time in the organization’s history and provide leadership and direction for all aspects of the organization. Click here for an in-depth job description and how to apply. The application deadline is January 16, 2017.
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Pinelands Center at Mount Misery: Opened All-Year Round
Pinelands Center offers a unique facility that is opened all year around to host your next event, meeting or retreat. Situated in New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Pinelands is easily accessible from all points in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Pinelands Center at Mt. Misery is available for day use, overnight trips, weekend retreats and week long camping adventures. Please visit www.pinelandscenter.org for more information.
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