"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity". ~ Colossians 3:14
 
I have been grateful for each and every one of you!
 
During these trying times through the pandemic, we have been able to connect with God and one another in new ways. Our ministries continue to bless others in the name of Jesus. Online worship, the revival band, the food pantry, our prayer ministry, Bible study, outdoor worship and indoor worship. It is because so many of you have stepped up, grown, learned, connected, and shown up online and face-to-face that I thank God for you and your witness to the world! I am truly grateful!
 
As a community, we have been really stressed by the pandemic.  
 
When it comes to church, each of us has formed an opinion as to what the church should allow or not for the well-being and safety of ourselves and our loved ones. Personally, I have been challenged by competing beliefs and morals regarding issues like the need for sacred space, the importance of faith in times of crisis and distress, the desire to be safe for my loved ones, and the impact of isolation. 
 
I understand the need for sacred space and the importance of physical churches and congregations meeting face-to-face. Also, I understand how important it is to put others before oneself sacrificially. Plus, I also know how being together with family and friends is a choice that many make because being without family and friends is a quality of life issue. The pandemic is causing spiritual devastation for some that pushes them into clinical depression, anxiety, addictions of all kinds, and at worst physical, mental, and spiritual abuse of others or self.
 
Balancing all the intricacies of this complex time and the increasing spread of COVID in our area has caused me to try to balance the need for the church to be a sacred space that is available for those who need it and time to worship with the utmost safety to prevent the further spread of COVID.
 
While we have created and continue to maintain a safe environment at church to minimize the spread of COVID-19 for anyone who wishes to attend, for the time being, I want to encourage you to stay home on Sunday mornings if you have the ability to worship online, but if you need the connection to sacred space and face-to-face interaction, we will continue to worship at 9am (outdoors) and 10am (indoors) at the church within the state mandates. So, our current procedures will continue as-is: online and at church (with RSVPs, masks, social distance, etc.).
 
We will continue with our church schedule. Christmas Eve Worship will be outdoors at 6pm and 6:30pm for indoors and online. (Please see the website for registration) Each of the face-to-face events will maintain safety protocols to assure everyone’s Christmas can be a wonderful celebration with minimum potential for illness.
 
If you have questions, contact me (848-667-3631 my cell, or pastor@debowsumc.org).
 
God bless you,
~ Pastor Denise

10:00 AM - Online Service
*** Click HERE for more information

You can watch DeBows online worship at debows.online.church on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. You will have the ability to replay the worship service anytime after the first 10:00 AM presentation.

You can also link to the next 10:00 AM Sunday service and replay recent worship services from the church website.  From the main menu - Worship/Online Worship or click on the Online Worship feature box.
 

We are thankful for your faithful support during these challenging times. Your generous giving has been vital in maintaining our ability to cover expenses and continue our church ministries. You may continue giving at either the outdoor or indoor worship service, by sending your offering check directly to the church, or by using the church online giving feature found in the footer of the church website. It is easy, secure, and appreciated. The Online Giving option is also available while you are watching the weekly online worship service. --- Thank You

If so inspired, you may give online now, by clicking HERE.

Family of Joann Young (Mother of Guy's North Carolina children) - she had pancreatic cancer and passed away this morning. She is the mother of Tonya Raymond Porteous and Guy Raymond Jr. Please pray for the entire family during this very difficult time. We ask that our Lord wrap them in his love. 

Jim Prusarczyk (Sue Hayward's bother-in-law) - PTL - he was taken to the hospital with what looked to be a heart attack, but it turned out to be an issue with his medications that caused him to have extremely low blood pressure. He is still being evaluated, but is feeling much better.

Gina’s friend & co-worker’s grandson was born premature.  Prayers he will thrive and grow strong.

The family of Bob (Donna’s friend) who went to be with the Lord.

The Barr family at Randy’s passing and going to be with the Lord.
 
Paul (friend of Steve and Barbara's) who is in ICU.
 
Barbara's niece who needs prayer for God's help and direction
 
Abundant Grace Church of Tom's River at their Pastor Anthony's passing.
 
Skylar (Donna's granddaughter) who needs God's help.
 
Pastor Denise's daughter who needs God's help.

The future mother-in-law of Guy's son - her lung cancer has returned.  The family is requesting prayers for comfort and healing.

Family of Evelyn Cromer (Guy Raymond is friends with her son, Jim) - Evelyn passed away Monday night. She was 85. Please hold the entire family in prayer.

Paul Lehner (friend of Steve Santillo) - he is caring for his wife Patty, who is in her late stages of Alzheimer's. Prayers for God's help and strength.

Lucien Picard (Christine Raymond's father) - He has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, which has spread to his lymph nodes and into his bones. He is 88 and most likely only has 6 months at the longest. Please hold Christine and the entire family in prayer.

Bonnie Layton’s sister – stage 3 cancer

Denise’s Aunt Pauline

Theresa Slover and Family

Eileen Schuck (Ervin friend) - for her bladder cancer.

Grace - (Donna's best friend) - she has breast cancer and will need to have chemotherapy

--- Continued prayer for home-bound church members ---

Rudy Iannacone; Ann Giarratano; Paul Bartek; Donna Ridge

*** Please help us keep this prayer list up-to-date. To add or remove names from this list, please contact Pastor Denise at pastor@debowsumc.org. All prayer requests go directly to the pastor.

The pandemic has caused DeBows to present worship and music differently in 2020.  Musicians and the choir in particular were adversely affected, since they traditionally depend on in-person, group rehearsals to produce their music.  Nevertheless, despite being forced to collaborate remotely, they have managed to produce inspiring music to support the worship experience.
 
There are many people responsible for this and they have been a blessing to our church. I would like to acknowledge those people for their creativity, hard work, and dedication.

Mark, for developing a technical solution for delivering online worship and managing the weekly work-flow process to keep everyone on track.  Guy for providing an online share drive so we can centralize our worship & musical contributions to facilitate collaboration. Bree Cregle and James Fitzwilliam for their expertise in using (and sharing it with me) the Audacity application to combine individual music contributions into one song, effectively creating a “virtual” choir. Bree for her many hours editing music over the summer and putting together the Cregle revival music, which has been an absolute godsent to me. I thank Roger, Bree & Zach Cregle for their Revival Sunday song sets. I hope that people have enjoyed the revival music, and if you did, kindly let the Cregle’s know.

Pastor Denise, not only for producing weekly sermons for both online and in-person worship, but also for her many contributions to the music presented during worship. For our soloists, virtual choir members and musicians: Pastor Denise, Guy, Bonnie Ward, Nancy, Gina, Teresa, Peter, Chris Lorge, James Fitzwilliam, Phil Nicholson, Betty Olson, and Jim Kramer (Libby Prison Minstrels).

The support crew for the outdoor worship: Guy, Tom, Wayne and Ben Meyer have all helped with setting up the outside worship environment, including the Libby Prison Minstrels concert in October. The sound was excellent outdoors at the services I played from my truck through the summer. Regretfully, the outdoor music had to be suspended because the instruments could not handle the cold.

For those of you who enjoyed the December 6^th online postlude, “Comfort Ye” from the Messiah by Händel, give thanks to Chris Lorge for sending his a cappella recording, which I was able to combine with a virtual orchestral accompaniment I transcribed from a historic 1901 Chrysander version. Much to my delight, Chris also recorded “Every Valley Shall be Exalted” for future use, despite his busy schedule of transitioning back to fully remote teaching. And it gets better – Peter – another swamped online high school music teacher – found time to record “Silent Night” for the Christmas Eve online service.  It’s pretty epic, so we have that to look forward to. And for those missing Roger – his “Noel, Noel” song from a pre-covid-19 rehearsal recording will also be part of the Christmas Eve online service. Additionally, I have written and recorded a Christmas carol, which will be part of the online service the Sunday after Christmas. I have found it a very joyful little song, irrepressibly buoyant, that puts a spring in my step, and I hope it will bring joy to others.

I’m hoping to get together with Peter and Teresa for a Scottish Christmas Celtic fiddle fest, which if it comes to fruition will be recorded for online distribution.

In summary, God has richly blessed our church with talented people who have gone to great lengths this year to share those talents for His glory.  For that I am very grateful.
 

Grayce Armstrong,
DeBows Music Director
(edited by Mark for newsletter)
 

To submit recordings for inclusion in online worship, please contact Grayce by email at music@debowsumc.org. Music (including singing) will also be presented at the 10:00 AM Sunday morning indoor worship service.

*Note - Please monitor the church website and calendar for the most current information concerning music related activities. More information about the DeBows music program can be viewed HERE.