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January 15, 2025

Join Us For Worship

You are invited to join us each S‌unday morning for worship at 9 A‌M. The next two weeks we will focus on Spiritual Gifts & the Body, based on 1 Corinthians 12.

S‌‌unday, ‌J‌‌anuary 19

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

“Spiritual Gifts”

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

S‌‌unday, ‌J‌‌anuary 26

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

“Unity and Diversity in the Body”

Be a Blessing,

Pastor Scott

Worship Services on YouTube

We record our worship services and post the videos on YouTube. Each Sun‌day, the recording of the 9 A‌M worship service will be available soon after the completion of the service.

You may use the below link to view the worship service videos on YouTube. Once on the DeBows UMC YouTube channel, please subscribe, so you will  receive future notifications when new live events or other videos are posted on the channel.

Calendar of Events

T‌hursday, J‌anuary 16

Church Council Meeting - 6‌:30 P‌M

S‌unday, J‌anuary 19

9‌ A‌‌M Worship Service

T‌uesday, J‌‌anuary 21

Bible Study - 10 A‌M

Band Practice - 6‌:30 P‌M

S‌unday, J‌anuary 26

Revival S‌unday

9‌ A‌‌M Worship Service

M‌onday, J‌anuary 27

Food Pantry Open - 6 P‌M

--- By Appointment Only ---

Call 848-373-8844

T‌uesday, J‌‌anuary 28

Bible Study - 10 A‌M

Band Practice - 6‌:30 P‌M

We‌dnesday, J‌anuary 29

Next Newsletter Published

S‌unday, F‌ebruary 2

Communion

9‌ A‌‌M Worship Service

NOTE: Please check the church website and calendar frequently for the most up-to-date scheduling and activity information.

WHEN:

Every T‌uesday at 10 A‌M in Fellowship Hall

CURRENT STUDY:

Book of 1 John

Please bring your own bible

For more information, contact: Anita at 848-373-9304 or Christine at 609-847-6421. Everyone is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you as we gather for study & fellowship.

Fellowship Time

Next Fellowship Time

Su‌nday, F‌ebruary 9

On the second Su‌nday of each month, we have Fellowship Time immediately after the 9 A‌M Worship Service. It will be in Fellowship Hall and is a time of light refreshments and conversation; a time to catch up with each other and welcome visitors. Please join us!

Fellowship Time is volunteer driven. There is a sign-up sheet outside of Fellowship Hall. Please use this sheet to indicate which Fellowship Time you would like to host. "Thank You" to those who have already volunteered. The next date that needs a volunteer host is A‌pril 13.

Worship Through Giving

We are thankful for your faithful support. It is only through your generous giving that we are able to maintain our ability to cover expenses and share God’s love via our church ministries. You may continue giving in-person during the S‌unday morning 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. If so inspired, you may make an online donation now by clicking HERE.

DeBows Prayer Ministry

Please keep the following people in your prayers ...

• Melissa and Ella (Ella is Scott Junior‘s girlfriend) – both are home recovering after being involved in a car accident last week.

• Family of Edith Karlsen (Dean Wentzien’s mother-in-law) – at her passing.

• Carthen (Pastor Scott’s brother-in-law) - he has been in the hospital since December 5 and is having difficulties with his kidneys.

• James Scott (Mark’s son’s father-in-law) – diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer and has started chemo treatment.

• Virginia Swagger ( Christine’s cousin) – in hospital with heart issues.

• Michael – (Deb Wankel’s son) – prayers that as one door has closed, another one will open soon.

• Prayers for Anna May & Bessie Stout (Rose Mary’s sister & aunt)

• Continued prayer for home-bound church members: Jean Iannacone; Dottie Weeks, Donna Ridge

Please note: Please let Pastor Scott know of any additions, removals, or status updates to this prayer list. Please place a completed prayer request card in the offering collection box if you wish for the prayer request to appear in this list. Prayer requests will roll off the list after 4 weeks unless updated or renewed.

*** Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawls are made by members & friends of our congregation. The shawls are given to people in need of comfort and as a reminder that they are in our thoughts and prayers. The person receiving a shawl does not have to be a member of our church. We share our shawls just as we share our prayers.

If you are aware of anyone who would appreciate a shawl, please give the information to Anita Chichester or Pastor Scott. Click HERE for more information & instructions for making prayer shawls.

Food Pantry Ministry

Next distribution is J‌anuary 27

The DeBows Food Pantry is open on the 2nd & 4th Mon‌day each month, 6‌-8pm. DeBows uses an "Appointment Only" system to distribute the food. To make an appointment, call 848-373-8844.

Please note: participants need to call for an appointment by 5‌p‌m on the S‌aturday prior to the scheduled food pantry day. This gives the Food Pantry volunteers time to prepare the food for distribution. "Thank You" for your cooperation.

Please note: The Food Pantry Ministry serves about 50 families every two weeks. We are extremely appreciative of the volunteers that make our Food Pantry possible and we welcome anyone interested in getting involved. Please contact Pastor Scott if you need further information or would like to explore ways to help with the Food Pantry ministry.

Grocery Shopping Cards

Every S‌unday, you have the opportunity to purchase grocery store shopping cards for either ShopRite or Stop & Shop. This is a convenient way to pay for the food you buy at the grocery store and at the same time support the ministries of DeBows UMC. The church makes 5% of all shopping cards sold. You may see Sue Hayward to purchase the shopping cards.

Music Ministry

DeBows is blessed with talented people who love to praise God and newcomers are always welcome to join our music ministry. Please contact Grayce by email at music@debowsumc.org for any questions or to discuss opportunities to participate in our music ministry.

Chime Choir

—— Rehearses Su‌nday morning 8:‌30 to 8:‌45 A‌M and rings the introit to worship on Su‌nday morning, except on Revival Su‌nday. New members are always welcome. Ability to sight read music and prior experience not necessary. Ability to be present and have fun very important!

Praise Band  

—— Rehearses Tuesday nights at 6:‌‌30 P‌M and plays a five-song set once a month for Revival Sunday, usually the last Sunday of the month. All instruments welcome.

Please note: More information about the DeBows music ministry can be viewed HERE. Modification or cancellation of specific dates will be communicated by Grayce via email. Please check email for any cancellations before coming out for rehearsal.

DeBows in Mission

Let us not become weary of doing good. ~ Galatians 6:9

DeBows is committed to sharing God’s love beyond our own sanctuary to meet the needs of our neighbors. This is why we are here, as we WORSHIP, GROW, and ultimately, SERVE.

While our flagship mission, the Food Pantry, happens twice a month, other outreach activities happen at various times during the year. Below is a list of mission activities being considered for 2025. Future newsletters will contain more detailed information about each activity as we get closer to their respective dates.

*** J‌anuary & F‌ebruary

We will focus on support of our Food Pantry ministry. We will do this in two ways:

1. We will be distributing Ball mason jars that you can take home and fill with spare change. Jars will be available in the sanctuary. We ask that the jars be returned by the first Sunday in M‌arch. Note, if you would like this donation to be recorded in your annual giving statement, please put your name on the jar label.

2. Many of the food items distributed are obtained through our affiliation with the Fulfill Food Bank program. However, some  items we could use from other sources include peanut butter, pasta, beans (not green beans), and brownie & cake mixes. If you would like to donate any of these items, please bring them to the church and place them on the table outside of Fellowship Hall. Please check the expiration dates on anything you donate, as we cannot distribute expired food items.

*** March

We will collect for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

*** April

We will acknowledge our shawl makers that support our Prayer Shawl Ministry.

*** May

The Maker’s Place in Trenton is a faith-based nonprofit organization. They are sponsored by United Methodists of Greater New Jersey, and are members of the National Diaper Bank Network.  

*** June & July

Hurricane season will be starting and we will collect items needed to build Hygiene Kits for UMCOR.

*** August

Back-to-School —- In preparation for the start of school in September, we will collect school supplies to share with children in our area.

*** September

We will once again collect specific items to support our Food Pantry Ministry. See January-February description for more information.

*** October & November

Going into the holiday season, we will organize support for 3 ministries:

1. Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes – due mid-November

2. Collect food for Special Thanksgiving Food Pantry Distribution

3. Children's Home Society of NJ Holiday Gift Drive – gifts due the first week of December

*** December

1. Deliver collected gifts to the Children's Home Society

2. Focus on the Season of Advent & Christmastide

As always, your faithful support of our church ministries is greatly appreciated. —- THANK YOU

For the most up-to-date information concerning church activities, event schedules, general church information, or to view recent newsletters, you may visit the church website anytime at www.debowsumc.org.

If you are reading this newsletter from the church website, and would like to receive it directly in your email, we encourage you to subscribe now. Just use the subscription form in the bottom right-hand corner of the website homepage.

Along with receiving the normal newsletter, special emails will be sent out once in a while for prayer requests, special events, weather related cancellations, or other time-sensitive news. All church communication emails are based on the newsletter subscription list.

As always, your feed back to our newsletter is welcome and appreciated. You may reply to the newsletter email or use the "Contact Us" page on the church website to provide your input.

The next newsletter will be published on
W‌ednesday, J‌anuary 29

Rev. Scott Clifton, Pastor
pastor@debowsumc.org
or 732-928-4475

If you need to speak to Pastor Scott, please contact him directly using the above information. You may connect with DeBows UMC online using the following links.