The Colts Neck Reformed Church January 2017

Inside This Issue

Focus on Faith, by Scott D. Brown Page 2

Meet our Newest Members / Who Am I? New Member Class

Page 3

Music and Worship Arts / Youth News Page 4

Youth News / Nursery School Registration NJ Devils Game Fellowship Event

Page 5

Health and Wellness / Church School Page 6

Community, Fellowship, News and Notes Page 7

January Worship Schedule Page 8

January Calendar Insert

Blood Drive Set for January 25th~ by Kathy Rodman and Cathy Della Fera

The Colts Neck Reformed Church will be hosting its biannual blood drive for the Central Jersey Blood Center on Wednesday, January 25th, between the hours of 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. See the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall to schedule the time that works best for you. Or you can go to cjbcblood.org and schedule an appointment. If you have questions, contact Kathy Rodman (732-946-4121, krodman2@gmail.com) or Cathy Della Fera (732-462-4171, loca2@optonline.net) and we’ll be glad to help.

Five Reasons to Donate Blood on January 25th

Not only is donating blood extremely beneficial to those on the receiving end, it also has proven benefits to the person donating blood:

1. The Joy of Saving Human Lives – It is such a wonderful feeling being able to help doctors save human lives. There are no perfect substitutes for human blood. Every time you donate blood, you can help up to 3 or 4 individual recipients. Be a hero by donating blood.

2. Free Health Check-up – You can donate blood

(Continued on page 3, see Blood Drive)

Young Women’s Bible Study~ by Debi Jensen

The Young Women’s Bible Study, now in their second year, meets in the Ministry Center Conference Room on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. Begun and led by Maggie Purcell and Nancy Holm-Friedauer, the group was a natu-ral extension of a group of moms who had their children in choir practice during this time. They decided to spend

their “waiting time”, during choir prac-tice, to be together in study and fellow-ship. The group also includes wom-en whose children are too young for choir, but can use nursery downstairs

in the church during the 11:00 a.m. service for care.

The group had their first meeting for 2016-2017 in Sep-tember and their first book was FAITH: A Bible Study on James for Women. For the Advent and Christmas

(Continued on page 5, see Bible study)

What Star is This? Epiphany Art Project for Sunday, January 8th

The Worship Committee is working on an art project for Sunday, January 8th to symbolize Epiphany, which is celebrated as the day that the Star of Bethlehem had finally led the Magi from the East to the child Jesus. But the greatest significance of the Star of Bethlehem was not its brightness, but its part in the heavenly announcement of everything that Jesus was.

Thank you to all who took patterns and paper home to assist in this project. Please return the cutout stars to the baskets at either Sanctuary entrance or to the church office by Tuesday, January 3rd.

CNRC Mission in Action!

On January 20th we will be saying “safe travels” to four church members as they pre-pare to travel to Madanapalle, South India to help start a music program at an

RCA-supported school there. Allison Walter, Deanna Martin, Joy Lenz, and Lucy Lennox will spend approxi-mately ten days at the Hope English Medium High School, which was built to help India’s poorest of the poor to receive an education. The school was begun by the RCA church, sharing the grace and caring of Christ, and

(Continued on page 3, see Mission Trip)

The Reformed Informer, January 2017 Page 2

Office Staff

Scott D. Brown, Minister — Home #732-683-0530 email: revscottbrown@verizon.net

Debi Jensen, Pastoral Associate email: debi_jensen@verizon.net

Maggie Tripold, Director of Music and Worship Arts email: mtripold@verizon.net

Dr. David Tripold, Organist and Senior Choir Director

Dianne O’Hara, Congregational Care Coordinator email: cnrc.care@gmail.com

Pam Licata, Church Administrator/Secretary email: coltsneckreformedchurch@verizon.net

Stacey Savage, Director of Early Childhood Ministries email: cnrcns@verizon.net

Dana Eugenio, Director of Health and Wellness Ministries email: danae@holyyoga.net

Michelle Spears, Youth Ministry Coordinator email: coltsneckyouth@gmail.com

Joy Lenz, Administrative Assistant, Nursery School Secretary

Betsy Aras, Newsletter Editor email: betsy.cnrc@gmail.com

Consistory

Elders: Reed Feuster ...... Vice-President Connie Paul ........ Worship Jane Rappleyea .. Discipleship for Ongoing Ministries Kathy Rodman .... Assimilation & Congregational Care Claire Morris ........ Long Range Planning/Health & Wellness Sean Horan ......... Discipleship for Youth/Young Adults

Deacons: Chris Weh ........... Clerk Andrea Van Note Outreach Doug Freeman .... Fellowship Paul Anderson .... Stewardship and Finance Bob Gassaway .... Building & Grounds Clark Petrie ......... Mission

The Reformed Informer is published monthly by

Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 Route 537, P.O. Box 57, Colts Neck, NJ 07722

Church office phone: 732-462-4555 • Nursery school phone: 732-462-4662 Fax: 732-866-9545 • Church e-mail: coltsneckreformedchurch@verizon.net • Website: http://www.coltsneckreformed.org

Church office administrative hours: (Monday — Friday) 8:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

Newsletter Editor: Betsy Aras / Articles are due the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Submissions may be edited. Email Submissions to: Reformed.Informer@gmail.com

Dear Friends,

I know that you care and pray for not only me, but also for Kay, Jeff, Zach and Julia; some of you have known our children since they were born. Thank you. Since they’ve become adults, I don’t talk a lot about our children’s private lives, as they are just that –

their lives. Yet, Kay and I are very excited as Julia is engaged! Her fiancée is Melissa, and they became engaged last year and are planning for their wedding on August 12th of this year. Melissa is a wonderful woman and we are so happy to welcome her into our family.

You may not have known that Julia is gay; Kay and I were told of her sexual orientation relatively recently. We’ve been quiet about this for several reasons. First is that in some sense, this is Julia’s story to share, and up until now she has chosen to remain private about it. This is primarily due to her being a minister – and being an “out” person in a relationship puts her in conflict with many in the Reformed Church in America (although not with our classis nor our congregation.) Yet now with a ring on her finger, her relationship is more open and defined. When

she was just dating, she could live within a “don’t ask, don’t tell” which, sadly, within the RCA, is safer for her.

I thank you for the process of our congregation becoming welcoming and affirming. I did not know about my daughter’s sexual orientation until we were well into the process of adopting our statement of inclusion. I’m both grateful to her, but also saddened that Julia didn’t want to share the fact of her orientation with us earlier, as she didn’t want to put me in a position of having to choose between affirming her and my call to Colts Neck Reformed Church. Having come to the point of consistorial and congregational affirmation of inclusion, she realized that her being “out” would not jeopardize my relationship with the congregation that I so love.

I certainly recognize that all of us are in different stages of full inclusion for LGBT people. Yet, as this has become personalized for me, I’m grateful for your friendship and discernment and insight. And I’m grateful to God for your care for Julia over the years. She was baptized, confirmed and ordained as an elder and minister here, and now, with the approval of our board of elders, will be married here! Kay and I are grateful to God for both this congregation and our wonderful daughter.

In Christ,

Focus on Faith

The Reformed Informer Page 3

only if you are fit enough to do so. Before every blood donation process, a series of health check-ups are performed on the donor such as blood pressure and hemoglobin levels. Further, after the blood is donated it is screened for certain infections.

3. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease – Regular blood donations help to keep the levels of iron in the body in check, especially in males. This has shown to reduce heart disease. Excessive iron build up can result in excessive oxidative damage which is the major culprit in accelerated ageing, heart attacks, strokes, etc.

4. Burns Calories – One time blood donation helps you shed 650 calories. This can aid in your body weight control measures.

5. Reduces the Risk of Cancer – High levels of iron have been implicated in cancer. Theoretically, donating blood frequently will reduce the risk of cancers. More research is going on to find strong evidence on this one. However, the old myth that blood donations may lead to cancer are wrong.

(Blood Drive, continued from page 1)

Who Am I?

1. I was born in Waterloo, NY at Samson Air Force Base.

2. My family moved to Middletown, NJ when I was one year old.

3. I met my spouse when I was 15.

4. We dated through college even though we went to different schools.

5. I was in a band named “Starfire” with my two brothers.

6. I took piano lessons for 15 years and also play the clarinet, saxophone and guitar.

7. I enjoy playing golf and have played in Ireland and top courses in the U.S.

8. We have two sons – one is a lawyer and the other is a VP at a real estate investment firm.

9. We have 2 grandchildren – a 5-year-old grand-daughter and a 2-year-old grandson.

10. We look forward to retiring to Florida.

Give up? Turn to page 4 to see my name and picture.

Meet Our Newest Members~ By Dianne O’Hara

On Sunday, December 11th the elders received three new members into the life of the Colts Neck Reformed Church. Please find time to say “hello” and welcome them into the church.

Frances McCormick — Frances is a resident at Applewood in Freehold. Tammy Femiano (also a member here) is her granddaughter and Earl Dix is her cousin. Music is very important to Frances and she was the organist at Ardena Baptist Church for 40 years. Every Sunday, Frances and her family gather for a big family dinner. Frances says she loves the music at Colts Neck Reformed Church.

Muyshann and Joseph Dazzo — Muyshann and Joe just moved to Holmdel with their two children; Logan, who is in the three-year-old program at our Nursery School and Vivienne, who you may have seen baptized on October 30th in our Sanctuary. Muyshann worked as a marketing design manager in

Manhattan but for now is enjoying time at home raising their children. Joseph is a construction manager in Manhattan. Joe has also been busy renovating their home this past year. In their free time Muyshann enjoys traveling and Joe enjoys working out and trying out new beers.

Jessie Perloff lives in Marlboro with her husband Steve and kids Austin (age 2-1/2) and Madison (2 months). Steve works in compli-ance for Royal Bank of Canada as the Head of Branch Inspections. Jessica works in finance for a private European equity firm in NYC called Redburn. Most of their spare time is spent chasing their little people but they do like to travel, go to movies, concerts and take bike rides. Steve is originally from Long Island and Jessie is from southern California. They've been married for six years, living in Marlboro now for the last five years. They look forward to getting involved and being a part of the church family.

New Member Class Offered~

Interested in joining the church or learning more about us? We will offer a New Member class on Sunday, February 12, 2017 from 12:30-3:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center conference room. If you are interested in becom-ing a member, we ask that you attend this class where Rev. Scott Brown will talk about the history of CNRC and what it means to be a member. If interested in attending please contact Dianne O'Hara at cnrc.care@gmail.com or call the church office to register.

lifting the poor out of poverty through education. The school has never had a music program, so when the Executive Director of Mission Partners India visited CNRC in May, she was struck by the possibility of having our musically gifted congregation help the school introduce their students to music. The four members who volunteered to travel will spend their ten days sharing teaching workshops and instruction with as many of the students and teachers as possible. Please keep these four special church members in your prayers as they share their talents in this important ministry of CNRC.

(Mission Trip, continued from page 1)

The Reformed Informer, January 2017 Page 4

“The Sounds of Christmas” ~Concert CDs and DVDs~

CDs and DVDs of “The Sounds of Christmas” Concert on December 11th with Alleluia Jazz, Celebration Ringers and Jubilation! can be ordered by signing up on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. A donation of $1.00 per CD/DVD is appreciated to help defray costs. Please see Maggie Tripold to pick up your CDs/DVDs.

Table for Five…Thousand! The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes

Table for Five…Thousand! will be presented on Sunday, March 19, 2017 and we need your help! Our youth choirs – Cherubs, Alleluia Angels and Jubilation! – are learning the music. But we also need adult actors, actresses and

singers, and help with scenery, costumes and props.

The wonderful intergenerational musical, The Tale of the Three Trees, involved over 80 members of our congregation of all ages in March 2014. It was such a great experience for so many that we’ve

been looking for another opportunity to do something like it. And we found it! Table for Five…Thousand! is the musical version of the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand.

For more information and to find out how you can be involved, come to our Coffee Hour Connection on Sunday, January 8th in Fellowship Hall.

“Singing With the Seniors” in January~

Come sing with us and the residents at The Reformed Church Home and Brandywine! Our schedule for January is as follows:

Wednesday, January 18th at the Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge Meet there at 10:30 a.m. or at church at 10:00 a.m. if you’d like to carpool.

Saturday, January 21st at Brandywine Reflections in Colts Neck Meet there at 11:15 a.m. or at church at 11:00 a.m. if you’d like to carpool.

There is a signup sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to indicate your availability. Questions? Contact Maggie Tripold via email at [mtripold@verizon.net] or call her at 732-462-4555, x114.

30-Hour Famine – January 20th—21st with Rev. Chris Vande Bunte and our friends from the

First Reformed Church of Hawthorne

Mark your calendars for our annual 30-Hour Famine on January 20th and 21st! This program is a way for our Youth Group to learn about the problem of hunger both locally and around the world and identify ways in which we can help. Participants are encouraged to collect pledges to support hunger relief efforts.

Rev. Chris Vande Bunte and members of the youth group from the First Reformed Church of Hawthorne will be joining us for this wonderful event. Our time together will include fasting, devotions, a communi-ty service activity, as well as plenty of fun time with friends.

The famine is open to all 6th—12th graders. Friends are certainly welcome but please sign them up and provide their family’s contact information. The registration deadline is Friday, January 13th. For the 22 hours we are together we will fast. There will be juice, water, and Gatorade, but no food. If you have a special dietary concern, please come and participate to the best of your ability, but let us know beforehand! We will break our fast at 6:00 p.m. and pick up will be at 6:30 p.m. All the information you need is on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall – including pledge envelopes. It is our hope that each participant can raise at least $35 each for hunger relief aid.

For more information, please see the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or email Michelle Spears at [coltsneckyouth@gmail.com] with any questions. Adult leaders are needed! If you are interested, please contact Michelle.

~30-hour Famine Schedule~

Friday January 20th

8:30—9:30 p.m. Opening Devotions 9:30—11:00 p.m. Capture the Flag 11:00 p.m. Lights out in the sleeping rooms

Saturday, January 21st

Wake up Free Time/Game Time 9:00—10:00 a.m. Morning Devotions 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.Community Service Activity 2:00—5:00 p.m. Movie Time and Clean up 5:30—6:00 p.m. Breaking our Fast 6:30 p.m. Pick-up/Departure

Monster Mini-Golf – 6th-8th Graders ~Sunday, January 29th from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.~

Join us for some friendly fellowship and excitement at Monster Mini-Golf in Eatontown on Sunday, January 29th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.. This indoor monster-themed glow-in-the-dark course offers a host of fun activities at every turn. It is not your average mini-golf course! Meet at church and we will carpool. Cost for mini-golf is $8.00 per person. Sign up on the bulletin board or through email at [coltsneckyouth@gmail.com].

Who Am I? from page 3

Joe Anania

pictured with his wife

Jan

The Reformed Informer Page 5

Registration for Fall 2017

Begins Wednesday, February 1st at 9:15 a.m.

NURSERY SCHOOL sponsored by the

Colts Neck Reformed Church 139 County Road 537, Colts Neck, NJ 07722

approximately 1/4 mile west of Highway 34

A Happy Place Where Learning is fun

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE Thursday, January 19th 6:30— 8:30 p.m. Monday, January 23rd 9:30—11:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 24th 9:30—11:30 a.m. Thursday, January 26th 9:30—11:30 a.m. Friday, January 27th 9:30—11:30 a.m.

Traditional values taught in a warm and caring environment

Let our forty-four years of experience help guide you through your child’s first school experiences

Morning and afternoon 1/2 day classes with extended day options

TWO or THREE DAY PLAYGROUP for 2-1/2 year olds

THREE or FOUR DAYS for 3 year olds

FOUR or FIVE DAYS for 4 year olds

Lunch Bunch — optional extended day for 3 and 4 year olds

Optional PM classes for 4 year olds includes Geography and/or Literacy

Stacey Savage, Director Phone: 732-462-4662 Email: cnrcns@verizon.net

Website: www.coltsneckreformed.org

Nursery School Looks to 2017 Registration~ by Stacey Savage

As we begin the New Year, the Nursery School starts to think about our new school year!!! Although it’s months and seasons away, September 2017 will be here before we know it! With that said, we are very excited about the new offerings that will be available to our youngest Church members.

We would love to tell you about our new and exciting PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT programs and our nation-ally recognized Music Together music program scheduled to start back up the week of January 9th.

Come and see what we have in store for 2017! See below for details on programs available in fall of 2017.

season, the women studied a book by Liz Curtis Higgs called The Women of Christmas: Experience the Season Afresh with Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. This book says that “Christmas is more than buying and wrapping, and cooking and eating, and trimming with tinsel, and mailing out cards. It is a season for reflection, for preparation, for renewal.” If this group meets your needs for Bible study, please come and join at any time. You can contact Maggie Purcell [maggie.purcell@gmail.com] or Nancy Holm-Friedauer [nancy.holm.esq@gmail.com] for more information.

(Bible study, continued from page 1)

Youth Group Sub Sale: Supporting Mission!

Keeping up with tradition, our youth group will help make and sell subs during Super Bowl weekend. On Sunday, February 5th youth will be needed in two shifts: 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to conclusion when the subs are all picked up and clean up is complete.

Youth will make the sand-wiches, collect payments, and distribute the subs. Adult helpers are needed and greatly appreciated! Please use the sign-up sheet under youth programs in Fellowship Hall to let us know you can lend a hand. Proceeds from this SUPER sale will support our Church’s benevolence program.

Trivia Night! For Senior High Youth Group (9th—12th Grades)

Come hang out on Sunday, January 8th from 4:00—6:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center Game Room and take part in our trivia night! “Prizes” will be awarded for every-

one who participates. Freshly popped popcorn and drinks will be provided…we just need you! ‘Snapchat’ your friends and invite them to this zany, brainy fun-filled event!

New Jersey Devils "Faith and Family Night"

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 — Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.

Calling all hockey fans! The church family and senior high youth are invited to join in as we watch the New Jersey Devils take on the LA Kings at the Prudential Center, Newark. Cost is $39 per ticket. Family and friends are welcome. Families are responsible for their own transportation; however, for all senior high youth, chaperones/drivers will be available if you will be joining us without an adult.

To reserve tickets, please sign up on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall, turn your payment in to the church office by January 10th, and, for any senior high youth, indicate if you will need a ride. Youth are encouraged to email Michelle Spears [coltsneckyouth@gmail.com] with any questions. All other questions should be directed to Dianne O’Hara at [cnrc.care@gmail.com] or 732-462-4555, x112.

Broadway Trip on Saturday, May 13, 2017 to see “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Cost of $132.50/person includes round-trip bus transportation from the church, lunch at Hard Rock Café and mid-mezzanine seats. Sign up on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall—payment is due by January 15th! Call Maggie Tripold or Betsy Aras for more details.

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CNRC Health and Wellness Ministries

May you all enjoy a Happy and Healthy New Year! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Canning Crew for January~

Join us on Sunday, January 22nd at 12:00 noon in Fellowship Hall for a time of charitable fellowship. Our fearless canning leader, Carol Lang, will lead us in creating jars of delicious-ness. We’ll make Hot Pepper Jelly (mix into cream cheese for an easy appetizer, or add on a burger or

grilled cheese sandwich-yum) and Corn Relish (so good on chili, pork, fish…or simply with tortilla chips).

Our canned goods are donated to the Election Day Bazaar, the proceeds of which go to the benevolence program; and there will be enough jars of goodness for you to bring home and enjoy as well.

If you have not participated in our canning yet, please come to our January session! Many hands make light work. We have a great time together, and the samples are delicious. Please bring a sharp knife and a cutting board, or borrow from us. Sign up on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or email Dana at [danae@holyyoga.net]. (Note: teens and tweens: this is a great way to earn points for Confirmation, Community Service, and NHS. It’s also fun!)

Natural Home Remedies for Sinusitis~ by Dana Eugenio

I’ve noticed that some of my beloved Holy Yoga students and church family members are looking at me through squinted eyes, with a pained expression on their lovely faces. Do you also feel pressure around your forehead, eyes and teeth? That is from sinusitis, an inflammation of the membranes in and around the nasal passages. Here are some simple ways to relieve that discomfort, and have you bright eyed and smiling again.

Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil (available at

health food stores, and CVS) in your palm, rub hands together, cup over your face, and breathe it in through your nose and mouth. Massage the excess onto your upper chest, neck, and shoulders.

Take a hot shower, or at least lean over your hot coffee, tea or soup, and breathe in the steam.

Eat healing foods to clear out your sinuses: Enjoy the spiciness of horseradish, hot peppers or wasabi mustard. Also eat garlic, onions, turmeric, and ginger for their healing properties against nasal congestion; and anti-inflammatory foods such as salmon, vegetables, and fruits to reduce sinus swelling.

Place a warm, wet washcloth over your eyes and cheeks for a few minutes, until any facial pain subsides.

Apply acupressure to relieve feelings of facial pressure and pain. Press your middle and index fingers beside your nostrils and press in and upwards. Also, press your thumbs where the inner edge of the eyebrows meets the bridge of your nose. Try to apply pressure for at least a minute, as you calmly and deeply breathe in and out through your nose (the longer you apply the

pressure, the easier the nasal breath-

ing will become). These tips should have you feeling much better with-in a few days, at the most. How-ever, if your symptoms worsen then it is time for you to visit your doctor or holistic health care prac-titioner.

Looking Forward: Be on the lookout for news about an exciting opportunity to enjoy faith, friendship, and fitness with your church family. Information about CHRIST WALK: A SPIRITUAL FITNESS PROGRAM will be in upcoming newsletters and church bulletins.

If you have questions or comments about any Health and Wellness Ministry activities, please email Dana Eugenio, at [danae@holyyoga.net].

Church School Chatter – 2nd and 3rd Grade~

Our 2nd and 3rd grade class is one of our largest and can always be counted on for being lively and full of questions. We have two first time teachers in this class – Michele Capriglione and Kristine Schmocker. They are ably assisted by our high school helpers: Daniel Freeman, Grace Rowland, Caroline McCoy and Jillian Walker.

The children’s lessons have brought them back to the beginning as they learned about the creation of our world in the book of Genesis. They ask their teachers challenging questions such as “Why aren’t dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?” and “Who did the children of Adam and Eve marry?” and “Why didn’t God like the offering that Cain brought?” These are great questions that mean the children are thinking hard about their lessons and wanting to learn. It also keeps our teachers thinking too! If you have a child in this age group, we hope they enjoy coming to the class. We give thanks for Michele and Kristine and their assistants for leading this class of learners. May they continue to be excited and interested while they learn about the greatness and graciousness of God!

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Your Daily Prayers are Needed~

Please include the following members of our church family in your prayers this month. In addition to your pray-ers, they may really appreciate an occasional card, call or (if local) visit. If you are available to visit members of our church family and would like to be added to our rotating list of visitors, please contact Dianne O’Hara in the church office [cnrc.care@gmail.com] or 732-462-4555. This requires a commitment of one visit every 2 – 3 months.

Emma Sklair, health concerns

Andrew Schaber, grandson of Brian and Nancy Allain, treatment for Burkitt’s Lymphoma

All residents of the Reformed Church Home including, Ruth Carmeli (mother of Margaret Carmeli-Peslak), John Cerny, Betty Hundley (mother of Jim Hundley) and Irene Kiefer.

Prayers and Condolences to~

Nanette Swordsma and family on the death of her father, Joseph Altamura, on December 3, 2016.

Lori Monahan and family on the death of her father, George Allen, on December 19, 2016.

Prayers and condolences to Margaret Carmeli-Peslak and family on the death of her father, Tony Carmeli, December 19, 2016.

Congratulations and Blessings to~

Marian and Tim Bauman on the birth of their two granddaughters, Lyla James Bauman on November 2, 2016 and Sadie Rose Toth on November 22, 2016. Proud parents are Marissa and Michael Bauman, and Maighdlin and Matthew Toth respectively.

Len and Donna Simicich on the birth of their granddaughter, Juliana, on December 4, 2016. Proud parents are Len and Sera Simicich.

Laurie and Greg Robinson on the birth of their grandson, Owen Benjamin Puhalla, on December 15, 2016. Sharon and Paul Puhalla are the proud parents.

Becky and Matt Axtell on the birth of their son, Benton Gregory Axtell, on December 21, 2016.

Tom and Jennine Orgo on the birth of their daughter, Olivia Mae Orgo, on December 23rd. Tom and Dianna Orgo are proud grandparents.

Jon Rosenspitz on the occasion of his baptism on December 25, 2016.

Join your Church Family for A Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance An evening of fantastic food, delightful dancing

and fabulous fellowship

Date: February 11, 2017 / Time: 7:00—11:00 p.m.

Place: CN Fire Co. #1 Rt. 537 Colts Neck

Cost: $25.00 per person / Featuring Music by DJ Ryan

Food: hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner, desserts and beverages

Limited to 100 people

Looking for a great night out for a great price? The men of the church (with a little help from the women) will be hosting this Valentine-themed event for couples and singles.

Lots of help will be needed; set up, prepping the food, decorating, serving, and clean-up. Check the sign-ups on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to volunteer to help coordinate and/or to sign up for the dance.

Women’s Retreat Planned~ by Kay Brown

A New Year's resolution! Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy great fellowship, insightful presenta-tions and just simply a time to be apart from the daily routine by joining other women of our church family for a retreat. "A Common Bond" is the theme: our speaker is the Rev. Donna Field. The overnight retreat, January 27-28, 2017 is for adult women to unwind, have fun, reflect on their faith and refocus on what matters most. The retreat is held at the Chateau Inn and Suites of Spring Lake. There are still rooms available – see the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or please be in contact with Kay Brown [scottandkaybrown@gmail.com] for more information. Come along and, if you wish, invite a friend.

CNRC 6th—12th graders gathered on

December 4th to bake Christmas

cookies to send to college freshman and sophomores

from our congregation!

The Chronic Pain/Illness Support Group meets on the first Monday of the month at 11:00 a.m. at Perkins Restaurant in Colts Neck. For January, please join us on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.

If you’d like to hear more about this group, please contact Lonnie Howlett at 732-833-8394 (home) or email at [lonniespms@hotmail.com].

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for all the prayers, cards and support during my dad’s illness and passing. We are blessed to be part of this wonderful church family.

Nanette and Henry Swordsma

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COLTS NECK REFORMED CHURCH P. O. BOX 57

COLTS NECK, N. J. 07722

January Worship Schedule

Return Service Requested

Sunday, January 1st First Sunday after Christ-mas. We greet the New Year giving thanks to God our Creator. Coffee time and fellowship will be prior to the service, at 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please note: we worship this morning at 11:00 a.m. only. There will be nursery care provided and a gospel for children offered during this service. The sacrament of communion will be celebrated and special music will be offered by soloist, Raj Soi. As we’re faith-travelers together, the question for the New Year is, “How’s your journey going?”

Sunday, January 8th Sunday of the Epiphany. Looking to the Good News that Jesus is “the light of the world” we travel following the star of God this morning at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. The Senior Choir and our Alumni Bell Choir will provide service music. Julia Contract is our confirmation class liturgist this morning.

Sunday, January 15th Second Sunday after the Epiphany. Join your church family for worship this morning at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. The anthem “Healing River” will be offered by the Senior Choir. Joshua Sass is the liturgist this morning. The sermon is based on Romans 12:17, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”

Sunday, January 22nd Third Sunday after the Epiphany. We worship today at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. A musical offering by the Senior Choir is shared at both services. The sermonic focus will be on “finishing well.”

Sunday, January 29th Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Join us for worship today at 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. Music is offered by the Celebration Ringers at both services. Cassidy Kemp is the confirmation class liturgist this morning.

The Colts Neck Reformed Church, a welcoming and affirming congregation of the Reformed Church in America, welcomes you to come and be refreshed by the Word of God, times of prayer and praise, and the community of God’s people! At the Colts Neck Reformed Church, the 9:15 a.m. worship service coordinates with our church school educational opportunities for three year olds through seventh grade. As such, this service contains a Gospel for Children. Professional nursery care for infants and toddlers is provided at both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. worship service; the worship services are simulcast in a family room where parents can bring their infants and toddlers. Both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. services contain the same sermon, hymns, prayers and special music.