New Wood Floor in Fellowship Area
With the help of some volunteers the old carpet has been removed from the Fellowship area at Faith Church. In addition the space has been prepared for the installation of a new wood floor. The work should be finished within the next two weeks. We will provide an update once the project is completed. Thanks to all who came out last Saturday to do the work.
The Journey to the Cross
The next 40 days will offer us the possibility of transformation. It is an opportunity for change. The season of Lent is a call for us to shift our focus from the outside to the inside. It is an appeal on us to begin to look at inner changes instead of outer changes. To see how God wants to change us during the next 40 days.
We invite you to make the journey with us this year. A journey that will take us from Ash Wednesday all the way to Good Friday. Be open to what God wants to do in your life during this time. Be receptive for the presence and the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your heart and be transformed. Join us each week on the way to the cross.
We are also providing you with a link below to a devotional that has been made available by the Reformed Church in America. May it be a blessing to you during this year’s Lent.
Christmas Decorating Party / Cookie Exchange
The Christmas decorating party and cookie exchange on December 5 was a great success! A great turnout led to the church halls decked to the nine, the Christmas tree trimmed with beautiful ornaments and many different yummy homemade cookies to go around for all. The kids had a blast painting ornaments and attaching their picture to an ornament to hang on the church tree for years to come. It’s always fun to look at the tree and reminisce of the years past. Overall, it was a great time of fellowship to enjoy the spirit of Christmas together! Thank you to Larissa and the Fellowship Committee for planning this delightful event.
New Consistory Members
We wish to congratulate the following members of Faith Church who have been elected to serve a term on Consistory. Michael Law was ordained and installed as an Elder, Karen Decker was ordained and installed as a Deacon, and Larissa Lewis was installed as an Elder. This all happened during our worship celebration on November 29, 2015. We are thankful for their willingness to serve God and our church in these offices and our prayer is that God will bless their ministry. Below they are pictured with Pastor Albert.
Thanks For Being Generous
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for generously supporting all the recent “causes” of Faith Church. Together we raised $466.00 for the CROP/Hunger Walk, made 19 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and gave food to 9 families for Thanksgiving. That’s a lot of shared love! May you all in turn feel Christ’s love for you.
The Mission and Outreach Committee
Walking to end World Hunger
On Sunday, October 25, a few of Faith Church’s members participated in the Middletown CROP Hunger Walk. Together with walkers from other local churches, they completed the 3 mile walk to help raise funds and awareness in the effort of fighting and ending world hunger. Thank you to those who supported the effort by making donations. If you have not done so yet, you can still make a donation online by following this link.
With its inception in 1969, CROP Hunger Walks are “viewed by many as the granddaddy of charity walks,” notes the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 26, 2009). CROP Hunger Walks are interfaith hunger education and fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by CWS local offices across the U.S. CROP Hunger Walks help to support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world. In addition, each local CROP Hunger Walk can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises to hunger-fighting programs in its own community.CROP Hunger Walks help to provide food and water, as well as resources that empower people to meet their own needs. From seeds and tools, to wells and water systems, to technical training and micro-enterprise loans, the key is people working together to identify their own development priorities, their strengths and their needs something CWS has learned through some 68 years of working in partnership around the world.
Welcome to God’s Family
On Sunday, October 11, we had the privilege and joy of welcoming two children to God’s family by means of the sacrament of baptism. Congratulations to Paul and Jess whose daughter Elaina and baby boy Matthew were baptized during the worship celebration. Our prayer is that as they continue to grow up in our Lord Jesus, they will bring much joy to the family. Congratulations also to the godparents Jennifer and Zach.
Rally Sunday
To rally, according to the dictionary, means to bring into order again; gather and organize or inspire anew; to draw or call people together for a common action or effort; to come together for common action or effort; to find renewed strength or vigor.
After a relaxing summer, we are calling all of Faith Church’s members and friends to rally together on Sunday, September 13 at 10:30 a.m. This will also be the day on which our Faith Adventures for Children will kick off their brand new program for the year.
Let’s all rally together in honor of our Lord Jesus and BE the CHURCH!
Women’s Retreat for 2015
Are you carrying a heavy burden? Have worry or disappointments or difficult relationships kept you from experiencing God’s peace? Is the violence and confusion and suffering in the world robbing you of joy? Please join Faith Church for our 2015 Women’s Retreat where we will provide a time of reflection and renewal, giving participants an opportunity to go to the spring of living water, “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Our retreat leader, Jarene Pagliarulo, is an elder at The Church That Never Closes (RCA) in Staten Island, NY, where her late husband was the pastor for six years. Jarene is also active in Tres Dias, an international Christian movement that fosters spiritual growth and church revitalization.
Our music leader is Phyllis Montanari. Participants are asked to bring a favorite pitcher to use in our time together.
The cost is $40 each and includes lunch. Payment due by September 12th.
For more information or to register, please contact Larissa Lewis.
Food Pantry
Faith Church’s emergency food pantry is in need of restocking. We are collecting any non-perishable food items like boxes of pasta, canned goods, etc. Donations can be brought to worship on Sundays. There is a box in the lobby where you can deposit your items. We thank you for your support.
