INTERNS SAY “THANKS” 

This past year has been a delight for us as we served as your church seminary interns.  We each were challenged, yet grew comfortable working in our particular ministries.  Thank you for the opportunity to lead you in worship, teach you in classes, guide you in prayer, and challenge you to connect with your community.  Thanks are due not only to Andrew, Jan, and Doug for their leadership (and they do deserve thanks!), but we wish to thank you, the congregation, for making us feel welcome.  You welcomed us into your fellowship and trusted us even to guide you at times.  For these experiences, we will be eternally grateful.  Our future ministries, wherever they may be, will reflect the time that we spent at Hamilton Square.  We pray that, as a church, you continue to grow in ministry and in faith, and that each one of you comes to cherish the connection that you have with the body of Christ through your church.  Grace and peace be with you. 

In Christ,

Ben, Denise, and Lisa

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WORSHIP HOURS REMAIN THE SAME THIS SUMMER!

8:00 and 9:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship

10:15 a.m. - Christian Education

11:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship

 

 

RETREAT 2010

October 15, 16 and 17th

at the Presbyterian Camp & Conference Center

in Johnsonburg, NJ

 

Come join the fun and fellowship at our church wide retreat.  The retreat is an opportunity for all members of our church family to gather together, away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.  This is a great opportunity for spiritual growth, fellowship and relaxation in the beautiful hills of northern New Jersey.  Our topic will be Discipleship and will be explored through skits, discussions & small groups. 

 

In addition, there are many other activities to consider joining: singing around the campfire Friday night, watching the sun come up while sipping coffee on the deck overlooking the lake, fishing from the dock or a boat, having a leisurely conversation with someone you’ve been wanting to get to know better, nibbling from a well stocked snack table and hiking the well marked trails.  Sunday morning worship at the outdoor chapel by the lake or at the chapel in the woods will complete our weekend. 

  

Child care will be provided during the small group activities for the youngest members of our church family, and all meals are prepared by Johnsonburg’s staff.  Also, several different housing options are available (all are heated unless otherwise noted):

  

Cedar Lodge               Carpeted private rooms with bath, sleeps up to 4 people (5 with a cot).  Plus a shared kitchen and gathering room.

 

Lodges A, B & C       Carpeted private rooms, shared baths

                                    Plus a kitchen & gathering room.

 

Taylor Lodge              Semi-private dormitory rooms & shared baths

                                    Plus a kitchen & gathering room.

 

Cabins                                     Unheated and sleep up to eight people. 

                                    Bathing facilities are a short walk down the path.

  

Please join us for this wonderful weekend. Keep an eye out for the Retreat Reservation Form in the next Flock!

 

(Hang this reminder on the Refrigerator!)

The next Church-Wide Retreat is

October 15-17, 2010

&

Be Sure to Mark it on Your Calendars!

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A Per Capita Primer

One aspect of what “makes us” the Presbyterian Church is our connectional form of government.  As members of First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square, we are part of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, the Synod of the Northeast, and the General Assembly.  Each of these bodies has responsibilities for managing some part of how we function as one Presbyterian Church, USA.  As members of the denomination, we are called upon to share the cost of being a national, inclusive church, governed as a representative democracy.  This support is called the per capita apportionment.  Every Presbyterian church in the country is required to pay the per capita for each member on its rolls.  The per capita amount for 2010 is $28.09 PER MEMBER.   

Our per capita pays for many things: meetings of the governing bodies, the office of the stated clerks at each level, committees and commissions that carry out church functions (the committee on preparation for ministry, for example), and costs to administer the work of the governing bodies (insurance coverage, accounting and financial services, communication efforts, etc). Per capita also funds our ecumenical work.  

We all benefit from being members of the Presbyterian Church.  Per Capita asks that we all share in what it costs to be the Presbyterian Church.  The Per Capita line item in our church budget is more than $10,000, because per capita is paid for everyone who is listed as a member of this church whether or not the member participates in the life of the church.  You can help defray a large part of the church’s per capita expense by sending $28.09 per member, including confirmed youth to the church.  Place your contribution in an envelope, label it Per Capita and include your name.  Place the envelope in the offering plate or mail it to the church.  Paying per capita is a tangible and faithful way of supporting our connections with one another so that our witness to the world in the name of Jesus Christ is visible and vibrant.  Thank you for your faithful support.

The Stewardship Committee