P ittsgrove P resbyterian P ress

312 Daretown Road, Elmer, NJ 08318 (856) 358-1104, Fax (856) 358-8439 www.daretownpres.org

November 2012

Worship Service on Sundays at 10 am.

CONGRATULATIONS!
For this congregation has come thru almost 1 year of not having an installed Pastor! Yes!... Congratulations ! for you see , ironically, this is the base meaning of the religious word Advent (Ad=thru, vent = to come) Yes, as your Interim Pastor Ive been there to help you, guide you, ask questions of you, go with you thru this initial period of re-viewing, re-defining, re-evaluating, and re-visiting some of your previous practices and programs, and I will continue to go with you in the next year, but YOU DID IT !! So, Im proud of you- all of you- and look forward to the coming New Year (Yes, Advent begins the Christian New Year!) as we continue to be challenged to prepare ourselves for the next permanent pastor, and as we spiritually grow as a vibrant and historic congregation. Just read the following material and note the new tone throughout! Behold, I am making all things new!
-- Revelation 21: 5

And so are we! So are we! Lets resolve to continue this through next Advent 2013, at least! Pastor Paul.

Fall Fun at the Williams Farm

The annual hayride and hot dog roast at the Williams Farm is always a fun time for our church family. Sunday, October 21st was especially so, as the weather was perfect for a fall outing. Hot dogs are always the best when roasted outside over a huge bon fire in the cool air. Chips, beverages and an assortment of delicious desserts rounded out the menu. A big attraction for the children was the hay maze. Large bales were in a special formation allowing a lot of climbing, jumping and a tricky path for running through. From ages 2 to teens, the bales were a lot of fun. Two tractors with wagons, arranged with benches of hay bales, provided hay rides. Meandering through the rolling farm fields, along and into a woods dressed in autumn colors, and then fording a stream into yet another field was fun for all. However, coming upon a cow with her newborn calf, was an unexpected joy. A really big thank you to the Williams/Ewart family for such a pleasant time! It was good to be with our church family, in an informal setting, for old-fashion family fun!

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DEACONS CORNER DECEMBER 2012 Submitted by Kitty Lamb The Deacons are here to serve, listen and help. If there is a financial need, the Deacons may be able to assist via the Lillian Robertson Fund. Whatever the need, physical, financial or otherwise, please dont hesitate to contact any Deacon or Jill Stout (church secretary). The following services were provided by the Deacons to benefit and support our church and our community September through November 2012. * * * * * * * * We continue our many visitations and cards with our sick and elderly, in addition to meals and baked goods. Supplies for our kitchen were replenished. Six (6) prayer shawls were distributed from our Prayer Shawl Ministry $600.00 was given to needy persons from the Deacons Lillian Robertson Fund. Thanksgiving Baskets were given to ten (10) of our college students. Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets will be given to several families in need from Pittsgrove and Upper Pittsgrove. The Deacons will be hosting a reception after the Christmas Cantata. This year, instead of the Angel Tree, we will have a Mitten Tree where colorful mittens, gloves, hats and/or scarves may be placed on the tree at the front of the Sanctuary during the first hymn each Sunday before Christmas.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Our Manse Fireplace by Anne Skinner

When visiting the manse during the open house last spring, Dallas realized the unusual fireplace was made from slate. I can remember baby sitting in the house many years ago and thinking the fireplace material was a bit strange, as the usual material was brick or stone. Could it be slate? It resembles marble, but marble is harder and polished. What about a process we had heard about in Vermont marbleized slate? Summering on Lake Bomoseen over the last few years, we learned about this slate marbleizing process as the Lake is in the slate belt, which runs through Western Vermont and Eastern New York State. Today it is difficult to visualize the quiet hills having housed busy quarries, active mills and company towns, crowded with immigrant workers from Wales and Ireland. However, it was at this West Castleton Mill, along the shores of Lake Bomoseen, where Ryland Hanger started this process making ordinary slate to resemble marble. Mr. Hanger kept the details of the complex process secret, marbleizing at night after the other employees had left. First the slate was sanded and then dipped into a tank of water, where on top, various colors of paint were floating, forming a desired pattern. The pattern in the paint was then transferred to the surface of the slate. It was a lengthy process of dipping, baking and rubbing the slate a number of times before producing the final simulated marble. We took photos of the manse fireplace to the Slate Museum in Granville, New York where they had some examples of marbleized slate. Two women working in the research area there, did identify our photos as marbleized slate. Although the fireplace surface is worn from years of cleaning, they felt it was clearly marbleized slate. Because of this process, the middle class could own and exhibit some of the same symbols of wealth and success as the more affluent, but at a lower cost. The most popular products were mantels, washtubs, pulpits, lamp bases, sinks, baths, table tops, and checkerboards selling for 1/4 the price of marble. Plus it was the Victorian Era so styles were a bit more flamboyant and decorative, which the marbleizing allowed with extra gilding, inlays and other ornate touches. We understand homes in Fair Haven, VT exhibited the various types of fireplaces where a customer could go from home to home to select their desired design. Also catalogues were printed showing the fanciful designs, representing varieties of marble, granite, onyx and even wood. One could order their fireplace and distributors in either New York or Philadelphia, shipped the orders by rail to the new owner. West Castleton Slate Company is silent today and largely forgotten. The process for this marbleization has been lost as the secret was carried to the grave by the few craftsmen who worked with it. However, its success is evidenced by a number of Victorian structures which still have these pieces for architectural ornament. Our manse is one of these.

Holiday House Tour

The Congregational Life Committee has organized a Holiday House Tour for Sunday, December 9th from 3-5 pm. The tour will include the homes of Trisha and Al Coulter, Matt and Liz Hitchner, Laura and Scott Taylor, Andy and Ryan Hitchner, Shirley and Gary Hitchner, and Becky and Chris McIntyre. A bus will be available at the church to drive us to the homes. The McIntyres have invited us to enjoy refreshments and Christmas Caroling at their home as the last stop. There is word that a Man with a Red Suit will be joining us on the bus. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Church narthex. Congratulations to Jeffrey String and Nicole McElroy! They were married on Saturday, October 20th.

The JOURNEY
A simple girl... an ordinary man... take an eighty-mile journeyto experience ... an unforgettable miracle!

An Adult ADVENT Bible Study

led by Rev. Paul Tuttle Sun 11:15am Adult Class or Thur 9am Manse Class Using materials/ DVD from Rev. Adam Hamilton, Sr. Pastor of the largest Methodist Church in the country! I invite you to join me on this unusual spiritual trip to a less familiar destination!

Hanging of the Greens

A Hanging of the Greens is being held on Sunday, December 2nd, following Sunday School from 12:15 to approx. 1:30 pm. The Congregational Life Committee would like to invite the congregation members to stay and help decorate the church for the Christmas Season.

Ladies Luncheon
The next Ladies Luncheon will be held on Monday, December 10th, 12 noon at the Green Olive. For a special Christmas touch, they are asking that each person bring a $3.00 wrapped gift. A fun game will be played in order to find out who gets what gift! For more information please see Helen Sickler (856-769-2066). All ladies are welcome to join us for our Christmas lunch!

Operation Christmas Child

Christmas is right around the corner! For many children in poor or war-torn countries, a box of gifts is the last thing they think they will get. But with our help this year, through Samaritans Purse, millions of children around the world will receive a box of needed supplies. We are happy to announce that we collected 27 shoeboxes to be donated to hurting children around the world. If you would like more information on Operation Christmas Child go to www.samaritanspurse.org or by calling 1-800-353-5957.

Knowing Gods Word

Submitted by: Anita Elwell During adult Sunday School class we talked about the necessity of knowing God's Word. I shared one way which has helped me learn it - by listening to a professional reading the Bible on my iPod or on my CD player. Many were interested in that idea, so I looked on the internet for ordering information... Here is what I found: You can order the complete Bible in mp3 format to go on your computer for your iPod: NIV Listener's Bible: Narrated by Max McLean, 1 MP3 Disc By: Max McLean Biblica / 2012 / MP3 for $17 from Christianbook.com If you don't have an iPod but want to listen to the NIV Bible on a regular CD player, try: NIV Audio Bible Voice Only, CD 1984 Narrated By: Charles Taylor for $40 from Christianbook.com Or if you want to have just the New Testament for a regular CD player and also on a mp3 format, try: NIV Listener's New Testament: Narrated by Max McLean, 17 Audio CD and 1 MP3 Disc Biblica / 2012 / Compact disc for $20 from Christianbook.com There are many places to find the Bible on CD (including Amazon) and there are many translations to choose from. I personally like the simplicity of the NIV. If you would like to order one of these but are not too good using the computer, I'd be happy to order it for you. Call Anita Elwell at (856) 472-1613.

The Christmas Card List

Submitted by: Chris White There is a list of folks I know All written in a book, And every year at Christmas time I go and take a look. And that is when I realize Those names are all a part Not of the book theyre written in, But deep inside my heart. For each name stands for someone Who has touched my life sometime, And in that meeting theyve become A special friend of mine. I really feel that Im composed Of each remembered name, And my life is so much better Than it was before they came. Once youve known that someone, All the years cannot erase The memory of a pleasant word Or of a friendly face. So never think my Christmas cards Are just a mere routine Of names upon a list that are Forgotten in between. For when I send a Christmas card That is addressed to you, It is because youre on that list Of folks Im indebted to. And whether I have known you For many years or few, The greatest gift that God can give Is having friends like you! -Author Unknown

Shoeless Sunday December 23rd

Come to worship on this morning in your Christmas socks and take off your shoes in the sanctuary in solidarity with children around the world who do not have their basic needs met. Please bring a new pair of shoes to be donated to Buckner Orphanages.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

November Saturday, November 17th Church Clean-up Day Organized by the Trustees Monday, November 19th Session Meeting @ 7:30 pm Wednesday, November 21st Thanksgiving Eve Service, 7:30 pm We will host this years Thanksgiving Eve Service. Mike Chapman will be preaching and there will be special music by the Aldine Church Choir. We will also share in communion together. December Sunday, December 2nd Hanging of the Greens Immediately following Sunday School from 12:15 pm to approx. 1:30 pm. Monday, December 3rd Deacons Meeting @ 7:30 Sunday, December 9th Holiday House Tour, 3-5 pm Monday, December 10th Trustees Meeting @ 7:30 Monday, December 10th Ladies Luncheon, 12 noon at the Green Olive. For more information or to RSVP please contact Helen Sickler at 856-769-2066. December 12th Mission Committee Meeting @ 7:30 Sunday, December 16th Christmas Cantata, 7:30 pm Pre-service music will begin at 7 pm. This years cantata will consist of choral and solo Christmas music performed by our choir. December 23rd Shoeless Sunday December 24th Christmas Eve Service, 7:30 pm *****************************************************
Youth Group Sunday evenings from 5 -6 pm Praise Band Rehearsal Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays at 7:30 pm Fall Bible Study Thursday mornings at 9 am in the manse. The gospel of Mark. **Join us for worship every Sunday morning at 10 am* 6