Sparta Notes: May 2007

The First Presbyterian Church 32 Main Street , Sparta , NJ 07871 (973) 729-6197
Fax:(973) 729-1638 email: fpcchurc@ fpcsparta.org

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Litteer
Christ Line: 729-3900 (A 2-minute meditation & prayer available 24 hours a day.)
Internet Prayer Vine through our Website
Youth Line: 729-8888 Youth Activities

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SCHEDULE
8:30 & 11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Services,
9:00 a.m. Special Needs Service in the Church Parlor
Sanctuary 9:40 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service,
Sanctuary 9:30 a.m. PYRO “All” Youth Service, Pehrson Hall

Worship services are broadcast into the Fellowship Room (Outside the Nursery) as well as
live over the internet and recorded Media Center

Nursery care (located one level below the Sanctuary) is available for all Sunday services.
Missed a service? They are all recorded.

TO PARENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN

Reminder that you can go downstairs to the Fellowship Room outside the Nursery (if you would feel more comfortable being near your child/children) where you can watch the broadcast of the service on T.V.

   See the Pastors Corner for this month's message from Tom.

ADULT EDUCATION To get the latest Adult Studies Schedule, pick up our brochure on the table in the Narthex (Church foyer) or the bulletin board in the Community Rooms or check out fpcsparta.org “adult small groups”. THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS Paul was really angry with the Galatians: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you” (1:6); “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (3:1); “I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you” (4:11); “What has happened to all your joy?” (4:15); “I am perplexed about you!” (4:20); “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” (5:7). The Galatians had become confused and misguided by those who pressured them to be circumcised in order to become Christians, as if obedience to any law was what initiated one into the Body of Christ. Paul made clear that Christ died for them, and it was thus pure Grace that allowed anyone to have any standing with God at all. This setting right our relationship with God was not an achievement by any human, but a Rescue operation from on High! Paul then lists the fruits of the Spirit in 5:22-23. These are not “works” that come through achievement, but they are the fruits of a life that has surrendered to the Spirit of God. When the Spirit of God is allowed to reign in our lives, the inevitable result is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All this comes from God, not ourselves. But Paul doesn’t stop there. In two parts of his letter, both near the end, he uses the same phrase twice, and they build on each other. The context is that circumcision means nothing in the context of coming to the faith. What follows that comment in each of these two cases is possibly the most important part of Paul’s entire letter. 1) “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (5:6); and 2) “What counts is a new creation” (6:16). Basically this ends the letter. What a wonderful summary of what it means to be a follower of Christ! How could anyone be any more articulate about what a Christian looks like than this – Faith expressing itself through love. The result of such an endeavor is this: You are a new creation. This isn’t an achievement through disciplined obedience. It’s the pure joy that comes in surrendering to God through Christ Jesus our Lord.   Dan McEver, Director of Spiritual Development, email. more on small groups

HOW ARE WE DOING? (through March 2007)
($000)               2006       2007      Plan    Variance
Income              208.1       231.6     224.8      6.8
Expenses          221.2       221.3     222.3      1.0
Cash position    ( 13.1)        10.3        2.4       7.8
Both Income and Expenses are slightly better than plan, resulting in a healthy financial outlook.

MARCH SESSION HI-LITES (2007

• Session received the report from the Worship survey task force, and have asked that this group reconvene and return to Session with detailed recommendations.
• Pastor Tom reported on his experience visiting Florida prisons with Tony Loeffler and his band. Session approved plans for Tony and band to appear in concert at FPCS on May 20 in a fund raising effort for this ministry.
• FPCS will be involved in the Global Days of prayer May 17-27, details forthcoming.
• Property outlined the details of the situation regarding the church oil tanks.  This information will be shared with the congregation in an effort to raise the $20K needed –and thus avoid using endowment funds—to replace the tanks.

OUR PRAYER MINISTRY IS STILL“BUZZING” more
Our “beeper ministry” lets those in our church family know of our prayers.  Please pray for and then call:
Diane (cancer) 209-3026, Susan B. 1-888-250-6129, Brenda L. (health) 209-3036, and Sean (encouragement) 209-5716, Harriet L. (cancer) 209-5373. Follow the prompt. It’s as simple as that. They will be beeped and know that someone has just prayed for them. Please pray for everyone on this list. The knowledge that someone has thought to pray for them is invaluable!

2006 IHN Guest Information schedule and volunteer
In 2006, IHN volunteers helped to shelter 87 homeless individuals: 21 families; 33 children; 17 single women; 14 families and 6 singles moved into homes; 11 families helped through Supported Housing Program. SHP spent $7007.50 to help families. God Bless - IHN committee

Home Repair Ministry
A new ministry is taking root. It began over a year ago when a group from our church traveled to Mississippi to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Since then they have worked on homes of local people in need – a wheelchair ramp for a handicapped man, a roof for a single mother. Now another project has caught their attention, a disabled Vietnam veteran whose home was severely damaged by a flood in 2000. The deacons are dedicating their communion collection on May 6 to this cause. If you would like to contribute, please send your donation (checks payable to FPC) to the church & note “Frank’s House”.  If you have questions, please contact Diane in the Church Office (973/729-6197).  Thank you.

MISSION CARD SHOP IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM
Now available: Nurse’s Day (May 6th), Mother’s Day (May 13th), graduation cards. Shop early for the best selection! All proceeds go to Missions.

Our Church Family
Birth: April 1: Nathan Jones son to Brian & Jodi, Grandparents Bill & Jean Jones.
Marriage: April 7: Diane Smart & James Schilling, Jr.
Death: April 10: Crystal Hamilton

The First Presbyterian Church of Sparta of NJ
Women’s Retreat
Saturday, May 19, 2007
8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
“And now these three remain:
Faith, Hope and Love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

A full day is planned with activities, music, speakers and videos.
Registration begins with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.  Lunch will be served at noon, dinner at 6:15 p.m. and we end by 8:30 p.m. The morning session will be a message on video from Anne Graham Lotz, “Hope”, based on Revelation 21. The early afternoon session will be with our own Cathy Boon speaking on “Intimacy, life with the Lord as a journey, not a destination.”  Other video sessions will be from Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer.  We will also have small group sessions and a prayer “walk”. Please plan to attend on this day where we connect with our sisters in Christ, grow deeper in His Word and spend time in praise and prayer and loving on each other. Pre-register at the Church Office or contact Connie K. by May 13.  Lunch and dinner are included in the price of $15.

To: The Congregation
From : Brent DeFeo, Property Council Chair
Subject: Underground Oil Storage Tank Remediation Update

We are continuing to evaluate several proposals for the removal and replacement of the church’s three underground fuel oil storage tanks. Shortly, we will award a contract to one of the bidders and immediately initiate remediation work.

There have been some generous contributions from several congregation members, as well as offers of no-charge excavation services and even a potential gift of some replacement above-ground storage tanks. However, we are still several thousand dollars short of the necessary funds so please prayerfully consider making a donation in this cause. Please note “Oil Tanks” on the Special Offering Envelope found in the pew racks and on the memo portion of your check.

Thank you for your continuing interest and support. We will keep the congregation informed on this important issue as work progresses.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL- JULY 9th  - 13th     9:00-12:00 more
Mark your calendars now for this year’s VBS. Take the Plunge and Make a Splash with Jesus! Don’t miss out on one of the best times you will have this summer! Registration for ages 4yrs-5th grades will begin in May. Check the web and bulletin for updates. You can volunteer to help now by contacting Sue Hughes at (973)579-3928, sue.hughes@earthlink.net. If you can help in any of these areas, have helped in the past and would like to volunteer for the same area again, or have any questions as to what you can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact us. Pray that God will give us wisdom in planning, send the right volunteers, and begin to work in the hearts of the children and staff who will attend this year’s VBS.

Some areas where help is needed are as follows:

• Leader for Elementary Games: Coordinate and oversee the outdoor games for elementary aged kids. Game ideas will be provided.
• Leader for PreK Games: Supervise pre-school aged kids for outdoor activities. The playground will be available for daily use and simple game ideas and activities will be provided.
• Leader for PreK Lifespring Lagoon: Prepare simple demonstrations and do workbook page with children that reinforce the Bible lesson.
• Leader for PreK Daily Bible Lesson: Teach pre-school aged children the daily Bible lesson.   
• Assistant for PreK Bible Lesson: Help the pre-school Bible leader with short puppet skits.
• Crew leaders for PreK & Elementary: Along with 2 or 3 others, supervise and shepherd kids to each of their daily activities.
• Nursery Staff: People to work in the nursery to care for young children of other VBS volunteers.

Donate, Loan or Help with Decorations: Please check your attics, garages, basements, and closets for items that can be donated or loaned to us for a Water Park theme. These could include inflatable rafts, balls, and tubes. We could also use swim masks, flippers, beach towels, and water noodles just to name a few other ideas. Don’t have any items for decorations; come help decorate Pehrson Hall for the Big Plunge! more

PW NEWS pw pages
Monthly Gathering
Please note change of date:Thursday, May 17th,Noon in the Community Rooms
We invite you to join us for our May meeting. The meeting date has been changed to the third Thursday in May because of the rummage sale on May 10th. Our special guest speaker will be Dorothy Knauer, Executive Director of the Protestant Community Center, Inc. She will speak about the program of PCCI. Our church has been actively involved in their programs and has provided support for many years. Dorothy Knauer was scheduled to speak at our April meeting which was postponed because of inclement weather. Bring a friend to join us for this special meeting. Please bring your own sandwich. Dessert and beverages will be provided. We invite you to be with us as we enjoy Christian fellowship, devotions, and the program.
The next PW Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 17th at 10 a.m.

MAY MEETINGS
“WRAPPED IN LOVE” CIRCLE May 2nd & 16th at 10 a.m.
We invite you to join us as we work on quilts for children who are seriously ill, as well as our prayer shawls. If any of you would like to work on one at home, please let us know. PW will provide yarn & materials for shawls & quilts. We are in constant need of prayer shawls so please join us in this ministry. These are projects that enable us to reach out with the love of Christ & wrap others in His love. Many prayer shawls have been made & given to those whom we wanted to wrap in God’s love & ours. We invite anyone who would like to learn to quilt or knit to join us. Call Helen Reigstad if you have questions.
BOOK CIRCLE Thursday, May 10th 7:30 p.m. at the home of Ann Muyskens   
If you enjoy reading, please join us for this monthly time of discussion & fellowship. Our book for May is Dwelling Places by Vinita Wright. Books are available at the Sparta Book Store at a 10% discount for book groups. Call Mary Krejci (729-6876) or Frankie Smith (729-7523) for further information
“BAD GIRLS of the BIBLE” STUDY CIRCLE Tuesday, May 15th 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the CR’s
German night! We invite you to be with us for different kinds of sausages & salads. We will cover chapters 6 & 7 in our study, Unveiling Mary Magdalene. Please bring shower gel for our monthly Teen Challenge project. Join the fun with the Study Circle for dinner and fellowship. Bring a friend!  Reservations for dinner ($5 donation) are requested. Please call Gail Shawger by May 13th to make your reservation. (729-5901).
DEBORAH CIRCLE CHANGE OF DATE Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in the Library
For the month of May only, our meeting date will be a week later. Our Bible Study continues from PW’s “Horizons”, In the Beginning- Perspectives on Genesis”. Join us as we consider several chapters from Genesis on Matriarchs Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel. Our study will center on how our God works in mysterious ways, not necessarily the expected way. You are welcome to join us for any of our studies. Call Ann Muyskens (726-0704) for more information.
ELIZABETH CIRCLE Thursday, May 24, 2007, at noon in the Community Rooms
We invite you to be with us as we join together in Christian fellowship as we enjoy lunch, devotions, and program. Please bring your own sandwich and dessert. Beverages will be provided. Contact Carolyn Strombeck (729-7885) or Addie Dimmick (729-6040) for further information.

The students have been working very hard & the Lord is blessing our outreach. It will be on May 4th 7:30-10:30 p.m. at Mohawk Ave. School & is called The ‘12’ Concert. We have the last 3 years winners of the Battle of the Bands at Autumn Blaze performing & are excited to have ex NY Giant Lee Rouson doing the alter call at the end of the evening. We are also blessed that Teen Challenge will be involved. The fundraising efforts have gone well. We have raised $1300.00 of the $3000.00 we need & believe that the Lord will provide every penny needed to cover the expenses. We still have the following needs & would appreciate your prayerful consideration about donating to fill these needs: Prayer support, Adults to help, Promotion of the event, Giveaways and gift cards, Food items
For His Kingdom,
David LaTorre, Julia Sanford & Tippy Kayal

• PYRO youth worship services on Sunday mornings at 9:40 am in Pehrson Hall.
• Youth Fellowship: Sundays Jr. High meets 5-6:30pm & Sr. High from 6:30-8:00.
• SPARK: K - 5th grades, 5:00-6:30pm in Pehrson Hall, 5/7 & Year end party on 5/21.
• House of Mercy Mission Soup Kitchen: 2nd & 3rd Saturdays 9am-3pm.
• Brookside Terrace 1st & 4th Thursdays for worship: 1st with Water’s Edge from 6:30-7:30pm & the 4th with Worship Team from 7-8pm.
• FCA/Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Fridays at 6:30am in Rm. #128 at SHS.
• Bible study: at Simmons’ home last Friday of each month from 7:30-10:00pm. Contact them at (973)579-6017 for more information.
• Internet Bible studies: Email Bruce Piper tourteamtravel@yahoo.com, daily study of scripture & a couple of questions.
• GOG: Sundays 11:15-12:30pm in Upper Room 1.
• Guys Study: Sundays 11:15-12:30pm in Dave’s Office led by Lenny Palumbo on King David.
• W.E. rehearsals: Thursdays 5:00pm. All musical skills are welcome - join the band or work on the tech team. LET US KNOW EVEN IF THURSDAY’S ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
• Confirmation classes Sundays at 8:45am.

• 5/2 & 3: Cooking for the ‘12’ 3-6:30pm. Baked items will be given out at the concert.
• 5/4 ‘12’ 7:30-10:30pm at Mohawk Ave. School. Our students are hard at work putting together this outreach to speak truth & healing to their troubled friends.
• 5/6 Rummage Sale Set-up at 11am in Pehrson Hall after PYRO.
• 5/6 Girls Outreach in Paterson.
• 5/12 Rummage Sale Clean-up 11:30am.
• 5/12: Teen Movie Night, Pehrson Hall 6:30-9pm. Bring $2 for pizza, soda machine on premises. Now playing: Night at the Museum  Rated PG.
• 5/19 House of Mercy with youth from 4 Corners Church
• 5/20 Tony Leffler 6:30-8:30pm in the Sanctuary– NO FELLOWSHIP – we will attend the concert.
• 5/27 No Fellowship – HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.

May Birthdays
5/1 Glenn Murray, Susan Bothfeld
5/2 Constance Heckenberger, Christopher Boon, Nicole Decker, Andrew Gagnon, Nicholas Decker, Parker Sokol
5/3 Mary Ann Malinski, Carly Steinetz
5/4 Ruth Rhodes, Denise Morrell, Amanda Pontzer, Joey Lopes, Michael Luzzi
5/5 William Lumley, Doris Roberts, Lisa Steiner, Sydney Dillon
5/6 William Hunter, Gloria Philhower
5/7 Mary Sallemi, Lee Dykstra, Krista Koch
5/8 Vera Lally, Fred Salmon
5/9 Frances Smith, Trevor Morrow, Jared Kish
5/10 Jay So
5/11 Elizabeth Milliken, Kevin Hughes, Logan Hollar, Garrett Hollar, Stephen Osborn
5/12 Chelsea Matiash
5/13 Cheryl Pittenger, Wallace McGahey
5/14 Taylor Morrison, Peter Soldano
5/15 Barb LaTorre, Jamie Clapa, Lori Ogden, Mark Fagersten, Christina Lombreglia, Ella Simmons
5/16 Doreen Berg, Ariana Griswold, Matthew Behrendt, Vincent Lally, Madeline McGuire, Zachery Butera
5/17 Zachary Kayal
5/18 Sandra Foley, Alberta Pierce, Joey Earl, Parker Hein
5/19 Adaline Dimmick, Louise Karl, Bill Jones
5/20 William Schwint, Beverly Cobb, Robert Kerr
5/21 Peter Sallemi, Kim Good, John Finkeldie
5/22 Susan Hughes, Thomas Alheidt
5/23 Charles Laws, Brendan Cunningham
5/24 Jack Larson, Nichola Redmond, Tracy Lacopo, Ryan Kerr
5/25 Cindy Miers
5/26 Susan Jankowitz, Todd Matarazzo, Karen Ellsworth, Amanda Rivera, Brandon Foley
5/27 Marjory Robinson, Martha Eidam, Mark Patalive, Robert Koch
5/28 Laura Dohrman, John Grau, Gordon Morrison, Joey Ayrey
5/29 Natalie Manz, Bonnie Marvil, Carl (Bud) Luthman, Trey Mudrick
5/30 Stephen (Jr.) Mattera, Alex Milliken
5/31 Ryan Snyder

If your birthday is this month & not listed
please call the Church Office and tell us at 729-6197.