February 2014

Volume XX Issue 2

“In worship, fellowship and service we seek God’s peace as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”

The Madison Methodist The Madison Methodist The Madison Methodist

MessageMessageMessage

The United Methodist Church in Madison

24 Madison Avenue Madison, NJ 07940

“at the corner of Drew University”

church@umcmadison.org www.umcmadison.org

Tel: 973.377.1231

A Message from the Pastor

School. Each week we get students from Madison High

School, members of the church and Drew University and

travel down to Newark. The hope is to establish a two-

way street this spring when the Newark students will visit

us, as well.

We have also started a Conversational English class

with Korean spouses of students at Drew University who

desire to sharpen their English speaking skills. Several

lay members from the church are now part of this

(Continued on page 2)

I spent a weekend with my wife with our daughter and

granddaughter in Boston. My son-in-law was visiting

friends so it gave us a good chance to visit. Boston is a

wonderfully manageable city. It is fairly easy to get

around but confusing to newcomers or visitors like us.

As an old city, many of the neighborhoods were not

prepared for the onslaught of motor cars and therefore

community streets are often one-way. And that is a

challenge. Driving to the next block may be quite an

excursion; go down one street and over two (or over two

and down one), then a left and a left just to get back

where you started.

I like two-way streets. It also presents challenges but

it makes for easier travelling … easier to get where you’re

going.

I am finding Christian ministry (that includes all of us

by the way) over time can become a one-way street. We

are not prepared for future change and getting where we

want to go becomes arduous and difficult. Two-way

streets allow more traffic and communication and growth.

As many of you know we are working on continuing

our tutoring program in Newark at Chancellor Avenue

Finally, Back to a Two-Way Street!

2

Staff & Elected Officers Pastor

Rev. Robb W. Shoaf, Ph.D Student Assistant Pastor

Chelsea Jackson Director of Music & Organist

Susan McAdoo, D.M.A. Director of Christian Education

Peggy Merrick Worship Arts Coordinator

Amanda Rohrs-Dodge Admin/Editor Linda Langstaff Sexton Marlice Borecki

David Green Chair, Church Council Jim Balfe Treasurer David Green Assistant to Treasurer Scot Guempel Financial Secretary Alan Voorhees Finance Chair Gordon Fleming Facility Management Vic Schumacher President, Trustees

Program Facilitators Nurture Ministries

Lisa Moro Outreach Ministries

Jeanne Eisele Witness/Igniting Ministry

Kris Pfeifer Worship Ministries

Lisa Carballo Education/Youth

Peggy Merrick & Chelsea Jackson

Trustees Vic Schumacher Gordon Fleming Mike Kroeger Luke McKinnon Shin-Ok Ha Wade Merrick JoAnn Van Sciver Nori Tadano

Stephanie McCormick

February 2014

United Methodist Women

Two-Way Street

program. And the need is greater than our resources, so

we can use YOUR help.

What makes these ministries exciting for me and for

those involved? We are trying to help others? Surely that

is part of it. Serving others is the fabric of our faith?

Certainly, Christ expects nothing less. But there is some-

thing that makes all the difference; it is a two-way street.

Working with others and giving of ourselves to others is a

blessing we not only give but receive. It allows more

exchange (traffic), communication, growth, and lest I

forget, JOY.

Grace and Peace,

(Continued from page 1)

T he Naomi Circle will be attending the Music at

Noon Series at Morristown United Methodist

Church on Thursday, January 30, when the Heritage

Quartet (two pianos, cello and violin) will be performing.

As always, a delicious soup and salad lunch will follow.

The cost for lunch and the concert is $11. We’ll meet

in the church parking lot at 11:30 a.m. and proceed to

Morristown together. All are welcome to join us.

Contact Laurie Hagerich at 973–377–9407 to let me

know you can come or for further information.

D uring the month of January, as a new year is just

beginning, I often find myself reflecting on where I

have come from while simultaneously looking ahead to

where this new year will take me. It seems I am not the

only one who does this — many of our gospel lessons for

the month of January did the same thing, as they centered

around two themes: the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by

John, and the call of the first disciples to drop everything

and follow Jesus.

Now that we have remembered our baptisms, and

opened our hearts and spirits to the ongoing call God has

for us (something I hope you do each and every day),

there are a few things that we should know. Throughout

February our worship will turn from remembering those

moments in which God named us, claimed us, and called

us to focusing on Jesus’ teachings on how to treat one

another and live as Children of God in this world. So get

your pencils ready (just kidding!) as we learn how to be

the light of the world, who it is we are to love, and just

what those Beatitudes are all about.

Amanda

Worship Notes for February

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J oin us on Monday,

Feb. 3 at 7:15 p.m. as

we begin our study and

discussion of The Heart

of Christianity: Redis-

covering a Life of Faith

by Marcus J. Borg.

The book provides a

new way of looking at

and understanding the

Christian faith for our

day and time by one of

the most renowned Bibli-

cal scholars of our day.

The group will meet weekly from 7:15–8:30 p.m. on

Monday evenings through March 3. Please let Robb know

if you would like to attend and need a copy of the book.

Other News ... Bits and briefs

February 2014

Conversation Partners Needed for

Conversational English Group

O n Jan. 13, several church members met here at the

church with members of the Korean student com-

munity at Drew to help them with conversational English.

The group is composed of Koren-speaking spouses of

Drew seminary students and their young children.

This first meeting was very enjoyable and useful for

all, and the group is continuing to meet each week on

Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

We have a need for more volunteers to serve as

conversation partners in this ministry. Please contact

Robb (rwshoaf@verizon.net) if you are able to help.

T he Gateway North District Day of Learning will be

Saturday, Feb. 8, at Morrow Memorial UMC (600

Ridgewood Road, Maplewood). Registration begins at

8:30 a.m. and worship starts at 9 a.m. The day concludes

with lunch at 1 p.m. Some of the workshops offered are:

Have We Lost Them? Why young people are

leaving the church (disconnection, irrelevance, dis-

comfort, perceptions, etc.) and how to address this.

United Methodist Women: Faith Hope and Love

in Action - UMW mission projects and initiatives.

Laity: Understanding Your Role: How to develop

leaders, how to be spiritually engaged, and to work

effectively with your pastor.

Growing Youth Ministry through Mission: Ways

to get a youth mission ministry started or expanded.

Mission ministry for youth is a great entry point into

the church, and to deeper involvement and faith.

Vital Small Groups: Whatever the size of the

church, you can be equipped to initiate small group

ministry, bringing together church and community.

New Small Group Study

Begins Feb. 3

District Day of Learning is Feb. 8

Anniversary Sunday Is February 23

W e will celebrate our local heritage on Sunday, Feb.

23 with recognition of members who entered the

Church Triumphant last year, memorial and special gifts,

and recognition of 10- through 50-plus-year members.

Our church was organized on February 27, 1843.

Please join us on Feb. 23 to celebrate our 171st year!

O ffering envelopes for 2014 are in the Sanctuary for

you to pick up. If you have not been assigned offer-

ing envelopes and would like to start using them for your

weekly giving, please contact the church office. Your use

of envelopes is greatly appreciated by our counters!

2014 Offering Envelopes

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February 2014

March Newsletter Deadline: Feb. 19

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour

3 10:30 am Conversational English Class

3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA

4 1 pm Women’s Spirituality Group 7:30 pm Trustees 8 pm AA

5

6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA

6 8 pm Chancel Choir

7

8

9 8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour

10 10:30 am Conversational English Class

3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA

11 8 pm AA

12 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA

13 8 pm Chancel Choir

14

15

16

8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour

17 Presidents

Day Office Closed 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA

18

1 pm Women’s Spirituality Group 7:30 pm Church Council 8 pm AA

19 Newsletter

Deadline 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA

20 12:30 pm Worship Meeting 8 pm Chancel Choir

21

22

23 Anniversary Sunday

8:30 am Early Service 10 am Family Worship & Sunday School 11:15 am Coffee Hour Church Council

24 10:30 am Conversational English Class

3 pm Tutoring 7:15 pm Book Study 8 pm AA

25 8 pm AA

26 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast 8 pm AA

27 8 pm Chancel Choir

28

5

H ello Everyone!

I hope your New Year is off to a good start and you

are staying warm!

I want to remind everyone that the youth will be

participating in Souper Bowl of Caring this Sunday, Feb.

2. They will be collecting monetary donations for Market

Street Mission after the 10 a.m. worship service.

Although monetary donations are preferred, cans of soup

are also welcome!

On Sunday, Jan. 26, we held a Youth Council meeting

to discuss upcoming youth projects and fundraising. The

biggest project we are planning is a “Stop Hunger Now”

event. The youth are teaming up with our Outreach

Ministry Team and others in the community to hold this

meal packaging event in the spring. I will continue to

provide details as they come, but for now, know that big

things are happening!

We also discussed smaller projects and taking local

mission trips to Boston and the Jersey shore, and brain-

stormed fundraising plans for these trips. If you would

like more information about youth events or the meeting,

please contact me.

Lastly, the confirmation class is at its halfway mark,

and I would like to thank both the students and congrega-

tion members who have helped with the confirmation

process thus far. These kids are dedicated to the process,

and have done an outstanding job, and we could not have

a successful program without the support of the church.

Thank you!

If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns please

do not hesitate to contact me, and have a happy February!

In Peace,

Chelsea

February 2014

Sunday School

News It’s Time for the Super Bowl

and the “Souper Bowl of Caring,” Sunday, Feb. 2!

Our “Teens Take Charge” will man the entrances to

the Sanctuary, holding soup pots. They will be collecting

dollars to donate to the

Market Street Mission.

This effort is a national

event that churches across

the country will be par-

ticipating in on Super

Bowl Sunday. It’s a great

opportunity to remember

those who are hungry as

we root for our favorite

teams. Total amounts are

called in to a central loca-

tion and the total amount collected nationwide will be

announced during the Super Bowl game.

Confirmands Become Student Teachers!

Our Confirmation students will prepare to take over

the Sunday school classes on Sunday, February 9! I will

be preparing them for this opportunity the previous

Sunday, Feb 2, during their class time. Confirmands tradi-

tionally have been given the opportunity to teach Sunday

school upon completion of Confirmation. As part of their

curriculum, they will have two opportunities to test the

waters of teaching. The next opportunity will be in the

spring. Preparation will give them practical applications

and organization skills for any presentation they may

make, but especially for teaching a lesson.

The Sunday School program will continue in a normal

pattern throughout the rest of the month.

Peggy Merrick

From the

Student Assistant Pastor

W e will begin our Lenten

Journey on Ash Wednesday,

March 5. As we’ve done in the past, a

Pizza Dinner will be offered at 6:15

p.m. in the church library. At 7 p.m. a

family-friendly service of worship

and imposition of ashes will be held

in the Sanctuary.

Please join us for this meaningful time in the life of

our church family.

Lent Begins March 5

Interfaith Food Pantry

Current Needs

The Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry is distribut-

ing approximately 1.7 tons of food per day. The following

items are particularly needed at this time:

Rice (1 or 2 pound size)

Parmalat (shelf-stable, 32 oz. size)

Dry Milk (1 quart package)

Tuna Fish

Canned meats and meals

Soups (regular, hearty and low-sodium)

Canned Fruit

Canned Beans (Pork & Beans, Pinto, Red, White, Black)

Ensure and Glucerna

Baby Food (Stage 1, Stage 3 fruits and vegetables)

6

T hank you for your generous support of the Advent/

Christmas Offering. The donations totaled $3,630

and supported two disaster relief and recovery organiza-

tions, one local and one global.

A Future with Hope (AFWH) has been established as

a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency for relief, recovery and resto-

ration efforts within New Jersey. It was set up to manage

the grants received by the Greater New Jersey Annual

Conference following SuperStorm Sandy. Through

collaboration with civic and faith-based partners, AFWH

will work with families, community leaders and national

organizations to further the recovery efforts.

UMCOR International Disaster Response in the

Philippines—Typhoon

Haiyan Relief: Advance

#982450 is part of the

global mission ministries

of UMC. The devastating

Typhoon Haiyan in the

Philippines inspired our

choice for this outreach

effort.

Typhoon Haiyan damaged or destroyed more than one

million homes, disrupting the lives of more than 12

million people across the Philippines. It was the deadliest

typhoon to ever strike the country. UMCOR has been

continuously involved in providing assistance in the form

of emergency food supplies, health kits and water for

those affected. UMCOR forms partnerships such as one in

the Philippines with Dambana, an ecumenical disaster

relief organization whose name literally means “altar.”

Their effort will continue throughout 2014 and expand to

include psychosocial support, reconstruction or rehabilita-

tion of housing.

Syria: UMCOR relief with refugees International aid agencies believe that refugees from

Syria seeking shelter in neighboring countries totaled

three million by the end of 2013. An estimated one mil-

lion Syrians have taken refuge in Turkey. One refugee

site in the city of Kilis, with a normal population of just

88,000, has swelled with the addition of 70,000 refugees.

As part of the relief effort, UMCOR is supporting a

special program to provide refugee children with opportu-

nities to play and interact and learn. The program, known

as “Child-Friendly Spaces” (CFS), is implemented by

UMCOR’s Turkey-based partner, International Blue

Crescent (IBC) and provides a combination of informal

schooling along with emotional, psychological and health

February 2014

Advent/Christmas Offering Report

OUTREACH MINISTRY TEAM Honoring God’s gift of Jesus by sharing with others

care. UMCOR’s assistance ensures that the children get to

enjoy daytime snacks in addition to two meals.

Supporting about 600 children now, UMCOR is

actively considering extending the much-needed Child-

Friendly Spaces program in both time and scope.

Other Outreach News SAVE THE DATE! March 29, 2014:

Gateway North District Volunteer Day

Saturday, March 29 is planned as a Gateway North

District Volunteer Day to Help Sandy Victims move back

into their homes! Please mark your calendars and plan on

joining a team from our church as we join others from

across our district to help rebuild and restore homes in

New Jersey communities.

If you are interested, please email Jeanne Eisele

(jeisele@att.net) or Rev. Shoaf (rwshoaf@verizon.net).

More specifics about the day will follow.

Chancellor Avenue School Tutoring Rev. Shoaf has spearheaded the effort to continue the

tutoring relationship with students at Chancellor Avenue

School in Newark. The students began coming to

Madison for tutoring through SCEEP when they were

second or third graders and are now in seventh grade!

While our relationship with PCCI/SCEEP ended this

past spring, Rev. Shoaf met with Jose Fuentes, Principal

at Chancellor, and together they made sure the students

would be able to receive the extra help from UMC in

Madison and our dedicated tutors, who travel each Mon-

day afternoon to spend time in learning activities. There is

an effort underway to begin transporting the students to

Madison for some of their sessions. Many thanks to Rev.

Shoaf for his dedication to this crucial ministry.

In Christ’s service,

Jeanne Eisele

Outreach Ministry

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Ellie Miller Family of Jane Ochs

Brandon Cicogna Family of Margaret Walling

Family of Dotty Scott Charlene Hanson

Family of Jess Merrick Gita Kandalavala

Our Church Family People we remembered in prayer

February 2014

Known Birthdays in February

Vivienne Camilla Bull

Megan DiNorscio

Drew Galton

Jennifer Hitchcock

Katie McCarter

Kristen Paddack

Aubrey Mae Pasciak

Katelyn Grace Pasciak

Emily Pierro

Emily Scaturo

Daryl Anthony Vanella

Jill Van Hook

Elizabeth Van Sciver

T hanks to everyone who contributed Angel Tree gifts

for the Family Promise guests currently in the

shelter. The gifts were wrapped by youth from our church

and delivered by Jeanne Eisele in plenty of time for

Christmas enjoyment at the Family Promise Holiday

Party on Dec. 18.

Family Promise is still seeking help in providing

“Wish List” items, which go to families in shelter,

families who have moved into their own homes and into

Abigail House, the Transitional Housing Program. The

“Wish List” is posted on the bulletin board in the church

library, and any contributions will be greatly appreciated.

These items will be a big help to families impacted by the

recent food stamp cuts and other financial hardships.

Our time to help with the families hosted at St.

Vincent Martyr Church during the week of Feb. 16 will

be here very soon. Some volunteers have already signed

up, but a few more are needed. The times our church is

responsible for are:

Friday, Feb. 21

5:30–7 p.m. – 2 or 3 volunteers to provide dinner

7–9 p.m. – 2 volunteers to provide companionship

9 p.m. – 8 a.m. – overnight volunteers are needed

Saturday, February 22

11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. – 2 volunteers to provide

companionship and help with lunch

Family Promise’s Winter newsletter has lots of en-

couraging news about the families, the staff and facilities.

Through a partnership with Liquid Church, life-changing

improvements have been made to Family Promises Day

Center/offices, including a new shed, landscaping, patio,

new washer and dryer, reorganization of the garage and

Wish List items. Construction work is being completed on

the Day Center’s family room renovation project through

a partnership with Morris Habitat for Humanity. Work

crews are busy three days a week at the site to complete

the project. The full newsletter can be accessed at

www.familypromisemorris.org.

The Family Promise annual Volunteer Recognition

Dinner will be held on Thursday, March 20, 6 – 9 p.m., at

Meadow Wood Manor, 461 Route 10 East, in Randolph.

This is always a good time of food and fellowship for the

volunteers and families, so please save the date now.

Please call, email or see me in church if you are able

to help during our week in February or would like more

information.

Laurie Hagerich, Coordinator

973–377–9407

hager1@optonline.net

News from

Family Promise

Fair Trade Coffee Sale — Feb. 2

During coffee hour in the church library

Scriptures for Sundays February 2: Micah 6:1–8, Psalm 15,

1 Corinthians 1:18–31, Matthew 5:1–12

February 9: Isaiah 58:1–12, Psalm 112:1–10,

1 Corinthians 2:1–12, Matthew 5:13–20

February 16: Deuteronomy 30:15–20, Psalm 119:1–8,

1 Corinthians 3:1–9, Matthew 5:21–37

February 23: Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18, Psalm 119:33–40,

1 Corinthians 3:10–23, Matthew 5:38–48

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Worship Schedule

Early Morning Worship 8:30 a.m.

Family Worship & Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers.

Coffee and Fellowship 11:15 a.m.

Coming Up: February 3 Book Study Begins, 7:15 p.m.

February 9 Mustard Seeds Pancake Fundraiser

February 16 Teens Take Charge meets

February 23 Anniversary Sunday, Church Council Meeting

March 5 Ash Wednesday—Lent Begins

Check our website for more information: www.umcmadison.org

Just for fun...

A Pastor Explains Why He Quit Going to Sporting Events

1. The coach never came to visit me.

2. Every time I went, they asked for money.

3. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.

4. The seats were very hard.

5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.

6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!

7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.

8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.

9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway.

12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

13. The game was always the same and they followed the same rules every time.

Enjoy the Super Bowl and please contribute to the Souper Bowl of Caring

conducted by the Youth on Sunday, February 2!