PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Thu 5/25 Session 7PM Personnel 10AM

Fri 5/26 HMPC Book Group 1-3PM

Mon 5/29 Memorial Day-Office is Closed

Sun 6/4 Pentecost

Tue 6/6 Primary Election 6AM-8PM

Sun 6/11 Church Picnic 11AM

Tue 6/13 Mission Meeting 10AM

Sun 6/18 Father’s Day

Sat 7/1-8 Mission Trip to The Eastward

Mission Note: Offering to Support New City Kids in Paterson

The special Pentecost offering on Sunday, June 4, will be split between New City Kids in Paterson (40%) and youth programs in the wider Presbyterian Church USA (60%). See the flyer in this Sunday’s bulletin and the gift envelop on Pentecost Sunday. New City Kids’ after-school music program is changing lives of at-risk youth, as we saw in the video during worship on Sunday, May 14.

Church Picnic

The Session of the HMPC is planning a Church Picnic after service on Sunday, June 11^th in honor of Patricia Pastás for all she has done for our youth program.

The celebration will include a huge salad bar and huge burger bar. We are asking for all to participate by selecting one or more items to fill the salad and burger bar.  This list is posted in the narthex.

This should be a time of great fellowship and fun!

Ḟaithworks

Last week’s scripture reading in John 14:15–21 was the first of four teachings in John’s gospel called the “Farewell Discourse.” In that reading Jesus prepare and encourage the disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit who would comfort and advocate for them in his absence. This week’s reading is the conclusion of Jesus’ farewell teachings, in which Jesus offers a prayer on behalf of the disciples just before his arrest and crucifixion. Our focus Bible story is John 17:1-11. Jesus was concerned for his friends. He knew what was coming and prayed for them. He had cared for them during his time on Earth and entrusted them to God’s care. Jesus asked for protection; protection from temptations, fears, and discouragement. Above all, Jesus wants his friends to stay close to God.

Jesus’ prayer for the disciples offers young people the opportunity to reflect on the role of their own prayers for others. Out of all forms of prayer in the life of the Christian community, prayers offered on behalf of others, intercessory prayers, can be meaningful, enjoyable, and accessible to children and youth. These prayers will encourage the children to discover that they are part of the solution and members of a broader community of care and action. Prayers for others can become an entry point for someone who have not grown up as part of the church community. This week’s session on Jesus’ prayer can help our group to grow in their prayer life and spiritual development. They will be encouraged to pray for others and to know that their prayers are one of the ways they are living out the call to be a follower of Jesus.

All children and youth are welcome to join us for Bible story time and activities on the 2^nd floor after the time of conversation with the pastor. Childcare for children under 5 years old is provided on the 2^nd floor of the church house as well.

Mission At The Eastward Update(MATE) July 1-8

So far I have word from 12 mission team candidates for this year’s trip. If you are planning to go on this trip please send me an email today, so that we can finalize our reservations.  If you know of someone who told you that they want to go, forward this message to them and ask them to reply to revlouie@aol.com.   A fifty dollar deposit is requested to reserve your spot.

All adults attending this year’s trip must have completed a background check as required by the personnel committee of the church. This cannot be done at the last minute.  Please send me your email address and I will send the instructions on how to sign the agreement for the check.  Anyone 13 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The next event on our calendar is the cake auction on Mother’s Day. Make a cake and help to reduce the costs for everyone.  The cakes are received before church on May 14 and the auction is held during the refreshment time.  Bring your friends.    Decorate a cake for your favorite team and show your support of the mission team.

On June 25^th there will a commissioning service for all team members.  This will be held in the High Mountain Church 10AM service.  All participants should make every effort to attend in order to show you thanks for the $350.00 per person support that comes from the church. Please mark your calendars now for this date.  Following the service there will be a meeting for orientation and training for all team members.  Parents are encouraged to stay even of you are no going on the trip.

We leave from the church here in Franklin Lakes on Saturday July 1^st and we return on July 8^th.  We do not work on July 4^th; we join in the celebration of the Farmington community.   The cost per person is $350.00 (if that creates a hardship for you please notify me as we have some scholarship money for youth).  We are also asking every team member to sell shares in the trip.  We will be giving everyone some stock shares to sell after the cake auction.

If you know someone who is hoping to go on this trip but does not receive the church’s newsletter, please copy and paste this announcement to them in an email.

Blessings on your preparations,

Pastor Lou and Laura, your trip leaders

Summer Mission Trip to Maine Saturday July 1^st to Saturday July 8th

Register now.

July 1^st – July 8^th High Mountain Church is once again sponsoring a mission trip.  The trip is under the leadership of Pastor Lou Kilgore.   Laura Peterson and Chris Buckley will be assisting in leadership and co-ordination as we prepare for another year of ministry in Maine. The purpose of the trip is to assist residents of northern Appalachia who are trying to stay in their homes but cannot afford to address many of the bricks and mortar problems that come with independent living.  The families we work with are facing severe challenges of a variety of sorts and we commit to making their homes safer, warmer, and drier.  We build, repair, dig, whatever is needed.  We will be working with a group there call Mission at the Eastward.  It is a Presbyterian mission agency.

There are two aspects of this trip:

1. There is one group that actually takes 8 days of their summer and uses their hands and feet to do the work and build relationships of support with the families. Last year there were 25 who attended. This group is mostly teenagers and young adults and the other adults who help to provide support and encouragement to the youth. This is an intergenerational experience with a priority of the development of the youth.  Adults who attend have the added challenge of relating and engaging in positive ways with teenagers as well as the work they are given to do and taking direction from program directors. The minimum age is 13 for all participants.    If you want to register send an email now to Pastor Lou, revlouie@aol.com or to Chris Buckley, office administrator, chrisbuckley@highmountainpres.org.  A fifty dollar deposit is your reservation and it is nonrefundable.  This trip is open to those who are not from our church but space is limited.  Register now.

Adults (please take special notice) you are welcome at any age with the understanding that the week is challenging physically and emotionally and personally. Not everyone is prepared to travel and spend a week with teenagers in a tightly organized schedule under the direction of the trip leaders.  If you are interested in learning more please send an email to pastor Lou at revlouie@aol.com and let him know that you are interested in going.  We have only participants, no chaperones and no tourists.  Background checks will be required for all adults.

The cost for the week is $350.00 and that includes most of the meals and lodging at the University of Farmington for the week and the building materials and tools needed to do the work and transportation to Maine. If you are planning to go please let us know now as there are many steps to being ready.  A fifty dollar donation is your reservation for the trip and this is nonrefundable.  Please spread the word.  Priority will be given to church families and members, but this is an open trip.

2. There is another group that supports the trip in prayers and financially. This work begins now with praying for those who are making decisions and getting their plans in order to go. There are fund raising events like a cake auction on Mother’s day at High Mountain Church. Some will make the cakes and some will buy them and together we raise support for this work.  We will offer stock shares which can be purchased in various amounts to support the effort.  The actual cost of the trip is $700 per person and we try to raise $350 in donations in order to make it so everyone can afford to go. We have already raised $1,500 dollars.

Please watch for more news and information. Time will go by very quickly so let’s begin the conversation now if you are thinking about being part of this year’s trip.

Pastor Lou, Mission trip Director.

Work With Willie At Habitat Build July 15 !!                 Last year, Willie Araujo and his family visited the church to talk about Habitat when we launched the Fernie Family Build. Since he and his wife needed to serve 400 volunteer hours to qualify for a Habitat House, he was not eligible for the house chosen for our family to sponsor. The Gonzalez family will be moving into 147 Hamilton Avenue when it is completed, hopefully by the end of the year. Since they already have their 400 hours of sweat equity, Willie is able to earn 40 hours from volunteers that work on the Fernie House. He will be volunteering on July 15 on the Hamilton Avenue House. Please consider joining us to assist that day for this win-win opportunity. A maximum of ten workers can participate each day.  Volunteers need to arrive at 7:45 am and work will end at 3:30, with a morning coffee break and an hour lunch time (food and drink to be provided by the family). Volunteers must be 16 to participate.

To sign up, please go to the link provided below. You will need to set up a New Account with a username and password and it will walk you through the sign-up, getting some basic information, and ask you to sign a very important liability waiver. Please sign up for the July15 workday.

https:/fernstrom.phfhg.volunteerhub.com

We are so impressed with the support of so many who have shown an interest in the project and want to be part of our plan to help revitalize Paterson. Donations so far total $47,000. Additional contributions can be mailed to Paterson Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 2585, Paterson, NJ 07509, memo Fernie Family Build, or https://fundly.com/ferniebuild.             The Fernstroms appreciate all who have expressed their encouragement and support of this endeavor.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday

of the month and anyone is invited to

come and discuss the books.

May 26 – When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

May 26 – Alternative Book: The Two Family House by Linda Cohen Laigman

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship

service should be emailed to the church

office. If you would like the community

to pray with you please call the office at

201-891-0511.

HMPC Sunday Servers: Second Quarter 2017