1. Art and Diseño

The Colts Neck Reformed Church
HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTRIES~
by Dana Eugenio
The Daniel Plan will begin the week of February 22nd!
For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us
timid; instead, His Spirit fills us with power, love, and selfcontrol. 2 Timothy 1:7
Come and participate in this wonderful journey. The
Daniel Plan is a 6-week Wellness Program that
encourages a life of faith-based wellness. The
“essentials” of the program are: Faith, Food, Fitness,
Focus and Friends. Meetings begin the week of February
22nd with gatherings on Sundays (12:30—1:30 p.m.),
Mondays (9:00—10:00 a.m.) and Wednesdays (5:30—6:30
p.m. and 6:30—7:30 p.m.) — all gatherings are held in the
Ministry Center Conference Room.
If you missed the Daniel plan last year, now is the time to
(Continued on page 4, see Daniel Plan)
OUR LIBRARY SHOWCASES OUR ARTISTS!
by Debi Jensen
Have you noticed all of the exciting exhibits that have
been in our church library this past year? The library is in
the Community Center at the top of the south stairs as
you enter Fellowship Hall. It is maintained by our
volunteer librarian, Marjorie Smith. Marjorie does so much
more than keep the library organized and catalog new
books. She has turned the library into a space where the
talented artists of our congregation can showcase their
works.
To date, we have seen boats built by Charlie Roden, a
(Continued on page 4, see Library)
NEW MEMBER CLASSES OFFERED~
Interested in joining the church or learning more about
us? We will offer New Member classes on Sunday,
February 8th, from 2:00—4:30 p.m. and Monday,
February 9th, from 7:00—9:00 p.m. in the Ministry
Center Conference Room. If you are interested in
becoming a member we ask that you attend one of these
classes where Rev. Scott Brown and Rev. Jeff Knol will
talk about the history of CNRC and
what it means to be a member. Childcare will be provided if requested
ahead of time. If you are interested in
attending one of these classes
please contact Dianne O'Hara at 732-462-4555, x112 or
[[email protected]] to register.
February 2015
JUBILATION! TO PRESENT RESCUE 101
Sunday, February 22nd
After returning from their trip to Michigan (see related article
on page 6 of the newsletter), our Jubilation! choir will present
their musical Rescue 101 on Sunday, February 22nd at
both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.
Through music and drama, Rescue 101 deals with difficult
topics for today's tough and sometimes frightening high
school student world, and in the world at large. Rescue
101 confronts these issues head-on with questions and
answers designed to help begin healing, and aid
prevention, of these disturbing trends that we face as
Christians living “in the world” but not “of the world.”
Our Jubilation! choir consists of 25
members in grades seven through
twelve, and is co-directed by Jeff Brown
and Maggie Tripold. Alyssa Cantin
Giles, a member of our congregation,
has also been working with these teens
for several weeks on staging and
choreography. The musical Rescue 101
will be accompanied by Ray Gray on
guitar and Kevin Cerny on drums.
Inside This Issue
Focus on Faith, by Scott D. Brown
Page 2
Online Giving / Who Am I?
Finances / Consistory News
Page 3
Health and Wellness / Habitat News
Page 4
Meet our Newest Members / Mission
Page 5
Music and Worship Arts
Page 6
Youth News / Youth Sunday
Is There Church When it Snows?
Page 7
CPR Training / Nursery School news
Page 8
Church School Chatter / ND4K
Page 9
News and Notes
Page 10
Community and Fellowship
Page 11
February Worship Schedule
Page 12
February Calendar
Insert
Page 2
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
FOCUS ON FAITH
Dear Friends,
Growing our children to be
adults-of-faith is so important…
and so challenging.
Results of a landmark study of
youth and religion have just
been published. While there are
no guarantees (certainly, there
are families of deep faith whose
child grows apart from God and
conversely families who are religiously unaffiliated who have a
child who develops a close walk with Jesus) the study says
that, far and away, the most significant influence of keeping
faith in the transition from adolescence to adulthood are
parents who talk about faith at home. Other factors, such as
youth ministry, clergy, service projects or religious schools
pale in comparison. I was struck by how the study repeated
the theme that nothing else “comes remotely close to
matching the influence of parents on the religious faith and
practices of youth.”
Yet more often, I see two things occurring. First – parents,
perhaps out of feelings of inadequacy, turn their children
over to “experts” feeling that faith formation is the responsibility of church school teachers, clergy, confirmation class
Colts Neck
and youth group. I find, however, that the church and its
leadership have fewer and fewer hours of contact with youth
as a plethora of activities compete for time and attention.
Especially compared with sports, church activities typically
are given second (or third, or fourth) place in prioritization.
Even if that weren’t the case, parents need to step up their
role in faith formation. Secondly – parents opt out, thinking
that it’s too forceful to tell their child what they believe is right
and true. Parents want to let their children decide for
themselves. To which I say, “really?” Parents – we need to
not be so wishy-washy! We model all sorts of values, so why
not influence our children towards something that leads to
abundant life now, and to eternal life after death.
So as we enter the season of Lent, seek to make faith-talk a
priority at home. You don’t need to be a theological expert –
you just need to be honest about your own experiences and
thoughts. So journey and grow together. If you haven’t made
it a practice, pray before bedtime or at mealtime. If you have
older children, talk about the sermon; if you have younger
children, ask about their church school lesson. Find ways to
serve others together, engaging in mission and talking about
why you do what you do. As a family, use the devotional
guides the church offers. Model, talk, give, and grow!
May the peace and grace of God guide and bless you,
The Reformed Informer is published monthly by
Reformed Church, 72 County Rd. 537 West, P.O. Box 57, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Church office phone: 732-462-4555 • Nursery school phone: 732-462-4662
Fax: 732-866-9545 • Church e-mail: [email protected] • Website: http://www.coltsneckreformed.org
Church office administrative hours: (Monday — Friday) 8:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
Office Staff
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Scott D. Brown, Minister — Home #732-683-0530
email: [email protected]
Jeffrey D. Knol, Associate Minister—Home #732-252-9998
email: [email protected]
Debi Jensen, Director of Christian Education
email: [email protected]
Maggie Tripold, Director of Music and Worship Arts
email: [email protected]
Dave Tripold, Organist and Senior Choir Director
Dianne O’Hara, Congregational Care Coordinator
email: [email protected]
Pam Licata, Church Secretary/Receptionist
email: [email protected]
Stacey Savage, Director of Early Childhood Ministries
email: [email protected]
Dana Eugenio, Health and Wellness Ministries
email: [email protected]
Joy Lenz, Administrative Assistant, Nursery School Secretary
Betsy Aras, Church Administrator, Newsletter Editor
Consistory
Elders:
Jeanne Sokol ...... Vice-President
Connie Paul ........ Worship
Jane Rappleyea .. Discipleship for Ongoing Ministries
Carol Barnett ....... Long Range Planning/Health & Wellness
Paul Jensen ........ Discipleship for Youth/Young Adults
Deacons:
Chris Weh ........... Clerk
Harry Carter ........ Outreach
Tom Saker .......... Fellowship
Paul MacClellan .. Stewardship & Finance
Bob Gassaway .... Building & Grounds
Clark Petrie ......... Mission
Newsletter Editor: Betsy Aras / Articles are due the 10th of the month
for the following month’s issue. Submissions may be edited.
Email Submissions to: [email protected]
The Reformed Informer
FINANCES EXPLANATION AND UPDATE~
Page 3
ON LINE GIVING IS HERE~
by Greg Robinson
by Scott D. Brown
At the beginning of December, the church was facing a
deficit of approximately $70,000 in its current account.
This does not mean that the church was “out of money” or
in danger of bankruptcy. There are reserves to cover
emergencies, the ebb and flow of giving, as well as some
designated funds for things such as facilities, the nursery
school, and benevolences.
The current account is like a household checking account.
While there are other investments, the current account is
where the day-to-day income and expenses are recorded.
So, as of the beginning of December annual expenses
were higher than income. Some of this is anticipated as
giving in the summer is typically lower than other times of
the year. (Our fiscal year ends June 30th.) Thanks to your
generosity, attention, and care, giving in December was
able to not only meet that month’s expenses, but also
erase the deficit in the current account. Again, thank you.
Please continue to support the church with your giving – it
makes a life-providing difference as we can meet the spiritual needs of many and the benevolent support of those
in critical need.
CONSISTORY MEMBER UPDATE~
Chris Zaccaria, an elder, has been serving in the area of
assimilation. Due to his new job and recent move to Philadelphia, he has needed to resign his consistory post.
Chris writes, “I have been extremely blessed with a loving
and caring church family and feel honored to have been
able to serve on an incredible leadership team. God has
opened new doors for me and I promise to take everything that I have learned from my experiences at CNRC
and put them to good use in my future endeavors, wherever they may lead me. I'd like to extend a special thanks
to each and every one of you for your ever constant care
and support of me through this challenging yet rewarding
time of transition. I could not have done it without you.
God bless all of you and please keep in touch. I hope to
see you all again soon.”
We can give thanks for his leadership, his willingness to
serve God, and now, new opportunities for him. Jeff Knol,
Scott Brown and Dianne O’Hara will be working with the
Nominations Committee to fill this vacancy.
MEMORIAL GIFTS~
Memorial Gifts during the past month have
been given in memory of Betty Thompson,
George Stafford, and Lewis Joline.
On line giving is now available at CNRC! We hope you
will participate. The website is very user-friendly. To get
started:

Access the site using this link:
https://www.skgiving.com/dl/?uid=coltpo203

Select ‘First Time?’ to set up your user email and
password. Please input your envelope number as a
reference.

Log back in, then select ‘Scheduled Giving’

To the right of ‘My Scheduled Giving’, select ‘Use
Check’. You will input all of the pertinent banking
information and amount. In the memo section of the
check, you have the option of selecting one of the
various
funds…General
operating
expenses,
Missions, Building fund, Annual Assessment. (Note:
You will have to complete the entire process for each
different fund to which you wish to contribute to.)

Under ‘Recurring Donation Schedule’, select the
frequency (monthly, weekly, etc.).

Remember to select ‘Authorize’ when all of the info is
entered on the page.

We would prefer members pay via check as the costs
are significantly less than credit cards.
If you would still like to place your envelope in the offering
plate, there is a box to check on each envelope for ‘I give
electronically’. This is completely optional and not
necessary, but may be done as an act of worship and
dedication.
For detailed instructions and screen shots, there will be
handouts in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, and the church
office. For questions, you may contact me directly via
email at [[email protected]].
WHO AM I?
1. I have lived in NJ my whole life.
2. I have been coming to CNRC since I was
born.
3. I was baptized at CNRC by Rev. Sam LaPenta.
4. I took piano lessons as a child.
5. My parents met in Colts Neck and were married here.
6. My great-grandmother was born 100 years before I
was.
7. I went to business school to be an Executive
Secretary.
8. I have worked for the same company for almost 16
years.
9. I have one son.
10. I like watching auto racing and football.
Give up? Turn to page 11 to see my name and picture!
Page 4
(Daniel Plan, continued from page 1)
get on board! And if you participated last year, please
sign-up and continue on your Daniel path—we will all get
healthy together again, but this time with a fresh twist.
This year, the meetings will be headed by Volunteer
Session Leaders. LuAnne Petrie (nutritionist) and I will
be involved as well! (Are you interested in being a
leader? Please contact me at [[email protected]].
The first week of meetings is the Intro/Kick-off and attendees
are encouraged to bring a “clean”, healthy dish or snack to
share as we plot our course of action to health and balance.
The following weeks will cover the “Essentials”.
Please don’t be intimidated. There are no weigh-ins, and
trust me, it is about much more than food! This program is
all about encouraging each other and worshipping God
through our healthy choices—it’s all good! If you can’t
make every meeting, that’s okay. Just try your best and
have positive intentions.
Materials are the Daniel Plan book and journal. They can
be purchased at Coffee Hour (at a 20% discount) or online.
For more information, please visit [danielplan.com]. To
sign up or to ask questions, see me at the Daniel Plan
table during Coffee Hour on Sunday mornings, or send
me an email at [[email protected]].
A CANNING CLASS with Carol Lang and THE HEALTHY
BAKING GROUP, led by Dianne Maxwell, will meet in
March. Please look for specific information in next
month’s newsletter, as well as in the weekly bulletins.
Keep an eye out for sign-up sheets in Fellowship Hall.
HOLY YOGA CLASSES CONTINUE INTO 2015~
Holy Yoga (HY) classes continue into the new
year and are for women and men, at all fitness
levels. Dress for yoga class in comfortable clothing that is easy to move and stretch in. Please
dress modestly...this is a form of moving
worship. Newcomers are always welcome!
HY Restore is Yin style: poses are held for 3-5 minutes
each to release tension and elongate the muscles. This
flow is slow moving and relaxing. Poses are performed on
a mat (mats provided or bring your own). We meet on
Wednesdays from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in Ministry Center Classroom 24.
HY Balance is for people who want to improve their balance and prevent falls. This class is useful for older
adults, or anyone with balance issues due to inner ear
issues, physical challenges, etc. Poses are performed in
a chair or standing. We meet on Mondays from 10:00 –
11:00 a.m. in the Ministry Center Conference Room.
HY Senior/Chair is for older adults who want to stretch
and strengthen without getting down to or up from a mat.
Poses are performed in a chair or standing. We meet on
Fridays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Ministry
Center Conference Room. (Editor’s note: this group follows the
Senior Bible Study, which begins at 10:00 on Friday mornings.)
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
(Library, continued from page 1)
steel guitar musical presentation by Loren Campbell, and
wood carvings created by Joe Haug (which included a
nativity scene for the
Christmas
season).
During our Election
Day
Dinner,
the
library was home to
paintings created and
donated by many artists and available for
purchase to help our
benevolence giving.
Our next exhibit will show the books and poems that were
written by Elizabeth (Betty) Makin Thompson. Mrs.
Thompson, who recently passed away, was the wife of
long-time member Garrett Thompson. In honor of her
memory, we will have copies of her books and poems to
examine and read.
Are you an artist or collector who would like to share your
talents with our congregation? If so, please contact Debi
Jensen by calling the church office (732-462-4555, x115)
or by email [[email protected]] and letting her
know what you would like to share.
Be sure to watch for future library events and please
come in and browse our collection of books and DVD’s.
We have a special section just for children, and books on
many different religious and family subjects for adults to
read. Our library is also a quiet place to sit and relax.
Come and enjoy this beautiful space!
HABITAT MOVES ITS RESTORE!
by Barnes Moore
The Habitat for Humanity Restore in Monmouth County
is moving from its current location on Throckmorton
Street in Freehold to 45 South Street – the former location of Silverts Furniture Store! The new location is far
larger and more accessible than the original store. While
our current store focuses primarily on household furniture,
with our new store we will expand our focus to include
home accessories, building materials, and appliances.
Our Restore accepts new or gently used donated goods
which are sold to the general public at a fraction of the
retail price. The proceeds help our local Habitat affiliate
fund operations and the construction of Habitat homes
within Monmouth County.
Our new store will also
allow for additional volunteer opportunities for those
who would like to support
our mission in ways other
than helping out at construction sites – you don’t have to
lift a hammer to help!. If you are interested in helping out,
please visit our website, www.habitatmonmouth.org, and
(Continued on page 9, see Restore)
The Reformed Informer
MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS~
by Dianne O’Hara
On Thursday, January 8th we welcomed seven new members into the life of the Colts Neck Reformed Church. Please
find time to say “hello” and welcome them into the church.
JOHN AND BARBARA HENDRICKSON have lived in Freehold
for 43 years. They have two grown identical twin
daughters who are lawyers, and three granddaughters.
Barbara is a retired RN who
used to work with an OBGYN
in Freehold. John got his
master’s degree from Lehigh
University and his undergrad
from Rutgers, and he is a
Rutgers Loyal Son. He is
retired from Middletown North
High School where he taught
history and politics. John likes
to ski, enjoys cooking and, as a hobby and a job after
retiring, he worked as a projectionist in a theater in New
Brunswick. Barbara also enjoys cooking. They both like to
travel and are involved with Greyhound Rescue. They
have three dogs. Fun fact: their mothers were college
roommates.
JIM AND BRENDA MCQUERREY moved from Charleston,
West Virginia to Freehold in May to be closer to their
daughter and four grandchildren. Jim was the minister of
music at Bible Center Church
in Charleston for 27 years. He
plays French horn. Brenda is
a retired Title I reading
teacher. Both of them have
joined the Senior Choir. Jim
enjoys working on their house
and babysitting their grandkids. Brenda is a member of the Women’s Coffeebreak
Bible Study and the Women’s Book Discussion Group.
JASON AND LISA STREETER live in Colts Neck with their
sons Jack, who is in Kindergarten and Wyatt, who attends
the CNRC Nursery School.
Jason is an engineer at
Worthington
Biochemical
Corp. (their family business)
where Lisa also works as an
info systems manager. Jason
has his Master’s Degree in
electrical engineering and a
PhD in biomedical engineering. In his spare time he
enjoys watching football and
playing Legos with the boys. Lisa enjoys the beach and
reading. Jack is in the Cherub Choir and both boys enjoy
swimming.
ELIZABETH (BETTY) FERRARA lives in Holmdel with her
husband, Tullio. She has two grown sons and five
Page 5
grandchildren. Betty and
Tullio were high school
sweethearts. Betty retired
as a school secretary from
Monmouth Regional High
School after 15 years of
service. She and Tullio love
to travel and have been to
China and Egypt. She also
enjoys reading. Tullio and
Betty have been married
for 57 years.
VOLUNTEERING ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY~
By Jeff Knol
What impresses me most about Rev. Dr. King was the ways
in which he upset the status quo for the sake of furthering
justice. Society had stagnated. It had accepted segregation. It
had accepted the unfair treatment of black people and brown
people. It had accepted white-only bathrooms, schools,
swimming pools, and lunch counters. It had accepted that
there would be obstacles to voting if you weren’t white.
Rev. Dr. King had a God-inspired vision of society where
justice would roll on like a stream. In his vision all people
were treated as equally as they had been created by our
loving God. The forces that opposed this vision were not
as strong as the Spirit which had inspired it.
Remembering Rev. Dr. King inspires me to stir up the
places that have stagnated in our society. The shore towns
are in danger of stagnation. Many people have yet to
rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. Streets are lined with homes
which have not yet been repaired. Stagnation seems close
at hand, but non-profit groups are still organizing help. Our
church is involved with CALTR “Churches Accomplishing
Long Term Recovery” and the Gateway Church of Christ,
organizations which are organizing and sending volunteers
to help home owners demolish and rebuild their homes.
This year, on MLK Jr. Day, Bernadette Riehle, Alicia
Dimtsios, Alex Geissler, Peter Engelman, and I worked with
other volunteers in Union Beach. We met a homeowner,
Michelle, and her 12 and 16 year-old children. They have
been living in a camper and hotel ever since the storm
ruined their home. Their eyes filled
with tears of both sadness and joy
as
they
watched
volunteers
demolish their home and build a
storage shed in their back yard. This
kind of work helps home owners fill
in the financial gap between what
their insurance provides and the
actual cost of rebuilding.
That morning before work began a volunteer nailed a picture
of Rev. Dr. King on the outer framing of the house. He hung
there smiling all day as people of various ages, ethnicities,
and religions worked to help this one deserving family.
Page 6
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
CELEBRATION RINGERS
AND
JUBILATION! TOUR: MICHIGAN, HERE WE COME!
Our teenagers are hard at work on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, preparing for their tour to Zeeland, and
Holland, Michigan, from February 12th—16th. If you happen to be around during their rehearsal times, you can feel
the excitement and anticipation as they work on their bell pieces and musical! This trip to Michigan will be the farthest we
have traveled with our teens. Previous destinations since our first trip in 2000 have included the Hudson Valley region of
NY; southeastern VA; northern VA; upstate NY; the Poconos, and Frederick, MD.
We will leave CNRC in the late afternoon on Thursday, February 12th, by charter bus loaded with bell equipment,
scenery, props, luggage and teenagers (and yes, some adult chaperones!)
On Friday, February 13th we will be hosted by the Second Reformed Church in Zeeland. We will spend the afternoon
and evening there, having lunch, rehearsing, spending time and eating dinner with their youth group, and doing a bell
concert and youth musical for their congregation. We will stay overnight with host families from the church.
On Saturday morning, February 14th, we’ll head to Hope Church in Holland where Julia Brown (Scott’s daughter) serves
as a seminary intern. We’ll spend some time rehearsing before we visit Hope College, also in Holland, for lunch, a
campus tour and a women’s basketball game. We’ll return to Hope Church for dinner with their youth group and then
present our bell concert and musical. Host families from the church will house us overnight.
On Sunday morning, February 15th, both Celebration Ringers and Jubilation! will participate in worship at Hope Church.
Following worship, we will head to Freedom Village of Holland (retirement community) to have lunch, rehearse and give
an afternoon concert at 4:00 p.m. Then we’ll embark on the long trip back to Colts Neck!
If you have friends or family in the Zeeland/Holland area, please encourage them to come and support our youth as they
ring and sing to the glory of God.
 Friday, February 13th — 7:00 p.m.
Bell concert and Musical
Second Reformed Church, Zeeland, Michigan
 Saturday, February 14th — 7:00 p.m.
Bell concert and musical
Hope Church, Holland, Michigan
 Sunday, February 15th — 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service at Hope Church, Holland, Michigan
 Sunday, February 15th - 4:00 p.m.
Bell concert and Musical
Freedom Village at Holland (retirement community),
Holland, Michigan
Here are the youth in Celebration Ringers and Jubilation! who will be participating in the trip: Elizabeth Applegate, Ceara
Canaley, R.J. Edwards, Daniel Freeman, Nick Gayzik, Ray Gray, Julianna Heck, Rachel Johansson, Grace Kenny, Luke
Laffey, Caitlin MacClellan, Emily MacClellan, Tess Maxwell, Kaylyn O’Hara, Dillon O’Neil, Sarah Potter, Emma Saker,
Aidan Sherman, David Sherman, Jillian Sherman, Rebecca Sherman, Kristen Siebenheller, and Bethany Zaccaria. The
adult chaperones are Kay Brown, Jeff Brown, Jeff Knol, Maggie Tripold, Kelly Tyma and Laura Zaccaria.
Many thanks to all the youth, their parents and the congregation for the overwhelming support you have given to make
this trip possible. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and as we ring and sing to God’s glory. Stay tuned to the
March Reformed Informer for pictures and details from the trip!
ALUMNI BELL CHOIR STILL “RINGING” STRONG!
Thirteen former members of Celebration Ringers, ranging
from age 19 to 27, rang in worship on Sunday, December
28th. With only one rehearsal, their ringing skills came back
beautifully! It was wonderful to have these young adults back
together again and leading in worship. Thanks to Kay Brown
for directing!
WOMEN’S OUTREACH CHOIR~
In February, our Women’s Outreach Choir will be singing
at the Reformed Church Home on Wednesday, February
18th at 10:30 a.m. (meet at church at 10:00 a.m.) and at
Brandywine Reflections on Saturday, February 21st at
2:15 p.m. (meet at church at 2:00 p.m.), There is a signup
sheet on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to indicate
your availability. Questions? Call or email Maggie Tripold
in the church office.
Front row: Julia Brown, Amy Tripold, Ben Zaccaria, and
Sarah Johnson
Middle row: Erin Barnett, Lindsey Rappleyea, Jess Beck,
Clayton Reynolds, and Jack Lenz
Back row: Chris Zaccaria, Zach Brown, Greg Tripold, and
Paul Jensen
The Reformed Informer
Page 7
STAND UP – YOUTH SUNDAY – MAY 17TH
SUNDAE SUNDAYS: FEBRUARY 8TH AND 22ND~
Youth Sunday gives us, as youth, a chance to lead our
fellow believers in worship. It gives us a chance to voice
our concerns. It lets us express some of our understandings of God and what it means to be a Christian.
This event regularly meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of
each month and is a time for 9th through
12th graders to read the Bible with their
minister and their peers. We also spend a
significant amount of time hanging as
friends as we construct and eat ice cream
sundaes. Join us from 7:00—8:30 p.m.
at the home of Jeff and Jamie Knol, 28
Village Lane, on Sundays, February 8th
and 22nd.
“Stand Up” is our theme this year.
Jeff and some of the youth worked
to develop this theme. We were
inspired by resent protests and
marches
both
nationally
and
internationally. Through this theme
we will explore when and how
Christians should stand up for what
we believe. We will explore this topic
through scripture, song, prayer, art,
and action.
Tom and Kristen Saker will be hosting a Lock-In on Friday, April 17th
through Saturday, the 18th to work
on the service. The worship service
is scheduled for Sunday, May 17th.
Please put these dates on your
calendars and look for more details
in the coming weeks and months.
Monday Youth Fellowship
BOARD GAME BONANZA
We will gather for our time of prayer and
board games on Monday, February 2nd. The 6th—8th
graders meet from 4:30 — 5:30 p.m. and the 3rd—5th
graders meet from 5:30 — 6:30 p.m. Join us in the Upper
Room, located on the second floor of the Ministry Center.
Jeff will be looking for adult leaders
to work with small groups to develop
different aspects of the service. If you are interested in
participating please email [[email protected]].
SUPER BOWL ACTIVITIES
IS THERE CHURCH WHEN IT SNOWS OR IS ICY?
What happens if you wake up on a Sunday morning to
find 10-12 inches of snow on the ground?
Will both of the worship services be held?
Will Church School classes be held? Here is
some information that may be helpful if we
were to experience that amount of snow on
a Sunday.
SUB SALE HELPERS!
Signups have been up for a few
weeks, but you are still invited to
participate! The youth group is selling Super-Bowl subs
and we need helpers to build and distribute the subs on
Sunday, February 1st. There are two ways you can help:

Come to the church kitchen at 8:00 a.m. to help
build the subs.

If there is a snowstorm or other weather
emergency, there are several ways you can find updates
about the church service schedule:
Come to Fellowship Hall at 10:15 a.m. to help
distribute the subs.
We look forward to seeing you!

ANNUAL YOUTH GROUP SUPER BOWL PARTY~
Call the church office at 732-462-4555, press 3
(when the message begins) to access the church
worship schedule, and listen for any updates. If any
changes to the worship schedule have been made,
the update will be on the answering machine.

The church website will be updated as well with
any pertinent messages listed on the front page—just
scroll down. [www.coltsneckreformed.org]

An email will be sent out to all those on the church
prayer chain and the all-church email list. If you are
not on the email prayer chain but would like to receive
(Continued on page 11. See snow and ice)
The Super Bowl is Sunday, February 1st! All 7th—12th
graders are invited to come over to Jeff and Jamie Knol’s
home (28 Village Lane) for the Annual Youth Super Bowl
Party. Come by any time after 6:00 p.m. and bring a
favorite snack to share. Jamie and I will provide drinks,
subs, and a few games to play. You
are invited to stay for the whole game
if you would like! Please email
[[email protected]] if you will be
attending so we know how many to
expect!
Page 8
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
NURSERY SCHOOL NEWS~
by Stacey Savage, Director of Early Childhood Ministries
Editor’s note: as a follow up to the CPR training offered on
February 26th (see above), Jim Schatzle, president of Team
Life, Inc. wanted to share the information below about an app
that his company offers — a step-by-step CPR guide!
DID YOU KNOW?
by Jim Schatzle
..that only 5% of patients in sudden cardiac arrest
survive? Why? Mostly because CPR is not started
immediately. With the average response time for an
ambulance being 8—12 minutes, it’s imperative that
you’re prepared. The Team Life CPR App is a step-bystep CPR guide with both visual and audible prompts on
how to perform CPR. The app can be downloaded from
the different “app stores” such as Apple, Androids,
Google Play, or Blackberry App World onto your smart
phone or tablet. The cost is a $1.99 one time fee per
download. For additional information you can visit the
Team Life website at [www.teamlife.com] or call 732-9464243.
Empathy is the ability to put yourself into another person's shoes and to experience something as that other
person would. The capacity to truly understand what is
going on in somebody else's heart and mind doesn't develop until a child is six or seven, but young children do
have the emotional – rather than cognitive – ability to pick
up on another child's feelings and match them with their
own. If you watch a group of two- or three-year-olds play
together, you may notice that if one child acts out by hitting a playmate, for example, another child may begin to
act out, too. It is almost as if the second child were saying, "I know you are feeling angry, and I've decided that I'll
feel the same way you do." Keep in mind that by age two
or three, children can usually empathize with feelings of
happiness, sadness, and anger because they experience
these emotions intensely themselves. Preschoolers know
just how it feels to be happy, sad, and angry, and more
importantly, they know the names for these emotions. So
it isn't uncommon to see children act kindly toward each
other in some familiar situations. Let's say two three-yearolds are drawing. One child's red crayon breaks and she
bursts into tears of anger. The other sees what has happened, empathizes with the anger, and offers her his
crayon. The first child quickly accepts and both children
resume their coloring. What's a good strategy for a parent
observing this interaction? You can reinforce a child's
helpful behavior by saying something like this: "I noticed
how you offered your crayon to your friend. It must have
made you feel good to help her. It made me feel good to
watch you." Here at CNRCNS we are constantly looking
to “catch” your child being a good friend. These “caught
moments” are ideal moments to reinforce positive social
interaction.
Parents and teachers can help a child develop his emotional repertoire by naming emotions for him. In doing so,
they help his cognitive development by providing words
for experiences he will encounter again. At the same time,
they are helping him increase his range of understanding
of human feelings.
Parents can also encourage their child to be empathetic
by being straightforward about their own feelings. A preschool child who sees her mother or father experiencing a
powerful emotion will wonder what is going on and why.
By age four or five, she will be asking questions or expressing concern. When she does, respond honestly. You
might say something like, "I'm crying because your grandmother is sick. Even though I am unhappy, it makes me
feel better to know that you are concerned." What you are
telling your child is that empathy has meaning and value.
When a loved one is in distress, empathy is sometimes
the only thing we can offer. And whenever we do so, we
express one of our most noble human qualities.
(Continued on page 9, see Nursery School News)
The Reformed Informer
(Nursery School News, continued from page 8)
Kids Helping Kids is one way CNRCNS tries to encourage positive social behaviors. Throughout this month our
teachers are placing a heavy emphasis on these positive
social behaviors through targeted lesson plans and
activities. Our nursery school families are also getting
involved by encouraging their children at home to
complete chores to earn money to purchase pajamas and
books to be donated to the Pajama Program.
The Pajama Program’s mission is to provide new
pajamas and new books to children in need, many of
whom are waiting and hoping to be adopted. These
children live in various situations including group homes,
shelters and temporary housing facilities and are shuffled
often from one place to another. Many of them have been
abandoned, abused or neglected. Most of these children
have never enjoyed the simple comfort of having a
mother or father tuck them in at bedtime with warm, clean
pajamas and a bedtime story. Some of the children we
serve are living with their families below the poverty level,
in desperate need of food, clothing and shelter.
Next month we will celebrate our students’ success with
a special party! Congratulations to all our children and
their hard work!
New Destinies 4 Kidz
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
New Destinies 4 Kidz had a wonderful Christmas party
this year in our Fellowship Hall on December 6th. This is
our third year of hosting a Christmas party for the children
and their families along with many counselors and other
Page 9
CHURCH SCHOOL CHATTER
By Debi Jensen
Our 4th grade class is small but mighty! Nine children are
registered for this class and there is an average of four or
five dedicated and engaged children in this class each
week. This class is taught by Sandy Anderson who has
taught these children for several years, and Scott Alia
who is a long-time teacher in our Church School but new
to the 4th grade class this year. They are ably assisted by
our teen assistants Alex Geissler and Caroline McCoy.
Here is what Scott Alia tells us about the class:
“The 4th Grade has been studying the Old Testament.
We are currently reading from 1 and 2 Kings. We had
a great Christmas party where we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, played games, and reviewed a Nativity
Scene that Sandy Anderson brought in. We watch
videos and talk about how Christian faith has changed
the lives of people or helped them through difficult
times. The kids really seem to like these lessons and it
helps them apply what they learn in Church School to
the real world. This is a great group of students. They
are very friendly, kind to each other, and ask a lot of
questions. They are really good at making popcorn in
class.”
We give thanks for Sandy and Scott and their dedicated
assistants, Alex and Caroline, for bringing the joy of God
to these children!
(Restore, continued from page 4)
fill out a volunteer form to let us know how you would like
to participate.
Donation pick-ups are free and can be scheduled by
calling 732-577-8160. Smaller items such as glassware,
dishes, artwork, or small, gently used rugs can be
dropped off at the location.
helpers. The children of ND4K all have a parent who is
currently incarcerated and ND4K provides many positive
experiences and role models for these children. They
attend a summer camp and they also come together for
(Continued on page 10, see ND4K)
Our grand opening for the new store is scheduled for
January 31st, and normal store hours will be 10:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; come on
down to shop, donate, and volunteer!
Editor’s Note: This store is run by the “Habitat for Humanity in
Monmouth County” affiliate, serving 83% of the county as
opposed to the Restore in Asbury Park, run by Coastal Habitat
for Humanity, which serves the other 17%.
Page 10
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
YOUR DAILY PRAYERS ARE NEEDED~
Please include the following members of our church family in your prayers this month. In addition to your prayers,
they may really appreciate an occasional card, call or (if
local) visit. If you are available to visit members of our
church family and would like to be added to our rotating
list of visitors, please contact Dianne O’Hara in the church
office [[email protected]] or 732-462-4555, x112.
This requires a commitment of one visit every 2 – 3
months.
 Emma Sklair, health concerns
 All residents of the Reformed Church Home including, Ruth and Tony Carmeli (parents of
Margaret Carmeli-Peslak), John and Betty
Cerny, Pam Hoppes, Irene Kiefer, and Carl
Pedersen (Lynn Wirth’s uncle)
PRAYERS
AND
CONDOLENCES TO~
 Garrett Thompson and family on the death of his
wife, Betty, on December 21, 2014.
 Clark and LuAnne Petrie and family on the death
of Clark’s mother, Betty, on December 23, 2014.
 Peggy Joline and family on the death of her
husband, Louie, on January 3, 2015.
 Laurie Harris, Doug Freeman and Nancy
Faustmann on the death of their aunt, Bernice
Frommater, on January 7, 2015.
 Bill Schmocker and family on the death of his
father, Gilbert, on January 12, 2015.
 Nanette Swordsma and family on the death of
her uncle, Michael Sancilio, on January 16,
2015, after a long battle with cancer.
 The family of Evelyn Schweitzer. Evelyn died on
January 17, 2015 and was a longtime member
of CNRC. She was the church secretary back in
the 1960’s. She was predeceased by her
husband, Julius, in 2010.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BLESSINGS TO~
 Bernadette Riehle on the birth of her
granddaughter, Riley Rae, on January 17, 2015.
To the Church Family, I want to thank you for the wonderful
Christmas caroling that I enjoyed so much. It is so nice to
have a caring church family. Thank you also for the beautiful
poinsettia. It has a place on my kitchen island where I see it
every day. Love, Carolyn Flock
Mary and Leo Iking would like to thank their church family for
all the notes and prayers they received after the death of
Leo’s mother, Lies Iking-Bus.
(ND4K, continued from page 9)
parties and activities through the year. At our Christmas
party this year, games were played, pizza was eaten
(thanks to Gianni’s of Colts Neck), crafts were made, the
Christmas story was told, cookie boxes were packed, and
Santa (who looked a bit like Bill Perkinson) even came for a
visit! At the end of the party, each family lit a candle on a
birthday cake for Jesus as a way of remembering the light
of Christ in the world.
New Destinies 4 Kidz, Inc. was co-founded by Sandy
Anderson and Michelle Perkinson of CNRC in May 2012,
based on their belief in the importance of prison ministry.
ND4K is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
whose mission is to empower children of incarcerated
parents to choose their own destiny by providing
leadership skills and peer mentoring in a nurturing
environment.
Sandy and Michelle, along with ND4K Board members
John and Michelle Khoel, and Donna Murphy organized
the party this year. Each child took home a gift bag which
included a knitted hat, given by Kathy Adelman on behalf
of the Prayer Shawl Ministry of St. Mary’s Catholic
Church. Special guests included Reverend Jeff Knol and
Mr. Glen J. Dalakian, who was representing Operation
Provide Comfort. The children made Christmas
ornaments for the people of Union Beach who were
displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Mr. Dalakian accepted
these ornaments and delivered them to the families of
Union Beach. The campers of ND4K were proud to create
a gift to show God’s love to others who had experienced
loss and difficulty in their lives.
Thanks to everyone for their donations of food, cookies,
crafts, and time to make this party such a success. If you
want to find out more about ND4K or find out how you can
help,
please
contact
either
Sandy
Anderson
[[email protected]]
or
Michelle
Perkinson
[[email protected]]. You can also visit the website
[newdestinies4kidz.com] to find out more and see some pictures taken at our summer camp and at the Christmas party.
To my Church Family, Thank you for your prayers and support during this sad time. It is a comfort knowing that you are
there for me. Sincerely, Garrett Thompson
To the Church Family, I would like to thank all those who
sent cards and especially for your prayers while I was hospitalized. They meant so much and I appreciate continued
prayers. I am slowly getting my strength back. Dot Jaasma
To my Church Family, My heartfelt thank you for the many
prayers for my husband, Ken, during his illness. Prayer is
very powerful as he could have been more seriously ill. I also
thank Scott and Jeff for being so supportive. The cards and
wishes from the Senior Choir, Alleluia Jazz band and others
were much appreciated. I must also thank Dana Eugenio
and Jackie Dubinett for their constant supportive emails to
me. With Thankfulness, Lonnie Howlett
The Reformed Informer
SINGLES
AND
Page 11
CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
Save the Date
12TH ANNUAL “A SPRING RING”
CNRC Handbell Concert
by Bob Barton
In his book entitled Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
writes, “Physical presence of other Christians is a source
of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” In
community we begin to understand Gods message. For
most of my adult life I have attended church as a single
person. Through that experience I have seen a need to
support the single community. It seems to me that there is
support for families, and for couples, but at times, as a
single person, I have felt like an outsider. I think there are
others in the church who might feel the same way.
I’d like to ask two questions of other single folks in the
CNRC congregation:  Do you as a single person in the
church feel under-served?  What is the first thing that
we as the church could do? Please email me your
comments at [[email protected]] or speak with one of
the pastors. Through this small step we can start a
support system for church singles.
7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Sunday, April 26th, 2015
THE WOMEN’S BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP will meet
on Tuesday, February 10th from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
at the home of Carol Rodeck (732-946-3108) We will be
discussing “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd.
All women of the church are welcome to attend
this monthly book group where we enjoy informal discussion, light refreshments and each
other’s company. We meet on the second
Tuesday of the month. Contact Mary Iking at
732-751-1413 or [[email protected]] for
more information. March’s discussion will be on
“Pompeii: A Novel” by Robert Harris.
BABY GEAR TO LEND?
by Marian Bauman
A recent visit with our granddaughter
meant that we needed a high chair. We
were able to borrow one from a friend
(thanks, Maggie!) and I wondered how
many other CNRC members might need
to have a high chair, Pack ‘n’ Play, baby
gate, or booster seat when they had out
of town company.
I am interested in compiling and
maintaining a list of members who have
baby items that they would be willing to lend others for a
short-term loan. Baby items must meet current safety
standards. If you have items in your attic that you would
be willing to lend, please contact Marian Bauman at
[[email protected]] or 732-922-4531. There
will be an announcement in the bulletin when the list is
ready for lending. Thanks in advance for your willingness
to share your baby gear!
CLOTHING DRIVE A SUCCESS~
Our clothing drive, held during the month of January,
benefitted Family Resource Association of Shrewsbury,
NJ. Clothing donated will be reused by others and items
are resold to raise money for services which FRA
provides. Thank you to all who participated in this
collection and special thanks to Vera Santucci for her help
in organizing and overseeing this mission endeavor.
(Snow and ice, continued from page 7)

WHO AM I?
from page 3
Terri Cerny O’Neil
pictured with son:
Dillon O’Neil
an email for any emergency notifications, please let
us know by sending an email to the church office at
[[email protected]]
and
by
putting ‘all church email’ in the subject line.
We recently experienced dangerous ‘black ice’ on
the roads and walkways on a Sunday morning and
many folks were involved with falls and car accidents.
This type of weather is very hard to predict so we ask
everyone to be aware and extra careful of changing
weather conditions. During the winter months, always
listen to the local weather on Sunday mornings.
So…just because there’s snow on the ground, don’t
assume that church is cancelled! Remember, our
ministers, music director and organist have a very short
commute to get to church! (For those of you who may not
know, Scott Brown lives right next door, and Jeff Knol, and
Maggie and Dave Tripold live on Village Lane.)
Page 12
The Reformed Informer, February 2015
COLTS NECK REFORMED CHURCH
P. O. BOX 57
COLTS NECK, N. J. 07722
Return Service Requested
FEBRUARY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
The 9:15 a.m. worship service coordinates with our church school
educational opportunities for three year olds through seventh grade. As
such, this service contains a “Gospel for Children.” Professional nursery
care for infants and toddlers is provided at both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
worship services; the worship services are simulcast in a “family room”
where parents can bring their young ones. Both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
services contain the same sermon, hymns, prayers and special music. In
case of inclement weather, please confirm that both worship services will
be held by checking the church’s website (coltsneckreformed.org), or
checking the message on the church office phone (732-462-4555).
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST:
Fourth Sunday
after the Epiphany. We worship at 9:15 and
11:00 a.m., sharing the sacrament of
communion at both services. We also continue
the sermon series on the opening chapter of the
gospel of Mark. This week’s passage is Mark
1:29-39. The Alleluia Angels and Morning Bells
will provide special worship music. Grace
Rowland is our confirmation class liturgist. Also, members of the youth groups will be requesting a donation of a dollar or
a can of soup for Open Door – the food pantry in Freehold as part of the “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH:
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. We close out the first chapter of Mark’s gospel with a
sermonic look at verses 40-45. Caleb Sass serves as liturgist and Celebration Ringers and our Cherub Choir share the
gift of their talent at both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. services.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH:
Last Sunday after the Epiphany. On this last Sunday in the church-season of Epiphany,
we consider the event in the Bible called “the transfiguration.” The attending scripture passage is Mark 9:2-9. Michael
Ricciardi serves as liturgist and the Senior Choir provides service music at both the 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH: Ash Wednesday, beginning the season of Lent, is a time to remember Christ’s journey
to the cross, our mortality and our need for a Savior. This special evening worship service, beginning at 7:30 p.m., will be
held in the Sanctuary as we combine with the congregations from the Old Brick (Marlboro) and Freehold Reformed
Churches. A vocal choir comprised of members from all three churches will offer an anthem. The Exultation Ringers
Handbell Choir will also participate. The imposition of ashes will be available to all who wish.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND:
First Sunday in Lent. On this first Sunday in the church season of Lent we worship God
in a wonderful way as our youth choir, Jubliation!, shares a musical, “Rescue 101”, at both the 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
worship services. Complete with drama and choreography, this musical will focus and enhance your faith.