Good Tidings The Newsletter of Brick Presbyterian Church December 2020

GREETINGS TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST

This has been a tough year, filled with transitions and changes and

learning to adapt to whatever is needed at any given time. But, anyone involved

in the ministries of this wonderful church will testify that God has been moving

quite actively here. We are humans made from a creative God and creativity is

our birthright, as long as we are open to it. (Who would have possibly imagined the BPC Drive-In Movie

Theatre when you built the Family Life Center.)

Brick Presbyterian Church has gone through many changes during this time. We have had virtual

services that began the week after the first shut down. Thanks to everyone involved in the taping, music,

Children’s sermons, editing and posting on the web, and praying for us… it has gone as smoothly as we could

have imagined. Yes, God has been with us.

If it is God’s will, and the way is clear, we plan to start having live services on Nov. 29. The number of

people who are able to be in the sanctuary is limited to 50 people. We will still follow the CDC guidelines.

Reservations are required. You still will be able to watch the service at 10:00 on your computer. Sunday

School will begin on Nov. 29th, again if the way is clear.

Sadly, we have watched the numbers grow in COVID-19 cases and deaths all around the world. I am

writing this during the “second wave” of the virus with a vaccine within sight. I do not know how much more of

this pandemic I can take, so to see a finish line somewhere on the horizon is helpful to keep vigilant in

precautions of not spreading it. I pray that you, too, stay strong in your commitment to not spread the virus or

become a victim.

We all give thanks for the first responders, the doctors, the nurses, the aides those who have many

duties throughout the hospital and transport of patients. God has been with them giving them the strength to

stand, to give care, and to be ministers to the patients, families and each other.

The Mission Study Team is finished with the study of the congregation and its desires to see in a new

pastor. The Standing Nominating Team is choosing who will listen to God and each other to choose your new

pastor. God has not given me a timeline, so I do not know when the new pastor will be here, but I have

committed to be here as long as is needed to make a smooth transition. You are a great church and while you

need not worry about who will be your next pastor, it is your responsibility to pray daily for that next pastor

starting now – that he/she will be open to the call here, to be with the family who will move to Brick and for the

ministry he/she will be leaving in order to take this position. God will continue to be with you, and God will be

with the soon-to-be new pastor.

If it is God’s will, and the way is clear, we plan to start having live services on Nov. 29th. The number of

people who are able to be in the sanctuary is limited to 50 people (as of now). We will still follow the CDC

guidelines. Reservations are required. You still will be able to watch the service at 10:00 on your computer.

Sunday School will begin on Nov. 29th, again if the way is clear.

My prayer is that you have a blessed holy season of Advent. May you find Christ’s love in a new,

deeper way. Whether you are celebrating alone or with up to 10 people, may you stay safe and feel God’s

presence and peace as we remember God has come and continues to come to us as our Emmanuel, which

means God, with us.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Barbara

This month’s newsletter is NOT being printed and mailed due to health concerns. It will be sent out via Constant Contact ONLY. If you know of any members not currently receiving Constant Contact mailers, please have them contact the office with their email addresses so they can receive any future mailings. The Good Tidings newsletter is also available in condensed form (with no names or personal info) on the church website. From the Home Page, go to About Us > Monthly Newsletters.

We will continue with worship services online as well as Watch Parties in the Sanctuary – please join us! These services are also on our website in case you miss one and would like to go back and watch. Go to About Us > Recorded Services.

WORSHIP COMMITTEE NEWS

We are worshipping in the Sanctuary and are live streaming at 10:00 a.m. for

worship. The same rules apply. You must register to attend and follow CDC guidelines.

The maximum attendance is 50 people. We are very excited to move to this step. We will

continue to have our service on YouTube for those who do not feel comfortable coming in

person.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER DONATIONS

The Worship Committee will be decorating our church for the Christmas

season. As always if you would like to make a donation “in memory of” or “in

honor of” for Christmas flowers, we will be accepting donations from

December 2nd through December 16th, 2020. You may simply send in your

donation with your description of how you want your donation mentioned, or we

will have donation envelopes available through the church office or on a table

upon entering the FLC. The doors to the FLC will be open during the food

pantry hours: Wednesday 10:00-2:00 and Saturday 9:00-12:00. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Our Christmas Eve Service will be at 7 p.m. live-streamed and online. Again, if you come in

person you will have to register to attend. Thank you as always for your support and understanding.

DONATION ENVELOPES

Your donation envelopes for 2021 will be put out in the Narthex as always in mid-December.

Since a lot of people are not attending in person, if you would like your envelopes mailed please let

me know. You may call the church office and let Pat know, or you may call me, Karen Ellis, at

732-232-1495.

A NOTE FROM YOUR DEACONS

The deacons would like to thank everyone for the very generous

donations to our Food Pantry. We could not have helped as many families

as we have if it were not for your open and loving hearts. All Thanksgiving

donations have already been delivered to their designated families.

We are beginning to work on filling our Christmas "baskets."

Currently, our Pantry could use jelly/jam, coffee, and applesauce. Additional items are always

gratefully accepted and appreciated.

Also, we could use additional volunteers to help at the Pantry. You don't have to be a

deacon, and we will work around your schedule. And, the “job” is fun and rewarding! Our Food

Pantry hours of operation are Wednesdays, 10am-2pm and Saturdays, 9am-12 noon. If you are

interested, you can speak with any deacon, or call or email the church office, and you will be

contacted soon afterward. Please prayerfully consider sharing your time on this important work.

Thank you very much.

The Deacons of Brick Presbyterian Church

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE UPDATE

We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving pies from Cameo Cakes in Brielle! Thank you

for your support of our fundraising efforts.

AmazonSmile

Please remember our fundraiser with AmazonSmile. Shop throughout

the year and earn donations to Brick Presbyterian Church. See the

Fundraising Committee tab on the church website to learn how!

ADVENT SERMONS

The Advent sermon series will be about important people in the Christmas

story.

Nov. 29 - HOPE - Zechariah and Elizabeth

Dec. 6 - PEACE - Joseph

Dec. 13 - JOY - Mary

Dec. 20 - LOVE - The Innkeeper

STEWARDSHIP & MISSION UPDATE

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE RETURNED YOUR 2021 PRAYER/PLEDGE CARDS!

If you have not already done so, the time is still right to submit your 2021

Planned Giving card. We welcome your commitment of prayer, finances, and

talents as we plan with hope for the coming year of ministry at BPC. Completed

cards may be mailed or dropped off at the church.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not

for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

As we remember and thank those who have gone before us, we thank our church family today as we continue to honor our God and to love our neighbors in so many ways – some old and some new. The sharing of the talents, gifts and finances bestowed upon us by God

allows us to worship and fellowship at BPC and to bring God’s love to

others through our services. These include Sunday School, Deacons’

Food Pantry and outreach efforts, movie nights, the sharing of our space

with community groups and organizations – to name just some of our activities!

Your pledge is vitally important as our church leadership considers the resources and finances that

will be available for our ministry in 2021. In Acts 20:35b, we are reminded, “It is more blessed to give

than to receive.”

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 15:5-6

FAITHFUL REMNANTS

Global Outreach Project

Faithful Remnants is still looking for folks

who knit or crochet to make

SCARVES FOR OUR TROOPS.

Yarn has to be a dark color or dull gray.

If you have any questions, contact Lori Evans,

lmegolfer@gmail.com .

Let's enjoy making scarves!

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

One of the most powerful things that Christians claim is that God saw the great needs of the

world and offered a perfect gift in response, a gift that brought God and humanity closer together -

Jesus Christ. “Emmanuel, God is with us!” our Advent dream proclaims. God values togetherness

and relationship with us, leading us to value togetherness and relationship with one another.

During these past months, we were not able to be together in person, but we have always

been together in spirit and in faith. We have missed seeing faces we love — up close and personal,

but the physical distance has also revealed, for us, the importance of those things which bring us

together, even when we are physically far apart.

We offer our gifts during this Advent Season to the Christmas Joy Offering because God

shows us the power and importance of being together, of “being with.” We might not be able to meet

face to face with those who need the support that our gifts provide, be we are very much still

together. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, we honor God’s gift of Jesus Christ by

providing critical financial assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of

need through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions; we are with them. We are

also developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping

communities of color. We seek to come alongside them, to encourage them, to be together

with them.

Through this special offering, we see the witness of the whole Church, either gathered in

buildings or connected home to home, member to member, sharing what we have, together. We

thank God for being “with us” through the gift of Jesus and for joining us together as the Church and,

through our gifts, with those who have need.

On December 13th, the Christmas Joy Offering will be taken. Offering envelopes will be

available at the church. You can make a donation online at www.brickpresby.com with a note that it

is to be dedicated to the Christmas Joy Offering or by submitting your donation directly to the church

with a note that it is for this offering.

We can never match God’s perfect gift in Jesus, but through the Christmas Joy Offering, we

can testify to who we have known God to be. Our perfect gift comes from above. Our gifts reflect our

generous God. Our gifts support leaders in our Church and world — past, present, and

future.

- Information from https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/christmas-joy/

BLUE CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

I have often held a “Blue Christmas” service during Advent. The purpose of the service is to bring hope and healing to those who have had the pain of someone important in their life pass on to eternal life. Christmas is a season that floods our minds with memories. While the world is singing and celebrating, it is hard to find joy when your heart is broken. This meditation, adapted from Rev. Diane Hendricks, December 16, 2001, is used during the service. Pastor Barbara

Blue Christmas Meditation

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Only it's not. Not for everyone. Not when there is an empty chair at the table. Not when your body is ravaged with illness. Not when the depression is too much to bear. Not without her voice joining yours on the Christmas carols. Not when you feel all alone even in a crowd. Not when you are not sure you can even afford the rent or mortgage, let alone the presents. Not when they are trying their best to get the best of you. Not when another Christmas party means he will come home drunk again. It's the most wonderful time of the year?

No, it's not.

And trying to smile and say Merry Christmas is more than difficult. It's pretty near impossible.

C.S. Lewis once wrote: "No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning..."

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Only it's not. Not after he has died. Not after the doctor gave you the news. Not after you’ve been longing for a friend who is not able to communicate or provide

companionship. Not after... you fill in the blank. Not when there is so much violence and destruction in the world. In truth, it has never been the most wonderful time of the year. Certainly not in the days surrounding that first Christmas so long ago. The story of the birth of Jesus is not to be told with a jolly voice and a merry ho-ho-ho. It is the story of a teenage girl, pregnant with a child that is not her husband's.

It is the story of a child born in a dirty animal stall. It is the story of a family of refugees who had to flee their homeland so that their child would not be killed. It is the story of one sent into the world in peace who was condemned to death. It is the story of a light sent to shine in the darkness, which the world snuffed out. Continued--

It is the story of God's never-ending, self-giving mercy, which was rejected and condemned. It is not the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it is!

It is: If we forget about the tinsel and the trees. If we forget about the holly jolly tidings. If we forget about the presents and the ornaments and the trappings. And remember.

Remember the story. Mary was alone and afraid. But God was with her and exalted her among women. Joseph was disgraced. But God revealed in Joseph's cause for disgrace God's plan to save the world. The world was in darkness. But God sent the light of life to shine. The lowly were imprisoned. But Jesus set them free. The blind wandered aimlessly. But Christ gave them eyes to see. The lame were rejected. But through the Holy One they were made to leap and dance. The deaf were confined to the silence. But the song of life unstopped their ears. The sorrowful grieved. But God wipes away our tears. We were alone. But in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us. The people rejected God. But God embraces us. The world crucified Christ. But God would not allow that to be the last word, and gave us the sure hope of the

resurrection. It is the most wonderful time of the year, not because you have to be cheery and happy and merry.

But because you don't.

You can have heavy spirits and shattered dreams. Broken hearts and deep wounds.

And still God comes to be with you. To comfort you. To redeem you. To save you. To restore you. To empower you. To strengthen you. To grant you peace. To be raised for you. To hold you in the communion of saints with those whom you have loved and lost. To store your tears in his bottle. Continued--

To offer you eternal life.

It is the most wonderful time of the year. For Christ is born. Love has come. God is with us! Thanks be to the Lord our God.

YOUTH GROUP HAPPENINGS

The Youth Groups came together again for yard clean up at Rich

Irwin’s house. As always, they did an awesome job, working hard to clear out

all the leaves.

It is getting close to our Earn Your Wings mission project, and we will

be collecting donations up until December 7th. We are hoping to reach our

goal of over $3,000. We are getting close, thanks to all the donations that

have come in so far and with the help of the Deacons and the Fundraising Committee. It would be

wonderful if we could exceed our goal and be able to help more children that are in dire need of

Christmas presents this year.

Our Shop and Lock-In will be held December 11th . Due to the pandemic, we will not be

able to sleep in at the church but are hoping to shop together and socially-distance-wrap the gifts in

the Family Life Center.

REMINDER: Youth Group, please check your emails for updates!

We continually pray for everyone’s well being and wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas!

PLEASE BEWARE OF INTERNET OR PHONE SCAMS. I will never ask you for money or gift cards

for me, or my family. There is another scam out there using variations of pastor’s e-mails. If you

notice, the e-mail will not be exactly mine, but may look close. Do not take action or give gift card

numbers or any money. Pastor Barbara

12/21 12/25