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EXPECTATIONS

Emmanuel is a growing,

welcoming, caring

community, celebrating the

rich diversity of God’s

Creation, treasuring our

common humanity and

following the way of Christ’s

love, justice and mercy in

today’s world..

The Ministry at Emmanuel

Ministers

All Who Love & Serve God

Senior Minister

Pastor Kenneth Gill

IN THIS ISSUE

Table of Contents

Welcome ……….………………1

Pastor Gill’s Message ....…….2

Church Ministries …….........3-6

News/Celebration ...…...….7-11 Calendar ...……...……...….....12 Sunday Worship 10:30 am All are Welcome!

www.emmanuelridgewood.org https://facebook.com/emmanuelridgewood Twitter.com/emmanuel07450

Monthly Newsletter June 2019

A WELCOMING CHURCH

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The Tao De Ching is a classic 6th Century Chinese book of wisdom and one of the most translated texts in literature. It a brief and brilliant series of chapters of how to live from the mind of the Chi-nese’sage Laozi. Stephen Mitchell has written a beautiful translation of this little book, which I treas-ure and have read many times and which reinforces many of the biblical principles I hold dearly. The “Tao” in the Taoist religion is loosely translated as the “way.” One of these days I will bring you a ser-mon entitled “The Tao of Pastor Ken”, which will include some of the life lessons I have gleaned through the years. Willie Nelson, picked up the Tao theme in his little book, “The Tao of Willie: A Guide to Happiness in Your Heart.” He begins one chapter with one of my favorite riddles: “What is gooder than God and more evil than the devil, that the rich need and the poor have, and if you eat it you will die? The answer, of course, is “nothing!” We live in a culture that always wants to “add value” to make life (and products) worthwhile. We are constantly told that if we just have a little more, get a little more, or add a little more life will be better and we will be happier and more satisfied. Just think, for one $1 we can supersize a fast food meal and add so much more satisfaction (and calories) Someone once asked J.D. Rockefeller how much money it would take to make him happy. His response was, “Just a little bit more. ” From my perspective, most of us already have everything for our lives to be complete and for us to be happy. What do we really need? For most of us the answer is “nothing.” The apostle Paul said that “God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing.” (Ephesians 1:3) We have enough and we ARE enough. We have already been blessed and forgiven and gifted to live full and flourishing lives. Unfortunately, in a society where everything is monetized and marketed, even the life of the soul, we are often left feeling that our lives are not quite good enough, or that we are not quite good enough. One of the life lessons of the Tao De Ching is that we should accept life as it is, because life as it is, is enough! “To know you have enough”, says the Tao, “is to be truly rich” God help me when I forget how blessed I am. I have so much security and comfort in my life. I have so many people who love and support me. Things go so well for me most of the time. God help me to want the life I have, in-stead of having the life I think I sometimes want which will make me happier.

Thoughts from Rev. Ken Gill

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With a goal of $600, $602 was collected for blankets to be used in disaster areas around the world. Hurray!

The Mission Committee will be collecting OGHS in June. The May food collection will go to The Center for Food Action.

Blanket Sunday In Honor/Memory of: Our Mothers Janet Wheeler Dorothy Elliott Judy Wheeler Sonja Wheeler Violet Stout Mahmoud e Gihan Hamza The Women of Emmanuel Mine Judy Gertrude Shaver Myrtle McDowell Johnson Felicia Diaz Ruth Able Lillian Williams Emily Grabley Mary Miledy Melania

My Mom Juan Marcos Tomasina

Cathleen Frank F. Sjaardema Louse Bokma Sjaardema William Frank Wilkins Pastor Ken & Connie Gill Pastor Judy and Dr. Don Wheeler Ehman-Osborne Family Pastor Arturo Lewis Pat Walden Robert & Nancy MacPhee Peter & Enercida Demytrk Ann McGahey Loved Ones Wall & Carol Krzeminski Marilyn Clark David & Nancy Shaver

MISSIONS …………..at home and around the world

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The Missions Ministry Committee will be collecting OGHS in June

This is one of the many emergencies this offering is used for :

IM Responds to Destruction Wrought by Cyclone Idai in Southern Africa

“The people of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe are still reeling from the massive

Cyclone Idai that hit them hard in mid-March,” reports the Rev. Dr. Eleazar Ziherambere,

International Ministries (IM) area director, who is currently travelling in Zimbabwe.

IM responded quickly with an $11,700 One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) emergency relief

grant to IM partner, the United Baptist Church of Zimbabwe (UBCZ).

Please consider donating.

MISSIONS …………..at home and around the world

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Sundays at 9:15 in the Library All are invited to join in the discussion as we focus on the Resurrection Appearances in the Gospels, Acts,

and The New Testament Letters and meditate on the meaning of the Resurrection for us.

June 3, 7:30-9:00 Join us for a time of prayer and meditation. “It is work to learn how to pray, largely the work of emptying the mind and filling the heart… Prayer is not about changing God, but being willing to let God change us… Peoples’ willingness to find God in their own struggle with life--- and let it change them--- is their deepest and truest obedience to God’s eternal will.”

Student Aid If your looking to apply, forms are available in the office.

Sponsored by WOE

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CULTURES AND FRIENDSHIP INTERNATIONAL

This international friendship group will have its June Luncheon at noon on June 5.

WOMEN’S REFLECTION GROUP Join us on June 23 at 7 pm for a time of mutual support and Biblical reflection during this season of Pentecost.

WOMEN OF EMMANUEL Tuesday, June 11 at 12:30pm, is Women of Emmanuel “Out to Lunch” all are invited to attend. The menu is: Pasta, Salad, Entrée choice of fish, chicken or eggplant parmigiana, dessert and coffee $20. Contact Marilyn to reserve your place if you have not already signed up.

READERS’ CHOICE We will resume in the Fall. Enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer and happy reading!

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP We will be meeting for our next breakfast on June 15 at 9 am. All are welcome.

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Congregants’ Corner

“When you look at a struggle in your life, just know that it’s an opportunity for your character to grow.’’ “I think words have power and if you’re telling yourself that you're not good enough, then that’s what your life is going to turn out to be.” Submitted by Pat Walden Do you have an idea, thought or topic that you would like to share in our monthly newsletter? If so please send your submissions for Expectations to the church office@ office@emmanuelridgewood.org

If you have glasses that you have outgrown your prescription, please consider donating them.

Box is located in Library.

ESL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM Each Thursday evening at 7:30 students of English are invited to practice reading and speaking skills, using an ESL newspaper.

Monday Brown Bag Discussion Group at Noon

We will be discussing "Genesis; A Living Conversation," by Bill Moyers.

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To our EBC Friends;

Many thanks for all of your good wishes & memories at Sunday luncheon. It

has been an honor to know each of you and to share not only this building,

but also our mutual interest in meeting the needs of others. As we embark on

new adventures in the chapters that await us, may you enjoy gratitude, good

health, happiness, love and laugher.

Sincerely,

Pat Whitehead & Marek Jura

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THE UNCOUPLING GROUP CONTINUES

The "Uncoupling" group will resume on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7:30- 9:00 pm starting in September. The purpose of the group is to create a supportive environment for anyone who is going through a relationship breakup, a separation or di-vorce, Persons can RSVP by calling the church office at 201 444-7300 or by registering on line through the “Meet Up” website. We will resume in the fall. The next dates are Sept 12 & 26

Comments from group members… “Having been shocked by a breakup, this group has been so helpful and so positive. I have met so many friends! “A warm welcoming group that shows me that there is life after the process.”

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Children’s Corner

June 2: Recognition Day for the Children and Teen’s. Ukulele Performance

June 9: Church Picnic at Crestwood Lake in Allen-dale. Directions at the entrance to the Sanctuary.

Welcome

Our church sexton Marek Jura is retiring June 15th and his son-in-law Pawel (Paul) Bijon has been hired for the job of sexton/custodian at Emmanuel and Holmstead School starting June 16, 2019. He has been working here at EBC part-time this spring and at Christ Church and the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. He and his wife Solomija and children Ivanna and Jacob will live at 324 E. Ridgewood Ave.

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Happy Anniversary 4-Christy Wheeler & Ali Erdur 6-Kyun & Choon Hyun 24- Audrey & Frank Cocheo 30-Nancy & Dave Shaver

1-Marguerite Young 5-Lynne Krzeminski 7-Lisa Donzelli 11-Daria Patti

15-Carlos Alberta Justiniano 15-Ileana Justiniano 28-Andy Degelman

Happy Birthday

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JUNE 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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2 Recognition Day/OGHS Communion Monthly food collection 10:30 Worship- Pastor Gill Preaching Youth Ministry Council Mtg

3 4 5 C&FI Luncheon 8:30 pm AA

6 7:30 pm Peace & Justice Forum 7:30 pm ESL

7 6:30 pm & 8 pm

8 4 pm “Thinking Out Loud.”

9 OGHS 10:30 Worship-Pastor Gill Preaching Picnic

10 11 10:00 am C & BL meeting WOE 12:30 pm “Out to Lunch”

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15 9 am Men’s Fellowship Breakfast Kubo Recital 8:30am-6pm

16 OGHS 10:30 Worship-Pastor Lewis Preaching Youth Ministry

17 18 19 8:30 pm AA

20 7:30 pm ESL

21 6:30 pm & 8 pm

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23 OGHS 10:30 Worship-Pastor Gill Preaching Young Adult Ministry Mid-Year Con-gregation Mtg 7pm Women’s Grp

24 25 26 8:30 pm AA

27 7:30 pm ESL

28 6:30 pm & 8 pm

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30 OGHS 10:30 Worship-Pastor Gill Preaching