Mid-Winter Blues

                 Is it just me, or has this winter chilled the bones a little longer and deeper than in recent years? In most respects the frigid season has spared us the trials so bitterly suffered in other parts of our country - no crushing blizzard or paralyzing ice storm - yet.

I used to think winter started the day after the Super Bowl, but not this year. For me it started two weeks before Christmas and never offered a respite. Despite a day or two of unseasonable warmth, winter's grip has not loosened.

I tip my hat to the skiers and the skaters who glory in this time of year, but for me it is only a season of endurance. I guess that's what happens when sledding, snow angels and snowball fights cease to beckon as sources of fun and transform into frightening ordeals promising deep bruises, muscle aches and the possible bone fracture.

I want winter to end - NOW.

But it's not going, according to Punxatawney Phil. We still have at least six weeks left (which takes us to the middle of March, and let's be serious, we could have several weeks of cold after that).

So, how do we/I survive this downward pull of the arctic air mass?

Well, one thing will help, which I can't share with anybody but my wife Susie. That's the National Pastors Convention in San Diego, California during the week of February 9-13. We'll be winging our way out west on the 8th, and soaking in a heated outdoor pool later that night, we hope (that is, if our non-stop flight isn't interrupted by cabin depressurization and the sudden descent of oxygen masks [yes, we had to wear them for a half hour], forcing an emergency landing in Denver, like last time). We look forward to four days of fascinating seminars, riveting speakers, inspiring worship, stirring music and hilarious comedians - truly a revitalizing experience, mostly covered by education leave expenses.

We'll return on the 14^th, share a toast on Valentine's evening, and sleep in on Sunday the 15^th to shake off the jet lag.

Which still leaves seven more weeks of winter.

 Fortunately, we live in an area where we can keep ourselves entertained, at least. McCarter and the Off-Broadstreet Theaters offer eclectic fare, as do the State Theater and George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. Sports fans can patronize Princeton basketball and hockey or travel a little further to see professional teams like the Devils and Nets or the Sixers and Flyers. If we just want to hang out with our church, we've got family movie nights (like "WALL:E" on February 6, the woman's book group on the second Saturday of every month, pot lucks on the first Sunday and occasional trips, like the one to the Meadowlands on March 20.

I suppose winter could be worse. We could be living in Montana, for example.

But it's still a long haul - for me, at least.

The one thing that keeps me going, that gives me hope is the ever-present reminder that each passing day brings us closer to the season of resurrection.

All of a sudden it will be here. Really.

Have a nice winter.

P.S. The day I started this we were blessed with one of the most spectacular winter vistas we've seen in years: an inch of snow adorning every tree limb as far as the eye could see. This only proves that creative complaining occasionally brings results. Of course, this was followed by the bitterest 48 hour arctic clipper in recent memory. Oh, well.

RUMMAGE SALE IS COMING!

Save the dates: Thursday, April 23-Saturday, April 25.  This is a huge fundraiser for the church and our Preservation Fund, so we need everyone to pitch in and help however they best can. For now, keep us in mind as you start to do your spring cleaning and share this with your friends.  Drop-off will be April 8-9 and 15-18 mornings.  ?? call Jean Beachell (609-924-7637) or Ethel Terhune (908-359-6027)

MISSION NEWS

 HEIFER MISSION

Our Heifer Giving Tree was well adorned this Christmas season.  We raised $3,680 for Heifer International. Many thanks to the many of you who supported this wonderful mission!

SOUP-R-BOWL SUNDAY

You voted with your pockets to the tune of $12 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and $38 for the Arizona Cardinals.  As you now know, the Steelers pulled out the win at the last second.  Most importantly, the winner of the $50 is the Montgomery Food Pantry.  Thank you fans!

News from BVS:

We have started our enrollment process for the 2009-2010 school year.  If you are interested in a placement please contact the school so we can be sure church members receive priority placement.  The school will be offering classes for students 2.3 years – 6 years old.  New for the 2009 – 2010 school year is a full-day kindergarten program!

During the month of January we have been collecting laundry supplies for the Montgomery Food Pantry.  We will be extending the collection through February and would appreciate your support.  Please drop off donated items in the school office.

Mary & Martha’s Feb 7 at 7:30 AM

 in the Cook Hall Basement

Annual Book Sale at

Princeton Theological Seminary

 The Annual Book Sale at the Princeton Theological Seminary will be held on March 23, 24, and 25.  They are accepting donations of books until March 20 at the Whiteley Gymnasium at the corner of Stockton Street and Hibben Road.  For more information you can contact Cindy Schwartz at 731-443-9403 or ptsbooksale @gmail.com.

Reformed Church in America Online Bible Background Course

 Opening Doors to Discipleship is a series of three courses in the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition to help teachers and leaders equip themselves to be faithful teachers and leaders. Once you register with this site, you will have access to all three courses.

The three courses are:

Course A: Teaching Skills
Course B: Bible Background
Course C: Presbyterian/Reformed Faith

Each course has 12 sessions which should, ideally, be done with a Learning Group from your own congregation.

The courses address questions like these:

· How can I tell a story and use activities in such a gripping way that my students long to be disciples of Christ?

· How can I communicate the broad sweep of biblical stories so that learners yearn to enter them?

· How can I speak with passion and enthusiasm about the particular “flavor” of Christianity which we identify as Presbyterian/Reformed?

To view the website go to www.openingdoorsto discipleship.com.  The courses are free to all members of the Reformed Church in America but you must register at the site.

Wanted:
Lay Readers

 We are recruiting Lay Readers to help Pastor Rich with the morning worship service.  It’s not difficult—we provide a script to follow.  We have lots of open dates starting with February 22nd.

We are an Equal Opportunity Volunteer Organization—all are welcome to try

Fat Tuesday
February 24th—5:30-7:30 PM

 Join us as we kick off this year’s One Great Hour of Sharing campaign entitled “Where is Your Treasure?”, based on Matthew 6:21 “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Treasure Chest coin banks and giving idea calendars will be distributed for your use during Lent. Come any time between 5:30 and 7:30pm for an ‘all-you-can-eat’ pancake supper.  This is the traditional time to eat up all your butter, cream and fat meats, etc. on the eve of Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season.  A ‘Free Will Offering’ will be accepted, which will go toward our Lenten campaign for OGHS.  The proceeds from OGHS go to the work of Reformed Church World Service. RSVP to the church office: 609-466-3108 or BRC2001@msn.com .

SINTERKLAAS BRUNCH & BAZAAR

 Thanks to Sinterklaas himself for making an appearance on December 6^th, to the secret Sinterklaas who provided us with all those Santa hats, aprons & balloons, and to all those who baked, preserved, crafted, cooked, served, sorted, priced, sold, and ate! You warmed the hearts of many on a cold day and helped to ensure a warm place to worship into the future by adding the proceeds of our Brunch and Bazaar, netting well over $3,000, to our Preservation Fund. Every bit of help was much appreciated!

Please share comments about how we might improve this event and/or whether you prefer this to ‘Tentoonstelling’, or would like to alternate these two events and host each every other year, either in writing or email to Gracie gtuckerbj@msn.com.   Thanks to all again, Gracie and Lisa

A Little Humor

Shirley & Marcy

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.  He didn't want his mother to walk with him.  She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but  yet know he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it.  She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.

She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he new.  She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'

Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '

'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
 

Consistory Highlights

February 2009

Consistory met on Wednesday, February 4^th.  Elder Joe Pavlicek led us in devotions…

A possible sewer connection.   Bill Herbert joined us to report on the latest developments in a possible sewer line hook up for Blawenburg Church buildings.   Our very old septic system is showing its age, and a possible sewer hookup as a remedy has been talked about for the last three years.   We have a plan for such a hookup, but it would be expensive.   Bill explained that the state Department of Environmental Protection has now approved our plan.  We’ll keep you posted as we continue to wrestle with options.

The Roof.   The Properties Committee reported that a wrinkle has emerged in the fine print of the contract it wants to award for this work.   The problem involves certification of workers and insurance issues.   We should know more within a few days.   Meantime, the Finance Committee reports that – thanks in part to a generous donation from the women of the church – our BRC Preservation Fund now has the money on hand to pay for the roof project, and a healthy beginning balance toward the next project in our drive to preserve and protect our historic church.   Now’s the time to pay your pledge for 2009.   If you haven’t pledged yet, talk to Dave Cochran, Rick White or Todd Quackenbush.  Remember:  You can now use your credit card to contribute On Line…at www.BlawenburgChurch.org.

The Pre-School.   Deacon (and attorney) Scott Magliochetti presented his plan for a retooled ‘governing structure’ for our school.   It was months in the making, and we voted to adopt it.   Under this plan, our Blawenburg Village School will have more legal autonomy, and will be run by a School Board consisting of three Trustees appointed by Consistory for two-year terms.   Deacons Jean Butcher and Mike Vandewoude will seek out a team of initial Trustees to fill these posts.

The Consistory.  We have two Deacon positions to fill for terms on Consistory beginning this July.   The nominating committee – Pastor Rich, Bob Bradsell and Barb Pavlicek – will be interviewing church members in search of candidates.   We hope to elect these new Deacons by March, so they may join us in a retreat now scheduled for Saturday, March 28^th.

Our next regular meeting is Wednesday night, March 4^th.  Let us know how we’re doing…and if you have questions, ask.  Corner one of us over coffee – or call – or put a note in the collection box.  We’ll do our best to respond.

Croatia Update - Threats of no heat lead to warm thoughts of you - By Nancy Titus

              As I write this Sunday afternoon, the subject of heat and cold is on my mind. I have been hearing of winter storms, with plenty of ice and heavy snowfall, from friends from New York to Montana. Here in Osijek, we had small bits of snow in December and this week ice. This morning I looked out the window to see a new layer of ice glistening on the trees, leaving a frigid decoration. We literally bought the last grains of salt for sale at the local supermarket a couple of days ago, as people have rushed to buy table salt to put on the  sidewalks.
Amid this direct bombardment of cold winter, we have been wondering about whether or not we will have heat.
This is because of a heated dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the flow of gas through the Ukrainian pipeline, which is giving a new twist on the idea of a cold war for vast sections of Europe.
What happened was that Russia turned off the gas on Jan. 7. I learned of this the following day, on my first day back to the seminary office after Christmas and the day after Eric left for his two months of German language study in Munich. A colleague told me that Croatia had declared an emergency and that it was possible that we might lose natural gas. My first thought was, Eric left, and the country I am living in declared an emergency. Just great!
It did put me in high gear, so I scoured the house and found three small electric heaters and extra bedding in some storage items left by our Montana friends who had returned to the States just before Christmas. The kids and I discussed the implications. If we were to lose gas, we could still cook, but we would be without hot water. Our plan is to hold school in the dining room using the space heaters, and at night kids could bundle up where they are or move to the living room. We discussed how we would have to heat our water for baths. At any rate, if it happened, it would be a livable temporary situation. Others face much worse on a daily basis.
One of my students, who lives in Serbia, not far from Belgrade, said her family lost its heat on Orthodox Christmas Eve and didn’t get it back until three days later. So far as I know, no interruptions have occurred in Croatia.
As it stands, we think it is all resolved (a new agreement was reached today), but we also understand that gas shipments to Croatia aren’t exactly at the top of the list, if the heat between the two countries should rise again.
From what I can tell, the dispute is obviously about price but probably ultimately more about control. Financially troubled Russia, with the world’s largest natural gas reserves, depends on the sale of gas to the Western European market, where it gets a much higher price than domestically or from former communist countries. Ukraine, with one of the world’s largest networks of gas pipelines, also needs the shipment of gas to fuel its troubled economy. Tensions between the neighbors have been high, as Ukraine has staked its political future on the West and away from Russia. Some analysts suggest that Russia may be eying a take-over of the pipeline, which Ukraine considers one of its greatest national treasures.
In between is most of Europe looking at a cold winter and wondering about the reliability of both as energy suppliers. The European Union has tried to broker a deal with the two parties, and at least their monitors got the gas flowing again. Legal action is being considered, and even that is telling as Serbia may sue the Ukrainian company, while Croatia is considering suing the Russian one.
All this dizzying international posturing has left this mother cold, but it has forced me to do what I should anyway: be a little more thankful for the warmth that fills my home this winter. Some of it comes from gas-fueled heaters, but even more comes from caring partners who pray for us, pay for our gas, and generally just keep us going in the work here in Croatia. Thanks!