Church Staff Interim Pastor Dr. Thomas E. Robinson Director of Christian Ed Sherri Adler Office Administrator Billie McNally Sexton Douglas Silk

Inside this issue Reflections : 1 Stewardship: 2 Session : 3 Church & Society: 4 Presbyterian Women: 5 Christian Ed: 5 Joys & Concerns & Service Schedule: 6 The Manse : 7 Birthday & Anniversary: 8 Community News: 9

Sunday Worship • 9:30 AM

• Followed by Coffee Hour in fellowship Hall

The Presbyterian Church at

Shrewsbury Tel. 732-747-3557

Email: pcas@verizon.net

Web: www.tpcas.org Look for us on

Facebook & Nextdoor

The Towne Crier The Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury 352 Sycamore Avenue, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 August Volume 53 Issue 8

Dear PCAS Friends,

As you all know, some two years back, we embarked on “An Interim Journey”, as we experienced our Mission Study process together, and as evidenced by the banner we displayed (Thanks to Elder John Hanley for the great

banner!) at the time. These several years, for both myself and Annari, have been a very blessed time of fellowship, worship, and service to God as part of the PCAS Family, and we are excited for you as you move toward the culmination of a Search for the next installed Pastor whom God is calling to this dynamic congregation. But, of course, an “Interim” is the time in-between and a “Journey” has a concluding

destination, so we are saying Goodbye to people whom we have come to love and to appreciate for your gracious community and deep faith. There is enormous potential in this area for a congregation that is called and willing to be inclusive, to be outreaching, to be involved, to be welcoming, and to be risky – in order to visibly be the Hands and Heart of Christ every day. And you are called to be that Church, that Body of Christ, in this community and well beyond.

STEWARDSHIPBy Gretchen O’Kane

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Here I am, Lord I’m not sure, Lord

I the lord of sea and sky I have heard my people cry All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save I have made the stars of night I will make their darkness bright Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall i send? Chorus Here I am Lord Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night I will go Lord If You lead me I will hold Your people in my heart I the lord of wind and flame I will tend the poor and lame I will set a feast for them My hand will save Finest bread i will provide Till their hearts be satisfied I will give my life to them Whom shall i send? Chorus Here I am Lord Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night I will go Lord If You lead me I will hold Your people in my heart

I the keeper of my checks, I have heard from Stewardship, All who go to Shrewsbury, They’ve heard it too. I have pledged for years and years, They need more money it appears What’s right for me? Chorus I’m not sure, Lord Should I give more? I have seen the budget as it grows If you need me I will give more I will help our church as much I can. I have prayed for days and days I can see the need is great I’ll play my part God provides us all enough I surely have a lot of stuff I can spare a few more bucks To help my church. Chorus Here I am Lord Yes I’ll give more With more funds the church can be much more, A new future A new pastor I can’t wait to see how it all goes.

Having heard God’s voice and call, we now move toward a new Interim ministry adventure, in Wisconsin, and we are empowered and embraced in knowing that your prayers and love go with us. Your witness to God’s love will continue to be an inspiring part of the fabric of our lives, and we will cherish all the joyful and meaningful times we have shared.

With great love and expectation for a bright and dynamic future for the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury,

Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Robinson Interim Pastor

Summary of the July 2019 Session Meeting

Submitted by Elder Gretchen O’Kane, Clerk of Session

• Member Elbert Ochs sent a letter detailing his assessment of the ongoing property

maintenance needs of our church campus. The clerk will pass this on to the Facilities Management Committee for their consideration.

• Elder David Apy reported for P&A that concerns have been raised about people who are unable to walk from the parking lot to the sanctuary. Session will consider possible solutions. David reported that the insurance company for our church asked if we have a security plan in place in case of emergencies while in worship service. David advised them that Session is currently investigating such a plan.

• In order for people to be able to identify leadership of our church, Session voted to add the following to our website:

Names of currently serving Elders and Deacons Church committees along with the name of the chairperson for each • Regarding manse renovations, Elder Bob Suarez reported that inspections passed. Next, the

painters & a cleanup crew will need to come in to finish up. Someone recently offered to pay for new windows and installation of the windows in the entire manse which the Committee will bring to Session for consideration and possible approval.

• Elder Joyce Davies reminded everyone that our church is hosting a Monmouth Presbytery meeting on September 24. A committee was formed to coordinate logistics.

• The Worship Committee was given authorization to do the following: Form a search committee to fill the position of Director of Music Ministries Form a committee to fill the pulpit and other pastoral functions through the end of 2019 Have flexibility in scheduling communion dates through the end of 2019, given that we will most likely have changing preachers during this time period. • Elder Kay Healy-Wedsworth discussed the main bulletin board outside the church office and

how it would be best administered. A few suggestions were made and will be looked into. • Elder Kirsten Schanck reported about the many things Church & Society has been working

on. We still support Family Promise. The flip flop drive was a huge success and over 200 flip flops were collected. Currently they are asking for help to put together gift bags to be sent to the orphanage in the Dominican Republic where Nancy Vodhanel has visited. $500 was given to each of the following organizations: Water Mission International (www.watermission.org), Monmouth Day Care Center (www.monmouthdaycare.com) and Back Pack Crew (www.backpackcrew.org). International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) was given $600.

• The following baptisms will occur in August during worship services: Audrey and Elizabeth Sergeant on August 4, Beckham Hart Sikorski on August 11.

• Elder Joyce Davies reported for Membership that there are two people who want to become members and we are hoping to welcome them at an upcoming worship service. In September we are hoping to recognize 25 and 50 year church members.

The membership of Brian Sergeant was reactivated. • Pastor Tom Robinson shared details of his upcoming relocation and new position at a church

in Wisconsin. He reported that the office administrator now has a new computer with updated software. Also a new Verizon modem will be installed. These upgrades should help a lot with speed and efficiency in office operations. He reported that he is pleased with all that’s been accomplished in his three years at PCAS and is sure that we are ready for what lies ahead.

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Dominican Republic Christmas Child Bags For the past 2 years our church has helped Tower Hill with a project for the children of the Eva Russel School in Monte Plata, Dominican Republic. This is the school and orphanage that I go to on a mission trip with Tower Hill in the winter. The project is called the DR Christmas Child and involves filling up a 2-gallon size Ziploc bag full of gifts for each child in the school. For most of the children these are their only Christmas gifts. We do receive photos of the children receiving their bags at the school Christmas Party. I’m asking for volunteers to pick. up one or more bags from the Church Office and fill them with gifts for one very beautiful child in Monte Plata. On the bag will be the age and sex of the child. In the bag will be a Christmas card in Spanish for you to sign and a paper with suggestions for the gifts – what is needed and appreciated and what you cannot send there. It is a very helpful list. You just have to choose sizes and gifts for the right age and sex of the child to the best of your ability. Those who take a bag will have all summer to fill them with fun things. Return the bags to the office in September (or before). The bags are collected and taken to Tower Hill in September and sent the beginning of October. Since it is summer weather all year round in the DR, you need to buy summer items in any case. This is a fun project and you can do it knowing it will be well received and that you are giving Christmas to a child who would very likely otherwise receive nothing. If you have any questions or any reservations feel free to contact Nancy Vodhanel at nvodhanel@gmail.com or 732-530-7641. There is also a need for the cost of shipping. If you can include $5 with the bag or if you just want to contribute money, checks can be made out to Tower Hill Church with DRCC in the memo line. It really is fun to do some shopping for a child who will otherwise receive nothing for Christmas. Bring your child or grandchild along to help pick out fun things! We have offered to fill 15 bags from PCAS. Can we do more?

Nancy Vodhanel Church and Society Committee member

Church and Society 5

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There is a local organization named Greater Red Bank Women’s Initiative (GRBWI) which is forming a class to start this Fall to teach immigrants how to sew, in order to become seamstresses. GRBWI serves as a resource to provide information, links to women’s activist groups, events and opportunities.

Church & Society wants to help them by collecting a few sewing machines. Possibly a few people in our church having sewing machines they do not use and do not plan to use. Why not pass them on to someone who could learn how to use a machine and then earn a living with those skills? If you are interested, please contact Rochelle Borsky @ rcborsky@verizon.net. To find out more information about GRBWI, go to the following website: https://www.grbwomensinitiative.org

Thanks!

Church & Society Committee

Oh, and if you are able to donate a machine, please tell Kirsten Schanck so she knows how many people from our church are helping out.

Presbyterian Women

The Sunday morning Forum Bible Study will not meet this summer.

We are planning on starting up in the fall after we have a new Pastor.

It may be as late as Advent - all this is to be worked out in the future.

We welcome all who wish to join this group and will keep you informed.

Prayer Concerns for August 2019

JOYS AND THANKSGIVINGS

The Kelly’s 72nd Anniversary The Semple’s 62nd Anniversary

The Dinglestedt’s 32nd Anniversary

Reid Masters for the wonderful years we shared Haitian children’s Choir

HOMEBOUND

Marjorie Litzelman Ruth Rusch Ginny Carlyle Margaret Borden

HEALTH AND OTHER CONCERNS Kay’s son Jonathan Peter Bruguiere and his Aunt Eleanor The Levys

The Semples The Starkes' Daughter Annette John Hendershot George Kustka Cathy Mestman Jan Pedersen Cathy Mestman

Andy Wolf’s mother Bonnie Tortora Michelle Mackay Co-worker of Kevin Phalen Billy Crome’s Godmother

Pray for:

The Darrah Family

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Enhance The Manse

It's a joy to see the revitalization of the Manse moving so quickly. Inspections by the Town of Shrewsbury are up-to-date and no serious problems are anticipated as final work, cleaning and painting is being completed in the next months. Everything looks great and our manse will be a major attraction for a installed pastor.

With Bob Suarez' leadership and attention to detail we are now reaching a 95% completion! BUT – our fundraising to meet the expense of this work has now only reached 60%. We are $120,000 short of the dollars and pledges needed to “balance the books.”

Many members of the congregation have already chosen to be a part of the financial solution. In this time of need we all owe them a major THANK YOU!

Many have not, so let me give three reasons to again prayerfully consider a contribution to Enhance the Manse.

First, everyone in the congregation – and even future members - will benefit from a Pastor's home which is up-to-date and up-to-code. For example, the new electrical and heating systems are more economical to run and they are safer, too. General maintenance items, such as plumbing, are now ready for years of expense-free operation.

Second, our endowment funds have been the source of meeting the contractor's bills and those funds need to be replaced. Each year our regular annual budget uses a portion of the endowment fund's income to support the Pastor, staff and programs of the Church. By not returning dollars to the endowment fund, we will be facing a budget shortage that may require choosing one church program over another.

Third point, if we want to attract the Pastoral candidate we need and desire we must show them a congregation that takes the work of the Church seriously. A potential Pastor will evaluate us as much as we evaluate them. Want to make a rock solid statement that we are committed, motivated and ready to move forward in ministry?

We are looking forward to having an open house celebration as soon as possible. So much has been accomplished by many people and together we look forward to a successful conclusion!

With thankfulness and gratitude to all!

Making Giving a Little Easier These days, many people’s lives are quite busy. One thing that never goes away is the need to pay our monthly bills. Many have discovered the convenience of online banking. for fixed monthly bills, most banks allow you to set up an automatic online payment. Your bank will mail a check directly to whomever you choose at whichever frequency you select. Would you consider setting up your church pledge to work this way? You wouldn’t have to worry about bringing a check to church anymore. If you can’t make it to church, your pledge could still arrive at church in a timely manner. Some members already do this and it works like a charm. For more information, contact your local bank about how to set this up, and thanks for your consideration! The Stewardship Committee

Manna Box: The Mission Belles & Church and Society

are collecting food items for St. Anthony's Church in Red Bank. All donations are appreciated. Look for the "Manna"

box in the Church House lobby.

This is the address for Chuck Darrah’s daughter if you would like to send condolences for his passing. Chuck’s other daughter Amy lives close to her sister but we do not have an address for her. Cathie and Chris Bailey 3 Hanover West Court Atlanta GA 30327

celebrating membership at pcas Have you been a member of The Presbyterian Church of Shrewsbury

for more than 25 years, or perhaps 50? Starting in the New Year, we would like to begin celebrating those who have been long time members and supporters of the Church.

Many documents were destroyed in the Church House fire in the 80’s, among the treasures lost were the records of membership. We need your help.

If you have information or records to help us verify yours or others membership, please contact Joyce Davies at jdavies0239@gmail.com.

We would like to celebrate you and the wonder that is The Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury

Community News

COME ONE COME ALL

To The Shrewsbury School Reunion

ALL STUDENTS, ALL TEACHERS & STAFF FROM ALL YEARS

August 24, 2019, 5-7 pm , 20 Obre Place

Donna Patterson is hosting an after party at her home.

Bring your dancing shoes as there will be a DJ

There will be a pot luck, so bring a dish to share and your favorite drink.

Share this news with friends and relatives to make this a night to remember.

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Studies show that a large majority of people are open to being invited to church

by a friend or family member. If you have a healthy church,

you have a greater head-start than many!

9 John Palframan wanted to share these upcoming events