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Morrow Church will once again host guests from the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). Our guests will stay with us for 10 days from Dec. 13-23. While we recognize that the Christmas season is typically an enormously busy time of year, we hope you will use this mission opportunity to engage your entire family in helping some of Essex County's most vulnerable families. There isn't a warmer, more welcoming home for the holidays than the one we can provide. We know that Morrow is up for the challenge. What better time to give the gift of Christian service!
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks so mark your calendars now! It's easy, deeply rewarding, and even fun! Sign up sheets will be posted on the Community and Global Outreach bulletin board, near the church office and on a table in Fellowship Hall during coffee hour after Sunday service.
For more information on hosting responsibilities, please contact Community and Global Outreach chairs Shanta Bryant Gyan at sbgyanAThotmail.com or Tim Roebuck at timroebuckATaol.com.
Supplies needed one week before hosting:
- Breakfast supplies: cereals, milk, juices, fresh fruit, eggs, etc.
- Brown bag lunch supplies: cold cuts, bread, mayo, mustard, snacks, juice boxes, chips, fresh fruit, chips, raisons, etc.
**After receiving details on the families staying with us, we will send out a list of children's items needed.
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Each year we try to make some "dreams come true" for needy families within the MEND (Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity) network. These families live far below the poverty level and have no money to purchase Christmas gifts. You can contribute to a gift or a grocery gift card by choosing an ornament from an angel tree. The angel tree is a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments that display different amounts that you can donate. The angel trees will be located in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 6th and December 13th. If you are not available these dates, please contact the church office and let them know you would like to help this worthy cause.
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An annual tradition, the program includes seasonal music sung by the choirs of the church and will involve the audience in singing classic Christmas carols. Join in Sunday, December 13 at 4 PM.
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After the candlelight service, come share a delicious home-cooked dinner in Fellowship Hall. We ask for a donation of $8 per adult and $5 per child aged 4 - 10 years. Reservations needed by Sunday, December 6. Sign-up at Coffee Hour, email or call the Church Office ext. 0.
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December 21st is the longest night of the year. And, at 7:30 PM we will gather in Ivy Chapel for a very special worship service.
For many people, the approaching Christmas holiday does not bring with it the joy and happiness that is advertised on television or in greeting cards. The constant refrain on TV, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation -- all this can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone. Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement.
For these reasons, Morrow Memorial United Methodist church offers a Blue Christmas service on December 21st at 7:30 PM
On this longest night of the year, come and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers and scripture that acknowledge that God's presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle -- and that God's Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.
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Covered Dish Luncheon--Wednesday, December 2, at 12:30 p.m. We will have election and installation of officers for 2010. Our budget for 2010 will also be presented for approval. Please call Helen Muniz for reservations. The price of admission is a covered dish or $5.00
Martha Circle meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Upcoming programs include:
December 17, 2009 in Fellowship Hall -- We will enjoy a selection of Christmas Carols.
January 21, 2010 in the Second Mile Room -- We will have a speaker, Sarah White. Mrs. White has been to Jordan and the Holy Land on several archeological digs as an artist and has many interesting slides to show us. She was a college friend of Sally Twine.
Joyce Stibitz is arranging a Christmas card bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for those who wish to send a greeting to the congregation. Please donate what you would otherwise spend for postage and individual cards. Your donations will benefit the Pastor's Discretionary Fund.
Blank cards with photos of some of Morrow's stained glass windows may be purchased from Kathy Briedis. The profits will go toward restoration of the Tiffany widows. The price of these cards is $3.00 apiece, or $12.00 for five.
Can you knit? Speak to Bernadette Mills or Andrea Northfield for knitting instructions for mittens, scarves, or hats for the Goodwill Rescue Mission in Newark.
Do you have a new email address or telephone number? Have you moved? Please send updated information to our secretary, Betsey Knowles (Betsey49ATaol.com). We will soon update our membership booklet. If you have not yet provided us with your birthday, we would also like that information (month and day only).
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Friday, December 11, 7:30 PM -- come for fun and refreshments as we give away treasures we will never use, beautifully wrapped, of course. The Roebucks are hosting at 21 Franklin Place. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share. $3 per person to cover costs of beverages.
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As usual, there is a lot going on at Morrow this fall. On November 15 about 170 members enjoyed fellowship and Gil's superb cooking at the Consecration Sunday Luncheon. Thanks to Gil for sharing his amazing cooking skills, and to the many youth who helped with serving and clean-up. Thanks also to Chaille Gibson, Lou Ann Gleason and Tracy Carroll who planned, shopped, chopped, and cleaned to make this fabulous event enjoyable for all. Our next project will be to develop an operating budget for 2010. The Finance Committee is meeting in early December to start this process, so look for more news in the future on our progress.
Mary Beth Scherer
Chair, Church Council
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In this age of busy-ness, there is a great thirst for quiet. With all the "noise" in our lives, we long for a place where we can take time to breathe and renew our spirits. The meditation program will meet once a month for three months. The program will be held at Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood on the following Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. : January 27th, February 24th, and March 24th. The cost will be $45 for three sessions.
The Meditation Program will include guided meditations, lectio divina, labyrinths and contemplative silence, as well as other practices as time permits. No prior meditation experience needed.
The program will be led by Rev. Ross Warfield, Executive Director and counselor at Tree of Life. He is a certified Spiritual Director, a member of the American Assoc. of Pastoral Counselors and the American Assoc. of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Space will be limited. To express your interest please call 973-763-2091 or email Tree of Life at www.TreeofLifeNJATgmail.com.
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Recent events in the news are sad reminders of our human frailty and the need for quality, affordable mental health services. The Tree of Life Counseling Service in Maplewood provides counseling to persons of all faiths or none at all. Fees are based on a sliding scale taking into account the client's financial situation.
Tree of Life has been a ministry of Morrow Church since its founding in 1970. Counseling expenses not covered by fees are paid for in part by your generous contribution to the December Communion Offering.
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We are accepting donations for Poinsettias and decorations that will adorn our sanctuary this Christmas. If you would like to remember or honor a friend or loved one, please complete this form and return it to the church office no later than Monday, December 14. We ask you for a donation of $15. Thank you.
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Pre-registration is offered to all existing Preschool families from Monday, December 7th through Friday, December 18th. Registration forms will be distributed in each child's cubby or bulletin board. In order to complete registration, the registration form and $100 registration fee must be submitted, as well as the signed Tuition Policy.
Pre-registration is offered to Church Members and Alumni families beginning Monday, January 4th. Registration forms will be available in the Director's office and in the Church office. If any classes are oversubscribed, a lottery will be held on Friday, January 8th. In order to complete registration, the registration form and $250 deposit ($100 registration fee plus $150 deposit applied to tution) must be submitted, as well as the signed Tuition Policy and Reference Check form.
All forms must be returned to Barbara Illingworth, Director or Sandy LoPiccolo, Registrar by placing them in the basket by Mrs. Illingworth's door, in the Registrar's mailbox, or mailed directly to the Preschool. Checks should be made out to "Morrow Memorial Preschool (MMPS)".
Families will register in the following order:
Current in-school families: December 7, 2009 - December 18, 2009
Morrow Church members: January 4-8, 2010
MMPS Alumni: January 4-8, 2010
General Public: January 9, 2010 at 9am. Lottery begins promptly at 9:30am.
Info: Contact Barbara Illingworth at ext. 19 or Sandy LoPiccolo at registrarATmorrowpreschool.org.
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The fifth annual Morrow Women's Retreat, sponsored by the United Methodist Women is scheduled for Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, 2010. Our faithful and exciting retreat leaders, Nina Frost and Liz Testa from Marble Collegiate in New York City are already working on a theme for us and we will report results of that in the February newsletter.
There will be a retreat reunion in January and we hope that all women interested in the next retreat will be present. Details to follow.
Barbara Savino and Margaret Prentice, Retreat Coordinators
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The church has received two Morrow cookbooks dated 1939 and 1940. Do you have memorabilia related to Morrow Church that might be interesting to display as early as January? If so, please bring them to the Church Office labeled with what the item is and your name.
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Homes of Hope to build housing in Mexico Feb. 25-28. This mission trip honors the memory of Morrow member Doug Cherry, who lost his life on September 11, 2001. Early in 2002, Doug's wife Sarah recruited a group to build homes in Mexico with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Since then over 20 homes have been built in Doug's memory.
We have had a great response for the 2010 build (Feb. 25th - 28th). Thirty builders have signed up as of mid-October. Sixty are needed for the three homes we hope to build. If you haven't contacted Doug Buechler yet, please let him know if you are interested in joining the 2010 group. They will be staying at the new mission this year. Brand new facility! We had a tour last year, and it is beautiful. Same great food from a new kitchen. The cost is estimated at about $690 per adult, $650 per child under 12. The exact amount and an application form will be available soon. Please pass this along to anyone that might be interested.
This is a good time to start looking at airline tickets. Plan to arrive in San Diego before 3:00pm on Thursday the 25th, and depart Sunday the 28th after 12:00 noon. Any questions please call Doug Buechler at 973 495 4377.
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The Hilton UMC is planning a Rummage Sale on Saturday, December 12 from 9 AM to 4 PM.
If you are cleaning out before Christmas, they would appreciate your support of their event by donation of new or gently used clothing, small household items, tools, toys, etc. Proceeds will go toward maintaining the heat during the winter.
Drop off donations at Hilton UMC located at 285 Boyden Avenue (corner of Tuscan Road). On Saturdays or weekdays, please leave them by the back door. If a weekday please leave a message on Bob's number (see below).
A thank you donation letter for income tax purposes will be forwarded to you once your donation is received.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact the rummage sale coordinators Robert Wise at 973-388-1261 or Grace Campbell at 973-980-9622.
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John Scherer is requesting available volunteers for building maintenance services in 2010. The volunteers would be contacted "as needed" for: sidewalk snow removal; lawn maintenance; leaf raking; etc. Combined adult/child pairs are welcome. Sign-up sheets are in the office and on the bulletin board outside Fellowship Hall.
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Saturday evening, January 9 for a Very Special Event!
Monday, January 18 - Day of Service and a service celebrating Martin Luther King Day. Location to be announced.
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Our Gateway North District's Day of Learning will take place on January 23, 2010 from 8:30 - 1 PM right here at Morrow Memorial. A variety of workshops will be available. Plan to take advantage of the convenient location. More information will be available in January worship bulletins and via email.
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