Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,
Greetings of peace to you.
There is a meme on social media that says There is always, always something for which to be thankful. So, as we end the liturgical year this Sunday and enter into a time of giving thanks, let me highlight a few things that God has accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us in the last eleven months.
We now have online giving through tithe.ly, a beautiful new website, a Spotify account, and a church app. Through these applications, I have been able to text message our congregation, put up events and sermons, and reach a broader audience through our online church in the virtual pews. Did you know our average watch audience for Sunday worship on Facebook in October was 169 views? That’s up from 40 in May and it has only increased in the successive months.
We finally got the driveway repaired and repaved due to your generous donations and a Citizens Bank grant. Now, we and our ministry partners — Middletown Arts Center, Alcoholics Anonymous, a Brownies Troop, the Middletown Lions Club, the Woman’s Club of Middletown — are enjoying an even more welcoming and safe environment when they come to the church property.
We added 5 new members to the church and have more adherents worshiping with us than ever before. (Reminder: new member classes start on January 12)
We continue to volunteer at the Bayshore Lunch Program feeding the good people of our area a warm, free lunch on the second Wednesday of the month. And we are continuing our partnership with the Calico Cat Food Pantry, donating gift cards and household items for those in need in our community.
We are persistent in making sure everyone knows that God’s love and grace is for ALL people when we marched in the Asbury Park Pride Parade and had a booth at the Pride festival.
But, the newest addition to the ministries of the church, and one for which I remain so proud and grateful is our Community Garden, sponsored in part by a grant from the United Church of Christ. In our first year, we grew 124 lbs of produce, and gave it away to our congregation, the Bayshore Lunch Program, the Calico Cat Food Pantry, and some of our ministry partners. A very special thank you to our Garden Group for all of your hard, faithful work in making this happen. Indeed, we are called to feed and love one another. Let’s see what God grows in our second year!
And lastly, I continue to be thankful for our kids, parents, and teachers in our Children & Worship program; Tom and the choir in our Music program; our First Sunday brunch Kitchen Team; the many fundraising dinners we’ve had; and all the other projects we’ve accomplished around the church property.
All amazing God’s love-in-action stuff! What ministry is God calling you to at MRC in the coming year and how would you like to participate? I would welcome this discussion with you over a cup of coffee/tea.
Come and give thanks with a grateful heart at 10:30 AM this Reign of Christ Sunday as we end the liturgical year and prepare ourselves for Advent. Our Message for all Ages is a special presentation from members of our youth about the Reign of God called “Revelation Newz.” They will also sing “Soon and Very Soon.” I am preaching from John 18.33-38 and Revelation 21.1-4; 22.1-2 and my sermon title is So you are a king? Finally, beloved, in this season of giving thanks, the Consistory and I would be grateful if you would consider giving a Thanksgiving offering in addition to your regular offering this Sunday as a way to support the growing ministries of God’s church. You may give in person or through tithe.ly on our website — www.mrchurch.us. I sent in my tithe while on vacation through our online giving!
In closing, let me say I remain overwhelmingly grateful to God for all the ways you so selflessly give to our church. You are a congregation that takes seriously Jesus’ Greatest Commandment — to love God with everything you’ve got, and to love your neighbor as yourself. I see you living this commandment everyday, whether in the ministries we do, or in the way you care for each other and our larger community. A very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,
Pastor Trish