February 2010
3 - 7:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting in the Prayer Room. 4 - 7:00
p.m. Milford Lions Club dinner meeting in the Christian Education Center. Crew #1.
7 - 9:15 a.m. Morning worship service. Ordination
and Installation of new officers. Paul Kuphal, greeter.
9:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Service of
Wholeness and Healing. 9 - 6:45 p.m. Presbytery
of New Brunswick meets at Princeton Theological Seminary. 10
– 7:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting in the Prayer Room. 14 –
9:15 a.m. Morning worship service. Loraine Struble, greeter.
9:15 a.m. Sunday School. 6:00 p.m. Valentine’s
Day spaghetti dinner in the Prayer Room. 17 –
10:30 a.m. Bible Study in the Prayer Room. ** NOTE: This study has been postponed to Wednesday, February 24, for this
month only. 7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service
in the sanctuary. Virginia Derbyshire, greeter. 18
– 7:00 p.m. Milford Lions Club dinner meeting in the Christian Education Center. Crew
#2. 21 – 9:15 a.m. Morning worship
service. First Sunday in Lent. Holy Communion observed. Paul Figlo,
greeter. 9:15 a.m. Sunday School.
10:30 a.m. Board of Session/Trustees meets in the Prayer Room. 24 – 7:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting in the Prayer Room. 27 – 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry open at Christian
Education Center. 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Youth activity in the Christian Education Center. 28
– 9:15 a.m. Morning worship service. Second Sunday in Lent. Bob Wedderman,
greeter. 9:15 a.m Sunday School.
10:30 a.m. Board of Deacons meets in the Prayer Room.
Sunday School
Sunday School is available for children each week. The children are invited to attend the church
worship service and then move on to their own class after the Children’s sermon.
Caralee Antrosiglio is the teacher for February with Mary Potter assisting, if needed. *
* * * * * * * *
As Sunday
School continues, we would appreciate anyone who would be willing to help those who are presently serving in this valuable
capacity. So far, the monthly schedule has been very successful. At various points,
however, those who have signed on have left, or will be going to leave; which, if there are no replacements, places an additional
burden on those who remain. If you would like to try it out, we promise you will not have to go solo.
Sunday School Superintendent Mary Potter assists all who have volunteered, and others who have a little experience
can give advice and assistance. See Elder Harold Masteller or Mary Potter for more information.
Health Ministry
A Wholeness
and Healing Service is held on the first Sunday of each month in the sanctuary. It will be held at 10:30
a.m. on February 7 this month. Everyone is welcome to come to offer special prayers for someone they love,
to celebrate healing and good health, or to seek healing for themselves. The service is informal and prayers
and anointing with oil are offered. Weekly Prayer Meeting
Prayer Meetings are held on each Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Prayer Room. However, there will
be no Prayer Meeting on February 17, Ash Wednesday. Everyone is invited to attend. The meeting is
informal and consists of hymn singing, Bible study (Presently studying the book of Joshua) and lots of prayer.
It’s a good time to get a mid-week faith refueling.
Food
Pantry
After an experiment with
the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry hours during the last few months, it has now been decided to have the food bank open from
8 to 12 on the fourth Saturday of each month. We hope that this will cut down on the days of coverage needed
for volunteers even though it will be the same number of hours. If you can help, see Wendy Vroom. Call Wendy at 908-995-7335. Thanks to Wendy and to those
who have been helping during the pick-ups and distributions. Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry Saturday, February 27 ~ 8:00 to noon. Christian Education Building
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Preparation for Worship Dear
Lord, as we approach the Lenten season, stir up within us the desire to be more Christ-like. Purify our
spirits and lead us daily in all our thoughts and actions. Amen.

Holy Communion will be observed during the worship service on the First Sunday
in Lent, February 21. We encourage everyone to make this service an important part of their Lenten devotions.
New Officers New officers were elected during the Annual
Congre-gational Meeting on January 24: Elders Paul Kuphal and Virginia Derbyshire and Deacons Eric Cashman
and Mary Potter. Eric Cashman will be ordained to the office of deacon, followed by all four being installed
to their respective offices during the morning worship service on February 7. Please encourage and support
them, and all the other officers, as they serve Holland Church in this capacity.
Valentine's Day Spaghetti Dinner
Our popular Valentine’s Day Spaghetti
Dinner will be held on Sunday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the Prayer Room. Everyone is welcome to come
and share in the good food and fellowship. An extra fun activity,
that was good for a lot of laughs two years ago, is that we’re requesting each person to bring a funny valentine (no
name attached) to be handed out after the dinner and read aloud by the recipient. Nothing embarrassing,
just funny. Mark your calendar now.
Ash Wednesday An
Ash Wednesday worship service will be held in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. on February 17. This will be a
time to prepare our spiritual hearts for the Lenten season. Come and hear an inspiring message.
Ashes will be available as a sign of our commitment to the One who gave His very life for our salvation. Annual Congregational
Meeting Summary January 24, 2010
The Annual Congregational Meeting was held on January 24 with 29 members present. Pastor
John Potter gave a summary of his and the church’s activities for 2009. He noted that we had lost
6 members and gained 2 during the year and the final active membership is 59. He reviewed the various activities
during the year, especially noting that the Rev. Greg Albert from the Presbytery of New Brunswick had visited our session
and given the results of the New Church survey showing that our church is, on
the whole, a very healthy one with an involved congregation. Treasurer
Paul Kuphal gave reports including an explanation of the change in the Benevolence Budget in which the $500 previously designated
to NORWESCAP has been realigned to provide $300 to our own Food Pantry and $200 will go the NORWESCAP. In
response to a question, Paul explained the reason for a donation from the Benevolence Budget to the Board of Deacons while
the deacons return a donation to the church Operating Budget: the benevolence was set up at a time when the deacons had no
money-raising operations for their work for church shut-ins, while the deacons donation is directed toward the church’s
operating expenses. The Operating Budget final balance was reported along with the other treasury accounts
held by the church. The congregation approved both the Benevolence and the Operating budgets for 2010.
It was noted that the stove replacement is being actively researched at this time. New officers
were elected as noted elsewhere in this newsletter. As the
meeting came to a close, Pastor Potter gave a tribute to the many years and many aspects of service – from the obvious
Church Treasurer to the behind-the-scenes printing of the church bulletins and newsletters, turning
on the heat early every Sunday morning snowplowing, etc. – given to Holland Church by Paul Kuphal. He
was honored by the deacons with a money tree and, in addition, with a birthday cake noting his recent 80th birthday.
A delightful brunch followed the meeting in the Prayer Room, with
an additional feature of a slide show arranged by Pastor Potter of the past year’s activities.
In sum, Holland Church has a fine, hard-working core of people involved in many aspects of Christian mission and fellowship.
Thanks to each of you who are involved in the Lord’s work in this place.
Youth Group
Pastor Potter and Mary have a Youth activity time on the fourth
Saturday of each month ~ February 27 this month ~ from 10 a.m. to noon in the Christian Education Center. Since
there is an overlap with the food pantry hours, occasionally the youth will have the opportunity to participate as a community
service project. Other adventures await all the interested youth. Let your friends and
neighbors know about this program.
Bible Study
Pastor Potter
is conducting an on-going series of studies, entitled, “The Bible’s Influence in Our Society.”
The Third Wednesday Bible Study
begins at 10:30 a.m. to about noon. Everyone is invited to come to the Prayer Room on Wednesday, February
17, to join in this study. Womens' Group
Several women have expressed an interest
in forming a women’s group in the church. If you are interested, speak to Mary Potter.
One way to "do lunch"
Would you like to do lunch? With Meals on Wheels, that is. Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon
has provided “comfort food” to our recipients since 1973; now we’d like you to join us. If
you are over 60, homebound and/or have a disability, Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon can deliver a hot noontime meal Monday through
Friday with weekend coverage if needed. Service can be short term until recovery or longer – or provide
caregiver relief – depending on individual needs. Or – if you are able to – we invite
you to join us at one of our Congregate Dining Nutrition Sites around Hunterdon County.
Delicious meals delivered and served by warm and caring volunteers – what could be better? If
you or someone you know would benefit from the security and support of home delivered meals or congregate dining, contact
Meals on Wheels today. Call (908) 284-0735 for more information.
Whatever you send me, Lord, I will accept. My response may be clumsy, or even inept.
But I know you want only
the best for me, too.
So with your help,
I’ll do what you want me to do.
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