New Castle Presbyterian Church June 2023 Newsletter |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US IN-PERSON FOR: Hybrid Worship Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 6 - Pastor Miriam returns from maternity leave - WELCOME BACK! Sunday, June 11 - Congregational Meeting during worship and Church Picnic Friday, June 16 - Blue Rocks Family Night Sunday, June 18 - Baptism of Maisy & Monroe Turnbull |
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WORSHIP & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES |
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Dear Member/Friend of the New Castle Presbyterian Church, It is June and we are winding down our three month sojourn with you; June 4 is our last day as your interim/substitute/fill in pastors during Miriam’s maternity leave. It’s been a fine three months for us. We’ve enjoyed the weeks, appreciated your support and value the life and strength of your community of faith. And, yes, we are looking forward to our return to “retirement.” |
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As a parting word, here are some of our observations: You are a strong congregation: caring folk, strong resources, fine history, good spirit Your outreach via Friendship House and the school contacts are meaningful. Suggestion: use this as a way to welcome new persons. It is our observation that some people seek meaningful ways to be involved and to make a difference. You have a fine balance as a historical site with a relevant presence in today’s world You have a good pastor whom you appreciate. You are well organized and take your commitments to the church seriously. Many of you give of your time and energy with joyful hearts. Your staff are all good people. They take their positions seriously and work hard to make the church a welcoming place. We appreciated all their help over the three months. You do a good job of caring for one another and following up with those who are ill. The Deacons are especially a big hearted team.
While yes we’ll be taking our exit, please know that you’ll be in our memories and in our hearts. What a joy it has been to fill your pulpit and celebrate your various ministries. We may sneak back in to say hello on occasion. May God’s blessings continue to be upon you. With thanks and love, Alison and Bill |
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Pentecost Sunday was Sunday, May 28th. The envelopes are available in the pews for donation to support children at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. More information can be found here. |
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SUNDAY, JUNE 11 Join us following worship on Sunday, June 11 in the Meeting House for our Annual Congregational Meeting. We'll elect officers for the Class of 2026 and also elect the Trustees of the Corporation. After our business concludes, we'll gather for our annual Church Picnic provided by our Elders and celebrate the end of our programming year. |
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SUNDAY MORNING LEADERSHIP We are in need of ushers and worship leaders in the coming months. Take a moment to sign up today! |
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CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE |
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HIGHMARK WALK FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY You are invited to join fellow New Castle Presbyterian Church members as we take part in the annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on the morning of Saturday, June 10 at Tubman-Garrett Park on the Wilmington Riverfront. All of the proceeds from the event go directly to local non-profits, including Friendship House. | | |
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FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH - FALL RETREAT 2023 |
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Come enjoy and worship in God's beautiful creation with NCPC at Pecometh Camp from Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24. (Join us for part of the time or the whole weekend; read the brochure below for more details!) Congregational Life has reserved space for tent camping, a pavilion for group meals, and worship space for Sunday morning. Cabins and nearby hotels are available for personal reservation too! RSVP by June 11 by filling out this form. |
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A CHILD NEEDS YOU! Our mentoring program with local schools was put on hold during the pandemic, but we're gearing up to get started again this fall. Creative Mentoring provides the needed training for you to make a difference in a child's life. |
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Mentoring involves only half an hour to an hour once a week with a child who may be in need of only a caring adult to listen, play games, talk to or help with school work or organizational skills. This is not tutoring, it's more of an opportunity for a child to connect with a caring adult. |
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If you are interested in becoming a mentor, email Candy Dunson. If we have 3 or more new mentors, we can arrange for the training to be done as a group at our church. |
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME – FRIDAY, JUNE 16 @ 6:35 PM Group tickets are all reserved for our Blue Rocks game on Disaster Preparedness Night. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets at $14 each, email Jen Dunham for more information about where our group tickets are located. Look forward to seeing you there! |
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE |
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DONATIONS NEEDED! The CE Committee is planning some fun activities for the children of the congregation before and during our Church Picnic on June 11. For those activities we need a few things! |
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We need: There will be a marked box in the CE Building entrance way. Thank you for your help! |
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2023 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: COMPASSION CAMP! 2023 Vacation Bible School: Compassion Camp will be one night of fun - Sunday, July 16 from 4-7 p.m. Activities will be for children ages 4-10, and will include stories, crafts, games, music, and more! Cost is $5 per child, or $10 per family. Dinner included. Register by July 8! | | |
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Every June during Pride month we decorate the walkway with the rainbow flags as an outward sign of our support and love for the broader LGBTQIA+ community, but there is still so much more we can do throughout the year! We would love for you to join us in creating new events, reaching out to our friends in the community; and becoming a part of this fun, yet important ministry! If you are interested in being a part of the LGBTQIA+ Task Force please contact the office. Here is a link to the More Light Presbyterian website. |
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MISSION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE |
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COME SAY HELLO TO THE MOES! Join us for a wine & cheese event on Saturday, June 10th from 5-7 pm at a home near Hockessin. You will enjoy getting to know Betsey and Eric Moe, our PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers serving in Guatemala where they live with their children. Betsey is working at CEDEPCA and will share more about how this impressive organization is transforming lives in Central America. |
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The Moes are lots of fun and are doing amazing work! Betsey joined us on our recent trip to Guatemala, so she will certainly have stories to tell. Please RSVP here and the exact location will be shared with you prior to the event. Then on Sunday, June 11 at 10:00 am, Betsey will preach at Limestone Presbyterian Church and Eric will play the trumpet! (Did we mention he is a professional?) All are welcome to attend that service as well.
To learn more about the Moes and their adventure serving in Guatemala, check out this video! We are grateful to be able to support their spirit-filled work and can’t wait to spend time with them in June. Hope you will have a chance to get to know them too. |
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EPIPHANY HOUSE DINNER SIGN-UP Epiphany House (722 N Union St.) is one of Friendship House's transitional homes for women. NCPC provides a dinner on the second Thursday each month. Two volunteers are asked to arrive with food at 5 and plan to stay for the meal. Dinner is over by 6, and residents clean up! For meal inspiration and dates, the sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Scott Selheimer with any questions. |
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DEACONS NEWS & MEMBER UPDATES |
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GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING REMINDER Springtime is upon us. And besides all the lovely flowers and budding trees, the insect population is also coming out of hibernation. If you are scheduled to do a coffee hour or other special event during the upcoming months, please remember to take home any leftover food and make sure trash is thrown out and counters are clean before you leave. Thank you in advance for your understanding. |
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BROWNIES Open call for brownie bakers for Emmanuel Dining Room! Ten batches of brownies needed in the church’s freezer by Tuesday, June 6. Boxes of mix are available in the church kitchen. Thank you! - Liz Toto |
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GIFTS OF LOVE What a way to start the year!! Thanks to the good hearts here at NCPC, we donated $3080 to St. Peter’s St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) to benefit our neighbors who are facing a financial crisis. Since the moratoriums have been removed, landlords and utility providers are taking action against delinquent parties. With your benevolence, St. Peter’s SVdP will be able to help more people with more assistance. |
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Last year, the Deacons decided to turn over our program of assistance to St Peter’s SVdP. Our system did not allow for any inquiry regarding the callers’ circumstances. We simply granted $50.00 to each of the first 6-10 callers who reached us on the first business day of the month with the provision that they live in the 19720 zip code and would only be helped by our program once in 12 months, The St. Peter’s SVdP system allows for a more comprehensive intake process and for assistance with rent/mortgage, utility bills, purchase of oil and, if the circumstances justify, other emergency expenses. Knowing more about the caller’s situation allows the SVdP volunteers to suggest additional resources that may be helpful. We had hoped to make an annual contribution of $3,600 to St. Peter’s and exceeded that goal last year. Our first quarterly 2023 donation of $3080 gives us quite a good start toward overachieving our goal this year also. Other donors have also been generous and the extra money has allowed SVdP to increase the normal grant for utility assistance from $200 to $300 and to handle the price increase for oil. Look for the white Gifts of Love envelopes in the pews and give whatever you can. “There is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up. |
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BEAR MINISTRY Do you know someone who couldn't bear without one of these comforting friends? | | |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES DYLAN REILLY - What a day to remember for parents Diana and Tony! Dylan is graduating from Delcastle Votech High School on May 31st, which is also his 18th birthday! Dylan has been studying to be an Aviation Mechanic, and has graduated with an Exemplary Student certification in Aviation Technology, as well as an Outstanding Student award! His school journey may be coming to an end, but he will be continuing on the path of Aviation technology as a mechanic at Fly Advanced, which is located at the Wilmington Airport! It takes a village, and we are so honored and fortunate to have had such an amazing village to support him and help guide him along the way! If the sky's the limit, then Dylan will make sure the planes are safe for the adventure! MASON HARDING, grandson of Jim and Beverly Stoudt and son of Cristin and Mel Harding, will graduate from Delaware Military Academy this June 2. He will join his brother, Miles, at Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio in the fall. AYDEN FROST is also graduating on June 2 from Bohemia Manor High School in Chesapeake City, MD, great-grandson of Jim and Beverly Stoudt and son of Katlyn and David Burr. Ayden is heading to a career in the military with the Air Force in August. RACHAEL FAMIGLIETTI another great-grandchild of Jim and Beverly Stoudt, and daughter of Jill and Joe Famiglietti of Sinking Spring, PA will graduate from Wilson High School in West Lawn, PA. She plans to start nursing school at Reading Hospital. |
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SYMPATHY The sympathy of the congregation surrounds the loved ones of Doug Twyford, who died to this life at the age of 74, Saturday evening, May 27, at home. Doug had been a member of NCPC since 1966. We give thanks that for Doug, suffering has passed and that he now rests in Christ's peace. May the Holy Spirit comfort the Twyford family, including his wife Linda. At this time funeral services will be private. |
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EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE AREA |
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DELAWARE PRIDE FEST Volunteers are needed but if you can't volunteer you should definitely plan to attend this event. | | |
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HEALTH AMBASSADORS HEALTHY BABIES, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Health Ambassadors works with mothers before, during and after pregnancy to ensure they have access to resources and education to support their newborn, and family. This includes information on breast feeding, developmental milestones and safe sleep. |
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