The Church in Brielle

Neighbors Helping Neighbors COVID-19 Relief Fund

Our congregation has supported Interfaith Neighbors on multiple occasions over the years as a Mission of the Month. IN is a nonprofit located in Monmouth County dedicated to addressing the needs of poor through a variety of programs: Meals on Wheels for seniors, rental assistance to keep families in their homes. job training to prepare young adults for employment, to name a few.

Interfaith Neighbors has been invited to participate in the Gannett Foundation’s A Community Thrives fundraising challenge, and we need your help! If they are able to raise $6,000 within the next 25 days, they will be eligible to receive an additional grant of up to $100,000!

The Interfaith Neighbors Neighbors Helping Neighbors COVID-19 Fund campaign is raising funds to support our COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance Fund. Many of our neighbors have lost income or employment as a result of the health pandemic. The fund has been providing support to individuals and families experiencing financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeded initially with funds from several local foundations, we immediately began helping families with urgent needs like food cards, utility payments, needed car repairs and rent or mortgage payments.

Since March, they have distributed over $250,000 in financial assistance supporting the financial needs of 160 families.

They project that it will take many families well over a year to fully recover financially from the health crisis. While we have initially helped with immediate urgent needs, many families we are working with have several months of back rent owed that will eventually need to be paid or they will face eviction.

The Church in Brielle has pledged $1000 to Interfaith Neighbors toward their $6,000 goal which must be acquired within the next 25 days, so that they will be eligible to receive the $100.000 grant. Please help us meet our pledge goal to help our neighbors affected by COVID in need.

July 20, 2020

Dear children of God,

Back in 1994 Patty Loveless sang a song called, You’re All I Think About These Days.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx0kPNEIY1M

In the middle of the song she takes a deep breath and whispers these words to herself,

… come on Patty… get it together.

I wondering how you’re doing… if you’ve got it together?

Everybody seems so on edge these days. The simplest things set us off. I think we need to take Patty Loveless’ advice. Try to think about God all day. Try to picture Jesus Christ walking with you each day. You know, he is. Breath in anew the Holy Spirit all day!

I have had many conversations with you, and these are the things that seem to be dividing our culture and setting us off.

• Coronavirus… Is it real or fake & should we open up as normal or take precautions?
• Politics… I hear such divisions using democrat & republican language.
• Racism… black lives matter, blue lives matter, all lives matter.

In a time when the church needs to get together and talk in person calmly about theissues, we are not easily able to. But the church has a voice. It is the voice of Jesus. 

We need to find ways to talk, to have conversations, and not in condemning tweets and Facebook posts!  All will know we are Christ’s followers by our Love!

As Christians… as followers of Jesus Christ, there is only one real and eternal kingdom… The Kingdom of God.  Jesus tells us: Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be added (Matthew 6:33). What are these things ?… everything God wants for us and our world! And whether Republican or Democrat or whatever everything under heaven has to ask the questions…

• Does it promote the Kingdom of God and its righteousness?
• Does it fulfill the words of Jesus Christ?
• Does it show our love for God and our neighbor as self? 

Yesterday in the sermon I preached on the third sacrament which technically really is not a sacrament at all in any tradition… the foot washing scene where Jesus washes his friends’ feet and tells them that that was an example for how they should serve each other – in humility and servanthood.  Jesus says when you’ve done it to the least of these you’ve done to me.

I think the only remedy for us to get it together is by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). It says in that passage from Hebrews that it was for the sake of the joy that was to come that Jesus endured the cross. Jesus knew that the tough time of crucifixion that he was going through was going to open up the path to salvation for humanity and that was a joyous thing.

How do you keep our eyes on Jesus in your tough times?

1. How about memorizing these three scriptures?

• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?     Romans 8:31

• By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

• For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

• Do you not know?
      Have you not heard?
  The Lord is the everlasting God,
      the Creator of the ends of the earth.
  He will not grow tired or weary,
      and his understanding no one can fathom.
  ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
      and increases the power of the weak.
  ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
      and young men stumble and fall;
  ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
      will renew their strength.
  They will soar on wings like eagles;
      they will run and not grow weary,
      they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

2. How about doing something for somebody else or the church like assisting us on Sunday mornings setting up and breaking down for the 9 am live outdoor service? Serving brings joy!

3. How about every time you watch the news you watch it through Kingdom eyes and ask yourself, does this promote the kingdom of God or does it promote the kingdom of selfishness, power, and greed?

4. Join us for worship at 9:00 am live… not only is it a great way to focus our lives but it is a wonderful witness to the community, passers and drivers by, and joggers! … or 10 am virtually on Facebook Live.

Chill out! The kingdom of God is among you, Jesus says… the kingdom of God is within you, Jesus says.

Please put this on your refrigerator. Please read it over. Discuss it at home.

Please put those scriptures in your heart.

And let’s breathe, and in Jesus’ strength and power we will get it and keep it together.

Afterall, we need to not only get it together, keep it together, but be together in love and in unity!

Much, much love in Christ, and much passion for the Kingdom, 

Pastor Lou

Dear Church Family,

I want to thank you for your patience, prayers, and support over these past several weeks as we have been socially distancing and worshipping remotely.  Your Facebook comments and emails show that we are a stronger congregation.  You have encouraged the life of the church through virtually worshipping with us, by maintaining your financial support, and in your tremendous support to our mission of the month, the local food bank.

We will still be worshipping remotely at 10:00 am each Sunday through Facebook Live and meeting through Zoom each Tuesday and Friday for morning devotions until further notice.

And now some great news…

We will be ADDING an outdoor Sunday morning worship service at 9:00 am beginning June 28^th.

WHAT TO EXPECT: When you arrive, make your way to the new fenced in the side yard and an usher will take your name and contact information… just in case we have to contact you.

BRING: Please bring your own towels, blankets, and chairs to sit on.

WEATHER: If the weather looks questionable, we will communicate cancellations by Facebook, on the church website, and through group emails. You may want to bring an umbrella if it mildly rains or drizzles.

FACEMASKS: Because this is an outdoor service, facemasks are strongly recommended. Please respect others by physical distancing by at least with 6 feet of separation.     

CHILDREN AND SUNDAY SCHOOL: We will have a children’s message and response sheets available, like coloring sheets, mazes, word searches, etc.

HELP: In order to pull this off we need help setting up, breaking down, watching out for the children, ushering, etc. Please contact Pastor Lou and John Linfante.

BATHROOMS: The restrooms will be open – one person at a time.

Access will be via the office doors and access to other parts of the building will be blocked off.  If you need to access the restrooms through the ramp an usher will help out.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Lou or a member of Consistory. 

May God richly bless you and keep you in God’s own care!

Pastor Lou

Click the picture above to read the Newsletter from June 14, 2020.

Mark Cook was in Concert: !
Watch the replay!! Let us know you are watching with us and share with your family and friends! Music is such a great way to connect with God! CLICK ON THE PIANO TO ACCESS THE SAVED VIDEO

Covid19 Resources
General Information

Center for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

World Health Organization  https://www.who.int/

New Jersey Government

COVID 19  https://covid19.nj.gov/

• Hotline
• Symptom Checker and Testing Information
• Jobs Available Now and Unemployment Benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions and additional information

Local Information

Local grocery stores and pharmacies continue to receive goods to sell.  Some stores have set special hours for shoppers over 60 or 65 – call ahead.

Local restaurants and bakeries remain open for pick-up and delivery – consider supporting our local businesses while staying safe – call ahead.

Patch.com provides local information.  www.patch.com – select your town.

NextDoor.com provides local information and a place to post needs – recommendation for a florist, looking for a lost dog, etc.  https://nextdoor.com/ – select your neighborhood.

How Can You Help?

Manasquan Food Bank at First Presbyterian Church of Manasquan
https://manasquanfoodpantry.org/

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Face Mask Instructions – donations to local nursing homes (JoAnn Fabrics – Brick donates to three nursing homes as of Monday, March 30 – additional outlets will be added upon request to JoAnn Fabric – Brick. JoAnn Fabrics – Brick is open for curbside pickup and drop off only – order online for pickup)

https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/

American Red Cross Blood Donations – many blood drives have been cancelled, there is an ongoing need for blood and plasma.

https://www.redcross.org/

Bible Study

Upper Room https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals

Bible.com https://www.bible.com/reading-plans

RCA Bible https://www.rca.org/resources/devotionals

Activities at Home

Jenkinson’s Aquarium – Penguin Cam  https://jenkinsons.com/aquarium/explore/

Outdoor Adventure and Animal Cams  https://www.explore.org/livecams/

Explore museums and sites around the world.  www.ArtsandCulture.Google.com

Ride on roller coasters https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCoasterViews

Library Online Resources

Most public libraries are closed but have many resources available on the website. 

Did you miss the Service on Sunday or do you want to review the sermon again? By going to the Facebook Posts link in our main menu, you can scroll though to the week your looking for and play the entire service or just pick out the parts you’re interested in that particular day.

You will now be able to donate to The Church in Brielle using our new Online Giving feature. Click on the DONATE option on our menu and follow the simple instructions. It’s easy, fast and secure.