1. Announcements -- June 12, 2016
PASTOR NATHAN
An invitation from Peace Islands Institute
Members of the Peace Islands Institute w orshipped with us in Apriland spoke of
the w orkthey are doing to promote peace and understanding. During their Holy
Month of Ramadan observant Muslims fast during the day and have iftar dinner
w ith family and friends at sunset. The congregation of Ponds is invited to an iftar
dinner at Peace Islands Institute in HasbrouckHeights on Thursday, June 23.
This is open to all ages and w e are planning to travelby church bus to the dinner.
Please call the church office to if you w ould like to attend. We w illlet you know of
a specific departure time at a later date.
Ponds Youth Center Registration Open
Ponds Youth Center is an outreach to Valley Middle School students and their
families, providing afterschool supervision in a safe, caring environment.
Registration for the 2016-2017 schoolyear at Ponds Youth Center is now town.
Forms are available on the church w ebsite or contact Debbie Pierce for more
information.
COMMUNITY LIFE AT PONDS
Fall Vendor Fair Planning
We are looking for 2-4 people to join Kerry Thurston and StaciZeller on their
vendor fair committee for a community event on Saturday September 10. Please
contact Staciby email at smarolda@hotmail.com or by phone 201-249-4554.
Summer Coffee Hour
Sign up on the kiosk in Fellow ship Hall for one of the Sundays in July or August.
Any questions, contact Bobbie Fuduli at 201-337-7032.
Can You Help Water the Flowers?
There are pots of plants at the front entrance, on the patio off the parlor and
annuals around the front sign and by the preschoolentrance that w illneed
w atering fromnow through the summer months. (The tow n is w atering the
planters along Ramapo Valley Road.) We have set up a calendar in Fellow ship
Hall for volunteers to sign up (usually a w eekat a time). There are garden hoses
and w atering cans available to use (one by the preschoolentrance and one on
Ramapo Valley Road under the first church window). Questions? Contact Ellen
Sharlow 201-797-6943 or Lenore Panas 201-337-6454. Sign up on the church
kiosk.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Do You Have a Graduate?
Many families of Ponds Church are celebrating graduations. If you have
someone in your immediate family w ho is graduating frommiddle school, high
school, college or graduate school, please let the church office know as we
w ould like to publish those names in our new sletter and bullentin. Include all
pertinent information as it applies to your graduate: graduate’s name, name and
location of school, degree received, future plans (school/jobs).
Summer Sunday School
Don’t miss out! Sign up now for yourweekto lead a session of summer Sunday
school. This fun time of sharing God’s Good New s with our children using our
easy-to-use summer curriculumbegins June 26 and runs through August 28.
See Helen Romanow skito reserve your weeknow.
HELPING OTHERS
Summer Mission Trip
Reserve Your Space, August 7-13 Charleston, SC
Call the church office to sign up. Details w ere emailed days ago.
HELPING REFUGEES
During the month of June there w illbe a great deal of attention given to refugees,
specifically Syrian refugees.
June 19: Ponds w illhost Refugee Sunday w ith stories of refugees. June 20 is
World Refugee Day and there w illbe a vigil at the Church of the
Presentation in Upper Saddle River; on June 24 Church World Service is
hosting a specialgathering in Jersey City to highlight the plight of refugees.
Your June Mission donations to refugees willgo into a specialfund created to
assist Ponds in helping refugees transition to life in our community of
northern New Jersey.
How do I make a contribution?
By checkmade payable to Po- ds Reformed Church w ith the notation “June
Mission” using the mission envelopes in the pew s or the specialoffering
envelopes in your box of envelopes.
Text “pondschurch” to 77977. You can make a donation by ACH, debit or credit
card.
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At Ponds Reformed Church...
“We believe that all people-body and soul-are created in the image of
God; that all people of color, ethnicity, country or origin, age, disability, and
sexual orientation and gender identities are valued and called to participate in
God’s mission to the w orld. Therefore, we embrace people w ith a Christ-like love
free fromprejudice, shame, ignorance and fear, and w e commit to learn, educate
and advocate until all people experience the justice of God, the peace of Christ,
the fellow ship of the Holy Spirit.”
341 Ramapo Valley Road Oakland, New Jersey 07436
Serving the Community for Christ since 1710
Rev. Nathan S. Busker, D. Min., Pastor
Debbie Pierce, Christian Education Coordinator
Gordon Nicely, Worship Music Director
Megan Dunn, Congregational Music Leader
Office: 201-337-6744 ponds@pondsnj.org
PONDS REFORMED CHURCH
Genuine, Open, Affirming, Community
June 12, 2016 10:00AM
THE APPROACH TO GOD
WELCOME
If you are w orshipping at Ponds for the first time or have a need/interest, or a
prayer request, please use the blue card in the pew . Place the card in the
offering plate.
Additional information about the church can be found at www.pondsnj.org.
Thank you for taking this time to turn off allcell phones.
* indicates stands, if you are able.
PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP (read responsively)
Leader: Come, all you w hose souls thirst for the living
God.
People:We come in searchof helpand hope.
Leader: Come, you w ho are acquainted w ith grief or
oppression.
People:We come bearing our doubts, our wounds, and
our fears.
Leader: Come, you w ho are in need of good new s.
People:We come in searchof joy, truth, and light.
Leader: Come and find refuge in God, your rock.
People:Let us again praise the One whois our help
and our hope.
*SING TOGETHER #50 “Great Is The Lord”
LONGING FOR GOD: SELECTED READINGS
SINGING TOGETHER #471 (vs. 1 and 2) NYSTROM
“As the Deer”
UNISON PRAYER
Lord, my soul aches. My life moves in different directions reacting to
my latest w ants. Ithink I’m hungry so I grab w hateverIcan to satisfy the
churning deep w ithin me. I think I’m thirsty so I take hold of w hateverappeals.
Food does not placate. What I drink does not quench. It seems everything I do
leaves me unsatisfied. Bread of life, forgive me for cramming my life w ith
everything but your w ord. Filltill I w ant no more. Set a place of your abundance
before me that I may taste and see that you are the answ erto w hich Ihave been
searching.

2. SINGING TOGETHER #471 (vs. 1 and 2) NYSTROM
“As the Deer”
(As the hymn begins, children ages 3 through 6th
grade w illleave for their children’s celebration.)
THE WORD OF GOD
SCRIPTURE Psalm 42 Pew Bible OT Page 478
Leader: This is the Word of the LORD.
People:Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE Rev. Nathan S. Busker
“The Long and Short of it”
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING/THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our father, w ho art in heaven, hallow ed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come, thy w illbe done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread and forgive us our debts as w e forgive our debtors. Andlead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the pow er, and
the glory forever. Amen.
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFERINGS
Offertory
*Doxology
Praise God from w homall blessings flow,
Praise him, all creatures here below ,
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*SINGING TOGETHER #405 SOLID ROCK
“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
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We extend a w arm w elcome to all w ho are guests today. Join us for
refreshments and conversation downstairsin Fellow ship Hall directly beneath the
sanctuary.
Our Chancel Flow ers: given by Jeri Low e in loving memory of her son, Mark
Wall, Jr.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Debbie and Tammy Benevenuto
Nursery Care: Christin Warner
Want to make a donation? Text “pondschurch” to 77977. Please note that
message and data rates may apply.
Need help finding something? Take a look below . The ground floor layout is on
the left and the basement on the right.
SCHEDULE
Today
10AM Worship and Children’s Celebration
12PM Church picnic at Crystal Lake
7:30PM Junior High Youth Group
7:30PM Senior High Youth Group (last meeting)
Monday (6/13)
7PM Consistory Meeting (parlor)
Wednesday (6/15)
6-10PM Oakland Carnival
Thursday (6/16)
6-10PM Oakland Carnival
7PM Bell Choir Rehearsal
Friday (6/17)
6-11PM Oakland Carnival
Saturday (6/18)
5-10PM Oakland Carnival
Next Sunday (6/19) Father’s Day, Refugee Sunday
10AM Worship
7:30PM Junior High Youth Group (last meeting)
Prayer List - June 12, 2016
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it w ith thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
PONDS FAMILY
Debbie Pierce w hile she is attending General Synod in Chicago
Julia-Barbara Ceresnak’s 5 year old granddaughter-diagnosed with
scleroderma--determining w hich treatment to begin
Thelma Marshall-melanoma removed fromher lef
Jennifer-Sandra Hobb’s daughter
Tim-Missy Elfers’brother-poor health and aw aiting surgery
Sandra-recovering fromsurgery
Ed Bullis-Chip’s dad-treatment for cancer
Karl Scheiner-dizziness
Mark Wall, Sr.-prayers for healing
Harry Koch
Marryann Gisler-Karen Chmiel and Robyn Blomn’s cousin-health concerns
Emily-Okey Chenow eth’s 21 year old grandniece diagnosed w ith MS
Danny Florio-Connie and Chris Fiorello’s cousin-brain tumor
Bob and Helence Plumstead-Denise Rumpeltin’s parents-health problems
Mary-Janet and Phil Marchbank’s sister-in-law-recovering frombrain
surgery
Norman-Nancy Frost’s brother-stage 4 brain cancer
Jim O’Brien-Eleanor’s husband
John Bannon-Debbie Benevenuto’s father-prostate cancer
Jorge Mascaro II-undergoing cancer treatments
Ken-Keith Gross’brother-in-law-leukemia
Christopher Roeder-relative of Marilyn Herrmann
Our shut-ins: Cathy Lord, Dot Rapp, Dot LaBarba, Evelyn Puttenvink
PONDS FRIENDS
Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Carol w ho died
last w eekfromof ovarian cancer-Jane Casazza’s friend
Christine-Missy Elfers’ co-worker-beginning treatments for breast cancer
Tim-Debi Meeker’s co-worker-cancer returned for4th time
Joan-Bobbie Fuduli and Jean Potash’s friend-family problems
Trevor-DebiMeeker’s co-worker’s son-brain aneurysm
Jill-Beverly Lange’s friend-recovering fromheart surgery
Joe=hospice for cancer and MS
John M.
Tony- Procopio family’s friend-cancer
Mike-Jim Fitzpatrick’s friend-undergoing chemo for liver and lung cancer
Jack-new born with neuroblastoma
Silmary-Wanda Ashbrook’s family friend-14 years old-prayersforhealing
Jim-Jant and Phil Marchbank’s friend-bladder cancer
Harold-Phil Marchbank’s friend-cancer
Telly-Smolensky family friend-diagnosed with cancer
Huyler family-Fuduli family’s friends
Ken-Mascaro family friend-ALS
Christine-Connie Florio’s friend-suffering frombrain cancer
Emily-7 year old in remission from cancer-rare autoimmune disease