From the Pastor’s Desk …

Well, it has been an interesting month since I last wrote an article for the newsletter.  Much to our surprise we received a phone call from our District Superintendent telling us that both Jonathan and I were receiving new appointments.  This is the first time that I have been pastoring a church and transitioning to a new one.

The most striking part of this time has been the realization of how deeply connected I feel to those who are a part of Round Valley UMC and the Lebanon area.  There are so many memories that I hold dear to my heart-memories of mistakes that I can now laugh about, memories of sharing difficult moments in your lives, memories of experiencing God together.  There is simply not enough room in this article to list the memories that I cherish and how much each of you mean to me and my family.  I am blessed to have been your pastor in this time and place.

Amid the many boxes that now plague my house; I have also slowly come to the realization that –much to my surprise the ministry and work of the church will go on without me.  One of the beautiful things about the Itinerant system of the United Methodist Church is that it enables laity to take ownership of the ministries of the church and to rely on the pastor for spiritual direction and vision.  While I am tempted to think so that the church would fall apart upon my departure, the fact of the matter is: you are deeply connected with one another and with the church.  And that is something to celebrate! 

 

 

 

Finally, as I take time to reflect on this whole system of coming and going, going and coming-not only from my perspective as a pastor but from your perspective as a congregation I have decided that in the United Methodist Church goodbye is never a final goodbye.  My hope and prayer is that my children will see your children at the United Methodist Camps, that at Annual Conference each year I can check in with the lay member to Annual Conference to hear about the happenings of the church, that when I lead a youth group to a Conference youth event, that I will see you there, that when I am active in the Conference UMW, I will see the newly chartered UMW there too!  In our connectional system we are meant to run into one another time and time again to continue to build those relationships that we have already started.

When I moved in I was right out of seminary and trying to decide if Jonathan and I could handle the responsibility of a dog.  Six wonderful years later we leave with a dog, 2 cats, some fish, 3 active children, and memories and relationships that I will forever hold in my heart.   You have celebrated with me in our times of joy and cried with me in times of sorrow.  Thank you for the ways that you have shown me God’s grace, forgiveness and mercy.  I know God loves you and holds you.  Know that I love you too.

Blessings,

Pastor Jessica

 

 

 

 

A Message from our new Pastor…

I am grateful for this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself and my family and ministry through this newsletter.  I am sure there will be many opportunities to introduce myself personally.  My name is Andrew Paek. Presently I am serving Appenzeller Memorial Nairi UMC, a Korean-American congregation in West Paterson.  Formerly I served St. Johns, Belmar First, and Bernardsville.  As you may know by now, I am appointed to Round Valley UMC (and Changewater) as your pastor by Bishop Devadhar starting July 1st. My wife, Jeanne, and I are excited to be a part of God’s family at Round Valley and serve God with you. We have been married for 25 years with two children.  My older one is Esther (24) who lives now in San Francisco working full time. My son, Timothy, attends the University of Nebraska, Lincoln studying cello. He will be a Junior this Fall. We are looking forward to meeting with each and every one of you and getting to know you better.      

 

I hope and pray that God continue to work in and through us.

 

In Christian love,

 

Pastor Andrew

 

The times they are a changing – a note from the editor

Change, we  live with it, some of us don’t like it and some of us embrace it as something that keeps our lives from getting boring.  I think most of us are more comfortable with the change we can control – the change that comes about from our own decisions, not the kind that takes us by surprise.

 

 

I am going though a tremendous change in my life as I am moving to Pennslyvannia.  Yes, this is a change I have planned for almost 2 years and it is nice to finally see it come to fruitition, but there is also sadness.  I am leaving behind the first house that has felt like home since my childhood home.  I guess it is because of all of the memories, the holidays shared, the flowers planted, the rooms I decorated with loving care.  As I am packing and cleaning I have found grade school drawings and photos and a stray sock or earing whose match is long departed.  There is much remembering is this labor.

But there are things I will not leave behind, things that will continue to bring me back to Lebanon I hope for many years. Those things are you, the church and the wonderful community we have built here together. I am also sad to see Jessica go because it has been so wonderful to watch her grow and mature as a person. She had delighted me numerous Sundays with her thoughtful and beautifully written sermons.  I am happy that through the social networking of Facebook she will never be far away. 

Let’s embrace this change and know that what we have built together still remains the same and extend a warm Round Valley Welcome to Pastor Paek.

Deb                            

Don’t Forget – Mark Your Calendars!!.

June 12 – 9a – 12N – Volunteer at Norwescap Food Bank in Phillipsburg.  Meet at church at 8:15a and car pool.  See Deb Rosene for details. ( contd next page)

 

June 13 – Walk for All Ages at United Methodists Homes in Ocean Groves.  Brochure in Fellowship Hall

June 20th – Potluck Luncheon for Jessica and her family.  Let’s celebrate our last Sunday together.

July 4th – Volunteers are needed to cook hot dogs and sell soda and snacks during the Lebanon Fourth of July parade.

Have an event you would like to include in the newsletter?  Please provide information to Deb

News from Staff Parish

Staff Parish is happy to announce that our new Pastor will be Reverend Andrew Paek. We extend our sincere best wishes to reverend Paek and are looking forward to his spiritual guidance and to worshiping with him. We also look forward to his contributions to current initiatives and to supporting whatever innovations and insights he will bring with him. 

Reverend Paek will provide half-time support for both Round Valley and Changewater United Methodist Churches.  In addition to these responsibilities he will also be supervising a Lay Minister at the High Bridge United Methodist Church.  As you see, Reverend Paek will have a more than full schedule.

The Staff-Parish committees from all three churches have already begun working on some

 

projects together. Our first project has been to link our church’s internet sites to each other. Hyperlinks had been added to each site to allow access to the information on the other sites with a the mere click of your mouse.

In addition, Changewater United Methodist Church is having a Strawberry Festival June 13th from 12n to 5p featuring, of course, strawberries and picnic style foods.  Let’s join our fellow congregation in some fun!

Recipe of the Month

Sweet Potato Pretzel casserole – Steve Wells

1 Large Can of Sweet Potatoes

1   5 oz can Evaporated Milk

1   4 oz stick of butter

1 tsp Vanilla

2 C. Sourdough hard pretzels, chopped

1C Whole fresh or frozen cranberries

1C. Pecans

1C. Brown Sugar

1 4 oz. stick of butter, melted

Mash the sweet potatoes and combine with the next four ingredients.  Press into an 8x8 inch baking  dish. Combine remaining ingredients and spread over sweet potato mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes and enjoy!

 

 

 

Celebrations!!!!

Birthdays

6/3 Linda drake

6/5 Phyllis Felter

6/6 Katie Winship Keeports

6/9 Meredith (McKay) Whitworth

6/10 Richard Schultz

6/11 Andrea Drake

6/17 Victor Castales

6/22 Mitch Corrado

6/24 Kathryn Costales

 

Prayer Concerns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anniversaries

6/8 Debbie and Tom cerra

6/7 Cindy and Victor Costales