3rd Sunday in Lent
The Rev. Heather Brannon
Sermon: “Friendship”
Scripture: Mark 9:9-13
Watch the service on Facebook beginning at 10am or YouTube later in the week. Click HERE to access the Wyoming Church YouTube page. Click SUBSCRIBE (subscriptions are free) and the next time you go to YouTube you can click on subscriptions and Wyoming Presbyterian will pop up.
December 31, 2019 Chinese officials were just beginning to report a strange flulike illness that would come to dominate our every waking moment. And so our journey began…
2020 was not a kind year. It preyed on the weak, the sick and the marginalized. It was a year filled with division and upended by chaos. It was a year dominated by staggering loss of life across the globe, yet still filled glimmers of courage compassion and heart.
Faced with a viral enemy that the world had not seen for generations, nations were forced to shut down, shut down stores, doctor’s offices, parks, schools, churches. Forced to live within the confines of our homes we had to create new ways of working, playing and communicating with our friends and families.
As a church, we have always been determined to be the change we want to see in the world. When the world shut down just days following our Fish and Chips Fundraiser for the Appalachian Mission trip, our resilient mission committee sought to find ways to reach out to our mission partners who would need us more than ever. We began the year with our 2nd annual celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
We were unable to house Interfaith Hospitality Network families into our home in July. We could not make our monthly lunch bags for the House of Mercy Mission to help families stretch those food dollars to the end of the month so we did what we could and sent donations to these organizations. Camp Johnsonburg was another casualty of the pandemic, but we sent virtual camping giftbags to lessen the disappointment in our children who planned to attend. On October 12th, the Pumpkins arrived, two days late, in the pouring rain!! Thank you to member families and the boy scouts who helped unload. Again, because of covid, we ordered only ½ a tractor trailer instead of our usual full load but we were pleasantly surprised to sell out in just over two weeks with a total of $15000 in sales to support mission. We prepared (but did not serve this year) and delivered a Pre-Thanksgiving meal complete with stuffing and potatoes at House of Mercy Mission. We continued to send bags and bags of warm clothing, blankets, toys, even furniture to the Elizabeth Coalition, and delivered many, many Christmas gifts to deserving children through The Greater Abyssinian Baptist church, House of Mercy, and Elizabeth Coalition. Our Magnet for Mission is going strong. The magnet designates each month as a specific collection. As an example, February, we collected Peanut Butter and Jelly, always in high demand at the local food pantry. We continued our connection to MEND (Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity) by collecting change for them on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday. We continued to work with One World/One Love which helps those in refugee detention centers. And we thank those who give generously to One Great Hour of sharing each year.
Join Pastor Heather for an informal Ash Wednesday service from the safety of your own home, available to watch all week long. She will guide you through the imposition of ashes. Don’t worry if you don’t have any ashes! The Pastor will help you use some homemade ashes using what you have on hand in the house. May this be a time of spiritual renewal for you as we enter into Lent.
The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to re-align our internal compass with God, walking with Jesus to the cross and bearing witness to his resurrection glory. The 40 days of Lent is an invitation to let go of the things that keep us from having a close relationship with God and each other.
This year, Wyoming’s commitment to reconciliation is demonstrated by our efforts to meet the urgent needs of our neighbors who are struggling during the pandemic. Instead of giving up something for Lent, we invite you to give to others. Reimagining Lent: 40 Days of Giving Back is a multi-faceted approach to observing the 6 weeks of Lent through the lens of mission.
SIGN UP for our Weekly Adult Ed discussions by Thursday February 18! (See page 2)
40 Days of Giving Back/ 6 weeks of Donations for our Mission Partners. This year we are re-thinking Lent. Instead of giving up something, we are offering up something to our community.
Specific weekly donations requested and additional information about each charity can be found on Page 2. You can also purchase directly from the Target and/or Amazon wishlists (noted below).
Ways to donate:
TARGET http://tgt.gifts/LentReimagined
AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/S9UU6KXZUJQG?ref_=wl_share
Thank you for your generosity!
This month’s Food Drive to benefit The House of Mercy Mission. Can you help replenish the shelves?
Donate: one or more of any of the items below. Put them in reusable bag(s) or double bags so they can be easily carried. No glass jars, please!
February Food Drive: Saturday, Feb. 20 between 10 AM and 12:00 noon
Donate: one or more of any of the items below. Put them in reusable bag(s) or double bags so they can be easily carried. No glass jars, please!
Where: Bring donations to Wyoming Presbyterian Church, 432 Wyoming Ave, Millburn. Volunteers will unload your bags. Food will be delivered to the House of Mercy Mission. If you are going away that weekend but want to donate early, contact Ann Schwenke at ann.schwenke@gmail.com. Can’t shop? Send funds to Wyoming Church (please use “special offering and enter “Food Pantry” in the memo line) and we will shop for you. If you use the online option, please select “special offering” and add “Food Pantry” in the memo line.
Thank you for your support!
Martin Luther King Jr. said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
These past few days have shown how many in our community want to help others. Last Saturday on the lawn of Wyoming Church, we collected and sorted lots of food donations for Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges. Yesterday, on Martin Luther King Day, everything was brought to the food pantry by our dedicated volunteers. ❤️
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the food drive and The Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges as they continue to provide food and other essential items to our food-insecure neighbors in Orange and East Orange.
The Reverend Heather W. Brannon will join us beginning Monday January 4, 2021 and will preach her first sermon on Sunday January 10, 2021
Our PNC carefully considered key areas that we were looking for in the candidate to lead Wyoming and decided on these 6: Preaching/Worship; Family/Children engagement; Mission work; Pastoral Care; Administration and Membership growth.
Have a question? We would love to answer all your questions and show you why Open Door Nursery School is such a wonderful place for your child to grow. To see what we’re about and virtually tour our classrooms, call us today!
Alethea Randazza, Director
arandazza@opendoornurseryschool.com
973-376-9303
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Meetings take place by Zoom on Sundays at 12:30 pm. Office Hours Bible Study: The next study will begin January 3
If you would like to join this lively discussion, email wyomingpres@gmail.com to request an invite.
Thank you to Brennan Breed and Chris Holmes for offering these inspiring dialogues on the Book of Mark, at a time when regular in-person Bible study is not possible.
(Virtual, of course)
Sunday, December 27 worship will include special flute music by Eva Curtis and Anis Mehdi
