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Welcome to the Cedar Grove United Methodist Church of Toms River NJ!

This is the post excerpt.

Cedar Grove United Methodist Church of Toms River NJ is one of the oldest churches in Toms River that has been in continual service to the community since the mid 1800s. Although small in physical size, the congregation consists of faithful members with deep-seated roots in the local area. Many families have ancestors who had established residence long before the church was formally formed.

The church was formerly known as the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cedar Grove and was incorporated on January 10, 1853. In addition to the church building, a fellowship hall was built to accomodate classes, activities and social gatherings. The current building stands on the site and is used on a frequent basis.

The grounds of the church are also sacred as home to its’ own cemetery. The Cedar Grove Cemetery was formerly named the Applegate Cemetery established around 1800 by Joseph Applegate, a farmer with land in the area of Bay Avenue and Cedar Grove Road. The grave markers indicate that many buried there were soldiers in the Revolutionary War period. The grounds continue to be maintained by members of the Applegate family.

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Family Vacation Bible School coming soon!!

Family Vacation Bible School – a unique idea!

Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, the little white church on the corner of Bay Avenue and Cedar Grove Road in Toms River, is offering a unique event this year. Beginning on Wednesday, July 31st and continuing each Wednesday evening from 7-9 PM through August 28th, Family Vacation Bible School will offer a different perspective which will be a mix of fun, songs, prayer, crafts, stories, games, and snacks which help children of all ages and their parents to become true Heroes! The first child in each family will be $10 and each additional child will be $5 for the entire program.

For more information and to register your family (however your family is made up), call the church at 732-691-2415.

Post Covid

When Covid 19 affected the world in 2020, almost everything came to a standstill! Businesses closed, schools changed to online virtual classrooms, hospitals went into overdrive with very sick patients, morgues were overloaded, and churches had to stop all in-person activities. Adaptations were made and restaurants were allowed to serve food via delivery and pick-up only. Teachers and students interacted via Zoom and other online platforms. Hospitals were extremely cautious and strict about visitors. Refrigerator trucks housed the bodies of those who passed on. Churches scrambled to learn how to hold services over the internet. We all learned to wear masks, gloves, use antibacterial cleaners, and social distance ourselves spacing 6 feet apart.

Since then, we’ve slowly been permitted to meet in person, eat meals in restaurants, return to school, visit loved ones in hospitals or nursing homes, and hold worship services in our own home churches. It was getting lonely having to stay away from each other. Being able to meet together is such a wonderful blessing that most will never take for granted again.

Covid 19, however, is not gone. Like the common cold, it may never be wiped out. It behooves us to continue to be careful around others. If we feel ill, we should stay home. If we know that someone is vulnerable due to medical conditions, being young or older, or going through certain treatments, we need to be respectful and maintain distance as well as keep from shaking hands or hugging each other.

At Cedar Grove UMC, we will be on guard for these situations. The cleanliness of our Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and restrooms is of utmost importance. The products used for cleaning are antibacterial in nature. Use of masks is optional but they are available. We ask that everyone sign in when attending a service. This will enable us to call anyone who attended to inform them of a possible exposure to any contagious disease.

Thank you for your patience as we welcome you to our church.

Code Blue…… HELP!!

Winter Needs for CODE BLUEAs the cold winter months are upon us, we realize that there continues to be special needs to be met, in particular for the homeless within our community. Code Blue is a program run by a municipality or county that provides warming centers during the extreme cold. Often with a warm place to sleep for the night, a meal may also be provided. Some of the most requested needs are: gently used blankets; coats; shoes; boots; hats; and gloves, additionally sweat pants, new socks and underwear are in need. Other items that would be useful are hygiene products; razors; shaving cream; combs; wipes; and warmer’s for hands and feet, as well as, anything else that you feel would be useful. Each day that we are in this pandemic, more and more people are finding themselves without shelter, this includes men, women and children. So if you can while cleaning out a closet, or while you are shopping for the holidays and see a great buy and wish you knew someone who could use the bargain, you now know that someone can. This drive is going to run from December 27th 2020, through January 12th 2021. You can drop off your donations to the drop box at 1709 Madison Avenue, Toms River NJ 08757 (Pine Lake Park) or at 2D Hale Lane Whiting New Jersey 08759. Social distancing will be respected. This drive is being sponsored by Cedar Grove United Methodist Church of Toms River NJ and Wayside United Methodist Church of Ocean NJ. Your past participation in food drives, diaper drives, and school supplies has had a beneficial impact on our neighbors.

Adult Christmas Party!

Adult Christmas party!
The party will be held at Fellowship Hall on Saturday, December 7th at 1 PM. The sign up sheet for the covered dish you would like to share is available after service. If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift of approximately $10 in value, marked with “Man” or “Woman” or “Either”. A good time is always guaranteed at this annual event! Hope to see you there! For more information, call the church at 732-691-2415.

Be Generous in Your Giving!

December collections at Cedar Grove: We are collecting diapers for the diaper drive sponsored by The Maker’s Place in Trenton. We are hoping to bring at least 5000 diapers to them in December from both Cedar Grove and Wayside UMC. Let’s make this happen!!
 
We are also gathering any knick-knacks or small items that you don’t use which could be selected by a child at the Hope House to give to a parent. Examples are ties, scarves, jewelry items, candles, wallets or coin purses, picture frames, etc. All items must be new. This is a way for you to clean out your closet and enable a child to “shop” for their family! Bring them to church over the next 2-3 Sundays.
 
Thank you for your generosity!!

Roll Call Sunday!

ROLL CALL SUNDAY!!
Roll Call Sunday, which is a tradition at Cedar Grove UMC, will be held on Sunday, November 3rd at 9:00 AM with a brunch to follow after the service in Fellowship. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share or a beverage such as juice or milk. We hope to see you there! If you are not able to attend, please call the church at 732-691-2415 and inform us of your intention to remain a member. Someone will be able to speak on your behalf. Thank you!

Basement Clean Out Scheduled

As many of you know, the basement below Fellowship Hall has been collecting items for many years. Some things have already been gone through, but there’s more to do. If you would like to help clean up and clean out, come to the hall on Saturday, October 12th at 10:30 AM. It will be a day of dust, fellowship and fun! For more information, please see Nancy at church on Sunday!