Cedar Grove United Methodist Church of Toms River NJ

Please note: Most books on sale focus on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, nutrition, weaning, and parenting!  Bring your family, friends, and neighbors who are expecting or have young children!!!

 

Please note that tomorrow’s joint service (9/9) with Faith Community UMC in Bayville at 11 AM will be held rain or shine!!

There will not be a service on Sunday, Sept. 9th at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church. Instead, we will be having a joint service at Faith Community Methodist Church in Bayville (our sister church) beginning at 11 AM, followed by a potluck picnic!! Please join us and bring a food or drink item to share! Thank you! See you then!

Cedar Grove United Methodist Church has established a supporting role to the House of Hope, located behind the Presbyterian Church of Toms River on Hooper Avenue.  This organization does a tremendous amount of work to help those in need included supplying food items, clothing, and helping families and individuals to find shelter for living.  Visit their website, HouseofHopeOcean.org for more information.  Our little church has pulled together and collected food, personal items, Christmas gifts, and school supplies over the past year.  Currently, we are collecting: Cereal, Canned Fruit, Soup, Coats and Blankets

In addition, we are also gathering items to send to our Military men and women as a way to thank them for their service!  We are collecting: Microwavable foods, Beef Jerky, Peanuts, Popcorn, Gum, Deodorant, Razors (individually packaged), Shaving Cream, Nail care items, Pillow cases, Hair Spray, Hand lotions, Make-up kits (small), Flip flops, Panty liners, Tampons, and OTC Pain meds (Midol, Advil liquid gels).

These items will be made into care packages and sent overseas. All items must be brought to church no later than Halloween in order for the packages to be assembled, mailed and reach them by the Christmas holiday! If you would like to bring them to the church on a day other than Sunday, please call the church office at 732-691-2415 and let us know what works for you so someone can meet you there.

Thank you for your participation and generosity!!  God Bless You!

How exciting it is when we welcome a new child of God to our church family!! We recently received Sawyer John as a child of God through his baptism.  This Sunday, July 29th, Hector James will be baptized and made a child of God.  These two babies are such a joy!

Seeing the water poured and the sign of the cross marked on their heads remind us to consider the importance of baptism as followers of Christ.  Most of us don’t remember our own baptisms as we were babies too young to recall.  As adults, we know the meanings behind the symbols of water, the cross, and the words that are said during the ceremony.  As members of the church, we answer to God as we promise to help all newcomers be Christians, be Methodists, and be a part of the church family.

As we watch each child and hear the words, remember that these things are also burned into our own hearts and lives.  Celebrate with them!!

Long time church member, Pat Camburn, died last week. A funeral will be held at Cedar Grove UMC on Friday, July 13, 2018 at 10 am followed by a procession to the cemetery. After laying her to rest, a respite will be provided at the church’s Fellowship Hall where friends and family can gather to share memories and a meal. Please join us in remembering Pat.

We are looking for a number of things for our church.  If you know of any of these that can help, please contact the church directly….

1. Saints and sinners….. all are welcome to worship with us every Sunday!
2. Fathers….. Sunday, June 17th is Father’s Day! Bring a father to church to celebrate!
3. Hungry people…. Jesus fed a crowd of 5000 with a few fish and loaves of bread.  Well, we’re not serving that unless someone plans to bring salmon or lox, but we are hosting a Father’s Day brunch on Sunday at 9:30 AM.  Feel free to bring an item to share.  There will be bagels, cream cheese, fruit, coffee, tea, juice and a few surprises! Join us!
4. Our microwave died recently. Although a memorial service is being planned, we could use another one. We will always remember our dear microwave…. a newer one wouldn’t serve to replace the memories we had with the old one, but would enable us to make new memories and warm up lots of good food. If you have one to share (perhaps you are needing a new one yourself and could donate your used one), please bring it to the church on any Sunday morning.  We would appreciate it if it is clean and in working order.  Thank you in advance for your generosity….and keep our old microwave in your prayers.
5. Anyone who loves the Bible… we are planning to host monthly Bible studies beginning in July. This will be a time to share and learn about the Bible, but also a time to gather as a community (Koinonia) and share good food we each bring. Dates and times to follow soon!

If you are able to help fill any of the requests above, let us know of your intentions.  We are anxiously waiting to hear from you!

Sunday, May 13th is Mother’s Day! Come celebrate the mothers in your life with us at 9:30 am at a light breakfast and stay for our service at 11 am! Happy Mother’s Day!!

One of our own, Edward Wilbert, a long time member of Cedar Grove UMC, passed away a few days ago. Viewing will be at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, Main Street, Toms River on Thursday, May 3rd from 3 to 6 PM with a service at 4:30 PM. Please join us to celebrate his life along with his wife, Nancy, with his family and his friends.

The service at 11 AM on April 8th, 2018 will be held in Fellowship Hall. We continue to have issues with the organ in the church, so we will be raising our voices in the Hall. See you then!