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The Open Door Hillsdale United Methodist Church is a faith community, offering opportunities to all people seeking to know God, advance God’s kingdom, and do God’s will, by following Jesus Christ.

December 2017-February 2018

Hillsdale United Methodist Church Mailing address: 349 Hillsdale Avenue Hillsdale, NJ 07642 Office telephone: 201-664-5231 Parsonage telephone: 201-664-1533 Website address: www.HillsdaleNJumc.org

Inside this Issue of the Open Door Page 1: Message from your Pastor

Pastor Brian Neville [email protected]

Page 2 : Update from Hillsdale United Nursery School

Kristine Melius [email protected]

Page 4: Upcoming Birthdays

Jackie Levesque [email protected]

Page 9: See What We Have Been Up To!

Page 3: Messages from our Youth Page 5-8: Messages from our Congregation & Community Page 6: Upcoming Events

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A message from your Pastor, Brian Neville Joy to the World!

orations before Thanksgiving. Yet I was secretly excited we My three-year-old son, Hal, were breaking our own rule watched the classic cartoon about decorations before movie “the Grinch” for the first Thanksgiving! time right after Thanksgiving. Again, I am not quite sure He told me he likes the Grinch what it is that has made this and it’s all because he grows a heart! It’s funny but, despite year so special, but I feel an getting married on Christmas overwhelming sense of joy. Eve and being a pastor that Who cares what other people invites literally hundreds of are doing regarding Christpeople every year to experi- mas! It doesn’t matter to me if ence the miracle of Jesus’ they are ignoring the reason birth, I’ve never been one for the season. I don’t care if much for Christmas. It’s just they say “Happy Holidays” to never really been my favorite acknowledge other people celeholiday. In some ways, I’ve felt brating Hanukkah, Kwanza or like the Grinch before he something else. I care that deep in me is an incredible joy grows a heart. that stems from the Good But something changed this News that Jesus has come into year. I’m not quite sure what the world! That’s not true just it is. Maybe it’s having little on Christmas; that’s true of kids in the house. Maybe it’s every day of every year. Why that I don’t have to wake up at not celebrate Jesus every day? 5 in the morning to go to Why not get excited about that grandma’s house for Christ- in November as opposed to Demas after being up until 1 am cember?! My prayer for you in the night before! Maybe it’s this season is that you catch not being overexposed to the the spirit; that the joy of this commercialized version of Good News makes this year Christmas for the last several different from others. Perhaps years. Maybe…maybe it’s just you’ll share with others why a Christmas miracle, but this you are joyful despite circumyear I am really, really excited stances that would normally for Christmas. It started the point in the other direction. first week in November… Perhaps you’ll look for a November! I’m usually super church on Christmas Eve to annoyed by Christmas music celebrate even though you are and decorations that are put traveling on that day. Perhaps up any time before Thanksgiv- you’ll replace maintaining ing, but this year, this year I “tradition” with a spirit of love couldn’t wait! I was that an- that accepts others even in noying person, ha! We played their differences. Perhaps this Christmas music for weeks in is the year you welcome the November. We told the boys Savior of the world into your we can only put up “a few” dec- life in ways you never have be-

fore. Even if you’re a Grinch, Jesus can cause us to find joy at any time of year. Amen! In Christ Love, Pastor Brian Neville

Upcoming Sermon Series Joseph December 3rd & 24th

Please join us in December as we begin a new series on Joseph, the faithful servant of God and earthly fatherfigure of Jesus Christ. Intolerant January 7th–February 11th

The sermon series Intolerant will be an exploration of other religions and how tolerant we should be of people with different beliefs. Prayer February 18th-March 4th

Prayer will look at the power of prayer and prayer as a Spiritual discipline. Please join us! Pastor Brian will be leading a Lenten Bible Study from February 18th-March 25th. Please contact the church office for more information.

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Hillsdale United Nursery School In November, Mr. Tom Scheulen, a grandfather of a HUNS family, visited our 4 Year Olds in recognition of Veteran’s Day. The children presented hand-made cards to thank him for his service. While Election Day was busy at the polls, our students were voting for what snack they preferred! Cookies beat out crackers by a landslide! “T” week was especially busy in our 4 Year Old Program. Children brought in their favorite Teddy Bear for a special Teddy Bear picnic. Snack included Teddy Graham cookies and iced tea! Our classes celebrated all the goodness that comes with giving thanks! The children learned about the friendship gathering of the first Thanksgiving. The 4 year olds shared a Thanksgiving “feast.” Every child expressed their gratitude, whether big or small, and teachers posted it on the bulletin boards. Preparing for the holiday, children had the opportunity of staying for Extended Hours before Thanksgiving for “Turkey Tuesday” cookie decorating. December brings heightened enthusiasm for the holidays as children work diligently on holiday crafts and gifts. Nursery school families will once again donate gifts to The Center for Hope and Safety for mothers and children in need in conjunction with Pascack Valley High School. From all the staff and students at Hillsdale United, we wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas season!

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Our Youth Group is in full swing with a full calendar lined up for 2017-2018! We had an awesome start to the year this Fall and we have many new and exciting things planned for the rest of this year and into 2018! We are so excited to see how God will work in and through us this year. We have already enjoyed our annual Halloween party and the youth had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship with our Turkey Tackle event! On Laity Sunday the Youth Group prepared sandwiches to provide a complimentary lunch in celebration of the work of the people, as a thank you to everyone for their hard work and support. We are already working away with fundraisers to support our Summer Missions Trip. This Christmas we will have an ornament sale and this Winter the Youth will go on a Winter Retreat! Please remember our Christmas Party is December 17th. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristine Melius with any questions, or for more information for how your student can get involved: [email protected]. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year ahead! -The Hillsdale UMC Youth Group

HUMC Sunday School This Fall Sunday School started out with some welcomed events. The Eagle Scout project in the basement has been completed. This project consisted of cleaning out space in the basement for use by our Sunday School. The scouts did a remarkable job in organizing and cleaning up items left behind. They painted and set up different work stations in the area. Our teachers and students have been able to utilize the new space for worship, learning and working on different craft projects and they are really enjoying it! Also this Fall, the Family Ministry, in coordination with our Youth Minister, Kristine Melius, hosted a Halloween party for our church families and friends. The children had a wonderful time playing Halloween games, decorating pumpkins (generously donated by the DeGise family) and pumpkin cookies, taking fun photos and getting tattoos. On November 20th, the Sunday School donated items for the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Our students took a tour of the food pantry to get an understanding of their ministry and to realize that donations are especially needed and appreciated at this time of year. For Christmas, we are looking forward to our Christmas Pageant on December 10th which is always one of the highlights of the season. Hope to see you all there to support our children. God Bless.

65 4 December 2017 Birthdays Jeffrey Berger Amaris Hiatt

12/01 12/01

Marina Mehta Carolyn Molinelli Leah Fox Joseph Gemignani

12/01 12/01 12/03 12/03

Lana Pinon 12/03 Jack Ussher-Keushkerian 12/04 Pamela Pierce 12/04 Kenneth Porter 12/05 Jeffrey Ross Jennifer Fanelli Lucille Kramer Michelle Schaffner Carolyn Vezza Ryan Friend Nicholas Benoit Garren Pflueger Elizabeth Janssen Noelle Hoffman Lilyanna Catalano Hailee Dapolito Lois Nacinovich Nicholas Pescatore Amelia Martin Elijah Torres Cathy Bailey Lorraine Loew Alyssa Martin Bradon Davila Zachary Eastright Charlie Hill

January 2018 Birthdays

Jake Levine 12/06 Paige Levine 12/07 Lorraine Nixdorf 12/08 Sylvia Kleister 12/08 Thomas Rizzie 12/08 Janice Boettner 12/10 Craig Kohan 12/12 Nicholas Dapolito 12/13 Evan Stalter 12/15 Stacey Martin 12/16 Melinda Christie 12/16 Angelina Van Cleef 12/18 Anne Griffin 12/20 Daniel Roggenburg 12/21 Lori DeGise 12/23 Lewis Jefferies 12/23 Brian Buckley 12/24 Denise Kohan 12/24 Justin Murberg 12/29 Austin Brinker 12/30 Brian Sullivan 12/30 12/31

February 2018 Birthdays

1/01 1/01

Jay Ford Michael Villegas

2/01 2/01

1/01 1/07 1/07 1/08

Debbie Roggenburg Efrein Torres Lois Kohan Dakota Stepe

2/01 2/01 2/02 2/02

1/08 1/12 1/13 1/14

Matthew Koeniges Timothy Hampton Kathy Sather Jon Kohl

2/03 2/06 2/06 2/07

1/15 1/16 1/18 1/21

Nicholas Cicala Samantha Cicala Dana Marie Sather Ebony Shaaf

2/08 2/08 2/08 2/09

1/22 1/23 1/25

Sameet Master Bryan Atkinson Tom Pisciotta

2/12 2/13 2/13

1/25 1/26 1/30

Jeanne Lozier Rick Perdew Carol Weaver

2/13 2/13 2/14

1/30

Michael Pflueger

2/17

Dorothy De Sandre Brianna Everett Juliana Lavitol Kevin Kohan

2/19 2/20 2/20 2/21

Danielle Nacinovich 2/21 Ira Ornstein 2/26 Cole Ussher-Keushkerian 2/29

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Update from the Trustees As this calendar year closes, the Trustees want to thank all the Church members and contractors that have worked so very hard this year to maintain the Church buildings and property. The final project for this year, the stained glass behind the alter, will be dedicated on Christmas Eve. This is a memorial project, funding is not from the Church budget, and is in memory of a former Pastor, Bob Davidson. It is not too late to help fund this project and make a donation in his name. Some aspects of this project are not finished yet. You can send a check to the office, or donate on any Sunday, just memo your check "Bob Davidson "or" "stained glass". Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year from your Trustee committee. Looking for an opportunity but not a ball and chain to serve at HUMC? Look no further. Ushering answers the question. Becoming an usher is not only fun, it is a spiritual gift to everyone who comes through our doors. As an usher, you are welcoming the stranger (friends, too). As an usher you help set the tone for worship and for people responding to the word of God. Qualifications of an Usher* You understand the vital role of the usher ministry. You enjoy and care about people. You possess a servant heart. You are committed to the vision of Hillsdale United Methodist Church. You are supportive of the leadership at Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Do you see yourself in this ministry? We are recruiting new ushers; Women, Men and Youth, now. We provide training aids and flexible scheduling. Just sign the registration pad the next time you are in worship; indicate “Want to Usher” next to your name. Or, call the Office to be added to our Usher Email list. Or, contact Ellen Stratton, Coordinator, at: [email protected], (201)-573-1082 home phone, or (201)-446-5546 cell or text. Thank You. *excerpt from Church, Ministry, Pastor’s Coach by Dan Reiland.

67 Dear Congregation of Hillsdale UMC, Thank all of you for being a church family to me from 2000 to 2015. Fifteen years of Faith and Fellowship in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My needs were met in many ways by Pastors, Staff and the Congregation. Hillsdale UMC is truly the Body of Christ. No one, and certainly I did not lack anything. I miss you All. May the Lord continue to bless you with his awesome Presence. Lovingly, in Christ Jesus, Marina Mehta. Dear Friends, The postal carrier got a hernia recently delivering so many Get Well cards to our mailbox…only kidding about the hernia. But, I did receive many cards filled with your good wishes and prayer concerns for my recovery. As I faced surgery, I knew I was surrounded by your prayers and I felt the peace of our Lord, Jesus. It was a faith ahha experience. Thank you for carrying me through this period. I’ve received so many expressions of cheer and help which I will treasure forever. Thank you, for each act of kindness. In Christian Love, Ellen Stratton

The HUMC office received a thank you note from June Meli, who took a teddy bear home for a friend who was suffering. June said that the teddy bear brightened up her friends day and she was able to get a good nights sleep for the first time in a long time. June wants to thank us for this wonderful ministry!

The Church Staff has made a transition to new email addresses. Please update your contacts to the new addresses listed below. Please contact the office with any questions. Pastor Brian– [email protected] Kristine Melius– [email protected] Jackie Levesque– [email protected]

Would you like to submit an article to the next edition of the Open Door newsletter? Please have your article of no more than 500 words emailed to Jackie Levesque, at [email protected] by 2/15/18.

We are excited to announce that you can now follow us on Instagram (#hillsdaleumc) and Snapchat! Our username for both accounts is: hillsdaleumc

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If you would like to order a Christmas Poinsetta, please pick up an order form in the Narthex and have it returned no later than Sunday, December 10th. Please contact the church office or Tammy Molinelli at [email protected] with any questions.

Please cut along the dotted line and return to the church office:

Tree Leaves Bronze Silver Gold

$250.00 $500.00 $750.00

Rocks, Acorns & Doves Small Medium Large

$1,000.00 $2,500.00 $5,000.00 All wording will follow a standard format:

Don’t know what to give as a gift this Christmas? Would you like to honor a loved one? Making a special monetary donation to the donor recognition tree is a wonderful gift for the Christmas Season. Simply pick up a form in the Narthex or fill out the form to the right and include your gift payable to Hillsdale United Methodist Church, memo: donor recognition tree. Gifts should be turned in to the church office and will be approved by the Church Trustees. Please circle the size and type of gift you would like to give. Please contact Terry Stevens with any questions, at: (201)-694-9172.

First line: Second line: Third line:

“The Smith Family” “In Memory of/In Honor of” “James Smith”

________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Please include your contact information here:

________________________ ________________________ ________________________

69 8 A Message from the UMW As the UMW organizes for the future, we are faced with a new opportunity created by the lack of a President and Vice-President. With consideration of this fact, we will restructure our leadership around a new model. Quite simply, we will plan for a committee lead program. A committee lead program is a dynamic and flexible technique to maintain an active and interesting schedule of events. Here’s what this might look like: Traditionally and for decades, we have had a labor intensive Rummage Sale in the month of May. It has often been our biggest fundraiser. Without a member or members to step into a lead role(s) and organize a team around her, we will discontinue the Rummage Sale. It has been suggested that we have a community event such as a Fish Fry in its place. A Fish Fry is run by an outside organization and our role is to advertise and sell tickets. It is believed that a less exhausting activity will be achievable while also helping significantly with fundraising. If we are unable to secure a lead person, then even a Fish Fry won’t happen. Our goal is to be flexible while adhering to the Purpose of United Methodist Women: The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Fundraising is integral to our identity. We use the money to support many mission projects here in New Jersey and around the world. Our monies are targeted to aid women and children and often we support our local church with special gifts and our annual pledge to the general program. Basically, as we go forward our meetings will be UMW General Planning. Circle Leaders and Officers will take turns chairing quarterly meetings. These Brown Bag meetings will be open to all of us and held on a Sunday following worship. Circle meeting schedules will not change. Please be flexible as there are sure to be kinks along the way. Please come join us in the General Planning. We are truly excited by the fresh and innovative ideas for 2018. You are going to like our new look while we maintain many of our traditions.

Is there someone in your life who is struggling with addiction? High Focus Centers provides specialized outpatient addiction treatment services for the Bergen County area. As part of their substance abuse program, they facilitate multi-family counseling sessions to their clients and their families. They also offer specialized mental health treatment services, including psychoeducation, psychiatric partial care and intensive outpatient programs for middle school students through Paramus Middle School. Individual family counseling sessions are available to clients in their psychiatric or co-occurring disorders programs and their families.

For more information, please visit their website at “ highfocuscenters. pyramidhealthcarepa.com ” or by calling their Paramus location directly at (201) 291-0055

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What Have We Been Up To? Fall 2017 1

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1) The youth group serving at a special Laity Lunch, to thank everyone for their hard work! 2) Cindy Griffeth and her family; Cindy received the Faith in Service Award this year. Thank you Cindy for your years of service at HUMC! 3) The youth group having fun at their Halloween party! 4) Turkey Tackle fun with the youth group & friends. 5) 6) 7) The Halloween Family Fun Event! 8) 9) Our newly renovated lower Fellowship Hall, which is being used for Sunday School!

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What’s Happening this Winter?

We hope you can join us for We hope you can join us for worship on Sunday, December one of our three services on 10th for our Children’s Christmas Eve! We will have Christmas Pageant! Contact our 10:00 am Worship the office for more information. Service, followed by a 7:30 pm Family Service and an 11:00 pm Traditional Service that evening. We hope to see you there! Please invite your friends and family to join you! On Sunday, December 10th we will be hosting a free Children’s Giftmaking Event from 2:00-4:00 pm. All children are welcome when accompanied by a caregiver.

Come join us for a special musical event at 10:00 am, on Sunday, December 17th. This years Cantata will have scripture readings interspersed with wonderful Christmas music that our chancel choir will perform.

On Sunday, December 17th, our youth group will have their Christmas Party! For more information or to find out how you can help out, please contact Kristine Melius at [email protected].

Please join us in worship on Sunday, December 31st. Towards the end of the service we will have a covenant renewal. Kristine Melius will lead us in this special time.

Human Relations Offering is one of six churchwide Special Sunday offerings of The United Methodist Church. This year it will be take place on Sunday, January 14th. The offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through UMC Voluntary Services and work with at-risk teens.

In an effort to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease, “Pancakes for Parkinson’s” will be held on January 20th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at HUMC. The cost is $5.00 per person. Please contact the office for more information.

Our annual soup luncheon competition will take place this year on Sunday, February 4th after worship.

On Sunday, February 11th our youth will be putting together fruit baskets to deliver to the homebound for Valentines Day. For more information on how you can help out, please contact the church office.

Please join us for our Ash Wednesday Service on February 14th, at 7:30 pm. This service marks the beginning of Lent.

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The Open Door Hillsdale United Methodist Church 349 Hillsdale Avenue, Hillsdale, NJ