Central's Pastoral E-Letter: September 27, 2013

Dear Central Family,   What an awesome week we have had!    Last Sunday morning, our LifeGroups kicked off for the fall!  The halls were filled with adults seeking to connect in community with other adults.  If you have not chosen a LifeGroup, there is still time!  Check out this link for all the offerings, whether here at Central or in homes in our communities.  Then this past Wednesday evening, we kicked off our Wednesday Night Alive!  The parking lot was filled with cars as families came to learn and grow together.  In addition, Breakaway for Junior and Senior High Students started this week and it was Promotion Sunday last weekend for our elementary age children.  This has been a busy place with ministry every night of the week! Oh and lest I forget, we started a weekly LifeSkills workshop for the residents of Preservation House!  These workshops will cover areas such as budgeting, resume-writing, and parenting.  This past Monday, twelve women attended the first session and really connected with what our speakers had to say. I am rejoicing at what God is doing!   I want you to know that the response to our encouragement to get out of your seats and use your gifts this past weekend was overwhelming!  We received so many response cards that it is going to take a little time to have our staff and ministry leaders make connection with you, but thank you for listening to the Spirit and responding with generous willingness to serve.  We are excited about how this will all help us to impact others for the kingdom!   This Sunday is Bring Your Friend Sunday!  I hope you are in town this weekend and you have taken time to invite someone to come with you.  We are focusing on presenting the good news of the Gospel in all of our five services that are designed with your friends in mind.  So please take the time to pray for and invite someone to come with you, as it is going to be a special weekend!  I will be teaching in the Saturday Night and both Modern Services at 9:30 and 11:00, and our Teaching Pastor Jared Alcántara will be teaching in the Classic Service at 9:30 and the Unplugged Service at 11:00.   Hike with the Women’s Ministry on TOMORROW (Saturday), September 29!  Rides (if you would like to carpool) will leave from Central at 9:15 am and the group will meet at Baldpate Mountain at 9:45 am (Pleasant Valley Road Parking for the Ridge Trail).  If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Jenna Garrison at jenna.garrison@gmail.com   Registration is here for the Men’s Retreat!  The retreat will be held on October 18 to 20 at Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East, Maryland and the weekend’s theme is “The Cure: What if God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you?” For more details visit the table in Fellowship Mall or e-mail Pastor Anthony Gilmer at agilmer@cbcnj.org.   There will be a Women’s Expo on Saturday, October 12 from 10am to 12 noon.  Come and explore the exciting events that the Women’s Ministry has planned for the 2013-2014 year!  There will also be mini-workshops and giveaways. Child care will be provided. For more information, contact Stephanie Gillette at stephaniegillette725@yahoo.com or visit the table in Fellowship Mall.   As I mentioned, we are holding weekly LifeSkills workshops at Preservation House.  The workshops are held on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30pm until November 11. We need help with setup and takedown, childcare, and providing refreshments. Visit the table in Allen Hall to sign-up or contact Toni Campbell at singsong40@hotmail.com.    Finally, we will be unveiling our plans for our Christmas outreach this weekend and how you can get involved to give this gift to our community.  We are EXCITED about what is in store!  You will learn more this weekend!   See you soon!   Pastor Gay   P.S. I LOVE FALL!!!

 

 

---

This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this message with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line. 

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, September 20, 2013

Dear Central Family,   I am very excited about the beginning of our new message series we started last weekend that we called REMIX.  We are learning and growing together about what it means to have our lives refocused, repurposed, and redirected to let Christ shine through.  Last weekend was a banner weekend for our fall kickoff!  We saw so many guests and it was exciting to see those of you who have been away for the summer.    We will continue the REMIX series this weekend and examine the purpose God has placed upon all of us to fulfill as His children in His kingdom.  I will be teaching on Saturday night and at both Modern Services at 9:30 and 11:00.  Damon Missouri will be teaching in the 9:30 Classic Service and 11:00 Unplugged.  So plan to come and invite a friend to come with you.    Speaking of inviting a friend, I want to remind you that the weekend of September 28-29 is Bring a Friend Weekend.  Each service will be designed with you and your friends in mind.  The worship, the message, and the entire atmosphere will focus on your guests, so take the time to invite someone to come with you.   Sunday morning LifeGroups from junior high to adults start this weekend!  For a list of Sunday morning LifeGroups, go to this link.  It’s not too late to sign up!    Also, this Sunday is Promotion Sunday for all children’s programs!  This means that everyone moves up to their new classes based on their current grade level (preschool to 5th grade).  Please plan to come a bit early to meet your children’s teachers, get your child signed in, and registered them for this new year.   Wednesday Night programs start this Wednesday, September 25!  Children’s clubs are available from preschool to 5th grade and childcare will be provided from birth to toddler age.  Several LifeGroups are offered for adults, including support groups GriefShare and DivorceCare.  All programs start at 7:00 pm. For a list of Wednesday night LifeGroups, go to this link.  See you there!    Last but not the least, there will be a Men's Breakfast tomorrow (Saturday), September 21 at 8 am.  The speaker is Chad Tulumalo, Central's new Men's Ministry leader. Come join the men of Central for breakfast, fellowship, and spiritual refreshment.   See you this weekend!   Pastor Gay

 

 

---

This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this message with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line. 

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, September 13

Dear Central,   Have you ever wished for fresh unleashing of energy, passion, and drive in your Christian life?    If so, you are not going to want to miss the beginning of our new series we are kicking off this weekend called Remix.  That is going to be our emphasis the next three weeks, and I am looking forward with anticipation to what God is going to do in all our lives as we examine His calling for us.    This weekend is going to feature a variety of teachers.  Damon Missouri, a chaplain in the National Guard, will be teaching in the 9:30 Classic Service and 11:00 Unplugged Service. Marlon Webb, another military chaplain, will be teaching in the Saturday night service.  I will be teaching in both the 9:30 and 11:00 Modern Services on Sunday.   Please take note of these upcoming events:   The Life Group Fair continues this Sunday!  Stop by the Fellowship Mall and learn about the new opportunities you will have to connect in community this new year.  Pick up a brochure, meet the group leaders, and browse the books that will be used for the studies this fall.  Come check it out!  To see a list of groups offered this fall or to sign up online, click here.    Wednesday, September 18 at 7 pm is THE Open House!  This open house is designed specifically for parents of children and students.  You will get the scoop about what's happening in Kidz Central and Breakway Student Ministry. There will be two identical 30 minute meetings per ministry so if you have a child in both, you won’t miss a thing!  Childcare will be provided for birth to age 5 and there will be special activities for elementary children.  Light refreshments will be served.   We have two support groups that will start next week.  GriefShare starts next Wednesday, September 18 at 7 pm and is a community outreach support group for people who have experienced the death of a loved one.  Celebrate Recovery begins on Thursday, September 19 at 7 pm and is a Christian 12-Step Recovery Group designed to focus on everyone who seeks Christ’s victory over hurts, habits, and hangups.  To sign up or to contact the leaders of each group, click here.    The first Men’s Breakfast for the fall will be on Saturday, September 21 at 8 am.  Reconnect with other men in the church and also learn more about the upcoming Men’s Retreat in October.  The speaker will be Central’s new Men’s Ministry leader, Chad Tulumalo.    Wednesday night programs start on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 pm!  All children’s programs and Life Groups will start that evening.  We’re looking forward to another great year!   Hike with the Women’s Ministry on Saturday, September 29!  Rides (if you would like to carpool) will leave from Central at 9:15 am and the group will meet at Baldpate Mountain at 9:45 am (Pleasant Valley Road Parking for the Ridge Trail).  If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact Jenna Garrison at jenna.garrison@gmail.com   Registration is open for the Men’s Retreat!  The retreat will be held on October 18 to 20 at Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East, Maryland and the weekend’s theme is “The Cure: What if God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you?” For more details on the retreat, go to Sandy Cove’s page.  To register, go to this link or e-mail Pastor Anthony Gilmer at agilmer@cbcnj.org.     See you this weekend!   Pastor Gay

 

 

---

This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this message with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line. 

 

 

Obituary: John Bartek

The service for John Bartek will be today at Central at 11:30 am.  His obituary and picture are below.  He was a  real American hero whom we were blessed to have at our church for so many years.   Pastor Gay   ---   JOHN FRANCIS BARTEK                                                                                 John Francis Bartek, 94, of Hamilton, entered into God’s loving care at home on September 9, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.   Born in Bayonne, NJ, John was a longtime Mercerville resident.  He attended Colts Neck and Freehold schools and entered the Army Air Corps at age 18.  At age 23, during WWII, in October 1942, the B-17 aircraft carrying John, Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker and six others crashed into the Pacific while on a secret mission.  They were lost at sea for 21 days on three rafts.  John wrote about their experiences at sea in “My Raft Episode, 21 Days Adrift at Sea.”    After being rescued, John left the service and sold war bonds and gave speeches all over the country about his experience.  He attended photography school on Long Island and ultimately became a photographer for the New Jersey State Police, from which he retired in 1985.    John loved to dance to big band music and take family pictures, including photos of his flower gardens.  He attended Central Baptist Church and the Reach Out and Touch Someone for seniors.   John was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.   We wish to thank Comfort Keepers and the Visiting Nurse Association for sending outstanding aides, nurses and therapists.   Predeceased by his parents, Charles and Mary (Polachak) Bartek; his first wife, Mildred (Sentman) Bartek; and his sisters, Sophie Iverson, Ester Cooper and Ruth Bartek; he is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Marie M. (Matthews) Stewart-Bartek; his loving daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and David Weed of Wrightstown, NJ; his step-children, Gordon and Mary Miller, Marie Mennel, Frank and Diane Stewart and William Stewart; his grandchildren, Jenna, David and Jonathan Weed; his 9 step-grandchildren; his 13 step-great-grandchildren; his brothers, Paul and George Bartek of Freehold, NJ; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Emma Newton, Charlotte Williams, Margaret and Neil Douglas, Eve Vitale, and George and Barbara Matthews; and his numerous nieces and nephews.   Funeral services will begin on Thursday, September 12, 2013, at 11:30 a.m., at the Central Baptist Church, 2015 Pennington Rd., Trenton, NJ 08618.   Entombment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Hamilton.   Family and friends may call on Thursday, September 12, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Central Baptist Church.                          In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John’s memory to VNA of Mercer County, 171 Jersey St., Suite 201, PO Box 441, Trenton, NJ 08603 or Central Baptist Church, 2015 Pennington Rd., Trenton, NJ 08618 or American Cancer Society, PO Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057.   Arrangements are under the direction of Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ.    www.saulfuneralhomes.com

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, September 6, 2013

Dear Central,   I am looking forward with great anticipation to this coming Sunday!  I’m calling it I Love My Church Sunday!  We will celebrate all the things God did through all of your prayers and service to reach people here and around the world this past summer.  Each service will feature reports from our World Changers Team, Brazil Team, and Kids Camp Teams.  God did some amazing things this summer and we want to give Him praise.  In addition, we will be doing baptisms in both the 9:30 and 11:00 Modern Services. If you want to take the next step and be baptized, just bring a change of clothes and come to the office area during either of our Modern Worship Services.  It is going to be a very powerful morning!  So you can see we are starting the fall with the BANG!   This Sunday, we will kick off our new Life Group season with our Life Group Fair!  Plan to come to the Fellowship Mall and learn about the new opportunities you will have to connect in community this new year.  Pick up a brochure, meet the group leaders, and browse the books that will be used for the studies this fall.  Come check it out!    Wednesday, September 18 at 7 pm is THE Open House!  It’s an opportunity for parents to learn about the children’s Wednesday night programs this fall.  Meet your child’s group leader and find out more about the program curriculum.  Childcare will be provided, so feel free to bring your little ones.    The first Men’s Breakfast for the fall will be on Saturday, September 21 at 8 am.  Reconnect with other men in the church and also learn more about the upcoming Men’s Retreat in October.      Wednesday night programs start on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 pm!  All children’s programs and Life Groups will start that evening.  We’re looking forward to another great year!   See you this weekend!   Pastor Gay

 

 

---

This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this message with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.