The Millstone Times January 2019

The Millstone Times' Photo of the Month Are you a photo buff? Do you love taking pictures everywhere you go? Perhaps you have a favorite one that you would like to share? We want your pictures for our photo of the month section. You can send photos to the following email: crescent671@gmail.com Include your name and a description of the photo. If you have a brief story that goes with it, send that too. You may send photos more than one time. (If you prefer to send anony- mously, we will leave your name out.) Make sure you put “Millstone Times Photo” in the subject area when emailing or it won’t be opened. Alex Ostrow of Monroe Township took these two photos: Paterson Great Falls and the Barnegat Lighthouse The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, 77 feet (23 m) high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. The falls and surrounding area are protected as part of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, administered by the National Park Service. The site of Barnegat Lighthouse nicknamed, “Old Barney” on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County was regarded as one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. Vessels bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on Barnegat Lighthouse to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars, and the offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailor. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail.

Allentown Presbyterian Church Advent Village 2018 Was a Huge Success By Pam Teel

On December 1st, The Allentown Presbyterian Church held an event called Advent Village. Maureen Harshman, Director of Children and Family Ministries, hosted the year- ly event, which advocates Christmas shopping in an alternate way, ways that will help other people. Advent Village was an opportunity for the greater Allentown community to par- ticipate in an alternative experience to commercial Christmas shopping that creates awareness of and supports the missions of Allentown Presbyterian Church. By purchasing a gift at Advent Village you are be benefitting the lives of peo- plewho are inneed, in the name of your loved one, fulfilling the call to care for the members of God’s family. The pur- chases directly benefit those whom the mission teams serve. Patrons receive Advent Village Christmas gift cards, which explain the purchase made, and the beneficiary of the gift. The Education building next to the church was transformed into a Vic- torian Village for the day. Rooms and offices were changed into six different stations. Shoppers strolled through the Victorian village, complete with cre- ative Dickensian storefronts. Patrons got to shop and visit six mission stores with friendly and knowledgeable “shoppe owners” who explained their work in the mission field. Children enjoyed visiting the Ye Olde Book Shoppe and Bakery supported by the APC Sunday School and Little Tree Preschool. Tree ornaments made by the young children’s classes were sold for a dollar or two. The Ye Olde APC Café provided many delicious goodies and varied homemade lunch and dinner options. All food was donated and prepared by volunteer chefs allowing 100% of sales to benefit the work of the missions. Entertainment was provided throughout the day by various enter- tainers. Some of the entertainers in- cluded the Trenton Children’s Choir, APC ROCK, Stepping Stones, and Youth choirs, APC Intergenerational Advent Choir, local talent, strolling minstrels, and more. The six mission stations included: The Allentown Good Neighbor Fund- money collected will be used to help those neighbors in need for such things as paying bills, assisting in rent money, etc. The Allentown Food Pantry- dona- tions will go to those in need of hot meals, groceries, holiday food boxes, seeds to start a garden, etc.

The APC Guatemalan Mission- to help people in Guatemala by using the money towards shoes for people, doc- tors’ visits, purchasing a heating stove with a chimney, clean water, etc. Homefront- donations help purchase warm socks, blankets, diapers, field trips for kids, etc. Villages in a Partnership- Donate to help build schools in other countries, buy goats for families, furnish a class- room, etc. Crossroads Youth and Ministry-help to spread the good word to children 11-30 at the Crossroads Youth Center located in Allentown. The idea of the Advent Village was to change people’s ways of how they spend money at Christmas in buying things that people really don’t need and donating and purchasing some- thing that will go towards someone who does need; something that will really change a person’s life. This year the church has collected over $25,452 dollars, which will go to all six of their missions. Donations and craft items are still available for purchase. If you would like to donate, please see the form. You can pick one mission or more and ac- tually see what your money is going for. In the nine years that the church has been doing the advent village, they have managed to raise $214,000 dol- lars toward the causes. You can help bring that total up. If you want to make a difference in a person’s life, donate to someone who could really use a life saving gift!!!!!! According to Ms. Harshman, “Advent Village 2018 was a day to remember! Memories abound with images of laughter, hugs and smiles shared; of gifts given to change lives. Advent Vil- lage is a day of transformation. Trans- forming not only the space of APC, but the space in our hearts as we are encouraged to think differently about how we spend our Christmas dollars and howwe spend our time during Ad- vent and throughout the year: serving, loving, and helping others in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you will join us next year for Ad- vent Village 2019 on Saturday, Decem- ber 7, 2019. Help us continue to help others.”This Christmas, give a gift that will change a life!” To find out more about the APC and its programs go to: www.allentown- presbyterian.org. Allentown Presbyte- rian Church 20 High Street Allentown, NJ 08501(609) 259-7289.

Barbara Merkin took a photo of this spectacular waterfall on one of her trips.

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