Now is the Time to Take a Step!
If you haven’t caught wind of it yet, let me remind you: this year at Central, it’s the year of discipleship. We kicked off the ‘church’ year in the beginning of September when we asked the question “what does the Lord require of you?” Remember that? The answer from Amos, but reiterated by Jesus, is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. The way we put it is to always be taking “steps” along the path of following
We Are So Ready!
Every week since August during Central Kids, two cute twins have asked me, “when does Central Learns start?” At the mum sale for the elementary school I had a parent ask me, “When does your after school program start back up? We are SO ready for it!” We are excited the answer to both questions is in two short weeks! Central Learns starts every Wednesday on October 16th! This year, we have received an ABCNJ Communities in Action Grant which will allow us
The Most Politically Radical Thing You Can Do
The book of Revelation has been on my mind recently. In part, because I knew I’d be preaching from it last Sunday, but also, in part, because I know of a large bible study organization that is focusing on it this year and it’s come up in conversation a lot. As I said on Sunday, it tends to be a book that scares people and/or is just so hard to understand, so people just kind of shy away from it (or
More Than Just a Picnic.
This past Sunday was our yearly church picnic…but this one was a little different, and in my mind, it was such an amazing event. Here’s why…This year, we decided to do what we normally do at the picnic - food, games, good time together - but there was one big difference: we did it in the middle of town at the harbor in Atlantic Highlands. We invited anyone who was walking by to grab some free chili or hot dogs,
Take A Step With Us.
This past Sunday was a big Sunday here at Central, as we kicked off the “new church year”. During the sermon, I introduced a new and big idea for the church that I want to make sure you all know about. I’d tell you to watch the livestream to find out more (which you can do here), but we mistakenly had music playing through the livestream during the entire service (so it’s like I’m preaching with loud background music!). Kind
Looking for a Paid Nursery Caregiver!
We're excited to be growing our Sunday morning staff! Currently, we are looking for a (paid) nursery attendant who can care for our littlest ones, as well as teach small lessons. Please check out the full role description here. If you, or someone you know is interested, contact our Next Generation Pastor, Rebecca DeLucia. VIEW THE ROLE DESCRIPTION
Back to Life
Last week, my friend who moved to Texas posted about how, no matter where in the world people from NJ are - even the most beautiful, awe inspiring places - they will still find a way to mention how NJ has pizza and all four seasons. Winter, though barren, brings hot cocoa and cozy evenings; it’s often a time of intentionality. Spring brings new life and fresh starts. This past Monday, we mourned the end of summer: the end of
Questions Matter
Questions have been on my mind recently. Let me clarify: it’s not that I have questions that have been plaguing my mind or anything…rather, it’s the idea and importance of questions that have been on my mind. Questions matter. I mean, take today’s bible plan reading of Matthew 21. The entire chapter is practically propelled forward by people asking questions about Jesus or directly to Jesus, or by Jesus posing questions back. When you read the Gospels, what you see is that a lot
More Than Enough To Go Around
Today’s reading in our Central Reads 2024 bible reading plan is a bit of a tough one…at first glance. There’s a story that, quite frankly, is difficult to understand – because of how out of place it seems for Jesus. It’s the one where a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus to have her daughter healed of a demon, and Jesus responds by basically saying that he’s only come for the lost sheep of Israel, and that it’s not right to give the
Act On It.
In this week’s readings from the bible reading plan, we finished the sermon on the mount on Monday (Matthew 7). It’s an amazing bit of teaching from Jesus, world-changing, personally convicting, and far reaching. But I want to highlight how it ends – because I think it’s what is so often missed:24 “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and