The Herald
THE HERALD IS NEW DOVER’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THAT OUTLINES WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PDF OR EXPLORE HERE ON THIS PAGE AS WELL! PDF: July/August 2025
With the approval of the Church Council, in an effort to reduce the cost of publishing and mailing of The Herald, we will start sending it electronically in September issue. Paper copies will be available for those who prefer it. Please email me at admin@newdoverumc.org with your preference. If you would like an electronic copy, please provide me with correct email address. Thanks, Trish
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With the approval of the Church Council, in an effort to reduce the cost of publishing and mailing of The Herald, we will start sending it electronically in September issue. Paper copies will be available for those who prefer it. Please email me at admin@newdoverumc.org with your preference. If you would like an electronic copy, please provide me with correct email address. Thanks, Trish 〰️
CHUCK’S CHURCH CHAT
Where forests rustle, tree on tree, and sing their silent songs to me...
O time of rapture! time of song! How swiftly glide thy days along
Adown the current of the years, above the rocks of grief and tears!
'Tis wealth enough of joy for me in summer time to simply be.
Adapted from “In Summer Time” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 –1906)
Saints,
Grace to you and peace as we enter what we hope to be a restful, rejuvenating, and recharging summer sabbath. That said, I’m not sure how rejuvenating the young summer has been so far. In fact, it’s been a bit draining! As I’m writing we are in the midst of the record-setting June 100+ degree heatwave, and that’s just after I returned from two weeks in the deserts of Canyonlands, Utah, where it topped out at 105 (but hey they say, it’s a dry heat). All I know is I never drank so much water in all my life, and every last drop was sorely needed! Can’t wait to see what July and August will bring!
Well, in last month’s “Chat” I wrote of the departure of Pastors Chantel and Doreen, andas of now they have made their trek to the heartland of the USA, and are getting ready to begin the next leg of their faith journey. And of course, we will continue to pray for our beloved sisters in ministry and their new congregations! In keeping with the weather, this month, I want to have you join with me in giving a warm (!) New Dover welcome to our new associate pastor, Joshua Victor James, who comes to us from the hallowed halls of Princeton Theological Seminary! Many of you were able to greet Joshua after he took part in the “passing of the mantle” at our June 8th worship service and then hung around for the Strawberry Festival that followed.
Joshua brings a wealth of intelligence, experience, passion, joy, and enthusiasm to our church, and he’s already made connections with families who have come from the very same region of India that gave him birth. Joshua will begin, as do all of our new pastors, by assisting in worship, getting acquainted with our various ministries, and taking part in our fantastic Vacation Bible School the week of July 14th. I sincerely look forward to welcoming him as a partner in ministry and fellow pilgrim on the road to “Kingdom’s end!” So buckle down Saints, because this summer promises to be a hot one, in more ways than one!
God bless and stay cool!
Chuck
Welcome Pastor Joshua James
On July 1st, Joshual James joins the ministry staff at New Dover UMC. Joshua holds a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, with prior degrees in physics, philosophy, and divinity. His academic journey reflects a deep engagement with theology, ethics, and social thought. He previously served in the Arcot Lutheran Church, where he led worship, preached, mentored youth, and participated in interfaith and ecological initiatives. Committed to integrating spirituality and social justice, his ministry focuses on youth formation, interfaith dialogue, eco-theology, and advocacy for the marginalized. Rooted in the theology of the cross and drawn to the United Methodist Church’s inclusive grace, Joshua is called to proclaim hope, healing, and transformation through missional witness.
KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS
Jayne Bonner
Debbie Ladym
Fran Livecchia
Jerry DiRenzo
John Resch
Pat Carpenter & Brian Richards
Service men & women
Veterans
Homeless, unemployed & uninsured
The People of Ukraine
For Peace in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Victims & their Families of mass shootings
All Elderly of NDUMC
Pray for all those affected by Natural Disasters, those suffering with addictions, those suffering from depression, Victims of terrorism & violence, all national leaders, and all those serving at New Dover UMC. All doctors, nurses, EMT, teachers, grocery store workers, janitors, and all other frontline workers. Thank you and God Bless.
If you wish to add anyone to the 2025 permanent prayer list, please contact Karen Rowland at krowland648@yahoo.com
PLEASE JOIN US FOR PRAYER FELLOWSHIP EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 10 AM
Sermon of the Month
“True Prosperity”
(Preached June 22, 2025)
Matthew 5:1-3
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
We’ve seen a lot of crowds hanging out lately, haven’t we? Let me ask you a question- what do you see when you look on the crowds? There was the crowd on June 14th in Washington watching the military parade to honor the 250 anniversary of the US Army. What did you think of that? And on the very same day there were crowds gathered all over the country marking what was referred to as “No Kings Day.” What did you think of that? What did we see when we looked each of the crowds? Well, that depends on two things I believe: our powers of perception, and what we believe in. Ever wonder what Jesus thought, as he look upon the two very different crowds gathered that Saturday.
It just so happens that the Sermon on the Mount, the most concentrated recording of Jesus’ teaching in all of the gospels begins with the words, “When Jesus saw the crowds...” What do you suppose he saw? What kind of crowd was he looking on that inspired him to go up the mountain and begin to speak to them of the law of Moses? We read that Jesus sees the crowd, but, and this is important, he doesn’t just “see” with his eyes. Oh no, there’s more going on here! The specific word in Greek that Matthew uses to describe how Jesus sees the crowd is “eido,” and that word means so much more than merely observing. It means to know; to be aware; to consider, to perceive; to understand.
Jesus, you see, had an amazing gift of perception, and what he perceived as he looked out upon the crowd before him was:
→ Fear about the state of the nation- a province of the Roman Empire, Palestine was firmly under the dictatorial rule of Caesar.
→ He saw confusion over the state of the world; what was to become of them.
→ And he saw eyes. Eyes reflecting despair, and an utter lack of hope. So, again, what do you think Jesus’ perceived looking over the two types of crowds that gathered on June 14th? I imagine that in both crowds he actually saw similar emotions displayed.
→ Serious concern about the state of our nation.
→ Confusion over the state of the world; Israel and Iran hurling missiles at one another, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the catastrophic destruction of Gaza .
→ And no doubt he accurately perceived our own pessimism and despair over the future- what is going to become of us?.
So we see Jesus looking and we wonder- what’s he going to do? Is he going to do anything? That crowd before him which had been building over the course of his ministry must have wondered the same thing! What will Jesus do? Jesus goes up!
Jesus normal behavior when encountering a crowd was to go out among them, but this time he goes up. Up to a mountaintop or at least a big hill, because that’s where he can best be seen and heard. And then Jesus sits down, the traditional posture for a rabbi, displaying a serene calmness; his response to the panic of the crowd. “Have a seat everybody, make yourselves comfortable because we’re going to be here a while.” His disciples were gathered round him, and usually they ask a lot of questions. But for the next three chapters not a peep from the disciples. Every word, it’s all Jesus. Because this was not a time to discuss or question, or debate. There’ll be time for that later. This is a sermon, and the crowd gathered before Jesus had one job- to listen! For now, they were to put everything else in their lives aside and just listen because, perceiving the needs of the crowd before him, Jesus knew that’s exactly what was needed at that time.
And Saints, isn’t that what’s needed for our time as well? We spend so much time and energy pontificating, debating, arguing, politicizing! And where has it got us? Take a look around. Isn’t it time for us to stop all that and simply listen to what Jesus has to say! But can we even do that? Are we capable of putting aside even ten to fifteen, or twenty minutes? That’s about the time it takes to read through the Sermon on the Mount. Can we put that much time aside and just listen, or do we have better things to do?
Maybe we have others we hold in higher regard than Jesus, so we listen to them instead?
Maybe we think they have better wisdom to pass on to us than what Jesus taught? If so, we might as well shut our Bibles, head out the sanctuary doors, and get on with our lives. But if we’re serious about our faith, if this man Jesus is everything we claim he is, than shouldn’t we hear and rehear and rehear and rehear his words in the Sermon on the Mount? What could possibly be more important than that? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German theologian, preacher, and activist based his understanding of what it means to be a Christian on the Sermon on the Mount, and his faith in these words of Jesus gave him the courage to take on Hitler and the Nazis. He called such faith “radical obedience,” and it cost him his life in Flossenbürg concentration camp at war’s end. For Bonhoeffer, and for countless Saints over the centuries, Jesus words in these three chapters of Matthew empowered their lives. But unfortunately, disciples as dedicated as Bonhoeffer have been hard to find.
Over the centuries so many who claim to have faith in Jesus, have bent over backwards, finding all manner of excuses why they don’t really have to follow the very core of his ethics.
You know, teachings like:
• Give to charity in secret.
• Don’t accumulate wealth.
• Don’t judge others.
• Turn the other cheek.
• Love your enemies.
• Don’t lust after another human being.
• Not only don’t kill, but don’t even get angry with someone.
Saints, how do we handle such radical teachings? Well, let’s face it, most of us water them down to the point of powerlessness. We compromise them to the point where they hold little to no authority over our lives. In truth, far too many of us focus so much on the heavenly Christ and worrying about our own eternal life, that we totally undervalue and undermine the teaching of the earthly Jesus, even though the heavenly Christ and the earthly Jesus are one of the same!
But Saints, if that’s what we do we do so at our own risk, because the Sermon on the Mount isn’t only about how we ought to live out our discipleship and treat our neighbors. At its core it is about US. The key to the Sermon on the Mount, is found in the very first words of the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That little phrase sums up the entirety of the Sermon on the Mount! “Poor in spirit” does not mean we ought to live despondent lives, weighed down by depression, despair and hopelessness. Why would Jesus suggest such thing? He wouldn’t! “Poor in spirit” means that we recognize and acknowledge our spiritual poverty. That we come to terms with how little we understand and accept about Jesus’ teaching and the scriptures. Because it’s only when we recognize how little we actually know or care about the faith we profess, that we actually might be inspired to fill that void with spiritual truth.
These “poor in spirit” whom Jesus blesses, are the opposite of those who exhort and bloviate triumphalism and nationalism, poorly disguised as the Christian religion, these days. In fact one could argue quite convincingly that it is religious nationalism that has brought us to perilous precipice in which we currently find ourselves. They are anything but “poor in spirit” because they think they possess all they need to know about how God would have us live our lives and run our nation. But Jesus himself confronted such a “crowd”- the religious leaders of his time. Those certain scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus challenged, with their holier than thou mentality, would never have the courage to acknowledge their own spiritual poverty. To do so would require they admit they don’t know anywhere near as much as they claim to know.
Such a confession would undermine their entire belief system- a belief system based not on God’s call for justice and mercy, but on their absolute certainty of being right, Being absolutely right to them meant absolute power, and they clung to that power with a literal death grip. To surrender that power, would mean to admit they had been wrong all along, and for egos as fragile as theirs, such a confession would take both self-reflection and the courage to change their entire belief system.
We see the exact same heretical misunderstanding today in preachers of the so-called “prosperity gospel,” many of whom are held in highest of esteem and given positions of authority by our nation’s most powerful leaders. Like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time, they are so certain they have all they need to understand and promote God’s will, not only in their lives, but in the lives of us all. But Saints, what they pontificate is a far cry from the “poor in spirit” whom Jesus blesses, is it not?! According to the teachings of Jesus, true prosperity is not found in the things this world values: wealth, political power, TV ratings, or Internet likes. True prosperity can only be achieved when we first realize our own spiritual poverty, and then begin to fill that emptiness with God’s true command, in the words of Micah, “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
To sum up, in the words of Proverbs 29:23 (that may have inspired Jesus’ own), “A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” That, friends, is the only true prosperity.
BREAD BREAKERS SANDWICH MINISTRY
To supplement the sandwiches members are already contributing to our Bread Breakers efforts, New Dover wants to begin a monthly sandwich making fellowship on the third week of each month. We will meet on the Wednesday of that week to make sandwiches together on that evening. Lunch Meat, Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly along with Bread will be supplied for you. What we need most is volunteers to provide willing hands to make sandwiches.
Contributions will be accepted but what we need most is you to come out and help us make the Sandwiches. Our first effort will be on Wednesday July 16th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in Wesley Hall. All are welcome. Our Bread Breakers Ministry has been running for 5 years now. There is much need for food among neighbors. Here is a chance to make a positive impact.
See you on Wednesday July 16!
The Outreach Committee
MILDRED VOLLMAR SCHOLARSHIP
On June 8th two scholarships were awarded to our high school seniors, Rishith Duggampudi and Declan O'Rourke. Rishith graduated from JP Stevens and will attend Fairleigh Dickenson in the fall, hoping to achieve his Bachelor of Science in nursing. Declan graduated from Colonia High School and will attend Drew University, and will major in business and sports management.
Both boys have been involved in many New Dover activities, including handbells, Christian Outreach project, Dominican Republic volunteer, members of the YAYA group, Vacation Bible school volunteers, Sunday school assistants, and coffee hour volunteers. We wish both boys continued success in their college careers, and to keep Jesus Christ and their memories of New Dover close to their hearts!
FINANCE NEWS
The Finance Committee is continuing to provide financial information. The following provides the income and expenses as of May 2025. The church income includes what is provided to the church in pledge envelopes to current expense and other income sources such as building rentals, flea market and various fundraising activities. Church expenses are shown which include salaries, utilities, conference obligations and other costs to keep the church operating.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Finding Your Spiritual Gifts – Part 1
Spiritual gifts – we’re all given at least one. The trick is to determine what your gift(s) is(are). According to Gene Wilkes: A spiritual gift is an expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers which empowers them to serve the body of Christ, the church.*
In this three-part series, I will present some gifts that might help you discern yours. I will also include Bible references for further reading.
Leadership - The gift of leadership is the divine strength or ability to influence people at their level while directing and focusing them on the big picture, vision, or idea. Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17; Hebrews 13:17
Administration - Administration enables the body to organize according to God-given purposes and long-term goals. 1 Cor. 12:28
Teaching - Teaching is instructing members in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purposes of building up, unifying, and maturing the body. 1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11
Knowledge - The gift of knowledge manifests itself in teaching and training in discipleship. It is the ability to learn, know, and explain the precious truths of God’s Word. 1 Cor. 12:28
Wisdom - The gift of wisdom is the divine strength or ability to understand and to bring clarity to situations and circumstances often through applying the truths of Scripture in a practical way. Acts 6:3,10; 1 Corinthians 2:6-13, 12:8
Prophecy - The gift of prophecy is the divine strength or ability to communicate God's truth and heart in a way that calls people to a right relationship with God. Acts 2:37-40, 7:51-53, 26:24-29; 1 Corinthians 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5
* This article was partially adapted from Jesus on Leadership: Developing Servant Leaders, by Gene Wilkes (Lifeway Christian Resources 1998).
VBS 2025
Magnified! VBS
July 14-18, 2025 | 9am-12pm
Children embark on a nature-filled adventure to explore God’s greatness!
REGISTER TODAY!
Pre-K (age 4) - 8th grade: $10 per child
Online registration found here.
Any questions? Please contact us at NewDoverVBS@gmail.com.
