The Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge

Lenten Small Groups: Five Practices of Fruitful Living

In the Church Library beginning the week of March 13:

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. led by Katja Gruening
Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. led by Rev. Bob Beringer (Off-site  at Fellowship Village)
Wednesdays at 7 a.m. led by Dr. Maureen Paterson
Thursdays at 12 noon led by Rev. Dennis Jones
Thursdays at 7 p.m. led by Dr. Maureen Paterson
Sundays at 7 p.m., shared leadership

Lent has recently come to be seen as a time for spiritual renewal and reflection within both the life of the individual believer as well as the community of faith as a whole.  This year our focus will be upon five core spiritual values that lead to a more fulfilling relationship with God as well as healthy and vibrant congregations: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. 

We invite you to take part in a small group study based on these five spiritual practices which will also be the focus for our sermons and worship during Lent.  Join us on this journey of spiritual renewal.

To sign up and to purchase a study book, "Five Practices of Fruitful Living" by Robert Schnase ($10), contact the church office.

Tuesday Evening Discussion Group

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Church Members' Homes

Come join a reading and discussion group that meets on Tuesday evenings in church members' homes.  All are welcome. This group will begin meeting again in January.

Women's Meditation Group

Wednesdays, 8:30 - 9:25 a.m., Church Library, Shared Leadership

Join this small group of women who meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings in the Church House Library for an hour of prayer and meditation.  New participants are welcome at any time.

Bible Study: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

Wednesdays, 9:30 - 11: 30 a.m., Church Library, Led by Dr. Maureen Paterson

New members are always welcome, so come along when you can. We are currently reading and discussing "Spiritual Living In a Secular World" by Henri Nouwen.  This book was one of the last that Nouwen wrote and tries to explain the impact of Christian faith in the living out of his life.  It is written to a non-believer and is a simple and effective exploration of the life of faith.  Books are available through the church office.  We look forward to sharing the thoughts and ideas of this great spiritual writer and learning more about what it means to live a life of faith in today's world.

Presbyterian Women Circle

Once a month, Thursdays, 12:30 p.m., Church House Parlor

Presbyterian Women (PW) is the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (USA). PW is organized at all levels in synods, presbyteries and congregations.  At the Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge, all women are invited to join the on-going Mary Circle. This year, they are studying “Joshua: A Journey of Faith.” 

Men's Luncheon

Once a month, Thursdays, 12 p.m., Church House Parlor

All men are invited to join us for these monthly luncheons to renew friendships, share in fellowship, learn from guest speakers and enjoy good food together. The luncheons are held on the third Thursday of each month. Call the church house (908.766.1616) to make a reservation. A great homemade lunch is just a $7 donation.

3W's: Women, The Word and Works

Fridays in February, 9:30 a.m., Church House Parlor

Are you a woman who enjoys reading? interested in hands on mission outreach? Have we got a group for you!

February 2011 marks the beginning of a new small group, 3 W's: Women, the Word and Works.  The plan for this pilot program includes a book study, followed by a hands-on mission project directly related to the subject of our book.  The first book we will read is Same Kind of Different As Me, written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  This amazing true story is about a wealthy art dealer and a homeless man, and the woman who brings them together.  It is a story of faith, of hope and of love.   As one reviewer reported "I laughed and I cried, and I praised God for real life, walking around examples of what it means to "love them like Jesus."

    When:   The four Fridays of February at 9:30 a.m.    
    Where:  The Church House parlor
    Sponsored by:   BRPC Mission Council    
    Facilitators:   Karen Hanson and Janet Bentley

Copies of the book are available at any local bookstore. Once you have the book, please go ahead and begin to read it, so you can join us ready for discussion.  Any questions please contact Karen Hanson or Janet Bentley at jbentley@brpc.org.  We hope you will join us. (There will be cake!)

Friday Evening Book Group

First and Third Fridays, 8 p.m., Church Library, Shared Leadership

The book group is taking a break for January and February and will resume meeting on March 4, 2011, and begin discussion of "Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography" by Bruce Chilton.  "Rabbi Jesus" is a compelling biography of the life of Jesus written by a professor of religion at Bard College and expert in Jewish studies near the beginning of the Common Era. The author uses his vast knowledge of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, and the Targums, the oral Hebrew Biblical tradition known to Jesus, to aid his analysis of Jesus within the context of his times.  He offers clues to what the parables meant to Jesus, what his deep spirituality and his relationship with God were like, what he really meant when he said "this wine is my blood and this bread is my flesh" and how Jesus’ contemporaries might have realistically viewed him.
Please join us in the discussion of this engaging book.  We meet the first and third Fridays of the month from 8-10 p.m. in the Church House Library.  All are welcome.

Men's Coffee and Conversation

Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. Church Library, Shared Leadership

No preparation and no homework required for this informal men’s group that gathers in the Church House on Saturdays – first around the coffee maker in the kitchen, then in the parlor or the library for conversation and study. Walk-ins are always welcome.

Sunday Evening Discussion Group

Sundays, 7:30 p.m., Church House Library

Come join a reading and discussion group that meets on Sunday evenings in the church house library.  All are welcome. This group will begin meeting again on January 9.

Tai Chi

Mondays, 7:15 - 8:15 p.m., Westminster Hall

Looking for balance in your life? Join us for Tai Chi on Monday evenings taught by Keith Thomas of Morristown Memorial Hospital. Please contact the church office if interested in joining the class.