The Riotous Readers meet monthly discussing books that stretch your soul as well as your mind. Last month we discussed Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael about a conversation between a man and a gorilla concerning our role as human beings in a world that we take for granted. Discussion was lively and stimulating, especially in light of the siege of the Discovery Channel headquarters.

This month we are discussing Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America by Chris Hedges. This extraordinary writer examines how we as Americans live or do not live the Ten Commandments in a way you would not imagine. For more information about how to join us, call the Church office at (732) 671-1905. We meet the second Wednesday evening of the month.

The Fabulous Friday Morning Walkers meet at Holmdel Park each Friday at 9:00 AM. We use this time to challenge our bodies as well as our souls as we walk together on kid friendly trails. For more information, call the Church office.

Join us Sunday, October 17 at 1 PM for Sunday Afternoon at the Movies. This month we will watch the old classic Cecil B. DeMille “Samson and Delilah” with Victor Mature as Samson and Rita Hayworth as Delilah. This is a great old movie and will stimulate lots of discussion. Popcorn provided.

On Sunday, October 24 at 1 PM we will have a presentation that is important to all of us who think about our futures: Taking Control of Your Life: Living Wills and Substituted Judgment will examine the various facets of living wills and how you can make sure your wishes are respected. Our Pastor, Rev. Joyce Antila Phipps, Esq., who is also an attorney, will present the materials for discussion.

The AAUW Book Store is open Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM. Not only are you able to buy gently used books for a great price but your purchase at the Book Store provides financial assistance to college students from Monmouth County.


MISSION IS TO THE CHURCH AS A FIRE IS TO BURNING
As a people of faith, we are called to care for others. This is our passion. Share your passion to care for others by joining us in Mobile Meals, meals to the elderly at Middletown’s Senior Citizen Housing. We deliver meals and company on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Call the church office at (732) 671-1905 to learn more.

The Calico Cat Thrift Shop is a store operated by the Community Outreach Group that sells gently used items to persons who cannot afford even discount prices. The COG also has a food pantry and an emergency assistance program. If you have a few hours during the week, the Calico Cat could use your help. Call (732) 671-0550 if you would like to help in this important ministry.


A TIME OF SADNESS
The terrible tragedy of Tyler Clementi’s death goes far beyond his immediate family. It speaks to the way we as a society intrude on the lives of others and our attitudes towards the lives of many people in our society. Let us reflect on what this tragedy means to us as a society and let his death become a new impetus for an open and welcoming attitude towards all people regardless of sexual orientation.


ACT TO EXTEND THE TABLE
Recently, the Senate unanimously passed the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, a bill that would do just about everything to improve the school lunch program – except fund it. This is no small exception, considering that a tiny percentage of schools are currently able to follow the USDA’s nutrition regulations. How will they be able to comply with improved regulations with only six additional cents per lunch? And, although it passed in the Senate, the bill may still die on the House floor because some in Congress think even six cents is too much.

Both the House and Senate bills provide for direct certification, or automatically enrolling kids for free or reduced cost lunches if they are also enrolled in other federal programs (like food stamps) that have the same enrollment requirements. This reduces the paperwork burdens for schools, allowing them to spend more on food and less on bureaucracy. It also helps enroll more children who qualify into the lunch program. Also terrific is the recognition by the government that in high poverty areas, it might be cheaper for a school to provide free lunch to all of the students instead of processing the paperwork for those who are eligible. In such cases, schools are given the option to extend free lunch to all students, expanding the number of hungry kids who receive meals while alleviating the stigma that might come with accepting a free lunch.

How can we extend the table to poor children, many of whom rely on the free school lunch as their main meal of the day? There are two U.S. representatives serving Middletown and the surrounding area: Rep. Rush Holt and Rep. Frank Pallone. You can find out which one is yours by going to www.house.gov/writerep and clicking in your zip code and the four digit number that follows the five digit zip code.

This is an election year. Get their ear!