The Art of Translation: How the King James Bible shaped our Language and Literature

Sunday, October 2: We begin a series of Adult Religious Education programs on the Art of Translation with a two part series on what is called the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. This translation shaped our language and, in many ways, how we think religious language should sound.
The title page of the original first edition created by artist Cornelius Boel indicates the image the King and his Translators wanted to convey. The words of the page are flanked by Moses and Aaron; above are the four evangelists and the Disciples with Judas facing away. Peter and Paul frank the shield of the Lamb.

Our discussion will follow a pot luck lunch after worship concludes. Come and join us and discover how this particular translation changed the course of history. If you don't have time or the talent to cook, you can make a small contribution towards the cost. All are welcome!

People to People International will host “An Historical Walk Through Paris” Sunday, October 9 at 2 PM. Come and learn about the history of this beautiful and fascinating city. Refreshments will be served.

Art Show Sunday October 9 with pieces by Ruth Jacques, beautifully complementing the walk through Parisian history.

The Riotous Readers will meet on Sunday afternoon, October 23 at 2 PM. We have changed our meeting time to accommodate work schedules of several of our members. Our choice this month is a novel: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson, who tells a story of a 68-year-old widower who takes his greatest satisfaction in reading and rereading his will and is proud to grow a type of clematis vine that his neighbors think is worth stealing who is forced to open his heart to what he least expects. As Janet Maslin wrote in her review in The New York Times, the novel is about intelligence, heart, dignity, and backbone” and this novel has them all. Join us for a fun discussion and, of course, British tea and crumpets! Copies are available at the Middletown Library. For more information, call the Church office at (732) 671-1905.

We had a very lively discussion on Thomas Cahill's book Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter. It's an older book and was interesting and fun to read and discuss - one definitely worth reading. We also enjoyed Greek yogurt, salad, and some interesting breads.

The Fabulous Friday Morning Walkers have been walking in County parks! This is a great way to have stimulating conversation while putting your body into shape. We walk in some familiar and unfamiliar places. Call the church office at (732) 671-1905 if you are interested in joining us.

The AAUW Bookstore has reopened and is open Saturdays 9 AM to 2 PM. Find a bargain and support scholarships for Monmouth County young women. You can find books of all kinds here: history, politics, biography, nature, cookbooks, and wonderful books for children. This is a real bargain.

SAVE THE DATE: THE ULTIMATE FLEA (market) Saturday, November 19 10 AM to 4 PM

For all you collectors of junque extraordinaire, this is the flea market to visit! We will have everything from jewelry, glassware, knick knacks (sometimes known as dust collectors), baskets, this 'n' that, children's toys and games, even some small furniture items. We will also have baked goods and house plants for sale as well.

MISSION IS TO THE CHURCH AS A FIRE IS TO BURNING

Help the Calico Cat Thrift Shop, a store for the community operated by the Community Outreach Group that sells gently used items to persons who cannot afford even discount prices. It also has a food pantry. 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.

Joyce in a Box: This is a fund raiser for Family Promise of Monmouth County, a program that helps the homeless in one of the wealthiest counties in the United States. Many of the people helped are the working poor. All it takes is missing a paycheck or two to drive a family from the place they called home, whether they rented or owned. We are still in a dire crisis and the services provided to our neighbors here in Monmouth County are essential. Pastor Joyce will spend the night at the Second Annual Cardboard Box City on the grounds of the Church of Christ in Tinton Falls. Think about your neighbor as you drink your Starbucks. Go to the Family Promise website for more details.

Famine in Somalia

The UN definition of famine is based on acute malnutrition among children under five reaching more than 30 per cent, and deaths from hunger reaching two people per 10,000 every day.This point had been reached in two areas of southern Somalia. The UN estimates that more than 11 million persons, mainly children, are in urgent need of food assistance as a consequence of the worst drought in more than 60 years and the political situation.

The question is why in this famine there is so little international aid. The answer seems to be a combination of politics, disaster fatigue, and fear. The UN World Food Program has been prevented from feeding millions in territory controlled by Al-Shabab. Mogadishu is divided between the weak UN controlled US backed administration and the forces of the Islamists.

The pictures and videos from the refugee camps near the Kenyan and Ethiopian borders are bleak – hundreds of people walking for days and weeks to find food. One woman who arrived in the Dadaab refugee camp wailed in terrible grief to find that the baby she had been carrying on her back was already dead.

Over the last 18 years since the failure of Black Hawk Down, there has been no government in Somalia – only warlords who fight among themselves. However, during all this time, U.S. oil companies have been operating and it is their influence that has kept the United States involved in Somali politics and its warfare.

Church World Service is providing food assistance to Somali refugees, Kenyans, and Ethiopians in various refugee camps along those borders. In addition to emergency food assistance, CWS is providing seeds and other post-drought recovery assistance eastern districts of Kenya and Ethiopia.
CARE has been the primary provider of basic services since 1992 including food, education, and medical services to the 400,000 people living at Dadaab.

What does it look like to see your child die of starvation? You can save lives by contributing to one of the organizations accepting contributions for famine relief in the Horn of Africa.

ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTIONS – FIND THEM ON THE WEB

The following organizations collecting donations for aid to Somalia are members of InterAction, a coalition of American relief groups that requires its members to adhere to certain standards of integrity and accountability:

ADVENTIST AND DEVELOPMENT RELIEF AGENCY
Box 4289, Silver Spring, Md. 20904

AFRICAN MEDICAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION
420 Lexington Avenue, Room 244, New York, N.Y. 10170
(212) 986-1835

AFRICARE
440 R Street, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 462-3614

AIR SERV
Box 3041, 1902 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, Calif. 92373
(714) 793-2627

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ACTION INTERNATIONALE CONTRE LA FAIM
815 15th Street NW, Suite 632, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 783-5947

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
(215) 241-7158

AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
15 West 26th Street, Ninth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017
(212) 683-1161

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013
(800) 842-2200

AMERICARES
161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, Conn. 06840
(800) 486-HELP

BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE
6733 Curran Street, McLean, Va. 22101
(703) 790-8980

CARE
660 First Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016
(800) 521-CARE

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
Box 968, Elkhart, Ind. 46515
(219) 264-3102

CONCERN AMERICA
2024 North Broadway, Box 1790, Santa Ana, Calif. 92702
(714) 953-8575

DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
Box 30820, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93130-0820
(805) 964-4767

DOCTORS OF THE WORLD
625 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012
(212) 529-1556

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY
7729 East Greenway Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85260
(800) 2-HUNGER

GRASSROOTS INTERNATIONAL
48 Grove Street, Somerville, Mass. 02144
(617) 628-1664

INTERNATIONAL AID
17011 West Hickory, Spring Lake, Mich. 49456
(616) 846-7490

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
5933 West Century Boulevard, Suite 310, Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 (310) 670-0800

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
386 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016
(212) 679-0010

LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
390 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016-8803
(212) 532-6350