MINISTRY

Trunk or Treat 2023

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Join us for a family-friendly afternoon of activities! 

Saturday, October 21, 1pm-3pm

VIP access for children with special needs,12:15pm

Save the Date for our family-friendly Trunk or Treat! Kids enjoy an afternoon full of “trunk”-or-treating, snacks, crafts and, of course, lots of candy!  Pull out your costumes and prepare your trunks and join in this fun event! Invite your neighbor or anyone with small children to share fun and community with us!

Register for Attendance

 When registering, you will be given the option to sign up for one of the following 2 timeslots:

  • 12:15pm VIP access for children with special needs
  • 1pm-2pm
  • 2pm-3pm

By clicking Register above, you are acknowledging an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present and do so at your own discretion. 

Donate Candy

Candy Contribution

Wish you could participate, but can’t attend? Please consider donating candy to make this event an extra SWEET time.

Reserve Trunk Space

Creatively decorate your trunk for our community.

Sign-up to Serve

Interested in serving? 

Let us know if you would like to greet guests at the Welcome table, help with crafts, or be part of our parking/security crew. We are also accepting candy donations!

MBC Event Guidelines:

Social Distancing 

The Surgeon General and CDC strongly recommend that we keep social distancing (a 6’ buffer between people) during these times. 

 

Physical Contact

Please, as a general rule, avoid physical contact with others. While you may feel comfortable with some form of contact, other individuals may not. 

 

Check out last year’s recap if you missed it. Good times! ↑

Questions?

Rachel Rickershauser

Rachel Rickershauser

Director of Children's Ministries

Contact Rachel with any questions

Questions?

Rachel Rickershauser

Rachel Rickershauser

Director of Children's Ministries

Contact Rachel with any questions

The Fresh Wave Podcast

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A Fresh Look At Faith From A Teen Perspective

Hosted by Johnny Graves and Felicity Hentschel

Our NEW Youth podcast! For Youth, By Youth… And Johnny! We’re taking a fresh look at topics that students engage with on a day to day basis, shaping our viewpoint through the lens of the gospel. Come ride The Fresh Wave!

 

Isaiah 43:2 states: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Fresh Wave Playlist
Submit your Questions HERE
YouTube Channel

Check back each week & let the spirit of the Lord wash over you.

Check out our YouTube channel featuring this & other relevant topics.

We want to hear from you!

Click here to submit your questions!

Check out our audio only option.

Rise Up and Build – Ezra Nehemiah

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Ezra & Nehemiah: 9-17 – 11-19

Hope & Disappointment.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah show that God has not forgotten his covenant people even though they had forgotten Him. The people are called to respond with repentance and return to the law in worship of the true and living God. Like them, our God is still in the restoration business today, through his son Jesus Christ, He is making all things new.  

What is the point? These books begin with hope, but end in disappointment. The spiritual state of the people are unchanged. The political and social reforms don’t address the core concerns of the heart. The book points us forward to the need for the new covenant which would renovate the human heart as prophesied by Jeremiah (ch 31) and Ezekiel (ch 36).  

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9/17 – Ezra 1-3: Introduction: The Return & Rebuilding begins.

9/24 – Ezra 4-6: Overcoming Opposition & Finishing the Work

10/1 – Ezra 7-10: Ezra’s journey of a life time to rebuild

10/8 – Neh 1: Intro. Nehemiah (What breaks your heart?)

10/15 – Neh 2: Prayer and Planning

10/22 – Neh 3-5: The Work of the Lord, the Sword & Trowel

10/29 – Neh 6: Success in  Adversity, Mission accomplished

11/5 – Neh 8: The People of the Book

11/12 – Neh 9:  The Power of Prayer (5 Dimensional Prayer)

11/19 – Neh 10-13: The Work of Renewal / Spiritual Restoration

11/26 – Thanksgiving

Resources: 

Background Notes on Ezra/Nehemiah –   Pastor Dave Hentschel

Characters in Ezra & Nehemiah – Pastor Dave Hentschel

General Chronology of the Exile and Post Exilic Period– Pastor Dave Hentschel

Previous Sermons in this Series

Ezra Nehemiah promo
Watch
Listen
September 12, 2023
Current Sermon Series, Rizeup 2023

Wednesdays in the Word

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A Series of Topical Devotionals on Unity

Hosted by Noah Graves

 This Summer Noah tackled the subject of Unity. As we look around our country we are so divided. Jesus desires we be unified in Him

 

John 12:20-21 states: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

 

Come check out our YouTube channel featuring this and other relevant topics.

Full Series on Unity
YouTube Channel

The Calling Workshop

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CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

How can you integrate your faith with your calling in life? If that is a question you have asked, then SAVE THE DATE! On Saturday, October 14th, from 9-3pm, we are hosting a “Calling Workshop” that will supplement our fall sermon series on Ezra and Nehemiah.

 

Our speaker for this event is Dr. Peter Amerman, Professor of Biblical Studies at Pillar College. Nehemiah shows us TEN STEPS to integrate faith and calling.  Each of these 10 steps helps us get closer to our God given calling in life. What kind of leader are you? What kind of leader do you want to become? This seminar will look at the many facets of leadership and is applicable for people of all walks of life.

Registration is now open—reserve your spot today. 

Brought to you by The Underground Sessions

Register to Attend
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Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. -Jude 3, ESV-

Save the Date: October 14, 2023 9am-3pm

Peter Amerman (D. Min, M. Div., BA) is Department Chair and Professor of Biblical Studies at Pillar College, Newark, NJ. He is also Pastor of Discipleship at Living Waters Church (Christian and Missionary Alliance) in Parsippany, NJ. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Alliance Theological Seminary, a Masters in Divinity Degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary, and a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Religion/Philosophy from Roanoke College. He has pastored churches in the southern and northern New Jersey area since 1980. He teaches courses and runs a weightlifting program at the Market Street Mission (Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation) in Morristown, NJ, assisting men in their quest to be “strong in body, mind and spirit”. He also loves to look at the stars, planets and deep sky objects through his telescope. His passion is to go deeper with God through Jesus Christ, and to train and equip other men & women (especially leaders) in “whole-life” discipleship. His greatest blessing from God is his family- married to his best friend and ministry partner, Susan for forty years; blessed with two daughters, two sons-in-law; and seven beautiful grandchildren.

Personal Website
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In recent years, Christians are encountering a hostile cultural climate. Our faith, once the bedrock of society, has lost respect. People are not indifferent towards Christians—they are indignant, both as a people and the beliefs we hold. Attacks have come even from within our ranks. And yet, the New Testament letter of Jude exhorts us to CONTEND for this Christian faith. What are we to do?

We must be prepared to respond.
On January 27-29, 2023, MBC hosted our first ever “CONTEND” Conference. This event is part of our Underground Sessions ministry, which seeks to model and equip Christians to have conversations in tough areas, particularly politics and culture. The focus of this weekend was equipping believers in the area of APOLOGETICS, so they can respond with love, grace, and boldness to the challenges of the day. On Saturday evening, we put this into practice by hosting an Underground Sessions event answering the toughest questions of today’s culture.

The word, “contend” is both a military and athletic term—it implies a struggle. Jude is exhorting his readers to preserve the faith. The purpose of this conference was just that—equipping followers of Christ to answer the tough questions, raise up a confident next generation, and engage the marketplace with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Conference Schedule

8am – Bookstore, Food, Connections Lounge

9am – Day Two Open, Worship

9:20am – Short Talk: “Apologetics and Kids” (Rachel Rickershauser)

9:35am- SESSION TWO: “Cultural Apologetics” (PAUL GOULD)

10:45am – BREAK

11am – Short Talk: “Apologetics and Teens” (Johnny Graves)

11:15am – SESSION THREE: “Cultural Intelligence” (DARRELL BOCK)

12:30pm – LUNCH!

1:30-3pm – BREAKOUT TRACKS (Local Leaders)

6:00pm – LIGHT DINNER! 

6:30-8:30pm – UNDERGROUND SESSIONS Outreach Event (Teasi, Paul, Darrell)

  • 10 Minute Talks + Roundtable 
  • Theme: Answering Today’s Toughest Questions

8:30pm – DESSERT SOCIAL

Speaker Resources

SESSION INFORMATION

SESSION ONE:
“Mama Bear Apologetics” (TEASI CANNON)  The youngest and most vulnerable members of the Church are growing up in a society that is vastly different than the one in which many of us grew up. While unbiblical ideas aren’t new, their accessibility, volume, and frequency are. It’s been said we are navigating a battle of ideas, many of which strategically target the next generation of Christians, tossing them in an onslaught of animosity, skepticism, and sophisticated arguments that seek to demolish their faith. That’s where Mama Bears come in. And Papa Bears … and any Bears who love all our cubs and are willing to do what it takes to shore up our own faith so we can help them trust the authority of God’s Word, sort through the noise, and cling to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

SESSION TWO:
“Cultural Apologetics” (PAUL GOULD) Christianity has an image problem. No one wants to hear what we have to say. All too often our lives are fragmented and unlovely. And we generally don’t see the world any different than anyone else. As a result we’ve lost the Christian voice, the Christian conscience, and the Christian imagination. The gospel is often viewed as unreasonable or undesirable or both. In our time together we’ll explore this question: Given this cultural moment, with all its challenges, how can the gospel get a fair hearing? To answer our question, we’ll take a look at Paul’s encounter with the Greeks in Athens and then apply our insights to this day and this age.

SESSION THREE:
“Cultural Intelligence” (DARRELL BOCK) How do we have cultural intelligence in a culture that is so pluralistic and contentious? How we see the challenge will determine how we approach it. Our weekend will give a fresh biblical look at how we should see our engagement, especially with those who are not a part of the church. We have no theology of cultural engagement in the church and we need it. We hope to give you a way of approaching engagement that is biblical and practical by looking specifically at 6 core texts and also how to have difficult conversations. We hope you can join us and be equipped.  

 

BREAKOUT INFORMATION

BREAKOUT ONE:
“Lord, Where’s My Calling: When the Big Question Becomes the Big Distraction” (TEASI CANNON) This session will focus on understanding the difference between a calling and your divinely designed purpose. Once we get this paradigm shift, it can change our life today and forever—as well as how we represent our faith to others.

 

BREAKOUT TWO:
“Seeing Suffering as an Apologetic Opportunity” (PASTOR BOB AND AMANDA ERBIG) We live in a broken world and everyone experiences pain at some point in their lives. When the trials come, and they will, we have a choice: do we get angry at God? Or do we show others our hope in Christ despite suffering? While it is important to find healing in the midst of pain, these moments are also opportunities to grieve with people who have walked our same path. In this session, we will discuss how our suffering can be seen and used as an effective opportunity to point people to the hope we have in Christ.

 

BREAKOUT THREE:
“Evangelism to Muslims” (AMOON SHARON) 

 

BREAKOUT FOUR:
“Navigating Your Faith In The Workplace” (JESSE NASH) For many of us, the vast majority of time spent with unbelievers, and our closest connection with those who need Christ happens at work.  What does God ask of us in terms of fulfilling the Great Commission through our interactions at the workplace?  How do we navigate tricky relationships and HR issues? 

 

BREAKOUT FIVE:

“Sharing Christ with Tibetan Buddhists” (MARK AVERY) Imagine living with the idea that your past lives govern your present options, that black magic is as normal as technology, that a human is as inherently valuable as a worm, and that the only way to pay off your past is to suffer.  Imagine a world where you don’t believe Jesus can save you, there is no way to know what will happen to you when you die, and if you ever achieve release from the cycle of rebirth, your ultimate destination is total obliteration.  Then imagine the consequence of that worldview on every relationship, commitment, community, and challenge you will ever have.  Now, let’s talk about sharing Jesus with a Tibetan Buddhist– a worldview that grew out of Hinduism has deeply affected global “new age” thinking, and is increasingly evident in America today!

 

BREAKOUT SIX:

“Don’t Have a Debate, Have a Discussion” (STEVEN DISEBASTIAN) Sharing your faith can be difficult, especially in these contentious times. Learn to use a simple technique of asking questions to create spiritual conversations while defusing heated debates.

Playlist – Psalms – August 13 – September 10

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A Study in Psalms:  Aug. 13 – Sep. 10

Music.

It is the language of the heart. Music offers expression to our hopeful longings and our deepest wounds. There is a reason write songs about heartbreak, grief, and joy. Music is powerful—it has the ability to shape our worldview and give voice to our emotions. In reality, no one song can tell the story of our whole lives. We need a compilation of songs—a soundtrack, a playlist. What is the soundtrack of your life? 

 

In the Bible, the book of Psalms is comprised of 150 songs. They were the playlist of the people of God. These songs shaped the emotions and worldview of their hearers. They offered words of praise, and words of lament. They offered shouts of joy, and frustrations at life. They connect us to our great God. Over the next five weeks we are going to look at five different types of Psalms: wisdom, hymn, confidence, confession, and thanksgiving. Each type of Psalm shows us a different dimension of life, and points to the Creator of our soul. Come sing with us! 

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8/13 – Series Introduction—WISDOM (Psalm 90) 

8/20: – HYMN (Psalm 98)

8/27: – CONFIDENCE (Psalm 23)

9/3 – CONFESSION (Psalm 51)

9/10 – THANKSGIVING (Psalm 34 or 150)

Recommended companion reading:

Previous Sermons in this Series

The Song of a Forgiven Life – Pastor Bob Erbig – Playlist – 9-3-23
Watch
Listen
September 3, 2023
Pastor Bob Erbig continues our sermon series, Playlist, with his sermon entitled: "The Song of a Forgiven Life" based on Psalm 51.
Archived Sermon Series, Bob Erbig, playlist 2023

To Know Him – Pastor Peter Pendell – Playlist – 8-27-23
Watch
Listen
August 27, 2023
Pastor Peter Pendell continues our sermon series, Playlist, with his sermon entitled: "To Know Him" based on Psalm 23.
Archived Sermon Series, other, playlist 2023

Sing with Joy – Pastor Johnny Graves – Playlist – 8-20-23
Watch
Listen
August 20, 2023
Pastor Johnny Graves continues our sermon series, Playlist, with his sermon entitled "Sing with Joy" based on Psalm 98 with worship throughout.
Archived Sermon Series, Johnny Graves, playlist 2023

The Song of Wisdom – Pastor Bob Erbig – Playlist – 8-13-23
Watch
Listen
August 13, 2023
Pastor Bob Erbig begins our new sermon series, Playlist, with his sermon entitled: "The Song of Wisdom" based on Psalm 50.
Archived Sermon Series, Bob Erbig, playlist 2023

Spiritual Warfare July 2 – August 6

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A Study in Ephesians 6:10-20: July 2 – August 6

WAR

This is something our world knows very well. Every day we heard about conflict overseas, in the culture of our country, and even in our own homes. Relationships are strained among family, friendships, and co-workers. Harsh words are common on our social media feeds. Here is the truth: we live in a world at war. Our world is fallen, broken and sinful. What is the Christian to do? 

 

This is where SPIRITUAL WARFARE comes in. Our battle is not against flesh and blood … it is spiritual. Too often we make people the enemy when it is the unseen enemy we must fight. The Apostle Paul knew this reality well. With that in mind, he wrote to the Ephesian Christians and exhorted them to STAND FIRM in the invisible war. Over the course of six weeks, we are going to examine this invisible, spiritual war and how to fight it. Paul offers specific tactics and weapons for every Christian. What are these weapons? How do we grow? That is what we will talk about during this series.  

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7/2 – Series Introduction — “The BELT of Truth” (Eph. 6:10-14a)

7/9 – “The BREASTPLATE of Righteousness” (Eph. 6:14b) 

7/16 – “The BOOTS of Peace” (Eph. 6:15)

7/23 – “The SHIELD of FAITH” (Eph. 6:5:16a) 

7/30 – “The HELMET of Salvation” (Eph. 6:17a)   

8/6 – “The SWORD of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17b-20) 

Recommended companion reading:

Previous Sermons in this Series

The Helmet of Salvation – Noah Graves – SWAT – 7-30-23
Watch
Listen
July 30, 2023
Noah Graves continues our sermon series, SWAT, with his sermon entitled: "The Helmet of Salvation" based on Ephesians 6:17.
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The Shield of Faith – Pastor Bob Erbig – SWAT – 7-23-23
Watch
Listen
July 23, 2023
Pastor Bob Erbig continues our sermon series, SWAT, with his sermon entitled: "The Shield of Faith" based on Ephesians 6:16.
Bob Erbig, Swat

Stand Firm – Chris Ottenstroer – SWAT – 7-16-23
Watch
Listen
July 16, 2023
Chris Ottenstroer continues our sermon series, SWAT, with his sermon entitled: "Stand Firm" based on Ephesians 6:15.
Swat

Prepare for Battle! – Pastor Bob Erbig – SWAT – 7-2-23
Watch
Listen
July 2, 2023
Pastor Bob Erbig starts our new series, SWAT, with his sermon entitled: "Prepared for Battle!" based on Ephesians 6:10-14.
Bob Erbig, Swat

Awana

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Wednesdays: Begins October 4th, 5:30-7pm (optional family meal at 5pm)

Awana is a world-wide nonprofit ministry focused on providing Bible-based discipleship and evangelism for kids of all ages. The name of the program is taken from Scripture found in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.” Activities include engaging large group sessions, small group time including Scripture memorization and Bible study, and fun games & activities. Join us for Awana this fall and watch your children flourish! 

We’re offering Awana for preschoolers (starting at age 3) through 6th graders.

7th graders and above can sign up to volunteer.

Please email Rachel and ask about the roles available and the application process.

Registration Fee Information:

  • 1st Clubber $50
    • 2nd Clubber + $45
      • 3rd Clubber + $40

Registration fee includes:

  • Administration Fee
  • Uniform
  • Workbook
  • Plus tons of fun!
Register Here

Registration is open. 

Please contact our Director of Administration, Liana Moore, for more information or if you have any questions.

Registration opening soon

Pickleball+ Every Sunday Extended Through Daylight Savings Time

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Every Sunday, 5:30pm, MBC Campus

Due to popular demand, Pickleball is here to stay through daylight savings time!

Spend Sunday Evenings with your MBC family!

All ages are welcome.

There will be pickup Pickleball for those interested, as well as other fun games for the whole family to enjoy together!

Follow us on social media for weather updates/ cancellations. 

 

UPDATE:  There will be no pickleball Sunday, September 3rd in recognition of Labor Day Weekend.  We’ll see you next Sunday 9/10 at 5:30pm instead of 6pm so we can have more time to play before the sun goes down.  

Street Hope Alive

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Street Hope Alive | For the past 12 years, Street Hope Alive has been building trust and credibility in inner-city Paterson with youth and their families through a variety of activities, mentoring programs and community events.  Our goal is to promote personal development, mental health, spiritual renewal and community restoration.  The under-resourced demographic we serve is 90% African American and 10% Hispanic children ages newborn to 17 years old, living in the 4th ward and surrounding communities. 

 

What we do: 

For the past six summers, Street Hope Alive has sponsored and sent hundreds of kids to Inspire Sports Camps, a 6-day sleep away camp. The camp experience exposes the kids to life outside Paterson and many confirm their desire to continue growing their relationship with Jesus. 

 

In our effort to help the children thrive spiritually and academically, we provide tuition scholarships for them to attend Dawn Treader Christian School. These scholarships also inside school supplies and uniforms. We also provide scholarships for the kids to participate in a Christian after school program during week. Throughout the year, as opportunities arise, volunteers take our kids to Saturday church service and out for day trips. 

 

With support from ministry partners, we have an annual Christmas celebration which has recently been expanded to also include a Easter and Thanksgiving event that are held outside the Good Shepard Mission on Broadway. Every child that attends the Christmas event receives a wrapped gift. We average 800 children with their families. Event volunteers help to make this celebration a very special and memorable occasion. 

 

Street Hope Alive runs an Art’s Therapy Mentorship Program which we began at the start of this past summer at the Arts Factory.  The program has been incredible for encouraging our kids to use their painting skill and talent, which they are so excited to do. Moreover, the studio is a place where all of the kids we serve feel very safe leading to their willingness to open up. Imagine, our kids are learning to communicate their thoughts and  

feelings. We are teaching them God’s word and helping them work through difficult current and past situations, so that they may experience the hopeful future you and I enjoy. 

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