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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Experience the Drama of Jesus’ Last Week

People tend to jump from Palm Sunday hosannas to Easter morning alleluias without ever experiencing Jesus’ last week with his friends and detractors. However, that week exemplifies God’s solidarity with the scope of our life experience through the human life of Jesus. 

Jesus’ last meal on Maundy Thursday focuses on Jesus’ observance of the Passover freedom festival with his friends. In this context, Jesus interprets his purpose. Participants will eat a first century inspired Passover meal and tell stories of release from slavery, both ancient and contemporary, then share Jesus’ new freedom meal.

Good Friday focuses on Jesus’ example as his life falls apart and look death in the face to contemplate what darkness can teach a person. Jesus’ suffering shows how God empathizes with us in our darkest times. 

Easter Sunday begins outside Jesus’ tomb. But fragrant offerings to the fallen hero are surprisingly transformed. The tomb bursts into a colorful celebration of spring hope featuring flowers, singing and joyful acclamation of the promise of life in spite of death.

Please RSVP for the Last Supper Seder by April 8 at Meetup.com/Progressive-Christian-Community. A donation of $8 for the meal will be gratefully accepted. Easter week services schedule is 10 a.m., on Passion Sunday, April 5; 7 p.m., on Maundy Thursday, April 9; 7 p.m., on Good Friday, April 10; and 10 a.m., on Easter Sunday, April 12.

Location: Christ Church, 1600 Washington Valley Rd., Martinsville. For more information, call 908-722-2080, email [email protected] or visit ChristChurchEmerging.org. 

See ad, page 37.

In-Print News Briefs April 2020
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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