pennington presbyterian - first presbyterian church · 12/12/2017 · december 6, 2017 page 1...
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December 6, 2017
Page 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Worship Schedules 2
Choir Schedules 2
Childcare Schedule 2
Book Group 2
OAM Meeting 3
Brown Bag Lunch 3
Church Family in Prayer 4
Youth Group Schedules 5
Meetings & Events 6
Praying for Our World 6
Poinsettia Deadline 6
Greetings from Staff 10
Next issue: 1/3/2018
Deadline: Thursday, 12/21/2017
PASTOR’S THOUGHTS
If Clement of Alexandria had had his way, my daughter Anna, whose
birthday is May 19, would have been born on Christmas Eve. Clem-
ent, who lived c. 150-215, a great Christian teacher and theologian in
Alexandria, Egypt, suggested May 20 for Christmas. This is proof
that from early on, Christians wanted to know more about Jesus and
to establish a day to celebrate his birth.
By the early 300s, December 25 was celebrated as Christmas in the
Roman Empire. According to The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian
Church December 25 was likely chosen to oppose the feast of the Ro-
man sun god, which was called “Natalis Solis Invicti” (translated as
“birth of the unconquered sun”). Christmas, then was a celebration of
Jesus, the true “Sun of Righteousness.”
The celebration of Christmas has always been a joyous one, like the
pagan festivals it replaced. In England, the Christmas celebration in
December was seen as a theological response to the Winter Solstice,
the darkest day of the year. Again, a celebration of Christ, the “Sun of
Righteousness,” the “Light of the World.” Germans added the tradi-
tion of Christmas trees, lit not by strings of lights, but with candles!
Through it all, light is closely associated with Christmas. As John the
Gospel writer reminds us, Jesus is the light of the world, the light that
no darkness can overcome.
There is so much darkness in our world today. On a personal level,
many of us experience struggle and pain, alienation and loneliness,
grief and despair. As a country, we are wrestling with who we are,
what’s important, what we stand for, how we are going to live to-
gether, and who we want to be among the nations of the world. When
much is at stake, the darkness can feel overwhelming.
(continued page 7)
OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS EDITION
■ Christmas Events (3) ■ Special Thank You (4, 7, 8)
■ Christmas Prayers (4, 6) ■ Kerygma (5) ■ Epiphany Star (5)
■ Advent Class (7) ■Handel’s Messiah Class/ Thoughtful Christian (7)
■ Mission and Deacons Update (8) ■ PPNS CCC (8)
■ Shop Amazon & Give (8) ■ Christmas Season Update in Photos (9)
■ (9) ■ (9) ■ (9)
■ (10)
Pennington Presbyterian
F A I T H C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E
Hemming a skirt for a neighbor
Inviting the new student to sit
with you at lunch
Cheering at the soccer game
Talking around the dinner table
Forgiving unkind words or ac-
tions
May God’s love flow in and
through us, wherever we go and
REGULAR WEEKLY
SCHEDULE Sunday – 10:15 AM
FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP HOUR
Childcare Available
from 8:45 am
In Room 209
Please sign up to provide refresh-
ments for Fellowship Hour. Sign-
up after church in Upper Titus.
Please keep current on your stew-
ardship pledge & Per Capita pay-
ments ($32.98) Staying current
supports PPC cash flow and is
greatly appreciated.
CHURCH STAFF/CONTACT
Pastor:
Nancy Mikoski
Associate Pastor:
David Hallgren
Music Director:
William Alford
Office Administrator &
FOCUS Editor: Eva Szakal
Financial Administrator
Pam Paluzzi
Office phone: 609-737-1221
Fax: 609-730-9665
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.pennpres.org
www.Facebook.com/pennpres
13 S Main Street
Pennington, NJ 08534
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Dec. 10 Rev. David Hallgren
Advent 2
Dec. 17 Rev. Nancy Mikoski
Advent 3
Dec. 24
10:15
AM
“Light of the World”
Bill Alford and Choirs
Advent 3
Christmas Eve Family
Service with Pageant
Dec. 24
10 PM
Rev. Nancy Mikoski
Christmas Eve Candlelight
Dec. 25
10 AM
Rev. David Hallgren
Christmas Day - Informal
SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
For Supporting:
Thanksgiving Food
Boxes
Alternative Christmas
Market
Angel Tree
Dash Away 5K
Poinsettias for the Sanc-
tuary & for our grieving
and shut-ins
Decorating the Sanctu-
ary and the Christmas
Tree for All to Enjoy
For the Remainder of
our Christmas Related
Timeline for 2017 (p. 3) SPECIAL FEATURE:
MUSICAL PROGRAM SCHEDULES
PPC BOOK GROUP
Meetings in the Upper Room on
the 3rd Monday of the month: January 15
A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri
New members are welcome. Contact Karin McAnlis through
Church Office.
Bell Choir –Thursdays, 6:45 pm (All ability levels welcome. If
you’re interested, contact Laura McMillan at lmcmillan@law-
renceville.org.)
Adult Choir - Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
Gloria Deo Choir (grades 6-12) – Thursdays, 6:45 PM
Cherub Ensemble (pre-K-1st grade) during worship after Time
with Children – After Time with Children through end of Wor-
ship.
Genesis Ensemble (grades 2-5) after worship (during fellowship
hour.)
If you are interested or have questions, please contact our Director
of Music, Bill Alford, at [email protected].
Childcare is available at 8:45 am
in Room 209.
Older Adult Ministry & Brown Bag Lunch
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The January Older Adult Ministry will meet on January 5 at 10 am. Anyone in-
terested in the work of the committee is welcome to attend and contribute to the
mission.
The Brown Bag Lunch on January 5 at 12:30 pm will be followed by a presenta-
tion by guest speaker Jo Carolyn Dent-Clarke, Executive Director of ECHO
(Energetic Citizens Helping Others.) Their mission and focus is both those still
Af
CHRISTMAS RELATED EVENTS TO COME
December 9, 6-9 PM: The Deacon sponsored Annual Christmas Open House at the Greggs. (For
adults. Room for last minute attendance. Call the church office: 609-737-1221, X-10.)
December 10, after worship: Angel Tree gifts due (wrapped with angel attached)
December 15 (morning) Poinsettias installed in sanctuary
December 21, 11 AM - 2 PM: Pres Plus Christmas party at Pennington Point Clubhouse
December 24, 10:15 AM : Christmas Eve Sunday Family worship (no 5PM traditional family service)
December 24, 10 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 25, 10 AM: Christmas Day informal worship
working but nearing retirement, as well as those already retired. This is a great time for you to try out a
Brown Bag if you are approaching retirement age. The presentation begins at 1:00 pm, and meeting will
end around 1:30 pm.
Bring your own sandwich. Beverages, fruit and light dessert will be provided. Visitors are always welcome.
On-Stage Seniors of McCarter Theatre performed at the
November Brown Bag.
To kick off the
Christmas season,
on December 1,
Don Dolan and his
wife Sarah
Sensenig, a colora-
tura soprano, sang
classics and took
requests. Everyone
left with a smile!
Here’s proof: the audience in rapt attention!
Schumacher-Culbertson family
lights the first Advent candle.
PRAYER CHAIN
Did you know that our church offers the
services of phone or email prayer chain
for those with a need or for those who
wish to lift up a joy?
We welcome all to be a part of this mean-
ingful program. If you are interested, you
may contact Nancy Lehman at nancy.leh-
[email protected], or Barbara and Dick
Pratt at 609-737-2767.
KEEP OUR CHURCH FAMILY IN YOUR
PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND COMFORT
Healing & Comfort: Claire Bamford; Paul Scheirer;
Barbara Brennfleck; Nancy Stewart's Family; Deb-
bie Ryan and her parents Joe & Marge Ryan; Dick
Pratt; The Stives and Lieboff Families; The Fuller
Family; The Bryan Family; The Silliphant and An-
derson Families; Charles and Elsa Koczan; Frank
Mason; Lynda Matthei; Beth Hutton; and Ben
Cranston.
Page 4
(
KERYGMA STARTS IN JANUARY YOUR EPIPHANY STAR WORD
.
Page 5
YOUTH GROUPS @ PPC
Middle School Sunday Night Central
Group (Meet in Heritage Hall at 6:30 pm on Sunday
unless otherwise stated)
Leaders: David Hallgren,
Karl & Kathy Merzena & Ellen White
Senior High Group (Meet in Balcony 2 Classroom at 7:30 pm
On Sunday unless otherwise stated)
Leaders: David Hallgren, Bob Fletcher &
Kelsey Holderman
12/9 Service Project – Help with PPNS
Children’s Christmas Party from 9 to
11 am
12/9 Service Day – PPNS Children’s
Christmas Party
12/17 Christmas caroling in the community 12/17 Christmas caroling in the community
No meeting on 12/24 or 12/31
2018 KERYGMA STUDY OF THE BOOK OF RO-
MANS - There will be a Thursday 6:55 pm class,
and a Sunday 9 am class, starting January 4 or
January 7, respectively. The schedule will syn-
chronize so that you can switch between classes
if your schedule changes. The course will run 15
weeks.
The Reformation, for which we recently cele-
brated 500 years, is tied to the Book of Romans.
Martin Luther, as a professor of Biblical theol-
ogy, studied Paul's letter to the Romans, and
that study helped him reach "the understanding
that redemption came not through his efforts,
but through faith in God's actions."
Sign up at fellowship time, or E-mail or call the
office. The cost is $25. You pay when you pick
up the book. (In your email or voice message,
please indicate whether you want Thursday or
Sunday class.)
Because of the lead time to order books to arrive
before Christmas, we need you to register by
Thursday the 14th. If you have questions about
the course, contact David Hallgren at 609-737-
1221, x-15 or [email protected].
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR EPIPHANY STAR
WORD? - Back in early January 2017 we cele-
brated Epiphany Sunday. Everyone was invited
to receive a star with a word on it. That word
was a gift to you for reflection throughout the
year. When you received your word, you were
encouraged to think and pray about it, and pay
attention to the world around you in relation to
your word. The stars are a way for us to open
ourselves to an epiphany experience, one
where the light of God shines in and we find
new meaning, insight, calling, or inspiration.
Here are some questions for reflection: How
do you feel about your word? Do you like it or
do you wish you had another? Why do you re-
act to it as you do? Have you asked God to use
your word as a window, helping you to see or
experience something this year?
On Epiphany Sunday, January 7, 2018, you
will have an opportunity to share something
about your experience this year with your word
- if you like. If you didn’t get a star word and
want one, Nancy Mikoski has some extras in
her office. Just ask!
MEETINGS AND EVENTS 12/15 morning Sanctuary decorated
12/9 9 am &
11:30 am
Children’s Christmas Party & Fund
Raiser for PPNS (Nursey School) – See
page 8.
12/9 5:00 pm Deacons’ Open House – See page 8.
12/10 5:00 pm Service of Comfort – Sanctuary – See
page 8.
12/11 7:00 pm Disciple Team meets
12/11 7:30 pm Christian Education, Membership & Mis-
sion Committees meet
12/11 7:30 pm Messiah Sing Along at Princeton Univer-
sity Chapel (See page 7.) Disciple Team meets
12/17 11:30 am Rehearsal for Christmas Eve day services
12/17 6:30 pm Caroling – SNC and Senior High Youth
Groups
12/19 7:00 pm Support Team meets
12/19 7:30 pm Facilities, Communications, & Steward-
ship meet
12/21 3:00 pm HomeFront cooks 1/2 7:00 pm Care Team meets 1/2 7:30 pm Deacons meet
1/4 6:55 pm Kerygma Book of Romans class begins
Check your emails in case your committee
changes meeting plans.
Our world needs peace.
Add your prayers for the peoples of the world -
one country at a time.
Dec. 10 Lesotho
Dec 17 Liberia
Dec. 24 Libya
Dec. 31 Lichtenstein
Repeating Events
9:00 am–Sunday School
- Pre-K through 12
o - Thoughtful Christian
o (Dec. 7, 10, 11, 14, & 17 – page 7)
o - Bible & Foundation of Faith
(Reformation focus through
o December 17)
o 9:15 am-Wednesday-Shalom
o
o For Choirs – See page 2.
See page 2 for choir schedules.
A Christmas Prayer
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the birth of your son
Jesus Christ. Be with us and those we love at this special
time of year. Allow us to experience the hope, peace, joy and
love of the Christmas season. We give thanks that you come
to us as a child, innocent and full of promise. We give thanks
that your promise to us is life eternal at your side. Be with us
as we celebrate with family unwrapping presents by the tree.
Be with us as we travel, grant us safe journeys. Allow us to
be ever mindful of your great love and grace for us. In Jesus
name. Amen.
Page 6
We extended the ordering deadline
to December 15. It takes 90 poinsettias
to decorate the sanctuary and we need
more orders to meet
that challenge.
It's still only $10 per flower, and you
may take the flower home
or donate it for delivery by the Deacons
to homebound or grieving members of
the congregation.
Thank you!
As we make our way through Advent, I encour-
age you to read John 1:1-18 every day or at
least once a week. Focus on the light. Look
around you for signs of the light of Christ in
how we treat each other. Listen closely to fa-
miliar hymns and carols and Christmas songs
for how often light is a theme. You can light
candles on an Advent wreath at home. On
Christmas Eve, please join us at 10:15 am for a
family service where the children and youth of
our church will lead us in a worship service
called “Light of the World.” At 10 pm we will
gather for a candle light service with candles
aglow in the windows and on the Advent
wreath. At the end we will sing “Silent Night”
as we share the light of Christ, one with the
other, until the whole sanctuary is bright with
the light of Jesus, our “Sun of Righteousness.”
Then on Epiphany Sunday, January 7, we will
share how we experienced God’s light in 2017
through our star words.
May you have a blessed Advent, a Merry
Christmas, and a light-filled Epiphany!
A VERY SPECIAL THOUGHTFUL
CHRISTIAN CLASS FOR THE
CHRISTMAS SEASON:
HANDEL’S “MESSIAH”
From Rev. David Hallgren:
"We will gather for a look at Handel's Master-
piece Oratorio "Messiah" to learn some fun
facts about the work, its theological signifi-
cance and why it fits into our Advent and
Christmas season. Please join us on Sun-
day mornings at 9 am on December 10 and 17,
or Thursday evenings at 6:55 pm on December
7 and 14, both in room #208. This event will
also include a fun field trip by meeting at the
Princeton University Chapel on Monday, De-
cember 11 at 7:30 pm. ($5 per person). See you
this Advent!"
TWO MORE ADVENT
INTERGENERATIONAL CLASSES
DEC. 10 & 17
Page 7
PASTOR’S THOUGHTS (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
Last Year’s program was very popu-
lar with both students and parents,
and this year our Senior High
School class has volunteered to run
the class. Students, parents, and visi- tors are welcome to Heritage Hall at 9 am.
The Nursery will still be open upstairs, and our
youngest children are encouraged to attend
wherever they will feel most comfortable. This
does not affect Thoughtful Christian class
on December 10 and 17. The Parents' class is
encouraged to attend the Intergenerational
Class.
Then all Church School has 2 weeks off: Dec
24 and Dec 31. Classes will resume on Jan 7:
Parents, Thoughtful Christian. Kerygma starts
January 4 and 7.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
TO PPC FROM URBAN PROMISE
Quoting from the note: “Thank you for the kind
support we receive from Pennington Presbyter-
ian. Your faith family has been with us since the
beginning and your sustained gifts have helped
us grow our programs over the years. We serve
the children and teens of Trenton because of the
love and prayers of our community.
Gratefully,”
Page 8
Let’s begin with a thank-you to everyone who
contributed Thanksgiving food for the 30 boxes
we delivered to the Children's Day School on
Tuesday, 11/21. Because of you, students and
their families enjoyed full stomachs during the
holiday weekend.
The Angel Tree gifts for the benefit of the
students at the Children’s Day School
are due back by December 10, wrapped
with the angel attached. Thank you for your sup-
port.
Page 8
MISSION UPDATE DEACONS’ UPDATE
signed up, and if you have a last minute oppor-
tunity to come and forgot to sign up, you are still
welcome to come. It’s informal so come when
you can and stay as long as you want to. The
party is at the Gregg’s home in Pennington.
Last minute questions?: Cindy Carothers at
[email protected] or the church office un-
til 4:30 pm on Friday, 12/8.
A WORSHIP SERVICE OF COM-
FORT AND SUPPORT for those
coping with addiction and the
people who care for them will be
held on Sunday, December 10th at 5:00 pm in
our sanctuary. Please join us and invite others
who might find the service comforting.
2017 CHRISTMAS OFFERING will be designated as follows:
1/3 to Arm in Arm for what-
ever ever is their most urgent need; 1/3 to Presbyter-
ian Disaster Assistance, specifically for ongoing
hurricane relief; and 1/3 to our Living Waters for
the World partners in the Yucatan, to be divided
equally among Kaua, Sacalum, and Tahdziu. Our
partners at these three locations work tirelessly to
ensure safe water for their communities while
sharing God’s love for all. This offering will al-
low them to replace filters and other materials
that have worn out over years of operation.
Pennington Presbyterian Nursery School Invites You
to Their Christmas Celebration
The 30th Annual PPNS Children’s
Christmas Celebration (CCC) will be held on Sat-
urday, December 9th, with two party sessions –
one from 9:00-11:00 am, and a second from 11:30
am to 1:30 pm. This fun event and fundraiser for
the school is geared toward children aged 2-7 and
their families, but all are welcome. If you are in-
terested, please contact Hope Anderson (609-320-
3285 or [email protected]) for a res-
ervation form.
The Silent Auction that accompanies the CCC
will be on display in Heritage Hall through the
second CCC party session on December 9th.
Church members are welcome to browse the of-
ferings and bid on any items you like! The Silent
Auction and CCC are fundraiser that help our
school offer scholarships to deserving families
and make capital improvements to the school.
Merry Christmas wishes to all from the staff of PPNS!
The Deacon sponsored An-
nual Christmas Open House
will be on Dec. 9, from 6-9
pm. So don’t forget if you
Page 9
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON OF LIGHT HAS BEGUN!
Anna Mikoski
played her ukulele.
The runners were off to a fast start at the 3rd Annual Dash Away 5k!
Local charities important to PPC benefited: Urban Promise, Home
Front, and the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Thank you for your support!
Special Page 10