pennington presbyterian - first presbyterian...
TRANSCRIPT
May 4, 2016
Page 1 of 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Worship Schedule 2
Choir, Church School, Wor-
ship & Book Club Schedules 2
Youth Group Schedules 4
Church Family in Prayer 4
Pres Plus Events 3
OAM Brown Bag Lunch 5
Adult Meetings & Events 7
Focus is available the first
Wednesday of each month.
Next issue: 6/1/2016
Deadline: Wednesday, 5/25/16
PASTOR’S THOUGHTS
One of the best hymns I know about the Holy Spirit is Spirit of the Liv-
ing God. The hymn is short and simple. The words are “Spirit of the
Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on
me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall
afresh on me.”
Maybe the hymn writer, Daniel Iverson, kept it brief so that as we sing
it, we can pray it, for that is what it is - a prayer.
On May 15, Pentecost Sunday, we will celebrate the gift of the Holy
Spirit. We will tell each other the story of how the Holy Spirit came
down, filled the followers of Jesus, and made of them a powerful, gos-
pel-proclaiming church. (Acts 2). We will tell each other the story of
how the Holy Spirit comes and makes of us a powerful gospel-proclaim-
ing church, melting us, molding us, filling us and using us, even now!
Without the Holy Spirit, Pennington Presbyterian could never be more
than a social club or an historical society. It is the Holy Spirit who gives
birth to our faith in Jesus Christ, binds us to one another in the Body of
Christ, the Church, and gives us gifts to use for the benefit of God’s
work in the church and in the world. We can’t control the Spirit, nor
would we want to, but we can open ourselves and invite the Spirit in to
make us who we are truly meant to be. Invoking the Holy Spirit to melt
us, mold us, fill us and use us acknowledges that we are the instruments
of God, and that we trust God to make necessary adjustments and reform
us so that we can be who we need to be and do what we need to do for
God’s glory.
On Pentecost Sunday, we will welcome our confirmands who have
completed their year of confirmation and are ready (continued on page 8)
OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS EDITION
■ Special photo of older adults after May 1 service (6)
■ Rummage sale on June 3 & 4 (5)
■ Softball team schedule (4)
■ Lay liturgists & nominations needed (5)
■ April mission big success – photographic proof (3)
Pennington Presbyterian F A I T H C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E
group, serving with them in
mission, mentoring them in
confirmation, affirming their
worship leadership as they
sang in a choir, played an in-
strument, read scripture, or
lead us in prayer. The Holy
Spirit has been at work and
Pentecost will be a day to cel-
ebrate their faith and commit-
ment.
The final part of our Pentecost
celebration will be a “bless-
ing” of my sabbatical. I will
be away from the church from
May 16- August 16, experi-
encing a time of refreshment
and renewal by the Holy
Spirit. We will give thanks to
God for this opportunity and
for those who will step in to
assist you in ministry while I
am gone.
REGULAR WEEKLY
SCHEDULE Sunday – 10:15 AM
FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP HOUR
Childcare Available
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. It supports PPC
cash flow and is 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
Page 2 of 8
CHILDREN/ YOUTH/ADULT CHURCH SCHOOL
SUNDAY PREACHING SCHEDULE May 8* Rev. Nancy Mikoski
May 15+ Rev. Nancy Mikoski
May 22 Youth Musical
May 29 Rev. David Hallgren
*Mother’s Day and Sunday when fourth
graders receive their Bibles
+Pentecost, Confirmation Sunday and last
day before Rev. Mikoski starts her three-
month sabbatical
CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Kerygma Bible Study – Sunday at 9 am classes wrap up on May 8,
and Thursday at 6:55 pm has last class on May 12.
“Thoughtful Christian” – Sunday at 9 am
o "Islam" – through May 22, led by Najeeb Ahmad.
Contact David Anderson with questions: 609-217-8073.
Children & Youth Church School classes at 9 am – Last class is on
May 22
Bell Choir - Thursday, 6:45pm. All ability levels welcome. If interested,
contact Laura McMillan at [email protected].
Adult Choir - Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
Gloria Deo Choir (grades 6-12) - Thursday, 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm
Cherub Ensemble (pre-K-1st grade) Sunday, during worship and after Time
for Children.
Genesis Ensemble (grades 2-5) - Sunday, after worship at 11:45 am
(Call Bill Alford about adult or youth choirs: 609-333-0131)
SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
■ PER CAPITA – The Church needs your help. Per Capita is a fundamental
way that nearly 11,000 congregations and mid-councils of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) participate in the work of the wider church. In 2016, we are
paying $32.50 per confirmed member of PPC. (2015 was $30.) The New
Brunswick Presbytery, the Synod of the Northeast, and the General Assem-
bly receive part of the Per Capita. If you receive envelopes, there is an enve-
lope marked Per Capita. If you do not use envelopes, please submit your
$32.50, and mark Per Capita in the memo line. Thank you!
(August 1 through 5)
Vacation Bible School
registration is open.
This year's theme is
"Deep Sea Discovery."
Find the registration and
release form on our
website from PPC
homepage or this link.
Each year there is more
demand than seats, so
please do not delay.
Register now.
■ THE PPC BOOK GROUP - The PPC Book Group will meet on Monday,
Mon, May 16 at Jackie Saba's house (56 Jacob Court, Ewing) from 7:30-
9pm to discuss The Headmaster's Wife by Thomas Greene. Contact Jane
Simpson at 609-466-4075 with questions.
Page 3 of 8
April Intergenerational
Mission @ PPC
Spring Cleaning!
We have photographic
evidence that people
enjoyed themselves and
the church is better off
for it. Thank you!!
Anna Mikoski, Hannah Ah-
med, and Nancy Russell
Hope Anderson loves having
a clean refrigerator
in HH kitchen!
Pres Plus will visit the Tulpehaking
Nature Center at the Abbott Marsh-
lands on Thursday, May
19. 'Tulpehaking’ is the Lenape In-
dian word meaning 'Land of the
Turtles.' We will meet at the
church at 10:00 a.m. to carpool to.
Hamilton, for an 11:00 a.m. arrival. The director will open the Nature
Center just for our group. We'll see a new exhibit on display called
ROOTED, which explores trees and their relationship to plants, ani-
mals, and humans. Lunch will follow in the area.
In this photo, the group is taking a breather
while waiting for the Q&A session to begin
after a private tour of the buildings and grounds.
SUNDAY NIGHT CENTRAL JR. HIGHS (6-8 GRADE) & SR. HIGHS (9-12 GRADE) Join with new friends and old.
Page 4 of 8
Sunday Night Central
6:30 pm in Heritage hall
(unless otherwise noted)
Senior High
7:30 pm in the PIT
(unless otherwise noted)
5/8 No meeting – Mother’s Day – Enjoy time with your family!
5/15 Tending the garden @ Chil-
dren’s Day School. Meet @
PPC @ 6 pm. Wear work
clothes & bring work gloves
& a trowel.
5/15 PIT night
5/21 (Saturday) SNC & Senior High service project @ Pennington Day.
5/22 No Sunday evening meeting
5/29 No meeting – Memorial Day Weekend. Enjoy time with your family!
6/5 SNC & Senior High BBQ and Water Night at church – Last meeting
until September.
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
Dorothy Allison; Marilyn Rutledge; Lehman-Borer
Family; Manzer Family; Greener-Pedersen Families;
Dee Wilson & Family; Finlayson Family;
Wayne Fuller; Ted Gensel; Ben Cranston;
Charles Bryan; Josephine Griswold; Gopa Khand-
wala; Adrian-Hage Family; Willever Family; and
Beth Hutton & Family
2016 Mercer Evangelical Softball League Schedule Games start at 6 PM.
Go out to watch the games to cheer
the Pennington Presbyterian team! Contact: [email protected]
Week Date Field Opponent Week Date Field Opponent
3 5/9/2016 Hopewell 2 Stonehill 8 6/13/2016 Hopewell 2 Lawrenceville
4 5/16/2016 Hopewell 2 PCC 9 6/20/2016 Bye
5 5/23/2016 Hopewell 2 Penn Assembly 10 6/27/2016 Cornell Graceway
6 5/30/2016 Bye 11 7/4/2016 Bye
7 6/6/2016 Carlton Kingdom 12 7/11/2016 Make Up Week
7/16/2016 Playoffs
7/25/2016 Finals
(
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE ASKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
Page 5 of 8
COURTNEY DUCHARME TO SPEAK AT
MAY 6 OAM BROWN BAG LUNCH
This period includes Rev. Mikoski’s sabbatical to
the end of ‘summer’. The lay liturgists read scripture
and lead prepared prayers. Anyone interested, please
contact Kim Newport at 609-737-7101 or Sue Ewart at 609-737-2430.
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE ASKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
The Nominating Committee is looking for anyone interested in the Deacon or Elder positions be-
ginning in January 2017. We welcome any recommendations from the congregation. Please email
Nancy Russell at [email protected] or call 737-6948 with any questions or suggestions
“Contemplating War and Reconciliation” will be the topic of Courtney Ducharme’s
talk at the OAM Brown Bag Luncheon on Friday, May 6. Seminarian Ducharme
will describe her journey from the Air Force, where she served for 25 years, to
Princeton Theological Seminary, where she is completing her second year. Lunch is
at 12:30. The program starts at 1:00. Everyone is welcome. Bring your sandwich.
Beverages, fruit and light desserts will be provided.
LAY LITURGISTS NEEDED FOR
MAY 16 THROUGH LABOR DAY
BIG RUMMAGE SALE @ PPC ON JUNE 3 & 4
TO BENEFIT THE LIVING WATERS OF THE WORLD
MISSION TRIP TO MEXICO THIS SUMMER
≈ GENTLY USED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ≈
You may bring your donations to the church
starting on May 23, 10 am to 4 pm
Please come shop and bring friends & neighbors.
The funds raised will help with the costs of sending 11
young people and their chaperones on a 9-day trip. They
will be conducting Vacation Bible School for the people
of Tahdzui while others focus on installing the new water
osmosis system. The goal is to help build a community of
faith around the new water filtration system.
Sales Days & Times
June 3: 11 AM TO 3 PM
June 4: 9 AM TO 3 PM
Rummage Sale Exclusions
No clothing or electronics
(e.g., computers, TVs, & stereo
components.)
Page 6 of 8
A MUSICAL ABOUT DANIEL,
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR,
SHADRACH, MESHACH,
AND ABEDNEGO
2016 YOUTH MUSICAL PERFORMED
BY THE CHILDREN OF
PENNINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BILL ALFORD
MAY 22, 2016
AT 10:15 AM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
Dean John White greets
Grace Scheetz & Marge Ryan.
OLDER ADULT SUNDAY -- CELEBRATING 50+ YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP
First row: Dorothy & Charlie Bryan, Barbara Pratt, Ted Gensel, Bev Willever, Grace Scheetz, Helen York,
Wendy Pfeffer. Second row: Bob Peeck, Beth Hutton, Walt Jackson, Bill Guthrie, Bill Schluter, Nils &
Edna Stout, Marilyn & Morris Fabian, Colin Smith, Barbara Rockel, Andy Higginbottom, Dee Wilson
ADULT MEETINGS AND EVENTS
May 6 10:00 am Older Adult Ministry meeting
May 6 12:15 pm
Brown Bag Lunch with presentation at
1 pm by Courtney Ducharme (see page
5)
May 9 7:00 pm Disciple Team Leaders meet
May 9 7:30 pm
Stephen Ministers, Christian Education,
Membership, Mission, & Worship and
Music Committees meet May 17 7:00 pm Support Team Leaders meet
May 17 7:30 pm Facilities, Communications, Personnel,
& Stewardship Committees meet
May 19 10:30 am Pres Plus outing followed by lunch (de-
tails on page 3)
May 19 3:30 pm HomeFront Meals prepared
May 21 10 am-4 pm Pennington Day (two booths for PPC)
May 23 10 am – 4
pm
Start dropping off donations of gently
used household items for June 3 & 4
Rummage Sale May 23 10:30 am Parish Callers May 23 7:30 pm Session Meets in Upper Room
Special dates coming up in June: June 3-4 – Rummage sale; June
5 – All church picnic at Kunkel Park; June 12 – Graduating sen-
iors’ day; June 19 – Adult choir Sunday
Page 7 of 8
Special Thank You from Nancy
Lehman to the congregation for the
support she and her family received dur-
ing her father’s long illness and on this
death.
Our world needs peace.
Add your prayers for the peoples of the
world - one country at a time.
5/8 Bulgaria
5/15 Burkina Faso
5/22 Burundi
5/29 Cambodia
Information about all the countries we
have prayed for is at http://penn-
pres.org/pray-for-our-world/ on Thurs-
day, in time for a summary to reach you
in “This Week @ PPC”.
REPEATING WEEKLY SCHEDULES
See Christian Education, Choir and Book Group Schedules
on page 2 of this newsletter.
Youth Group schedules are on page 4.
Let Us Pray as Jesus Taught Us
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Living God, you sent the Holy Spirit to breathe life into your church.
Let us no longer be captives to fear, but messengers of your saving
love, so that all may be reconciled in you, through Jesus Christ, our
peace.
(Based on John 20:19-23 found at http://www.pcusa.org/resource/prayers-pentecost/ )
PASTOR’S THOUGHTS
to profess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior, and take vows of church membership.
They are confirming the vows made at their bap-
tisms, when through the water, prayers and prom-
ises, they were claimed as God’s beloved children
and were united with the church universal. This is
their chance, as young adults, to stand up and pro-
claim their faith in Jesus Christ, a faith nurtured in
their homes and in this church. Many of you have
played a part in their spiritual journeys, welcoming
them into your pew, praying for them, teaching
them in church school, befriending them in youth
group, serving with them in mission, mentoring
them in confirmation, affirming their worship lead-
ership as they sang in a choir, played an instru-
ment, read scripture, or lead us in prayer. The Holy
Spirit has been at work and Pentecost will be a day
to celebrate their faith and commitment.
The final part of our Pentecost celebration will
be a “blessing” of my sabbatical. I will be away
from the church from May 16- August 16, experi-
encing a time of refreshment and renewal by the
Holy Spirit. We will give thanks to God for this
opportunity and for those who will step in to assist
you in ministry while I am gone.
- Nancy
Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Red is the Pentecost
color of celebration,
reminding us of the
Pentecost flames.
The sanctuary will be
infused with red that
day and you are in-
vited to join in by
wearing red, too.