Presbyterian. Pennington. March 7, 2018 PASTOR S THOUGHTS

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1 / March 7, 2018 Pennington PASTOR S THOUGHTS Presbyterian F A I T H C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E They say a picture paints a thousand words. This is great to think about as we make our way to Holy Week and Easter. The gospels paint pictures for us of the pivotal events in Jesus life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Many of us can picture the scenes in our mind s eye. Have you ever prayed the Stations of the Cross? Perhaps you can even picture a famous work of art, like Leonardo DaVinci s The Last Supper or Salvador Dali s Crucifixion or a teaching poster of Easter morning from your childhood Sunday school class. Maybe you have been fortunate enough to visit the Holy Land and can picture the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. There are many biblical stories and biblical metaphors and artistic images of the Good Friday and Easter events that require us to make meaning of them. That could be thought of as the primary job for pastors and theologians. David and I and a host of other pastors and theologians preach, teach, and write about the meaning of all this. Hymn writers have heavily influenced the way we think and feel, pray and worship during Holy Week. But it is not just the job of the professionals. All of us as Christians search for the meaning of the cross and empty tomb. Our friend and scholar from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Sally Brown, wrote a profound book called Cross Talk: Preaching Redemption Here and Now. In it she encourages us to find fresh forms of speech that can demonstrate for twenty-first-century Christians the difference the cross makes in their faith and witness. The biblical writers offer a variety of images and use multiple metaphors that helped the earliest Christians do just that. Sometimes we get in a rut and think and sing and pray about the meaning of the cross in just one way. What an amazing blessing can be ours as we expand our thinking, imagining and experiencing of God s saving love for us in Jesus Christ. (continued on page 9) OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS EDITION Meet the new members (3) Special thanks for your generosity (4) CPR & AED class (5) Update on music ministry (6) Scout Sunday photos (7) PPC Identity Statement (7) Vacation Bible School (8) 2018 spring Explorations classes (8) World Day of Prayer update (8) Bill Alford s farewell (9) Living Waters report (10-11) SNC photos (12) INSIDE THIS ISSUE Worship Schedules Per Capita 2 Choir Schedules 2 Childcare Schedule 2 Book Group Books 2 Older Adult Ministry 3 Church Family in Prayer 4 Thoughtful Christians 5 Meetings & Events 6 Praying for Our World 6 Parenting Class Topics 6 Youth Groups Schedules 76 Next issue: 4/4/18 Page 1 1 P a g e

2 SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Forms to order Easter flowers are on the literature tables, at the church office, or find a copy on page 9 of the February FO- CUS. You may give or take the flowers from a choice of daffodils, tulips and hydrangeas. Still only $10 each. CHURCH STAFF/CONTACT Pastor: Nancy Mikoski Associate Pastor: David Hallgren Office Administrator & FOCUS Editor: Eva Szakal Financial Administrator Pam Paluzzi Office phone: Fax: office@pennpres.org Web: 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 refreshments for Fellowship Hour. Sign-up after church in Upper Titus. Mar. 11 Mar. 18 Mar. 25 Mar.29 Mar. 30 April 1 WORSHIP SCHEDULE Rev. David Hallgren Fourth Week of Lent Rev. Nancy Mikoski Fifth Week of Lent Rev. Nancy Mikoski Palm Sunday Reading of Mark s Passion Maundy Thursday Tazai Service 7:30 pm Good Friday 7:30 pm 6:30 am Sunrise Rosedale 10:15 am Traditional Easter Service in Sanctuary (Communion at both services) Childcare is available at 8:45 am in Room 209. MUSICAL PROGRAM SCHEDULES Bell Choir Thursdays, 6:45 pm (All ability levels welcome. If you re interested, contact Laura McMillan at lmcmillan@lawrenceville.org.) Adult Choir - Thursdays, 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 and through the end of Worship Genesis Ensemble (grades 2-5) after worship (during fellowship hour.) If you are interested or have questions, please contact the church office at office@pennperes.org. PPC BOOK GROUP Meetings in the Upper Room on the 3 rd Monday of the month 7-8:30 pm Mar 19 The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Lisa See April 16 The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend Katarina Bivald May 21 The Warmth of Other Suns New members are welcome. Contact Karin McAnlis through Church Office. Isabel Wilkerson 2 P a g e

3 OLDER ADULT MINISTRY & BROWN BAG LUNCH The April Brown Bag Lunch will be held on Friday, April 6 at 12:30 at the Pennington Presbyterian Church. Our speaker will be Courtney Ducharme, a retired US Air Force officer. Upon retiring after 25 years of service she was a consultant for the defense community for 3 years. She will speak to us about her experience working at the VA hospital in NYC over this past year. Bring your sandwich, fruit, beverage and light dessert will be provided. The speaker will begin at 12:45. NEW GREETING CARD MINISTRY Would you like to send a friendly, caring greeting card to someone in our church family? The Parish Callers, under the auspices of the Older Adult Ministry Committee, will have a variety of greeting and note cards available on the second Sunday of each month, beginning in April. During coffee hour, you can sit for a few moments and write a note of hope, compassion, care or celebration to someone in our congregation. The church directory will be available so that you can include both the name and the address on the envelope. The OAM Committee will handle postage. If you have any questions, please contact Madeleine Mansier, OAM chairperson, at NEW MEMBERS On February 11 we formally welcomed Lori Goebel with her daughter to our church family. Be sure to say Hello when you see them at church. FROM THE DEACONS The Deacons are pulling together information about resources in the community that can help church families with elder care, respite care and other services. Cindy Carothers is leading this effort. For example, Cindy learned about the Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County that have volunteers who can give non-medical support for home-bound individuals. ( If you know of services, send information to Cindy or the church office for the book. We are a generous, loving and supportive congregation and these are wonderful ways to share your gifts, talents and time: Bake or provide goodies for holidays or memorial services, etc. Provide meals for ailing or bereaved members and families Join the drive team or go with someone to a doctor appointment, shopping, etc., when there is no family to step in Provide companionship or respite in the home read, talk, watch TV so that the full time care giver can do errands and get a break. The Deacons coordinate these services for members of the church family. If you want to volunteer or know of someone needing these services, contact Cindy or the church office (office@pennpres.org.) 3 P a g e

4 PRAYER CHAIN Did you know that our church offers the services of phone or 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 meaningful program. If you are interested, you may contact Nancy Lehman at nancy.lehman@gmail.com, or Barbara and Dick Pratt at KEEP OUR CHURCH FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND COMFORT Dorothy Allison and the Mikoski Family; Beth Hutton; Michael Ramos; McAnlis Family; Gensel Family; Jennifer Hirsh & Family; Colon Smith; Ewart Family; Batchelder Family; Alford Family; Charles Koczan; Evie & Bill Guthrie; Virginia Silliphant; Paul Scheirer; Barbara Brennfleck; Debbie Ryan and Joe & Marge Ryan; Dick Pratt; Frank Mason; Lynda Matthei; Ben Cranston; and Bill Schluter. LET US PRAY Giving Lord, open our eyes to see and celebrate the free gift of life and salvation you have given us through Jesus. Amen 1 Mphatso Nguluwe of Malawi Learn more: and 4 P a g e

5 THOUGHTFUL CHRISTIANS By Rev. Dr. Nancy Schluter ( The discussions continue on following a path of faithfulness to ways God wants us to live, right here, right now in Some of us have good intentions, but then get too busy, or lazy, or...fill in your own weakness... to be as faithful as we intended at the beginning of Lent s forty days. Even for these forty days some of us fall short of our initial commitments made on Ash Wednesday. So what do we as "Thoughtful Christians" do in our modern, ever-changing world to be faithful to the gospel, whose words do not change? Please join us on Sunday mornings at nine o'clock for interesting, always informative, sometimes passionate discussions about a variety of contemporary topics. Right now for these next three weeks we are fortunate to have Jessica Rigel continue a presentation on Climate Stewardship. What does Scripture tell us about water, for example? We use it in all baptisms. Does that suggest its holy significance perhaps for all of life? So, how much fresh water is there on the whole earth? (Answer: probably much less, percentage-wise than most of us think). So what, in a concrete way does this tell us? Come and find out. Or come and learn some practical steps with a "Climate Change Habits Chart where you are asked to write down one or two "spiritual disciplines" aimed at reducing the climate impact that you would like to practice each week. This series will continue through Palm Sunday, March 25. After Easter, for the second and third Sundays of Easter (April 8 and 15) Nancy Russell and I are teamed up again for discussions on an old Shaker saying, "Living simply that others may simply live". (or perhaps the saying is even older). Join us with YOUR suggestions! Finally, to conclude this year, there will be a five week session (April 22 till May 20) taught by Laura Cassavell and Kim Newport on the book "Pilgrim's Progress". How many of you know that it is only second to the bible in number of books sold each year? It is an allegory about a Christian's journey through life...but more about it next month. A further word from Kim about Pilgrim s Progress: This is an allegory about a Christian s journey through life, and the hard choices and difficult struggles that must be made in order to reach the ultimate goal of life after death with God. The book is full of exciting adventures and breathtaking feats that lead to success in overcoming depression, despair, discouragement and even death. The character of Christian and his perilous journey is analogous to our own current journey through this life. It is a timeless story. This should be an exciting and informative journey to understanding this classic of religious literature. Please contact Eva at office@pennpres.org or , X-10 to sign up and let her know if you want her to order a book for you. Or, you may get a free Kindle or Audible edition from Amazon, or read a PDF copy at this link: If you want to buy a copy, it will be in the $15 range, including shipping. May your Lenten journey continue to draw you closer to ways God and Scripture so we may live in. the world that God created and called "good". DEACONS SPONSORING CPR & AED PPC Training in CPR and AED use will be held at the church at 12 noon on March 18. The cost is $32.50 per person and class runs about 2 hours. Please sign up in Upper Titus during coffee hour by March 11 if you are interested in participating or contact Corinne Orlando at corinnenw@gmail.com. A minimum of 8 are needed for class to be held. 5 P a g e

6 MEETINGS AND EVENTS 3/12 7:00 pm Disciple Team meets 3/12 7:30 pm CE, Membership, Mission & W&M meet 3/13 7:00 pm Presbytery meets at PPC 3/15 3:00 pm Cooking for HomeFront 3/18 After worship Local mission: make lunch bags for TASK All invited to help! (See This Week or bulletin for more details.) 3/18 noon 2 hour CPR/AED PPC 3/19 7:00 pm Book Group meets in Upper Room 3/20 7:00 pm Support Team meets 3/20 7:30 pm Facilities, Communications, Stewardship meet 3/26 10:30 am Parish Callers meet 3/26 7:30 pm Session meets 3/28 7:00 pm Personnel meets 4/3 7:00 pm Care Team meets 4/3 7:30 pm Deacons meet 4/6 10:00 am Older Adult Ministry meets 4/6 12:30 pm Brown Bag lunch followed by presentation at 12:45 pm UPCOMING PARENT CLASS TOPICS March 11 Embrace the mystery March 18 Remember when God became more than just a name to you March 25 Find a church that welcomes children April 1 Keep the Sabbath Our world needs peace. Add your prayers for the peoples of the world - one country at a time. Mar. 11 Mar. 18 Mar. 25 April 1 Malta Marshal Islands Martinique Mauritania Repeating Events 9:00 am Sunday School - Pre-K through 12 - Thoughtful Christian (Dove Rm. - #208) - Kerygma class (Upper Room) - Parent class (Rm. # 101) 9:15 am-wednesday-shalom 6:55 pm-thursday - Kerygma class 6:30 pm Sunday Lenten Journey: Shakespeare s Greek Plays in Biblical Perspective (Upper Room) (2/18 thru 3/25) For Choirs & Book Group See page 2. UPDATE ABOUT MUSIC MINISTRY - It is our pleasure to announce the interim music staff we hired since Bill Alford left for a new call. We are blessed to have excellent musicians who are faithful and know our worship life and will help our choirs and congregation to worship with song. The Interim Adult Choir Director and Summer Music Coordinator is Don Dolan. Don will add these responsibilities to his current job description as organist and accompanist. Phil McMillan will direct the Gloria Deo Ensemble. Lauren Sander, who has been our Cherub Music Leader since September, will add directing the Genesis Ensemble to her job description. We are also fortunate that Laura McMillan continues with leadership of the Bell Choir. Session is already thinking about the future of worship and the role that music plays in that, and we are starting to speak with various people throughout the music community to start getting recommendations. We plan to have a job description (or descriptions) in place in the spring so that we can advertise more broadly and interview candidates in late spring/early summer. Our aim is to have permanent staff in place for the fall kick off. In the meantime, we are blessed to have four fantastic music leaders, Don, Phil, Lauren, and Laura on board! Nancy Mikoski, Head of Staff Kim Newport, Chair of Personnel Brett Trainor, Chair of Worship and Music 6 P a g e

7 SCOUTS SUNDAY (2/25) Scouts sat proudly in the front. Scouting is one of PPC s missions. PPC IDENTITY STATEMENT Pennington Presbyterian Church is an inclusive, Christ-centered community; growing in our faith; demonstrating and sharing in God s transforming love; and serving our neighbors and the world. The Lehman-Borer scouting family. Ted Borer is the liaison between PPC and the various scout troops Boy Scouts, Cubs, Girl Scouts, Brownies & Adventurers. SCHEDULE FOR YOUTH 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 3/11 Hamilton Sky zone Bring $8 to jump and extra money for beverage & snack 3/18 Service Project after worship (More details by .) 3/23 7:00 pm at Heritage Hall for Midnight Madness; bring beverage and snack to share 4/1 & 4/8 Senior High Group Meet in Balcony 2 Classroom at 7:30 pm On Sunday unless otherwise stated - Leaders: David Hallgren, Bob Fletcher & Kelsey Holderman 3/11 6:30 pm at Hamilton Sky zone Bring $8 to jump and extra money for beverage & snack 3/18 Service Project after worship (More details by .) 3/25 Active Faith Jason Wisinski shares about his Ironman training, athletic journey & faith No meetings Happy Easter! 4/1 No meeting Happy Easter! 7 P a g e

8 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2018 Theme: Rolling River Rampage July 30 to August 3, 9:15 to 12 noon Registration opens March 12 Still only $25, for preschool age 3 through rising 6th graders, snack included Find sign-up sheet on website home page at on 3/12. Because younger classes fill up first, please register as soon as possible. Volunteers are always welcome. EXPLORATIONS 11 TH YEAR OF DAYTIME LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SENIORS Classes begin the week of April 9, and depending on the course, run 4-6 weeks, Monday through Thursday afternoon. Signup will start mid-february and close on April 5. The spring roster has 5 classes, all taking place at Pennington Presbyterian Church. The first course is $40 and it s only $20 for each additional course. Make checks payable to Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation (HVSF), and your course choice(s), payment, and your complete contact information (including and phone number) to: Rodney Newman, Treasurer; HVSF, PO Box 567, Pennington, NJ For further information: Larry Mansier at mansier@comcast.net or New Jersey in the American Revolution Larry Kidder; 6 sessions, 1-3 pm on Mondays The Tragic Vision: Three Plays by Eugene O Neill Larry Mansier, 6 sessions, 1-3 pm on Tuesdays Medical Ethics or Is the Cure Worse than the Disease? Lesley Cohen Lee, 6 sessions, 1-3 pm on Wednesdays Native American Art Form & Function William Guthrie; 4 sessions, 9:30 am 11:30 am on Thursdays Psychology & Psychiatry: Impact Upon Criminal Justice System G. H. Friedlander; 6 sessions, 1-3 pm on Thursdays You may read detailed descriptions at A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER POSSIBLE Organizing committee: Suzanne Keough, Barbara Rockel, Edna Stout, and Rev. Dr. Nancy Schluter The PPC Older Adult Ministry Committee and its chair Elder Madeleine Mansier The worship service participants representing the people of Suriname: Barbara Pratt, Helen York, Nancy Mason, Dot Bryan, Edna Stout, Barbara Rockel, and Walt Jackson Our guest pastor the Rev. Dr. Berlinda Hart Love, an Itinerant Preacher in the AME Church. And our ushers: Janice Black and Dick Pratt, and Don Dolan at the piano, with Clarke Walker as photographer. See you next year? Page 8 Pictured, L to R: Rev. Karen Hernandez Granzen, Rev. Dr. Berlinda Love Hart and Rev. Dr. Nancy Schluter 8 P a g e

9 PASTOR S THOUGHTS (continued) I hope that you will join us for Palm/Passion Sunday on March 25 as the congregation takes on roles and tells the biblical story of the holy week events from the Gospel of Mark. On Maundy Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 pm we will gather in our upper room of the evening, Upper Titus Hall, for Taize style worship. Candles will be lit, simple, beautiful prayers will be sung, bread will be broken and juice will be poured. On Good Friday, March 30 we will come together, again at 7:30 pm, to gather around the cross. We will worship with scripture, songs, and prayers, with stories, photos, and silence. As Sally Brown suggests, the saving news the cross discloses must have a bearing not only on sin but also on the great range of human suffering; it must make a saving difference in a world rife with violence from the bedroom to the battlefield. Where in your own life do you need the saving love of God? Whom in your circle of family, friends, and neighbors needs to experience God s redeeming grace in the here and now? Who or what in the world God loves is carrying a heavy load of fear or pain that cries out for new life? God is good and is ready to meet us right where we are. And don t forget! Easter Sunday will be on April Fools Day! We gather at Rosedale Park at 6:30 am to lift our Alleluias as the sun rises and then in the sanctuary at 10:15. What joy we shall share! Thanks be to God! In Christ, BIDDING BILL ALFORD A FOND FAREWELL! Lee White with Michele & Bill Alford While there were tears, everyone also had a good time! The service was full of joyful and pensive music. 9 P a g e

10 LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD IN PICTURES Valeria is a superb operator. This support was built so bottles don t have to be lifted after filling. The Sacalum partners get advice about operating the system from Carlos MacGregor, who is the Yucatan Living Waters for the World in-country technician (a volunteer position!) Health education at conference System maintenance education Worship during conference Entire group as the conference closes (Our Kaua partners have been slowly constructing this sanctuary since 2012.) 10 P a g e

11 I have just returned from 10 days in the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting 18 Living Waters for the World systems and helping to host our network s conference, MISSION which was held UPDATE at the Divino Maestro V Presbyterian Church, home of our partners in Kaua! Following is my report on our three partners: Living Waters for the World Update on Pennington s Partners by Hope Anderson I have just returned from 10 days in the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting 18 Living Waters for the World systems and helping to host our network s conference, which was held at the Divino Maestro V Presbyterian Church, home of our partners in Kaua! Following is my report on our three partners: Sacalum We installed the water purification system with our partners in Sacalum (about an hour south of Merida) in November This group has had its ups and downs, but they now have a stable and efficient water system and produce about 60 five-gallon bottles of water each day. Their operator Valeria, pictured on page 10 in her proper operator s gear, keeps the water building sparkling, and enjoys providing safe water to those in her community, especially children. Because Valeria is very petite, the water committee and management of the system have installed a support system in the bottle filling sink so that Valeria does not need to lift filled bottles (about 40 pounds each) to pass them through to the distribution window. Tahdziu We installed a system with partners in Tahdziu and presented health and hygiene education in July This was also the trip when our Senior Highs and their adult leaders taught VBS to over 120 children for five days! This system continues to operate very well, producing about 60 bottles per day, and delivering water in a truck that our congregation was able to help finance. Our partners are dedicated and hardworking and help other Living Waters for the World systems in their general area. Kaua- We partnered with the members of Divino Maestro V Church in Kaua in July 2013 to install a water system and provide health education. This system is thriving, with operations going on 12 hours a day, five days a week and several hours on Saturdays. Kaua produces bottles of water a day, more in the hot season of the year, which is about to begin. Bottles are delivered in a large truck with two or three loads going out each day, and also purchased at a walk-up window. The Kaua partners were the hosts for the Yucatan partners conference on February 23 and 24, Their hospitality was outstanding, and the two-day meeting was well attended, with about 125 people present. The Yucatan network of Living Waters for the World reimbursed Kaua for the meals they prepared and other costs incurred, but there is no way to pay for the hours and hours given by our partners supporting the work of the 60 water systems in the Peninsula. Final Thoughts All three of our partners give away water to those in need and schools. The cost of water that is sold is half of the going rate of large bottlers in the Yucatan Peninsula 11 to 12 Mexican pesos for five gallons the equivalent of 50 to 60 cents USD per bottle. In the USA, five gallons of purified water cost about $7.00 USD or 131 Mexican pesos per bottle. Selling water is necessary for our partners to pay for electricity, untreated water, water tests and fumigation services required by the Yucatan Health Departments, gas and maintenance for trucks, and to save for replacement parts, especially for the reverse osmosis systems. This is not easy work and our partners rely on their faith in God to take them through tough times and to rejoice in the living water provided for God s children in their communities. I was able to deliver $627 USD or approximately 11,786 pesos to each of our partners, thanks to your generous Christmas offering last December. Each partner was very grateful for your support and I saw a few tears as they accepted the funds to help them keep the ministry alive in Sacalum, Tahdziu, and Kaua. Thanks to all of you! 11 P a g e

12 FEBRUARY SUNDAY NIGHT CENTRAL (SNC) EVENTS Each brown bag destined for TASK got a special design by one of these talented young people. The assembly line made the sandwiches and added other goodies for each bag. The February 2018 retreat looks like a lot of fun with also lot of learning and bonding. 12 P a g e