June 3, 2015 Pennington Presbyterian FAITH COMMUNITY SERV ICE PASTOR S THOUGHTS Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him Colossians 3:14 17 The apostle Paul was offering to the community of faith at Colossae a way of life that came from their newly found faith in Jesus. He describes fullness, generosity and a genuine desire to be together. As I have thought of our summer plans, that kind of togetherness rings out to me as what we experience in our own community. We have a fun calendar of events planned check out the Summer Fun schedule, there are some traditional favorites such as our annual worship and picnic at Kunkel Park and some new events like a Cajun cookout and the PPC Softball Game. Our youth and their leaders are engaging in mission on our Sr. High Mission Trip to Detroit. We will also discover together God s hope for our community as we learn from the summer sermon series Windows into our Faith. This study will be an intriguing inward and outward look at our sanctuary stained glass windows. In all of these ways fellowship, worship, service, we gather together for the sake of strengthening and encouraging our faith, so that we might be able to carry the good news of Jesus Christ into our everyday lives in Pennington. God has uniquely placed us on the corner of this amazing borough and we have a gift to share. Our way of life similar to the Colossians, centers on the redeeming love of God, made known in Jesus Christ. This life is full of hope for our neighbors, friends and maybe even those we have never met before. We will do many continued next page INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Our Church Family 3 Calendar of Events 2 Worship, Church School 2 Kids, Family, Seasonal 3 Group Efforts 4 Next issue: 7/1/15 Deadline Monday 6/29/15 9 AM Focus is issued the first Wednesday of each month. OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS EDITION: Kerygma Adult Bible Study (pg. 3) Men s Softball Schedule (pg. 3) Know any Graduates? (pg. 3) Summer Liturgists (pg. 3) Summer Fun (pg. 3) Clothing Drive (pg. 3) Church Picnic (pg. 4) Cajun Cookout (pg. 4) Pres Plus Group (pg. 4) Book Group (pg. 4) Page 1 of 4
things this month in our lives and in the life of the church. When we live in peace, worship with full hearts and share warm friendship in the name of Jesus, we will begin to see our world change and God s kingdom come. See you out and about this month sharing God s love inside and outside of our church building! CALENDAR REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sunday 10:15 AM Worship Service followed by coffee hour LOOKING AHEAD June 5 Older Adult Committee June 7 Worship/Picnic at Kunkel Park June 8 Stephen Ministers June 8 Discipleship Team Leaders June 8 C.E. Committee June 8 Membership Committee June 8 Mission Committee June 8 Worship & Music Committee God Bless - David June 14 Recognize graduating high school seniors June 14 Youth Musical June 15 Book Group WORSHIP BEGINS AT 10:15 AM DURING THE SUMMER ~ HELD IN OUR AIR-CONDITIONED SANCTUARY June 16 Support Team Leaders June 16 Facilities Committee June 16 Communications Committee June 16 Stewardship Committee June 16 Personnel Committee June 18 HomeFront meals June 18 Pres Plus May 31 to June 30 Clothing Drive WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sundays 10:15 AM CHURCH STAFF/CONTACT Pastor: Nancy Mikoski Associate Pastor: David Hallgren Office Administrator & FOCUS Editor: Mary Coleman Music Director: William Alford Office phone: 609-737-1221 Fax: 609-730-9665 E-mail: office@pennpres.org Web: www.pennpres.org Sunday, June 7 Sermon: Nancy Mikoski Held in Kunkel Park followed by church picnic Sunday, June 14 "Old Testament Fast Forward" Youth Choir Musical Sunday, June 21 Sermon: David Hallgren Sunday, June 28 Sermon: Nancy Mikoski CHILDREN/ YOUTH CHURCH SCHOOL 9:00 AM Please note: We look forward to our new program year beginning in September! ADULT CHURCH SCHOOL 9:00 AM 13 S Main Street Pennington, NJ 08534 Page 2 of 4 We resume our classes in the fall.
KIDS, FAMILY, AND SEASONAL DOINGS SUNDAY NIGHT CENTRAL JR. HIGHS (6-8 GRADE) & SR. HIGHS (9-12 GRADE) Look for e-mails or on Facebook for special events this summer. Questions? Call Rev. David Hallgren 737-1221 x 15 OUR CHURCH FAMILY See the insert in this issue of Focus for details! SUMMER LITURGISTS We are looking for people who would like to join us in worship as summer liturgists. If you want to read scripture or lead in prayer, we d love to have you! Please contact Nancy Mikoski at nancy@pennpres.org or 737-1221 x 14 if you have questions or have a specific Sunday you would like to reserve. CLOTH- ING DRIVE The annual summer clothing drive to benefit the Rescue Mission will be held May 31 to June 28. You are invited to bring gently worn clothes and outerwear for any season to Lower Titus Hall the side classroom closest to Main Street. MEN S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE Come cheer on our PPC team! 6/8 6pm vs PCC at Hopewell 1 (Stephenson Rd. near Stony Brook School) 6/15 6pm vs Calvary at Hopewell 1 (see above) 6/22 6pm vs Pennington Assembly at Hopewell 1 (see above) 7/6 6pm vs Nassau at Hopewell 1 (see above) This site has good directions to each field: http://www.fbcchurch.org/softballdirections.aspx GRADUATES Please let us know of any high school or college graduates so that we may list them in a future issue of Focus. You may e-mail us at office@pennpres.org or call the church office (737-1221). SR. HIGH MISSION TRIP Please keep leader David Hallgren and all those going on the summer Mission trip to Detroit in your prayers. They are leaving on June 27 and returning on July 3. CAMP JOHNSONBURG New Jersey's only Presbyterian summer camp has fun and exciting programs for youth age 6 and up. Brochures, with specific details about the various opportunities, are available on the table outside the church office. For more information and/or to register, call the camp at 908-852-2349 or visit www.campjburg.org PHILLIES GAME As part of our Summer Fun series, the Deacons are making plans to go to a Phillies game on July 19th, against the Florida Marlins. The game begins at 1:35 p.m. Tickets are $38. (Note: If we sell more than 24, we can go thru group sales and save $4 per ticket.) We will carpool from the church. Signup after worship on Sunday or call Clark McAvoy at 882-5201. THANK YOU From Dee Wilson: I appreciated all of the cards, calls & good wishes following my surgery. I am doing well and am slowly, but surely, getting back into the swing of things. Thank you so much for your support! THOUGHT FOR THE DAY God, how grateful we are for the creative presence of your Spirit. We give you thanks. Continue to breathe life into all of us, we pray. Send us into our neighborhoods and communities in service, so that the world you love might bless your name. Amen. - Presbyterian Mission Yearbook, 2015 Please keep Jon Harkness, Wayne Fuller, John Bruestle, Ben Cranston, Louise Coats, Bev & Dick Willever, Beth Gensel in your prayers. Welcome to our confirmands: Linnea Compton, Andrew Kasses, Noah Lehman-Borer Congratulations to Chris & Allison Larthey on the the birth of Connor Andrew Larthey on May 27. Connor s siblings are Ellie and Nolan. THE BIBLE, NOW I GET IT! Starting in September 2015 our Educational Ministry will be offering Kerygma, a comprehensive adult Bible study program during the 9 AM Sunday education hour and on Thursdays at 7 PM. It doesn't matter if you are long familiar with scripture or if you are opening the Bible for the first time, this opportunity for spiritual discovery will provide a deeply satisfying encounter with the tenets of our faith. The teaching team is Galen Meyer, Gordon Mikoski, Kim Newport and Joe Tully. Interested? We ask that you register for this course now. A $30 fee will cover the comprehensive course materials. Sign up in Upper Titus after services or call the church office (609-737-1221). Page 3 of 4
GROUP EFFORTS Worship Service & Picnic June 7 at Kunkel Park Our annual all-church picnic, sponsored by our Deacons, will be held this Sunday, June 7, at Kunkel Park following the 10:15 a.m. worship service, also held in the Park. Please bring a chair or blanket. Join us! It s a great time to relax, chat and have fun with your church family. Questions? Contact Jeff Coats jeffreycoats@gmail.com CAJUN COOKOUT! Stay after church on Sunday, June 14 for some great Louisiana favorites prepared by great chef Terry Ward! Proceeds will go toward the Sr. High Mission Trip to Detroit. There will be options for everyone s food palate. THE PPC BOOK GROUP The PPC Book Group will meet on Monday, June 15 (7:30-9:00 pm) at Karin McAnlis' house to discuss All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Contact Jackie Saba (883-2145) for a library copy of the book. Newcomers welcome -- we have the best snacks!!! Call Jane Simpson (466-4075) with any questions. PRES PLUS The Seniors Group invites all seniors to their annual picnic on Thursday, June 18. Time: 11 AM snacks and 12 noon lunch. It will again be held in Ted Gensel s lovely back yard. Please bring a snack, casserole or dessert to share and also a modest donation. Bring a chair. Beverages will be provided. A special treat will be J & J productions Jayne Neary will lead a sing along of old time songs and Jay will bring his own unique brand of humor. Not to be missed! In case of rain, the picnic will be held at the church. Questions? Speak to Jo Williams at 737-2746 or Nancy Stewart at 737-1979. If you have an extra card table the group could use, please let Jo or Nancy know. HOMEFRONT MEALS PREP & DELIVERY The next time we make meals for HomeFront s Family Preservation Center is Thursday, June 18. If you can provide cookies or want to help, please contact Hope Anderson (737-1221 x 12) or Dee Wilson (922-2297). PER CAPITA is a fundamental way in which all of the nearly 11,000 congregations and mid councils of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are connected and participate in the work of the wider church. This year s amount is the same as 2014 it's $30 per member apportioned: $7.07 - General Assembly; $4.00 Synod of the Northeast; $18.93 - Presbytery of New Brunswick. We pay this for each confirmed member at PPC! If you have envelopes, there is a marked envelope in the front for Per Capita. If you don t use envelopes just submit your check, and mark Per Capita in the memo line. Thanks! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Dates: July 27-31 Age: pre-k through rising grade 6. This year s theme is "Bible Blast from the Past". Questions? Speak to David Hallgren COM- MUNION SERVERS If you would be interested in being a substitute communion server, please contact Debbie Ryan at 443-1542 or dlryan64@verizon.net Please include your name with a phone number and/or e-mail address, whichever you prefer. PENNINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 13 S. Main Street Pennington NJ 08534 Return Service Requested Page 4 of 4
Summer Fun @ PPC 2015 Sunday, June 7, 10:15 am Worship and Picnic at Kunkel Park. Hamburgers, Veggie burgers and hot dogs provided. Bring a chair or blanket, and a salad or dessert to share. $4 for kids, $6 teens and adults, $15 family. Sign up at coffee hour or with Jeff Coats at jeffreycoats@gmail.com Sunday, June 14 11:45 am Cajun Cookout! Stay after church for some great Louisiana favorites prepared by great chef Terry Ward! Proceeds will go toward the Sr. High Mission Trip to Detroit. Monday, June 22, 6:00 pm Pennington Presbyterian vs Pennington Assembly of God Softball Game at Stony Brook School on Stephenson Road. Free of Charge. Bring a chair or blanket Enjoy pretzels and watermelon and fellowship after the game. For more information contact Chris Larthey at 609-560-5170 or chrislarthey@gmail.com Sunday, July 5, 6:30 pm Picnic at Washington Crossing State Park. Bring your own food. 7:30 pm Open Air Theater Stars and Stripes (with Anna Mikoski in the cast) Purchase your own tickets at the show. Adults and teens $15, Kids $10. Questions? Contact Evelyn Marion at 609-466-1613 or evelyncmarion@gmail.com
Wed., July 15 6:00 pm Summer Fun Barbecue at the Church with music by Monday Blues Jazz Orchestra. Bring your own meat or veggie burger to grill and a side dish or dessert to share. Sunday, July 19 1:35 pm Philly s Baseball Game vs the Florida Marlins. Carpool from the church after worship if you like. Tickets are $38. If we have a group of 24 or more there is a four dollar discount. Contact Clark McAvoy for ticket information 609-882-5201 or clarkmusic@hotmail.com Wed., August 5 6:00 pm Summer Fun Barbeque at the Church with Bocce Ball games for people of all ages. Bring your own meat or veggie burger to grill and a side dish or dessert to share. Wed., August 19 6:00pm Summer Fun and Carlito s Taco Truck Picnic at the Church with music by Pennington Station. Purchase items from the food truck menu, relax over a good meal, and enjoy great music and time with friends. Saturday, Sept. 12 6:00 pm Picnic at Washington Crossing State Park. Bring your own food. 7:00 pm Open Air Theater Jesus Christ Super Star (with Chris LaCasse and Debbie Ryan in the cast) Purchase your own tickets at the show. Adults and teens $15, Kids $10. Questions? Contact Evelyn Marion at 609-466-1613 or evelyncmarion@gmail.com