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September 13, 2020
15th Sunday after Pentecost
SCRIPTURE READING
Numbers 6:22-26
Matthew 18:21-35
Preacher
Nancy Mikoski
Liturgists
Casey Aldridge, Christine James, Allison Neary, and the Wiley Family
Blessing of Backpacks
Children and Families: In honor of the new school year, there will be a blessing of backpacks, so have ours ready and nearby.
Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or a concern you would like lifted up in prayer this Sunday in our virtual worship, please send Nancy Mikoski an email with "Joys & Concerns" in the memo. She will gather them and lift them up in prayer. The deadline is Friday at noon for the upcoming Sunday.
Note: All of our worship services are available on our website. Visit the church website home page, or go directly to the online worship page, and then click the blue button on the upper right of the home page for online worship.
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Morning Prayer: "Gracious and loving God, thank you for this day. Strengthen my resolve to love and show mercy through the day. Lead my feet to your holy dwelling place, and guide the work I have to do for today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
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Evening Prayer: "Merciful God, thank you for keeping me in the safety of your arms and for new mercies and the glory you showed through the day. Keep my family and me through the night. I thank and praise you! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. ”
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(From "Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Year A, Volume 2. Kimberly Bracken Long, editor. WJK. Louisville. 2014)
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Dear Friends in Christ,
While we aren’t meeting face to face, we continue to be a church of Jesus Christ and have a vital ministry! Our ministry includes virtual worship which you can access on our website, Bible studies, church school, and youth groups on Zoom. Our mission committee continues to help those in the community, including a diaper drive for Homefront. Donations can be placed in the bins on the steps of the church.
Once we are back together as a congregation in our church building, you can explore other opportunities to connect, worship, grow, and serve with us. We are committed to inspiring and equipping disciples to share the transforming love of Jesus Christ. We hope that you will continue to be part of our church family on Sundays -- electronically now, and in-person down the road.
In Christ,
Nancy Mikoski
Pastor
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Events Schedule at a Glance
Friday, 12:30 pm, Brown Bag Lunch, by Zoom or phone
Friday, 7:00 pm, Forums and Fellowship, by Zoom (see below for link)
Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 am, Shalom (open to all women - first meeting for this fall), by Zoom
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Sunday Schedule at a Glance (starting 9/13/20)
9:00-10:00 am Adult Education Bible and Theology on Zoom
9:15-9:45 am Age 3 - Grade 4 Church School and Music with Mr. Phil on Zoom
10:15 am Worship via our website (available at other times as well)
11:30-12:30 Grades 5-8 Church School on Zoom
11:30 - 12:30 Grades 9-12 Church School on Zoom
6:30-7:30 pm Sunday Night Central Youth Group (grades 5-8) on Zoom
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Weekday Youth Groups' Schedule at a Glance
Tuesdays, 7 pm, for high schoolers
Wednesdays, alternative weeks, 7:30 pm, Pop Culture and Scripture Series, starting September 23, for combined 5th grade, middle school, and high school youth
Registered youth will receive an invitation with the link to the meeting over Zoom. See below under Christian Education for the details and links to the registration forms, or contact Casey Aldridge, Youth Ministry.
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Casey Aldridge's Ordination
Virtually - September 20 - 3 pm
Look for the invitation and link a few days in advance
What follows is a clarification from Casey on aspects of the 9/3 Pastor's Thoughts we published:
In last week's monthly newsletter, Pastor Casey talked about the significance of his upcoming ordination and installation service, in which ordination represents a process by which the church "sets apart" leaders, and installation represents the "setting in place" of those leaders in particular congregations and contexts. He does, however, need to revise what he previously wrote, after talking to a friend who is going through the exact same thing right now, and set to be ordained this weekend. As a Stated Supply Pastor, Casey is employed directly by the Session of Pennington Presbyterian Church, rather than being "called and installed" by the whole congregation. The ordination service on the 20th, then, will be just that—an ordination service where Casey's call to leadership and ministry is affirmed by the church. It will not be an installation service, however. There will be no constitutional questions for the congregation, although Pastor Nancy will still speak a word of prayer and guidance to the congregation. Even though Casey isn't being installed next weekend, he is still committed to serving in this community and, at the end of his term as Stated Supply Pastor, can be called and installed. And we will get to worship God and celebrate with an installation service (in person, God-willing) when that time comes.
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A Very Special Virtual Brown Bag Lunch – For All Ages
Topic: Loneliness – September 11, 12:30 pm
Join by Zoom call or by telephone – register to receive a link
Loneliness. That’s something we have all experienced, for sure. And maybe it is even truer now in these strange times. Believe it or not, before the pandemic ever began, the Older Adult Ministry Committee planned a Brown Bag Lunch Program for September on the multi-faceted topic of loneliness. Now the committee has decided to go ahead with that lunch and program, even though it will, like almost everything else in our lives these days, be virtual. OAM invites everyone, regardless of age, to join us in what should certainly prove to be an interesting discussion.
We will “gather” on Zoom on Friday, September 11. We realize the significance of that date and have decided it is appropriate, and maybe especially so, to meet then to share our experiences with loneliness and ways to cope with it. In normal times, we would meet for lunch at 12:30 and enjoy a half-hour of socialization as we eat our sandwiches. So we will begin at 12:30 and spend the first half-hour chatting with each other as we eat our lunch. Here is an opportunity to “see” folks you perhaps have not seen for many months. The program, as usual, will run from 1 to 2. We plan to cover as wide an array of “loneliness” topics as time allows, including living alone, loneliness in retirement, being alone versus being lonely, loneliness in a crowd, and loneliness stemming from the loss of one or more of the following: family, friends, mobility, energy, ability to drive, etc., etc. Members of the OAM Committee will kick-start the conversation and welcome comments and questions from all participants, as we share our experiences and, equally important, our suggestions on how to cope with “loneliness.”
Please register with the church office. That is necessary so you may be sent the Zoom link, or the phone number for those who prefer to participate by telephone. The office may be reached at office@pennpres.org or 1-609-737-1221, option 1 (as soon as the phone line answers.)
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Forums & Fellowship
On Friday, September 11th at 7:00 pm, Forums & Fellowship zoom meeting will feature a special guest: Rev. Ray Roberts, from Grace Presbyterian Church in Jenkintown, PA, to discuss "Why the War on Drugs Did Not Work."
We hope you can join us. Please share this invitation with anyone you think may be interested.
Join the event by visiting us at pennpres.org/forum or click the button below.
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Shalom Invites All Women to Join in a New StudyShalom is beginning a new study, "The Church in Times of Crisis." on September 16 and invites women of all ages to participate. During this four-week study, the group will consider four of the many times in American history when Christians confronted a crisis. The group will find plenty of opportunities to reflect on what it means to be people of faith, hope, and love as we live through a crisis of our own. The schedule is a follows:
September 16 - Philadelphia, 1793: "Terror Now Became Universal"
September 23 - Cherokee Nation, 1828: "This Grieves Me More Than I Can Tell"
September 30 - Chicago, 1894: "The Angel of the Yards"
October 7 - Selma 1933: "A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People"
The weekly schedule is Wednesday, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Anyone who is interested in participating in this study is asked to contact Cindy Reeder, reederfamily5@comcast.net or 609-303-0602, so he can send you the Zoom link.
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Next Share and Prayer for Those Who Work in Schools
This is a particularly stressful season for teachers and professors and others who work in schools. Covid-19 has turned upside down so much of their vocational life. Back in August, Rev. Mikoski hosted a Share and Prayer Zoom gathering for people in our church family who work in schools, from nursery schools through higher education, and as teachers, support staff, or administrators. Many expressed the hope that they could meet again.
Our next Share and Prayer for those who work in schools will be Sunday, September 27 from 7-8 pm. New people are welcome! To receive the Zoom link, please send an email message to Nancy Mikoski nancy@pennpres.org. The whole church family is encouraged to keep everyone in education, from administrators and support personnel to teachers and students, in your prayers. God is good.
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Overview of Youth Christian Education and Other Programs
All parents and guardians of any children or youth who intend to participate in any children's or youth ministry programs this year (church school, youth group, etc.) need to fill out the Google Form. In this strange and extraordinary season, we are finding new ways to do youth and children's ministry safely and responsibly, but in order to do so, we need this contact and student information for all new and returning families before our September 13 kickoff. Thank you so much for your cooperation.
Christian Education for all ages starts on Sunday, September 13, at various times online over Zoom. See below for specifics by age. Please register youth on this form and by email for adults.
For younger children, the curriculum is based on Godly Play and includes music with Mr. Phil (Phil McMillan). Please register.
For middle school and high school-aged young people, we offer three different opportunities to learn about the Bible and explore personal faith: Church School (Sundays at 11:30 am), Popular Culture and Scripture (every other Wednesday at 7:30 pm), and Youth Groups (Sr. Highs on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, and Middle School Sunday Night Central at 6:30 pm.)
Beginning September 23, our bi-weekly Wednesday conversations on Popular Culture and Scripture will take place at 7:30 pm, and will combine to include our fifth graders, and middle and high school youth. The films and shows (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Frozen II, Spider-man, and more) will tie into the fall's Sunday School and Youth Group theme of resurrection hope. (See below for the details of the September 9 plans.)
Starting on Sunday, September 13, middle school and high school youth church school classes will meet separately -- but at the same time (11:30 am every Sunday morning) -- to dive into biblical "Stories of Hope” where the group will explore the meaning and relevance of hope for our Christian faith.
Additionally, the high school youth group will convene every Tuesday night at 7 pm for games and topics related to Christian hope in adolescent life, and our middle school youth group (Sunday Night Central) will gather every Sunday at 6:30 pm for similar topics and games. These will be on Zoom.
Again, if you plan for your kids to get involved in any of our youth activities this fall as we dive into the meaning and relevance of hope for our Christian faith, please fill out this student information and parental consent form.
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Preschool and Elementary Christian Education
Kicking off on Sunday, Sept. 13 and then every Sunday until May, our preschool and elementary (up to 4th grade) students will meet from 9:15-9:45 am and will be hosted by Phil McMillan. Phil will start off with music, then one of our wonderful teachers will tell the Godly Play story. Children love to hear and tell stories because stories are where all of us -- children and adults together -- find our identity and our family. Through storytelling based on the Bible, we invite one another to give meaning to our world and ultimately to our lives. There will be Godly Play teachers on the call to interact with the children after the story, and parents are invited to join in. Parents will receive a weekly email with the story name, Zoom link, and information for the parent. Please register at this link: https://forms.gle/fb2FBzgFGUT1WSmj6
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Fall Adult Bible and Theology Classes
This year's Adult Bible & Theology classes will feature a broad array of biblically-inspired topics tailored to deepen our appreciation for God's love and God's Word. The first section will run from September 13 through November 15, on Sundays at 9 am, using Zoom. We ask you to register for this discussion by sending an email, including your phone number, to office@pennpres.org, and also order your own copy of the selected book, Interpreting the Psalms by Patrick Miller. (Link to Amazon page for this book.) (Registering now does not commit you for the full year. You may make decisions at the start of each unit.)
By popular demand, the first session on the 13th will be a standard introduction to the curriculum or a special "Open Forum" where you can direct any of your theological questions to either the class facilitators or the group as a whole. In fact, several "Open Forums" will be sprinkled throughout the liturgical year, and will help facilitate the transition to the different theological topics.
On September 20 we will begin the study of Interpreting the Psalms. During our sessions, we will explore together how the psalms are structured with a goal of better understanding their meaning, and using that understanding to enhance our own prayer life.
Our next major theme is entitled Faith & Beauty. In this first of two art modules, we will explore the works of Vincent Van Gogh and reveal how our reformed tradition was a major influence on his art.
Our second book for group study is entitled Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water & Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. What do people mean when they say that the Bible was "inspired"? Ms. Evans is a journalist who explores various biblical mysteries and shares her insights into how the Bible was meant to be read.
During the Lenten season, we will use our newly-honed, Bible interpretation skills to take a deep dive into Paul's Letter to the Philippians, a challenging work of inspiring, compelling, and incomparable theological depth. What is Paul telling us? How is his message relevant to the challenges of the 21st century?
Our last major topic will be our second art module. Together we will analyze the beauty and devotion of the liturgical artwork of Caspar David Friedrich.
We hope that you can join us. While the church building is closed, we will be meeting via Zoom. If you were not an attendee last year, and you would like to participate, please send a note to office@pennpres.org to be added to the email list. The two books we will be using Interpreting the Psalms and Inspired are available on Amazon.
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Pray for our Community...
- Our neighbors at Pennington AG
- All of our students, their teachers, and staff returning to school
- All who are sickened by COVID and those who have lost a loved one to the disease
- All impacted by the many fires in California and at risk for fire in the west of our country
- All who lost life, livelihood, homes, and businesses to hurricane Laura
- Those suffering from the heat waves as they endure homelessness, work outdoors, or cannot afford air conditioning
- All those impacted by the economic downturn and struggling with insecurity over the basics of life - food, home, healthcare, and so much more
- Those trying to recover from the Derecho storms from Nebraska to Indiana
Continued Prayers for …
Robin Hepburn (1); Elsa Koczan (2); Melanie Parsons; Family of Grace Scheetz; Bob Macek; Shirley Norton; Corinne Beyer; Bill Sherman; Beth Sarsfield and family; Laura and Tom McMillan; the Ahmad Family; the Bryzezynski and the Williams Families; Gwen Torrens; Marji McAvoy; Hal Wittlinger; Elsa Ana Charles Koczan; Marge Ryan; Galen Meyer and his family; David Anderson; Michael Berkowitz; Karen Kelly; Dawn Cocco; Bob Fletcher; Dee Wilson; Caroline Woodward; Jayne and Jay Neary; and all families who are grieving.
(1) recovering from spinal surgery; (2) recovering from eye surgery
Praying for Our Church Family ....
We pray each week for members listed alphabetically in our church directory. This week:
Scott, Jane, Ethan, and Lucas Borden; Ted Borer, Nancy Lehman, and Ryerson, Thomas, Noah, and Alex Lehman-Borer; Michael, Suzanne, Nathan, and Tessa Borgos; George and Lynn Bovenizer; Todd, Paula, Carly, Piper, and Ethan Brant
Special Prayers for a Former PPC Member ..
Jane Cadwallader Fletcher passed away on August 23 in Florida. She and her family were active members of our church family during the ’40s and 50s She leaves behind her husband, Alfred; several children; nieces; nephews; and brother-in-law. Burial will be
private in Pennington Cemetery and arrangements are being made by the Blackwell Funeral home.
Praying for the People of the World …
Please continue to pray for the world. We will be celebrating our four and a half years of prayers on World Communion Sunday, October 5, and plan to mark the fifth anniversary of this initiative.
 Let Us Pray … Dear God, each day we turn to you to guide our steps and help us make the best of what comes our way. Help us, Lord, to show love and kindness in all we say and do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen
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Sending Good Vibes for the New School Year!
We pray for the safety of our children, teachers, staff and families so learning may proceed uninterrupted. Join in Sunday's worship service for the 'blessing of backpacks.'
Thanks to the Family Ministries group for inspiring us to "Chalk the Walk" with positive and fun messages for the start of the school year.
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Having a Hard Time?
Many people are struggling these days. If you are among them, know that you are not alone and that help is available. In addition to pastoral care from our staff (which is not a substitute for professional counseling but a great addition for care and prayer) here are some helplines that may point you in the right direction.
Mental Health Crisis: call (609) 396-4357 24/7
Domestic Violence: call (609) 394-9000 24/7
Substance Use Problems: In New Jersey, dial 2-1-1
Please share these numbers with family and friends as the need arises. This is another way we can love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
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Message of Support from the Deacons
Do you need help with shopping for groceries or getting to the pharmacy?
We recognize that many of us, because of age or underlying health issues, need to be extra careful during this pandemic. Some of your church family will assist you with these errands, to help you stay safe. If you need some help, please reach out to Corinne Orlando, our Deacon Moderator at (856)981-9546or by email: corinnenw@gmail.com
If you'd like to be one of the helpers, you may also reach out to Corinne. She is coordinating this effort. Thank you for helping our PPC family.
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Racial Equity Discussion Groups
Conversation groups have formed and are using resources from Eddie Moore Jr.'s "21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge." This website offers lots of great articles, podcasts, brief videos, books, movies, and documentaries to listen to, read, or watch.
One group, facilitated by Rev. Nancy Mikoski meets on Wednesday evening from 7-8 pm. To join, please contact Nancy Mikoski at nancy@pennpres.org.
Another group that used to meet on Wednesday afternoons, will now meet at 2:00 pm on Thursdays starting on September 17. The facilitators for this group are Rev. Nancy Schluter, Rev. Miriam Diephouse-McMillan, and Madeleine Mansier. To join contact Nancy Schluter at nancyhurdschluter@gmail.com.
Participants of each group will receive a link to our Zoom conversations.
"Many of us are committing ourselves to learn more and grow around issues related to race and racism. This is a way for us to grow in our love for neighbors. I want to build new habits and hope you will, too! Let's do this together!"
--Nancy Mikoski
Please Continue to Support our Organizations in Need
during Time of COVID-19
We would like to remind and encourage you to support our local organizations during the COVID-19 epidemic.
In addition to the diaper drive, Homefront can use monetary donations, as well as gifts of non-perishable food, diapers, baby wipes, and formula.
Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry: They have a great need for funds and shelf stable (non-refrigerated) food and beverages, and volunteer time.
Arm in Arm: Funds and food items are needed. They are sponsoring #GiveHealthy Virtual Food Drive (check it out!).
TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen) They also need funds and trentonsoupkitchen.org has lots of information about other needs and donations.
Living Waters for the World supports international communities. Please donate at
livingwatersfortheworld.org or at 5016 Spedale Court #339, Spring Hill, TN 37174. Please indicate that your donation should be directed to the Yucatan network.
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Use of Courtyard Invitation and Guidelines
We follow all of the state guidelines to protect all of us. This means that there is no access at this time to bathrooms, and social distancing while using the courtyard must be maintained and a mask worn. Contact the church office at 609-737-1221, option 1, to schedule use of the courtyard for small groups as allowed by state guidelines.
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