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: office@pennpres.org

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 lmcmillan@lawrenceville.org.

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-

man@gmail.com, 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: ChrisLarthey@gmail.com

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 nrussell39@comcast.net 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.