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August 3, 2016

Page 1 of 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Worship Schedule 2

October OAM/Brown Bag

Event 2

Church School Schedule 3

Church Family in Prayer 4

Reading Acts of the Apostles 5

Blood Drive 5

Adult Meetings & Events 7

Clothing Drive 7

Focus is available the first

Wednesday of each month.

Next issue: 9/7/2016

Deadline: Wednesday, 8/29/16

PASTOR’S THOUGHTS

Hope is a powerful thing. It inspires us to keep going toward a goal that

we think will enrich our lives or change our situation for the better. It

motivates us to get up and work towards something valuable that we

need. It also inspires our faith. Revelation 21 and 22 speak of a new

place for us when all is made right in the world and God’s reign is real-

ized in our new heaven and new earth. This will be a place where tears

are wiped away and living water flows through the streets bringing heal-

ing to all nations. We hope for that time and that place!

What would change in our world today for it to more resemble the com-

ing kingdom of God? There would certainly be less violence, less racial

discord, less hunger, less abuse, less misuse of power, less loneliness,

less reliance on drugs and alcohol to make it through the day. There

would be more kindness, more love, more justice, more understanding of

abundance, and more connection to our neighbors both on our street and

in our region.

Faith in God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and hope in

God’s coming kingdom is what we are given as inspiration to be a

Church that stands up and moves to the center of the world’s greatest

needs. When the body of Christ is able to be identified less as a place to

go for an hour a week and more as the living embodiment of God’s love,

mercy, kindness and justice, we begin to grasp the hope that is promised

to the world. I don’t think that all of what is to come is left for the fu-

ture. We are to live in the glimpses of God’s kingdom today. We are

called and invited and privileged to be a part of it. We are meant to be

the hands that wipe away tears and we are meant to bring the waters of

life to those who are thirsty.

(Continued on page 8.)

OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS EDITION

■ Kerygma sing-up deadline (3) ■ Hymnal Purchase deadline (4)

■ Good News! (4) ■ Per Capital (5)

■ “Finding a Way to Say Thank You!” (6)

Pennington Presbyterian F A I T H C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E

REGULAR WEEKLY

SCHEDULE Sunday – 10:15 AM

FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP HOUR

Childcare Available

Please sign up to provide re-

freshments for Fellowship Hour.

Sign-up after church in Upper

Titus.

Please keep current on your

stewardship 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

Kick-off or Rally Day is September 11, 2016

SUNDAY PREACHING SCHEDULE

August 7 Rev. David Hallgren

August 14 Rev. David Hallgren

August 21 Rev. Nancy Mikoski

August 28 Rev. Nancy Mikoski

CHOIR REHEARSALS RESUME IN SEPTEMBER

New Kerygma and The Thoughtful Christian classes for adults

Children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade; and new con-

firmation class open to eighth and ninth graders

Youth groups, too!

See the full line-up on page 3 of this FOCUS.

Bell Choir –All ability levels welcome. If interested, contact Laura

McMillan at lmcmillan@lawrenceville.org. Rehearsals resume 9/8

@ 6:45 pm.

Adult Choir - Thursday, 8:00 p.m., beginning 9/8.

Gloria Deo Choir (grades 6-12) – Thursdays starting on 9/15

Cherub Ensemble (pre-K-1st grade) and Genesis Ensemble (grades

2-5) also resume in September.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact our Director of

Music, Bill Alford, at pennpresmusic@gmail.com.

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

■ PER CAPITA – See special appeal on page 5 of this FOCUS.

Mark Your

Calendars!

The Older Adult Min-

istry of PPC is pleased

to announce that on

Friday, October 7,

the On-Stage Seniors

of McCarter Theatre

will perform

monologues based on

stories gathered from

community retirees.

You won’t want

to miss this!

More information

will follow soon.

Page 3 of 8

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 WILL BE A BIG DAY AT PENNINGTON PRESBYTERIAN.

IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF CHURCH SCHOOL!

Church School will Kick-Off at 9:00 am on Sunday. You should go directly to your classroom as outlined below.

We have many devoted returning church school teachers and some new teachers too. We offer a loving, supportive

environment where children are encouraged along their faith journey. In addition to classes before worship, during

worship service the sermon theme is presented during “time with Children” in a way that young children can under-

stand and apply to their lives. We will continue to have two adult church school classes, one more focused on the

Bible and one more focused on social issues. Please join us!

Here are the classes, locations and teachers:

Nursery, Room 209: Mark Fall and Nicole Sanders (During Church School hour, worship and fellowship hour)

Pre-Kindergarten – First Grade, Lower Titus: Dawn Cocco and Julianna Maria

Second Grade – Fourth Grade, Balcony: Sarah Gregg, Katie Michels, Dee Norris

Fifth Grade – Seventh Grade, Balcony: Allison Neary, Zac Calvo

Eighth Grade – Twelfth Grade, the Pit: Anna Bruestle, John Bruestle, Brandon Watson

Adult Ed - The Thoughtful Christian: Dove Room, at 9 am; taught by various leaders; intended to examine our

Christian response to issues in today’s world:

Sept 11 – 18: History of Religion and Politics in America

Sept 25 – Oct 9: Good Politics and Bad Politics: Bill Schluter

Oct 16: Jewish Holiday Celebrations: Rabbi Jan Friedman-Krupnick

Oct 23 – 30: Mass Incarceration

Nov 6 – 27: Angels & Demons, film and discussion

Dec 4: Slow Church: Nancy Schluter

Adult Ed - Kerygma Program “The Bible & Theology”, Upper Room; taught by the

Kerygma Teaching Team; goal is to understand better our faith and our Bible:

Sept 11 – Oct 23: The Trinity: Who is God? Christology: Who is Jesus Christ?

Oct 30 – Dec 4: Ecclesiology: What is the church? Who is humanity?

Jan. 8 – February 12: Soteriology: How are we saved? Authority: Where is authority?

Feb. 19 – Early April: Sacraments: What are the sacraments? Eschatology: What is the Kingdom?

The Kergyma classes are offered on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am and Thursday evenings at 6:55 pm. See

http://pennpres.org/kerygma for more details and a sign up form.

This year’s confirmation class will be open to all 8th and 9th graders. Confirmation candidates will meet for three

spiritual formation retreats. Contact Rev. David Hallgren directly to register (dhallgren@pennpres.org.) There will

be an information meeting for students and parents on September 25 after worship, around 12:15 pm.

Junior High and Senior High Youth Group will begin September 11. Junior Highs (“Sunday Night Central” group)

usually meet Sundays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, and Senior Highs meet from 7:30 to 0:00 pm. Schedules change for

special events like group outings and local mission projects, which are planned in advance.

Our church has a rich history of strong, engaging church school programs. Come and join us!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION @ PPC

Remember to register and pay for Ker-

ygma by August 22 for at least Unit 1.

It’s $14 per unit (four units; your choice)

for resource materials. Forms are at the

church office or on the literature tables.

Page 4 of 8

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

David Anderson; Grace Scheetz; The Yuhas Family;

Virginia Silliphant; Marilyn Rutledge; Manzer Family;

LET’S WELCOME GOOD NEWS WITH PRAYERFUL GRATITUDE.

Nancy and Ron Russell’s son Daniel and wife Meredith had a baby son,

Levi James, born on July 13 in Chattanooga, TN.

David and Hope Anderson’s son David and his wife had a baby boy,

Jacob, born on July 14 in Hawaii.

BE SURE TO ASK TO SEE PICTURES!

(This is a new feature where members of the church family

may share joyful news to be celebrated with prayer.)

As of August 3, we have contributions for 75 hymnals. Our goal is 350.

You may support the purchase of new PCUSA hymnals, Glory to God, by

contributing any amount or you may dedicate a new hymnal in ‘memory

of’ or ‘in honor of’ anyone important to you for $25 each dedication.

The new hymnal was selected and approved by Session after extensive

study by the Worship and Music committee that determined just about all

the favorite songs in our three hymnals are in the new PCUSA hymnal,

plus many new ones. Some golden oldies no in our current hymnals will be

back as well.

Forms are on the literature tables and the church office.

YOU HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18 TO SUPPORT THE

PURCHASE OF NEW HYMNALS.

May God dwell in our hearts,

and guide our hands and

hearts.

THE TAHDZIU COM-

MUNITY CAME TO-

GETHER AROUND

VBS AND CLEAN

WATER. THEY EX-

PRESSED GRATITUDE

WITH MUSIC &

WORSHIP.

(

READING ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AS A CONGREGATION

Rev. Nancy Mikoski will meet after worship on the last Sunday of August to discuss Acts. Below is

the remainder of the assignments. The full schedule is on the website at http://pennpres.org/reading-

acts/. You need not be current on your reading to join in the discussion. Nancy will be building on and

linking to Acts in special fall programs that will be enriched by her reflections and experiences during

her sabbatical this summer.

Page 5 of 8

Aug. 7-13 Acts 21, 22 Paul is in Jerusalem, visits with James and is arrested.

Paul gives witness to his conversion. Aug. 14-20 Acts 23, 24 Paul in the hands of council – a group of them want to kill him.

Paul’s defense before Felix at Caesarea. Aug. 21-27 Acts 25, 26 Paul calls upon the Emperor.

Paul witnesses to his conversion and invites Agrippa to join in his belief. Aug. 28 -

Sept. 3

Acts 27, 28 Paul heads to Rome but a storm keeps him shipwrecked in Malta.

Paul visits Rome and preaches.

CALL FOR PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING “PER CAPITA” CONTRIBUTIONS

Have you made your 2016 Per Capita contribution?

The Stewardship Committee reminds all members that your Pennington Presbyterian is a connected

church - and happily so because we benefit continually from our vital association with Presbyterian

Church (U.S.A.).

With the reward comes the related obligation to contribute an amount every year for every member of

the church -- including young adults who may no longer live at home, but are on the church roll. This

amount per individual member this year is $32.50 and adds up to a sizeable 2016 obligation of over

$16,000 for allocation by the national church to New Brunswick Presbytery, the Synod of the Northeast,

and the General Assembly.

We know well the value that comes with being “connected” Presbyterians with all the vital services and

support provided by our national church and regional Presbytery of New Brunswick. At this point, how-

ever, we are at but of a fraction of the way to covering this per capita expense for our membership. Please help the church avoid mailing you a reminder in late

August, and make your payment --- marked "Per Capita" either

on the check you submit or the envelope if paying with cash.

Questions? Please contact Pam Paluzzi, financial administra-

tor, in the church office who will be happy to provide answers

or point you in the right direction. (609-737-1221, x-11)

Thank you!

Peach Festival with Music to Benefit Trenton Urban Prom-

ise will be held at the Penning-

ton United Methodist Church

August 13 from 5-8 pm.

See details at

http://pennpres.org/localevents

LOCAL BLOOD DRIVE – PLEASE DONATE!

There is a blood shortage this summer. Donate

on Saturday, August 27, from 8 am to 1 pm @

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Reserve at

www.redcrossblood.org. Enter sponsor code:

STMatthewsPennington. Receive Dunkin Do-

nuts coupon for free iced coffee and a donut.

Page 6 of 8

On July 17, twenty-three members of our congregation and two translators arrived in Tahdziu, Mexico,

which is the poorest community in the state of Yucatan. We were welcomed warmly with a lovely worship

service on Sunday night and went to our hotel for devotions. We were very excited and a little apprehensive

about what the week would bring. Monday is the day when the real transformation in all of our lives began

in earnest.

As our VBS teen and adult leaders worked with a group of 100-140 children aged two through 12, there were

moments of laughter, prayer, rousing song, and love. We shared Bible stories and received the blessings and

warmth of every child who attended VBS. On Friday, July 22, the entire VBS group walked two blocks to

the water system for our water celebration. As we sang and worshipped together with the adults who had

worked so hard on the system and adult education program all week, we all felt God’s love and the impact of

the double love command – to love God and love one another with all our hearts.

The adult education group, led by Nancy Russell and Sandy LaCasse, met each morning to learn creative and

ongoing ways to share with the community the uses of safe water (drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and car-

ing for babies) and the importance of hand washing and hygiene. Some of the women spoke only Mayan, so

Sandy translated Nancy’s instructions into Spanish, and then one of the students translated from Spanish to

Mayan! In the afternoon, the morning students brought other women from Tahdziu to learn from the morn-

ing students. The women embraced the order of worship for our water celebration and presented three songs

during the very special event.

The water system installation group, led by Chris LaCasse, spent long days assembling all the components –

from pipes to pumps to filters – for the reverse osmosis and softening water purification system and for the

bottle washing, disinfection, and bottling stations. Our partners had worked for over six months remodeling

a small 10x12 cinderblock building into an attractive, clean, and functional basis for the water system. The

Mexican health department has stringent rules for the cleanliness and flow of water systems from dirty to

clean, and the building had to be remodeled to follow this plan. There was a problem with one pump, but the

group tackled it admirably and by Thursday, the system was up and running! At Friday’s water celebration,

300 people thanked God and our partnership while sipping cups of safe and healthy water from the new sys-

tem!

This experience takes more than one page to explain fully. In fact, I could write a short book about the

amazing ways God worked through all of us and touched each person, both from Pennington and Tahdziu,

over the period of a week. Right now, though, I am thanking every member of our congregation for the gen-

erosity, love, and profound faith that made this experience possible. We could not have done this without

you and without God.

Thank you -- over and over again!

(On the right: Planning with the

local ladies; Hope was the

photographer)

Finding a Way to Say Thank You

by Hope Anderson

P T

L E

A A

N C

N H

I I

N N

G G

ADULT MEETINGS AND EVENTS Aug 8 7:30 pm Worship and Music committee meets

Aug. 15 --- Rev. Nancy Mikoski returns from sab-

batical

Aug. 15 7:30 pm Membership committee meets

Aug. 16 7:00 pm PPC outing at Trenton Thunder

(chrislarthey@gmail.com)

Aug. 16 7:30 pm Stewardship meets

Aug. 18 3:30 pm HomeFront cooks

Aug. 22 7:30 pm Session meets

Sept. 6 7:00 pm Care Team meets

Sept. 6 7:30 pm Deacons meet

Page 7 of 8

Our world needs peace.

Add your prayers for the peoples of the

world - one country at a time.

Aug. 7 Cocos (keeling)

Island

Aug. 14 Colombia

Aug. 21 Commercial

Aug. 28 Comoros

Sept. 4 Congo

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”.

PPC Book Group

August 15 – Short stories (no

advance reading)

Sept. meeting: Olive Kitteridge

by Elizabeth Strout

Oct. meeting: The Optimist's

Daughter by Eudora Welty

BENEFIT CONCERT BY MCMILLAN & CO

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, FROM 7-9 PM

AT 1867 SANCTUARY IN EWING (www.1867sanctuary.org).

This concert is part of a series of musical events raising funds

to renovate what was formerly Ewing Presbyterian.

Donation is $20.

Summer Office Hours are

to 12:30 pm through

the end of August.

August 7 through August 29

The clothing drive will benefit Trenton Rescue Mission.

You may start bringing in clothes (no shoes) in great shape

starting August 7 (no room before because of VBS.)

Please bring donations in sturdy boxes or bags, and put in

the small classroom off Lower Titus (LT-2 or Holy Lands

Room) with easy access to the ‘dance studio’ door.

PASTOR’S THOUGHTS

If we think that we are waiting passively for God’s

kingdom we embark on an unsustainable way of

life. It would be like holding our breath until Jesus

returns. That would be impossible! No, we are

called to participate in the coming kingdom by act-

ing out God’s love, mercy and justice. Mostly in

small ways, but sometimes in big ways.

Learning God’s way is an important part of godly

action. Studying the scriptures, praying, engaging

in Christian fellowship are discipleship actions.

The only way to know that we are standing on

kingdom space is to follow Jesus there. We learn

his ways and we live the faith he has given to us.

Then, when opportunity comes for us to act, we

are led by the Holy Spirit to speak, serve or act in

ways that distinctly resemble that kingdom vision

shown in Revelation.

Each Sunday we gather to celebrate what kingdom

space we have been a part of during the week. We

share where God has been faithful and we share

where we hope God will show up the following

week. Each week our anticipation builds, but also

our fulfillment because of who we see God to be in

our lives. This life full of kingdom purpose and

kingdom hope is distinct in our culture, but it is

also uniquely meaningful to human flourishing. I

wonder who around us on the streets of Penning-

ton, the Hopewell Valley and in Central New Jer-

sey might just be thirsty for this life. I hope we

can invite them into our celebration sometime

soon! Be on the lookout for them and be the ones

who make God’s kingdom seem more real through

your acts of kindness, service, justice and invita-

tion to join in!

David

REMEMBER TASK AND CRISIS MINIS-

TRY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

NEED KNOWS NO SEASONS!

Items most needed by TASK:

Canned soup,

broth based

Canned tuna

Boxed maca-

roni & cheese

Personal toi-

letries

Instant oat-

meal packets

Pasta

Fruit singles

Juice boxes

Granola bars

Peanut butter

& jelly

Items most needed by Crisis Ministry of

Mercer County:

Canned low-

fructose fruit

Canned tuna,

salmon, &

chicken

Boxed cold

cereal; hot

cereal

1 lbs. dried

beans

1 lb. rice

Canned low

sodium vege-

tables

Canned pota-

toes

Shelf-stable

milk

Peanut butter

Boxed maca-

roni & cheese

Olive and

canola oil

Herbs and

spices

Honey

Page 8 of 8

Page 8 of 8

TAHDZIU COMMUNITY CELEBRATES

CLEAN WATER!