The Lord be with you. And also with you. Welcome Home, Nassau Church! You don’t see me; I’m actually on vacation. But you all found your seats, where you usually sit.
Let us pray: How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts. My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God (Psalm 84:1-2).
Loving God, we lift to you with joy and thanksgiving our worship life here in the Sanctuary of Nassau Presbyterian Church. In every generation the saints and the great cloud of witnesses have both worshiped here and contributed to the care of this space. We are humbled for the opportunity for our generation to do the same and offer a transformation of this space that will serve the generations surely to come.
Holy One, in our reform tradition, we acknowledge that the space itself isn’t holy; what is holy is when the people gather here, when you meet us here, when by the grace of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit we worship you here. We gather at the fount here, we come to the table here, we surround the grieving and proclaim resurrection hope here, we celebrate weddings here, we worship each and every Lord’s Day here boldly proclaiming that Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
So, yes, we claim this space and our worship life in it to your glory and the glory of your son, Jesus Christ. Your son, our savior. Deo Gloria.
Amen.
Before we continue with worship led by Len and Lauren, please allow me to offer my deepest and most heartfelt words of thanks. First to the members of the session, the ruling elders of the last three years who grasped the vision and boldly led with a theology celebrating God’s abundance. We cannot express enough gratitude to the incredibly generous member of our congregation, who wishes to remain anonymous, whose donation made this sanctuary restoration possible. And for all who make the mission and ministry of this congregation possible. We will have a full dedication of the sanctuary on Sunday, September 28th, at both services. The artisans and the contractors will be here in worship with us.
This morning, I would like to thank the members of the Chancel Text Working Group whose consensus on the texts behind me was nothing short of a Holy Spirit-God thing that reflects who we are as God’s people in this time and place. The group, led by Keith Mertz, included Claire Mulry, Carol Fagundus, Barbara Edwards, Noel Werner, and Bill Wakefield. A big shout out to Henry Behnke, who was basically our general contractor. Working alongside of Henry was Claire Mulry, Dave Kerschner, Jonathan Milley, Linda Gilmore, and Noel Werner. And yes, all of it was begun under the leadership of Bill Wakefield. Bill did more for this space in the last twenty-five years than any other person. May his memory, especially in this room, be a blessing.
I want to thank all the members of the church staff, the seminary staff, and President Jonathan Lee Walton, for making our spring/summer pilgrimage of worship possible. And of course all of you who were up for the adventure.
Lastly, one person deserves a level of thanks for the endless hours, persistence, stress, and joy that led to this project’s completion. Will you please join me in thanking Noel Werner.
Remarks by Noel Werner on Sunday, August 8, 2025
This renovation has been centered around “light” –
light for those in the pews,
light for those online,
light from God’s Word,
light reflected in our lives,
light shining forth in the world around us.
As you look around, you’ll first notice new scriptural texts in gold leaf in the chancel, and after worship, I hope you will look at them from different vantage points in the sanctuary and read the short description as you reflect on their meaning for our congregation’s worship, identity, and mission. Download the PDF.
You may notice new brass railings on each side of the chancel, restored decorative pediments (rescued from the basement) above the doors, obsolete railings removed from the instrumental podiums, and the piano in a new position for accompanying the choirs so that the lid opens the correct direction.
New lights are in the perimeter of the tray ceiling, in the restored under-balcony ceilings, and above the two front corners. Combined with the relamping and rewiring of our existing fixtures, illumination for those in the pews has been greatly improved.
A row of spotlights and two rows of par lights provide much better and broader lighting in the front, both for those attending in-person and those online. Training on the use of those lights begins this afternoon for our livestream team, and we look forward to the creative flexibility that will give us, maybe as soon as the chancel drama next week!
The freshly painted ceiling, walls, and moldings look so good partly because of the extensive restoration and replacement of failing plaster and the structural stabilization of the sagging ceiling where the old speakers were, immediately above the communion table. If you were adventurous enough to climb the two-story ladder into the attic, you would find it brightly lit with new walkways and a series of enclosures around the recessed theatrical lighting.
Light works hand-in-hand with speech and music in this place. We’ve been able to install new speakers in the front that cover the entire room. While the organ was dismantled and sealed up, we were able to restore its mechanical elements and look forward to it being fully operational the first Sunday of September.
Take time as you worship to look around at the various ways light plays through the room and give thanks for the opportunity we’ve been given through the congregation’s generosity and vision to build on the work of past generations so that future generations will continue to be gathered, edified, comforted, challenged, and commissioned here in this place.
As the selections of scripture shine from the chancel this morning, I pray that we will, in turn, reflect the light of God’s Word in the world – doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God.
Many of us have been deeply troubled by the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation conducted in Princeton on July 24, 2025. The reports of masked ICE agents stopping Hispanic residents on their way to work, demanding documentation, and detaining at least 15 individuals have caused significant concern throughout our community. We share in the widespread condemnation of these actions, which stand in stark contrast to our shared covenant to welcome and value our immigrant neighbors.
In response to this distressing event and at the request of our trusted community partners, Nassau Presbyterian Church is establishing a Neighbor Fund. This fund will serve as a vital resource for families and individuals directly impacted by these detentions. The purpose of the Neighbor Fund is to provide support for legal expenses and other essential needs families may face during this challenging time. We are actively working with trusted community partners to establish a clear and equitable review process for all requests for assistance.
We are pleased to announce that Nassau’s Mission & Outreach Committee has voted to seed the Neighbor Fund with $20,000. This initial contribution reflects our profound commitment as a church to put our faith into action by standing in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and uphold the values of compassion and justice that are central to our faith.
We invite you to prayerfully consider making a contribution to the Neighbor Fund. Your generosity will directly support our neighbors in need and demonstrate Nassau’s resolve to build a community where all are welcomed and respected. You can give to the Neighbor Fund through the Give Now page on the Nassau website or include “Neighbor Fund” in the memo line of a check mailed to the church.
Let us continue to pray for all those affected by these events and work together to build a more just and compassionate community for everyone.
We are excited about the coming program year at Nassau Presbyterian Church. This post contains registration and program information for the upcoming year.
REGISTRATION
We ask parents to complete a new form each year to ensure we have accurate information on your family to ensure your child’s health and safety. If you have previously registered a child with us, you will recieve a pre-filled registration form by email in the first week of August. Families with multiple children will received a separate email for each.
To complete your registration, please:
print the registration form that was emailed to you,
make changes/additions using the fields on page two,
with or without changes, please sign and date page one of the form, and
return these two pages to the church office as soon as possible – by Tuesday, September 2 or earlier – to make sure your child’s name appears correctly on our attendance lists.
If you are new to our church – Welcome! – or have an additional child to register, blank forms are available here and in the literature rack outside the church office:
During the summer months, when school meal programs are on pause, many local families face increased food insecurity. Arm In Arm’s Summer Hunger Relief Campaign helps bridge this gap by providing essential pantry items to those in need—especially families with children.
Most Needed Items:
Rice
Peanut Butter
Pasta
Low-Sugar Cereal
Shelf-Stable Milk
Drop off your donations in the collection bin located near the playground at 61 Nassau Street.
Double your donation by bringing your items in a reusable shopping bag!
Volunteer Opportunities – Ongoing All Year
With local college students away for the summer, Arm In Arm needs extra hands! Volunteers help with food pantry distribution, deliveries to homebound clients, and more. Whether you have a few hours once a week or once a month, your time makes a real difference.
From July 15 to 31, a group of twenty-two adults and teens from Nassau Presbyterian Church is walking the final 170 miles of this historic pilgrimage route from Astorga to Santiago de Compostelo, Spain.
Along the way, they are guided by daily scripture, prayer, and song drawn from a journal each pilgrim carries. While we don’t expect to receive photos from the group every day (this is a time of reflection, connection, and walking) we’ll share updates as we are able. We invite you to follow their journey and hold them in prayer throughout this meaningful pilgrimage.
One of the other pilgrims on the Camino met up with our group and posted this video on their Instagram account. Camino Lovers (Instagram)
A Pilgrim Prayer
God, who is our great adventure; be with us we pray.
Be our confidant on this path of faith;
our wisdom as we follow the Way;
our understanding at every junction;
our vitality in fatigue;
our sure defense when there is threat;
our light in joy;
our cool breeze when it is too hot;
our warmth when it is icy.
May we be for you, a strength for others;
and an encouragement for those who need a hand.
In the name of the one who is our Savior and Friend;
our Delight and Courage, our Lord Jesus, Amen.
“A Pilgrim Prayer” is inspired by the ancient prayer of Pilgrim Mass said along the Camino de Santiago
Tuesday, July 15 – Depart USA
“What are your hopes and expectations for this walk? What are your fears and anxieties?”
Read through the texts from Matthew – Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. How might they relate to our walk? How might they guide us through our fears and anxieties? How might they help realize our hopes and expectations?
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSVue)
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (NRSVue)
Saturday, July 19 – Leon to Astorga to Rabanel (20.6 km/12.8 mi)
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 (NRSVue)
Sunday, July 20 – Rabanal to Molinaseca (25.6 km/15.9 mi)
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder,” and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, “You fool,” you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:20-26 (NRSVue)
Monday, July 21 – Molinaseca to Villafranca (30.6 km/19.0 mi)
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Tuesday, July 22 – Villafranca to O Cebreiro (27.8 km/17.3 mi)
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Wednesday, July 23 – O Cebreiro to TriCastella (20.8 km/12.9 mi)
Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Thursday, July 24 – TriCastella to Sarria (17.9 km/11.1 mi)
And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15 (NRSVue)
Friday, July 25 – Sarria to Portomarin (22.2 km/13.8 mi)
And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:16-23 (NRSVue)
Saturday, July 26 – Portomarin to Palais de Rei (25.1 km/15.6 mi)
No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:24-34 (NRSVue)
Sunday, July 27 – Palais de Rei to Ribadiso (25.8 km/16.0 mi)
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. Matthew 7:1-6 (NRSVue)
Monday, July 28 – Ribadiso to Pedruza de Arco (22.3 km/13.9 mi)
Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11 (NRSVue)
Tuesday, July 29 – Pedruza de Arco to Santiago de Compostela (19.9 km/12.4 mi)
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Wednesday, July 30 – Santiago de Compostela to Madrid (by train)
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.”
Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!
Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him, and there was a man with a skin disease who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be made clean!” Immediately his skin disease was cleansed. Matthew 7:21-8:3 (NRSVue)
Revisit your hopes and expectations for the walk. Were they realized? Revisit your fears and anxieties. Were they overcome? Re-read the Sermon on the Mount. Has it been relevant to life on the way? How might it guide us through life back home?
Last train ride to the airport – they’re on the way home!
For those of us who were journeying through the season of Lent with Nassau, we will remember that we started with the beginning of Genesis and found our way through the Garden of Eden. In the garden, there was a tree of life.
Now near the end of the Easter season, we are in the last chapter of Revelation. We’ve gone from the starting point of the Bible to its conclusion and we are in a beautiful city, radiating because of God’s light, the Lamb of God sits on the throne and living water of crystal flows through the city. Here, the tree of life reappears, and this time it’s not one tree eventually cordoned off from humanity, but an arcade with the tree of life on either side of the river, and it bears fruit continually, the abundance is new in every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Brian Blount in his commentary on Revelation, points out “John’s new Jerusalem out-Edens Eden!”[1]
God’s proclamation of all of creation as “very good” in Genesis is bookended here with healing of the nations. God’s healing is not for 1 individual, nor is it for 1 group of people, it is inclusive and sufficient for all.
It can be hard to imagine the healing of the nations when we know there is such grave suffering being inflicted across the world. Children are cut off from humanitarian aid, hospitals attacked, corruption and violence seem to take the day all too often.
Revelation was written when Rome was teetering on the edge of self-destruction due to its injustices.[2]
While the new Jerusalem with perpetual light, life-giving water, and leaves of healing may seem far off from our imagination, perhaps that wider context doesn’t. There are injustices in every age that are moral wounds in society. So much so that it can be hard to metabolize all the horror in our news cycle, lack of care for the neighbor in our country, and personal losses we each experience.
The tree of life along with the crystal river flowing from the throne of God is a relief and a promise. When the wild world seems to be spinning apart, we are led back to the refreshing waters provided by God. This image, this promise is not made so that we can hang back and say God’s got it and not do anything in response. It gives us a reassurance of what will be and a model of what we can work toward.
One of the greatest gifts of working with the campus ministry Princeton Presbyterians is seeing the diversity of how students and alums follow God’s call to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly.” There isn’t one profession or one region of the world that is the center of what God is doing. Rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can be at work anywhere. We have the privilege of seeing the goodness of God everywhere the fruits of the Spirit are present—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[3]
We can test what is of God and what is not by whether healing is a part of the impact. So where people’s access to healthcare and food and housing are cut off, that is not where God is leading us. Where creation is abused, that is not of God. God is present in the support of community, the flourishing of creation, a vision for life-giving future.
John is caught up in a dream in Revelation, he is angry at the injustices tearing his people and community apart. In the midst of the rubble, he is taken up and shown an apocalyptic story. It is not polite, nor the maintenance of the status quo. It is a complete turning over of all that is against God and a prophetic call for repentance. In the end, John is shown the vision we read today—a city of God, the Lamb that laid his life down for us all is sitting on the throne. There is no need to have gates that protect or fear of running out of water or fruit. There is abundance with a promise of healing what is broken and hurting and raw.
Revelation comes to John when it seems like life is falling apart. It is then the angel shows up and reveals a promise that imagines a new world.
In her book, Imagination: A Manifesto, Ruha Benjamin calls on the power of collective imagination to bring about a life-giving world. The stories we tell and the dreams we fan matter. Benjamin says, “So, one of the things we can all do starting yesterday is to actively work to topple the steel curtains and bulldoze the wire fences lurking in our own imaginations—confronting the treacherous ‘aliens’ and dangerous boogeymen distorting how we see others and warping how we understand ourselves. … We must populate our imaginations with images and stories of our shared humanity, of our interconnectedness, of our solidarity as people—a poetics of welcome, not walls.”[4]
So where are those positive avenues for your imagination to run? Is it through reading or enjoying art or playing with a three-year-old or listening to a young person share their vision for the world? Where might God be catching us up into a vision that is beyond the horizon of what we can see on earth? Who are the conversation partners that help you envision a world that is in line with the love and justice of God?
I invite you to take moment, stare out the windows and daydream.
A worship space like this is built with clear windows so that the world can see the church at worship, AND it also allows the church to look out at creation.
The leaves of these trees on either side of the chapel help change the color scape in each season. Whether it is buds in the spring, steady green in the summer, the turning of leaves in the fall, or the bare branches in the winter, these trees stand as testament to God’s good creation.
See God’s goodness and hear God’s vision:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb
through the middle of the street of the city.
On either side of the river is the tree of life
with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month,
and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
May it be so.
[1] Brian Blount, The New Testament Library: Revelation, (Westminster John Knox, 2009) 397.
[2] Christianity and White Supremacy: Heresy and Hope Conference at Princeton University, opening panel in the University Chapel, March 20, 2019.
As we begin our summer worship schedule and temporarily move to the PTS Chapel on April 27, we also look ahead to a season of service. Nassau Church’s summer mission projects offer simple, meaningful ways to make a difference—most requiring just a few hours of your time. Whether you’re able to volunteer in person or support with a donation, each opportunity helps extend care and compassion to our neighbors near and far. Explore the 2025 Summer Mission Projects and find your way to join in.
Hunger Offering
Last Sunday of the month during 10:00 am Worship
This offering supports the following mission partners: HomeFront, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Send Hunger Packing Princetons, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and Uniting Reformed Church in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Thank you for giving until all are fed.
Use the “Hunger” fund when you give online (“Give Now”) or in the memo line of your check.
May 4 – June 29 (extended through July while we are worshiping at the PTS Chapel!)
Doing some spring cleaning? Help restock the Princeton Theological Seminary Coat Closet, a resource for international students as they prepare for the New Jersey winters. Each year we collect gently worn men’s and women’s winter coats, fleece pullovers and winter accessories. We are also looking for donations of new socks for both men and women, or the cash to purchase them. A Warmer Winter Starts with You.
Drop items in the marked box at the PTS Chapel on Sunday mornings or contact the church office to drop off during the week.
Providing supplies for success. We are once again joining with Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC), our partner church in Trenton, to provide backpacks filled with school essentials for local students. Our goals are 150 backpacks and $5,000 for the supplies to fill them. Supplying Confidence, One Student at a Time.
Bring backpacks to the Narthex on Sunday mornings; use the “School Supplies” fund when you give online (“Give Now”) or in the memo line of your check.
Join us for our 33rd year of service. Volunteering for Loaves and Fishes, whether it’s donating food, money, or time, is an opportunity to be fed and to join our community of faith in action. Use the “Loaves & Fishes” fund when you give online (“Give Now”) or in the memo line of your check. Use the Sign Up button to donate food or time. More Than a Meal—A Moment of Care
We also appreciate your financial support. Twice each year we purchase food items to prepare the hot meals and four times a year we purchase personal care products.
Due to our move to the PTS Chapel during sanctuary construction, Adult Education Sunday morning classes have concluded for the program year. However, we’re excited to offer some special weekday evening events!
Monday, June 16, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Assembly Room, Nassau Presbyterian Church
Nuclear Disarmament: Seeking God’s Peace
Join Ward Hayes Wilson, author of It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons, for a presentation and conversation. A conference at Nassau Presbyterian Church in 1980 shaped Ward’s interest in nuclear disarmament, and his work is engaging him in new ways with the denomination today. Ward is currently partnering with Presbyteries on an overture for consideration at the 227th General Assembly. Light supper provided.
Tuesday, April 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Assembly Room, Nassau Presbyterian Church
Spirituality & Mental Health
The Adult Education Committee invites you to join for a light supper and a conversation with Rev. Miriam Deiphouse-McMillan on her forthcoming book Sacred Balance: How Ancient Practices Can Restore Modern Minds.
Wednesday, May 7, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
The Farminary Project of PTS, 4200 Princeton Pike, Princeton, NJ
Nassau at the Farminary
Join us for an evening at Princeton Seminary’s Farminary. Nate Stucky, Director of the Farminary will offer a brief tour. We will have a short time of worship followed by dinner.
Palm Sunday, April 13, 9:15 a.m. (in-person and live-stream) and 11:00 a.m.
Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. (in-person and live-stream), a service of Tenebrae readings and Communion.
Good Friday, April 18, 12:00 p.m. (in-person and live-stream), a service of readings of The Way of the Cross, music by our youth, and prayer.
Easter Sunday, April 20, 6:00 a.m. (in-person only), a service at Princeton Cemetery. Driving entrance – Greenview Ave.; walking entrance – Witherspoon Street gate.
Easter Sunrise Breakfast
Join for the Paul Robeson Breakfast immediately following the joint Nassau Presbyterian and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian sunrise service in the Princeton Cemetery. The breakfast will be in the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall following the sunrise service on April 20. For details and to RSVP, click the link below.
Easter Sunday, April 20,9:00 a.m. (in-person only) and 11:00 a.m. (in-person & live-stream), Festival celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord.
Flowering the Cross
On Easter Sunday transform a symbol of death into a beautiful reminder of God’s love, on the plaza in front of Nassau Church. Flowers will be provided. You are also welcome to bring cut flowers from your own garden to add to the cross.
Friday, May 30 (Princeton) and/or Saturday, May 31 (Trenton)
Loaves and Fishes at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trenton, needs our help! Join us in Princeton on Friday to prepare parts of the meal, or serve in Trenton on Saturday, or prepare complete bag lunches or donate individually wrapped brownies. Volunteering for Loaves and Fishes, whether it’s donating food, or your time, is an opportunity to lend a hand to some folks that can use some assistance. Join our community of faith in action. Read more and sign up online.
This renovation has been centered around “light” –
A row of spotlights and two rows of par lights provide much better and broader lighting in the front, both for those attending in-person and those online. Training on the use of those lights begins this afternoon for our livestream team, and we look forward to the creative flexibility that will give us, maybe as soon as the chancel drama next week!
