Home › View all posts by npc-laureny › Page 38

Author: npc-laureny

Mission Weekend 2018

Posted on by

January 14–15 is Mission Weekend, when we remind ourselves of our Christian commitment to human flourishing in all places. Join us for these opportunities to get involved.

Sunday Morning Mission Fair, Sunday, January 14

Beginning at 10:15 am in the Assembly Room, the Membership Committee will host a Mission Fair in celebration of the ministries, missions, and partnerships of Nassau Church. The Fair is an opportunity to discover our myriad outreach programs and become involved. Join us and enjoy this step in your journey of faith.

Morning of Mission, Monday, January 15

Come and join an effort below as we equip and serve local organizations. All hands are needed and welcome.

Hands-on Projects

From 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at the church we will be making pet blankets for orphaned animals, putting together sack lunches for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, assembling Creativity Kits for HomeFront, collecting personal care products for Arm in Arm clients and making calendars for ABC Literacy. Bring donations to the church on Sunday or Monday:

Donation List

Creativity Kits for HomeFront

  • pkgs. of crayons (24–48 ct.)
  • pkgs. of colored pencils (24–28 ct.)
  • pkgs. of markers (10–12 ct.)
  • coloring books
  • coloring pads/sketch pads
  • individual packages of stickers

Personal Care Products for Crisis Ministry

  • toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • shampoo and conditioner
  • razors and shaving cream
  • soaps and lotion
  • feminine products

Community Clean-up

A group will again join our partners at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton in cleaning up parks and removing sidewalk debris from the neighborhood surrounding the Bethany House of Hospitality (BHOH) at 426 Hamilton Ave, Trenton NJ (across the street from Columbus Park).

  • 8-9a Participants arrive, check in and fellowship
  • 9a Participants will leave from BHOH travelling east and west on Hamilton Ave and begin cleaning both sides of the street
  • 12p Participants will return to BHOH for fellowship
  • 1:30p End of the event

Bring your own tools (work gloves, rakes, shovels)

Dress for the weather

Refreshments and bathroom facilities at BHOH
MLK Day Social Clean Up Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MLKDaySocialCleanUp/

Youth Mission

Youth, join the Fellowship Crew and help out at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. We’ll leave from and return to Nassau’s parking lot: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Don your work clothes and spend the day with reclaimed building materials, donated supplies, and other vintage finds. Lunch provided. Parents, we need drivers for 20 youth! Let Mark Edwards know you’ll be there: , 609-933-7599

 

“Race: the power of an illusion”

Posted on by

A Healing-Racism Initiative of Westminster Presbyterian Church

Sundays, February 4, 11, 18, 12:00-2:30 p.m.

Pat Deeney and Jim Weber, Westminster Presbyterian Church, leaders

Is your heart calling you to:

  • Explore the concept of biological race?
  • Uncover the roots of the race concept?
  • Understand how institutions shape and create race?
  • Ground your conversation in scripture and the Confession of Belhar?

This three-week gathering will explore the material from the PBS series “Race: the power of an illusion”. Each week will begin with a reading from scripture and the Confession of Belhar before the episode is viewed.  Conversations will utilize the PBS study guide for each episode. Participants are asked to maintain confidentiality and to be a nonjudgmental, compassionate, listening presence for others.

Free, bring your own lunch

Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542

For additional information or to RSVP, contact Pat Deeny () or Lauren Yeh at Nassau Church (609-924-0103 x106, ). You may also sign-up online by following this link.

Nassau joins community-wide investigation of migration

Posted on by

In advance of author Sonia Nazario’s February 1st appearance in Princeton to discuss her best-selling book, about a 17-year-old boy from Honduras who travels to the United States in search of his mother, we invite you to join Pam & Bill Wakefield on Sunday, January 28, at 4 pm in the Conference Room for a discussion of her book Enrique’s Journey. Books are available for purchase in the Church Office for $15, exact change or check would be appreciated. The Princeton Public Library has ordered some extra copies for circulation.

Sonia Nazario won the Pulitzer Prize for her series about Latin American children and the dangers they face while journeying across Mexico to reunite with parents living in the United States. Nazario’s talk will be accompanied by powerful photographs and will cover reasons children migrate from Central America and how those reasons have changed radically in recent years.

Sonai Nazario’s appearance will be the start of the Princeton Migrations series, a community-wide investigation of the theme of migration taking place throughout the region from February through May. Spearheaded by Princeton University Art Museum, the project includes exhibitions, readings, lectures, film screens and performances by more than 20 community partners and a host of campus organizations and departments.

2018 Mission Trips to Malawi with VIP

Posted on by

Make 2018 the year you choose adventure!

Come work, learn, and serve in the remote villages of Malawi, experiencing what life is like in the villages while making a difference in the life of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. While you pour into the lives of our brothers and sisters see what God pours back into you. The Mission & Outreach Committee of Nassau will pay half the cost of the trip for someone who will then serve on the Villages in Partnership Coordinating Team.

2018 Friendship Trip Dates

  • March 2-10 Beekeepers and Arborists (and anyone else who is interested)
  • July 10-18 Friendship Trip (All are welcome)
  • July 22- Aug. 1 Medical Mission Trip (Medical personnel welcome)
  • Aug. 3-11 Friendship Trip (All are welcome)

For more information:

Ways to help those displaced by the Griggs Farm fire.

Posted on by

Dear Princeton Community Housing Friends and Neighbors:

We are writing here with an update and ways you can help the displaced residents from the Griggs Farm fire. Please donate securely here to Princeton Community Housing and designate your gift for the “Griggs Farm Fire Relief Fund.” Thank you very much!

UPDATE

Our community suffered a terrible tragedy on Wednesday night, December 27, when a fire ravaged a 24 unit apartment building we own at Griggs Farm. We mourn the loss of one life.

We are immensely grateful to all the first responders, including Princeton fire and rescue personnel, for preventing further tragedy and helping people to safety. We also gratefully acknowledge the municipality of Princeton for its ongoing support and for providing immediate transport and shelter for the victims at the Nassau Inn on Wednesday night.

We have been working closely with the 34 displaced residents to help address their needs. Thank you to Bob Gregory, Director of Emergency Management, and Elisa Neira, Director of Human Services, and others for their assistance and support.

As of Friday, December 29, PCH is providing temporary housing and some meals at a local extended stay hotel for the 24 displaced residents who could not secure temporary housing with friends or relatives. A daily breakfast is provided at the hotel, along with three light dinners per week. In addition, kitchens are available in the suites there, so residents will be able to cook meals.

WAYS TO HELP

The Princeton community has already rallied to our displaced residents’ support in a variety of sincere and spontaneous ways. We are coordinating with community organizations in several efforts for household donations and other fundraising. These include the donation site at Trinity Church (33 Mercer Street in Princeton) for blankets, clothing, shoes, new toiletries, universal gift cards and non-perishable food.

Because the damage from the fire is significant, it is expected that the reconstruction of the building at Billie Ellis Lane may take several months. We are thus asking all our neighbors, friends and supporters to help us provide temporary housing for our renters during the reconstruction period and to assist the displaced residents with other immediate and ongoing needs.  (This includes those who have found temporary housing with friends or relatives but still need other support due to their displacement.)

To this end, Princeton Community Housing has created the “Griggs Farm Fire Relief Fund” to aid all those displaced. Donations may be sent to Princeton Community Housing, One Monument Drive, Lower Level, Princeton, NJ 08540. Please make your check payable to Princeton Community Housing and note “Griggs Farm Fire Relief Fund” on the memo line. You can also donate securely and immediately via credit card at https://www.princetoncommunityhousing.org/support-pch/donate or https://princetoncommunityhousing.networkforgood.com/ .

We are profoundly grateful for anything and all that you can do, above and beyond your much appreciated past support, to help our displaced residents, while we work as quickly and efficiently as possible to restore them to their homes.

Princeton has a big heart: we know we can get through this tragedy together, with your support.  Many thanks from all of us! – The Trustees and Staff of Princeton Community Housing

 

Concerts – January 2018

Posted on by

Westminster Conservatory at Nassau
Thursday, January 18

Westminster Conservatory at Nassau recitals will resume on Thursday, January 18 at 12:15 p.m. with a presentation of “The House of Life,” by Ralph Vaughan-Williams, a song cycle on poetry of Dante Gabriel Rosetti.  The performers, Timothy Urban, baritone and Kathy Shanklin, piano, are members of the Westminster Conservatory teaching faculty.  The recital will take place in the Niles Chapel and is open to the public free of charge.

On Thursday, February 15 pianist Erik Allesee will present a solo recital.

Westminster Conservatory of Music

 

Our Offerings at Work (SDOP)

Posted on by

SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE (SDOP)

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People continues to work with low-income communities across the United States to overcome oppression and injustice. In 2017, National SDOP entered into partnerships with the projects below. Projects focused on literacy, worker-owned cooperatives, advocacy, youth-led initiatives, skills development, farming, worker rights, immigration/refugee issues and capacity building. Through your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, over 5,000 projects in economically poor communities in the United States and around the world have had an opportunity to develop solutions to their own challenges since SDOP’s inception. Find an interactive world map with OGHS recipients at www.pcusa.org/oghsmap.

Highlighted Projects:

  • Barranco Fisher Folk Cooperative, Barranco Belize—This group of economically poor young adult villagers designed this project to increase their capacity to work together as fisher folks by cultivating a conservation.
  • Women in Agriculture Association, Atlanta, GA —A cooperative owned farmer’s association promoting their locally grown farm products within the community.
  • Youth on the Move, Pine Apple, AL— This youth-led after school project prepares low income youth in Wilcox County, AL to meet the challenges of living in a severely depressed county.
  • Tenant Coalition Training of Fargo-Moorhead Area, Moorhead, MN—This group of low-income refugees seeks to become economically self-sufficient  and to improve their financial skills.
  • The Genesis Youth Organizing Internship Project, Oakland, CA—This project is comprised primarily of low-income minority youth seeking to disrupt School-to-Prison Pipeline related problems in Oakland, CA.

National SDOP Projects:

  • Picture the Homeless, East Harlem, NYC, NY
  • Women in Agriculture Association, Atlanta, GA
  • Union Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes (UPVA), Popular Union of Street Vendors, Los Angeles, CA
  • Southside Worker Center, Tucson, AZ
  • Youth on the Move, Pine Apple, AL
  • Coalition for Police Accountability, Oakland, CA
  • Youth Rise Organizing Institute, Austin, TX
  • Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Inc., Rochester, NY
  • Brandworkers, Long Island City, NY

Our Offerings at Work (PHP)

Posted on by

PRESBYTERIAN HUNGER PROGRAM (PHP)

PHP works to alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes. As a part of this mission, PHP gave over 160 grants totaling more than $1.2 million, impacting communities across the United States and 37 other countries in 2016. You make this work possible through gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing! Find an interactive map with OGHS recipients at www.pcusa.org/oghsmap.

More and Better Food

  • 23 Hunger Action Advocates served 1,600 congregations in presbyteries around the country.
  • 55,115 pounds of grain distributed through community food banks
  • 16 grain storage facilities built or repaired in Sierra Leone and Cameroon
  • 50 fuel efficient stoves constructed and installed in family homes in Guatemala
  • 500 chicks raised by families around the world

Solidarity with People

  • 2,600 people around the world regained access to their lands that had been forcefully taken from them.
  • 187 training sessions were held to build grassroots capacity in communities around the world.
  • Since the Fair Food Program was implemented in 2011, more than $25 million has been paid out to farmworkers in Fair Food Premiums; 135,000 farmworkers have received “Know Your Rights” materials; and 1,100 farmworker complaints have come in through the 24-hour complaint hotline,  100% of which have been resolved.
  • $9.1 million was compensated to hundreds of victims of sweatshop fires and their families in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Cincinnati became the first city in Ohio to pass a wage theft ordinance, which will provide additional protection for more than 33,000 low-wage workers.

More Livable Environment

  • 1,088 congregations ordered 192,560 Eco-Palms
  • More than 1,000 Presbyterians purchased at least 79,000 lbs of Fairly Traded coffee
  • 191 certified PC(USA) Earth Care Congregations worked holistically to care for God’s creation in their own communities
  • 93,020 planted trees, 128 nurseries and 40 family gardens in partner countries
  • 12 wells and hand pumps built or repaired in communities in Sierra Leone and Liberia with limited access to clean water

Our Offerings at Work (PDA)

Posted on by

PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (PDA)

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It enables our congregations and mission partners to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events. Find an interactive world map with OGHS recipients at www.pcusa.org/oghsmap.

National aid:

25 states received help following natural and human-caused disasters, including flooding in North and South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan and New York; wildfires in California, Tennessee, Texas and Kansas; ongoing response to Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Matthew; and various public violence incidents.

Flint water crisis:

PDA is assisting in Flint by supporting the annual Fresh Flint Festival, a free event for the community to support city residents while promoting fitness, nutrition, and healthy living as a means to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning. The festival is designed to unite the community in compassion and renew commitment and hope for the future.

Fall 2017 Hurricanes:

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria devastated islands in the Caribbean and communities in the U.S. PDA will be doing long-term recovery and is expected to assist the affected areas for at least 3-5 years, if not longer.

North and South Carolina flooding:

In October 2015, the South Carolina coastline was pummeled by heavy rains and flooding. A year later, Hurricane Matthew caused havoc in North Carolina damaging thousands of homes and businesses. There were flooded areas in both states that had never flooded before. PDA has 6 volunteer host sites that have hosted over 3,400 volunteers to assist with cleanup and rebuilding.

International aid:

In the first half of 2017, 11 countries received aid and support after catastrophic events, including the violence and famine in South Sudan, flooding in Peru and Colombia, cholera prevention and food security in Haiti, drought in Malawi and Kenya, and ongoing assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons related to Syria.

Syria:

With the support of PDA, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon has opened five schools in Syrian refugee camps, which are hosting over 300 students. Homes in Homs are being rebuilt so that displaced families who fled their embattled city can return to begin the hard work of rebuilding their shattered city and broken neighborhoods.

South Sudan:

PDA is working with Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency, the humanitarian arm of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, to provide large-scale emergency relief projects for South Sudanese displaced persons and refugees, as well as supporting livelihood and food security, peace building, and education for civil society.

Mission Opportunity for Young Adults: 2018-19 YAV Application Dates

Posted on by

The YAV program is a one-year service opportunity for young adults ages 19–30, offered through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For the YAVs, the benefits include a year of vocational discernment, the opportunity to live and work outside their comfort zone with the support of an intentional Christian community, time to explore their relationship with God and to live more simply in response to an unsustainable human demand for natural resources.

Application dates for 2018/2019 YAV year

  • Oct. 1, 2017 – Applications Open
  • Jan. 1, 2018 – Round 1 – (All sites available, early placement)
  • March 1, 2018 – Round 2 – (Most sites available, final date to apply to international sites)
  • June 1, 2018 – Round 3 – (National sites only, limited spots available)

 

For more information, contact Joyce MacKichan Walker (, 609-924-0103, x103) or visit the Presbyterian Mission Agency website: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav/