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Water Walk 2023 – Saturday, May 13

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Our church mission partner, Villages in Partnership (VIP) is hosting its annual Water Walk fundraiser on Saturday, May 13. I am writing to invite you to join our Nassau Church Water Walkers team to make a life-changing and life-saving difference in the impoverished villages of Malawi.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy and a recent cholera outbreak have made access to clean water even more critical for the people of Malawi. The lack of clean water and sanitation facilities is a leading cause of cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases. Additionally, access to water allows girls to stay in school longer, which opens huge opportunities for their futures.

This year the VIP Water Walk will be a hybrid event: we can gather in-person or online on May 13th and reach out across the country and the world to ask people to participate – last year there were 31 Water Walk teams from as far as AZ, CO, CT, TX, IL, VA, PA, and even a team in Malawi!

Joining the Nassau Church Water Walkers team means:

  1. Reaching out to your network of friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors with the opportunity to bring clean water, sanitation facilities, and healthcare to the most remote villages by making a donation. We have an online fundraising platform that makes it easy for others to give.
  2. Joining the Water Walk event happening on May 13th, either in Allentown NJ or online.
  3. If you’re able, logging miles of Mindful Walks in a friendly competition between us and the other teams during the weeks leading up to the main event.

Please visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ww2023/team/920954/ to join the Nassau Church Water Walkers as we bring hope and health to the most remote villages in Malawi. If you have any difficulty signing on as a team member at the site, email me at .

If you are unable to join the Water Walkers team but would like to donate to help us reach our fund-raising goal, please visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ww2023/account/1464047/ to make an online donation.

If you’d like more details about the Water Walk event, please visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ww2023/. For more information about how VIP is helping move people from survival to sustainability, visit villagesinpartnership.org. You can also feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Thank you!
Liz Beasley (email)

Nassau Presbyterian Church Deacon
Villages in Partnership Volunteer

Partners in Faith Invitation

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The Witherspoon Street Church and Nassau Church Partnership Team is chronicling the 175 plus year history between the two congregations.

Both churches have a long history of worshipping in Princeton (Nassau, 255 years and Witherspoon, 181 years), Nassau as a predominantly white institution and Witherspoon Street as a historically black institution. There is a complicated historic relationship between the two congregations, and in recent years many members of both churches have been working for reconciliation and collaboration.

The design of the project includes the production of a documentary, Telling Our Stories, with interviews from members of both congregations, a graphic timeline depicting significant events in the life of the partnership, and a one-time event to revisit and celebrate the historic 250th Year Partners in Faith Celebration of the Presbyterian Presence in Princeton held 2004-2006.

If you have a story to tell or other contributions, please contact Barbara Flythe (email).

Refugee Asylum Petitions

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Request from Nassau’s Refugee Coordinating Team:

Please consider signing two petitions in support of the Hashimi family’s immigration applications.

The first petition is for Soraya’s Asylum application. The second petition is for the Humanitarian Parole application by Ahmad, Soraya’s husband, who is currently stranded in Dubai, now separated from his family for more than a year-and-a-half. Both applications were submitted to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office last Fall with little apparent progress made to date on either one.

The family did not come to the United States with the refugee documentation that our previous families have had because of the sudden and chaotic evacuation from Kabul. With that in mind, Nassau retained an immigration attorney now working with the family on the application processes. In consultation with the attorney, the Refugee Coordinating Team with support from the Mission & Outreach Committee ask for your help in petitioning for the reunification of the Hashimi family.

The petitions can be signed at a table in the conference room during Fellowship between services, or in the office hallway after the 11:00 a.m. service on either March 26th or April 2nd.

Let us together support the immigration applications of this long-separated family and honor their life-changing role as American partners and allies.

Contact Tom Charles (email)

Galatians – In-depth Bible Study

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Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM, Room 301, beginning March 26

George Hunsinger continues the adult Bibe study with a verse-by verse examination of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. In this epistle, the Galatian congregation wrestles with salvation by grace through faith — as opposed to “works of the Law.” . As usual, Paul offers compelling good news in his understanding of the cross, the resurrection, worship, and Christian hope.

George Hunsinger is Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is the founder of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. This is his 24th year of leading this in-depth Bible study at Nassau! New participants are warmly welcome.

Camp Johnsonburg: Marked for the Future

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Where all may gather, where all are welcomed, and where all are invited to share: gracious hospitality, joyful Christian community, and the wonder of God’s creation.

Nassau’s Mission & Outreach Committee invites you to join in Johnsonburg Camp & Retreat Center’s Marked for the Future Campaign! The Committee has provided a $10,000 seed grant to support the capital campaign, and we are asking you to help that seed take root and grow. Find a letter from Mission & Outreach Committee member and past Johnsonburg Board member, Penn Bowditch, below and be sure to read more about the bold vision and needed updates that have informed Johnsonburg’s capital campaign on its website.

Please make gifts directly through Johnsonburg’s website and note Nassau Church in the memo. Thank you for giving generously as you are able to ensure Johnsonburg continues to provide a sacred place and an open space for generations to come!

Johnsonburg (link)

“After many years as a high school teacher and administrator, I believe that every young person has the potential to learn, empathize, create, befriend, and make the world better for the next generation. Opportunities to challenge our assumptions about ourselves, about others, and about the world are what truly expand our imaginations and shape our abilities to love our neighbors. For most of us, this exploration starts during our first year in college. For a fortunate few, it begins by living, working, playing, and sharing experiences with strangers at a summer sleep-away camp.”


“Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center in Warren County, New Jersey is a place that changes lives.
The Presbyterian Church in New Jersey established Johnsonburg over 60 years ago to support experiential Christian education. It continues to bring together children, high school students, and adults of different ethnic and economic backgrounds, in summer camp and throughout the year in retreats such as last year’s first Social Justice Summit for Teens.
Over the years, many of Nassau Church’s children have attended Camp J-burg, as it is affectionately known. You will hear from a current camper in worship on April 16.”

Another camp alum, Josh Wood, wrote some memories of camp in the ’80s for the 50th anniversary celebration:

  • greased watermelons at the bottom of the pool
  • “I love you honey, but I just can’t smile”
  • watching the European counselors play soccer better than I’d ever seen in person
  • pick up day, the fields swarming with campers, watching as one by one my friends were claimed; and the way my heart jumped to my throat to see Mom and Dad
  • dreading FOB (feet on bunk) as a camper; craving it as a CIT (counselor in training)
  • learning to start a fire in the rain, learning to turn troublemaker campers into leaders, learning to sneak out the wet sleeping bags before dawn for a quick wash-and-return, learning to be in charge of small people who love and trust you more than they should
  • sitting around the fire at the end of CIT training as the counselors moved slowly around the circle on their knees, tenderly washing our feet–as Jesus did his disciples’–and how one-by-one we each burst into tears

“Due to the explosion of summer sports training clinics and leagues, traditional outdoor sleepaway camps are struggling and many are closing.  However, Johnsonburg welcomed more than 500 summer campers in 2022, who explored God’s message surrounded by gifts of nature and a caring community. You can make sure Johnsonburg continues to flourish by spreading the word about their ministry and joining Maria and me in making a donation to their capital campaign.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you would like more information.  I’m Penn Bowditch, the tall bowtie guy.”

Learn more and donate:

Johnsonburg (link)

Visit to The Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History

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“A Peoples’ Journey, A Nation’s Story”

Saturday, April 22, 2023, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Join friends from Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and Princeton Presbyterians, a campus ministry for undergraduate and graduate students, on a day trip to Washington, DC. Families are welcome to attend! The trip is supported by Witherspoon Street and Nassau Bending the Moral Arc team. Seats are limited.
Learn more about the museum: https://nmaahc.si.edu/

Deadline: Saturday, April 1

Questions: Len Scales (email)


Sign Up (link)

Summer Youth Trips: Paris & Taizé Community

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Items to handle before Sunday, March 26 (Forms Day)

The chaperones are ticketed on these flights and we would prefer the entire group travel together; before you choose a different flight schedule contact Mark Edwards:

July 19, 2023: Newark Airport to Paris (Orly), French Bee #721 departs 10:55pm, arrives 12:10pm (+1 day)

July 31, 2023: Paris (Orly) to Newark Airport, French Bee #720 departs 6:50pm, arrives 9:00pm

  • Determine if you need additional trip insurance.
    • Nassau uses Faith Ventures to insure trips, you can compare their benefits and rates online here: https://www.faithventures.com/compare-plans/
    • Standard coverage is $30 per person, this fee is already calculated into the trip fee.
    • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance must be purchased at least 21 days prior to departure and is an additional 5% of the total trip cost as reported by you. Contact Lauren Yeh if you are interested in purchasing this insurance.

What to bring with you to Forms Day:

Students (15-20)

  1. Taizé Community Registration Form
  2. NPC Assumption of Risk & Release from Liability (Notarized)
  3. Taizé Community Parental Agreement (pdf)
  4. Parental Consent to Travel Internationally: NPC Travel Permission (pdf) (Notarized)
  5. Flight Itinerary including booking number.
  6. Passport valid through January 2024 (we will make a copy of the photo/signature pages)
  7. Final Payment (contact Lauren Yeh if you are unsure of the amount due)

Adults (21+)

  1. Taizé Community Registration Form
  2. NPC Assumption of Risk & Release from Liability (Notarized)
  3. Flight Itinerary including booking number.
  4. Passport valid through October 2023 (we will make a copy of the photo/signature pages)
  5. Final Payment (contact Lauren Yeh if you are unsure of the amount due)

Summer Youth Trips: Appalachia Service Project

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Warmer. Safer. Drier.

Home repair in central Appalachia has repeatedly opened our eyes, expanded our skills, helped others and done some work on us too.  Come along as God does a little fixing on us all.

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Required Forms

Student

Adults
Youth Deposit Form (pdf) due 2/23/25 Adult Deposit Form (21+) (pdf) due 2/23/25
Youth Permission Form (pdf) due 6/8/25 Adult Permission Form (pdf) due 6/8/25

Required for each participant:

  • Trip Agreement and Medical Form (pdf) – online registration is required, see below for instructions. If you fill out this form, you will have all the information required to complete the online registration.

Also due on June 8, 2025 from each participant:

  • Copy (front & back) of your medical insurance card
  • Final Payment

Questions about forms and due dates to Lauren Yeh.

Schedule and Packing List

ASP Online Volunteer Registration, due June 8, 2025:

  1. Go to: http://www.servicenetwork.com/reg/APPSERV/Join.asp
  2. Our Group Number is: 15916 (changes each year)
  3. ASP Online Registration Instructions (pdf)

ASP Covenant Text:

Each participant will sign the same document on or before departing on the trip.

As a Volunteer with Appalachia Service Project, I agree:

  • To familiarize myself with and abide by ASP’s Expectations, Rules and Regulations, Anti-Harassment Policy, and dress code. Required Reading (pdf)
  • To work safely and report to the staff any behavior or situation that I deem unsafe.
  • To be open-minded and work to build meaningful relationships with the homeowners I serve and interact appropriately with community members and other groups at my center.
  • To utilize resources in a stewardly fashion.
  • To maintain a clean facility by completing the chores assigned to my group.

As an Adult Group Leader, I further agree:

  • To be responsible for the whereabouts and well-being of my youth volunteers and to help enforce the expectations and rules set by ASP and the Staff, including quiet time and lights out.
  • To ensure that all volunteers are present for Morning Devotions, Evening Gatherings, and all other scheduled events.
  • To work with the Staff to complete the project specifically designated to my group.
  • To communicate promptly and respectfully any concerns or praises I have about our volunteer experience.

Organizational Meeting

We are planning a brief organizational meeting in the spring. Stay tuned for dates. Gather with your work team, learn about the project you’ll be working on, talk about what to pack, what to expect – get to know the other members of this year’s ASP Trip!

If you cannot make this meeting, please contact Mark Edwards (, 609-933-7599).

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Summer Youth Trips: Splash Camp

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Cool kids on a ’chool bus hitting up the coolest splash spots in NJ and PA.

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When: Monday-Thursday, June 30-July 3, 2025, 12:30pm – 4:00pm
Drop-off: Nassau Church (we hope you will come in the morning and participate/help out at Vacation Bible School)
Pick-up Day 2: Nassau Church
Pick-up other days: at the camp spot

This Year’s Schedule:

  • Day 1: Witherspoon Woods, Princeton
  • Day 2: Hopewell Quarry (swim test required)
  • Day 3: Backyard Pool Party
  • Day 4: Backyard Pool Party

Weather: We will do our best to accommodate light rain and fluctuating weather. However, as indoor activities are not an alternative, in the event of severe storms a day’s events may have to be curtailed or canceled.
Parents: Want to drive yourself or tag along one day? You are welcome.

Questions about the Camp to Mark Edwards.

Required Forms

Student

Chaperone
Youth Deposit Form (pdf) due ASAP Chaperone Deposit Form (21+) (pdf) due ASAP
Information, Release and Waiver – Youth (Splash) (pdf) due 6/8/25 Information, Release and Waiver – Adults 21+ (Splash) (pdf) due 6/8/25
Hopewell Quarry Swim Club, Rules and Waiver (pdf) due 6/8/25 Hopewell Quarry Swim Club, Rules and Waiver (pdf) due 6/8/25

Also due on Sunday, June 8 from each participant:

  • Copy (front & back) of your medical insurance card
  • Final Payment

Questions about forms, balance due, and due dates to Lauren Yeh.

Schedule and Packing List

Will be distributed to registered families in early June. Last’s years information is posted below.

Parables: Stories Jesus Told

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February 26 – April 2, 2023

9:30 a.m. | Assembly Room

Readable, accessible, and perpetually relevant, we never tire of hearing a parable. Like every well-told story, repeat readings bring fresh insights and deeper appreciation. This Lent, come sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his stories one more time. Some are familiar and could be recited from memory. Others may be heard for the first time. Each brings a word of comfort and a word of challenge.
This Lenten Linked-in Learning theme emphasizes the accessibility of the parables, and classes will be led by laity, the people in the pews. Jesus shared simple, relatable stories to communicate complex themes, and these leaders will bring their own story, perspective, areas of experience to these Sunday morning sessions.

Audio recordings will be posted below each class description.

February 26

What is a Parable?

Dale Allison is Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. His academic research and publications include the historical Jesus, the Gospel of Matthew, Second Temple Judaism, and the history of the interpretation and application of biblical texts. He is the author of two dozen books. These include, on a popular level, books on George Harrison, religious experience, and death and what might lie beyond.

 

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March 5

Parable of the Friend at Midnight
(Luke 11:5-19)

Bill Creager is a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church and has been a deacon, elder, and high school Sunday School teacher. He serves on the Mission & Outreach Committee and with the team that is sponsoring and supporting a family from Afghanistan as they resettle in Princeton. By profession, he is a physicist and data scientist, and worked as a science teacher in the Peace Corps. He lives in Princeton with his wife Angela and is the father of three grown children.

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March 12

Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:3-7)

Jade Hage has attended Nassau Church since 2017, joining a year later. Hailing from Monterey, California, Jade moved to Princeton to teach high school English. Jade is also a student at Princeton Seminary where she is in her third year as an MDiv student and currently serves as a field education student with Princeton Presbyterians.

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March 19

Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1-30)

Keith Mertz is a Nassau Presbyterian member since 2000. He sings bass in the choir and is currently on Session. He’s led small groups and been involved in other activities. Keith grew up at First Memorial Presbyterian in Dover, NJ. He is the son of Elders, Deacons, the Church Secretary, Sunday School teachers, the Youth Ed Director, counters, Communion preparers, Scout Leaders, cooks, snow shovelers, and table and chair arrangers.

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March 26

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
(Matthew 20:1-15)

Thais Carter serves as the Director for Strategic Initiatives at Princeton Theological Seminary, guiding initiatives that extend the Seminary’s reach and engagement with a broader public. She also directs Iron Sharpening Iron, an executive education program for women clergy. She’s been a member at Nassau since March 2020 and is currently serving on Session. More often than not, you’ll find her with her nose in a book, around a table with friends, or watching something Marvel-related with her family, which includes her husband, Heath; four sons—Isaiah, Bree, Sam, and James—and their Golden Retriever, Douglass.

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April 2

Parable of the Tenant Farmers
(Matthew 21:33-46)

Corrie Berg Corrie Berg has been blessed to serve as the Director of Children’s and Family Ministry and then Director of Educational Ministries at Nassau Presbyterian Church for the past 12 years. She delights in telling the stories of our faith, even the tough ones, to the children and grown-ups of our church and community. She has one husband, three sons, one soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and one bearded dragon.

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