Frederick Douglass “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Community Reading 

The Nassau & Witherspoon Partnership Team is helping host an abridged reading of Douglass’ famous speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? Join via zoom on Monday, July 5, 5:30PM to listen to members of the community and join in conversation afterwards facilitated by Not In Our Town.

For more information and to register:

REGISTER (link)

Wikipedia link

Information about In-Person Worship

What to Expect When Coming back to 61 Nassau Street

Our preparations for in-person worship in June continue! As promised, we would like to provide more details of what the experience in the sanctuary will be like. Throughout the pandemic, worship leaders and musicians along with the baptism and confirmation families have experienced the benefit of being in our sanctuary and some of the awkwardness that comes with so few people, staying safe, and all that comes with the service being livestreamed. It is important that those who come to the sanctuary are best prepared. The list below is intended to help you know what to expect and introduces the procedures and protocols for welcoming 75 worshippers plus worship leaders, ushers, and musicians. We are excited to have all who have signed up for worship!
  • Everyone coming to the sanctuary on Sunday morning is expected to do their own health check at home prior to arriving. If you do sign up and are not experiencing any health concerns or symptoms, please make sure to come, as there may be others who would have liked to come, but found there was not enough space in registration. The doors to the sanctuary will be opened at 9:30 for the 10:00 a.m. service.
  • For the safe inclusion of children and anyone yet to be vaccinated, all worshippers are expected to wear masks and remain distanced in seating, moving around the grounds/front plaza, and in greeting new and dear friends.
  • Ushers will assist worshippers in finding the designated seating and will try but cannot guarantee favorite and traditional locations.
  • Bulletins will be available in the designated pews and will not distributed by the ushers. Please plan to use the bulletins and the hymns reprinted there rather than the hymnals or bibles in the pew racks.
  • There will be no offering plates passed for collection. An offering plate/basket will be available on the table in the narthex and you may continue to contribute online or through the mail.
  • The congregation will be invited to share in speaking the unison prayers and affirmation of faith (while masked). Only the section leaders will be singing the hymns (while masked). Worship leaders and the congregation will follow along singing only “in their heads.” The congregation will be invited to sing (while masked) either one final hymn or benediction response, please follow the directions provided on Sunday.
  • At the conclusion of the service we know worshippers will want to enjoy fellowship and greetings. All fellowship, greeting, and conversation will take place outside on the front plaza. Staff and ushers will direct people to make their way outside and not linger after worship after listening to the postlude. Like “normal” Sundays in the past others make their departure after the benediction/response. If that is your choice, please quickly move any greetings/conversations outdoors.
  • The bathrooms near the kitchen on the first floor are available for your use. They are professionally sanitized each week. Please be wise with occupancy. Those visiting the restroom should go by way of the “great hall” outside the church office. The library and sound room entrance will not be used on Sundays by members of the congregation.
  • Other areas of the building are not open at this time as ventilation work and preparations for the fall continue.
  • During livestream worship the prelude has usually been starting on the hour. The prelude will not begin before the hour. Prior to the prelude a member of the staff will give a few instructions and reminders related to the hybrid nature of our worship.
Thank you for taking the time to peruse these points. We hope you have found it helpful. As we move into this next phase of our worship life and celebrate having people in worship, we continue to give thanks to God for the patience, resilience, and understanding exhibited in the life of Nassau Church since March of 2020. The members of the Forward in Faith Together working group believe deeply that the peace and unity of our congregation is a faithful reflection of our mission statement. We invite you to join us in prayer and love for one another, the stranger, and the world as we take these next steps together.
Nassau Presbyterian Church Mission Statement
The people of Nassau Presbyterian Church celebrate and demonstrate God’s love
           through worship and service in Princeton
           and through our lives and work in the world.
Committed to Jesus Christ, our community welcomes the breadth of humanity
           and the challenge of the Gospel.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, people of all ages can find a place here
           to seek abundant life
           and nurture faith.
By God’s grace in our lives, we engage with the world,
           yearn to do what is just and fair,
           encourage what is kind and helpful,
         and seek to walk humbly before God and alongside our neighbors.

Princeton Pride Picnic

Join the Nassau family and our local neighbors as we celebrate Princeton’s LGBTQIA+ community on Saturday, June 5. Details here. Stop by our table to say hello and play a few yard games. Help us extend an affirming presence as we “welcome the breadth of humanity and the challenge of the Gospel.”

June 2021 – Adult Education

June 20 & 27, 2021

Erik H. Erikson: Resource for Insight and Self-Reflection

with Rubén Arjona, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at Union Presbyterian Seminary.

The German-American psychologist Erik H. Erikson is well-know for his psychosocial theory of human development. Erikson posited that in addition to paying attention to the psychological and physiological dimensions, caregivers ought to also consider the social processes of a person’s life. Erikson is also famous for his formulation of the life stages of human life. At Princeton Theological Seminary, Professor Donald Capps dedicated many years to reflect on the significance of Erikson’s theory for pastoral care.

These two classes offer an overview of Erikson’s theory and its relevance for personal and collective self-reflection.

Rubén Arjona is an ordained minister in the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. Before being appointed to the faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary he served as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO.

Inspired by his work in various congregations in Mexico City and his mentorship of students in Mexican seminaries, Arjona pursued graduate studies in pastoral care and pastoral theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to serving as instructor in seminaries in his native Mexico, Dr. Arjona served his denomination as executive secretary of its board of education and moderator of the Berea Presbytery in Mexico City.


June 27 | Life Stages of Adulthood


June 20 | Erickson’s Life Cycle Theory


June 6 & 13, 2021

The Symbiosis of Mental Health, Faith,  and Self-Care.

Join Cam Stout and Len Scales for a two-part discussion on the powerful opportunity faith communities have to support mental health and attack stigma.

Cam Stout is a Deacon at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ; and the founder of Stout Heart. Over the last seven years, Cam has shared his story of hope and resilient recovery from a major depression and his ongoing sobriety over 120 times. His audiences include fellow legal professionals, students from high school through graduate school, and members of faith communities. He also blogs about mental wellness and self-care at www.lightatseaatstoutheart.org.

Len Scales serves as the part-time pastor for Mission & Outreach at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, which includes involvement with the Witherspoon Street & Nassau Partnership Team. It is a joy to share the gifts and wisdom of our congregations with one another!


June 13 | Mental Health & SEAL Teams

In the second session, hear more about Cam’s current speaking and mentoring work, and learn about how he supports his and others’ self-care and wellness by recruiting what he calls a Supportive, Energizing, And Loving (SEAL) Team. It is when we share our challenges and stories that we build communities of faith and healing, while defeating the stigma around mental health conditions.


#MissionMonday – Forman Christian College

By Love Serve One Another


Forman Christian College (FCC) has pioneered many “firsts” in Pakistani education such as first to admit women, first Biology and first Chemistry courses. FCC enrolls about 7000 students, and provides over $1,000,000 of financial aid. About 20% of students are from the Christian minority and about 35% are women, supporting a unique interfaith coeducational experience. In addition to education, FCC engages service projects in the region encouraging students to act on the FCC motto: “By Love Serve One Another.”

Friends of Forman Christian College is an independent U.S. based 501(c)(3) founded in 2003. Their single mission is to provide support to Forman Christian College (FCC) in Lahore, Pakistan. FCC has educated Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians together in a peaceful, tolerant atmosphere for over 150 years.

READ MORE:


Friends of FCC (website)


Follow #MissionMonday on our social media platforms to hear about how, with your help, Nassau Presbyterian Church is supporting others in our town, our state, and across the world.

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#MissionMonday – Princeton Presbyterians

Campus Ministry


Princeton Presbyterians of the Westminster Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to the faithful discipleship of undergraduate and graduate students in Princeton. Last weekend, they celebrated graduating students and are excited to send them to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly” in the world.

READ MORE:


Princeton Presbyterians (website)


Follow #MissionMonday on our social media platforms to hear about how, with your help, Nassau Presbyterian Church is supporting others in our town, our state, and across the world.

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Water Walk 2021

Water is life. Clean water is health. ~Audrey Hepburn


On May 22, Nassau Church mission partner Villages in Partnership (VIP) will host its annual Water Walk (7-8:30 p.m., livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube) to raise awareness of the desperate plight of impoverished villagers in Malawi’s rural Sakata region, and raise funds to support VIP’s work to save lives with clean water and sanitation in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Help us change lives by joining the Nassau Church VIP Virtual Water Walk Team. Give and let others know about this opportunity to partner with VIP and help provide access to water, health care, and life-giving infrastructure in Malawi. 

To learn more, visit Nassau’s Team Site.



#MissionMonday – Myanmar

Prayers for Myanmar


Since the coup on February 1, Nassau has been joining in prayer for the people of Myanmar. We pray for their safety and liberation. One of our long-time mission partners Cetana, like most NGOs and INGOs in Myanmar, have suspended operations for now. There are a few smaller organizations still able to operate and the need is great. Marisa Charles spoke with Nassau’s Mission & Outreach Commitee in April. She shared the documents below as an overview of the current situation and examples of how we can continue to support our siblings in Myanmar.

Marisa Charles is an international development specialist raised at Nassau Church with over 10 years experience with NGOs in Myanmar.

 

DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION:

Myanmar Presentation 2021 (pdf)

 

READ MORE:


Follow #MissionMonday on our social media platforms to hear about how, with your help, Nassau Presbyterian Church is supporting others in our town, our state, and across the world.

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May 2021 – Adult Education


On Life’s Journey


Princeton Presbyterians of the Westminster Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to the faithful discipleship of undergraduate and graduate students in Princeton. Andrew & Len Scales have been serving as the Presbyterian Chaplains at Princeton University and Executive Co-Directors of the Westminster Foundation for the last five years. In their role, they also serve as adjunct pastors at Nassau Presbyterian. Nassau is a long-term partner of the Westminster Foundation and continues to make the ministry of Princeton Presbyterians possible.

Over three weeks in May, hear from current students and young alumni about their connections with Princeton Presbyterians and the impact of faith on their vocational paths. We travel together “On Life’s Journey.”

For more information about Princeton Presbyterians visit princetonpresbys.org.


Watch earlier videos in this series: January/February 2021 – “On Life’s Journey”

Tending the Flock



Deaths –

William Thomas “Tom” Rohrbach, husband of Mallory Rohrbach, father of Carl, William, Carrie, and Leanne, died in Plainsboro, New Jersey, on March 23, 2025.

Jean Jansen, mother of Maria Jansen McGale, died in Skillman, New Jersey, on March 12, 2025.

Mary E. Doscher, died in Hamilton Square, New Jersey, on March 6, 2025.

Richard Patrick Lane, father of John Lane, father-in-law of Christianne Lane, and grandfather of Sarah and Sammy, died in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 6, 2025.

Rosanne Jacks, mother of Dan, Steve, and Lisa, died in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, on March 2, 2025.

Aureo Vernave Francisco Garcia, father of Alicia Mercedes de Garnica, father-in-law of Elba Garnica, and grandfather of Asher and Aurelius, died in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on March 2, 2025.

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Births –

Charlotte Lynn Countryman, daughter of Michelle Leonard Countryman and Landon Countryman, granddaughter of Mark and Ginger Leonard, was born on April 8, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Callum Thomas Ciniglio, son of Susan and Alejandro Coniglio, and brother of Emma and Alden, was born on March 7, 2025, in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

Magnus “Mac” Chalker Somerville, son of Marissa Chalker and George Somerville, brother of Ross, was born on February 19, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Maisey Siena Yang, daughter of Louise and Sam Yang, sister of Kingsley, was born on January 25, 2025, in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

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Marriages –

Brooks Philip Herr, son of Rachel and Mark Herr, brother of Julia, Sarah, and Gardiner Herr, married Micaela Lynch Dussel on March 29, 2025, in Roslyn, New York.

Olivia Jean Moorhead, daughter of James and Cynthia Moorhead, sister of Evan (Dana) and Stefan (Michelle) Moorhead, aunt of Eme and Gideon Moorhead, married Erik Christian Matson on October 13, 2024, in Princeton, New Jersey.

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