Still feeling the inspiration of our younger congregation after Youth Sunday? We invite you to support their upcoming Appalachia Service Project trip this summer, where they will help repair and clean up a community affected by natural disaster and neighbors in need. You can donate to the trip by selecting the “Appalachian Service Trip (ASP)” Fund on MyNassau: nassauchurch.org/giving/give-now.
#MissionMonday
#MissionMonday – Housing Initiatives of Princeton
Last Sunday we heard about Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP)’s great work and were invited to their Spring Gathering in May. Nassau is proud to partner with HIP to prevent the eviction of our neighbors and provide transitional housing to stabilize families and individuals as they experience housing disruption.
More information: housinginitiativesofprinceton.org
#MissionMonday – Paul Robeson House of Princeton
The Paul Robeson House of Princeton is close to opening their renovated home!
The “Paul Robeson House,” dating from 1842, is a residential property located at 110 Witherspoon Street, where Paul Robeson was born on April 9, 1898. Paul Robeson’s roots in the African American community of Princeton launched him on his world-renowned career as an all-American athlete, actor, singer, scholar and writer, and voice for human rights. The renovated property will host a gallery of memorabilia, non-profit meeting spaces, and temporary lodging.
We are proud to be Mission Partners with The Paul Robeson House of Princeton and invite you to learn more about their capital campaign: https://give-usa.keela.co/Donate2023.
#MissionMonday – HomeFront
Helping Families Break the Cycle of Poverty
HomeFront, a Mission Partner of Nassau based in Lawrenceville, provides shelter, housing assistance, groceries, and social services to families experiencing poverty in central New Jersey. Recognizing an emerging need with the families they serve and proposing an expansion of their project to the Missions and Outreach Committee, HomeFront used grant funding from Nassau to distribute 114,800 diapers in the month of August alone.
Nassau also supports HomeFront through the monthly Hunger Offering. Organizations supported by your faithful giving each month received over $10,000 in the past fiscal year. At HomeFront, this has contributed to the 23,426 cartloads of groceries distributed at their Choice Market and pop-up food pantries since October. We invite you to bring a donation to church this Sunday (the last Sunday of the month) or give online through the Give Now page of this website and selecting “Hunger Fund” from the drop down menu.
Connect with HomeFront:
- Learn more: https://www.homefrontnj.org/
- Volunteer: https://www.homefrontnj.org/volunteering/
- Donate: https://www.homefrontnj.org/donate/
#MissionMonday – Churches for Middle East Peace
On the anniversary of Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel, marking a year of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and in the midst of escalation in the Middle East, we join Churches for Middle East Peace in a prayer for justice and healing.
Churches for Middle East Peace is a Mission Partner of Nassau, educating churches, empowering us to advocate for policy changes moving toward peace, and connecting with Christians in Palestine. Join CMEP for a daily prayer over Zoom or watch their daily updates on the state of the crisis in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank at cmep.org/resources.
#MissionMonday – Presbyterian Women
On this #MissionMonday we highlight the work of Presbyterian Women (PW) in the Synod of the Northeast.
Nassau supports PW by giving to the Synod. Presbyterian Women educate, donate, and advocate for peace and justice locally, regionally, and globally.
We invite you to attend Adult Education on Sunday, October 6 for a special #JusticeSpotlight on the Presbyterian Delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (read more here). Also consider attending the Fall Gathering of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of the Coastlands on Saturday, October 12, where you can hear from leaders advocating for protection from gun violence, Christian churches in Palestine, and improved healthcare in Haiti.
RSVP to by October 7. You can find more information at https://pwsne.org/.
#MissionMonday – Capital Harmony Works
Capital Harmony Works empowers young people as teams of musicians, providing an environment of abundant resources and high expectations, and enriching the community through the joyful pursuit of excellence together.
As the September Adult Education series, Practicing Creation: Reflecting the Image of God, is underway, we highlight one of our Mission Partners bringing the joy of artistic creation to local children.
The organization runs three programs: Trenton Children’s Chorus, Trenton Music Makers, and Music for the Very Young. Through music lessons, performances across the country, academic support, and college preparation, Capital Harmony Works encourages the sharing of expertise with and between Mercer County youth.
Learn more and volunteer to play games, mentor, or offer your musical expertise for participants on their website capitalharmony.works
#MissionMonday – Summer Mission Projects
THANK YOU for supporting our 2024 Summer Missions Projects! Through your joyful giving in partnership with Westminster Presbyterian Church, we were able to supply 150 students between Trenton with backpacks full of school supplies. We are thankful for all of those who donated backpacks, funds, and their time to make this possible. See the Thank You from Pastor Karen here.
We also successfully fed 200 neighbors at St. Mary’s Cathedral through Loaves and Fishes on Saturday, August 24. Participants received a hot dinner, along with a bagged lunch, packaged leftover dinner for the next day, and personal care items. Thank you to everyone who helped shred chicken, brought bagged lunches, delivered meals, and served with us!
If you enjoyed direct service like the projects above, consider signing up to support the Arm In Arm Food Pantry this Fall Volunteers are currently needed for Monday and Tuesday during working hours: https://signup.com/go/PgptPDG.
Moment for Mission: HomeWorks Trenton
HomeWorks Trenton is a free, community-based, after-school residential program designed to provide a supportive and safe space where high school girls learn to self-advocate, become leaders, and achieve academic success.
Four aspects define our program:
- Residential Boarding: From Sunday evenings to Friday mornings, our scholars live in our dorm with three staff and spend weekends with their families. Residential boarding creates a structured, stable environment for scholars to focus on academics and personal growth. It provides an immersive community experience for scholars to collectively grow in ways traditional, non-residential programs do not allow.
- Core Curriculum (Academics & Identity-Driven Leadership): Our academics programming focuses on daily tutoring, skill development, and college preparation. Additionally, scholars engage in Black and Brown girl-centered workshops, social justice discussions and readings, and a public service capstone and internship. This curriculum equips scholars with the tools and confidence to become leaders that ultimately creates systemic change in their communities.
- Career Readiness: Third and fourth year internships and electives allow scholars to explore their academic and career interests, making an impact in the community while gaining valuable work experience.
- Wellness, Field Trips, and Travel: Group Therapy offer spaces for scholars to develop mindful habits and practice self-love. HomeWorks also sponsors group travel to local organizations (like local theater productions) and cities such as New York and Washington D.C. to further supplement their public education and offer experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
HomeWorks offers the support girls need to graduate from high school, attend college, feel confident in their discovery and evolution of self, become effective leaders, and create change. Our mission is to inspire and equip young women from marginalized communities to achieve their potential and positively transform the world around them by providing a supportive and educational residential environment.
#MissionMonday – Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP)
Do you have furniture to donate?
Consider donating to the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Manville. They have a partnership with Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP), one of Nassau’s Mission Partners. HIP received an exceptional grant from Nassau’s Mission & Outreach Committee in January for their transitional housing move-in/move-out days. Often a family is in need of furniture as well as a home. HIP’s partnership with the ReStore helps families furnish their new apartments.