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#MissionMonday

#MissionMonday – Presbyterian Hunger Program Update

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Dear members of Nassau Presbyterian Church,

Hunger is looming around the world: in the face of violent conflicts including the war in Ukraine, in the face of rising costs of food in the United States and around the world, and in the face of heat waves and other climate change related impacts that make agriculture hard and drought and flooding real concerns for food insecurity. Affordable housing is feeling more and more elusive to much of America’s population as the pandemic, inflation and other economic factors have influenced the market.

As we pray for these and all other grave situations, we also are called to act. The Hunger Program continues to partner with you, congregations, and partners around the country and world to “alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes.”

Churches, communities and networks step up to counter the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and increased hunger and poverty caused by conflict, climate change, and rising costs. We deeply appreciate our grantee partners, networks, Hunger Action and Earth Care Congregations, Hunger Action Advocates in presbyteries, and donors who stand together to advocate for just policies and work to find ways to achieve food sovereignty, affordable housing and justice for communities.

Thank you for your financial support. We could not do the level of ministry we are able to do without the gracious support we receive. Gifts to the Hunger Program help us and our partners to create places of safety, peace, healing, and livelihood in the midst of difficult circumstances. God is present in all places, and we give praise for the ways God has moved in our world.

This summer we released our 2021 PHP Impact Report that shares a bit of the work we were able to accomplish in 2021. While numbers and statistics can’t get at the relationships and organizing that ultimately lead to addressing root causes, we do think some of the numbers are wonderful to see, as well as our strategy and a brief story from our partner in El Salvador. We invite you to read the report online:

PHP Impact Report (link)

We continue to work so that people have more and better food, communities standing for justice know they are not alone, and people around the world are allowed to enjoy the healthiness of creation as it was meant to be. Bless you for joining in this mission with us!

Rev. Rebecca Barnes
Coordinator, Presbyterian Hunger Program

#MissionMonday – Arm In Arm Update (August 2022)

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Arm In Arm continues to serve the community at historic levels and this video created earlier this summer details their incredible work in the community. Arm In Arm is providing food to families through an average of more than 4,700 pantry visits and deliveries per month, which is more than double their pre-pandemic average. They are also providing more assistance than ever before to keep families in their homes. Arm In Arm is grateful to the Nassau Presbyterian Community for your partnership in helping them to serve at these historic levels and hopes you will continue to support us, and the community we serve, in the days, months, and year ahead– as an advocate, donor, volunteer, or ambassador. We are better together because of you!


Donate Monday (link)
Donate Food (pdf)
Donate Time (link)

#MissionMonday – Refugee Family Update (August 2022)

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August 2022

The Refugee Coordinating Team is very happy to share an update on the members of the Afghan refugee family that Nassau Church has sponsored.  We are so pleased with their progress since our last report and greatly appreciate the volunteer help provided by so many Nassau members.

The team is continuing to assist the members of the family living in Princeton in applying for asylum, as well the father in seeking “humanitarian parole” so he can join the rest of the family.

This summer has been a very busy time for the six children of this family, who range in age from adolescents to young adults.

The two sons continue to be very engaged in their support of the family and their education. The older son is working at a medical office in Princeton, while the younger son is re-starting his education at Mercer County Community College while continuing to work at a local grocery store.

The youngest daughter graduated this spring from elementary school. She is attending the YMCA summer camp and taking math classes at Princeton Middle School.

The next youngest daughter is also taking math classes this summer to prepare for the start of the school year. Her classes are at Princeton High School.

The third youngest daughter recently faced the challenge of aging out of the Princeton Public Schools, having almost graduated from her school in Afghanistan prior to her departure. She is working to complete her high school equivalency degree by passing the GED test, with ESL assistance from Beverly Leach.

The oldest daughter is working at Costco. She and her sisters rely on the support from volunteer drivers from our congregation for their transportation.

Angie Olsen organizes this group of drivers and provides a weekly schedule to keep everyone on track. Some additional help with this driving would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to be added to the driver list or can help in other ways, please contact Len Scales at the Church office (email).

As we hold this family in prayer, please especially pray that the father can be reunited with his family here in Princeton through the humanitarian parole process.

#MissionMonday – HomeWorks Trenton

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Nassau’s Mission & Outreach Committee has been impressed over the last few years with the developing HomeWorks program in Trenton.

With the help of Nassau members and the ingenuity and dedication of recent grads from local institutions, HomeWorks was created to offer a free, community-based, after-school residential option for high school girls in Trenton. HomeWorks empowers young women and supports their families as they invest in education and life-building skills.

For more information, visit

HomeWorks Trenton

Refugee Resettlement Update (May 2022)

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The Refugee Coordinating Team is excited to share developments with the Afghan Refugee Family—they are investing in work, school, and extended family in the region. We couldn’t be more pleased with the progress of their transition to the States, and we deeply appreciate the continued support of the Nassau Church Family. Together, we are helping make a home for this family away from their homeland.

With a large family of adolescents and young adults it has been an exciting season of planning for summer jobs and coursework. Three family members have found rewarding employment, one is enrolled in Mercer Community College for the fall, and others are planning for summer school and activities.

The family is now a two-car household! We are grateful for the generosity of the congregation in donations from funds to vehicles and, of course, time. With the summer months approaching and the need for more transportation not provided by the school system, we are looking for additional drivers. This requires a background check and willingness to sign up for driving shifts as you are available.

We are looking for a few additional household items as well: lawn mower, picnic table(s) and chairs, wifi compatible printer, and dvd player.

If you would like to be added to the driver list or have possible donations, please contact Len Scales (email) for next steps.

As you hold this family in prayer, please especially pray for the reunification between the father and the family. Nassau is working with an immigration attorney to navigate the process to bring the father to the states as soon as is possible. Through all the trauma of the last eight months, one of the most difficult situations has been the distance it has put between loved ones.

Thank you for surrounding the Coordinating Team with support and the family with love!

Arm In Arm – Volunteers Needed

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Arm in Arm depends on volunteers to help us prepare and distribute bags of groceries through 3,000-4,000 food pantry visits and grocery deliveries per month.

We have been fortunate to have the help of students from The College of New Jersey and Rider University who have been volunteering in our Hudson Street and Hanover Street pantries about 45 hours per week. As they wrap up their semester this month, we will be left with a big gap in our pantries.

Especially now as we are serving at historic levels, averaging more than 4,000 pantry visits and deliveries per month, we need help. We are pro-actively outreaching to current volunteers, faith communities, and other groups with the potential to help us fill this gap and are also promoting a May Volunteer Challenge (below), encouraging individuals to volunteer, take an additional shift, and/or bring a friend with them to volunteer.

Food pantry volunteering 2022 — Signup Sheet

#MissionMonday – Disaster Relief, opportunities to help

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As neighbors near and far face the impact of disasters, we are grateful to partner with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and other organizations working with those on the ground.

Afghan Refugees

As we join our prayers for the individuals and families impacted by the violence in Afghanistan, Nassau is in conversation to help resettle a family through Church World Service. We are grateful for Princeton Seminary’s willingness to partner again regarding housing. More information will be forthcoming on how the congregation can be of assistance in the coming weeks and months.

Donations are also welcome to the overall work Church World Service is undertaking to assist Afghan Refugees at this time. For more information and ways to give, visit: How to Help Afghans – CWS (cwsglobal.org). To give through Nassau write a check to Nassau Presbyterian Church and note “Refugee Fund” in the memo line.

Assistance for Friends For Health in Haiti (FFHH)

On August 14 at 7:28 a.m., a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in Haiti. Our ministry partners at the Gatineau Clinic in the mountains outside Jérémie need our help. Katie Wolf M.D, Medical Director, from the Kingston Presbyterian Church and her staff are safe and are busy assessing damage and needs of the surrounding communities. FFHH is sharing daily news from the region and has set up an earthquake relief fund. For more information and ways to give, visit: Friends for Health in Haiti.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for Haiti

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has had long-standing decades-long partnerships in Haiti. Working closely with Presbyterian World Mission, our traditional partners on the ground and ACT Alliance, PDA is responding to emergency needs such as WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), emergency power generators, shelter, food, first aid and more. We remain committed to the long-term recovery. To give online go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (pcusa.org). To give through Nassau, write a check to Nassau Presbyterian Church and note “Haiti” in the memo line.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for Hurricane Ida

PDA is responding to Hurricane Ida. For donation details and to watch for additional information, visit Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (pcusa.org). To give through Nassau write a check to Nassau Presbyterian Church and note “Ida” in the memo line.

To give to any one of these funds online, please review the details on our “Give Now” page:


Give Now (link)

#MissionMonday – Week of Action, August 23-29, 2021

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Shades of Oppression, Resistance, and Liberation

Join with Presbyterians across the country August 23–29. PC(USA) staff have curated a week of action on the theme “Shades of Oppression, Resistance and Liberation.” Each day will lift different voices and champion justice. For more information visit: https://www.pcusa.org/weekofaction/

  • Monday, August 23 – Middle East Peace… Our Peace
  • Tuesday, August 24 – Vivencias Hispano-Latinas: Unidad en Cristo AND Systemic and Racialized Poverty
  • Wednesday, August 25 – LGBTQIA+ Resilience
  • Thursday, August 26 – No More Stolen Relatives: Murdered Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People
  • Friday, August 27 – AAPI Resilence, Resistance, Power & Affirmation
  • Saturday, August 28 – Black Lives Matter
  • Sunday, August 29 – Gun Violence Response and Recognition

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 – Young Adult Volunteers

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Introducing Jordan and Helen

The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program is an ecumenical, faith-based year of service for young people (ages 19–30) in sites across the United States and around the world. YAVs accompany local agencies working to address root causes of poverty and reconciliation. Alongside this work, volunteers explore the meaning of their Christian faith and accountability to their neighbors in the community with peers and mentors.

Nassau is excited to hear from these two young adults connected to our congregation as they prepare for their YAV year in this Moment for Mission. Please join in praying for Helen and Jordan.

Learn more about the YAV program

YAV on PCUSA (website)

Learn more about Nassau’s 2021-22 YAVs:
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Jordan
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Helen
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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 – Forman Christian College

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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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