First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown Church Address: 420 Farnsworth Avenue Office Address: 435 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown, NJ 08505 Office Phone: 609-298-1243 www.bordentownpresbyterian.org [email protected]August 2019 Dear Siblings, Let me take a moment to name an elephant in the room: our church has not always had the best relaonship with presbytery. While some may not even know what a presbytery is, others are sll healing from past wounds. Big changes are on the horizon for presbyteries in the state of New Jersey. Let’s talk about what presbyteries are and how changes may affect us. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is set up like the United States. Churches = cies, presbyteries = counes, synods = states, and General Assembly = enre country. Government and organizaon happens at all levels but most visibly in churches and presbyteries. Presbyterians are unique from other denominaons- we believe there is no bishop but Christ. In other words, Jesus Christ is the head of the church- not a pastor, not a bishop- Jesus. We elect elders (presbuteros in Greek) to govern our church bodies, with guidance from the Holy Spirit, and we form commiees to do the work of the Church. Elders act on our behalf at the church level, and also represent us in presbytery and General Assembly meengs, where important decisions are made that affect those beyond Bordentown. The Holy Spirit moves in our conneconal nature to shine God’s light and love to all creaon. The state of NJ currently has 7 presbyteries- the state of Texas has only 5! We are discussing reorganizaon in order to have less presbyteries in the state of NJ and therefore pracce beer stewardship of resources. To this end, the NJ Missional Structures Working Group has been working diligently to discern what restructuring would mean. Following much prayer an “Invitaon to Parcipate in New Jersey New Missional Communies” has been issued. We are now being invited to join in discerning a call to reduce the number of presbyteries to 4. This will be difficult. It is not an exact science, so our Session held an open meeng in July to explore implicaons. The hope is that these changes would open opportunity for the church to further engage in mission and serve the community, both locally and at large. Some important points that were discussed: 1. Ability to hire full me presbytery staff, providing beer support for congregaons. 2. A ‘clean slate’ to re-imagine ministry, providing renewed energy and openness for the Holy Spirit to move and work. As someone who grew up in an acve and vital presbytery, I am excited about what this might mean for the future of First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown and all NJ churches. I look forward to opportunies for our members to connect with other churches and be enriched by those deep, meaningful connecons. Read the document HERE and let’s talk about it. Grace and love, Pastor Krisn
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August 2019 - First Presbyterian Church, Bordentownbordentownpresbyterian.org/assets/august-2019-newsletter.pdf · August 8 Jonathan Andrus August 9 Ed Dallas August 10 Karen hamberlin
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Shawna (Kochie) Catarinicchia, Mike Gagnon, Vincene Palmonari, Evelyn Seyebe, Paul Sootkoos, Edith Van Arsdale.
Please contact the office or the Deacon on call to add someone to this long term prayer list.
August 3 Michael Burke
August 5 John Robertshaw
August 6 Tom Adams
August 8 Jonathan Andrus
August 9 Ed Dallas
August 10 Karen Chamberlin
Mike Ortu
Kevin Patterson
August 11 Patricia Tassi
August 16 Alyssa Marchetti
August 17 Peter Temperino
August 20 Anne Chidley
Robert Horton
August 22 Terry Fouse
August 23 Amy Dallas
August 26 Zachary Lyszczak
August 27 Tricia Bangit
Linda Blackwell
August 30 Megan Guicheteau
Elke McAteer
August 31 Cassie Bolinger
Clare Anna Burke
August 4 Winston & Victoria Taylor
August 18 George & Sandra Carmichael
Christopher & Brigid Small
August 21 Terry & Gail Fouse
Fellowship will continue all summer in the air conditioned Fellowship Hall. All are encouraged to come as a way to continue to get to know our
Pastor and new congregants.
Simple refreshments will be available with no sign-ups
necessary. If you have something you would like to
share, bring it along. Coffee and tea will always be available. Thanks to everyone who has signed up for refreshments during the year. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated!
Sunday Mornings To volunteer: to be a Worship Reader, please contact
Donna Potts. for Fellowship Hour, please contact
Margaret Conover
Worship Readers 8/4 — Joseph Campo 8/11 — Robert Joe Lee 8/18 — Casey McEniry 8/25 —
Fellowship: Potluck Style During the summer months, the church will still have Fellowship after worship. You don’t need to sign up. If you have some-thing you would like to share, bring it along. Coffee and tea will always be available.
Communion Servers — August Keira McAteer, Bobbi Maiuro, John Robertshaw, Amy Dallas
Communion Servers — September Donna Potts, Linda Blackwell, Marlene Lyszczak, Robert Joe Lee
Deacons’
Corner
NEXT DEACONS MEETING Sunday, September 8 (following Worship)
SENIOR LUNCHEON The next Senior Luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 12:00 PM. Hold the date and join us for a day of picnic food and fun! Weather permitting, it will be outside on the side lawn. If the weather is poor or too hot, we will have the luncheon indoors in Fellowship Hall. Deacon on call: Jodi Hawryluk — 609-558-5577
Your Deacons: Megan Arnold, Linda Blackwell,
Karen Chamberlin, Margaret Conover,
Jodi Hawryluk, Bobbi Maiuro,
Melonie Newton, Montana Pell (Youth)
Please pick up 2019 Interim
Financial Statements on the
church counter.
The Financial Secretaries
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Food Pantry Ongoing donations of non-perishable food are collected in the basket on the right at the rear of the
sanctuary. Meals are delivered to St. Mary’s Church Food Pantry. Standard monthly needs of the
Choir and Handbell Ringers—Thank you for another great year! Dates for your calendar
Choir will begin on Thursday, September 12 at 7pm
Handbells will begin on Thursday, September 26 at 8pm
Christmas Choir is expected to being on Thursday, October 17 at &pm
All are welcome! See Wendy in church or text her at 215-582-5679 if you are interested. We’ll be gentle!
The Wanderers are looking
forward to our September 12th gathering, for a
Picnic at the Ackerman’s.
Happy Rest of Summer!
Hymn of the Month
Come, Thou Almighty King
Come, Thou Almighty King is a popular Christian hymn of unknown authorship. It has
been often attributed to Charles Wesley, however, there is no record of this hymn in any
of Wesley’s collection of hymns. The hymn is based on Psalm 24, verse 10.
The earliest known publication is a leaflet that was bound
into the 6th edition of George Whitefield’s Collection of
Hymns for Social Worship, 1757.
The tune was written by Felic Giardini and published in 1769.
The hymn may be found on page 466 in our hymnal, and may
be heard on the church’s web site.
Effective July 18, 2019, the Allegretti house officially became church property. The house will soon be placed on the market for sale. Other estate business is proceeding.
"Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will blossom more and more into faithful
stewards of our gifts, time and talents."
From FPCB Mission Statement
AUGUST CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS! Bring canned/packaged meals for Bordentown Motel Ministry
On the THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH (August 18) EVERY WEEK — Bring non-perishables for the Food Pantry
August 4 — Worship with Communion; Worship Commission Meeting August 5-12 — Pastor Kristin on Study Leave August 11 — Worship with guest preacher Christopher Small; Deacons’ Meeting August 18 — Worship August 25 — Worship, followed by Mission Meal