Announcements
Rise Against Hunger at HPC
In 2022, the Hopewell Council of Churches and the Hopewell Youth Collective partnered with Rise Against Hunger. We are excited to bring this mission meal packing opportunity to HPC for our “service” on March 5!
Join us! On Sunday, March 5th, Hopewell Presbyterian Church will host a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event in Fellowship Hall. Rise Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization that works to end hunger in communities across the world. To accommodate for this service project to be integrated into our regular “service” time, we will have a brief commissioning and communion from 9:30-10—and then will begin the service project at 10:30am!
We're so pleased and excited to host this event here at HPC. We hope you’ll join in this effort to provide nourishment, hope and sense of God’s love to people facing daily food insecurity. To participate, and obtain more information on what to expect, please register at: https://rah.secure.force.com/events/homepage?id=7013Z000002L4nn
Please note that you may sign up for one, or several, different volunteer "time slots" including: set-up, (8am - 9:30am), main meal packaging event, (10:30am - 12:30pm) and break-down (12:30 - 1pm). Although "walk-ins" can be accommodated, it's best for volunteers to use the registration link for planning purposes. Childcare will be provided between 9:30am - 12:30pm; more information will be forthcoming on this.
Hunger remains among the most pressing worldwide concerns, with an estimated 720 million people around the globe facing hunger each day. Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization, is growing a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives and responding to emergencies. With locations across the U.S. and five international offices, the organization provides immediate nourishment for those facing hunger today and implements sustainable solutions that will lift entire communities for years to come. Rise Against Hunger has facilitated volunteer meal packaging of more than 540 million meals to be distributed to countries around the world.
How do they do this? Rise Against Hunger provides 4 pathways of support:
Providing hands-on vocational training for improved local food production methods, such as micro-agriculture and other small farming methods.
Supplying nutritious meals to families, schools, and communities
Responding to emergencies by delivering food and other supplies to areas facing the aftermath of a crisis
Spreading the word and growing the movement of communities helping communities by engaging with partners like us, from around the world, to support other communities facing food insecurity and hunger.
Hopewell Presbyterian Church continues to support local efforts in our area to alleviate hunger and food insecurity through our ongoing contributions to local food pantries and partnerships with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and the Chubby’s Project.
Through this upcoming March 5th Rise Against Hunger event, we can make a positive impact on those facing hunger elsewhere in our world. Places such as Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Philippines, Uganda, Somalia, South Africa, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. In the coming months, Rise Against Hunger will notify us as to where the meals we've packaged have been delivered.
Please reach out to Anne Hayton with any questions. Thank-You!
Rise Against Hunger Mission Statement: “Rise Against Hunger is driven by the vision of a world without hunger. Our mission is to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable and creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.”
Wine & the Bible - June 12
As we close out our program year, the Justice and Service ministry has put together an opportunity for us to celebrate and learn together in partnership with the Farminary at Princeton Theological Seminary.
The event is titled Wine & the Bible and will take place on June 12 at 6pm. Together we will explore the ways that wine is an important theme in the Bible and in the Christian tradition. In our time together, Dr. Nathan Stucky, Director of the Farminary, will invite us to think about wine and wine production as co-stewards in the vineyard, and Rev. Dr. Lindsey Jodrey, New Testament scholar, will invite us to read the Bible as wine drinkers. We will enjoy wine and the Bible together, exploring the themes of farming, creation, climate, shame, and the kingdom of God.
Wine tasting will be guided by Hopewell Presbyterians resident wine expert and ruling elder, Sandy Sherrard. Cheese plates will be provided by church member, Jen Smit, and Olson’s Fine Foods. Please remember to eat a full dinner before this event. We are asking people to sign up and to indicate whether they would be willing to carpool to the Farminary as there is limited parking. To sign up click the button below.
The Farminary is a part of Princeton Theological Seminary and a place where theological education is integrated with small-scale regenerative agriculture to train faith leaders who are conversant in the areas of ecology, sustainability, and food justice. It is designed to train students to challenge society’s 24–7 culture of productivity by following a different rhythm, one that is governed by the seasons and Sabbath. Formerly a Christmas tree farm and sod farm, the Farminary overlooks a pond and includes a 200-foot by 100-foot garden plot and a barn that is used for discussion and a place for sharing meals.
In the fall of 2021, Hopewell Presbyterian Church visited the farminary and learned about different methods of composting. This was a part of HPC’s commitment to learning more about creation care and ecology.
Giving our Gifts: Generosity Ministry Update
In this season of gift giving, the Generosity Committee is delighted to share with you the way they are helping us as a congregation give the gifts we have been given to share. One of the great gifts we have been given to share, is a bequest from Alex & Eunice Sharipen. As we considered how to steward this gift, tithing was the first act of the Sharipen Bequest Taskforce. Through their prayerful work…
$300,000 was given to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to help with US based emergencies.
They then designated an additional $75,000 for the support the other regular mission partnerships of the church.
To help continue to steward a discernment process around that $75,000 and those regular mission partnerships, the Session formed the church’s Generosity Committee. This ministry strives to give to missions and organizations that help us affirmatively answer the following questions:
Does their mission help us love like Jesus, building up our relationship with God, one another, and the community?
Does this organization help us offer unconditional love to our neighbor?
Does their mission emphasize equity? (Who do they serve? Why?)
Do they have access to other resources? Do they need the money? (Know this through their 990s) If they do need money, is there a specific financial ask?
Do we have a real relationship with the organization? (Would cultivating that relationship be possible? To what degree?)
After developing a thoughtful and prayerful process, the following are the organizations and amounts the Session has approved the Generosity Committee to disburse.
Congregational Care
HPC Deacons Benevolence & Special Needs Fund- $5,000
In addition to the responsibilities of visitation and care, the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Deacons lead the congregation in serving our community by confidentially addressing requests from local individuals and families for financial support. These funds will help the Deacons meet emergency needs when out of funds.
HPC Missions
Creative Connections Playschool - $3,000
This amount was designated for the “Green Fund” the scholarship fund of CCPS, set up to help families in our community afford early childhood education. CCPS “…was founded with a passion to provide a creative, meaningful, hands-on learning environment for children 3-6 years of age. CCPS Director and head teacher, Liz Blankstein, maintains a program inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education. This philosophy is increasingly being adopted by early childhood programs in the United States. At CCPS we understand that the classroom is the third teacher and is designed to inspire learning. Provocations are set up for children to make hypotheses, investigate and create …”
Local Partners
Camp Johnsonburg - $10,000
The Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center, located in the northwest region in New Jersey’s highlands, was established in 1959 to provide Christian education experiences in support of the Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. They provide summer camp, programmed retreats, spiritual sanctuary, conference retreat venues, special needs camps and four weeks of service to the homeless. Their mission is to provide a place where all are welcome and where all are invited to share, and where gracious hospitality is provided in a joyful Christian community surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation.
Chubby’s Project - $5,000
Chubby’s project is motivated by the desire to “…nurture the mind, body and spirit of our community.” They describe themselves as a”… hyper local program dedicated to food justice and building connections within the Hopewell community. ”Through our lunch program and food pantry, The Project aims to nourish the community’s mind, body, and spirit by creating a full circle of connection between recipients, volunteers, donors and food service workers.” “The Chubby’s Project, a non –profit corporation, and Chubby’s of Hopewell, LLC (the restaurant ) are two different entities working together. The restaurant provides meals, buys food and packaging at cost, infrastructure and labor, and the Project pays for the restaurant contribution using funds from grants and private donations.”
Arm in Arm - $2,500
This charity has its headquarters in Trenton, NJ and helps people who need food, housing and job support to connect with people who want to help. “Arm and Arm is a place where community comes together to make sure we all have the most basic needs of food and shelter and, as possible, the livelihood to maintain them.” They believe that when the entire community is thriving everyone benefits. It was started in 1980 by members of Nassau Presbyterian Church and Trinity Church to help those needing financial assistance. It was originally known as The Crisis Ministry but the name was changed in 2016 to focus on the collaborative partnerships of linking those needing help with those offering help.
Rescue Mission - $2,500
The Trenton, N.J. Rescue Mission’s goal is “… to help put an end to homelessness – one person at a time.” Over the years people have been helped through the Mission’s Shelter, the Behavioral Health Center, Vocational Development Programs, Supportive Housing, the Thrift Store and the Food Pantry.
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) - $2,500
TASK’s mission is to “… feed those who are hungry in the Trenton area and offer programs to encourage self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life.” The Deacons and other church members help on a regular basis to serve meals to those in need at the Soup Kitchen.
National & International
Friends for Health in Haiti - $20,000
This amount will help cover the rebuilding of latrines in Haiti. Click here to learn more. The mission of Friends for Health in Haiti is “… to improve the health of the people of Haiti in a caring, compassionate manner as a reflection of our Christian faith.” Over the years, HPC has supported Dr. Katie Wolf. She developed a primary care clinic and maternity center located on the northern coast of the southern peninsula. Friends for Health in Haiti was founded by Dr. Wolf in 2006 which was also the same year she moved to take up permanent residence there. Because of the funds raised by Friends for Health in Haiti, Dr. Wolf was able to purchase land for a primary care medical clinic. This new clinic opened in March, 2014. In 2017 the Mission Committee of the New Brunswick Presbytery sponsored a work camp for church members to travel to Haiti to help Dr. Wolf.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - $20,000
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is a program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. that helps congregations to witness to the healing love of Christ by caring for people who have experienced catastrophic events. It is involved in long term recovery assistance such as natural disasters, the covid-19 crisis and provides help for refugees. This $20,000 was specifically directed to support Afghan refugees.
As we approach the celebration of the Christ-Child we are filled with wonder and awe at God’s amazing gifts. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Jesus taught that the most important commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and strength (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18) We are able to show our Christian love by supporting those in need through the extraordinary Sharipen gift. The shepherds were frightened but the angel of the Lord appeared to them and said Do not be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” (Luke 2:10) Let us be thankful for this good news of the birth of our Lord and Savior.
In Christ,
Pastor Melissa & Ruth Mortensen
Generosity Ministry
Historic Thanksgiving Eve Service
History was made at the Old School Baptist Meeting House on Thanksgiving Eve!
Every so often you get to see history made before your eyes. And, history was made at the Old School Baptist Meeting House in Hopewell New Jersey on Wednesday November 24th 2021, when for the first time people who are not men led worship from the pulpit.
Some context is needed to explain why this day was so significant. The Old School Baptist congregation was established in Hopewell in 1715. In 1747 they built a meeting house on the site of the present building, erected in 1822.
The “Old School” Baptists were so-called because of the way they valued the role tradition played in their faith. This dedication to tradition played out in many different ways, including the following: They did not allow musical instruments to be used in worship. They felt that church schools and missionary activities were impious. They did not permit women to lead worship, seeing the pulpit as a sacred space reserved for the leadership of men.
The congregation in Hopewell ceased to exist in the 1970’s, and now the property is lovingly maintained by a board of trustees and an endowment set up for that purpose. The church is used each year (pandemics permitting) for a Thanksgiving Service hosted by the five-congregation Hopewell Council of Churches (two Baptists, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic). While the town Hopewell has had female clergy since 1986, out of respect for the Old School Baptist Church’s tradition and as a gesture of support for those female clergy, all the clergy in attendance chose to lead worship from the floor, instead of the pulpit. Last year, spurred by reflection shared by Rev. Greg Smith in the Hopewell Council of Churches book study, Rev. Melissa Martin—with the heartfelt support of the entire Council—took steps to revisit the tradition of who is permitted to enter the pulpit of the Old School Baptist Meeting House. With gratitude for the connections of Pastor Dennis O’Neil, Chair of the Hopewell Council of Churches, the approval for a change in practice was given.
Thus, on November 24th for the first time in the history of the building, persons who are not male lead worship from the pulpit. They include:
Eden Thompson, a young woman of color and member of Second Calvary Baptist, who led the call to worship—making her the first to lead from the pulpit;
Lorraine Donahue, a leader in the Hopewell Council of Churches and member of the Hopewell United Methodist Church;
Tori Paquette, student of Princeton Theological Seminary and intern for the Hopewell Council of Churches;
Rev. Melissa A. Martin, Pastor of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, who gave the sermon from the pulpit.
Such things no longer seem particularly unusual. That they took place here, however, is profoundly symbolic.
To mark this historic occasion, the clergy of the town of Hopewell developed and presented the following statement:
In gratitude for the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all God’s children,
In gratitude for the churches and local leaders who are committed to the growth and care of our community,
In gratitude for our common calling to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly,We as the undersigned clergy of the Hopewell commit ourselves to guiding the council—through which we influence the wider community—in finding ways to celebrate the service, care, and calling of all God’s children, inclusive of their gender. We do this so that every girl, boy, and child of this community may know that they are loved and respected by the wide family of faith.
To do this we commit to exploring the history of gender within our community and churches.
To do this we commit to continuing our ecumenical dialogue, realizing that as an ecumenical group we have a unique opportunity to stretch and learn, and to walk alongside one another in acts of celebration, repentance, and reconciliation.
To do this we commit to learning more about the role gender has played in our society and world—discerning how communities of faith and churches can both learn from and speak into this conversation.
This statement we make today, Thanksgiving Eve Nov. 24 2021, in celebration of the first time persons who are not men have been allowed to lead worship from this pulpit.
Rev. Dr. Willy L. Mafuta
Rev. Melissa A. Martin
Pastor Dennis O’Neill
Rev. Stephen Sansevere
Rev. Gregory Smith
Additional gratitude was offered over the course of the Thanksgiving Eve service. They include:
The leaders in the community and trustees of the building—as well as John Buck for preparing the space for the service.
Nelly, a young woman of color who was excommunicated from the Old School Baptist Meeting House in connection to the fact that she chose to bear a child although unwed. Nelly was identified by Rev. Greg Smith during the Hopewell Council of Churches book study on If These Stones Could Talk, and it is her story that officially kicked off the process of inquiry into the tradition of women in the pulpit.
Rev. Kim Richter, Rev. Ginny Smith, Rev. Kate Glurich, and Rev. Laura Steele, the female clergy who have served the town of Hopewell.
The countless female lay leaders who have served on the council of churches and in the individual church communities.
Current clergy of Hopewell: Rev. Dr. Willy L. Mafuta, Pastor Dennis O’Neil, Rev. Stephen Sansevere, Rev. Gregory Smith, and Rev. Melissa Martin who penned the statement on the clergy’s behalf.
Members of the Hopewell Council of Churches, namely Liz Blankstein, Pat Dansberry, Jean Davis, Lorraine Donahue, Lyn Farrugia, Deborah Jodrey, Rev. Dr. Willy Mafuta, Rev. Melissa A. Martin, Pastor Dennis O’Neill, Tori Paquette, Janet Riemer, Rev. Stephen Sansevere, Rev. Gregory Smith, Clarence Thompson.
And Eden Thomson – for leading the way!
Additional gratitude goes to Charlie Ashton for organizing the music for the event, the Brooks Ensemble for giving profound musical testimony, and the community of Hopewell.
This long list of gratitude demonstrates the importance of the entire community in creating change—the kind that makes it possible for us to see history made before our very eyes.
Thanksgiving Lunch with Chubby’s Project
Linda, Dick, George, Barbara, and Cathe at the 2019 Thanksgiving Lunch hosted with Family Promise at HPC.
Partnering with the Chubby’s Project, Hopewell Presbyterian Church will be hosting those in our community who are looking for a community with whom to celebrate Thanksgiving. The idea for this event was inspired by the life and ministry of Dick Scheetz who with Linda led HPC in hosting guests from Family Promise for Thanksgiving Lunch. In celebration of Dick’s life we will continue to host this lunch.
This year the guests of honor will be those served by the Chubby’s Project. The Chubby’s Project is a hyperlocal program dedicated to food justice and building connections within the Hopewell community. Folks from the wider community and church will also be invited to attend, to contribute a side or dessert to share, and/or to cook a turkey to share. Turkeys have graciously been provided through the Chubby’s Project by the Elks.
When: Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Day) 2:00-5:00pm with hors d’oeuvres at 2pm and dinner at 3:00
Where: HPC Fellowship Hall (80 W. Broad Street)
Who: Anyone looking for a community with whom to share Thanksgiving!
To sign up to join and/or to contribute a side, dessert, or your turkey cooking skills, click below. If you are contributing but are not planning to attend write in your RSVP “Turkey ONLY” or “Dessert ONLY” or “Side ONLY.” If you would like to help set up on Wednesday afternoon at 2pm contact Sandy Ogg or the Church Office. The Chubby’s Project will be providing to-go containers so that left overs may be sent to the homes of the many people supported through the project. Those who sign up will also help put those together!
By signing up you affirm that you feel physically safe meeting for dinner indoors, in-person, in a mask optional setting, with what we can only presume would be mostly vaccinated people.
Sanctuary Stained Glass Update
Learn more about our main sanctuary stained glass window as well as the process to refurbish it.
As a congregation at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, we are blessed in so many ways. Over the past few years, since the ‘turning around’ of the sanctuary, we are fortunate to see the full image of the beautiful eastern side sanctuary window. Which at present is being restored and revitalized in a very comprehensive way, I will share more thoroughly the process being undertaken shortly.
The window itself, crafted almost 100 years ago carries a message in the center of beauty, hope, rebirth and the heart of Christian resurrection. The beauty of lilies. Some think that it was white lilies which sprouted in the Garden of Eden as Eve's tears fell to the ground. There is also belief that Easter lilies grew where Jesus's tears and blood fell from the cross. Lilies were supposedly found in the Garden of Gethsemane after the crucifixion, tying them even closer to the Easter holiday.
Lilies are mentioned numerous times in the bible, in Matthew 6:28-29 (NKJV), Jesus says, “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
The Finance and Facilities Ministry (F&F) began pursuing this window restoration project in October of 2020, when Doug Robbins noticed an article in the Montgomery Times newspaper of the Episcopal Church in Rocky Hill undertaking a window restoration project. The article shared not only pictures of the undertaking, but also the group performing the work, Epiphany Studios of Middletown, VA.
In late December a team from Epiphany visited HPC on a Saturday with a small group of F&F ministry members. They assessed all the stained glass within the main sanctuary building, 17 windows in all. A very comprehensive 49-page proposal was provided to HPC by Epiphany which detailed a phased approach of window restoration. For each of the 17 windows the proposal included detailed plans of job site activities for window restoration, which included removal, transportation back to Virginia, for complete re-leading of each stained-glass piece and if needed new stained-glass replacement panes are installed, either to replace broken or match the original color design.
Although Epiphany has scoped all the stained-glass windows, this initial work is focused on the main sanctuary window. It was removed a few weeks ago and will be returned to HPC in August, fully restored and reframed. The window had become weathered and weakened. There were broken panes and through settling with the forces of our environment it had become bowed. If looking at the window from a distance it may have appeared fairly normal, yet it was on the edge of collapse. The frame was water damaged and termite infested. Through this process it will be strengthened, new wood will replace the old. Wood that is pressure treated and water resistant. Epiphany will also restore the frame and bevels that surround the window, to the original design of installation many years ago.
Finally, Epiphany is repairing and restoring the small window that is on the lower level of the sanctuary building within the small bathroom, just as you enter the from the Louellen / portico side of the church. They are undertaking this restoration as a gift to HPC, Epiphany Studios is not charging for the repair of that window.
The cost for repair of the main sanctuary window is approximately $41,000 and is being paid for by the gift made to HPC by Eunice and Alex Sharipen, the Sharipen Fund. The generosity of Eunice and Alex was loving and unconditional. That gift along with so many other gifts of HPC members over the years of time, treasure and talent are what make Hopewell Presbyterian Church a magnificent reflection of a loving God. A living and constant reflection of the love God so generously shared with each of us, through Jesus Christ.
Scott Megaffin
Finance & Facilities
Sharipen Bequest Taskforce
Eastertide Book Group
Looking for a book group on Zoom? In-person?
After Easter, Nurture and Growth is transitioning it’s curriculum and book studies to focus on our understandings of faith and the church, specifically by inviting the whole congregation to read Rachel Held Evans’ Searching for Sunday. Describing the sacraments, this book describes the way that Held Evan’s had to wrestle with the church. Reflecting on how important this analysis is, Jen Megaffin shared this quote from the book: “Try as I may, I can’t be a Christian on my own. I need a community. I need the church.” Jen and Josie B. (this year’s confirmand!) have been using this book to help guide their conversations together.
Describing the book, Josie writes:
Rachel Held Evans is an incredible writer! Jen and I are both able to relate to her in a lot of ways, and I bet most of our congregants will relate to her faith story too. This book addresses the not-so-perfect parts of Christianity, and Rachel opens up to her readers about her doubts and taking long breaks from church. So many people continue to attend churches that they don't like and I'm sure her books, this one especially, have helped people see the light of Christ and his miracles, as opposed to the subtle darkness of the church. While God created us, we aren’t perfect, so when a bunch of God’s people gather together, it isn't going to be perfect. Reading about Rachel's experiences remind us that everyone has doubts about the church, and the thing to remember is that you have to find a community to worship with.”
The Zoom Book Group will meet on Mondays from 5-6pm, starting April 12. If you are interested in this group, please contact the church office.
The In-person Book Group will meet on Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15, starting April 13. To comply with gathering guidelines are only 8 slots available for this group. If you are interested, contact the church office. THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY FULL.
If you need help obtaining a copy of this book, don’t hesitate to reach out to the church office.
This is the reading plan
April 12/13: Baptism pp. ix-xviii, 9-40
April 19/20: Confession pp. 43-94
April 26/27: Holy Orders pp. 97-117
May 3/4: Communion pp. 121-157
May 10/11: Confirmation pp. 161-199
May 17/18: Anointing the Sick pp. 203-233
May 24/25: Marriage pp. 237-258
Deacons’ Deeds
The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill has run a wonderful program called Flags for Heroes. HPC Deacons became aware of this program and decided to sponsor flags for three special individuals during the September Flag Display.
Flags for Heroes Program
For the past 3 years, the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill has run a wonderful program called Flags for Heroes. The purpose of the program is two-fold. First, this program welcomes community members to sponsor the raising of a full-size American Flag in either honor or memory of a special person in their lives, whom they consider to be a role model or hero in some way. The flag is then displayed among a beautiful sea of flags to grace the front lawn of the Montgomery High School, along the Great Road, Montgomery Township. Each flag is labelled with a medallion identifying the name of the person being honored, the reasons why, and the name of the sponsor. Through sponsoring a flag in a person’s honor or memory, a monetary contribution is made to support the Rotary Club’s numerous community outreach and service programs. These programs work in areas of addiction rehabilitation, hunger prevention, education and homelessness -- emulating their motto “Service above Self”. When the display ended on September 13th, the flags were put away for next year and the medallions will be provided to the families of honored and remembered individuals.
During the past year, the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill was able to distribute over $55,000 back into programs to serve the local community and around the world. Examples include: purchasing N95 masks for the Montgomery EMS; supplied the Montgomery Food Pantry with gift cards for families in need; developed and operated the successful Grab ‘n Go project, which provided over 3,400 sack lunches and drinks to COVID19 hospital workers from local food establishments whose businesses were impacted by the pandemic; and also supported an international project dedicated to minimizing the spread of this virus in Africa.
This year, the HPC Deacons became aware of this program and decided to sponsor flags for three special individuals during the September 2020 Flag Display. The first two flag sponsorships were done to remember the lives of either a recently deceased HPC member, Margaret (Peg) Paul, or an HPC member’s loved one, Betty Jane Adair, the mother of Shari Adair.
Peg Paul, born and raised in Skillman, N.J., was a long-time resident of the Hopewell and Pennington communities, and served the Hopewell Valley School System as a dedicated Administrative Assistant for 25 years. In addition, Peg is remembered for having given herself so selflessly to family and friends throughout her lifetime. There aren’t many in our congregation who weren’t directly touched by Peg’s gentle concern and fervent prayers.
And although we never met Shari’s Mom, Betty Jane Adair, her life story attests to her loving, courageous, and generous spirit. Betty Jane was the first woman firefighter for the Kingston Fire Department and remained a lifelong member. She also worked as a secretary the Reformed Church of Bound Brook. During a devasting flood in that area, she helped organize a food pantry and soup kitchen, where none previously existed, and which still serves the Bound Brook community today.
Our third flag sponsorship honors lifelong service to country and community by one of our current members, Robert Petersen. After serving in the US Air Force, including the Korean Conflict, Robert took on a second career with the State of New Jersey as Supervisor of Youth at Highfields in Montgomery Township. Through this role, he directed rehabilitation activities for resident troubled youth, often forming meaningful bonds through both work and recreational activities to help instill improved self-confidence and values. Robert is also a longtime member with many community service organizations, including the Hopewell American Legion-Post #339, the Princeton Elks, and Amwell Lodge #12 (formerly Hopewell Masons). In addition, he volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Friends in Service Here (FISH), assisting many residents in our area with transportation needs over the years.
In addition, our HPC family has another connection with this event! Haley and Paige Yingling, two of our HPC Deacons and students at Montgomery High School, actively participated in this year’s Flags for Heroes event through their volunteer work with Interact, a school club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill, which promotes community service opportunities and values in youth. Haley and Paige helped raise the flags and attached the flag medallions this year. How fitting!
Given the current COVID19 pandemic, which prevents gatherings to either support each other in times of sorrow or to show support during a challenging stage of life, we felt participating in the Flags for Heroes program was an appropriate way to highlight these individuals to either honor or remember their humble and generous spirits, known-well by their families and friends, and also felt by so many in the communities they served.
Respectively submitted:
Anne Hayton, HPC Board of Deacon, Special Needs
Student Pastors for 2020-21
We are so thankful for our Student Pastors for 2020-21. Welcome to Katie Rosenson & Ben Kreider!
Hopewell Presbyterian Church has a rich history of working with Princeton Theological Seminary to facilitate the growth of future church leaders. We are so excited to have two seminary students joining us. The roles that they will fill are as follows:
Katie Rosenson, Student Pastor for Faith Formation: Building our unique model Christian education, Katie will work with us to explore what it means to weave together education and worship, to do institutional reformation, and particularly to grow in the ways we facilitate the leadership of youth and children in our church.Katie holds a B.A. in Philosophy of Religion and English from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Currently, Katie is pursuing her Masters of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary and is seeking ordination in the PC(USA). She is extremely passionate Intergenerational and Youth ministry, Christian Education, interfaith work, and social justice.
In addition to serving college students in a variety of campus ministry settings during college, Katie has served as a Pastoral Intern at a medium-sized church in Asheville, NC, an Intern for Adult Education at a large Presbyterian church in Nashville, and she spent three consecutive summers serving as Vacation Bible School Director and then Interim Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry at a small church in South Pasadena, CA. Most recently, she spent the summer working at a large PC(USA) church in Scottsdale, AZ doing Children and Family Ministry as well as working for the church’s education and outreach center.
Born and raised in an interfaith family in the Chicago suburbs, Katie loves exploring big questions and learning amongst diverse points of view. One of her favorite parts of ministry is walking alongside people of all ages, but especially young people, as they grapple with the complexities of this beautiful faith and the world at large.
Katie is an avid reader, and as a life-long choir nerd, she loves all things musical. Although Katie will be with us virtually this year, she is so excited to get to work with and learn from our special community and looks forward to getting to know you all!
Ben Kreider, Student Pastor for Hopewell Council of Churches: We are working with the Hopewell Council of Churches to offer a placement in ecumenical community organizing. While Ben will be "placed with HPC" their responsibility will be to enhance the work of the Council of Churches by growing in areas of: organization leadership, communication, ecumenical worship leadership, and community care.Ben is a 2nd year M.Div. student at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is originally from central Kansas where he directed prison programs at a restorative justice nonprofit for three years. Ben studied Bible/Religion and Social Work at Bethel College (KS) and has also lived and worked in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and Albuquerque, NM. Ben has worked a variety of jobs - mental health case worker, wilderness trail crew member, student chaplain, camp summer staffer, and in construction. He enjoys gardening, woodworking, cooking/BBQ, soccer, the outdoors, and life in Central Jersey with his wife Alli (a fellow seminary student!). Although Ben comes out of the Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition, he is excited to learn from a variety of churches in Hopewell as they seek to follow Jesus in the context of the local community!