Cards & Greetings Needed

Suzanne S. (our deacon in charge of card writing efforts) reached out to our contact at one of the institutions we’ve been sending cards. And they would love more! In her conversation she learned just how much the residents have enjoyed receiving cards from us. They have particularly loved the cards with some sort of personal message, uplifting quotes/pomes or creative activity (some have included DIY coloring pages and even Madlibs in these cards).

Tips for writing cards when you don’t know your recipient: 

1. Introduce yourself! Say your name and/or how you learned about this opportunity to write cards. Maybe something like: “I’m Anne. I go to game night at Hopewell Presbyterian, and I wanted to share with you something that brought me hope today....” [NOTE: Because we don’t know exactly who is receiving these cards, we do not recommend giving personal details for safety reasons.  If you would like to put a “return address” you are welcome to use Hopewell Presbyterian Church’s. If we receive any correspondence back, we will notify you.]

2. Find a way to make your card fun and unique! For some of you this might mean making your own card, for others this might mean including a poem or saying or prayer that you find hopeful.

How to get cards from Point A to Point B!

Drop your cards off at Hopewell Presbyterian Church (office entrance off of Louellen Street), and we will post the cards in large batches so they can be widely distributed. Card pick-up usually happens each Thursday.

High School Community Service Hours:

• To get service hours for this work, please reach out to Hopewell Presbyterian Church Office (lducko@hopewellpres.org), and we will make arrangements so you can receive hours for this work.

Masks for Haiti

The first shipment of masks have arrived in Haiti! 

When checking in on our ministry partners at Friends for Health in Haiti, Bev Mills. learned that they were in needs of masks, so we got the crafty folks of our congregation on it! Check out the shipment and learn more about our Friends for Health in Haiti by visiting their Facebook page .

They have requested more masks, so if you are feeling crafty, Bev is coordinating a second shipment of masks. To contribute, drop off masks on her front porch (14 Burton Avenue) by August 4. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Bev.

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. They use a community-based health model as they seek to have the greatest impact and the highest chance of long-term sustainability.  It is the “bottom-up” model that empowers communities to solve their own development problems and cultivate the relationships through which our faith can be shared.

Can you spot any familiar fabrics?

The drums that carried the masks from Milwaukee to Haiti.

Extended CCPS Hours

To the people of the Hopewell Valley and our neighbors in surrounding areas,

We hope that this message finds you in both good health and good spirits as we all navigate through these uncertain times. Each day our members and friends bring us news of the needs that people face within our local communities.

Many families are facing an increased need for care for their preschool age children while they work - and this need is coming at a time when many childcare facilities are scaling back operations due to budgetary concerns, or COVID-related restrictions on class enrollment size.

To help meet the needs of some of these families, we are enthusiastically announcing the expansion of our child centered ministry:

Creative Connections Play School will be expanding its operating hours to accommodate families that require full day care for their pre-school age children. 

The small, boutique setting includes a core 9am-5pm specialized preschool program plus 60 minutes of extended care both before and after school. 

If anyone in your community is currently facing this need for child care, additional information about Creative Connections Play School can be provided by contacting:

Liz Blankstein, Director/Head Teacher

Email: lizccps@gmail.com
Phone: 609-466-0110
Web: creativeconnectionsplayschool.net

Growth Groups

We’re getting ready to start a new cycle of Growth Groups this summer! There are three groups offered. Once you’ve registered, you can find more information on the Formation page

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"Big Questions in a Time of Crisis"

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Scholars from Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University will offer talks on theology and faith in the global crisis.

Starting 7/14 - Contact Laurie Bleickardt to register.

"Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World"

Mondays at 3:00 p.m. (OFF UNTIL SEPTEMBER)

Using Max Lucado’s book, this growth group will discuss faith in an increasingly anxious world.

Starting 07/20 - Contact Barb Pauley to register.

So What?

Fridays at 7:30 a.m.

This group examines the lectionary reading from the previous Sunday and focuses on how it can inform our day-to-day lives.

Contact Dick Scheetz to register

ZOOM this week

This week in worship, we will be celebrating God's amazing faithfulness to this congregation.  Pastor Melissa and the Session encourage all those who are able to join us for the ZOOM Gathering this week where we will share a recent example of God's faithfulness. Trying something a little bit new for us this week, Pastor Melissa will be preaching her sermon live in the ZOOM gathering. Later in the day it will be posted to Youtube. (Details about how to access it will be in the Sunday morning email. The sermon is titled "What is Gratitude?" based on Ephesians 5:15-21 and Philipians 4:4-7.

Grocery Support

There are growing needs in Hopewell and New Jersey, and we want to meet those needs head-on. The Hopewell Council of Churches and Hopewell Gives Back is providing a grocery service for individuals who are isolated. If you or someone you know needs help picking up groceries, fill out the grocery service PDF and contact Margaret Fowler at (609) 306-7923 to place the order.