Announcements
T.A.S.K. Update
If you are interested in volunteering to do dining room prep work and meal service at TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen), we have a small group going on the following dates:
Tuesday, November 2
Tuesday, November 16
Friday, December 3
Per TASK, volunteers must be at least 16 years old and able to work on their feet for 3 1/2 hours. All volunteers must show proof of COVID vaccination upon entering TASK.
If you are available (9:30 - 1:00) on any of these dates, you can sign up directly on the TASK website. Use the Volunteer Tab and then click on Sign Up to Serve Meals. Scroll to the Calendar. Select the date and fill in the information requested. There is a limit of six volunteers per day. If you would like to car pool, we will be meeting at the church at 8:45 on those dates.
While we want to offer the opportunity to serve in fellowship with other church members, you are of course welcome to sign up for any day that works for you personally.
Please reach out to Joanne Tonkin if you have any questions via email joannemdtonkin@gmail.com or phone (908)-334-8324.
New in the Library - October 2021
Thanks to donations, our church library continues to grow. Among the new titles you will find some of the books recently used in group studies – Inspired and Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans, If These Stones Could Talk by Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills, and Jesus For Farmers and Fishers by Gary Paul Nabhan. Over 40 other books were added from the libraries of members and “finds” at the rummage sale.
Whether you are looking for deeper understanding of a Bible passage, poems and writings to enhance your devotional time, guidance for raising your children, Christian fiction, or an inspirational biography, you will find it in the Church Library on the second floor of the education wing. Books are arranged alphabetically in categories such as “Individual Christian Living”, “Bible Reference”, or “Healing”. There is a card catalog to assist you. A special section of children’s books is located on the second floor landing of the education wing. Stop by with your child between Sunday School and church!
To sign out a book, write your name and the date on the card in the back of the book, and place the card in the file box on top of the card catalog. If you would like help finding a particular book, or have donations or suggestions for new books, please contact Carlana Sargent.
Jesus for Farmers & Fishers Book Study
Join the Hopewell Council of Churches for a six-week book study on Gary Paul Nabhan's new book, "Jesus for Farmers & Fishers," to learn about food justice as we dive into Jesus' parables through an agricultural lens. We will meet at Chubby's on Mondays at 7PM, Oct 11 - Nov 22. Sign up here.
Hopewell Youth Collective Update
Greetings friends,
Throughout the summer I have had the opportunity to meet with many of the youth connected to the Hopewell Community and hear about what problems they see in the community and passions they have in their own lives. In these conversations I was also able to share with them some of the hopes and dreams for this Collective including the focus on it being a youth-led, youth organized platform for development, community engagement, mutual support, and spiritual growth. In sum, our hope for the Hopewell Youth Collective is that it will be a space that is safe for the youth in this community to serve, lead, and build relationships with one another. These conversations and relationships led to the identification of a few topics the youth in this community care about: racial justice, environmental justice, economic equality, and mental health. On September 14th, we had our first Hopewell Youth Collective interest meeting where any interested youth and their friends were invited to eat ice cream, begin to develop relationships with one another, ask questions, and share their ideas around these four topics and share additional topics they care about including the LGBTQ community. 14 youth came to this initial meeting held at Aunt Chubby’s where a majority shared an interest in serving in the inaugural HYC Youth Leadership Team. We laughed, met new friends, and shared excitement for next steps. These next steps will include a leadership specific meeting in order to have a designated leadership team for this year, a newsletter and a fall service project. Our next meeting will be next Tuesday at 7:30pm on October 5th to specifically discuss our fall service project. If you or a youth you know would be interested in jumping on board this exciting new opportunity in Hopewell, please don’t hesitate to reach out or join for our next meeting!
Peace,
Deborah Jodrey
Director of the Hopewell Youth Collective
Hopewell Youth Collective Leadership Meeting
Join us at Aunt Chubby’s on September 28 at 7:30pm!
Join us at Aunt Chubby’s!
September 28, 7:30 pm
Volunteer at TASK
HPC would like to resume dining room prep work and meal service at TASK. If you are interested and available on Friday, September 24th from 9:30 AM -1:00 PM or would like more information, please contact Joanne Tonkin by email (joannemdtonkin@gmail.com) or phone / text (908-334-8324) by Tuesday, September 21st. Only six volunteers total are allowed per day. All volunteers must show proof of COVID vaccination.
Summer Session Updates
Session met in June, took a break in July, and resumed regular meetings again in August. As always, there has been much to discuss and much to decide. Here is a short summary of what Session has been up to:
Finalized the new Ministry and Mission Structure for the church. Much of the hard work on this was done by the ministries themselves and by our extraordinarily dedicated staff. Click here to learn more about this new structure and click here for a closer look at our new Generosity Ministry.
Approved the installation of a new expanded fence at the Manse. This is now in place.
Continued to review and monitor the church health and safety policies for worship and use of our buildings. This has included approving protocols for resuming in-person choir rehearsals, establishing masking policies for the Rummage Sale, and endorsing revised protocols for our Boy Scout Troop.
Accepted two dedicated gifts, each of $10,000. One will help provide special needs/benevolence support and the other is from Hillsborough Presbyterian Church and is for the work of the Hopewell Youth Collective.
Appointed Katie Rosensen as Children's Ministry Lead, which is a temporary role to help launch our Godly Play program and Sunday Morning Wisdom & Wonder for kids.
Adjusted Lucy Ducko’s terms of employment to make more money available for her retirement plan.
Authorized a donation of $3500 to our supported mission Friends for Health in Haiti, who are dealing with the aftermath of the severe earthquake and tropical storm there.
Heard an update from Michael Mills of the Sanctuary Task Force on the developing proposals to improve our worship space.
Session is also prayerfully seeking ways in which we can build trust with each other and the community, and how we can be a more invitational church.
Your Serving Elders are:
Bonnie Altieri (2024), Liz Blankstein (2022), Becky Ludeke (2024), Doug McCleery (2023), Barbara Pauley (2023), Molly Peterson (2023), Doug Robbins (2022), Sandy Sherrard (2024), Pat Swartz (2022).
Moderator: Pastor Melissa Martin
Clerk of Session: Ian Burrow
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
Generosity Committee
As we continue our mission to love like Jesus, the Generosity Ministry is a newly formed committee that has been charged by the Session to provide guidance in dispensing HPC funds to support our relationship with God as well as each other and the community. These relationships will be strengthened by focusing on being an “invitational” church.
The task of this committee is two fold:
Recommendations will be made to the Session by this committee regarding the dispensing of the 11% tithe from the church income.
It will also make recommendations regarding the distribution of monies from the Endowment Fund which was formed by the generous Sharipen gift.
Those serving on this committee are:
Pat Swartz (Session Rep)
Dick Scheetz (Deacon Rep)
Jamie Sapoch (Sharipen Task Force Rep)
Bev Mills
Joe Bevis
Ruth Mortensen
This is such a wonderful time in the life of our church to show are love to those in need with the generous financial resources we have been given. Sure to come up in our meetings over the course of the next months are our many mission partners. Organizations like: Friends for Health in Haiti, who needs help to provide health services, as countries such as Haiti are struggling having recently experienced an earthquake followed by a tropical storm. Citizens here in our own country depend upon others to provide food, clothing and shelter in times of disaster. The Presbyterian Disaster Relief Fund lends a helping hand and needs assistance to do so. Many women suffer domestic violence and abuse and survive only because of organizations such as Womanspace. Those who suffer with mental illness are supported by the National Alliance on Mental Health.
There is so much help HPC can provide. We can put our mission to love like Jesus into action. This is truly an amazing moment in the life of our church!
Ruth Mortensen
Generosity Committee
Youth: Tubing on the Delaware
The youth are going tubing!
Save the date! We’re going tubing August 22 after worship.
Hopewell Council of Churches VBS at Home: Compassion Camp
What’s Compassion Camp?
“Compassion Camp” is taking the place of this year’s traditional in-person “Vacation Bible School” by the Hopewell Council of Churches. Compassion Camp is an at-home/virtual camp designed to help us follow God and figure out what it means to have compassion for others, ourselves, and the world—even and especially in the midst of a pandemic as well as the racial and political tension in our country and world.
What does at-home/virtual camp actually entail?
While at-home/virtual learning is new to us too, the Hopewell Council of Churches is providing each family that signs up with two components:
Daily email: July 19-23 you will receive videos, PDFs of coloring sheets, and and example pictures of activities in your email inbox.
At-home-packet: For those who would like a binder with instructions and supply, we will deliver or mail a packet to you. (It will also include a few extra goodies!)
Both of these will contain…
Daily Story: Each day of will center around a story from the Bible. These stories will be told by the pastors of Hopewell. While there will be a video, sometimes it’s good to act stories out. The daily story printout will include ways you can embody the story at home. These stories include: “The Prodigal Son,” the story of Ruth & Naomi, & Jesus healing the man who was paralyzed.
Daily Song Video:
Mr. Charlie will teach a song on each day of the week. You will get a video of each song in your email every morning. There is also sheet music available for those who want to learn the music as a family.
Compassion in Action Activities:
Compassion in Action actives help us think creatively about sharing compassion. These simple, small, tangible acts help us express God’s deep compassion for each other, ourselves, and the world. These activities include: making a centerpiece for your family table, sending mail to people who need love, and planting “seeds of change.”
Create & Play Activities:
Each day features a few craft opportunities, games, and coloring pages. These are designed to help us practice our compassion skills and have fun. Examples include, a “Feelings Matching Game,” daily prayer coloring sheets, instructions for a “kindness hug” made out of paper and string to send to someone who needs a reminder of God’s love.
Movement Activity
The daily email will include a video from Miss Barb who will take us through movement practices to help us connect our wiggly bodies, busy minds, and spirits to God. She will show us how to focus our breathing alongside some basic yoga poses to embody the themes of Compassion Camp.
Who is invited to join? While this camp is geared toward both preschool-aged children and K-5th graders, it is extremely flexible, adaptable, and fun for the entire family—maybe older siblings or even the “young-at-heart.” (All you need is a willing heart and a “family guide” who can read and navigate email.)
Open to all — not just the Hopewell Community!
Summer Book Study with Student Pastor Ryan
You are invited to join us for a Summer Book Study. We will read and discuss “INSPIRED: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again” by Rachel Held Evans.
This Hybrid Zoom/In-person Book Group will meet on Tuesdays from 4-5 PM, starting July 20. If you are interested in this group, please contact the church office.
If you need help obtaining a copy of this book, don’t hesitate to reach out to the church office.
Restructuring Ministries
“Striving to be a well of hope in Hopewell, Hopewell Presbyterian’s mission is to love like Jesus, building up our relationships with God, each other, and the community.”
In the last year, not only has Session led the congregation in considering the mission God has called us to, but Session has been thinking carefully about “how” we go about achieving that mission. Part of that is determining a “focus” action for each program year (the 2021-22 focus is coming soon!) and part of that is analyzing the ways our church is set up to help us achieve the mission.
As Session did this analysis we also took into account some feedback received from our ministries. Feedback like…
‘Training new leaders and transitioning leadership with ministry committees can be difficult.’
‘Sometimes we leave ministry work feeling burnt out.’
‘We aren’t always sure what’s going on; communication could be better.’
On top of that, in this last year we have learned that there are a few areas where we want to dedicate more focus. These include:
Stewardship
Investment
Congregational/Community/Pastoral Care
Justice & Service
To respond to the feedback we received and to provide for the areas listed above, Session worked with Pastor Melissa to make two changes: 1) to provide resources for ministries to help them plan and communicate; 2) to change the ministries and their responsibilities to cover all the responsibilities listed above. The following is a “quick sheet” listing each of the ministries, their responsibilities, and a contact person (click the image for a downloadable PDF). For a summary of major changes, see below.
Changes include:
Splitting “Finances” from “Facilities,” making Financial Stewardship and Buildings & Grounds.
Putting Finance with Investments and Stewardship to make Financial Stewardship. Going forward this will be a ministry of people called by Session to serve 3 year terms.
Creating Generosity to oversee (1) mission giving and (2) dispersement of income from the investment made as a result of the Sharipen Bequest. Going forward this will be a ministry of people called by Session to serve 3 year terms.
Supporting the Deacons as they lead us in congregational and individual community care through more 1-on-1 care (much like Stephen Ministers) and through Benevolence/Special Needs Financial Support, etc.
Continuing the work of “Engaging in Justice & Service” as Justice & Service, to communicate and provide opportunities to share the love of God with our community.
As we move to this structure, everyone is encouraged to prayerfully consider if God is calling them to serve on one of the programming ministries. As we make these changes for the 2021-22 program year, the church leadership looks forward to your support in giving this new thing a try and your feedback.
Contribute a Book to the CCPS Library
Creative Connections Play School is hoping that the congregation would enjoy helping to build their library. They have some favorite authors and have compiled a list of titles by these authors that they do not yet own. See below for a complete list. To donate a book, contact Director, Liz Blankstein.
Harold's Treasure Hunt by Crockett Johnson
Will Spring Be Early or Will Spring Be Late by Crockett Johnson
Time For Spring by Crockett Johnson
A Picture For Harold's Room by Crockett Johnson
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson
Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Let's Go For a Drive by Mo Williams
Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems
This tree will be in the HPC office. When you choose your book, take your leaf so that you don’t forget your title!
2020-2021 Annual Report
Take a few moments and read our Annual Report and Financial Appendix.
Welcome Ryan MacLean!
My name is Ryan MacLean and I am originally from Sacramento, California but moved to New Jersey last August with my wife Abigail to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. I have grown up in the PCUSA but have been blessed to spend significant time with friends from other Christian traditions. I have been involved in various ministries for most of my life, doing everything from leading white water river rafting trips at summer camp to working with low-income communities in a Christian community center, as well as traditional church ministry. I love the outdoors, bread baking, craft coffee, and Old Testament studies, so please feel free to ask me about any of those things or anything else that may come to mind. I am excited to get to know and be a part of the community of Hopewell Presbyterian Church and look forward to meeting you (virtually or in-person) soon!
Rummage Sale!
SAVE THE DATE
AND PLAN TO JOIN THE FUN!
2021 RUMMAGE SALE
DONATIONS: September 12 - 15 SALE: September 16 - 18
It's time once again to go through your closets for all that unwanted clutter. We accept clean clothing in good condition, books, jewelry, toys, household items and small appliances in good working order. We do NOT accept shoes, plastic cups and bottles with advertising logos, magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, computer monitors, computers, typewriters, mattresses or large appliances. Also, please start saving plastic and paper bags.
NO LARGE FURNITURE WILL BE ACCEPTED. If you have any questions regarding furniture or any other items, please call Carol Krystek (609)-577-8819 or Pat Swartz (609-651-6029).
DONATIONS may be dropped off at the church beginning Sunday, September 12 after 3:00 pm (no sooner, please!) through noon on Wednesday, September 15. Please help out the sorters by bringing your clothing, toys and household items in separate bags or boxes. Please note, when you bring in your donations, you will be responsible for dropping them off in the area that they will be sold (for example, toys in the toy room). Volunteers will be there to help out those that need it.
VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE! Many volunteers are needed to make this sale a success every year. If you can't help during the week, please consider coming Sunday afternoon to set up clothes racks and tables, or sign up for Saturday afternoon after the sale to be part of the clean-up crew. During the week we need people to make soups and desserts for our hard workers. Come Monday through Wednesday to help sort and arrange donations. During the sale, we need baggers, checkers, and reorganizers -- and of course, shoppers too! SIGNUP IN FELLOWSHIP HALL.
Please consider getting involved in this important church wide event. Spread the word in the community, at school, or work so that we will have lots of customers during the sale.
Session News and Actions, May 2021
Session met twice in the last month. On May16th we met in the back yard of the manse to meet with seven individuals who wish to become active members of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Session voted enthusiastically to welcome Shari Adair, Joseph Bevis, Chris Cox, David Denito, Michele Immordino, Tori Paquette, David Reynolds as members. David’s 5 year-old son Ricky is also welcomed as a baptized member.
The May 26th regular (or stated) meeting was held in the somewhat warm environment of the Choir Room, with everyone masked and distanced.
Providing for Worship in a Pandemic.
In response to the steadily improving situation, Session voted to modify worship protocols again. On and after June 20th masks will still be required indoors for the time being. Indoor seating will be “self-selected” from the available rows. Masked singing is permitted. Other detailed changes were made to the outdoor service protocols and to the use policies for the buildings and staff.
Reorganizing our Ministries
Session continued the work of reorganizing our ministries, working on final details. Full details will be provided when this is complete.
Caring for and Improving Our Facilities
· Approved $28,500 to hire architect Eric Holterman of Holt Morgan Russell to produce concept, schematics design work, drawings and cost estimates for the sanctuary.
· Approved $12,000 for a heat pump and air conditioning unit to cool the library, second floor choir room, and the large and small conference rooms on the first floor.
Community
· Met with confirmation candidate Josie Blankstein and her mentor Jennifer Megaffin. Session heard and enthusiastically approved Josie’s faith statement and welcomed her as a full and active member of the church
· Received and discussed the Report “HPC Young Adult Survey Results” prepared by Elder Molly Person and Doug Peterson. This presents and analyses the results of a survey of 20 young-adults who grew up in HPC and were asked about their current t perceptions of faith, “Church”, and HPC. It has much to teach us.
· Received and approved the slate of New Officers presented by the Nominating Committee. These will be presented at the Annual Meeting on June 13th.
· Recognized the service of Elders Stan Krystek. Dick Scheetz and Todd Sutton, who are rotating off Session.
· Determined to increase the rent for our 86/88 West Broad Street properties.
· Adopted a 2021-22 budget.
Staff for the Church’s Mission and Ministry
· Approved the summer intern job description and approved hiring a summer intern at a cost of $1,350.
· Approved a sick leave policy which conforms to NJ requirements.
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
Welcome Deborah Jodrey!
Hello Hopewell friends! My name is Deborah Jodrey and I am so excited to be joining the Hopewell Presbyterian Church family and to begin working in the Hopewell community. My spouse Lindsey and I have lived in Hopewell with our three pups, Abbot, Belle, and Marvel for almost exactly one year. We moved here after I graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary and have loved taking walks with our pups through town and enjoying delicious food at Nomad Pizza and Aunt Chubby’s.
I love playing board games, music, and sports; watching the newest Marvel Universe movie and football; traveling into NYC for a musical; going on hikes; and spending time around a fire with friends and family.
I look forward to collaborating with Pastor Melissa and the other staff and leaders at HPC, and am excited to continue to care for and celebrate the youth and children who are such a vibrant part of this congregation.
I see my role in the faith formation of young people beginning by listening to young people themselves. I have already heard our young people in Hopewell articulate their desire for mental health support, relationships with a trustworthy adult s, and guidance as they navigate the pressures to achieve in school and their hope to make a difference in the community. For me, caring about the full person is vital, and faith formation begins by coming alongside each young person in the day-to-day and continues in the regular conversations that emerge, in the moments of rest and time off, and in the authentic relationships with one another, God, and the community.
When I was a teenager, I craved a space where I could bring my full self along with all my questions, doubts, and interests; a space where I was surrounding by peers that I counted on and an adult I could trust. As the Director of Youth Outreach, my hope is to cultivate a safe place where the young people in this community feel a sense of belonging, a place where they can fully be themselves—questions, answers, doubts and all—a place where they feel empowered, and a place where they feel cared for and supported. This will include a focus on developing relationships, nurturing spiritual practices and theological reflection, and creating meaningful opportunities to serve the community."
I am also really looking forward to getting to know the young people and families throughout Hopewell and to work with them to create the Hopewell Youth Collective—a space where we can ask questions about faith, find support, build relationships, serve the community, and have fun and laugh a little along the way.
Watch below to hear Josie B. interview Deborah. Click here to see Director of Youth Outreach Job Description.
Slate of New Officers
Session Class of 2024
Bonnie Altieri
Becky Ludeke
Sandy Sherrard
Deacons Class of 2024
Sue Armington
Laurie Bleickardt
Sherry Gesregan
Kathie Sutton
Deacon Class of 2022
Dick Scheetz
Nominating Committee Class of 2024
Lois Grieves
Special thanks to all those completing faithful service.
Elders: Stan Krystek, Dick Scheetz, and Todd Sutton
Deacons: Anne Hayton, Anne Scheier, Bev Mills, Ruth Mortensen, Haley Yingling and Paige Yingling
Nominating Committee: Sandy Ogg