Announcements
Garden of Grace
Thank you so much to Anne & Bob Hayton, Liz Blankstein, Jennifer Stoveken, Lori Horton for all that you have done to nurture and maintain the raised bed crops in the Garden of Grace. We experienced another very good year of fresh produce grown and delivered to the Chubby’s Project. These vegetables were either incorporated into prepared meals or delivered “as-is" for families to enjoy as they wish.
Here's our 2023 season-end tally:
Sweet peas: 8 lbs
Swiss chard: 21.75 lbs
Cucumbers: 35.75 lbs
String Beans (purple): 3.5 lbs
This resulted in a total of about 69 lbs of fresh produce. This yield is less than last year; a couple of possible contributing factors might include:
· Nearby trees are thriving (a good thing!) but some areas of the garden appear to experience more shade.
· An extreme dry spell in the middle of the season might have impacted the cucumbers.
· Goldfinch loved the swiss chard and it was challenging to beat them to the perfect leaves.
· The string beans were unremarkable. Very pretty but not very tasty. We opted to not deliver them to Chubby's after the first large yield.
New Officers
Elders
Chelsea Hall
We've been attending Hopewell since Fall of 2021 when Andy was looking for possible internship placements. We have felt immensely loved and welcomed ever since. When I became an Elder back in Arizona several years ago it really allowed me to get to know the folks of my church on a much deeper level, and I am looking forward to becoming even more familiar with the life and work of Hopewell.
Favorite Bible verse: The entire chapter of Job 38, highlight reel includes 38:4-18.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
Pat Swartz
I came to HPC so my daughter, Lela, would be baptized, on Memorial Day weekend 1992. I’ve been a member for 32 years.
I don’t have a favorite Bible verse. I have different ones that come to me at different times. A recent verse is Nehemiah 8:10 “…The joy of the Lord is my strength. “ This life’s you up.
One from my Confirmation is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” No matter what happens in life God is there with you.
The following two always spoke to me.
John 11:45 “Jesus wept”, the shortest verse in the Bible. It shows us he experienced and understood the same feelings as the people around Him. He identifies and empathizes with our hurt.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Who needs the multitude of, how to be happy books, when you have this verse. It says it all. Fill your mind with positive thoughts.
Deacons
Breeann Blumenthal
I have been a member at HPC for a year and a half! When I moved to Princeton in 2021, to finish my MDiv at Princeton Theological Seminary, I was looking for a church home. A few friends recommended HPC! After attending a few Sundays, I fell in love with the people, the community, and how focused HPC is on outreach. It is such a joy to be part of this congregation!
I am excited to serve as a deacon to continue getting to know the congregation and becoming more involved with the needs of our community.
My favorite Bible verse is 1 Samuel 16:7. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
Anne Hayton
I've been a member of HPC since around 1995. Bob and I joined HPC after our first son John was born. We were married at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in 1989. I was raised within a Catholic family, Bob was raised within a Protestant family. I began attending services at HPC in the early 1990's and was really drawn by the strong sense of togetherness and caring among congregants that I hadn't experienced at other faith denominations. I was also drawn by the fresh (perhaps more expansive) look at scripture which rang truer to my sense of faith. I found the interpretation of scripture, through the sermons and activities at HPC, to be very inspiring and compassion-action oriented. We decided to join as a family in 1995, when we also prepared for John's Baptism. Our second son, Mark, was also Baptized here.
Joyce Homan encouraged me to join the Deacons many moons ago. For several "rounds", I had declined, feeling uncertain and ill-equipped. But Joyce is kindly persistent. I finally joined, over 7 years ago, and then served two terms in succession. From the get-go, I was continually inspired by each one of my deacon peers. I learned everyone brings their own unique gifts to the table. And sometimes you don't really know what that gift might be, until you're in a role that brings it out. Mostly, I loved how everyone works together in service. I was recently "off" Deacons for a bit, but I look forward to serving in this role again.
A favorite prayer of mine is the Prayer of St. Francis -- for me, it captures the essence of many of the parables in the New Testament.
Jimena Hijak
I came to Hopewell Presbyterian Church to use the kitchen to make empanadas three years ago. Because everyone is so friendly and makes you feel like family, I joined HPC in May of 2022.
I am excited to be a Deacon because they help people and it is my nature to always help others.
My favorite Bible verses are:
The Story of the Widow in Luke 7:11-17. “When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’” Luke 7:13
The Story of Abraham in Genesis 22. “and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:18
The Last Supper in Matthew 26:17-30 where we learn how God feeds all of us and I enjoy feeding people.
Carlana Sargent
I have been a member for over 40 years, drawn in and kept here by the caring community in this church.
I am excited to serve in order to continue this spirit of caring, to be Christ’s hands and feet here in this time and place.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Christ saying in Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Got a Green (or Purple) Thumb?
You're invited to help grow beautiful vegetables in HPC's Garden of Grace! This garden of 3 raised beds along Louellen Street was started 2 years ago under our former Engaging in Justice and Service Ministry.
The impetus for this garden was, and continues to be, providing fresh vegetables for the Chubby's Project, a local, nonprofit, community service organization lending a helping hand to those facing food insecurity and other concerns. The Sharing Garden at St. Michael's Preserve provides the bulk of vegetables needed by the Chubby's project, which is also supplemented by produce from several generous area farmers. However, the Garden of Grace is small but mighty! Last year, in addition to other vegetables, we provided over 80 lbs of cucumbers and 9 lbs of snap peas, the core source of these particular vegetables to the Chubby's project last year. Snap peas are once again in the ground and we're looking forward to this new growing season!
Please consider joining us in this fun and "fruitful" endeavor! No gardening experience necessary! We welcome individuals and families of all ages and abilities to help us plant seeds or seedlings, water the garden, and harvest the goods in the coming growing season. If interested in helping in some way, please sign-up here.
If you're not quite sure, but interested to learn more, contact Anne Hayton or the Church Office.
Creation Care Service Project
On Sunday, April 2nd, twenty people (including 4 children) came out to volunteer at the Sourland tree nursery. The day was a great success!
Letter from Sourland Conservancy
I want to thank you and your team again for all of the hard work performed on April 2nd at the tree nursery. It may seem like a simple nursery reorganization but it goes a long way for our effort at reforestation in the Sourland Region. It gives our staff more time to put toward planting and other projects and also increases our efficiency. The tree nursery is an essential part of our operations and it's upkeep as you saw, can be quite the chore.
I hope your group was able to enjoy the day and experience a little of the beauty that comes with working outdoors and meeting some of its more slithery locals. We will definitely have more work if you would like to join another event whether it be at the Farmstead or in the woods. The Hopewell Presbyterian Church is always welcome.
Thank you so much,
Robert Aluck
Stewardship Director
Sourland Conservancy
Creation Care Service Project
Our April Lunch and Learn series is focused on Creation Care and how we are called to be good stewards of God's creation, earth -- home and wondrous gift to all earth's inhabitants! Our first Creation Care activity/reflection will be an outside Service Project on April 2nd, Palm Sunday, in partnership with our friends at the Sourland Conservancy, a local organization aimed at protection, promotion, and preservation of the unique character of the Sourland Mountain region – a refuge of natural and cultural diversity in our region. Following Palm Sunday worship service, we'll travel to a beautiful piece of land on Hollow Road, Skillman, NJ (just 4 miles from here), managed by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) and the Sourland Conservancy. The Sourland region is experiencing a devastating loss of trees from invasive pests and disease. Our goal is to create a protective buffer of compostable cardboard and wood chips around the Sourland Conservancy's new tree nursery at that location. The tree nursery is a temporary staging area for native, healthy young trees -- to be planted elsewhere later this year to help restore our forests. Join us for as little or as much time as your schedule allows!
Here are the details:
Date: Sunday, April 2nd
Time: 12:00pm -2:30pm
Location: 183 Hollow Rd., Skillman NJ 08558
NOTE: We will have access to a building with a restroom and kitchen. Light refreshments will be provided.
We hope you can join us! To learn more and sign-up, please click here.
Questions? Please contact Anne Hayton. Thank-you!
HPC Deacons, a Ministry of Collaboration
Serving You, and Serving With You
For many years, one of the primary ministries of the HPC Deacons has been to support the church’s members and friends through a Member Care network. This thoughtfully arranged system pairs Deacons with individuals and families to provide an ongoing channel of care. They seek to: be a resource and point of contact; to stay in contact with everyone, as best they can; and to help meet special needs as they arise. Those needs often center around life transitions like births, changes of address or employment, illness, and death.
Supporting people with special needs, or in times of unexpected difficulty, is a multi-faceted ministry. Deacons are prepared to offer prayer and companionship as well as delivered meals, transportation, and coordinating other types of assistance. But they don’t do it alone!
A great blessing at HPC, and one for which the Deacons are deeply grateful, is the large corps of “helpers” in this ministry – all of you who regularly assist with Member Care tasks. Your hands and feet can make meals, visit the lonely or ill, send encouraging cards, make phone calls, welcome new community members, and walk alongside people going through tough times. You might be the person who’s in the best position to do these things, or you might just want to be part of a team that can make Jesus’ teaching a reality.
‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
from Matthew 25:31-40
If you have a need, you can reach out to your Member Care Deacons directly, and they will work with the pastor and others to offer help. If you don’t know who your Deacons are, please check with Lucy Semple in the church office, lducko@hopewellpres.org. Often, Lucy can also point you to specific connections or resources that might be useful.
If you’d like to help meet some of those needs, Kathie Sutton is the Deacon who coordinates meals and transportation.
Supporting Your Desire to Serve
On behalf of HPC, the Deacons also seek to support your own service and outreach efforts. That’s why they were able (and very pleased) to make a $500 donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation when Chloe Hogan had her head shaved last week as part of a fund-raiser at her school.
Cat Fulmer-Hogan, Chloe’s mom, explains,
“Chloe has been watching this initiative year after year at her elementary school under the leadership of her wonderful Principal at Bear Tavern Elementary, Chris Turnbull. She has wanted to participate, but was too afraid. She told me recently that all of the local actions she engaged in at my side…the marches, rallies, vigils, and forums made her feel brave enough to do this thing. This made her Mama cry.
Chloe lost both her Pop Pop and her Godfather to cancer. She doesn’t want any child to go through what they went through.
St. Baldrick’s, the largest charitable funder of pediatric grants, is pretty remarkable. Less than 4% of their budget goes towards administrative costs. As an individual who devotes a lot of time to the nonprofits I serve, I can assure you that this is remarkable.”
Pastor Melissa brought this outreach opportunity before the Deacons, who enthusiastically voted to support Chloe’s goal. To see her participant page, and consider adding a personal donation, please go to https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ChloeHogan – where Chloe herself says, “Kids with cancer need our support now more than ever. St. Baldrick’s is the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, and the pandemic has slashed donations, slowing down the progress to find cures. Cancer kills more of our kids than any other disease, and research can change that.”
The Board of Deacons has a budget fund to be used, at its discretion and in confidence when necessary, for various types of congregational care. Occasionally, that allows them to make donations that celebrate and support outreach efforts personally made by HPC members and friends. If you’d like to know more, please speak directly with Pastor Melissa or Deacon Moderator Laura Morreale.
“For it is in giving that we receive.”
from the Prayer of St. Francis
Rise Against Hunger Recap
10,000 Meals! Along with ingredients, so much love and hopefulness directed towards our far-away neighbors and shared among our nearby church family and friends. Many thanks to all who participated in some way, through either planning, pre-event preparations, workstation set-up, meal packaging, and break-down -- all of which made this event both fun and successful! Keep an eye out for news regarding the final destination of the Rise Against Hunger meals we packed on March 5th. Thank-you!
Session News and Actions February 2023
One of the joys of Session’s work is the way in which we begin each meeting by sharing things for which we are grateful in the life of the church, and we end it with gratitude for the way in which we feel our work has been blessed. These practices keep us focused on our common purpose and calling.
Two more baptisms are on the way: May 7th Luca Jose Sanchez, and May 29th Bodhi Miles Watkins.
Mission Trip this summer. This church has had a long history of undertaking intergenerational mission trips. This tradition is back! Session agreed to participate with Flemington Presbyterian Church in a mission trip to Mission to the Eastward in Maine between July 22nd and 29th. More details to follow.
A detailed update from the Sanctuary Taskforce indicated that although some costs had (unsurprisingly) increased, the work was progressing well. There has been a change to schedule which will be announced this coming Sunday. Session voted to approve an addition to the work scope: recarpeting the Welcome Center with the same carpet as is being used in the sanctuary. The existing carpet is showing its age after 10 years of intensive use, and Session feels that the addition is in keeping with the mission of the Sharipen bequest, and will provide impetus for improving the way the Welcome Center does its job.
Rise Against Hunger event Sunday March 5th: Session voted to provide $5750 to this event, allowing us to accommodate 50 volunteers and prepare over 10,000 meals.
The 2022 church Annual Statistical Report has been sent to Presbytery. Two takeaways: 1. We have 166 active members (a net increase of eight from 2021) and 86 friends. 2. Numbers in weekly worship remained virtually the same at an average of 80.
The Financial Stewardship Ministry has provided suggestions for addressing the continued shortfall between receipts from tithes and offerings and the expenditures for the day-to-day running of the church. This generated a productive discussion. Fundraiser events, focused on specific aspects of the church’s work, we felt to be a promising idea. Watch this space.
Session received with gratitude the final draft of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Employee Handbook, prepared by the Personnel Committee. This comprehensive 70-plus page document is an essential tool for our church as we change and grow. Many thanks to those who have worked so hard and diligently on this major task.
We received reports from both Creative Connections Play School and Hearts & Hammers.
Staffing: Session is in the midst of a discussion about a salaried position focusing on Children and Family Ministry and will be seeking input from the congregation on the why, how and if of this.
Gratefully,
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
Annual Youth LBI Retreat
All youth are invited to join us for our annual youth retreat to Long Beach Island. We will leave from Hopewell Presbyterian Church (Louellen side) on Friday, March 17 at 4:30pm and will return to Hopewell Pres on Sunday, March 19 by 12:00pm. This retreat will take place at a large beach house and will include time to connect, to play, to laugh, to rest, and to have robust conversations around the support our youth need in their lives as they navigate climate change, mental health crises, and so much more. We won't solve all the world's problems, but maybe start with some good ideas of how to navigate all of this in our local Hopewell community. This retreat will be led and chaperoned by Deborah Jodrey, our HYC intern, Lauren Ghighi, and our faithful volunteer, Mary Kyner. Please use this link to to sign up. Sign ups and paperwork must be in by March 12. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Mission Trip with Flemington Presbyterian
Flemington Presbyterian Church (FPC) has an ongoing partnership with Mission at the Eastward (MATE), a building projects nonprofit in Maine, and has sent volunteers for mission trips there in the past. FPC will be hosting another trip this summer and has invited HPC to come along. This trip is open to all adults and youth, rising 9th graders and up. If a middle schooler would like to join, a parent or guardian would need to accompany them on the trip. The trip will be July 22 to 29, 2023. There will be a series of fundraisers between now and then, coordinated by FPC that we are also invited to participate in. The trip costs $75 for adult participants, $150 for college students, and $250 for youth. The fundraisers aim to bring these costs down. We are very excited to also share that representatives from FPC will be joining us for worship this Sunday, 3/12, to share a little more about the trip, and will stay after to answer any questions. HPC is so excited to get back into an annual tradition of participating in a summer mission trip!
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.”
Session Highlights: January 2023
HPC Session and New Members
Session met twice in January. On January 22nd we were excited to receive an inspiring group of new members to Hopewell Presbyterian. These people bring a wonderful range of gifts, talents and perspectives to our community.
The regular (stated) meeting of January 25th as usual received reports from the many groups involved in the mission and vision of the church.
Session had to note with concern that our regular tithes and offerings continue to be well below what has been budgeted. Although giving in January, especially on-line, was good, Session is very aware that some decisions may need to be made in the near future in order to match our expenses to our giving receipts. We have tasked Finance and Stewardship with presenting recommendations for our next meeting. Session is confident that the Lord will generously provide, but our response must include us being good stewards of our resources.
As always, Session spent time in prayer and contemplation on this and other matters, and raised up members, friends and others in the community who are experiencing times of difficulty.
One of the people we seek to care for is Pastor Melissa. Since she became our pastor in 2019 she has steered this congregation through a time of unprecedented change, challenge and growth. The Covid pandemic (still somewhat with us) required radical and difficult rethinking about how to “do church”, and has accelerated wider cultural shifts. She has had the difficult task of helping us deal with the deaths of several people who were real “pillars of the church” and whose counsel is missed. Another challenge, albeit a joyous one, has been working out the church’s response to the unprecedented Sharipen Bequest. She has been instrumental in the establishment of the Hopewell Youth Collective, and in helping us decide to move forward with the sanctuary renovation project. We ask a lot of her. We receive even more in return.
In the light of these and the many other ways in which Pastor Melissa has so faithfully and energetically served this congregation, Session voted unanimously to grant Pastor Melissa a Sabbatical of eight weeks between June and August of 2023. The Office of the General Assembly recommends that sabbaticals be taken after six or seven years of service, but Pastor Melissa’s terms of call permit her sabbatical time to be accrued at two weeks per year. She is requesting the time for rest, prayer and contemplation, as well as to research and develop a book proposal on the “theology of divorce”. We are confident that HPC, with its strong tradition of effective lay leadership, will handle her absence with confidence, energy and focus. If you have questions or concerns please contact Ian Burrow or Elder Doug McCleery.
Session warmly endorsed a proposal to provide a service project on Sunday March 4th with Rise Against Hunger. This will be a meal packing experience in Fellowship Hall similar to the one we did a couple of years ago at Hopewell Elementary School, and requires adjustment to the time and duration of the worship service. The hope is to have around 60 volunteers assemble about 12,000 meals for distribution worldwide. HPC will cover the cost for these meals as a part of the mission budget. More details to follow, but mark your calendar now! This will be a joyful, inspiring and educational event for all.
There was discussion of several other important issues and initiatives at the Session meeting, but because of the volume of work these will be taken up again at the next meeting.
As always, feel free to reach out me, Pastor Melissa, or any of the Session: Bonnie Altieri, Chris Cox, Becky Ludeke, Doug McCleery, Ruth Mortensen, Molly Peterson and Sandy Sherrard.
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
Hopewell Council of Churches Lenten Services
Services will be held at 7:00 PM this year (Please note the change in worship time from previous years)
2/22 - Ash Wednesday - Hopewell United Methodist Church - Pastor Dennis O’Neill
3/1 - Calvary Baptist Church will host - Pastor Melissa Martin
3/8 - St. Alphonsus Church will host - Pastor Willy Mafuta
3/15 - Second Calvary Baptist Church will host - Father Stephen Sansevere
3/22 - Hopewell Presbyterian Church will host - Pastor Greg
3/29 - Calvary Baptist Church will host - Pastoral Intern Sarah Mayer
Easter Sunrise Service (6 am) at Highland Cemetery - Pastor Gregory Smith
The joy of giving!
The Generosity Ministry, comprised of Pat Swartz (chair), Joe Bevis, Ruth Mortensen, Jamie Sapoch and Bev Mills, is charged with distributing the “mission” giving of HPC. Generosity receives 8% of the monthly member giving and determines to which organizations we should donate our resources. This we have done for many, many years, formerly under the name of the Mission Committee.
Amazingly, now, we have the added responsibility of donating a portion of the exceptionally generous bequest funds provided by the Alex and Eunice Sharipen. It is an awesome responsibility, in the true sense of the word, to decide where to donate the Sharipen monies. There are many needs and many worthy organizations. This is what we determined to do with the most recent funding:
On Friday, January 20th, Bev and Michael Mills had the pleasure of delivering HPC’s donation of $75,000 to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Our donation arrived at the precise moment in time when TASK is launching its new strategic plan to develop a second serving site in Trenton, likely in the Chambersburg neighborhood. Our significant donation therefore becomes the “lead gift” in their brand new fundraising campaign, sure to parlay into much more from many other sources. They were thrilled with our unexpected contribution, and the Generosity Committee was thrilled to be able to provide it.
We have had a long relationship with TASK; we’ve sent volunteers monthly to help serve food for many, many years and we’ve also consistently donated a portion of HPC’s yearly member giving income.
Left to right: Denise Barricklow (TASK’s Manager of Annual Giving), Michael Mills, Bev Mills, Paul Jensen (TASK’s Associate Executive Director for Operations), Kathy Schroeher (Vice Chair of TASK’s Board of Directors), Mia Hart (Manager of TASK’s Adult Education and Work Preparedness Program)
On Friday, January 27th, Pastor Melissa, Bev Mills and Ruth Mortensen had a wonderful experience delivering $75,000 to Arm in Arm, another hard-working local agency which began as Crisis Ministries, a food pantry for families in need. Arm in Arm has expanded its mission to help solve local housing insecurity by providing financial resources to families nearing eviction. Hearing more and more about the problematic end of the national covid eviction moratorium and the arrival of new immigrants in our area, we have designated our Arm in Arm donation for housing assistance.
Left to right: Jimmy Torres (AIA Mobile Pantry Coordinator), Leticia Hernandez (AIA Pantry Coordinator), Pastor Melissa, Ruth Mortensen, Louise Senior (AIA Volunteer Master Gardener), Bev Mills, Arthur Hui(AIA volunteer), David Fox (AIA Executive Director), Dave Ziegler(AIA Volunteer), Cecilia Avila (AIA Director of Hunger Prevention), Maureen Hunt (AIA Chief Development Officer), Cynthia Mendez (AIA Director of Housing Stability Services)
We expect to host representatives from both TASK and Arm in Arm at HPC this spring to hear more about their important work and ways we can partner. Please watch for those dates.
Finally, the Generosity Committee was pleased to be able to send $100,000 to Friends for Health in Haiti. During the 2021 earthquake more than 2,200 people died and nearly 13,000 were injured. Several infrastructures and 130,000 houses collapsed. Dr. Katie Wolf at Friends for Health in Haiti, who has run an amazing medical mission there for many years, has been trying to raise funds to help the local people rebuild their homes. We designated $60,000 to complete that request, and the additional $40,000 to supply their regular clinic and staff needs.
Please refer to the websites of these three organization to learn more.
We on the Generosity Committee are grateful to the congregation for entrusting us with this important task – the task of giving away our resources – and doing so with a sense of gratitude for all that we’ve been given.
Click here to see the letters we received in response to these donations.
Parenting in Challenging Times
Beginning in March, HPC will be hosting an eight-week support group called Parenting in Challenging Times. This group will be geared toward parents whose children or youth are experiencing mental health challenges. The group will meet on Wednesdays from 7:30-9pm at the church. It will be free for participants, and will be open to anyone in the community with advance registration (up to 10 participants). The group will be facilitated by Dr. Jill Richards and Sarah Geser, LCSW, both from Comprehensive Mental Health Services. If interested, please call (609) 737-7797, extension 168, and leave a message with your name and phone number expressing interest in the Parenting in Challenging Times support group. A representative will then return your call for a brief consultation about whether the group can best meet your needs.
Financial Stewardship
Dear HPC Family,
It has been said that money is an acid test of your faithfulness. Some have also postulated that God uses it more than any other thing in our lives to stretch our faith.
Why? Because it’s the thing people have a hard time with. Each of us struggle with the pull of money–not just Wall Street or regions decimated by the loss of industry. No. Right here in Central New Jersey, right here in Hopewell Township, right here with our congregation at Hopewell Presbyterian Church. The management of money and our financial giving is a challenge.
It does not just affect the young or the old. It does not just affect individuals but organizations. And it especially pops up in times like these: times affected by economic headwinds, rising inflation, payment of bills, making the mortgage or rent, or saving for the future (college, a house, retirement).
Into these times of uncertainty and topics that make us uncomfortable, God speaks.
One example of this is from a parable from the gospel of Matthew where Jesus says: “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 24:21)
This text is an example of the ways in which faithful money management is a part of our call and how it is celebrated. In this story God celebrates it through: affirmation, promotion, and more celebration!
God affirms by saying, “Good job! In hard times, you have been trustworthy with what you have been given. Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The second step is promotion. As you show faithfulness with a few things, God will give you greater responsibility.
Then, as you show your responsibility, God will celebrate with you. You will share in God’s happiness!
This is something that happens on both an individual level or on a corporate level. We as a community over the course of the last years–through your generous gifts and through giving of Alex and Eunice Sharipen–HPC has been given much responsibility. As we continue to strive to be faithful in both of these great gifts, the Financial Stewardship Ministry wants to invite you to a special Lunch and Learn on Feb. 5 where we will walk through the way finances at HPC are being managed. Specifically, how…
The Sharipen Bequest is being stewarded to inspire new mission and ministry–to the tune of $150,000 per year.
Your tithes and offerings are being stewarded to support our regular mission giving and our general operating budget–a budget that is currently set at $386,743. This breaks down into the following:
Mission & Benevolence: $4,975
Programming (music, worship, education, service, fellowship): $13,000
Facilities: $74,888
Church Support (office supplies, etc.): $6,700
Personnel: $247,080
It is our sincerest hope that we can answer questions, affirm the gifts you have shared, encourage further discernment, and celebrate with God. Come with your questions.
With gratitude,
Scott Megaffin
Pastor Melissa
Financial Stewardship Ministry
MLK Days of Service were a huge success!
In about three hours on Sunday, January 15th, (less than we projected) over 40 people completed the multiple steps needed for 4 dozen reusable bags and also lovingly decorated over 50 bags for the delivery of meals from the Chubby’s Project.
Eighty people came out to Fellowship Hall on Monday, January 16th and made 420 muffin tops for Chubby’s Project, 15 blankets for the Rescue Mission of Trenton, what feels like miles of plarn was produced that will be woven into ground mats for the Rescue Mission of Trenton, hundreds of bags were decorated for Seeds to Sew, and 1500 seed packs were prepared for the Sourland Conservancy! Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who came out and to Hopewell Gives Back and the Hopewell Youth Collective for leading this successful day of service. We will see you next year!
Session at Work: November 2022
At the last stated meeting of the year, on November 30th, Session:
Heard with gratitude that giving increased significantly in November.
Continued to seek to discern the best uses for our Sharipen Bequests:
1. Determined that a minimum of $150,000 should be withdrawn from the Sharipen investments every year, regardless of the exact figure generated from the investments. This will assist the work of the Generosity Committee in recommending disbursements to support to witness of the church.
2. Instructed that $50,000 from the latest installment of the Sharipen bequest be assigned to the Memorial Funds. The Memorial Funds are commonly used for building maintenance and improvement projects.
Carried out one of our regular reviews of masking policy, which reads as follow “As it pertains to indoor worship, For the foreseeable future, HPC will use the New Jersey Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | COVID-19 Weekly Surveillance Reports to guide our decision making regarding the need for masking. When the Community Level is reported as ‘High’ masks will be required indoors”.
Addressed Mental and Spiritual Health in the Community. Two important initiatives were approved:
1. Hopewell Presbyterian Church will sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Comprehensive Mental Health Services of Pennington for the latter to provide a mental health counselling program for families with children who are having mental health issues. In return for CMHS running the program with qualified professional staff, HPC will host this program in the church buildings, and cover the cost of professional counselling of $5000. This new program will be completely free to registrants, and marks an important step in our commitment to mental wellbeing in our community. This is possible because of the Sharipen Bequest Grants.
2. A “Lost Loved Ones Support Group” will be led by Joanne Pawleko at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in December 2022 through February 2023. No use fee will be charged for use of the church building by the Support Group, which is open to all.
Heard with great thanks that Kathy Schramm has agreed to be ordained and installed as a Deacon upon the vote of the congregation.
Forwarded to the Deacons a recommendation to support a family in Hopewell facing housing insecurity, as this is an excellent use of the $50,000 entrusted to the Deacons by the Sharipen Endowment.
Approved recommendations by the Generosity Committee for donations to the following:
1. $100,000 to Friends for Health in Haiti
2. $75,000 to Arm in Arm (a Trenton-based non-profit which “connects people in need of food, housing and job support with people who want to help”.
3. $75,000 to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
As usual, Session closed its meeting by sharing gratitude for the work we are able to do. Session continues to give great thanks that the Sharipen Bequests are empowering this church do new things.
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
New Members Class
Sundays 12:15-1:00 PM after Fellowship Time:
During the month of January, Lunch & Learn will be dedicated to our new member class. All those interested in becoming members are asked to attend the following. In addition, long time members are also encouraged to join, so we can each share our experiences of HPC and everyone gets a refresher!
January 8 - What does it mean to be a Presbyterian? - 12:15-1:00 PM - Ian Burrow, Clerk of Session
January 15 - What does it mean to be a member of a church family? - 12:15-1:00 PM - Pastor Melissa
January 22 - New Member lunch and tour with Session at 12:00 PM This is required for all new members and will include a time of sharing with Session about what has drawn you to HPC and how you hope to grow in your love for God, for the family of HPC, and for the community through membership. Then Session will vote officially to receive you.
January 29- New Member Sunday! During worship you will be officially received by the HPC congregation and we will celebrate during coffee fellowship time!
Hygiene Supplies for TASK
On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, please join us in an Advent service project for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, TASK, by assembling much-needed hygiene supplies to be distributed by TASK to their patrons. Throughout the year, TASK provides a wide range of support to those without housing or other means. These services include hot, nutritious meals in a welcoming environment, to-go meals, and many other living essentials such as clothing and hygiene items. HPC has a long history of supporting TASK in these efforts, including meal service volunteers, afterschool tutors, clothing and hygiene supplies, and a strong commitment to annual financial support. TASK currently needs a replenished supply of hygiene items. Our plan: to gather the supplies listed below and assemble hygiene bags after fellowship time on Sunday, Dec. 11th. We will have gallon-size Ziploc bags available for this purpose.
Please consider donating the following items* in the coming days leading up to Dec. 11th .
There will be two dark blue bins, marked “TASK”, located in the office entrance foyer for this purpose.
*Standard size of shampoo or body wash (~12-15 oz), Bar soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorants, Disposal razors
If you can provide several of a selected item, together we will combine these into the needed hygiene bags. Please contact Anne Hayton with any questions. Thank-you!