Announcements
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!
Sanctuary Task Force Update
Pictured above are most of the members of the Sanctuary Task Force: Michal Mills, Steve Quinlan, Sandy Sherrard (not pictured), Kathie Sutton, and Pastor Melissa.
This month marks a milestone in the history of our Church: we are beginning construction of the Sanctuary renovation project that has been planned for over a year. The project will address deferred maintenance of some features like the stained glass windows and the condition of woodwork and pews. It also seeks to transform our worship space in ways that will better support our worship now and in the future. The project respects the architectural legacy of the building and will restore the vibrancy of its woodwork, flooring, and other finishes. By improving sound, video, and light we will make our space more accessible and better for all to be able to participate in weekly worship at Hopewell Presbyterian Church.
Starting November 20, we will be worshipping in Fellowship Hall to give the Sanctuary space to the contractors for executing the needed work. That means that November 13 is our last Sunday worshiping in the Sanctuary until the project is planned to be completed before Easter 2023. This is a big change and may be sad or difficult. To provide space for that, this week the sanctuary is open to you to enjoy and there is a table where you can see some of the plans, pictures, and offer stories about how the sanctuary has been an important space for you. Additionally, Sunday we will recognize this and look with eyes of hope toward the future that this change will provide. To help you get a picture for what’s happening, the Sanctuary Task Force will have a table in Fellowship Hall Sunday with the architect’s drawings for the project, and some samples of materials that we are recommending. We invite you to review the project, and we will be there to answer any questions that you may have.
Timeline
Nov. 9-13 - Opportunity to visit the sanctuary and reflect on the important role this space (in it’s current configuration) has played in many of our lives.
Nov. 13 - Worship & Communion - As we celebrate All Saints Sunday we will also celebrate the work of many saints to provide this worship space for us as well as pray for the many saints to come who will worship in this space.
Nov. 15 - Work in the Sanctuary begins. At this point, Baxter Construction will begin their work. They will be using the old church entrance so as to not obstruct our use of the main entrance and welcome center.
Nov. 20 - Worship begins in Fellowship Hall. As we enter this time of transition, session, the staff, and the task force ask for your patience as we work together to figure out a new space.
December 24 - For Christmas Eve, the 5pm service (our family friendly Pick-Up-Pageant) will take place in Fellowship Hall. The 8pm Candleight Service will take place at the Old School Baptist Meeting House (46-48 West Broad—one block from HPC).
The hope is that we will be returning to the updated sanctuary for Holy Week and Easter. As we hope for this, please hold the building process, our builders, architects and the supply chain in prayer.
Project Overview
Specific details about the background of this project can be found in our communication from a few months ago. Click here. In many ways, this project extend the work of the “Making Connections” campaign and address maintenance concerns that have developed over the past few years.
Audio Visual
This project strives to live into our Presbyterian charge to provide for a space of worship that “encourages community, is accessible to all, and opens us to reverence for God. Worship space is not to be an escape from the world, but a place for encountering the God of all creation who gathers us in and sends us out.” Audio and visual is a big part of that. This proposal provides for a new sound system that would comprise digital mixing architecture with control via multiple cross- platform devices (e.g. iPads, Android tablets, and smartphones). Inputs would include new wired receptacles (to avoid visible cables and tripping hazards on the floor), direct input boxes to convert unbalanced electronic instrument outputs to balanced signals, suspended microphones to pick up congregational sound, new wireless microphone transmitters and receivers compatible with FCC requirements, a feed from Zoom, and a new hearing assist system to meet ADA requirements for a public assembly space.
This may be paired with smaller screens two of which will face the congregation (allowing the congregation to see) and two of which will face the chancel (allowing the worship leaders to see). There will also be capacity for on wall projection.
Lighting
Addressing the glare and lighting issues in the sanctuary is a major goal of this project. The primary focus of any lighting design is considering the safety, security, and well being of the occupants as they enter and exit the Church. This takes into consideration issues like glare and sightlines. The Task Force’s proposal is to use uplighting to make it so the sanctuary is bright (enough light for the aging eye and to counteract other issues of glare, namely on the front window), accentuate the architecture of the space, and provide for a flexible lighting scheme in which fixtures would draw the eye of worshipers heavenward. On top of that, this plan accounts for digital lighting controls and apps will produce further savings by managing lighting schedules. Tablets, phones, and laptops can be programmed with an app to activate and control lighting. The control system would be connected to a network modem allowing one to control the lighting remotely.
Shading of Main Stained Glass & Refurbishing Side Windows
The Sanctuary Taskforce recognizes that as we adjust the lighting in the room the glare will change. We are hoping to address as much of the problem with interior lighting as possible (limiting any obstruction of the stained glass). That being said, should the problem persist (which it is likely to to some degree), the following idea is being considered: an interior motorized shade that will be hidden in the “casing” we are building to frame window. This will be complimented by the fact that we are removing the tall cabinets and installing lower aesthetically consistent built-in storage.
The light in the sanctuary is also affected by the side windows. Taking your feedback, we have decided to refurbish the existing stained glass windows.
Layout & Seating
Accessibility, function, flexibility and theological aesthetic all played a key role in the proposed design for layout and seating.
Stage: This plan proposes a chancel or stage to be one step up from seating level to increase visibility and thus function. This stage is to be assembled from multiple pieces, with a semi-permanent section across the front wall. This will allow for wiring to go beneath the floor and to remain out of sight. Then there will be a front section that can be rearranged if a different layout is desired. Ramp to be installed in northeast corner to increase accessibility and ease of equipment.
Removal of Interior Stair: The existing interior stair at the front of the sanctuary is rarely used. The stair is not required by code for emergency egress. Removing the stair will free up space along the east wall and allow for a new symmetrical arrangement of built-in storage and chancel stage.
Seating: Seating is one area where we can really bring flexibility into our worship space. Holding together traditions of the past and flexibility for the future, the proposal is to continue to have both pews and chairs. The proposal is to have eight of existing pews to be refurbished and modified by cutting in two at divider and reconstructed as angled pew. The remainder of seating will be new wood chairs that can be ganged together or arranged separately, as required. This provides for flexibility in how the front of the sanctuary is used. The chairs will have upholstered seats and hymnal storage. Matching cushions will be made for the pews.
Storage
Proposed Storage Solutions:
Front Cabinets: Remove existing wood cabinets at east wall. Provide new wood lower cabinets with doors below large stained glass window. Provide new wood low storage with hinged top to left and right of new cabinets. Lowering the storage will keep it discreet and prevent detracting from the sense of openness around the east stained glass window. Fold-out choir risers could be incorporated into storage units. Existing stair to lower level to be removed. See Proposed Drawings.
A/V Room/Storage Closet: Remove existing shelves. Reorganize closet and add tiers of shelving on north and west walls to maximize storage.
Finishes
Addressing the finishes includes both addressing some maintenance needs and offering overall aesthetic cohesiveness to the space. Finishes include but are not limited to: repainting the walls and ceiling (addressing the peeling paint in the rear bay of the nave where the paint is flaking), refinishing the existing wood floor and add more so that the bulk of the space features wood flooring and adding a carpet runner (which will replace the current carpet). Updating these finishes not only address some needed maintenance but will offer a cohesiveness to this project. To see some of these, join us on Sunday.
Continuing “Making Connections”
As we're about to begin a new segment on a long continuum of “making connections” through the space God has given us here at 80 W. Broad. The work we are doing updating the sanctuary is clearly an extension of the Making Connections project completed 9 years ago. Many members of the congregation contributed to planning it and seeing it successfully completed, not to mention paying big chunks of our own money for it. Why did we do it? We wanted this place to do a better job of supporting our ministries. Before Making Connections, our building was not accessible, and it hampered our attempts to be hospitable. It was hard to get from one part of the building to another, since its parts weren't well connected. We had doors everywhere but no clear main entrance, a large Sanctuary but no greeting area, 5 small restrooms spread around but none near the Sanctuary, and lots of staircases but no elevator.
“Making Connections” Timeline
Sept 2009 - Pastor Mike Capron assembled a Communication and Coordination team: Bev Mills, Phil Ludeke, Suzanne Holdcraft, Doug Sargent, Martha Camp, and Lela Swartz. Every meeting began and ended with prayer.
Nov 2009 - C & C embraced Making Connections as the project name with a tagline, "improving the accessibility and hospitality of our place of worship". They introduced the purpose and concept to the congregation. They described the Welcome Center as "a new entrance foyer with plenty of light that will be a place for greeting, serving, welcoming, and accessibility... to link our worship to our buildings and community."
Jan 2010 - 3 other teams began work, coordinated by C & C: Architectural Planning (led by Michael Mills and Kathie Sutton), Sanctuary Redesign (led by Charlie Ashton), and Fund Raising (led by Sandy Sherrard). About 25 to 30 people made up the 4 teams.
Many, many hours of meetings, brainstorming, writing reports, making presentations, holding consultations with architects and fundraising experts, and work with construction crews ensued!
August 2013 - Worship moved to Fellowship Hall as work on the Sanctuary began.
Nov 2013 - We celebrated our first worship service in the renovated Sanctuary, facing east.
Connecting Then & Now
The impulse for the current Sanctuary Design Project was inspired by the generous gift of Alex and Eunice Sharipen to HPC and hinges on the mandate session gave the Task Force: to continue the work of “Making Connections” and explore changes and updates to the HPC sanctuary that would not only serve the current congregation but that would provide for those who will worship here 30 years from now. In doing so the current Sanctuary Task Force identified the following top values:
Accessibility & Function: By this we mean the importance of providing for folks of different ages, abilities, and circumstances to see/hear/move/use the space. This is a clear connection to the work of “Making Connections” – amplifying our ability to welcome worshipers of all abilities and generations into a fuller experience of worship. One example of this will be the sound system, which will include hearing assistance (assisting those with hearing difficulties) as well as a new digital system (setting us up for success with future generations of musicians).
Flexibility By this we mean that this space will serve both the present congregation and the congregation of the future. As we can’t perfectly predict the needs of the future congregation, flexibility should be “built” into the design to provide for all sorts of worship experiences. Some that come to mind are things like Chrsitmas Eve Candlelight serves, weddings, the Gospel Brunch, Taize worship services, etc. This value also underscores the hope that our space will be welcoming to community groups of all shapes and sizes for events, continuing to be a part of HPCs way of reaching out and supporting our neighbors.
Theological Aesthetic Building on the hopes articulated in the value of “flexibility.” By valuing our “theological aesthetic” we lean into a core PCUSA principle which defines worship space saying: “a space that is set apart for worship should encourage community and open us to reverence for God. It is not to be an escape from the world but a place for encountering the God of all creation who gathers us in and sends us out.”
Session News: October 2022
This month, Session opened their meeting by sharing their gratitudes and a reading of 1 Thessalonians.
We ought always to thank God for you and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. [And] we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by God’s power the Lord may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
While continually overwhelmed with gratitude for the work God is doing in our midst, a major concern at the October 26th Session meeting was the continuing disconnect between what the church is receiving in tithes and offerings and HPC’s financial commitments. If present trends continue, we may soon be unable to meet payroll from these sources. However, giving has been increasing somewhat in recent weeks. Sixteen regular givers have increased their gifts, and we have added 2 more giving units. This is worthy of much celebration. It is hoped that the focus on this issue through preaching and other communication will continue to bear fruit both spiritually and financially.
Session also spent much time on many other big issues facing the church right now. Session recognizes that HPC, like the society we are part of, is undergoing rapid and continual change. Much of this change is good and is cause for thanksgiving and celebration, but change is also hard and disorienting. Our mantra through all this change is that, “With God’s help, we can do this”.
Session is working together to rethink the most effective and faithful ways to support and nurture our three major current missions: The Hopewell Youth Collective, Creative Connections Play School, and Hearts and Hammers.
Session approved three important financial requests:
The church will pay two-thirds ($932) of the cost of the psychological evaluation which Tori Paquette is required to take as part of the application process for her candidacy for Minister of Word and Sacrament. The Presbytery will pay the remainder. This payment comes from the Hansen Fund, dedicated to supporting our seminary students.
A gift of $2500 will be made to our friends at Second Calvary Baptist Church in Hopewell. This will pay for a historical marker at the site of their original church building on Second Street. It will be placed as part of their 125th Anniversary celebrations. The funds will come from the tithe off of the most recent allocation of the Sharipen bequest. The amount of that tithe will total $302,500.
Some church members and friends are facing increasing and urgent financial hardship in this time of rising costs, and from the continuing disruption which is the legacy of the Pandemic. Eviction threats, major medical bills and high mortgage payments are all needs which have been identified by the Deacons. On the recommendation of the Generosity Committee, Session agreed to give the Deacons access to an additional $50,000 to use at short notice if necessary. These funds will also come from the latest $302,500 mission allocation from the Sharipen Bequest.
As far as the Sanctuary Renovation goes: the draft construction contract received from Baxter construction will be reviewed by our legal advisor. Additionally, a lift will be installed in the sanctuary in the coming week and our last Sunday in the Sanctuary will be November 13. Starting November 20 we will be worshiping together in Fellowship Hall.
In “Presbyterian business”, Session authorized Ruth Amadio, Lauren Ghighi, Emily Knoth, Andy Hall, Isaiah Hall and Junia Menacher to serve communion.
The current Session comprises: Rev. Melissa A. Martin (Moderator), Ian Burrow (Clerk of Session), Bonnie Altieri (2024), Chris Cox (2025), Becky Ludeke (2025), Doug McCleery (2023), Ruth Mortensen (2025), Molly Peterson (2023), and Sandy Sherrard (2024).
This work is not always easy. Please continue to hold our Pastor and our Session in prayer as they seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and community, and to make prayerful decisions. Do not hesitate to contact any of us with suggestions, concerns or questions.
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session
Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Fellowship Hall
Join us on Thanksgiving, November 24, for a Community Meal. We will gather at 2:00 PM and have dinner at 3:00 PM. Bring a side dish. All are welcome!
Sunday of Service - 11/6/22
Stomp Out Hunger 5k Walk
On Sunday, November 6th, instead of gathering in the sanctuary for worship we will be participating in the Hopewell Council of Churches Sunday of Service. Gather at Aunt Chubby’s (1 Railroad Place) for a Commissioning Service at 9:00 AM and then join us at 9:30 AM for a walk through St. Michael’s Preserve to benefit the Chubby’s Project. Chubby’s Project delivers food and support to families in Hopewell. To register for the walk click here. There is a suggested donation of $15, which will go directly to the Chubby’s project. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Donations may be made via cash, check, venmo @chubbys22, or paypal @thechubbysproject.
Click here for the Sponsor Tracker Form to help raise money for the walk.
Volunteers are also needed!
Sign up to volunteer to support the walk, help with food collection, and a few other opportunities to help by clicking here.
Crafting Event at HPC
Bring your own quilting, knitting, needlepoint, crocheting, etc. to work on and share with the group. It will be wonderful to see all of the creativity alive in our community! On December 18th there will be a craft sale and auction to benefit Chubby’s, so consider donating one of your handmade items! If you do not have a current project to work on, no worries – we need many hands for our joint effort: DELIVERY BAGS FOR CHUBBY’S PROJECT
Three days each week meals are delivered to about 20 families in the area by volunteers. The volunteers need large, sturdy, reusable bags for these deliveries. We have found premade bags which are the size needed, but we need to customize them with label pockets, inside holders, reinforced hems, and stiff bottoms. The skills and equipment needed:
IRONING the bags (we need 2 ironing boards and irons)
CUTTING out vinyl for pockets to hold a card with the clients’ names (bring scissors or rolling cutters and cutting boards)
MACHINE SEWING the vinyl pockets in place and reinforcing the top hems (bring a portable sewing machine)
CUTTING AND HAND STITCHING elastic to create a flower cup holder inside each bag (bring needle, thread, thimble)
CUTTING corrugated plastic board to reinforce the bottoms of the bags (we will have box cutters for this)
Pizza Dinner & Worship Service
As a conclusion to our day of service, all are encouraged to come to Hopewell United Methodist Church (20 Blackwell Avenue) for a Pizza Dinner at 5:30 PM and Worship Service at 6:00 PM.
Sharipen Bequest Applications open 11/1
Ministries of the church can annually apply for funds to initiate new projects, programs and ministries. Grant funds are not intended to be used to replace normal operating budget allocations. Primary consideration will be given to those programs or projects which display the potential to initiate or further the long-term outreach of the church. The next round of applications open on November 1st and are due January 31, 2023 at 5:00 PM. Now is the time to start envisioning new initiatives. Multiple years applications will be considered. Click here for the application and to learn more. Please email the completed application to Lucy in the church office at lducko@hopewellpres.org
Final reports are due on all funded projects before new funding is awarded. A partial report is due if a project was awarded year long funding. If you have any questions please contact any member of the generosity committee. Members are: Joe Bevis, Ruth Mortensen, Bev Mills and Pat Swartz.
Garden of Grace Update
We've had a terrific year of growing fresh produce for the Chubby's Project during 2022 -- thanks to our combined efforts of planning, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting!
Below is our final summary and above are a few pictures of the various vegetables that sprung from the 3 raised beds this season.
Special thanks to those who were able to stop by and periodically water this garden, especially during the extra DRY weeks during July & August!
HPC Garden of Grace – 2022 Season Outcome
Swiss Chard: 19.0 lbs. (June 15 - Aug 5)
Snap Peas: 9.5 lbs. (June)
Cucumbers: 81.5 lbs. (July 6 - Sept. 4)
Plum Tomatoes: 21.0 lbs. (July 19 - Sept. 4)
Green Beans: 2.5 lbs. (Sept.11- Oct.10)
Total amount of Produce: 133.5 lbs. of fresh produce provided to Chubby’s Project between June – Oct. 2022
These vegetable plants are good candidates for repeating again next year as they all did very well, with the exception of the green beans, which suffered from being seeded during drought weeks of summer. The beans would undoubtedly do much better next year with extra care during the first 2 weeks after seeding.
Children’s Sabbath - Sunday, October 16th
Children’s Sabbath weekend engages places of worship across the country in focusing worship on including children at the table and learning more about the urgent problems facing our nation’s children. Children’s Sabbath encourages us to respond with outreach, inclusion, and advocacy, and most importantly, inspire new, year-round action to improve the lives of children
One way we care for our children is by providing for their spiritual needs. When we welcome children to the table (as we will do this Sunday) we practice outreach and inclusion as well as giving children the opportunity to grow into their spirituality in ways that will allow them to pursue justice beside us. To learn more about sacraments and children at the table, see below.
May children participate in communion?
The PC(USA) believes that baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity. Since each child’s development is different, the age of readiness will vary from child to child. The determination of this readiness is primarily the responsibility of the parents, but it is also the responsibility of the whole church to assist parents in fulfilling this responsibility of preparing their children for meaningful participation in Communion. Therefore, our church welcomes children to Communion when their parent(s) feel the child is ready, and in conjunction with instruction from the church about communion--both in worship and in weekly education offerings.
Session Update for September 2022
As usual, the September Session meeting opened with a period of prayer and reflection. Reflecting on Genesis 39, we shared our individual memories of times of both darkness and light in the history of this church community, reminding ourselves that God uses both circumstances to help us move forward.
With the Personnel Ministry’s report, Session spent some time continuing to review the very comprehensive Personnel Policy Document. This highlighted some of the complex issues surrounding the relationship between the church and our important missions especially as we continue to launch the Hopewell Youth Collective and steward our relationships with Creative Connections Play School and Hearts and Hammers. HPC is legally responsible for these missions and so must be sure that they function in accordance with the church’s policies and procedures.
From the Treasurer, Session heard with concern that current levels of giving of tithes and offerings are not sufficient to meet the monthly payroll resulting in us using reserves to cover these costs. We discussed the possible reasons for this shortfall, coming as it does at a time when in every other respect the church appears to be active and thriving. We continue to see growth in attendance, both in worship and in educational offerings as well as in community engagement. We remembered together that this congregation has as strong history of generosity especially when asked. Various initiatives to address the situation we reviewed and no major changes where made as far as planning for expenditures. We are looking to increase monthly giving by approximately $13,000. As you read this information, we don’t want you to worry. We simply we ask that you consider how God might be calling you to step into this gap.
On recommendation from the Generosity Committee, Session approved a gift of $12,000 to be split among the Chubby’s Project, the Rescue Mission of Trenton, and Friends for Health in Haiti. It was also discussed that for every $1 spent on the Sanctuary redesign project, $1 will be given to mission. Session believes that this is a responsible way in which we can share the blessing the church has received through the Sharipen bequest, but more discussion on this topic is needed before an official vote will be taken. The appointments of Katie Berger as Child Care worker for our nursery ministry and of Steve Quinlan as our Representative for the Sanctuary redesign project were gratefully noted. We also celebrated Pastor Melissa’s plans to take part in an Old Testament Preaching Panel at Princeton Theological Seminary, and to assist in the development of a new Certificate in Theology and Ministry, also at PTS. Laurie Bleickardt was formally released from the ministry of Deacon at her request.
The meeting concluded with sharing of concerns for individuals and the community and prayers for those experiencing difficulties in their lives.
The current Session comprises: Rev. Melissa A. Martin (Moderator), Ian Burrow (Clerk of Session), Bonnie Altieri (2024), Chris Cox (2025), Becky Ludeke (2025), Doug McCleery (2023), Ruth Mortensen (2025), Molly Peterson (2023), and Sandy Sherrard (2024). Please continue to hold them in prayer as they seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and community, and do not hesitate to contact any of us with suggestions, concerns or questions.
Ian Burrow
Fall Lunch & Learn: Gender, Sexuality, and Faith
Our Lunch and Learn series for Fall 2022 will be “Gender, Sexuality, and Faith.” Please stick around after church on Sundays for lunch and a discussion-based class exploring these important issues in the life of the church. This Lunch and Learn series will take place on select Sundays from 12:00pm-1:30pm in the Choir Room. Below please find the course schedule and an overview of what’s in store.
October 2: “Setting the Table”
A come-as-you-are, non-judgmental space for introductory conversation and education about queer identities, faith, and the life of the church.
October 16: “Sharing Our Stories”
A panel discussion to explore the experiences of queer folks and others in the church.
October 23: “Biblical Interpretation Around Gender and Sexuality”
Rev. William Stell, a Ph.D. candidate in Religion at Princeton University, will walk us through a history of Biblical interpretation as it pertains to LGBTQ+ identities.
October 30: “Biblical Foundations: The Clobber Passages”
Rev. Dr. Eric Barreto, Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, will explore the Biblical texts that historically have been used to justify prejudice against queer people.
November 13: “Biblical Foundations: Queer Characters in the Bible”
Rev. Dr. Lindsey Jodrey, a New Testament scholar who works at Princeton Theological Seminary, will discuss queer characters in the Biblical text and what they might teach us today.
November 20: “More Chairs at the Table”
A conversation about where we go from here.
All are welcome - Join us!
Lunch Bunch & Movie Monday
If you enjoy lunch out and/or seeing a new movie at the theater, join us! We will gather at HPC to carpool at 12:20 on Monday, October 10. Our first stop will be The Peasant Grill (84 E. Broad St.) for a 12:30 lunch. After we will go to a movie at Montgomery Cinemas (1325 US-206, Skillman). If you can't make one or the other, join for what you can. If you don't want to carpool, meet us there. No reservations are necessary! The movie will be chosen based on availability that week and included in an email. Depending on the movie time, the lunch time could be adjusted slightly. If you would like to be added list for updates, email Lucy.