First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown

Church Address: 420 Farnsworth Avenue

Office Address: 435 Farnsworth Avenue

Bordentown, NJ 08505

Office Phone: 609-298-1243

www.bordentownpresbyterian.org

bordentownpresbyterian@gmail.com

August 2019

Dear Siblings,

Let me take a moment to name an elephant in the room: our church has not always had the best

relationship with presbytery. While some may not even know what a presbytery is, others are still

healing from past wounds. Big changes are on the horizon for presbyteries in the state of New Jersey.

Let’s talk about what presbyteries are and how changes may affect us.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is set up like the United States. Churches = cities, presbyteries =

counties, synods = states, and General Assembly = entire country. Government and organization

happens at all levels but most visibly in churches and presbyteries. Presbyterians are unique from other

denominations- we believe there is no bishop but Christ. In other words, Jesus Christ is the head of the

church- not a pastor, not a bishop- Jesus. We elect elders (presbuteros in Greek) to govern our church

bodies, with guidance from the Holy Spirit, and we form committees to do the work of the Church.

Elders act on our behalf at the church level, and also represent us in presbytery and General Assembly

meetings, where important decisions are made that affect those beyond Bordentown. The Holy Spirit

moves in our connectional nature to shine God’s light and love to all creation.

The state of NJ currently has 7 presbyteries- the state of Texas has only 5! We are discussing

reorganization in order to have less presbyteries in the state of NJ and therefore practice better

stewardship of resources. To this end, the NJ Missional Structures Working Group has been working

diligently to discern what restructuring would mean. Following much prayer an “Invitation to Participate

in New Jersey New Missional Communities” has been issued. We are now being invited to join in

discerning a call to reduce the number of presbyteries to 4.

This will be difficult. It is not an exact science, so our Session held an open meeting in July to explore

implications. The hope is that these changes would open opportunity for the church to further engage

in mission and serve the community, both locally and at large. Some important points that were

discussed:

1. Ability to hire full time presbytery staff, providing better support for congregations.

2. A ‘clean slate’ to re-imagine ministry, providing renewed energy and openness for the Holy Spirit

to move and work.

As someone who grew up in an active and vital presbytery, I am excited about what this might mean for

the future of First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown and all NJ churches. I look forward to

opportunities for our members to connect with other churches and be enriched by those deep,

meaningful connections. Read the document HERE and let’s talk about it.

Grace and love,

Pastor Kristin

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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Shawna (Kochie) Catarinicchia, Mike Gagnon, Vincene Palmonari, Evelyn Seyebe, Paul Sootkoos, Edith Van Arsdale.

Please contact the office or the Deacon on call to add someone to this long term prayer list.

August 3 Michael Burke

August 5 John Robertshaw

August 6 Tom Adams

August 8 Jonathan Andrus

August 9 Ed Dallas

August 10 Karen Chamberlin

Mike Ortu

Kevin Patterson

August 11 Patricia Tassi

August 16 Alyssa Marchetti

August 17 Peter Temperino

August 20 Anne Chidley

Robert Horton

August 22 Terry Fouse

August 23 Amy Dallas

August 26 Zachary Lyszczak

August 27 Tricia Bangit

Linda Blackwell

August 30 Megan Guicheteau

Elke McAteer

August 31 Cassie Bolinger

Clare Anna Burke

August 4 Winston & Victoria Taylor

August 18 George & Sandra Carmichael

Christopher & Brigid Small

August 21 Terry & Gail Fouse

Fellowship will continue all summer in the air conditioned Fellowship Hall. All are encouraged to come as a way to continue to get to know our

Pastor and new congregants.

Simple refreshments will be available with no sign-ups

necessary. If you have something you would like to

share, bring it along. Coffee and tea will always be available. Thanks to everyone who has signed up for refreshments during the year. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated!

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WHO’S IN CHARGE FOR AUGUST

Pastoral Care—Pastor Kristin Austew

Phone: 609-817-4514 Email: PastorAustew@gmail.com Office Hours: Tuesday thru Thursday

10:00am-12:30pm Deacon-on-Call or the Deacon Moderator,

Bobbi Maiuro — 609-865-4853 Director of Music — Gwendolyn Huber Accompanist — Dr. Bob Lowden Office Manager — Sheri Devlin

Phone: 609-298-1243 Email: bordentownpresbyterian@gmail.com Office Hours: Tuesday thru Thursday 10:30am-2:00pm

Sunday Mornings To volunteer: to be a Worship Reader, please contact

Donna Potts. for Fellowship Hour, please contact

Margaret Conover

Worship Readers 8/4 — Joseph Campo 8/11 — Robert Joe Lee 8/18 — Casey McEniry 8/25 —

Fellowship: Potluck Style During the summer months, the church will still have Fellowship after worship. You don’t need to sign up. If you have some-thing you would like to share, bring it along. Coffee and tea will always be available.

Communion Servers — August Keira McAteer, Bobbi Maiuro, John Robertshaw, Amy Dallas

Communion Servers — September Donna Potts, Linda Blackwell, Marlene Lyszczak, Robert Joe Lee

Deacons’

Corner

NEXT DEACONS MEETING Sunday, September 8 (following Worship)

SENIOR LUNCHEON The next Senior Luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 12:00 PM. Hold the date and join us for a day of picnic food and fun! Weather permitting, it will be outside on the side lawn. If the weather is poor or too hot, we will have the luncheon indoors in Fellowship Hall. Deacon on call: Jodi Hawryluk — 609-558-5577

Your Deacons: Megan Arnold, Linda Blackwell,

Karen Chamberlin, Margaret Conover,

Jodi Hawryluk, Bobbi Maiuro,

Melonie Newton, Montana Pell (Youth)

Please pick up 2019 Interim

Financial Statements on the

church counter.

The Financial Secretaries

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Food Pantry Ongoing donations of non-perishable food are collected in the basket on the right at the rear of the

sanctuary. Meals are delivered to St. Mary’s Church Food Pantry. Standard monthly needs of the

Food Pantry include: tuna, beefaroni, coffee, canned meat, kids cereal, jarred tomato sauce,

canned fruit, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste. See each week’s bulletin for the most current needs.

Our Bread of Life Mission Meals Bread of Life Mission Meals are held on the last Sunday of each month. If you would like to

donate to this worthwhile mission in our church, you can write a check to The First Presbyterian

Church of Bordentown and write “Mission Meal” or “Bread of Life Meals” in the memo section.

Next Grocery Bag Mission

Our church provides microwaveable meals for the homeless each month. Our donation is

combined with donations from other churches to provide grocery bags to homeless families living

in local area motels. Some examples of items you can donate are pop-top soup cans, Chef-

Boyardee pasta meals, or cans of stew. You can put your donations in the basket in the back of the

church, labeled “Grocery Bag Mission Meal.” Thank you for your generosity!

Ready To Distribute Meals!! The Mission Commission now has the cabinet put in place for Ready To Distribute Meals in Julien

House. From time to time, if you have the opportunity, we are looking to stock our new cabinet

with items listed below. You can place them right in the cabinet when you have a chance. Your

contributions will be greatly appreciated!

Items we would be looking for:

apple sauce, fruit cups, tuna packets,

microwaveable meals, jello cups, juice

boxes, water bottles, and similar items

like these.

Grace and Peace to all!

The Mission Commission

Pat Andrus, Karen Chamberlin,

Robert Joe Lee, Bobbi Maiuro,

Donna Potts, Karin Venezia

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

7:00 pm AA

2 3 2 pm Summer Play By Marjorie

4 10:30 Worship & Communion 12 Worship Commission Mtg.

5

7:30 pm

Women’s AA

6

7

8

7:00 pm AA

9

10

11 10:30 Worship

12:00 Deacons’ Meeting

12

7:30 pm

Women’s AA

13

7 pm Session

14

15 8 am Men’s Breakfast 7:00 pm AA

16 17

18 10:30 Worship

19

7:30 pm

Women’s AA

20 Newsletter

deadline

21

22

7:00 pm AA

23 24

25 10:30 Worship

Mission Meal

26

7:30 pm

Women’s AA

27 28 29

7:00 pm AA

30 31

OFFICE HOURS: Tues, Wed, Thurs 10:30 am-2 pm SUNDAY MORNINGS: Worship 10:30 am

Pastor Kristin on Study Leave 8/5-8/12

Pastor Kristin on Study Leave

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Choir and Handbell Ringers—Thank you for another great year! Dates for your calendar

Choir will begin on Thursday, September 12 at 7pm

Handbells will begin on Thursday, September 26 at 8pm

Christmas Choir is expected to being on Thursday, October 17 at &pm

All are welcome! See Wendy in church or text her at 215-582-5679 if you are interested. We’ll be gentle!

The Wanderers are looking

forward to our September 12th gathering, for a

Picnic at the Ackerman’s.

Happy Rest of Summer!

Hymn of the Month

Come, Thou Almighty King

Come, Thou Almighty King is a popular Christian hymn of unknown authorship. It has

been often attributed to Charles Wesley, however, there is no record of this hymn in any

of Wesley’s collection of hymns. The hymn is based on Psalm 24, verse 10.

The earliest known publication is a leaflet that was bound

into the 6th edition of George Whitefield’s Collection of

Hymns for Social Worship, 1757.

The tune was written by Felic Giardini and published in 1769.

The hymn may be found on page 466 in our hymnal, and may

be heard on the church’s web site.

Effective July 18, 2019, the Allegretti house officially became church property. The house will soon be placed on the market for sale. Other estate business is proceeding.

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First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown

435 Farnsworth Avenue

Bordentown, New Jersey 08505

www.bordentownpresbyterian.org

bordentownpresbyterian@gmail.com

"Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will blossom more and more into faithful

stewards of our gifts, time and talents."

From FPCB Mission Statement

AUGUST CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS! Bring canned/packaged meals for Bordentown Motel Ministry

On the THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH (August 18) EVERY WEEK — Bring non-perishables for the Food Pantry

August 4 — Worship with Communion; Worship Commission Meeting August 5-12 — Pastor Kristin on Study Leave August 11 — Worship with guest preacher Christopher Small; Deacons’ Meeting August 18 — Worship August 25 — Worship, followed by Mission Meal