Rev. Nancy Mikoski, Pastor, and Rev. David Hallgren, Associate Pastor
Friends,
Pennington Presbyterian Church is a community of faith, blessed by God and committed to being a blessing for others. At the heart of our life together is worship. We gather each Sunday at 10:15 A.M. for worship as a family of God – young, old and in-between – and are united in proclamation and prayers, scriptures and songs, stories and sacraments.
In January and February, our focus will be on God’s enormous love for the whole world through Christ. His light shines in the darkness.
Growing in faith is a priority for Pennington Presbyterian Church, and therefore we offer Christian Education classes for children age 3 through high school and also for adults on Sundays at 9:00 A.M. Three adult courses are available so that you can select the group or topic that is right for you. Childcare for infants and toddlers is available from 8:45-11:45 am. The Christian Education Committee’s theme for the year is “Who Do You Say I Am?” from Jesus’ question to his first disciples. It’s a great question for all of us to ponder and answer. During Lent, we will be offering a special Sunday evening course exploring a biblical perspective on Shakespeare’s Roman and Italian plays. This is open to the community.
We offer adult groups for study, fellowship, and support during the week. Our Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Sundays. Our church has a strong commitment to serving God’s people locally, nationally, and in other parts of the world.
We’d love to meet you so please come by when you can!
In Christ,
Nancy Mikoski
Pastor
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Pennington Presbyterian Church Banner Outreach
The banner outreach program we started in the fall of 2018 seeks to inform the Hopewell Valley community of our desire to welcome and love all of our neighbors. The outreach targets the ignored, marginalized, suffering, or those who may not think God or church is for them. At the same time, the banner program helps us reflect on how best to be accepting and supportive of those feeling neglected or rejected. Read about the current banner below and learn about the full program on our banners page.
Pennington Presbyterian Church’s Banner Outreach to Those Feeling Impact of Prejudice
The banner now in front of the sanctuary reaches out to those affected by racism, and any other forms of prejudice or discrimination. Once again, we want to make it clear we welcome ALL our siblings in Christ from God’s diverse world.
As we observe Black History month soon after celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 90th birthday, we wonder what he would think of today’s world. While there have been improvements since his childhood in the deep-South, even our peaceful, highly-educated town continues to host racism and discrimination. Adults and youth of color are still subjected to racial slurs in our schools and on our quaint tree-lined streets. Recently, a local teen posted on social media using the most despicable language to describe an African American classmate, and to jest about lynching. In a letter to the community, Hopewell Valley Superintendent Thomas Smith calls this incident “a defining moment for our community to raise awareness of an issue that has plagued the Hopewell Valley for a long time.” As Christians, we have a duty to remember and honor the way Jesus reached out to the outcasts who had been discriminated against.
How can we at PPC live out our goal of inclusivity? Enrich and enhance your life by connecting with people from different cultures to learn something new. Put yourself in situations where you are in the visible minority. Be a proactive parent/grandparent/Sunday School teacher who talks to children candidly about race. Show your outrage when witnessing or hearing prejudice. Give support to those marginalized in our country. On Sunday mornings, before you greet familiar friends and neighbors, seek out visitors or members of our church you don’t know as well. Don’t ignore the faults in our town; attend and encourage community discussions and educational programs designed to improve race relations, and build community here in Hopewell Valley. Show that Pennington Presbyterian is ready to lead the way in uniting our community against discrimination.
If we love quietly, afraid to discuss injustice or controversies, some may remain oblivious to discrimination. Those in the minority will not see our love and support if it remains silent. How blessed are we that God created for us for a diverse and beautiful world, and sent his only son, Jesus, to unite humanity.
