Curious? Princeton UMC Newsletter January/February 2023

always listening for angel words.”

Is Not Over”

by Ann Weems

It is not over, this birthing.

There are always newer skies into which God can throw stars.

When we begin to think that we can predict the Advent of God, that we can box the Christ in a stable in Bethlehem, that’s just the time that God will be born in a place we can’t imagine and won’t believe.

Those who wait for God watch with their hearts and not their eyes, listening always listening for angel words.

PASTOR’S NOTE

Rev. Tayler Necoechea

We might be putting away our Christmas decorations and ringing in the New Year, but as poet Ann Weems declares, it is not over.

This Epiphany season Princeton and Kingston UMC’s are meditating on holy curiosity. We will follow the Wise People to Bethlehem as they give into their curiosity– going a er the light that leads them to Christ. Together we will reclaim a child-like sense of wonder as we lean into the invitation to slow down, listen, and notice.

In my life, I hear God inviting me to experience God’s grace through the eyes of the children and youth of Princeton, Kingston, and Hopewell UMC.

Our children are thirsty to experience God’s presence and church community. I have heard a number of parents tell me that it was their child who pleaded to come to church that morning, they didn’t want to miss out. I’ll admit that I don’t always share their same eagerness to jump out of bed on a Sunday morning, but their joyful and energetic attitude reminds me that we, the Church, are better together.

{continued on page 3}

“It

“...listening,

CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY KITCHEN FOUNDER RETIRES AFTER 10 YEARS

On Wednesday, December 14, Princeton UMC’s Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) held a special dinner and award ceremony for Larry Apperson: the man who launched CCK back on June 6, 2012. What began in the Sanford-Davis Room with 14 guests has grown into a dining experience serving dozens in Fellowship Hall. As he, his daughter Sharon, and granddaughter Alex walked into the room, all the diners and volunteers gave him a standing ovation.

Over the years, Larry has found ways to supplement the hot meals provided by Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). Local businesses donate le overs and local farms, like Cherry Grove Organic, provide produce. Due to these relationships Larry fostered, diners can grocery shop a er nishing their meals, o en taking home two bags of supplies.

Larry with daughter Sharon DiStase and granddaughter Alex DiStase.

Associate Executive Director of Operations for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen Paull Jensen presenting award to Larry.

Kate Lasko

Plaque presented to Larry by the CCK Board.

On hand for the celebration was TASK Associate Executive Director of Operations Paul Jensen and Cherry Grove Organic Farm Founder Matt Conver. Both men spoke of Larry’s dedication to and seemingly boundless energy for making CCK such a vital resource for the Princeton-area. Yvonne and John Macdonald, accompanied by a French horn, provided music for the evening. CCK Board member Jeanette Timmons presented Larry with a plaque and a lovely engraved glass award. The plaque will hang in Fellowship Hall so Larry can continue to be a part of Wednesday nights 5-6:30.

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Our youth are excited about what scripture has to say, yet not afraid to have doubts or curiosities. I’m not sure that even in seminary I found a group of people so willing to embrace the complexities of scripture so readily. In fact, their questions make their faith and mine that much stronger because they know God can handle their big questions.

It is not over. As we enter into this New Year, I invite you to sit and re ect with me. Where is the Holy one being born in your life? Who or what is the light that points you to Christ?

I hope you will join me and the Wise people, watching with our hearts, listening, always listening for angel words.

With love, Pastor Tayler

Rev. Tayler Necoechea

CCK Board Member Jeanette Timmons presenting Larry with his award.

NEW YEAR, NEW MODEL Simpli ed Board Model Update

Lindsey Donaldson

Lindsey Donaldson, Chair of Nominations and Lay Leadership

A little over a year ago, I was approached to join the Nominations and Lay Leadership Team. At the time, the invitation was an answer to a prayer. I was seeking a place to serve and was excited to begin. Very quickly, it became clear that the team’s brief was, if not daunting, certainly challenging. Many of us were not completely familiar with the concept of a Simpli ed Board Model. However, over a period of a few months, we took time to read, discuss, and question. We came to understand the model and became convinced of its rightness for PUMC. One of PUMC’s core values is engaged growth, described as “a journey of discipleship” which allows us through service (among other things) “to strengthen and grow our beloved PUMC community… .” The permission-giving culture of the Simpli ed Board Model frees leaders to focus more on their areas of service, ministry, and discipleship. This is one of its most appealing features and one that struck the NLL in its tness to move PUMC toward one of its stated goals.

Throughout the process of discernment and re ection, the NLL received questions and suggestions from the congregation. One comment, from Vasanth Victor, stuck with me. He suggested that, if the model is to succeed, the right spirit of unity, mutual accountability, and individual commitment to the common good must be created on the Leadership Board. In seeking candidates for the Leadership (and Discipleship) Board we sought to identify and approach people who, we felt, would strive to do this. We are grateful to all those who have accepted nominations and particularly so to Iona Harding (LB) and LaVerna Albury (DB) who will serve as chairpersons.

On Friday, October 21st, the Church Conference adopted the resolution to modify PUMC’s

organizational plan of governance, utilizing the simpli ed, accountable structure. It went into e ect on January 1st, 2023.

This is exciting news. The Leadership and Discipleship Boards are peopled with wonderful, devoted members. They now have an opportunity to implement the vision implied in their covenant. Please keep them in your prayers as they do so.

It has been humbling to participate in the NLL this year. Thank you to Jenny for her guidance and leadership and to the team (LaVerna Albury, Barbara Fox, Doug Fullman, Yvonne Macdonald, Michele Tuck Ponder, and Hyelim Yoon) whose wisdom and experience have been invaluable. Thank you too to Tyler for the logistical support he has given us.

Which of the above ministry opportunities inspire you? Which ones do you feel might push you in ways you’d like to grow? Let us know!

Email Lindsey Donaldson (ldonaldson27@gmail.com) with your ideas of how you might like to become more engaged with Princeton United Methodist Church. Perhaps it is getting involved with one of the listed ministry opportunities or maybe one that is not on the list. Either way, a huge component of our vision is to get more people, more engaged, doing the things that feed them. We look forward to hearing from you!

PUMC Members collaborate in a myriad of ways, even taking down the Christmas decorations together.

DISCIPLESHIP BOARD

DEB ARMENTO

LAVERNA ALBURY

RICK ENGEL

SANDRA RICHARDSON

PAT OSTBERG

DONNA ROBINSON

FRED SIMMONS

JISEOB YOON

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same

Rev. Tayler Necoechea

This year PUMC’s Children’s Ministry has undergone lots of changes. We have embraced the spirituality of children by introducing the Godly Play method which helps us explore the mystery of God’s presence in our lives and pay attention to God’s voice.

We have also extended our children’s program to two other campuses: Kingston UMC and Hopewell UMC. Together, we have worked to nd new and exciting ways to do ministry together that are sustainable, fruitful, and Christ-centered.

I love looking at old pictures of our children’s classrooms and hearing stories from our congregation about the past. I wonder about the people who sat in those classrooms. What Bible stories did they learn about? How did these relationships at church impact them for the rest of their lives?

Yes, our children’s ministry looks a little di erent now. Instead of a schoolroom lled with desks, we have a round carpet and open shelves. When kids aren’t able to come in person, now they can experience Sunday School through Zoom with myself and Mr. Tom. Signi cant changes have happened not only in the last decade, but in the last year.

Yet I am reminded that though much is di erent, so much stays the same. We still have children’s ministry leaders who show up each week because they have a heart for ministering to children. We still teach even our youngest children to engage with scripture, God, and the world around them. And we will continue to adapt and grow as we prayerfully focus on the Spirit’s guidance.

Our world is changing, our church is changing, but our mission remains: Children’s ministry at Princeton UMC and the Central District Multisite Ministry seeks to make disciples of Christ of all ages for the transformation of the world.

Our Sunday School program has certainly changed since the 1850s!

Lori Pantaleo

1857 Sunday School Scholar Certificate

the text reads:

This certi es that ___________ has received 58 marks of approbation for Punctuality, Correct Deportment, Good Rectitations, etc. the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School, of Princeton New Jersey. April 1857

Our classrooms have also changed- immensely for the better- since that time!

Sunday School rooms circa 1857

Multi-Faith Service Honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kate Lasko

Dr. Martin Luther King will be honored in a multi-faith service on Monday, January 16th at 7 p.m. at Nassau Presbyterian Church. The 90-minute service will be both live streamed and in person and feature a choir drawn from member organizations, prayers, and a sermon by the Rev. Vernon R. Byrd, Jr. A freewill o ering will bene t the United Negro College Fund and the Center for Peace Action (CFPA).

The event, co-sponsored by the Princeton Clergy Association (PCA) and the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), honors

Reverend King’s legacy, “his vision for racial reconciliation and racial justice, working for the poor, and speaking out for peace and non violence,” explains Rev. Dave Davis of Nassau Presbyterian Church. Brought together by Rev. Bob Moore, executive director of CFPA and former head of PCA, the two groups have been organizing the service for over 30 years. “Over the years, the service has continued to grow,” says Rev. Davis, adding, “At the last service, pre-pandemic, 500 people attended. The growth shows that our community is crying out for a

new vision for peace.” He hopes that those attending “will leave inspired to continue to work for social justice and solidarity in our community.”

The Princeton Clergy Association, founded over 40 years ago, is open to all congregations and faithbased religious organizations in the Princeton area. It endeavors to build relationships among religious leaders in the area, provide a voice on community concerns, and build relationships between faith-based and other organizations such as schools and police.

are a DIVERSE faith community, engaged in ENLIVENING SPIRITUALLY

to JOYFULLY RESPOND to God’s love and

as disciples of Christ, so that together we may