ASP – Princeton UMC Blog

April 6, 2017October 6, 2020

Organ and Trumpet: This Joyful Eastertide

Christopher McWilliams , with guest artist Michael Carl Green, will present This Joyful Eastertide — a joyous selection of works for organ –– on Sunday, April 23 at 2 p.m. at Princeton United Methodist Church. The concert is free, and an offering will be taken to benefit the Appalachia Service Project.

The program spans four centuries of music for trumpet and organ. It includes The Trumpet Tune No. 1 in C major by Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751), Sarabande (For the morning of Easter) by Herbert Howells from Six Pieces for Organ (1892-1983), Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29 “Wir Danken Dir, Gott, Wir Danken Dir” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) arranged by Alexandre Guilmant, Alléluias sereins d’une âme qui desire le ciel (Serene Alleluias from a soul longing for Heaven) by Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), Sonata for Trumpet and Organ in F major by George Friedrich Handel, Partita on Duke Street by Charles Callahan, and Trumpet Tune on “This Joyful Eastertide” for organ by David Lasky (1979-).

Both McWilliams and Green are on the faculty at Westminster Conservatory of Music. A Vermont native, McWilliams has a Bachelor of Music in Piano and Organ Performance and a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he studied with Phyllis Lehrer, Matthew Lewis, and Kenneth Cowan. He teaches private lessons in piano at the Westminster Conservatory of Music, at PUMC, and in students’ homes, and is a frequent accompanist at the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church.

As a composer and arranger, Green orchestrated a Broadway show and co-wrote and performed on the score for documentary films. A pianist as well as a trumpet player, he plays in area orchestras, chamber and jazz ensembles, concert and brass bands, and pit orchestras.

For 40 years Princeton United Methodist Church has sent teen and adult volunteers to the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. ASP is a Christian ministry, but it is open to those of any faith. It aims to inspire hope and service — instilling compassion for other people and a fresh appreciation for one’s place and purpose in the world.

Located at the corner of Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue, PUMC is a diverse congregation, whose members come from many surrounding communities, backgrounds, and faith histories. Parking is free on Sundays, and the church is wheelchair accessible. For further information, call 609-924-2613, email office@princetonumc.org, or visit http://www.princetonumc.org/

October 29, 2014October 6, 2020

Service Opportunities for Youth

Youth in grades 9 to 12 are invited to participate in the annual service trip with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). An informational meeting for youth and parents will be Sunday, November 2, at 12:15 in Fellowship Hall.

Our program welcomes all teens of all backgrounds, church members and non-church members alike, to participate in the life-changing experience of the ASP.

Preparation is an eight-month process that includes fundraisers, learning Appalachian culture and the poverty many face, basic construction skills, and the meaning of service to others.

Our church has been participating since the mid-‘70s, shortly after the program was founded. For questions, contact office@princetonumc.org or 609-924-2613.

A short-term community service project, available to youth, could be with the Cornerstone Community Kitchen which offers a free and nutritious meal every week, even on holidays. Volunteers from the church and community help prepare and serve the meal. In partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), this ministry of PUMC now serves 70 to 80 people on Wednesdays from 5 to 6:30 pm. All are welcome, no questions asked. Learn more here on CCK’s facebook page or here or email cck@princetonumc.org.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

–

October 19, 2012October 6, 2020

Appalachia Service Project (ASP)

Princeton UMC ASP 2012

The Appalachia Service Project, also known as ASP, is a Christian volunteer organization founded in 1969, to repair homes of low-income families. They live in central Appalachia in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The primary goal is to make homes safer and more comfortable for their residents. It’s an 8-week summer program open to all volunteers.

The Princeton United Methodist Church has participated in this ministry since the mid-1970s. Every year we send a team of high school students and adult leaders the beginning of July to help needy families. Volunteers are not restricted to just our church members. We welcome all to participate.

Princeton UMC 2012

While the trip takes place in summer, planning begins a year ahead, basically after the previous group returns. Meetings start in October the year before, so those interested can get informed and start raising funds for the trip.

Princeton UMC ASP 2012

Each participant must pay for the rental of vans that are the mode of transportation, lodging at a facility like a school, meals, and materials to repair the homes. Fundraising helps offset the costs, and is great for early team building.

Princeton UMC ASP 2012

Teens participate for a number of reasons. No matter the objective, their journey returns them as changed young adults. The experience is unparalleled, just based on their personal growth. And as a bonus, sophomores can use some of the time spent toward hours needed for community service (check with individual schools). Of course, adult leaders are also transformed.

The first meeting was last weekend, but it’s not too late to sign up. If you’re interested, please contact PUMC by email office@princetonumc.org or call 609-924-2613 for more information. You can sign up with a friend or family member, and remember, you don’t need to be a member of our church, or any church to participate.

Go to our Flickr album for more ASP 2012 photos.