Mission Project for Sunday School

Sunday School students will work on a mission project to support people in the local Princeton area. We will prepare Hygiene Kits that will be distributed to people who visit Cornerstone Community Kitchen.

The Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) offers a free and nutritious meal every week, even on holidays. Volunteers from the community serve the meal from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.  In partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), this ministry of PUMC now serves more than 100 people each week. Some come for the food, some for the fellowship and friendly atmosphere. All are welcome, no questions asked.

Teachers will introduce the Mission Project on Palm Sunday, April 9. On the next  two Sundays after Easter (April 23 and 30) children will bring in the supplies. They will make cards on April 23 and assemble the kits (always exciting) on April 30. The kits will be blessed, tentatively, on May 7 during the Children’s Sermon. Everyone is welcome to contribute any item (you don’t have to bring all the items). There will be a basket in the Sanford Davis Lobby.

  • bar of soap
  • a wash cloth (new)
  • a small hand towel (new)
  • shampoo (regular size, not travel and not extra large)
  • conditioner(regular size, not travel and not extra large)
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste (regular size, not travel and not extra large)

This is a great way for our children to learn about helping others in a very hands-on way. Questions?Contact Tracey Feick-Lee or Rachel@PrincetonUMC.org

 

Some come for the food, some for the fellowship

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This week a dozen children learned about dental health at Cornerstone Community Kitchen

Cornerstone Community Kitchen served 130 meals on china plates this week; founded in 2012, it is in it’s fifth year. In addition to nutritious meals CCK now offers a clothing closet, art classes, and English as a Second Language lessons.

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Larry Apperson, who had b the vision and has the energy to lead the CCK mission.

Just announced: Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert and the Princeton Council will present an award to our Princeton Cornerstone Community Kitchen for the work it is doing in doing in Princeton. 

The presentation will take place on Monday, November 28th, during the Princeton Council meeting. The meeting starts at 7 PM, Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street.

Says Larry Apperson, founder of CCK: “It will be my pleasure and honor to attend and accept the award on behalf of all volunteers that have worked with tireless love to make Cornerstone successful, and on behalf of our financial donors who support our expanding programs so generously.”

Some come for the food, some for the fellowship, all are served on china plates with table decor and live music.  In it’s fifth year it’s fulfilling a real need.

 

Four years, 408 meals: Cornerstone Community Kitchen

Larry Apperson hosted the fourth anniversary picnic for volunteers at Cornerstone Community Kitchen.
Larry Apperson hosted the fourth anniversary picnic for volunteers at Cornerstone Community Kitchen.

 

For the complete photo album of the CCK picnic click here. To volunteer — here is information. Thanks to everyone for their commitment!

Tim Ewer at grill; IMGP1140
Tim Ewer, captain of Week One, did grilling honors
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Bill Chick, here with wife Stacy, captains Week Two
Charles Phillips, here with Karen Longo-Baldwin, is in charge of Week 4.
Charles Phillips, here with Karen Longo-Baldwin, is in charge of Week 4.

Represent Christ in the Marketplace

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Karen Longo-Baldwin, left, with Dr. Patty Fagin at a recent chamber breakfast

Because PUMC belongs to the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, church members get discounts on events like those held by the Young Professionals Group, Women in Business Alliance, Technology Business Alliance, and Independent Business Alliance.

This month Debra Vizzi speaks about the Community Foodbank of New Jersey at a breakfast at the Nassau Club on Wednesday, February 17, at 8 am (come earlier for networking). She is CEO of the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, which employs some 200 people. Register as a member of PUMC for $25 at www.princetonchamber.org. You can bring your own business cards as well as brochures from the church and Cornerstone Community Kitchen 

Mitten Tree: Donate Warmth

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Photo by Charles Phillips

Among the many beautiful trees around the church (thank you, John and Robbie Vaccaro!) is the mitten and hat tree in the Sanford Davis Room. Doris Pope used to hold the record of the most hats knitted for this tree. Each contribution of mittens, gloves, and hats will go to clients of Cornerstone Community Kitchen, to shield them from the freezing weather that is still to come (yes, it will get cold!) Consider donating warmth to the mitten tree. . .

Thanksgiving Week: Cornerstone Kitchen and Interfaith Service

17904580798_d4d2530290_mThe Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) offers a free and nutritious meal every week, even on holidays. Volunteers from the community serve the meal from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The meal time on Wednesday, November 25 is at noon.  In partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), this ministry of PUMC now serves more than 100 people each week. Some come for the food, some for the fellowship and friendly atmosphere. All are welcome, no questions asked.

2015 11 chapel photoThen — celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day at the interfaith service at Princeton University Chapel. Prayers and readings from different congregations, lively music from the pickup choir, the sonorous organ preludes and postludes, liturgical dance — all contribute to an inspiring entrance into the true spirit of thanks. Plan to join your neighbors and friends from all faiths at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Third Anniversary for PCCK

outside chris cox and university volunteer at barbecueHere is a link to the article in the Princeton Sun about the third anniversary of Princeton Cornerstone Community Kitchen, and the Sun used this photo, with Chris Cox and a university volunteer. Who remembers July 4, 2012 when — because TASK was closed for the holiday — we brought out the grills and cooked an Independence Day feast on the lawn.  So much progress since then.

“This could not have happened without the many volunteers from The Jewish Center, Princeton University, local churches, high schools, others in the community, as well as the support of the Princeton United Methodist Church,” says Larry Apperson, the long-time PUMC member who founded  Cornerstone Community Kitchen. “June 3rd was the 158th consecutive Wednesday, including the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, that PCCK, in partnership with TASK, has served a free meal to those in the community.”

As we post this, today is another Wednesday, folks are getting ready to welcome today’s visitors, and you can bet the decor will be in red white and blue! Soon — there will be a free bus to take our guests home after dinner.

Getting our fingernails dirty — close to home

These volunteer opportunities refer to organizations on PUMC’s outreach web page — or speakers at a United Methodist Men’s breakfast within the past two years. Each has current volunteer opportunities. The PrincetonUMC blog has live links to the web pages.

Boy Scouts of the USA.

CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocates: trained volunteers represent children at court.

Contact of Mercer County: compassionate listening, crisis intervention and safety services.

Cornerstone Community Kitchen: meal prep & cleanup, scheduling, sorting clothing.

Crisis Ministry: food pantry, assistance with rent, utilities, medicines: cooking demonstration assistant, and pantry intake helpers.

 A Future with Hope: rebuilding homes and lives after Hurricane Sandy: weeklong construction projects, or donate, or sell tickets to the Thunder game June 9th.

HomeFront : helping homeless families: tutors, computer tech, clerical

Housing Initiatives of Princeton : paint, probono services, advocate for affordable housing.

The HUB: drop-in Saturdays for those with unique challenges: friendly helpers.

Isles: garden docents, organizing IT equipment, event photographer, special projects

Mercer Street Friends: teach computer skills, write tech support or FAQ documents, collect and refurbish computers, one-time parenting workshops like scrapbooking, resume building.

Not in Our Town: an interracial, interfaith social action group, programs vs prejudice.

Princeton Community Housing: affordable rental housing. need PUMC representative.

Princeton Healthcare System: reception, visiting, retail.

Princeton Human Services: help with events like the Wheels Rodeo.

Princeton Senior Resource Center: Visit shut-ins, read to children, assist in office.

Threads of Hope: once monthly Saturdays — sort clothing, offer hospitality

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen: tutor, serve meals on 4th Tuesdays,

Salvation Army of NJ: teach brass instrument, event photographs, registration, teaching.

Urban Promise Trenton: afterschool and camp programs: tutoring, teaching.

Volunteer Connect: nonprofit for skills-based volunteer jobs

Womanspace: residential emergency shelter program for battered women and their children: tutors, Spanish translators, collecting newspaper stories for  grant applications.

Do you have an app for that?

Our world is dominated by electronic communications and devices, and now we have a way to make contributions to the church through direct electronic means.

Through our Princeton United Methodist website, those wishing to make a contribution may do so now. Just go to princetonumc.org/giving to begin. Through this page, donors may use direct withdrawal from their banking or saving account or from their credit/debit card of choice.  Donors have an option of making a onetime gift or have it withdrawn continuously on the schedule chosen.

Not only may gifts be made to our operating, capital or matching giving opportunities, but also funds may be designated to the Appalachia Service Project, our Cornerstone Community Kitchen, or other designated options.

You will find a QR code on that page, if that’s what you prefer. It’s a different kind of “selfie!”

 

 

The Feed Truck Folks in Mission

4 DSCF9129Volunteers organized by the Feed Truck from Kingston United Methodist Church held a Volunteer Meetup workday today (Saturday, March 7) at PUMC. Click here for the Facebook album and share!

We heard about the Feed Truck from its executive director, Jessica Winderweedle, when she preached at PUMC in January. Each month, The Feed Truck partners with a different local non-profit that works to alleviate food insecurity and economic injustice in our area (thefeedtruck@gmail.com).

Today the more than 2 dozen volunteers — seminary and university students, KUMC church members and staff, and PUMC volunteers — accomplished lots. In Fellowship Hall’s newly-renovated catering kitchen, they made chili for Cornerstone Community Kitchen under the direction of Darrell Baum, Feed Truck chef, and they also made raspberry jam. They helped sort mounds of clothing for the Clothes Closet at CDK and for Threads of Hope closet at Chambers United Methodist Church. They decorated breakfast bags for Cornerstone Community Kitchen and did other useful tasks.

Thanks to Christina Ong, a Malaysian student in her final year at seminary, Aron and Sara Tillema (both seminary students from California),  Katie O’Hearn (on the staff at KUMC), KUMC volunteer Alan MacIlroy, Arby Barrett of Manahawken, Theresa Henry, a mole bio graduate student at Princeton, Aida Haddad (seminary student in program ministry at KUMC), Skitch Mattson and Adam Tobey (seminary students who are Feed Truck Chaplains), Meghan Kane (an RVCC student), Melissa McKamie (ask her about musical theatre!), Michele Bylsma (who works at Riverside School), Amanda Nicol (KUMC member), Jessica Rigel (seminary student from Pennington), and Meredith Cox (seminary student from Atlanta Georgia). Also to PUMC members Judy Miller, Annette Ransom, seminary intern Brady Beard, and Jeanette Timmons, volunteer extraordinaire from the Jewish Center of Princeton. There was even a father-son team. Richard Adams is a seminary student and his father Gregg was visiting this week from Virginia.  Praise the Lord for the use of talents and time!