Holy Week

Forgive me if I am preaching to the choir, but as I write this, we are entering the most difficult days of the church year, and the tough subject matter can make it doubly difficult to come to worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Perhaps rather than backing away from discomfort, we walk through it this year, for the full meaning of the joy of Easter is punctuated if we first remember the difficult road Jesus took. 
 
Recalling how Jesus did the job of a servant by kneeling and carefully washing each of his disciples’ feet reminds us that this gesture of love and mercy is a gift to inform their future; teaching them to humbly love one another as he has loved them.
 
Remembering that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples and how he told them to continue breaking bread and sharing wine remembering his spiritual presence with the community of believers until he returns. He knew as they and we continue to celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, this meal keeps our hope alive as our spirits are fed by God’s Word, even amidst the losses woven into our lives.
 
Recalling that it is just after Jesus shows his deep love for the disciples that they turn their backs on him for fear when the authorities draw near. The Good Friday worship service tunes our hearts to imagine what it is like for Jesus to be betrayed by his closest friends and followers when it mattered most, enduring alone the violent words and actions of those in authority who saw him as a threat to their power. Being put to death on a cross like a common criminal when he was exactly the opposite; what Jesus endures on the cross is the epitome of injustice.
 
Pondering what it means for the disciples and for us to know that Jesus died – choosing the most difficult path to demonstrate his deep and abiding love for us. His death clearly shows that those in power will violently stomp out love if it shines too brightly, mainly because God’s boundary breaking love challenges our preference for comfort. God’s love calls each of us to get down on our knees and wash one another’s feet – even the feet of those whom we disagree with wholeheartedly. 
 
So, this Holy Week I invite and encourage you to worship with us in the sanctuary on Thursday and Friday evenings so that your heart is made ready to receive the miracle of the power of God’s love revealing itself on Easter morning!  Be the first to hear the good news at the Easter Sunrise service in the church parking lot at 6:30 a.m. (with music by Ava and Bella) and come to our spectacular Easter morning service at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary (Jay’s last one as our Director of Music) and celebrate the joy that is ours through the love of Jesus Christ!

Never forget that Hope is Alive,
Rev. Amy

Journey through Lent

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.
                                                   -Thou Fount of Every Blessing
 
Do you find that your heart frequently tends to wander from God?  If your answer is “yes,” then you are not alone. Thankfully, to help this tendency to pull away, we have some meaningful ways for you to step closer and to engage God with our faith community during the season of Lent.  Lent is the season of self-reflection, confession, and prayer leading up to Holy Week and Easter.

It is an annual FPC tradition to celebrate together the night before Lent begins by sharing a pancake supper on what is known as Shrove Tuesday. At this dinner in Fellowship Hall, people of all ages gather to celebrate joyfully making crafts while enjoying a delicious meal; ever mindful that the next day begins the more reflective season of Lent.

The next day, on Ash Wednesday, we will gather again in the evening in Fellowship Hall, but this time for worship with the imposition of ashes and sharing the Lord’s Supper. In this service, we are reminded of our sinfulness and our complete reliance upon God for forgiveness and mercy using the words, “you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

As we journey through Lent, you may decide to draw closer to God by giving up something you enjoy – making a small sacrifice to be reminded of the immense sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf by giving his life for us. Or you may decide to add something positive to your days during Lent – like reading the Bible, or praying at a certain time, or offering a small kindness to someone every day.  It is really up to you and God to decide together what spiritual or tangible action might keep you mindful and help bring you closer during Lent.

Wandering Hearts is a Lenten booklet of poetry, art, scripture, reflections, readings, and questions to work through to spark something new and deepen your spiritual life. You may choose to add this as daily reading this year. Using it as our guide for study, worship, and preaching during Lent, we will follow the life of one of the most relatable of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter. As you may remember, Peter’s walk of faith had high and low points as he grew in confidence and then sunk back into fear and doubt.  And Jesus loved and consistently worked with Peter despite his sometimes-shaky faith.

You are invited to pick up a copy of the Wandering Hearts devotional booklet at the church to learn more about Peter’s journey alongside Jesus, see if you can relate to his struggles, and grow in understanding of your own call to discipleship.

We hope to see you in worship during the Lenten season as we spend these six weeks preparing to remember Jesus’ final week on earth during Holy Week, culminating in the joy of Easter morning!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

We Welcome You Back!

Alas, it is the end of summer, and the fresh start of fall is ahead! To help with this transition, please know that we are excited to welcome you and your family back to church! On September 3, we’ll have joyful worship with communion and a blessing of the backpacks before school begins next week.  And our fall season kicks off on September 10 in worship as we will commission our Sunday school teachers for their first classes that morning. Afterwards, we will gather for lunch at the All-Church Brunch celebration where you can see old friends and make some new ones too!
 
Our Fall Theme is “Do not be afraid.” This phrase is used 58 times in the Old and New Testaments, indicating that fear is something human beings have been managing for a very long time. Sometimes this phrase is written in the context of facing down an enemy in battle. Other times it is spoken when an angel – or Jesus himself - comes to deliver good news. The feeling of fear is hardwired into human beings rooted in the flight or fight response to help us survive. And, if we’re honest, as the world changes quickly around us, it just isn’t realistic to ask us not to be afraid. So, what are we to do? Throughout the fall, we will be exploring the repeated biblical phrase “Do not be afraid” and see what we can learn about truly trusting God in 2023. We’ll work to rebalance our fear in healthy ways undergirded by trusting God who knows us and loves us completely.
 
To help us with this task, God calls us together as the church to remember who and whose we are. We do the work of being a faith community best by spending time together – talking, learning, laughing, and sharing as the Holy Spirit knits us together.  Please intentionally plan to share yourselves with us in worship and study, in fellowship and service in the church year ahead – for truly we are better together!  And we would love to see you in person as often as possible! 
 
Come and find your trust in God renewed with us at FPC in 2023!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

FPC and the Joy of VBS

It fills my heart with pure joy as I walk around the church building on this third morning of Vacation Bible School. The time, energy, intelligence, imagination, and love that the coordinators, leaders, and student helpers are infusing into the week is palpable! Even before the week began, the leadership team spent hours creating castle scenery to set the stage for a visually captivating experience – complete with a dragon and a princess.

During opening worship, I see both familiar faces and many new ones as we learn that today’s theme is “Armor up with Peace.” Walking over to the Parish House, I see people (more than 55 volunteers!) all over our campus setting up to teach about God’s power of Peace. Today they lead fun games, creative bracelet-making, and a science unit about snow – all while telling of God’s gift of peace shown in the story of the birth of Jesus (Christmas in July). They teach motions to energizing music and serve Christmas cookies for snacks, all related to the theme of Peace – while also making sure the children (more than 50 of them) are safe, engaged, and happy.

It is an incredible feeling to watch it all come together, and my deepest hope is that, wrapped with our prayer, VBS helps these children experience God’s love. This is what it looks like when faithful disciples step forward to offer their talents to build up the community of faith and welcome the wider community. This is how we Shine God’s Light, and I trust that in immeasurable ways through the work of the Holy Spirit we will change the world too! 

A word of deep thanks to each person that is helping to make this vibrant week of outreach happen!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

God Is With Us and For Us

From the hopeful cries of Hosanna (save us!) on Palm Sunday to the tearful cries of despair on Good Friday, and on through to the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday, Holy Week is coming.  And if you are feeling like me, I think we need it desperately.  We need time to turn off the news which pounds us with raw images and stories of violence and natural disasters ripping through neighborhoods; each of these leaving devastation of hearts and lives behind.

We need time apart to deeply pray for our friends and families, our communities, and our nation.  And to cry out, “Where are you, God” in this midst of this suffering?!  It is Good Friday that reminds us that God is on the cross for us and therefore with us in our suffering.  God is not above it all, but God is in it with us – with all of those who struggle.

A next step in our prayers might be to ask with an open heart – what do I have to bring to the table (talents, insights, abilities) to help improve things for those who are hurting? How is God calling me to live and to respond in this moment in time?  How can we work to make a safer world for all of God’s children?

On Palm Sunday we’ll look at Psalm 118 which reminds us, “O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.” When life feels like it may be unraveling at the seams, it is hard to remember to give thanks and to remember that God has got this. But it is true. And the Holy week ahead will demonstrate this truth; from the heights to the depths of human emotion, God is in it with us and for us. Let’s help each other remember this and to hold onto hope in the goodness and resurrection power of God.

Blessings,
Rev. Amy

“Love one another as I have loved you…” – John 13:34

Did you know?

• 45% of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

• Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide and LGBTQ youth of color reported higher rates than their white peers.

• 60% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it.

• LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.  Stats from www.thetrevorproject.org.

Did you know?
Our presbytery camp, Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center, offers a week of summer camp called “Wonderfully Made” that is specifically offered to celebrate LGBTQIA+ youth in grades 2 through 12? You can read more about that at https://www.campjburg.org/wonderfully-made/

Did you know?
At the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA in 2018, the assembly voted to adopt a statement entitled, On Celebrating the Gifts of People of Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities in the Life of the Church. You can read that statement here: GA action on LGBTQIA+ Inclusion.

We may each be in a different place of understanding when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community – some at FPC are a part of it, some at FPC love those who are part of it and so are allies, and some at FPC are just starting to learn what the letters in LGBTQIA+ mean. That is ok.

As Christians in the Reformed tradition, what unifies us is trust in Jesus Christ as the Word of God.

In his life and ministry as well as in his death and resurrection, Jesus shows us God’s LOVE incarnate.  Jesus reaches out to those who are misunderstood, cast aside, and hurting, to eat with, listen to, and care about them.  At the very least, as disciples of Christ, this is what we are also called to do – to Listen, Learn, and Love those who are different from ourselves. Please reach out to me directly if you’d like to talk more about this.  And watch for more opportunities to listen, learn, and love in this e-newsletter and in the weeks ahead.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

Where Are You, God?

As the wind whips around outside knocking on my office window and the snowflakes fly horizontally by in the air, things seem just a bit off.  We’ve barely had a winter this year, and now it storms, right when spring is officially beginning next week.  It feels like the earth is confused.  At least it is not like it used to be.

If you add to that climate confusion the daily news of war driven by corruption and greed, violence driven by fear and hatred, and continuing fallout from Covid, the world appears chaotic at best. You may often ask, “Where are you, God, in these constant changes, suffering, and struggle?!”

How do you deal with this barrage of confusion in your own life?  Do you find solace in grasping onto the smaller things around you each day that you can control? Decisions like what time you go to bed and get up, what you eat, who you spend time with, how active you are, and how you engage with the tasks before you that day – perhaps these are each a part of how you stay grounded.

I want to encourage you, as Lent continues a few more weeks, to also add in some time to be still and to turn your heart toward God in prayer.  Even if it is just for a few moments when you get in the car but before you turn it on or before you eat breakfast – just sit for a minute and breathe slowly – calm yourself – center your thoughts on God – and hold it there for a minute or two remembering that God is your anchor in the storms of life. God calms our spirits and grounds our thoughts to remind us, “I’ve got you.”

Don’t get blown away by the frenzy of incessant information and despair that the days are passing by too quickly but stand strong and hold on in the moment with all you’ve got to the one who anchors us with steadfast love and faithfulness.  Take slow deep breaths – remember that you are not alone – and jump boldly into the new day holding on to God as God holds on to you.

Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Amy

Between the Dust

As I am writing this, it is Ash Wednesday, and I am considering the words I will say to each person who chooses to receive ashes on their forehead in worship tonight, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

When I hear these words and ponder them in my heart, I cannot help but be humbled. They speak of the transitory nature of life, that no matter what we do to hang onto this world (gaining fame or fortune or using age-defying lotion) that one day it will elude us, and our spirits will pass on into the next life.

These words ground us as finite human beings; just here for a short time and then gone.

It is good to have a day in the church year to be mindful of just how dependent we are upon the grace and mercy of God for our daily lives.  It is also good for us to remember that the Lenten journey for Jesus was not pleasant or easy. Even God living as a human being had to summon strength and endurance and to find resources and clarity to simply stay alive.

And while each of us are unique and treasured, at the same time, we are not all that matters. Every other human life matters too. It is only God who is enduring, as both the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Everything else eventually falls and fades away.

So, what are we to make of our time here - between the dust – when we are alive and created to love and glorify God forever?  Our priorities in living are what speak to our values about life.  If we are turned in on ourselves, only considering what we want and what we must do to get that, then we are missing out on the richness that comes from connections with other human beings.  On the other hand, if we live in community, regularly spend time empathetically considering others needs and offering our time and energy to benefit them, then we are practicing loving our neighbor as Jesus calls us to do.

Please make the time this Lenten season to consider the priorities of your life – what do you give yourself and your attention most fully towards?  What are you making of the time between the dust?  My prayer is that you will seek guidance from God as you check where your heart is and adjust in the direction of God’s will.  I invite you to join me in trying our best to observe a Holy Lent: spending time praying and fasting, examining our lives, doing works of love and justice, and grounding ourselves in Scripture. Please let me know if you’d like to talk through these or other matters of faith in the weeks ahead – pastor@flemingtonpres.org

May you observe a Holy Lent,
Rev. Amy

Being A Matthew 25 Church

35…for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me, I was in prison, and you visited me.” – Matthew 25:35–36

As a Matthew 25 congregation, we practice making it a priority to respond to those who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, cold, sick, and oppressed. It is what we believe God calls us to do. We work to put our faith into action by making God’s love tangible in the lives of those who struggle. This is part of our identity as a church and a clear way that we Shine God’s Light, demonstrating the love of God in our community and beyond.

Therefore, this week we rejoice that the Flemington Borough Planning Board voted 5 to 1 to approve the request from Family Promise for a zoning variance so they can reconfigure and use the house offered to them by Calvary Episcopal Church! The home located next to the nearby church will serve as transitional housing for families vetted by Family Promise who need a safety net for a short period of time while finding a place of their own.

You may know there were loud, grumbling voices firmly against this idea for fear of having “those people” in their neighborhood. Members of our church and many other local faith communities stood beside Family Promise’s request understanding that the availability of this home was a gift from God for such a time as this – as the need for transitional housing is great and the options are few. There were many long meetings with presentations by a lawyer, architect, and church leadership on why this proposed change would be beneficial for the community – as well as time for those against the idea to voice their concerns. In the end, the board voted to allow the variance, and so we rejoice believing that we are charged by God to look out for and provide for those in need. Thanks be to God and to the planning board for discerning a way forward that offers hope to those in distress!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

Summer God Sightings

The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. – Psalm 19:1
 
Have you seen the first amazing images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope?! The $10 billion satellite that took decades of research and innovation to develop is showing us the outermost reaches of space; giving us a peek into the vastness of the universe that God created, which is so enormous that the light we see in the images left those stars billions of years ago as the universe was just forming!

If you haven’t had the chance to learn about these remarkable images, I encourage you to learn more here: https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1111062062/the-universes-baby-pictures-squee-from-the-james-webb-space-telescope

For me these images have been one of the most powerful Summer God Sightings I have had. My mind bends to think of how small each of us are in the grand scheme of the universe and yet to know that God creates, loves, and knows each of us fully. BOOM – it blows me away!

To bring things back to earth, when the children who attended last week were asked, “where have you seen God at work this week during VBS?” we had 79 answers ranging from small kindnesses between siblings and new friends, to learning new songs and stories, taking care of one another, sharing joy, feeding us and feeding others, donating to the food pantry, volunteering as helpers, people adopting children and animals, parents providing for their kids and helping us with homework, forgiveness after a sibling ruined math homework, and helping those who are hurting!  The kids recognize God’s presence in these moments and have learned the life-long skill and spiritual discipline of being alert to watch for God’s work in daily life.

The adults volunteering at VBS saw God at work as others lent a helping hand, the children sang, special friendships were made, the kids shared and used manners, in the beautiful faces of the little ones, and in the enthusiasm of the teen helpers. Thanks be to God!

Yes, God created the vast, majestic furthest reaches of the universe, and yes, God created each one of us and is present at work in our lives each day, showing up wherever love and kindness reign supreme.

We invite you and your family to tell us about your Summer God Sightings– either in words or in pictures, and we may just share yours in our next e-newsletter! Please send them to pastor@flemingtonpres.org.

Praying for you to enjoy a summer filled with faith, love, and joy!
 Rev. Amy

Why Are Pride Flags At Church?

“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God,
and God abides in them.” – I John 4:16b

You may have noticed the new rainbow flags up around the church building and wonder what they mean.  Guided by our Mission and Outreach focus on Welcome, Inclusion, and Connection for 2022, Session voted unanimously at our last meeting to fly pride flags at the church signifying our true hospitality for the LGBTQIA+ community in all its expressions for the month of June, which is pride month.

Why would we do that? Through the years, the PC(USA) has diligently studied and discussed same-sex relationships, and more recently, different gender expressions, coming to see these differences as blessings, part of God’s diverse world.  Studying the eight scripture passages that directly address same-sex activity within the context of the time and place they were written, we’ve come to realize that what was addressed then is wholly unrelated to what we now know of consensual, committed partnerships of same-sex couples.

Through the years, LGBTQIA+ people have been fired from jobs, evicted from housing, denied access to their dying partners in the hospital (not counted as family members), and because the larger church for many years called their love sinful, they were only accepted if they weren’t truly themselves. There are too many stories of families who cast out their gay kids, and many thousands take their own lives every year as they experience rejection for the way that they love.  This has caused immeasurable harm to these people and their families and has marred the larger church’s witness to love. When the church “loves the sinner and hates the sin” it is being intolerant.  Keeping LGBTQIA+ people at arms-length instead of warmly welcoming them into the body of Christ which reflects God’s love in the world is the real sin.

The church has come to realize its complicity in those hurtful beliefs and actions and now apologizes for the exclusion, judgment, and harm we have contributed to as a denomination through the years. Instead of loving people just the way God made them, so often we have asked them to be “normal,” asking them to deny their true selves.

We now celebrate the diversity of gender identities and expressions and the love that same sex couples share in covenantal relationships with one another.
I am glad to talk with you further about this. Here is a link to what the PC(USA) says about Sexuality and Same Gender Relationships: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/what-we-believe/sexuality-and-same-gender-relationships/
 
Just like at the communion table we say, “All those who trust in the Lord are welcome to partake of this feast that God has prepared.”  All are welcome at the table of God, and so all are invited into our community of faith as we follow Christ and reflect God’s love in the world.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

Confirmation

When we baptize babies in the PC(USA), we as a whole congregation “promise to guide and nurture each little one by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging them to know and follow Christ and to be a faithful member of Christ’s church.” To live into this promise, we support the Christian Education Committee as they formally implement this promise. At the same time, we recognize the shared responsibility to help children and youth know that they belong to God and that they are beloved by God and by us.

As they grow older in our midst, we help them to know their life has a purpose. The church gives them opportunities to use their God-given gifts to care for themselves by making healthy choices and to reach out to love and help others know God’s love. And when it is time, in eighth grade or older, we invite them to Confirmation Class - a special time of learning and searching for answers as they come to claim faith in Christ for themselves. At the end of Confirmation Class, many of them choose to confirm the promises their parents made for them at Baptism and to become adult members of this congregation.

The six young people that will stand before you to lead worship this Sunday – Anabel, Anne, Alyssa, Aubrey, Jason, and Michael - are amazing examples of how living into this promise to nurture faith can be a blessing to the whole faith community and beyond. Each one of these teens worked hard this year to show up for class, learn about worship, sacraments, mission, sin, forgiveness, and what following in the ways of Jesus looks like. They each spent time serving others – as they helped with the Blessing of the Animals service last fall, and the hot chocolate distribution at the Holiday parade, the FPP Breakfast with Santa, and other churchwide activities.

Confirmation is not an end but a starting point for deeper engagement in the life of the church so they can learn and grow and help us do the same. We need their perspective to help faithfully shape our mission according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit – to see how God is at work in the world. We need young voices trained in discernment to help show us what faithfulness to God’s word may look like in the next 5, 10, and 20 years.

When we engage them where they are, they will bring vitality and relevance – pointing us toward the pulse of God’s action in our current world – focusing on technology, connection, welcome, inclusion, mission, and outreach. It is not the gospel message that changes, but it is God’s living word applied to our ever-changing context that requires people of all ages of faith to pray, worship, gather stories, and bring knowledge to inform the ministry that we offer.

Please help us welcome these outstanding young people as our newest members on Sunday as they lead us in worship and share their gifts with us!

Love in Christ,
Rev. Amy

Heartbreak: How Do We Stop the Shootings?

It has happened again. Ten people have died at the hands of a young man with a powerful weapon who had been schooled in hate enough to fuel intentional violence against people of color.  This is evil, and it is sin. Every time this happens, we think, “We can’t let this happen again,” and every time we do very little to change things.

Part of what matters most here is education about and experiencing the blessing of diversity.  That difference is not something to fear, but that it is God’s intention to have people of all ages, shapes, colors, abilities, languages, and nationalities included in God’s kingdom. Every one of us is valuable, unique, created with a purpose, and to be treasured.  There is no superior and inferior – we are all equal in God’s eyes.  And Black Lives do Matter.

Part of what we as the church can do – and what our Mission and Outreach team has chosen to focus on in 2022 – is to practice Welcome, Inclusion, and Connection.  That means living out the values of God’s kingdom here on earth as a faith community. That means welcoming the stranger who does not look like us, and that means including those who seem different knowing that they are loved by God just the same.  It also means reaching past what appears to make us different from each other, knowing that we can each grow by making the time to hear each other’s stories and learn about other perspectives and experiences without fear.

There are certainly other issues at play in the conversation about stopping the shootings, but for now, in our life together, let’s focus on having the courage to step outside of what is comfortable and practice embracing differences as a blessing – just like Jesus taught us. Remember, his was a boundary-breaking ministry as he ate with sinners, included Gentiles, and washed his disciples’ feet saying, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Tune in this Sunday in worship to hear more about how the Holy Spirit helps to lay the groundwork for our courage in making connections.  And then get ready to join us for upcoming opportunities to take the leap of faith to welcome, include, and connect with each other, appreciating our differences instead of being separated by them, “for we are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This is an essential part of the work that we as the church must do to help stop future shootings – to offer education in celebrating diversity and practicing empathy.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

What Is Your Heart Longing for This Christmas?

We had good fun Sunday evening giving out hot chocolate, marshmallows, and candy canes to people at the church before the Hunterdon Holiday Parade! The Confirmation Class and friends showed up in force to help the Fellowship Committee set up and help the church look welcoming as people began to line up for the parade. Many neighbors came through the line to receive our hospitality of hot cocoa with an invitation to join us online for Christmas Eve services.

One moment of joy came later in the day as the parade was about to begin a little boy about 4 years old came up to the table and took a handful of candy canes from the table (there were plenty left over) and proud of his plunder he jumped up and down and exclaimed with big eyes, “YES! Look how many I got!”

I wonder, what will make you shout with joy at God’s abundance in this season?

What is it that your heart is longing for this Christmas?

Is it sweet treats and gifts galore?
Or is it healing for someone you love,
Sweet reunion with friends and loved ones you have not seen in far too long,
And an end to the twists and turns on the pandemic roller coaster?

Is it for all of God’s children to be housed, fed, safe, and well,
For our church to continue to thrive with vibrant ministry,
And hope for those whose hearts are broken and despairing?
Or to simply have assurance that God is present with you and that God cares for your well-being.

I invite you to come with an open heart to worship this Sunday – either in person or online. As you hear the choir and readers tell of the Road to Bethlehem, may the Spirit of Christmas be born in a new way in you in 2021!

And may God bless us as we prepare our hearts for the great gift that is coming!

Advent blessings,
Rev. Amy

Advent Waiting 2021

I don’t know about you, but I have been more eager than usual to jump into Advent this year. Considering the losses and changes we’ve all experienced in 2021, I am ready to hold tight to some of the traditions of preparing for Christmas that ground me in my faith. I don’t want to wait for the joyful celebration of Christmas this year, I want to start singing carols and giving gifts now!

My prayer is that the Advent study on Wednesdays via Zoom will be a blessing to those who participate in reading and conversation to get our hearts ready to welcome Jesus in this festive season. I hope this study will tighten our connection to each other so that we learn and grow spiritually together.

Intentional visits to our homebound members will be placed higher on my priority list this month – being present and spending time in prayer and support of you.

By offering the Blue Christmas Service on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, we’re creating space so that those for whom Christmas is a difficult time will worship more solemnly and remember those people and circumstances they are missing this year. May those who struggle feel God’s presence and our prayers with you.

Personally, I intend to spend some time decorating my home and baking homemade treats to give away (and to enjoy) just like my grandmother and mother did with me at Christmastime. I will be joyfully singing Christmas Carols around town in my car. And finally, I want to shop for fewer but more meaningful and unique gifts for my friends and family.

How will you be waiting during Advent this year? How will you prepare your heart to welcome Jesus? Please make sure to join us for worship on Sundays – either in person or virtually – so that you are reminded of the great gift we are given by God who loves us more fully than we can imagine.

Blessings to you and yours this Advent,
Rev. Amy

Giving Thanks

I wonder if you have ever experienced feelings for God as described in these first verses of Psalm 9 from the Message translation. If so, what was happening that sparked that joy?

Effusive gratitude for the blessings we enjoy and fullness of life from God are what this season of giving thanks is about. It is a time for us to step out of the usual pace of life and reflect on what is right and good and true in our lives. As we make it a point to be grateful to God in holding onto these, we reorient our hearts back to our creator. And now, perhaps more than ever, we are acutely aware of even the little things that keep us afloat as we go about our daily lives – an offer of help when we feel overwhelmed, a friend sharing chocolate at just the right time, or a call from a friend just to catch up. We experience God’s goodness in big and small ways when we keep paying attention.

To help frame the week ahead, I offer you this thanksgiving prayer as a gift to each of you, for whom I am tremendously grateful to walk alongside in ministry.

God’s Richest Blessings to you and yours,
Rev. Amy

Generous God, we lift our hearts to you with grateful praise; giving you thanks for our breath, health, and warmth, just as we are today.
Thank you for the food that nourishes so that we can do your will and help others know your goodness.
Thank you for the life-giving relationships we enjoy, friends that build us up to be our best selves.
Thank you for the generous, hard-working volunteers of Flemington Presbyterian Church that keep our ministry and mission happening year after year; for the energy, intelligence, imagination and love they share.
For each new family we’ve recently welcomed into the church through baptism and membership; bless them and help us know and care well for them. May they connect in meaningful ways to FPC, and we to them.
Thank you for engaging work or school which feed our souls and for wise colleagues with whom we work or study. Thank you for inspiring teachers, insightful counselors, and dynamic coaches who ask the best of us.
Loving God, at the end of the day, it is how our heart is with you that matters the most, so keep us mindful of our loyalties and give us strength and courage to truly be your disciples in this world working for love. Amen.

I Love Fall!

I love fall! It is the time of year when the air and the apples are crisp, the spooky decorations are hung around town above the mums, and we begin to prepare our hearts and homes for the celebrations ahead.

In the life of the church this is also the time that Session begins to look at the budget and to make decisions about our priorities moving forward into the next year. We want to be responsible stewards of all that God has given to us including our rich worship and music life, engaging Christian education for all ages, maintaining our buildings and property, and offering caring ministries both inside and outside our doors that address the needs of those who are hurting.

The prophet Isaiah writes, “If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” (Is. 58:10) These words may guide us in the way God calls us to prioritize using gifts and offerings. In the kingdom of God, it is by directly addressing suffering and satisfying those in need that our light shines. And you’ve even named that as our mission to Shine God’s Light!

As Stewardship season begins this fall, let’s be mindful of what it looks like to respond to God’s grace and love by giving generously to help those who are hurting. “For when you do it to one of the least of these you do it to me.” The Stewardship mailing will reach your mailbox in the next week or so. Keep your eyes peeled to grab this opportunity to allow FPC to continue quality teaching, worshiping, and caring as a beacon of hope in these uncertain times. Every gift – large or small – is appreciated and will help to make ministry happen in God’s name in 2022.

Isaiah continues in verse 11 with this promise of hope: “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” What a beautiful vision of God’s provision for us to live into!

Thanks be to God!

Rev. Amy

What Frees Your Soul?

In some of the small group meetings I attended this week at the church and online, we spent time sharing with one another the methods we use to refocus when stress is getting the best of us. What is it that you do when you recognize that you need to stop and take care of yourself? When your feelings get bigger than your body can hold – whether it’s anger, sorrow, frustration, or something else – what do you do with the emotional load you carry?

I heard many different answers – gardening, reading, listening to music, exercise/walking, being social, talking to a friend, taking a break, breathing intentionally, praying, and sleeping. These are healthy ways of dealing with strong feelings. There are less healthy ways to react to stress as well – mindless eating, overindulging in alcohol, staying saturated in social media, gaming, or drugs. These may distract us from our feelings for a time, but they also bring negative health consequences, and when we stop doing them then the feelings of stress just come back.

“Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest” says Jesus. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.” (Matthew 11:28–29) Can you recall a time that you prayed a burden over to Jesus – lifting it up to your heavenly parent so you did not bear the weight of the stress alone? If so, you know how truly life-giving this can be. Whether it is a decision you need to make or something difficult you are required to do, God is ready to help carry the load and strengthen you, so that you can create space and make time to refill your own cup of life.

Additionally, as part of this connectional faith community, we offer true support to each other in times of need. If you need something heavy carried up the stairs, we can find someone to help you. If you are worried about a big change that is coming up in your life, we have people who care and can be called upon to visit with you and to listen and pray with you. If someone is treating you poorly and you need an advocate, we can find someone to speak up for you. Remember this: God’s blessings are right here in front of you when you need help – and in turn, when you feel strong you can BE one of those blessings to someone else. You do this when you share your talent or skill with the wider faith community. We need each other to embody God’s love.

As the fall comes to greet us, please be in touch with me about how the church can help support you and how you can help support the ministry of the church – pastor@flemingtonpres.org. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Amy

Session has approved a plan to guide our decision-making regarding Covid-19 safety protocols for the fall season. Click here to read more details.

Letting Go and Hanging On

This week at the end of our vacation in North Carolina, I came home without Zoe, my oldest child, who will be spending the year working there and living with my parents. Zoe is 17, and she will become an adult in three months’ time. And while I know it is my time to let go so that she can fly on her own to thrive and grow, it is not easy when most of my days have centered around caring for her well-being ever since they handed that pink newborn to me tightly wrapped in a blanket and said, “Here is your baby girl.” Many of you have also been through a similar experience as you have sent kids to camp for a week or to college for a year to watch them grow and change and become more themselves. I am so excited for her and all that is ahead as God works in her life, and I will miss having her nearby. Both are true.

In each of our lives there are things we must let go of to grow into who we are called to be. My best friend and I chose to attend different colleges for this very reason. Maybe you can call to mind a time when letting go was life-giving and true for you?

There are also things we must hold onto to stay grounded, reminding us of who and whose we are. Our faith in God’s goodness and love is the primary grounding for Christian strength. We remember this in our Baptism where we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and claimed as Christ’s own. Our new identity as God’s child within a family of believers which spans space and time reassures us that we are never alone.

Remembering our identity in Christ helps strengthen us amidst the ebb and flow of changes in life. Like a trapeze artist – only as we let go of the fear of change can we fly forward and grab tightly onto what is next for us. And then we may rejoice as we recognize God’s work in our lives. As stated in the Westminster Catechism, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy God forever.”

God’s gracious loving presence through the Holy Spirit is our constant, guiding us all the way through life. God is our anchor in the storms of life – keeping us from floating away with the whims of the world – grounding us; freeing us from fear as so much around us changes, yet that which is of most importance does not. Thanks be to God!

As we come out the other side of this pandemic and create a new normal as individuals and as a faith community, let us continue to stay connected and to hold one another in prayer as we navigate these days deciding what to let go of and what to hold onto in hope.

Come to worship this Sunday to hear more reasons to rejoice as God’s people!

Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Amy

Updated Covid Guidelines

Dear FPC members and friends,

Before I leave on vacation, I am writing to share with you an important update to our FPC Covid guidelines this summer. As the numbers of Covid cases continue to decline in our area thanks to the wide availability of vaccinations, Session believes we can loosen restrictions while still prioritizing the safety of our most vulnerable members.  At the Session meeting on Tuesday evening, we voted on the following changes:

Regarding Worship in the sanctuary: Session voted to eliminate the mask mandate, allowing those who have been vaccinated to not wear a mask and requesting those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask in consideration of those not able to be vaccinated and as recommended by the CDC and the State of NJ.  Social distancing will be maintained with the continued blocking of pews.  For the time being, we ask that you continue to enter the church through the doors on the playground side of the church and sign-in before entering the sanctuary. As we ease back into in-person gatherings, please be mindful of personal space – how close we get to others – and make sure to ask first about others’ comfort level with personal touch, such as shaking hands.

Regarding church meetings in person: Session voted to allow church groups to meet indoors in person, using the same criteria as noted above for worship. The moderator of each meeting is responsible to be aware of group members uncomfortable attending in person and to arrange for hybrid meetings that also offer remote access via Zoom or other connectivity.

 We are so glad to be able to see one another’s smiles again and do look forward to making additional changes as the Covid numbers stay low – like adding fellowship opportunities and celebrating communion together again soon. In the meantime, as we live into the new normal, let us continue loving our neighbors by getting vaccinated, staying mindful of those who are not able to, and taking care to keep each other’s health and safety as a top priority.  Remember, we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it.  May God richly bless you and yours this summer - and don’t be a stranger!

Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Amy