Outreach and Mission

Throughout the world, down the street, in Trenton, in Princeton, we seek to reach out to those in need. Our budget reflects this commitment and our program depends on the time and talents of our members in mission to others. All of our programs need volunteers!

Our mission budget includes line items for the denomination's Theological Fund and for the Nassau Presbyterian Church Scholarship Endowment at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Nassau has an on-going program for the resettlement of refugee families and a monthly hunger Sunday when special offerings are received to support four major hunger programs throughout the world. This congregation also maintains a clothing store at the seminary to help provide needed clothing for the international students.

The Princeton Parramos Partnership began in 2001, when a group from the Latin American Task Force in Princeton, New Jersey, was visiting schools, hospitals and other sites of cultural interest in Guatemala. During a visit to Santos Inocentes School in Parramos, members of the group were impressed by the efforts of the deeply committed parent-teacher committee to offer a good education to children in this poor rural area. As a result, the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton agreed to sponsor a community service trip to the school in 2002, together with the Latin American Task Force.

The Church in the World Committee concerns itself with the world mission of the church. It acts as educator and advocate for the church in the world, offering classes on the church in other lands, sponsoring refugee families, assisting international students and carrying out other projects. Contact Margie Ravindranath at (609) 497-1007 and Tom Charles.

The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, co-sponsored by Nassau and Trinity Churches, addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness in the Mercer County area. As one of the largest found pantry programs in the county, it seeks to assist low income people in emergency situations. Located at Nassau Church and at the First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, it provides food, financial assistance, and advocacy to families and individuals in need (to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs). Volunteers work in the food pantry, work directly with neighbors in need, and oversee the administration of this ecumenical ministry. Contact Sally Osmer at (609) 921-2135 or (609) 396-9355, ext. 13.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Trinity Church in Princeton holds the Interfaith Hospitality Network. For an entire week, 3-5 homeless families use Trinity Church as their home. Members of Trinity Church, Nassau Presbyterian Church, and the Unitarian Universalist churches, and the Jewish Community Center all pull together to prepare meals, tutor and play with children, stay the night and otherwise provide hospitality toward these neighbors who are currently without a permanent home.

This opportunity to work with specially screened families is a chance for Nassau Presbyterian members to be part of a local solution to homelessness. You can sign up to help by calling Trinity Church at (609) 924-2277 (. In order to assist, you need to attend a special one-time training session, and you can receive the date and time for the next training session by calling Trinity. In the past, we have had a "Nassau Night" on Wednesday night of each week and did sign-ups through Nassau Church. For this rotation, however, we ask that you call Trinity directly and sign up for a shift on any night that you would like. Needs for each night range from meal preparation to mal hosts. Evening hosts and overnight hosts. For more information about Interfaith Hospitality Network, you can pick up a flyer in the narthex, call (609) 396-8849, or go to the website at www.ihnmc.org or visit Trinity's IHN website.

ABC Literacy, in cooperation with the Social Action Committee, provides Adult Literacy Resources specializing in learning disabilities and prison literacy. ABC provides training in a multisensory approach to the teaching of the basic language skills of reading, writing and spelling to adults in correctional institutions. Nassau members Lois Young, Marcia Van Dyck, and Rosanne Jacks, as well as Elaine Phillips, all special educators, provide leadership for this group. ABC professionals train inmates, professional tutors and volunteers to teach inmates who struggle with illiteracy. In addition to tutor training, ABC Literacy is developing a model so that prison literacy and training program can be replicated in other prisons. ABC is currently working with the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, in collaboration with a non-profit organization called L.I.F.E. (Learning is for Everyone), which is a twelve-year-old organization led and run by inmates. For further information, contact Rosanne Jacks at (609)452-1683.

Habitat for Humanity rehabilitates and builds houses in Trenton. A range of skills are needed including folks who are willing to wield a hammer. Contact the church office at (609) 924-0103.

The HUB is a Saturday night drop-in center for people with mental and emotional disabilities. Contact Lynne Seidel at (908) 359-7497.

The Hunger Committee receives and distributes the monthly hunger offering and keeps the congregation aware of hunger issues. Contact Emily Heine at (609) 683-5120.

Mercer Project Teach is a project to teach teenage mothers to sew. Volunteers help out in Trenton on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Sandy Foose at (609) 497-0557.

The Peacemaking Committee involves us as peacemakers in the home as well as in the world through education and action. Contact Charles Lewis at (609) 466-3729.

Princeton Community Housing builds and manages affordable housing in our area. Contact Ted Vial at (609) 921-8955.

The Mission Committee is made up of members interested in the church's social witness. The committee activates the congregation on such diverse issues as addictions, housing, international areas of conflict, gun control, the death penalty and the environment. It is also concerned itself with the world mission of the church. It acts as educator and advocate for the church in the world, offering classes on the church in other lands, sponsoring refugee families, assisting international students and carrying out other projects. Contact Margie Ravindranath at (609)497-1007.

Soup and Casserole is a Deacon-organized program that provides meals for those during times of emergency. Contact the church office at (609) 924-0103.

The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) and Loaves and Fishes: Each August Nassau Church members prepare meatloaves to feed 500-700 guests of the Soup Kitchen.

The Trenton After School Program (TASP) provides tutoring and enrichment activities to at-risk children from several Trenton elementary schools. The program operates Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to tutor and assist staff with a variety of activities. Contact Tina Blackledge, Director, at (609) 947-4679 for more information or to volunteer.

The Trenton Children's Chorus (TCC), an outreach ministry of Nassau Church, meets weekly on Tuesday afternoons. Volunteers in numerous capacities, regular and occasional, are always needed. The coordinating committee meets in Princeton. Contact Maureen Llort or Ruth Wyatt at (609) 466-4882.

Camperships Each summer, our two major outreach programs to children in inner city Trenton provide summer camp opportunities. The Trenton After School Program (TASP) sends each child to some form of day or overnight camp. The Trenton Children's Chorus (TCC) sends several children to Camp Albemarle, a two-week music camp at the American Boychoir School, as well as programs at Westminster Choir College and other institutions.

If you would like to help make these experiences possible, send a check payable to the church (memo -"camperships"). You may specify "TCC" or "TASP". If no specification is made, the donation will be split equally between the two organizations. We can accept an employer's matching contribution. Simply make the check payable to Princeton Outreach Projects, Inc. (POPI will suffice) and enclose the required form.

Prayer Chain Join in the ministry of prayer or add a prayer request to the prayer chain. Consider being someone committed for 5 minutes a day to praying for others in the Nassau Presbyterian Church community. Contact Debbi Roldan to add a request or join in the ministry.