Keeping in Touch: PoP’s Weekly E-news - 8/11/2026
Events and Ministry Opportunities at Prince of Peace and the House Next Door
This Week
Claudia Thompson will preach Sunday, 8.16.26. Thank you Claudia Thompson.
Upcoming Events
Bobby Jo Valentine Concert, Sunday August 23. Hosted at Prince of Peace, Bobby Jo Valentine is an explorative, hopeful, spiritual, queer artist who strives to make music and poetry that is good medicine for everyone. Bobby Jo has won multiple awards for his songwriting, given a TEDx Talk, and is a believer in the soft and steady power of everyday acts of love to heal our world. He uses his art to tell about his coming out journey. POP is cosponsoring this event with Emanual Lutheran Church of New Brunswick. More details will be available as we get closer to the date.
Backpacks for St Bart's
As we have done in past summers, Prince of Peace is collecting completely filled backpacks for distribution at St. Bart's. Please consider donating one or more filled backpacks. We hope to receive 30 or more. The list of items to include in each back is in the July Tidings and can be found in the gathering area. All items must be brand new. Please leave your filled backpack(s) on the collection table or under the coat rack in the Narthex/Gathering Area anytime between now and Sunday, August 16, 2026.
MUSIC at POP!: Bell Ringing Discovery Week - Isn’t it wonderful to hear the bell choir on a Sunday morning ringing? Wonder what it would be like to be part of a group and ring? We are there to have fun, practice some technique, and try ringing a couple of pieces. Anyone is welcome to come and have an experience of a life time! If you have any questions, contact Dorothy Safranek by email at safranek5@verizon.net.
Come in and try ringing bells on any or all of the following Days from 10:00 am to Noon.
- Wednesday, August 19
- Thursday, August 20
- Friday, August 21
Classical CDs available! - We have a large number of CDs available for the taking - see the table in the gathering area. They are mostly classical music. If you are not interested but know of a library or senior living place that might be interested, take some to them! They are still available. If you are interested, but can't pick them up let the church office know (aclarke@popnj.org or 609-799-1753).
Service Opportunities
Gardening to Feed Our Neighbors - Under the skilled direction of Master Gardener Shari Rexroad, volunteers have been working Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-11 each week in the two large gardens here at POP to provide a variety of fresh produce for our food-insecure neighbors served by Enid's Food Pantry at our partner church, St. Barts in Trenton. The small but dedicated crew can always use more help keeping up with planting, harvesting, trimming, and weeding. VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Contact Shari at srexroad915@gmail.com
or just come see how you can help for an hour or a shift, even if not on a regular basis!
POP's Immigration Ministry needs volunteers and donations. I-RISE (Interfaith Refugee and Resettlement Services and Empowerment) continues to serve our immigrant neighbors in numerous ways. With funding cuts, there's even more need for volunteers to help with learning English or basic laptop use, drivers to deliver food bags, take them to appointments or to help them practice driving, or mentors to work with a 15-24 year old. Our volunteer team works directly with a Haitian family of 7 in Trenton as well as supporting other services and events through the Trenton office. Summer Camp Scholarship sponsors or gift cards for Uber, Lyft, Shoprite, Walmart, Visa or Mastercard and donations of gently used household goods or seasonal clothing are always needed. For these and other ways to help, see team members Joan New, Cathy Corcoran, Lisa Schott, or Nancy Reyes or email nancyauerreyes@gmail.com.
Minister of Music Position Opening
The POP team tasked with identifying candidates to fill our vacant Minister of Music position is currently disseminating the following position description. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let me know (Dave New - davenhome@gmail.com):
Job Title: Minister of Music (part-time)
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is a small but active and welcoming ELCA congregation in Princeton Junction, NJ. This part-time position includes playing for Sunday morning services as well as special services during the year. The candidate would be expected to accompany the adult choir in rehearsals and during worship, as well as lead the bell choir. Those applying should have a passion for Christian worship and proficiency in rehearsal techniques, conducting, and keyboard skills.
Time Requirements and Compensation:
Expected hours (average): 11 hours/week
- Two worship services each Sunday, May- October
- One worship service each Sunday, November-April
- Joyful Noise Worship (abbreviated service for families with children with developmental/physical challenges) – one Sunday per month, September to June
- Special services during the year
- Choirs meet from September to June
Salary = $17,000 to $20,000
Weekly Opportunities
Prayer Circle - Fridays from 1:30pm-2:30pm on Zoom As members of the Body of Christ, we are a people of prayer. All are welcome as our Prayer Circle gathers weekly for discussion, reflection, and prayer. The Zoom link for this ministry is sent, along with our prayer list, every Thursday via an email communication titled “Pray With Us”. Come once; come weekly!
Christian Focus - Wednesdays from 11:30am-1:00pm Christian Focus welcomes new members. We meet every Wednesday at 11:30 in the lounge. Bring a lunch if desired. Each session lasts until around 1 p.m. At the present time we are viewing and discussing a video series on the New Testament. The lecturer is Amy Jill Levine, a prominent Jewish professor. Each 30 minute video focuses on a different aspect of the New Testament including the Gospels, the letters of Paul and Revelation. It is interesting to get a different perspective. If you are interested in joining us, contact Phyllis Church at p.church@mindspring.com
Joyful Stitchers - Mondays at 7:00pm on Zoom Every week Joyful Stitchers, PoP’s stitching arts group, spends an hour knitting, crocheting and socializing. All are welcome to join us. If you don’t know how to knit or crochet and would like to learn, we can teach you! We have experienced knitters and crocheters who are happy to help anyone learn; and we have a good stash of yarn, needles, and crochet hooks to get you started. If you would like to join us, please contact Kate Chen at kcmchen@comcast.net.
Lectors needed - Sundays at 9:30 Please consider signing up to read the lessons also called lectoring. The lessons are included in the weekly bulletin that is sent out on Fridays and are already printed in a notebook for reading from the pulpit. Please sign up at: https://bit.ly/pop-sunday-signup
. It is helpful to sign up by the Wednesday prior to the Sunday you wish to serve. Worship is the work of the people. Please be a participant. Thank you.
2026 Flower Chart The 2026 Flower Chart has numerous opportunities to designate altar flowers throughout the year. All are invited to remember a loved one or celebrate a special occasion by placing flowers on the altar. The flower chart is hanging on the bulletin board outside of the Church Office. The cost is $45.00. Thank you for enhancing our worship and adding to the beauty of our sanctuary.