News & Announcements

Worship Time is 10:30 AM every Sunday

ConnectEd begins at 9:15 AM every Sunday

Sensational Sunday, our inter-generational education program that meets once a month, will meet on November 10 at 9:15 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. All ages are welcome as we prepare for worship by telling our stories from one generation to the next!

WOMEN’S MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY meets Monday, November 11 to discuss “The Third Word: Don’t Trivialize My Name” (Exodus 20:7 and Matthew 7:21-23). All women are invited to this conversational Bible study that takes place the second Monday morning of each month. This year’s study offers a fresh look at the Ten Commandments as a love letter from God rather than a list of rules. Led by Rita Boyer, the group meets in the Burnett Room from 10:00-11:30 AM.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING? Our Prospect family is now able to purchase fair trade handcrafts and food items from SERRV through a new online SERRV & EARN program. In past years, we have offered a limited number of consignment items at the time of the Secret Shoppe, but we now have access to the full online collection. When you use Prospect’s custom web link, orders will be sent directly to your home, and 20% of the total sale will be returned to Prospect to help fund this summer’s Sr. High Mission Trip. Jewelry, decorative items, and more are available. Please use our custom Serrv & Earn web link: serrv.org?a=ProspectPC. Always check the url when you reach SERRV’s home page to make sure this full link appears. Your purchases provide fair wages and safe working conditions for artists living in marginalized communities and support our Sr. High Mission Trip.

The Prospect Hunger Program will be sponsoring a food drive for the morning of November 23, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The MEND (Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity) Big Green Bean Bus will be at Prospect to accept donations at that time. The donations will be delivered to MEND food pantries here in Essex County. Most needed non-perishable items include shelf stable milk, canned protein (tuna, salmon, chicken), low salt soups and low sugar cold cereal and oatmeal.

If you would like to ask your neighbors to help donate, there are door hangers available for you to pass out, filling out your name and that you will be picking up the donations on the morning of the 23rd. Get the door hangers by contacting the church office or by stopping at the Prospect Hunger Program table during fellowship time on November 10 or 17th after worship.

ADULT ELECTIVE

The Presbyterian story can be told in many different ways. We can tell it by reciting our history. We can tell it by sharing stories of the church’s mission and changed lives. We can tell it by affirming what we believe. We can even tell it by looking at what we don’t believe! Join us in the Burnett Room November 10 at 7:00 p.m. for the adult elective “What Presbyterians Don’t Believe.” This is the same course that Rita taught over 2 days on Sunday mornings in October.

This topic was chosen by those who enjoyed last year’s lively discussion of Politics and Presbyterian Theology and will be taught by Rita Boyer.

There will be another Secret Shoppe gift wrapping party on November 11 at 7:00 p.m.! Come help the Presbyterian Women as they prepare for the annual Secret Shoppe. The magical shopping event for children will happen on December 14th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.. Help is needed that day to help our little shoppers select gifts (elves), pay for (cashiers) and keep their purchases a secret (gift wrappers)! Help is also needed on December 13th to help set up our shop. Please sign up to help during Fellowship Time or by contacting the church office. Children have been enjoying this shopping tradition in Maplewood for over twenty years!

The next time that Prospect will be hosting guests from the Interfaith Hospitality Network begins on November 17. Check the tabs above (outreach) or to the side (IHN) for the current calendar and see when help is needed to host or provide meals.

ConnectEd is the new name for Prospect's educational ministry! The name comes as the result of a year of discussion and reflection on how the name "Sunday school" is perceived by those inside and outside the church. For some, it creates images of something for young children only or something academically-oriented. We learned that Sunday school began in the 1700's as a movement that sought to teach the poor boys of London how to read. It was truly school on Sunday. In truth, not many of us want to go to school on Sunday! But we do want to come to Sunday morning education at Prospect where we find community, joy, fun, family, and learning! It is our hope that ConnectEd is a name that better captures what all ages will find in Prospect's educational ministry! Classes are held each Sunday morning from 9:15 - 10:15, September - May, for ages two through and including adults. Childcare is available to those under age two. Speak to Rita if you have questions about how you can get connected.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Liturgists Needed

Liturgists are the people who help to lead worship on Sunday mornings.

Please sign up today after worship, by using the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall

or contacting the church office. Ushers and Fellowship time hosts are also needed!

______________________________________________________________________________________

Good Neighbor Coffee

Prospect's Good Neighbor Coffee meets every Wednesday from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Meet us at the sidewalk in front of the church, weather permitting, Inside in front of Fellowship Hall, if not.

Get your cup of coffee, and meet some of your neighbors!

There will be no Good Neighbor Coffee during August.

There are many times when church members are in need, or when church members can offer their help to others. Below are some suggestions of when to call the church office:

*When you or a family member is sick or in the hospital;

*When there is a death in the family; when there is a birth in the family;

*When you need prayers or counseling or spiritual care;

*When you are planning a marriage;

*When you are moving or you get a new neighbor;

*When you would like communion served at home.

You can reach the church office at 973-763-2090 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Prospect Hunger Program

Each month the Prospect Hunger Program brings bagged lunches to Newark to feed the homeless living in and around Penn Station. The lunches are bagged assembly line style during Fellowship Hour.

Please join us on the third Sunday of each month after worship for both fellowship and lending a hand to create the lunches.

Per Capita

In January of each year, Prospect asks members to contribute to the church's per capita payment to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Per capita is the church's per member share in the basic operating costs of being a local, regional and national denomination. It helps to pay for staff that offer support and ministry to congregations as they seek pastors and other staff. It provides for the cost of maintaining offices. It covers the cost of holding meetings for the participatory government of our denomination. The cost for 2019 is $31.25 per member. There is a blue envelope in your offering envelopes for this offering, or, write "per capita" in the memo line of your check.

Special Needs Parking

Please make a note that our Special Needs Parking on Sunday mornings has been expanded from the front of the church near Tuscan Rd. up to and including the front of the manse.

Prospect Nursery

Just a reminder that the nursery is available during the ConnectEd and worship hours for children up to age five (Pre-K). We hope to have many children using the nursery this school year. Please check the sign-in list by the door and volunteer to be a helping parent occasionally. Even if you are signed up for a particular day, you will only be asked to stay and help if the nursery if very full. Holly Evans is the nursery coordinator. Please contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with questions or to sign up to help.

Camp Prospect

Camp Prospect is a play-based program that helps build friendships and a sense of community. The unique mixed-age environment and engaging themes allow children to learn and explore through arts & crafts, music, movement, water play and more. Camp Prospect is open to preschoolers and kindergartners. Camp Prospect offers these daily camp sessions during select school vacations as well as weekly summer camp in June and July.

For more information go to www.campprospect.org.