The Gathering @ PCNP

New Website is UP!

2006-02-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Check out the new website at http://www.gatheringpcnp.org

This site will no longer serve as the main site for The Gathering @ PCNP.

See you on the other site!

2006-01-30T19:21:00.000-05:00

The new website is coming! It is coming soon... When? I can't tell you exactly but there will be a lot of fun stuff to check out once it is up and running. Stay tuned... It may appear out of nowhere...

Experiencing Life Together

2006-01-20T11:52:00.000-05:00

The ancient church could not assume that individuals who wanted to learn about Christianity had any background in the Christian faith. In fact, each person came from a wide variety of backgrounds that created numerous challenges for the early church. How do you teach a person about what it means to be a Christian in that culture?

We face a similar challenge in 21st century America where the long-standing assumptions about individuals growing up in a church no longer apply. The environment is very similar to what the church encountered in the early centuries of its existence.

The early church utilized oral instruction to teach new believers about the Christian faith. Early on, the process was a three year process that culminated in baptism on Easter. The formal institution came to be known as the catechumenate where the Greek word for instruction (catechesis) was the content.

The 16th century brought about the written catechesis due to the printing press and the word catechism came to be associated with a book that was often memorized. The early church, however, learned together through oral instruction, learning together, and practicing the disciplines of the faith.

We are starting a four month series that focuses on the question "What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?"

We will be using a Study Catechism as a starting point for our discussions and our focus will be for all of us to have a better understanding of what it means to be a Christian over the next couple of months.

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

2006-01-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

Is this our purpose?
There is probably a lot of truth to this picture but there is a LOT more to life than simply showing others what Not to do...

This week, we are beginning a highly discussion-driven conversation about the question "What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?" A related question that falls into this topic is "Am I Living Life Right?"

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower to hear from each other on what God's purpose is for your life.
(Note: We won't be quoting the Purpose Driven Life in this discussion).

2006-01-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

New year. New opportunities. New possibilities. Where is the Lord leading us in 2006? We will begin this exciting conversation this Sunday...

The eyes are never satisfied...

2005-12-16T15:39:00.000-05:00

What role do our eyes play in guiding our actions?
How do advertisers get our attention?
Why do we consume more and more?

As the Christmas season rolls on, we will finish our series of "Unplugging the Christmas Machine" by discussing how we might be able to resist the constant pullings of our consumer culture.

One key is recognizing the role of our eyes. We will be looking at an account of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13 as well as other Scriptural references to our eyes. Genesis 13:10 says "Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)"

See you this Sunday in the Prayer Tower at 9:30 AM!

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Christmas Party - Saturday 12/10 - 7 PM

2005-12-09T09:04:00.000-05:00

Here is the message from the party organizer extraordinaire Courtney -

Hey Yall It's Christmas Party Time!!!

When: December 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Courtney Hill's house - 10 Twin Field Lane, New Vernon, NJ (I willsend out directions this weekend)
Who: Anyone!!! Bring friends if you would like!
What to bring: We will be doing a white elephant gift exchange ($10 limit).So bring some fun and crazy gifts!! We will also have a sign up sheet forfood this Sunday. We will be providing dinner but are in need of appetizers(veggie tray, cheese & crackers), drinks, and desserts.
What will we be doing: Eating, laughing, playing games and having just agood old time!!!

Directions from the church:
Left out of church parking lot.Left at the light onto Passaic Ave.Go approximately 1 mile to a light (Southern Blvd).Take a left onto Southern Blvd.Go approximately 2.5 miles to stop light at Shunpike Ave (there might not bea street sign)Take a left at Shunpike Ave.Go about .2 miles to another light and take that left onto Green Village.Go approximately 1.5 miles to Village Rd. (Keep a look out for it after youpass the Volunteer Fire Station) take a left.You will go about a mile and then Twin Field Ln will be on your right.Take that right and my house is the first house on the right.

Unplugging the Christmas Machine!

2005-12-02T11:49:00.000-05:00

There are many dynamics that can make the holidays stressful: stress due to orchestrating a perfect family celebration, holiday bills, losses due to changes in the family, crowded social calendars, etc.

The question in the midst of all this craziness is "How shall I live as a Christian and how does my faith inform my daily life in the next 3-4 weeks?"

We will be starting a new discussion series titled "Unplugging the Christmas Machine." The theme is borrowed from a book with the same title by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli. The focus of that book is on how families can deal effectively with holiday stress. We will be asking the same question but we will be considering how Scripture informs and strengthens us in this potentially draining season of life.

The first question we will ask is "Seasonal Anxieties: How do we deal with them?" Our focus Scripture passage will be Philippians 4:4-9. Please consider taking some time to connect with friends and to slow down as we consider together how we can let God help us unplug the Christmas machine!

See you in the Prayer Tower this Sunday morning at 9:30 AM

2005-11-29T17:26:00.000-05:00

We have entered the season of Advent and we are looking forward to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The incarnation (God becoming human) is a subject that we as Christians tend to avoid because there are more questions than answers associated with it. In fact, there are a lot of questions about Christianity that we have. How can we feel free to fully celebrate the birth of Christ when we are not sure about the significance of this event? We will consider this question and other questions this Sunday. Bring your questions and be prepared for a dynamic discussion in both small and large groups!

Thankless...

2005-11-23T21:50:00.000-05:00

Look at this guy's face... Is that how we feel about life sometimes? Things do not always go our way and we feel like yelling "Thanks for Nothing!"

The witness of Scripture shows us, however, that giving thanks is a vital part of our faith. In fact, both the Old Testament and the New Testament point the people of God again and again toward remembering and giving thanks. This is not quick pre-Thanksgiving meal stuff... This is radical Thanksgiving. Read Colossians 3 before this Sunday and come gather with us as we dive into what exactly this Radical Thanksgiving is...

Relationships and Stories - 11/20

2005-11-18T12:33:00.000-05:00

There is something very powerful about relationships and stories. The combination of these provide identity and connectedness to others that we sorely need in our individualistic society. The God who created us knows how much we long for that sense of connection and meaning.

A few weeks ago we shared questions that others have about Christianity and we described how Christianity looked from the outside. I have prayed a lot about how to proceed from our discussion and I was left with a feeling of uncertainty. There is a real reason for that uncertainty. These are important questions but the temptation is to run directly to those questions and to attempt to prove Christianity from the outside. For many of us, we want external proof of God and the Christian faith.

The reality, however, is that God throughout history has not revealed himself in that way. At the same time, we want to know God and be certain of our faith for ourselves and for others. Where do we go from here?

The early Christians had the same experience. They recorded their experiences in the writings that became the Bible. We can learn from them.

This week we will be considering this through the study of 1 John 1:1-7. I encourage you to read this before Sunday morning.

Come join us at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower!

Will the real Jeff please stand up?

2005-11-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

What happened to Jeff Lee? There is an odd rumor going around the Jeff Lee and Jeff Wittung are actually the same person but in two different forms. This picture was taken last month of the two side-by-side but we haven't seen them like this since then. Jeff Wittung has been filling in for Jeff Lee (apparently) during the birth of Avery Lee but is there something more to the story...?

Relationships...

2005-11-07T22:46:00.000-05:00

Relationships are complex.

Relationships cannot be described by a set of statements or propositions. Relationships are dynamic. Relationships include suprises. Relationships bring smiles but they also bring tears. Relationships are messy. Relationships help make sense of the world but they also make us senselessly crazy. Relationships have histories. Relationships are what wake us up in the morning. Relationships...

What does this reveal about our understanding of Jesus Christ and Christianity? Our understanding can be greatly helped by remembering that our faith in God is based in relationship not in religious statements.

Operation Mobilization

2005-11-03T10:09:00.000-05:00

We have an incredible opportunity to meet and hear from 3 missionaries from our generation who work with Operation Mobilization (OM).

The theme is "Step into the Persion World."

OM is a mission partner of PCNP. Specifically we support three OM missionary families; the Lovett's, who are in Tajikistan, the Mullin's, who are in Cyprus, and the Pickett's, who have been in Nepal but are on sabitical this year in England.

The missionaries who will be here have all worked with Dave. There are three of them; Anna from the UK, Gordy from the US and Keesoon from South Korea.

*** We will be meeting in room 200D at 9:30 AM instead of the Prayer Tower.

Christianity from the Inside...

2005-10-22T07:32:00.000-05:00

Last week we stepped outside of the church walls and outside of our Christian experience in order to catch a glimpse of what people associate with the Christian religion.

The topics included creation, Trinity, relation to Judaism, founder claimed to be God, role of the text (Bible), resurrection, grace, sinful nature, sacraments, virgin birth, heaven/hell, holy days, Jesus' return, 10 commandments, Bible, "saved", forgiveness, freedom, exclusive way to God, denominations...

We then took the next logical step of asking ourselves how well we knew these topics... Our goal was then to start discussing our doubts and these topics in order to have a "reason for the hope" that we have in Jesus Christ.

A few comments were entered on this entry that sparked some good questions. Before jumping in too quickly, this week we are going to set up that discussion by looking at Christianity from the inside. The main question that we will consider is "Can we prove (scientifically or otherwise) a relationship?" and how that plays providing a reason for the hope that we have.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower for a interesting discussion on what we have experienced as Christians (this time viewed from the inside).

Doubt

2005-10-17T09:07:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday we talked about doubt.

Doubt can paralyze our faith both individually and as a group. Our conversation during the class focused on the role of working through doubts with others and not keeping them to ourselves.

We shared how we respond when a doubt comes into our faith picture. If you are reading this, then I ask that you take a minute to leave a comment (see link below) on how you personally deal with doubt in your faith. We are not lone Christians and we can learn from one another in this area.

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dreaming... thinking... planning... laughing... here are some pictures from our first team guiding get-together this past wednesday

2005-10-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

2005-10-11T19:37:00.000-05:00

Last week we looked at how the body of Christ is healthy in terms of blood flow. The flow occurs in the "one another" instructions found in Scripture such as 'build one another up." This week we will be looking at how the body of Christ exercises and fulfills its purpose.

The Blood Flow of the Body

2005-10-06T18:28:00.000-05:00

A typical person has around 4-5 litres of blood. The blood is the transport system by which oxygen and nutrients reach the body's cells, and waste materials are carried away. In addition, blood carries substances called hormones, which control body processes, and antibodies to fight invading germs. The heart, a muscular organ, positioned behind the ribcage and between the lungs, is the pump that keeps this transport system moving.

The community of believers (the church) is described as the body of Christ in Scripture. When is the body of Christ most healthy and living like it was intended?

What does that look like for you and me individually and for all of us as a community?

Come find out starting this Sunday morning at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower @ PCNP!

Breathing Spiritually

2005-09-30T10:21:00.000-05:00

Prayer is the basis of our Christian life, the source of our experience of Jesus as the Risen Lord. For most of us, however, we do not know how to pray with any consistency or depth. Prayer is usually associated with worship services, meal-times and times of distress. These are obviously legitimate times of prayer but is there more? Why do we feel like our prayer lives are superficial in our busy, attention-deficit world?

The apostle Paul exhorted the Christians of the first century to prayer without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:1). In many ways, he provides a picture of prayer that is similar to breathing. It should be part of who we are as we are connected to God through Jesus Christ and, in turn, open to others.

This week at The Gathering will be different.

Instead of talking, we will be doing. We will walk through a prayer of the Orthodox Tradition called the Jesus Prayer, which is sometimes called the prayer of the heart. The most frequent version is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The prayer in its simplicity and clarity is rooted in Scripture and is a focused way to experience 1 Thessalonians 5:1.

We will also be praying for each other and for what we are becoming as we continue to move from simply being a class toward becoming a community.

Come experience a prayer of the centuries as we expectantly look forward to God's working in our midst!

There is nothing like a great group!

2005-09-26T20:34:00.000-05:00

Now doesn't this look like a super fun group of people!

Come hang out with us on Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, whenever we are together...

No Parental Supervision...

2005-09-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

Our education is mostly marked out for us through high school. We have some flexibility but we receive basically the same education as everybody else. The options, for some, seem to open up in college. The reality, however, is that even in college most people end up majoring in what their parents want for them.

Most individuals seem to find out what they are really interested in years after college. For some, they decide to go to graduate school. What is difference at this point? Nobody is telling them what to study. Why do they show up to class? They actually care.

Isn't this what church is like for us now that we are not kids anymore?

This Sunday at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower, we will discuss what this looks like for us as Christians in our 20s/30s and how that can help us gain insight into our hunger for understanding.

I Can't Wait?

2005-09-16T12:55:00.000-05:00

How often do we say "I can't wait?" with regards to church or the things of God?

King David said the equivalent to those words but with a lot of passion in Psalm 42. He was referring to meeting with God in a time where he was completely spent. His expectation was that God would show up and that God would do something great.

The world that we live in separates us from God and others - the relationships that we need most. The void creates a desire for something to fill that loss and many times we too easily find things to do just that. What can we learn from David and each other about how to funnel our strong desire for expectation toward Jesus Christ?

We will be exploring this questions together when gather this Sunday at PCNP in the Prayer Tower at 9:30 AM

I Can't Wait?

2005-09-13T08:06:00.000-05:00

Welcome

2005-09-05T15:12:00.000-05:00

It is official! The Sunday morning 20s/30s class (aka "The Gathering") is starting up again at PCNP this Sunday at 9:30 AM in the Prayer Tower.

This website will serve as a place where you can get a quick sense of what is happening in our community. Upcoming events, teaching series, announcements, and pictures will be posted frequently.

You do not want to miss this Sunday's kick-off of the 2005-2006 year. The first teaching/discussion series is titled "Disconnected and Without Hope." We will be looking at how our world pulls us away from being connected with God and others - the very relationships we need the most. In particular, we will look at how the pervading sense of hopelessness following hurricane Katrina has fed this sense of isolation and anxiety. What role does a community like ours play in pointing us to Christ, the only true source of hope?

Consider joining us as we look at this topic and continue to get to know each other.

2005-09-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

Party