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Prospect Presbyterian Church
The mission of Prospect Presbyterian is “To be a family in Christ, reaching out to all with love, prayer and service. Through worship, education, mission and fellowship we experience God’s forgiveness, grace and call.” Like the community, the church is made up of people from a great variety of cultures, generations and races. At the annual Epiphany Dinner, flags representing the birth nations of members ring the room including those from Ghana, Guyanna, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Kenya, the Netherlands, Cameroon, India and China. Prospect has met the challenge of diversity with a holistic approach to ministry by embracing an inclusive, holistic ministry that celebrates our diversity and affirms our unity. We are a racially, ethnically, culturally and generationally diverse congregation and our liturgy reflects that diversity.
Worship at Prospect Presbyterian gives witness to our unity in Christ as the various cultures and ages within the congregation have found expression in worship. We choose to follow the lectionary in our planning for a few reasons. First, the rhythm of the church year is one that is not based in any particular culture or the choice of the pastor. Instead, it is based on the life of Christ and his church. Second, materials are available for all of the ministry areas that can be accessed by the congregation as a whole. Church school curriculum, hymns and liturgy are produced for lectionary-based ministry. Third, it connects those in the congregation who come from liturgical backgrounds without excluding those who come from conservative backgrounds, which focus solely on the biblical text. Planning worship that expresses the diverse cultures of the congregation is not an attempt to “please everyone” or to cater to the tastes of individuals. It is simply an attempt to please God and to be faithful to Jesus Christ.
We believe strongly that children belong in worship because they bring special gifts to worship, often deepening the faith of everyone who is gathered. At Prospect Church, children and youth are a vital part of the congregation’s worship. Their gifts are celebrated and worship leaders strive to plan worship that encourages their regular, meaningful participation. Children know they are welcomed from the moment they enter the sanctuary and are handed a children’s bulletin. They serve as acolytes, lead the congregation in litanies, provide the artwork for the bulletin covers, sing and usually participate in the dramatic reading of the Gospel.
Lectionary-based worship planning and the liturgy provide a solid framework for drama, art, dance and musical expressions of different cultures and generations. It is common to hear gospel music, African drumming, praise choruses, traditional hymns, Gregorian chant, Psalm chanting, jazz and traditional choral repertoire as we journey throughout the liturgical year.
Sunday school classes meet prior to worship and include opportunities for all ages from two through adult. Each class explores the same text that is from the lectionary readings that will be used in worship. We strive to make connections to the life and ministry of the church as a whole. Other education opportunities for all ages are offered periodically throughout the year. Studying common texts and themes, educating toward worship and the sacraments, offering intergenerational activities and providing opportunities for all to share their gifts with the faith community are ways in which we strive to meet the challenge of presenting a holistic, integrated ministry, but other challenges arise from the congregation’s diversity. Beyond ensuring that the art, the teaching visuals, the dolls in the nursery, and the teaching staff reflect the diversity of the congregation, we are striving to offer diversity in the content of our elective programs. Parenting, health issues, Islam, art and architecture have all been recent topics. In addition, classes are offered for those just starting out in the faith as well as those who have a mature faith.
We send ourselves forth from worship each week to be the body of Christ in the world and our mission takes on various forms. Four weeks a year our church building becomes a sanctuary for homeless families enrolled in the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Our Senior High Youth Group takes annual mission trips to assist with various projects. Most recently, we included seed money in our Capital Campaign to build the Abraham House through Habitat for Humanity of Newark. Numerous congregations of different faiths have responded to the financial challenge of making this project a reality. The annual rummage sale raises funds for local organizations that reflect the mission of Prospect.
Our family in Christ gathers often throughout the year to share in meals, tell our stories and to nurture our growth as a community. Church picnics, frequent dinners, trips abroad, middle and senior high youth groups and ministry groups are a few of the opportunities for fellowship throughout the year.
Prospect Presbyterian Church
646 Prospect St.
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 763-2090
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