PCNP FAQs

Here are answers to questions frequently asked of our staff at The Presbyterian Church at New Providence. Links are provided with most answers to provide more information on the topic. If you still have unanswered questions please email us using the form at the bottom of this page and we will reply directly to you.

Questions Related to Services and Programs

  1. Can you describe the worship services?
    There are three Sunday worship services:
  • 8:15 Contemplative worship with acoustic music
  • 9:30 Traditional worship mixing favorite hymns and praise songs with a choir and instrumental accompaniment
  • 11:00 Contemporary Worship includes a praise team and band with drums and guitars

    The sermon is the identical at all three services. For more detailed information go to Sunday@PCNP.

  1. How can I become more involved in the church community?
    There is a place for everyone so do not be discouraged if you don't immediately find your niche.
  • Go to Volunteer Opportunities.
  • Check out Ministries to find the various groups and activities you may want to join or attend.
  • Check our What's Happening page weekly.
  • If you have children and/ or teens visit: Children's Ministry and Students' to see all the wonderful opportunities to have your children involved and happy at PCNP.

    Don't feel intimidated, just jump in, volunteer and get involved. It may be the most important decision you ever make.

  1. How do I find out about joining the church?
    Three time s a year, New Members' Classes are held to introduce visitors to what membership at PCNP entails. There is no obligation to join the church at the conclusion of the classes but you must attend the class if you want to join the church.

There is also a program called ALPHA if you are seeking answers to basic questions about Christianity.

  1. Do you offer Adult Sunday School classes?
    We offer a selection of classes every Sunday morning during the 9:30 and 11:00 AM worship hours. Visit our Adult Sunday School page to see a complete description. There are other opportunities offered throughout the week to further your understanding of the Bible and deepen your relationship with God.

    Go to Adult Discipleship to see if any of these groups fits your schedule.

  2. How can I find words to comfort and encourage me?
    Our daily E Spirit is the perfect source for words of inspiration. Go to E Spirit Daily Devotion. You can also sign up to receive these wonderful words daily by email.

    Other sources of inspiration on our website include:

  1. Does PCNP support missions?

    He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Mark 16:15

    We have a very active missions committee which directs the use of our large missions' budget. We believe that spreading the Gospel is our most important role on earth. Although we can not all travel to the far reaches of the earth, we can support those who are called to do so by our financial gifts and prayers. Go to Mission Partners' Profiles for a listing of many of our missionary partners.

    Our church encourages member participation in mission trips which are offered each year.

  2. What programs do you offer for my children?
    We are a church committed to our children and that is evidenced by the many opportunities available to draw children closer to Jesus. Some of the programs we offer include: Sunday School, Activity Hour, Weekday Nursery School, Weekday Babysitting, Kids Club, Youth Club, and Vacation Bible School are offered for ages infants through elementary school. For our youth we have Breakaway, Online, Breakfast Club, SALT, FireEscape, and mission trips to name some of the exciting ways your student (grades 7-12) can be involved at PCNP.

Visit our website to explore all the options in more detail. Go to Children's Ministry for Children's activities and programs and Students for Youth happenings.

  1. Is there financial assistance provided?
    Financial counseling is available through our Caring Ministry program. There is also a Deacon's Pantry which provides food for those in need due to temporary life situations such as death in the family, illness or other circumstances. Call the church office at 908-665-0050 or email Colleen Fletcher .
  1. Where can I get information about Stewardship?
    Go to our Stewardship page to explore giving opportunities.
  1. What does it mean to tithe?
    Giving 10% of your income to God is Biblically based in the Old and New Testaments. This small percentage is considered the minimum someone should give to their church, missions and other related needs.
  • Tithes
    Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Deuteronomy 14:22
  • Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21
  1. Can I get personal help with problems?
    Our Caring Ministries offer help with life's many hurdles and crisis. Contact Colleen Fletcher 908-665-0050 for more information. Our church membership is divided into flocks with a deacon and elder responsible for caring for the members of a flock. Their care may include providing meals, rides, hospital visits or just an opportunity to talk to someone. There are also groups for those going through divorce or grief or job loss. Please let us know how we can help you.
  1. How can I register my children for Weekday Nursery School?
    Contact Jeanne Ross, Director, at the Nursery School at 908-665-0951 to get information about openings and registration.
  1. How do I get connected with a Bible study?
    There are many Bible studies being held at the church, in people's home, in local restaurant, at workplaces. Contact Ian Rankine to see how you can get plugged into one of these groups.
  1. Is joining a small group easy and beneficial?
    Joining a small group provides an instant group of caring individuals to share your hopes and dreams and support you through the difficult times. Most groups spend part of their time in prayer and then complete a Bible Study. A small group will help open your eyes to God's plans for you through the study of His Word and conversation through prayer.     Contact Ian Rankine email for more information.
  1. What are a few insider tips to consider?
  • Worship services on Sunday mornings at 11 AM typically fill to capacity quickly. Please make an extra effort to arrive early.
  • In addition to the church parking lot, you may park in the community pool lot located west on Springfield Avenue and the Village Shopping Center located east on Springfield Avenue.

Logistical Questions

  1. How do I schedule a wedding?
    Contact the church office 908-665-0050 to schedule an appointment with one of the ministers. Weddings are performed for members of the PCNP congregation.

  2. How can I arrange for a baptism?
    Contact the church office 908-665-0050 to schedule a meeting with one of the ministers.

  3. Who do I contact to plan a funeral?
    Contact the church office 908-665-0050.

  4. Where can I go to get more information about The Presbyterian Church at New Providence and the activities and outreach of the church?
  • Our church website at www.pcnp.org provides up-to-date information on all church ministries as well as What's Happening at the church.
  • The weekly bulletin distributed at the Sunday worship services provides a weekly schedule of events and information on upcoming programs.
  • FOCUS, the church newsletter, is published bimonthly and reports on activities at the church as well as profiles of members and other areas of interest. FOCUS is also available on our website.
  1. With multiple services, how do I know on Sunday morning who is a visitor?
    By greeting everyone, it won't matter if someone is a visitor or not, you will be making everyone feel welcome. Just say hello and introduce yourself. During the course of conversation someone may offer that this is his/her first time at the church. But even if they don't you have made another person feel welcome whether it's the first time or 100th time at PCNP.
  1. Who are the members of the staff at PCNP?
    Click on Ministry Team under the Who We Are section to read brief bios for each of our church's professional staff.
  1. How do I find out where the church is located?
    Go to www.pcnp.org and click on the Directions icon.
  1. How do I put an article in the FOCUS newsletter or add something to the website?
    Contact our web master/FOCUS editor Karen Edinger karenedinger@pcnp.org with the information you would like to submit for publication.
  1. How do I get offering envelopes?
    As a member you will be given envelopes. If you are a regular visitor, you can obtain envelopes by calling the church office 908-665-0050.


Theological Questions

  1. What is the purpose of communion?
    See 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
    Throughout His amazing life and teachings, Jesus asked His followers to practice only 2 sacraments: baptism and communion (Lord's Supper.) With this in mind we treat communion very seriously, but also with great joy. It's in communion that Christ asks us to remember his sacrifice for us. In so doing we are confronted by the reason for His death (our sin), but also by the incredible love He has for each one of us. The sacrament is meant to be a time of personal reflection but because it also commemorates an actual meal Christ had with his friends, we too celebrate it as a family of believers…all fallen, all needing His forgiveness.
  1. Who can partake of communion?
    All people who profess faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and who have been baptized, are welcome at the communion table, regardless of church affiliation. The Book of Order says that baptized children of church members are welcome to take communion when the parents feel they are old enough to sufficiently understand the meaning of the sacrament. It is the parent's job to educate their child on the meaning of the sacrament and to determine if their baptized child is ready.

  2. What does it mean to be an evangelical church?
    The church emphasizes the authority of the Bible rather than that of the church as an institution, and the primacy of faith as opposed to works.

  3. What does it mean to be a Confessing Church?
    PCNP has joined the Confessing Church Movement with over 1200 other congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It involves a commitment to three essential doctrines:
    1. That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
    2. That holy Scripture is the Triune God's revealed Word, the Church's only infallible rule of faith and life.
    3. That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life. This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.

      Go to http://www.confessingchurch.homestead.com/index.html for more information and a complete listing of Confessing Churches.

  4. What is PCNP's purpose?
    Read our mission statement as appears on our website under Who We Are This will give you an idea of why we exist. We hope to spread the Good News of the Gospel not only to New Providence, NJ and surrounding towns, but around the world through the missionaries we support and through the technology of the website.

  5. Why be a Christian?
    There are so many choices in life why settle on just one-Christianity? How do I know that is the right choice for me? Dr. Jeff Ebert, Senior Pastor of PCNP, has written a booklet entitled "Why Jesus?" You can read it on the web at Why Jesus? or contact the church office at 908-665-0050 to have a copy mailed to you or by email. (Please be sure to include your name and complete address to receive the booklet.) Remember choosing to be a Christian has eternal implications. Don't procrastinate your decision.

  6. What do you believe about the Bible?
    The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
Please use the form below to submit any questions and/or comments you may have about The Presbyterian Church at New Providence or theological issues.
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