Pluckemin Church has a vibrant youth program called XL. XL creates a time and place where high school aged youth can come and escape the pressures of being a teen in today’s society, learn about God, and one another and have some fun… a place to feel safe. Supported by a host of dedicated volunteers we make this a place the youth want to be on Sunday's!

Sunday Mornings

High school youth, come join us Sunday mornings at 9:00 in the library to share fellowship, faith, and fun with a great group of friends. We provide breakfast, a relaxed atmosphere, and an open forum to talk about anything that's on your mind. See you there!

XL Youth Group

A weekly meeting on Sunday evenings 5:30-7:30 for youth grades 7-12. Together we enjoy fellowship, games and a program. We rarely do the same thing twice, but you can always count on fun!

Confirmation Class A confirmation ministry which teaches our youth about Christ and his Church. It is designed to focus on the many facets of Christ, our own spiritual gifts and the roles God has called us to play in His Church. Confirmation class is currently offered to all 8th and 9th graders. 908-872-8121

Workcamp

We encourage the youth at Pluckemmin to be involved in missions. Early on our children are involved in local missions like the food bank. Our high school Youth mission trips have been part of the Group Workcamp program. Group

Workcamp has had more than 210,000 volunteer workers in the last 25 years. Group works with local churches, communities and volunteers to identify people in need. These are often people with illnesses or the elderly who have difficulty maintaining their homes.

Each day crews composed of an adult and 5 youths go to an assigned work site where they may paint a house, repair a porch or build a wheelchair ramp. In addition, they have devotions at the work site, typically with the homeowner.

In the evening, youth oriented Christian programs are held in the gym and youth groups hold their own devotions.PPC youth have had mission trips to Virginia, upstate New York, North Carolina, Maine and New Hampshire.

Vacation Bible School
In July we hold Vacation Bible School. The youth of Pluckemin have a long history of volunteering to help before and during Vacation Bible School. Many of them are graduates of the program so they know what it takes to prepare, work and have fun. Children's ministry looks forward to your participation.

Carillons Handbell Choir

Rehearsal Tuesday’s from 6:45 to 9:00 pm.This group is an advanced hand bell choir for experienced ringers by invitation. The Carillons perform once a month at the 10:00 am. Worship service. They also perform at nursing homes and other churches in the area, as well as attending national and area hand bell festivals. The choir is taught advanced ringing techniques and music reading. Please contact the Carillion Music Director, Marcia McBurney at 732-537-1569 for more information or if you wish to audition.

Website
Managing the website is a fun and creative way to present Pluckemin Church to our congregants, community and the world. Our website uses on-line tools in a friendly interface that makes editing straight forward and easy to manage.

Audio Visual
Calling on all techies. The A/V team is always looking for folks to assist with audio and video needs of the church. Most prominent is during worship. This includes playing and or preparing pre-service worship slides, managing the sound, recording the service, making hard copies of the service for shut-ins, and posting the service to the web.

Sanctuary Choir

Rehearsals Thursday 8pm-9:45pm.This dedicated group is known to make the most conservative Presbyterians shout out an Amen at the end of a song. The Sanctuary Choir leads worship on two to three Sundays a month at the 10:00 am service. They also sing for special services on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday. This is an adult choir and is open to youth grades9 through 12. For more information or for those interested in joining please contact our Director of Music Ministries, Noel Sell at 908-874-3406.

Medical Equipment
The Medical equipment ministry was started in 2010. It is a relatively rare Ministry that provides medical equipment upon request to those in need. Surplus medical equipment is donated by those no longer needing it. The Ministry collects these equipment donations and makes them available to those that need help. The equipment is loaned out at no cost, for as long as it is needed, and returned when you are done.

Bells for Fun
Rehearsal Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. This choir is for adults who would like to learn how to ring hand bells, and for those who have rung in the past and would like to do so again! No experience necessary! Please contact our Associate Director of Music Ministries, Valerie Sell at 908-874-3406 for more information.

Ushers

Scheduled by the Deacons, Ushers greet worshipers on Sunday morning with a smile and a bulletin as they enter the sanctuary. Parents with small children are offered activity bags for their children.

Interfaith Hospitality Network

(IHN – also known nationally as Family Promise) was founded locally in part by the initiative of members of this congregation and has grown to empower homeless families to attain independence and to create safe havens for homeless families among the houses of worship of Somerset County’s diverse faith communities. Typical service includes: Cooking and hosting a meal (5-7pm) or Hosting and playing with the children (7-9pm) or Serving as Overnight Hosts (9p.m.-5a.m.) This church serves as hosts for a full week three times a year: once in the summer and over the holidays of Christmas and Easter.

Deacons
Deacons are an integral part of the congregational care ministry at Pluckemin. Deacons offer care to the congregation by providing visitation, arranging transportation, organizing meals, and providing health screening, to mention a few.

Committees

Building & Grounds
An active committee that cares for all aspects of our facilities.Volunteers are sought to preform a variety of work, from painting to changing light bulbs or scheduling outside contractors.  If you are the kind of person that takes pride in creating or fixing somethings and enjoys the camaraderie this group brings, it is the place for you.

Worship & Music
Worship and Music: The worship and music committee is responsible for the worship of God every Sunday as well as for special services that occur throughout the year. Special services include Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise, and Thanksgiving. Opportunities for participation in worship include singing choirs, bell choirs, preparation and serving communion, lay worship leadership, scripture readings, and special musical offerings.

Hospitality
This energetic group provides opportunities large and small to be involved with group camaraderie, and with informal seasonal celebrations. We’re likely to plan a lively spring fling, or an event to highlight a handbells musical celebration. We punctuate the end of summer with a picnic, and the arrival of Advent with a community tree lighting event. We greet church visitors weekly, and sponsor new members.The Hospitality crew is always on the lookout for new team members…people who can help organize or participate in the planning of inter-generational fellowship events, prepare a dish or two to share, or lend a hand with written or visual communications. Consider joining us!

Youth Ministries

Youth Ministry at Pluckemin Church helps youth in grades 7-12 to connect with God and God’s people by providing opportunities for fellowship, service and the exploration of their faith. Our primary programs are Youth Group, High School Sunday School, Confirmation Class and an annual summer week-long mission trip.We are seeking adults who have a passion for God to share their faith, creativity and love with our group of amazing teens in one or more of the following ways:

• Join the Youth Ministry Committee! Help us plan, execute and evaluate our program. The committee meets one evening each month.
• Become a member of the Youth Group team! The commitment is minimal but very rewarding. Attend a youth group meeting a few times a year as the assistant adult. No planning or experience needed – just a desire to have fun and hang out with some amazing teens for two hours on a Sunday evening.
• Volunteer to chaperone or help with a specific event such as the mission trip, ski trip or confirmation retreat!

If you would like to volunteer or receive more information, please contact Chris Staffin, co-Director Youth Ministry, at chrisstaffin@gmail.com.

Children's Ministry

Pluckemin cherishes children, each and every one. And children love it here. Our Children’s Ministry brings generations together to actively explore and create, grow closer to God, shape leaders, and worship in community. Consider volunteering for one or more of the activities they run for our children.