A Crossroads Congregation in Pennington
On South Main Street in the small borough of Pennington, New Jersey, the stone-and-brick home of Pennington United Methodist Church has stood for generations as one of the town's most recognizable gathering places. The congregation lives by the United Methodist motto "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" and describes itself as a Christ-centered community seeking to know, love, and serve God. With roots running back 250 years (Methodism arrived in Pennington in 1774), the church today is at once deeply rooted and actively forming what comes next under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Sue Jung Shin.
250 Years of Methodism in Pennington
In 2024 the congregation marked 250 years of Methodism in Pennington. That heritage shows up less in monuments than in habits: a weekly prayer rhythm, a communion table set on the first Sunday of every month, and a willingness to welcome newcomers as part of an ongoing story. The current address at 60 South Main Street places the church near the heart of the historic district and within walking distance of much of the town.
Sunday Worship at 10:30
The single Sunday service gathers at 10:30 a.m., both in the sanctuary and on Zoom. The service typically runs a little over one hour and moves through corporate prayer, inspiring music, sacramental observance, and a sharing of joys and concerns among the people in the pews. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month, and in keeping with United Methodist practice it is open to all. People are welcome to dress in whatever they feel comfortable in, and the service flows directly into a coffee and fellowship hour in the fellowship hall, an intentional rhythm that turns a worship hour into a community hour.
A weekly message is posted under the pastor's name, with recent weeks featuring a sermon on Matthew 21:23-32 preached by Rev. Dr. Sue Jung Shin. For those joining from home, the livestream runs through Zoom, with a dial-in option for anyone calling from a regular phone.
A Discipleship-Shaped Vision
The church's stated vision is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by proclaiming the good news of God's grace and by exemplifying Jesus' command to love God and neighbor. Its purpose is to live lovingly and justly as servants of Jesus Christ: healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, and being a compassionate and caring presence wherever the congregation finds itself. The journey toward that vision runs through weekly small groups, classes, and pastoral conversations.
On most Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Rev. Dr. Shin leads a Bible study on the Book of Acts via Zoom. The series explores the story of the early church and opens space for participants to ask hard questions about ministry today. No previous Bible study experience is required, and Pastor Sue encourages newcomers to bring their Bibles, their questions, and a desire to learn. In the Sked Parlor she also offers premarital counseling sessions for couples preparing for marriage.
Children on the Second Sunday
Children's Sunday School meets on the second Sunday of each month. Families begin worship together in the sanctuary at 10:30. After the Children's Message, students step out to the Clarkson Building, the church's education wing, for a lesson, music, and crafts. Parents meet their children after worship in Morrell Fellowship Hall. The program is volunteer-led, with Linda Parson coordinating the rotation of teachers who walk children through how God loves and cares for them each week.
Cooking Breakfast in Trenton
Once a month on a Saturday morning, a crew from Pennington UMC travels to Turning Point United Methodist Church in Trenton, at 15 South Broad Street, to cook and serve breakfast alongside volunteers from other area congregations. Two shifts make the morning work: meal preparation begins at 7:00 a.m., and a 9:00 a.m. shift handles serving and cleanup. The 9:00 a.m. team caravans from the PUMC parking lot at 8:45 a.m. The outreach sits inside a long United Methodist tradition of feeding ministries and has become a steady touchpoint for newcomers who want to serve before they settle into a pew.
A Building That Welcomes Everyone
The sanctuary, fellowship hall, and classroom spaces at 60 South Main Street are designed to be used by everyone. The sanctuary and fellowship hall are fully wheelchair accessible, with an elevator, ramps, and handrails throughout. Hearing assistance is provided in the worship space. Morrell Fellowship Hall hosts both the post-service coffee hour and the pickup point for children's Sunday School. The Clarkson Building houses the education wing, and the Sked Parlor offers a smaller setting for counseling and small meetings.
Music Under Katie Connolly
The music program is led by Kathleen (Katie) Connolly, who joined the staff in June 2024 as Director of Music Ministries and Organist. A Pennington resident of 42 years, Katie brings an unusually broad musical background: she has served as an opera coach at Boston University and the University of the Arts, as a cocktail pianist in central New York and at Lahiere's in Princeton, as a solo and collaborative pianist, and as an organist and music director at churches of several denominations. She has adult children, two of whom are also musicians, and can be reached through the church office by anyone interested in lending their voice or instrument.
Pastor Sue's Story
Rev. Dr. Sue Jung Shin brings extensive experience in pastoral leadership and theological education to Pennington UMC. Before her appointment, she pastored Hurdtown UMC and the UMC of Lake Hopatcong, where she emphasized Spirit-filled worship, the sacraments, and serious engagement with Scripture. She has also taught at Drew University, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary, equipping both congregations and seminarians with a love for God's Word. Her heart for fruitful discipleship fits a church that calls itself a community of seekers, and she has settled into a rhythm of weekly Bible teaching, sacramental worship, premarital counseling, and pastoral presence alongside the congregation's music and outreach ministries.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Pennington UMC teaches that all people are created in the image of God and are welcome regardless of gender, race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or mental capacity, education, or economic or marital status. The congregation celebrates its diversity and holds that differences of opinion can coexist with shared love. Visitors are invited to bring their Bibles and their questions to Tuesday Bible study, walk in on a Sunday morning, or jump straight into the Saturday breakfast trip to Trenton. Online giving supports the church's mission, and an email newsletter is the simplest way to keep up with what is happening on South Main Street.