Weekly Update – May 14 – May 20

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills

Dear Friends,

As one of the historic churches which is trusteeing the Hall Fund, our greatest event of the year is to interview the new applicants for scholarships. Our applicant pool this year was greater than ever, which made the selection process quite difficult. Since we did well on our fundraising and hope to hold another event in the October or November, we were able to award $15,000 to graduating, New Brunswick resident, students who are planning on continuing with higher education. The Board is always moved by the talent of these young people and their perseverance through terrible circumstances. They are well-deserving. As the Board makes its final decisions, please hold the Hall Fund and the you people in your prayers.

Here’s what’s happening this week at FRC:

Monday, May 14
RADAR Staff Mtg. 9:30 am
Funeral of B. Emmett 12:00 pm
Raices Board Mtg. 6:30 pm

Tuesday, May 15
Faithbased Coalition 4:30 pm
Consistory 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 16
Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm

Friday, May 18
Support for the Indonesian Christians and Bill HR 3590 and visit of General Secretary of RCA Tom DeVries at The Highland Park Reformed Church 1:00 pm

Saturday, May 12
ISP program – work around the church 8:30 am

Sunday, May 20
Choir Rehersal 9:00 am
Bell Choir 9:50 am
Worship 10:30 am, Ushers: Norma &
Sunday School 11:00 am
Elders’ Mtg w/ Confirmands 12 noon
Lunch with Mentors

Blessings and peace be with you,

Pastor Susan

Posted in Events, General, Items of Interest | Tagged | Leave a comment

Student’s Concert – May 23

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Janet Waanders

For many years, students from Livingston School have been audience members for the Downtown Lunchtime Recital Series at First Reformed Church. They offer this concert as a thank-you and as an occasion to give students from several schools the opportunity to sing and play for the public.

Posted in Events, General, Items of Interest, Music | Tagged | Leave a comment

Knowing our History

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills

Pastor's Corner

Our great heritage became quite a bit more accessible to the residents of New Brunswick when on April 20 the brothers Paul and Pat from Paul’s Custom Awards and Trophies installed our outdoor sign in front of the church. The aluminum-etched sign has a sturdy steel frame and includes pictures as well as text. The text provides pivotal dates of our history, and explains our relation with the denomination, with Rutgers University and with the city of New Brunswick. It also includes detail of our church’s architectural features. Finally, the sign was the last piece of construction required under the current capital grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust. A photograph will be included in our final report to the State.

Posted in General, History, Items of Interest, Pastor's Desk | Tagged | Leave a comment

Four Very Special Honorees

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills

Every two years, our Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics invites its member churches to nominate special volunteers from each congregation to be honored in what is known as the Lay Recognition Dinner. The title is a bit misleading, as many of the honorees are not lay persons but ordained Elders and Deacons.

Every time the dinner turns out to be a great event. This year, over 500 of us convened at the Imperia in Somerset. We had a nice reception, met friends and colleagues from other churches and had a fine dinner. Several honorees presented their story for all to share. It allowed many of us to see their own efforts in perspective and to draw strength from this. Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Town Clock Community Development Corporation, Inc.

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills

Town Clock CDC

These are the highlights of the April meeting of the Town Clock CDC Board:

First of all, our strategy for this year is to raise at least $13,000 for operating expenses. That is our first goal. Furthermore a Fundraising Team will be meeting in May to organize themselves for raising the financing for the construction costs. The team members are: Linda Lachesnez, Sherri Novack, Ursula Cargill, John Keller, and Rev. Susan.

Meetings with various Rutgers University faculty members are being planned, since there are several who are concerned with the victimization of women in society.

The review of the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between First Reformed Church and the Town Clock CDC has been, in general, completed. Now the Town Clock CDC Board has been asked to review it. The Board members all received a copy at the meeting. A discussion of the MOU is scheduled for the next Board meeting.

Posted in Fund Raising, General, Items of Interest | Tagged | Leave a comment

Lecture Seminar – If These Walls Could Talk

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills

Fascinating information was presented at the Lecture Seminar on April 21st, our second event in our series for the 200th Anniversary of the Sanctuary. Since the day was fairly warm, the lectures were held in the sanctuary. Russell Gasero, the RCA Archivist, video-taped the entire event so that it will be placed on the digital highway. The Luncheon provided by Ethel Salamone, with the support of Joan Fekete and Lolly Schenck in the kitchen, was superb! Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Music Notes

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Benjamin T. Berman

The First Reformed Church Adult Choir will join forces with the Yue Yue ensemble on June 2 for a fun evening of choral music. We will sing some anthems together and share some pieces with each other separately. We will end with a grand finale – a cantata by Dieterich Buxtehude entitled “Rejoice, Earth and Heaven.”

Please join us for this concert, and help us support our connection to the Yue Yue Choir. The Concert will be on June 2, 2012 at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary of First Reformed Church.

Posted in Events, General, Items of Interest, Music | Tagged | Leave a comment