Weekly Update – July 7 – 13

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Cynthia Carter-Betancourt

Dear Friends ~

“I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.”
– Psalm 6:6-7 (NIV)

Today’s commentary

It is OK to weep and mourn before God and others. We often think that we are supposed to suppress our anger or sadness, but that only damages our soul and even our health. The Psalmist invites us to weep before God—to let our emotions out. Our feelings are not a surprise to God, and he is the only being in the universe that can handle the storms of our soul. So get real with God in prayer, for that is the best place in the universe to release our pain and frustrations.

Here is what’s happening at FRC this week:

Monday July 7
12:00 pm Staff Mtg.
7:00 pm Property Comm. Mtg

Tuesday July 8
4:00 pm TCCDC – Fundraising Team @ Novack’s House

Wednesday July 9
5:30 pm Christian Ed. Comm. Mtg. w/ dinner

Thursday July 10
TCCDC – Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency’s Board meeting to make decision about funding application!

Friday July 11

Saturday July 12
8:30 am ISP Work Group
10:00 am Ciclovia Event in New Brunswick begins

Sunday July 13
9:15 am Breakfast & Banter
9:50 am Bell Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship
Ushers: Fawn Stephens & Margaret Coakley
2:00 pm Worship & Singing at the Reformed Church Home

Peace be with you,
Susan

Prayer List

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Spriritual Crossroads

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Benjamin T. Berman

Spiritual Crossroads Flyer

Contact Benjamin T. Berman for information.

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A Spiritual Crossroads

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Benjamin T. Berman

SPIRITUAL CROSSROADS FLYER

First Reformed Church will present two musical groups in concert on Saturday, June 21 at 7:00pm: The Yue Yue Ensemble will sing traditional Chinese Choruses, under the direction of Dr. Sheng-Hwa Yu, and La Fiocco, a period instrument ensemble, will perform music of New Jersey Heritage, including songs of the Revolutionary War, under the direction of Dr. Lewis R. Baratz. Also, there will be readings from the works of New Jersey poets in order to celebrate New Jersey’s 350th anniversary. Our own John Keller, who is a professional actor, will be reading these wonderful poems.

Tickets are $20 for premium seats, $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for children. If you would like to purchase tickets in advance, please contact me at benjamin.t.berman@gmail.com, and give me the details of your request. Or, you can send a check to:

First Reformed Church
9 Bayard Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

In the memo line of your check, please write “Crossroads” and the amount and type of tickets you would like to purchase.

If you would like to help us out in any way, please contact me. Otherwise, I encourage all the members of our congregation to invite your friends and acquaintances. Please encourage people to purchase tickets in advance! If you really want to help us out, take a few tickets to sell! Lolly Schenck has the tickets in hand.

Crossroads Theater was founded in 1978 – historically an African American Theatre – and won the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 1999. Every few years, First Reformed Church is invited to perform in this hall as an extension of our Lunchtime Recital Series. We call our concert there “A Spiritual Crossroads” because of the diversity of New Jersey which we intend to converge upon this event.

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Weekly Update – June 9 – 15

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Susan Kramer-Mills

Dear Friends ~

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” – Malachi 3:17-18 (NIV)

Malachi spoke as a prophet to God’s people during a time when their national identity was being restored. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon to Israel, Ezra saw temple worship restored, and Nehemiah had rebuilt Jerusalem. Malachi is telling the people of God that the knowledge of God was again being restored. Even when the people of God seemed to be vanquished, God showed himself faithful again. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God will last forever.

Donation Needed: a vacuum cleaner please for our Sexton. We will be pleased to receive any type – just as long as it can still clean. Thanks!

Here is what’s happening at FRC this week:

Monday June 9
10:00 am Staff Mtg.
5:30 pm Town Clock CDC – Board Mtg.

Tuesday June 10

Wednesday June 11
1:30 pm Town Clock CDC – Finance Comm. Mtg.
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal

Thursday June 12 – 17
General Synod Begins at Central College, Iowa

Friday June 13

Saturday June 14
8:30 am ISP Work Group

Sunday June 15 – Father’s Day
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
9:15 am Breakfast & Banter
9:50 am Bell Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Worship & Girl Scout Gold Award – Allison Kramer-Mills
Ushers – Lolly Schenck & Liz Hance
Coffee Hour –The Bernhofers and Kramer-Mills

Peace be with you,
Susan

Prayer List June 9, ’14

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From Pastor’s Desk May 2014

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills

pc_hartmut
Earlier this year, I received a request from a Reformed church in Middelburg, South Africa. The sender was Rev. Molehe. He asked whether we could consider building a special relationship between our two congregations.

In a more recent email, Pastor Molehe wrote: “We as the Church of URCSA Middelburg Congregation we would like to have a Good Relationship and Partnership With Your Congregation so that we can able to Exchange Programmes, Sermons, Ideas, and maybe by God’s Grace and Will we can Visit one another so that we can know one another more and more.”

In the meantime, three of our members of Consistory have joined me in pen-pal relationships with members of the Middelburg congregation. Though there is no particular road map for pursuing this relationship, it is important to do it anyway. Just as we are intentional about local ministry, we need to be invested in overseas causes as well. To be sure, we are committed to supporting the ministry that our missionary Rev. Elly Kajaminyo has begun in South Sudan. This support, however, has only limited potential to turn into a congregational exchange. This is different with the church in Middelburg!

For today, I would just like to share a few pictures from this church in South Africa with you, so that you can develop your own impressions.




With fond wishes for a fulfilling Summer,
Pastor Hartmut

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Raritan Landing – Uncovering a forgotten past….

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Church Staff

Raritan Landing Event announcement

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Benevolence of the Month of June

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Church Staff

Board of Benefits Services

We are here to serve those who serve the Reformed Church in America. As a Reformed Church in America denominational unit, we provide medical, retirement, disability, and assistance benefits for pastors, missionaries, and lay employees and their families. Our goal is to enhance the lives and foster the ministries of those who pastor our churches, serve in missions, and provide denominational services. We also seek to support the well-being of congregations and institutions of the Reformed Church in America.

A sixteen-member board governs the administration of our programs. The board members possess a variety of professional skills and a wide range of expertise. The board, along with denominational staff, contributes to the mission and vision of the RCA by committing to lifelong support of those we serve.

Our commitment to those who serve the church is grounded in the Covenant of Grace/Covenant of Care, which has been endorsed by the General Synod of the Reformed Church as a foundational document that embodies principles fundamental to our faith. It is our goal to strengthen each other in mission in the years to come.

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