First Reformed Church » Events

Weekly Update – May 14 – May 20

Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:58:51 +0000

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

Student’s Concert – May 23

Janet Waanders — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:06:44 +0000

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.

Music Notes

Benjamin T. Berman — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:14:05 +0000

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.

The Rainbow Children’s Choir – Earth Day Celebration

Benjamin T. Berman — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:11:18 +0000

The Rainbow Choir had a splendid performance on Sunday, April 29, 2012 to celebrate Earth Day. It was a small but energetic group of girls from all around New Brunswick. Some came from Anshe Emeth, and one from Norberto’s church which meets in Fellowship Hall on Sunday afternoons.

After two weeks of rehearsals, the Rainbow Choir came together for this performance and presented three songs to the interfaith group – All Things Bright and Beautiful, The Earth Day Rap, and Noah’s Song. These songs touched on the themes of the day – the beauty of creation, the need to preserve our planet, and God’s promise to us to preserve his creation after he destroyed it once in the flood.

Please spread the word about the Rainbow Choir. If you know anybody who would like to sing with us, or who is considering the possibility, please encourage them to contact me.

Tom & Marissa’s Wedding

Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:49:15 +0000

For us pastors, it is a special grace when we are allowed to accompany a family over more than one generation. Susan and I had this opportunity most recently with the Bernhofer family. Well acquainted already with the grandparents’ generation, we have always felt close to Gary and Lauren, the parents of Josh and Tom. And now the wedding of Tom and Marissa!

It was a great event on April 7. The church was filled with the extended families and members of our congregation. Following the afternoon service, we had a warm reception in Fellowship Hall. A wedding dinner followed at the Imperia in Somerset.

The sermon centered on the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead just before he embarked on his own passion journey. It was an attempt to connect the joyful occasion of Tom and Marissa’s wedding with their service the United States Marine Corps, especially in Afghanistan, and to give meaning to the new journey that is ahead of Tom and Marissa as they become a family in civil life. Here at First Reformed Church, we wish God’s rich blessing upon them!

Women’s Guild Update

Erie Beemsterboer — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:53:09 +0000

The Women of the Church met for a short meeting on April first, when we mainly talked about details for upcoming events.

Thank You to all who donated time, food, and energy to the Room for All Conference. The conference was attended by around 25 people. On Thursday we provided them with dinner; and on Friday we served a lunch donated by Metuchen Reformed Church. In all it was a successful event.

Our next event is the Mother’s Day breakfast. For the last couple of years we have had several kinds of breakfast dishes provided for everyone on Mother’s Day. This year the Women’s Guild will be the organizers of this event. If you want to help out by bringing some food please let Erie know by email (secretary@firstreformedchurch.net).

In June we will meet one more time before we take a break for the summer; the date will be announced. Oh, and one more thing: A spring clean-up day for the kitchen is to be set as well.

Piano for Four Hands

Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:38:19 +0000

Why did Poulenc write a piece that sounded like he wanted to take it out on the piano? How does this fit to the sometimes even humorous streaks in his music? Did Dvorák use real folk dances from his native Bohemia when he wrote Op. 46, Book 1? And why do musicians switch sides when they play on one piano together?

These were some of the questions Timothy Brown and Justin Hartz answered following their wonderful piano recital on April 18. It was one of the days with fewer middle school students than usual in the audience. Subsequently, the questions asked were of a more academic nature. However, without the students having prompted the Q&A part of our rehearsals in the first place, it became quickly apparent that they shape the atmosphere of our recitals even while occasionally absent. So I conclude: Our concert series is a true intergenerational effort. What else could we wish for?

And so we thank the following for their much appreciated contributions:

The Hospitality Committee of the church,
Janet Waanders as the organizer of the Series,
Our Music Director Ben Berman,
The Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission, especially Ms. Rosalyn Neal,
The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders
The New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Dept. of State, and
All the faithful providers of soup and bread from both the church and Pine Grove Cooperative Nursery School.

Bell Choir

Erie Beemsterboer — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:35:20 +0000

The Bell Choir is working very hard on a new piece; it is a challenge for all of us. Some ringers are working on new techniques; most of us are working with a rhythm that is somewhat unfamiliar. When we are practicing it starts to sound very nice. We will play this song during the Mother’s Day service, and then work on one more piece before the bells get a summer rest. You will want to come and hear us! Continue reading →

Coffee Hour Signup – May and June

Erie Beemsterboer — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:09:42 +0000

Dear Friends,

Below is the list of dates for May and June for Coffee Hour. I know it seems far away, but since I will be away from April 26th thru May 6th, I am trying to be prepared.

May 6
May 13 (Mother’s Day)
May 20
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17 (Father’s Day)
June 24

Please consider hosting one of these days. We all know we appreciate to have a cookie to go with our coffee and tea after the service. If you want to spread the fun, consider hosting with a friend (or 2). It makes the work lighter and it gives you time to spend with your church family and friends. If you reply by email (secretary@firstreformedchurch.net) I will write your name on the list.

Thank you all for considering!

Lunchtime Recital – March 21st

Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:43:31 +0000

Photos from previous Lunchtime Recital – Elaine Christy, harpist

Award winning harpist Elaine Christy teaches at Princeton University and is a member of the Richardson Chamber players there. Christy presented a program of French music for solo harp from Debussy to the 21st century.

Inter-faith Coexistence Project – Earth Day Celebration!

Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:48:46 +0000

We will be celebrating Earth Day in a big way. It’s all about the animals this year. Noah’s story will be our inspiration!

Here’s what’s planned for Sunday, April 29th

12 noon BBQ
1:30 pm – Rainbow Choir sings
1:45 – Inter-faith Worship with speaker

Activities continue until 4 pm. Free rabies vaccines!
Presenters: Seeing Eye Dogs, K-9 Unit, Animal Adoption for cats and dogs

We kindly ask for paper products – cups, plates, napkins and utensils and beverages in large containers

Women’s Guild – Martha Award

Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:12:58 +0000

Photos from Martha Award –

Hall Education Fund, Inc. Planning Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Suzanne Clark — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:33:29 +0000

A Wine Tasting Fundraiser is being planned for Friday, March 16, by the Hall Education Fund, Inc. The event will be at the First Reformed Church, 9 Bayard St. in New Brunswick from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will be conducted by Brian’s Wine Store, Stelton Road, Piscataway. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward scholarships for needy and deserving New Brunswick high school students for post-secondary educational expenses.The cost is $25 per person or $40 a couple and includes the wine tasting, light refreshment and valuable door prizes. Tickets may be obtained from the church office or the following members of the Hall Education Fund: Susanne Clark, David Waanders, Susan Kramer-Mills or Kathy Fekete. We hope to see you there! Continue reading →

Rutgers Students Returned to First Reformed!

Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:29:47 +0000

Thanks to the generosity of Rutgers University and its Student Volunteer Council, we had another great work day on our premises, the Martin Luther King Day of Service on February 18, 2012.

Twenty-three Rutgers students and their two student supervisors followed the call and spent several hours with janitorial and other chores in our buildings. Their cheerful work included:

The washing of doors and moldings in the church and the education building.
The polishing of furniture in both buildings, including all upstairs and downstairs pews.
Finishing of painting the breezeway; painting a doorframe in fellowship hall.
Washing of all chairs and tables in fellowship hall.
Filling of holes in the front yard.
The washing of stalls and doors in the bathrooms.

While I busied myself leading the students in their various work stations, several members of the Property Committee had rushed to the scene in order to support all this wonderful work. Jim Hance tested the drainage system for gutters and leaders on both buildings. Julius Fekete remounted a nasty door hinge in the church office, and Gary Bernhofer fixed ceiling tiles in the kitchen and mounted a padlock to one of our supply closets. The men also started the work on a downspout on the Sexton’s House.

We closed the day with a fun tour of the church and plans for another such work day in April. The young people are a true blessing to our church!

Downtown Lunchtime Recital Series – Spring 2012 Featured Artists

Church Staff — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:17:18 +0000

First Reformed Church of New Brunswick
A free lunch follows each free recital. Barrier-free entrance at 9 Bayard St.

March 21 12:15 PM

Elaine Christy, harpist
Award winning harpist Elaine Christy teaches at Princeton University and is a member of the Richardson Chamber players there. Christy will present a program of French music for solo harp from Debussy to the 21st century.

April 4 12:15 PM

Rochelle Ellis, soprano, and Akiko Hosaki, pianist
Both teachers at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Ellis and Hosaki will perform art songs by Schubert and others and spirituals.

April 18 12:15 PM

Tim Brown and Justin Hartz , piano for four hands
Brown and Hartz are Directors of Music at, respectively, Faith Lutheran Church in Hillsborough and Christ Church in Riverton and perform chamber music regularly. Works by Mozart and Dvorak will be part of the program.

May 9 12:15 PM

The Manhattan Quartet – Jordan P. Smith, Aaron Patterson, Dan Kochersberger, and Jay Rattman, saxophone
This saxophone quartet, formed in 2008, has performed in venues ranging from Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Already known for premieres of new works and performances of established repertory, they will present a program of period and contemporary quartets.

May 23 1:00pm

Special Presentation of Livingston Elementary School
Livingston Elementary School will present a special concert to the series’ audience. This is a special recognition to First Reformed Church for providing free lunchtime recitals as part of the education of these local children. An ice cream party will follow this concert.

This program is funded in part by
Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission with assistance through a grant provided by New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Dept of State

Women Aware Breakfast

Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:14:44 +0000

Women Aware, Inc. will be hosting its annual “Moving Beyond Abuse” Breakfast on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the Pines Manor, 2085 Lincoln Highway, Edison, NJ 08817. All are welcome to attend. Reservations are necessary. Please RSVP as soon as you can with Bruce Naidoff, Director of Development at Women Aware. His phone number: 732-249-4900 ext. 103 or email: bnaidoff@womenaware.net.

Besides sharing company with friends and a delicious breakfast, you will also come away with a new perspective on the wonderful work Women Aware is doing to eliminate domestic violence and to support its victims. Furthermore, the Town Clock CDC will be a part of the presentation, since we are moving forward with Women Aware as our program partners for our re-design project.

In other words, this promises to be an inspiring and uplifting event, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some folks from our CDC and our church there. If you have any questions about reserving a spot, you can also call Pastor Susan.

Third Annual Martha Award Celebration

Erie Beemsterboer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:39:05 +0000

The women of the church are preparing for their Third Annual Martha Award Breakfast. On March 3rd we will gather once again and celebrate a woman from the New Brunswick community who goes above and beyond her call to do something good for the residents of New Brunswick.

This year we have chosen Agnes Crespo, a music teacher in the New Brunswick school district. For years she has brought groups of her students to our Lunchtime Recitals, students she feels would benefit from a specific concert, sometimes it is because the performer plays the same instrument or another good reason to bring them. It must not be easy to do that since so many districts have trouble finding funding for field trips. But every year she comes walking with a group of students from the Livingston School to have these children experience some life music and a nice luncheon afterwards.

A sign up list will be posted for all to sign up to bring some breakfast items. We have some gifts for Agnes in the making to go with her Award. I hope that all of you can come and support us at the Award. The breakfast is open to all.

In February we will hold our Guild meeting on the second Sunday after worship, a Bible study is on the agenda.

Prayer shawls are still being made, either knitted or quilted. IF you have any material that you think can be used please let Erie know.

We are also in need of birthday cards for the residents of the Reformed Church Home. They really appreciate the token of attention, so if you have some cards that can be used, you can drop them off at church.

The Rainbow Children’s Choir Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy – Part II

Rev. Dr. Hartmut Kramer-Mills — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:31:58 +0000

At this special celebration, Benjamin Berman, otherwise known as the music director of FRC, is also the leader of the Interfaith Rainbow Children’s Choir. The choir does not run under the auspices of the church, but is a part of New Brunswick’s Interfaith Coexistence Project. Consequently, children of several houses of worship attend. The common denominator is that they all come from religious communities, be they Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

The concert was meaningful. It did not just celebrate the historic achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, but made it clear that our society has still much need for improvement. We talked, for example, about the recent attacks on the synagogue Beth-El in Rutherford, NJ and praised the efforts of Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli, who advised not only the synagogues of Bergen County to be on alert, but all religious institutions.

Raíces Cultural Center supported the efforts of the Rainbow Choir with several songs in Spanish language and performed by their own ensemble. This opened our ears to the international relevance of Civil Rights issues.

It was a great concert! Thank you, Ben, for your fine efforts in building a new community choir! And thanks to all the children whose enthusiasm was apparent!

The Rainbow Children’s Choir Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy – Part I

Benjamin T. Berman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:28:42 +0000

The Rainbow Choir had a wonderful performance on Sunday, January 22 in the Randolph Room to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We collaborated with the musicians from the Raíces Cultural Center Ensemble to make music that expounded the tenets of love, tolerance, and peace. Hartmut and Susan gave a warm welcome that included an interesting explanation of the beautiful stained glass chalice in our Randolph Room, a symbol of 1) color diversity and 2) the dangers of marginalizing people who don’t fit the norms of society.

The music featured the cultures of Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. In our quest for world music, the Rainbow Choir has gone a long way to discover the essence of songs from all over the globe. Kudos to these children who are so dedicated to their music. They will perform again at the Interfaith Earth Day event on April 22.

Finally, we learned one very important thing at the event: that in order for humankind to continue its struggle for peace among nations, we have to educate our heart’s mind, and better embody the virtues of honesty, loving kindness, and justice.

Hall Education Fund, Inc. planning Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Suzanne Clark — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:17:57 +0000

A Wine Tasting Fundraiser is being planned for Friday, March 16, by the Hall Education Fund, Inc.

The event will be at the First Reformed Church, 9 Bayard St. in New Brunswick from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will be conducted by Brian’s Wine Store, Stelton Road, Piscataway. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward scholarships for needy and deserving New Brunswick high school students for post-secondary educational expenses.

The cost is $25 per person or $40 a couple and includes the wine tasting, light refreshment and valuable door prizes. Tickets may be obtained from the church office or the following members of the Hall Education Fund: Susanne Clark, David Waanders, Susan Kramer-Mills or Kathy Fekete. We hope to see you there!