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

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is used to teach you?
Right now we use little booklets called “Learn from the Bible to Live the Good News“, which offer us a key phrase, faith vocabulary, and other activities to do. In the past, we have used many different methods. We had Golden Parable Boxes that contained felt pieces in them which the teacher would use in order to tell parables. We also used wooden figurines to tell stories and to play with. Then we went to a method where every week there would be a snack and a craft for us to do at the end of the lesson. Eventually we went over to this system we have now.

What are your most memorable lessons?
D: My most memorable lesson is the one where Pastor Hartmut came upstairs with us and explained the sacrament of Communion. I remember that he took the special communion silverware upstairs and we had a small communion in the Sunday school room. Two other lessons that I remember were taught by Mrs. Betancourt. In one, she explained that God collected all of our tears and showed us this by showing a large plastic cup filled with water. In the other lesson, I remember making a pet rock to show that God loves us and is always with us, like our pet rock.

K: My most memorable lesson was when we went up to Warwick for a retreat and talked all about God and the Universe. It was just so special and we got to learn in a different place. I always had fun with the lessons outside and they were so special.

Who has taught you?
From the beginning to the present, the list is quite long. The first woman that we had as a Sunday School teacher was Janet Angeline, Mrs. Betancourt, Mrs. Bernhofer, Mr. Bernhofer, Mrs. Boyles, Mrs. Vande Bunte, and finally Mrs. Sena.

– Daphne and Kathleen will be confirmed on June 10th. Please plan to join the celebration!

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!

But now, with the color choices made by our wonderful architect Margaret Westfield, the house begins to develop its very own charm. Of course, what you see is only a first coat. Much more painting is needed. However, already now we have inkling of how beautiful the house will be in the future. And so we thank Tori, Mariel, Christine, Leanna and Maggie for their generous work. We also thank the RUTGERS administration, especially advisor Jennifer Simon, for organizing events like this one. Our New Brunswick community will be the better for it.

And last, but not least, we want to thank Julius Fekete, the senior voice on our Property Committee, who was there to show us which conduits above the panels we could paint, and how to stand a ladder on a slant.

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.

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.

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!

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.

As Easter comes upon us, we have a remarkable coincidence with the dawn of a new period of ministry here at First Reformed Church. The reason is that our historic preservation project comes to an end. This means less reporting, less building issues, and less work for the Finance Committee and the Consistory. The Fundraising Committee even had its last meeting.

So, we are resurrecting from construction and paper files and bank statements. Now is the time to become creative again and to continue to nurture the exciting community that has formed around us during the years of brick-and-mortar. It is also important that we invest more efforts, prayer and thoughts in growing our church. What would our meaning be, if we did not try to reach as many of our neighbors near and far in order to offer them participation in God’s peculiar way of relating with us?

A great beginning was offered with the past Lenten Series that the Episcopal churches in town together with First and Second Reformed organized this year. Please see the accompanying pictures taken during the session that our church hosted on March 18. Raíces Cultural Ensemble provided lively music from Cuba; we watched the documentary “Food Matters”, enjoyed Lolly’s great cookies made in our kitchen, and had an engaging discussion on nutrition and the benefit of vitamins in conquering disease. Ron, Norma, Lolly and Margaret had made fresh soups, and Lauren brought the PowerPoint equipment.

Whether one agreed with the movie or not, the point was to take up an issue that concerns all of us, and to deal with it in a matter that nurtures togetherness among neighbors. I hope that the remainder of this year will bestow us with many more such opportunities, so that we can continue to be a center for Christian awareness building.

How did the Lord say? “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

With fond wishes,
Pastor Hartmut

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

Town Clock CDC

The Town Clock CDC is concentrating its efforts this year on raising funds. Sound all too familiar? Yes! Well, with the funding cuts to all the social service agencies within New Jersey, all trust funds and grant providers for affordable housing are having difficulty. That means that we must concentrate our efforts to raise funds outside of these “typical” agencies, such as the city, county, and state. Frustrating, but it is the reality of the day.

With that being said, we invite you to consider philanthropists you may know, or persons who have board affiliations to organizations which provide grants. We would be delighted to hear about any contacts. This project is an amazing opportunity to do something unique to an historic structure. Just today, I explained to Erie about how the fire in the sanctuary in 1971 was laid by a man, whose girlfriend we were supporting. He was abusing her, and we were giving her shelter. Our choice for building 11 units of permanent supportive housing for women and their children stems from this event. What a wonderful way to make something good out of something that destroyed the interior so long ago!

Speaking of fundraising, we are also working on just letting folks know about this great project. In March, I was invited by Women Aware, Inc. to speak at their main fundraising breakfast. Three hundred people were in attendance! Wow! Perhaps you know of another such opportunity? Don’t hesitate to contact me, please.

This is a time when the general populace views many institutions critically and without much respect. What pertains to banks, hospitals and the various levels of government also pertains to the church.

In front of this background it makes only sense that our denomination extended an open invitation to all RCA congregations and interest groups to send representatives for a few days of opinion polling regarding the future direction of our denomination. The results will be shared with General Synod Council (GSC). From there, they will be forwarded to the 2013 General Synod (GS) and then returned to the various Classes.

People followed the call from every part of the United States and Canada and beyond. There were missionaries, professors and chaplains, members of the military, Sunday school leaders and pastors of every variety.

We worshipped together, met in several large groups and broke out into smaller ones. It was a carefully organized process designed to give voice to the great diversity of opinions, needs and heritages within the Reformed Church in America.

Day 1 featured a huge worship in the plenary and a message by General Secretary Tom DeVries. Day 2 was the day of work. We met in large groups of perhaps 25 people and introduced each other by responding to questions like, “How is God working within / through / ahead of you?”

My response was simple. I referred to the contrasts in ministry as I experience them. During the week before Orlando, I was involved with the construction on our church; read a book on perspectives on death and dying in medicine, psychology and law; contributed a few lines to a Muslim publication; and preached and visited and taught an adult education class as well as a confirmation class. There was also a committee meeting, an architect’s reception at a private school and the work for the ecumenical study group for Lent. Can I be an expert or even just a professional in all these things? Most likely not! And so I said to the group in Orlando, “God must be at work in all of this, because left alone I’m not good at doing the splits.”

Following this, we told our congregational stories. This was a moment when it dawned on me how much our congregation owes to someone like Dr. John Henry Livingston. In the late 18th century, he prepared our denomination’s independence from the European mother church. He also was our interim pastor. As such, he dedicated our new sanctuary in 1812. Later he was buried with his wife in our cemetery. When our neighborhood declined in the second half of the 20th century, we pondered moving on innumerable occasions, but never could – not with the graves of Dr. Livingston and other dignitaries behind the church. This forced us to reinvent ourselves and to claim a place in this city. Today it is clear: Many of our ministries would not take place had it not been for the continuing presence of Dr. Livingston!

After lunch, we shifted from the local to the denomination’s context. “Why the RCA?”we asked ourselves, and the responses were as manifold as the people in the room. Value of theological training, willingness to cope with change, our understanding of depravity and election in contrast to the grain of Evangelical American Protestantism, our rich and diverse history – these were among the responses from members of my group.

The next section was spent with recognizing RCA ministries on the denominational level. In our group, these included things like: Network of Pastors, Reformed Church World Service, Global Mission, Interfaith Dialog, Historical Series of RCA Publications, Ecumenical Relations, Social Action, Church Growth Fund, RCA colleges and seminaries, Worship & Liturgies, Disability Awareness and Board of Benefit Services. Each ministry received a paper banner with its name and was posted to the wall.

Once this was accomplished, we used sticky notes to write personal comments for as many ministries as we chose. The comments could be positive or negative. The question, however, was, “How has each ministry had an impact on the life of my home congregation or in our particular context of ministry.”

We meditated the great scope of comments and reconvened in small groups with the task of discerning the general themes from among the previous comments. Then we recorded the themes of special importance to the group members on newsprint to be shared with the larger group. In the end, several such newsprints were put up on the walls. Each member of the large group received five sticky dots to be placed behind the themes we felt should have the highest priority in the future of our denomination’s work. GSC and GS will take it from there. We ended with worship on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning. The latter included a rich sermon by General Secretary Tom DeVries. Its strength was in the questions Tom raised regarding the future of the RCA: Will there be reconciliation and justice for all? Will there be compassion? And: Will we consider others better than ourselves? He could not have said it more appropriately.

My summary is this: We may say a lot of things about our denomination’s course, but we can no longer say we were not asked. The event’s context contributed to its positive atmosphere: The hotel and conference center was in the middle of Walt Disney World Resort with its various theme parks, the food was magnificent, and you could not leave your room without meeting colleagues and friends from every corner of the RCA.