For those of you who need some more planning, we provide the following calendar in this month’s newsletter.

With this in mind, on Rally Sunday we will get a chance to start up the new Fall season and the return of regular programming of our church. With the start, we will celebrate newly painted pews, new upholstery on the chancel furniture, and even a new Communion set on the Communion Table. That’s a lot of new-ness! And to add to our celebration and new things list, over the summer we were informed by letter from the Acting Commissioner, Charles A. Richman that Governor Corzine signed into legislation funding for NJ Historic Trust, which includes our state grant for the historic preservation project.

This may sound a bit surprising and scary in these economic times, especially since the grant is a matching one. However, may we continue to remind ourselves of several things: First, that we have four years for this project and the fund-raising; second; we are free to limit our 2010 preservation efforts to a very conservative scope. With that said, it is clear that, at this time, we want and need to address the steeple and the church roof, the beam in the church attic, as well as the soffit of the education building.

As you can imagine, there are still many things on our buildings that will need to be worked on. Let me just mention the worst problem, which is the structural situation beneath our sanctuary floor. These must do building issues seem overwhelming, though. Inevitably, when we look at the big picture, they appear to be impossible. And so we loose hope. But, as my grandmother used to say, “To eat a whole cake, you have to take one bite at a time.” I think that it is the same for our building needs.

How can I respond so hopeful? Well, let me just remind our doubtful minds of how our pew painting project went this summer. At first, it was awful. We started out sanding lightly, then washing it down, then spot-painting it with primer. And, wow, after two weeks it appeared to be done. Then, we noticed that the paint was pealing. OH NO!!! So we had to start all over again, only this time we did it more thoroughly.

Several of us thought that we were doomed, and it would never be finished. “Impossible!” they claimed. Yet, YOU ALL responded to the call for help. In total, there were 13 church members who helped Julius Fekete accomplish the impossible, not counting the numerous helping hands that brought lunches and other support. Yes, we did it together. One day, it was two other volunteers. Another day it was a whole family. A little bit at a time. And now, it is finished.

It is our calling to remain hope filled even in the midst of uncertainty. Likewise, with the grant monies and our fund-raising efforts for our buildings: we have to do it one step at a time – together.

Hopefully yours,
Pastor Susan

Now that we are facing fall and cooler temperatures, we are going back to our beautiful sanctuary for our services. What a change a coat of paint can make! The pews are looking so good. A big Thank You to all those volunteers who helped to bring this about: Julius Fekete, Ellen & Bruce Hamilton, Pastors Hartmut & Susan, Lily Kramer-Mills & friends, Margaret Coakley, Heather Epstein, Norma Vande Bunte, Ben Berman (was this in your job description?), and the Beemsterboer family. And, by the time this article is printed there may be a few more names to add to the list.

That reminds us, if you would like to write a thank-you note and are looking around for a nice card, consider using one of our note cards. They are beautifully decorated with drawings of the various buildings, which we have worshiped in as First Reformed Church. We sell them in packs of 4 or 10. Just see Ethel if you would like some, or stop by the church office!

Talking of Ethel, she deserves a big thanks as well, as she was responsible for baking all those delicious cookies we enjoyed every coffee hour in the summer. Now it is open to all of us to provide refreshments after the service. They can be something simple; most of us are just looking forward to something to nibble on while catching up with the other members. In addition, be assured there is always someone who is willing to explain how to make the coffee and hot water.

Looking forward to see all of you soon in our sanctuary!

Then on Saturday, Mar 28th, we once again showed that many hands make light work! With the help of Junior Girls Scout troop 71669, 5th grade from Cranbury, we had a clean-up day. The girls are working on their Bronze award (the highest award a junior Girl Scout can get) and they picked House of Manna for their service project. So from 9:00 until 11:00 we cleaned all the chairs and tables in the Fellowship Hall, top, and bottom. And you would be surprised to discover how much dirt and unmentionables we found under the tables and chairs. Then we cleaned the woodwork in the Fellowship Hall, all the doors we cleaned and even the bathrooms were done. Meanwhile, the women of the church cleaned in the kitchen, the windowsills got a good going over, glass doors were cleaned. The cabinets were emptied and reorganized. House of Manna supplied their own plates so we put ours back in our cabinets and put away the new plates. We looked at all the items in the cabinets and made a decision if it still was used and needed by the church or that a toss was the better way to go. It was a lot of work but it is so satisfactory to see all the gleaming surfaces and know that everything is clean again!

A big thank you to: Allison, Brittany, Elina, Ellen, Ethel, Evelyn, Imma, Janet, Joan, Kathleen, Katie, Kelly, Lisa, Maggie, Nicole, Norma, Olivia, Petra, Premilla, Renee, Sandy, Susan, Tessa, Theresa and Walter.

Julius has provide great organization with the volunteers for mowing the lawn throughout the summer.

This has saved our church $3000! Can you imagine that?! Thanks to so many of you who have been willing to arrive early and mow.