2014 December Newsletter

Newsletter of FRCDecember 2014

Inside...Christmas Eve Schedule ............................................. 2Sinterklaas & Dutch Dancing ...................................... 3New Benevolence List ................................................ 3TCCDC Update ................................ ...................... 4Women’s Guild Advent Breakfast ..........................,,,,,,, 4Learning More About DV ........................................... 5Adult Education .....................,.................................. 5Music Events at FRC .................................................. 6Jazzin Up the Holidays,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............................. 6Benevolence of the Month .......................................... 6

Women AwareRoom for All in 2014 ................................................. 7Room for Me Video .................................................... 7

From Pastor’s Desk

As we enter the last month of the year and approachChristmas again, we find ourselves as church members insituation with many facets. The construction of Dina’sDwellings and our new worship space has not yet begun,even though we have taken all the administrative hurdles.

Our old church seems to become impatient herself: Withthe first frost we had a “fire” alarm caused by thetemperature sensors in the now barren sanctuary. Thesesensors were installed to warn us of failures of the heatingsystem. They are tied in with our fire alarm system andtrigger an alarm when the temperature dips below 45°F.

Fortunately, we reacted swiftly and no dispatch wasnecessary.

The reconfiguration preparations brought another facet ofour situation to the daylight. When interior architect GaryWagner opened a part of the side of the choir loft, hefound a page of the New York Herald from February 21,

1865 under the floor. It was completely crumbled up, butotherwise intact and served as a reminder that we are anold congregation whose ministry harks back over severalperiods in history.

According to my predecessor, Rev. Dr. J. David Muyskensand his book The Town Clock Church, the year 1865belonged to a period of unhindered church growth. In thatyear, we had 200 families with 365 active members. TheSunday School had 218 students enrolled and an averageattendance of 175. David even quoted from the AnnualReport of that year: “We rejoice that we can receive anunusual spirit of prayer on the part of large numbers in thechurch, and a marked anxiety for the conversion ofsinners.” The pastor then was Dr. Samuel B. How.

We may not have the great numbers or the same zeal forthe conversion of sinners anymore, but we, too, live in aremarkable time. Our current reality is characterized bymany younger people seeking a spiritual home in ourchurch. This has led to a renewed interest in our adulteducation, our worship life, our concerts, and our special

continued on pg. 2


2

ministries including our growing awareness for domesticviolence as one of the epidemics of our time.

We are grateful for all this. However, our existence as achurch has a financial dimension as well. Compared withwhat we budgeted, our envelope giving is up. Yet it makesonly a dent into the high deficit we have suffered again thisyear. Not everyone can give a weekly envelope, but someenvelope numbers never make it into the plate. This is notgood! Even a single dollar will fully validate an envelope.

The same is true for our Classis assessments. We pay over$6,000 per year to the denomination, yet we receive lessthan $2,000 in offering envelopes for this. If you can helpwith this, it is not too late!

Aside from this, there is one final facet Iwould like to point out. This is the facet ofour world-openness. We have not beenhiding in our four walls, and we have triedhard not to be gatekeepers who use thetradition only to satisfy the needs of theirpersonal piety.

Instead, we have been outgoing into thecommunity:

• There are 20 community organizations on the current church file!

• Our concerts have regularly filled the hall and the Randolph Room as well; the

• Lunchtime Series was running at capacity!

• We have become a voice in the city’s scene of advocacy against domestic violence.

• The team from FRC was instrumental in revitalizing the administration of the Rotating Homeless Men’s shelter.

• We sang with our Jewish friends from Anshe Emeth’s senior choir.

• And we continued our good relations with our Muslim friends from the Peace Islands Institute.

It’s a colorful context in which we live. And none of it isvoid of the presence of God. Has it not been true this yearagain that whatever single hair may have fallen from ourheads, it did not do so without the will of our heavenlyFather, as the Catechism says. So let us take this certitudewith us when we soon approach the manger in Bethlehem!

With fond wishes Pastor Hartmut

From the Pastorcontinued from front pg.

Newsletter of FRCDecember 2014 3Newsletter of FRCNovember2014

Dutch Dancers —by Susan

The first weekend in December is full of dancing for us aswe celebrate the city of New Brunswick’s Tree LightingCeremony on Friday, December 5th from 5 – 7 pm. Thereare also many other performances taking place which arefun to see. Also, there is a cook-off and booths from variousorganizations around town. Six of the Dutch Dancers will beperforming and featuring two new costumes. Wait until yousee the young woman in black!

Then we dance at the annual Sinterklaas Event sponsored bythe Meadows Foundation on Sunday, December 7th from1:00 to 4:00 pm. Here is the line-up: 1:15 pm – Dutch Dancing, 2:00 pm – Sinterklaas arrives,3:00 pm – Harpsichord Recital and demonstration by our“own” Benjamin T. Berman.

This wonderful Dutch celebration takes place at the historicHageman Farm. Please see the poster. It is a worthy locationfor such a wonderful event. Of course, there will be Dutchcookies to purchase and arts & crafts for the children.


4

– by Susan Kramer-Mills, Executive Director

Our Jazzin’ for Funds event was a great success. Wewere grateful for Old Bay’s dynamic interior designbecause people could find nooks where they couldensconce themselves to either enjoy the professionaljazz music performed by the David Stryker Trio orjust have conversation. We were thrilled with thefood and atmosphere! Many asked us to holdanother such event soon! We will keep you posted.

Our heartfelt thanks goes to Jane Parker whocelebrated her birthday at our Jazzin’ for Fundsevent by bringing her family and their friends along!

The last couple of weeks we have been involvedwith getting the final paperwork together for theclosing. Thankfully, we have a date. So we will soonbe seeing digging in the front of the church buildingfor the utility trench, and other preliminaryconstruction work performed in the sanctuary. Canwe all say the word:F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!?!

Women’s Guild Advent Breakfast– by Susan

Breakfast is so delicious each year at the Advent Breakfast,which is sweetened by a delightful program. This year wewill be making egg casseroles along with delicious breads.

It is such a lovely affair, when women from variouschurches join us for singing and a short program. This yearwe will hear and read various poems about Mother Maryand Baby Jesus.

We hope that you feel welcome to attend. It is this quietand sweet time of sharing that really marks the Adventseason and the time of waiting for the birth of our Lord.

Newsletter of FRCDecember 2014 5

Learning More About Intimate PartnerViolence— by Lolly Schenck

First Wednesdays have become a “must-do” forsome of us; the readings and viewings are soprofound and interesting. In October we watchedHereafter, a movie about near-death experiencesdirected by Clint Eastwood. A lively discussionensued and found us wondering about thepossibility of the afterlife and how to understand itin the light of increasing public disinterest inreligion.

This month and next we are tackling the problem ofdomestic violence. With Dina’s Dwellings about tobecome a reality here at First Reformed, we felt itbehooved us to educate ourselves about whatdomestic violence is and how it can affect any oneof us, or our loved ones and those close to us.There is much silence around the subject; thevictims are ashamed and frightened into silence, andthose not involved are simply ignorant of what ishappening.

We read several anecdotal accounts of domesticviolence survivors, looking for patterns andsimilarities in the stories. Then we read the prefaceof Violence Against Women and Children: AChristian Theological Sourcebook. This book is aserious textbook and seems like it could integrate issues offaith and the church’s response to domestic violence.

Finally we introduced ourselves to a memoir by a domesticviolence survivor; Crazy Love by Leslie Morgan-Steiner.She recounts her story of falling in love with a man whothen abused her for a number of years before she was ablefinally to break free of the spell of her crazy love and getaway from him for good. She has also made a TED talk inwhich she spells out specifically why it is that domesticviolence victims don’t “just leave.” Our plan is to read herbook for the December 3rd meeting and engage ourselvesseriously in becoming advocates for these most vulnerablewomen and children. Please join us; the more of us thereare, the more interesting and compelling our discussionsare. Also we usually have ice cream.

See you in December!!

Leslie Morgan-Steiner, Crazy Love: A Memoir, NewYork: St. Martin’s Press 2009

The memoir offers a good entry into the issues andis easy to read. If you are interested, pleasepurchase your own copy. A used copy online shouldcost about $4.95.

The class will start at 7:00 PM and includes icecream.


6

Musical Events of FRC– by Benjamin T. Berman

The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Anshe Emeth was ariot! No, not like the riot that Stravinsky started in Pariswith his Rite of Spring, but a hilarious, exuberant, andspirit-filled worship service for the God of all Creation. TheRainbow Choir sang three songs, including a descant to"On Eagle's Wings" that I wrote for them. And thecombined adult choir sang three songs, which wererocking, swinging, and joyful. Kudos to Lauren Bernhoferon her solo, and for all the other choir members (andDutch dancers!) who joined in for a fun time.

On December 6, First Reformed Church will host theRutgers Protestant Campus Ministries fundraiser, featuringthe Scarlet Knights Jazz Trombones. Our church has alwayshad a close connection to RPCM, and it would be great if agreat number of our members were at the event to supportcampus ministry. I know it would mean a lot to thestudents. Also, consider how beautiful the music will be. Ifyou came last year, you know how fun and exciting it is tohear a band of trombones heralding the Christmas season.

Finally, our calendar year of musical events ends with awarm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. We will singChristmas Carols on Hiram Square, and worship with ourtraditional Lessons and Carols service. On the program forthe evening are works by Handel, Schuetz, andCharpentier, and our favorite Christmas Hymns and Carols,as performed by the adult choir, the bell choir, soloists, andthe congregation at large.

Saturday December 6, 2014

6:00PM at First Reformed Church 9 Bayard Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

The award winning Rutgers Jazz Trombones are a flagship ensemble headed by renowned trombonist and professor, Conrad Herwig.

Be sure to check out their latest Christmas CD!

A Concert To Benefit Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries A Good-will Offering Will Be Taken

Women Aware – Benevolence of the Month – by SusanWomen Aware, Inc., is the domestic violence shelter inMiddlesex county. Besides running a safe house forvictims; they have also just opened a new house, whichholds three permanent, supportive, affordable apartmentsfor victims and their children. We are pleased to beassociated with Women Aware and to support all that theydo for victims.

Here is their Mission Statement - Women Aware is committed to a vision of a just society.

Our mission is to end domestic violence in the lives ofwomen, children, and men, and to change societalattitudes and institutions that promote and condoneviolence through public policy, advocacy, education, andprograms and services that promote lives free of abuse.

Newsletter of FRCDecember 2014 7

A Glance at the Work of Room for All in 2014– by Pastor Hartmut

Room for All (RfA) is an organization within ourdenomination, the Reformed Church of America. While itis not part of our official denominational structure, it is thebest force we have to raise awareness and promote theissues of LBTGQ Christians in our midst.

Marilyn Paarlberg, the Executive Director of Room for All,recently sent an email to member churches giving accountof the organization’s work in 2014. The following is anexcerpt.

The good news is that thanks to the Community Church ofKeyport, NJ, there are now 26 RfA congregations - thankyou!

Of those, seven have made a financial contribution in2014 - again, thank you! The better news is, it's not toolate, whether your church's fiscal year begins in January orJune!

The best news of all? We in Room for All find ourselvesreviewing the year with amazement and gratitude. SinceJanuary, we have embarked on 6 never-before initiatives:

• Released an ambitious video study series, "Body & Soul: We Belong," based on six themes central to Reformed

faith as they pertain to LGBTQ inclusiveness.

• Released another video project just a few months later. "Room for Me?" includes interviews with 26 LGBTQ people in RCA contexts, and has been viewed over 3,000 times since May.

• Sent at least half of our Board members to the General Synod meeting, where they offered a visible RfA presence and engaged with delegates throughout the week.

• Held our first RfA Celebration Dinner in West Michigan, which drew over 180 people, many of whom had not heard of RfA before.

• A few days later, we offered a one-day symposium to college students and local community members in Orange City, Iowa, which drew nearly 100 people and was received with deep gratitude by LGBTQ people and allies in that area. It is our hope to replicate this event at other RCA-affiliated campuses.

• We are about to begin interviews of several excellent candidates for our second full-time staff position.

God has richly blessed our ministry, and we're joyfully anticipating celebrating that progress at a 10thAnniversary conference next October in Grand Rapids.

Room for Me?

In Room for All, we believe that the Gospel compelsus to welcome and affirm Christ-followers of allsexual identities and gender expressions.

So we decided to invite the reflections of someLGBTQ Christians in Reformed Church settingsacross the country. The participants were asked torespond to four questions.

1. What’s it like being you?2. How is the Gospel of Jesus Christ “good news” to you?3. What’s something you wish the RCA understood about you?4. Fill in the blank: I am __________.

The short film “Room for Me?” is the result of these 26 interviews. at http://www.roomforall.com/room-for-me/

First Reformed Church9 Bayard Street,New Brunswick, NJ 08901phone: 732-545-1005; fax: 732-545-1139email: [email protected] site: www.FirstReformedChurch.net

More Jazzin for Funds Photos

Documents

2014 December Newsletter