Read our latest email newsletter from August 31
The most current news you can get! Remember that you can access past issues using the sidebar to the left. It’s sort of like a history of what our churches are doing, a great way to get inspiration!
Lebanon Reformed Church "We Shall Over-Run 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk" - May 4, 2019
On Saturday, May 4 Lebanon Reformed Church will hold our 5th Annual We Shall Over-Run 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk. Over the years we have been blessed with big turn-outs and generous donations to support Hunterdon Hospice.
This year the race will be dedicated as a celebration of the life of Rev. Rebekah (Becky) Pratt (Stanton Reformed Church). Proceeds from the race/walk will benefit both Hunterdon Hospice and The Rebekah Pratt Legacy Campaign.
Online registration is now open to accept your entries and additional donations (if you choose) at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Lebanon/WeShallOverRun5K
So, come on out on Saturday, May 4 for a morning of fellowship, fun, music, and refreshments. Spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. and organize a running/walking team to help make this year's event a success! I hope to see you there!
Adrian Condis Quartet to Be Featured at Final Concert of Inaugural Old North Reformed Church Chamber Series – May 12, 2019
The Old North Reformed Church in Dumont is pleased to present woodwind specialist Adrian Condis, a Bergen County resident and graduate of the esteemed jazz program at William Paterson University, in the church’s historic sanctuary on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 4:00 pm.
Condis will complement his talents with a handpicked trio of some of the finest jazz musicians in the Tri-State area. The special Mother’s Day presentation will feature a mixture of jazz standards, ballads, and newer compositions, all of which are bound to set the tone for a wonderful spring afternoon.
This is a FREE event; donations for the Church’s outreach programs will be graciously accepted at the door. The program is expected to last approximately ninety minutes, with a brief intermission; light refreshments will be served during intermission. As a special gesture for the women in attendance, flowers will be gifted as part of this special Mother’s Day performance.
Adrian Condis is one of the most exciting up-and-coming saxophonists of our time. His ersatility on multiple woodwind instruments enables him to perform in a wide range of genres. He has already played in a wide variety of notable venues such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space , The Bitter End , Zinc Bar , Swing 46 , the Highline Ballroom, Antoine’s, and the Ibirapuera Auditorium.
Adrian has shared the stage with some of the world’s finest jazz artists such as John Fedchock, Terrell Stafford, Stefon Harris , Luis Bonilla, Jane Moneheit, Jerry Dodgion , Robin Eubanks, Randy Brecker , Jon Faddis , Benny Golson , Claudio Roditi , Gregg Field, Jiggs Wiggum, Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin, John Clayton, Roy Hargrove , Gunhild Carling, New York Voices, and the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band. He also opened for Reggie Workman, James Carter, and Justin Kauflin.
Adrian started his Bachelors in Music at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and completed it at William Paterson University. He has studied with Dave Glasser, Ted Nash, Vincent Herring, Lew Tabackin , Billy Drewes, Cecil Bridgewater, Adam Brenner, and Bill Charlap.
Adrian performed as a member of the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra for three years. In the summer of 2016, he was selected for the Disney All-American College Band, a program in which only the nation’s top college musicians are selected.
Adrian can be seen performing throughout the New York Metropolitan area with groups such as Swingadelic, The Stephen Santoro Orchestra, Cityscape & the Park Avenue Horns, the Evan Sherman Big Band, and many others. He is currently working on his debut album.
The Old North Reformed Churchis a Protestant Church affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Old North Reformed Church houses its congregation in a national historic site building, set in the heart of Dumont, NJ, that has been there since 1801. The traditional boxed pews and graciously symmetrical proportions of the sanctuary are the perfect place to enjoy spiritual respite and to soak up a couple of centuries of faith.
We are pleased to invite the community in to enjoy music in our first free concert series!
Spaces Filling Up For Encouraging Thriving Congregations Learning Community-Register by April 15
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the churches of the Mid-Atlantics.
I pray as we enter the mid-point of Lent, you are blessed and not overly burdened with additional responsibilities we often accrue during this season.
Three weeks ago, we released a flyer to you regarding the upcoming community of Encouraging Thriving Congregations, a 12-month learning community to focus on re-engaging our churches/congregations in ministry specific to each of our individual contexts. This is not a “cookie-cutter” approach to re-engaging ministry, but rather a very organic approach to looking at what is needed in your church or community and how your people might be able to tap into that need. Through the monthly conversations of our community, and the accountability that is held within, it is the hope and goal that we can fill our communities with the love and grace of God.
The approach is simple. A team of 3-5 members gather monthly for conversation and guidance from Andy Bossardet, RCA Coordinator for Encouraging Thriving Congregations. Quarterly, starting in May, we will gather in person, with pastors meeting on Friday evening, and the entire team gathering on Saturday. In between we will gather via Zoom Conferencing. Each team will develop its own particular focus, and as we gather, will report back on their gains, their obstacles, their successes, and their struggles.
One question that has come up several times already is, “Does our pastor need to be a part of this?” The response we have offered is the pastor has to be supportive at the very least. Without the pastor’s support, the chance for success is minimal. Ideally, we pray the pastor is directly involved, does not have to be the leader of it, but to show the support of the leadership is essential for making any change. If your church is currently without pastoral leadership, this could provide a great opportunity for your search committee to focus its charge by looking for a candidate who may be able to take the reins of new path for the church that has been laid out by the congregation.
With this being said, our community is currently limited to 10 churches, and this is filling up quick. If we receive enough interest, Andy Bossardet has agreed to splitting into two sessions (on separate weekends) and we will strive to make a north and a south session to better accommodate the wonderful traffic patterns of the East Coast.
Please refer to the above flyer for contact information, and if you have questions regarding this, please contact either Deb Petersen in the synod office, or email me.
Blessings and Peace to you and yours.
Chris Heitkamp,
President, Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics
Chairperson, Regional Synod Missional Re-engagement Committee
Encouraging Thriving Congregations
To All Churches of the Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics:
We are excited to welcome Andy Bossardet, RCA Thriving Congregation Coordinator, to work alongside our churches to redevelop our ministries, our community connections, and to encourage congregations in how they can and do thrive in today’s world.
As partners, Andy will be working with churches on a monthly basis, meeting in person quarterly, and via online avenues in between, to strategize how they best can advance their independent ministries; whether it be developing the discipleship program in your church, collaborating with local non-profits, or searching within yourselves to find what God is asking of you.
This yearlong learning community will begin in May (see attached flyer) and will run at a cost of $500/congregation. Registration opens immediately and will run through April 15. We are currently opening up to the first 10 congregations. However, if we have enough interest/response, Andy has agreed to work with us for a second class, which would hopefully allow for a north and south class within the synod.
Please note that this opportunity is for churches of ALL sizes, especially those worshipping under 100 people.
If you are interested in participating, please respond to Deb Petersen in the synod office at rsmat@rca.org or 862-247-8444 by April 15.
Rev. Christopher Heitkamp, President, Synod of the Mid-Atlantics
Building a Discipling Culture - NJ Workshop Series
Engage with the word, works, and way of Jesus while discovering the principles of going from having a ministry to leading a movement: reproducing disciples instead of just recruiting more volunteers, multiplying communities instead of just adding more people. During the two-year journey, your team will progress from discipleship to mission, from the singular to the movemental, through a series of four 1.5-day onsite Training Immersion supported with weekly Coaching, Online Intensives for your team, and Times of Retreat. You and your team will experience proven vehicles for discipleship and mission (like Huddle and Missional Community), evaluate your current realities of what is, and look to where God is calling your church into what could be and what will be. For further information you may contact Revs Debbie Pierce (debbie@pondsnj.org) or Nathan Busker (nathan@pondsnj.org) at Ponds Reformed Church, 201-337-6744. You may also contact the workshop facilitator, Rev. Jeff Allen (pjallen@faithctr.org) or 303-524-5273.
Click here for full details.
Free Organ Concert at Old North Reformed Church
120 Washington Avenue, Dumont NJ 07628
Contact the church office at 201-385-2243 for more information.
Rev. Mark William Ennis' Book - "The Circle of Seven"
Join us in congratulating Rev. Mark William Ennis on the recent publication of his first book, “The Circle of Seven.” For more information about his book click here.
Crossroads Women's Conference
CROSSROADS XXXIV & Reformed Church Women in the Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics present
Broken Hearts/Thriving Hearts: Our Life’s Journey
Women Pilgrims Journeying Together With Christ
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20, Common English Bible (CEB)]
FEATURING:
A Pilgrim’s Psalm: A Contemporary Oratorio For Lent
By doorjam
March 29-30, 2019
Harvey Cedars Conference Center, Long Beach Island, NJ
Friday 7:30 PM - Saturday 5:30 PM Supper
Check in Friday 4:00 - 7:00 PM
