Dear Friends:
Celebrating 200 Years of God’s Grace and Glory
As you know, 2023 will be an exciting year for First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood New Jersey as we celebrate our bicentennial. And members of Team 200 have been working diligently for months to plan a meaningful year-long
celebration!
The celebration begins January 15 ~ join us!
The actual date of the 200th anniversary of our founding is January 11, 2023. On the following Sunday, January 15, we will hold a special worship service at 10:00 a.m. to kick off the year-long celebration.
On that Sunday, and each Sunday during the remainder of the year, we will ask a member or friend of the church to share during the service what First Pres means to you. This is meant to be a brief talk. In fact, we’re calling it 200 Seconds. Please be thinking about what you might say.
Also, on January 15, we will celebrate The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper, using communion ware dating to the 1800s. And on that day, we will unveil a special bicentennial banner, gifted to First Pres by Trinity Presbyterian Church. The banner will remain in the sanctuary for the rest of 2023.
Following the bicentennial kick-off service, there will be a festive gathering for food and fellowship in the Auditorium.
Join us!
January/February Small Group Study ~ Grace and Gratitude
As we celebrate 200 Years of God’s Grace and Glory, it seems appropriate to learn more about the role of grace in our life before God. This six-week study explores the combination of grace and another term which is vital to Reformed theology: gratitude. These two important terms offer a vital snapshot of Reformed and Presbyterian identity and conviction. Theologian Charles Wiley maintains that the terms grace and gratitude together represent our “gift to the wider church.” They express our witness to God’s extravagant love expressed in Jesus Christ and our response as Christ’s disciples, committed to thankfully doing God’s work in the world. The study guide costs $7 and is available in the church office. Join me in the Minnema Room for a time of meaningful discussion at noon on the following Wednesdays: January 18, 25 and February 1, 8, 15 & 22. This is a great opportunity to learn and grow in faith together.
As always, friends are welcome!
Grace and peace,
Bruce
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