The Voice of FRC - April 2026

The Franklin Reformed Church

www.frcnutley.com

frcnutley@optimum.net

973-667-7022 Church Office

From the Pastor’s Desk

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that they are near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these thingshave happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24. 32-35

I hate roller coasters. I have always hated roller coasters. For that matter I also hate heights,

but then again, the two might just be related! I never liked them as a kid, don’t like them now! Back

in 2018 my children goaded me into riding a roller coaster at Liseberg, a large amusement park in

Gothenberg, Sweden. I hated that ride, but I did turn the tables when I made them go on the Ferris

wheel.

When I think of Holy Week, I think about roller coasters. The ups and downs: the jubilation of

Palm Sunday, Jesus teaching in the temple - including some pretty hard teachings, the Passover

seder with friends gathered around the table, a trial, a judgement, whips, a crown of thorns, words

from the cross, the body scuttled away before sundown, a borrowed grave, the silence of Holy

Saturday, and the shock of the empty tomb. Up and down and up and down and up again. It is quite

a ride.

Recently I was with an acquaintance who said, “This too shall pass.” Interestingly as we

continued our conversation she remarked, “That means the good times too!” Frankly I never really

thought of that phrase in that way; generally, it means “hang in there, bad times will eventually

come to an end”. But there is truth in that statement when I think about it. Bad times do come and

go, although maybe not as quickly as we hope that they would. And good times will also leave us as

surely as the tides are pulled on by the moon. If you are human, and who of us isn’t, you know this

to be true.

In the Gospel of Matthew by the time we reach the 25th chapter, Jesus is in the Temple in

Jerusalem teaching both his disciples and the crowds. Just prior to these verses Jesus has been

talking about the “birth pangs” of the new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. And it is not necessarily a

pretty picture: the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from heaven,

and the powers of the heaven will shake. Frightening things will happen.

But here is the thing: we have been here before. Both in history and in our own times; the

moon changes its phases, the tides come and go, the seasons move across the calendar year. Most

comforting to me is what Jesus tells us, his disciples, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my

words will never pass away.” God has given to us a holy text and a holy promise, one that has not

faded with time. As the children of God, we will never be forsaken, not even in death. We are held

and comforted by the One whose words of both challenge and comfort will never pass away. In the

roller coaster of Holy Week, it is the perfect thing for us to remember.

This and That

The Consistory will meet next on April 12th, after worship. Please pray for the leaders of God’s

church.

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on May 17th after worship. Please plan to

attend as we continue to seek God’s guidance and the future that God has in mind for us.

The Three Churches, St. Paul’s, Holy Trinity, and FRC will gather together for worship the last

Sunday of each month, April through September. Notice will be sent out on Friday as usual with the

church where our combined worship will take place and information on logging on for those who

worship with us online. There will also be coffee hour so folks can “meet and greet” after worship.

FRC is scheduled to host on April 26th and August 26th. Thanks to Gail and Jainie for volunteering for

Coffee Hour in April.

Thursday, May 7th is National Day of Prayer, when Christians are encouraged to pray

especially for our local, state and national leaders. The Nutley Clergy Fellowship invites you to join us

for a brief prayer service that day at 12 noon, in front of Nutley Town Hall.

Generally, Communion occurs on the first Sunday of each month, unless otherwise decided by

the Consistory. We will celebrate communion on Easter Sunday and on May 3rd, in the Sanctuary at

11am. If you are unable to join us in person, please call the church office to schedule home

communion.

Discovering God, our Adult Christian Education program, this program year will be looking at

the “greatest commandment,” which Jesus tells us is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the

second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two

commandments.” In April we will be considering the story of Mephibosheth whose story we will

consider from 2 Samuel 9, with Tricia as our convener. We meet at 10am in the Conference Room on

April 12, 19 and 26; sessions are also on ZOOM. Join us as we learn more about what these

important commandments mean for us today.

It takes a church! I am grateful to God for all those who have lent a hand, taken on a task,

and shown their commitment to the ministry of our congregation over the last month:

• The folks who helped with the Potluck breakfast on Palm Sunday

• The Consistory who have spent additional time exploring opportunities for our future

• Linda, our intrepid treasurer and Ann Marie, who counts and deposits Sunday offerings

• Jeff who oversees the flowers each week, including our Easter display

• Those who decorated the Sanctuary for Easter Sunday

• Gail and Jainie who coordinated both the Maundy Thursday meal and Easter breakfast

• Lin and Vicky who make sure that the trash and recycling go out for pick-up

• Jim T who looks after the Cemetery

• Robert W who continues his father’s legacy by tending to the church buildings and landscaping

along with his partner Margaret

• Discovering God leaders and learners

• Those people who continue to support the Capital Improvement Fund through their donations

in the Repair Fund envelopes

As a reminder: with the exception of Elders meetings, all church gatherings are open to every

member of the Congregation, including Consistory meetings. If you are interested in attending any

gathering that is announced, contact the church office for more information. Consistory minutes and

financial reports are always available upon request.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study: We gather at 10am via ZOOM. We continue our study of the

Acts of the Apostles. If you are interested in joining us, please send an email to the church office

(frcnutley@optimum.net) with “Tuesday Bible Study” in the subject line and you will receive the

ZOOM link every week.

Thank you to all who have signed up to sponsor flowers for Sunday morning worship. Your

support has meant that we have had a lovely arrangement of cut flowers each week - with special

thanks to Jeff who oversees this ministry. The calendar for 2026 is posted outside of the sanctuary.

You may also be in touch with him if you have a particular Sunday in mind. Also, if you know

someone you would like to take the flowers to after worship.

REMINDER: Assessments for 2026 are $142, or if you use the Assessment envelopes in your

box set it is $35.50 per envelope. FRC is required to submit 1/4 of the total assessment in February,

April, May and July. That’s $781.50 each submission. The first one was due in February, so anyone

who can pay their assessments ASAP rather than later will be most appreciated.

From the Historian

When Linda W-T was our Newsletter editor she usually ended with editor's notes.

In the June 2009 issue her notes included: "No one saw who did it but on Palm Sunday during

worship someone came into our cemetery and placed a blue flowered cross by the grave of Little

Willie. Whether he still has family in the area, or a reader of Weird New Jersey decided to pay

homage, it's nice to know he was remembered for his birthday (April 8)." At the end Linda wrote,

"After I wrote the above, I came by the church, just after noon Monday and saw a man working in

the graveyard. I knew it wasn't our landscaper, but I noticed he was cutting Little Willie's grass. I

went over and started talking to him. It turns out that Jim is indeed the donor of the blue flowers,

and some evergreens at Christmas as well. He is interested in learning Little Willie's story, Thanks,

Jim for your loving care for Little Willie's resting place." Over the past 17 years Jim T. has not

only continued to care for Little Willie's grave, but you will also see flowers at many other children's

graves and some adults as well in our cemetery, and he has improved the appearance of several

aging graves.

On Sunday January 13, 1929, listed among new members that day in the bulletin were two

brothers and their wives. Mr. and Mrs. John Watt came by letter of transfer from the United

Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, and Mr. and Mrs. William Watt by letter of transfer from the

United Free Church of Scotland. They were the original owners of the home next door to my family's

home on Hazel Terrace. Two of them are buried separately in our cemetery. Mrs. Helen Watt later

lived on Chestnut Street, In the late 1950's-1960's she was remembered each year by the Flower and

Christian Guild at Easter and Christmas and with Sunday altar flowers. Mr. William Watt in the 1950's

until his death in 1959 served as Franklin Reformed Chruch's Superintendent of Buildings. He was

then living on Church Street. Before him Mr. William Graves from Carteret Place was the

Superintendent of Buildings for many years, and in 1958 Mr. Watt was replaced by Jennie Day who

served until 1968. Joe Day during that time was the Cemetery Warden. In 1959 Joe was a Deacon,

and he and Elder Chester Ryan served on the Cemetery committee. In 1966 the Cemetery Committee

consisted of Elders Joe Day and Fred Jacobus with Deacon Munford Edmunds.

From the Hart

I must confess that I am with Pastor Jill on the no roller coaster thing. I well remember my

first and only ride on Space Mountain in Disney World. It was 10 or 12 years ago, and I had decided

that it was finally time to take the plunge (literally!) and see what all the fuss was about. My friend

Peggy wisely opted to wait for me on the outside. I got strapped in, and off we went. My initial

thoughts of, “Not so bad, not so bad, not so bad,” were quickly replaced by, “oh no, oh no, oh no,”

and finally, “make it stop, make it stop, MAKE IT STOP!!!!!” Longest minute and a half of my life! I

am extremely glad I never have to do that again, but also a little pleased that at least I tried it. And

as difficult as it is every year, I willingly put myself through the ups and downs of Holy Week. It’s the

least I can do to honor the savior who put himself through it for me.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter.

Till next month,

Lin