The Voice of FRC - June 2026

The Franklin Reformed Church

frcnutley@optimum.net

www.frcnutley.com

973-667-7022 Church Office

From the Pastor’s Desk

So, God brought his people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing. He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples, that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Praise the Lord!           Psalm 105, 43-45

I’m guessing that you have seen the bumper sticker that says: “Not everyone who wanders is lost.” I don’t know about you, but the last couple of years it has seemed to me like we have been wandering in the wilderness, not unlike the people of God who followed Moses out of Egypt.

In fact, there are more than a few places in the Bible where God invites people to follow, but never gets around to saying exactly where they are going. Abram and Sari (Exodus 12.1) are called to go with no specific destination as to where they should stop, “Go from your country ... to the place that I will show you.” Jesus calls his disciples to “come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4.19). They are not told to follow where, nor how long they will be gone - turns out three years! In Mark 16.15 Jesus tells the disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” Yes, all the world is a pretty big place!

So, if you too have felt like we have been wandering about, in God’s plans, this doesn’t seem terribly unusual! Frustrating sometimes, but not unheard of for the people of God.

We are part of a story that stretches across vast swaths of time and are invited to follow where God goes before us. Not knowing where we are actually headed is part of that journey. Over the years that we have been seeking to discern God’s future for this congregation it has seemed like we don’t know where we are going.

In Psalm 105 God’s people are reminded of their past, of the journey from Egypt to the Land of Promise, and God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel who went. It reminds the people of God’s faithfulness and covenant love. God has made promises to His people and to us, and the psalm reminds how God kept those promises.

This has not, and will not, be an easy journey for us. There is grief and fear and wondering about where and when we will find our destination, our new home. But for me the key verse in Psalm 105 is that God brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing! While it may not feel like it now, this is also God’s promise, that God’s deliverance is purposeful and joyful. We need to believe that we do belong to God, that God is not done with us yet, no matter where we might end up - NO MATTER!

So let us continue this journey with faith in the promises God has made, being assured that with God’s direction, in the end we too will Praise the Lord!

This and That

The Annual Congregational Meeting was held on May 17th. First, I appreciate those who came and worked at our 3 Scenarios - well the four parts of the one we got to. We asked these questions: What are the possibilities? What would this demand of us? What are the next steps. At the June 7th Consistory meeting we will address the two remaining Scenarios, and everyone who is interested is welcome to this meeting, asking and answering the three questions. All of the responses will be sent out with the Summer Newsletter. The Consistory will make their recommendation for our future to the Congregation at a Special meeting in October.

There will be a Pride Mass on Saturday, June 6th, 5pm at Grace Episcopal Church.

On Sunday June 21st, there will be another “field trip” to First Reformed Church of Little Falls. Worship there begins at 10 am. Rev. Emily Ratering-Youngberg is the Pastor. Specifics will be shared in the Friday email.

The Three Churches, St. Paul’s, Holy Trinity and FRC will gather together for worship the last Sunday of each month, April through September. On June 28th we will be visiting St. Paul’s UCC Church. The usual Friday email will contain all the information needed for in person and online worship.

Generally, Communion occurs on the first Sunday of each month, unless otherwise decided by the Consistory. We will celebrate communion on June 7th, in the Sanctuary at 11:00 am. 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 year has been studying 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.” We will do a review of the year and begin to talk about a theme for 2026 -2027 on June 14th. On June 21st we will assemble the Sunrise Welcome Kits.

Anyone interested in a Book Club this summer? Pastor Jill is interested in discussing the two novellas: Prayer for the Crown Shy and A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. These were published in one volume in 2025 under the title Monk and Robot. If you are interested let Pastor Jill know. I am thinking of meeting twice over the summer. Pango Books describes the novellas in this way:  In a future where robots have retreated from human society, a curious tea monk and a sentient robot embark on a journey to explore the meaning of purpose and connection. Becky Chambers weaves a gentle, hopeful tale that blends philosophical inquiry with heartfelt companionship against a richly imagined, post-industrial world. This series invites readers to ponder what it means to live well, making it a soothing and thought-provoking escape for fans of character-driven science fiction.

The deadline for submissions for the Summer edition of the Newsletter, for both July and August, is June 28th. As noted, the minutes regarding the discussion of the Scenarios will be included with this edition of the Newsletter.

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:

•        All those who helped to arrange and set up for the Potluck at the Annual Meeting

•        Jeff, who placed the American flags in the Cemetery for Memorial Day

•        Those who marched with Carts of Caring in the Memorial Day Parade

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

•        Jeff, who oversees the flowers each week

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

•        Jim T, who looks after the Cemetery

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

Margaret

•        Roy, who has stepped up to help Robert with tending to our heating and cooling system

•        Those who attended and gave their input at the Annual Meeting

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 10 am via ZOOM and are studying 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 means that we have 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 Jeff if you have a particular Sunday in mind or 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

On Sunday, June 8, 1986, the Cone Building was dedicated with a special afternoon service. Shortly thereafter Robert Pearce, nephew of Gertrude Crawford (November 11, 1898 - November 24, 1989), visited Nutley and sent her a letter that was printed in our February 1987 newsletter. He wrote: "Dropped in to see the Reformed Church. You told us about all the changes, so I was curious. It is unbelievable what they accomplished. I really felt happy to see all the improvements and the lovely classrooms and offices. I immediately thought of you and your old office and how we had to manage with so little room to run the Sunday School. I also looked in on the church, and it really brought back memories. I remembered the old organ with Stanley Granger sitting up in front of the church playing and of course the choir. I really miss that church. If you see the minister, tell him I'm very proud of what they have done and happy they were able to accomplish it." It was on Sunday, May 3, 1936, that Mr. Granger began as the church organist and choir director.

Also, in October of 1936, the Flower and Christian Service Guild members were going to a fall picnic at the home Pearl (Crawford) Engelke in Pearl River, N.Y. Pearl (September 17, 1905 - August 17, 1995) was another out-of-the-area person children and I frequently wrote to. I met her once when she came for a visit, and Elizabeth Weischedel introduced me to her. Gertrude and Pearl are buried in our cemetery. Gertrude frequently sent notes and short letters to me for the newsletter, thanking the children, church members, Women's Guild and the Flower and Christian Service Guild who kept in touch with her after she went into a retirement home.

From the Hart

You know the little voice we sometimes hear in the back of our heads? The voice that tells us we are about to do something gigantically stupid? The one that we ignore at our peril? Yup, that one. I made the huge mistake of ignoring that voice last week. I still have a few bags of veggies in the freezer from last year’s farm share, and I have been trying to finish them all before the new deliveries start arriving this week. It was late in the evening, and I was really tired. So, when I took a bag of frozen beets out of the freezer and moved it to the refrigerator, the little voice all but screamed at me, “Better put a bowl under that bag in case it leaks when the beets thaw.” But no, I didn’t do that but went off to bed instead. You all know what happened. The next morning, the entire bottom shelf of the fridge was bright red. And sticky. Yikes! It looked like there had been a beet massacre in the night. It took well over an hour to mop it all up. So, guess who is going to pay a lot closer attention to the little voice next time – maybe?

Till next month,

Lin