The Voice of FRC - May 2026
- Jul 1
- 7 min read
The Franklin Reformed Church
973-667-7022 Church Office
From the Pastor’s Desk
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to youI do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Jesus in John 14. 27
Not surprisingly I suppose, my thoughts lately have been turning to peace, and what we as
Christians hear when the word shalom (peace) tumbles out of Jesus’ mouth.
Peace, as defined by the Jews who are our spiritual forebears, is not merely a greeting and
farewell nor a fanciful wish that violence anywhere, and in any form, should cease - although that
would be perfect. Our inherited meaning of shalom is ancient, powerful, and complex. It means that
nothing is lacking, missing, or broken, in other words completeness or wholeness. Interestingly it
also holds a component of the desire for unity. It assumes that justice and opportunity are available
to all of God’s children. That is a great deal to ask of just one word.
Jesus, called the Prince of Peace in the prophesy of Isaiah in Chapter 9, comes into the world
as the incarnation of God’s shalom. Jesus embodies the fullness of the Kingdom that God has
promised to us. The creation that God breathed at the beginning of the world; where the wolf lies
down with the lamb and the world is "beating their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks.”
But we live in a broken (an understatement) and fallen world. Where idolatry calls us humans
to the love of power and money, instead of justice and mercy. What I believe is that we are the
recipients of justice and mercy; we are gifted with God’s shalom. The resurrected Christ’s first
words to the disciples in their encounter in Jerusalem is “Peace be with you.” A parting gift, if you
will.
Cornelius (Neal) Plantinga, former President of Calvin Theological Seminary, describes shalom
this way: “The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight
is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace
of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing,
wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts
fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens
doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things
ought to be.” Sounds like the Kingdom of God to me.
And then “what shall we do?” The answer comes to us in the great commandment, which we
have been studying this season in Discovering God. Learning who our neighbors and our enemies
are, and how we are called first and foremost to love. Along with prayers of God’s shalom to settle
on all creation, we must also live as if peace in our world is also our call to live as if the promised
Kingdom has already come.
This and That
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 17th after Worship. Plan to
attend as we continue to seek God’s guidance and the future that God has in mind for us. It’s
Potluck, so bring a dish to share.
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 May 31st we will be visiting Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church. Check the usual Friday email with all the information needed for in person and
online worship.
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 May 17th, the day of our Congregational
Meeting, 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 year is 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 May we will be considering the story Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch whose story appears in the
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 8. 26-40, with Pastor Jill as our convener. We meet at 10am in the
Conference Room on May 10, 24 and 31; 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:
• All those who helped with the Coffee Hour after Worship on April 26
• 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
along with his partner Margaret
• Roy, who has stepped up to help Robert with tending to our heating and cooling system
• 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 and 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 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 and 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. Anyone who can pay their assessments ASAP
rather than later will be most appreciated.
From the Historian
100 years ago, on Sunday May 2, 1926, among church notices in the bulletin was one urging
the church people of Nutley to write and send protest letters to the Board of Commissioners. "Your
protest may help! Another attempt is being made today to drive a wedge into the state of
comparative Sabbath calm that we have enjoyed in this community. Sunday baseball between
professional teams is being introduced by the Nutley Elks on their new field which lies within the
town limits. Nutley has no need whatsoever for professional baseball on the Sabbath Day."
The 1926 Tennis Club was taking applications given to either Ruth Pollock or George
Ackerman from the Young People's Society who were taking charge of the Club. The dues for the
season were $4.00.
Sunday May 9, 1926, at The Franklin Reformed Church: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School. Average
attendance recorded in the month April was 220 students. 10:35 a.m. The Junior Congregation
before the 11 a.m. Morning Service. Rev. Harold W. Schenck was preaching on "The Greatest
Educator in the World". 3:00 p.m. The Cedar Hill Chapel Sunday School classes. At 7p.m. The
Intermediate C.E. (Christian Endeavor) Society was meeting in the Community House. A timely
debate in view of the local baseball controversy was on the subject "Resolved: That the Fourth
Commandment should be enforced and obeyed regardless of present day by day problems and
modern conditions of life." Affirmative views from Ruth Parker and Alfred Winham and Negative
views from Margaret Winham and Donald Stoddard (a cousin of Betty Drummond's who is buried in
our cemetery). 7 p.m. in the Lecture Room, a meeting of The Senior C.E. Society led by Sunday
School Superintendent, John T. Hancock, with a discussion about Religion in the Home. 7:45 p.m.
the Evening Service. The Pastor was speaking on "Great Women of Christianity" The choir was
presenting a special Mother's Day presentation, "The Mother of Your Heart" with readings by Miss
Gizella Geitner.
From the Hart
So yesterday was our first joint worship with Holy Trinity and St. Paul’s, and we were the
host church. I must confess it was wonderful to hear so many voices (including men’s!) singing
together in our sanctuary. And the coffee hour that followed was delightful. We spread the treats
(the brownies and ginger cookies were especially yummy) and beverages around the community
house which encouraged people to mingle and get to know one another. I had an especially
interesting time introducing myself with, “Hi, you may not remember me.” (blank stare) “I’m John
Hart’s wife. (Oh yes! Big smile). After all these years, John is still my social director, and it was so
nice to know how many people still remember him so fondly. I am looking forward to the next
several months as we continue to get to know our brothers and sisters from these two Nutley
congregations.
Till next month,
Lin
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