Dear Friends, It is late October as I write this. Which means that the autumn foliage is a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, it now gets dark by 6:00 p.m., millions of baseball fans are glued to their TVs to watch the World Series, and in countless churches across the United States, stewardship season is upon us. This year at First Pres, our 2026 Stewardship Campaign will begin on Sunday, November 2, and will reflect the theme: Grace, Gratitude and Giving. On three successive S

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2 Be inventive...

Dear Friends, As the psalmist teaches us, God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). In other words, the...

Dear Friends, On Sunday, June 8, at First Presbyterian Church, we will observe the Day of Pentecost. It was not long after the ascension...

Dear Friends, Since first volunteering with City Relief last summer, I have been receiving e-newsletters written by City Relief CEO...

We are a welcoming community formed in Christ, committed to sharing his love with others – with feet that carry us out into the world,...

We are a welcoming community formed in Christ, committed to sharing his love with others – with feet that carry us out into the world,...

Dear Friends: Several years ago, I preached a sermon at First Pres in which I encouraged us to keep the fourth commandment: “Remember the...

Dear Friends: As we prepare to turn the page on 2024 and transition to a new year, I’ve been thinking a great deal about time. Looking...

Dear Friends, Christmas is typically experienced as a day and a season filled with great joy! But that is not how everyone experiences...

Dear Friends, Recently, a First Pres member asked me, “What do we mean when we say that we are a Matthew 25 congregation?” Good question....

Dear First Pres., I am pleased to share with you that we will conduct our annual Stewardship Campaign during the month of October,...

Dear Friends, In July, I was privileged to attend a seminar, Gratitude in Worship and Preaching, at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand...

Dear Friends, It's been said that lessons learned as a child will last a lifetime. When I was a child, my mother began each day with a...

Dear Friends, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood is a Matthew 25 Congregation! In Matthew 25:31–46,...

Dear Friends: When you hear the word evangelism, what may come to mind is a street preacher exhorting listeners to “get saved” or...

Dear Friends, One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Psalm 119:105, which reads: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my...

Dear Friends: I am pleased to share with you that during its May 2023 meeting, our Session made the decision that First Presbyterian...

Dear Friends: The year 2023 was a wonderful year at First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood NJ as we celebrated 200 Years of God’s Grace...

Dear Friends, I daresay that for most people, Christmas is eagerly anticipated as a time marked by festive gatherings of family and...