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

Dear Friends, During this season of Thanksgiving, I have so many reasons to be thankful. And prominent on my list of things to be...

Dear Friends, On Sunday, October 1, here at First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood NJ, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday. World...

Dear Friends, What a joy it has been to celebrate the bicentennial of First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood, NJ during 2023! The mere...

Dear Friends, As I flew home on Monday, May 22, I reflected on my 10-day journey to take part in The National Evangelical (Presbyterian)...

Dear Friends, Early this year, I was invited by The Outreach Foundation to make a second trip to Lebanon and Syria. Not long after that,...

Dear Friends: As some of you know, one of my favorite poets is the late Ann Weems, who during her life was called by some the poet...

Dear Friends, I am pleased that after two years of Lenten Suppers Minus the Calories (that is, Lenten Supper Worship via zoom), this year...

Dear Friends: I am excited to share with you that Rev. Butros Zaour, Pastor of the National Evangelical Church (Presbyterian) in...

by Pastor Bruce Ballantine Thursday, October 20, 2022 The previous day had been a long one. The Outreach Foundation Team which is...