Saturday, May 21, 2016

100th Anniversary Letter



Second Reformed Church
132 Elmwood Ave.
Irvington, NJ 07111
            “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, ESV).
                                                                                                            May 21, 2016
Dear Members and Friends of Second Reformed Church,
            I am writing to ask that you join with us in rejoicing and giving thanks to God for Second Reformed Church, Irvington, NJ, as we celebrate our 100th anniversary of being a light of the Gospel in this township.
            Please continue to pray for us as we seek to be faithful and obedient servants and joy-filled sons and daughters as we come together to worship and spread the Gospel of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ – that Gospel, as we see it revealed in scriptures, such as the one noted above.
            I ask that you would please let your friends and families and other churches know about the events that, Lord willing, will be occurring at Second Reformed during the month of June, and we invite each one of you to join together with us and celebrate at these events:
            On Tuesday, June 7th, at 5 PM the Classis of Passaic Valley will come together in quarterly session at Second Reformed.  We will come together for dinner, worship, and then our meeting – and we ask that you please join us.  Come and share in food and fellowship and worship with fellow Christians, as well as members of Classis, and then experience what this body does.
            On Saturday, June 25th, at 4 PM, we will be having a classical fund-raising piano concert.  Paul Bolles-Beaven has agreed to donate his time and talent to lead us in thanksgiving and celebration through a classical concert.  Please come and enjoy the music and give thanks for the gifts God has given to musicians, especially the composers and Paul, himself.  And stay for hospitality afterwards.
            On Sunday, June 26th, at 10:30 AM, we will gather to worship our God.  The Rev. Dr. Gregg Mast will be our guest preacher as he delivers the Word of God to us.  Please come and worship God with us in a great representation of the church, and then join us for a celebratory luncheon afterward.
            In witness to your past faithfulness for us in prayer, and as you have prayed for me and support me as I have ministered in this place for 18 years by the Grace of God, I now appeal to you that you pray and ask God how you might help us financially.  It is our desire to renovate our upstairs kitchen and bathroom that we would be better able to provide food for the community, as well as for our fellowship times.  This project is estimated at $15,000.  We pray that God will put it on your hearts to give thanks to God for this ministry by sending a financial gift for this project.  Please send your checks to the church at the above address and mark it as “100th Anniversary.”
            I look forward to seeing you at these events, and I thank God for the way in which you will help us to accomplish all that is set before us.  And please remember:  no gift is too large.

In His Service,


Rev. Dr. Peter A. Butler, Jr., pastor

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