News

175th Anniversary

Second Reformed Church, located on Lafayette Avenue in Wyckoff, is marking its 175th Anniversary year in a year-long celebration.  A Homecoming Weekend is planned for November 2nd and 3rd, with a gala dinner to be held at Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes on Saturday and a special worship service on Sunday at 11 a.m.  Other activities included participation in local Memorial Day and July 4th parades, and a September all-church picnic.  A collection of Bibles, pictures and other mementos has been assembled and is on display in the church, and a cookbook has been published.

The anniversary theme "Generations of Faith" is very appropriately chosen.  The church currently has two four-generation families, and seventeen three-generation families.  The special anniversary banner which hangs in the sanctuary was designed and created by two daughters of the church, Jane Sikkema Fricker and Wendy Meima Keizer.  The congregation, believing that service to the community is an important part of its ministry, is involved in a year-long service project "Let His Way Light Your Way."  Individuals and families choose a specific way to "gift" someone with a caring gesture or service.  As these activities are recognized, candles will be added to a simulated anniversary cake created by Jake Popjes.  The candles will be lighted at the November dinner.

The first service of the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Paterson was help October 14th, 1827.  The building was constructed at the corner of Water and Temple streets in 1828 at a cost of $7000, and enlarged several times during its years in Paterson.  The city's urban renewal program resulted in the razing of the Paterson site.  Ground was broken on two acres of donated land on Lafayette Avenue in November 1957.  The new building was dedicated in November 1958.  A parsonage had been built previously on an adjoining one acre tact facing Ravine Avenue.  Since 1958, an educational wing has been constructed, along with a second parsonage, and improvements have been made to the buildings, the site and the 3-manual pipe organ.

Second Reformed has contributed greatly to its mother denomination, the Reformed Church in America.  Eleven of its members have become ministers or missionaries.  The Rev. Bruce J. Hoffman, Pastor, is the fifteenth senior minister of Second Reformed Church.  The Rev. Karen L. Popjes is Assistant Pastor and Minister of Music.  Angela and Craig Huizenga lead the Youth program.  The church is the home of the Care-A-Lot Christian Nursery School.  It has an active educational program for all ages, an active ministry, hosts weekly Bible studies and weekly A.A. meetings, and provides space for the Creative Living Counseling Center a counseling agency base in Allendale.

More information about the church or the anniversary can be obtained from the church office, 201-444-8038.