Administration Team
Leader: Dean Vittetoe
Responsible for developing and controlling the annual budget based on requests submitted from each team and professional staff. Annual review of the work of the office staff in consultation with the President of Consistory and recommend salary adjustments. Review of insurance coverage on buildings, property and employees on an annual basis. Review all leases or contracts on office equipment. Receive and review reports from the following funds: Cemetery, Memorial Funds, Memorial Trust, Deacons, and Dovey Memorial Flower Fund. Review income and expenditures as reported by the Treasurer. Maintain all church records including historic records by providing supervision of the vault. Provide support for annual audits.
Congregational Life
Leaders: Sue Hellyer & Susy Kerber
This team provides luncheons and refreshments for church gatherings, including coffee hour, family afternoons, the annual Church Picnic and other special activities. They create fellowship experiences such as dinners, game nights, trips, etc. The Congregational Life team projects are not moneymaking efforts. They are to provide the church family a time of social gathering. The Drive-through Nativity, as well as the Deck the Halls at Christmas time are also extensions of this team.
Educational Enrichment Team
Leaders: Roy Okma & Roland Petit
The educational enrichment team: 1) Supervises the Church school program, evaluating and choosing the curriculum, recruitment, retention and training of teachers and assistants, and planning special worship and mission projects. 2) Is responsible for coordinating the annual training of adult staff and volunteers on the content and implementation of the Conduct and Procedure Policy. 3) Plans enrichment activities and has an extensive video collection available as resources. 4) Offers confirmation classes, as well as Junior and Senior High programs. 5) Annually reviews scholarship applications and award scholarships to active students. 6) Maintains and expands a continuing small group ministry. Adult and intergenerational educational and spiritual growth opportunities through Bible studies, support groups, book reviews, Lenten studies, retreats and special programs. We also obtain and support facilitators for these groups.
Worship Team
Leaders: Michele Crefeld & Debbie Pinto
Quite simply, the worship team is responsible for most of the details and character of the worship services. This includes planning special worship services, modifying and enhancing weekly services, putting the suggestions of the congregation into action, and communion, among others. Schedule and train people to be lay readers and run audiovisual equipment for worship services. Supervises the nursery program for the children of adults attending worship. Coordinate with Senior Elder to arrange guest pastors. This past year, the worship team was challenged by the staff to actually plan certain special services including writing the liturgy, choosing music, and other unique features.
Mission Team
Leaders: Dave Dunn
Our current Mission program is divided into support for local, national and international ministries. We support 4 missionaries in the International Reformed Church in America (RCA) program. Our national support encompasses support for RCA colleges, New Brunswick Seminary, and selected RCA programs. For local mission we support Paterson Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of Morris County and Passaic County, Reformed Church Home for the Aging, the Christian Health Care Center, New Bridges (formerly Pequannock Valley Mental Health), Interfaith Council for Homeless Families and others. Our monthly communion gifts are designated for specific mission work, which is reviewed quarterly and revised accordingly. Our current mission budget also provides for some assistance in the event of floods, hurricanes or earthquakes. Link to the RCA Mission of the Month
Click here for more Mission Team News.
Outreach Team
Leader: Rich Valle
This team is responsible for extending the ministry of the church into the broader community. We send visitor letters to people that recently worshiped with us. We also supervise the publication of our monthly newsletter, Go Forth and any other publicity materials of church events and worship services etc., using local newspapers, radio, TV and Internet. This team is responsible for the development and updating of our website www.firstreformedchurch.com.
Pastoral Care Team
Leaders: Paula Bencsko & Sharon Kinney
The Pastoral Care team develops and maintains programs to serve individual or group pastoral care needs of the congregation, including the sick, lonely, elderly, grieving, shut-in, or people in crisis. We provide worship service tapes, flowers, transportation, Care Notes, self-help booklets, hospital or in home visits. Through the elders, communion is delivered to our shut-ins. We encourage and facilitate additional interactions with the shut-ins throughout the year. We also keep in contact with our members who are away at school or in the military. Provides guidance and leadership for the assimilation of new members including structuring new member seminars and providing sponsors. Supervise the operation of the Devotional phone line.
Stewardship Team
Leaders: Scott Madison & Jim Gallagher
Responsible for keeping the congregation apprised of the many volunteer activities in which people can participate and share their God given gifts and talents. Conducts an annual program of stewardship development in which church members are challenged to see the ministries of the church and the need for support.
Property Team
Leaders: Rob Farrell & Tom Rooney
Performs ongoing supervision of the custodial and cleaning services for all church buildings. Maintains all property and buildings and ensure that all regulatory agency requirements are met on an ongoing basis so that they enhance & support the ministry of the church. Annually review the fee schedule for building use and submit any necessary adjustments to consistory for approval. Make arrangements for all repairs, painting, decorating, etc. on all buildings and property -utilizing volunteers when applicable to keep costs down. Perform an annual inspection of all buildings and property. All rentals for building usage must be reviewed and accepted or declined at the discretion of the team. Recommend to consistory major improvements on buildings and property.