Faith Lutheran Church Celebrates 120 Years

Founded 120 years ago in Summit and moving to New Providence in 1957, Faith Lutheran Church, also known as The Family of Faith, is now a regional parish, drawing its hundreds of members from a 40 mile radius. Worship is the center of parish life, with its Pastors, the Rev. Jane McCready and the Rev. Dr. Murdoch MacPherson, constantly seeking faithful, innovative, creative worship experiences that will strengthen its members for their daily ministry. Aided by its Minister of Music, Dr. John Girvin, festivals and special liturgies are celebrated each month. Jazz, Gospel, Taize, Broadway, Celtic and other liturgies enrich the lives of the Family. Faith worships each week at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., celebrating the Eucharist with an open communion table. During this Advent season of preparation, it also offers communion liturgies on Wednesdays at 12:15 and 7:30 p.m. Christmas is celebrated with a Christmas Eve Children’s Service at 4 p.m. and then Candlelight Eucharists at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day see Nativity Eucharists at 10:00 a.m.
Pastoral care is an extremely high priority, with Pastoral Associates, the Rev. Dr. Robert Kriesat and the Rev. Markus Vaga, assisting the Pastors in caring for the Family.
Educational ministry provides classes, retreats and special events for everyone, age 3 through adult. Bible studies, theological exploration and Symposium events address Scripture, theology and current and ethical issues.
Faith understands itself to be a servant community, blessed with gifts and resources to care for God’s children and God’s world. For almost 30 years Faith has partnered with St. John’s Roman Catholic Soup Kitchen in Newark, serving thousands of meals each year on the second Saturday of the month. Faith was the founding congregation in the Interfaith Hospitality Network 3 decades ago. Now known as Family Promise, this ministry provides shelter in thousands of congregations across the country, caring for tens of thousands of people. For more than two decades Faith has cared for people living with AIDS and who are HIV positive, for the last decade going twice a month to Broadway House in Newark to work with residents. Faith coordinates the community fall and spring food drives, proving food for local residents and stocking the Starfish Pantry in Plainfield for half a year. Faith’s newest community partner is Imagine, a ministry that provides grief and support ministry for hundreds of children each year. Faith is an active leader in the ecumenical and interfaith community.
Faith has rich and longtime partnerships with Masama Mborney Lutheran parish in Moshi, Tanzania, building schools, medical facilities and worship sites. It has gone for two decades to Sunset Gap in Cosby, Tennessee, to lead an Appalachian ministry in the Smokey Mountains. And it works with the immigrant community at St. Stephan’s Grace in the Ironbound section of Newark, tutoring and providing supportive services.
To learn more about his special Christian congregation, call the office at 908 464 5177 or go to our website at www.famfaith.org, or visit with us at 524 South Street.