 The Wyckoff Reformed Church began in 1806 when two hearty Hollanders, Aaron
Ackerman and Albert van Voorhees, paid a modest $7.50 for a half acre of "holy
ground" in the wilderness of northern New Jersey. Those acres now encompass
the Church, a mission house, the education administrative building,
and housing for our ministers. In the ensuing years the Congregation grew,
from that Dutch farming heritage to today's Church serving a commuter
community.
Over the 200 years of our history the members
donated many beautiful gifts, like this stained glass window (photo
courtesy of Sam Ohan). Yet it is not
the physical gifts but the gifts of faith that make this Congregation a deeply
caring community of Christians.
  
  
Exceptional ministerial
leadership blessed our church throughout its nearly 200 year history. Since
1925 just five Pastors led The Wyckoff Reformed Church, each man unique in his
gifts and caring. In the tradition of the Reformed Church in America,
these Pastors led this Congregation and its elected governing body, a Consistory
of Elders and Deacons. Through prayer, faith and stewardship the Church grew to
become an active, involved 800 member Congregation, a vital suburban
Church serving Wyckoff and its neighboring communities with programs for
everyone.
|
Pastor |
Term of Service |
Historic Note |
|
Rev Peter De Witt |
1799-1809 |
first pastor of both Ponds and Wyckoff |
|
Rev. John Demarest |
1812-1820 |
8 years of service |
|
Rev Zachariah Kuyphers |
1825-1841 |
a bachelor |
|
Rev. William J. Thompson |
1842-1845 |
started Sunday schools |
|
Rev Abram G. Ryerson |
1845-1865 |
first pastor to Wyckoff church alone |
|
Rev William B. Van Benschoten |
1865-1869 |
remodeled the 60-year old church |
|
Rev. Samuel T. Searle |
1869-1888 |
the fatherly preacher |
|
Rev. William E. Faulkner |
1888-1892 |
the battling pastor |
|
Rev. Adrian Westveer |
1892-1905 |
a dignified sermonizer |
|
Rev. Paul J Strohauer |
1906-1911 |
organizing the Lord's work |
|
Rev. Archibald F. Parker |
1912-1925 |
brings light to the sanctuary |
|
Rev. George G. Heneveld |
1925-1951 |
a man of peace in troubled times |
|
Rev. Wilbur L. DeRevere |
1953-1976 |
friend and educator |
|
Rev. Donner Atwood |
1976-1985 |
man of the cloth, man of the people |
|
Rev. Willis A Jones |
1986-1992 |
lead us to an ecumenical world |
|
Rev. Robert L. Gram |
1993-2002 |
theologian and teacher |
|
Rev. James J O'Connell |
2004- |
|
Today's Wyckoff Reformed Church's offers a diverse
ministry including a nursery school, an activities group for retired men, a
softball team, pastoral counseling, a group for young families, youth mission
trips, inspirational Christian education and Bible study groups. Ever family
focused, the Congregation continues its special emphasis on the spiritual
development of children and youth, with full-time youth and education
directors dedicated to this effort.
Together the Congregation runs a large food pantry from
our mission house, benefiting residents of Paterson and the surrounding area.
Our 20 years of both physical and financial support of Habitat for
Humanity earned our Church the "Golden Hammer"... an award given for building
more Habitat homes in Paterson than any other non-profit organization.
The Congregation also supports several overseas missionary families, as well
as many mission projects in cities throughout New Jersey.
Individually, members of the Church are involved with the
Center for Food Action in nearby Mahwah, visiting the elderly, tutoring
children in Paterson, preparing meals for the homeless in Hackensack, local
assistance programs for families and children through "The Love Fund" and
relating to children with AIDS in Newark.
 In all of this activity the Congregation's Pastors,
Rev. James J. O'Connell our Senior Pastor and Rev. David Bach our
Associate Pastor, provide spiritual direction and reassurance, both from the
pulpit and through personal interaction. Also we come together in worship and
thanksgiving each Sunday morning, the word of God is expressed amidst the
joyous sounds of music from the Congregation's several vocal and bell choirs.
Please, come and join us.
Believing that God is the source and purpose
of our existence, and that The Wyckoff Reformed Church is a caring community
of diverse individuals drawn together by the love of Christ, we covenant
together:
-
to provide a meaningful worship experience that is a celebration of God,
Biblically based, inspired by the Holy Spirit, relevant to the challenges
of today, and a call to act upon our Christian commitment;
-
to be a place where diversity of people and programs both welcome and challenge
individuals to grow in their knowledge of and relationship with God;
-
to be accepting of all believers, no matter where they are in their faith
journey, and to seek ways to actively involve all members in the life of
our church;
-
to develop within each member the desire to build their lives on the foundation
of God, to grow in their Christian walk, to deepen their commitment to
Christ, and to discover their God-given gifts in order to serve Him and
others;
-
to deepen our commitment to being a caring community, to bear each others
burdens, to encourage, to be accountable to God and each other as we strive
to be authentic Christians reflecting the compassionate face of Christ
to others;
-
to encourage each Christian to be the active presence of God in the neighborhood
and the world, having compassion for the body, mind and spirit of God's
needy people;
-
to declare the joy of Christian life and share the Good News of God's salvation
with those whose lives we touch.
Teach the Word
Equip the Saints
Build the Body
Feed the World
Beginning the second week in
September and through June of next year, Sunday morning worship is at held at both 9:00
am and 11:00 am. Current service information may be found under
Coming Sundays Child care is provided at
the 9:00 am service.
To accommodate extended families that gather
during the major church holidays, the Church expands service schedules.
Check for specific times in the calendar.
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