Coming Soon--Save the Dates!

Sunday June 2nd Grove will host a multi-church worship service celebrating our unity as one in the body in Christ. All are welcome. Music will be provided by New Covenant Church of Oradell. Regular worship time 10:45 a.m.

On Saturday June 29 Grove will showcase Opera-Go-Lightly, a musical performance featuring Grove's choir . It will consist of well known
opera choruses, some show tunes, dance by Sara Morris and Grove's children's chorus.  Time to be announced.

From Pastor Steve, With You in the Process

It was just under a month ago when our moving truck came with all our worldly belongings.  After unloading our furniture, the young man who disassembled our beds in Tampa, confessed that he had no idea how to reassemble our sons’ bunk bed.  So with just an hour before our children’s bedtime I downloaded the manual and surveyed the myriad of pieces that are the hallmark of IKEA furniture. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to complete it before the kids were to go to bed, so we all slept on the floor that night. The next evening with digital copy of directions on my phone and two eager juvenile helpers, I started the assembly process.  Even with the use of 3 Allen wrenches and the same amount of hours, the bed was taking shape but far from complete before the designated bed time for the boys.  On the third day, I started earlier. My eldest son proclaimed “I think my bed will be ready to sleep in tonight… or maybe tomorrow night.” By God’s grace, and with only one “extra” peg, the bed was assembled by that night. If it was my choice, the bed would have been assembled the day it came out of the truck, but sometimes (and to my chagrin) bed assembly is a process, a sometimes frustrating journey of slow progress.

In these seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, we are reminded of the process. In Advent, there is much reflection on the waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. On Christmas, we remember that Mary and Joseph were on a journey to Bethlehem, which included several unsuccessful attempts at finding shelter before they settled at the humble birth place of Christ Child. The story of Epiphany has the Magi, too, on a long but divine quest to worship the King of Kings.  And in the process of moving, God reminded me we don’t always sleep on the bed we are to assemble on the first night!

t is with excitement that my family and I commit to journey with you, Grove Chuch, as we make disciples of young adults, families and seniors. We are excited to go with you on the journey ahead and its puzzling pieces, occupied inns, and Jerusalem detours. We are ready for the process. May God divinely guide us all in this season and the seasons to come.

With deep gratitude to Almighty God,

Grove Church would like to introduce you to our new pastor, Rev. Steven Germoso.  Pastor Steve has been learning ministry all his life, as he grew up in a clergy family.  This is also where he learned to speak fluent Spanish. He comes to us with experience in all our Self Study focus areas: Ministry with 1. Young Adults, 2. Parents, and 3. Seniors.  He also has experience in starting/developing new ministries. A native of northern NJ, Rev. Germoso received a BA in communication at Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State College).  He served there as President of the Rowan Christian Fellowship, mentoring student leaders, and in dialogue with college students about life challenges.  In 2006 he  received his Master of Divinity degree at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan.

He was ordained in 2007, and for the last six years has been serving the RCA in Tampa, FL as a lead church planter where he conceptualized and started "Living Stones Church," a ministry of house churches reaching out to young adults, couples and families.  Prior to entering the ministry, Rev. Germoso was a Family Service Specialist with the Division of Youth and Family Services in Paterson, NJ and worked as a youth director at a Hoboken chapel.

Rev. Germoso's experience in senior Ministry includes a Chaplain residency with LifePath Hospice in Tampa, where he was responsible for facilitating the spiritual care for hospice patients, predominately seniors, in homes, nursing homes, and hospital environments.  Prior to this, he served as an intern in a congregation of mostly seniors in Holland, Michigan.

Rev. Germoso loves interacting with diverse groups, whether seniors or college students; 1st generation Americans; or those who trace their roots back to the earliest Dutch settlers.  He brings a passion for all people faithful followers of Christ, as well as those on the margins of faith or society into his service for the church.

Pastor Steve's wife, Hope, has also gone to seminary and has an undergraduate degree in elementary education; she has a passion for sharing her gifts with other young women as well as with children.  She looks forward to supporting her husband in his ministry at Grove Church and to being a mom to their two young sons, a toddler and a kindergartner, as well as to the new addition to the Germoso family who is due to arrive this spring!  Hope also plans to use her gifts, passions, and experiences and formal education as a teacher by home schooling their children.

Pastor Steve  will preach his first sermon at Grove November 25th.

Pictures of Pastor Steve, his wife, Hope and their two sons can be seen on the slide show on the upper left of this page. More are coming, along with an account of our Transition Service held Novemeber 18th.

Access for Wheel Chairs

Grove is delighted to announce that joining us for fellowship is now easier for congregation and friends who use wheel chairs.  We've eliminated the steps leading into the lower level of Grove and have a brand new ramp!  Our downstairs level contains a chapel, childrens' play room, Pastor's office, meeting room, and lounge for coffee hour and Bible study.

We've also been "sprucing" up the lower level entrance area with new plants and shrubs.   

Three Things You May Not Know about Grove Church . . . .

For instance, did you know that we celebrate Holy Communion/The Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month?  In our tradition, elders or deacons "serve" us as we sit in our pews. Did you know that we have a Healing Service each month on the last Sunday?  This is a very special time for us.  Our organist plays softly as those who wish to be annointed with oil file forward and either stand or kneel as our elders and the rest of the congregation pray for them. There is no urging to participate, but most people do, while those who choose to remain in their pews sit quietly and simply observe or pray.  Elders come to those who have difficulty standing or walking. Finally, did you know that we have a staffed nursery so parents can relax during the service?  You didn't?  Well, now you do!  

 Hudson County Community College

Grove Reformed Church is delighted to share the neighborhood with the students and staff of Hudson County Community College which is located directly across the street from us on Kennedy Boulevard, between 47th and 49th Streets. The college offers classes and courses that lead to Associate degrees, certifications, entry to four-year colleges and universities, and professional opportunities. You can find them on the web here  Look for them also on FaceBook and Twitter.

You'll find a listing of resources for students, (see our Ministries tab) who face not only academic challenges, but the daily life challenges of goal-setting, dating, and integrating the Christian faith into a constantly changing world. 

  Welcome!

Grove Reformed Church is much more than brick and mortar. Our church is its people. Gathered from all walks of life, we unite our hearts and gather our talents and resources to deliver the message of hope that can be found only in Jesus Christ.  We welcome families and couples, those in relationships and those who live alone. We embrace those from a variety of religious backrounds and those who grew up with no particular religion. Is it possible that this church has something for everyone? Absolutely!  It might be found in a Bible study or a youth program. Maybe it's in a senior's fellowship or in a children's choir. Or it may not be in any of the programs available at Grove Church. Instead you may find the very thing you're looking for in the very people who make up this church. We hope that soon you will think of us not as The Church on the corner of 46th and Kennedy, but as

"My Church!" 

 Thank you for visiting our website!

Pastor Steven Germoso