Cranford Calendar
PALM SUNDAY, March 28: Worship at 10 AM celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. All will gather in
the main Sanctuary and wave palms while the organ plays the familiar hymn “The Palms.” If joining
from home online, palms will be available to pick up outside the main office door on Springfield
Avenue on March 27.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, 11 Springfield Ave.,
Cranford is offering multiple opportunities to join in worship during the Easter season. Services include both
traditional and unique worship experiences, both in-person and online. COVID-19 precautions will be followed
and include a temperature check at the main entrance, collecting contact information for contact tracing, and
socially distanced seating. Masks are required for the entire service. HEPA air purifiers will be running. The
handicapped entrance on the Cleveland Plaza side is open and available for use. Services will be
live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 1: 7:00 PM in the main sanctuary. This worship service will commemorate
Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples before His passion, through reflections on traditional scriptures
and communion. The service will be live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, 11 Springfield Ave.,
Cranford is offering multiple opportunities to join in worship during the Easter season. Services include both
traditional and unique worship experiences, both in-person and online. COVID-19 precautions will be followed
and include a temperature check at the main entrance, collecting contact information for contact tracing, and
socially distanced seating. Masks are required for the entire service. HEPA air purifiers will be running. The
handicapped entrance on the Cleveland Plaza side is open and available for use. Services will be
live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
TRADITIONAL EASTER SERVICE, April 4: 10 AM in the main Sanctuary. Glorious music and beautiful
flowers symbolizing rebirth will enrich the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Bring a flower to
participate in flowering the cross outside. Some will also be provided. Space is limited and reservations
are recommended. Reserve at firstprescranford.org/easter.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, 11 Springfield Ave.,
Cranford is offering multiple opportunities to join in worship during the Easter season. Services include both
traditional and unique worship experiences, both in-person and online. COVID-19 precautions will be followed
and include a temperature check at the main entrance, collecting contact information for contact tracing, and
socially distanced seating. Masks are required for the entire service. HEPA air purifiers will be running. The
handicapped entrance on the Cleveland Plaza side is open and available for use. Services will be
live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
Please join us for a lovely afternoon tea with tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts from the Cake Artist
A musical performance and raffles too!
$35.00 a ticket all proceeds go to fund scholarships for Cranford residents. For Ticket info Email the club
[email protected]
Free Will Donations Accepted in-person or online
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford will hold one Christmas Eve service at 4:00pm on December 24, 2021. The service will be in-person and online on Facebook and YouTube. Advance registration is recommended for in-person worship and can be done on the website at firstprescranford.org/Christmas or by calling (908) 276-8440. Information on COVID-safety precautions can also be found on the website.
The Rev. Daniel A. Velez-Acevedo will lead a traditional Christmas Eve service with familiar Christmas carols, perfect for families and all those who wish to celebrate with full choirs and organ music. Music will be led by the Chancel Choir, directed by Elsa Hahn and accompanied by organist Robert Grube. Featured soloists include Lynn Pinto, formerly with the Metropolitan Opera, and local recording artist, Kelli Bruno. During the final hymn, “Silent Night, Holy Night”, the lights will be dimmed and candlelight will fill the Sanctuary.
Can’t make it Christmas Eve? We’ll be back in the Sanctuary Sunday morning, January 2, at 10:00am for a relaxed and fun service of lessons and carols. The Service for December 26 will be prerecorded and online only.
Living Longer, Living Smarter – Legal
Mar 14, 2022
This program is about preparing for the future. We will explore a variety of topics related to preparing your advance directives and legal considerations, creating your long-term care plan, and identifying resources available to you. This is a 30-minute program plus Q & A, provided to the community by the AARP Speakers Bureau free of charge. AARP’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for all, as we age.
Speaker: Amos A. Britton, Distinguished Toastmaster. He is a three times New York / New Jersey International Speech Champion.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, April 17 at 7 am: The Gospels say that Jesus’ empty tomb was discovered very early in the morning. Join us outside in the spring air as the sun rises, celebrating the triumph of life over death and light over darkness. Bring a flower from your garden and flower the cross on the front lawn. Some will also be provided.
Free Will Donations Accepted
TRADITIONAL EASTER SERVICE, April 17 at 10 am: All are invited to Easter at First Presbyterian Church of Cranford! Children will help brighten the Sanctuary by carrying flowers forward and placing them on the Chancel (the front of the Sanctuary) during the first hymn. “Busy Bags” will be provided to keep little ones busy while sitting with their parents in the sanctuary. This year, traditions return and you are invited to come forward and join the choir to sing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” at the end of the service! This service will also be live-streamed to Facebook and YouTube.
Free Will Donations Accepted
EASTER EGG HUNT, April 17 immediately following the 10 am worship service: Come for worship, stay for our first-ever Easter Egg Hunt! In case of inclement weather, the Egg Hunt will take place in the sanctuary.
Free Will Donations Accepted
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford (FPCC) is preparing to offer its free, 8-week, grief recovery seminar, “Journey Toward Wholeness: Healing the Grieving Heart,” which takes place on Sunday evenings beginning September 18th until Sunday, November 6th from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The seminar is being offered on Zoom only. There is no charge, but registration is required by calling (908) 251-5641.
Exhausted, depleted, lonely, and isolated are just a few of the terms that describe how we are feeling while navigating through an increasingly chaotic existence, exacerbated by a pandemic, political conflict, and extreme weather. When you are grieving a loss amid all these stressors, every day may seem dark and overwhelming.
We offer a ray of light and welcome all grieving a loss of any type to join our seminar. The co-leaders of the program, Patti Williams, RN and Certified Grief Counselor and Virginia Waters, Clinical Psychologist, have personal and professional training and experience in the field of grief and loss. They are joined by a team of trained facilitators who provide support and lead breakout groups for individuals who have experienced a similar loss.
In the words of a recent participant, “Thank you and your team for everything you are doing to create such necessary, safe, and encouraging bereavement healing space for these times. Being with other grievers, I felt myself soften into the truths of my loss in a profound way that I haven’t had the opportunity to do at all during this time of Covid. I’m so grateful for that small step forward. I was also mightily impressed by how well you all managed the technology to make this possible. Well done!”
The program is FREE and open to all faiths. We have helped thousands of participants in 21 years.
For more information visit www.firstprescranford.org/care/grief-recovery.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford invites you to celebrate Christmas with us. This December, discover the wonder, joy, and awe that awaits you as we light the candles, retell the Christmas story, and sing familiar Christmas carols. We believe everyone should be blessed by an encounter with the Holy Spirit and leave renewed and ready to share their experience with others. We promise to do our best to provide you with that opportunity. Come, let’s celebrate Christmas!
The First Presbyterian Church will be accepting dropped-off donations between 3 and 5 pm outside Bates Hall on Springfield Avenue. Donations being sought include wrapped/bagged sandwiches, diapers and wipes, new socks, gloves and hats, pantry items, and women’s sanitary items.
Questions may be directed to Janice Grievious ([email protected]), Cindy Hannen ([email protected]), Phyllis Howard ([email protected]) or Skip Winter ([email protected]).
There is nothing like waking up on Easter morning and sharing in the amazement the women who discovered the empty tomb must have felt! Join us outside in the spring air as the sun rises, celebrating the triumph of life over death and light over darkness. Bring a flower from your garden and flower the cross in the front lawn. Some will also be provided.
It will be an exciting Easter worship service at FPCC! With joyful shouts we say “Christ, He is risen!” and respond with “Indeed, He is risen!” Children will brighten the Sanctuary by carrying flowers forward and placing them on the Chancel (the front of the Sanctuary). After the children’s message, “Busy Bags” will keep little ones entertained. Together, we will celebrate Easter with open Communion (all are welcome to join in!) In a beloved tradition, you are invited to come forward to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” with the choir at the end of the service. This service will also be livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube.
Come for worship, and stay for our Easter Egg Hunt! There will be fun games for families in the Bates Hall gym. In case of inclement weather, the Egg Hunt will take place indoors. (Egg Hunt intended for children ages 12 and under)
Get ready for:
Humpty Dumpty On The Wall
Egg Relay Race
Wobbly Egg Bowling
Carrot Toss (“Cornhole” for Kids)
Family photobooth
Easter Craft Station
Pre-registration for the Egg Hunt is requested so we can ensure enough goodies for all!
Register on our website: https://firstprescranford.org/