Middletown Reformed Church

09/04/2026

At Summer's End

Dear MRC Family,

Blessings to you, beloved of God, in this season of Ordinary Time

I’ve returned from vacation and I’m happy to be back bothering and following Jesus with you. A HUGE thank you to Beverly Bova Scarano, the Consistory, Denise Gaeta, and Angela Hank for leading worship and preaching. My goodness! Don’t we have gifted and talented people who can bring a Spirit-filled message? I am one grateful pastor.

My daughter’s wedding to her beloved wife, Jodie, was just perfect and rather magical, as it took place in the middle of the woods. I half expected a faerie or wood nymph to appear! Truly, I am giddy with joy for both of them. Their love for each other is strong and is a blessing to so many.

On another note, it’s the end of summer in our area. Most of our kids are already back to school and I detect the shifting of light as the sun gets lower in the sky. Soon, trees will put on their glorious autumn festival of red, orange, yellow, and everything in between. We will begin to feel a chill in the air, accompanied by the woodsy, damp smell of life going to rest for the upcoming winter season. For me, it is the most magical time of the year. I agree with the Woodlarker.

But, before we get to the season of life going to rest, we must say goodbye to summer. So, come on out this Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost at 10:30AM to thank God for endings and new beginnings. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Prelude “Wayside” and the Anthem “Any More.” Our Scripture reading is Ephesians 5.15-20 and my sermon title is "Chasing Wisdom." Also, we will come to God’s table of grace and celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper together. If you are unable to be in person for worship, we will be streaming live on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/.

Of note: Rally Sunday is September 13! Our New Jericho Choir and Joyful Noise Choir will be singing; we will bless backpacks and those who carry them; and we will have a celebratory brunch in the Education Building after worship.

Of note: Adult Education returns to Coventry House at 10AM & 7PM on September 23. Our topic is American Forms of Christianity — Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. If you wish to know more, please contact me.

Of note: We are having a Rummage Sale October 2 - 3, 9AM - 3PM in the Education Building. Come early to browse, enjoy coffee as you search for a treasure. If you would like to donate items, please put them in the Coventry House garage on the tables. Please NO books, records, CDs, VHS, cassette tapes, or large furniture. And during the rummage sale on October 2, there will also be a Free Wellness Screening from Hackensack Meridian Health from 9AM - 12PM.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. Keep bothering and following Jesus, beloved.

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish

09/02/2026

Beloved of God, I've returned from vacation and I'm delighted to be back bothering and following Jesus WITH YOU. Here is the link to our Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost worship with Elder Angela Hank, preacher: https://youtube.com/live/U-qVSgmLbW

May you blessed by the surprise of "unanswered prayer,"

Pastor Trish

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/30/2026

Happy Birthday, Gladys, we love you!

08/24/2026

MRC folks, here is the link to our Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost service of worship and prayer, 08.16.2026: https://youtube.com/live/cqRpWvam

And here is the link to our Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost worship, 08.23.2026 with Deacon Denise Gaeta, preacher: https://youtube.com/live/UWS8mVze0

Blessings of everyday grace for your week!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/23/2026

While Pastor Trish is enjoying a well deserved vacation, several of our wonderful members did a fantastic job substituting for her. Thank you, Denise, Beverly, Brenner, and Angela. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

08/20/2026

You Are My Encouragement + Two Preachers

Dear MRC Family,

Blessings to you, beloved of God, in this season of Ordinary Time��

"Ministry is never carried by one person alone. Every congregation, every ministry, every community is shaped by countless acts of generosity, service, and care offered by many hands. You are part of something larger than yourself. We are praying that this week, you are encouraged by the people who walk alongside you and reminded of the grace that binds communities together." -- Sacred Stitches

Indeed, there is such truth in this statement, especially regarding you all at MRC.

First, let me say thank you for walking alongside one another and with me this past week as I have navigated Jamie’s spine surgery and then his unexpected, rather frightening return to the hospital on Saturday night. I’m happy to say he is doing very well and getting stronger each day. We are grateful for your many prayers, your offers of support and help, and your care. You all have definitely been a source of encouragement!

Second, I am leaving on vacation tomorrow to attend my daughter’s wedding to her beloved, Jodie in the beautiful Catskills and will be back on Sunday afternoon. As no one was available to take over for emergency pastoral care calls, you may still contact me if there is a dire hospitalization or (God forbid) loss of life. Don’t worry. Jamie’s son and daughter are coming to stay with him this weekend while I am away. Please note that I am on vacation through August 31.

Third, you are in for a blessing these next two Sundays as Deacon of the Great Consistory, Denise Gaeta, and Elder of the Great Consistory, Angela Hank, will be bringing the word, along with VP of Consistory, Beverly Bova Scarano leading worship. I absolutely adore that we have so many talented, faithful people who are able to step in and up when I’m away. Truly, I am a blessed pastor.

So, come on out this Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost at 10:30AM to worship. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Prelude “Faithful Still” and the Anthem “God Is Not Against Me.” Our Scripture reading is Romans 12.1-8 and Denise’s sermon title is "Everyday Grace."

I pray you will also come on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost at 10:30 AM to worship. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Prelude “Stories on Stories” and the Anthem “Give Thanks.” Our Scripture reading is Psalm 105.1-6, 23-26, 45b and Angela’s sermon title is "In Praise of Unanswered Prayers.��"

If you are unable to be in person for worship, we will be streaming live on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/. Also, if you are away this summer, we would be grateful if you would still send in your tithes/offerings so we can continue to do the work of Jesus which doesn’t stop during the summer. Please consider sending in your offerings online at www.mrchurch.us/give or to 121 Kings Highway Middletown, NJ 07748. Thank you for your continued generosity!

Until I return, be assured I am ever encouraged that you walk alongside me as we keep following and bothering Jesus.�

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish

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08/17/2026

"Ministry is never carried by one person alone. Every congregation, every ministry, every community is shaped by countless acts of generosity, service, and care offered by many hands. You are part of something larger than yourself.

We are praying that this week, you are encouraged by the people who walk alongside you and reminded of the grace that binds communities together." -- Sacred Stitches

MRC folks, thank you for walking together and walking with me. -- Pastor Trish

08/16/2026

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08/14/2026

Stump the Pastor, Part 2

Dear MRC Family,

Blessings to you, beloved of God, in this season of Ordinary Time

As you are aware, certain portions of our earth got to experience a total eclipse of the sun this Wednesday. As I was looking at eclipse photos from around the world, I came across this quote in the New York Times from Katrina Miller about the specialness of an eclipse — “It offers a primal sense of what it means to be human, through shared despair and delight under a celestial rebirth. We are all so consumed by our problems on the ground. Sometimes, we need a reason to look up.”

Yes, indeed. We need a reason to look up as we let go of the tyranny of the week.

So, come this Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost at 10:30AM to worship. It is, indeed, a reason to look up in hope. We will continue our “Stump the Pastor” series where I answer your questions regarding worship, Scripture, or a theological topic. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Prelude “Eternally Loved” and the Anthem “Come to Jesus.” Our centering Scripture is Proverbs 4.5-9 — seek out Wisdom. Also, we will come to the table of grace and welcome and celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper together.

If you are unable to be in person for worship, we will be streaming live on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/. Also, if you are away this summer, we would be grateful if you would still send in your tithes/offerings so we can continue to do the work of Jesus which doesn’t stop during the summer. Please consider sending in your offerings online at www.mrchurch.us/give or to 121 Kings Highway Middletown, NJ 07748. Thank you for your continued generosity!

Keep bothering and following Jesus, beloved

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish

Complete giving information and credit/debit card details. Once complete, the information is securely saved for future gifts.

08/10/2026

Hi MRC Family! Here is the link to our Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost worship, "Stump the Pastor" Part 1: https://youtube.com/live/qthSeiKEIjA

I reminded the congregation before I began answering some of their very good questions about prayer, reconciliation, forgiveness: Ministry is not offering answers from the mountaintop. It’s limping beside people in the valley, whispering, “Me too.” -- Paul Dazet

May your week be filled with holy surprises and unexpected grace,

Pastor Trish

Rev. Tricia Sheffield, PhD, preacherSermon: "What Will the Spirit ...