Neighbor News
A Christmas Gift Worth Waiting For
First Presbyterian Church of Cranford Welcomes Rev. Jin Bae as New Senior Pastor!
Cranford, New Jersey (December 3, 2022) – The members of First Presbyterian Church of Cranford got an early Christmas gift this year - a new Pastor! After a two-year period without a permanent minister, the church is pleased to announce its new Pastor/Head of Staff, Reverend Jin Bae.
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in November 1998, Rev. Bae joins us most recently from Bethany United Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield, NJ. Rev. Bae holds a Master of Theology (Th. M.) from Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Rev. Bae has held a variety of senior leadership positions throughout his career, and has led multiple global mission trips to the Philippines, Peru, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and Mexico.
“Rev. Bae stood out from the more than 80 candidates’ resumes we reviewed,” said church member and search committee co-chairperson Laura Holcomb, “We couldn’t be more excited for him to help us be the church we want to be for the Cranford Community.” Search committee member Fred Fitzgerald, a member of the congregation for more than 25 years, agreed, “Listening to Rev. Bae preach during the search process blew me away. His sense of humor, genuine love of people and deep faith make him a wonderful choice for our next Pastor.”
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December will be a month of celebrations and we invite you to one or all of these Christmas season events:
December 18th at 10:00am:
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The Chancel Choir will perform a Christmas Cantata entitled “A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols.” Familiar Christmas hymns paint a musical illustration while different parts of the Christmas narrative are read from the Bible.
December 24th at 4:00pm:
The Rev. Jin Bae and Rev. Daniel Velez will lead a Christmas Eve service filled with choir, familiar Christmas carols and glorious organ music. Children are welcomed up front during the children’s message to sit on the steps for a special Christmas message. During the final hymn, “Silent Night, Holy Night”, the lights will be dimmed and candlelight will fill the Sanctuary.
December 25th at 10:00am:
You are invited to stop in to the Sanctuary between 10 and 11am on Christmas morning for a prayer and blessing from Rev. Bae.
January 1 at 10:00am:
Come for a Service of Lessons and Carols and start the new year right. Extend the Christmas cheer and join us for Christmas Carols interspersed with readings from the Bible.
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ABOUT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CRANFORD – As the body of Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit, the First Presbyterian Church of Cranford (FPCC), 11 Springfield Ave., Cranford, seeks to live God’s Word and inspire others to embrace Jesus’ commandment to love one another as the Lord loves us. Learn more at firstprescranford.org/Christmas.
