News

This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

All are welcome! This Sunday brings us the parable of the great feast. Interestingly, it comes to us in versions found in Matthew, Luke, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Jerusalem Talmud. This diversity offers us a window into the spiritual milieu of the New Testament -- and encouragement to make biblical stories our own.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Watch the video introduction here.

Gabe's Music Corner:

I will be away this Sunday, as I will be leading the KMEA District 9 All-District Chorus in Kentucky. You will be in the trusted hands of Justin Zang and Micah Young!

Sunday’s anthems are “Praise My Soul, the God of Heaven” by Carolyn Jennings and “My Refuge” by Craig Courtney.

Next Sunday will be our presentation of The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass at 3:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public. Come celebrate our newly renovated space through music!

Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

Church House closed Monday for Indigenous People’s Day.  

This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

After a summer-long reconstruction, we are coming home to our sanctuary — and our new floor has a spiritual secret!

A labyrinth is more than a beautiful ancient pattern. It can be a metaphor for the journey of life and the journey of faith. This Sunday, we begin exploring three lessons hidden in its winding path.

Join us for Homecoming worship and fellowship!

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Watch the video introduction here.

Gabe's Music Corner: The choir and I are so excited to be back in the sanctuary this Sunday! As much as we’ve enjoyed the close intimacy with the congregation in our makeshift sanctuary, we are excited to share music in our renovated space! A plus of the floor renovation is that it has improved acoustics in our sanctuary.

I wanted to share that due to some delays our organ will not return to worship until mid-October. While I am disappointed that we won’t be able to fully welcome our new space with our grand organ, I am excited for what it will sound like when it returns! I will keep you updated on the exact Sunday it will return.

Sunday’s Prelude is a very interesting arrangement of the hymn tune of “Old Hundredth.” This arrangement by Tracey Craig McKibben gives an unexpected adaptation of this hymn tune that is usually presented as grand and almost march-like. McKibben changes the meter to a triple meter and is done in a very soft, meditative manner. It’s a tastefully done arrangement.

Usually for World Communion, I try and incorporate pieces from around the world. This year, I chose to do songs of welcome and peace. We have much turmoil in our world right now, and the theme of peace and welcome stood out to me. We’ll be singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Mark Hayes and “For Everyone Born” by Tom Trenney.

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Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

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This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

This Sunday we welcome Dr. Martin Accad, theologian and scholar of Christian-Muslim relations from Beirut, Lebanon, and president of the Near East School of Theology. His own experience of growing up in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War has deeply shaped his commitment to interfaith understanding, reconciliation and peace.

Join us as we welcome Dr. Accad to Rutgers Presbyterian Church.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Watch the video introduction here.

A note on our space: While we complete renovations on our beloved sanctuary, worship is temporarily held in the 5th Floor Fellowship Hall.

Gabe's Music Corner: Sunday's Prelude is "I Will Arise and Go to Jesus," arranged by Mark Hayes. The tune, Come Ye Sinners is originally a Southern Harmony shape note tune.  The Southern Harmony is a shape notebook that was originally published in 1835. Compiled by William Walker, this book is credited for having originated and popularized hymn tunes found in modern hymnals. The Southern Harmony collection is still used by many singers today!

The anthems for Sunday are “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter and “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” by Carl Nygard.

We have a special treat for our Postlude on Sunday. This Sunday marks the 32nd year that Duncan Hartman has been singing in the Rutgers Choir! He will be singing, “Thank You for the Years” by Andrew & Elizabeth Neve.

Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

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This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

We welcome Louisa Berry  in a Moment for Mission this Sunday announcing the upcoming Scout Troop 664 Open House, Thursday, September 24 @ 6:30pm.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Watch the video introduction here.

A note on our space: While we complete renovations on our beloved sanctuary, worship is temporarily held in the 5th Floor Fellowship Hall.

Gabe's Music Corner:The Prelude for Sunday, Prelude in c minor, BWV 847 by J. S. Bach is a classic that I love to dust off every now and then.   What's interesting about this piece is that the melody is in the very top note of beats one and three in each measure.  The whole piece is constant sixteenth notes, so it's quite difficult to have the melody speak.  The challenge of learning this piece is to be consistent in the constant sixteenth notes in both hands.

Sunday’s anthems are “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” by Joel Raney and “Prayer of St. Francis” by Allen Pote.

“O God Beyond All Praising,” arranged by Mark Hayes, is Sunday’s Postlude. A few weeks ago, we did this hymn tune in church, and it was one that I was familiar with, but have rarely done. Most of the arrangements of this tune are often cheesy and don’t do it the justice it deserves. Hayes has done a wonderful job at giving us various ways this hymn can be used in one piece.

Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

This Sunday we will welcome Professor Zoe Strother, a professor at Columbia University and an elder of our church, as our homily interlocutor. She will bring to us one of the fascinating themes we have previously explored in our Bible class.

Zoe brings extensive experience with West African culture and will help us explore what African oral culture can teach us about our own faith tradition -- and even about some of our recent cultural controversies, such as the cinematic reworking of the Odyssey.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Watch the video introduction here.

A note on our space: While we complete renovations on our beloved sanctuary, worship is temporarily held in the 5th Floor Fellowship Hall.

Gabe's Music Corner: Sunday's Prelude is "Morning Prayer" by P.I. Tchaikovsky.  Written in a four-part hymn style, this piece is a very gorgeous representation of Tchaikovsky's works. He takes a very simple melody and adds stunning chords to create a beautiful, yet short piece.  This might have been one of his earlier works because of the tonality it presents—very unlike his usual music.  

We want to welcome back our choir this Sunday! We’ll be kicking off our season, singing “Anthem of Praise” by Sally DeFord. Our very own Duncan Hartman will be singing “Blessed is the One” by Craig Courtney.

The Postlude is a very exciting arrangement of “I’m Just a Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger” by Joel Raney.  The beginning and ending of the piece give almost an ethereal feeling. It makes me think of flowing water. Breaking away from the “flowing” effect, Raney abruptly shifts into a very dramatic telling of the piece, all while keeping the ethereal feeling in the background. Eventually, the piece calms down to match the beginning, but not after Raney leaves on a cliffhanger. The beauty of this arrangement is difficult to describe in words.It’s a very well-written piece that I’m very excited to share!

Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

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This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

This Sunday's service will be led by Rev. Andrew Stehlik, with Elder Sara Latta assisting. Gabriel Evans and soloist Duncan Hartman will lead the music.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Pastor Andrew  took the biblical Job along on a visit to a huge copper mine in southern Arizona. The modern machinery was spectacular -- but then they discovered something Job might actually instantly recognize. Join us on Sunday for a biblical message with a little mining, a little geology, and perhaps also a little wisdom for this Labor Day weekend. Watch the video introduction here.

A note on our space: While we complete renovations on our beloved sanctuary, worship is temporarily held in the 5th Floor Fellowship Hall.

Gabe's Music Corner: Sunday's Prelude, "Adagio Cantabile," from Beethoven's famous Sonata "Pathétique," is always a very sweet piece to play. This movement is definitely the flipside of the entire character of the piece, which is very unpredictable and fiery. Beethoven was famous for his expansion of the sonata form during his lifetime. He pushed the boundaries of what was the standard, experimenting with different forms and structures (this was also found in his symphonies—especially the middle period ones). Scholars agree that while Beethoven was composing and living during the Classical Period of music, he was the bridge between that period and the Romantic Period. This is evident in his music.

Sunday’s soloist is Duncan Hartman, singing “My Wordless Prayer” and “There Is None Like You” by Craig Courtney

The Postlude for Sunday is Joel Raney’s adaptation of “Blessed Assurance.” This hymn tune is known for its triple meter and identifiable melodic line. Incorporating that idea into his arrangement, Raney keeps a running theme throughout that is repeated throughout all the calm and climactic moments.

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Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

Read more in this Sunday's bulletin.

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This Week's Worship is updated on Fridays before Sunday service. Watch our services on YouTube here.

Join us for worship at Rutgers this Sunday at 11am! 

This Sunday's service will be led by Rev. Andrew Stehlik, with Elder Juliet Pritner assisting. Gabriel Evans and soprano Beverly O'Regan Thiele will lead the music.

Friday's Message from Pastor Andrew: Did Jesus sound like a military general? Matthew 16:25 echoes a familiar strain of Hellenistic rhetoric about courage in the face of death — but Jesus turns it in a radically different direction, away from warfare and conquest and toward nonviolent resistance and loyalty to the Prince of Peace. Watch the video introduction here.

A note on our space: While we complete renovations on our beloved sanctuary, worship is temporarily held in the 5th Floor Fellowship Hall.

Gabe's Music Corner: Sunday's music will look a little different than usual. In tribute to Dolly Parton, who passed away this week, Gabe will open with an arrangement of "I Will Always Love You," and Beverly O'Regan Thiele will sing "Coat of Many Dreams" and "Beautiful Is Your Love." The postlude will be "Come, Live in the Light" ("We Are Called"), arranged by Mark Hayes.

Join us:

• In person, 5th Floor Fellowship Hall, 11am
• Via Zoom (link opens at 10:45am): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87652791475
• Via YouTube: youtube.com/@rutgerschurch4861/streams
• By phone: 929-436-2866, Meeting ID 876 5279 1475

Read more in this Sunday's bulletin.

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For more than a century, Scout Troop 664 – sponsored for the past two decades by Rutgers Presbyterian Church — has thrived through wars, blackouts, and a pandemic that nearly emptied its roster. Today, the troop has everything a Scout could want: an industrial kitchen, a meeting room with a stage, a gymnasium, storage lockers full of camping gear, and dedicated leaders with decades of experience – and it’s all right on top of the landmark subway station at 72^nd Street and Broadway.

The only thing missing? The Scouts.

Now, Scoutmaster Louisa Anderson-Berry and her team are rebuilding — and they’re inviting Upper West Side families to be part of the troop's next chapter.

Not Your Father’s Scouting

"We have to help people unlearn everything they think they know about Scouting," says Anderson-Berry.

The institution you remember as the Boy Scouts of America is now Scouting America, and for the past decade has been open to boys and girls, with a growing commitment to gender inclusivity.

While some troops across the country prefer to continue as all-boy units, there are now all-girl units too. It’s a decision left to the troop’s sponsoring organization, and Rutgers Church has elected to support a program that is completely inclusive.

All Scouting units across the country are united in their acceptance of youth who require special attention. One in six Scouts in the U.S. has a disability, visible or invisible. Scouting sees the potential in each child then moves them toward the most self-sufficient version of themselves.

"Any kid who joins is going to learn life skills and how to take care of themselves in a variety of environments,” Anderson-Berry says. “Within their first year or two, every Scout can pitch a tent, cook a meal and safely respect tools.”

That flexibility is the point. Anderson-Berry, who has led 664 for more than 30 years, has watched kids who struggled in other settings find their footing in Scouting.

"Scouts grow and develop so significantly through this program," Anderson-Berry says. "The only way it works is if it works for each kid — so we meet them where they are and find ways for every one of them to contribute."

Skills for Life (and Sometimes, Lives Saved)

The first aid training goes deep: CPR, using an AED, treating hypothermia and heat stroke — every Scout learns it, not just the standouts.

Those skills are not hypothetical. When one Scout's mother suffered a medical emergency at home, he retrieved her medication, called 911, and stayed calmly by her side. Emergency responders credited him with helping to save her life, and the Manhattan Council recognized him with an award.

"That's what they learn — not to panic," Anderson-Berry says. "They know there are ways to deal with anything in life that comes up."

This troop doesn't just visit the standard local camps in the area. Troop 664 Scouts have traveled to Valley Forge and camped at the NASCAR raceway at Watkins Glen. Annual activities include camping trips throughout the year, a ski trip, baseball games, and community service projects. The troop has historically produced two to three Eagle Scout service projects every year.

Cub Scouts: Where the Adventure Begins

Rutgers is restarting its Cub Scout pack for elementary-aged kids. Cub Scouts lets children have fun while building skills that last a lifetime — from the thrill of shooting an arrow to transforming a block of wood into a race car. With a program tailored to each age, Cub Scouts learn that even when fun isn't easy, it's always an adventure.

The beloved Pinewood Derby — a racing event for miniature cars the Cubs design and build themselves – is a highlight of the year for these younger children. Pack 664 owns its own Pinewood Derby track, so its Cubs have an advantage in citywide competitions.

Cub Scout life has a number of advantages:

• Family time, built in. Your time is valuable, and so is your family. Scouting provides ready-made activities for you and your child to do together and strengthen your relationship.
• Growth through belonging. Scouting activities build self-esteem and teach kids to work with others toward shared goals.
• The courage to try. Cub Scouting encourages kids to take on new skills and activities under the motto "Do your best!"
• Values that matter. The program promotes ethical character, engaged citizenship, and physical, mental, and emotional health.

Many of these features continue on into Scouting through middle and high school, but with some differences. Scouts learn to be self-sufficient, so they rely less on parents. Moms and Dads can continue on as volunteers, but need to accept that their children are now old enough to run their own troop activities under scoutmasters’ supervision. And while Scouts continue to do their best, they’re now trained and responsible enough to call out the Scout motto: “Be prepared!”

Rutgers Presbyterian Church hosts a Cub pack and Scout troop for youth ages 5 to 17. Interested families should fill out the contact form here or call Anderson-Berry at (646) 245-1849 or email her at troop664nyc@gmail.com.

Our 2025 Annual Report is here—and it's filled with stories of welcome, justice, and community. From blessing a tortoise named Boris to helping 72 refugees find employment, from feeding 160 neighbors every Thursday night to hosting Manhattan's first video game orchestra—this is Rutgers Church.Read the full report and see what's possible when a community commits to making the world more just, loving, and peaceful for ALL people everywhere. Read here: https://issuu.com/.../docs/2025_annual_report_social_version

On Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM, Rutgers Presbyterian Church will host "Hope for the Holidays," a concert that promises to be more than just a musical performance—it's a gathering born from a deep need for connection and encouragement in challenging times.

"People need hope right now," says Alexander Wright, one of the evening's featured artists, reflecting on what inspired this program. "We're all hungry for a little bit of light."

Wright, along with vocalists Katie Oberholtzer and Nathan Farrell—both well-known dynamic vocalists in the NYC jazz scene and nationally—created this program with a specific purpose: to offer encouragement through music. The three performers have been working together for the past three years at Rutgers under Music Director Gabriel Evans, as well as at Community Church New York under the direction of Darnell White and Matt Podd.

Both Oberholtzer and Farrell were finalists in the National Ella Fitzgerald Competition. Oberholtzer currently performs with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Future of Jazz Orchestra and is a semi-finalist in the American Traditions Competition. Farrell, born and raised in the tri-state area, grew up as a Jazz House Kid and was mentored by Christian McBride. Beyond jazz, both have made dynamic names for themselves in the NYC music diaspora—Farrell has recently worked with artists such as Lawrence and The Jonas Brothers. All three vocalists are expanding into original music this year, available on all platforms, and have worked as featured soloists throughout the Jazz at Lincoln Center Organization.

"When we did our first concert back in the spring with a social justice theme and community engagement undertone, it was interesting to see how much light and how much fight there was behind something that encouraged love and hope," Wright explains.

The evening will feature a musically diverse offering, presenting classical and sacred music, jazz, funk, soul, and gospel pieces—both original compositions and dynamic cover arrangements. Wright will perform Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas"—a piece he's been singing for years that feels especially resonant now. "It's very encouraging. It's about seeing the world in a different place next year. I think we're all kind of there, kind of craving that light at the end of the tunnel."

For Wright, who grew up in the musical family known as The Wright Family Singers in Ohio with both grandparents serving as non-denominational pastors, this kind of cross-cultural connection runs deep. "They were very engaged with their local clergy and city leaders across religions I spent a lot of time growing up in all reflections of the church."

The timing of this concert speaks to something larger than the holiday season. In the wake of pandemic isolation, there's a palpable hunger for authentic connection, something Wright has witnessed firsthand in the resurgence of live music and arts.

"We're poised to connect more than ever, especially having known a time that we could not connect," he reflects. "That resurgence of connection has not fully pulled back, which is good. It's unfortunate what the underlying driving force is, but it's good to solve that in people's hearts, even if it's just for a night or just for a song."

This philosophy aligns with Rutgers' commitment to community engagement and sanctuary work. Wright, who has been a featured artist for the In The Sanctuary Series each year and has worked as a musical consultant and curator on the series since its inception in partnership with Peter Rinaldi and Lesley Countryman, appreciates Evans' approach to music. "Gabe offers such a diverse and high-level musical palette to the church year round. The level of skill present within the choir is so high that it gives the option to do some new things. And the principles of kindness inherent in the social side of Rutgers—that well just keeps on giving."

The holiday season has always held special meaning for Wright as a time of giving back to the community. "My grandparents were very big on supplying Christmas for families in need, doing public speaking and singing in communities that needed it. It was always about giving back."

This year, that spirit of generosity takes the form of shared music and hope. All participants in the concert have been working collaboratively through collective and different band projects for the last three to five years, creating a musical synergy that goes beyond a typical performance.

The evening's mission goes beyond entertainment: it's about creating space where everyone can see themselves reflected in the art. "There's somebody within the circle of creation for every single person," Wright emphasizes. "Our real goal is not just to sing or play a song, but to connect with the people around us by bringing them into our art in a deeper way."

As we approach the holidays in a world that feels increasingly fractured, "Hope for the Holidays" offers something essential: a reminder that connection is possible, that diversity strengthens rather than divides, and that music can be a powerful force for encouragement.

"That's what we want to see in this world right now," Wright says simply. "It's important for us that we connect and inspire hope this holiday season, because it seems like the thing we need more than ever."

Hope for the Holidays: An Evening of Christmas Joy
Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM
FREE and open to all

Featuring: 

• Katie Oberholtzer, vocals 
• Nathan Farrell, vocals 
• Alexander Wright, vocals 
• Michaela Lewin, vocals 
• Maya Imani Jones, poet 
• Sterling Cozza, piano 
• Alex Dyring, bass 
• Adam Wooten, drums 
• Griffin Ross, saxophone

Rutgers Presbyterian Church
236 W. 73rd Street, NYC

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