The Basics
The Reformed Church of Cortlandtown is a community of believers who worship in the Reformed tradition. Our denomination is The Reformed Church in America (www.rca.org).
God created a perfect world. In the beginning, there was no sin--no hatred, no disunity, and no death. But God also allowed humans to make their own choices.
The first humans, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God, allowing sin to enter God's perfect world. From then on, every human has been born with sinful desires that lead to separation from God.
But the story doesn't end there. God loves the world and the people in it--so much, in fact, that he made a plan to take away the guilt of our sin.
God sent his son, Jesus, into the world as a human. Jesus gave his life to pay the price for sins he didn't commit. Jesus accepted the punishment for our sins so that we don't have to.
Three days after Jesus was killed, God brought Jesus to life again, defeating the power of death and evil. Jesus still lives today, eternally in heaven with God the Father. One day he will come back to earth to put an end to evil--sin, death, and pain--and renew all things. He will gather all who have believed in him from every time and place to live with him forever.
Our faith is centered in God's love for us demonstrated in Jesus Christ, his son.
When we accept Jesus' sacrifice for us and commit our lives to following him, God sees us as perfect, the way we were first created to be. We cannot manufacture such faith on our own; it is the result of God's Spirit working within us.
The Reformed View of Christian Faith
In the Reformed view, the final authority is the Bible--known as the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God.
The Reformed perspective is centered in the overwhelming love of God toward us. We believe that God is three in one--God the father, God the son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith, not by what we think or do to earn God's favor. Our good works don't earn our salvation, but are a way to thank God for this free gift of salvation.
The Reformed Church in America celebrates two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper. They remind us of God's promises to us and help us to claim those promises as our own.
The RCA is confessional, which means that together we have statements of belief, called creeds and confessions. These statements guide our understanding of faith and shape its practice.
The RCA is "Reformed and always reforming," earnestly seeking to know the mind of Christ as it strives to be faithful in a changing, complex, and often troubled world. The RCA's position papers on contemporary issues provide guidance to the members of the church and are a part of the church's witness in society.
How We Worship
Worship is the central act of the church's life. It is the action of acknowledging God's praise-worthiness and glory. We acknowledge God's presence with us through songs, hymns, prayers, sacraments, giving gifts, and listening to a message from the Bible.
Worship celebrates God's greatness and faithfulness to his people. Worship enables believers to articulate their faith and to act it out in word, song, and action.
Reformed congregations share a commitment to sound preaching, Christian education for people of all ages, and loving spiritual care and guidance. RCA worship services range in character from highly formal to very informal, and many congregations have their own special worship traditions and practices.
These aspects of worship are usually shared by Reformed congregations:
Reformed Church worship is corporate.
Worship is not a performance with the minister as actor or actress and the congregation as the audience. God is the audience and the whole congregation is involved in the service, in prayer, song, and offering.
Reformed Church worship is liturgical.
The word "liturgy" means "the work of the people." Reformed Church worship is liturgical in the sense that our worship involves the whole people of God in the activity of worship.
While each local congregation has its own worship traditions, most Reformed worship services include singing, praying together, and a message given by the pastor, based on a passage from the Bible.
Reformed Church worship is sacramental.
When we celebrate the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, God comes to us through all of our senses. We hear God's promise of forgiveness; we see and hear the water of baptism that cleanses; and we touch and smell and taste the bread and wine that signifies Christ's body and blood. Our faith is awakened, renewed, and energized when we celebrate the sacraments.
For more information on the Reformed Church in America visit our denomination's website: www.rca.org
Can't make it to church? No problem! Give your weekly offering through this site. Have a little extra to give? Great! Use Paypal to make your contribution. We are grateful for all offerings!
Help preserve the heritage of the past and the promise of the future by donating to the Reformed Church of Cortlandtown. Your gift can can be added to our general fund, or you can designate a specific program that you would like to support.
Endowments
The endowment fund's primary purpose is to provide permanent financial support to our church to fund new and expanding ministries. It also serves as a living memorial to the members and friends of the church. An endowment fund is a permanent fund created by transfer of money or other assets to a trust which are primarily invested into low risk fixed income or equity funds.
The fund generates income and provides a long-lasting source of income for the church to grow and strengthen our ministries. This includes the support of the ministries of the local church, the Reformed Church in Amercia (rca.org), nationally or internationally, and any other Christian ministry or mission deemed appropriate by the Endowment Committee.
It can also be used as direct by the donor for a specific cause. The endowment fund is not intended to be used to provide for general operating expenses of the church. Endowment Funds may accept both cash and non-cash gifts and bequests. The fund can be received during one’s life time or as a donation upon their passing. Investments into the fund are generally non taxable funds since the funding comes from legacies and gifts to our church (a non-profit organization).
For more information please
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Affiliations:
Peekskill Area Pastors Association
An interfaith organization of clergy who work together to serve the community.
Salvation Army
Soup Kitchen
Hudson River Health Care
Cortlandtown Group
Offerings to the Community:
Living Nativity
Midnight Run
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Interdenominational Good Friday Service
Our Ministries
Christian Education: We offer a nine-year Christian Education curriculum for elementary age to middle school age children, and ending with Confirmation. Our teachers are people of mature faith who have been well-trained in religious education and bring several years of teaching experience to the classroom. We also offer classes and small groups for adults to foster growth in their faith.
Emergency Care: We give food, gas, rent, and utility assistance to struggling families in times of urgent need. After their immediate needs have been addressed, we assist the families in applying for public assistance.
Cedar Hill Cemetary: Cedar Hill Cemetery is a non-denominational community cemetery located at the Reformed Church of Cortlandtown, 2124 Albany Post Road, Montrose, New York. Single graves and Ash Garden plots are available for sale. Our Cemetery Care Committee is made up of volunteers. The church contracts with a lawn care provider. The Cemetery Committee provides for a portion of the lawn care costs; the congregation of the Reformed Church of Cortlandtown provides for the remainder. We welcome the support of families whose loved ones are buried here. We work to improve the beauty of the cemetery and maintain the record keeping for future generations.
Living Nativity: Each December, the RCC offers a Living Nativity to the community. All are welcome to enjoy the Christmas story, carols, and fellowship at this free event.
Hudson River Health Care: We partner with HRHC to support community-wide health-awareness events, counseling and referral networks, and community-based groups which focus on the mental health and wellness of people in the community.
Angel's Nest Nursery: Our nursery was established in 2006 and named "Angel's Nest", dedicated in memory of Baby Herbert Hudson Wienkoop. Childcare for infants and pre-school aged children is provided every Sunday during worship service by the loving, dedicated young people of our congregation.
Midnight Runs: Our congregation partners with the Midnight Run organization (midnightrun.org) to bring a meal, clothing and hygiene necessities to people living on the streets in New York City.
Youth Group: Youth group meets twice per month at varied locations around the Montrose area. All Jr. High and High School students in our community are invited and encouraged to participate. Activities include, social service, youth centered events, Bible study, game nights.
Mustard Seed Gift Shop: A gift shop offering low priced items and hand-made gifts. Proceeds benefit the Youth Group.
Group Event Rentals: Our fellowship hall and sanctuary are available for your group event; from birthday parities to weddings and funerals, the Reformed Church of Cortlandtown offers an intimate setting at an affordable cost. Contact our Administrator, Lynn Meyer ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), for more information.
The Cortlandtown Church can look back to the days when Hendrick (Commonly referred to as Henry) Hudson came to this continent in 1614 and discovered the river that bears his name. Dutch settlers soon came to Manhattan. By 1628 Rev. Jonas Michaelius came from the Netherlands to organize a Reformed Church. Thus the Collegiate Church was organized on April 10, 1628, and continues to worship today as the Fort Washington, Marble, Middle, and West End Churches of New York City.
Our own church was first erected on Montrose Point in 1729. It was surrounded by a farm of 172 acres, which was sold in 1837. It burned sometime between 1776 and 1785.
In 1795 a plot of 1-1/2 acres was given to the church, and later 16 acres was given for a cemetery. Upon this site a new church structure was built between 1795 and 1799. It was in continual use until June 7, 1970 when it was judged in need of extensive repairs, and hence demolished. The present building was completed and used for worship on March 28, 1971. The chancel cross and the bell were salvaged from the original structure and used in the present church.
The Reformed Church of Cortlandtown can be proud of its long history. The present church was built in 1970 on the site of the original church. Since that time, a new parsonage has been constructed, the church and Cedar Hill Hall renovated, a nursery built in the church and a privately-run pre-school operates in our building. Recently, a nearly-new shop, “The Mustard Seed” opened in Cedar Hill Hall.
In 1992 we celebrated the 275th Anniversary of our founding, with a service in Dutch at the Old Dutch Church at Sleep Hollow, a dinner, members in period costume and an entire weekend of activities.
Today we continue to uphold the Christian faith according to Reformed tradition and we look forward to many years of service to Christ and our community.