Presbyterian Church Celebrating 50 Years

It all started with a newspaper advertisement.

Fifty years ago, Harold and Ann Conway placed an advertisement in a local newspaper seeking to meet with other Presbyterians who were interested in forming a church in Wayne. 

Wayne Presbyterian Church's first worship session was held at the original Anthony Wayne Middle School in January 1962. The church relocated to where it is now, the geographic center of Wayne, in 1965. 

Dorothy Nazzaro has been attending the church since she was 12 years old.

"We reach out more the public more now than ever. We're trying to help people all over the world," Nazzaro said. "It's like a second family because there are such caring people here. No matter what you're going through, you can always depend on others to support you. That's why I've stayed."

Despite the church's milestone birthday, Rev. Doug Cummings said the church still has room to grow and to share its servant-based mission with more people. Cummings joined the church five years ago.

"I believe people are looking to foster real relationships with each other," Cummings said. "As a culture, we want to be able to relate to other people. We don't want to be hermits. I think the church, as a whole, has an opportunity to do that."

Nestled in a small wooded area at the intersection of Alps and Ratzer Roads, Cummings said that the church is strategically placed to help others.

The church has held regular outreach events and given away freshly-prepared food in Paterson. Members have donated money to install a well in a community in Africa to provide them with fresh water. Members have helped Habitat for Humanity construct homes.

The church will give away free coffee from Greenberry's to commuters next week from 7 to 10 a.m. A community harvest party and a scarecrow decorating contest will be held next weekend. 

The church gave people the opportunity to put together relief kits for AIDS victims in Africa at Wayne Day. Dozens of kits were assembled and shipped.

"We have an amazing group of dedicated people here who strive to help each other out no matter what is going on in their lives," Cummings said. "We want to serve Jesus from the heart of Wayne."

Too often, Cummings said, people latch on and point to the faults of churches and their members and not look at all the good they do. 

"The church an an opportunity to offer real relationships with people," Cummings said. "If you can find a way to meet people where they are people will stand up and take notice and realize that the church is not their enemy but is there to help them."

For more information, visit the church's website.

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