News Release 10/5/13

PERTH AMBOY – The St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church, located at 231 First Street (near Market St.), Perth Amboy, invites all to celebrate 125 years of worship and service to the Greater Perth Amboy community. The event will begin with a Celebration Breakfast Sunday, October 13 at 9:30 am and a Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. Our special guest at the Celebration Breakfast will be the Honorable Wilda Díaz, Mayor of the City of Perth Amboy. Presiding at our Anniversary Worship Service is the Rev. Dr. Benjamín Alicea-Lugo, pastor of St. Paul’s Church since 1987.

Originally known as The Evangelical St. Paul’s Church of Perth Amboy, it was founded on October 1, 1888 by a group of German immigrants who received a Certificate of Incorporation so that property could be purchased, a church built and a minister called. In 1890 the trustees of the church purchased property on First Street and a small chapel was erected and dedicated in 1896. The congregation is now a part of the Reformed Church in America. The present population of the congregation worships in both English and Spanish. All nationalities are now represented in our membership and our loyalty is to the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ which is for all races and nations alike.

During this anniversary year, St. Paul’s is reaching out to the Greater Perth Amboy community with its inviting theme, “A Place to Belong (Un Lugar Para Pertenecer”). At St. Paul’s we are building a community that’s got a place for you. Join us this Sunday and discover your place with us!

During the 125 year history of our congregation we have only had 6 pastors and two are noteworthy- the founding pastor and the current pastor. The founding pastor, the Rev. Jacob J. Ganss served as pastor for 40 years, until his death. The current pastor is the Rev. Dr. Benjamín Alicea-Lugo, graduated from New York University with a B.S. in Business Administration, received a M.A. & M. Div. from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, an S.T.M./M. Phil., and a PhD. in Church History from Union Theological Seminary (NY). This past year we gratefully and joyously celebrated 25 years of the ministry at St. Paul’s of “Pastor Ben” and his wife, Irma Alicea.