December 2020 www.readingtonnews.com
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Readington News A Community Newspaper
Serving All of Readington Township, NJ
Historic Churches to Host “Holy Trail”
The
Three Bridges Reformed Church. “This year we are excited to collaborate on telling bits of the story across six county churchyards.” Each church will dramatize a different aspect of the birth of Jesus. Cars will receive stickers to populate a paper nativity scene which serves as a passport to all six churches. Driving the route takes 1 hour, and each stop may take 5 to 15 minutes, for a total of 2.5 hours for the full string—but people may wish to visit only a few churches. While the Hunterdon Holy Trail is free, visitors are asked to bring canned goods for local food pantries and/or monetary donations for Family Promise of Hunterdon County, a homeless shelter for families, also called the Interfaith Hospitality Network. “For 27 years, our churches have worked with Family Promise to end homelessness,” said Rev. Liz Estes, pastor of Readington Reformed Church. “Our churches supply meals and cozy rooms for sleeping but rely on Family Promise to guide homeless families to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Especially during the pandemic, Family Promise is the perfect charity for Christmas in Hunterdon.” Drive-ins are welcome at all locations, some churches may encourage visitors to park and explore further outdoors. Details are: Stanton Reformed Church, est. 1833, 1 Stanton Mountain Rd., Stanton, 08885. Angel Gabriel delivers the message to Mary, Elizabeth and Mary encourage one another, as the blessed family travels to Bethlehem. Three Bridges Reformed Church, est. 1873, 470 Main St., Three Bridges, 08887. God’s angels visit in the dreams of Joseph,
the father of Jesus, and Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, foretelling Christ’s birth in nativity scenes. Readington Reformed Church, est. 1719, 124 Readington Rd., Whitehouse Station. John’s gospel tells how the Word was made flesh to bring light to the world. Shepherds hear the good news from a choir of angels. Rockaway Reformed Church, est. 1792, 115 Main St., Whitehouse Station, 08889. Three very musical wise men get word of the special birth and set out singing on a long journey following the star of wonder. Annandale Reformed Church, est. 1866, 2 West St., Annandale, 08801. The Prophet Isaiah proclaims to us a child is born, a son is given, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. High Bridge Reformed, est. 1869, 23 Church St., High Bridge, 08829. It’s a family affair! Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds and so many animals celebrate baby Jesus’ arrival.
Readington Twp. Re-Elects Albanese and Heller
Readington News A Community Newspaper
Local Dutch Reformed Churches to host “The Hunterdon Holy Trail.”
By Sue Sohl There is something magical and hopeful about lighting up the year’s darkest nights in the spirit of the two-thousand-year-old tale at the center of the holiday season. This year, we all need to find new ways to enliven our holidays. That is why, for the first time in Hunterdon County’s 300 years, a string of historic churches is illuminating our rural by-ways to retell the Christmas story from the Bible —in both English and Spanish— through a series of drive-in vignettes called The Hunterdon Holy Trail, on Sunday evening, Dec. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. Participating churches are Readington Reformed Church, Rockaway Reformed Church, Three Bridges Reformed Church, Stanton Reformed Church, Annandale Reformed Church, and High Bridge Reformed Church. Members of the general public are invited to drive to churchyards
decked with holiday lights and populated by biblical characters. Visitors can start from any church and visit the churches in any order. All information, addresses and podcasts will be available online at www.thehunterdonholytrail.com. The idea was inspired by the 58year legacy of the Stanton Holly Trail that celebrated its final year last December. “People loved visiting Stanton Holly Trail’s historic homes,” Rev. Beth Scibienski, pastor of Stanton Reformed Church, said. Last year, fifteen hundred people traveled the trail, contributing $60,000 for community causes. “We’re keeping that spirit alive, in a socially distanced way that still enables us to celebrate God’s good news as a caring community throughout the region.” Six churches whose heritage dates back to the county’s Dutch settlers in 1719 are collaborating on the project. “In Three Bridges, our tradition is to host a live nativity,” said Linda Santa Lucia, an elder at
In the November General Election, Readington Township voters re-elected Republican incumbents John Albanese, with 6,570 votes, and Mayor Jonathan Heller, 6,282 votes, to three-year terms on the Township Committee. Democratic challengers Rene Rao and Alan Harwick received 3,924 and 3,621 votes respectively. Results are unofficial. Because this year’s election was primarily done through vote-by-mail due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office had until Nov. 23 (after The Readington News deadline) to certify the results. Lisa Hughes was elected to a three-year term on the Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education tallying 8,399 votes. Winning three-year terms on the Readington Township Board of Education are Carol Hample, 7,779 votes; Ray Egbert, 7,683; and Elizabeth Fiore, 7,750.
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