The First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank The beautiful edifice of the First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank is located high atop Tower Hill in central New Jersey's Monmouth County, just ten minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and one hour south of New York City. So striking is the setting that the church is often referred to simply as "Tower Hill." Residents of Red Bank and adjoining communities make up the church congregation. Many are professionals who work in Monmouth County or commute to North Jersey or New York City. A number have been drawn to the area by high technology industries, pharmaceutical companies, or financial institutions. Just as the church-with its spire visible for miles to the South and East-stands as a landmark in the area, so the Tower Hill ministry makes its presence known in the spiritual life of the greater Red Bank community and beyond. Leadership is provided by a full-time staff that includes a senior pastor, an associate pastor, a director of music ministries, a youth director and part-time children's program coordinators. Building on an established tradition of powerful preaching, comprehensive Christian education programs, and exceptionally fine music, Tower Hill has entered the 21st century with a fresh emphasis on outreach and social concern. Worship and Music The church conducts services of Christian worship at 9:30 and 11:15 am each Sunday, as well as a contemporary worship service that employs emerging musical genres. From mid-June through mid-September, Sunday services of worship are held at 8 am on the patio and 9:30 am in the Sanctuary. Communion is celebrated monthly. Services of baptism are conducted each four to six weeks. Three services are held on Christmas Eve; one is especially for families with young children.
The 60-voice Tower Hill Choir sings primarily at the 9:30 am service. The graded children's choirs and handbell choirs also regularly participate in services of worship. The music program at Tower Hill enjoys an exceptional degree of support from the congregation, with more than 200 people actively participating in making "a joyful noise to the Lord."
Involvement and Outreach
In our large church, the key to congregational involvement is in small group participation, both within and outside church walls. Members are active on the session, on the board of deacons, and other church committees/teams; they dedicate their time and talent to local mission outreach, hospital visitation, grief care, and the Stephen Ministry. They attend Bible study classes, adult education courses, meetings of the Presbyterian Women's Ministry, and programs for retirees. Our children and youth attend the Tower Hill Sunday Church School, Kirk Club, J.C. and Company and Campus Club. Our youth participate in Bible study, retreats, and mission trips.
Independently administered programs held at the church include Boy Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Overcomers Outreach, and MOPS, a support group for mothers of young children.
The church is home to the Tower Hill School, a fully accredited non-profit Early Childhood Education program for children 2 1/2 through 6 years old, that makes full weekday use of church school facilities.
Beyond the walls, Tower Hill members actively participate in food donation programs; Aslan Youth Ministries, a tutorial and spiritual support program for disadvantaged youth; Habitat for Humanity; a winter coat drive; Love, Inc. car and furniture donations; mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and the CROP Walk sponsored by Church World Service.
Tower Hill Church is in the concluding year of Vision for the Hill, a 3-year, $2.6 million program to enhance our capabilities for ministry. Through Vision for the Hill we have expanded the Narthex to make the church more welcoming; transformed the choir room into the St. Andrews Room, a modern, air-conditioned space; constructed handicapped-accessible bathrooms throughout our building; installed an elevator to enhance access to all areas of our church building; installed air-conditioning and other improvements in our fellowship hall; and completed other significant infrastructure improvements. Ten percent of the monies donated for Vision for the Hill have been donated to local, regional and foreign missions.
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'Tower Hill'