Janaury 21,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, West Side Presbyterian Church ,there are so many ways to spend your precious free time. Why would someone decide to spend a good potion of that time serving as an Elder or Deacon at West Side?
Nineteen West Siders recently made that decision, committing to serve on Session or the Board of Deacons. For Elder Jennifer Padolina, who has been a member since the 1990s, the time was simply right. “Susan McBrayer called me and asked me. There are a lot of people like me who are waiting to be asked,” she said. “I thought about it for a few weeks and couldn’t think of a reason not to do it. You can make all sorts of excuses—I’m busy, I don’t have time. But if you want to do something, you make time to do it.”
Elder Scott Gavin decided it was “a great opportunity to be more involved with the church and to serve others.” Now the 30-year-old is the youngest member of Session. “I think it’s important to have the perspective of younger members so that we can keep West Side going for the next generation,” said Scott, whose wife, Lauren, recently began serving as a youth leader at High School BARN.
When Elder Dave DeFeo retired this past April, several people offered to help him put his newly found free time to good use. Pastor Marc was among them. “As I considered the opportunities, it boiled down to serving on Session at West Side and helping to start an educational foundation in Butler,” Dave recalled. “After our son Kyle and his wife Megan were married by Marc, the church felt like home to our family. I like the direction the church is going in. There are strong worship services, yes, but there are also strong outreach opportunities both inside the church and beyond the four walls of the church, which is important to me.”
Pastor Marc’s Tuesday-morning book group inspired Mary Ann Hoogerheyde to answer the call to become a Deacon. “The chapter we just read [in Evelyn Underhill’s The Spiritual Life] talks about how we are meant to serve, not just to be fed,” she said. “You have to give, not just receive. That’s what God wants us to do. And the atmosphere at West Side really inspires you to want to do more and give back and get involved. I’m beyond thrilled that we’re here!”
Our new Elders and Deacons will be installed/ordained at the 10:00 am and 5:15 pm services today. Pictured, left to right, Russell Clark, Eric Eickhoff and Dave DeFeo at the Elder/Deacon Retreat.
Because it makes them feel good,