1872, when he accepted a

chair in Theology at Ger-

man Theological Seminary

(now Bloomfield College).

Until his death in 1902, Dr.

Seibert was an ever-

present personality shap-

ing the character of the

school. Seibert Hall on the

Bloomfield College campus

remains a testament to his

dedication to the school

and its students.

Following his departure,

Rev. Oscar Kraft was invit-

ed by the Presbytery to sit

as a corresponding mem-

ber in 1872, and he served

as the Pastor of Third Ger-

man Presbyterian Church

until March 2, 1874. It

was during Rev. Kraft’s

pastorate that a mounting

disunity in the church

reached its climax. In

spite of efforts by the Pres-

bytery of Newark to repair

the rift, Rev. Kraft, with

the majority of members

from Third German Presby-

terian Church, began to

hold services in a carpen-

ter’s shop on Jackson

In our last issue, the story

of WMPC was begun. The

church was formed, orga-

nized, received, and the

first pastor was called:

Rev. Dr. George C. Siebert,

of the German Reformed

Church. Recently arrived

in the United States, Dr.

Seibert was a graduate of

Heidelburg University in

Germany. Under his lead-

ership the congregation

became self-supporting

because the members were

full of love and enthusiasm

and labored untiringly—no

service was too lowly.

As the church grew it be-

came possible to buy two

additional building lots for

the purpose of erecting a

manse and a Sunday

school building. In 1987 a

fair was held upon the

completion of the Church

schoolhouse. The women

of the church were asked

to form a society to work

for this event. The results

were so successful that on

January 12, 1870, the

Frauen und Jungfrauen-

veriens (Ladies and Young

Ladies Society) became the

first official organization of

this young church. This

group continued to serve

the church for decades,

only disbanding recently.

Dr. Seibert served the

church until October of

W o l f f N e w s

The F i r s t 50 Ye ar s

W o l f f M e m o r i a l P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

Sp e c i a l p o i n ts o f

i n te r e s t :

Find prayer requests on

page 3.

Discover another way to

make your child feel

special on page 2.

Update your calendar

with the schedule of

WMPC events listed

on page 4.

SAVE THE DATE: 150th

ANNIVERSARY (see

page 4)

I ns i d e th i s i s s ue :

Wolff Thrift Shop 2

The First 50 Years,

cont.

2

Kid’s Corner 2

People We Know 3

Let Us Praise the Lord 3

For Your Calendar 4

Odds & Ends 4

Ap r i l /May 2013

Street. This new congre-

gation was soon organized

as the St. Stephan’s Evan-

gelical Church (now St.

Stephan’s United Church of

Christ located at the corner

of Ferry Street and Wilson

Avenue). This split left a

small group of loyal mem-

bers without a pastor.

On July 15, 1874, Julius H.

Wolff was ordained as an

Evangelist by the Presby-

tery of Newark. When the

congregation of Third Ger-

man heard of Rev. Wolff,

he had recently graduated

from the first class of Ger-

man Theological Seminar

in 1874 and was temporar-

ily assisting the pastor at

the First Presbyterian

Church of New York City.

The congregation invited

him to preach for them.

He did, and they liked him

very much and gave him

an official call, which he

declined. But the congre-

gation was determined and

they approached him again

and again until finally their

persistence was under-

stood as a call to duty from

above and he was per-

suaded to come.

When Rev. Wolff began his

service to Third German

only 66 members remained

on the church rolls and a

good portion of them could

not be located. This

Continued on page 2...

150

Sesquicentennial

1 8 6 3 ~ 2 0 1 3

P a g e 2

“...suddenly from heaven there

came a sound like the rush of a

violent wind... Divided tongues,

as of fire, appeared among them,

and a tongue rested on each of

them. All of them were filled

with the Holy Spirit...

[Acts 2:2-4]

Help your child create some-

thing unique (a clay sculpture, a

painted rock, a holiday orna-

ment) as a surprise gift for the

other parent.

(101 Ways to Make Your Child

Fee Special by Vicki Lansky)

KO

RN

ER

KID’S

The Wolff Thrift Shop is open the first and

third Saturday of every month between 10

AM and 1 PM. Additional hours of operation

are dependent on staff availability.

We continue to accept your donations of new

or gently used clothing, accessories, toys,

and household items for selling at the shop.

All items must be in good, clean condition.

Items can be delivered to the church on

Sundays between 12:00 and 12:30 PM or

during the shop’s operating hours. Some

items of special need: household items

Wol f f Th r i f t Shop

Going Green? Then join our

newsletter email group! Just

send me an email and the next

issue will be in your in-box...

instead of your mail box!

dlgfischer@optonline.net

George Tinquist is willing to pick up your

items if you are unable to deliver them

yourself. Please call him at 973-239-3216

to arrange for a mutually convenient time

for pick-up.

The mission of the Thrift

Shop is to obtain a

beneficial outcome through

a new and exciting way of

fundraising while at the

same time helping the local

Ironbound community.

young pastor had a great challenge following

the divisive split of the church. Under his

efficient leadership the Church prospered,

economizing wherever they could. In spite

of their difficulties the church gradually grew

and when Rev. Wolff was married in the fall

of 1877 there was standing room only in the

crowded church.

In the winter of 1877, Rev. Wolff began to

see the need for building a new sanctuary for

the growing congregation. After several

years of hard work to convince the congre-

gation that it was possible, and seeking fi-

nancial assistance from all possible sources,

they were ready to build...but where? Rev.

Wolff suggested that the best place would be

down on Hamburg Place on the Osborne lots,

formerly Potter’s Field (now the corner of

Ann Street and Wilson Avenue). The land

was purchased in 1882 and plans for the

building were completed on May 14, 1883.

On July 5, 1883, the cornerstone was laid,

and on November 4, 1883, the edifice was

completed and dedicated to the service of

the Triune God.

In 1884 the Ladies Aid Society and Sunday

School paid for the pipe organ; and also in

that year the manse at 100 Wilson Avenue

was built. In 1890, the first story of the

Sunday School wing was erected and the

second story was added in 1895.

In 1905, some English services were insti-

tuted for evening services and also for spe-

cial services to duplicate the German-

language services. (Services in both lan-

guages continued until 1940 when German

services were abandoned altogether.) Also

in 1905, the Ladies Aid Society purchased,

and had installed, a bell in the belfry.

In 1913, the church celebrated its 50th

anniversary—a Goldenes Jubiläum. Unfor-

tunately Rev. Wolff’s health soon began to

deteriorate, and in 1918 he succumbed to a

serious illness and was called to his eternal

reward. The following words were inscribed

on the bronze memorial tablet hung in the

sanctuary:

Honored as a Minister—Beloved as a Friend “The path of the just is as a shining light

that shineth more and more until a perfect day.”

As we know, many years later the congre-

gation elected to honor Rev. Wolff by re-

naming the church: Wolff Memorial Presby-

terian Church.

With gratitude to those who wrote the

church’s early history in English,

Elder Donna L.G. Fischer

The F i r s t 5 0 Ye ars , co n t .

150

The story continues in the next issue...

Peop le We K now

P a g e 3

Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us, Come with Pentecostal power;

Give the church a stronger vision, Help us face each crucial hour.

Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone,

Still the church is called to mission That God’s love shall be made

known.

We would raise our alleluias For the grace of yesteryears;

For tomorrow’s unknown pathway, Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers.

In the church’s pilgrim journey You have led us all the way.

Still in presence move before us, Fire by night and cloud by day.

Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; Give us words of fire and flame.

Help our feeble lips to praise You, Glorify Your holy name.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in one: what mystery!

We would sing our loud hosannas Now and through eternity.

—Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us

Lyrics: Janie Alford, 1979

Music: Thomas John Williams, 1890

Plan now to attend

WMPC’s 150th anniver-

sary worship on Sunday,

November 3. More details

will be available in upcom-

ing newsletters.

(Please keep these people and their families in your prayers. Also, please pray for those in

need that you may know, but are not listed here.)

Condolences

Condolences are extended to Bernice Litwitz

on the recent passing of her sister-in-law Angie

Frank who lived in Chicago.

Prayer Requests

Kirk Woodward recently fell on the ice and

hurt his ankle. He’s still limping a bit, but doing

much better.

Elder Edward G. Orth was hospitalized in mid-

March for a few days due to pneumonia and an

infection. He returned to Manor Care and is

doing much better.

Elder Jon Dolberg fell in mid-March. After a

brief hospitalization he is temporarily staying at

Newark Extended Care Facility, 65 Jay Street,

Newark, NJ 07103

Elder Dorothy Walch fell in mid-March and

broke her wrist. After a brief hospitalization she

is temporarily staying at Clark Nursing & Rehab

Center, 1213 Westfield Avenue, Clark, NJ

07066.

Florence Hand has a mini stroke in mid-March

and has returned home after a brief stay in the

hospital.

John Hansen recently had surgery. He and

Mary are also in the process of relocating to

Clinton and temporarily staying with his

daughter’s family at 162 Leigh Street,

Clinton, NJ 08809.

Audrey Berger, our friend in Ohio, was

hospitalized and in rehab from mid-

December until early February. We are

grateful that she is doing better and is at

home.

Please continue in prayer for the follow-

ing: John and Isabel Alves; Roger

Assimos; David Behar; Carol & Ed

Clydesdale; Maria Cornelson; Sergio

DeAlmeida; Mayme Ellis; Gerald

Fischer; Ken Fischer; Phil Foreit; San-

dra Franken; Felicia, Herbert, and

Helmi Hernandez; Marlene Hirt; Gary

Jenkins; Al Krayl; Marilyn Krock;

Cathy Laufhutte; Nancy Locker; Ka-

ren Mealy; Wayne Meimin; George

Schick; Thomas Scholl; and their fami-

lies.

Also keep in prayer Helen Hess, Elder

Edward G. Orth, and Caroline Scholl

who reside in long term care facilities,

and their families.

Let us praise the Lord for all He has done— He gifts us with butterflies and the sun, Blue skies and rainbows after the rain,

Jewel drops reflected on each windowpane, Ribbons of rivers and oceans of might,

Green hills and mountains awesome in height, Trees with arms lovingly reaching out

To spread cool shade to all those about, Bouquets of flowers in colorful array,

Loved ones and pets who brighten our day, The creatures of earth, sea, and the sky,

And we who were made in his image on high. By Eva Marie Ippolito

Le t U s Pr a i s e the Lord

150

For Y our Ca l endar . . .

Please put the following

events on your calendar

so you don’t miss them!

Sunday Worship:

11 AM

S u n d a y S c h o o l :

Please contact the church

if you are interested in

attending a Sunday

School class.

Wolff Thrift Shop

hours: 10AM—1 PM;

1st and 3rd Saturday of

every month

May 12:

Mothers’ Day. All women

will be recognized during

worship at 11 AM.

May 19:

Pentecost Sunday. Com-

munion will be served

during worship at 11 AM.

May 26:

Trinity Sunday.

May 27:

Memorial Day.

106 Ann Street Newark, New Jersey 07105

973-589-7339

W o l f f N e w s

W o l f f M e m o r i a l P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

Odds & E nds

The home worth living in is one where each lives for all, and all live for God.

—Unknown

Is your home a place of rest and refreshment where God becomes more real to those who enter it?

—Friends Book of Discipline

They who speak of heavenly things speak with new tongues. —Gregory

One of the outcomes of a

Spirit-filled life is a new

illumination to understand

God’s word. —F. E. Marsh

We don’t change

the message;

the message changes us.

From an email forwarded by Elder

Mary Hansen. Thanks, Mary!

Save the Date

Wolff Memorial Presbyterian Church’s

150th Anniversary150th Anniversary150th Anniversary

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Special Guest Preacher:

Rev. Bill North

Check us out—WMPC is on FACEBOOK!

150

Welcome, Spring!