Join us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas season! Here are some of the events/services we will be having for the Christmas season!

The Carols of Christmas Concert

The Worship Community & the Alpha and Omega Children's Choir will be presenting, "The Carols of Christmas" on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 6:00 pm and Sunday, December 15, 2019, at 5:00 pm in the sanctuary. 

Children's Ministry Nativity Tour – Three Wisemen and a Baby

Bring your family and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies as you hear from the wisemen about the new baby King. You’ll make a craft and feed live animals along the way. Tours leave every 20 minutes from the church foyer. For more information, please contact Sandy Lynn Bober (sandy@hawthornegospel.org or 973-427-6960, extension 166).

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

We will have our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Pastor Kirk De Boer joined our pastoral team in 2013 and currently serves as Associate Pastor of Student Ministries, working primarily with the Junior High Ministry. However, over the last year and a half, his areas of responsibility have been increasing within the church. As of November 1st, he has assumed the role of Executive Pastor. In addition to administrative duties, some of his responsibilities will include Marriage & Family Ministry, The Starting Place, First Baptist Church, and Paving the Pathway building project. Please be praying for Pastor Kirk, Stephanie, and their children, Connor, Morgan, and Sadie, as he moves into this new role.

Mark Horn joined our staff as the Student Ministries Assistant in May of this year after previously leading the youth ministry at Franklin Lakes Baptist Church. He holds a BS degree in Bible from Cairn University with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. Currently, Mark’s main responsibility is assisting Pastor Kirk with the Junior High Ministry. Beginning in the new year, Mark will lead our Junior High as the Director of Junior High Ministry, serving under the leadership of Pastor Jake. Elizabeth, Mark's wife, will serve alongside him in the Junior High. Please pray for the newlyweds as they begin their new role in this important ministry. Pastor Kirk and Mark will co-lead the Junior High Ministry until the end of the year to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Important Changes During Construction

We are so thankful for the Lord’s provision that has enabled us to begin construction of the new building in the next few days. Next Sunday, when you arrive at church, there will be some important changes to the church building and parking lot that you will need to note:

• All lower level entrances to the church building will be inaccessible during construction.

• The only access to the sanctuary will be through the existing patio/foyer doors at the rear of the church and through the doors at the front of the sanctuary off the sides of the stage.

• To get to the lower level of the church, the only access will be through interior stairwells located off the foyer of the church and in the front of the church behind the stage.

• Updated emergency exit maps will be posted in all classrooms. 

• Forty-five to fifty parking spaces will be taken away by the construction site fencing; therefore, we ask that our attendees utilize the extra parking in the second gravel lot behind the church building.

• We still will continue to have bagels, coffee, and fellowship in the Pavilion, but it is best to exit out the front of the sanctuary off the right side of the stage (by Pastor’s Study) to be able to walk over there.

• Please allow more time to park and to get your family to their appropriate destinations.

We do apologize for any inconvenience during this time and thank you for your flexibility. The safety and security of our church family is of utmost importance to us, and we still will maintain the highest standards of both during this process. The estimated time from start to finish is approximately 11 months. Please be praying for everything that will take place during this time.