A Welcoming Home on Hartshorn Drive
Community Congregational Church has stood at 200 Hartshorn Drive in Short Hills, New Jersey, since 1953, when eight friends came together seeking a simple, non-liturgical form of worship. More than seven decades later, those founding principles still guide the congregation: a Christ-centered community where people of every background, age, and question are welcomed at the door. The church identifies as a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a denomination rooted in the Christian tradition of love, justice, and faith in action, and it carries that identity into every corner of its life together.
The congregation is intentionally inclusive, affirming diversity and supporting women in leadership, and it openly embraces LGBTQ+ members and their gifts. Families of every shape, individuals of any age, and children looking for a church that lives out the meaning of Christian community are all invited in. The staff and members describe their community with words like warm, joyful, authentic, and friendly, and they work hard to make those words visible in practice, not just on a sign.
Sunday Worship at 10:30 AM
Every Sunday at 10:30 AM, the sanctuary fills for a service that blends familiar hymns, contemporary Christian music, scripture, prayer, and a Bible-based message. The style is described as blended, drawing on a full range of musical traditions so that longtime churchgoers and first-time visitors alike can find something to sing along with. Children begin in worship with their families, taking part in the opening songs and prayers before a special children's message sends them off to age-appropriate programming.
For those who cannot be present in person, worship is livestreamed each Sunday at 10:30 AM, and an archive of past services is available online. After the service ends, the fellowship moves downstairs to Hauser Hall, the church's newly renovated gathering space, where coffee, conversation, and a relaxed welcome await.
CommunityKIDS: From Nursery Through Confirmation
Children and youth are central to the life of Community Congregational Church, and the church organizes its ministries for young people under the CommunityKIDS umbrella, led by the Reverend Marjorie (Margie) Price, Children and Family Pastor.
Nursery Care is offered during worship for infants and toddlers in a safe, clean, and comforting space with toys, books, songs, and attentive volunteers. Parents are welcome to fill out a brief registration form in advance to make the first visit smoother.
CommunityKIDS Sunday School serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade. On Sunday mornings, families check in at the chapel at 10:20 AM, gather in the sanctuary for the start of worship at 10:30 AM, and then at 10:45 AM the children move to the chapel for Bible-based lessons, interactive activities, music, games, and age-appropriate discussion. At 11:30 AM the children reunite with their families for refreshments and fellowship. The Sunday School program is led by teachers including Crystal Martucci and Monica Leysa.
CommunityYOUTH is the church's group for students in grades 5 through 12. The youth grow in faith and in friendship through scripture-based activities, hands-on learning, and service projects, with plenty of room for fun along the way, including bowling, escape rooms, cooking, and group outings.
Confirmation Classes are offered for students in grades 9 through 12. The program walks young people through study, conversation, and service as they explore what it means to be a follower of Christ today, culminating in the confirmands sharing their faith statements and being welcomed into full membership.
Pastoral Care and Counseling
The pastoral team at Community Congregational Church walks alongside members through the joys and challenges of life. The Reverend Dr. Johann J. Bosman, Lead Pastor, holds Master's degrees in Psychology and Theology and a Doctorate in Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. Alongside his preaching and leadership of the congregation, Pastor Johann provides coaching and counseling for teenagers and adults.
The Pastoral Care ministry includes hospital and home visitation when illness or mobility makes it hard to attend worship, confidential individual counseling for personal struggles or life transitions, and marital counseling for couples preparing for marriage or seeking to strengthen their relationship. The church describes this work simply: whether someone seeks encouragement, counsel, or just a listening ear, the pastors are there to help carry life's burdens.
Adult Life Together
Adult Ministries at the church offer a range of ways to grow in faith and friendship. A weekly Bible Study meets every Wednesday at 10:00 AM in Hauser Hall, drawing on discussion, prayer, and shared reflection that welcomes both newcomers to scripture and longtime readers.
The Women's Circle gathers once a month after worship for women of all ages to share conversation, laughter, and growth in faith. Church dinners bring adults together around the table for a meal and good company, and the congregation also enjoys local excursions, from museum trips in Boston and New York City to outings at places like The Boat House, as well as international trips together. Past journeys have taken the group to South Africa, France, Italy, Peru, and beyond.
The Reverend Dr. David (Dave) Knecht, Community Life Pastor, oversees this side of the church's ministry. He has served as a pastor in North Jersey and in Taiwan, where he met his wife, Mei, and his joy in ministry is seeing how the Holy Spirit works through the lives of Christians.
Music Ministry
Brian Dailey serves as Director of Music Ministries. A member of the chancel choir since December 1991, he brings long experience to the blended worship style, drawing on a range of musical traditions from hymns to contemporary songs. Outside the church, Brian teaches music for the Morris-Union Jointure Commission, working with children and young adults with autism, and in the summer months he serves as Program Director at Oak Crest Day Camp in Somerset.
OASIS: Monthly Outreach in Irvington
One of the most distinctive ministries of Community Congregational Church is OASIS, a monthly community distribution program that serves families in Irvington. OASIS operates three programs with one shared mission: a Food Pantry offering shelf-stable goods, fresh produce, frozen meals, and occasional household staples, distributed grocery-style with no pre-packaged bags and no questions asked; a Diaper Bank providing diapers in multiple sizes along with wipes and occasional baby care essentials; and a Period Project that assembles kits of pads, tampons, and hygiene products to address period poverty with dignity and discretion.
Volunteers help pack and distribute these essentials each month, and the work is supported by an annual Rummage Sale whose proceeds go to local organizations like The Warehouse NJ and Oasis, supporting families transitioning out of homelessness. Gently used books can be dropped in a green bin behind the church as part of a partnership with New Legacy Books, with proceeds also supporting Oasis and other community care programs. Monthly distribution dates run throughout the school year in partnership with the Irvington Board of Education.
Milestones: Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals
The church's Milestones ministry marks the significant moments of life with prayer, guidance, and care. Baptism is offered for children, youth, and adults as a sign of belonging and commitment to the Christian journey. Weddings take place in the sanctuary, a sacred space set apart for couples to begin their married life together. In times of loss, the church provides a place of comfort, remembrance, and hope, with funeral and memorial services that honor the life of the person who has died while proclaiming the promise of resurrection.
The Hive Pre-K Summer Camp
Community Congregational Church also runs The Hive, a Pre-K summer camp for children ages 3 to 5. The Hive takes a holistic approach to early childhood development, blending language, literacy, and math foundations with imaginative play, explorative learning, and a Christ-centered environment grounded in love for all and all creation, compassion, kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, faith, and integrity. It is an interdenominational program designed to help children feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure as they grow.
Giving and Getting Involved
Gifts to the church support its mission to serve God and neighbor in Short Hills and beyond. Community Congregational Church is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and donations can be made online by credit card or ACH bank transfer, by texting the word GIVE to (973) 370-8817, through Venmo at @communitychurchshorthills, or by check mailed to the church office. A separate Outreach Fund supports the Oasis feeding, diaper, and period supply ministry, and pledging is also part of the church's annual rhythm of stewardship.
The church building itself is also available for rental for events that align with its values, with applications reviewed by a committee. Rentals are not permitted for events involving gambling or the serving of alcohol.
Staff and Leadership
Alongside Lead Pastor Johann Bosman, Children and Family Pastor Margie Price, and Community Life Pastor Dave Knecht, the staff includes Brian Dailey as Director of Music Ministries, Linda Langstaff as Financial Director, and Rachel Victer as Director of Marketing and Community Outreach. The congregation is governed in ways that reflect the UCC's commitment to shared leadership and the active involvement of women, and the staff works alongside members as they lead, make decisions, and nurture the community.