Frenchtown Presbyterian Church stands on 4th Street in the small borough of Frenchtown, New Jersey, a single block off Bridge Street and the Delaware River. The congregation gathers there every Sunday morning at 9:30 for intergenerational worship that weaves together choir, praise band, Communion, and a children's message, and the same building opens its doors most days of the week for a food pantry, recovery meetings, and community events.
Sunday Worship at 9:30
The Sunday service at 9:30 AM is described by the church as an intergenerational celebration. On the first Sunday of the month the congregation marks Communion, and children and youth remain with their families in the sanctuary for the whole service. On the other Sundays of fall, winter, and spring, the morning begins with all ages together and young people move to their own Kids' Communities after the Children's Message. Music is varied: the adult choir sings regularly, instruments accompany the liturgy, and the praise band brings a more contemporary sound from time to time. Coffee and bagels in the Fellowship Hall bookend the service and offer a chance to meet friends and catch up.
Worship is livestreamed on YouTube each Sunday for those who cannot attend in person. A full sermon archive is available on Spotify for catch-up listening at any hour of the week.
The Building on 4th Street
The church at 22 4th Street holds its main worship in the Sanctuary and shares its lower level, Fellowship Hall, dining and meeting space, and a commercial kitchen with the wider community. The FPC Food Pantry operates from the lower level every day of the week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, accessed through the back door of the building. The same spaces are rented out to outside groups when they are not in use by the congregation.
Priority for facility rentals goes first to church members and groups, and second to community individuals, groups, and non-profit organizations whose philosophies do not conflict with the mission and purpose of the church. The commercial kitchen rents at $25 per hour. Sanctuary rental is $200 for non-members, the dining and meeting hall is $250, and the two together with the kitchen run $420, with a donation suggested for member groups. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises, and renters are responsible for removing their own garbage.
Music Ministry
Music is woven into the rhythm of the church. The adult choir sings weekly at the 9:30 service and rehearses on Thursday evenings, welcoming all voices, trained and untrained. The choir is led by Music Director, Pianist, and Organist Kyle Tinnes, who came to FPC in June 2025 after nearly twenty-seven years in congregational music ministry. A native of Pittstown and a graduate of North Hunterdon High School, Kyle went on to study history at The College of New Jersey and holds a Master of Arts and Letters from Drew University and a Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He still teaches in the Social Studies Department at Delaware Valley Regional High School.
A separate Praise Band rehearses through the year and prepares more contemporary music for worship, providing the blend of styles that Kyle has made a centerpiece of his ministry. Past concerts in the sanctuary have included vocal recitals by visiting musicians.
Children and Youth
FPC nurtures children through Kids' Communities that meet during the school-year service hours. The aim is to help young people grow familiar with God's Word, delight in a personal relationship with God, and form intergenerational and peer connections through interactive, engaging programs.
Youth in 6th through 12th grade are invited into a youth group that gathers for monthly events and outings. Families interested in joining are asked to share their contact information so they can be added to the group's communication list.
Adults and Presbyterian Women
Opportunities for adults at FPC take many shapes - Bible study, service projects, fellowship meals, and small gatherings for prayer and friendship. Presbyterian Women, led by Gayla Gerhardt, meets throughout the year to plan events that raise money for mission and ministry both locally and around the world, with time for prayer and socializing woven in.
The FPC Food Pantry
The FPC Food Pantry is one of the congregation's most tangible expressions of its mission. Located on the lower level of the church building and accessible every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM through the back door, the pantry supplies healthy groceries to neighbors in need. Donations of non-perishable food are always welcome, financial contributions can be mailed to the church office, and volunteers help organize the shelves. Questions about the pantry go to fpcpantryon4th@gmail.com.
A Hub for Recovery and Community Life
The building serves as a meeting place for several twelve-step recovery groups. The week begins with a Kick-Start AA meeting at 6:30 AM on Tuesday and ends with a Young Peoples AA meeting at 7:30 PM on Saturday. Tuesday brings a Comfy Couch meeting at 7:30 PM, Wednesday offers Wrath of Grapes at 7:30 PM, Thursday returns to a 6:30 AM Kick-Start, Friday gathers at noon, and Saturday opens with a Morning Star Women's meeting at 9:00 AM. A Sunday 6:30 AM Kick-Start meeting rounds out the cycle.
FPC also hosts a Boy Scout troop and a Girl Scout and Brownies group, and opens its doors for occasional community gatherings such as country line dancing nights, chicken barbeque lunches, blood drives, and a Super Senior Ice Cream Social. Vacation Bible School, presented in recent summers under a theme like Snowball Mountain Challenge, runs weekday mornings for children in early July.
Leadership: Rev. Emily R. McCachren
The Rev. Emily R. McCachren (pronounced Ma-Catherine, and called Rev. Em) became pastor of FPC in December 2024. A Princeton Theological Seminary Master of Divinity graduate (2018) and an Elon University Religious Studies alumna (2015), Rev. Em grew up in Morristown and now lives in Frenchtown with her two daughters, Rosemary (Rosie) and Sybil, a dog named Marcy, and two cats, Fin and Clara. Her ministry centers on worship that engages body, mind, and soul, along with Bible study, pastoral care, and mission work.
Supporting the pastoral staff is Music Director and Organist Kyle Tinnes, Church Secretary Lea Raymond, and Financial Manager Mary Ann Hampton.
Governance by the Session
Frenchtown Presbyterian is led by the Session, made up of the pastor and the ruling elders elected and ordained by the congregation. Elders oversee day-to-day ministry, manage finances and property, and supervise the work of deacons. The Session generally meets on the third Tuesday of each month.
The 2026 Session includes Clerk Kathy Skerbetz, Shari Bethman-Bjellquist (Christian Education), Jennifer Campbell (Mission and Outreach), Gayla Gerhardt (Music and Worship), Ed Marston (Building and Grounds, and Personnel), Matt Melbourn, Diane Reed (Membership and Communication), and Don Hannis (Stewardship and Finance).
Affiliations and Partners
Frenchtown Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), within the Presbytery of the Highlands of NJ. The Presbytery, based at 390 Route 10 West in Randolph, NJ, supports the church through its regional ministry. In addition to its denominational ties, FPC partners with the twelve-step recovery groups, a Boy Scout troop, and a Girl Scout and Brownies group that use its building.
Visiting and Getting Involved
The church sits at 22 4th Street, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, with a mailing address of PO Box 114. Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30, and coffee and bagels follow in the Fellowship Hall. Visitors who want to follow along online can watch the livestream on YouTube or listen to past sermons on Spotify. The church office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM and can be reached at (908) 996-2227 or office@frenchtownpres.org. Donations are accepted through an online giving portal and by mail to the church office. Anyone interested in the food pantry, the youth group, the choir, or any of the recovery meetings can use those same contacts to find a way in.