Our Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Ruth L. Boling is a pastor, writer, storyteller, mom and wife. Before coming to Bloomfield in 2012, she served churches in New York, New Hampshire and Ohio. She is a past recipient of the Alfred P. Klausler Sermon Award, and is the author of three children’s books including the bestselling WJK title, Come Worship With Me: A Journey through the Church Year. Her forthcoming Advent/Christmas book for adults, Season’s Greetings–Christmas Letters From Those Who Were There, will be released in September, 2024. A graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Yale University, she enjoys music, reading, travel, the great outdoors and the creative arts. She is passionate about children’s ministry, climate change and biblical studies. She loves red. Her favorite day of the church year is Pentecost.

Books by Ruth L. Boling

         

Our Organist/Choir Director

Dr. Jesse Gray has been hired to serve as our new Organist/Choir Director, effective September 1, 2025. After a two-month search, during which the position was publicized broadly through area Presbyterian Church networks, sacred music networks, universities, and old-fashioned word-of-mouth and email, the search committee interviewed four applicants. While all of the applicants impressed the committee in various ways, it was Jesse—in his interview and even more so in the music he played for the committee—on organ, piano and viola—who emerged as the clear, enthusiastic and unanimous choice.

Jesse’s musical journey began at age 4, learning viola and later, piano. He majored in music (viola) as an undergraduate at Andrews University, during which time he served as music director at Memorial Presbyterian Church in South Bend, IN. He then earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at Columbia University. He recently moved to Belleville, NJ, to work in a start-up company in the area. Now, he wishes to once again share his musical gifts in a local
congregation.

Dr. Gray’s references from the South Bend, IN, church spoke of him in nothing but
superlatives. His personal faith comes through in his music and in his manner of being with people of all ages.

For more about Dr. Gray, see the April 19, 2026 article in Essex News Daily

Other Staff

Administrative Assistant: Marlene Sasso
Bookkeeper: Mary Jones
Sunday Event Staff: Scott Maciag
Custodian: Jermaine Hinton