Wheelchair accessible
Hearing assistance devices available
Nursery care available 
129 Lincoln Ave Click here to locate us using Google Maps.
P.O. Box 671
Altamont, NY 12009
Phone:(518) 861-8711
Pastor: The Rev. Bob Luidens
Welcome to the Altamont Reformed Church website!
The Altamont Reformed Church (ARC) is a community of Christian believers called by God to be a part of the living Body of Christ, to worship God our King, and to obey Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Enabled by the Holy Spirit, we pledge to study the Bible and live the Good News. We endeavor to serve and care for each other and to reach out to the world, sharing God's love and inviting all to join in joyful discipleship.
The ARC congregation thanks you for visiting this website, and hopes that it assists you in finding any and all information that you may find helpful, including becoming a part of the congregation’s life if you happen to be looking for a church home. If you have any questions that may go unanswered by this website, you are welcome either to call (518-861-8711) or e-mail the church at altamontreformed@yahoo.com.
I look forward to sharing in the Christian pilgrimage with any and all who feel led by our loving God to share in the life of ARC.
God’s blessings to one and all!
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Bob Luidens
Sunday Schedule |
|
ARC Angels Choir rehearsal |
9:00-9:30 AM |
Sunday School |
9:30-10:15 AM (for PreK-Adult) |
Chancel Choir rehearsal |
9:30-10:15 AM |
Son Beams Choir rehearsal |
10:00-10:20 AM |
Worship |
10:30 AM (Nursery care available for infants-age 2) |
Children and Worship |
11:00-11:45 AM (for PreK-2nd grade) |
Coffee Hour fellowship time |
11:30-noon |
Sundays, July through Labor Day weekend: |
|
No Sunday School |
|
Worship |
9:30 AM (Nursery care available for infants-age 2) |
Children and Worship |
10:00-10:45 AM (for PreK-2nd grade) |
Those who feel led to become full members of the Altamont Reformed Church are welcome to do so through several approaches. Those who are members in full in other Christian congregations may have their membership transferred into ARC. Those who have not been part of a church for a long period, but who made a confession of Christian faith in the past years, may be received by re-affirmation of their faith. And those who have never been part of a congregation nor have ever made a confession of Christian faith, may make such a statement of faith and be received in this manner.
An Inquirers' Class is offered annually, led by Pastor Bob Luidens. It provides a setting for those who are interested in becoming members of ARC to reflect in a group setting on the history, teachings and structure of the Reformed Church in America, the denomination of which ARC is a member church.
Contact Pastor Bob Luidens for more information.
The church's pastor is always available to provide pastoral support for individuals, couples, and families. Requests are always welcome for the purpose of scheduling in-home visitation, hospital and nursing home contacts, or conversations in the pastor's study.
Contact Pastor Bob Luidens; members of the Board of Elders.
We are blessed to have a diverse ministry to families that include children and youth, under the able staff support of Eve Mayhew Guskie, our Ministry Associate for youth and their families.
During the school year, middle school and high school youth groups meet at the church 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. Both groups have teams of adult volunteers who lead Bible studies, discussions, game time, etc. Additionally, a 4th/5th grade youth group meets monthly on Friday evenings for games together.
Special fellowship and service opportunities for youth include a winter youth retreat, Youth for Christ Excel and Break Out mid-winter weekends in Saratoga, local food pantry work, leadership of a late-fall Youth Sunday worship service, an ecumenical 30 Hour Famine venture, a Good Friday baking ministry, among others.
Kids Time!, a monthly, Wednesday afternoon ecumenical after school program for 1st through 5th graders, meets at St. Lucy's Parish Center in Altamont and provides a dynamic setting for growth and fellowship.
A thriving, ecumenical Vacation Bible School is offered each August for PreK through elementary aged children. It meets at St. John's Lutheran Church in Altamont, and welcomes teen and adult volunteers as leaders.
Contact persons: Eve Mayhew Guskie, staff; Christine Capuano, chairperson of the Youth Ministry Committee.
We are a believing community who value the importance of ongoing education in the Christian faith. We therefore offer Sunday school classes for all ages.
During the school year, PreK through 2nd graders meet in their own class from 9:30 to 10:00, while 3rd graders through adults meet in classes from 9:30 to 10:15 each Sunday. Most classes are led by team-teachers. Additionally, PreK through 2nd graders meet together in a "Children and Worship" setting all year long during the second half of the worship hour.
Adult and older teen volunteers are always welcome to offer to join the committed group of teachers and Sunday school workers.
Contact Persons: Theresa Lasselle and Victoria Wagner Segrue, Sunday school superintendent and assistant superintendent; Pastor Bob Luidens.
We believe God calls us to engage in service and mission, both locally as well as beyond our village.
We provide significant financial and prayer support to Christian ministries and mission ventures in the Capital District (such as food pantries, ARISE, Schenectady Inner City Mission, Community Caregivers, Youth for Christ, Ahana House for AIDS patients, Ellis Hospital Weekend Chaplaincy, etc.), as well as to those that are national and international in scope (such as Hope College, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, missionaries in Oklahoma and the Middle East, Reformed Church World Service, etc.).
Through our congregation's youth and "People in Mission" efforts, we have hands on involvement in service work through such ventures as Habitat for Humanity, the Apache Reformed Church (in Oklahoma), Project Hospitality (on Staten Island), Christmas family care (each December), the Homeless Action Committee's shelter in Albany, and more.
We welcome everyone's participation in these diverse ministries!
Contact person: Kitt Jackson, Benevolence Committee chairperson.
We share in a number of opportunities for fellowship that is typically intergenerational. Volunteers help to plan and coordinate such opportunities as:
New suggestions for fellowship opportunities are welcome anytime!
Contact person: Bob Luidens, Congregational Life Committee chairperson.
ARC has a longstanding history of quality Christian music ministry. Our Minister of Church Music is Diane Kingsland, who is assisted by several volunteers who work with the youngest choir.
Music during our regular worship is both traditional and contemporary, and is primarily accompanied by the rebuilt pipe organ. We use both The Hymnbook and The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration, as well as other musical resources from time to time.
All singers are welcome to be part of one of three choirs, each of which rehearses and sings throughout the school year. The Chancel Choir (high schoolers through adults) sings regularly, with rehearsals on Thursday evenings (7:00 - 8:30) and Sunday mornings (9:30 - 10:15). Additionally, the Chancel Choir leads two entire worship services with seasonal music in both December and June. Two youth choirs rehearse as follows on Sundays during the school year: the ARC Angels Choir (3rd graders through high schoolers): 9:00 - 9:30, and the Son Beams Choir (PreK through 2nd graders): 10:00 - 10:20.
During the summer, opportunities are available for individuals who feel led to lead in vocal or instrumental music ministry during the morning worship service.
Contact persons: Diane Kingsland, staff; Craig Sargent, chairperson of the Worship Life Committee.
The Consistory is the congregation's governing board, and is comprised of five elders and five deacons, as well as the pastor. The Consistory is served by several standing committees, etc., including:
Everyone is welcome to serve with one or another of these committees, as well as with a number of ministry teams and task groups that they help to oversee.
Contact person: Pastor Bob Luidens.
The church building is well used. In addition to regular worship, youth group and Sunday school use, the building is used for such events or groups as:
Contact persons: Linda Warnken, Office Administrator; Pastor Bob Luidens.
Bob Luidens |
Pastor |
Diane Kingsland |
Minister of Church Music |
Eve Mayhew Guskie |
Ministry Associate for youth and their families |
John Warnken |
Sexton |
Linda Warnken |
Office Administrator |
All five can be contacted at the following:
129 Lincoln Avenue
P.O. Box 671
Altamont, NY 12009
Phone:(518) 861-8711
email: altamontreformed@yahoo.com