Welcome to Bethel Presbyterian Church
300 East 5th Street.
Plainfield, NJ 07060
(908) 757-5390
Welcome to Bethel Presbyterian Church
300 East 5th Street.
Plainfield, NJ 07060
(908) 757-5390
In Loving Memory of Sister Iberia Randolph
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our dear Sister Iberia Randolph. She was a loving, energetic presence in our church family, and anyone who met her felt her warmth right away. She had a way of making people feel seen and cared for, and she was truly loved by all who came in contact with her.
Sister Iberia and her husband were devoted members of Bethel Presbyterian Church, and she served faithfully on the Session. Her joy, her dedication, and the spirit she brought into every room will be remembered for a long time.
Her funeral service will be held on May 30th at 11:00 AM at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Missionary Church in Abbeville, Alabama.
A Zoom livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link will be provided at a later day.
Please keep her family in your prayers as we thank God for her beautiful life.
Memorial Day: A Time to Pause and Remember
As a church family here at Bethel Presbyterian Church, we take a moment today to remember the heroes who gave everything for our country. We are grateful for their courage, their service, and the freedom their sacrifice allows us to enjoy.
We are also praying for the loved ones they left behind. May God surround them with comfort, strength, and peace today.
On this Memorial Day, we pause, we honor, and we remember.
Bethel is on a roll! We are thrilled to announce that our beloved church has undergone a transformation. With a fresh new look, we are more ready than ever to welcome our community with open arms. The recent renovations at Bethel Presbyterian Church have breathed new life into our sacred space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for all who enter.
From updated décor to enhanced facilities, every detail has been carefully considered to ensure that our church remains a welcoming haven for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate this exciting chapter in our journey.
Whether you're a longtime member of our congregation or someone seeking solace and connection, Bethel welcomes you with open hearts and open doors.
Come, experience the love of God in our refreshed surroundings. We look forward to sharing fellowship, worship, and the joy of community with you.!
A Life That Lifted Others: Honoring Dr. Derrick Nelson
A Tribute to Dr. Derrick Nelson
At Bethel Presbyterian Church, we honor the life of Dr. Derrick Nelson, a man whose leadership, compassion, and steady presence reflected the kind of love our faith calls us to live out.
Dr. Nelson served as principal of Westfield High School and spent nearly twenty years in the Army Reserve. Students knew him as someone who remembered their names, greeted them in the hallways, and made a large school feel personal. His influence came from the way he showed up every day with care and consistency.
His final act of service came when he chose to donate bone marrow to a fourteen-year-old boy in France. He did not know the child, yet he believed that if he could help someone live, he should. After the procedure, he suffered a rare medical complication and never regained consciousness. He passed away on April seventh, 2019, and the grief that followed reached far beyond his school community.
Dr. Nelson’s life reminds us of the deep tradition within Black communities of giving even when tired, serving even when overlooked, and protecting even while carrying their own burdens. His character stood in that lineage. He lived with discipline, compassion, and a belief that every person mattered.
Westfield later dedicated a memorial courtyard in his honor with the words Lift While You Climb, a phrase that captures the heart of his life. He lifted others through his leadership, his service, and his final act of generosity.
As a church, we remember Dr. Nelson with gratitude. His life reflects the words of Christ. Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Dr. Nelson extended that love even to someone he had never met.
May his example inspire us to serve with humility, to love with courage, and to lift others as we climb.
A Short Prayer in Memory of Dr. Derrick Nelson
Gracious God,
We thank You for the life of Dr. Derrick Nelson. Thank You for the compassion he showed, the students he lifted, and the courage he lived with every day. We ask that You comfort his family and all who still feel his absence. Help us carry forward the spirit of service he embodied. Teach us to love with the same quiet strength and to lift others as we climb.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Join Us in Serving or Receiving: Be a Part of Our Soup Kitchen Community!
Join Us Every Sunday For In-Person Or Virtual Church Service!
Join us at Bethel Presbyterian Church for In-person services every Sunday! Bring your family, friends, neighbors and be enlightened! You can also join virtually through our Zoom Service at 10:00am every Sunday.
Click below to Join our Sunday Service.