Spring 2023 Issue

of the one-story structure.
Byram Bay’s Sunday services are less formal
than those at many churches. There are no
candles, no vestments and no hymnals. There is,
however, music—a lot of music.
According to issues of the Lake Hopatcong
Breeze from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, music
was always a big part of church services.
The Saturday, August 8, 1931 issue includes the
following notice: “John A. Scott’s Happy Hour
from Station WAAM will be at the Byram Bay
Christian Church Sunday, August 16, at 4 p.m.
and you see how the Happy Hour has been
conducted at the studio for more than seven
years. Mr. Scott expects to bring some of his
singers with him. You have enjoyed listening in
on the radio, come out on the 16th and tell him
so.”
At the recent March service, Heather and
James Kohler—who are both elders serving
as board secretary and board treasurer,
respectively—led the musical worship. Heather,
the lead singer, was backed by husband James on
guitar, son Nathan on bass, Alex Edoh on drums
and backup singers Karen Adams, Serena Edoh
and Mark Johnson.
The music was contemporary and propelled
by Edoh’s driving bass drum. Instead of
hymnals, there was a large flat-screen television
displaying the words to each song—karaokestyle.
The group performed a series of upbeat,
contemporary tunes
reminiscent of modern
pop songs and got
congregants out of
their seats and onto
their feet.
A short intermission after the music led to Ken
Adams’ sermon, which touched on the Biblical
story of Paul’s conversion to Christianity on the
road to Damascus. Adams referred to his own
story of conversion and encouraged the group
not to give up on even the most difficult person.
Following the sermon, Adams shared news
about one of the families missing from the
service that day—the Colondrillo family. Usually
in attendance on Sundays, the Colondrillos had
just welcomed their eighth child.
Adams thanked and recognized church
members who had pitched in to feed and care
for the family’s seven other children and their
pets. Turning to another church member, Adams
led a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday to
You” for member Helen Sgambati, who recently
turned 96.
Sgambati, a 50-year resident of Hopatcong,
has been coming to the church for five years.
When asked what brought her to this particular
church, she replied, “God brought me here.”
Her sentiments are echoed by Stacy Herles,
a Stanhope resident and church member since
2015. Herles said the pastors brought her to
From left to right: The musical portion of
a recent service as seen from the church
balcony. Lucca Ginetto, Lincoln Edoh,
Ben Kohler and Matthew Kohler ring
the church bell to start the service. Mark
Hallock during the service.
the church. “I was looking to be saved and they
saved me,” she said.
Edoh, the band’s drummer, said he had been
looking for a church for 12 years. “I came here,
and I knew I had found what I was looking for,”
he said. Edoh, his wife Serena and their two
children, have been attending services for two
and half years.
Susan Priore, a three-year member, was
previously a lifelong Catholic attending church
near her Denville home. While searching for a
new place to dock her boat at Lake Hopatcong,
she said she saw a sign for a property auction
and wound up purchasing a lakefront property in
Hopatcong. Curiosity brought her to Byram Bay
Christian Church. “I like the fact that people here
know each other by name,” she said.
After the service ended, there was more
hugging and chatting. No one seemed in a hurry
to leave.
The music started again, this time played by
a pint-sized version of the adult band, with
the children of the congregation manning the
instruments—even if the guitar was almost as
tall as the guitarist and the drum set swallowed
up the drummer.
15th Annual
Spring Charity Hike
Hudson Farm Club • 270 Sparta-Stanhope Rd. • Andover
Saturday, May 13, 2023 (Rain or Shine)
7:30AM (Last hiker may enter at 11:00AM)
This event is open to everyone!
Benefits many local organizations
Complete the hike—get $1 per year of age—donate to any participating organization
Lunch and souvenir gift compliments of the Hudson Farm Club
For details call Anthony Luciani at 201-874-1412 or Donna Luciani at 973-222-8398
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