In 2000 Bill began volunteering as a Sunday School Teacher at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, in Chatham, NJ. He would later become the Junior High Program Director. During his time in Chatham Bill attended Princeton Theological Seminary where he completed a three year seminar program to receive his certificate in Youth and Theology.

Rita and Tom have two children. Their daughter, Rachel, a scientist, is married and resides in Virginia with her husband and their two children. Their son, Todd is a computer software developer and lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. A member of First Presbyterian Church, Blairstown since 1979, Rita has served as Elder, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and on various committee's of the church. Currently, she sings with the church's Chancel Choir and Praise Team and serves on the Stewardship/Finance/Enduring Gifts Ministry Team and the Nehemiah Project.

Rita enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Alphons Gunther - Organist
Alphons (Al) Gunther was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands September 25, 1944 to Harry and Cornelia Gunther, and the eldest of nine children. He began playing the piano at the early age of 4, his father, Harry, also a church organist, choir master and pianist, being his first music teacher. Al's first public performance on piano was at the age of nine when he performed his father's arrangement of Rachmanioff's "Prelude in C Sharp Minor" in front of about 1500 people at a national celebration of the Queen's birthday. He writes, "I think I was too young to be nervous."

In 1959, at the age of 15, Al immigrated to the United States with his parents, brothers and sisters. He learned the English language, attended Holy Trinity High School in Westfield, NJ, and eventually matriculated at and graduated from New York City's famous Julliard School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1968.

One week after his graduation from Julliard, he and the former Patricia "Pat" Colwell of Garwood, NJ, were married, and in July, one month later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Okinawa where he served as the chaplain's assistant and taught music at a private high school of U.S. servicemen on his day off.

Al has served as the church organist at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa, a small Polish parish in South Plainfield, NJ, Our Lady of the Valley in Orange, NJ and substituted at houses of worship, including Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, NJ and the Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston, NJ.

During the mid-60's, as a consequence of Vatican II - when the Roman liturgy changed from Latin to the English vernacular - he and his father, Harry, developed a new chant system, which was printed and published by 'Gregorian Institute of American in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, Mr. Gunther has written and compiled fifty popular hymn arrangements.

In 1981, Al, his wife, Patricia, and his three children moved to Blairstown, and shortly following, Al became the substitute organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Blairstown, NJ. Two years later he became the church's full time organist and choir director. In 2003, the church honored Al for 20 years of devoted service. Al is dearly loved and appreciated by the choir and members of the church.

He plays to the glory and praise of God and inspires all who listen to experience the wealth and riches of music offers and to explore the wonderful world of music that will lift your spirit to the highest heavens!