Looking north from Ocean Grove at Asbury Park.. Blogfinger photo. © Unless you are into the CMA “ministry” programs, you will have to look north to find much life style diversity this summer. And the crowding in the Grove might be stifling for those who would like a summer filled with air, light, families, visitors and relaxation.
Have you seen the summer schedule of the Camp Meeting Association? The Booklet is called “Ocean Grove 2021 Summer Program Guide.”
If you look through it you will see an overwhelming amount of religious programming—more than ever and extending beyond and before the summer and often from morning into night, every day, and occupying more space at the beachfront.
The OGCMA President opens the booklet by referring to the Grove as “the family-friendly, Christian beach that is Ocean Grove. ” He says that this town is a “Christian seaside setting.” As usual, the language used in the book confuses the Camp Meeting Association with the town of Ocean Grove.
The density of such summer programming is incredible for such a small community. It is crammed so full, that it might suck the oxygen out of this little Jersey Shore town, and the parking mess will only get messier.
The CMA is making sure that they dominate lifestyles here, and public apathy will make sure that they get their way in defining this town where many live who have other ideas of what summer might be.
The Camp Meeting Association seems to believe that OG is almost the same as it was when they were the only ones in town. And this booklet suggests that they are right.
Those who say “If you don’t like it, leave” may be offering the only alternative for some. We have seen neighbors leave already.
Those COVID escapees who came here recently from more urban and diverse environments, buying homes or renting, may be shocked to experience all this.
Get the booklet, read it, and imagine how the summer will be for those who make this town their home. You will have to modify how you conduct your lifestyle.
JESSICA MOLASKEY From her album Pentimento.
PS: I’m not a newbie. 30 years in the Grove, so it’s not like I don’t have an understanding of the town and what has been going on.
Paul Goldfinger – Excellent comment …”also search Blogfinger to find out about…..” Just look at all the issues you reminded us all of.
Regarding all the CMA religious programming: I think it’s arrogant, presumptuous, and controlling. They are forgetting a) that not all OG residents are of their ilk/religious beliefs, and b) that it’s not fair to ALL OF THE OG residents other than those at 54 Pitman Avenue to deluge our living space with daily and weekly programs/people/traffic. Not to even mention that we’re already bursting at the seams pre-season weekends.
Thank you for your insight.
“Diversity” is a major component of our quality of life. Yes, even in Ocean Grove. It includes:
+–observers of many religions
+–as well as non-believers, and
+–people of multi ethnic and native backgrounds
+–as well as those committed to different life styles.
That is our community in a changing world. Addressing their specific
needs –whether intellectual, emotional, recreational, inspirational, or spiritual
are basic tenets of all major religions.
Old Beacher. Please don’t confuse “Ocean Grove”with the CMA. The CMA does it all the time.
I agree that prospective residents should do research about the town. But the CMA web site (Oceangrove.org) says nothing about our concerns in this post regarding the massive summer programming by the CMA.
Those newcomer researchers should also search Blogfinger to find out about the North End controversy, the parking controversy, the culture wars, the town’s history, the crummy park management, COVID management, illegal condo conversions, ground rents, illegal zoning manipulations, current lawsuit between the CMA and Neptune, lawsuits involving the police and the town, quality of the schools, lifestyle concerns, one party rule in Neptune, and many other Grove issues and topics.
The CMA web site is not the place for researchers to learn what’s going on under the surface. And the realtors, who should provide some information, cannot be relied upon for that.
Also Beacher: You seem to think that the most important fact for a prospective Grover is the knowledge that OG is a Christian town.
But that is not how I see sit. Most towns have churches, so the fact that OG has Christian services is undoubtedly irrelevant for most newcomers.
For Blogfinger it is about the inundation of this town with religious programming. It is a life style issue, and it could just as well have been about a Hindu organization if such a group were to dominate in the Grove.
“Those COVID escapees who came here … may be shocked to experience all this.”
If people didn’t do their homework or research they have no one to blame but themselves. If one “Googles” OceanGrove.org and goes to the ‘Welcome’ page the first thing they see is a steeple with a cross in it, followed by a post about worship services. at that’s just the first link. It’s not like OG is hiding it’s Christian background or focus
The CMA will bring thousands of out of towners into the Grove this summer, but the CMA plans will be threatened by the parking situation. Some religious tourists will be turned off and will stay home.
Thanks Norm, but in your concluding sentence you left out religion, and that is the overwhelming component in the Ocean Grove “community, and,in my opinion, the volume burden needs to be moderated and balanced to have a town that works for all.
This religious element is different from any other Jersey shore town, so creative community planning is required.
Right now we have imbalance, and the CMA’s “mission” is carried forward without recognition of the majority secular population in town. Neptune Township expects us all to pay taxes and so they should reevaluate what sort of “historic district” we should have to benefit all.
They could start by redesigning and enforcing the Ocean Grove Master Plan.
Music–our international language–is the most encompassing, enriching efforts of the Camp Meeting Association. It reaches out to all segments of the community regardless of the level of religious beliefs.
As a 20-year resident, one can reflect on the comprehensive and balanced
presentations of diverse religious leaders, on the recreational Saturday night entertainments, and the involvement of community groups.
Diversity, recreation, community spirit–they are hallmarks of our quality of life in today’s world.
Regarding the specific events this summer, I did not want this post to be about that, although it might lead to discussing such specifics as bonfires on the beach.
But I would like to commend the Camp Meeting Association for retaining their marvelous commitment to serious mostly secular music such as the Gordon Turk organ concerts, Summer Stars including a “Grand Orchestra Finale on July 29; Songs on a Summer Afternoon with Ronald Naldi–our tenor in residence; the Atlantic Wind Ensemble (coming up on May 29–don’t miss it;) and, of course, the OG Summer Band.
Also I notice a “Holiday Encore” called “Jazz and Pizazz,” with Gordon Turk and a jazz trio on September 6. I am really hopeful for this concert, because there has rarely been any jazz in the Grove.
AND: For the July 4 holiday, on July 1, the fine New Jersey Wind Symphony will perform in the Great Auditorium from 7:30-9. this is part of the Summer Stars Series. In addition, on July 3, there will be a Patriotic Concert by the OG Summer Band in the Great Auditorium.
Then there is the magnificent “Choir Festival “on Sunday July 11 at 7 pm. Jason Tramm is the musical director, and the sound experience is glorious. Much of the program consists of hymns, but you can see the program when it is available. There will be a brass ensemble, the Hope Jones organ, and the mass chorus of hundreds of voices from several states. Couple all that with the GA’s famous acoustics, and you have an amazing musical experience.
On August 29 there will be a concert of “Sacred Masterworks. They will do Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer,” Faure´s Requiem in D Minor, and Michael John Trotta’s “Gloria.” The program doesn’t say if there will be a full orchestra.
Tell your friends to come to these OG musical events regardless of their religions.
The OG musical programming is first rate and great bargains. Details in the booklet.
Dave. Those Saturday concerts were immensely popular. I used to have a group of friends visit each summer for a Doo-Wops party and dinner. They would gladly have paid more for a ticket since those tix were under-priced. No, I suspect there is more to the story of why those secular concerts were cancelled.
As for the politics of the CMA, their political views were never publicly expressed, at least as far as I could see. But regarding certain issues that some might see as political, they were in synch with their religious views such as those having to do with abortion and gay marriage.
I never heard any political conversations from them, even when I was over there a lot post-Sandy. Since I don’t go to the Sunday services, perhaps their speakers might have had something to say about such subjects.
In fact we have never had an article on Blogfinger about the CMA’s politics, but if they were to express a political identity, it would not be surprising to find them to be conservative.
Dave: Once again thank you for your willingness to bring some new ideas and information to Blogfinger.
A while back, I happened to speak with an Association member and it was mentioned that the fees charged by the Saturday evening performers had reached the point where the events no longer broke even. Except for a few instances, I was never fond of these shows.
In case you unaware, the United Methodist Church is likely to split liberal/conservative in the near future. The Wesleyan Covenant Association that promotes a conservative or “orthodox” church held a convention in the Youth Temple.
This may hint at the sympathies of the OGCMA.