a note from rev. sharon

Dear St. John's,
   This Sunday, we are excited to welcome Bishop Carlye Hughes to St. John's. She will lead the worship service and join us for a short time at coffee hour, then meet with the vestry, wardens and clergy. 
   This will be a time to celebrate St. John's and also to assess where we are and dream about the future. So that we all are well-informed, in case any of you missed the annual meeting last Sunday, I'm printing a copy of my message below and attaching a copy of the annual report.  
   I hope you are all able to join us for this special Sunday.

Rev. Sharon

Annual report message: 

The past year was a busy one for St. John’s. We worshiped together every Sunday, undeterred by the occasional balky boiler, fallen plaster or winter storm. We buried beloved parishioners and baptized babies into our membership. We introduced a Longest Night service and revived the tradition of celebrating Palm Sunday with the First Presbyterian Church by eating breakfast together and processing with blessed palms between our churches.
 
Among our many other activities:

• In cooperation with other churches and organizations, we continued to provide food and companionship very week at the Saturday Luncheon Socials.
• We packed the parish hall with guests for the Peace Islands Institute’s iftar feast and Ramadan presentation.
• We planted a new perennial garden symbolizing our pledge commitments.
• We welcomed the community to view the Black Poster Project memorial to those lost to addiction, receive Narcan training and walk unique Stations of the Cross created by local artists. These efforts garnered both diocesan and national publicity.
• We participated in Boonton Pride Day.
• In conjunction with NorthStar animal rescue, we held a popular and successful tricky tray.
•  We launched family craft days that have drawn participants from in and outside Boonton.
• We continued to support the Ibrahimi and Mohabat families in their transition to life in America. The Mohabats have now taken the next step and moved to Ohio. The Ibrahimis will be moving onward this summer.
• As the “mother church,” we joined with St. Peter’s, Mountain Lakes, in celebrating their 100th anniversary.
• We welcomed everyone, including animals who came for blessings on St. Francis Sunday.  

   The year also brought challenges. Like many churches, St. John’s emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with fewer members and fewer financial resources. We raised nearly $10,000 in our tricky tray, and stewardship pledges for 2024 held steady from 2023. But this was not enough to overcome our ongoing deficit.
   Because of these ongoing financial pressures, I will conclude my time as priest-in-residence at St. John’s at the end of my two-year letter of agreement in June. During my remaining time here, I am working with the vestry to arrange training for those interested in assisting with worship. This includes members to lead Morning Prayer and to serve as readers of sermons as well as lessons. Periodic supply clergy will provide Communion each month. I also will be preparing bulletin templates to assist with future worship planning.
   On the financial side, the vestry is working hard to cut expenses and prioritize needed capital improvements. Among other things, it is exploring options for renting or eventually selling the rectory after the Ibrahimis move and looking for new fundraisers. 
   I am sad to leave this church community I have come to love. Members may be feeling anxious about entering a time of clergy transition and about making decisions about St. John’s future.
    Change and transition can be hard for all of us.
   But the COVID shutdown reminded us that, at its heart, the church is its people. St. John’s members are a faithful, loving church family. And we have Jesus’ promise that he will always be with us. So let us move forward in prayer with confidence as we prepare for and discern the future together. For, as one of my favorite hymns proclaims: God has work for us to do.
 
Rev. Sharon