In this time of confusion and chaos, Bishop Hughes invites us to remember that God, who called all creation into being, is with us and even now is calling into being compassion, courage, faithfulness, and justice. (Time: 5:16.) Video Transcript This is Bishop Hughes in the Diocese of Newark. One of the things I do when I am facing a challenge or confusion or a time like the time that we’re in right now, is to ask myself, what does it remind me of in Scripture? I find the Bible very helpful to use to think through life. And so as I think about the situation that I’m facing, I ask that question, what does it remind me of in Scripture? And when I’ve been asking that question over the last two weeks – and it really has been the last two weeks that things have been full of intense change – when I ask that question, what comes to mind to me the most often is the very first story in Holy Scripture, and that is the creation story. And I think what draws me to that story, which is one of my favorites, is it tells us something about who God is, that God calls things into being, that God makes order out of chaos, that God created everything on the planet. God called all those things good. And when God called humankind into being, God called us in God’s image in some way, saying, let us make humankind, and let us make humankind in our image. Just that right alone, let us make humankind in our image says something about the vastness of who God is. We tend to think of God as this one person, but God is so much bigger than we can even imagine, think of, or describe. That all brings me great comfort in a time of confusion and chaos and a time where there are people who are really – terrified is the word – very scared about what might happen to them, and people who are navigating all those things around them, that in the midst of this, God is calling things into being. So as confusion and chaos continue, I’m going to invite you to do what I do, and start looking for how God is calling things into being. I think some of the things you can see. One, that there have been plenty of compassionate responses around us, that God is calling compassion into being – that when you see something happening to somebody else, if you know that person well, or even if you don’t know that person well, and your heart goes out to them, God is calling that into being. God is calling care into being. God is calling respect into being. God is calling justice into being. God is also calling this enjoyment of diversity, of all the differences that there are between us, and the many ways that we take a look at that and we even celebrate it. This is just the beginning of Black History Month. We celebrate the diversity that is Black History, and take some time to say, okay, in a world where our baseline is European culture, and our baseline is white, and especially in The Episcopal Church, where our Book of Common Prayer comes from England, and therefore it’s based on English culture, and that is the way we worship, and that we have our being together. But in the midst of that, we honor the diversity that is around us, and we see that not only as a blessing, but we see that as a way God calls things into being. God didn’t just call one animal and one plant and one person and one planet and one star. God called all kinds, all variations of those things, and all of them working together. And remembering the way God calls things into being and the vastness of God’s creativity and the joy that God took in that creation is a helpful reminder in the midst of this time that while things may seem simply confusing or simply dangerous, that even In the midst of that, there are people around us, many of them in our churches, many of them are clergy, many of them are laity, many of them who are leaning into compassion. Who are working as hard and as creatively as they can to show care for others. That all of that is coming into being at the same time. God is calling on our courage and God is calling on our faithfulness. We are not in this alone, and anytime that we have some sense of not quite knowing how to act, I invite you to ask that same question, what does this remind me of in Scripture? Scripture is a story of how God has been with God’s people at all times. So there are stories, there are things, there are prophecies, there are verses, there are words that can bring us hope and bring us the comfort that we need at any given time. And right now, it’s important to know that God that brought all of this into being is with us right now, working hard to bring goodness and to bring justice and to bring order where there is chaos.
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January 24, 2025
“Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b Dear Companions on the Journey, What a week it has been. Worship and service projects commemorated the prophetic witness and impactful ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States was celebrated at multiple festive occasions, including at a prayer service where Bishop Mariann Budde, Diocese of Washington, ended her sermon with a plea for mercy for those who fear what will come. All this took place by Tuesday of this week, as Executive Orders ushered in all sorts of changes, some impacting our churches. On Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained people at a Newark business. There is much demanding our attention. In this letter I want to focus on who we are as faith communities and how we treat each other in church. I will send a letter next week with specific guidelines and recommendations for Christian responses to Executive Orders that may affect our congregations. The people, lay and ordained, of our diocese are diverse in many ways including political party affiliation. This week, much like just after the election when we gathered at Convention, there are a variety of responses to all that I named above. On Sunday morning when we gather for worship, some will be delighted and excited by the changes this week brought. Some will be shocked and sad, while others will have had their worst fears confirmed. All those reactions will shape what we need and experience at church this Sunday. It is important for us to embrace our baptismal promises in our interactions with each other, especially these two:
I encourage every one of us to release our partisan political viewpoint while at church and instead to step fully into the role of follower of Jesus Christ. On Sunday we have a chance to care for each other as a treasured gift given to us to support our faith journey. We should ask each other if we are okay and then listen to the response. We need to ask each other for prayer, and we need to pray right then and there. Let coffee hour be a place where we talk about how God guided us through the week. We need to leave church having given and received the support of each other. In other words, Sunday is an opportunity for us to care for each other as God cares for us. Our practice of seeing each other as Christ sees us and loving each other will help us treat each other with respect. When you love somebody, you cannot help but want justice and peace for them too. The more we do this with each other, the more we will do it in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Our faith can and will change the dynamic of all that is around us, if with God’s help, we choose to lead our lives guided by Jesus’ teaching. We are not alone. God does not forget or overlook us. We are always in God’s sight. Grace and peace, Bishop Hughes January 31, 2025
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25: 38 – 40 Dear Companions on the Journey, We are in the season of Epiphany, the time when the church and her people celebrate the three magi arriving in Bethlehem. Their story, along with the stories of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and John the Baptist, are all marked by dreams, prophets, and angelic messengers. Amid the chaos and confusion inflicted upon a people by a census requiring travel to hometowns, God was guiding every participant in this uniquely divine and human drama. I am writing to encourage you in a time of chaos and confusion in our land. The unleashing of merciless directives in the form of Executive Orders has upended the lives of many people we know and love in our families, congregations, and communities. Shock, outrage, and fear are normal responses to these current circumstances. And yet even in these times, God does not leave us. In fact, when the least among us are troubled, God expects us to turn to them, using our gifts, knowledge, and resources to ease suffering, heal the afflicted, and assure the afraid that they are always in God’s sight. Let there be no doubt, it is not by happenstance that God gives us the opportunity to serve the least among us. It is God’s expectation that we will live into the divine and holy vision of a world transformed by God’s love, mercy, and justice. As we learned in the pandemic years, we have an expanding capacity to care for the least among us. We can expect that God will give us insight and wisdom in dreams, messages, and prophecies as God has so often done when God’s people need to see and be the light of Christ. The Executive Order rescinding protected status for churches, schools, and hospitals was shocking and had immediate impact in Northern New Jersey. The loss of safe spaces is especially grievous to churches. The church has been, is now, and will always be God’s house. The church is always home, for all of God’s people, at all times, regardless of circumstance or status. To treat it as one more secular place to bring harm to God’s people is the direct opposite of the teachings of Jesus Christ and ignores the freedoms of religion enshrined in the First Amendment. Work in our diocese is well underway to prepare and support congregations and ministries primarily comprised of and/or serving people of color in the event they need to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Additionally, clergy of color will be trained next week to avoid becoming collateral detainees as they make pastoral visits to hospitals or schools. This kind of preparation is not solely for the clergy and congregations of color, however. It is a ministry the entirety of our diocese is called to support. These are simple and practical ways that every congregation and member of our diocese can support immigrants and the people who serve them:
Grace and peace, Bishop Hughes Greetings to Members and Friends of St. John’s, Near and Far,
The Vestry gathered on September 19 to discuss the life of St. John’s, covering everything from our finances to managing the tasks that keep our doors open and welcoming to both new and familiar faces. St. John’s has a long and rich history in Boonton, and we deeply appreciate the members who, even after moving away or being unable to attend in person, remain connected with us. We delight in greeting the people who join us in person. We’re delighted to announce that Robert Gangewere is back to lead our music program, with Christian Carozza alternating Sundays as our organist. We also want to extend our gratitude to Wyatt Sikora, who has moved on to other opportunities after contributing his musical talents to our services. Joan and Debbie have been working diligently to prepare the Wilson House for rental and get the Rectory ready for sale. We’re happy to report that the Wilson House has been rented to a wonderful family who is engaged in local ministry. Additionally, we are renting the Parish Hall on Wednesdays to another religious group active in the community. Sharon Liparini and Sandra Lee Schubert will be attending the School of Ministry: Worship Leader training this Wednesday and again in October. You are welcome to join them—registration is open until Monday, September 23. Learn more here: School for Ministry: Worship Leader Training Across the diocese, many churches are facing challenges due to a shortage of clergy and declining attendance. Our Vestry, along with the diocese, is considering how best to respond. You can read more about these conversations in The VOICE Online: Who Will We Be in Ministry Going Forward? Every week, St. John’s opens its doors for the Saturday Luncheon Social, where local faith communities provide a meal for our neighbors. This Saturday, St. John’s is hosting, and we’ll be serving tacos with a side of fellowship! Want to lend a hand? Join us at 11 a.m. in the Parish Hall to help with setup, serving, and cleanup. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. Even if you’re not volunteering, you’re welcome to come by and enjoy a meal! Our Sunday morning prayer service is at 9:30 a.m. for the remainder of September. Starting October 6, we will return to our winter schedule with services at 10:30 a.m. We’re excited to welcome Canon Wright that day for a special visit. We are actively seeking fun ideas for fundraisers and volunteers to support the work of the church. Many hands make light work! If you have suggestions or are interested in volunteering, please email us at admin(at)stjohnsboonton.org. Prayer List If you’d like to add someone to the parish prayer list or request the removal of a name, please contact Kathy Cascone at mailto:casconek(at)yahoo.com Communication Staying informed is especially important during times of transition. Here are some ways to stay connected: - If your email changes, let Sharon Liparini know so you can continue receiving parish announcements. - Visit our website, Facebook page, and other social media channels for updates. (Reach out to Sandra Lee Schubert if you’d like to assist with posting photos and events.) - Subscribe to [The VOICE Online](https://dioceseofnewark.org/e-news), the diocesan newsletter published every other Wednesday, to keep up with news, events, and features from around the diocese. Save the Dates:
![]() School for Ministry: Worship Leader Training Wed, Sep 25, 2024, 7:00pm to 9:00pm Our warden, Sharon Liparini, and communications coordinator, Sandra Lee Schubert will attend this training. The training is open to any member of the congregation who would like to join us. Worship Leader training will be held this fall on these two dates: Wed. Sept 25, 7-9 PM via Zoom Sat. Oct 26, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM in-person (location TBD) This training will enable someone to plan and lead public worship. Training focuses on Morning Prayer and Ante-Communion (the Liturgy of the Word). In addition to this training, licensing as a Worship Leader requires submitting an application and verifying that they are Confirmed Communicants in Good Standing (Confirmed members who attend worship and give regularly) of a congregation in the Diocese of Newark. Worship Leaders must complete the Safe Church, Safe Communities training, which can be completed online. Deadline: Monday, September 23, 2024, 5:00pmWardens or Clergy: Please use this form to register participants for Worship Leader training. You can enroll at this link- School for Ministry: Worship Leader Training | The Episcopal Diocese of Newark Registration fee: The registration fee is $50. ANNOUNCEMENTS - The Week of June 16, 2024 (click here for the PDF version)
Here’s what’s happening at St. John’s, around the diocese, and in the local community. MOVING FORWARD Today is Rev. Sharon’s last Sunday as priest-in-residence at St. John’s. Deacon John will continue to officiate at morning prayer services each month, and the vestry is arranging for supply clergy to celebrate Eucharist on some Sundays. St. John’s also is seeking volunteers who can help with worship, including those who may wish to be trained by the diocese as lay worship leaders or preachers. Contact wardens Sharon Liparini and Debbie Henschel if you are interested. And reach out to them, Deacon John, or vestry members (Kathy Cascone, Fran Maenza, Joan Magrane, Michelle Riegel, Sandra Lee Schubert, Carl Sparano and Janice Schouten) with any questions, concerns, ideas or other parish business. Please contact Kathy Cascone with pastoral-care concerns. PRAYER LIST Let Kathy Cascone (casconek(at)yahoo.com or 973-219-1007) know if you wish to add anyone to the parish prayer list, or if a name is ready to be removed. COMMUNICATION Staying well-informed is important, especially during transitional times. Here are some ways to learn what’s happening and stay involved:
Dear St. John's,
I am eager to return to celebrate Holy Eucharist with you this Sunday. I had hoped to return from my medical leave in time for Pentecost, but, as the Robert Burn poem says, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley”! As humans, we move through time chronologically, planning for what will happen in the next moment and hour and day and year. But often, the future forces changes to those plans. When this happens, it’s helpful to remember that God is with us every moment – and that each individual moment is the only time we truly have. While it is good to plan ahead, there is no guarantee we will live to see the future we have planned for. So, let us not get so caught up in dwelling on the past or dreaming of the future that we forget to live in the present. Let us not miss the beauty of the iris or the flicker of summer’s first firefly or the love in a dear friend’s smile. “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24-25) Rev. Sharon Dear St. John’s,
I suspect none of us expected this morning’s earthquake. When such an unusual event occurs, we often look first to more ordinary explanations. I initially thought a tree fell on my house. Other friends at first attributed the rumbling to a passing truck, a car hitting the foundation of their building, an airplane crashing near Newark Airport and even to their washing machine. It’s like the Resurrection. No one expected Jesus to rise from the dead. So those who first saw the empty tomb assumed someone had stolen his body. Those who first encountered him didn’t recognize him at first. They thought he was a gardener or a fellow traveler on the road to Emmaus. And even though the miraculous event was the same, each person experienced and understood and interpreted it from their own location and perspective. So the Bible contains different accounts of the Resurrection. And we, too, experience the Risen Christ in different ways – often when we’re least expecting it. We, too, share our stories of when we have seen the Lord in our lives. Each story may be as unique as our fingerprints, because Jesus meets each of us where we are. But they all share the amazing, eternal truth on which our faith is based: Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! 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:
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 Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel at St. John’s for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dear St. John’s, This Sunday, we will gather in the parish hall after the 10:30 a.m. worship service for a special coffee hour and our annual meeting. We will hear updates on our church’s finances and ministries, and, in light of those reports, we will be discussing St. John’s future. We also will elect members to the vestry and other offices. I strongly urge everyone to attend. We want everyone to be informed, and we want everyone’s thoughts and ideas to be heard. If you cannot attend, or only follow us online, please keep St. John’s in your prayers as we discern what God is calling us to do in the days ahead. Rev. Sharon |
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