Dear St. John’s, Yesterday was the feast day of St. Matthew the Evangelist. Our church is named after St. John the Evangelist. We know them as the credited authors of two of the Gospels, the written accounts of the Good News of Jesus’ life and ministry, death and resurrection. Those accounts have helped to spread and build faith throughout the world for almost 2,000 years. As baptized Christians, we are called to carry on the evangelists’ work of sharing God’s Good News. One way to do this is to share stories of our faith. To help us learn how to do this, or to do it better, the diocese is offering a workshop called “This is My Story: Learning to Share Our Faith Stories” from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, at St. Elizabeth’s, Ridgewood. I hope you will consider attending as a step toward deepening your own faith and sharing it with others. Here is the link for more information: https://dioceseofnewark.org/.../my-story-learning-share... Rev. Sharon
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Dear St. John’s, It probably won’t surprise you that I’ve been thinking a lot about mothers this week. I am deeply grateful for all of the prayers and support I’ve received after my mother died last Sunday. They have sustained me and my family in this difficult time. Mothers are powerful figures in our lives. They carry us from our inception, give birth to us, guide and nurture us. Because of this, mothers are an important symbol. We speak of Mother Earth, for example, who hosts and supports the life of all creatures and plants on our planet. In the church, while we often talk about God the Father, we also see biblical imagery of God the Mother. Deuteronomy 32:18 speaks of the God who gave us birth. In Isaiah 66:13, God says, “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” In Matthew and Luke, Jesus speaks of wishing to gather the children of Jerusalem together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Let us give thanks for our Heavenly Parent, the source and sustainer of our existence and the comforter of all who mourn. And let us give thanks for our earthly parents, who love and nurture us while we are here together and who remain as blessed memories when we are parted. Rev. Sharon Important announcements: This Sunday, Sept. 17, we will worship at St. John’s Lodge, 280 Boulevard, in Mountain Lakes as we join the church St. John’s founded, St. Peter’s, in a special service celebrating its 100th anniversary. Suggested arrival time is 10 a.m. for the 10:15 a.m. service. Parking is available at the lodge and nearby Island Beach. Next Sunday, Sept. 24, we anticipate worshiping again in the parish hall for safety reasons while repairs are being made to the ceiling in the church. Deacon John will be leading Morning Prayer. That day also is Boonton Day, from noon-4 p.m. Please let me know if you can volunteer some time at our table that afternoon. The Tricky Tray is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Parsippany PAL Building, 35 Baldwin Road. Don’t miss out! Tickets are available online only. Click the Tricky Tray link on our website, or go directly to https://tinyurl.com/DogLoversTrickyTray Dear St. John’s,
Thank you all for your prayers and messages. I am thankful to be part of such a caring community. My mom entered home hospice care this week in the house where I grew up on Long Island. My father, her spouse of 60 years, is with her, and my brother has come up from North Carolina. I am continuing to travel frequently back and forth from New Jersey to Long Island to support my parents. If any of you need to reach me for pastoral care or other concerns, I am available by phone, text or email. You also can reach out to Kathy Cascone or Deacon John about pastoral concerns. This Sunday will be Morning Prayer with guest preacher John Dermody, an Army veteran who will reflect on the anniversary of 9/11. I look forward to worshiping with you next on the 17th, when we join St. Peter’s in Mountain Lakes to celebrate their 100th anniversary and then enjoy a festive meal together. Rev. Sharon Dear St. John’s, Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, as the days continue to lengthen, the weather cools, and students and teachers prepare to return to school. Some folks take a last trip to the Shore or host a family gathering. In Boonton, the weekend brings the annual firemen’s parade and carnival. As we enjoy the holiday festivities, let us also pause to remember and give thanks for the accomplishments of American workers, which Labor Day was created to honor. Let us give thanks for individuals like Episcopalian Frances Perkins, U.S. secretary of labor from 1933 to 1945, who worked to improve conditions for America’s workers. And let us pray for those who are unemployed or underemployed, that they, too, may find meaningful work and sufficient wages. Rev. Sharon Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. “... God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 Dear St. John’s, I stopped by our Pledge Garden today for the first time in a while and was in awe. The small plants we put in the ground earlier this summer now fill the space with beautiful flowers and foliage. This week, I also visited the annual summer Drumming Camp at St. Stephen’s in Millburn, which several of the children in the Wilson House attended. There, I saw some children I hadn’t seen in person for two or more years because of COVID. Again, I was in awe of how tall they had grown and how beautifully they had “sprouted.” As we go about our day-to-day tasks, we can’t always see the progress we are making or the growth of the seeds we plant or the projects we begin. But, thanks to God’s grace, the growth does occur. We may not see it for awhile, but keep the faith: The harvest is coming! Rev. Sharon Dear St. John’s, Somehow, the August insects always sound different to my ears. They remind me that, even as we continue to enjoy hot sunny days and beautiful flowers, summer is winding down. Autumn is on its way. Sometimes we know change is coming. But sometimes it arrives abruptly. I’ve been reminded of that repeatedly in the last few weeks, as I’ve received word of sudden deaths at St. John’s and elsewhere. In the news, we see devastating wildfires in Hawai’i, a coup in Niger, political assassination in Ecuador. Through it all, we are comforted by the steadfastness of the God whose love for us never changes and by Jesus’ promise to be with us always. We remember that we remain in God’s care, no matter what happens. May we cherish our days together and trust that God will guide us through whatever changes are in our future. Rev. Sharon P.S. – Don’t forget that this Sunday we collect food for the local food pantry. We also will offer healing prayers after the worship service at the altar rail. O God, our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble. Have mercy on the lands damaged by fires. Have mercy on the lands where weather has destroyed livelihoods. Protect those who evacuate houses, and strengthen those who rebuild hope so that entire communities may face the future without fear. Amen. Dear St. John’s, I first became aware of the devastating Hawaii wildfires when my cousin posted a photo on Facebook and said he was preparing for a quick middle-of-the-night evacuation if necessary. Fortunately, the fire stopped about half a mile from his house. Two other friends formerly from the Diocese of Newark also posted that they are safe: the Rev. George Wong, former rector of Church of the Saviour in Denville, and Hawaii Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, who was a priest at St. Peter’s in Morristown when I first moved to the diocese. On a happier note, I learned through a post on our church Facebook page that frequent commenter Mike Casparian was a choir member at St. John’s years ago, when Mrs. Bidwell was the organist. These incidents reminded me, once again, of how connected we all are as members of Christ’s body. And they demonstrated that the tools of social media, which people often yield for less-noble purposes, can help us stay in touch with one another and connect across large geographic distances. Let us give thanks for our connections as members of God’s extended family. And let us pray for all affected by the wildfires, which have killed at least 55 people and displaced hundreds of families. In addition to prayers, we can help with monetary donations to the 2 Episcopal organizations listed below. Rev. Sharon
Dear St. John’s, This afternoon, I was thrilled to see a hummingbird flitting among my rose-of-Sharon bushes. Hummingbirds are among my favorite creatures (you might have spotted the one on my green stole). And there one was, visiting one of my favorite summer flowers. Our lives can be very busy, full or stresses and sorrows. But the world also is filled with great beauty and moments of wonder that help restore our souls. The flickering of lightning bugs in the lawn, a stunning moonrise, a field of wildflowers, the sound of waves at the Shore – all can bring a quick but powerful dose of joy and peace. The key is to pay attention, and to thank God for those flashes of beauty and joy. For surely they are a gift of the Spirit, moving into our lives with the graceful energy of a hummingbird. Rev. Sharon “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 Dear St. John’s, Earlier this year, WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer asked listeners to share the events that shaped them in a series called “News That Defined Your Generation.” While major events like Watergate and 9/11 immediately came to my mind, I realized that the event that affected me the most was one whose true impact I only felt years after it happened: the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church. July 29 marks 49 years since the first 11 women became Episcopal priests in Philadelphia in what initially was labeled an “irregular” ordination. Two years later, General Convention officially approved ordaining women to the priesthood starting Jan. 1, 1977, and “regularized” those 11 ordinations and four more that followed in Washington, D.C., in September 1974. I was a child when all of this happened and couldn’t have imagined the tremendous impact numerous female priests would have on my life, let alone that I myself would be called to ordination. I can only imagine how hard it was for women who previously felt that call and were told “no” simply because they were not men. I remain incredibly grateful for the Philadelphia 11, the bishops who ordained them and all who worked for many years to allow all who hear God’s call to ordination the opportunity to pursue it. Let us continue to work toward equality and equity for all within the church, for we all equally are children of God. Rev. Sharon P.S. – This Sunday, we will celebrate the anniversary of women’s ordination during our 10:30 a.m. Eucharist. Join us, and hear our guest preacher, Ms. Brigid Dwyer. She is the Youth and Children's Minister at St. George's Episcopal Church, Maplewood, and a PhD student in Bible and Cultures at Drew Theological School, where she also received her Master of Arts and Master of Sacred Theology, and was a classmate of mine. Brigid is also a nominee for Diaconal orders, serves on the ACTS/VIM board, and previously served on the Executive Board of the Union of Black Episcopalians, Diocese of Newark chapter. Dear St. John’s,
This week, I attended the Summer Music Institute at Drew Theological School. The one-day program provided continuing education on music and liturgy and how to make worship relevant in today’s society. We celebrated Eucharist, heard a keynote speaker, designed elements for a worship experience and sang lots and lots of music. For me, it was not only a day of learning but also a day of renewal. I saw beloved friends and worshiped and sang and exchanged news and broke bread with them. I made new connections. My son attended with me, and I experienced the joy of hearing him play cello along with the other instrumentalists. I ended the day energized, inspired and filled with new ideas and resources for ministry. Where do you find renewal? What nourishes your soul? What stimulates your intellect and creativity, or provides you with peace and a needed respite from life’s stresses? Perhaps you find it while gardening or baking or playing golf or walking through the woods or relaxing on a beach with a good book. Whatever it is, I hope you take time this summer to pursue it. Make time to do things that bring you joy, and may they renew your spirit. Rev. Sharon |
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