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…ST. FRANCIS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

COMMUNIQUÉ

JUNE 2010 EDITION

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Last month I asked, What’s Next? in the life and ministry of St. Francis. Your vestry and clergy, with the excellent leadership of Mother Sheelagh Clarke, spent a hard-working 24 hours at the Convent of St. John the Baptist to start the process of moving us forward into God’s future.

We began by looking at the challenges of the past, describing the strengths that had helped St. Francis get through them and claiming the confidence for the future that those experiences had given us. We named assets and values of the parish, explored how we experience God’s presence in our common life, looked at our ministry context and attended to God’s call to let the “whole world see and know” (Book of Common Prayer p. 515) God’s work in and through us.

Last and by no means least, we began to develop a set of goals to guide our ministry in the coming years. Mother Sheelagh, an experienced strategic planner, recommended we set goals in 3 different time frames:

• One Year Goals
• One to Three Year Goals
• Three to Five Year Goals

The results of the Vestry’s work are on the next two pages and we want you to read them carefully.

We know that we need the input and support of the whole congregation to determine which goals to put our energy into (especially as there are more possibilities here than we can tackle at once) and to bring them to fruition.

So… beginning in Church on Sunday June 13^th and extending through our Picnic Sunday, June 27^th , you will have the chance to let us know what you think about these goals and which ones you want to work on in some simple and, we hope, fun ways. To prepare for that opportunity, please ponder the vestry’s work over the next few weeks. If you have questions, please ask any of the Vestry who were on the retreat. Above all, pray that together we may listen to God’s voice and be prepared to do God’s work as we move into the years to come.

Peace,

Jack

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One Year Goals

YOUTH GROUP

· Form an active Youth Group at St. Francis

o Nancy Dunham & Paul Sinckler will co-lead, starting this fall. Can you help?

NEWCOMERS

· Develop a process to welcome, track & incorporate newcomers into the life of St. Francis.

o Deacon Marge is forming a team to work on this critical task. Can you help?

IDENTIFY TALENTS

· Identify talents that parishioners have to offer for the ministry of St. Francis.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

· Provide opportunities for Bible Study, the sharing of our faith stories and deeper fellowship.

TRANSPORTATION

· Offer transportation to parishioners who need rides to/from church (and other places)

One to Three Year Goals

PARKING LOT

· Pave and expand the parking lot to provide room for growth and greater ease of parking.

o Research of storm sewer plans for New Market Rd by the Borough of Dunellen has begun.

INTENTIONAL INVITATION

· Develop multiple ways to invite people in the community to events and worship at St. Francis.

GIFTING/TITHING

· Develop a spirit and practice of generous giving in the congregation.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

· Hire a paid administrative assistant.

LINKS WITH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH

· Create links with the local Lutheran Church, including shared Vacation Bible School.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

· Assess the needs in our community to which St. Francis could respond with outreach projects.

Three to Five Year Goals

COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH PROJECTS

· Develop community outreach project(s) based at St. Francis, possibly using the Vicarage.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERVICE/MINISTRY

· Offer worship in a language other than English and ministry to/with people whose first language is not English.

THREE SERVICES

· Offer three services each Sunday/weekend.

FULL-TIME PRIEST

· Have a full-time priest.

MOVE FROM MISSION TO PARISH STATUS

· Be recognized as a Parish of the Diocese

o St. Francis is currently classified as a Mission congregation of the Diocese.

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Birthdays & Anniversaries in June

Happy Birthday to:

Madison Jarvis – 6/3

Kim Myers – 6/8

Tammi Heiney – 6/10

Robert Rojewski – 6/12

Reggie Myers – 6/15

Barbara Herman – 6/16

Peter Hausman – 6/16

Barbara Dalto – 6/17

Alexander Murray – 6/20

Matthew Murray – 6/20

Julia Parmelee – 6/22

Judith Yannariello – 6/25

Anniversary of Baptism

Natalie Toke – 6/1

Matthew Toke – 6/1

Lauren Telesco – 6/1

Alex Meyer – 6/1

Benjamin Webb – 6/1

Seth Heiney – 6/3

Karen Williams – 6/9

Cordell Trotman – 6/18

Richard Trotman, Jr. – 6/18

Jarrel Cudjoe – 6/21

Lucas Doesburgh – 6/22

Anniversary of Confirmation

Neil Donnelly – 6/1

Audrey Johansen – 6/6

Karen Williams – 6/8

Tiffany Cudjoe – 6/9

Sheron Cudjoe – 6/9

Patrick Ward – 6/16

Jarrell Cudjoe – 6/16

Mae DeRogatis – 6/16

Anthony DeRogatis, Jr. – 6/16

Wedding Anniversaries

Anthony & Daryl DeRogatis – 6/1

Marian & Johnnie White – 6/14

Calvin & Joy King – 6/21

Brian & Allison (York) Autin – 6/23

Clinton & Norma O’Sullivan – 6/24

Brian & Jill Conway – 6/29

If your family’s birtdays, baptism or confirmation dates, or wedding anniversary have

failed to appear in this column, please contact me or someone in the office.

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Serving the Church During June

Sunday, June 6^th

8 AM Lector - Carroll Wilson

Chalice - Paul Sinckler

Usher - Carroll Wilson

10 AM Acolytes - Cecil Baker, Ashley Beam, Nancy Crowther

Lectors - Princess Thomas, Pam Maiolo

Chalice - Elaine Patania, Princess Thomas

Ushers - Waring Webb, Pam Maiolo

Greeter - Norma Trimmer

Counters - Audrey McConney, Nancy Dunham

Altar Guild - Leslie Oliver, Pam Maiolo, Cordell Trotman

Sunday, June 13^th

8 AM Lector - Amy Myzie

Chalice - Norma Tucker

Usher - Ed Myzie

10 AM Acolytes - Kelsey Pelliccia, Jonathan Parmelee, Arielle Baker

Lectors - Leslie Oliver, Elaine Patania

Chalice - Tiffany O’Sullivan, Norma Tucker

Ushers - Barbara O’Neill, Arthur McConney

Greeter - Barbara O’Neill

Counters - Elaine Patania, Pam Maiolo

Altar Guild - Geri Peters, Karen Williams, Barbara Dalto

Sunday, June 20^th

8 AM Lector - A/S Benjamin

Chalice - Paul Sinckler

Usher - Carroll Wilson

10 AM Acolytes - Vito Pelliccia, Amanda Telesco, Evelyn McNelis

Lectors - Lisa Webb, Pam Maiolo

Chalice - Lisa Webb, Elaine Patania

Ushers - Karen Williams, Geri Peters

Greeter - Leslie Oliver

Counters - Leslie Oliver, Waring Webb

Altar Guild - Audrey Johansen, Norma O’Sullivan, Sharon Benjamin, N. Edwards

Sunday, June 27^th – Church Picnic

8 AM Lector - Carroll Wilson

Chalice - Norma Tucker

Usher - Carroll Wilson

10 AM Acolytes - Nancy Crowther, Ashley Beam, Cecil Baker

Lectors - Leslie Oliver, Nancy Dunham

Chalice - Tiffany O’Sullivan, Princess Thomas

Ushers - Elaine & Tom Patania

Greeter - Mary Pfeiffer, Audrey McConney

Altar Guild - Barbara O’Neill, Norma Trimmer, Muriel Wilson

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From the Deacon’s Desk

Gifts of the Spirit – Pentecost Sunday

What a wonderful day this has been! I really felt the spirit alive and well at St. Francis this morning as we celebrated Pentecost, with wonderful readings in several languages. It struck me as I listened to all the voices and languages speaking at the same time, that the sense of awe at that first Pentecost must have been overwhelming. I was surprised at the awe that I felt at that moment. The choir was superb and the Veni Sancte Spiritus really set the tone.

We all, in our own way, speak different ‘languages’. We are all imbued with God’s Spirit, yet unique. Some are quiet, others more vocal; some are good at math, others can’t balance a check-book; some are artists, others can’t draw a stick figure. We are all different, yet one in Christ. It’s in our differences that we become a quilt of God’s love, each piece stitched together by God to create a beautiful and pleasing whole. And every piece is needed.

Today, the greetings among everyone at the peace were extraordinary. Even Fr. Greg remarked on the friendliness of all at St. Francis, and that from the moment he walked in the door, he felt welcomed and loved. It wasn’t one person, but many, who showed God’s spirit to a newcomer!

Showing God’s love, his Spirit in you, as you did this morning is key. Formal ‘welcoming’ ideas are good, and keep us on our toes, as it were. But none of them can come close to simply expressing the joy you have in your hearts of God with us — as happened today. It’s natural, not contrived. It’s genuine, not ‘forced’. And most importantly, it is simply who we are as Christians. That is our “product” — to put it in commercial terms. That is what sets us apart from other organizations that reach out to others (Habitat), or have social reasons for being (a country club). That is what people come into our doors for – a sense of needing God in their lives as well.

As you go forth into the world this summer, rejoice and give thanks for the power of the Spirit in your lives! Let it shine!

In Christ’s name –

Dcn. Marge

Micellaneous Notes:

Congratulations – to our high school graduates, Arielle Baker, Kaitlyn Meyer, Kelsey Pelliccia and Greg Myzie! Arielle graduates from Middle¬sex HS, and will head to the University of Tampa, to major in advertising and public relations. Kelsey, a South Plainfield HS graduate, is going to Mercer College for dual majors in culinary arts and criminal justice. Greg, graduating from Piscataway High School, will attend Drexel University in Philadelphia, studying digital media design. Kaitlyn will graduate from Dunellen HS, but her future plans are unknown at this writing. Good luck to one and all!

Country Dancing – will hold their final session for the season on Friday, June 11th. They will pick up in the fall when it’s cooler in the undercroft.

Choir – will hold their last rehearsal of the year on Wednesday, June 23rd. Also note that the choir will gather for lunch on Sunday, June 6th at the Olive Garden at noon.

PLEASE CORRECT – The telephone number listed in our new pictorial directory for Barbara O’Neill is not correct; please change it to (732) 968-6384. Please notify me and/or Father Zamboni if you see any additional errors in the directory.

Church Picnic – will be held on Sunday, June 27th, rain or shine. Sign-up lists will be posted on the table in the Narthex. Please plan to have your whole family attend – and to bring

a dish to share!

Congratulations – to Adrian McConney and Tiffany Morrison on their engagement on May 15, 2010!!

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Musical Notes

The choir and musical director would like to thank Edith Phelps for her diligent efforts in organizing our music library, and in generally cleaning out our vesting room. Looking good!

I want to remind the choir that we will be meeting for lunch at Olive Garden at noon on Sunday, June 6th, to celebrate another year well done. We’ve had a very successful year, thanks greatly to the support of our Vicar and our enthusiastic congregation.

Lastly, as always, we are looking for members. Anyone who can carry a tune (especially men!) is welcome to join us in the choir pews. Our rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7:30, and we usually get out about 9:00 to 9:15. We have a good time, but the more, the merrier!

Elma Adams

Musical Director

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June 2010
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
30 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	31 – Memorial Day Grace’s Kitchen	1	2 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM - Choir	3	4 7:30 PM – Country Dancing	5
6 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery Noon – Choir Meeting, Olive Garden	7	8	9 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM – Choir	10	11 7:30 PM – FINAL Country Dancing of the season	12
13 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery 3 PM – Jazz Concert	14	15 7 PM - Vestry	16 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM – Choir	17	18	19
20 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	21	22	23 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM - Choir	24	25	26
27 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery Church Picnic!	28 Grace’s Kitchen	29	30	1	2	3

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Monthly FISH Donation

2010/2011

JULY Peanut Butter/Jelly	AUGUST Juice	SEPTEMBER Cereal Cold/Hot
OCTOBER Milk powdered or Parmalat box	NOVEMBER Canned Vegetables	DECEMBER Your choice
JANUARY Pasta/sauce	FEBRUARY baby food/supplies	MARCH Rice & Beans
APRIL FISH Hospitality Donation (TBA)	MAY canned/jarred fruit	JUNE Your choice

• The suggestions for each month are just suggestions for donation. You may give any food or personal product at anytime.
• Please remember to check expiration dates on the food that you donate. All products with expired dates will be discarded.
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION

JAZZ CONCERT

LITTLE BIG BAND

Sunday, JUNE 13th, 3 P.M.

$10 includes light refreshments

ST. FRANCIS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

400 New Market Rd., Dunellen, N.J.

732-968-6781

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LEARN CPR TODAY!

If you are interested in becoming certified in how to save a life,

CONTACT

SENIOR WARDEN AMY MYZIE

Classes will also be offered in Adult, Child, Infant CPR and the use of an AED

(automated external defibrillator).

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TRINITY CATHEDRAL INVITES YOU TO:

Come on! Let's "play ball" together!!

JOIN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE OF NJ AT

BASEBALL STADIUM

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2010 @ 7:05 PM

TRENTON THUNDER (NY YANKEES) vs.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS (TORONTO BLUE JAYS)

Special guests Bishop George Councell and Dean Rene John

This is sure to be a fun-filled evening, please come and share it amongst

your friends in the Diocese.

We have 250 seats reserved and they will be going quickly!

Please join us as we continue CELEBRATING 225 years

of the Diocese of NJ

Tickets are just $11.00 - contact the Cathedral office

at (609) 392-3805 ext. 100 to reserve yours now!

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OUTREACH

Episcopal Campus Ministry at Rutgers - A $100 donation from our Outreach budget was given to Fr. Greg Bezilla, Rutgers Episcopal Chaplain when he visited St. Francis as our supply priest on May 23rd. The mission of the Episcopal Ministry at Rutgers is the spiritual formation of young adults in higher education for ministry & leadership in the Church. A formidable goal for our church's future in our own neighborhood.  Visit - www.episcopal.rutgers.edu

Grace's Kitchen - Next date for our support to this Plainfield Area Soup Kitchen is May 31^st, Memorial Day.   June 28^th & August 30^th are our scheduled summer dates.

• Feinstein Challenge - Parishioner donations were $400. In addition, $100 was given from our Outreach budget. A check for $500 was given to Mother Carolyn during our April visit to the soup kitchen.

FISH - May's suggested donation is canned or jarred fruit & June is YOUR CHOICE.  Please check expiration dates. Expired products will be discarded.  Remember hunger doesn't go on vacation in the summer. A new schedule (2010/2011) of suggested donations can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

FISH Hospitality - A thank you note was received from Susan Baybutt, Exec. Dir. for laundry supplies & body washes given for the Hospitality clients. Thanks to all who donated.

Coupon Clip- We are continuing to clip coupons for the benefit of the NJ Council of Churches in Trenton.  The greatest need is for coupons for cereal, baby items, paper goods & cleaning supplies. 

Eye glasses & hearing aids- The collection of these items continues. Adult, children's,sunglasses, prescription or non prescription. Collection bucket is in the Narthex.

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Mark your calendar!!
June 13 @ 3pm - A fund raising concert will be held at St. Francis by the Lil' Big Band. This 9-piece jazz band will entertain us with selections from the 30's, 40's & 50's. Come out & enjoy some great swing from musicians on the NJ music circuit. Tickets are $10 including light refreshments.

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Sunday School

On Mother's Day we used the term "mothering" as we thought of all who might provide nurturing, teaching, care giving, etc. once thought of as "women's work".  We agreed that sometimes earthly fathers fill the role, and certainly God the Father does his share of "mothering".

One thoughtful child asked, "Why isn't it called "fathering" then?"  Good question.  And so we concluded that anyone who will take on the tasks and give the loving needed can provide "parenting".  (Such reasoning could change the face of Hallmark!)

Debbie Santucci is helping to show our St. Francis children how important they are as part of our church family by taking the time to teach them a hymn.  Fr. Jack is reinforcing the effort by including the same hymn in the portion of the service the children attend.

We want always to have our Sunday School doors open to all.  That is why it is important that we put together a list of volunteers ready to fill in when Mary Pfeiffer or I must be absent.  This will be even more urgent in September when Mary will no longer be able to be with our 3 to 5 year olds every Sunday.  No one person need commit to the entire task if several people offer to serve in this ministry once every few weeks from 10 until 10:45 AM on Sunday morning.  Activities include prayers and candle lighting together with all children in the Nellie Reid Room followed by a story, song or craft, and time for play.  Mary has ordered helpful curriculum materials for the fall, winter and spring.

For more information or to offer your help please contact Fr. Jack, Mary Pfeiffer, or myself.
Barbara Dalto, (732) 563-2243

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Jubilee Ministry

Jubilee Focus Group meetings will be held in early June to gather up lay and ordained leaders active in Jubilee Ministry in the Diocese.  These meetings are for folks doing Jubilee work - feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, liberating the oppressed, visiting the prisoner, working re-entry, supplying education to the under-resourced - whether they are officially Jubilee ministries or not. 

June 9, 4:00 p.m.  Trinity Cathedral, Trenton

June 12, 3:00 p.m. Trinity Cathedral, Trenton

Jarrett

The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel, Director

The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton

123 E. Hanover Street

Trenton, NJ 08608

(p) 609.396.9355 ext 13

(f) 609.396.5692

jarrettk@thecrisisministry.org

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Book Group

The group plans to meet on June 2 and 9 to finish Sandra Brown's "Rainwater".

On June 16 we will have a reading of O'Henry's short story, "The Ransom of Red Chief", and on June 23, a reading of a portion of Bill Bryson's  "A Walk In the Woods".  We will decide if we want to read the entire very funny yet informative book about two middle aged men, not in very good shape, who attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail.  The book should appeal to both genders and we'd love to have the perspective of a gentleman or two.

On June 30 we will have our all important lunch out.

Our list of books can always use more suggested reading.  We are looking at "Barabas", by Par Lagerkvist, "Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet", by Jamie Ford, and "A Bend In the Road", by Nicholas Sparks, just to name a few, when we resume in September.

We meet at noon on Wednesdays in Milbank Hall with bag lunch.  Our group is relaxed and flexible.  We discuss books in sections of 50 or 60 pages at a time and laughter is encouraged.  Try us, even without reading the book.

Barbara Dalto.

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St. Francis’ Shut-Ins

Most of the parishioners below are no longer able to attend church regularly. By remembering them in our prayers and sending them cards, we let them know they remain part of our parish family – a great blessing to them in the isolation they often experience.

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Virginia Meeker

5 Winans Ave.

Piscataway, NJ 08854

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Angela Chernichowski

420 Mountain Ave.

Dunellen, NJ 08812

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Melinda Hammond

Crystal Lake Health Center
395 Lakeside Blvd.
Bayville, NJ 08721
Phone: (732) 269-0500

Melinda does not have a phone in her room, but one can set-up a phone appt. through the social services office who will arrange to have her near the phone extension at some pre-set time.