…ST

Dear Friends in Christ,

April 18^th, the Third Sunday of Easter, was this year’s Passion and Purpose Sunday in our Diocese. This observance began last year at the urging of the Rev. Greg Bezilla, Episcopal Chaplain at Rutgers (who, by the way, will be our supply priest when I am on May 23^rd for my son’s college graduation weekend). Passion and Purpose Sunday is intended to be “an intentional day for preaching, teaching, testimony, and theological reflection about vocation: claiming and expressing a passion and purpose for our lives as friends and followers of Jesus Christ.” (http://passionandpurpose.info/events). One of its goals is to encourage teens and young adults to consider vocations in the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church, but that is not the only goal. “Ultimately, Passion and Purpose Sunday is about renewing a sense of vocation for all Christians.” (http://passionandpurpose.info/events).

Those of you who heard me preach that Sunday might recall that I spoke of Jesus’ poignant question to Peter, “Do you love me?” (John 21:1-19) and how that question and Peter’s answer, “Yes” shaped the purpose of his life. You might also recall that I concluded by talking about the passion, purpose and vocations, not just of individuals, but of whole congregations – whether and how St. Francis as a body loves Jesus.¹ It is to that theme I want to return in this Communiqué.

Congregations, you see, are more than a collection of individuals. Congregations as a whole have corporate personalities, communal spirits, shared passions, and common purposes. Any of us who have visited, belonged to or served at different churches over the years of our lives have learned that the personalities, passions and purposes of congregations are not all the same. The corporate spirit of every congregation has been shaped by the circumstances of its founding, its

unique history, the community it lives in and serves, the racial, gender, cultural and class make-up of its members, the building in which it worships, the lasting imprint of a few powerful leaders, (ordained and lay alike -- many, perhaps, long since departed this life), traumas and conflicts undergone and survived, work accomplished, joys celebrated and much more.

The unique spirit of each congregation means also that each has a particular call, a unique vocation from God, at any given time in its life. We get a glimpse of that reality in the chapters two and three of the New Testament Book of Revelation. Writing at the dictation of the Risen Christ, the seer John of Patmos composes letters to the “angels” of seven congregations in Asia Minor (now the state of Turkey). These mysterious angels seem to represent each congregation in its totality, embodying the spiritual personality of the church as a single entity. Jesus speaks to the angel of each church, and to each, Jesus speaks differently. He first describes what he knows, good and bad, about the congregation; then exhorts the angel of the church to live its unique calling from God faithfully; and finally, promises a heavenly gift to those who hear and respond to the Spirit’s message.²What has all of this to do with St. Francis’? Like every other Christian congregation, St. Francis’ has its own particular angel, its corporate personality and its common passions, all shaped by our unique history and all the other factors I described above. Having now lived as part of St. Francis’ for a year and half and having listened to many of you speak about your experiences of life in this congregation, I’ve begun to get some feel for the angel, the spiritual personality of this congregation – though not enough for me to dare the presumption of trying to describe it in full.

But here is a piece of what I’ve seen that I will share. One way I’ve been exploring this topic with the Wardens, Vestry and others has been to ask what the actual, functional purpose of the congregation has been over the last decade or so. Those of you who lived through that time know that it was marked by many challenges, not least the frequent changes in clergy leadership, sometimes under difficult and/or conflicted circumstances. So, not surprisingly, when I’ve asked about the purpose of the congregation during this period, the answers I’ve heard have often circled around themes of perseverance and survival; holding the congregation together; facing the challenges; paying the bills; getting through the difficult times with some health and wholeness.

From all I can tell, you’ve done an amazingly good job of that – a much better job than I had imagined possible before I arrived here. A shared commitment to the life of the congregation; a deep care for one another; the willingness to work together and the capacity to have fun while doing so have all served St. Francis’ well, and are certainly part of its corporate personality.

The question, then, at this stage in St. Francis’ life is: “Now what?” With God’s help, the faithfulness, commitment, and hard work of the angel of St. Francis’ has brought the congregation through a challenging time in its life. God willing, I intend to provide stable clergy leadership and to serve as your Vicar for a good while to come. Deacon Marge now brings her gifts of servant ministry and enthusiasm for welcoming the stranger to this congregation. The good lay leadership that has been so critical in the past decade is still here. We are ready to do more than survive. We are poised to move forward in ministry. So, “Now what?” To what end did those who worked so hard to keep the congregation alive in the last decade labor? Where is our passion for Jesus now? What is God’s purpose for St. Francis’ at this point in our life? Christian congregations never exist for themselves. As Revelation shows the Risen Jesus always has a purpose, a call, a vocation for the angel of each church. What is God’s vocation for St. Francis’? What will the angel of St. Francis’ and God create together now?

To seek answers to these questions, the vestry and clergy are going on retreat at the Convent of St. John the Baptist, Mendham on May 7^th and 8^th. We will be in a place of prayer and will have the good leadership of Mother Sheelagh Clarke. But we need your help, too. That we may be open to the voice of the Risen Jesus and the movement of God’s Spirit in our discernment, we need your prayers. Please hold us in prayer, asking for our openness to God’s guidance and the wisdom of the Spirit, and the faithfulness to follow where we are led.

1 Notes for that sermon are available on the St. Francis’ web site http://stfrancisdunellen.org/

2 For a fuller exploration of the rich notion of the angels of the churches, see the Introduction and Chapter 3 of Unmasking the Powers by Walter Wink (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986).

Peace,

Jack

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Happy Birthday to:

Sheron Cudjoe – 5/2

Anthony DeRogatis, Jr. – 5/2

Susan D’Alessandro – 5/3

Kelli Horton – 5/7

Sean Conway – 5/9

Brianna Jarvis – 5/14

Linda Arico – 5/16

Elaine Patania – 5/17

Roger O’Sullivan – 5/18

Barbara O’Neill – 5/18

Stacy Harrison – 5/19

Pete Telesco – 5/19

Gary Neal – 5/22

Jonathan Parmelee – 5/24

Madelynn Pfeiffer – 5/26

Anniversary of Confirmation

Angela Chernichowski – 5/1

Barbara Chernichowski – 5/1

Beth Chernichowski – 5/1

Maryann Doesburgh – 5/1

Danielle D’Alessandro – 5/1

Heather Nunes – 5/1

Wanda York – 5/1

Virginia Meeker – 5/5

Corilyn Dessino – 5/18

Robert Dessino – 5/18

Bethany Hirsch – 5/18

Brad York – 5/18

Princess Thomas – 5/20

Doris McElvery – 5/21

Arielle Baker – 5/27

Kaitlyn Meyer – 5/27

Gregory Myzie – 5/27

Ashley Thomas – 5/27

Joyce Tereman – 5/28

Jason Pfeiffer – 5/31

Anniversary of Baptism

Heather Nunes – 5/1

Patrick Ward – 5/8

Tiffany Cudjoe – 5/10

Bernard Heirholzer – 5/14

Avery Dunham – 5/27

Jack Zamboni – 5/30

Wedding Anniversaries

Jason & Mary Pfeiffer – 5/6

Robert & Corilyn Dessino – 5/17

Ed & Amy Myzie – 5/26

Bernard & Althea Heirholzer – 5/28

Phillip & Tammy Heiney – 5/29

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Sunday, May 2^nd

8 AM Lector - Amy Myzie

Chalice - Paul Sinckler

Usher - Ed Myzie

10 AM Acolytes - Ashley Beam, Evekyn McNelis, Cecil Baker

Lectors - Princess Thomas, Nancy Dunham

Chalice - Lisa Webb, Elaine Patania

Ushers - Norma Tucker, Tiffany O’Sullivan

Greeter - Audrey Johansen

Counters - Mary Pfeiffer, Audrey McConney

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

Sunday, May 9^th

8 AM Lector - A/S Benjamin

Chalice - Norma Tucker

Usher - Carroll Wilson

10 AM Acolytes - Nancy Crowther, Amanda Telesco, Arielle Baker

Lectors - Leslie Oliver, Pam Maiolo

Chalice - Tom Jackson, Elaine Patania

Ushers - Arthur McConney, Norma Tucker

Greeter - Norma Trimmer

Counters - Elaine Patania, Nancy Dunham

Altar Guild - Leslie Oliver, Pam Maiolo, Cordell Trotman

Sunday, May 16^th

8 AM Lector - Carroll Wilson

Chalice - Paul Sinckler

Usher - Carroll Wilson

Sunday, May 16^th (Cont’d.)

10 AM Acolytes - Amanda Telesco, Vito Pelliccia, Jonathan Parmalee

Lectors - Lisa Webb, Elaine Patania

Chalice - Lisa Webb, Princess Thomas

Ushers - Waring Webb, Arthur McConney

Greeter - Barbara O’Neill

Counters - Pam Maiolo, Leslie Oliver

Altar Guild - Geri Peters, Karen Williams, Barbara Dalto

Sunday, May 23^rd - Pentecost Sunday

8 AM Lector - Amy Myzie

Chalice - Norma Tucker

Usher - Ed Myzie

10 AM Acolytes - Arielle Baker, Ashley Beam, Cecil Baker

Lectors - Tom Jackson, Norma Tucker

Chalice - Tiffany O’Sullivan, Norma Tucker

Ushers - Karen Williams, Geri Peters

Greeter - Leslie Oliver

Counters - Waring Webb, Amy Myzie

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

Sunday, May 30^th – Memorial Weekend

8 AM Lector - A/S Benjamin

Chalice - Paul Sinckler

Usher - Carroll Wilson

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

Lectors - Nancy Dunham, Leslie Oliver

Chalice - Tom Jackson, Lisa Webb

Ushers - Leslie Oliver, Cordell Trotman

Greeter - Audrey Johansen

Counters - Tiffany O’Sullivan, Mary Pfeiffer

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

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From the Deacon’s Desk

You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God."
(Lev. 24:33)

"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
         Do not be silent at my tears;
         For I am a stranger with You,
         A sojourner like all my fathers. (Ps. 39:12)

"You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (Ex. 23:9)

At one time most of us were ‘new’ to St. Francis—sojourners in our faith journey. Do you remember that first visit? It’s important to remember what it was like to be that sojourner way back then, and that God expects us to be welcoming to all who come through our doors.

Fr. Jack’s announcement that he will be attending his son’s graduation reminded me that this is the time of year when there are many such events taking place. Perhaps you will also be traveling to celebrate a special occasion or just going on vacation or taking a break!

Leaving home is an eye-opening experience for me. Actually, it’s not necessarily being in new places that is so enlightening (I expect that), but coming home. I find that I see my own comfortable surroundings with ‘new eyes’. All those things that are so common that I no longer notice them seem to show up in bright clarity. That is especially true if I’ve been particularly harried just before the trip and come home thinking “Sheesh, what a disaster!” I see all those little things that need to be done, or I’ve never really liked, and simply learned to “live with” because I’ve had other priorities. I see my surroundings with ‘new eyes’.

In the past 3 years while I was ‘non-parochial’ (a fancy name to say I had no church home to lay my head), I visited many churches – Episcopal, Methodist, Evangelical, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic; big, little; those with a ‘welcoming’ reputation; in this area and
elsewhere in NJ, as well as in ME, NH, MA, SC, and CA. And I’ve probably missed several categories. What I’ve learned is what pleases me and what doesn’t; what I find welcoming, and when I feel ignored; when the church is filled with the Spirit, and how I feel before, during, and after a service.

I would like to suggest that if you will be visiting a new church in the next few months, that you open your eyes and jot down your impressions of your visit — from first driving up to the church (or perhaps even finding directions on their Web site), what you liked, what was frustrating, how were you greeted, what was the service like, were you extended any invitation? Did members of the congregation greet you, or only the clergy? Did anyone? Imagine you are a newcomer to the community and looking for a new church home, perhaps even someone who knows nothing about Christianity, let alone all of our Episcopal idiosyncrasies.

Please share these insights with me or Fr. Jack – and perhaps as the season goes on we could have a get together and talk about our various experiences. These discussions would be helpful as we learn to be welcoming to the sojourners in our midst.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

(an Old Irish Blessing)

May you have a blessed and safe journey!

Dcn. Marge

4/24/10

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

214 Church Street

Bound Brook, NJ 08805

Presents

A Pig Roast Fundraiser

100% of your donation goes to St. Paul’s

Saturday, May 22

3 to 7 PM

Adults - $20 Kids Under 10 - $10

Reservations Required

Call Deanna @ (732) 356-0247

Rotisserie Cooked Pig * BBQ Pulled Pork * BBQ Chicken * Hamburgers * Cheeseburgers *

Hotdogs * Roasted Red Potatoes * Salads * Corn On The Cob * Watermelon

Sponsored/Donated By:

The American B-B-Q Company

Phone: (973) 664-1460 http://www.americanbbqco.com

May 2010
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
25 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	26 *Grace’s Kitchen*	27	28 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM - Choir	29	30 7:30 PM – Country Dancing	1 – CLEANUP DAY 9 AM to 1 PM
2 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	3	4	5 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM - Choir	6	7 7:30 PM – Country Dancing Vestry Retreat, Convent of St. John the Baptist, Mendham	8 Vestry Retreat, Convent of St. John the Baptist, Mendham
9 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	10	11	12 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM – Choir	13	14 7:30 PM – Country Dancing	15
16 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	17	18 7 PM - Vestry	19 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM – Choir	20	21 7:30 PM – Country Dancing	22 St. Paul’s Pig Roast Fundraiser, 3-7 PM
23 - Pentecost 8 AM – Holy Eucharist 10 AM – Choral Eucharist, Sunday School & Nursery	24	25	26 Noon – Book Group 7:30 PM – A.A. 7:30 PM – Choir	27	28	29
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

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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

The Trenton Thunder

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

ERD - Continuing with our support of ERD- mite boxes were distributed for your use during Lent. As of this writing, a total of $327 was collected. Any additional donations will be added and will be forwarded to ERD. Thanks to all who donated.

Grace's Kitchen - Next dates for our support to this Plainfield Area Soup Kitchen at Grace Episcopal Church in Plainfield are April 26th & May 31^st, Memorial Day. Have the day off? Join the St. Francis volunteers from 10am-1pm. Please contact Pam Maiolo or Fr. Jack for info.

FISH - May's suggested donation is canned or jarred fruit & June is YOUR CHOICE. Please be aware of expiration dates as you clean your cupboards. Please note that the FISH box has been moved to the left of our entry door for safe access to the elevator.

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. Donations bucket is in the Narthex.
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May is National…
…Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention & Detection month - www.aad.org
…Stroke Prevention month - www.stroke.org
…Healthy Vision month - www.healthyvision2010.org/hvm
…Bike month - www.bikeleague.org
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Websites worth checking out:

www.stfrancisdunellen.org – our church website
www.freerice.com – donate rice to feed the hungry
www.newjersey.anglican.org – our diocesan website
www.er-d.org – Episcopal Relief & Development’s website
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Congratulations - to Vin Maiolo as one of the artists chosen to display his water color collage at the Episcopal Church & the Visual Arts (ECVA) exhibit at Trinity Cathedral. The exhibition is entitled - This Fragile Earth: An Exhibition of Art Celebrating God's Creation and Our Role as Christians in Protecting, Preserving, and Nurturing It. Vin's entry - "Our children uplifting the bright future of mother earth", along with all others selected, will be on display until May 21^st.

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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Attention Parents!

We need acolytes! If your son or daughter is eight years old or more, and would like to become an acolyte for St. Francis’ Church, please see Fr. Zamboni or Tiffany O’Sullivan. Your child would serve approximately twice a month, and the schedules are made up to take vacations into account. Please consider this worthwhile and educational ministry in our church.

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Sunday School

You can't please all of the children all of the time.

It was Easter Sunday and time for our story-lesson. I had a delightful book recently donated and right for the day. It would take just 10 minutes.

Two boys of the same age sat side by side, full of the day’s celebratory mood. I introduced the story and promised it would be short.

Both boys managed to behave appropriately, but one looked truly interested while the other mumbled under his breath, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" The other nudged him and quietly reminded him, "She said it was short."

And so it goes.

We continue our stories with the risen Jesus appearing to his Apostles, preparing them for the hard work ahead without his physical presence. We try to imagine their apprehension and how much they needed the gifts of strength, wisdom and courage the Holy Spirit would bring them! We learn that these gifts are ours as well.

We try to bring the concept of the Trinity to our level of understanding. We'll have time to learn something of the amazing story of St. Paul.

Our last Sunday before summer break will be our paper airplane day.

We have voted unanimously to make our next donation to an animal shelter.

It has long been my fervent prayer that someone would come forward to help provide a music component to our Sunday School program. Debbie Santucci is the answer to my prayer and will teach us an appropriate song on May 2. She has also offered to substitute for me when I must be away.

I pray others of you will make the same offer. If enough people give us just one Sunday to bring us a song or cover for me we will have that music component and keep or door open to our children every Sunday. And, as Debbie pointed out, our children will get to know more of us and understand how important they are as members of our congregation.

Many thanks to Debbie, and many thanks to Miss Rachel, Mrs. Pfeiffer, and the other moms who pitch in to provide a Sunday School program for St. Francis' children.

Barbara Dalto

…ST. FRANCIS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Serving the Church During May

Sunday, May 2^nd

…ST. FRANCIS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Serving the Church During May

Sunday, May 2nd

Sunday, May 2^nd