ST PAUL’S CHURCH IN ENGLEWOOD UNDAY...

transcript

S T P A U L ’ S C H U R C H I N E N G L E W O O D

WELCOME TO ST PAUL’S CHURCH

We are glad you are here, and we invite you to enter fully into worship today, and to receive Communion or a

blessing. Feel free to take any information about the parish located at the entrances. Don’t be afraid to tell us more

about yourself by filling out one of the cards located in each pew or on information tables.

Join us as we strive to make northeast Bergen County a place where God’s grace is freely known and shared by all!

THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 29, 2018

SUNDAY MESSENGER

On the final Sundays of Easter

our attention is directed to the

results in our lives of Jesus’ dying

and rising: the results of Baptism

and the Eucharist. The allegory of

the vine and the branches offers

insight into the way the early

Christian community saw the

redemptive relationship between

God, Jesus and the faithful. John

stretches the image most picturesquely. The solid trunk of the

vine emerging from the ground grows long, tender branches

on which the fruit is produced. Without those branches, newly

grown each year, the vine cannot produce. Cut off from the

root, the branches are useful only as kindling for a fire. This

was a common source of firewood in ancient times. God is

described as the vine grower who cares for both the vine and

the branches. Part of that caring requires rigorous pruning so

that the vine continues to produce good fruit. This is exactly

what has happened to Israel and to the church through the

The Gospel reading today describes our life in Christ. That life

is characterized by our love for Jesus as the ground of our

faithfulness. He promises to send the Holy Spirit to us as our

guide. Our life in Christ is marked, then, by his presence with

us always and by our sharing in his love.

Like a vine growing new branches, the early church began

almost immediately to spread beyond Jerusalem, bound

together in Christ’s love and led by

the Spirit. In today’s reading from

Acts, Philip, one of the seven

ordained with St. Stephen,

preaches the gospel to an official

of the Queen of Ethiopia. This

preaching was prompted by the

official’s reading of the “Suffering

Servant” passage from Isaiah

(52:13—53:12). The Ethiopian is

converted and baptized on the spot.

The psalm for today begins with a cry of dereliction, repeated

by Jesus on the cross. It ends with a hymn of praise and trust

in the God who rules over all nations.

Today’s reading from 1 John carries on his theme of our share

in God’s self-giving love (in the original Greek, agapé). We are

to reflect in our own living and ministry that same love which

was manifested to us in Jesus’ dying and rising. This is the life

he shares with us.

We, the people of God, gather in the Eucharist to remember

and share the story of God’s love for us. Our actions in the

Eucharist are a liturgical expression of self-giving love toward

God and others. As we receive Holy Communion, God

implants in us Jesus’ own life and equips us to extend the

divine love to all people in concrete actions of ministry and

proclamation.

About the Liturgy and Scripture of the Day

Please make a contribution to the Pentecost Matching Gift Campaign.Every gift counts!

For those in need of immediate prayers: Laura Antal and Family, Priscilla Kleinman (Mother of Mark Trautman), Deneen Cooper, Edith Holiday, Kathy Johnston, Deborah Kelley Moore, Aleik Tahir.

For those in need of continuing prayer support: John Bullough, Nazera Wright, Yvonne Baldwin, David Eversley, Lilliam Gonzalez, Cynthia McDonald, Trey Nelson, Carol Yaner, Phillipa McLeod, Sharon Wells, Patti Banks, Rebecca Johnson, Pamella Miller, Crystal Baxter, Dawn Baxter Woodhouse, Emeka Okafor Sr., Johann Mullings, Byron Babb.

For those serving in the military or in harm’s way: Austin Herbert, Nicholas C. Basile, Justin Sheldon and Nagelia Harrison Sheldon, Ken Lambert, Nadi Kassem, Justin Coca, Antonio Ramirez, Marc McDonald, Gregory Halstead.

For those celebrating birthdays this week: Marc McDonald, Andrew Swamy, Alina Gomez, Barbara Christenberry, Sheryl Gill, Austin Herbert, Rosemary Burr, Peter Bremer, Nicole Borges.

Cycle of Prayer, Anglican Communion: The Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East; in the Diocese of Newark:

Our Saviour, Secaucus; Christ Church, Short Hills; St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; Search for the next Bishop of Newark.

Our partners in faith: St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahado Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Fort Lee; Congregation Kol HaNeshama.

For those who have died, and those who mourn them.

Dorothy Burns, Darrell Walker, Audrey Smith, John Mayo.

Prayers

Holy Doodling, or Your Notes from Today’s Sermon and WorshipTODAY’S SCRIPTURE: ACTS 8:26-40; 1 JOHN 4:7-21; JOHN 15:1-8; PSALM 22:24-30

AnnouncementsCoffee Hour: Please join us after the 10:30 service in the

Parish Hall for fellowship and refreshments. Thanks to our

host today: Bruce Nelson. If you have a special event and would like to host a coffee hour or are interested in being part of this hospitality fellowship please contact: Marian Acquah sacquah@aol.com.

Next Sunday’s Scriptures: Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17; Psalm 98

Kids’ Mass: Invite a kid you know to our weekly 30-minute

Mass for Children, called Awake My Soul, 9:45 am Sundays in

the Historic Sanctuary—it’s only 30 minutes.

St. Paul’s Church to be Honored: The Englewood Historical

Society will honor St. Paul’s Church in Englewood at its 33rd

Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 2 for work in

preserving and restoring the structure. Please join us for an

architectural talk and tour of the historic church at 5 pm,

followed by a cocktail reception and dinner at the Clinton

Inn. Tickets are $75 per person. For tickets please send check

payable to: Englewood Historical Society 45 Dwight Place,

Apt 7 Englewood, NJ 07631. For further information email:

Irmari Nacht: irmarinac@yahoo.com.

Food Sunday: The first Sunday of the month is designated for

the collection of food for the Center for Food Action. In May,

we are collecting canned meats and fish. Please pick up a can

or two at the store and bring them with you on Sunday, May

6. The Collection will be blessed with our prayers before

delivery on Monday. Volunteers are welcome to help deliver

the food.

Walkabout: St. Paul’s Church will be hosting a walkabout on

Sunday, May 6 from 1:30-5:00 pm. Walkabouts are intended

to provide both candidates for the XI Bishop of Newark and

diocesan members with opportunities to meet and get to

know each other, and to allow the candidates to address

concerns and questions from both lay and clergy. To attend a

Walkabout, RSVP by 5 pm May 2 at: dioceseofnewark.org/

form/rsvp-walkabouts.

St Paul’s Choral Festival: We will welcome singers from the

greater NJ/NYC metro area for Choral Evensong on Sunday,

May 6 at 5 pm in the Historic Sanctuary. Conductor will be

Loraine Enlow, Music Associate at St James, Madison Avenue,

NYC; organist will be Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music at

Grace Church, Newark. Rehearsal will begin at 3 pm, and all

singers from area churches are welcome to join us.

The Second Sunday Youth Event: The next Nearly Second

Sunday Youth Event will be Saturday, May 12 from

6-9 pm, in the Parish Hall. Feel free to bring your friends for

a Kids’ Night Out! Please bring $5 to contribute to dinner

and snacks.

Feeding Sunday: St Paul’s has been volunteering for more than

30 years with the help of cooks and drivers to take and serve

warm meals to the homeless in Hoboken. We are always

looking for volunteers to help drive and serve the dinners on

the 2nd Sunday of each month. Speak with Gary Mason with

your interest or questions, gjmfoto1@msn.com.

Summer Planning: If you have kids and youth in your family

or household, mark your calendars for St Paul’s Day Camp for

Elementary Aged Kids, July 16-20. Youth are welcome to help

and volunteer. If you have kids and youth entering grades 5-8,

consider a week at our Diocesan Summer Camp, Crossroads.

Fr. Bill Allport will be chaplain July 29-Aug 4. Speak with Kai

Alston or Fr. Bill for more details. For choristers aged 10-18,

the Diocese of New Jersey Choir Camp is July 15-18; speak

with Mark Trautman for more information.

Do you want the latest news and updates? Be sure to register for the Parish electronic news and updates by following the link at the bottom of the Parish website or fill out one of the contact forms available on the information tables.

Upcoming Events:May 2 Englewood Historical Society’s 33rd Annual

Awards Dinner Honoring St. Paul’s Church in

Englewood for the preservation and restoration

of the building, 5 pm

May 6 Food Sunday

Walkabout, 1:30-5:00 pm

RSCM Evensong, 5 pm

May 12 Nearly Second Sunday Youth Event, 6-9 pm

May 13 Mother’s Day

Hoboken Soup Kitchen, 5 pm

May 20 Pentecost Sunday:Wear Your Red! Seventh Annual Spring Choir Concert, 5 pm

June 16 St. Paul’s Craft’s Fair 10 am-3 pm

EGIVING AT ST PAUL’SPlease feel free to make a gift and offering

in thanksgiving to God. To take advantage

of our electronic giving options, please

visit online through your electronic

device: stpaulsenglewood.org/egiving.html

or follow the qr code to the left with your

capable electronic device.Scan

STEWARDSHIP ISCOMMITT ING OURSELVES AND

OUR RESOURCES TO JOIN

GOD’S MISS ION

COMMITT ING OURSELVES AND

OUR RESOURCES TO JOIN

GOD’S MISS ION

HEAD OF THE CHURCHOur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

BISHOP OF THE CHURCHThe Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop

THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCHAll the People

2018 VestryThe Rev. Dr. William H. Allport, II, PresiderMichele Simon & Max McDaniel, Wardens

Beverley Lannaman, TreasurerAlbert Griffiths (20191), John Herbert (20202)

George J. Hill (20191), Robin Jackson (20183),

Aubrey McDonald (20201), Coralius Noble (20182),

Jonathan Stevens (20181), Nicole Thomas (20191)

Robin Taylor (20201)

ST. PAUL’S STAFFThe Rev. Dr. William H. Allport II, Rector

The Rev. Joanne O’Neill, Deacon of the ParishKai Alston, Director of Christian Formation

Mark A. Trautman, Director of MusicDiana Rodriguez, Parish Administrator

Lisa Keenan, Financial AccountantJerome Riddick, Sexton

Gary Mason and George Gill, Sunday SextonsMarteze Golden, Housekeeper

GET THE LATEST NEWSJoin the electronic communications of the Parish by following

us on Facebook or signing up for daily messages (registration

always available at the bottom of the website).

CONTACT INFORMATION201.568.3276 | office@stpaulsenglewood.org

113 Engle Street | Englewood, NJ 07631

www.stpaulsenglewood.org

Serving this Sunday8 am: Pam Abner (Lessons); Pat O’Neill (EM); Jonathan Stevens

(Vestry Host)

10:30 am: George J. Hill (Lessons); Colin Wolfe, Kyra Acquah

(EM); Carrie Allport, Margaret King (Pulpit EM); Morgan McDaniel (Crucifer); Jacob McAllister (Gospel); Nicole Thomas (Vestry Host)

Fellowship: Bruce Nelson

Altar Guild: Kay Hammond, Pam Abner, Nicole Thomas

Ushers: Farida McDonald, Christine McDonald, Phillippa Lynch

Counters: William Payne, Robin Taylor

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

vacation with pay. Want more

of everything ready-made. Be afraid

to know your neighbors and to die.

And you will have a window in your head.

Not even your future will be a mystery

any more. Your mind will be punched in a

and shut away in a little drawer.

When they want you to buy something

they will call you. When they want you

to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something

that won’t compute. Love the Lord.

Love the world. Work for nothing.

Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace

the flag. Hope to live in that free

republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot

understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.

Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.

Say that your main crop is the forest

that you did not plant,

that you will not live to harvest.

Say that the leaves are harvested

when they have rotted into the mold.

Call that profit. Prophesy such returns

Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years.

Listen to carrion – put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.

Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

though you have considered all the facts.

So long as women do not go cheap

for power, please women more than men.

Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

a woman satisfied to bear a child?

Will this disturb the sleep

of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.

Lie down in the shade. Rest your head

in her lap. Swear allegiance

to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos

can predict the motions of your mind,

lose it. Leave it as a sign

to mark the false trail, the way

you didn’t go. Be like the fox

who makes more tracks than necessary,

some in the wrong direction.

Practice resurrection.

“Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation FrontBy Wendell Berry

CAN YOU HELP BRING THE POWER OF EASTER RIGHT

A generous donor in the Parish Family

has invited all of us to deepen our

stewardship and giving from God’s

abundance as we journey from Easter.

The anonymous donor has offered to

match your additional financial gift

beyond your pledge or regular giving up

to $25,000. So if you can make a gift,

the abundance is doubled. Your

additional gift (no matter the amount)

will mean $50,000 of God’s abundance

and the transformation of our attention

to further God's Mission through St

Paul’s. Make a gift online through Parish

website and “Make a Gift” link, or use a

labeled envelope available in the Atrium

or front of the Historic Sanctuary. We

can do it right now!

We have raised $15 ,000!We are $10,000 away from our matching gift goal.

Can you make a gift today to help?

Search for the XI Bishop of Newark On February 28, 2017 Bishop Mark Beckwith called for the election of the next Bishop of Newark. Bishop Beckwith was consecrated the 10th Bishop of Newark on January 27, 2007 and will retire upon the consecration of his successor.

Canonically, the Standing Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the transition from one bishop to the next. They appointed the Search/Nominating Committee to search for and nominate the persons best suited to serve as

The Candidates This is the final slate of candidates recommended by the Search/Nominating Committee and approved by the Standing Committee. Learn more about the candidates at dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search.

The Rev. Carlye J. Hughes Diocese of Fort Worth

The Rev. Lisa W. Hunt Diocese of Texas

The Rev. Canon Scott G. Slater Diocese of Maryland

“We believe these individuals possess the skills, qualities, experience and spiritual grounding necessary for the office of Bishop, and we are excited to commend them to the Diocese of Newark.” The Rev. Joseph Harmon, President of the Standing Committee.

What’s Next: Meet, Vote, Celebrate Meet: Walkabouts — May 4, 5 & 6, 2018 All members of the diocese are invited to attend a “Walkabout.” It’s an opportunity for you to meet the candidates, and for the candidates to address your concerns and questions. Friday, May 4 at Saviour, Denville

9 AM - 12:30 PM for Clergy only 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Saturday, May 5 at Calvary, Summit 9 AM - 12:30 PM for Lay only 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Sunday, May 6 at St. Paul's, Englewood 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Vote: Electing Convention — Saturday, May 19, 2018 The Deputies who represented their churches at the Annual Diocesan Convention in January 2018 will also have the responsibility of voting for the XI Bishop of Newark.

Celebrate:

Retirement Luncheon for Bishop Beckwith — Saturday, September 8, 2018

Consecration of the XI Bishop of Newark — Saturday, September 22, 2018 Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will officiate.

bishop in our diocese, and the Transition Committee to facilitate the election and consecration of the next bishop and support the current and next bishops, their families and the diocesan staff during the transition.

Stay up to date on the Bishop Search! To read about the latest news & events

and sign up for email notifications, go to: dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search

To attend a Walkabout, RSVP by 5 PM May 2 at: dioceseofnewark.org/form/rsvp-walkabouts

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Candidates for XI Bishop of Newark Page 3

needed assistance or convenes a judicatory process to examine wrong doing.

Our critical decisions are undergirded by careful and prayerful consideration among the faithful. The same approach could benefit struggling congregations. By living into our communal nature we have the opportunity to look at a number of questions:

x Why wait until a parish is struggling to talk about the decline our denomination is facing every year?

x If a group(s) gathered regularly to study the current state of congregations, would leadership of struggling parishes be empowered by the group’s support to make strategic decisions for the future?

x Could such groups develop suggestions for nurturing health, spurring growth, and ending ministry?

x If the community regularly discerns challenges and opportunities, would congregations take initiative to determine the best course of action?

The slow death of congregations across our denomination cries out for our attention. We may be tempted to look away from the evidence of decline, yet acknowledging the truth allows us to see/seek what God has next for us. Resurrection may begin when we look at tough circumstances and ask for God’s help to determine next steps. It takes courage to see the truth, a courage that God gives us and blesses with pathways to new life.

Based on the information you have learned about the Diocese of Newark, what challenges and excites you about your vision for the role of a bishop in the 21st century in this Diocese?

I am compelled and energized by a vision of the bishop as Chief Spiritual Officer of the diocese. I see the prospect of bringing focused attention to the relationships between Bishop, clergy, and lay leaders as a primary need as the diocese seeks to meet the pressing demands of ministry in an environment of rapid change.

The call for evangelism, entrepreneurial ministry, missional initiatives, sustainable congregations, strategic social justice agendas, and serving the church in the twenty‐first century requires strong communities and inspired leadership. Communities of faith need to be led by well supported and faithful clergy and lay leaders. In this complex time period, I see a tremendous

opportunity to give those charged with leading the church the support needed to thrive.

With a deep well of support all clergy, including the bishop, may generate ministries that flourish beyond congregations and into the larger community. As much as we are concerned about the challenge to our churches, the call to God’s people beyond the doors of the church remains the same. Jesus has always sent disciples into the world to those needing God’s love. His ministry to all people included teaching, supporting, sending, and encouraging disciples in their own ministries.

I look to Christ’s ministry to meet the challenge of these times. The vision the diocese seeks, the help for struggling congregations, the joys of thriving ministry, the courage to champion justice, and the desire to share the faith and tradition we love — all come from the very first ministry Jesus shared so long ago and continues to share today. This desire to serve those who lead is the center of my ministry and fuels my desire to serve in the Diocese of Newark at this time in the life of the diocese, our church, and the world.

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adaptation now. As Episcopalians, we view the Diocese as the primary unit of the Church, while we experience our life in Christ in deeply local ways. Criteria for evaluating vitality and hope have to be on both levels—Diocesan and local.

I know that the Diocese of Newark has already faced the difficult decision of closing congregations, selling some properties and unifying some congregations. I would want to review the previously used criteria so that we do not recreate the wheel. I would engage the Diocese in discernment of these criteria so that the criteria are community based, transparent, and fair.

Assessment would need to take place both Diocesan and local levels. Clearly economic viability is an important metric, but it is not the only one. I think the Diocese of Newark will need to have a strategic vision for growth and renewal. We will want to look toward the kind of diversity we want to cultivate‐‐‐we will not want to close ministries in communities we will want to serve and we will not allow these losses to be borne by communities of color disproportionately. We will also want to be wise about leveraging the value of our real estate.

These are some of the principles I would employ:

x Maximize collaboration. x Listen to the truths. x Provide for the People of God always treat each

other with respect. x Do not prolong suffering. x Be good stewards of time, money, and the gifts

of God’s People. x Keep the decisions at the lowest possible level

with the recognition that we belong to each other.

If we together decide to close a congregation, I think that we need to celebrate the ministry and life of the people in the current generation and those of the past. An oral history component as well as some fine art process would be good to capture our stories. I think pastoral care of the congregants is critical so that there is a process designed to aid persons into their next faith community—either as individuals or as a whole. There are already teams in the Diocese doing some of this work.

As Americans, our culture denies death and spends an inordinate amount of our health care dollars in the last weeks of life, often in intensive care. This is in part because we are afraid to talk about death and

acknowledge natural processes. As Christians, we believe in death and resurrection. The Church can model courage and skill in this regard by equipping our members to name death when we see it and to clear the way for new life in a collective way. This makes for the renewal of the Church over time.

My vision for the role of the Bishop of Newark in the 21st century is to lead the Diocese in becoming a more nimble and responsive vehicle for people to come to know and love God and to build God’s reign wherever we serve. This will include adapting structures, funding, and leadership, so that we can embrace the changing demographics, cultures, and economic situations we face. This will necessitate seeking collaborative partnerships with other parts of the Church so that our human and other resources are used effectively and with prudence to foster new forms of ministry.

The Diocese of Newark under Bishop Beckwith has begun the necessary work to build individual and collective capacities to listen to God’s Word and to discern God’s mission. What excites me most about the role of bishop at this time is that we cannot be focused on institutional maintenance or mere survival; Christ is leading us to become something new. The challenge now is to step out boldly in faith, grounded in reason. Where are we called to innovate? Where are we called to start new ministries and in what forms? How do we recruit and call the next generation of leaders?

The Bishop will need to lead the Diocese into this future, confident that God will provide for us in the midst of the changes, as we set a course together. We need now to start acting. This will mean being willing to experiment, fail, and learn. This will take money, leadership, and support. It also means focusing on the next generations.

Simultaneously, from my visit and conversations, I know that the Bishop will need to lead an effort to create a blueprint for realigning our fiscal, physical, and human resources for this new era. Fear of death is palpable. There is real love in the Diocese of Newark for the people and clergy of the Church; this needs to be matched by courage to risk. The challenge for the Bishop will be to inspire and assure the people of the Diocese to trust that love is stronger than death.

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One of our current situations involves a congregation that has historically avoided involvement with the diocese. Since their long‐time rector retired two years ago, they have declined significantly and are down to 30 people on a Sunday with hardly any financial cushion. I have urged them to start reaching out to nearby congregations (Episcopal, Lutheran and others) to seek collaborative opportunities for pastoral care and outreach. And they’re doing it, willingly! They also have a pair of consultants working with them to assess their current and future vitality and urging them to keep seeking the creative work of the Spirit.

Hope is also a key element. When a congregation can look beyond its fears and experience hope that is based in measurable reality (rather than magical thinking or nostalgia), then that hope motivates transformation and resurrection.

The decline in attendance and engagement in the Church will continue to be a challenge. If we were to determine the aggregate empty‐pew ratio in the diocese, I suspect it would be staggeringly large. Who wants to attend a church where more than half the seats are empty? It’s also bad stewardship of property and resources.

And yet when congregations can open themselves to new ways of being, including collaborative and innovative engagement in the community, then exciting things will happen. In Maryland we have a network of “small but mighty” congregations that meets quarterly for mutual support and affirmation. We have two “Lutherpalian” partnerships and one in process. Collaboration is a critical aspect of congregational vitality for the near future. A primary role of the bishop is to foster and support those conversations.

The Diocese of Newark is paying attention to this seismic shift and seeking to embrace the Spirit’s stirring to change and be changed for the sake of the Gospel. To do this we have to take an honest and courageous look at our values as embodied by how we use our resources. If a congregation is spending more on property than on a priest, that’s a value decision. However, property fully utilized for mission and ministry throughout the week may be a better use of resources than paying a priest full time. In Maryland we find “average weekly impact” to be a better measure of vitality than “average Sunday attendance.” What we do

on Sundays means little if it doesn’t impact our lives as disciples of Jesus in our communities the rest of the week, sharing God’s love in word and deed. As midwife and head cheerleader for all the baptized, the bishop nudges us out the door to spread God’s love beyond church walls.

ST PAUL’S CHURCH IN ENGLEWOOD UNDAY...

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