| From the Diocese of Newark 4
Present: Anne Davidson, the Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton, Bill Kinnaman, St. Paul’s, Chatham; the Reverend Lauren Ackland, the Reverend Thomas E. Mathews, Hester B. Wharton, Grace, Madison; Beth Rauen Sciaino, St. George’s, Maplewood; Kate Halm-Lutterodt, the Reverend John M. Hamilton, the Reverend J. Carr Holland, Edward Onaodowan, Grace, Newark; the Reverend Judy Baldwin, Douglas Eldridge, Dolores Macauley, Stella Morris, House of Prayer, Newark; Louise Waiters, St. Barnabas’, Newark; Edith Gallimore, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark; Samuel A. McKeown, Joan Mebane, Christ, Short Hills; Crystal Brown, Faith Gideon Brown, Patrice M. Henderson, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; Charles Rall, Calvary, Summit
District 4 Choral FestivalThe first ever District 4 Choral Festival was held on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Grace, Madison. The event was also a fundraiser for Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Ticket sales raised $511, which was sent to ERD on behalf of District 4, Diocese of Newark. Calvary, Summit, raised an additional $190 in ticket sales, and House of Prayer, Newark, sold $325 worth of tickets. Churches that sold tickets on for the fundraiser can send a check to ERD, indicating in the memo line that the donation is from District 4, Diocese of Newark. The total amount raised as of tonight is $1,026. People expressed their enjoyment of the event, the collaboration in the form of a joint choir, and the variety of music that was performed. The jazz trio was a big hit so one idea is to hold a District 4 cabaret or jazz night. St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange, used the North American Welsh Choir’s round the next day at church. The Welsh Choir generously offered to participate in the Choral Festival because they rehearse at Grace, Madison, and Calvary, Summit. Everyone enjoyed the Welsh Choir’s participation in the event. Eddie Onaodowan recommended that planning for next year’s event begin earlier. There was some resistance on the part of clergy and choir directors. Judy Baldwin offered that this first experience hopefully turned hearts for future events and collaboration. District 4 choir directors’ increased communication was an unexpected benefit from this event. Dolores Macauley was concerned that some parishioners were unaware of the event and she would have liked more support for fundraising from clergy and vestries. However, the fundraising component of the Choral Festival was a secondary concern of the event and a later development due to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The original concept was to provide an opportunity for fellowship among District 4 parishioners. The October 15 event was an amazing first effort for District 4. John Hamilton remembered that at an earlier meeting we had discussed having a similar event next year to celebrate Bishop Croneberger’s ministry and retirement. Eddie would prefer a bigger event for this occasion. Eddie thanked the District 4 representatives who helped with the Choral Festival: Marilyn Lehren, Hester Wharton, Dolores Macauley, Judy Baldwin, Stella Morris, Lauren Ackland, and Tom Mathews. DVDs of the event are available for $20 ($5 of which goes to ERD) and should be available in two weeks. Please let Eddie know if you would like to order a DVD at edwona@msn.com.
District 4 ElectionsAt the next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, elections will be held for the following positions. If you are interested in standing for election please tell Lauren Ackland or Carr Holland, co-Convenors. Diocesan Council District 4 lay representative Nominations Committee District 4 clergy representative Diocesan Convention District 4 youth deputy (16-18 years old) District 4 convenor(s) District 4 secretary The incumbents for the first two positions are interested in running a second time. Faith Gideon Brown would like to serve again on Diocesan Council, and Tom Mathews on the Nominations Committee. Carr and Lauren are willing to stay on as co-Convenors if need be; this position is open to both lay and clergy representatives. All of these positions will begin in 2006.
Businesso A host congregation is needed for the Dec. 6 meeting. This meeting is a combined meeting for November and December due to the holidays. [Christ Church, Short Hills, has since volunteered.] o Handouts were distributed: o Diocesan Staff Guide because of the recent redistribution of responsibilities at Episcopal House. o Nominations Committee: § Nomination Form for diocesan positions. The nomination deadline is Nov. 30. People can apply themselves or can be nominated by someone else. Hester Wharton and Tom Mathews are our District 4 representatives and can be contacted if you have any questions. § An item listing the open lay positions that can be used in your parish newsletter or bulletin. o By Nov. 9, the diocese would like to know how many people from District 4 will participate in the Dec. 3 Confirmation. Most District 4 youth will be confirmed on May 13, at St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange, or June 10, at St. Paul’s, Chatham. o Chris Brdlik is our District 4 representative for Percept, Link2Lead, and Vista2000, the three computerized tools that use demographic data to evaluate people in your surrounding community. A brief discussion was held on whether we want Kitty Kawecki of the Annand Resource Center to give a presentation on these tools at a future meeting. It was agreed that those interested in learning more should speak to Chris, since most clergy have attended presentations and there will be a workshop on the tools at Creative Congregations. o Reminder that diocesan pledges are due on Dec. 1. The diocese would needs this information in order to determine their budget for next year. One option is to submit last year’s amount and then revise it up or down after your December vestry meeting. o Edith Gallimore updated us on the Search/Nominating Committee for the tenth bishop of Newark. Thirty-five churches participated in Reflection Sunday, and attendance at the walkabouts ranged from ten to forty people. Both laity and clergy emphasized congregational development. There will be more walkabouts in the second week of November to respond to the draft profile that will be ready on Nov. 1 or 2. The profile will be mailed to congregations and emailed on the listserv. The profile will go Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee on Dec. 7 and be available for candidates on Dec. 8. o According to Judy Baldwin, the youth feedback session organized by diocesan Youth Missioner Kai Alston provided a great opportunity for youth to share their thoughts about what they want in the next bishop. The youth said they want a bishop who will listen to and value young people. They are interested in the development of the youth program and pay attention to the cities in the diocese. (The youth in attendance were mostly from cities.) o John Hamilton reported on the Newark Regional Ministries trip to the National Acolyte Festival. The trip was opened to other congregations in the district and was made up of thirty-five youth and fifteen adults. John thanked District 4 for its contribution to the trip. Money was also raised through t-shirt sales; the Cathedral youth sold the most. The National Acolyte Festival was well organized this year and a very worthwhile event for the youth. For future trips the group intends to use a different form of transportation. The cost of the bus only allowed for the group to stay over one night and the youth would have psychologically benefited from another night. The bus also broke down in the rain on the way home. o Upcoming Events: o Halloween Concert, Oct. 29, 7:00 p.m., at Grace, Madison. This concert includes Grace’s school choirs and scary organ music. Cost is $5 per family or non-perishable items for Food for Friends. o Magnetic Church workshop with Andrew Weeks on Nov. 4 and 5 at Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral. This congregational development workshop costs $35 per person. o Judy Baldwin’s installation and celebration of new ministry at House of Prayer is on Nov. 20. o House of Prayer’s International Night on Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. includes a fashion show, food, dinner, dances, and Stella Morris’ nephew as deejay. o Edith Gallimore, senior warden of Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, graciously thanked everyone for coming. The Cathedral was thanked for hosting our meeting and providing a delicious dinner.
The next District 4 meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church in Short Hills.
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