Volume IX Fall Edition 1997

Contents:

From the Spiritual Director
The Rev. John A. Rollins
Christ Church, Pompton Lakes

In these latter years of the twentieth century, we are so apt to look at everything in light of what it is worth to us now and what it will be worth to us later in life. If something seems too costly, we avoid it or give it up. In the same way, unless we are firmly grounded in our faith, we may wonder if Christianity is worth all the inconvenience and suffering it may seem to offer. The neophyte or beginning Christian especially may often wonder about this.

Christ has never promised us an easy time during our life. He once said, "In the world you will have tribulation." Few of us will be compelled to become martyrs for Christianity, but most of us will need to bear criticism and the unkind remarks of insensitive people. There will always be those who consider you odd, or if nothing worse, religiously fanatical because of your affiliation with Christ. To all of us, but especially for young people, this may seem to be too great a cross to bear. The Christian may lose interest or drift into an attitude of indifference or apathy.

The Christian life will show us our obligations. It will show us our obligations to our parents for the kind of life they have shown us; to our friends who may have influenced us for Christ; and, most of all, to God who has given us everything we now possess. Many times it would be easier if we could remain ignorant of these obligations, but Christ cannot give us complete happiness until we have acknowledged these personal responsibilities and are willing to meet them.

As Christians, we will be expected to consider ourselves as an example to others. This is both a privilege and a drawback. Many -- especially those who are not Christians -- will expect us to be nearly perfect. Unless our lives are whole-heartedly resigned to Christ, we may revolt at the idea of having others look to us as an example. However, we, as followers of Christ, try to imitate Him. It should give us joy to know that we are so following in His footsteps, that others looking to us will not stumble but see Him in us.

Even though we are leading the only life which leads to happiness, there will be times when we feel "down and out" and the struggle will not seem worth while. Sometimes God will seem very far away. We will need to force ourselves to pray and read the Bible. This doesn't mean that we have drifted from God. We will only be acting as other normal Christians.

Living with Christ will also offer many "mountain-top" experiences. He can make our hearts thrill to the music of Handel, Liszt, Bach, and all the rest. He can make our spirits effervesce at the sight of a starlit sky, the moon being lightly overshadowed with clouds, or moonlight on the water of a lake. He can make us see Him in the budding of a flower, in the smile of a child, or in the face of a teacher proclaiming the truths of God.

The Christian's days on earth may not all be pleasant, but when we weigh these short days on earth against all eternity, we can conclude that it is, after all, worth while.

From the Lay Director
Kurt Gruenberg
St. John's, Dover

My Sisters and Brothers

Travel back with me to your own Cursillo Weekend, whether it be as recent as NewArk #23 or as distant as NewArk #1 or in some other Diocese. I ask you to try and focus on Sunday of your Weekend, specifically the Apostolic Hour. Try to recall that moment when your Cursillo Cross was placed around your neck.

For me that moment occurred on NewArk #19 at Sacred Heart Center in Newton, NJ. Present were my wife, Susan (who had prayed for this moment for five years), my friend and former Rector Carr, my table mates - Martha, Marybeth, Margaret, and John, as well as a whole host of new friends who have grown more near and dear to me as we travel our Christian Journeys together.

Focus now on that Cross upon which is found Christ Crucified and when you turn that Cross over you will find the simple message "Christ is counting on you". Recall, if you can, who placed that Cross around your neck. I can still see Fr. Joe Pickard placing that Cross around my neck while saying to me "Christ is counting on you" to which I responded "and I am counting on him". There was an awesome joy in that moment which I am reminded of each and every time I place that "special" Cross around my neck.

There is for me a joyous mystery in the recognition, knowledge and realization that Christ counts on me, on you, on all of us, as much as I, you, all of us count on him. It is in that recognition, knowledge and realization that I feel I have been called to this ministry as Lay Director. Know that I come to this ministry to serve God through Christ and you as a humble and dedicated servant who searches to discern what the call of our Cursillo Movement is in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. With this call comes both the joy and the responsibility of leading this movement forward with love, patience, passion and compassion. It is with regard to this responsibility that I now write.

Let me start by stating that it is my personal belief that we as Cursillistas are, or need, or should be a "Fourth Day People" much the same as all Christians are called to be an "Easter People". As Lay Director I am becoming more and more concerned that as a whole, the "Fourth Day" in our Community is not healthy and may be close to becoming extinct. I support this finding by sharing with you that I can only locate six (6) active and functioning Reunion Groups as well as sparse attendance at our two Ultreyas.

Let me share with you that our roaster contains over 600 names and addresses. One would think with over 600 names on the roster there would be more than six (6) Reunion Groups and two (2) sparsely attended Ultreyas. Further I note that over the last several years we have had a difficult time calling active Fourth Day Cursillistas to serve on Weekend Teams as well as participants in Servant Community and as candidates for Secretariat.

It is clear to me that the founders of the Cursillo movement in Spain, as well as the founders of this Movement in the Diocese of Newark, had an active and strong Fourth Day through Reunion Groups and Ultreya long before consideration of running the first Three Day Weekend.

It is apparent to me that we as a Community may have lost sight of the importance of the "Fourth Day First" in our zealousness to run Weekends. Therefore, I have found it my responsibility to recommend to the Secretariat that they consider taking action to cease running of a Three Day Weekend for at least one year or until such time as it takes for NewArk Cursillo to put it's Fourth Day house in order.

I need to share with you that I have never been a "numbers person" and I believe with my whole heart in Jesus observation that wherever two or three are gathered together, there I will be. That said, I have recommended to the Secretariat, that until such time as a Team for a Three Day Weekend can be put together, made up active Fourth Day Cursillistas, who submit applications to be on that Team, that there be no Weekend held in this Movement.

We, as a Secretariat, have been discussing this issue since our April 1997 meeting . It is my sense that the Secretariat will vote on this issue at it's September 1997 meeting. It is further my sense that the Secretariat will vote to continue running Three Day Weekends with the next Weekend in the Diocese of Newark being run in the Spring of 1998.

What is the solution to building the Fourth Day in NewArk Cursillo? Some of the solutions are obvious while others are not. Your Secretariat needs your input, your prayers and support to accomplish this task. One of the more obvious problems we are encountering is a lack of and/or failure to communicate with each other. With this issue of the New Ark we are accomplishing a large step in the communication process by consolidating a number of mailing lists into one main data base by which to get the news and information out to you. I would ask that if you receive this New Ark and really rather not get anything else from NewArk Cursillo that you send me a note or leave a message on the Information Line and I will see that you are removed from the mailing list. On the other hand, if you have not gotten any mail from us this year and would like a copy of the NewArk that went out earlier this year, please send me a note or leave a message on the Information Line and I will see that a copy is sent to you.

Are the location, day and time of the Ultreyas in Morristown and Hawthorne good for you? Please send me a note or leave a message on the Information Line indicating your preference of day, time and location. What about Group Reunion? I have met and spoken with a number of you who tell me you want to be in a Reunion Group, but you can not find anyone to Group with. I would suggest that we could put a Reunion Group Data Base together with names, addresses, day of the week and time preference to look for matches. I will commit to you that once we find a match for you, we will help you start a Group of your own or find you a place in an existing Group.

You should also know that I am aware of a number of individuals within our Community who are willing to work with you and help you start a Group of your own. They have committed to work with you and your Group for up to one year or until the Group is able to function on it's own. Again, if you need help in finding a group, please send me a note or leave a message on the Information Line.

What about the Blame Game? For too long I heave heard members of this Community place blame on the Clergy, or the Bishop, or Lay Members, or the Lay Director, or Spiritual Director, or the Secretariat, or the old members or the new members. We need to stop blaming each other, step back, join hands and pray with and for one another. I believe if we focus our energy towards prayer that we can generate the energy and enthusiasm which will make this Community strong and viable. A Community ready, willing and able to evangelize it's environments.

Let me close by reminding you of something I believe we all have heard on our own Weekend, "An isolated Christian is a paralyzed Christian". Together through Piety, Study and Action combined with the Grace of God, the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit we can and we will be all that this NewArk Cursillo Community was intended to be.

Go with and in God's peace and love.

Ultreya!

The Fourth Day First

Piety
Louise Clarke
St. Mary's Sparta

"With what spiritual aids have you nourished your vital union with Christ this week?" We have several aids from which to choose. Personal Prayer, Daily Office, Meditation, Examination of Conscience, Reconciliation of a Penitent, Holy Eucharist, Spiritual Direction, Family Prayer, Prayer Group, Group Reunion, and Retreat of Quiet Day. While I may include several of these aids during my week, Group Reunion is where I get much of my nourishment. I meet every Thursday night with anywhere from two to six members of my reunion group. This is mixed group of men and women from different walks of life who are at different points in their journey with Christ. We all have one thing in common.... the love of Christ. Along with this is the desire to take this love into our environments. We all know that often this is not easy to do. But, we also know that our group reunion is there each week to support us in our attempts.

I have heard some stories about other group reunion which have not been successful. What makes ours different? I think it is because we follow "the program". We try to keep our reunion time to an hour. We each share our piety, study and action. We learn from each other. We support each other. We keep each other on track. We do not use reunion for group therapy. We respect the opinions, concerns, frustrations, hopes and fears of each individual's attempts to evangelize his or her environments.

The result is an hour of nourishment that, in conjunction with other spiritual aids, sustains me for the coming week. There is something missing in my week when I am unable to attend my reunion. If you have not tried group reunion, you are missing an important part of your Fourth Day.

Study
Barbara Ciancuilli
St. Peter's, Mt. Arlington

The old woman struggles to free herself. She swings wildly, held in the grip of an attendant. As her possessions are gradually taken from her, she clutches one hand tightly resisting, refusing to give up her last treasure. When her hand is finally pried open, a small coin is revealed.

The opening of Henri Nouwen's book, With Open Hands, begins for the reader an unfolding of their spirit's journey toward a free prayer life. In each chapter Nouwen presents a different perspective from which the reader is invited to contemplate her personal prayer journey.

The short prayers that end each chapter provide the reader with an example of prayer from and for that perspective. There is even a simple question or two as a sort of self-examination for the reader. We are called, through this book not only to pray, but also to open our hands and our lives to God's promises for each of us.

For those who want to kill two birds with one stone by studying prayer, or piety, this book provides a way to do both - piety and study.

Action
Karen Dunsmore
St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes

I am reluctant to go see her. It's been a week since our first meeting. I am not feeling well - female problems and all. But I must go - Isabelle is waiting. And I promised. I contemplate my reluctance.

I haven't brought anything this meeting. Last time, my first visit, I brought a bouquet of daisies and a sprig of stargazer lilies. Isabelle loved them. This time I walk in empty-handed. I am nervous, what are we going to do today?

I notice that Isabelle is very different than last visit. She is in pain and weak, and very yellow. I greet her and we start to chat. Her legs hurt so I ask if I might massage them for her. I am grateful for my one very brief massage lesson. We talk about church, family, travel, work.

She is sleepy and her hands ache - so I rub them. We talk some more - this time about food. We have found our favorite subject. What she wouldn't give for some fresh seafood! Anna, the person staying with her 24 hour a day, is from Poland. She tells us she hates fish..... I keep rubbing.

Two hours have passed in a flash. I realize that I have no pain - all the female problems I came with have somehow gone. The two hours have flown. "When will I see you again?" she asks. "Well how about next Tuesday (one week away)?" " Oh, that long?" I think about how changed she is and plan for a revisit on Thursday instead. I secretly decide to being a few shrimp and some cocktail sauce.

I am overwhelmed with how easy this has been and I realize that I am getting far more than I am giving.

(Karen is a Hospice volunteer. Editor)

From the Treasurer
Cathie Studewell
St. John the Divine, Hasbrouck Heights

Hope you all had a wonderful summer. You should have received a letter from me regarding the Biggie Bigelow Memorial Scholarship Fund. I regret that I did not include my address so you can send contributions.

Please send any contributions to:
Cathie Studewell
229 East First Street
Clifton, NJ 07011

Please make any checks out to the Newark Episcopal Cursillo with a memo that it is for the Biggie Bigelow Memorial Scholarship Fund.

To those who have made donations, thank you very much. God Bless.

News from NECC
Tom Osucha
Messiah, Chester/Long Valley

The third NECC Quarterly meeting was held in Oshkosh, Wis. on July 10-12. Some key items that came out of that meeting were:

Reminder of the NEC Seminar in Birmingham, AL on Oct. 24-26 which is a wonderful opportunity to meet other Cursillistas from across the country and share experiences/problems/issues/successes. It is also a nice way to experience southern hospitality (y'all come!). The cost is $150 before Sept. 1 and $165 after for the seminar (plus hotel room). Along with that, there will be a one-day SENT or Cursillo Speakers workshops being held the previous day for $25 before Sept. 1 and $35 after. For more information contact Kurt Gruenberg or Tom Osucha.

The Northeast District (which is our district) will be electing a new clergy person as representative on the NECC (Frank Wismer's term is up). Please keep the district in your prayers as they call someone to serve.

There will be a Strategy to Evangelize our Environments (SENT) workshop on Sept. 6 in Vestal, NY (Central NY diocese). If you are interested in attending, contact Saundra Cryler at 607-785-1695 or if you have any questions, contact Kurt Gruenberg (or Tom Osucha).

Three (3) new NEC Library booklets will be available shortly: "Exportation of Cursillo to Another Diocese" (new); "Personal Contact Technique" (revised); and "By-Laws: 1997" (new)

Don't forget to purchase The Fourth Day - A Daily Meditation Guide for Your Spiritual Journey. This is a daily devotional for the complete year with 52 illustrations providing a weekly theme for meditation and is available for $10 from Kurt Gruenberg. It is a wonderful addition to anyone's devotional library and was authored by members of the NECC.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

So far today, God, I've done all right.
I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper,
Haven't been grumpy, nasty or selfish.
I'm really glad of that.
But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed
And from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.

Submitted by the Rev. Elizabeth Eddy

CURSILLO VISITATION:

As a way of making personal contact with members of the NewArk Cursillo Community that we may have lost contact with, Kurt Gruenberg, as Lay Director, is seeking invitations from parishes in the Diocese that have Cursillo members in them to come and worship with them on a Sunday. After the services Kurt would like the opportunity to sit down with and listen to what Cursillo means to them. To arrange for a Visitation the parish will need a Cursillo Community member who will arrange the visitation with the Rector and extend invitations to all Community members in the Parish. Lou Leffler will co-ordinate all visitations. If you would like to arrange a visitation or have questions about a visitation, please call Lou - 973-543-4050.

GROUP REUNION

Want to be part of a group reunion? Unable to find a group with which to reunion? Have you had an unpleasant experience in group reunion? Want to get your Fourth Day back on track? Several members of the Cursillo community who are currently in successful group reunions would like to share the 'secret' of their success. We know from our own experiences the value of including Group Reunion in our Fourth Day. We also know the frustration you may have felt when you found yourself unable to enter a group. We are willing to help you get a group started in your area. We will meet with you at a mutually acceptable time and place for a period of up to a year or until your group is ready to stand on its own. If you are interested, please contact either Elizabeth Eddy at 201-871-1712 or Louise Clarke at 973-827-2832

UPCOMING EVENTS

Celebrate the Journey

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Fourth Day Community Weekend. Celebrate the Journey is scheduled for Friday night, November 14th, through Sunday, November 16th, at the Sacred Heart Center in Newton, NJ. Friday night will have a community focus with a primitive Ultreya and healing service. Saturday's program will feature the wonderful music of the Fisherfolk, the Community of Celebration singers of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. This program will provide both entertainment and an opportunity to learn ways of integrating Celebration music with traditional church liturgies. The Celebration singers will end their program with a Festival Eucharist. If you find it difficult to end the day early, join us for dinner and movies. Sunday's program has a retreat flavor to it and will be presented by the Community of Celebration people. Worship and music will be the theme throughout the entire weekend. Having attended a program presented by the Celebration Community in Maryland several years ago, I highly recommend it to you. If you love music, you will not be disappointed.

In order to accommodate the schedules of as many inside and outside our community, we have provided six (6) different packages for the weekend. I am sure that at least one will fit your schedule also.

The packages are:

  1. Friday eve. thru Saturday Eucharist.......$65
  2. Friday eve.thru Saturday movies............$75
  3. Saturday program thru Eucharist............$45
  4. Saturday program through movies..........$55
  5. Friday eve. thru Sunday program..........$135
  6. Sunday program......................................$40

Space is limited for the overnight packages so sign up early. You can reserve your package by sending a $25.00 check, made out to Newark Episcopal Cursillo, to Louise Clarke, 115 Cork Hill Rd, Franklin, NJ 07416. Questions can be addressed to either Louise at 973-827-2832 or Sue Gruenberg at 973-361-4163. People are still talking about last year's Joy in the Journey weekend. This weekend will be even better so don't miss out on this spectacular event.

NewArk #24 Weekend

Applications for the next weekend, NewArk #24 will be mailed to the community shortly. Cathie Studewell will be the Coordinator of this weekend. If you are interested in serving, please return your application promptly. Selection of the team will take place November 8th at 9:00am. Please keep the Secretariat in your prayers during the selection time.

Ultreyas

St. Peter's Morristown, second Sunday of each month in the parish hall at 7:30 p.m. Please call Ron Fredrickson at 908-875-5289 for information.

St. Clement's Hawthorne, fourth Tuesday of each month in the parish hall at 7:30 p.m. Any questions, please call Ann Meier at 973-427-7050.

Servant Community Meeting are held on the second Wednesday of each month at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes at 7:30 PM. Any questions, please call Kurt Gruenberg at 973-361-4163.

Secretariat Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes at 7:30 PM. All Cursillistas are welcome to attend.

Cursillo Information Line

Want to know what is going on in the Cursillo Community? Need a response to a question about Cursillo. Call the Cursillo Information Line. The latest activities are posted and you can even leave messages to receive information of the community. Call 973-328-0387

Who To Talk To

Diocesan Spiritual Director - The Rev. John Rollins 973-835-5122

Lay Director - Kurt Gruenberg - 973-361-4163
E-mail - kurt_gruenberg@cfins.com

Treasurer - Cathie Studewell - 973-772-6042

Secretary - POSITION OPEN

Servant Comm. Head - POSITION OPEN

Member at Large-Louise Clarke - 973-827-2832
E-mail - lclarke@nac.net

Member at Large-Carl Haefele - 973-778-5034

Servant Community Spiritual Director -
The Rev. Elizabeth Eddy - 201-871-1712

NEC - Carrie Collins - 601-532-8386

NewArk Editor - Louise Clarke - 973-827-2832
E-mail - lclarke@nac.net

NewArk Home Page - Website Coordinator
Jan Paxton - 973-633-9648
E-mail - paxton@intac.com

HELP WANTED

Secretary of the Secretariat: Must be able to attend all Secretariat Meetings held on the Third Wednesday of the Month at Christ Church Pompton Lakes, NJ. Meetings run from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. For more information call:

Kurt Gruenberg, 973-361-4163.

Servant Community Head:

Must be able to attend and run all Servant Community Meetings held on the Second Wednesday of the Month at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes, NJ. Meetings run from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Servant Community Head is also a member of the Secretariat. Call Kurt Gruenberg at 973-361-4163.

Witness Speaker for Ultreya:

Morristown Ultreya is the Second Sunday of the Month at St. Peter's, Morristown, NJ at 7:30 PM. The Hawthorne Ultreya is run the Fourth Tuesday of the Month at St.Clement's, Hawthorne at 7:30 PM. For more information call Ron Fredrickson - 908-876-5289 for the Morristown Ultreya and call Ann Meier - 973-427-7050 for the Hawthorne Ultreya.

Spiritual Directors at Ultreya:

St. Peters, Morristown, NJ on the Second Sunday of the Month at 7:30 PM. Call Ron Fredrickson - 908-876-5289.

St. Clement's, Hawthorne, NJ on the Fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM.

Call Ann Meier - 973-427-7050.

Prayer Warriors:

Intercessory prayer warriors needed when requested by those in need. Are you willing to pray for people when requested? Can you commit to one hour on a given day? If so, what day and hour of the day are you available? If interested, please call Tom Osucha at 973-635-3101.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If God seems far away....
guess who moved?

There is no problem ahead
of us as great as the power
behind us.

Thought, prayer, and then
creative action.

To solve the human equation, we need
to add love, subtract hate, multiply
good, and divide between truth and error.

Do not feel totally personally
irrevocably responsible for everything.
That's my job.
Love, God

Praise Him for all that is past.
Trust Him for all that is to come.

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