Contents
Lay Director
4th Day First
News from NECC
Servant Community
Upcoming Events
From the Treasurer
Mailing List
Cursillo T-shirts
Team Application
(pdf format)
Weekender Application
(pdf format)
(The application forms are in PDF (Portable Document Format) and require
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From the Spiritual Director
The Rev. John A. Rollins
Christ Church, Pompton Lakes
How many of the days of your life have you wakened with a sure knowledge of your faith? If you are like most Christians
in this world, your answer will be, "Not too often not often enough to make me feel comfortable." And
how many are there that waken and think to themselves, "I don't know where my faith has gone I've lost it,
and I don't know how to get it back."
I pose the question to make the point that faith in God and God's Church is something that most people often have
doubts about it is something that is of necessity developed over much time and much testing. In our journey of
faith there will be probably as many dark nights as there are brilliant days. Faith is a living, dynamic thing,
not a static object. I almost despair when I hear someone say that they have "lost their faith" just
as they might have lost their PIN number. That says to me that they view faith as if it were something ornamental
to be carried around but never used.
Faith must be seen as a living thing. As J. Edgar Park has written, "A living faith is always on trial: we
call it faith for that reason. When I read in some alarmist book that the Christian faith is now on trial, or at
the crossroads,' my impulse is to answer, why not? Does anybody know a time with the Christian faith was not on
trial or when the Christian faith was a simple walkover, with neither principalities nor powers to dispute its
advance?"
If faith is a living thing, how do we cultivate it and make it grow, especially in times of drought? Here are three
suggested paths, any or all of which can be taken:
First there is the path of relying on powerful symbols. These symbols can be called upon when we need increased
strength for our faith.
One story from the Hebrew Scriptures tells of the battle of the Israelites against Amalek. The Israelites were
successful in battle because whenever Moses held up the rod of God, they carried the day. To help make this happen,
Joshua and another helper held Moses' tiring arms up so that the power of the symbol would be seen and sufficient
to make the Israelite soldiers rally even when they felt unable to go on.
We all know a variety of powerful symbols the American flag, the Rock of Gibralter, Fort Knox, the dollar sign,
the Dodge ram these give a sense of strength. For the Christian, our powerful symbols are the Cross, the water
of baptism, the Bread and Wine, the laying on of hands. These outward and visible symbols convey to us the strength
and the grace that they represent and when our faith is weakening, can be a source of renewal when we remember
them and avail ourselves to them.
Obviously, we need to choose our symbols carefully, for lesser ones may leave us stranded. Like Moses' rod or the
dollar sign, sometimes those which we choose may need to be propped up. Let us rely on the power of the Bread and
Wine, the water of baptism, the laying on of hands, the Cross these are enduring.
The second path of faith is the path of Holy Scripture. In it, as the apostle Paul reminds Timothy in his letter,
we find the hope of salvation, the nature and purpose of God, and direction for our lives. This path is one that
we in the Episcopal Church has sometimes neglected or to speak charitably have not always completely appreciated.
In the Book of Common Prayer "that treasure" according to Herbert O'Driscoll is a lectionary of scripture
lessons appointed to be used for daily morning and evening prayer. Not many of us say morning and evening prayer,
but even if we don't, if that lectionary was used to direct our Bible reading, at the end of the two-year cycle
we would have read the entire Bible through at least once (omitting a few unedifying chapters) and the Psalms at
least four times. When this system was proposed by Archbishop Cranmer in the 16th century, it made Anglicans (at
least theoretically) the most biblically-literate Church in Christendom.
And there are all sorts of aids in following the path of Holy Scripture: most church libraries have at least one
volume on how to study the Bible; there is the Bible Reading Fellowship, the Serendipity Bible study program, and
the Forward Day By Day booklets (which are also online at http://www.forwardmovement.org/fdd1.html
to name just a few.
The third path is the path of persistence in prayer. Through our persistence we can supply additional strength
to our growing faith.
The whole point of Jesus' odd story about the pesky widow and the agnostic judge is that persistence in making
know our needs will pay off. If the highly insensitive human judge will be moved to action by repeated pleas, how
much more quickly will God respond to our persistent and legitimate supplications.
Persistent prayer accomplishes several things: first, it continually sharpens our focus on God as we pray to
God we affirm God's being and importance to all of life. Secondly, it helps our mental and spiritual health by
opening channels for us in order to get things off our minds and expressed in constructive fashion. Thirdly, when
we pray for others in intercessory prayers, we are involved in fostering a real act of love we allow ourselves
to stand outside our sphere of selfish interest and think of the needs of others before our own. If we are going
to help our living faith thrive, we need feed it constantly with the food of prayer.
These are not the only paths to faith but they are ones in which we can take an active part. By choosing symbols
full of power in which to find strength; by using Holy Scripture to develop our understanding of God's nature and
purpose for our lives; and by honest persistence in prayer these are powerful resources to call upon when our
faith seems to be waning. They are also paths which can help in ways undreamt to deepen that faith we already possess.
De colores.
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From the Lay Director
Joe Stewart
Christ Church, Pompton Lakes
Welcome back from what I hope was a joyous summer. We have several neat things coming up, as well as the regularly
planned Ultreyas. I won't bore you with dates and details, as they can be found elsewhere in this newsletter, other
than to say that the Frank Runyon presentation of the Sermon on the Mount will be something that I wouldn't want
to miss. I saw him do the Gospel of Mark and it was excellent - he really brought it to life.
Action - oh, no! - something else to do in our already busy lives. What is Cursillo if not the basis for an active
life, walking with, sharing about, helping our "neighbors" to find Christ in the world, in each other,
in themselves. Yes, Cursillo is a "method", a method which if in the end doesn't result in action, is
incomplete. True, Piety and Study are a necessary part of our life; they prepare us for effective action, the action
of sharing our relationship and understanding of Christ in our life with those around us. Piety and Study should
become part of our lives, providing new insights into our journey. These insights are gifts meant to be shared
so that others might come to see Christ in their lives with a new perspective or perhaps for the first time.
You don't need Cursillo to live a life of Piety, Study and Action. Certainly there are many people who live this
model without ever having heard of Cursillo. So why do we have Cursillo weekends, Ultreyas, and Group Reunions?
For me, the answer seems multifaceted. The most important of which is that it provides a community of like-minded
individuals within which to hone our skills for sharing our journey, with others in our day to day lives. Few other
aspects of church involvement offers the laity the opportunity to practice sharing their understanding of Christ
in their life, as does the Cursillo Community.
After all, the ultimate action is to share Christ with others, "The Great Commission". So now that you
have these tools available to you, why not use them to help you build the confidence to share your love of Christ
with others?
Ultreyas are a fun place to begin using the tools given to you on your Cursillo weekend, so I hope to see you at
an upcoming Ultreya soon.
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The Fourth Day First
Piety
Unknown Source on the Internet
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first
tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems.
I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
The second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and
sail to the four corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally, the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People
will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them
I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one
came to the first tree, he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood
to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would
make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard."
The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his
dreams would not come true. The woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this
one," and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feedbox for animals. He was then placed in a
barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings
had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. Years went by, and the trees forgot about
their dreams. Then one day, a man and a woman came to the barn. She gave birth, and they placed the baby into the
hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby,
but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the
greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to
sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to
keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said, "Peace - Be Still," and the
storm and the waves stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who
was carrying it. They came to a stop and the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top
of the hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill
and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for
you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts in His timing. Each of the trees got what they
wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that
His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Study
(Because there was no submission to the Study section of the
Fourth Day, perhaps you might want to consider the Frank Runyeon presentation listed below as part of your study.
I highly recommend his presentation to further your Christian journey. Editor)
The Newark Episcopal Cursillo Community
proudly presents: Sermon on the Mount
Friday, October 15, 1999 at 7:30 PM
Christ Church, Pompton Lakes
This is a one-man theatrical performance of Jesus' teaching on discipleship.
Frank Runyeon is a popular television actor who has appeared in daytime dramas on all three major networks and
in such nighttime dramas as L.A. Law and Melrose Place. Frank is also nationally known for his translation and
performance of Biblical texts including Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He has received a Masters degree from the General
Theological Seminary and is presently working on his doctorate. In his plays, Frank uses common American speech
to capture Jesus' message to his followers. His work engages the audience's imagination to bring the Bible's words
to life. Using humor and theatrical techniques, the presentation is suitable for a range of ages from middle-school
children to adults. The ticket price is $10 per person.
Following the presentation, the audience will have an opportunity to meet Frank Runyeon and discuss his work.
For more information call Carol at 973-778-5034.
Checks should be made payable to Newark Episcopal Cursillo Community.
Action
Kathy Coffey
Church of the Atonement, Fairlawn
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus tells his disciples, "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples...and
teach them to do everything I have told you." This command stands behind Cursillo's call to each of us to
be apostles, to take apostolic action each week to help build up the body of Christ. For most of us this task appears
daunting: How can I carry Christ to the world? That's why action is just one part of the life we're called to live.
We also need spiritual aids to develop our piety; we need regular study to help us know better the Christ we take
to others; we need the support of Group Reunions and Ultreyas to help us reach our potential as Christians and
to fulfill our individual and collective calls to action. Taking the time to grow spiritually and to prepare ourselves
makes it possible finally to take the apostolic action God has called us to take.
Our call to action is clear enough, but what form ought our action take? The answer to that question differs for
each of us. A broad answer is that apostolic action includes any effort "to make various situations (family,
work, parish and apostolic groups) more fully Christian" ("Group Reunion," NEC, Feb 93, page 5).
We need to be attentive to the people we encounter daily and to the opportunities to bring Christ into each encounter.
We must never forget that each of us as Christians reflects the divine image. We need to reflect an image that
will draw people to Christ, not reinforce negative images of God and Church. As we attend to the important daily
calls here at home, we must also remain open to the possibility of a wider call. We mustn't hide behind the worry
that God will call us to the ends of the world to be evangelists, although some will be called to carry Christ
to far corners of the world. Whether our call takes us near or far, we can trust God never to call us to any action
without also giving us the tools we need to fulfill that call. God needs us to be open and prepared to answer the
calls as they come.
To that end we invite the Cursillo community to participate in this year's diocesan Evangelism Conference as a way to live out our
Fourth Day and possibly to discover a call to future action. The conference is scheduled for Friday night and Saturday,
October 22-23 at Xavier Center, St. Elizabeth's College in Convent Station, N.J. The scheduled speaker is the Reverend
Martin Smith, Chaplain to the Lambeth Conference and Superior of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. Fr. Smith
is an acclaimed conference leader in Britain, Canada, and the United States. He also has practical experience in
spiritual direction, helping people find creative ways of renewing their faith. The topic for this year's conference
is Breakthrough and Transformation: Reclaiming the Experience of Conversion from Fundamentalism. Fr. Smith will
address the question: How can we change and grow as individuals and congregations? Details concerning registration
dates and costs are not yet available. These details will be mailed to each congregation's office, or you can contact
Fr. Mark Waldon,
973-595-0349.
So mark your calendars now and plan to attend this year's conference. Because people's schedules are already tight,
the Secretariat doesn't plan to hold a separate Fourth Day Weekend this year. However, if we are to be effective
apostles, we need to make time to recharge our batteries and realign our vision. With time for worship, study,
fellowship, and renewal, this year's Evangelism Conference will give us the chance to do that and to become better
apostles in the process. We pray that you will take action to join us there.
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News from NECC
Tom Osucha
Behold I Make All Things New NEC Seminar
On October 22-24, 1999, the annual National Episcopal Cursillo Seminar will be held in Pittsburgh, PA. It is a
blessed time of fellowship, workshops, worship, and fun. It is also an opportunity to link with other Christian
leaders to share ideas about Cursillo and what is going on in each one's diocese.
For those who have attended it from our diocese in the past, it was a wonderful experience and I encourage you
to consider going. This is the closest it will be for several years so think about it. If you have any questions
or would like additional information, please contact Tom Osucha ([w] 908-221-6336, [h] 973-635-3101) or anyone
on the Secretariat.
Strategy for Evangelizing Environments (SENT) Workshop
The Diocese of New York is offering a SENT Workshop on Saturday (Sept. 18) in New York City. This is a one-day
workshop to introduce environmental group reunions and a method for using this to evangelize your environment for
Christ. I would encourage those who are looking for another way to change their environment for Christ to consider
attending this workshop. It is a wonderful investment of a day, you will have fun, lunch is provided and it is
done by 4:30 PM.
If you would like to attend or if you have any questions, please contact the local coordinator (Kathy Chase - 212-957-0857)
or Tom Osucha ([w] 908-221-6336, [h] 973-635-3101).
Servant Community News
Prayer Matrix
The Servant Community has been developing a prayer matrix. Phone calls have been going out seeking people willing
to make a couple of calls to pass the word when prayers are requested. Prayer requests will be taken for concerns
and celebrations and thanks.
Contact phone numbers will be available shortly. Keep reading the NewArk to see how our prayer requests can travel
throughout the entire community.
From the Treasurer
Cathie Studwell
St. John the Divine, Hasbrouck Heights
I would like to thank all of you who have made Cursillo part of your personal stewardship. Your contributions have
helped us a great deal.
I would like to take a moment to remind you of the Biggie Biglow Scholarship Fund. Many people have been able to
attend Cursillo events because of the money that this fund provides. Please pray about making a contribution to
the fund so that we can continue to provide the dollars that will allow people to attend Cursillo weekends and
workshops.
Also, if you have enjoyed receiving all of the mail that our community sends to you, mail that keeps you informed
on upcoming events and plans, please pray about sending a donation to defer the cost of the mailings and printing
supplies. Again, as always, I would like to thank Christ Church, Pompton Lakes for allowing us to use their bulk
mailing permit, which provides us with a less expensive rate for our mailings.
Any and all amounts will be appreciated. May God's peace always be with you. Ultreya!
Cathie Studwell
Clifton, NJ 07011
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Mailing List
In order to keep our mailing list as current as possible, please let Louise Clarke
know of any changes to your mailing address. Also, if you would like to be removed from our mailing list, call
Louise Clarke at 973-827-2832 and leave a message on the answering machine.
Did you see the NewArk 25 t-shirts? Now you, too, can have a NewArk Cursillo shirt - White T-shirt with the  logo in the picture (in rainbow colors, of course), choose any
size(s) that t-shirts can be found, from children's sizes to adult XXL.
Shirts will be made to order by Jan Paxton and John Rollins at $10 each, with proceeds to go to the Cursillo Community
funds. Place your order now. It's not too early to think of Christmas!
Name_______________________________
Phone_______________________________
Arrangements for pick-up from Christ Church, Pompton
(or mail $3.00)
________________________________
Number ________
Size _________________________
Cost = # _____ X $10 = _________________________
Payment method: ______________________________
(make checks payable to Christ Church Discretionary Fund)
e-mail your order to paxton@intac.com
or mail it to: Cursillo Shirts, c/o Christ Church, 400 Ramapo Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ
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