--Return to Contents
St. Paul once spoke of the "care of all the churches," as one of his burdens. It is a phrase quoted often by those of us privileged to be in the Episcopal Office. However, I want to focus not on the burden but on the joy of all the churches. Especially do I want to mention the joy associated with five small congregations in western New Jersey nearest to the Delaware River: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Hope, Phillipsburg and Washington.
Many people live a lifetime in the Diocese of Newark and never visit these churches. Some of our clergy whose lives gravitate toward New York City have no idea where these churches are. Seldom is a diocesan meeting held in this part of our state since it is judged to be too far removed from a central gathering place. Yet people from these churches travel to Newark and even to Hudson County to exercise their responsibilities as members of this family of faith.
In recent years these churches have had a complete turnover in clergy leadership. The senior priest among them has served less than five years. Two of them are not even full-time positions. The clergy were all trained at different seminaries, and have had different life experiences. One was for years a pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. One was a student preparing for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. One was a prison chaplain. One actually has his degree from the Roman Catholic Seminary in Mahwah, though he has always been Anglican. One has not been in the parochial ministry for some twenty years prior to assuming his present post last spring.
I focus on these five churches because something rather unusual and exciting is happening at each of them. They are today upbeat congregations engaged, vital, alive and growing. They are also invested in the issues of our day.
At our 1995 Diocesan Convention, we recognized St. Luke's, Phillipsburg, as the church of the year in the diocese. This small congregation, located in our westernmost community, has exploded with life since Rob Bruschi left his assistant's role at Calvary, Summit, some four and one-half years ago to become the rector of St. Luke's. The energy that brought their diocesan recognition in 1995 is still present, and Rob's feisty, caring and inspired leadership is still bearing fruit. At least four members of that church are today discussing the possibility of becoming priests. One is now a postulant. We are beginning to suspect now that the vitality present at St. Luke's has become contagious in the whole region.
In recent months Chris and I have had the privilege of official visits to Hackettstown, Washington and Belvidere. My response to each was to be excited, encouraged, proud and hopeful for the future of this diocese.
This journey began on February 18th when we arrived early at St. James', Hackettstown, to be greeted by Wayne Riley, their new rector. My first assignment was to lead an adult class at 9:00 a.m. Some thirty people were present. Their response in the form of questions and discussion was animated. At the 10:00 service (which started at 10:10 because the adult class overran its limits), the church was packed with more than 170 persons. It was a young congregation with children and babies gracing us with their wonderful sounds. At the other end of the spectrum, many Heath Village residents were in the congregation, rejoicing that Wayne Riley is now also chaplain at that retirement institution. It was the largest congregation and the biggest confirmation class that I have had at St. James in twenty years. The choir was excellent. The lay readers were outstanding. The spirit was uplifting and loving. Both the rector and his wonderful wife, Nancy, are clearly recipients of deep and genuine affection, and both of them return that love with interest. Following the service a dinner prepared by the congregation was served with pride and enthusiasm. After the dinner we talked with the rector about his education program and learned of some unique things he was doing with the kids of that parish. Chris and I returned home thrilled at what we had seen and heard and experienced. We were amazed at what a loving competent priest can do in so short a tenure.
On March 3rd our schedule called for us to return to Warren County. We were at St. Peter's, Washington, in the morning. Again the day began with an adult class taught, interestingly enough, by Christine. Her topic was what it is like to live as the wife of a controversial and rather public bishop and what is the personal price a husband and wife must pay for their public witness? Again there were between thirty to forty people present for this class. They asked many questions and engaged the issues significantly. (Chris was magnificent.)
At the 10:00 service I looked out again on a full church. The choir - all women, no tenors, no basses - was nonetheless excellent. My chaplain was a young man I have known since he was five or six, but now he is much taller than I. There were six people confirmed and received. The congregation was electric. One woman, Doris McFadden, had taken over the church school and has developed some outstanding teaching resources that clearly engaged the young teenagers. The vestry of this church had recently passed a unanimous resolution of support for Bishop Righter. This church plans a major expansion in the near future. They are looking to buy a four to five acre plot of land so they can move and rebuild their church in that part of the area where the population is literally exploding. The priest in charge, Caroline Bruschi, is only part time, but what she is accomplishing is beyond that which full time people have achieved in the past. It was a moment of great satisfaction to watch this congregation at work.
We were due at Belvidere at 2:30 p.m. for another adult class at St. Mary's Church. It was a short trip and we had time to roam through that countryside enjoying the beauty of the State of New Jersey. Christine's reputation as the adult forum leader preceded us so she bumped the Bishop and once again taught the adult class repeating the presentation of the morning. There were some twenty-five to thirty persons present. At 4:00 p.m. the service began and once again I confronted a full church, a large confirmation class and a priest, Emory Byrum, who is deep in the affections of his people. People came up to me to thank me for what Emory has come to mean to them. The day ended with a dinner catered by the Episcopal Julia Childs and her husband, Sandee and Fred Williams. They also happen to be the wardens of St. Mary's. The ride home late that night was aglow with a sense of joyful fulfillment.
St. Luke's, Hope, was the final church in this Warren County quintet. I have not been there officially since I installed Bill Potter last spring as rector. He is bright, articulate and caring. He lives with the heavy personal burden of having a wife who is seriously ill, so he has for years served as father and mother to three super children - two teenagers and a six-year old. St. Luke's is a beautiful church, built in 1832, with a pulpit at its center, high above the congregation. It has a rather homogeneous congregation and has traditionally been a relatively quiet rural church. However, signs of new life and vitality are now breaking out all over this congregation. They have, first of all, moved to three services on Sunday morning. The 9:15 a.m. service is deliberately aimed at enhancing the participation of children and it is growing. This schedule has allowed them to develop a 10:00 a.m. education hour for both children and adults. Recent class topics have ranged from Hinduism to the homeless, with a side trip into the origin of the Kyrie. St. Luke's has also taken two small cottages located behind the church and, in conjunction with the Warren County Housing Authority, begun an ambitious outreach ministry. Residents in these cottages are now in something called a "self-sufficiency rental assistance program" in which they receive the training necessary to help them move from homelessness to well-paying jobs. Bill Potter, together with lay leaders like Phyllis Smith and Norman Beatty, have demonstrated great skills in accomplishing these goals. The people in the area around Hope are taking notice of St. Luke's with a new enthusiasm, respect and wonder.
This is "the joy of all the churches" that I have experienced in the congregations of Warren County. I share these stories with the people of this diocese so that all of us may stand a bit taller, feel a little prouder and recognize the leading presence of God's Holy Spirit a little more obviously. The churches in this part of the diocese, which the urban dwellers like to call "the hinterlands," are well and healthy. Let us rejoice together. We in the Diocese of Newark share "a goodly heritage."
--Return to Contents