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From the Interm Vicar:
Dear Friends,
Our congregation is preparing now for the calling of a new vicar, and our prayer is that this man or woman will come in answer to the question: “What is God calling me to do?” That is not an easy question, either to ask or to answer. But it is the query which shapes the lives not just of a sincere priest, but of each one of us.
Autumn, the season of nature’s fullness, brings to the church the season of stewardship. Every day, of course, calls us to be good stewards of our time, talent, and money, but at this time of year we take a closer look at how we are doing in faithful husbanding of what God provides. This coming season of stewardship is especially significant for St. Thomas’ Church, as we ask a person, guided by the Holy Spirit, to come here, to live among us and share our ministry.
What is God calling me to do? That is the question, not “What does this church need in order to pay its bills?” This is a decision each of us faces when we put our feet on the floor in the morning and when kneeling by our beds at night we consider how we are spending our days, our gifts, our energy and intelligence. Where should we go today? Who needs us? How many hours will we give to what? How much will we spend on what? Before we get specific about those vital matters, the question is “What is God calling me to do?”
St. Thomas’ Church needs faithful worshippers who witness to their faith and support their fellow Episcopalians by coming to church on Sunday. This congregation needs readers, acolytes, musicians, Sunday school teachers, ushers, committee members, cooks, gardeners, missioners, evangelists, visitors, carpenters, nursery attendants, painters, cleaners, flower-arrangers, launderers, brass polishers, chauffeurs, and youth leaders. We need hosts for hikers, homeless families, newcomers, and coffee hour. We need friendly faces, warm handshakes, and generous givers. All of these gifts to our common life will be provided as each one asks What is God calling me to do?
As I finish my work sometime this fall in this good place and move on, I am grateful for these two years with you. May God, whom to know is life eternal and whose service is perfect freedom, bless and keep you.
Charles Rice, Interim Vicar
From the Warden
At some point along the way I'm sure you have experienced an upcoming event requiring lots of preparation. Anticipation evokes various levels of anxiety and excitement. This is my perception of the current mode and mood at St. Thomas’. The Search Committee has been on a long journey for months and as they near the completion of their task they are called to even new heights of commitment as they visit and interview potential vicars. Please keep everyone commissioned with this responsibility in your prayers and upon selection, pray to be supportive and encouraging to the final choice.
In other matters:
Enthusiasm, energy, and efficiency were generated and demonstrated by the Vicarage Committee as they prepared a home for our anticipated vicar. Congratulations and thanks! A great achievement!
At the most recent Executive Committee meeting fellow members have committed to address concerns in all areas of church management. Immediate attention was given to:
- The huge tree next to the chapel, with financial help from the Diocese, was removed and our safety was secured.
- Unsecured tombstones in the cemetery will be addressed.
- Occupancy issues in the loft are being resolved by emptying the offices into the central area of the loft. The emptied space will become closets as originally intended. Usable floor space will be reduced, and thus bring us into compliance.
- Approval was given to repair the floor in the ladies room in the undercroft ending a need for the unsafe use of throw rugs and eliminate us from being subject to violations.
- Roof conditions are being scheduled for assessment.
As you can see, just like home, it takes a lot and we depend totally on the time, talent, and treasure equation. Good stewardship is crucial to avoid more serious, costly repairs in the future.
Our Calendar
Church life has it’s own "back-to-school" feel. Thanks and praise to the individuals who carry out all our programs. This is how you can be involved:
- If you like small, medium, or large children and want to share God’s love for them - take turns with someone to teach Sunday School!
- If you can sing and want to praise God via music - join the choir!
- If you are concerned about spending money - join up with the financial people!
- If you are concerned about gaining money - join up with stewardship people!
- If you like the feel of money - be a counter!
- If you want to share your warmth, friendliness, or any warm fuzzies - be an usher, a greeter, or join up with evangelism!
- If you care about the actual physical beauty of the church and a smooth worship service - join the altar guild people!
- If you like to entertain, share food and drink with family, friend or stranger - take a coffee hour, a shift at IHN, Hiker Hostel, or Harvest House!
The possibilities are endless! These are just a few examples. You know best about your capabilities and your time constraints. Or you may see a need no one else has even thought about. Share it with us. Some can do more, others less. It doesn’t matter. Just one thing adds strength to the whole.
And finally, if you want to praise God, feel his love and acceptance, ask forgiveness, give thanks, gain strength, sharing and receiving with one another - see you in church!
Nancy Wiedbrauk, Warden, St. Thomas’ Executive Committee
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Vicarage Committe
Vicarage Committee members, with the support and assistance of the parishioners of St. Thomas’, continue the intensive work of refurbishing our 1846 Vicarage in order to receive our new Vicar.
We have striven to ensure that the exterior of this lovely home retains its historic character as represented by the original transom windowed door and clanging doorbell. The interior has been respectfully upgraded and now features freshly painted walls, refinished hardwood flooring, and beautifully carpeted bedrooms. But the greatest transformations are occurring in the kitchen and master bathroom where new fixtures and new surfaces renew the surroundings.
The Diocese of Newark has followed our progress with keen interest and has very generously purchased a complete set of new energy-efficient windows. This very welcome and greatly appreciated gesture will enhance the appearance of the Vicarage as well as contribute to the comfort of its residents. We anticipate that the windows will be installed in approximately four weeks.
Preparation work for this component of the project as well as the need for final touch-ups and polishing throughout suggests that we will be scheduling another parish workday soon! We hope that you will continue to support and participate with us as we bring our mission to a close.
The Vicarage Project has been a blessing for St. Thomas’. Committee members and other volunteers feel that we have been privileged to be participants. The work has given us a valuable common purpose and brought us together enthusiastically in labor and in fellowship. Through the success of the Vicarage project St. Thomas’ has attained the encouragement and financial support of the Diocese, honored the individuals and families who lived there during its 161 years of existence, and created a warm and welcoming home for our new Vicar.
Maryellen Garvey
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Two Faithful Servants
On Sunday, September 23rd we will honor two senior members of our congregation who have been recognized by the Diocese of Newark for outstanding service. The David P. Hegg II Lifetime Achievement Award for distinguished contribution to the ministry of the church was presented in June to C. H. Coster Gerard and Johanna Kelter, who have been faithful and generous members of St. Thomas’ Church for many years. Join us at a special reception for Jay and Coster, given by the Executive Committee, after the 10 o’clock service on September 23rd.
A New Worship Leader
Nancy Hansen has been licensed by Bishop Beckwith as a leader of public worship and as a Eucharistic Minister. This means that Nancy will join those who devotedly read the lessons and administer the chalice at our Eucharistic celebrations. Congratulations, Nancy, and may you continue strong in the joyful service of Christ and his Church.
Fall Yard Sale
Our annual yard sale will be held on Saturday, September 1st. We are in need of saleable items (no clothes, please). You may put your donations in the basement of the vicarage by entering through the outside cellar door.
Manpower (& womanpower) will be needed on:
- Friday to put up canopies and tables and to drag out our wares;
- Saturday to set-up and sell;
- Sunday to sell and clean up.
We need someone to run a small food concession with hotdogs and drinks and/or a bake sale table, and perhaps we could sell mums again if someone would take that on. You can sign up in the narthex or call Kathy Moore at 973-764-1137.
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An Update from Your Search Committee
The Search Committee has completed 12 phone interviews with potential candidates for the position of vicar. We have narrowed this list further, down to 6 prospects. Now we are in the middle of conducting face-to-face interviews. In September we will be ready to give a short list of candidates to the Executive Committee for their final choice.
Kathy Moore, Pam Schulien – Search co-chairs
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SCIHN Helps Families Get BAck on Their Feet
During the first six months of 2007, the Interfaith Hospitality Network has provided shelter, meals, and support services to 60 individuals, including 19 children. Fifteen congregations have hosted our homeless guests. Volunteer help for this program is VITAL and is what makes this program work. Thanks to all of you who help in so many ways. For more info contact the SCIHN office at 973-579-1180.
Once more, St. Thomas’ will welcome homeless families in transition for two weeks beginning on Sunday, September 16th through the 30th. The schedule is posted on the board. Please consider how you may make some time for an extremely worthwhile outreach program. Taking even one shift during the two weeks makes a lighter load for all of us. If you have any questions about the program or how you can help, please contact Pam Schulien at 973-209-9125 or Terry Taylor at 973-764-8246.
Executive Committee
At our last meeting, the consensus was to place more emphasis on communication. We'll be posting minutes of our meetings in the narthex, and submitting articles to the Quest. Among other things, at the last meeting, we:
- discussed the need for Charles' and Tina's offices to be moved
- authorized the steam cleaning of carpets in the church and narthex and repairs in the ladies room downstairs
- were informed that Sunday School teachers are needed
- and discussed the disposition of ashes in the Memorial Garden. If this is something of interest to you, let us know
The Executive Committee is open to suggestions, comments, concerns. The members' names are in the bulletin. Feel free to access any one of us.
Ellen Shapiro
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Calendar of Events
Sun. Aug. 26 |
11:30 AM |
Executive Committee Meeting |
Sat. Sept. 1 |
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Annual Yard Sale |
Sun. Sept. 2 |
8:00 AM |
Last Summer Service in the Chapel |
Sun. Sept. 9 |
8 & 10 AM |
Start-up Sunday & Picnic |
Sun. Sept. 16 - Sun Sept. 30 |
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SCIHN |
Sun. Sept. 23 |
11:30 AM |
Recognition of Coster Gerard & Jay Kelter |
Sun. Sept. 30 |
11:30 AM |
Executive Committee Meeting |
Sat. Oct. 6 |
12 - 5 PM |
Fundraiser Tea with the United Methodists |
Oct. 27 & 28 |
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Ecumenical Blood Drive |
Sun. Nov. 4 |
8 & 10 AM |
All Saints' Sunday |
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A Social Justice Event for High School Youth
Box City ’07 - Sleep in a box for ONE night for those who sleep in one EVERY night.
Interfaith Hospitality Network is hosting this experimental event to promote awareness of homelessness in Sussex County and nationwide. Participants will replicate the actual experience of being homeless, including sleeping outside in a cardboard box. The event will be overnight on Friday, October 19 from 7 PM until 8 AM the next morning at Sussex County Fairgrounds. We are seeking youth participants and adult supervisors. For more information, contact the SCIHN office at 973-579-1180 or visit out website at www.scihn.org.
Summer Camp
The Executive Committee and an anonymous donor helped to send two of our girls, Ali Morales and Kaila Yezuita, to our Diocesan camp in August. They had a great time, learning about their faith and making new friends. Thanks to all who made it possible.
Kaila sent the following to St. Thomas’:
“Thank you members of St. Thomas’ Church. It was so very nice of you to help pay for my “un-camp” experience at Cross Roads this past week. It was fun and I made twelve friends while I was there. I will never forget it. I liked making crafts, hanging out at the pool with my friends,and especially when we went to worship together, that was fun! Thank you again.
Sincerely, Kaila"
Sunday School
Our parish offers four classes on Sundays, in which our children learn about the Bible, the church, and how to live as Christians. We can provide such teaching only if dedicated adults volunteer to guide our children. Last year Emilie Dupont, Wendy Gabel, Karen Lynch, Rita-Ann Schmick, and Kerry Yezuita were our teachers, serving on behalf of all of us to pass along to the young the faith by which we live.
Now we are waiting for new volunteers to come forward, to join a team of Sunday School teachers. The four classes are:
- Pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade
- 2nd and 3rd grades
- 4th and 5th grades
- Confirmation Class (6th grade and up)
The ideal plan would be to have a team of two teachers for each class, providing mutual support and flexibility in scheduling. Won’t you remember (your own days in Sunday School), consider (how important this is), and pray (for wisdom and strength), and then volunteer to teach our children. Please contact Emilie Dupont at 973-764-8434.
THANK YOU
Special thanks to Eleanor Bortnick and the choir for continuing to provide music at the 10 AM service. After a financial review, the choir will work with the Executive Committee in the search for a new choir director.
St. Thomas’ contribution for the May ingathering of the United Thank Offering was $220.60. This amount was given by 15 contributors. I thank all of you for your support of this outreach program.
Ernestine Andersen
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