THE BISHOP'S BLOG
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The Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2005

Dear Friends,

Christ is Risen!

I had the delight of visiting Christ Church, Magnolia on Palm Sunday, for the Blessing of the Palms and the Celebration of the Eucharist. This was my visit with this small but vital congregation. I was privileged to serve at the Altar with the Reverend Raymond Buntaine. Our organist was the Reverend Kenneth Yerkes. The Wardens of Christ Church and other church leaders give dedicated care to the stewardship of this community of faith and its facilities. The Liturgy was well ordered and the Passion Reading was movingly offered by the clergy and church members. It was a beautiful beginning of Holy Week for Ruth and for me and we left Magnolia with hearts filled with gratitude for the powerful and contagious faith of the family of Christ Church.

Holy Week I kept the custom of serving at Trinity Cathedral from Maundy Thursday through Easter Day. So, it was a blessing to be with Dean Nancekivell, with Deacon Eric Elley, with the other Cathedral clergy, with Deborah Ford and Michael Diorio and the Choir and with the Cathedral congregation through these awesome days of the observance of the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. It was my very great privilege at the Easter Vigil, to Receive Patrice D'Angelo, Cathedral Administrator, and her husband Joe, into this Communion.

In Lebanon Early (8:30) on the morning of Good Friday, I visited the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lebanon. Led by their Rector, the Reverend Philip Carr-Jones, this congregation has scheduled a parish day of service on Good Friday, for the past 15 years. That morning I had the delight of greeting a church filled with members of all ages, including many families. We had a brief service of prayer and dedication before the people were organized into several groups and went out to homes and institutions in the community to spend the day in hands-on work. Before we sent the church out to love and serve the Lord, we gave thanks for Philip Carr-Jones, who was about to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. (Although he told me not to mention it.)

And in Union During Easter week it was my privilege to celebrate the Eucharist, preach and confirm several members of St. Luke and All Saints' in Union. Filipino members worship on Saturdays, so we met on Saturday in Easter Week and then enjoyed a wonderful festive meal, including a roast pig, complete! I am grateful for Senior Warden Dawson Yeomans, members of the Vestry and Supply Priest James Kollin for their faith and fortitude in sustaining the witness of this church.

At the Service of Black Witness On the afternoon of the Second Sunday of Easter we had a good crowd at Trinity Cathedral for the Service of Black Witness. Franklin Turner, Bishop Suffragan (Retired) was our preacher and lifted us up with his powerful presentation of the Gospel. He gave us what he called "The Three R's": to recognize Jesus as the Christ as our Lord and Savior; to receive Christ into our hearts; and to respond to Christ's love, with all our lives.

I would like to see more white folks at this celebration next year and in years to come. We need to be there and to demonstrate that we value and uphold the vital witness of the black members of our diocese. It's a glorious service, building on the African, African-American and Caribbean enrichments of Anglicanism. Let us keep the feast!

And in Wall St. Michael's, Wall, welcomed me for my first visit their parish with a feast on April 6th. Thanks to the Rector, Steve Wisner, I was treated to a lovely dinner, during which I heard from members of the Vestry about all of the activities of this church. We then celebrated the Eucharist and I preached and confirmed. As it happened, we were without an organist that night; so one young woman bravely led us in singing all hymns a cappella. It lent a lovely, simple, gentle touch to the Liturgy on a beautiful spring evening.

And at a wedding On Saturday, April 9th, Ruth and I had the great joy of presenting our daughter Sarah to Robert Scott Turner in the Celebration and Blessing of their marriage, which took place at the Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary. Photos available, with proud papa's commentary, upon request.

The 20th anniversary of the first class of deacons On Saturday, April 16th, it was a great joy to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordination of the first class of Vocational Deacons in the Diocese of New Jersey. I am grateful to the Reverend Dr. Leslie Smith and the staff of Trinity Church in Princeton for hosting us that day. Bishop Belshaw, whose vision and commitment led to the recovery of the integrity of this order of ministry in New Jersey, joined us.

We heard a very fine sermon, preached by the Very Reverend Richard Bower, formerly of New Jersey. Many of the members of that first class were present, along with a significant number of our current Vocational Deacons, to renew their ordination vows. God bless and uphold them all.

And down the shore at Asbury Park I was delighted to make my first visit to St. Augustine's, Asbury Park, on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 17th. We had a lively and joyous celebration, including a conga drum accompaniment to the choir.

We gave thanks for the ministry of the Reverend Dr. Augustine Unuigbe, Interim, and the Reverend Deacon Eddie Lillard. It was a joy to welcome the Rector-Elect, the Reverend Andrea Rose-Marie Hayden, who begins her new ministry in June.

Reading
During Lent I was blessed to read Friendship: Interpreting Christian Love, by Liz Carmichael; Living the Truth, by Alan Jones; and godless, by Pete Hautman (Winner of the National Book Award). I also read parts of Romero: A Life, by James R. Brockman.

Currently in Process (I've read parts of these, all the way through!): God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It, by Jim Wallis; Whose Bible Is It?, by Jaroslav Pelikan; and Anne Lamott's new book, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith.

On my desk, but, as yet, unopened: The Dignity of Difference, by Jonathan Sacks; and The First Christian: Universal Truth in the Teachings of Jesus, by Paul F. M. Zahl.

On the CD changer in my car
Fred Hammond's Radical for Christ, and Believe, by Yolanda Adams.

Continuing the John 10:10 Pilgrimage and ever grateful for this ministry in New Jersey, I am,

Faithfully yours in Christ,
+George

The Right Reverend George Edward Councell
XI Bishop of New Jersey