THE BISHOP'S BLOG

July 25, 2005
St. James’ Day

Thou shalt not steal. Yes, but…
An article in the Sports section of The New York Times (July 11th) featured All-Star Scott Podsednik of the Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old left fielder, who played nine years in the minor leagues, is currently "the premier base thief in all of baseball." He is on pace to steal 90 bases this season, placing him the company of great former players like Maury Wills, Lou Brock, and Ricky Henderson. 
      But what stood out in the article for me were remarks by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Podsednik has been caught stealing 12 times. Six of those times he was picked off first base. Three times he was fooled by the pitcher and thrown out at second. When asked what he said to his player when he gets picked off, Guillen replied, "I tell him, 'Get on base and get picked off again.' You can’t be a good base stealer and be afraid.
      Do not be afraid.
      I pray everyday for a Church that is not afraid. I see some churches in our diocese that are taking some risks to advance their mission and ministry. I see some vestries willing to spend resources in new ventures, with new clergy leaders and in new configurations and alignments with other churches. I see some churches giving up on the old ways of doing things in order to be born again for mission in this 21st century. They have taken their foot off of first base in order to reach second base, third base, even home plate.
      I celebrate those churches that are seeking to grow in the same way Scott Podsednik steals bases; taking their feet off the familiar, leaning forward and running toward the goal. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Failure?  Listen to Scott Podsednik: “You can’t be afraid of failure. Once you become hesitant, you’ve lost the edge.” Worse than failure, I believe, is to become hesitant, stay stuck on first base and lose the edge.
      I once saw a t-shirt with this message emblazoned on the front: YOU CAN’T STEAL SECOND WITH YOUR FOOT ON FIRST.

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward — to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back." (3:12-14, in The Message). 

      The late Harry Caray, long time announcer for the Chicago Cubs, said it best: "Let's get some runs." Come on, New Jersey — let's get some runs. Yeah.

John 10:10 Tour: Lookin’ for Life in all the Right Churches
On the road in July...

St. Raphael’s, Brick. When Ruth and I arrived, I was delighted to witness people emerging from the church, after the 8:00 service, with copies of 2 Times a Month in hand. At 10, the procession was to an African song, "Someone is Coming," led by the St. Raphael’s All Star Band, including several Confirmands. The children sang the Lord’s Prayer, led by their Rector, the Rev. Gretchen Zimmerman. Deacon Maria Sanzo and Seminarian John Hartman also participated in the Liturgy. I received a beautiful Father’s Day card, signed by parishioners. Thank you.

St. Mark and All Saints, Galloway. 

   What if God was one of us?
   Just a slob like one of us
   Just a stranger on the bus
   Tryin' to make his way home?

This song, by Joan Osbourne, was sung by the Confirmation class of St. Mark and All Saints, as a prelude to the Liturgy on June 26th. It was a privilege and honor to welcome the Rev. George E. Deatrick and his wife, Jean, back to the Diocese of New Jersey and to celebrate George’s new ministry as Priest in Charge. Deacon Tom Sweeny assisted.

St. Barnabas'-by-the-Bay, Villas. Led by Pastor Richard Garrison, in a shared ministry with Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, this small church family offers a wonderful fellowship to the community. At a wonderful reception following Confirmation and Eucharist, I met a couple, new to the parish, who have adopted four children and are awaiting a fifth! Deacon Daniel Hall assisted.

Christ Church, South Amboy. Last year a lightning strike caused a fire that destroyed the parish house. But, "Christ Church can take it." The Rev. George Campbell and the Vestry developed plans and have received grants from private industry and government sources to build a wonderful new facility that will house expanded services to the community. We had a great celebration, followed by a wonderful parish picnic, with roasted pig and a brisket, too. Yum.

St. Clement’s, Belford and St. Mary’s, Keyport. I had the great pleasure of presiding at the Celebration of a New Ministry of these two congregations, now yoked and served by the Rev. Dr. Gina Walsh-Minor, Vicar. The Rev. Professor William Doubleday, of the General Theological Seminary in New York, preached. Deacon Vicki Cuff assisted and a goodly number of Convocation clergy were present. A feast followed. Thanks be to God!

St. Elisabeth’s Chapel-by-the-Sea, Ortley Beach. This seasonal chapel celebrated its 120th anniversary this year. The bell in the tower was originally on a ship. It was discovered by a sea captain, in the wreckage on the shore, restored and installed in the tower, to peal the praise of God and call the people to worship. That'll preach. We are all storm-tossed and shipwrecked. But Jesus Christ, our Captain, rescues us from our wreckage and abandonment and raises us up to praise and serve our God. It was a blessing to see the strong lay leadership here of Wardens Dennis Bellars and Lorraine Woodward. God bless you.

St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea, Cape May Point. The southern most church in our Diocese celebrated its 125th anniversary on July 24th.  This pine building was built (for a purpose yet to be documented) for the Philadelphia Centennial in Fairmount Park in 1876.  Purchased by four clergy for $100, it was brought (by steamboat or rail or ?) to Cape May Point in 1880. John Scarborough, fourth Bishop of New Jersey, celebrated the Eucharist on the afternoon of July 25th that year. Since then it has been in continuous service as a seasonal chapel. It was necessary to move the building because of erosion of the shore, the original site now being two blocks out to sea.
A great community of people loves and stewards this special place, led by John Mather and a dedicated and hard-working Board of Trustees. I was honored to preside at a beautiful celebration, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher (soon to be Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Newark), along with the Rev. Paul Westman and the Rev. Ed Hasse. Well done, good and faithful servants! 

'Take me out to the ball game'
I had pleasure of joining the Rev. Arthur Powell, Deacon Denise Cavaliere, and members of St. James’, Yardville, at a Trenton Thunder game. And the Rev. Mark Chattin treated me, along with a large group of parishioners from Holy Trinity, Collingswood, to a Camden Riversharks game.
     And, thanks to Lou Cavaliere, I was humbled to watch his and my beloved Dodgers lose to the Phillies. Mark wondered if we could have a Diocese of New Jersey night at each of the minor league baseball parks in the diocese next year.  Lakewood Blue Claws? Somerset Patriots? Atlantic City Surf? Thunder and Riversharks?
      Why not New Jersey?

A sinful and broken, but also beautiful and generous world
An article in The New York Times on July 25th from Maradi, in Niger, West Africa, notes that, "the United Nations estimates that 800,000 children under the age of 5 are suffering from hunger, including 150,000 faced with severe malnutrition."
      The UN first appealed for assistance in November. At that time, $1 per day per person would have helped solve the food crisis. Now that the situation is worse and the people are weaker, $80 is needed per person, per day. The article ends with remarks by a village schoolteacher: "It's the worst I’ve seen. What is happening is really ugly." But, he went on to say, "The world is generous. Our friends heard our cries. Do you think they will let us suffer when they are living comfortably?"
      What do you think?

New Tunes
Lizz Wright’s recording "Dreaming wide awake" is soulful and beautiful. A wonderful accompaniment to New Jersey travels.

Speaking of beauty. . .
Pastor John Ames, the narrator in Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, describes a young couple strolling along a street in his little town.

The sun had come up brilliantly after a heavy rain, and the trees were glistening and very wet. On some impulse, plain exuberance, I suppose, the fellow jumped up and caught hold of a branch, and a storm of luminous water came pouring down on the two of them, and they laughed and took off running, the girl sweeping water off her hair and her dress as if she were a little bit disgusted, but she wasn’t.  It was a beautiful thing to see, like something from a myth.  I don’t know why I thought of that now, except perhaps because it is easy to believe in such moments that water was made primarily for blessing and only secondarily for growing vegetables or doing the wash. I wish I had paid more attention to it.

May your summer include many moments of paying attention to the blessing of water and to all of God’s tender mercies.

Faithfully yours,
+George

The Right Reverend George Edward Councell
XI Bishop of New Jersey