THE
BISHOP'S BLOG
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Late November 2005
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
until it comes.—Chorus to “Ella’s Song,” by Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sweet Honey in the Rock
I saw the
abundant life of Jesus Christ flourishing in the Diocese
of New Jersey among the hundreds who participated in
the conference entitled,
“Racism: No More in My Church!” on Saturday,
November 19th, at Trinity Cathedral.
In preparation for the Conference, I read several of the articles in Ending Racism in the Church, edited by Susan E. Davies and Sister Paul Teresa Hennessee, S.A. (Cleveland, OH: United Church Press, 1998). One of the authors, Episcopal Lay Minister Raymond Steven Blanks, writes about the work of anti-racism as follows:
There are people who now act free because they realize that all people have been set free by Christ’s cross. The dominion of God began anew on the third day, and it continues to reveal itself in the midst of suffering and sorrows. God’s gracious and glorious power has already been manifested. The benefits of Christ’s sacrifice remain powerful and are further revealed by victims of racism who affirm their own dignity without denying the humanity of their oppressors. The continued struggle for justice is evidence that God’s purpose will win against all odds or any opposition. Resistance to racism by Christians remains a sign of hope. The powerless and excluded already realize that they are somebodies in God’s sight because they have discovered within themselves the resources graciously gifted to all in creation.
The battle continues, but the victory has already been won.
Amen. It was good to celebrate this day in New Jersey, where the battle continues, but where there are signs of hope. As we sang at the end of the day,
You need my hands, my exhaustion,
Working love, for the rest of the weary,
A love that’s willing to go on loving.
Jesus, you looked into my eyes;
Kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat,
|Now with you, I will seek other seas.
(“Tu has venido a la orilla”, Number 313 in El Himnario)
Convocation
Visits Completed!
We had gatherings in the Burlington,
Trenton and Northern Convocations in early November,
to complete a cycle of fall visits to all parts of
the Diocese. My thanks to all the Deans and
all the hosts and all the musicians and all those
who attended these meetings. I was greatly heartened
and strongly encouraged to see the enthusiasm of
clergy and people for our common life and mission
as we ask our Lord to make us new. It
was fitting that, at the Northern Convocation gathering
on November 9th, the Rev. Andrew Hamersley,
Dean and Rector of St. Paul’s, Westfield, led us
in a song of his own composition entitled, “Make
Us New.” This soft and gentle prayer has the chorus:
Make
us new.
Make us new.
Here for You.
Make us new.
Fresh
Start
On November 10th it was
my privilege to spend the morning in the company
of newly ordained and newly called clergy of our
Diocese. This group, numbering over 30, meets monthly
for two years in a program called, “Fresh Start.” 
It
is led by the Rev. Canon Elizabeth Geitz, the Rev.
Canon Lee Powers and the Rev. Ophelia Laughlin. I
take great hope for New Jersey from the clergy leadership
that our congregations are calling to lead them in
the growth and expansion of their mission and ministry.
I came away refreshed and humbled by these faithful
pastors and priests, through whose ministries our
Lord is making New Jersey new.
Brotherhood
of St. Andrew
It was an honor to celebrate
the Eucharist in the Chapel at Trinity Cathedral
on Saturday, November 12th and to install
Angelo Berardi, of Trinity, Woodbridge, President,
and other Officers of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. 
Brothers
from Good Shepherd, Pitman and St. Andrew’s,
New Providence, and other parts of our Diocese were
in attendance. Fr. Bob Counselman preached a fine
sermon. Thank God for this fellowship of men who
seek to develop holy habits and observe a rule of
life that promotes spiritual growth and lay ministry.
Cursillo
The
Rev. Phil Kasey, Spiritual Director for the New Jersey
Cursillo weekend, November 11-13, invited me to celebrate
the Closing Eucharist on Sunday afternoon at the Vincentian
Renewal Center in Princeton. Our Lord was surely present
in the community and in the hearts of all those who participated.
Ultreya (Right Onward)!
Back on the John 10:10 Tour
St.
Augustine’s, Asbury Park When I
arrived at St. Augustine’s, Asbury Park, on
Saturday, November 5th, for the Celebration
of a New Ministry and the Institution of the Rev.
Andrea Rose-Marie Hayden as Rector, there were several
busses parked on the street. 
On them were parishioners
from the dioceses of Washington and Long Island where
the Rev. Mother Hayden has served. The church was
filled to capacity for a great Celebration.
A highlight was a powerful sermon by the Rev. Juan Reed, Rector of St. Martin’s Church in Chicago, and a mentor of Mother Hayden while she was a seminarian at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Mother Hayden welcomed another mentor, the Rev. Dr. Kortright Davis, Professor at Howard University, and recalled his counsel to her: “Love your people. Love your people. Love your people.” Amen. It was great to be invited to accompany St. Augustine’s Choir (led by the amazing Mr. Gladstone Trott) on conga drums, joining Fr. Augustine Unuigbe and Chas, our crucifer.
Christ
Church, Bordentown On November 6th,
a beautiful fall Sunday, I was blessed to Celebrate, Preach
and Confirm at Christ Church. I knocked at the church doors
with my crosier, 
received a warm greeting from the Rev. Richard
Benedict, Rector, and was welcomed in a special rite to mark
a first visit by a new bishop. (As had happened at St. Mary’s,
Burlington, the previous week, the choir sang the traditional
anthem, “Behold a great prelate.” I propose that
some Latinist out there re-write that text so that it reads, “Behold
a poor servant of a great Lord.”) We worshipped “in
the beauty of holiness” and I came away with gratitude
for the labors of priest and choir and others who lead the
praises of God’s people. It was heavenly.
St.
Andrew’s, Bridgeton St. Andrew’s
really spruced up for the Celebration of a New Ministry and
Institution of the Rev. Douglas Reans as their Rector. The
church was beautifully painted and landscaped, just in time
for this joyous event. The Rev. Philip Stowell preached a
wonderful sermon with grace and good humor and obvious respect
and affection for Fr. Reans and his wife, Mary. A grand banquet
followed. 
St.
Martin’s, Bridgewater St. Martin’s
observed their Patronal Festival on my visit on November
13th. I was greeted by a man dressed as St. Martin,
who was a Roman soldier in the fourth century, when he was
converted to Christianity. We celebrated a glorious Liturgy
with gorgeous music. I was presented with a tee shirt that
bore the number
“121” on the back – because this was my
121st visitation on the John 10:10 Tour. Thanks
to the Rev. Bruce Montgomery and all the people for a lovely
time. 
St. James’, Yardville A beautifully designed Liturgy made for a great visitation to St. James’ on the Feast of Christ the King, November 20th. Baptism, Confirmation and Reception were celebrated with graceful processions and glorious music. The Rev. Arthur Powell and Deacon Denise Cavaliere were well prepared and most gracious hosts.
St.
Wilfrid’s, Camden A small but faithful
congregation continues to worship at St. Wilfrid’s,
in a community that is under redevelopment. Senior Warden
Norman Valentine and Supply Priest Ed Martin prepared for
my visit and presented four candidates for Confirmation.
I was deeply touched by the hope and faithfulness of our
brothers and sisters.
I ask for the prayers of all in our Diocese for our four congregations in Camden (St. Wilfrid’s; St. Andrew’s; St. Augustine’s; and St. Paul’s) as they struggle to be faithful in their witness to Christ in the midst of the City that has (once again) been designated as the most dangerous city in America. Where else would Jesus be? As we read on this day, “Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
A World without Walls.
It helps now and then to step back
and take a long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts;
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete,
which is another way of saying
that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said,
no prayer fully expresses our faith,
no confession brings perfection,
no pastoral visit brings wholeness,
no program accomplishes the Church’s mission,
no set of goals and objectives includes everything.
That is what we are about.
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We cannot do everything,
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something and do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way
and an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders,
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.(A prayer attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero)
We who believe in Jesus cannot rest, until he comes.
Right Onward!
Faithfully, in Christ,
+George
The
Right Reverend George Edward Councell
XI Bishop of New Jersey