Clergy

[Glen Ridge Voice] It was a packed house in the auditorium at Christ Episcopal Church Thursday night in Glen Ridge and Bloomfield, as Glen Ridge's police department hosted a community forum for area residents and law enforcement.

A lot of the topics on the agenda had shown up frequently in the news across the country in the last few years: police-involved shootings, implicit racial or ethnic bias, and the need for better communications and relationships between citizens and law enforcement, especially in communities of color.

Newark Shared Ministries, an alliance of urban and suburban congregations and other partners, is launching its most ambitious effort to date: a program helping adults in Newark prepare to earn their high school equivalency diplomas.

“We’re looking at six to eight students to begin the program,” with the hope of expanding later, said Chris Whitaker, who has been hired as the startup manager for the effort. Whitaker also serves as youth minister at Christ Church Short Hills, one of the participating congregations.

The Parish Choir of Christ Church in Short Hills recently returned from a week-long trip to the United Kingdom, where they were choir-in-residence at Bristol Cathedral in the Cumbria section of England.

In addition to singing at Bristol Cathedral for six days, the Christ Church choir also sang Evensong at Salisbury Cathedral. Dr. Andrew Moore, who is also the Music Department Chair at the Pingry School, leads the choir.

[Hudson Reporter] On the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, the city will host its annual 9/11 Interfaith Memorial Service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 at Pier A Park.

According to Juan Melli, spokesman for the city of Hoboken, “The ceremony will include readings and reflections from clergy from various faiths, along with songs and a reading of the [57] names [of residents who died in the attacks].”

[NorthJersey.com] Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, located at 307 Route 94 in Vernon, is permanently closing. The last official service will be held on Oct. 30, at 3 p.m.

The original St. Thomas’ Church was built in 1847, for $1,500. It is the oldest church building in Vernon. That building closed in 1971, and later housed the Vernon historical society. The Church reopened in 1981, and was re-dedicated in 1983.

"For those of us who have been here since the beginning, it’s very sad," said Nancy Wiedbrauk.

Christmas decorations seem to show up earlier every year, but… July?

Well, yes, but it wasn’t in a shopping mall. St. Alban’s Church in Oakland / Franklin Lakes wanted to find a fun way to show support for the men and women of the police departments in the two towns. They decided to borrow an idea from a church in the “other” New Jersey diocese – Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, which holds an annual Christmas in July celebration to provide cookies and gifts to local charities.

[The Star-Ledger] They were born in the late 1800s and their deaths came nearly a century ago, but Melissa Hall, the pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. James in Upper Montclair, wants them never to be forgotten.

Not only for who they were. But what they stood for. And what they represent.

[Cedar Grove/Verona News] Rev. Jerry Racioppi came to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona about a year ago after serving as the seminarian and deacon at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair.

He is relatively new to the ministry, having been ordained in June of 2015. Previously, Racioppi had a full and busy career in the hotel industry, working in human resources.

[The Jersey Journal] The Interfaith Religious Leaders of Secaucus held a communal Prayer Vigil this week to promote peace and compassion among different faiths and cultures.

"We're coming together to reject the spirit of hate that seems to be all around us," the Rev. Elizabeth Searle of the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, said. "Whatever our faith, we are here tonight to stand up for compassion, mercy, kindness and justice."