The Right Reverend Mark M. Beckwith
with great joy
will ordain to
the Sacred Order of Deacons
Miguel Hernandez
Saturday, September 28, 2013
St. John's Church in Jersey City was built in 1870. Once known as the “Millionaires’ Church,” it was one of several Jersey City churches that closed in the 1980s and 90s due to a shrinking congregation facing growing expenses. It has not housed a congregation since 1994.
In March 2013 the City of Jersey City served the Diocese of Newark with a Notice of Unsafe Structure for St. John's, requiring the diocese to either demolish or repair the building, or face weekly fines. The diocesan Trustees concur with the assessment that the building is unsafe.
[Episcopal News Service] The Holy Spirit comes, for some, as a comforting presence. For others, it’s a disturbing upsetter. And still, for others, it is mysterious, even scary.
But don’t confuse it just with Pentecost – the 50th day after Easter – which the church observes this Sunday (May 19) and which “challenges us to focus at least one day on the Spirit’s activity in our life,” according to the Rev. Janet Broderick, rector of St. Peter’s Church, in Morristown, New Jersey.
Clergy and congregation leaders are asked to support the diocesan Pentecost Celebration: Blessing & Sending Disciples into the World by including the announcement below in your Sunday bulletins and, where possible, posting it on your church websites and social media. We also that you support the event in prayer, by adding the prayer below (or an adaptation) to your Prayers of the People, from now through Pentecost Sunday.
Speaking to more than 200 members of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh congregations from around northern New Jersey, Bishop Mark Beckwith said, "...never in my 34 years [of ordained ministry] have I seen an issue that's surfaced so quickly and so urgently, ...that's galvanized people in such a powerful way," as the issue of gun violence.
The interfaith group assembled at Christ Church in East Orange on Sunday, April 14 to support a national effort to negotiate a multi-party covenant to reduce gun violence in America.
As a member of Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in the United States (FOCCUS), the Rev. Matthew Corkern, Rector of Calvary Church in Summit, was one of just a few Americans privileged to attend the enthronement of Justin Welby as 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. Here is his eyewitness account:
With sadness we report the death of the Rev. Hébert W. Bolles, 88, father of the Rev. Anne Bolles-Beaven. He died peacefully at his Rhode Island home last week surrounded by his family.
Anne is Pastoral Associate at St. Andrew & Holy Communion in South Orange.
Hébert Bolles was a graduate of the General Theological Seminary, a military chaplain and a parish priest. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth (Bambi); children Paul, Anne, Elliott and Kate; and nine wonderful grandchildren.
With sadness we report the death of the Rev. Jack H. Thorn, 83, retired priest of our diocese. He died Sunday, April 7, 2013 in St. Clare's Hospital in Denville with his family at his side.
