Clergy

Last month, I asked fellow clergy if they exercise regularly, and if so what difference it made in their spiritual, congregational, personal, and/or family lives. The responses were amazing – but first, I want to tell you a little about how science has been catching up with the age-old wisdom of people of prayer regarding the healing power of the mind-body-spirit connection.

With much sadness we announce the death of Beverly Jacobs, wife of the Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs, Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Newark. Bev died suddenly and unexpectedly at home the evening of December 27, 2012.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 2 p.m., at St. Andrew & Holy Communion Church, 160 West South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079 (973-763-2355). A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

[The Star-Ledger] There are those battered by Hurricane Sandy, others saddened by the tragedy in Connecticut, questioning life and, perhaps, faith.

But the weary are called to rejoice, as the Rev. Canon Sandye A. Wilson puts it. Christians are called to celebrate — to find peace — in a seemingly broken world. Her followers see it around them.

On MSNBC's Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough, Bishop Mark Beckwith, Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz and Imam Deen Shareef discuss the lessons that should be taken away from the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Time: 8:44.

This piece was published as an op-ed in the Star-Ledger on December 12, 2012.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings have announced the 24 members of the special Task Force for Church Structural Reform.

Approved at the July General Convention 2012, Resolution C095 calls for development of a 24-member task force charged with presenting a plan to the next General Convention in 2015 “for reforming the Church’s structures, governance, and administration.”

Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu leaders pressed for more affordable housing at a rally in Trenton on Wednesday, arguing the state has a moral obligation to ensure its citizens can find affordable places to live.

“We know for a fact that people cannot address their basic needs without stable housing,” said the Rev. Deacon Christine McCloud, of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. “At the end of the day, we are all responsible for helping our neighbor.”

Fairbairn Powers, priest in charge of St. Agnes Episcopal Church, has been an athlete for a long time.

In her 40s she competed in marathons and cross-country skied. In her 50s, she backpacked. Then her doctor told her should she should bicycle, swim and "do other things" to diversify her workouts.

So Powers, now 73, became a triathlete. First she competed in the Danskin Triathlon – an all women's entry-level marathon at Sandy Hook.

"I tried Danskin and I was hooked," she said. "It is just so much fun. It's wonderful to be out and exercising."