Monthly Archives: May 2016

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: May 25, 2016

The letter from Paul to the churches of Galatia speaks of people being drawn away to a new “gospel.”  It seems that the good news was in a state of flux even then, and it will be much later, as the Roman church started to emerge as the center of Christianity that what we know as the “canon” of scriptures was fixed.  Many of us know about the Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Mary, and how they differ, not only in detail but also in theological interpretation.  What we have ended up with are the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that largely agree; John is a different type of Gospel altogether, written much later and very spiritual in tone. To some extent they are similar to the reporting differences we experience in journalism today.  However, the word of God shines through, and the differences do not diminish they embellish and deepen our understanding.  Enjoy the summer season stories of faith and healing.  Know that the struggles of our day make us stronger and more able to cope with what is yet to come, and rejoice in the knowledge that God is always with us on this journey, as God has always been present in the stories of the people of the church.  Know that we are all loved and beloved, and never more than in the difficult times.  That, alone, is cause for hope and joy!

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Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: May 18, 2016

The reading from Proverbs introduces us to Wisdom, Sophia in Greek.  Wisdom is female, and declares “The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth…”  I love that God the creator gave a female persona to wisdom, companion to his work.  She continues,” I was beside him like a master worker; and I was daily his delight.”  As the beginning of all things was created, can’t you just picture the joy of these two, Creator and Wisdom, as they exclaim with joy and delight, “It is good!”

Reminders

Serving at the Altar 5/22& 5/29

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Congratulations Once More To All Our Graduating And College Bound Students.

Here’s where they are headed:-

Jadyn Herry – NYU
Eilis Price – Goldsmith’s College – London
Rammi Rugbeer – University of British Columbia, Canada
Grace Savoie – Americorps
Thomas Singer – Franklin & Marshall College, Pennsylvania
John Soughan – George Washington University, DC
Autumn Jones – Berklee College of Music, Boston MA

Congratulations To Our College Graduates

Jessica Clarke from GWU going to NYU Law.
Arabella Pluta-Ehlers from University of Chicago working in DC.
Ramadan Smith McCloud – from Rutgers Business School

UPCOMING EVENTS  Sunday, May 22nd

St. John’s Episcopal Church
Thanks to those that responded! Below is an updated list of what food is being donated. Please confirm if you can also volunteer. We still need 5-7 more people. Thanks again!

1.      Pre-made Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches (20) Linda Soughan

2.      Pre-made Turkey Sandwiches (10) Denise Price

3.      Pre-made Ham & Cheese Sandwiches (20) Nancy Sieffert

4.      Pre-made Ham Sandwiches (20) Denise Price

5.      Pre-made American Cheese Sandwiches (10) Sam and Soraya Polanco

6.      Pre-made Meat Deli & Cheese Sandwiches (20) e.g. Salami, etc Alex/Dick 

Cole

7.      Chicken Soup (feeds 10) Need volunteer

8.      Chicken Noodle Soup (feeds 10) Carole Francis

9.      Hearty Veggie Soup (feeds 10) Carole Francis

10.    Mom’s Specialty Soup (feeds 10) Need volunteer

11.    Spicy Gumbo Soup (feeds 20) Patti Moore

12.    Soup bowls Sam and Soraya Polanco

13.    Hard boiled eggs (6 dozen) Barbara Riedel

14.    Fruits (Apples and/or Oranges) Sue Macbeth

15.    Condiments Barbara Riedel

16.    Popcorn Barbara Riedel

17.    Containers Barbara Riedel

18.    Cookies Denise Price

19.    Beef dish with vegetables Sara Ruth

20.    Volunteers Denise Price, Jaydn Price, Barbara Riedel

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact via us email at

ssguillenpolanco@gmail.com  or give us a call directly Soraya at (201) 779-6852 or Sam at (646) 805-8682 Have a lovely week ahead! 🙂 Please feel free to forward this email to anyone else that might be interested in attending.

With Much Love & Appreciation,
Sam + Soraya Polanco

Christine’s Kitchen     June 4, 2016 from 10:30am-1pm

We serve neighbors in need at Christine’s Kitchen at Holy Trinity in West Orange. Holy Trinity is located at Washington and Main Streets in West Orange. Parking is on the street.  We can use entrees, fruit, and other foods, as well as volunteers.   If you feel like bringing something additional, do so!  Food will not go to waste.

If you want to volunteer or contribute call Claas at 908 451-0426, or email him at cehlers@familypromise.org.

Thought For The Week

Thinkers.  Writers.  Please consider writing a brief  “thought for the week” on anything at all for the weekly e-news during the sabbatical period.  Let Claire or Janet Hager know you are interested.

NOTICES

Please send all articles and e-mails for the newsletter to Claire by NOON on Tuesday at church@ststephensmillburn.org.

St. Stephen’s Church, Millburn
119 Main Street
Millburn, NJ 07041-1115

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: May 11, 2016

Be still, for the spirit of the Lord is moving in this place…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U

This is a favorite worship hymn that I adore (sorry about the ad before the video, btw).  Pentecost is all about the amazing events of the arrival of The Holy Spirit as it descended upon the disciples and early church.  They all babble in different languages, speaking in tongues, and yet were understood.  Given that this passionate event came from God, Love itself, is it any surprise that the language of love is universal? Continue reading →

Reverend Sheelagh’s Thought for the Week: May 4, 2016

What a joy it was to baptize Clara Margaret Wade, and what a joy it was to give some thought to our baptismal promises and what they mean to us in our present day.  This week we witness Christ in prayer.  There is something wonderfully intimate in listening to him pray for us, “Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word…” That’s you and me.  Isn’t that wonderful, comforting and uplifting.  That Jesus, who was preparing to leave, took time to pray for his friends and followers.  As I prepare to attend graduation, take a week of vacation and then take myself apart for my sabbatical time, I invite you to join us on Sunday, to pray together, and bless one another.  I will be in the office on and off until June 1st, but in case our paths don’t cross before then, let’s take time to wish each other good health and safe travels.+ Continue reading →