THE CROWN The Newsletter of Christ Church Shrewsbury

Christ Church is a community committed to exploring the reality of God in today’s world

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Volume XXI Issue VII July 2019

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worship in the Parish Hall

Beginning Sunday, July 7th

Due to the Ceiling Restoration Work

in the Church building

Sunday services will

be held in the

Parish Hall for most

of the summer.

Sunday Service time

is 9:00am

Mass on the Grass is

5pm on Saturdays.

“Find the place that God has given you and take root there.” Thomas Merton

Dear Friends,

Most of you know that on May 23rd, our beloved Jessie Eisel passed away. Although she had been at Christ

Church for a relatively short time, she left quite an impression on the congregation – and on me.

Her service was not held at this Christ Church, but at another Christ Church, her home parish in Stroudsburg,

PA, where she spent the first ninety years or so of her life in the Episcopal Church founded by her grandfather

in 1896.

On May 29th, Elaine Feyereisen and I drove over to Stroudsburg to pay homage to this wonderful woman and

to also represent the people of our parish. I was asked to say some words (not exactly a eulogy, but not exactly a

homily either) at the service. There were so many things that could be said about this gracious woman who so

embraced life, had an abundance of curiosity, and who loved people and nature alike, that I didn’t really know

where to start.

I said many things about Jessie. But the quote from Thomas Merton, “Find the place that God has given you

and take root there” has stuck with me. Jessie moved to Shrewsbury as a nonagenarian. I doubt she opted to

move from her hometown except for the factors of her age, health, and a daughter who lives here in Monmouth

County. Most folks at this age would be tempted to simply throw in the towel. To resign one’s self to living out

their final days quietly and without much ado. But not Jessie. She “found the place that God has given her and

took root here”.

From the moment she stepped foot into our nave, Jessie engaged those around her. She loved chatting with folks

at the coffee hour. She adored the music here at Christ Church, and was eager to express her admiration of our

choir. She had many a long talk with our Historian and Senior Warden Bob Kelly about history and was an

ardent supporter of the Vinegar Bible Event we held in 2017 (did you know that Jessie wrote a history of the

Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg in 1982? She did!) She loved to discuss the issues of the day,

possessing a lively mind ready to engage on any manner of subjects.

“Find the place that God has given you and take root there.”

So often in life, we find ourselves in places we would rather not be. Physical locations, yes. But emotional

places as well. Rather than stew in our circumstances, rather than rue the fact that things aren’t the way we want

them to be and our bodies won’t do what we want them to do, we can do what Jessie did: simply take root

wherever we are, knowing that God is right there too.

When we do so, we begin to grow and flourish. For it is not so much where we are. It is that we are. And as

long as we have breath, God has things for us to do. What is next for you? For me? For us together?

I’m not quite sure. But we are rooted in Christ Jesus, and in him we will live, move, and have our being.

Peace,

Mother Lisa+

NOTE FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

Purposeful Serendipity

One of our four parish multi-year major goals is to Increase our Parish Membership. This is a multi-faceted

initiative that is coming into focus. Some aspects include framing our message, tailoring it to our “audiences”,

adopting different communications channels, and engaging individual membership candidates.

One of our most effective tools in engaging candidate members is our own parishioners. You are all powerful

ambassadors since you made a decision to come here and to stay. Your reasons are varied and no one can be

more articulate about them than you.

It is not easy to find the right time and place to have this conversation, but opportunities arise in the most

remarkable settings. I want to convey such a conversation that I recently had.in an unusual setting – a hospital

room!

Here is what I call a membership growth vignette.

One of my nurses here saw me working on my computer for quite a while early this am She asked me if it was

for my work. I told her I was retired, and it was for volunteer work at my church. She asked what church (yay).

I then described the building and she recognized it and said that she had been here for the flea market a few

years ago. I then told her about the anniversaries and the June 30th

event. She then told me she was an

Episcopalian (yay2) and wanted to come (yay3). I said I would send her info and she gave me her email address

(yay4). I would be very surprised if she does not show. I told her I was parish historian and offered her a free

tour which seemed intriguing to her.

Will she become a member? No one can tell but chances are better after this conversation.

Purposeful serendipity.

Senior Warden, Bob Kelly

PARISH NEWS & NOTES

ANY CHANGES? Please advise us of any changes in your home address,

email address or any phone number(s). Let us know so

we can also keep our records/database up to date.

Please send us an email or call the Church Office at

732-741-2220.

Congratulations:

to Steven Douglas Rudolph. Steven was baptized

into the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church on

Sunday, June 23rd.

to Jennifer Lovekin who successfully finished the

four year course of Education For Ministry (EFM),

or as it is commonly known, Exploring Faith

Matters

PARISH PRAYER LIST Please note: The Prayer List is updated on a continual basis. (Please get consent before adding a name to the list.) Call the Church Office

(*) indicates member of CCS

For the sick and suffering, and those in any need or

trouble: *Shirley, *Mignon Williams, *Cassie Reagan,

*John Smalls, *Joan, *Marion Phillips, *Brother Richard,

*Jim Miller, *Beverly Ryser, *Ruthann Zeak, *Judi

Buncher, *Craig Cambeis, *Carolyn, *MiMi Brown,

*Sarah Schmid, *Susan Van Valkenburg, *Michele

Gregos, *Tara Dunford, *Paul, John Veil, Jennifer

Turner, Pam, Ruth Roth, Stan Brower, Queeni, Jocelyn,

Mariwether Schmid, Julie, Antonia Malone, Heather

Lance, Pat and Bob Rivenes, Cindy and John Jobe,

Vivian Hillborn, Lea Gallagher, Vieux, Judy, Burt, Bob

Fitzgerald, Mary Ellen, Tammy, Alicia Binn, Ben Gizzi,

Savita, Farshid, Peedy, Gil, Edie, Julia, Marlene, Leslie

Sauber, Bert. May they be relieved of their distress.

For parishioners and friends serving in the armed forces

both here and abroad: Traver, Michael, Bo, Travis “TJ”

Wilson, Aaron, Jacqueline Brattan. May they serve in safety and with honor.

Thank you for your time and

efforts…

to all those individuals who help guide, teach, and

nurture our children through the good works of our

Church School and Youth events. Special thanks

to Mrs. Sue Napoletano for everything she does!

to everyone who did such a beautiful job getting the

worship space ready for our Saturday night Mass on

the Grass service, and to those who help prepare all

that is needed for our service.

To Mother Lisa and the entire parish community,

I just wanted to thank you all again for what you

have done for me. The guidance and giving me the

safe space to speak freely give me so much hope for

the future. I hope to be back over the holidays!

Once again, thank you.

With Love,

Kate (Apostolacus)

to Noel Murgio and P.J. Reyes who assisted

Mother Lisa in the Communion Class

to Jennifer Lovekin and Edgar John who assisted

the St. Martin’s, Bridgewater Youth Group with

cleaning gravestones and to Peggy James who gave

them a tour of the church

to Walter Dein who weeded and mulched in

preparation for the Bishop’s visit, and

to Nancy Stewart who so beautifully cleaned up and

planted the Croes Plot.

Side walk sale

On June 8th we had our first ever “Sidewalk Sale”

here at Christ Church. This replaced our traditional

Flea Market, which means it was smaller in scope

and in time. But what a time we had! For it being

much scaled down, we were surprised to learn that

we made $971.95. Two Vestry Members also

contributed $300 each to net us a grand total of

$1571.95.

Many, many thanks go to Walter Dein, who led the

charge, guided us along the way, and pushed us

through to the end. Not only did our parishioners

help by donations, setting up, and working the

event, they did such a thorough job of cleanup that

there was no sign of the Sale in the Parish Hall the

next morning.

Many are those who helped; please forgive me if I

missed your name: Colleen Roth, Mark Roth, Judi

Buncher, Phillip Andrews, Kevin Carroll, Phyllis

Edwards, George Edwards, Connie Goddard, Jeff

Veil, Edgar John, Carolyn Petrie, and Elaine

Feyereisen.

Peace,

Mother Lisa+

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…..

Office hours first week in July Casey will be on vacation beginning June 27

th and

will return on Tuesday, July 9th

. There will be

minimal coverage for her during this time. Please

refer to the monthly calendar in this newsletter.

Please be sure to call the office before coming in.

Second Saturday workdays take a break during

July and August and will resume in September.

However that does not mean there is on work to do!

The plants continue to grow (and with all the rain,

how they are growing!) and weeds continue to creep

long into everything. We welcome anyone who

would like to spend some quiet time weeding the

walkways, gardens and parking lots. See you in

September...or maybe weeding out in the graveyard

…. Walter Dein

Mass on the Grass

Saturday Evenings @ 5:00PM

(counts for Sunday!)

Saturday Evenings at 5pm, Christ Church will be

holding service outside in the back strip of the

parking lot. Mass on the Grass is Holy Eucharist

with a casual setting. Bring your own lawn chair!

The music, liturgy, and dress will all be less formal

than what you will find on a Sunday morning. An

altar is set up at the south end of the little strip at the

back of our parking lot waiting your arrival. This

service is meant for all the family; bring a blanket

for the kids to sit on, and a toy or two, as well. We

provide everything else, even the bug spray. Rain

or Shine! We move inside to the Parish house if it

rains!

Youth Group Prime As you know, one of the objects of the formation of

our Youth is to introduce them to other faiths,

denominations and traditions. This past year we had

a visit from Mr. Jim Halpern, who gave us a primer

in Judaism. We then spent an evening at the local

Temple; a very interesting experience.

Our next “Field Trip” is a short one: a walk across

the street to the Quaker Meeting House. We have

been invited to visit the Quaker Meeting Sunday,

July 7th. We plan to join them around 10:15 in time

for their orientation/Q&A. This means you can

attend service at Christ Church at 9 and then we will

walk over together. When we are finished, we plan

to go out for some breakfast, some fellowship, and

to have our own little “Q&A” on what we have

learned, both about Quakerism and about ourselves.

Anyone may come with us, so do invite your family

and friends. It should be very interesting and

informative. We are working on a similar Field Trip

to St. Thomas in Red Bank in August, for their

Hispanic service, in which we can experience a

slightly different worship style and to meet with

their episcopal youth as well.

LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULES

Please let us know if you are interested in joining

ANY of our teams. We are in need of additional

members to serve in a number of areas. There is

minimal training required.

Christ Church Communion Class On Saturday, June 22nd, eight children spent the

day together for Communion Instruction. They

began the day with making an array of pictures

depicting what God is like (you can find them

posted on a bulletin board in the Parish Hall, just in

time for the Bishop’s visit!). They sang, made

communion bread for the congregation, had lessons,

played Huckle Buckle Beanstock in the graveyard

(you have to come to find out just what that is),

shared lunch together, practiced church etiquette,

and ended the day by playing “GRACE” a bingo

game about all things church. It is hard to believe

all we learned an how much fun we had doing it all.

Congratulations to those who received certificates:

Julie Bustamante, Abe Cravens, Dexter Cravens,

Kody Cravens, Joshua Dunford, Matthew Dunford,

Olivia Dunford, and Cora Murgio Miller And many

thanks to Noel Murgio and P.J. Reyes who assisted

Mother Lisa with the class; it would have been

impossible without them!

St Martin’s Bridgewater Visits

Christ Church

On Saturday June 22nd, a youth group from St.

Martin’s Episcopal Church in Bridgewater came to

Christ Church to do some work in the graveyard.

There were 5 students and 2 adult leaders. They all

did both gravestone cleaning and gravestone

rubbings. For the cleaning they tackled many stones

led by our own Jennie Lovekin and Edgar John.

This was another wonderful step in the celebration

of, and improvement to, our historic 300-year old

graveyard. The rubbing work was led by Friend of

Christ Church Jennifer Shamrock.

On Sunday the Youth Group rested and went to the

beach!

Backpacks for a Smooth Start to School

Although the school year has just ended, it is a great

time to think about the children in Monmouth

County who will need supplies when they go back

to school in September.

Once again this year, we will help children here in

Monmouth County begin the school year with

needed materials and supplies by participating in

our backpack program. There are children who

come to school without the needed supplies such as

pencils and notebooks, delaying or impeding their

fresh start to the new school year. We hope to make

a difference for some of these children. Please

consider providing a child with some needed

supplies such as:

Sturdy backpack; pencils, pens, crayons, markers,

colored pencils, highlighters, zippered pencil case,

spiral notebooks (no binders), homework

notebooks, child scissors, glue sticks, marble

notebooks, erasers, and other young child specific

supplies.

Please bring the backpacks or supplies to church

any day before Sunday September 1st (Feel free to

take an empty backpack-FILL IT- and bring it back)

Backpacks and supplies will be blessed and

delivered to during the first week of school.

Please help us help some children again this year.

Your generosity is appreciated.

“Did You Know …?”

Stories of Christ Church History

by: Robert M. Kelly, Jr.

Parish Historian

Did You Know….. (is taking a break this

month) Be sure to attend our

Anniversary Celebrations!

Robert M. Kelly, Jr.

Parish Historian

CEILING RESTORATION

UNDERWAY The scraping and repainting of the ceiling is almost

underway. Beginning on July 1st and lasting for 2-3

days our organ restorer, Alan Binger, will be

removing and carefully storing the organ pipes and

then encapsulating the organ itself in plastic. Then

beginning July 8th

, our general contractor, Guy

Hembling, will be preparing the nave for the actual

painting. This will include protecting all objects

with plastic including rugs, walls, pews, stained-

glass windows, chandeliers, pews, etc. Further the

floors will be covered with plywood to support the

scaffolding. Then paint removal and repainting will

commence. The workers will be here from 7 am - 4

pm and the project will take until about the third

week in August.

During this entire period, we will not be in the

church. Services will be held in the parish hall.

Altar, Narthex and Sanctuary Lamp Offerings

DON’T FORGET YOUR FLOWER OFFERINGS

OVER THE SUMMER! A Sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Almost every

Sunday of the Church Year we have beautiful

flowers adorn our altar and narthex. These are

provided by our parishioners, usually in memory of

someone or in thanksgiving to God for someone or

something. PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING

THE SUMMER MONTHS WE Do NOT have

flower arrangements but have PEACE plants at the

Altar and Narthex. This helps us to save some

money. We still ask that people make donations in

memory/thanksgiving/celebration of loved ones and

these will be listed as usual in the bulletin. Thank

you so much. If you would like to donate flowers

or the weekly sanctuary candle, please sign up on

the Flower Chart in the narthex of the Church.

Checks should be made payable to; “Christ Church

Altar Guild” and may be placed in the offertory

plate or mailed to us. Altar Flowers - $40, Narthex

Flowers - $30, Sanctuary Candle - $10.

We will still be accepting donations

during the summer months while we

have service in our Parish House!

Blessings Shared

Parish Finance Update

May, 2019

Category Actual Budget

$ Over (Under)

Budget

Plate $ 1,053 $ 1,195 $ (142)

Pledge $ 76,500 $ 69,790 $ 6,710

Total Income $ 87,832 $ 85,847 $ 1,985

Total Expense $ 96,488 $ 96,378 $ 110

Net Income (Loss) $ (8,656) $ (10,531) $ (1,602)

Notes:

1. The financials show that YTD, we have a net deficit of ($ 8,656). This is due to the high

fuel oil costs incurred this Winter.

2. Our current budget shows that our total income is $ 1,985 more than budgeted

year to date.

3. Our current expenses are running $ 110 more than budgeted.

4. Our pledge income YTD is $ 6,710 more than budgeted.

5. The current deficit is $1,602 less than budgeted.

Thank you for your continued support of Christ Church

Sincerely,

David Regiec & Beverlee Akerblom - Treasurer

Please remember your pledge during the summer During the summer months our income usually drops which puts a strain on finances and our ability to cover

our expenses. Please remember to send in your pledge if you are going to be away on vacation. Simply mail it

in! Thank you.

Thank you Walter Dein and Edgar John for all your hard work in keeping our property looking great!

GRG GRAVEMARKER REPAIR STATUS

SUMMARY OF GRANT PHASE WORK

PHASE # STONES STATUS NOTES COST

JBC PHASE I 16 DONE

FALL 2018

$43,075

PK PHASE I 36 DONE

SPRING 2019

PRICE

INCLUDES

CROES

PLOT

BORDER

$16,672

JBC PHASE II 35 PRICED AND

UNDER

REVIEW

INCLUDES

3

RECENTLY

DAMAGED

STONES

$85,543

PK PHASE II 23 BEING PRICED

PK PHASE III 21 BEING PRICED SUBSET OF

JBC PHASE

II

TOTAL 120 DOES NOT

DOUBLE

COUNT

SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES

GRANT NON-

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

TOTAL $195,356.00 $47,300.00 $148,056.00

USEDTO DATE $110,263.76 $42,483.76 $67,780.00

REMAINDER $85,092.24 $4,816.24 $80,276.00

Mary Frances Schjonberg, former assisting priest at Christ Church, recently retired from her “day job” with the

Episcopal News Service. We thought you might like to read the following article taken from The Living

Church.

the weekly newsletter from The Living Church

Mary Frances Schjonberg, left, and Gay Clark Jennings | TLC photo: Kirk Petersen

Executive Council Honors Journalist

June 10, 2019

The top leadership of the Episcopal Church paid tribute Monday to a woman whose work has made her one of

the most prominent voices in the governance of the church.

At their thrice-yearly meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, the Executive Council recognized the Rev.

Mary Frances Schjonberg for 14 years as a prolific reporter for Episcopal News Service, the church’s online

news source.

Schjonberg announced last month her intention to retire as senior editor and reporter as of July 1.

The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, told Executive Council that Schjonberg “has

done more than anyone I know to help Episcopalians everywhere understand the ministry of church

governance.”

Jennings presented Schjonberg with a House of Deputies Medal, an honor given for outstanding contributions to

the Church.

Schjonberg worked for 20 years as a reporter and editor for a variety of secular publications before entering

seminary at Church Divinity School of Pacific in 1997. After a few years in parish ministry, she joined ENS in

2005.

“I never thought I would be a reporter again after I was ordained,” Schjonberg said. Asked what she plans to do

in retirement, she said in addition to spending more time with her long-time spouse Sharon Babb, she plans to

do supply preaching, freelance writing and “remain open to the Holy Spirit’s call about what’s next.”

Kirk Petersen

"As we were reminded by the visit of our beloved Bishop, we are part of a diocese who together do ministy in New Jersey. Our Confirmands and Vestry were recently given the following factoids. I hope you enjoy them.” ML+

WHAT DOES THE DIOCESE DO FOR US? Questions often heard around the Coffee Hour

Below are the answers to questions often asked of clergy – and usually during the coffee hour; which

means only a sentence or two can be given.

We call ourselves Episcopalian which means that we are of the Bishop.

Episcopos means bishop in Greek, and the Episcopal Church is governed in part by its bishops.

The basic unit of ministry in the Episcopal Church is the diocese (not the parish). Each diocese is presided over

by a diocesan bishop who may have help from a variety of other kinds of bishops, depending on the

circumstance.

The Diocesan bishop chooses and ordains priest and deacons to serve the parishes or missions (congregations)

of the diocese, which carry out the ministry of the diocese in their local communities.

The priest lead the parish in worship, make decisions related to the sacramental life of the parish, and in general,

supports the ministry of the worshiping Christians there.

The deacon assists in worship and has the ministry of leading the congregation into mission.

The Episcopal Church is governed by a Constitution and a set of laws, known as the canons which it establishes

for itself by Convention, but the diocesan bishop is the ecclesiastical or church authority in his or her particular

diocese.

The bishops of the Episcopal Church have no jurisdiction outside of their diocese, so they meet together twice

per year to pray and make decisions about the life of the Church.

Every nine years, the Church elects a Presiding Bishop who represents the Episcopal Church in the Anglican

Communion and presides over meetings of the bishops, known as the House of Bishops.

Every year, deputies from every congregation in our Diocese meet to make decisions for the diocese and our

congregations.

Every three years, delegations or deputations from all the dioceses, along with the House of Bishops, gather to

worship and pass legislation for the Church.

This General convention is where broad decisions are made about policy and worship, as well as revitalizing the

Christian community for ministry back home.

All church members play a role in our governance, from decisions in parish life to our highest policy-making

body the General Convention.

Lay and ordained people, in concert with the bishops, share the responsibilities of oversight and legislation.

As members of the mission of the Diocese of New Jersey, the diocese ultimately owns the buildings which we

manage for the diocese.

The bishop visits to see us bringing God’s work into the world. He or she also baptizes, confirms, and receives

other members into the life of the diocese.

The bishop provides us with clergy. Although a parish does its own search for a rector, both priests and deacons

serve at the pleasure and consent of the bishop.

The diocese provides us with the tools to carry out the ministry of the church in the world.

Sometimes these tools can come through financial assistance as the diocese has done in the repair and

restoration of our church building.

Other times, the diocese provides education through the Ministry Institute which will help us make decision s to

make the ministry of Christ happen in the world.

July 2018

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 Office closed

Casey will be on

vacation all week

RTW:

Tuesday, July 9

There will be

minimal office

coverage.

2

3

8PM

AA Meeting

4 Office CLOSED

Independence Day

10am

MCHA Allen House

Declaration reading

8:30PM

AA Meeting

5 Office CLOSED

Rector’s day off

7:30PM

AA meeting

6

5:00PM

Mass on the Grass

Service

7

9AM

Holy Eucharist

10:15AM

YG Prime visits

Quaker house

8 Office closed

9 Casey RTW

10

7-9PM

Knitting Pearls@ Perky’s

8PM

AA Meeting

11

8:30PM

AA Meeting

12 Rector’s day off

7:30PM

AA meeting

13

5:00PM

Mass on the Grass

Service

14

9AM

Holy Eucharist

15 Office closed

6PM

Vestry meeting

16

17

7-9PM

Knitting Pearls@ Perky’s

8PM

AA Meeting

18

8:30PM

AA meeting

19 Rector’s day off

7:30PM

AA meeting

20

GFS Camp

5:00PM

Mass on the Grass

Service

21

GFS Camp

9AM

Holy Eucharist

22 Office closed

GFS Camp

23

GFS Camp

24

GFS Camp

7-9PM

Knitting Pearls@ Perky’s

8PM

AA Meeting

25

GFS Camp

8:30PM

AA meeting

26 Rector’s day off

GFS Camp

7:30PM

AA meeting

27

GFS Camp

5:00PM

Mass on the Grass

Service

28

9AM

Holy Eucharist

29 Office closed

30

31

8PM

AA Meeting

8:30PM

AA meeting

7:30PM

AA meeting

Office Hours:

Tue. – Fri.

9AM – 2PM

Christ Church Shrewsbury 380 Sycamore Avenue Shrewsbury, NJ 07702

ChristChurchShrewsbury@verizon.net

The Communications Team reminds you to check the web site for current parish news.

www.christchurchshrewsbury.org

"Be friends with Christ Church Shrewsbury" and then invite your friends to be our friend so

we all can be informed and connected to events in our community.

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. BRING SOMEONE TO CHURCH WITH YOU.

The Reverend Lisa S. Mitchell, Rector The Reverend Victoria Cuff, Deacon Chris Psolka, Organist/Choirmaster Casey Surgent, Office Administrator

Jeff Veil, Sexton

VESTRY 2019

Robert Kelly – Senior Warden, James O’Connor – Junior Warden

Walter Burrell Stephen Craven – I.T.

Connie Goddard Jamie Green – Parish Life

Edgar John Sue Napoletano – Christian Education

Dianne Regiec - Outreach, Martha’s Cupboard

Treasurer - Beverlee Akerblom Asst. Treasurer--Lynn Marengo Vestry Clerk – Nancy Stewart

On Saturday June 22nd eight children spent the day together for Communion Instruction. Mother Lisa led the class with

some much appreciated help from Noel Murgio. All participating children were awarded certificates.