S T . J O H N ’ S M E M O R I A L E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H S e e k S e r v e C e l e b r a t e

The Eagle

In

This

Issue…

March 1

Holy Eucharist

March 8

Annual Meeting

Holy Eucharist

March 15

Family Service with

Childrenʹs Choir

March 22

Holy Eucharist

March 29

Holy Eucharist

March 2020

Greetings dear friends in Christ,

Here we are, as individuals and as a community, at the beginning

of Lent. What is Lent and why do we care about it? The word is a

shortened form that derives from Old English, lencten, meaning

spring season. For Christians, it is a season of preparing one’s self

for Easter. For us, this season of preparation lasts from Ash

Wednesday until the evening of Holy Saturday. We speak of the

season lasting 40 days, which recalls Noah’s 40 days and nights,

Moses’ 40 days and nights of fasting, and Jesus’ 40 days and nights

in the wilderness. Technically there are 46 days, however we exclude the Sundays from

our count (Sundays are “li0le Easters”). In the early church, this was a season of prepa-

ration of the catechumenates for Baptism at the Great Vigil of Easter, and of reconciling

the penitent with the community. It was and still is a time of self-reflection. As a way of

walking Christ’s path, Christians have prepared for Good Friday and Easter by fasting,

praying and giving, for the 40 days – faithful to Jesus’ 40 days.

For us today, we can think of this season as one of anticipating or cultivating new

growth (spring), and being even more intentional about studying our faith and deepen-

ing a personal relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That relationship is ex-

plored in prayer by recognizing one’s sins, seeking forgiveness, and promising to act

differently. Fasting, giving up something during this season is a way to make room for

the Still Small Voice to be heard. When you create an intentional space there is oppor-

tunity for your awareness of God’s presence to be enhanced. Something new will grow.

By giving of one’s self or from one’s abundance to and with others, new awareness of

God’s creation emerges.

I believe this season of looking inward, for a time, is about finding Love anew, again and

again, becoming more intimately connected to God and the movement of Divine Love.

You probably remember the different ways you have kept a Holy Lent. In the Ash

Wednesday liturgy, we are invited to “the observance of a holy Lent, by self-

examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and

meditating on Godʹs holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance.” (BCP

page 265)

There are many ways to “give up” (fast from) and “take on” (pray with) during this li-

turgical spring season. A Lenten discipline is a way to expand and deepen your relation-

ship with the God who is Love. Here are a few:

Read scripture daily. Open the Bible to any book and read a few lines, then pray or

meditate on the Word. Chose a specific book and read portions each day. Follow

the Daily Lectionary with the BCP beginning on page 953 (we’re in Year Two,

continue with the odd numbered pages).

Or use an online resource like h0p://www.satucket.com/lectionary/

PRIEST IN CHARGE

The Rev. William Cruse

ST. JOHN’S WARDENS

Ken Bledsoe, Sr. Warden

Janice Hardy, Jr. Warden

VESTRY

Jason Farrar

John Greenberg

Kevin Haas

Kathy Lathrop

Amy Lynch

Renee Peters

Pat Tarbutton

JoEllen Wall

John Woods

CLERK OF THE VESTRY

Pat Tarbutton

FINANCE CHAIRPERSON

Nancy Abbott

TREASURER

John Greenberg

The Eagle

Meg Acer, Editor

______________

Articles can be submitted in

writing, or by E-Mail to:

meg.acer@

stjohnsramsey.org

Or Forward Movement h0ps://prayer.forwardmovement.org/

the_daily_readings.php?d=29&m=2&y=2020

Engage with The Way of Love from The Episcopal Church

h0ps://episcopalchurch.org/life-transformed

Sign up for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark daily Lenten Meditations

h0ps://dioceseofnewark.org/meditations

Give up 30 minutes of TV or social media and sit quietly for 10-15 minutes – meditate

or pray. There are many apps for mobile devices with timed and guided medita-

tions.

Pray one of the Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer; Morning, Noon, Evening,

Night Prayer (Compline) or the Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families.

(www.bcponline.org) Mission St. Clare provides a daily online version

h0ps://www.missionstclare.com/english/

Give up your favorite coffee or tea stop, or something else you do daily or weekly that

is “extra”. Use the money or time you save to enrich a charity that shares wellness

and wholeness in the community.

You get the idea, I hope. Let this be a time for joyous “ah ha’s” and difficult “uh oh’s”.

Don’t be afraid of the struggle, to both keep the spiritual practice and to face your own de-

mons and faults. Like Jesus in his wilderness, stay connected to God through your faith as

you journey in your own wilderness of temptation and revelation. Walk Jesus’ walk. Pre-

pare anew for Good Friday and Easter. In God there is perfect forgiveness and the promise

of beginning anew. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor

things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in

all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Romans 8:38-39) May you have a Holy Lent.

Peace - Bill+

Thanks to the Men’s Group

for hosting us for Shrove

Tuesday Mardi Gras! Fun

and food was shared by all.

And we raised funds for the

youth summer mission trip.

Fr. Bill joined Pastor Mike and Liz

from Lutheran Church of the

Redeemer at the Ramsey Train

Station late in the afternoon on Ash

Wednesday. Many were grateful

for this connection with The

Church because they werenʹt able

to be at their own parish, or had

go0en out of the habit and found

renewal in this reconnection. It was

an ecumenical presence of not only

our parishes, and also the many

denominations people represented.

We prayed with individuals and

offered them the humbling and

loving words, ʺRemember that you

were formed from dust and to dust

you will return.ʺ We reminded

them that they are Godʹs beloved,

and invited them to a Holy Lent.

I left there, cold, and filled with

The Spirit of Love, having connect-

ed with people in the wider

community.

May you have a Holy Lent - Bill+

Episcopal Church Women 2020 Film Fest!

The theme of St. John’s 2020 ECW film and book season is “Forgiveness of Others”. The

theme of forgiveness appears repeatedly in scripture such as Ma0hew 6:14: “For when

you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also for-

give you.” This comes shortly after the Lord’s Prayer (Ma0hew 6:12) and expands on

part of the prayer. But what is forgiveness? How do we go about forgiving? We will

explore the complexities of this theme through discussion of four films and a book. All

parish women and friends are invited to a0end.

On Monday, March 2n, at 7:00 pm we will meet in the downstairs lounge/vesting room

to view and discuss the film The Descendants. This 2011 comedy/drama stars George

Clooney as a native Hawaiian lawyer who reexamines his past and looks at his future

after his wife suffers a tragic boating accident. Nominated for Academy Awards in Best

Picture, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, and Best Film Editing, it won in Best Adapted

Screenplay. George Clooney won Best Actor of Critic’s Choice Movie Awards. Nomi-

nated for many awards, it won Golden Globes for Best Actor and Best Picture-Drama.

Our remaining 2020 season:

March 2: The Descendants

April 13: Book discussion The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

May 4: Unbroken: Path to Redemption

June: End of season dinner (date TBD)

Please join us at St. John’s on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 7:00 pm for an evening of cama-

raderie and thought-provoking discussion as we support each other in our spiritual

journeys. For information, contact ECW co-chairs Marilyn Bartholme or Janice Hardy

(HardyCJR@aol.com or 845-357-8244).

ECW

Community Thrift Shop

Spring is on its way! The last day to donate winter clothing to the thrift shop is Monday,

March 9. You are encouraged to save spring and summer items for our rummage sale

which will take place the end of April.

A big thank you to Rosemary Haas, Gail Washburn, Kathy Fede, Christine Po0s, Jan Hardy,

Bonnie Rodgers, Jane Fraser, Martha Anderson, Elaine Jones, Maria Gramuglia, Barry Har-

dy, Kathy Lathrop and Pat Tarbu0on who volunteered at the shop during February. Their

efforts allow us to maintain our account there.

If you need more information about the thrift shop, contact Mary Welton (201-825-8629 or

mhswelton@yahoo.com).

Seamen’s Church Institute

The next crochet and kni0ing group will meet on

Wednesday March 18th., from 12 noon until 4:30, at

the Boma’s house, when Marina will very kindly

provide a soup and sandwich lunch. All are wel-

come. If you plan on a0ending, or would like infor-

mation, please phone Marina at 201-529-2316.

Good Friday

ʺThe Requiemʺ by Fauré

On Good Friday, April 10, 2020, the combined Choirs of St Johnʹs, First Presbyterian Church

and Lutheran Redeemer Church will be joining their voices during the Good Friday even-

ing service to perform ʺThe Requiemʺ by Fauré.

In addition to the vocal choirs, members of the First Presbyterian handbell line , with the

addition of members of St Johnʹs, will be ringing at the service as well.

Please join us at 8PM on Good Friday as we mark the trials of Jesus and to await the

coming of our Risen Lord with song, music and prayer.

Men’s Lenten Discussion Saturday, March 28, 2020, 8:45am-Noon

This Lent, join with other men of St. John’s for a morning of fellowship,

reflection, and discussion.

A full breakfast will be served: Eggs, bagels, homemade healthy-ish muffins, fresh fruit,

coffee and tea.

There will be three segments to the program. So, if you’re pressed for time, you can break

bread with us and stay for the first hour, or go

deeper and stay the whole morning.

Each segment will be a reading from Scripture relevant to the Lenten

season, followed by quiet time and discussion.

Please take some time out and join us in the Parish Hall.

Any questions?

Please contact Bill Deegan (wpd87-Quiet@yahoo.com / 201-818-9325).

St. John’s Church School

March 2020

During the season of Lent, the season of preparation, the children in our Church School will be learning

about how God gives us life and the trust for us to deal with our lives each day. Lent is a time for us to

turn inward and rediscover all that is within us. It is a chance to be reborn as our faith gives us spiritual

guidance, conversations and reflections.

On the first Sunday in Lent the children will hear the story of Jesus going to the wilderness to face three

confrontations that challenge us to this day. The first: how do we make the distinction between what we

“want” and what we “need”. Second: who do we serve and what do we worship? Third: where are we

smug, sure we are right, and pu0ing God to the test? Jesus found his way through; Lent invites us to find

our way through, also.

The second Sunday in Lent the children will learn that Jesus knows what he is supposed to do. He is tell-

ing people that God loves them, that God wants them to love God, and he is telling people stories to help

them understand. Jesus also knows that the people in charge of the country want him gone because they

think people are listening to him and not to the leaders of the country. Jesus wants to gather all the peo-

ple, but knows that not all are ready to hear his message.

The focus of the lesson for the third Sunday in Lent is about the gospel of grace and repentance. To re-

pent means to turn, or return, after seeing what you have done or not done is wrong. It is a change of

mind---turning away from the bad ways, toward the good ways.

The lesson for the fourth Sunday in Lent is about unconditional love and forgiveness. The story for this

Sunday is how a son loses the inheritance from his father and how he is forgiven without any question-

ing.

Ask your children to share what they have learned in their weekly Church School sessions, and share

your thoughts with them as we all ask ourselves what we can do to help enrich the lives of others, and to

help create a be0er world.

Church School Calendar - March 2020

March 1 Church School – 10:00 AM- First Sunday in Lent - Chapel (P-2)

Lynda Hammond

March 8 Church School – 10:00 AM - Second Sunday in Lent

March 15 Family Service: 10:00 AM with Choristers and Cherubs,

No Church School - Third Sunday in Lent

March 22 Church School – 10:00 AM - Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 29 Church School - 10:00 AM - Fifth Sunday in Lent

Church School

We are very pleased to have installed new Stained Glass Windows to cap off the upgrades and

modifications of our BBL Phase 2 project. The hallway now features our namesake in large bright

color. Please note the small plaque on the side of the wall which indicates the origin of the caption

in the border and other elements featured in the design. We were also able to add stained glass to

the center panel of each of the 3 groups of windows facing Arch street. In a very gentle and subtle

manner, these windows reintroduce the arches featured in the windows of the church itself. Once

more, a sincere Thank You to all the parishioners who contributed financially toward the material

cost of these windows. May we all enjoy the blessings of our joint effort! ~Sabrina Persaud

S T . J O H N ' S M E M O R I A L E P I S C O P A L

C H U R C H

A House of Prayer for All People

301 East Main Street Ramsey, NJ 07446

Phone: 201-327-0703

Email:

meg.acer@stjohnsramsey.org

Check us out on the Web: www.stjohnsramsey.org

Worship Schedule

Sunday Services

Holy Eucharist

8 AM & 10 AM ____________

Church School

9:45AM Infant & Child Care

____________

Celtic Prayer

Wednesdays at 7:30 PM

The Rev. William Cruse

Priest in Charge

The Rev. Richard Louis

Rector Emeritus

Drew Kreismer

Organist/Choirmaster

Meg Acer

Parish Administrator

Megan Kendall

Youth Missioner

Upcoming Event Calendar

March 1 Thrivent Financial workshop

March 2 ECW - The Descendants

March 8 Thrivent Financial workshop

March 11 St Johnʹs Bridge

March 16 Outreach Meeting

March 18 Seamenʹs Kni0ing Group

March 18 Vestry Meeting

March 22 Thrivent Financial workshop

April 5 Palm Sunday

April 9 Maundy Thursday

April 10 Good Friday Joint Service with First Presbyterian

Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church

April 15 Vestry Meeting

April 19-23 Spring Rummage Sale Set up

April 24-25 Spring Rummage Sale

April 20 Outreach Meeting