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S T P A U L ’ S C H U R C H I N E N G L E W O O D
WELCOME TO ST PAUL’S CHURCH
We are glad you are here, and we invite you to enter fully into worship today, and to receive Communion or a
blessing. Feel free to take any information about the parish located at the entrances. Don’t be afraid to tell us more
about yourself by filling out one of the cards located in each pew or on information tables.
Join us as we strive to make northeast Bergen County a place where God’s grace is freely known and shared by all!
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 29, 2018
SUNDAY MESSENGER
On the final Sundays of Easter
our attention is directed to the
results in our lives of Jesus’ dying
and rising: the results of Baptism
and the Eucharist. The allegory of
the vine and the branches offers
insight into the way the early
Christian community saw the
redemptive relationship between
God, Jesus and the faithful. John
stretches the image most picturesquely. The solid trunk of the
vine emerging from the ground grows long, tender branches
on which the fruit is produced. Without those branches, newly
grown each year, the vine cannot produce. Cut off from the
root, the branches are useful only as kindling for a fire. This
was a common source of firewood in ancient times. God is
described as the vine grower who cares for both the vine and
the branches. Part of that caring requires rigorous pruning so
that the vine continues to produce good fruit. This is exactly
what has happened to Israel and to the church through the
ages.
The Gospel reading today describes our life in Christ. That life
is characterized by our love for Jesus as the ground of our
faithfulness. He promises to send the Holy Spirit to us as our
guide. Our life in Christ is marked, then, by his presence with
us always and by our sharing in his love.
Like a vine growing new branches, the early church began
almost immediately to spread beyond Jerusalem, bound
together in Christ’s love and led by
the Spirit. In today’s reading from
Acts, Philip, one of the seven
ordained with St. Stephen,
preaches the gospel to an official
of the Queen of Ethiopia. This
preaching was prompted by the
official’s reading of the “Suffering
Servant” passage from Isaiah
(52:13—53:12). The Ethiopian is
converted and baptized on the spot.
The psalm for today begins with a cry of dereliction, repeated
by Jesus on the cross. It ends with a hymn of praise and trust
in the God who rules over all nations.
Today’s reading from 1 John carries on his theme of our share
in God’s self-giving love (in the original Greek, agapé). We are
to reflect in our own living and ministry that same love which
was manifested to us in Jesus’ dying and rising. This is the life
he shares with us.
We, the people of God, gather in the Eucharist to remember
and share the story of God’s love for us. Our actions in the
Eucharist are a liturgical expression of self-giving love toward
God and others. As we receive Holy Communion, God
implants in us Jesus’ own life and equips us to extend the
divine love to all people in concrete actions of ministry and
proclamation.
About the Liturgy and Scripture of the Day
Please make a contribution to the Pentecost Matching Gift Campaign.Every gift counts!
For those in need of immediate prayers: Laura Antal and Family, Priscilla Kleinman (Mother of Mark Trautman), Deneen Cooper, Edith Holiday, Kathy Johnston, Deborah Kelley Moore, Aleik Tahir.
For those in need of continuing prayer support: John Bullough, Nazera Wright, Yvonne Baldwin, David Eversley, Lilliam Gonzalez, Cynthia McDonald, Trey Nelson, Carol Yaner, Phillipa McLeod, Sharon Wells, Patti Banks, Rebecca Johnson, Pamella Miller, Crystal Baxter, Dawn Baxter Woodhouse, Emeka Okafor Sr., Johann Mullings, Byron Babb.
For those serving in the military or in harm’s way: Austin Herbert, Nicholas C. Basile, Justin Sheldon and Nagelia Harrison Sheldon, Ken Lambert, Nadi Kassem, Justin Coca, Antonio Ramirez, Marc McDonald, Gregory Halstead.
For those celebrating birthdays this week: Marc McDonald, Andrew Swamy, Alina Gomez, Barbara Christenberry, Sheryl Gill, Austin Herbert, Rosemary Burr, Peter Bremer, Nicole Borges.
Cycle of Prayer, Anglican Communion: The Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East; in the Diocese of Newark:
Our Saviour, Secaucus; Christ Church, Short Hills; St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; Search for the next Bishop of Newark.
Our partners in faith: St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahado Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Fort Lee; Congregation Kol HaNeshama.
For those who have died, and those who mourn them.
Dorothy Burns, Darrell Walker, Audrey Smith, John Mayo.
Prayers
Holy Doodling, or Your Notes from Today’s Sermon and WorshipTODAY’S SCRIPTURE: ACTS 8:26-40; 1 JOHN 4:7-21; JOHN 15:1-8; PSALM 22:24-30
AnnouncementsCoffee Hour: Please join us after the 10:30 service in the
Parish Hall for fellowship and refreshments. Thanks to our
host today: Bruce Nelson. If you have a special event and would like to host a coffee hour or are interested in being part of this hospitality fellowship please contact: Marian Acquah [email protected].
Next Sunday’s Scriptures: Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17; Psalm 98
Kids’ Mass: Invite a kid you know to our weekly 30-minute
Mass for Children, called Awake My Soul, 9:45 am Sundays in
the Historic Sanctuary—it’s only 30 minutes.
St. Paul’s Church to be Honored: The Englewood Historical
Society will honor St. Paul’s Church in Englewood at its 33rd
Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 2 for work in
preserving and restoring the structure. Please join us for an
architectural talk and tour of the historic church at 5 pm,
followed by a cocktail reception and dinner at the Clinton
Inn. Tickets are $75 per person. For tickets please send check
payable to: Englewood Historical Society 45 Dwight Place,
Apt 7 Englewood, NJ 07631. For further information email:
Irmari Nacht: [email protected].
Food Sunday: The first Sunday of the month is designated for
the collection of food for the Center for Food Action. In May,
we are collecting canned meats and fish. Please pick up a can
or two at the store and bring them with you on Sunday, May
6. The Collection will be blessed with our prayers before
delivery on Monday. Volunteers are welcome to help deliver
the food.
Walkabout: St. Paul’s Church will be hosting a walkabout on
Sunday, May 6 from 1:30-5:00 pm. Walkabouts are intended
to provide both candidates for the XI Bishop of Newark and
diocesan members with opportunities to meet and get to
know each other, and to allow the candidates to address
concerns and questions from both lay and clergy. To attend a
Walkabout, RSVP by 5 pm May 2 at: dioceseofnewark.org/
form/rsvp-walkabouts.
St Paul’s Choral Festival: We will welcome singers from the
greater NJ/NYC metro area for Choral Evensong on Sunday,
May 6 at 5 pm in the Historic Sanctuary. Conductor will be
Loraine Enlow, Music Associate at St James, Madison Avenue,
NYC; organist will be Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music at
Grace Church, Newark. Rehearsal will begin at 3 pm, and all
singers from area churches are welcome to join us.
The Second Sunday Youth Event: The next Nearly Second
Sunday Youth Event will be Saturday, May 12 from
6-9 pm, in the Parish Hall. Feel free to bring your friends for
a Kids’ Night Out! Please bring $5 to contribute to dinner
and snacks.
Feeding Sunday: St Paul’s has been volunteering for more than
30 years with the help of cooks and drivers to take and serve
warm meals to the homeless in Hoboken. We are always
looking for volunteers to help drive and serve the dinners on
the 2nd Sunday of each month. Speak with Gary Mason with
your interest or questions, [email protected].
Summer Planning: If you have kids and youth in your family
or household, mark your calendars for St Paul’s Day Camp for
Elementary Aged Kids, July 16-20. Youth are welcome to help
and volunteer. If you have kids and youth entering grades 5-8,
consider a week at our Diocesan Summer Camp, Crossroads.
Fr. Bill Allport will be chaplain July 29-Aug 4. Speak with Kai
Alston or Fr. Bill for more details. For choristers aged 10-18,
the Diocese of New Jersey Choir Camp is July 15-18; speak
with Mark Trautman for more information.
Do you want the latest news and updates? Be sure to register for the Parish electronic news and updates by following the link at the bottom of the Parish website or fill out one of the contact forms available on the information tables.
Upcoming Events:May 2 Englewood Historical Society’s 33rd Annual
Awards Dinner Honoring St. Paul’s Church in
Englewood for the preservation and restoration
of the building, 5 pm
May 6 Food Sunday
Walkabout, 1:30-5:00 pm
RSCM Evensong, 5 pm
May 12 Nearly Second Sunday Youth Event, 6-9 pm
May 13 Mother’s Day
Hoboken Soup Kitchen, 5 pm
May 20 Pentecost Sunday:Wear Your Red! Seventh Annual Spring Choir Concert, 5 pm
June 16 St. Paul’s Craft’s Fair 10 am-3 pm
EGIVING AT ST PAUL’SPlease feel free to make a gift and offering
in thanksgiving to God. To take advantage
of our electronic giving options, please
visit online through your electronic
device: stpaulsenglewood.org/egiving.html
or follow the qr code to the left with your
capable electronic device.Scan
STEWARDSHIP ISCOMMITT ING OURSELVES AND
OUR RESOURCES TO JOIN
GOD’S MISS ION
COMMITT ING OURSELVES AND
OUR RESOURCES TO JOIN
GOD’S MISS ION
HEAD OF THE CHURCHOur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
BISHOP OF THE CHURCHThe Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop
THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCHAll the People
2018 VestryThe Rev. Dr. William H. Allport, II, PresiderMichele Simon & Max McDaniel, Wardens
Beverley Lannaman, TreasurerAlbert Griffiths (20191), John Herbert (20202)
George J. Hill (20191), Robin Jackson (20183),
Aubrey McDonald (20201), Coralius Noble (20182),
Jonathan Stevens (20181), Nicole Thomas (20191)
Robin Taylor (20201)
ST. PAUL’S STAFFThe Rev. Dr. William H. Allport II, Rector
The Rev. Joanne O’Neill, Deacon of the ParishKai Alston, Director of Christian Formation
Mark A. Trautman, Director of MusicDiana Rodriguez, Parish Administrator
Lisa Keenan, Financial AccountantJerome Riddick, Sexton
Gary Mason and George Gill, Sunday SextonsMarteze Golden, Housekeeper
GET THE LATEST NEWSJoin the electronic communications of the Parish by following
us on Facebook or signing up for daily messages (registration
always available at the bottom of the website).
CONTACT INFORMATION201.568.3276 | [email protected]
113 Engle Street | Englewood, NJ 07631
www.stpaulsenglewood.org
Serving this Sunday8 am: Pam Abner (Lessons); Pat O’Neill (EM); Jonathan Stevens
(Vestry Host)
10:30 am: George J. Hill (Lessons); Colin Wolfe, Kyra Acquah
(EM); Carrie Allport, Margaret King (Pulpit EM); Morgan McDaniel (Crucifer); Jacob McAllister (Gospel); Nicole Thomas (Vestry Host)
Fellowship: Bruce Nelson
Altar Guild: Kay Hammond, Pam Abner, Nicole Thomas
Ushers: Farida McDonald, Christine McDonald, Phillippa Lynch
Counters: William Payne, Robin Taylor
Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a
card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won’t compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion – put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?
Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.
“Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation
Front” from The Country of Marriage, copyright © 1973 by Wendell Berry
Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation FrontBy Wendell Berry
CAN YOU HELP BRING THE POWER OF EASTER RIGHT
NOW?
A generous donor in the Parish Family
has invited all of us to deepen our
stewardship and giving from God’s
abundance as we journey from Easter.
The anonymous donor has offered to
match your additional financial gift
beyond your pledge or regular giving up
to $25,000. So if you can make a gift,
the abundance is doubled. Your
additional gift (no matter the amount)
will mean $50,000 of God’s abundance
and the transformation of our attention
to further God's Mission through St
Paul’s. Make a gift online through Parish
website and “Make a Gift” link, or use a
labeled envelope available in the Atrium
or front of the Historic Sanctuary. We
can do it right now!
We have raised $15 ,000!We are $10,000 away from our matching gift goal.
Can you make a gift today to help?
Search for the XI Bishop of Newark On February 28, 2017 Bishop Mark Beckwith called for the election of the next Bishop of Newark. Bishop Beckwith was consecrated the 10th Bishop of Newark on January 27, 2007 and will retire upon the consecration of his successor.
Canonically, the Standing Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the transition from one bishop to the next. They appointed the Search/Nominating Committee to search for and nominate the persons best suited to serve as
The Candidates This is the final slate of candidates recommended by the Search/Nominating Committee and approved by the Standing Committee. Learn more about the candidates at dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search.
The Rev. Carlye J. Hughes Diocese of Fort Worth
The Rev. Lisa W. Hunt Diocese of Texas
The Rev. Canon Scott G. Slater Diocese of Maryland
“We believe these individuals possess the skills, qualities, experience and spiritual grounding necessary for the office of Bishop, and we are excited to commend them to the Diocese of Newark.” The Rev. Joseph Harmon, President of the Standing Committee.
What’s Next: Meet, Vote, Celebrate Meet: Walkabouts — May 4, 5 & 6, 2018 All members of the diocese are invited to attend a “Walkabout.” It’s an opportunity for you to meet the candidates, and for the candidates to address your concerns and questions. Friday, May 4 at Saviour, Denville
9 AM - 12:30 PM for Clergy only 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy
Saturday, May 5 at Calvary, Summit 9 AM - 12:30 PM for Lay only 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy
Sunday, May 6 at St. Paul's, Englewood 1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy
Vote: Electing Convention — Saturday, May 19, 2018 The Deputies who represented their churches at the Annual Diocesan Convention in January 2018 will also have the responsibility of voting for the XI Bishop of Newark.
Celebrate:
Retirement Luncheon for Bishop Beckwith — Saturday, September 8, 2018
Consecration of the XI Bishop of Newark — Saturday, September 22, 2018 Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will officiate.
bishop in our diocese, and the Transition Committee to facilitate the election and consecration of the next bishop and support the current and next bishops, their families and the diocesan staff during the transition.
Stay up to date on the Bishop Search! To read about the latest news & events
and sign up for email notifications, go to: dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search
To attend a Walkabout, RSVP by 5 PM May 2 at: dioceseofnewark.org/form/rsvp-walkabouts
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Page 2
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Candidates for XI Bishop of Newark Page 3
needed assistance or convenes a judicatory process to examine wrong doing.
Our critical decisions are undergirded by careful and prayerful consideration among the faithful. The same approach could benefit struggling congregations. By living into our communal nature we have the opportunity to look at a number of questions:
x Why wait until a parish is struggling to talk about the decline our denomination is facing every year?
x If a group(s) gathered regularly to study the current state of congregations, would leadership of struggling parishes be empowered by the group’s support to make strategic decisions for the future?
x Could such groups develop suggestions for nurturing health, spurring growth, and ending ministry?
x If the community regularly discerns challenges and opportunities, would congregations take initiative to determine the best course of action?
The slow death of congregations across our denomination cries out for our attention. We may be tempted to look away from the evidence of decline, yet acknowledging the truth allows us to see/seek what God has next for us. Resurrection may begin when we look at tough circumstances and ask for God’s help to determine next steps. It takes courage to see the truth, a courage that God gives us and blesses with pathways to new life.
Based on the information you have learned about the Diocese of Newark, what challenges and excites you about your vision for the role of a bishop in the 21st century in this Diocese?
I am compelled and energized by a vision of the bishop as Chief Spiritual Officer of the diocese. I see the prospect of bringing focused attention to the relationships between Bishop, clergy, and lay leaders as a primary need as the diocese seeks to meet the pressing demands of ministry in an environment of rapid change.
The call for evangelism, entrepreneurial ministry, missional initiatives, sustainable congregations, strategic social justice agendas, and serving the church in the twenty‐first century requires strong communities and inspired leadership. Communities of faith need to be led by well supported and faithful clergy and lay leaders. In this complex time period, I see a tremendous
opportunity to give those charged with leading the church the support needed to thrive.
With a deep well of support all clergy, including the bishop, may generate ministries that flourish beyond congregations and into the larger community. As much as we are concerned about the challenge to our churches, the call to God’s people beyond the doors of the church remains the same. Jesus has always sent disciples into the world to those needing God’s love. His ministry to all people included teaching, supporting, sending, and encouraging disciples in their own ministries.
I look to Christ’s ministry to meet the challenge of these times. The vision the diocese seeks, the help for struggling congregations, the joys of thriving ministry, the courage to champion justice, and the desire to share the faith and tradition we love — all come from the very first ministry Jesus shared so long ago and continues to share today. This desire to serve those who lead is the center of my ministry and fuels my desire to serve in the Diocese of Newark at this time in the life of the diocese, our church, and the world.
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Page 4
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Candidates for XI Bishop of Newark Page 5
adaptation now. As Episcopalians, we view the Diocese as the primary unit of the Church, while we experience our life in Christ in deeply local ways. Criteria for evaluating vitality and hope have to be on both levels—Diocesan and local.
I know that the Diocese of Newark has already faced the difficult decision of closing congregations, selling some properties and unifying some congregations. I would want to review the previously used criteria so that we do not recreate the wheel. I would engage the Diocese in discernment of these criteria so that the criteria are community based, transparent, and fair.
Assessment would need to take place both Diocesan and local levels. Clearly economic viability is an important metric, but it is not the only one. I think the Diocese of Newark will need to have a strategic vision for growth and renewal. We will want to look toward the kind of diversity we want to cultivate‐‐‐we will not want to close ministries in communities we will want to serve and we will not allow these losses to be borne by communities of color disproportionately. We will also want to be wise about leveraging the value of our real estate.
These are some of the principles I would employ:
x Maximize collaboration. x Listen to the truths. x Provide for the People of God always treat each
other with respect. x Do not prolong suffering. x Be good stewards of time, money, and the gifts
of God’s People. x Keep the decisions at the lowest possible level
with the recognition that we belong to each other.
If we together decide to close a congregation, I think that we need to celebrate the ministry and life of the people in the current generation and those of the past. An oral history component as well as some fine art process would be good to capture our stories. I think pastoral care of the congregants is critical so that there is a process designed to aid persons into their next faith community—either as individuals or as a whole. There are already teams in the Diocese doing some of this work.
As Americans, our culture denies death and spends an inordinate amount of our health care dollars in the last weeks of life, often in intensive care. This is in part because we are afraid to talk about death and
acknowledge natural processes. As Christians, we believe in death and resurrection. The Church can model courage and skill in this regard by equipping our members to name death when we see it and to clear the way for new life in a collective way. This makes for the renewal of the Church over time.
Based on the information you have learned about the Diocese of Newark, what challenges and excites you about your vision for the role of a bishop in the 21st century in this Diocese?
My vision for the role of the Bishop of Newark in the 21st century is to lead the Diocese in becoming a more nimble and responsive vehicle for people to come to know and love God and to build God’s reign wherever we serve. This will include adapting structures, funding, and leadership, so that we can embrace the changing demographics, cultures, and economic situations we face. This will necessitate seeking collaborative partnerships with other parts of the Church so that our human and other resources are used effectively and with prudence to foster new forms of ministry.
The Diocese of Newark under Bishop Beckwith has begun the necessary work to build individual and collective capacities to listen to God’s Word and to discern God’s mission. What excites me most about the role of bishop at this time is that we cannot be focused on institutional maintenance or mere survival; Christ is leading us to become something new. The challenge now is to step out boldly in faith, grounded in reason. Where are we called to innovate? Where are we called to start new ministries and in what forms? How do we recruit and call the next generation of leaders?
The Bishop will need to lead the Diocese into this future, confident that God will provide for us in the midst of the changes, as we set a course together. We need now to start acting. This will mean being willing to experiment, fail, and learn. This will take money, leadership, and support. It also means focusing on the next generations.
Simultaneously, from my visit and conversations, I know that the Bishop will need to lead an effort to create a blueprint for realigning our fiscal, physical, and human resources for this new era. Fear of death is palpable. There is real love in the Diocese of Newark for the people and clergy of the Church; this needs to be matched by courage to risk. The challenge for the Bishop will be to inspire and assure the people of the Diocese to trust that love is stronger than death.
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Page 6
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Candidates for XI Bishop of Newark Page 7
One of our current situations involves a congregation that has historically avoided involvement with the diocese. Since their long‐time rector retired two years ago, they have declined significantly and are down to 30 people on a Sunday with hardly any financial cushion. I have urged them to start reaching out to nearby congregations (Episcopal, Lutheran and others) to seek collaborative opportunities for pastoral care and outreach. And they’re doing it, willingly! They also have a pair of consultants working with them to assess their current and future vitality and urging them to keep seeking the creative work of the Spirit.
Hope is also a key element. When a congregation can look beyond its fears and experience hope that is based in measurable reality (rather than magical thinking or nostalgia), then that hope motivates transformation and resurrection.
Based on the information you have learned about the Diocese of Newark, what challenges and excites you about your vision for the role of a bishop in the 21st century in this Diocese?
The decline in attendance and engagement in the Church will continue to be a challenge. If we were to determine the aggregate empty‐pew ratio in the diocese, I suspect it would be staggeringly large. Who wants to attend a church where more than half the seats are empty? It’s also bad stewardship of property and resources.
And yet when congregations can open themselves to new ways of being, including collaborative and innovative engagement in the community, then exciting things will happen. In Maryland we have a network of “small but mighty” congregations that meets quarterly for mutual support and affirmation. We have two “Lutherpalian” partnerships and one in process. Collaboration is a critical aspect of congregational vitality for the near future. A primary role of the bishop is to foster and support those conversations.
The Diocese of Newark is paying attention to this seismic shift and seeking to embrace the Spirit’s stirring to change and be changed for the sake of the Gospel. To do this we have to take an honest and courageous look at our values as embodied by how we use our resources. If a congregation is spending more on property than on a priest, that’s a value decision. However, property fully utilized for mission and ministry throughout the week may be a better use of resources than paying a priest full time. In Maryland we find “average weekly impact” to be a better measure of vitality than “average Sunday attendance.” What we do
on Sundays means little if it doesn’t impact our lives as disciples of Jesus in our communities the rest of the week, sharing God’s love in word and deed. As midwife and head cheerleader for all the baptized, the bishop nudges us out the door to spread God’s love beyond church walls.