Inside this issue….. February Newsletter 2021 5Lent 2021 Lent begins with an account from Matthew’s Gospel 4:1-11 of our Lord suffering 5Ash Wednesday very real temptations during the forty days He spends in the wilderness. So what 5Please Remember in were these temptations, and where did they come from. your Prayers… 5Fr. Ron’s Lenten Scripture informs us explicitly that the temptations endured by our Lord come from challenge that ancient enemy of the human race, the devil. And these temptations are a 5Adult Forum Classes challenge or a test. The devil seems to be curious about the true identity of this 5Confirmation & extraordinary person Jesus of Nazareth. “If you really are the Son of God, prove it!” Reception he says. “Command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 5“the Examen” 59 things you can do… How often do we not hear similar challenges addressed to us, or to our families, or 5Masks for Sale our communities, or our church or our world? We know we are called to be the 5Food Bank Volunteers hands and feet of Christ in the world today, but how often do we neglect, or post- Needed pone our involvement? 5Stewardship 5St. John’s Jesus Christ came into this world to do something far more wonderful than changing Columbarium stones into bread. Jesus came to change our hearts of cold stone to hearts that are on 5Planned Giving fire with divine love. Jesus has not come to dazzle us into the Kingdom of Heaven 5Calendar with dizzying displays of acrobatics. Jesus calls us to live in friendship with Him. 5Intercessions And, as a token of this divine friendship, Jesus does something infinitely more impressive than turning stones into bread or throwing Himself from the Temple into the hands of angels. Jesus transforms bread into His living Body and Blood, before which angels fall in adoration. Jesus effects this transformation so that we, too, might be transformed by feeding on Him, and that we, in turn, might set to work transforming this world around us.

As we begin the season of Lent, we should think of how we shall accompany our Lord in His fasting and prayer during these forty days in the wilderness. Most im- portantly of all, we should think about how we imitate Christ’s , whether by way of almsgiving, or visiting the sick, the lonely and the elderly. By the end of Lent, God will not really be checking to see if we have a thinner waist. God will be looking to see if we have a larger heart of love to share with others.

I pray that each and every one of you enters more fully into the invitation of Lent so that even greater bonds of love and affection will rule your hearts as children of God and that it may bless this community of faith into doing even greater things for our Lord, His Church and the world!

In Christ, Father Ron Newsletter Editors Fr. Ron Pollock Neva Rae Fox Lillie Hardingham The Rev. Canon Ronald N. Pollock LENT 2021 …Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the king- dom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…(John 16:13)

When you think of the word “Lent,” what comes to mind ? Giving up chocolate or sweets ? A job to be done ? A task to be carried out ? A long boring season ? A lot of times we want to jump right into whatever it is we’re trying to accomplish and just get the work done ! But when it comes to seeking and listening to God in the season of Lent, it’s important to stop, be silent and wait. Prayer and discernment should always be the first step we take. Through prayer and discernment, we must listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We seek out God’s truth in our lives and in the world around us, asking the Spirit to guide us. We try to discover what God is up to and how we can be a part of it. We go to Christ in the Gospels to learn from who He was then and to comprehend who He is today. We remain fully open to His presence in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We listen and observe, and then we follow where He leads. Finding and following the path can be difficult when there are too many things in the way. Listening for a strong quiet voice is impossible if there is too much noise in our lives. So how can we quiet the noise so the Holy Spirit can get through to us ? How can we declutter our lives to make room for God’s light ? We begin with repentance. Through repentance, we clear out the things that get in the way of God and we sur- render to the cleansing power of God’s boundless love and forgiveness. Re-orienting our lives towards God, we choose to follow the trail that is marked by God’s love rather than the trail that proceeds from selfishness, violence or indifference. In this process of intentional prayer, discernment and repentance, God’s love begins to reveal itself. We are able to see signs of Christ’s kingdom here on earth: signs of renewal and restoration, of hope and healing. Christ’s vision of making all things new and alive in His love begins to show itself in our lives and in the world around us. The transformation of our lives, and of our communities and our world, begins to seem possible. As we move forward in this season of Lent, let’s take a moment to stop, listen, and pray that God will reveal God’s way and truth to us. Pray with the Psalmist: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me…(Psalm 25:4-5).

Faithfully, Father Ron

ASH WEDNESDAY

All are cordially invited to receive ashes on Wednesday, February 17 at 7 am, 12 noon, or 7 pm outside in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 158 West High Street in Somerville. The very brief interaction will include the sprinkling of ashes on the top of people’s heads rather than using them to make a cross on people’s foreheads. The priest will address each person individually and say “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. A number of resources, such as prayers, Scripture readings, and a Litany of Penitence will be found on the church website: www.StJohnSomerville.org. Sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads rather than marking foreheads with ashes is a return to the original practice in the life of the Church. The practice of sprinkling ashes is not new, it is the norm in many countries around the world.

“The first recorded use of ashes is in the tenth century in Germany. In that case, the penitents were sprinkled with ashes, extricated from the assembly to the accompaniment of Genesis 3:19-20 (the exclusion of Adam and Eve from the garden), from which the formula for the imposition of ashes in later centuries were derived. It was in England, in the eleventh century, that we have evidence of the sprinkling of ashes on all the faithful, noted there in the writings of the Aelfric, the Abbot of Eynsham. By the end of that century, Pope Urban II will make the practice of sprinkling ashes on all of the faithful the practice of the western church” (A Note on Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes in a Time of Pandemic by Bishop J. Neil Alexander)

“Given the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has the advantage of not requiring the priest to touch multiple people. In this season of pandemic, death is acutely before our eyes far in excess of anything most of us have ever known. Speaking to that and ritualizing it with a subtle, but powerful shift in the manner in which the ashes are administered has the potential of being a rich ritual exchange with significant pastoral connotations. And, calling attention to this slight adjustment, deeply rooted in the tradition, may be its own to us and our people in this difficult time” (A Note on Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes in a Time of Pandemic by Bishop J. Neil Alexander).

Sprinkling ashes on the head recalls the Biblical method of putting on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of penance. “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth upon their heads (Nehemiah 9:1). The use of ashes is a tradition with roots in the Old Testament “I turned to the Lord, to seek help, in prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a time when Christians are called to prayer, fasting, self-denial, almsgiving, which means donating money or goods to the poor, and performing other acts of charity.

Ashes are rich in symbolism. They remind us that God created us from the earth, and that we will return to it when we die. They also symbolize God’s promise that even though our bodies will return to dust, our souls are meant to live forever with God. “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother (our sister), and we commit his (her) body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” (The Burial of the Dead: Rite II, Book of Common Prayer, page 501) “…yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia” (page 499).

“You are my Beloved !” These were the words spoken to Jesus at His baptism, in the Jordan River. Immediately He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He spent forty days reflecting on His call and absorbing the truth of these powerful words. The same words are spoken to each of us by God. By God’s grace, we are offered the same love. We, too, are God’s beloved children – not because of anything we have done or will do but simply by the gift of God’s grace. God chooses us in love, to be united with God in a reciprocal relationship in which we experience and express joy and delight in one another. Take time to ponder these things. Absorb them into the depths of your heart so that they become the defining truths that underlie your identity. You are God’s beloved, and there is nothing that can ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Spend time in this season of Lent reflecting on the ways in which you have experienced and come to know God’s love for you. Through whom and in what ways have you heard God say to you, “You are my beloved”? Have you embraced this truth as the core of your identity ? Have you discovered the freedom it brings ? See you in Church ! Faithfully, Father Ron

FROM THE RECTOR: Please remember in your prayers Those who are sick or in any need or trouble, especially: Greg Gibson, Lily Altamura, Randy & Claire Rokisky, Matteo Giordano, Pamela Christine, Lee Henderson, Kyle Ferris, Michael Watts, Betty Bomberger, Jean Keefer, as well as those known to you…. For the unemployed, the under-employed, those with depression, mental illness, end of life issues with self or family or loved ones, those who are alone and lonely, the aging and the aged. For new members at St. John’s. For the continued Stewardship of our Church. For our new Vestry and the leadership of our Parish. For doctors, nurses, and medical staff; for scientists, contact tracers, and cleaning crews; for police officers, firefighters, first and community responders, and those who guard the peace. For an end to racism and the abuse of God’s children, and for the light of justice to shine everywhere. For those connected to our parish family who are serving in our Armed Forces: Nicholas Loften, James Sireci, Brandon Aikens, Ryan Cook, Jordan Greenip, Berty Ferguson, Will Schaub, Tray Robinson, Raymond Cam- pos, Brian Fanelli, Jerry Perez, Bob Scott, David Jones, as well as those known to you….

Fr. Ron’s Simple Lenten Challenge! Commit at least 3 hours a week to share God’s love and engage in outwardly-focused ministry. Mark those 3 hours on your calendar like any other appointment or activity. Make those 3 hours a priority. Do not come up with busyness and excuses that keep you from fulfilling your challenge. This challenge should apply to clergy and lay, young and old alike. Here are some suggestions for your 3 hours each week. 1. Take someone to lunch, or meet up for coffee. 2. E-mail, text or write a letter to 20 people who are looking for a church home and invite them to come to church with you. Offer to sit with them. Invite them to coffee hour. 3. Take two hours to walk around your neighborhood. Notice who you see. What kind of things are happening? What’s God up to in your neighborhood? How are you called to more fully participate in your community? 4. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day. 5. Find a person in need in your community. Help them. Let them know you are doing it as an ambassador for Jesus. 6. Start a Bible reflection group that meets every week for 8 weeks. Advertise on social media that the class will give a basic overview and allow for healthy discussions. Meet no more than hour a week. You might be surprised how many people may be interested. 7. Ask friends or family members how they might join you in some special project such as a food . Perhaps collect jackets, socks, t-shirts, underwear or toiletries for those in need. 8. Ask friends or family to join you helping to serve at SHIP’s Galley soup kitchen, Laundry Love, collect food items for the Somerset County Food Bank or some other ministry. Consider adopting a family for Easter. Put together a basket of non-perishable food items along with a Shop-Rite gift card. Consider taking the 3 hour challenge!

St. John' s and St. Martin' s to hold joint Adult Formation Classes in Lent

We are excited to share that St. John's and St. Martin' s in Bridgewater will hold joint adult formation classes in Lent. Joining with St. Martin' s for adult formation is nothing new. For the past two years we have enjoyed each other's company for fellowship and education alike in Advent and Lent. For this Lent, we will be using The Way of Love: Life Transformed Series, as suggested by their new Rector, Fr. Rob Laws. Learner' s Guides for all sessions will be made available. We are still working on the details so stay tuned. The basic structure is to meet on a weekday evening via Zoom. We will gather as a group for the teaching and then go into break out groups for the discussion questions, and then come back together for closing and sharing. As we solidify the details, we will share with you weekly in the Good News E-blasted to our Parish on Fridays.

Faithfully, Father Ron “The Examen” by Ignatius of Loyola

The Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s an attitude more than a method, a time set aside for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life. It has five steps, which most people take more or less in order, and it usually takes 15 to 20 minutes per day. Here it is in a nutshell: 1. Ask God for light. I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own. 2. Give thanks The day I have just lived is a gift from God. Be grateful for it. 3. Review the day. I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit. 4. Face your shortcomings. I face up to what is wrong in my life and in me. 5. Look forward to the day to come. I ask where I need God in the day to come. Of the various prayer exercises and styles that St. Ignatius of Loyola collated, “The Examen” was one that he did not want people to omit. This was to be a daily practice, a discipline to help find God in our ordinary daily lives.

Here is another way that it has been expressed: this is a prayer where we try to find the movement of the Spirit in our daily lives as we reflect on our day. This prayer can be made anywhere: on the beach, in a car, a home, in the liabrary. Many people make the Examen twice daily: once around lunchtime and again before going to bed.

Through this method of praying you can grow in a sense of self and Source of self; you can become more sensitive to your own spirit with its longings, its powers, its Source; you will develop an openness to receive the supports that God offers.

For further information go to: www.ignatianspirituality.com

9 Things You Can Give Up for Lent that Will Help the Environment 1. Give up plastic and paper bags. 2. Stop buying bottled water. 3. Stop receiving unwanted catalogs. 4. Give up conventional detergents. 5. Give up the clothes dryer. 6. Give up paper towels. 7. Use only recycled toilet paper. 8. Give up dry cleaning. 9. Give up using paper coffee cups.

2021 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN - LEANING FORWARD!

We are excited to look forward to 2021 with hope that we can return to a full church and to the spiritual and social gatherings that are so rewarding to us as faithful members of St. John's. Alicia Gilmartin

As of 1/31/2021: 104 pledges - totaling $202,032.00

2021 PLEDGE BOX ENVELOPES AVAILABLE TO BE PICKED UP Your 2021 Pledge Box of envelopes are available to be picked up outside of the back ramp door found in a large plastic container. Thank you for helping St. John’s not have to absorb the expense in having to mail it. St. John’s Columbarium “Nothing in death or life can separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39) When the souls of our loved ones go from us into the hands of the living God, we remember them in God’s love within the community of those still living. In response to a strong expression of interest by the community at St. John’s, the Rector and the Vestry are pleased to announce that the St. John’s Columbarium, located in the downstairs Chapel, is open to parish members and their fami- lies. Non-members will be considered on an individual basis.

In our Columbarium, we place the ashes of those bodies which have now returned to the dust from which they came. Our chapel itself and those who worship within it become the living memorial to those whom we have lost from among us, but know to be living in God’s love.

The offering price for a niche is $450, providing space for one interment. Adjoining niches are available for multiple purchase. This price is inclusive of the brass plaques provided by the parish, engraving of the name and dates of the de- ceased and interment fees. The Guidelines for the Columbarium, the Certification Form, as well as the Authorization Form from the family of the deceased will be provided by the Parish Office. Applications for purchase may be addressed to: The Rector, c/o St. John’s Episcopal Church, 158 West High St. Somerville, NJ 08876 Attn: The Columbarium

Planned Giving The thread of generosity through this beloved church of ours...St. John’s church! St. John’s has a deep and faithful history of folks who have left behind money for St. John’s and for the ministry of the Church. All kinds of people hear the call of God to give to this place and to make offerings for the church’s well-being! People come to St. John’s from various places. But their first gift to St. John’s Church is their presence. Returning to home, work, church and world, they give a second gift, sharing with others deepened faith, renewed ministry and re- freshed selves. Moved by all that they and their family and/or friends have received through St. John’s, many respond with a reflexive gesture of generosity.

Some respond by answering our call for prayers or referring other people to St. John’s. Others respond with service, helping to lead programs and other church services, by serving on committees or joining a group here. Many respond with financial and other forms of support that advance the Kingdom of God here on earth at St. John’s.

When St. John’s engaged Holliman & Associates (a professional capital campaign firm) many years ago now, we also entered into the development of a more formal structure for Planned Giving. It was Dr. Paul Foreman who helped to get this program up and running, along with former member, Linda Jones Bailes, as a result of our closer exam- ination and need for Planned Giving here at St. John’s. I can still remember Paul putting together a beautiful and engag- ing program for other churches in our Diocese at a Cathedral sharing day with the Bishop. Paul and his excellent Planned Giving Committee members, happily shared our story here at St. John’s and what brought us to where we are today. Still further, Paul shared St. John’s beautifully done Planned Giving brochure. It was a really big hit in our Dio- cese and several significant leaders around the Diocese held it up as being a perfect example.

Sam Galpin, a long time and faithful member here at St. John's has served faithfully as the chair for Planned Giving since 2007. We are so grateful for his on-going enthusiasm and sense of “call” to respond and lead St. John’s further along the path in Planned Giving. Many of you probably know Sam, who serves as our parish Treasurer, Eucharist minister and reader at 8 am, but moreover, as the coordinator for The Blessing of the Animals in October.

If you have an interest in becoming part of Planned Giving here, please talk with Fr. Ron. May God continue to bless you in your various ministries. With Joy, Fr. Ron  EPISCOPAL CHURCH MASKS FOR SALE ECW is selling masks for our fundraiser to help out the church. If you are interested in buying any let me know. They cost $5.00 each and are individually wrapped. Karen Whitmore is a nurse at church and she said they are the best kind to get. For information Contact: Judy Marine, [email protected] Neva Rae Fox [email protected]

Episcopal Church Women

JOIN US FOR A CHEF KIR PRESENTATION

ECW is hosting our own Chef Kir Rodriguez who will present a demonstration from his newly renovated kitchen at the ECW meeting on Monday, February 1 via zoom beginning at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to join us. If you have any questions contact Judy Marine at [email protected].

Here is the zoom info:

Fr. Ronald Pollock is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Episcopal Church Women Virtual Meeting Time: Feb 1, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88248954572?pwd=MmtvVE5NRWx5aWhQZ3JTd2lRT0pqQT09

Meeting ID: 882 4895 4572 Passcode: 091927 One tap mobile +13126266799,,88248954572#,,,,*091927# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,88248954572#,,,,*091927# US (New York)

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 882 4895 4572 Passcode: 091927 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc3DOtOtD8 Food Bank Help Needed!! Hi Everyone, Hope you are all well and staying safe during these challenging times. The need for the Food Bank continues to be greater than ever, and it's St. John's turn to assist with the distribu- tion in February. With a streamlined distribution process, we need 3 volunteers each Saturday. (All the bags are pre-made and we just hand them to the clients.) Ideally, one of the volunteers would go to the Warehouse on Easy Street in Bridgewater to bring back the second cargo van of food. Here are the available Saturday openings:

02-06-21 3 volunteers, including 1 driver

02-13-21 3 volunteers, including 1 driver

02-20-21 3 volunteers, including 1 driver

02-27-21 3 volunteers, including 1 driver

Shiloh Pentecostal Church (139 Davenport Street) is still the location, and the distribution is done outside in the parking lot. Safety protocols will be observed, and masks are required. Please let me know if you are available and willing to assist in this important ministry. Thank you, Anne Tom (908) 938-2875 (call or text)

Welcome to The Episcopal Church: Your Personal Invitation to be “Confirmed” or “Received” into The Episcopal Church or to Re- affirm your baptismal vows. Date to be determined in 2021 Hopefully, our Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. William “Chip” Stokes, will be here at St. John’s to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation and to Receive people into The Episcopal Church. We have not established a date yet, but are aiming for sometime in the summer or fall. If we are unable to secure Bishop Stokes, then we will try to schedule another bishop. This is also an opportunity for people to Re-affirm their baptismal vows.

I invite you to consider the calling of the Holy Spirit to be Confirmed or Received into The Episcopal Church or Re-affirm your baptismal vows. I was baptized six months after I was born and I was Confirmed when I was in the seventh grade. How about you ? When were YOU baptized ? Were you Confirmed ? Are you a life- long Episcopalian ? Have you already been baptized and confirmed ? Or perhaps, you came from another faith tradition or denomination. Have you been officially “received” into The Episcopal Church ? Perhaps you have not heard God calling you until NOW ! Would you consider re-affirming your baptismal vows ? The time is NOW to listen to what the Holy Spirit may be calling you to do. Whether you have been here for a long time or are brand new and would like to be confirmed, please let me know ! A spiritual director I knew used to say that a “living, conscious and active faith in Jesus is a gift of God.” I could not agree more. My relationship with God in Jesus Christ is the greatest gift in my life. Allow yourself an opportunity to seek a deeper relation- ship with God……a relationship founded in love. I think of this as any love process: Falling in love; A “getting to know you” phase; A commitment to staying in love. God is always there for us. God sustains us with grace. These three elements in any believer’s involvement with Jesus Christ helps in understanding self, others, the Gospel and the mission of the Church. It helps us deal more appropriately with the moral challenges we face in daily life. Our faith journey is toward God. “Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” (Psalm 105:3). Perhaps St. Augustine said it best: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (Confessions, 1,1).

Please fill out a Registration Form and return it to me if you desire to be Confirmed, Received into the Episco- pal Church or would like to Re-affirm your baptismal vows. There will be a Zoom meeting for adults on Saturday, February 20, at 10 am. There will be a Zoom meeting for young adults on Saturday, February 20, at 11 am. After I receive your registration form, I will send you an invitation. At this meeting we will establish mutually convenient days / times to set up “class” sessions. I will provide various resources for our time together.

Some people have been preparing for this grace-filled, prayer-soaked moment for a long time. I call upon eve- ry person at St. John’s to pray for all those who desire to be Confirmed or Received into The Episcopal Church.

God bless you in your journey in Jesus Christ !

Faithfully yours, Fr. Ron St. John’s Episcopal Church 158 West High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 908-722-1250 [email protected]

Confirmation Class Registration

I would like to be: Confirmed Received

Name: ______

Age: ______Date of Birth: ______

Baptized? Yes No

Where: ______

When: ______

Confirmed? Yes No

Where: ______

When: ______

Address: ______

______

Phone: Home#______Work# ______Cell# ______

Email: ______

Father’s Name: ______

Baptized? Yes No Confirmed? Yes No

Mother’s Name: ______

Baptized? Yes No Confirmed? Yes No CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Canon Ronald N. Pollock, Rector (908-722-1250) [email protected] The Rev. W. Keith McCoy, Deacon Associate [email protected] Jefferey Clearman, Organist/Choir Director [email protected] Lillie Hardingham, Administrative Assistant (908-722-1250) [email protected]

MINISTERS - People of St. John’s Altar Guild Paula Windus, Directress [email protected] Dee Britt, Treasurer [email protected] Kay Halsted, Flowers, Weddings, & Funerals [email protected] (908-526-0243) Karen Whitmore, Votive Candles [email protected] Joan Sammartano, Supplies (908-526-0148)

Bread & Wine and Altar Candles ~ contact the parish office [email protected] Adult Choir: Jefferey Clearman, Director & Organist [email protected]

Junior Choir: Tracey Jameson, Director [email protected]

Church Library: Deacon W. Keith McCoy [email protected]

Church School: Marielena Cardinale, Superintendent [email protected]

Daughters of the King: President position - Open Endowment: Open

Episcopal Church Women: President: Judy Marine - [email protected] Vice-President: Neva Rae Fox - [email protected] EYC (Youth Group): Adult Advisor: Liz Lande [email protected] & John Cunningham [email protected]

Mary & Martha Guild: Marcia Bower, President [email protected] 4

4Mission Outreach: Father Ron [email protected]

Parish Treasurer: Sam Galpin [email protected] Co-Treasurer: Anne Tom [email protected] Red Door Ministries:

Baby Blankets for newborns and those baptized: Pauline Boyer (908-722-1832) Casseroles for people in need: Marcia Bower [email protected]

Loose-Change for Discretionary Fund, to help those in need: Andrea Dalrymple [email protected] Planned Giving: Sam Galpin [email protected] Stewardship: Fr. Ron, Advisor; Chair - Brad Moor, Alicia Gilmartin, Jean Stamets, Marianne Salanik,

Dee Britt The Wardens (class of 2022) Karen Whitmore [email protected] (class of 2023) Steve Mandraccia [email protected] The Vestry (class of 2023) Dee Britt [email protected] (class of 2023) Jon Anobile [email protected] (class of 2023) Marianne Salanik [email protected] (class of 2024) Jean Stamets [email protected] (class of 2024) Kenneth Miller [email protected] (class of 2024) Justin Mastykarz [email protected] (class of 2022) Alicia Gilmartin [email protected] (class of 2022) Anthony Pinto [email protected] (class of 2022) Tim Walsh [email protected] Welcome Newcomers! We’re So Glad You Came! We’re thrilled to see you! As a matter of fact, we’ve been waiting for you!

We believe that every person who comes to worship with us is a special gift from God. We are all better off from you being here amongst us. We want to express the love we know in Jesus Christ with one another. And we’re excited to share it with you, and to grow together in our pilgrimage of faith.

St. John’s is a place for all people - no matter where you may be on the journey - and it won’t take you long to discover that we are a vibrant and caring community of faith, journeying from differ- ent places and life-experiences, but who desire to grow together.

We are a people ultimately, of faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, relationships are paramount - especially when we consider our baptismal covenant, “to seek and serve Christ in all persons, lov- ing our neighbor as our self.”

Our doors are open to you! If you have been praying, thinking, searching, church - shopping, and hoping for a place to belong - we say “Welcome!”

God's blessing be upon you now and always, Fr. Ron

St. John’s Episcopal Church 158 West High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 Parish Office (908) 722-1250 Office: [email protected] Rector: [email protected] www.StJohnSomerville.org

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known” FEBRUARY~2021

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

7:00 pm- ECW Zoom Fr. Ron’s 56th Birthday! Meeting Food Bank

7 V Epiphany 8 9 10 11 12 13 Food Bank

Vestry Meeting 7:00 pm Vestry Zoom Retreat

9 am - 12 noon

14 Last Epiphany 15 16 17. 18 19 20 Food Bank

Ash Wednesday 10 am - Adult Confirmation Class

11 am - Young Adult Confirmation Class

21 Lent 1 22 23 24 25 26 27

President’s Day

Office is closed. Food Bank

28 Lent 2

FEBRUARY ~ INTERCESSIONS

Birthdays Wedding Anniversaries

February 1 ~ Susan Bender February 2 ~ Emily Newton, Candi Mullen February 3 ~ Zoe McCabe, Barbara Christel February 1 ~ Roopal & Verna Tonk February 4 ~ Kyle Kurzawa, Daniel Venet February 11 ~ James & Connie Van Arsdale February 5 ~ Dylan Mathews February 17 ~ Charles & Kay Halsted February 6 ~ Crawford Britt, Father Ron Pollock February 22 ~ Bill & Caroline Loften February 7 ~ Bill Wickham, Mindy Wolfmayer, Ruth Altamura-Roll February 8 ~ Peggy McMahon February 9 ~ Kyle Powell, Harold Willard February 10 ~ Madeline & Victoria Jones, Ryan Wickham, February 11 ~ James Knowles, Gretchen Troup, Samantha Venet February 12 ~ Sarah Strano February 13 ~ Peter Hillman Anniversaries of Death February 14 ~ Peter Miller February 15 ~ Hunter Troup, Tracy Andricsak, Jennifer Dorward-Centolanza February 16 ~ Ian Latanision February 3 ~ Irene Sidell February 17 ~ Neva Rae Fox, Richard Wilson, Henry Szumigala, February 4 ~ Eleanor Bonham, Allan R. Streeter Leigh Meaders-Robinson, Zoe Latanision February 9 ~ Bob Vitullo February 19 ~ Mathew Smith, Cheryl Mastykarz February 11 ~ Jean L. Mathews, Ray Bomberger February 21 ~ Kim Post February 13 ~ Steven H. Spolarich February 22 ~ Robert Massey, Gabriella Barkin February 14 ~ Bob Brady February 23 ~ David Soden, Sinead Normant February 15 ~ Madeline Prodromo February 24 ~ Nicholas Jones, Jill Brodsky February 16 ~ Noel Haywood, George Bond February 26 ~ Scott Bender February 25 ~ Jane H. Goldsack February 27 ~ Emily Hewett, Andrea Dalrymple, Tamara Billy, February 27 ~ Ethel D. Barry, Walter Edwards Jake August Agins February 28 ~ W. Raymond Jones, Arthur Flinn February 28 ~ Ruth Kletz, Danielle Liberatoscioli, Parker Mehring, Preston Polonyi