Trinity Edition – June 2014 From the desk of the Priest-in-Charge Dear friend, It’s hard to imagine but we’re almost half way through another year. Time is really flying. On Thursday, May 29, 2014, the Christian church celebrated the feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ into the heavens. According to Traditions, the ascension of the Lord took place forty days after his resurrection in the Mount of Olives, adjacent to the town of Bethany. And it was pertinent that he returned into the heaven for the ministry of the church to kick-in. Prior to his ascension, the Lord promised his followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit. He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come, which occurred on the day of Pentecost—ten days after His ascension—and Pentecost became the birthdate of the Christian church. Jesus’ ascension signaled the end of His earthly ministry, signified success in His earthly work, marked the return of His heavenly glory, symbolized His exaltation by the Father, allowed Him to prepare a place for us, indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest and Mediator of the New Covenant, and set the pattern for His return that helps us to anchor our lives solely on Him. Of all the conundrums that have come to vex and confound us, there are three that continue uniquely to rivet our attention – faith, charity, and hope. Each provides a key to the great and enduring realities of the Christian life which lies on Jesus’ redemptive work. Without doubt, the Feast of Ascension is the supreme moment in the life of Christ, the final climactic event to the work of his Redemption. Face to face with the mystery intended from the beginning, which is nothing less than the Incarnate Son sitting in glory alongside the Father, we too await a common destiny, that of God himself coming to confer the crown of everlasting life upon those who love him. It means that even as Christ belongs no more to a fallen and corrupt world, so also will we, who cleave to Christ, find refuge forever in the arms of God. Anyone whose life is anchored on faith in the redemptive work of Jesus through the works of charity and love amongst all and who believes in the resurrected and ascended Christ in words and deeds, is bound for glory and destined to experience a land beyond the stars that will overflow with the radiance of unending bliss and transfiguring joy. Rembrandt’s “The Ascension” – 1636. Your Priest and friend, Fr. Gideon The primary objective of the Church is to bring people into closer relationship with God. Strengthening relationships with individuals is an important part of this but the goal is always to create an environment in which the relationship with God is strengthened. The Church is to encourage individuals to discern the gifts God has given them and the work God is calling them to do. God is the source of the mission and the money. Both are gifts over which the giver exercises faithful stewardship. Giving is taught as a significant spiritual practice. The Church encourages giving by providing a variety of opportunities to give. Giving is also seen as a joyful response to God's generosity to us. Recognition is seen as a means of witness. The goal of recognition programs is to provide givers with an opportunity to express their faith and encourage others. Submitted by: Joseph Tinley, Senior Warden President, Finance/Stewardship Committee Lay Eucharist Ministers Receive Licenses Several members of St. Alban’s Church received their licenses in March, designating them, among others things: Lay Eucharistic Minister (licensed to administer the elements at the Eucharist) and Lay Eucharistic Visitor (licensed to take the Sacrament to the Sick). The licenses, signed by the Right Rev. William H. Stokes, were distributed during service by Fr. Gideon and assisted by Ministry Intern Mr. Casey Woodruff. Pictured below, at left, are Casey Woodruff, Michal Gayle, Jr., Pauline Chandler, Mr. Joseph Silcott, and Fr. Gideon. Pictured below, at right, Deborah Anderson is congratulated by Fr. Gideon. Congratulations to all the St. Alban’s licensees! Food for the Poor Visits St. Alban’s On April 6, Food for the Poor’s Rev. Bruce Torrey traveled from the Catskills Region of New York to visit St. Alban’s Church. He began by singing “Amazing Grace” and shared the story of this song, which he experienced during a trip to Haiti. Unprepared for the level of poverty in the country following the devastating earthquake in 2010, with thousands living in tents provided by international NGOs, he described the “rollercoaster” of feeling sad and uplifted during the visit. He shared the story of an orphanage for girls that was untouched by the earthquake and a Food for the Poor visit during which the volunteers sang “Amazing Grace” and the girls sang the same song in Creole. He said the “moment really melted my heart” and went on to extol the virtues of ministries that “reach out to those who are marganilized and disenfranchised and lift them up.” He described the impact of donations given to Food for the Poor, which collaborates with other religious organization, as “giving new life.” He ended as he started, with the song “Amazing Grace,” and spent an enjoyable hour with St. Alban’s members in the Fellowship Hall following the service. St. Alban’s members, like Mrs. Joan Steele below, also donated to the organization for its work in Latin America and the Caribbean. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper The St. Theresa’s Guild and Episcopal Church Women (ECW) hosted Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 4 at St. Alban’s Church. Attendees were treated to a delicious supper of pancakes, bacon and sausage cooked by several church members, including the Senior Warden Mr. Joseph Tinley and Junior Warden Mr. James Simmons who donned aprons and played chefs for the evening! In addition, they watched the film, Final: The Rapture, a Christian movie introduced by Fr. Gideon. More on the movie can be found here: http://finalthemovie.com/mobile.html. ASHES-TO-GO! Ash Wednesday, March 5, saw the annual administration of Ashes-to-Go at the New Brunswick Train Station to busy commuters and members of the community at the New Brunswick Train Station, between 7-9am, to usher in the scared season of Lent. This year, Father Gideon was literally accompanied by St. Alban’s Contemporary Music Director Mr. Gibson Okafor on his organ, as they provided early commuters with ashes and a word of prayer on the way to work. They also made a visit to McCarrick Care Center – where Fr. Gideon administered ashes to St. Alban’s members Mr. Irvin Perrin, who was convalescing at the time, and Mrs. Helen Hewitt, who has been a long-term resident at the home, and to other residents at the care center. PALM SUNDAY Passion (Holy) Week got underway at St. Alban’s with the annual blessing of the palms and the Palm Sunday procession in the neighborhood . EASTER SUNDAY Passion (Holy) Week ended with a wonderf ul Easter Service, which was followed by a small Fashion Show organized by Ms. Shanique McGowan, Church School teacher, in the Fellowship Hall. The kids displayed their Easter Sunday finery for all to see. Our youngest model, Albany, was assisted by proud Dad, Fr. Gideon. Shanique also took the initiative to host an Easter Egg Hunt on the Church gounds for the kids and provided the gift bags and treats, as well. BLACK HISTORY MONTH/DIVERSITY PROGRAM Passionate Worship Ministry hosted the Black History/Diversity Program at St. Alban’s Church on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Ministry Co-Chairs Angela Anderson and Glenda Simmons, along with members Deborah Anderson, Pauline A. Chandler, Steven Clark, Nicole Gayle, Judith Haughton, Mealah Haughton, Clara Haynes, Dr. Katye Monroe, and Kathryn Roach sponsored the program to celebrate National Black History Month and demonstrate that we, at St. Alban’s Church, value diversity and promote the tenets of inclusion. Mrs. Pauline Chandler ably served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the program titled, “Celebrating our Heritage.” Highlights of the program included informative portrayals by church members of famous Black American and multicultural persons who fought for freedom and social justice. Each presenter was dressed as a famous person and after each presentation, the congregation was interactively engaged by asking them to identify the person who had been portrayed. Presenters were Neme Akunne as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Robert Chambers as Dr. Martin Luther King, Nicole Gayle as Nanny of the Maroons, Trenyce Hinds as Sojourner Truth, Gibson Okafor as Archbishop Oscar Romero, and Shanique McGowan as Shirley Chisholm. Church School members and Gibson Okafor, Contemporary Music Coordinator, sang Spirituals while Michael Gayle, Jr. and Mrs. Pauline A. Chandler read relevant poetry, which added to the uniqueness of the program. As a special part of the celebration, flags were hung in the sanctuary to reflect the countries of St. Alban’s members’ heritages. Father Gideon blessed the flags and acknowledged the diversity and inclusiveness of our congregation. BLACK HISTORY MONTH/DIVERSITY PROGRAM (CONTINUED) After Service, a delicious multicultural luncheon was served in the Parish Hall which included African-American, Caribbean, and African and Hispanic cuisine. Worshippers also enjoyed the Black History and Diversity displays that were set-up in the Parish Hall. Passionate Worship Ministry wishes to thank the following individuals for their assistance with and contributions to the program: The Venerable Gideon Uzomechina, Neme Akunne, Sakeyna Bailey, Robert Chambers, Laura Ford, Daphne Johnson-Jones, Easton Haughton, Michael Gayle, Sr., Michael Gayle, Jr.