Beloved Community,

On Wednesday, I was at the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center for the blessing of the tree in the picture to the right.  The tree was planted in the spring and blessed in my honor to recognize my work as President and Chair of the Board during a time of intense and unexpected work. This tree is planted in a space that was previously forested but, because of red pine blight, clear cut in the spring. I'm told there was some concern that the tree would not thrive, which resulted in the staff doing more than they expected to help it along. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a small branch with maybe a dozen dead brown leaves on one side, surrounded by new growth. 

Being there on Wednesday, at this place and with people who have been such a significant part of my family's life, filled me with immense gratitude and a wonderful awareness of the gift of new life. T hings change, sometimes in ways we want and sometimes in ways we don't.  Things change, sometimes in planned or intentional ways, sometimes in unexpected or surprising ways.  Through it all, God is present.  God's Holy Spirit works in and through all of us and all of it.  

I've been here nine months tomorrow (July 20th) and in some ways it feels like we are both the young tree and the fertile ground in which it is planted. We are growing our relationship and our ministry in ways that are both familiar and new.  Just as when we look at this tree we have some sense of what it will look like but not necessarily the exact dimensions or growth, we are living our faith together.  We are firmly rooted in the rich and fertile history of this place and attentive to the need for care and nurturing, just as we remain open to the ways in which God's Holy Spirit will help us grow. 

Over the next couple of months, as we continue to discern the direction of our life together, we will be talking more about who and how we are God's people in this little corner of the world.  Though we don't know all that will mean, we do know whatever it is will be rooted in our long history and the gifts present in the parish and community today.  We will acknowledge the change in us, both that which is welcome and not so much, planned and unexpected.  We will live and give and grow faith in ways that we hope and pray will give rise to new life in all of us.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Prison Ministry Update

It's not to late to volunteer for:

Picnic in the Park

The Saturday Arts and Science Enrichment Program picnic for children and their families is tomorrow at the  Lewis Morris County Park, 270 Mendham Rd, Morristown from noon to 6:00 pm.  Help is needed to provide/grill food and to chaperone the kids in their activities and it will be fun!  Call or text Rev. Paula at 508.542.1327 to let her know you are coming and then show up at the Deer Run shelter at the park at noon tomorrow. If you'd like to carpool, Rev. Paula will be leaving at 11:00.

Drumming Camp 

Camp is the week of August 18th.  We set up on the 18th and then greet the campers at 3:00 pm on the 19th and bid them goodbye at 7:30 pm, which we will do the 20th-23rd, as well.  There are lots of ways to help, no special skills needed, just a loving heart and a desire to welcome these children again this year.  There are opportunities for an evening or two, or the full-week.  Please talk to Fran Taber, Kim Williams, or Rev. Paula if you know you want to help or if you need encouragement to join the team. 

It's also possible to access Tithe.ly through our website - click on the "Give" button in the menu and you will be given the option to use Tithe.ly. 

Don't worry.  If you prefer to use a check or cash, that's fine.  If you are a Vanco user and want to keep it that way, that is good, too.