Welcome to
The Church of St. Paul and Incarnation!
in the Heart of Jersey City
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This
year's Easter Sunday celebration was unlike any we have ever
experienced but, as I mentioned in my sermon, it shared some
similarities with the first Easter. On that long ago morning in the
garden, Mary Magdalene and soon the other disciples were just beginning
to recognize the power of the New Light - the significance of the New
Life - that had burst forth from the place of shadow and death.
In
our own place of shadow and death we are also just beginning to make
sense of what the Resurrection means for us. While we are still grieving
our losses and fearful of the future, we are starting to see signs of
New Light and New Life all around us. The still-wounded dogwood tree in
our church garden continues to bloom, along with all of the other trees
and plants. And, maybe to our surprise, our church community is proving
to be resilient and even renewed, a beautiful and powerful sign of the
Risen Christ.
Our
daily "Church By Phone" services have been rich experiences:
opportunities to hear lengthy passages of Scripture, to pray for the
many people on our parish list and for our own intentions, and maybe
most important of all, to hear the voices of much loved sisters and
brothers. Honestly, I can't imagine getting through this time without
praying with so many of you on the phone.
Many
parishioners have been checking in with each other, making sure that
everyone is OK, offering love and care especially to those who may be
especially lonely or vulnerable.
And,
our Sunday attendance is way higher than it has ever been as so many
parishioners, former parishioners, neighbors and friends and seekers,
log onto our simple services. For Sue and me, it has been deeply moving
to gather in a church that is empty and yet we are still able to sense
your presence and hear your prayers. And, after the service it's such a
joy to read your comments and greetings, all of the many shouts of
"Amen!" and "Alleluia!" and "Also with you!" You are still bathing the
walls of our old church with prayers, even over the internet. This past
Sunday we were joined by Jennifer Brown, a neighbor and amazing
photographer, who had asked to take pictures of the service, including
the beautiful photo above.
In
normal times, the Second Sunday of Easter is usually a bit of a downer.
After the packed pews of Easter Day, this Sunday is often poorly
attended, I guess because people are "churched out" after Holy Week or
Easter and some schools are on spring break. Whatever the reason, this
dramatic attendance drop always disappoints me because it means that
most people don't get to hear the important story of Thomas, the apostle
forever associated with doubt, the one who missed out on the first
appearance of the Risen Christ to the frightened disciples, the one who
said maybe more than he understood when he cried out to the
still-wounded but resurrected Jesus, "My Lord and My God!" And this year
you get to experience one of the greatest moments in Scripture from the
comfort of your own home! Join us this Sunday to meet again our brother
Thomas, who just might be the apostle for our not so normal time.
With much love for you all,
Tom
Supporting Our Church:
We
are aware that, unfortunately, some parishioners have been laid off or
furloughed and others are in danger of losing their jobs. Please know
that you are in our prayers and we are here to help any way we can. In
these extremely challenging economic times, we are especially grateful
to those of you who have been able to keep up with your pledges. You can
still mail checks to the church or you can use online giving. Visit stpaulsjc.org and click on "Online Giving." We also have a Venmo account. Email me for more information about that.
Worship Schedule:
Monday through Friday: "Church By Phone"
Morning Prayer, 7:30
Noonday Prayer, 12:00
Evening Prayer, 5:30
(Email tmurphy@stpaulsjc.org for log-in information.)
Sunday at 10:00am
Join us on Facebook Live for a celebration of Holy Eucharist
Helpful Resources:
State of New Jersey Covid-19 Information Hub:
The Diocese of Newark posts Covid-19 resources here:
You can subscribe to diocesan newsletters here:
The Epscopal Church has collected Covid-19 resources here:
And, "Habits of Grace," weekly reflections from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:
The Church of England has some wonderful prayers and other materials here: