Welcome to
The Church of St. Paul and Incarnation!
in the Heart of Jersey City
April 24, 2020
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Dear Friends,
Like
you, I have been trying to move forward, to make the best of a bad
situation, to get used to a new routine, to keep up with the news but
not so much that I surrender to despair or anger. Sometimes, when I'm
able to focus on the book I'm reading or when I'm able to "veg out" by
watching some TV, I'm even able to forget about the pandemic - at least
for a while.
It's
not easy, because signs of fear and suffering are all around us,
appearing with a news alert, a phone call, another name added to our
long prayer list. But, there are also so many reminders of heroism,
skill, generosity, and love.
I
haven't been driving much lately but the other day I had to take a
quick trip downtown. As I made my way down Montgomery Street, I couldn't
help but notice the unusually light traffic, but I wasn't thinking much
about the coronavirus until I neared Ferris High School. There, parked
in front of the school, just a couple of blocks from the Jersey City
Medical Center, was a long line of out-of-state ambulances. These
ambulances and their EMTs have been shared with us to handle the
exceptionally high number of calls for medical care.
I had known that help has come from all over, but seeing
all of those ambulances together, painted in different colors and
bearing unfamiliar names, caught me off guard. Thinking of how that
equipment represents so much courage, skill and generosity, tears begin
to pool in my eyes.
It was a small but meaningful encounter with goodness, on the road.
On
Sunday we will read my all-time favorite Scripture passage, the story
of two disciples who encountered the Risen Jesus, on the road. In many
ways, this rich and beautifully told story captures the Christian life
in miniature, calling us to reflect on discipleship, hospitality,
communion, and, maybe most of all, meeting Jesus in the stranger.
In
the story, it's still the first Easter, and two devastated disciples
are making their way back from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus.
They had gotten out of town before there was any Easter joy. Walking
together on the road, they review all of the shocking, heartbreaking,
and puzzling events of the past few days. These disciples are sad and
confused and maybe frightened and maybe even angry about how the love
and hope offered by Jesus had seemed to end in suffering and death.
Suddenly, a stranger joins them on the road. Perhaps because the
disciples were not expecting him, they are unable to see that this man
is no stranger. It's the Risen Jesus - who proceeds to teach them the
best Bible Study of their lives.
Soon
enough, at what they had thought was the end of their journey, they
finally recognize Jesus in the blessing, breaking, and sharing of the
bread. These two disciples now understand that when they had least
expected it, in the midst of their sadness and fear and anger, they had
encountered Goodness, on the road. And, since the only sensible response
to meeting the Risen Jesus is to tell everyone about it, they
immediately head back to Jerusalem to share the best news of all time:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We
are like those two disciples at the start of the story. We are also
walking on a road, feeling sad and frightened and angry about all that
has been lost and what is yet to come. Some of our parishioners, family
members, and neighbors are facing serious illness. Some are grieving the
deaths of loved ones. All of us are anxious, wondering if this disease
will visit us and our people, worried that we won't be able to pay our
bills and meet our responsibilities, concerned that the institutions we
count on and maybe even love might not be able to survive this storm.
And yet, even when it might seem that hope is lost, even if we don't
expect to see him, the Risen Jesus is right here beside us.
We
recognize the Risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread, in our loving
and faithful community, and, yes, in a line of out-of state ambulances
sent to help us in our time of need. So, like the two disciples who
returned to Jerusalem, let's do the only sensible thing and share the
Good News, the best news of all-time:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
I have attached Sunday's lessons and Bible Study along with the latest editions of The Sunday Paper and The Sunday Paper Junior.
It is a wonderful gift to be with all of you on the road, meeting the Risen Jesus.
Tom Murphy
Prayers:
Please pray for all those on our parish prayer list, especially Gina, Andy, Jean, and Devin.
Please also remember in your prayers these sisters and brothers who have died, and those who grieve their loss:
John Middleton
Byron Powell
Calvert Buchanan, brother of Lorna Woodham
Maye Tai, aunt of Althea Maynard
Abimael Fuentes, shot and killed at Monticello Ave. and Brinkerhoff St.
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
Call 201-433-4922 for call-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:
"Habits of Grace," weekly reflections from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:
The Church of England has some wonderful prayers and other materials here: