We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone!
Thank You Note from Rev. Kathryn King
Former St. Peter's rectors and priest associates have been invited to celebrate with us on May 19. Some, because of pastoral duties, cannot make it and have sent their regrets. Among them is Rev. Kathryn King who is in a new cure and sent us this thoughtful note:
Beloved Saints of St. Peter's,
As soon as I opened your gracious invitation to attend the 100th Anniversary celebration my heart was flooded with memories of my time serving alongside all of you on the hill above the Boulevard. I have carried the many things I learned with me. You are the family of faith who presented me for my ordination as a priest. You came alongside me with love and wisdom as you continued my formation as a child of God and priest in Christ's church.
While I will be unable to attend the celebration in person, I could not let the milestone go by without sending my congratulations, my deep thanks for who you are in faith, and my prayers for God's continued blessings upon you as you step into the next hundred years.
With a piece of my heart and my joy in faith,
The Reverend Kathryn L. King.
DID YOU KNOW?
Fun facts about the first 100 years at St. Peter’s!
● Tidings was the first newsletter. Rev. Chuck Hatfield began E-Notes in 2009 which evolved into Key News during the Hatfields' tenure.
● The Rev. Benjamin Ramsay was called to St. Peter’s in 1926. He oversaw the building and furnishing of the Church. Due to budget constraints, he took a second job at St. Andrew's Church in Lincoln Park for $500 and deducted his salary at St. Peter’s to ease the strain.
● During the worst days of the Depression, Rev. Ramsay lived in the Sacristy while his family moved to their NY farm. St. Peter’s could hardly pay the bills generated by the Church building and was unable to support housing for a Rector in a town that became known as “Mortgage Lakes.” Until 1935, he moved from home to home of parishioners when the parish could no longer afford to heat the church.
● The Estey organ was donated in 1927 and was valued at $5,000. The organ was reconditioned and new pipes were installed in 2007.
● The leftover palms from Palm Sunday are burned. The ashes are saved and used for Ash Wednesday the following year.
● Rev. Adele Hatfield was the first St. Peter’s priest to distribute ashes to NYC-bound travelers at the Waterview Bus Stop in Parsippany on Ash Wednesday.
● Rev. Chuck Hatfield was a member of the band “Walking the Boulevard.”
● Have you seen the sign on the Nursery door? It has a rainbow and is labeled, “The Ark."
Next Spring Cleanup on Saturday, May 4, 9 am to 12 noon
Thanks to those youth and adults who came out 2 weeks ago with the first spring cleanup - we accomplished a lot in 3 hours.
We will gather again on Saturday, May 4, 9 am-12 noon to to clear out brush and vines behind the parish hall, clean out between parish hall and Martins Lane, and add more rocks to playground perimeter wall.
If you are able to come, please wear long sleeves and bring gardening gloves. Thank you!
North Porch Women and Infants Centers
Mother's Day Drive 2024
St. Peter's Church is holding a Mother’s Day drive For North Porch Women and Infants Centers.
Please bring the following needed items to Church on Sunday, May 5 (Family Service) and/or Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day)
Most Urgently Needed Supplies
Diapers - all sizes
Enfamil Infant Formula 12.5 oz containers (yellow label)
Baby wipes
Baby toiletries (diaper cream, baby wash/shampoo)
Other needed Items
Baby food
Infant Cereal
Infant/toddler snacks
North Porch's client numbers are rapidly rising again. We served nearly 3,900 children in 2023 and are forecast to exceed that number in 2024. The increase in the cost of baby supplies and the ongoing formula shortages have made it difficult to keep up with the demand of families in need in Dover, Hackettstown, Jersey City, Morristown, Newark and the Paterson/Clifton area.
Aside from supply drives in your parishes another way to donate is by monetary donations made online or by mail.
Thank you all for your generous support. North Porch has been serving children in need for 40 years and we are still going strong thanks in large part to the amazing generosity from the members of this diocese. Together we have helped thousands of children and their families in their time of need. We look forward to continuing our partnership this year. Thank you!
The Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry
President, Board of Trustees, North Porch Women and Infants' Centers
Committees of the Vestry (Fellowship, Outreach & the Action Auction to name a few) are always at work behind the scenes! As we close out our Centennial year we are planning new events for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.
First up is the Summer Reading Sell-Off Café on June 9 from 12-4 pm. Bring in any of your old books (mysteries, romance, YA, children's books just to name a few) and drop them off in Sue's outer office or the Parish Hall between now and June 7. On June 9 starting at coffee hour, peruse our tables for heavily discounted copies of your next book to be read at the summer vacation destination of your choice! Coffee and cookies will be served.
Centennial Renewal Update
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18
Last week you saw some of the rocks being unearthed in the excavation of the terrace footing. They were only a sign of bigger ones to come. This week work had to stop for two days as some rocks - too big to be moved - were uncovered.
Approval for leaving them in place was given with a drawing detail from the structural engineer of our landscape architect. The plan detail called for inserting dowel rebars into the rocks that essentially makes them a part of the concrete footing. So, with that approval, on the third day, work began again even with the stones too big to move. Sound familiar!