A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots” Isaiah 11:1.

​Jesse was King David’s father. The image of a branch growing out of the roots of Jesse points to a new king in David’s line. We know that this is fulfilled in Jesus, the King of Kings, who is a descendant of Jesse.

During the Advent season, a symbolic Branch of Jesse will decorate our Narthex. The Branch is a representation that connects God’s faithfulness through the Old Testament to the newness in the form of the birth of Jesus. Just as God gave us the gift of life through Jesus Christ, we will share this hope with others in our community through the giving of Christmas gifts.

​(Seven Week Advent begins November 14, 2021)

Like last year, in lieu of wrapped gifts, $25 gift cards will be provided for our friends at Freedom House (a half-way house for men) and their Family Afterward program, Good News Home (a drug/alcohol abuse treatment center for women), Anderson House (a half-way house for women), Cristo Rey, and Binnacle House (a group home for boys ages 13-18).  In order to provide these gift cards, we are asking for monetary donations only.  With these funds, we will purchase the 125 gift cards and distribute them to the recipients.  There will not be any specific gift item requests -- the decorative tags on the branch in the Narthex will simply provide donation instructions.

Monetary donations can be made via check, cash, or PayPal. Please note "Giving Branch" on the check or on the envelope if donating cash. There is a secure black box outside the Church office for anyone wanting to drop off, or it can be mailed to the Church.  If donating through PayPal, please use the button below. Please note: if using the PayPal link, $1.01 is added to each $25 donation to cover PayPal’s service fee (e.g., to make a donatation for 2 gift cards, the charge will be $52.02.) 

Please submit all contributions by Sunday, December 12th. If you have any questions, please contact Deanne Altom at 908-534-3425 (deanne.altom@gmail.com) or Michelle Marlow at 908-884-6932 (michellekmarlow@gmail.com).

Thank you for helping to make the holiday a bit happier for someone less fortunate!

Mark your calendar for Sunday January 23rd for the Annual Meeting.  In addition to reports by the various committees and missions, the is the time for the election of Vestry members.  The Vestry is a group of church members committed to the well-being of the church and its mission.  As a vestry member, you have the opportunity to discuss and plan the next program; to help support those programs already in place; approve the budget, oversee the way the finances are allocated, and help make decisions as to how we spend the funds we have received.  Each Vestry member is expected to take responsibility for one, or more, of the programs which are planned.  (This doesn’t necessarily mean you do the work but rather make sure the program is implemented as planned.)
 
The term for which you would be elected is three years during which time your area of responsibility may change. Current Vestry members support the care of the property of the church; another serves as coordinator for Formation; one serves as coordinator for Fellowship events; and, of course, we are headed by our Senior and Junior Wardens.  Find out Who is Who by taking a look at the bulletin board in the hallway leading to the Parish Hall.
 
Consider putting your name into nomination for the open positions.  Maybe you believe there is someone who would be an excellent candidate for Vestry.  Speak to one of the Nomination Committee members if you would like more information or would like to be considered for election.  Committee members include Tracy McGeorge, Marianne Van Duersen, and Marge Keller.

Hello and God Bless from your new CHS School coordinator, Wendy Hallstrom.  We are in the process of planning this "academic" year and we'd like to invite everyone to give us your input.  Because of the success of the Zoom offerings that Judy Linger organized over the past year, Father Phil and the Vestry would like to continue this ministry, even after the pandemic ends and we return to “normal” operations.

Going forward, we plan to continue offering both religious and secular opportunities for learning and socializing.  Some offerings could be on a regular schedule (monthly or weekly), some could be seasonal, and others may be a “one-and-done.”  Some may be Zoom based only and in the future, some may be both in-person and on Zoom. 

Whitney Wetherill, who has helped with the organizing, has been teaching the CHS School drawing lesson class.  In her words “Drawing is fun, and I love it, but it's being with all of the people who come to the class that makes it special.”

If you think adding a regular Zoom get-together to your calendar would give you more of a social life than you have now, you are so right! It can be snowing, it can be too cold or too hot out, whatever....you can still Zoom if you have high-speed internet and a smartphone, tablet or iPad, or any laptop or desktop computer.

We are ready to help you get started any time you like. We’ll even give you a private Zoom tutoring session before you log on to any classes.  

Please help us by completing a very short questionnaire to let us know what kinds of classes/presentations/meetings you are interested in. The link below will take you to the questionnaire.-- 

Wendy Hallstrom (she/her/hers)
whhallstrom@gmail.com

Dear Parents,

We are in the process of planning Sunday School for the children of our parish.  With the pandemic ongoing, we plan to offer options with COVID precautions and options for post-pandemic. Your input is key to our planning.  Below is a link to a questionnaire to be used to develop programs beginning in January, 2022 and onwards.  

For the fall, Fr. Phil is conducting "Godly Play" sessions during the 10 am service for the youngest members of our parish.  Separate Confirmation sessions will be offered in November/December just for the confirmation age students.

Please complete this questionnaire (button below) by November 15th, so that we have time to plan and prepare the classes/workshops/outings, etc...

Please feel free to contact us directly with any comments.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Philip and Wendy Hallstrom (whallstrom@gmail.com)

​Our Home Chats visitations will begin on Wednesday, October 20th at 7 PM.  The chats will be online via Zoom every Wednesday through December 8th (except Thanksgiving week). We have divided the parish address list by area and we sent a postcard showing the date for which your area is scheduled.  We hope you can make it! But, if not, feel free to join one of the other meetings.  We'd love to see you and have time to visit with you and other members of Holy Spirit. See you there

The COVID-19 Reentering, Reopening, Reimagining (RRR) Task Force has recommended to the clergy gathered at the zoom meeting that congregations in lower transmission areas (such as ours in Lebanon/Hunterdon County) may return to the recommendations earlier in the year, that is,  

• masking is voluntary,
•  if all are vaccinated, singing in groups is permissible
• continue to respect individual choices in how we respond 
• urge everyone to become vaccinated and receive boosters when available
• a gradual conservative return to physical gatherings is advised

In practice, the clergy will mask in procession, when at the Altar and when distributing the host.