We have two occasions for which we would like to have a “coffee and cookie” reception.

The first is Sunday September 8, Alex Tartakovsky’s first Sunday. We want to have an informal meet and greet for Alex between services and after the 10am service.

The second is Friday November 1, All Saints/confirmation.  This would be after the service, so about 9PM.

We want to keep both simple, so COOKIES AND BAR COOKIES—strictly finger foods, nothing that requires cutting (pies or cakes) or the use of forks or is messy to eat.

For November 1, a mix of sweet and savory would be appropriate.

If you or someone you know, can help with either event (or both), please contact me by email, text or call. My email is  marge.keller@comcast.net

Marge Keller

On July 26, 2019, our very own Aaron Murray will be the proud recipient of "The Duke of Edinburgh Award".   This prestigious award is earned through grit and determination and Aaron is to be congratulated on this wonderful achievement.  It will be presented to Aaron during World Scouting Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve, where Aaron is working for the summer.
 
This award was founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and now covers 144 nations throughout the world.  Google it - it is a great honor!  A note of congratulations to Aaron would show him CHS is behind him all the way. Follow the Jamboree on Facebook!
Aaron Murray
Summit Operations Center
2550 Jack Furst Dr.
Glen Jean, WV 25846-1100. 

In his Report to the Congregation on Growth and Discipleship, Fr. Philip 

• Commended the diocesan help of the Rev. Cn. Rob Droste, Canon for Congregational Development, for leading the evening in developing a shared understanding of discipleship.
• Observed that the diocesan statement on discipleship - "The purpose of the Church is to form disciples of Jesus Christ who participate in God's mission of reconciliation" bears much similarity to the Church of the Holy Spirit's mission statement "Our mission is to know Christ as we serve others, proclaim God's love, and grow in the the Spirit."
• Felt joy and admiration when the event's participants were able to recite the mission statement "as if it were a well-known prayer we say on Sunday", and at the surprise registered by Fr. Droste.
• Was moved by a participant's honest confession of not feeling able to offer help to deepen another's discipleship, and the immediate response by others of how in fact that person had helped others. Fr. Droste confirmed that "we don't need to know more Bible, or more theological sophistication, or more knowledge about Church history to be helpful and have a role in making disciples or deepening the discipleship of others.
• Observed that knowing our mission, feeling called, and having everything we need to help others, perhaps our mission is not merely to "know" Christ, but in fact to "follow" Christ, with minds, hearts and lives.
• Noted that over the course of the evening, six areas emerged for aligning parish planning and activities:

               Intentionally developing personal spirituality
               Recklessly fostering heartfelt connection
               Remembering to fully listen with compassion
               Serving generously and being courageously inclusive
               Sharing faith creatively, telling our story
               Worshiping boldly, joyfully and with purpose

• And noted that there is before us a new start, so we have some more work to do.

Read the entire document here >

We had a wonderful, enlightening, and thoughtful discussion on June 23rd about "All the Light We Cannot See."  While it certainly was extremely well-written, the general consensus was that, like war, it was a pretty grim work.  

Our next selection is one that Father Phil suggested, "Cutting for Stone," by Ethiopian-born, Indian-American medical doctor and author, Abraham Verghese.  This is the story of conjoined, twin brothers, orphaned by their mother's death at birth and forsaken by their father.  Born in Addis Ababa, they are separated medically, and the novel focuses on their upbringing by two doctors and their subsequent paths in life.  Verghese weaves their stories with the past half-century of Ethiopia's. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for two years and, while quite lengthy, promises to be a great read.

Because of summer schedules, we decided to order the books kit to arrive at CHS on August 18, with the group meeting October 20 for our discussion.

Whaling is a form of pfishing known as whaling.  It doesn't just affect us!  The Diocese of Newark has recently had a series of these attacks and has published an article explaining the phenomenon and what you can do about it.  

"You receive an email that appears to be from the Bishop, or your clergy person, asking you to take some kind of action – click a link, download an attachment, wire money to a specified account, purchase gift cards and reply with the serial numbers, or simply to reply quickly.
Watch out – it could be a form of email “phishing” known as “whaling.”

"Whereas “phishing” involves sending a fraudulent email to a large group of people in the hope that a few will respond, “whaling” involves forging communications that look like they’re from the “big phish” in an organization, i.e. the “whale.” For us, this usually means the Bishop or a clergy person, although it could be someone else in authority.

"Because these emails are usually crafted more carefully than your standard “phishing” email, they can be more difficult to detect."

Read the whole article, but here are some brief suggestions about what to do:

• Verify the “from” email
• Confirm requests with a conversation

​
Please know that Father Phil, Deacon Dot, your wardens and your Vestry would never make such a request. They will never ask for personal information, money, gift cards or anything else by email or on social media. Ignore any such request and, if possible, report it to your ISP as a fraud/scam.
One email looked like this:

I am not in the position to make a phone call at the moment as i am in a meeting and that is why i am contacting you via email. I will like you to help handle a personal matter. I would need you to help send out couple of gift cards to a family member in school concerning her project.and i will need this handled immediately. Kindly let me know if you are available to run this task right now so i can advise the quantity and domination.  

​Pay attention and stay safe!

Faithfully,

This program began in October 2015.  Students from local colleges in advanced music degrees in vocal and instrumental programs have been selected.
​
Future programs will be announced here

December 16, 2018:   A Jazz Trio from Mason Gross School of Arts in New Brunswick will provide the music for the 10 am service. Members include Dave Mosko, Trombone, from Marlton, NJ; Ian Young, Bass, from North Brunswick, NJ; and Ilan Eisenzweig, Guitar, from Princeton, NJ.  Music to be determined.

November 25, 2018:  Abigail Kempson is from Wilton, Connecticut and studied voice (soprano) at Westminster Choir College in Princeton. She graduated in 2016 with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. She resides in Princeton.  She will sing “I will extol Thee, O Lord” from Eli by Michael Costa for the offertory and “I will sing unto the Lord a new song” from Judith by CHH Parry for the postlude for the 10 am service.

November 4, 2018: Pierre Lawrence is studying piano at Mason Gross School of Arts in New Brunswick. He led the congregation in singing the opening hymn "For all the Saints" in the jazz style.  He also played a jazz improvisation for the postlude.

October 21, 2018:   Sarah Ridddle is from West Virginia and studied voice (soprano) at Westminster Choir College in Princeton. She graduated in May 2017 with a masters degree and resides in Pennington.  She sang "Come unto Him, all ye that labor" from The Messiah by G.F. Handel for the offertory and “My Heart Ever Faithful” from the Pentecost Cantata by J.S. Bach for the postlude during the 10 am service.

April 15, 2018:  Sarah Riddle is from West Virginia and studied voice (soprano) at Westminster Choir College in Princeton. She graduated in May 2017 with a masters degree and resides in the Princeton area.

On April 15th she sang "I Know That my Redeemer Liveth"  (No. 45 Part III Messiah) by  G.F.Handel  for the offertory and "Hear ye, Israel" (aria from Elijah) by Felix Mendelssohn as the postlude.

January 14, 2018:   A Jazz Trio from Mason Gross School of Arts in New Brunswick provided the music during the 10 am service. Members included Dave Mosko, Trombone, from Marlton, NJ; Ian Young, Bass, from North Brunswick, NJ; and Ilan Eisenzweig, Guitar, from Princeton, NJ. They played We Three Kings by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. for the Offertory and Take Five by Dave Brubeck for the Postlude.

December 17, 2017:  Pierre Abdou is studying piano at Mason Gross School of Arts in New Brunswick. He performed Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique - Adagio Cantabile for one of the lessons and a jazz improvisation on a Christmas Carol for the postlude.

November 26, 2017:  Tyler Cesario is a tenor from National Park, New Jersey and graduated in the Music Ed Primary Program from Westminster Choir College, Princeton in May.  He will be performing from Saint-Saens' Oratoria de Noel "Domine, ego credidi" with the Senior Choir for the offertory.  For the postlude, he will sing from Felix Mendelssohn's ELIJAH the recitative "Ye people, rend your hearts" and the aria "If with all your hearts".

October 29, 2017 

​Peter Griggs guitar concert - There was no admission charge. This concert was offered as a part of the Jane Self Burnham Scholars Program. Mr. Griggs presented "500 Years Of Music For Guitar" from the Renaissance to the Contemporary, as well as Flamenco, Brazilian music, jazz, blues and several of his own compositions. There was something for listeners of all tastes on this wide-ranging program.  ​

Confirmation classes: Sundays 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
September 8 - Bonfire Night: Come with a story of a saint you have known - Examples that show us God
September 22: Disciple has discipline - The structure of faith
September 29: Faith walk after church
October 6: Encounter, Prayer beyond yourself
October 20: Sponsor night
November 1: Confirmation:  Friday 7 pm

Every Tuesday night, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the St. Jonathan Room
 No meetings during August!

Questions?  
Contact Eli Jones elijns2@aol.com  

​Deacon Dot will be holding a “prayer circle” after each service.  It is called a “prayer circle” because we will hold hands as we pray together. It will be a time to pray with others who are feeling a need for extra prayer.  We will meet in the alcove across from the organ.  Anyone interested is welcome to join us.  If you have any questions, please speak with Dot.

New Bible study for grades 6 - 12.    We will be meeting every Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the St. Jonathan Rm.  Please bring your favorite version of the Bible and something to write with (Bibles will be provided).   Any questions, contact
Eli (908) 399-7436.  Hope to see you there!