It was almost twenty years ago when my spirit was so very restless and my soul was being tugged.  I wasn't comfortable in my own skin and felt as if there was something missing.  I had a job, good friends and was on the "right" track; everything seemed to be in place.  Why did I struggle so?  Why did I feel so much dis-ease?  Well, God was at work in my life, but I wasn't ready to listen.  I felt quite confident that I knew the path I was to take which was that of a businessman, or perhaps entrepreneur, climbing the ladder of success and accumulating all the outward and visible signs of achievement. 

But, God had something else in mind.  I was searching for the right path, but I was listening to the world with my ego, not listening to God with my heart.  God was calling me, sometimes in a whisper, sometimes with a shout.  It took me a while, but finally I heard and began to listen.  Believe it or not, others heard God calling me, before I heard the call.  Well, you know what happened.  Here I am, ordained to the priesthood and now serving as your rector.

This Sunday is Passion and Purpose Sunday.  This is to be a time when we intentionally listen with our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Where is God calling you?  Where is God challenging you?  Is God calling you into a deeper commitment to service in the church and perhaps even to ordained ministry? 

Wherever you are on your journey of life and faith, I invite you to a place of openness and willingness.  Listen, listen not with your ears nor ego, but with your heart, your soul.  Hear what the Spirit is saying to you in this season of your life.  Open yourself to the amazing possibilities that God has in store for you.  Open yourself to doing things you never thought you would.  Open yourself to trust and follow God in a way you never thought you could.  Open yourself to passion for the Gospel.  Open yourself to God's purpose for your life.  God is calling.  Are you ready to listen?

In Christ,
Paul+

Sunday, April 26th, 2009
The Third Sunday of Easter
Click here for Sunday's Lessons.

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Frederick Buechner
This Sunday is Passion & Purpose Sunday! An intentional day for preaching, teaching, testimony, and theological reflection about vocation: claiming and expressing a passion and purpose for our lives as friends and followers of Jesus Christ. We will join with churches across the Diocese of New Jersey as we encourage each other to claim, or perhaps reclaim, our own vocation, our own calling, our own passion and purpose.

8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite I
(Traditional Language, no choir)

9:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist (Rite II)
(Contemporary Language with choir)
The 9:00 a.m. service is perfect for families with children!  Children may begin the service upstairs in Children's Chapel (Room 201) and then join their families for communion. If you prefer to worship together as a family, children are always welcome in church.

10:15 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages!
Immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service children have choices based on their age:

• children through 6th grade report to their classrooms for Sunday School. 

• Rite 13 and J2A students (grades 6 - 9) gather in their own dedicated spaces on the lower level. 

• Senior High students (grades 10 - 12) meet in the Parlor.

Sunday School will resume on Sunday, May 10^th.  On May 3^rd there will be Children's Chapel at 9:00am and Nursery Care available as usual.