Recent Vestry Notes

Vestry Notes

Vestry Notes (week of 2-08-26)

Last week, we welcomed Ayse Ozdemir and Kurba Karaqoz from Peace Islands Institute and were all deeply moved by their work for reconciliation.  Thank you Ayse and Kurba!

This Sunday, we will be joined through the miracle of Zoom by Rabbi Debra Smith.  She is the founding Rabbi of the Or ha Lev Jewish Renewal Community, a now fully virtual Jewish community. She is on the faculty of the Aleph Rabbinical Seminary, where she teaches Pastoral Counseling and Clergy Ethics. Rabbi Deb has worked extensively in the interfaith community over the past decade or more and is a former co- chair of the Morris County Chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom.  For the past four years, she co- facilitates, along with a Christian colleague, a weekly Jewish Christian study group.

Rabbi Deb is the author/ editor of five Jewish and interfaith-themed books. She is married for 51 years to Dr. Neil Smith. Rabbi Deb and Neil and their beloved mini- goldendoodle, Sammi, reside in Boynton Beach, Florida and spend summers in New Jersey.  They have two married daughters, Elana and Dana.

We, as a community of faith, are blessed to gather with those from other faith traditions as we learn how much we have in common through the sharing of stories.  May peace abide in our hearts between brothers and sisters of every race, every nation, every faith, every orientation, every generation, every wounded wonderful one of your human family.

God, grant wisdom to world leaders and a spirit of reconciliation among nations. Soften hardened hearts, inspire decisions rooted in justice, and let Your peace flow across borders. May Your love guide every leader and citizen to seek harmony, protect the vulnerable, and foster understanding, bringing Your peace to every corner of the earth. Amen.  May it be so.

Next week, we will hear from Rosie Grant of the Diocese of Newark’s Restorative Justice Ministry.

Colleen Hintz for the Vestry

Brian Malcolm, Paulette Bellew, Wardens
Vestry Members: Melissa Allman, Paul Cecala, Agnes Clyne, Leslie Harden, Colleen Hintz, and Barbara Shannon.