Christ Episcopal Church
	Riverton, New Jersey
	Catching a moving train May 2005 Grace be unto you and peace! I am here, and chiming in for the first time in the Tower Bell. It has been a very busy few weeks, as I have moved myself into the study in the Parish House and the beautifully restored and modernized Rectory. I have been encouraged by the warm and generous welcome of so many of you, the people of Christ Church. This has been mirrored by several of the local clergy coming by to introduce themselves, and the best wishes of my colleagues in the Burlington Convocation. This has all helped make my entry into this ministry which is yours and mine that much easier, something particularly appreciated as I am here without my family until after the school year ends. My intentions were to use this six-week start-up period between Ascension-tide and mid-June as an opportunity for introductions and for me to observe and learn. My experience however has been more like running to catch up with the parish life that was around me. As I participated in the Ascension Thursday Eucharist (my first official service here), I was offered a vision of the heavens which opened up to accept our Lord -- thanks in part to the glorious music of Ed Newton and the choir, and the really good mid-week evening attendance from the congregation. But I also had the reality of 35 unpacked boxes of books in my office, and I saw them in my mind’s eye stacked around me while sitting at a railway platform and being worried that I missed the train! Since then I have met with contractors and workmen, the Vestry, the Convocation and witnessed Nancy Gorman re-elected President of the Diocesan Episcopal Church Women. I’ve seen three men looking for handouts, brought home communion, sat on the floor and talked to the children in church, encountered the organ tuner and hired a piano tuner (I have no living room furniture, but the 1930 Knabe baby-grand which accompanied me sounds great!). I have greeted the church cat, rabbit and groundhog, been greeted by assorted robins, cardinals and catbirds and caught a glimpse of the church mouse who puts up the hymn numbers as he got into his car. I’ve learned some names, forgotten some names, and gotten some names wrong. I negotiated the town-wide treasures sale and laid a life-long parishioner to rest. I’ve celebrated saints’ days in the chapel, held bible studies and negotiated with the altar guild for closet space in the sacristy. I have worked with ushers, servers, chalicers and lectors so that I can participate with some level of ease within the liturgical choreography of Christ Church. And I am very excited over the plans the Sesquicentennial (thank God for spell check) Committee is putting together as we prepare to celebrate our parish’s 150^th anniversary. And yes, the 35 boxes of books are on their newly assembled shelves, thanks to Gus Hollingsworth. I still have people to meet, places to go and things to see before I leave in mid-June to rejoice in the Highlands of Scotland with my in-laws, John and Jule McRae on their 55^th wedding anniversary. Nonetheless, I feel like we are off to a good, busy and productive start. And I continue to want to learn. Please keep your suggestions coming, and share those ideas. For while it would be disingenuous were I not to acknowledge that I have a certain level of knowledge and experience in matters ecclesiastical, you are the experts on Christ Church, you know how God becomes present to you, and indeed, you, as the people of God in this place, are Christ Church. So let us learn together, so we can grow together as Christ’s Body in this place. Blessings