UPDATES FROM THE SISTERS - October 2020

“Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” 

​From “An Outline of the Faith: commonly called the Catechism”
The Book of Common Prayer

Lily Morozov being baptized in the arms of her godfather Vladimir Zagoruiko, by the Rev. Lorna Erixson, rector of St. Mark's Mendham. (CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE.)

Lily Morozov's baptism on the Cloister at CSJB Oct. 3, with guests and clergy wearing masks.

Sister Eleanor Francis anoints Lily Morozov with the oil of chrism at her baptism.

​We began the month of October with a whole lot of cuteness.
On Oct. 3, adorable little Lily Morozov was baptized by the Rev. Lorna Erixson (Rector of St. Mark’s, Mendham) at an outdoor service on the Convent cloister with Sister Eleanor Francis assisting. Lily’s parents are Stanislav Morozov and Valeryia Morozov, her godparents are Albina Torres and Vladimir Zagorvylo, and her grandparents are Valerie and Jack Grier. Jack’s father, Bill Grier, was the Estate Manager here at CSJB for over fifty years. It is always a tremendous joy to receive new life into the family of the Church, and it is extra joyful for the Sisters to share in the Grier family’s happiness since they are part of our family too. We wish Lily all the best, and we give thanks to her parents for giving us joy and hope by sharing this beautiful sacrament with us.

​On October 4 we held our annual Blessing of the Convent Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This year’s blessing was different, as it was the first in many years to be held indoors. In the past, we've held the service outside so that Pony could be blessed in his pasture, but since he sadly passed away in June 2019 we simply held him in our hearts as Jennie was blessed in the chapel and our two cats were blessed in their favorite rooms. Sister Eleanor Francis blessed Jennie, Kooky, and Clara Elizabeth after the Eucharist Oct. 4, and then she took Jennie for an adventure – receiving a sprinkling of Holy Water among the local menagerie at St. Mark’s Church in Mendham. Now Jennie feels doubly blessed!

Jennie with Sister Eleanor Francis, and Bradley Kalos (center) with his dog Riley at St. Mark's, Mendham - receiving a blessing from the Rev. Lorna Erixson on Oct. 4, 2020

Tomatoes from the Garden of Hope

Close to 100 tomatoes ripening in boxes, under the table in the Convent laundry room.

And still MORE tomatoes ripening on the windowsill in the Convent kitchen.

​Our Garden of Hope is transitioning into fall/winter projects after producing vegetables for local food pantries all summer. For some reason, we ended up having a tremendous bumper crop of TOMATOES! 

Here are some inspirational words from our wonderful volunteer Julie Crawford: “This summer and fall, produce from two gardens in our region helped to provide fresh vegetables to community members. 

​The gardens include a free plot at the Chester Community Garden and access to the Garden of Hope at the Community of St John the Baptist. Special thanks to the following gardeners:  Sr. Linda, Sr. Victoria, Thierry & Leslie Montfort, Debbie Burnett, Julie & Judson Crawford, Cynthia & her girls, and the Rev. Margaret Otterburn & grandchildren. In addition, through the season members of the Chester Community Garden were able to donate for the food donation box built by Thierry. As the gardeners can attest, when we do it well, we participate in God’s own work of protecting and nurturing the world. We assist in life’s unbelievable fertility and splendor. We enjoy life’s beauty and its unbelievably good taste and aroma. Gardening nurtures the soul and helps us all connect with the cycle of life. 

Isaiah 58:11: 'The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.'”

We also give thanks to Matthew Borinshteyn, Matthew Goldgrish,  founders of the Sharing Project, for taking our Garden of Hope to the next level.
 
If you’d like to support the efforts of the Garden of Hope, we now have a GoFundMe page where you can donate any amount. Every little bit helps. 
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Sister Victoria has been keeping busy with volunteering regularly at Homeless Solutions in Randolph. She, along with the Rev. Margaret Otterburn and volunteers from the Church of the Messiah in Chester have been cooking and serving meals to the residents at the shelter. Sister Victoria is also helping at St. Elsie’s Thrift Shop at the Church of the Messiah twice a week, along with several other volunteers. The thrift shop raises money for the Senior Resource Center at the Church of the Messiah.
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Sister Victoria Michelle (L) with the Rev. Margaret Otterburn at the thrift shop at the Church of the Messiah.

Students at the Good Shepherd Academy

Students at the Good Shepherd Academy

Children at the Good Shepherd Home

Sister Jane Mankaa, the founder of the Good Shepherd Home for Children in Cameroon, West Africa,  is currently at the Good Shepherd Academy in Bafut. She has some good news: the Academy has now reopened after being closed for nearly two years due to the Cameroonian Civil War.

​Sister Jane says:
"We opened the doors of the Good Shepherd Academy on the 15th of October. Children from the Good Shepherd Home are attending the school. Canon Elizabeth Geitz and her American Board have awarded 15 scholarships to the Children in our Home. It is a real blessing for our children to study. Some of the children are in different secondary schools. Gilbert and Cavour are going for a 6 month stage in some hospitals. All the other children are studying at Home. Teachers are paid to teach them at home."

The children, staff and Sisters are still safe at the Home in Bamenda and they continue to operate a bakery, chicken farm, pig farm and fish farm for sustenance. Sister Mary Lynne continues her ministry to the children, helping to raise funds in the U.S., and CSJB provides administrative services to the Home at no cost which allows all donations to go directly to the children. Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in donations and sponsorships in the last two years so we are sad to report that the fund we had accumulated to send $4000 in monthly support to Jane and the children for many years will completely run out by December 2020. 

We are, therefore, looking for new sponsors and asking our existing donors to consider increasing their support. If you would like to help the Good Shepherd Home, please contact our CSJB office [email protected] or go to www.goodshepherdhome.org.

 If you’re a CSJB Associate or Oblate, there’s still time to register for our Oct. 24 Associates’ Program and optional meeting. This event will take place via Zoom on Saturday, October 24, 1:30-3:30 pm. The program topic is St. Teresa of Avila, led by Sr. Eleanor Francis. Please email CSJB Oblate Pat McKenzie at [email protected] to register. After registration, a zoom link will be emailed to you. 
The workshop cost is $25. You may mail a check for your $25 donation, made out to the Community of St. John Baptist,  to PO Box 240 Mendham, NJ 07945 - or donate through Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CommunityofStJohnBap
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​If you would like to learn more about becoming an Associate, we’d love to hear from you! Just email Sister Eleanor Francis at  [email protected].

Angel from the chapel at the former CSJB Convent in Clewer, Windsor, England.

Sister Monica Clare was recently elected Treasurer of CAROA – the Conference of Anglican Religious Orders in the Americas. For the past two years, she has served on the CAROA Communications Committee, which seeks to increase awareness of Episcopal Religious Orders within the church and in the general public. One of their recent projects is the inclusion of church bulletin insert pages on the Episcopal Church website. If you’d like to see these new bulletin inserts, CLICK HERE for the general information insert about CAROA/NAECC, CLICK HERE for the insert about CSJB, and CLICK HERE for the insert on the Order of St. Helena. The Society of St. Margaret will be the next CAROA Community to provide an insert, and there will be many more to follow from the 20 Episcopal Religious Communities in the U.S.

As we continue to raise funds for supplies and extra staff to allow for a socially-distanced reopening of St. Marguerite’s Retreat House, we are accepting reservations for Day Groups, our 1-bedroom Guest Cottage, socially distanced outdoor events, and labyrinth walks. We are also available for photographers, school groups, and others who would like to utilize our outdoor spaces. For information and reservations, please contact our Retreat House Manager Bradley Kalos at [email protected].
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We've had two local metal detectors making socially distant visits to the CSJB property. Pictured here with his metal detecting equipment is Tony Rago, owner of Rago's Shoe Repair in Morristown.

NEWS FROM OUR ASSOCIATES:

Bycatch, egg tempera on wood panel with linen, 24 x 30" copyright 2020 Eileen Kennedy

From Margaret Erath: “I recently had a Cardiac Ablation. I am doing well and am feeling much better.”
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From the Rev. Canon Robert Bryant at the Church of St. John the Baptist on the campus of the Oregon Episcopal School: the first two scenes of an operetta written by Canon Bryant and Scott Crandal, based on the life of St. John the Baptist. To view the scenes, CLICK HERE. CSJB still has Associates in Portland, as our Sisters ran St. Helen’s Hall from 1904-1944. St. Helen’s Hall merged with Bishop Dagwell Hall to form the Oregon Episcopal School in 1972.
 
The Rev. Anne McRae Wrede recently retired after 30 years of ordained ministry. She and her husband, the Rev. Richard Wrede (also recently retired) have now moved to a smaller home in Woodbury, NJ. Richard continues his work as the diocesan archivist in Trenton.

From Alina Gonzales – "On October 3, 2020, my cat, Migo, died at home. She had been ill for over a year and during that time I was able to take care of her. Migo ate and followed me around until a few days before the departure. That last year we spent together was special. Migo was a loving cat. She taught me a lot about God's creatures. While I was completing the paperwork at the cremation service, two women and a man arrived. One of the women broke off in sobs. At that time, I understood that God cries with us regardless of the reason for our pain. On Sunday, October 4th, I brought a picture to the blessings of the animals which took place on the church's grounds. She received a special blessing. Blessed be God in his creatures and thanks to Him for the joy they give us!”

Eileen Kennedy currently has a show of her latest paintings at Frameworks Gallery in Red Bank, NJ until November 2020. For more information, go to https://www.eileen-kennedy.com/shows.html
 
The Sisters keep all our Associates and Oblates in our daily prayers. 

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ST. JOHN BAPTIST SCHOOL ALUMNAE NEWS:

Debbie (Almy) Ransom (‘68) and her sister Lucinda Almy Hamilton wanted to note the passing of their mother Marjorie Turner Almy at the age of 98 on Nov. 20, 2019, in Lancaster, PA. Debbie says “She so enjoyed teaching her beloved Latin at Saint John Baptist School. Lucinda, our cousins Beth Almy and Heidi Loocke, and I all attended High School at SJBS and have so many wonderful memories. Mom loved being an Associate at the Convent. ​

​She had a deep faith and both Mom and my Dad, who passed away March 23, 2017. were very fond of the Sisters.” Marjorie was laid to rest in a virtual ceremony on Sept. 12, 2020. Her obituary can be found HERE

Marjorie Turner Almy, CSJB Associate and former St. John Baptist School teacher.

Debbie also asks for your prayers “for the team of Nurses and Primary Care Providers that I work with at the New London Hospital in New London, NH. They are wonderful people and we all have been working very hard  during this Covid-19 Pandemic.”

Baccalaureate ’67— Pam Herrmann O’Leary, Margie Watts Hopper, Mary Schmidt, Chris Truhan Huffman, Margo Dixon Burgess, Lorraine Mancinone Emmanuel, Barbara Dabanoff Jebijian

Margie Watts Hopper and Pam Herrmann O’Leary as Noah and his wife. November 20, 1965, The operetta “Noye’s Fludde” by Benjamin Britten—=—the annual musical offering that year.

St. John Baptist School Alumna Marjory Hopper (‘67) sent us some terrific photos of her and some classmates from their days at school.

If any other alums would like to send along photos, memories, or news for our monthly updates, please send them along to Sister Monica at [email protected]. We always love to hear from the SJBS schoolgirls.

A very solemn pre-prom photo—1967? Back: Chris Truhan Huffman, Peggy Thayer Weidlein, Pam Herrmann O’Leary, ?? Front: Claudia Hazard ’69, Margo Dixon Burgess, Connie Samsonoff Martenstein

Our Sisters are now leading more programs and retreats on Zoom. ​Sister Victoria’s Oct. 3 Bead Workshop was a huge success, and we are so grateful to everyone who participated and supported CSJB. Your contributions and encouragement mean more to us than you could ever know. There were quite a few people who wanted to register after the deadline, so we are planning to hold another Zoom bead workshop in the coming months. Sister Victoria looks forward to a new round of rosary-making and Zoom fellowship.

Sister Victoria leading an Anglican Rosary making workshop on Zoom Oct. 3.

Servant Year participants in Pennsylvania talking with Sister Monica via Zoom on Sept. 25

Sister Victoria explaining the Anglican Rosary on Zoom

On September 24, Sister Monica Clare was a guest speaker at the Monasticism in Comparative Perspective class at Yale University via Zoom. The topic was Christian religious life. Many thanks to professors Daniel Eastman and Hwansoo Kim for this opportunity, and to Liza Anderson, Ph.D., for facilitating the connection. 

Sister Monica Clare also spoke about Christian discernment on Zoom with the St. James Episcopal School Servant Year participants on Sept. 25. To learn more about the Servant Year Program, CLICK HERE. St. James School is a tuition-free, private Episcopal middle school in North Philadelphia that provides students with year-round academic, physical, spiritual, and creative nourishment while working to uplift the surrounding community. Groups from St. James School regularly visited St. Marguerite’s and the Convent before COVID restrictions halted our guest ministry.

 If you’d like for a CSJB Sister to lead a retreat or program, or to serve as a guest speaker for your church or organization, please email the Sister Superior at [email protected].

On October 18. The Rt. Rev. Alastair Redfern, who founded the Clewer Initiative anti-slavery organization with our CSJB Sisters in England, was the preacher at Ely Cathedral. October 18 was anti-slavery day, and there were many events throughout the UK to heighten the public’s awareness of human trafficking. To find out more about how the Clewer Initiative is fighting modern slavery, CLICK HERE. To view a video of Bishop Redfern’s sermon at Ely Cathedral, CLICK HERE. For more information on how the Episcopal Church is doing to combat this persistent issue, CLICK HERE. 

The Rt. Rev. Alastair Redfern preaching at Ely Cathedral Oct. 18

Sister Monica Clare with her sign that comes in handy during Zoom worship.

Our Zoom Parish Life: Sister Victoria Michelle will be preaching at the Church of the Messiah on Nov. 8, and Sister Eleanor Francis has been preaching and lending a hand at St. Mark’s in Mendham. Sister Monica Clare is singing in the Virtual Choir at All Saints’ Millington and occasionally serves as lector and preacher.
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LOOKING AHEAD

Fall color by the main chapel at CSJB

Every Thursday from 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM On Zoom
CENTERING PRAYER
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Our Centering Prayer group has been meeting for many years and it is one of our most popular ministries. Guests can gather on Zoom. Please email Sister Monica at [email protected] if you are interested in joining. A description of this silent contemplative practice can be found HERE.
 
October 24, 1:30 PM -3:30 PM
ASSOCIATES’ PROGRAM AND OPTIONAL MEETING (VIA ZOOM)
Program Topic: St. Teresa of Avila. Leader: Sr. Eleanor Francis ​
Please email CSJB Oblate Pat McKenzie at [email protected] to register. After registration, a zoom link will be emailed to you.
Program cost: $25. Mail a check made out to the Community of St. John Baptist,  to PO Box 240 Mendham, NJ 07945 - or donate through Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CommunityofStJohnBap
​If you would like to learn more about becoming an Associate, we’d love to hear from you! Just email Sister Eleanor Francis at  [email protected]
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October 31,  from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
A SOCIALLY DISTANCED HALLOWEEN
Hilltop House, 14 Hilltop Rd. in Mendham, NJ. Supported by the Mendham Community Faith Leaders: Brookside Community Church, CSJB, Grace Lutheran Church, Hilltop Presbyterian Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and Mendham United Methodist Church. For more info., email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected].
CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER.

November 6 from 10:30 AM - 11:00 SM
CSJB ASSOCIATE PRAYERS ON ZOOM
If you’re a CSJB Associate and you’d like to join us for Zoom prayers on the first Friday of every month, email Pat McKenzie at [email protected]
If you would like to learn more about becoming an Associate, we’d love to hear from you! Just email Sister Eleanor Francis at  [email protected]

November 7 from 1:30-3:00 PM on Zoom
CONVERSATION WITH GOD:
JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES ON PRAYER
Sponsored by Interweave
Prayer is the foundation of our spiritual life. How do we call on the sacred? How do we interact with our God? During this program we will examine prayer from both the Jewish and Christian perspectives, reflecting on prayer's many facets from supplication, the giving of thanks to confession, and praise. Led by Rabbi Debra Smith and Sr. Eleanor Francis, we will come to a better understanding of our different traditions, while discovering how much we share in the practice of prayer.
Rabbi Debra Smith (Reb Deb) is the leader of Congregation Or Ha Lev. Reb Deb is the Rabbi in Residence at the Drew University Theological School and co-chair of the Morris County NJ chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom
Sr. Eleanor Francis is an Episcopal priest and a member (former superior) of the Community of St. John Baptist. She has strong roots and connections with both Vedanta and Judaism and has given many programs on interfaith topics.

$20/ 15 for Interweave Members - Limited Spaces - CLICK HERE ​to Sign up today!

November 8, 15, and 22 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING: THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
Hilltop House, 14 Hilltop Rd. in Mendham, NJ. This year, your local faith communities are joining together to make sure everyone has a bountiful Thanksgiving. In lieu of our usual individual collections, we have set one centralized, socially distant drop-off location to support the Interfaith Food Pantry. CSJB Sisters will be there helping out on Nov. 8 and 15, so please stop by and say hello. This event is open to all. Supported by the Mendham Community Faith Leaders: Brookside Community Church, CSJB, Grace Lutheran Church, Hilltop Presbyterian Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and Mendham United Methodist Church. For a list of items needed, CLICK HERE. For more info., email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected].
CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER.

November 20
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern time.
JOIN US FOR PRAYER ON ZOOM – ALL ARE WELCOME
Let’s join together to pray for ourselves, our neighbors, our church, and the world.
The Community of St. John Baptist invites you via Zoom to meet for a half-hour prayer service for comfort and strength during these difficult times. We welcome all who would like to pray with us on the third Friday of each month.

Please email Oblate Pat McKenzie for the Zoom info. at:
[email protected]

November 22, 4:00 PM
VIRTUAL CONCERT AT THE CONVENT:
​The Adelphi Chamber Orchestra string quartet will be live streaming from the Main Chapel: Borodin: Quartet for Strings no 2 in D major and Mozart: Quartet for Strings no 17 in B flat major, K 458 "Hunt"
To register for this event, email [email protected].
CLICK HERE for more Information

December 4 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM via Zoom
ADVENT RETREAT for ST. ELIZABETH’S CHURCH, RIDGEWOOD
Sister Monica Clare will be leading an Advent retreat entitled “Creating a Contemplative Space in Your Life During Advent.” Register by Monday, November 30. For more info., please contact The Rev. Cathy Quinn at [email protected].


Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, our 2020 Celtic Journeys has been canceled, but Please see our trips for 2021!
 https://www.celticjourneys.org/copy-of-ireland https://www.celticjourneys.org/cornwall
For more information, contact Sister Margo Elizabeth:
Phone: 973 543 4641 ext 4                      
Email: [email protected]

 
Our annual “Reaching Out” year-end appeal will go out soon to all our supporters. Please consider including CSJB in your annual giving for 2020 or in your estate planning. Our Community relies on donations from generous people like you to continue the dreams of our Mother Foundress Harriet Monsell. We could not do what we do – without YOU.
 
CLICK HERE FOR OUR EVENTS PAGE

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PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR
Joanna, Lee, Lana, Helen, Heather, Maria, Matthew, India, Margaret, Jon, James, Carolyn and Bruce, John and Family, Alexis, our Searchers, Jarad and Monica, Rebecca and her family, Nadine, Norman, Erin, Jess, Linda Lee, John, Myram, Juli and Gil, Michael, Doug, Janet, Jessica and Brendan,  Tommy,  Janet, Patty, Patrick, Chris' wife Sam and their two children, John, Sister Barbara Jean, Greg and Pat, Phoebe, Jay, Dean, Geri and family, Claire, Margaret, and family, Chris, Larry, Annette, Michelle, Judith, Suzanne, Anthony, Warren, James, Ingrid, Chris, Sully, Daniel, Nicole, Jennifer, Joyce, the Clewer Initiative, our Sisters in England, Virginia, Maureen and Donald, Bill and Carol, Michelle, Tiffany, Myles, Jim. 

Also: For a new ministry for the former Daytop Buildings and grounds, and for the safe reopening of our guest ministry.

We pray especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed,

Some of the Sisters with Jennie in the sitting room.

String art by Sister Mary Lynne

Novena of Prayer - OCT 27 - NOV 4
The Diocese of Newark is joining with Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations for A Season of Prayer: For an Election for a novena (nine days) October 27-November 4. CLICK HERE for more information.

We would be honored to pray for you. Please email [email protected] with any prayer requests. ​​

Sister Deborah Francis' collection of feathers she's found in NYC and on the Convent grounds. She makes beautiful feather-art cards with these.

Brad Kalos, his dog Riley, and Sister Suzanne Elizabeth

Jennie enjoying the fall sunshine along the driveway.

​OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO:
​Our many helpers, volunteers, and those who encourage us
Patrice and Doug McKenzie
Janet Maulbeck and Interweave
​Our Searchers
Connie Moore
Barbara Barbeau
Ed Raworth
Jane Hayden
Linda Lee Mundy
Chris Chrystal and Myram Borders
Julie Crawford
​Michael Reiter
​Willard Bergman, Esq.
Kit Rockwell
Ellie and Pat
The Rev. Kevin Coffey
The Rev. Victoria McGrath and the people of All Saints Millington
The Rev. Lorna Erixson and the people of St. Mark’s Mendham
The Rev. Cynthia L. Black, DD and the people of the Church of the Redeemer
The Rev. Margaret Otterburn and the Church of the Messiah
The Rev. John A. Rollins
Jan Paxton
All our CSJB Associates and Oblates
Our generous donors
Joe Boney
Myles Varley

And all those who have generously donated to the Good Shepherd Home, our Capital Campaign, and our general fund despite all the economic uncertainty.

TO SUPPORT OUR GENERAL FUND
We Sisters of CSJB look forward to the day when we can reopen our ministry of hospitality and welcome hundreds of people per year to our Retreat House and the Convent as we have always done in the past. Until then, like many nonprofits, we are having a very difficult time covering our monthly operating costs after nearly seven months with no income. If you'd like to help us continue our ministries, please consider making a gift to our general fund through our new online Paypal portal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CommunityofStJohnBap
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Many people have told us how much they enjoy the drive along the driveway up to the Convent. For those who can't be with us in person, here's a glimpse of the fall colors on the way.

​The collect for Social Justice, from the Book of Common Prayer:

​Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.