UPDATES FROM THE SISTERS - February 2021

Blessed be
​the LORD!
for he has
​shown me
the wonders
of his love
in a besieged city.
Psalm 31:21

Three-foot long icicles hanging from the Convent roof, as viewed from the confessional.
​Photo by Sister Mary Lynne

L to R: Sister Mary Lynne, Sister Laura Katharine and Sister Eleanor Francis during the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Once again we Sisters must take the opportunity to say thank you to our friends, Associates, and Oblates who have supported our ministries throughout the COVID crisis. We were unsure of how we would manage without the income from St. Marguerite’s Retreat House after we made the painful decision to close it in early March 2020. It has only been through the generosity of those who offered their prayers, their skills, and their financial gifts that we have been able to cover our operating expenses and continue to expand our ministries. We cannot possibly begin to thank you all enough. All we can say is that we are always here for you. We keep you in our daily prayers, and we are always willing to provide spiritual nourishment and service to you and to the world in need.

​WALKING TOGETHER
​THROUGH LENT
 
For many of us, the past year has felt like a long, extended Lent. For some, it might be difficult to adopt the regular Lenten practices after so many months of hardship. Sister Margo Elizabeth found a unique perspective on the symbolism of Ash Wednesday when someone mentioned to her that this year, their parish chose to say “Remember you are stardust, and to stardust you shall return” instead of the customary “Remember you are dust.” Instead of dust being a reminder simply of our mortality, the image of stardust reminds us that all things move constantly from life to death, to rebirth. Sister Margo Elizabeth took the symbolism one step further by pointing out that the mythical phoenix is reborn from ashes. 

Detail from a Lenten vestment designed and embroidered by Sister Doreen, from the
​CSJB Community in England.

A cardinal during a snowstorm at CSJB

The Sisters of CSJB are offering several ways to help others experience Lent in a new way in 2021. Sister Victoria Michelle will be leading a Zoom retreat at the Church of the Messiah on March 5 from 10 AM to noon to look at the ways scripture can strengthen and sustain us during Lent. All are welcome.

​Please email the Rev. Margaret Otterburn at [email protected] to register for this event.

Also on March 5 on Zoom, Sister Monica Clare will be leading a quiet day focused on re-framing the ideas of sin and repentance. The event is hosted by St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ridgewood and goes from 10 AM to noon. All are welcome.

​Please contact St. Elizabeth’s Assistant Rector Cathy Quinn at [email protected] to register for the quiet day.

​If you’d like to attend both of the March 5 events, please email [email protected] to ask if one of them can be recorded so you may view it later.

One of the 14 Stations of the Cross
​in the CSJB Main Chapel
​

Sister Linda Clare preaching at Grace Lutheran Church during the weekly Mendham Interchurch Lenten series in 2019 .

Sister Linda Clare and the Rev. Lorna Erixson from St. Mark’s Mendham will be participating in the annual Mendham Interchurch Weekly Lenten Series on March 10. In non-COVID years this is a weekly Lenten service followed by soup and fellowship, but this year all the services will be on YouTube. For more details on the event, and to see which faith communities are hosting the other weeks, CLICK here to view it on our Events page.  CLICK HERE to view all the weekly services on YouTube

There’s still time to register for the weekly interfaith program that Sister Eleanor Francis is leading along with Rabbi Deb Smith and Dr. Shabiha Sheikh. The program is part of the Yad B’Yad Abrahamic Faiths Series and the next sessions are March 3 and March 17 from 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM. Click here to register for the Abrahamic faiths dialogue series

​Our diocese also provides daily Lenten meditations each year. You may sign up to receive those spiritual resources at www.dioceseofnewark.org/meditations
 
For a lighter look at Lent, you can cast your Lent Madness vote and watch the competition to see who this year’s favorite saint will be. To vote, go to www.lentmadness.org.

The retreat house in the snow at sunset

Sister Jane with children of the Good Shepherd Home

NEWS FROM THE GOOD SHEPHERD HOME IN CAMEROON
 
At the beginning of this month, we received the news that Sister Jane Mankaa, head of the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon, had been admitted to the hospital with a severe case of malaria that caused her great pain. Thankfully she recovered enough to be discharged from the hospital after a few days, but after she arrived home her doctors informed her that hospital tests revealed she has breast cancer.

Jane says, “I still have lots of tests to be carried out so there is not much information I can tell you. You know that things in the developing world are different from that world.  Thanks very much for all the prayers. I feel stronger every day. This is as a result of prayers. Thank the sisters and all the prayer warriors. I welcome all the prayers. Thanks very much and God bless.”

We Sisters will provide updates when the stage of her cancer and her prognosis is determined. Sister Jane is the heart and soul of the Good Shepherd Home and her ministry has given hundreds of orphaned children a loving home for life as well as an excellent education to lift them out of the poverty into which they were born. Let’s join together in praying for her healing and strength. 
​

Sister Jane with children of the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon.

Sister Monica Clare (2nd row, 3rd from left), singing with members of the combined adult and children's virtual choirs of All Saints Church in Millington. Click on the image above to watch a video of the choir.

OUR ZOOM PARISH LIFE
 
The CSJB Sisters who work in local parishes had just begun the process of gradually returning to some worship in person when the holiday season arrived and the COVID numbers began to climb in New Jersey. For the time being, Sister Victoria Michelle is no longer preaching in person at the Church of the Messiah, but she is joining in Zoom worship and hoping to return to preaching, to volunteering at the church’s thrift shop, and to helping at Homeless Solutions when the COVID surge subsides. 

Sister Monica Clare continues to sing in the virtual choir at All Saints Millington, to help out with occasional preaching, and to serve as lector. Sister Eleanor Francis attends Zoom worship at St. Mark’s Church in Mendham each Sunday and preaches often. ​

Many of our Sisters also preach at the Eucharist here at the Convent.

Sister Victoria Michelle offered a meditation on “being good to each other” that can be viewed by CLICKING HERE, and Sister Linda Clare a sermon on the Feast of the Transfiguration that can be read by CLICKING HERE.  Sister Eleanor Francis gave a great sermon on the Third Sunday after the Epiphany that can by read by CLIKING HERE.

​Sister Monica Clare “translated” one of Mother Harriet’s meditations on the Conversion of Paul from Victorian parlance to more modern and accessible language. That meditation can be read by CLICKING HERE.

Prayer card from a Sister's collection

The February Zoom prayers focused on a quote from Mother Harriet Monsell. (CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

ASSOCIATE AND OBLATE NEWS
 
Our Online Prayer Team is trying a new format for our monthly prayers on Zoom. The prayers now include a reflection with time for discussion in small groups. All are welcome at our monthly prayers. Check our events page for upcoming dates, and email CSJB Oblate Pat MacKenzie at [email protected] to register. 

Our next Oblate retreat is on March 13. Please email Oblate Pat MacKenzie at [email protected] to register. The retreat will be led by the Rev. James Warnke.
 
Our next Associate retreat is April 24 and will be led by Sister Eleanor Francis, who is presenting a program on Peace Pilgrim. For more information, please go to our Events page or email Oblate Pat MacKenzie at [email protected] to register. 

We received news from the Rev. Phil Carr-Jones that our longtime CSJB Associate Ethel Dennis died on February 12. Ethel’s friend Cate Mattison says “My lifelong childhood friend has a connection to the convent. In 1928, her grandmother died and her grandfather put his 6 daughters in the care of the sisters there. When we had our last retreat there, I brought a gift from the family, and they remembered them.  The last of the Dennis sisters passed today, Ethel, known as Ellie.” Ethel and her five sisters were residents of St. Marguerite’s Home for Girls and St. Anna’s Home for Girls – both here on the Convent property. We hope that Ethel’s family will visit us when it is safe to travel again.

Ethel Dennis (L) with author Valerie Bonham at CSJB for Cornerstone Day in 2013

Sister Mary Lynne with one of her tiny handmade prayer quilts

NUN BETTER NEWS
 
We’ve had several buyers for our hand-made necklaces and bracelets in our Nun Better shop on Etsy, and now we’re pleased to announce that we’re adding some new items. Sister Victoria Michelle’s handmade Anglican Rosaries and Sister Mary Lynne’s handmade mini prayer quilts will be added soon.
CLICK HERE to see what’s in the shop.

R.I.P. FRED BONHAM
 
On Feb. 16, our dear friend Fred Bonham died at his home in Wells, England with his wife Valerie by his side. Fred and Valerie had been married for 49 years, and they tirelessly supported each other’s spiritual and vocational paths. Their family includes a daughter, Louise, grandchildren Jack and Jess, and great-granddaughter Jecca. ​

​Valerie has written several books about CSJB and is working on a new one entitled Second Spring. We will all miss Fred until we meet again.

Fred Bonham (L) with Valerie Bonham at their home in England. Photo by Sister Margo Elizabeth

The Garden of Hope during summer

THE CSJB GARDEN OF HOPE
From Sister Linda Clare:
​
It is the time of year for the gardeners at CSJB to start thinking about the Garden of Hope. Supporters from the larger community, especially the Church of the Messiah in Chester, are also gearing up to help. Our one problem is the snow. It does not look like the peas will be planted on St Patrick’s Day this year.

The Garden of Hope has been one of our ministries for over 10 years. During that time, we have donated hundreds and hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to our local food pantries.

​Last year we began a cooperative effort with the Sharing Project which was founded by local high school students.

The students tend many gardens in the area and their goal is to provide fresh produce to families who would otherwise not have access to it. 

The Garden of Hope has been serving local food pantries for over 10 years.

This year we have also joined Good News Gardens sponsored by the Episcopal Church USA. They are a wonderful source for information and education about community gardens. The years have taken their toll on our garden and we need to replace the framing around the individual beds. The estimated cost of $1800 is in addition to our usual expenses for seeds, plants, compost, and fertilizer.  A GoFundMe page has been set up to help fund the bedding project. The link to that is https://gofund.me/4f1685cb. Or donations may be made directly to the Community. On the memo line please indicate “Garden of Hope”.
​
We will keep you posted on our progress throughout the season. God Bless.
​

Click on the image above to view the "Women in the Shadows" Lenten course on the Clewer Initiative website.

CSJB ENGLAND
 
The Clewer Initiative, which was founded by our Sisters in England and the Rt. Rev. Alastair Redfern, is offering a five-week Lenten course called “Women in the Shadows” to educate the public about the fight against human trafficking. You may view the course resources by CLICKING HERE and download the entire course by CLICKING HERE.

​In their ongoing efforts to connect CSJB with the anti-trafficking movement in the U.S., Sister Pamela and Sister Monica Clare have been attending online panels and workshops to seek ways of partnering with existing organizations. On Feb. 8, they attended an educational workshop with Thistle Farms, a program that gives housing, employment, and resources to survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. The nationwide program is based in Nashville, and it was founded 25 years ago by Episcopal priest Becca Stevens. We Sisters hope to find a path to partnership with Thistle Farms, as their work perfectly embodies the dreams of our Mother Foundress Harriet Monsell and ties in with the mission of the Clewer Initiative.

Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms.

Jennie with her friend Buddy.

SNOW ON SNOW
 
Mendham, NJ made the national and international news when the blizzard on Feb. 1 dumped 30 inches of snow upon us.

​We’ve had several snowstorms since then, and Jennie and her friends Buddy and Riley have been wondering when they’ll find patches of grass again.
 

A short video of the aftermath of the first big snowstorm of February.

​

LOOKING AHEAD

CENTERING PRAYER
Every Thursday from 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM On Zoom
​
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. ​

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MENDHAM AREA FAITH LEADERS
​LENTEN SERIES
​Wednesdays during Lent on YouTube

Each year during Lent, 7 area religious organizations get together every Wednesday at noon to share a brief worship service and light soup lunch.  Due to the COVID restrictions, we’ll be providing these services on YouTube.
 
A different local pastor or a religious community leader leads the worship. each week.

Schedule for Lent 2021:
2/17 - Grace Lutheran 
2/24- Brookside UCC
3/3 - Hilltop Presbyterian
3/10- St. Mark's Episcopal/St. John Baptist Convent
3/17 - St. Joseph's RCC
3/24- United Methodist Church
3/31 - Grace Lutheran
 
The YouTube link for the services is here:
https://youtu.be/0W18UE770xA

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YAD B' YAD ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
​DIALOGUE SERIES
Dates: Wednesdays: February 17, March 3, and March 17
Time: 7:30 - 8:45 pm EST (4 - 5:45 pm PST)
Cost: Pay-what-you-can
Led by: Rabbi Deb Smith, Sister Eleanor Francis, and Dr. Shabiha Sheikh
 
Join ALEPH for a brand new Yad b' Yad Abrahamic Faiths Dialogue Series, an opportunity for immersive, interfaith learning at the intersection of the Abrahamic traditions. This program is perfect for curious seekers hoping to expand their knowledge of Judaism's sister faiths and build relationships with Christians and Muslims.
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS DIALOGUE SERIES

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KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST
Hosted by the Church of the Messiah –
​March 5 - 10 AM - Noon

Retreat led by Sr. Victoria Michelle
Whatever your present circumstances may be, my earnest prayer is that somehow in this time together you can discover how amazing your life in Christ is meant to be! May you experience God doing in you and through you what only God can do.

Please email the Rev. Margaret Otterburn at [email protected] to register for this event.​

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LENTEN QUIET DAY
Hosted by St. Elizabeth's Church in Ridgwood
​March 5 - 10 AM - Noon
 
Sister Monica Clare will be leading a quiet day focused on re-framing the ideas of sin and repentance. The event is hosted by St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ridgewood and goes from 10 AM to noon. All are welcome. Please contact St. Elizabeth’s Assistant Rector Cathy Quinn at [email protected] to register for the quiet day. If you’d like to attend both of the March 5 events, please email [email protected] to ask if one of ​

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EARTHCARE, 11th HOUR! - A Greenfaith Event
March 11 at 11:00 AM on Zoom

The Church of St. Luke and St. Mary in Hope/Belvidere will participate in Sacred People, Sacred Earth, a GREENFAITH event celebrating creation and advocating for the care of creation, especially Climate Care, on March 11 at 11 AM. We are calling our action “Earth Care, 11th Hour!” Sisters of the Community of St. John Baptist will be joining in this service.
 
We would like to invite congregations in our area of New Jersey to join this ZOOM environmental gathering. Also encouraged but not necessary—ringing of bells at 11:00 AM, making a sign and taking a selfie for posting on social media, noise makers-take videos and post.(
 
GREENFAITH is an international, interfaith organization which began in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. It has grown way beyond NJ and the Episcopal Church. 
 
If you would like to join the St. Luke/St. Mary initiative, please contact the Rev. Fain Webb at email: [email protected]  or 201-317-6663 as soon as possible. Each attending faith tradition is invited to read a passage of scripture or a prayer for creation or sing a song—all on ZOOM! (but please check with Mother Fain first).
 
The Rev. Fain Webb will send you a link to the ZOOM event by March 4.

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​JOIN US FOR PRAYER ON ZOOM
Friday, March 12
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern time.
 
The community of St. John Baptist invites you to meet on Zoom on the second Friday of each month for a half-hour prayer service for comfort and strength during these difficult times.

Please email Oblate Pat McKenzie for the Zoom info. at:
[email protected]
​
Let’s join together to pray for ourselves, our neighbors, our church, and the world.​

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SPECIAL ZOOM PROGRAM FOR CSJB ASSOCIATES
Saturday, April 24 1:00-3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
 
PEACE PILGRIM:
An American Woman who walked more than 25,000 miles for peace.
She walked alone and penniless and with no organizational backing.
 
Led by Sr. Eleanor Francis
Suggested donation: $65 (pay what you can)
Send to Community of St. John Baptist
P.O. Box 240
Mendham, NJ  07945
Payment may be made by check or through PayPal
To register, contact Pat McKenzie at [email protected] or 973-769-1461

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BECOMING A WOMAN OF PURPOSE
Saturday, May 22,  10 a.m. - 12 Noon  

​All of us wonder all one time or another who we are and why we are here. The truth is that we are created by God in his image, and our fulfillment is found in pursuing His purposes for us.
Join us as we try to better understand God's intended purposes for us as His people and for you as His unique creation.

Retreat led by Sister Victoria Michelle. 
​All participants are asked to bring a Bible, pen and paper to the retreat.

Cost $20 - send to Community of St. John Baptist, P. O. Box 240, Mendham NJ 07945.
Payment may be made by check or through PayPal.

To register contact CSJB Associate Pat McKenzie:  email [email protected]
Please place May 22 Retreat in the email subject line.

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CELTIC JOURNEYS
Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, many of our 2021 Celtic Journeys were canceled, but please contact us for information on future trips!
 
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]

CLICK HERE FOR OUR CSJB EVENTS PAGE

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​PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR

All who are suffering from COVID, and for all who have died from COVID.
For all healthcare workers and other essential workers. 
For our Searchers who are discerning a call to the Religious life,
​For the Clewer Initiative, and for our Sisters in England,

Andy
Annette
Anthony
Bill and Carol,
Carolyn and Bruce
​Cecila's family
Chase
Chris
Sam and her children
Claire
Daniel,
Dean
Doug
Erin
Geri and family
Greg and Pat,
Heather
Helen
Honor
Hugh
India
Ingrid
James
Janet
​Jarad and Monica

Jay
Jean
Jeanette
Jennifer
Jess
Jessica and Brendan
Jim
Joanna
Joseph
John
John and Family
Jon
Joyce
Judith
Juli and Gil
Julian
Kamala
​Kia
Lana
Larry
Lee
Linda and PauL
Linda Lee
​Margaret
​​Margaret and family

Maria
Matthew
Maureen and Donald,
Michael
Michelle,
Myles
Myram,
Nicole
Norman
Patrick
Patty
Phoebe
Rebecca and her family
Shane
Sheila
Sister Barbara Jean
​Stephanie
Sully
Suzanne
The family of Mary Flood
Tiffany
Tommy
Virginia
Warren

We pray especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed,
 
We would be honored to pray for you. Please email [email protected] with any prayer requests

Drone photo by the Rev. Cynthia Black, DD

​OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO:
All who have responded so generously to our Reaching Out appeal letter.
​Our many helpers, volunteers, and those who encourage us
​All our CSJB Oblates, Associates, Alumnae, and friends, and:

Magdalena Aders
Peter J. Arney and George W. Jordan III
Donna Aubel
Barbara Barbeau
Joe Boney
Christine Brodeur
The Rev. Deacon Cathy Brunson
Chris Chrystal and Myram Borders
Julie Crawford
Hans Dekker and the Hyde and Watson Foundation
Rosina B. Dixon
Margaret Dohnalek
Mary Donovan
Gerrie Dressler
Lorraine Emanuel
Kay & Frank Failla
Joanne Foster
Susan Fuller and family
​Bill and Gay Grier

Elizabeth S. Halpin
Jane Hayden
​Father Joe Hennen
Margaret Johnson
​Bradley Kalos
Judi Kerr
​The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby and family
Linda Lee Mundy
Janet Maulbeck and Interweave
Patrice and Doug McKenzie
Jane and Peter Mercer
Connie Moore
Jan Paxton
Judy Picciano
Susan and Joseph Pigott
Jack and Penny Rohrbach
Ed Roworth
Juli Towell
Joannah Wilmerding

The S.A.D. Foundation
The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes
The Rev. Kevin Coffey
The Rev. Cynthia L. Black, DD and the people of the Church of the Redeemer
The Rev. John A. Rollins
The Rev. Lorna Erixson and the people of St. Mark’s Mendham
The Rev. Margaret Otterburn and the Church of the Messiah
The Rev. Victoria McGrath and the people of All Saints Millington
The Rev. Anne C. Thatcher and the people of St. Peters Morristown​

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 11 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
 

​YOUR LEGACY

Drone photo of the CSJB Cemetery by the Rev. Cynthia Black, DD

Iron bench outside the CSJB Main Chapel after the blizzard in February

Drone photo of the CSJB Main Chapel by the Rev. Cynthia Black, DD

Would you like to include CSJB in your estate planning?

If you’d like information on how to arrange a legacy gift, please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] or call 973-543-4641 ext. 2.
 
The majority of our buildings, chapel furnishings, Convent and Retreat House furnishings, and ongoing ministry funds were made possible through legacies. It is mainly through the kindness of legacy donors who believed in our mission that we have carried forward the plans of the Holy Spirit for our Community from 1852 to the present time.

The restoration of the Convent in 1960 was made possible by a legacy gift. Before that gift, the Sisters lived at St. Marguerite's for ten years because the Convent repairs were too expensive to undertake.
 
Your planned giving would help to ensure that the dreams of our Mother Foundress, to continually address "the needs of the day," will live on into the future. We welcome gifts for specific purposes and ministries, for our Capital Campaign to restore and repair our sacred space, or for the general operating fund of the Convent and Retreat House where we welcome an average of 2,000 visitors per year.