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The Deacons Episcopal Diocese of Newark Vol. 1 December 2009

Deacon Kathleen Ballard Honored for Prison Ministry CONGRAGULATIONS to the Rev. Kathleen Ballard, Deacon, who was honored by the Board of Trustees of Offender Aid and Restoration of Essex

County for her work with young children of incarcerated mothers. She received the 2009 Humanitarian Award. For years, Kathleen has been a faithful teacher, and contributor to the design and improvement of the Saturday program "Learning by Experience". She also holds the position of Treasurer for the Prison Ministry Committee. Deacon Kathleen Ballard serves at House of Prayer in Newark.

Deacons Retreat at Convent St. John Baptist: The Deacons of the Diocese of Newark attended an overnight spiritual retreat at the Convent of St. John Baptist on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3rd. The deacons stayed at St. Marguerite’s Retreat House. The Reverend Laurie Matarazzo was the facilitator for the retreat. Some of the deacons walked the labyrinth on the premises (some for the first time); the food is incredibly delicious and plentiful. For some, following the monastic prayers was reason enough to be present.

Deacon Kathleen Ballard accepting the award.

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WARM WINTER GIVE AWAY

What Can You Do When You Mix Two Deacons with 20 University Students? Make a Difference “I have 20 students who want to make a real difference … and they are available on Saturday, November 7 between 10 – 2. Can you use them? “ . If Tom Russomano Volunteer Coordinator for Seton Hall’s “Service on Saturdays” project knew any Deacons, he would know that you never have to ask this question. On November 7, a group of 20 Seton Hall University students came to House of Prayer parish hall in Newark armed with over 300 coats, sweaters, hats, scarves and other assorted items they had collected throughout the fall. Deacon Diane Riley helped some students organize the clothing, while Deacon Kathleen Ballard helped a group of students get busy preparing brown bag lunches filled with food provided by The Apostles’ House. By 11:00 we opened the doors to over 150 neighbors and their families who were waiting to come in and partake of the gifts offered. They were not the only ones receiving gifts that day. The warmth, friendship and joy they shared with us – the organizers – made us remember what real community looks like and the hope that happens when we all come together.

Blessing of Motorcycles at Grace in Nutley Archdeacon Deborah Rucki Drake participated in the Blessing of Motorcycles and Holy Roller Run at Grace Episcopal Church in Nutley. The event starts with a Prayer Service and individual Blessing of Motorcycles. There was a motorcycle run sponsored by the Iron Knights and Grace Church. The motorcycle run was followed by a barbecue with music and prizes.

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Deacon Sheila Shuford Deacon Sheila Shuford Deacon Sheila Shuford Deacon Sheila Shuford –––– Chaplain for the Deaf Chaplain for the Deaf Chaplain for the Deaf Chaplain for the Deaf Deacon Sheila Shuford is the second deaf person to become a Deacon in the Episcopal Church USA. Because Sheila was born hearing she is oral. Sheila has been profoundly deaf (no sounds in normal speech range) for over 45 years. For group communication her preferred mode of communication is sign language or CART (computer assisted read time). Sheila completed her CPE training at the Boggs Center in New Brunswick. The Rev. Bill Gavanti was their teacher and it was a great group. It was difficult to find a match for field work. Catholic Deacon Tom Smith helped mentor but many Catholics were leery of a non Catholic Deacon. Sheila served at Dover General in the nursing home unit with a deaf patient. It was mostly the ministry of presence due to her very declining health. She did enjoy prayers and the cookies Sheila brought. An interpreter reminded Sheila of the deaf unit at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital (GPH). The pastoral care director was The Rev. Dr. Howard Whitaker, an Episcopalian. He kept and supported her ministry through education and long awaited ordination. Sheila is employed by the State of NJ as a contractor Chaplain for the deaf patients. This has come to extend to hearing patients with the services of an interpreter. The main challenge is that interpreters are very overscheduled so any work with hearing patients must await its turn. This year Sheila is teaching a small class in Spirituality with hearing and deaf. GPH moved to a new huge building with all units and services under one roof a year ago. Sheila is grateful for the time she spends with staff and patients. Her time there is a gift from God. Deacon Sheila serves at St. James in Hackettstown.

District 7 Ascension Day Service: Deacon Erik Soldwedel and Archdeacon Deborah Rucki Drake participated in the planning of a District 7

Ascension Day Service held at St. Thomas in Lyndhurst. The Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs was the Preacher and The Rev. Kendra McIntosh was the Celebrant.

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The Three Archdeacons Archdeacon for Discernment/Deployment - Peter Jackson Placement: St. John’s in Montclair Archdeacon for Witness - Liz Ostuni Placement: Church of the Good Shepherd, Sussex-Wantage Archdeacon for Organization & Community-Deborah Rucki Drake Placement: St. Agnes’ in Little Falls .

Christ Hospital, part of the “Miracle on the Hudson ” The life-saving actions of pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 during the plane’s splash landing off Manhattan Jan. 15th are well documented, but lesser known is the fact that the Diocese of Newark’s Christ Hospital also played a role in the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Five passengers from among the 155 survivors were transported to the Jersey City facility at about 5:45 p.m. The three women and two men were treated for hypothermia and the patients were released by about 10 p.m. Hospital President and CEO Peter Kelly said that, when they first learned of the crash, extra emergency room staff and physicians – as well as the hospital’s pastoral-care team– were called into action. Episcopal Deacon Erik Soldwedel of the hospital’s Pastoral Care Department was instrumental in providing counseling and spiritual support for the passengers. “I met some fantastic people grateful to be alive,” said the Rev. Soldwedel. “It was wonderful to be with them and pray with them and see these people come in and all walk out.” The passengers weren’t the only ones spiritually nourished that day; he added “It was one of the most spiritually uplifting things to happen to me.”

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Clergy Conference: Archdeacon Deborah Rucki Drake was a member of the Planning Team for Clergy Conference. The Planning Team developed a theme for the Conference, liturgies and activities. Archdeacon Deborah serves at St. Agnes’ in Little Falls.

The Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann

Monday, October 26 – Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Shawnee Inn, Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA

The Ministry of Consulting – Deacon Erik Soldwedel Since my ordination I have developed a ministry that utilizes my skill set for negotiation, mediation and reconciliation. Congregations have contracted with me to facilitate vestry retreats, mutual ministry and now covenant conversation & development. This ministry grew from my work on Diocesan Council and visitations to different churches in our diocese for “Deacon’s Sunday”. Most people in our diocese are familiar with my career in the Wine and Liquor Industry. In 1982 I was hired by the Kean Administration as a Special Investigator for the Office of Consumer Protection. I spent the next seven years working in the Division of Consumer Affairs where I investigated and prepared several cases for litigation for violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. I was involved in many cases that required extensive mediation and reconciliation for many consumers. There was extensive public speaking and continuing education that has prepared me well for a career in business. This ministry is exciting and a great place to fulfill my Baptismal Covenant. We live in a time of challenges that cause us to examine closely our actions not only to social justice to one another. I encourage all Deacons to offer there skill sets as they expand and explore new ministry. Deacon Erik Soldwedel is Deacon at Christ Hospital in Jersey City.

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Serving as Hospice Chaplain Deacon Lynn Czarniecki

“I was sick and you took care of me.” These words from Matthew 25 are the ones that guide me each day as I visit the sick and dying as chaplain for St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center. My call to diaconal ministry is to bring comfort and hopefully, the presence of Jesus, to those who are sick or suffering. As hospice chaplain I visit people at a difficult time to offer them God’s unconditional love and compassion. It is a great privilege to be allowed to enter into their lives and the lives of their families and friends. I have met so many good and brave

people who have taught me much about faith and love in the face of unrelenting illness and ultimate death.

I am inspired not only by how people deal with their suffering but also with the stories of their lives. Each person has a story to tell; a story worth hearing. There was the couple who was so proud of the small house they had worked so hard to own in Kearny and the tomatoes they grew every summer; the Vietnam vet who needed to come to terms with his actions in war and who achieved reconciliation with God before he died. I remember the WWII vet who had liberated the death camps and who had experienced so much discrimination in the army and was so fearful of his own death and I remember his 90 year old wife who climbed up and down the stairs to care for him. There are the patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias who no longer speak, except when they hear the familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer and say it along with me. These are the stories of ordinary people who, in truth, are very special, each and every one of them. They are you and they are me, and I am blessed to be able to know them.

My hospice job consists of providing spiritual care to patients and families in their homes, in nursing homes and I am the chaplain for a nine bed in-patient unit at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. I listen, validate, pray, administer communion, lay on hands and offer my presence. I advocate when necessary, affirm the dignity of each person, support family members and conduct funerals. I minister to and support the hospice staff offering a listening ear and a spiritual presence as they ease pain and suffering and experience death everyday. Most of all, I try each day to help people feel the presence and peace of God on their own personal journey. Deacon Lynn serves at Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral in Newark.

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Deacon Barbara Harriman The year 2010 will begin Barbara’s seventh year visiting the Essex County Correctional Facility in downtown Newark. Barbara has been taking children from the cities of Newark, Irvington and Orange to share a meal with their Mom's (and occasionally Dad's) and to have a special time with their incarcerated parent, sitting on laps, reading books, sharing a dinner or playing a board game. The first time a child goes with them, the PATCH program of Offender's Aid and Restoration, they cannot believe their eyes! They do not talk to Mother or Dad through a thick plexiglas window but get to sit on their laps for an evening. It's the best thing we can do. Barbara is a member of the Board of Trustees for Offender Aid and Restoration. She is a member of the Commission on Ministry, Diaconal sub-committee, associate at St. John the Baptist Community in Mendham, a member of the Oakland/Franklin Lakes Interfaith Council, a chaplain at Valley Hospital as well as her usual duties at St. Alban's, Oakland concentrating on Pastoral Care and Outreach. Barbara attends as many District Ten functions as time permits. Deacon Barbara serves at St. Alban’s, Oakland/Franklin Lakes.

Editor: Archdeacon Deborah Rucki Drake Contributing Writers: Deacon Diane Riley, Deacon Erik Soldwedel, Deacon Kathleen Ballard, Deacon Lynn Czarniecki, Deacon Sheila Shuford and Deacon Barbara Harriman. .

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Deacons In the Episcopal Diocese of Newark

Deacon Bill Bailey Deacon Kathleen Ballard

Deacon Lloyd Batson Deacon Lynn Czarniecki Deacon James Delaney

Archdeacon Deborah Rucki Drake Deacon Karen Eberhardt

Deacon Jane Ellis Deacon Paul Fitzpatrick

Deacon Barbara Harriman Deacon Jeanette Hile

Deacon Hal Hurley Archdeacon Peter Jackson

Deacon Christine (Chris) McCloud Deacon Joanne O’Neill Archdeacon Liz Ostuni Deacon Lind Phillips Deacon Tom Piccate Deacon Nancy Read Deacon Diane Riley

Deacon Sheila Shuford Deacon Lizabeth Smith Deacon Erik Soldwedel Deacon Herb Tinning