NORTHERN VALLEY AREA, N.J.—A group of Episcopal Churches in northeastern Bergen County, known as District 9, will celebrate their ministries through worship, music and the launch of the group’s annual fundraising campaign for Lent 2020.
The group’s first-ever joint Service of Readings and Hymns for the Epiphany Season will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Englewood. During the service, a free-will offering to support the ministry of North Porch Women & Infants’ Centers will be accepted at the doors. A festive reception will follow.
Reflecting the many talents and diverse backgrounds of the parishioners in its member churches, the District 9 service will feature instrumentalists and a combined choir under the leadership of Mark Trautman, Music Director at St. Paul’s and Missioner for Music and the Arts for the Diocese of Newark. The readings and music, including offerings in both Korean and Spanish, will tell the story of the season that celebrates the birth and baptism of Jesus, the launch of his ministry and his transfiguration.
The Rev. Lynne Bleich Weber, rector of Church of the Atonement in Tenafly and Convener for District 9, will preside at the service, and the Rev. William Allport III, rector of St. Paul’s, will preach.
“Many of the churches in our District already support their own outreach efforts as well as other local charities with food, goods and monetary donations throughout the year. District 9’s Lenten campaign has evolved over the years into an effort by each of our congregations to go above and beyond their normal giving, raising $500—or more—per parish. Those combined monies go toward a common goal and reinforce our unity as church. This year, we have chosen North Porch as our beneficiary,” said Rev. Weber.
Financial contributions to the campaign may be made through any of the 11 District 9 parishes until Easter, which falls on April 12 this year.
North Porch is a 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the Community Food Bank of Northern New Jersey. The first North Porch center was incorporated in 1984 in Newark, N.J., by the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Newark. Today, through its centers in Newark, Paterson and Dover as well as satellite centers in Hackettstown, Morristown and Jersey City, the organization remains dedicated to helping fill the gap in emergency situations when needy families are displaced or have shortfalls in their budget. Referred by social service agencies and religious organizations, North Porch clients are able to visit up to four times a year and at each visit receive one week’s essential supply of diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and toiletries.
District 9 is one of ten regional groups in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Participating churches include All Saints’ Episcopal Korean Church/Bergenfield, Church of the Annunciation/Oradell, Church of the Atonement/Tenafly, Grace Church/Westwood, Church of the Holy Communion/Norwood, Holy Trinity Church/Hillsdale, St. Matthew’s Church/Paramus, St. Paul’s Church/Englewood, St. Andrew’s Church/Harrington Park, St. Luke’s Church/Haworth and St. Paul’s Church/Montvale. In addition, All Saints Church/Leonia will support District 9’s joint fundraising effort. Check out District 9’s page: facebook.com/District9Churches.
