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Celebrate The Rev. Dr. Fred Mauger –– August 10

[From Warren Shotto, senior warden at Good Shepherd, Scranton] We are having a celebratory service for The Rev. Dr. Fred Mauger. After many years of service to the Diocese of Bethlehem, having served in many capacities at many of our parishes, Father Fred recently retired from active ministry at the age 85. In recognition of that and as a special thank you from Good Shepherd, we are hosting A Celebration of Thanksgiving for his ministry . The service will take place on Sunday August 10th at three o’clock in the afternoon at Good Shepherd with a dinner to follow in the parish hall.

Father Ron Molrine

By Michael Piovane

This is a story about my first encounter with Fr. Ron after becoming an Episcopalian. It was 20 years ago that Rita and I first worshipped at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. We had been married over a year, just built a home in Macungie, and were looking for an Episcopal church closer to us so that we could become active in the parish.

Bishop Paul names Anne Kitch to Diocesan Staff as Canon for Formation in the Christian Faith

The Rev. Canon Anne E. Kitch, Canon for Christian Formation at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, since 1999, has accepted Bishop Paul Marshall's invitation to become Canon for Formation in the Christian Faith in the Diocese of Bethlehem. She will begin her ministry on Diocesan Staff on August 11. Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow said that Canon Kitch "wants to begin by learning what programs and curricula are used in parishes throughout the Diocese."

Ronald C. Molrine

Father Ron Molrine, 77, died on June 5. Please keep Ron's wife, Char, and their children in your prayers. Father Molrine was a faithful and effective priest in this diocese, serving with distinction at St. Anne's Trexlertown for 21 years until his retirement in 1996. He was the vicar who diligently and faithfully worked with many dedicated parishioners to make the transition from the Grange Hall to the current edifice a reality. He began as vicar in 1975 when the church worshipped at the Grange Hall in Trexlertown. and became the church's first rector in 1984. A memorial Eucharist will be celebrated at St. Anne's on Wednesday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m.

The obituary and a poem by Mother Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril are posted below.

Father Eric Snyder's 50th

On June 24, 1958, the Nativity of John the Baptist, Father Eric Snyder was ordained to the priesthood. He invites you to join with him, with your prayers and your presence, in a 50th anniversary celebration on June 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Apostles Church in St. Clair. With Bishop Paul's permission, Eric tells us, the propers will be those for the Feast of John the Baptist. Bishop Paul will preside. Archdeacon Richard Cluett will preach. Father Ed Erb will be the organist. A reception will follow in the parish hall. There will be a time to reminisce about the past 50 years. Please respond by return email to Eric if you are able to be present.

Sermon at Memorial Service for Henry Pease

Sermon in Loving Memory of the Rev. Henry J. Pease
Given at the Requiem Eucharist
April 19, 2008 in St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre
By the Ven. Richard I. Cluett

[More on Father Pease here]

Precious in the sight of God is the death of his saints. Precious, too, is the life of that saint. Beloved Henry J. Pease is such a one.

What calls to mind a beloved person? When you think about this man, what is it that comes to mind? The life and the death of Henry J. Pease have brought us to this day and to this service. I know some call him Mr. Pease, and that is an honorific, befitting this man. MR. Pease. Others of us know him as Father Pease, or Professor Pease, or Dad or Grampa, or simply as friend, colleague, or neighbor, Henry.

But now that we are here, what comes to mind – what comes to your mind – such a man whose life and death has brought us all here this day? Each of has had our own experience with this extraordinary ordinary man. So what is it for you?

Father Gerns named Canon Pastor to the Bishop

Bishop Paul named Father Andrew Gerns (rector, Trinity Church, Easton) Canon Pastor to the Bishop. He made the announcement during the January 27th celebration at Trinity of Canon Gerns' 25th anniversary of his ordination to priesthood. Download Bishop Paul's announcement below.

Download canon_gerns.pdf

Pray for Father Henry Pease

Please pray for Father Henry Pease, retired rector of St. Paul's, Montrose (1972-98), who for some eight years has served also as priest-in-charge at St. George's, Nanticoke,. Father Pease is undergoing chemo and radiation therapy for cancer of the esophagus. Notes and cards may be addressed to: The Rev. Henry J. Pease,  17 Lake Shore Dr., Tunkhannock, PA, 18657. Henry has held many leadership positions within our diocesan community, including president of the Standing Committee. Many remember Henry's courageous trip to Ecuador in 2000 to rescue three grandsons, then ages 3, 5 and 8. He took them into his home, where he had been living alone, and has cared for them there over the past seven years. An April 2002 Diocesan Life story about that may be downloaded below.

Download 020403a.pdf

Celebrating the Eucharist -- An Invitation

Grace Church, Allentown, will celebrate the publication of Grace rector Patrick Malloy’s new book, Celebrating the Eucharist (Church Publishing, 2008). A special celebration of the Eucharist will take place at Grace on Sunday, January 20, at 4:00 p.m. Barbara Crafton will preach. Clay Morris, liturgical officer of the office of liturgy and music of the Episcopal Church, and Frank Tedeschi, executive editor of Church Publishing will be in attendance. Eucharist will be followed by a reception including hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and dinner. You are invited. Download the invitation below.

Please RSVP by January 10 to Robert House, parish administrator, by email or at 610-435-0782. Leave a message in Bob's voice mail, extension 200, if you do not reach him directly.

In the preface of his book, Father Malloy writes: “Annie Dillard famously wrote that Sunday congregations are like children with chemistry sets mixing up batches of TNT. They are blind to the power they hold … For six years, the people of Grace Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania, have realized that they were dealing with explosives, and they have handled them carefully. They have worked to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist with as much authenticity as they can muster, recognizing what is at stake.”

More info below.

Download 080105.Celebrating the Eucharist.The story that wrote the book.pdf

Download 080120.Invitation.pdf

Find more info about the book here.

Honesdale calls Father Ed Erb

The Rev. Edward K. Erb of Hamlin has been called as rector of Grace Church in Honesdale. Rector of St. John’s Church in Hamlin since 1998, he assumes his new duties January 1. Download more info and a photo below.

Download honesdale_calls_father_ed_erb.pdf