Profile

Table of Contents

Introduction ...............................1Mission Statement ....................2History .......................................3Congregational Description ....4Worship ......................................5Clergy Profile ........................ 6-7Facilities ............................... 8-10Parish Organizations ....... 11-16The Community ............... 17-20Finances ...................................21

Please direct inquiries to:St. Peter’s Episcopal Church215 BoulevardMountain Lakes, New Jersey 07046

Phone: 973-334-4429email: StPeters2@optonline.netwww.StPetersMountainLakes.org

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St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, is a parish of enthusiastic Christians of all ages who gather to worship Jesus Christ and extend His work, meet each other in friendship and fellowship, and work together to carry out the mission, ministries, and outreach of the parish.

This Profile describes St. Peter’s in this, its 95th year. Included are sections on the parish’s mission and ministries, its history and liturgical practices, parish facilities, organizations, programs, and finances. The Profile also presents significant information on the Borough of Mountain Lakes and surrounding communities where many parishioners live.

St. Peter’s parishioners look to follow God’s commandments, broaden their spiritual lives, educate their children in the scriptures and in the liturgy, heritages, and traditions of the Episcopal Church while reaching out to those in need through growing parish outreach programs.

This Profile also seeks to define the needs of the parish and the qualities a rector should bring to St. Peter’s to lead and engage parishioners in living out the challenge of the Gospel.

So may you attain to fullness of being,

the fullness of God himself. Ephesians 3:19

St. Peter’s Church: A Profile

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Our Mission:St. Peter’s exists

to celebrate our Christian faith

through worship, fellowship and the

demonstration of Christian love.

First RectorSecond Rector

Third RectorFourth Rector

Fifth RectorSixth Rector

Seventh RectorEighth RectorNinth Rector

Tenth & Eleventh Rectors

To accomplish this purpose we must:

• Invite and welcome all persons into the warmth and fellowship of the St. Peter’s family.

• Strengthen and support all members of our church family in their daily lives and minister to their needs.

• Create an exciting environment where our common Christian values are shared and taught through worship, through the study of the Bible and through example.

• Reach out to the world around us and demonstrate Christian love, sharing our gifts and talents with our neighbors and those most in need of them.

The Rectors of St. Peter’s Church

The Rev. Canon Guy H. Madera 1924-1926 The Rev. Benjamin Louis Ramsay 1926-1935 The Rev. Dr. Theodore Andrews 1940-1947 The Rev. Ronald H. Rowland 1948-1963 The Rev. Hayward L. Levy 1963-1968 The Rev. Samuel Edwin Purdy 1969-1985 The Rev. Daniel J. Riggall 1987-1990 The Rev. Dr. Patrick R. Close 1991-1997 The Rev. Eric Kimball Hinds 1998-2007 The Revs. Charles and Adele Hatfield 2009-2018

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Soon after the founding of Mountain Lakes as a Planned Residential Community, the Rev. Henry B. Wilson, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in nearby Boonton, observed that the growing community of Episcopalians in Mountain Lakes began to outnumber the Episcopalians of Boonton. Rev. Wilson conferred with Bishop Wilson R. Stearly about the need to establish a parish in Mountain Lakes. In 1919 a site was chosen, and an option taken on the land where St. Peter’s now stands.

In June 1923, St. John’s School, which had earlier moved from Boonton to what is now the Craig School, Mountain Lakes, offered its facilities as a meeting place for church activities. In August the wardens and vestrymen of St. Peter’s Church in Mountain Lakes were elected, thus making it the only church in the Newark Diocese originally organized as a parish, not a mission.

The first service was held in August 1923 in St. John’s School with 90 people attending. St. Peter’s Church was designed by noted architect Fred Wesley Wentworth of Paterson. The cornerstone for the present building was laid in October 1926 and the first service was held in the new church just one year later.

Now in its 95th year, St. Peter’s has been guided by 11 priests, with terms ranging from two to 17 years.

Memorable Milestones at St. Peter’s

1923 - St. Peter’s organized

1926 - Cornerstone laid

1927 - First service in the new church

1955 - Ground breaking for the Parish Hall

1956 - Dedication of the Parish Hall

1960 - Vestry approved the purchase of 221 Boulevard for a rectory and additional classrooms

1964 - Consecration of the church and mortgage burning

1973 - St. Peter’s Golden Jubilee

1981 - Dedication of the Ronald Rowland Garth and Memorial Garden

1998 - St. Peter’s 75th Anniversary

2005 - Landmark Historic Status designation for Mountain Lakes

2017 - Historic slate roof replaced

A History of St. Peter’s Church

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The character of the congregation at St. Peter’s generally reflects the character of the communities it serves. It is moderately conservative in its views toward the liturgy and is outgoing in its reception of newcomers to the congregation. The community and the congregation are well-educated and engaged primarily in professional and managerial occupations with above-average incomes.

The leadership at St. Peter’s is very strong and broad-based, and the congregation is a great source of strength and support for its rector.

Currently about 40% of parish families live in Mountain Lakes. Other parishioners live in neighboring towns in Morris County, such as Boonton, Boonton Township, Denville, Parsippany, Randolph, Rockaway, and Montville. The attendance of parishioners from outside Mountain Lakes has contributed greatly to the growth of St. Peter’s in recent years.

I am the vine, and you the branches. He who dwells in me,

as I dwell in him, bears much fruit;

for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Congregational Description

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St. Peter’s traditional approach to worship is reflected in the use of Rite I at the 8 a.m. Sunday Eucharist which normally draws about 12 communicants.Rite II Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday at the 10:15 a.m. service, with a sermon and a full choir, and portions of the liturgy are sung. Church School children enter the worship service at the Peace and receive Communion with their parents. Attendance at the 10:15 a.m. service averages 70 communicants.

A Family Service on the first Sunday of each month includes a children’s sermon and emphasizes the participation of parish youth in the service.

The character of worship at St. Peter’s falls toward the mid-point between high and low church. This description takes into account a broad range of factors, including architecture, ornamentation, use of the liturgy and style of ritual. During special seasons and festivals, the scheduled services are augmented and modified.

Worship at St. Peter’s

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Discussions in small focus groups and a follow-up survey of both young people and adults prioritized clearly the most important skills a rector should bring to the position at St. Peter’s.

Parishioners prefer that Biblical issues be made relevant to everyday life in the 21st century. The rector should deliver intellectually challenging and thought-provoking sermons and relate the Gospel teachings to current events and church issues.

Young people are an important part of St. Peter’s, and the rector would be expected to place a high priority on youth fellowship that provides a spiritual focus while acknowledging the need for social activities among all children. St. Peter’s youngsters should be actively involved in parish outreach efforts.

The rector is always the spearhead of pastoral care at St. Peter’s, focusing on parishioners who are ill, shut-in or in crisis situations such as death, dying or trauma. The rector can prepare parishioners interested in serving as pastoral caregivers in support of this effort.

Parishioners feel strongly that it is vital to strengthen the Christian education program. It must begin with very young children and continue for parishioners of all ages. The rector should provide leadership in developing teen and adult programs, assuring that the curriculum provides a consistent education program, and training and supporting volunteer teachers.

Preaching

Youth Work

Pastoral Care

Christian Education

Clergy Profile

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Many important causes, both within the parish and in the wider community, have benefited from the strong commitment at St. Peter’s to outreach. The rector’s leadership will be invaluable for the lay people who will be primarily responsible for St. Peter’s extensive outreach efforts.

Outreach efforts have varied over the years due to changes in community needs and in non-profit programs.

Although the rector should provide guidance for many church programs and day-to-day activities, this work should be done within budgetary considerations and in concert with the vestry, parishioners and staff. It is important that some administrative responsibilities be delegated so the rector is able to devote time to other key areas of parish life.

Currently the church employs a parish administrator to work in the church office 20 hours a week, preparing service bulletins, answering phones, maintaining important files, publishing the weekly newsletter and sending e-mail notices as needed.

The rector should act as a mentor and a shepherd in developing opportunities for spiritual change and growth at St. Peter’s as well as encouraging participation in opportunities offered outside the parish. Within the age-old traditions of the Episcopal Church, the rector should teach, guide, lead and set an example as to how God enters into the lives of parishioners at St. Peter’s.

Outreach

Administration

Spiritual Guidance and Theology

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St. Peter’s Church and rectory are on a hillside overlooking one of the town’s lakes. The stone church was completed in 1927 and has beautiful stained glass windows throughout. The sanctuary seats 175 worshipers.

The choir seats 25 and boasts an Estey organ, a three-manual and pedal organ installed in 1927 and rebuilt by the Peragallo Organ Company in 1970. It is regularly maintained. A recent donation from a parishioner is a beautiful baby grand Kawai piano that is used regularly in the liturgical music program.

In 2006 a benefactor left funding in her will to enhance the music of the church. Subsequently new organ pipes were installed under and around the stained glass window behind the altar.

A five-year needlepoint project provided beautiful kneeler and seating covers throughout the sanctuary.

The parish hall, connected to the sanctuary by a small library, can provide seating for nearly 200 people. It consists of a principal common room and has a modest curtained stage. A fully equipped, commercial-size kitchen adjoins the parish hall.

On the main floor of the parish hall are the music office, choir changing room, classroom, a nursery and the parish office. On the second floor are the Rector’s Office, a library and two additional classrooms.

Also in the parish hall there is a Bechstein grand piano which was rebuilt in the late 1980’s.

A Long-term Plan: The Future of

St. Peter’sOur long-term plan

must be continuously updated in light of the

financial realities of maintaining St. Peter’s

historic church building and adjacent grounds

and facilities.

Our Facilities in Mountain Lakes

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The undercroft, located beneath the sanctuary, provides finished space for preschool services and classrooms. During the week this space is rented to the The Academy for Children, a pre-school open to all children from the area. Bathrooms are located throughout the buildings.

Grounds surrounding the church are wooded and landscaped and are regularly pruned and tended. Safety and security are monitored on a monthly basis by the Property Committee. The Ronald Rowland Garth and Memorial Garden is set aside for the burial of cremated remains of parishioners. Parking next to the church provides space for nearly 75 cars.

The rectory, immediately adjacent to the church, is a large, well-maintained three-story home built in the typical “Stickley Craftsman” style of the community. The rectory has seven bedrooms, and three full and three half baths. It has a view of the main lake and it is located conveniently across the street from the bus stop for easy access to the New York bound bus.

The church has just completed a major replacement of the historic slate roof, and the rectory has also been renovated in anticipation of a new rector family. In 2017 a comprehensive fire alarm system was installed throughout the church. The wardens and vestry will continue to evaluate any maintenance needs on an ongoing basis with a careful eye to balancing the upkeep of our historic buildings with sound financial management.

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Historic Preservation Status

In 2005, the Borough of Mountain Lakes applied for and was awarded the designation on the National and State Registers of Historic Places as a “Historic Landmark District”. The primary criterion was its origin as a ‘Planned Residential Community’ and the secondary criterion was its concentration of Craftsman style homes. Through that process both the church building and the rectory enjoy the status of “contributing properties” which has allowed access to funding through the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust.

In 2017 the Church’s 90 year old slate roof was replaced, funded primarily through that trust.

Our Facilities

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VestryThe vestry, with 11 elected members including the senior and junior wardens, meets monthly with the rector. Vestry committees have included Education, Outreach, Parish Life, Worship, Finance, Youth, Stewardship, and Property.

AcolytesCurrently, twelve young men and women from grades 5 – 12 serve as acolytes at St. Peter’s. Each has been or is being confirmed, and takes pride in the training and duties of an acolyte. There are five young acolytes from first to 4th grade. Enthusiastic adults oversee the group. Acolytes act as Crucifer, Gospel book bearer and torch bearers.

Lay MinistryA dedicated group of ten lay ministers reads the lessons at Sunday services, administers the chalice at the Eucharist and leads the congregation in the Prayers of the People.

Altar GuildThere are 22 St. Peter’s women who serve faithfully as members of the Altar Guild. They care for the Altar hangings and linens and work closely with the rector to prepare the sanctuary for worship services. Members assist with baptisms, weddings and funerals, and the Altar Guild is responsible for flower memorials at St. Peter’s.

UshersUshers greet worshipers at each service on Sunday mornings. Fourteen parishioners serve as ushers, each about three or four times a year.

Parish Organizations at St. Peter’s

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Stewardship“We are, in spirit of St. Peter’s, working together to do God’s work.”

At St. Peter’s, the Stewardship Committee has outlined a program of giving that encourages parishioners to support the work that Christ has given them to do through the giving of time, talent and financial resources. Stewardship campaigns encourage parishioners to ask themselves:“What is my relationship to God?” and “What does Stewardship mean to me?”

Pledge solicitations are combined with opportunities for fellowship and dialogue on parish plans and issues.

Music at St. Peter’sSt. Peter’s music program is exceptional. It is led by a paid, professional organist/choirmaster. The senior choir of twelve members leads the 10:15 a.m. service each Sunday. There are paid section leaders along with parishioners, some of whom are also members of the Masterwork Chorus, a well-known choral group that appears annually at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Men’s Breakfast GroupFor several years an enthusiastic group of parish men has gathered one Saturday morning each month for breakfast and fellowship. Men of all ages look forward to these gatherings as opportunities to become better acquainted and discuss issues of mutual interest.

There are varieties of gifts,but the same Spirit. Thereare varieties of service, but

the same Lord. There are many forms of work, but all

of them, in all men, are thework of the same God.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Parish Organizations

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OutreachFor a number of years outreach efforts at St. Peter’s have been a primary focus of parish giving and ministry. Parish outreach is committed “to provide Christian spiritual and financial support in and around our community for those in need. . . . focusing on those most needy where we feel we can have the largest impact.”

Projects change over the years with the needs of the larger community. Projects have included the Boonton Food Closet, Habitat for Humanity, Isaiah House, Hope House in Dover, the Market Street Mission in Morristown, the Eagle’s Nest Camp, Crossroads Camp and Retreat Center, Birth Haven, New Jersey Battered Women’s Association, North Porch, the Cedar Hill CDC (an after-school enrichment program for under privileged children), the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties, the Faith Kitchen in Dover, St. John’s Lunch for the under-served and socially isolated population of Boonton.

Currently St. Peter’s has a special outreach project through the Peace Corps efforts of a parishioner who worked as a volunteer in Mozambique. Through his appeal to our congregation, St. Peter’s has been able to change the lives of three outstanding students by contributing financial support, enabling them to earn their university degrees – one in journalism, one in mathematics, and one who is continuing his medical school studies at Catholic University of Mozambique.

And you, like the lamp, must shed light among

your fellows, so that,when they see the good youdo, they may give praise to

your Father in heaven.Matthew 5:16

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Christian Education There are 21 children enrolled in the Christian education program, which provides instruction for children from age two through the sixth grade. The undercroft program, housed in the lower level of the church, is for children from age two through kindergarten.

Youngsters in grades 1 – 6 attend Sunday school in classrooms in the parish hall. These students enter the 10:15 a.m. service at the Peace and participate in the Eucharist.

The first Sunday of every month is dedicated to Family Sunday at the 10:15 a.m. service, during which music, homily and prayers are adapted to be child-friendly.

Instructional materials for the children’s curriculum have come from a variety of programs throughout the years. The Virginia Theological Seminary Curriculum has been used as well as other programs, including Sparks, Gospel Light, and a customized version of a Sunday School program based in London. These have provided liturgy-based instruction with storytelling and hands-on craft work. Special programs are conducted, and during Advent upper school children prepare a Christmas pageant.

Nursery care is provided every Sunday by paid staff.

Whoever receives one such child in my

name receives me.Matthew 18:5

Parish Organizations

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Youth FellowshipTo serve our young people in junior high and high school, the Rector instituted a youth group called the YACs (Youth at Church). This has been an active program composed of enthusiastic older children supported by parent volunteers and the clergy. The principal activity of this group had been to work with a nationally based program called “Group Mission Trips” through which youth groups from all over the country would undertake a “Mission Trip” to destinations identified by the program as “properties in need”.

The YACs have supported many other church functions throughout the years by helping with the Fish Fry, serving at the Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner as well as hosting a coffee hour. They have enjoyed fellowship activities such as sleep-overs at the Rectory, BBQs at private homes, trips to the movies and other outings.

The Deaf MinistryFor many years St. Peter’s Church had a strong commitment to the deaf ministry. It had been a natural fit for St. Peter’s, which is located across the street from the Lake Drive School, which is a nationally recognized magnet school for the hearing impaired. There had been at least three hearing-impaired families in the St. Peter’s family and signing interpreters were at each service. At this time the ministry is inactive due to the relocation of those families. The program can be reconstructed as needed.

Contribute to the needsof God’s people, and

practice hospitality.Romans 12:13

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Parish Fellowship ActivitiesFellowship activities are an important part of St. Peter’s parish. While there have been various administrative structures to organize fellowship, there is always a strong focus on developing activities that bring the membership together with the warmth of the parish family in a congenial atmosphere. Opportunities are provided whereby parishioners may experience Christian camaraderie, friendship, and fellowship.

The principal focus has traditionally been on coffee hour after the 10:15 service which gives an opportunity for parishioners to catch up with each other and to strengthen relationships. Another important part of coffee hour is to identify and shepherd newcomers into our daily life.

Other activities have been social events that have included cookie exchanges for Christmas, receptions for visiting priests and bishops, and a celebratory reception for the ordination of a member of the parish. Progressive dinners bring parishioners together and newcomer receptions have been organized to welcome new members and shepherd them into the St. Peter’s family.

Fundraising is also an opportunity for developing relationships among parishioners. The Action Auction in the spring is a festive annual event which raises thousands of dollars for the parish, as well as creating lifetime friendships.

Let us then pursuethe things that make

for peace and build up the common life.

Romans 14:19

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St. Peter’s is located in the Borough of Mountain Lakes, and from the beginning of the parish has served the Episcopalians of the borough and the surrounding area. St. Peter’s history has been intertwined with borough activities since inception. Many of the active volunteers in the parish have served the borough government in the same capacity. Parishioners have held appointed and elected positions throughout the years and the rectors participate in the Clergy Council of Mountain Lakes – focusing on issues of mutual support. Our parishioners reside in Mountain Lakes and in various surrounding towns in Morris County.

Mountain Lakes is a small, affluent community of about 4,100 residents characterized by a highly educated professional demographic. It was organized as a Planned Residential Community in 1911, following the Craftsman movement popular at that time. It was chartered as a municipality in 1924 and was designated as a National and State Historic Landmark District in 2005. It contains five lakes and four ponds which provide opportunities for recreation activities like swimming, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and, in winter, ice skating and sledding.

The total area of Mountain Lakes is about three square miles. The Borough is located northwest of the junction of I-287 and I-80 with Route 46, the major east-west commercial route that forms part of its southern boundary. The town is 34 miles west of Manhattan and 7 miles north of Morristown. The New Jersey Transit bus provides transportation to New York and a bus stop is located right across the street from the church. Commuter rail service is served by the Montclair-Boonton line at the Mountain Lakes railroad station.

Our Community

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Education The school system is noted for excellence and enjoys enthusiastic support from the community. Currently, the high school is organized as a sending/receiving district that supports residents of Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township. The Lake Drive School for the hearing impaired serves sending districts throughout northern New Jersey. Once enrolled, many of the hearing impaired students mainstream into the school system of Mountain Lakes and are served by sign language interpreters as necessary. Currently, there are 55 hearing impaired students in the high school who are encouraged to participate in all sports and activities. Hearing students in our school system demonstrate fluency in American Sign Language.

The Craig School , the only private school in the Borough, provides a safe, supportive environment for students in grades 2 to 12 who have learning disabilities.

The several pre-school programs in Mountain Lakes, include The Academy for Children, based at St. Peter’s Church.

Religious Life in the CommunityThe community’s religious life centers around several churches. The Community Church, a United Church of Christ member, was the first church to be organized, in 1911, and St. Peter’s was established in 1923. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Catherine of Siena and the King of Kings Lutheran Church were formed in the 1950s. Additional churches, synagogues, and mosques are located in neighboring towns.

With deep roots and firmfoundations, may you bestrong to grasp, with all

God’s people, what is the breadth of the love

of Christ, and to know it,though it is beyond

knowledge.Ephesians 3:17-19

Our Community

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Morris CountyMorris County has a population of 500,000 and covers nearly 500 square miles. The county supports many parks, golf courses, natural lakes, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and historic Jockey Hollow. Seminaries, colleges and universities such as Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, County College of Morris, St. Elizabeth’s College and the Rabbinical College of America provide a strong intellectual stimulus.

Headquarters for international corporations are now located in Morris County and these businesses provide support and impetus for a lively cultural life.

With New York City to the east, sandy beaches, Atlantic City and the Pine Barrens to the south, and the Kittatinny, Ramapo, Pocono and Catskill Mountains to the north and west, Morris County sits amidst an area rich in resources for a variety of outdoor interests and activities.

Athletics and SportsThe Lakeland Hills Family YMCA provides conditioning, swimming and court activities for all ages. For professional sports fans, the New York Giants and the New York Jets play at the Meadowlands Sports Complex and the Jets Training Center. The New Jersey Devils hockey team plays in Newark, and the Red Bulls soccer team plays in Harrison. There are also five minor league baseball teams with home stadiums in nearby towns.

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HealthcareMountain Lakes is fortunate to be able to take advantage of health care institutions of excellence. St. Clare’s Medical Center is in neighboring Denville. Denville is also home to The Oaks, a continuing care facility. St. Francis Health Resort is a Catholic independent living complex for senior citizens.

Morristown Medical Hospital was recently ranked by US News and World Report as the #1 hospital in New Jersey and nationally for certain specific services.

New York City is home to some of the most highly specialized hospitals in the country including Hospital for Special Surgery, Memo,rial Sloan Kettering, New York Presbyterian Hospital, NYU Langone Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Medical Center, among many others.

Performing ArtsThe beautiful New Jersey Performing Arts Center is in downtown Newark and serves as home for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and is a cultural hub for the entire state. The Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown hosts world-class performers as well as providing performing arts training and Master Classes for young students who demonstrate an interest in many aspects of the performing arts.

Our Community

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For the year 2018 St. Peter’s operating revenue was $250,200, the largest part being total contributions of $173,600, consisting of parishioners’ pledges of $156,000, plus plate offerings of $17,600. Other revenue was from parish organizations and fund-raising events, and rental and investment income. Expenses were $228,300, with clergy and staff substantially lower than normal as our co-rectors departed in January 2018, resulting in clergy services being provided by supply priests and our interim rector. The parish ended the year with a net surplus of $21,900.

At year-end 2018 total assets were $454,200, consisting mainly of St. Peter’s Endowment of $385,800, which is invested in Episcopal Church Foundation funds, $367,600, and a note receivable from St. Peter’s, $18,200.

St. Peter’s operating budgeted revenue for 2019 is $263,100, supported by total contributions of $194,400, consisting of parishioners’ pledges of $182,000, plus other contributions of $13,400. Operating expenses for 2019 are budgeted at $258,000.

The wardens and vestry at St. Peter’s operate in a fiscally conservative manner and work to provide a budget that will best serve to maintain programs and activities, fund outreach and satisfy Diocesan commitments while keeping the parish on a sound financial footing.

Do not store up for yourselves treasure

on earth . . . Store up treasure in heaven . . .

For where yourtreasure is, there will

your heart be also.Matthew 6:19-21

Published 3/2019 • Designed by M.K.Vyff

Financial

And now my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable – fill all your thoughts with these things.Philippians 4:8