Dear Visitor to our Site,

By the grace of God I am the priest at Saint John's Church in Passaic, New Jersey. Greetings.

Background:

From its founding in 1859 St. John's continues to proclaim the good news to everyone that God loves us and sent Jesus Christ to draw us close to Him. It voices that gospel within traditional Anglo-Catholic worship that particularly appeals to the sensibilities of many people. Those people search out Anglo-Catholic churches since there's probably not one in their own neighborhood. Therefore, such churches tend to draw regionally.

This is a parish of the Diocese of Newark and the Episcopal Church, the American branch of the Anglican Communion. For those of you unfamiliar with the worldwide Anglican Communion, it is a confederation of national churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Those churches, their dioceses and the parishes within those dioceses enjoy substantial degrees of independence.

1Generalizations about the Episcopal Church are usually flawed. For example, you may be aware of happenings in parts of the Episcopal Church that please some and not others. At Saint John's we're rather preoccupied with the Gospel, the sacraments and the care of souls. We worship traditionally, and we enjoy solid relations with our bishop and diocese. We thank God that Saint John's is happily managing its affairs well and is growing.

Initial impressions for the first time visitor:

Saint John's is housed in a Norman Gothic stone building with a bell tower and various wings, protrusions and entrances. It is large enough to be impressive, while yet small enough to feel intimate. The present facilities have evolved since the cornerstone was laid in 1894. Although the main entrance appears to be on Passaic Avenue, the one normally used is the one on Lafayette Avenue, closest to Passaic Avenue. The other entrance on Lafayette accesses the Parish House, where offices and meeting rooms can be found.

If you're a traditional Catholic Christian you'll probably feel quite at home when you enter our church. If you're a seeker, new in the faith, or if you are very Protestant by background, then maybe you'll appreciate the following introduction. All of the intricate and artful expressions here are offered as a form of worship to our Living Lord and to honor the Saints.

1After entering the Lafayette Avenue door you will come into the rear of the church. You may bless yourself by making the sign of the cross with holy water, or you might just whisper a prayer of thanks. There's usually a faint smell of incense, symbolic of the prayers of God's people. Daylight streams through the many stained glass windows that tell biblical stories and about the life of Christ, the saints and the Church.

Look down the main aisle and past the choir area. The High Altar rests prominently against the front wall. Behind it is a large crucifix, the image of the crucified Jesus, along with statues of Mary, John, Peter and Paul. On the altar are six large candlesticks and the tabernacle where the Reserved Sacrament, the previously consecrated Bread of the Holy Eucharist, is kept. Some pray before the Blessed Sacrament. (The adornments of the church aren't about us. They honor God's Word, Presence and Spirit.) The sanctuary lamp burns before the tabernacle, as do seven other lights which symbolize the seven spirits and complete power of God.

The Lady Chapel and a shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham lie to the right of the nave. You could pause here to light a votive candle and pray. Panning still further right you will see the Chapel of Christ the King, the baptismal window and (behind a column) the baptismal font.

Saint John's looks, feels (and smells) like a traditional Anglo-Catholic church. Everything in it has been lovingly maintained as befitting sacred space. It is a "house of prayer for all people." (Isaiah 56:7.)

Sunday Masses:

The Holy Eucharist, also called the Mass, is celebrated and the Bible is preached at every Sunday morning service, as well as on selected holy days.

All our senses are connected in worship. The Holy Spirit uses the beauty of what we see, the sounds of music and word, the smell of incense, the tactile reality of the prayer books in our hands and the taste of the Bread and Wine in the Communion. These parts of traditional Catholic worship work together to sustain us in the faith as individuals and as community.

1The 8:00 am Low Mass is usually at the altar of the Chapel of Christ the King. While efficient to meet the needs of those having little time, this Mass is nonetheless very reverent. You can hear the summary of the 10:30 am sermon there. Like its longer version, it relates Holy Scripture to our lives. Please don't disappear afterwards until the priest has had the pleasure of greeting you. (He promises not to dawdle!)

1At the later Sung Mass at 10:30 am, sit in the pew of your choice. The many vested participants in the service range from priest to acolytes and choir. Word, liturgy and music, blend together in a sacred choreography that seeks to offer God the best worship we humans can perform. It is a rich experience of prayer, steeped in centuries of tradition, yet still speaking to us today in our hearts and in our intellect.

If you are a baptized Christian from any part of Christ's Church (or currently no church) and believe that Jesus is present in the Holy Communion, then you are invited to receive the Blessed Sacrament at Saint John's. Anyone not yet baptized is invited to come to the altar rail for a blessing. (You may fold your arms across your breast to indicate that desire.)

1From September through June, concurrent with the 10:30 am Mass, Church School meets in the Parish House for a brief class geared to young children. Children may prefer to attend this small but growing Sunday School, returning to the church at the midpoint of the service and allowing them to come forward for a blessing at communion time.

1After announcements and closing everyone is invited to attend a nice coffee hour in the Parish House.

Parish life:

DON'T FORGET TO FILL OUT A VISITOR'S CARD AND SAY "HELLO." You'll find a visitor's card in your pew. Part of our care of souls is to welcome people into our parish life. Whatever talents or interests you might have, there's probably something happening at Saint John's that fits. If your interest is not listed on the welcome card please write it in.

1Things run rather happily and well here. We support as many outreach projects as we can with our existing people and resources. When one considers our Thrift Shop, Christian education, social events, property management, youth events, evangelism work, liturgical efforts, or music program, one can see that there are many opportunities for participation and leadership.

1Invitation:

If our Anglo-Catholic worship and welcome seem to resonate with your spiritual needs, then we particularly invite you to Saint John's. We are here for Our Lord, for each other, and to bring the Gospel of God's love to those who need it so very much. You should know that you will be well received. Saint John's is a blend of beautiful cultures because no one is outside "the reach of Christ's saving embrace." If you might relate better to a more contemporary or other kind of worship, then we encourage you to pursue it. We pray that you will find strength in your faith in God and real companionship in that faith.

1Yours faithfully in Christ,

Father William Thiele +