IPC IMMIGRATION FUND

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." – Leviticus 19:33-34

The Episcopal Church on Staten Island supports our immigrant neighbors. In light of the difficulties faced by many immigrant communities in the current climate, we have established an Immigrant Support Fund to assist detained immigrants and their families.

If you know someone who needs help, you can request a grant of up to $150 to assist with the payment of a bill (groceries, utility payments, medication, toiletries, cell phone, transportation) or $30 towards commissary and/or phone calls for people in immigration detention. Referrals must be made by an IPC delegate (clergy or lay) or warden.

Please send these requests to info@ipcsi.org with the subject line "Immigration Fund Request."

To make a donation to this fund, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000, please mail a check payable to "Richmond Inter-Parish Council" to Richmond Inter-Parish Council; attn: ISF; 1333 Bay Street; Staten Island, NY 10305.

Celebrating Our Graduates

To the Christ Church New Brighton Community, as the academic year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to shine a bright light on a very special group of people in our community. Congratulations to all of our graduates!

Whether your graduate is stepping up from elementary school, finishing middle school, turning the page on high school, earning a college degree, or completing a career-focused certification program—we see their hard work, and we are celebrating right alongside them.
Every milestone achieved represents countless hours of dedication, resilience, and growth.

To our graduates: we are incredibly proud of who you are and everything you have accomplished. We cannot wait to see where the future takes you and how you will use your unique gifts to shape the world.

Please join us in offering them our warmest congratulations, our prayers, and our blessings for the exciting journey ahead.

Cheers to the Class of 2026!

Announcements

Coffee Hour

Join us in the Guild Room for a hosted coffee hour after Sunday's service. Enjoy light refreshments, fellowship, and conversation. All are welcome.

Christ Church Transition Update

We warmly invite you to join us during the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, June 14, 2026, for an update on Christ Church New Brighton's transition. We hope you will be with us as we share where we are in this season of transition.

Summer Service Schedule Update

With summer around the corner, please note that beginning Sunday, June 28th, we will transition to our summer worship schedule. There will be ONE Sunday service at 9:00 a.m. throughout the summer season. We look forward to worshiping together, and thank you for your flexibility as we move into our summer schedule.

Bulletin Announcement FYI

Please note that any requests to include announcements in our weekly bulletin MUST be submitted to the Parish Office by 12:00 noon on Wednesday before the service. (For example, announcements for the Sunday, May 24, bulletin must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20, or earlier.) Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

IPC Picnic Donations & Volunteers Needed: Calling all volunteers!

As we prepare for the Annual IPC Picnic on Sunday, June 7, 2026, all IPC churches have been asked to contribute items for the event. Donations of appetizers, main courses, salads, desserts, cases of canned soda, and water are greatly appreciated. We are also looking for volunteers to assist with set-up and help during the picnic beginning at 11:30 a.m.
If you can donate an item or volunteer your time, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Parish Office. Thank you for helping make this community gathering a wonderful celebration for all!

Community Good Episcopal Federal Credit Union Opportunity:

Following the recent visit from Community Good Episcopal Federal Credit Union, we are pleased to extend this opportunity to the members and families of Christ Church New Brighton, as well as the Staten Island Episcopal Church community, who may be interested in opening an account. Representatives from the credit union will be at Christ Church on Sunday, June 7, 2026 — the same day as the IPC Picnic — to assist with account sign-ups and answer any questions you may have regarding financial planning, savings opportunities, and other banking services.
If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with the Parish Office at 718-727-6100 to RSVP so we may plan accordingly.

Credit Union Membership Sign-Up Event – What to Bring

We're excited to offer on-site membership enrollment. To make the process smooth, please ask attendees to bring:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, US or foreign passport, IDNYC)
• Their Social Security Number (or ITIN)- we do not need the physical card
• A small opening deposit (cash or check; we have a one-time $5 ownership share fee)
• A recent utility bill or official mail (only if current address is different from ID)

If opening a joint account, all applicants should be present with their ID and Social Security information.

Prom Dress Donation

Prom season is a special time of celebration, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help make it memorable for someone in our community. We currently have two prom dresses available at no cost for any graduate in need:
• Navy Blue – Size Large
• Fuchsia – Size Medium
These dresses are being offered free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. If you or someone you know could benefit from this gift, don't hesitate to get in touch with Alleida Mitchell at 917-834-8727 or the Parish Office for more information. Let's work together to support and celebrate our graduates during this exciting season!

Episcopal Diocese

Stay connected with everything happening in the Episcopal Diocese of New York! Whether you're looking for upcoming community events, soulful prayer resources, Morning Prayer w/Bishop Heyd, or the latest diocesan news, our website is your go-to hub. Discover new ways to engage with your faith and your neighbors—visit at dioceseny.org.

June is Pride Month, a time when The Episcopal Church joins communities across the country in celebrating the dignity, joy, and belovedness of LGBTQ+ people. Throughout this month, Episcopal churches mark Pride with prayer, worship, public witness, and acts of welcome, giving thanks for the gifts of LGBTQ+ members in the life of the Church. Leaders such as The Rev. Cameron Partridge, Bishop Bonnie Perry, and The
Very Rev. Tommy Dillon offer just a few examples of the faithful witness of members of the LGBTQ+ Episcopal family,
whose ministry has helped strengthen the church's commitment to justice, welcome, and full inclusion. As we celebrate Pride, we also give thanks for them—and for so many others—who continue to help The Episcopal Church grow in love, courage, and belonging for all God's people.

Bishop Bonnie Perry of Michigan has been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ inclusion in The Episcopal Church. She co-founded the Chicago Consultation in 2007, helping support major church actions for full inclusion, and during Pride Month 2025 she preached and taught in Dublin about the church's journey toward LGBTQ+ equality.

The Rev. Cameron Partridge, rector of St. Aidan's in San Francisco, is a prominent trans Episcopal leader and preacher. In 2025, he preached at The Episcopal Church's opening Pride Eucharist, calling the church to celebrate queer and trans people as beloved by God and to remain visible in support of LGBTQ+ people.

The Very Rev. Tommy Dillon, rector of St. Margaret's in Baton Rouge and the Diocese of Louisiana's first openly gay priest, has offered a strong witness of welcome and healing. In 2024, he preached at a Pride Mass in New Orleans, encouraging churches to be places where LGBTQ+ people can worship with "no fear or shame."

Pride Month in The Episcopal Church is both a celebration and a commitment. It is a time to give thanks for the faith, leadership, and witness of LGBTQ+ people, while continuing the church's work of welcome, justice, and full inclusion. As Episcopalians mark Pride in worship and public life, the church affirms that all people are created in God's image and beloved by God.

Reflection on the Gospel for Pentecost II

 - By The Rev. Terrence Buckley

The calling of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) is one of the most striking scenes in the Gospel.  Matthew is not found in the synagogue or among the respectable and religious.  He is seated at a tax booth, engaged in a profession despised by many of his fellow Jews.  Yet Jesus passes by, looks upon him, and simply says, "Follow me."  Matthew rises and follows.

What is remarkable is that Jesus does not first demand an explanation, an apology, or evidence of repentance.  The call itself becomes the beginning of Matthew's transformation. Christ sees not merely what Matthew is, but what he may become. The tax collector becomes an apostle, an evangelist, and ultimately a saint.

This moment is captured with extraordinary power in the painting The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio. The scene is set not in the first-century world of Jesus, but in what appears to be a seventeenth-century tavern. A shaft of light enters from the right, following the hand of Christ as He points toward Matthew. The darkness of the room symbolizes a life enclosed in worldly concerns, while the light represents divine grace breaking into ordinary existence.

One of the painting's most compelling features is Matthew's gesture. He points to himself as if to ask, "Me?"  The expression captures the surprise of every Christian vocation. God's call often comes not to those who consider themselves worthy, but to those who are astonished to be chosen.

Matthew's question is our question. Why would Christ call me?  Yet the Gospel's answer is simple:  because He loves us and desires us for His service.

Caravaggio also reminds us that the call of Christ comes amid the ordinary business of life.  Matthew is counting money when Jesus arrives. He is not seeking God; God is seeking him. Grace often finds us in the midst of our daily routines, interrupting our plans and inviting us to a greater purpose.

The hand of Christ in the painting deliberately echoes the hand of Adam in The Creation of Adam. Just as God reached out to create humanity, Christ reaches out to re-create Matthew. The call to discipleship is a new creation. Matthew leaves behind one identity and receives another.

For Christians, the calling of Matthew is not merely an ancient story. It is a reminder that Christ still passes by, still calls sinners by name, and still invites ordinary people into extraordinary service. The question is not whether Christ is calling. The question is whether, like Matthew, we will rise from our tables, leave behind what binds us, and follow Him into the light.

Rev. Terrence Buckley
Church of Saint Andrew, Staten Island

IPC Coming Events

Island-wide and Diocesan Events

June 13: Islandwide confirmations and reception at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 4 p.m.
June 14: J2A Pilgrimage Presentation and wardens update during the 10 a.m. service
June 21: Father's Day and Tribute to Father Chuck Howell
June 28: Summer schedule begins, with service at 9 a.m.
June 29 – July 2: Island-wide Vacation Bible School, St. Andrew's, VBS for ages 4 – 14.

The Episcopal Diocese of New York

Dear Siblings in Christ in the Diocese of New York:

To what are you being called by virtue of your baptism?
It has been my driving question for some time, and my great joy is to come alongside individuals and groups as they grow into the fullness of who God is calling them to be.
How grateful I am to be here in the Diocese of New York as the Canon for Lay and Clergy Formation, as we engage in creating a culture of discernment, transforming the ordination process, equipping lay ministries, and supporting the work of formation both on the diocesan level and in all our local communities.

Many have asked: What's a Canon for Lay & Clergy Formation?

Bishop Heyd and Canon Newton have created a team of regional canons to help serve and support all the parishes in the diocese. Each canon has a speciality area as well as a geographical area; my speciality area is Christian Formation, and my region, if you will, is less geographical than it is specific — it's the Commission on Ministry. So really my work is to encourage and support every single one of us in our vocations as Christians.
Along with a great team— including Ministry Office Liaison Alito Orsini, the Commission on Ministry and a newly-forming Commission on Christian Formation— I am working to lift up, network, and create resources to equip local leaders. I invite you to call on me to join in conversation and practice around discernment processes, curriculum access and development, teacher training, supporting every stage of the ordination process, commissioning and celebrating lay ministry, or any level of individual or collaborative formation. You may also invite me to preach and/or teach in your local community!

I am excited to introduce a diocese-wide confirmation preparation experience offered in multiple tracks (adult, youth, Spanish-language).

Combining theological grounding, spiritual reflection in small groups, and preparation for participation in the sacramental life of the Church, these classes are for participants who may be preparing for baptism, confirmation, reception into The Episcopal Church, or reaffirmation of baptismal vows, or those who simply want to learn more about the church.
Participants may choose to participate in diocesan confirmations at the Cathedral on June 6, or on another date in their local congregation or region.

• Youth Cohort (for all abilities): Deacon Dave Barr
  Thursdays May 7, 21, 28 – 7:00-8:00 pm
  To register, please email Deacon Barr at dbarr1414@gmail.com

• Spanish-Language Cohort: Deacon Wendy Cañas
  Sundays May 3, 10, 17, 31 – 7:00-8:00 pm
  Register HERE
• Adult Cohort: Canon Tanya Wallace & the Rev. Tami Burks-Condon
  Wednesdays April 29-June 3 – 7:00-8:30 pm
  Register HERE

At baptism each of us is called to a life of discernment and ministry.

Confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation are opportunities to recommit to our baptismal vows and the ministry to which those vows call us.
I love this formula for Christian Formation in The Episcopal Church:
Education & information PLUS worship & practice EQUALS transformation.
What we learn and practice together changes us. And changed people change the world.

It is an exciting time to be part of the Diocese of New York, as we engage in creating a culture of discernment.

Discernment is less a process than a practice — a way of leaning into the world with your ear tilted toward something you can't quite hear yet, but know is there — a practiced quieting of ourselves, enough to hear what's been stirring under all the noise.
For some that call will lead to ordination, and we are engaging in the transformation of the ordination process so that it is caring, clear, equitable, nimble, and Spirit-led.
For many others that call will deepen lay ministry, and we are committed to raising up and supporting the ministry of the laity in every corner of our diocese.
That ministry into which we are called at our baptism — it's all about making sure we keep engaging in the community of Christ, learning the mind of Christ, and doing the work of Christ as his hands and heart in this world, for the sake of the world.
To what are you being called by virtue of your baptism? I am delighted to be walking alongside you as we engage this life-changing question, together.
God's peace,
The Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace
Canon for Lay & Clergy Formation

The Episcopal Diocese of New York

Dear Friends in Christ,

This spring, the Canon team is pleased to invite you into a series of Online Learning Communities designed to support the shared work of ministry across the Diocese of New York.
We know that this is a time of both challenge and possibility for our congregations. Elevating local communities is the first of our Mission Priorities.
Equipping lay & clergy leaders is also a Mission Priority. Leadership is complex. Contexts are shifting. And yet, again and again, we see that when leaders gather—across congregations, roles, and regions—new clarity, creativity, and courage begin to emerge.
These Learning Communities are offered in that spirit.
Each gathering is designed as a space for practical tools, shared wisdom, and mutual support. Some are ongoing cohorts that will meet over several weeks; others are single-session workshops focused on a particular area of congregational life. Together, they reflect the breadth of ministry we share: governance, stewardship, property, formation, collaboration, and intercultural engagement.
This spring's offerings include:

• Support for wardens and treasurers serving congregations in transition
• Monthly treasurer check-ins
• A property-focused community 
• A series on models of collaboration in ministry
• Confirmation preparation cohorts (adult, youth, and Spanish-language)
• College for Congregational Development (CCD) continued learning
• A cultural and multilingual ministry initiative
• Vestry conversations engaging the Moses Report
• A stewardship workshop for congregational leaders

 These communities are open to clergy and lay leaders as appropriate to each topic, and we encourage you to share this invitation widely within your congregation.
We offer these not as programs to complete, but as spaces to join—places where we can think together, learn from one another, and strengthen the ministries entrusted to us.
Registration is open - for full descriptions, dates, and registration click here.
As always, if you have questions about which offerings might be most helpful for your context, please reach out to your Canon.
We look forward to gathering with you this spring.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton, Canon to the Ordinary
The Rev. Canon Victor Conrado, Canon for New York City
The Rev. Canon Sam Owen, Canon for Westchester & Putnam Counties
The Rev. Canon Lisa Saunders Ahuja, Canon for Dutchess County
The Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace, Canon for Lay & Clergy Formation
The Rev. Canon Aaron Hudson, Canon for Vulnerable Congregations

New CCD Website and Summer Sessions Registration

Dear friends,
We are excited to welcome you to our new https://ccdnyc.vfairs.com/en and to open registration for our 2026 Summer Sessions!
Please review the instructions below carefully to ensure you register for the correct session:

June 2026 Session Year B (June 14 to 19)
at Thomas Berry Place, Queens
The June session is currently waitlist only.

• Visit the CCD website and join the waitlist for the June session.
• If you're registered and have not already paid your registration fee, you may submit payment directly on the website.

July 2026 Session Year A (July 12 to 17)
at Thomas Berry Place, Queens
The July session is currently open for registration.

• Complete your registration online through the CCD website.
• Submit your payment online at the time of registration.
• Note: If you previously registered for the July session, please register again on the new website.

 Scholarship Applications
If you are applying for a scholarship, please complete the registration process and select:
"I am registering from The Episcopal Diocese of New York, requesting a scholarship."

Once you complete your registration and select this option, we will follow up with additional details regarding the scholarship process.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues during registration, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to welcoming you this summer!

Warmly,
Victor
The Rev Canon Victor Conrado
Canon for New York City
Director for Congregational Development
Episcopal Diocese of New York

Christ Church Parish Prayer List

The following individuals have requested our prayers:

Fred Allen, Ricia Augusty, Betty Babb, Elma Babb, Erma Babb, Marcella Babb, Jenny Badger, Willie Black, III, Joseph Bonner, Mary Boyce, Deborah Broome, Irvin Celestine, Eva Charney, Matthew Cileli, David Clark, Wayne Clark, Marcia Clendenen, Sandra Cocks, Carmen Conrado, Barbara Corregan, Laura Craig, Gaynelle Cumberbatch, Nick Dowen, Wayne Dupuis, Garfield Evans, Tabitha Foxx, Julio Gambuto, Mary Gannon, Ann Gardner, Sandra Giambalvo, Peter Gilchrist, Suzanne Guglielmi, Steven Haley, Mary Hamblin, Mary Haugen, Anne Heather, Avion Hernandez-Elcock, Aretha Jadusingh, Michael Kelly, Angela King, Nicholas Lettiere, The McIntosh Family, Renea McCarthy, Eva McClary, Mary Mcclellan, Julie Murphy, Teri Murray, Minister Robert Perkins, Peyton Ramsey, T. Rauch, Ann Reilly, Leila Rollock, Tiffany Ruperti, Willie Marcus & Dylan Schumaker, Lorelei Shull, Daphne Smith, Joyce Smith, David Lloyd Stephens, Christopher Still, George Sullivan, John Trach, Fred Tucher, Linda Tuell, John Tuohey, Lucille Williams, Doreen Wood, Leighton Wynter, Marsha Wynter, Teresa Brown-Zapken, and Patrick Zapken.

Please Note: The Prayer List is intended to uphold and encourage those who need healing prayers. If persons have been fully recovered and no longer need to be lifted up in this way, please let us know so that we can make room for others. This list will be updated every three months unless otherwise notified. If you need a loved one or friend to remain on the list, please call the parish office. Thank you!

We pray for the repose of the souls of Omenie Roumou and all the faithful departed. May their souls rest in peace.

We pray for all the frontline and essential workers in our parish, and around S.I. and the world.

We pray for the hundreds of immigrant neighbors, particularly on Staten Island.

We pray for comfort to the families and communities impacted by gun violence, and for the will and determination to enact appropriate gun control legislation and promote a culture of safety.

We pray for an end to armed conflict, and hope that world leaders can move towards peace and diplomacy.

We pray for all those negatively affected by climate, environmental, and natural disasters.

We pray for those who are suffering from the impacts of systemic racism, and for those who are committed and working towards change, unity, and equality for all peoples.

We pray for all those who are graduating, and we give thanks for their accomplishments.

We pray for all those preparing for confirmation and reception in the Episcopal Church.

Memorial Candles

Memorial Candles are available in honor of your loved ones. Donation envelopes are available at the Ushers' station.

Columbarium candle

Lit in loving memory of Omenie Roumou. Given by Sheila Hewitt.

Sanctuary Candle

Lit in loving memory of Omenie Roumou. Given by Sheila Hewitt.

We give thanks to God for the following individuals who are celebrating their Birthdays this week. Amy Stambaugh (8), Richard Whaley (8), Luke Gayford (9), Brian Basso (10), Sean McLean (10), Kit Gerney (11), Kidert Jean-Mary (11), Peter Raff (13).

We give thanks to God for the individuals who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries this week. Joseph Ambroggi & Dorothy Thompson (8).

In the Richmond IPC Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Knitting Guild of Christ Church.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Scottish Episcopal Church.

In the Diocese of New York, we pray for +Sean, our Presiding Bishop; +Matthew and +Allen, our Bishops; St. John's Church, Pleasantville; The Church of St. Barnabas, Irvington-on-Hudson; The Archivist and Historiographer of the Diocese; Trinity Church, Garnerville; St. Barnabas' Church, Ardsley; St. John's Church, New City; and Trinity Church, Fishkill.