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Fond memories of the Inclusive Community - by Anne
Wayne |
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Hess |
Scaine |
Marge |
Quinn |LeBlanc |
Waldron |
Bailey |
Pavodano |
Wayne |
Gartley
| Ortelli
I remember
visiting my husband Guy at St. Michael’s
hospital, he was so excited to tell me
that one of the hospital chaplains, Linda
Burry had visited with him and she thought
that we might want to worship at a church
in Passaic where she preached. She told
him it was the Inclusive Community, where
Catholics and Protestants worshipped
together. Linda told him that when he
returned to Passaic she would put him in
touch with the Pastor, Rev. Anne Hess.
Since Guy was raised in the Congregational
Church traditions and Anne, a former
Franciscan nun, in the Roman Catholic
tradition we agreed it would be something
that we would try. This was in 1989 and
even though Guy was sick a great deal of
the time, whenever he was out of the
hospital, he and I with our son Guy IV
attended Sunday service. We found that
this indeed was where we needed to be.
Everyone made us feel at home from the
first time we attended Sunday service.
Kay Rieger was the greeter; she and Guy
connected and worked on a couple of
projects together. Rebecca, Wayne,
Jennifer and Amy Ortelli welcomed us into
their lives and into their home. Guy IV
spent time with them when I would be at
the hospital and since Guy was an only
child it provided him with new friends.
Judy and Richard Gartley and Angela and
Christian were also very supportive and we
began a life long friendship with them. On
Sundays, Angela and Christian would take
the young children upstairs over the
community room after the service started
and would allow the adults to focus on the
service. The Dilks, Dot Welky, Grandma
Susan Carr and others all gave us the care
on concern we needed. Our church family
took care of us, both spiritually and
physically.
Rev. Anne Hess and Rev. Anthony Padavano
became our angels, she visited Guy when he
was admitted to the Passaic General and
she was in touch with him when he had to
go back to St. Michael’s in Newark. Rev.
Anthony’s calls were always uplifting.
On October 15, 1989, Harry Dilk, Rev. Anne
Hess, Wayne Ortelli and I, went to St.
Michael’s after the church service and Guy
and I officially joined the Inclusive
Community. Unfortunately Guy lost his
battle with AIDS on December 15, 1989, and
his earthly membership was short lived.
Guy IV and I have been blessed to continue
to belong and grow with the community.
Guy’s First Communion, attendance at
“Sunday School” on Friday nights,
Confirmation and trips with the church
helped make him the great young adult he
has become.
I have so many memories of visiting with
Kay Rieger with and without the 3H’s,
gatherings at the Dilks home for picnics
and meetings, or after the 3H’s did their
Christmas caroling, Marge and Harry always
had Hot Chocolate and cookies for them. I
remember moving from Passaic to Nutley
when we had to sell the church on High
Street. I wonder if we should go and
unbury the time capsule we put by the
front entrance. My journey has been shared
with so many friends both old and new and
it is not finished yet. I am still
hopefully that we will survive and
continue to be a sign to all that even
though we are small, we accomplish much.
I know that I am so much richer with my
Inclusive Community and would not have
made it though all of our illnesses
without the loving support of everyone. I
am very thankful to Rev. Linda and all of
the clergy that were the answer to our
prayers all those many years ago.
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The
Inclusive Community-UCC
