Bridgewater church celebrates rector's thirty year ministry

On April 28 more than 130 parishioners of St.Martin's Episcopal Church gathered at Russo's in Bound Brook to honor Father Bruce Montgomery's thirty years of ministry in the parish.  special guests included Father Bruce's wife Lani, his three children and the Bishop of New Jersey, George Councell who opened the event with prayer and blessing.

The evening's theme was "this is your life".  Pictures of significant events through the years were displayed on picture boards. Many more memories were shared in the form of anecdotes recalling unexpected and often hilarious incidents involving Father Bruce and his passion for the Yankees.  The Yankee theme appeared again in the

"baseball cards" at every place setting which featured the rookie Bruce Montgomery and the stats that noted the baptisms and weddings etc/ at which he had presided. The music, provided by professional DJ Jim Lodise who is also a parishioner, featured music from every era, including favorites from the eighties.

 Among the gifts to mark the event was a Memory book.  This beautiful scrapbook included thank you notes, pictures, special moments, even children's drawings representing ways in which his ministry in the parish has impacted individual lives.