Health & Fitness
Celebrating Ten Years of Father Bernie Poppe’s Ministry in Maplewood
The Rev. Bernie Poppe this week celebrates 10 years as the Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church. I still remember how he started his first sermon.
On September 29, 2002, the Rev. Bernard W. Poppe led his first service as Rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ. I had the privilege of serving on the search committee that called him, and I still remember how he started his first sermon. The parish had been through a rough period — another priest had accepted our call, then resigned before ever taking the pulpit, setting up a second, 18-month search process.
Fortunately our church has a history of strong lay leadership, which sustained us during three years with two excellent interim rectors. So on that Sunday morning we all watched with great anticipation as Bernie stepped into the pulpit to preach for the first time as the seventh Rector in what then was the 97th year of St. George’s.
“Finally!” he said.
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His opening gambit was greeted with laughter and applause, and the laughter and applause continued today, a decade later. Congratulations to Bernie and to the people of St. George’s, for building a vibrant ministry together.
(Kirk Petersen is a member of the Vestry at St. George's. This article also is posted on his blog at http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2012/09/celebrating-ten-years-of-father-bernie-poppes-ministry-in-maplewood.html.)
