Amid snowdrifts on a clear, crisp winter morning, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pennington celebrated a warm spirit of renewal on Saturday, Jan. 30.
More than 100 parishioners, clergy and guests gathered for the installation of the Rev. Barbara Briggs as the seventh rector of St. Matthew’s, a church that has been a member of Pennington’s community since 1921.
The ceremony marked the end of a nearly two-year search process for the parish, which has some 300 members from Pennington and surrounding communities. St. Matthew’s is part of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, led by the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend William “Chip” Stokes.
Bishop Stokes presided over the Renewal of Ministry, recalling his first meeting with the Rev. Briggs, whom he described as “a ball of energy and passion about the Lord.”
The Rev. Briggs arrived at St. Matthew’s in September from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Simsbury, Conn., where she had served as priest-in-charge since 2011.
She began her ministry as a priest at Trinity Episcopal, Hartford, in 2007, as an assistant rector. Prior to her ordination, the Rev. Briggs was a member of the Sisters of St. Andrew near Taize, France, and served as a volunteer for the ecumenical Christian community located there.
The service began with an introduction by the handbell choir — the St. Matthew’s Ringers — and members of the adult choir raising their voices from the back of the church to “Venite, exultemus Domino.” Interim director of music James Douglas wrote new music for the hymn “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult” for the occasion.
The Rev. Briggs’ son Caleb, a student at Hopewell Valley’s Timberlane Middle School, accompanied the organ on his trumpet. Her husband, the Rev. Paul Briggs — also an Episcopal priest — served as master of ceremonies, overseeing logistics.
The morning’s program, adapted from the “Enriching Our Worship” liturgical resource and customized for the celebration, highlighted the vital ministries of St. Matthew’s. Parishioners presented the Rev. Briggs with gifts signifying these ministries, such as a stole symbolizing pastoral care and the church keys symbolizing her ecclesiastical responsibility.
Lori Cooper, St. Matthew’s director of children’s ministry, presented Rev. Briggs with the church’s own prayer heart, a mainstay of its Kairos Sunday School program that invites even the youngest parishioners to share what is “on their hearts.”
The Right Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Connecticut’s first female Episcopal bishop, offered the celebration’s homily. She likened the ceremonial Renewal of Ministry to renewing a book at the library — like an unfinished book, the Rev. Briggs has much work yet to be done with a “whole host of new characters, twists and plot turns.”
The Rev. Ahrens praised the Rev. Briggs’ talents as a “preacher and teacher” deeply grounded in the study of scripture.
“There is not a preacher I know who has taught me more about prayer and listening to the Lord than Barbara Briggs. She will help you listen to what God is saying to you and where he is leading you in this next chapter of your journey,” the Right Rev. Ahrens said.
Saturday’s installation and Bishop Stokes’ blessing to the people of the church was especially poignant for St. Matthew’s parishioners. They bid farewell to Rev. Jack Belmont in June 2013, when he retired from his 37-year post as the church’s rector.
Shortly before Father Belmont’s retirement, the Rev. Emily Griffin, who had served alongside Belmont since 2003, left St. Matthew’s to continue her ministry in McLean, Va. The church hired an interim rector, the Rev. Peggy Hodgkins, who led the church for 18 months before accepting a full-time position in Connecticut.
During the transition period, St. Matthew’s lay leadership created a 25-page parish profile document reflecting the values and hopes of the church and calling for a rector who would be “a champion of our aspirations for growth; to challenge us when we can do better; to help us give voice to our dreams.”
From there, they conducted an eight-month search to discern the best rector for St. Matthew’s. The Rev. Briggs is the result of that quest.
Her strengths include relationship-building, visionary leadership and a passion for reaching people in need.
“Barbara’s deep spirituality, patience, humor and wisdom will serve us well as we all continue on this faithful journey together,” said Kate Westbrook, St. Matthew’s senior warden during the time of transition.
“Barbara brings with her fresh new ideas and energy, combined with respect for our traditions,” added warden Jim McGuire.
Long-time parishioners and Pennington residents like Lynn Lorenz embraced the power of that change while in the pews during last Saturday’s Renewal of Ministry.
“I could not hold back tears of joy as we celebrated Rev. Barbara’s installation,” said Ms. Lorenz, who, along with husband Fred, has raised four children at St. Matthew’s. “The ceremony was a reflection of so many wonderful memories I have of St. Matthew’s, along with an assurance that there is so much more to come.“
Reflecting on her new ministry at St. Matthew’s, the Rev. Briggs said she is joyful for what the future holds.
“The warmth of the people attracted me,” she said. “Everyone I met in the parish was welcoming, open and easy to talk to. It felt like a place where I could develop friendships and relationships and build a life for my family.”
And while she values the area’s natural landscape, the Rev. Briggs also appreciates the nearby urban environment.
“I like the proximity to Trenton for the collaboration with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and the Rescue Mission,” she said. “There is much to discover here.”
