Wednesday’s Retired Clergy Lunch was set aside for a celebration of the upcoming retirements of Bishop Chip Stokes; Mrs. Susan Stokes; Canon Mary Ann Rhoads, Executive Assistant to the Bishop; Canon Ann Notte, Office and Convention Manager; and Mary Anne Clisham, Receptionist at Diocesan House.
Retired clergy of the diocese meet regularly at Diocesan House for fellowship and informative presentations. They presented the retirees with gifts and good wishes, and heard reflections from the retiring staff.
One gift given to all the upcoming retirees was a t-shirt emblazoned with the diocesan logo and the words:
New Jersey . . . Only the Strong Survive
Along with a quote from Ephesians:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
Rhoads has been Executive Assistant to five bishops dating back more than 30 years. Notte has been on diocesan staff more than 20 years, running Diocesan Convention and other gatherings of the diocese. Clisham has been staff receptionist, greeting visitors to Diocesan House and filling a number of other functions, for eight years. All will retire in June.
Snapshots
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