Morristown church sends off Melissa Hall, assistant rector, with cheers and tears

Retired Bishop John Spong, Rector Janet Broderick and departing Assistant Rector Melissa Hall pose for pictures at Melissa's sendoff at St. Peter's. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Retired Bishop John Spong, Rector Janet Broderick and departing Assistant Rector Melissa Hall pose for pictures at Melissa's sendoff at St. Peter's. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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The St. Peter’s Episcopal Church community had to make some adjustments this weekend, as it gathered to worship without Assistant Rector Melissa Hall for the first time in three years.

Retired Bishop John Spong, Rector Janet Broderick and departing Assistant Rector Melissa Hall pose for pictures at Melissa's sendoff at St. Peter's. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Retired Bishop John Spong, Rector Janet Broderick and departing Assistant Rector Melissa Hall pose for pictures at Melissa's sendoff at St. Peter's. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Melissa, who previously served as assistant rector across South Street at Morristown’s Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, is taking a timeout to catch her breath after throwing heart and soul into her ministry for so many years.

St. Peter’s gave the former nurse a warm sendoff last week, packing the Great Hall after her last service to share cheers, tears and gluten-free cake.

Rector Janet Broderick presented Melissa with a financial “purse” on behalf of the congregation.

There was a  scrapbook, too, full of photographs, notes, children’s drawings and poetry; and a friendship bracelet from the church youth group, which Melissa recently accompanied on a week-long mission to Topsail, N.C.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” Melissa told parishioners.

We had the privilege of working with Melissa on a number of MorristownGreen.com projects, including WordPlay (she is a fine poet) and the MG Kids Art Show (she’s a painter, too).

A can-do kind of gal, she was a delight to work with. We wish all the best to Melissa, her partner Fran, and their daughter Katherine as they add new adventures to their scrapbook.

Here are some photographs from the sendoff:

Please click icon below for captions.

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