Hamden church, West Haven congregation install new faith leaders

HAMDEN — The Rev. Joshua N. Sullivan was installed as the first pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hamden, in an afternoon service Oct. 3.

The Rev. Chris Files, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Milford, and Dean of the Greater New Haven Conference of the New England Synod, ELCA, led the worship service, which was attended by family and friends of Pastor Sullivan, members of the congregation and clergy from the Greater New Haven area and beyond.

“We are gathered to worship to praise God for countless blessings and to celebrate this new relationship between pastor and congregation, as we install The Rev. Joshua Sullivan as pastor in this community of God’s people,” Pastor Files said.

Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 600 Shepard Ave., is a congregation born out of a merger that took place in January

2021 between two former Lutheran congregations in Hamden–Christ Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

A Connecticut native, Sullivan most recently served as associate pastor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained. Following a call process, he was elected to serve as pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran at a congregational meeting held August 8; he assumed his new pastoral duties on August 16.

Assisting with the Installation Service were The Rev. Erika Wesch, pastor of Little Zion Lutheran Church of Telford, Pennsylvania, and Dean of the Upper Bucks Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA, who read the lessons; and The Rev. Christopher McKinstry, pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, Limerick Pennsylvania, and Dean of the Upper Montgomery Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA, who delivered the sermon.

Prior to entering the ministry, Sullivan trained at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking in 2007. He lived and worked as a painter and musician in New York City until 2012, when he began discerning God’s call to ministry. He earned his theological degrees from Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (Master of Divinity, 2016) as well as from United Lutheran Seminary (Master of Sacred Theology, 2019).

Sullivan and his wife, Madelyn Robertson, and their 11-month-old daughter, Simone, reside in Stratford..

To contact Sullivan, email Pastor@christgoodshepherdlutheran.org, or call the church office at 203-288-3196. To learn more about Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, visit christgoodshepherdlutheran.org, or find them on Facebook.

Rabbi Joshua Brumbach installed at Simchat Israel

WEST HAVEN — Simchat Yisrael, a Messianic Jewish Congregation, recently held an installation service for their new senior rabbi, Rabbi Joshua Brumbach.

Brumbach and his family join the West Haven synagogue from a previous pulpit in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his role as Senior Rabbi at Simchat Yisrael, Brumbach also serves as adjunct faculty at The King’s University and Messianic Jewish Theological Institute. He is a popular teacher and conference speaker, the author of numerous articles, and two biblical commentaries, John’s Three Letters: On Hope, Love, and Covenant Fidelity (2019) and Jude: On Faith and the Destructive Influence of Heresy (2014). Rabbi Brumbach additionally serves as President of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council.

He is completing a doctorate in early rabbinic literature at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, holds a MA in Rabbinic Writings from MJTI, and a BA in Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations and Biblical Studies from UCLA. He is an accredited Jewish educator, has studied in various Jewish institutions, and is ordained by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council.

Brumbach is also an avid mountain biker, loves the outdoors, and he and his wife have two young sons. They are excited about living in the New Haven area and being involved in the local community.

“The arrival of Rabbi Brumbach is a breath of fresh air for our entire community,” said Simchat Yisrael’s President, Eleiah Sexton. “You can really feel the energy and enthusiasm of the whole congregation trending upward as we’ve welcomed the new rabbi. We’re very excited to see what wonderful things lay ahead for our community in this new season.”

Simchat Yisrael’s previous Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Tony Eaton, will now serve the congregation as Rabbi Emeritus after his faithful leadership of the synagogue for nearly 30 years. Additional information on services and events can be found at www.simchatyisrael.org.

Rosary Rally to be held in West Haven

WEST HAVEN — A public square Rosary Rally will be held at noon Oct. 16 on the West Haven Green, gazebo area, 1 Church St. and Campbell Ave., West Haven. The rally is the annual America Needs Fatima rosary and prayer service.

Some chairs will be provided, but guests should consider bringing a chair if needed.

For information, contact Eva Cestari at 203-933-7141 or rcestari@snet.net.

Fatima Rosary rally set Saturday

WALLINGFORD — Wallingford’s 2021 America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally will be held at noon, Oct. 16.

The rosary for World Peace will be prayed in front of the Blessed Mother’s statue at the Church of The Resurrection, 100 Pond Hill Road in Wallingford. All are asked to wear a mask, and bring a chair if needed.

In the event of rain the rosary will be held inside the church.

Church to hold Harvest Supper

NORTHFORD — St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, Northford, intersection of Routes 17 and 22, is holding a harvest supper, Oct. 23, with takeout only, 4-7 p.m. pickup. Orders must be placed by Oct. 16 with payment. To order, call 203-484-0393 or PayPal: standrewsnorthford@gmail.com.

Cost is $20 per dinner. Raffle tickets for baskets available at pickup; winners will be notified.

Dinner Option 1: Roast beef, Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, string bean casserole, butternut squash. Dinner Option 2: Roast turkey, Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, string bean casserole, butternut squash. Dinner Option 3: BakedhHam, Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, string bean casserole, butternut squash. Dessert: Apple pie, lemon meringue pie or carrot cake.

Congregation Mishkan Israel schedules events

HAMDEN — Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd, Hamden, is holding in-person and virtual services and events. For more information and list of events, visit cmihamden.org or call the office at 203-288-3877.

Oct. 21, 7 p.m., 60 Years of Tzedek: Remembering Dr. King's visit and re-committing ourselves to pursuing justice.

Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m., 60 Years of Avodah, Celebrating the anniversary of our building, its recent listing on the National Historic Register, and all of the sacred work we have accomplished as a community.

Saturday morning Torah study, on Zoom.

Nov. 7, 10 a.m., CMI Book Talk with People Get Ready Bookstore, visit the website for more details.