By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

This month, the Cedar Crest chapel in Pompton Plains celebrates its one-year anniversary. Over the past year, the Cedar Crest community has embraced the chapel as a pastoral sanctuary and a place for all to worship, regardless of religious preference, age, or any other differences.

Symbol of togetherness
The chapel housed Erickson Retirement Communities’ first baptism in May. People who live and work at Cedar Crest came together for the baptism of Izabella Rose Lieberman, granddaughter of Colleen Lieberman, administrative assistant of dining services at Cedar Crest.

“It was a great honor to have this sacred ceremony performed here at Cedar Crest because this campus is such an important part of my life,” Lieberman says.

“The baptism of Izabella Rose at our chapel is a clear example of why our campus is not merely landscaping, buildings, and roads,” says Chip Warner, Cedar Crest’s executive director. “Cedar Crest is defined by the residents and staff who interact with one another on a daily basis and share blessed moments like this.”

Cooperative effort
The different faith communities at Cedar Crest operate separately and in conjunction with one another. Each uses the chapel in various ways.  “The Christian Orthodox have their own celebration and masses there; the Catholics have done baptisms, a whole day of prayer during Lent, and a retreat; the Jewish people have had weddings and their Shabbat services; and Protestants have their worship services,” says Joan Simon, Cedar Crest pastoral ministries manager.

“They share a common worship area so they have had to coordinate everything— from where they’re going to put their sacred items to how they’re going to decorate for holidays—so that everyone is comfortable with it,” she adds.