Page 8 - parishmeeting2018

diocese regarding the events that took place in Charlottesville in August when the town was
overrun by right wing Neo-Nazis espousing hate filled racist ideologies, bringing with them
deadly conflict. Carolyne Ashton, President of Region One, and I attended the all day event,
which included morning meetings, lunch with Bishop Curry, and an afternoon Eucharist at St
Paul’s in Charlottesville.

Personal Remarks

2017 was a year of transition for me. At the end of May, I ended most of the spiritual direction
work I’ve been doing at VTS for the past five and a half years, which required me to be in
Alexandria for two to three days out of each month during the school year. For the few people
I will continue to meet with in 2018, my trips north will be much more limited.

Thank you to all who helped Ben and me negotiate our journey into unexpected
grandparenthood. I am so thankful for all the prayers, for the time spent by many of you to
help Mary Lawrence get ready, and for the supportive gifts for our granddaughter Autumn. We
are truly blessed to have this new little person in our lives. I’m so thankful that my extended
family has welcomed Autumn with open arms. Thank you also for allowing Ben and me the
time to travel to our niece’s wedding in Philadelphia over the Thanksgiving weekend. We were
able to be with Ben’s side of the family at the happy occasion. We could not have been there
without you all giving me that Sunday off. We’re grateful for that. This past year also gave me
the chance to spend a wonderful day with two of my daughters at the Womens’ March in
Washington, DC, in January, and then a week in Curacao at the end of January with Catherine
th
and her husband Steve, a weekend in Jamestown and Yorktown to celebrate our 40 wedding
anniversary with Ben, a week at the beach with my extended family, and a quick trip to Chicago
and then a long drive to Tennessee with Elizabeth and her husband Steve to witness the total
solar eclipse in all its glory. And then Elizabeth spent several days with me after my wrist
surgery. Her presence was a huge help.

I would also like to thank everyone for their prayers and support as I faced months and months
of recovery from breaking my wrist at the end of May 2017. By next fall, my wrist should be
completely healed and back to normal. I’m well on the way to having the full use of my left
hand again. I’m so thankful for that blessing.

The Vestry is supporting the idea that I will take a sabbatical sometime in 2018. I’m in the
process of developing a plan for several weeks of renewal that will benefit not only me, but the
whole parish. Now that we are in our eighth year together, we must be careful about not
falling into a comfortable place which unintentionally limits what God has in mind for our parish
in the years ahead. Time away to pray and dream about possibilities is an essential part of my
shared leadership with all of you as time goes by. Watch for more information in the
newsletters and bulletins as the sabbatical takes shape.

8