Page 7 - Annual Meeting, 2019

My service as the Dean of the Fredericksburg Region continues. I make sure that our
regional Clericus meets regularly and support the President of the Region as he organizes
the quarterly regional meetings that I also attend. I also attend quarterly meetings with the
other Deans in the Diocese with the Bishop. The Fredericksburg Region hosted two
listening sessions to gather information for the Bishop Suffragan search which in the end
was terminated. In March, I attended the funeral of The Rev. Norm Siefferman at St Paul’s
Episcopal Church in King George. In October, the Fredericksburg Region hosted a reception
for Bishop Shannon at Aquia Church in Stafford ahead of his retirement. I served on the
Resolutions Committee for the 2018 Diocese of Virginia Convention held in Richmond in
November. Johnny Davis, our delegate, Cookie and I attended the Convention. In
November I also attended the Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Nick Szobota, the
new rector at St Mary’s, Colonial Beach.

I attend meetings of the Interfaith clergy group in Fredericksburg periodically. At one of
those meetings, I met the chaplain at the ICE detention center, and have signed up to take

the volunteer training, which will be held in February of 2019.

Changes in the parish—Much to our sorrow, Marsha Dobson died in August. Virginia
Bowen has moved and is now in an assisted living facility in Maryland near her daughter.
Susan and Tom Tilt have returned to St Mary’s in Colonial Beach. John Gilliland has
stopped attending St Peter’s. Much to our joy, Robert Bryan has returned to us after a long
absence. John Hess has begun attending and is serving on the Altar Guild. Mary Peterman,
Denise Gregory and Thom Guthrie have joined the choir. And we welcomed our newest
member, Everett Huffman, when he was baptized at St Peter’s in November.

Our congregation is aging. Several families are looking at major changes over the next few
years. Our challenge is to support one another in the changes and the chances of this life as
we continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the
prayers in the year ahead. Our prayers and support for one another with God’s help will
help us work through the tough times and to continue to be excited about the new life that
God has got in store for St Peter’s. As we pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in
heaven, may we always be seeking as a congregation to make space for God’s kingdom in
our midst here and now. God is with us, and because of that fact, we can look ahead with
confidence.

I am always grateful for your input, and so thankful for each one of you.

Your grateful servant,

Catherine

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