Last Sunday, June 23, 2013 (full size gallery)
As with most Bishop visitations this was a packed Sunday! There was a significant amount of planning that went into the service from the musicians, to the food, to the "fix ups" (note the church sign post in front) and presenting the Church at its best for the bishop. Here are the flowers for the day.
The bishop loves to visit because as he said it renews him and he doesn’t have his own congregation as there is no cathedral of the Diocese.
We welcomed the Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston today He became Bishop Coajutator in 2007 and assumed the Bishop role in 2009 when Bishop Lee retired. He ordained Catherine to the priesthood in 2010.
The bishop arrived at 1pm and parked with a miter as his parking sign! A review of the service with participants followed by a forum about 1:20pm. The session was mainly for Rob and Marsha.
He said confirmation was "heart work", not hard work. He asked them if they were ready. In his own case, he was confirmed at age 12 as it was normally done in his church with friends. It was not particularly meaningful. Church became real at age 14 when between Biology and Algebra classes in high school he was called to the priesthood. Then it became real for him. He asked Rob and Marsha to bring something in their minds to this process. He offered a prayer as a suggestions – "Jesus keep me open so I will know it when I see it." Keep me open to Gods presence. He described the symbolism of confirmation – holding their hands, a sign of fidelity and then holding their forearms for strength and resolution.
The weather was unsettled – periods of rain in the morning but clearing by service time at 2pm. We had 45 in attendance in the service with a wine and cheese party (with sweets) afterwards.
Besides the Bishop we had a coterie of musicians Susan Onderdonk, Mary Lawrence Hicks, Paige Martindale and of course Brad and the choir. Susan, Paige, Helmut and Catherine sang the Psalm Helmut played his violin as a postlude performing "Allelujah" by Mozart. The diverse music was appropriate because the Bishop co-majored in music as an oboist in college.
Also, in terms of music we honored Mark Thompson for his work on the organ since 2011. In 2011, he improved the tuning collars for the pipes and repitched and regulated the 8 foot reeds. In 2012, Mark completed bringing the blower bellows from attic and reconfigured the main wind line and built a wood cover the line which will help keep it better in tune. This year he has rebuilt our trackers that will reduce pedal noise.
The Bishop received two gifts from the church – St. Peter’s wooden cross and Rev. Fall’s book on the Diary of Robert Rose. Rev. Karen Woodruff was recognized for saving the pictures of former St. Peter’s priests.
Rob and Marsha Dobson were received into the church. Both have been greeters and Rob has recently led the project to make the Parish restroom handicapped accessible. The work was blessed by Bishop Shannon.
Finally, we salute Cookie for collecting the pictures of previous rectors together in one place and having them beautifully framed. It’s amazing we have pictures of two 19th century priests. One picture was of Rev. Poindexter was retored by Bill Buttram. This work was also blessed by Bishop Shannon
Appropriately, the Parish house was the scene of a wine and cheese reception with some sweets. We thank Betty and Clarence for helping with it and Laura and Brad for providing the pound cakes (dueling cakes!).
The Bishop’s sermon was on the Epistle- Galatians 3:23-29 which he said was one of his most favorite passages from Paul. You can read notes on the sermon here which covered 6 parts of our disciples life