Stepping Stones that Brought Me to this Job (as I prepare to leave it)

[My final "Pulse of the Parish" column for The Bells newsletter at St. James Episcopal Church, Marietta.]

In EfM (Education for Ministry) we learn that you can identify stepping stones in your life where God guided your journey.

As I'm about to re-retire after nearly four years as Communications Coordinator at St. James, I see stepping stones that made this job feel like a culmination. At different points in my life, I was...

• the little boy who typed a family newsletter
• the Drama Club director who could fit five pages of credits into four page programs
• the Middle School Spirit Club sponsor whose photo collages helped even introverts to see themselves fitting in the group
• the COVID-era Drama Teacher who learned to edit videos so remote actors could appear "on set"

I was also the freshman on the Vestry in 2006, gung-ho to help parishioners get involved. To that end...

• I became a compiler of devotions for many Advents and Lents, written by parishioners, for parishioners, to connect activities in our church with their faith.
• I became director of murder mystery comedies, set at St. Martin-by-the-Chicken, that bonded the parish over laughter at our own characters and foibles. (D. G. Reisinger always asked us to kill her off in Act One so she wouldn't have to memorize any more lines.)
• And I was the Clerk typing up news and plans for the Parish in the Vestry minutes every month for 12 years.

It was as Clerk of the Vestry that I volunteered to do bulletins, the newsletter, and the hall monitor video "for about three weeks." That was April of 2023! Since then, I've had a blast doing essentially what I've always done. In that time, I've served two bosses, wise, appreciative, and very good at finding typos. I've grown to know all of you better in the process.

What Stepping-Stones lie ahead? Well, you never know, but I see myself at St. James continuing as a Mentor for EfM, a Baritone for the Choir, a Cyclist who rides a few dozen miles every warm day, a devoted Dog-Walker, and a Novice Poet who drafts the kind of verses he used to teach.

I am so delighted that my replacement is less than half my age and already deeply involved in our Parish's life and work. We're in good hands with Patrick White!

Playing Outdoors after Dinner

Taking photos of some recent Wednesdays at St. James, I've been especially drawn to the time between dinner and the organized activities that follow, i.e., singing, worship, study. Mother Mariclair feels the same way about that time.

[I published this article in The Bells of St. James, the parish newsletter. While I never mention my Aunt Blanche and Uncle Jack in the article, most of these memories come from their legendary Monday night dinners. These were open houses for anyone in town who RSVP'd - old folks, young parents, adult friends, toddlers, cousins, eight kids and their friends... Read more about Aunt Blanche.]

For me, it brings memories. We kids would tumble out of doors after supper to play games in neighbors' yards in twilight, while young parents stood back watching and chatting with each other and with elders. The older kids would lead the younger ones in friendly games of tag or catch.

I remember how good it felt to be watched by people of different generations. To me, the 12-to-16-year-olds were celebrities. I was amazed when adults who were neither my parents nor my teachers showed interest in me and my dreams. I remember how they made me feel accepted and important, and, sixty years later, I'm grateful.

Wednesday this week: Children's Ministry Coordinator Natalie Fowler chats with a pre-schooler and a middle schooler. In the background, high school kids play four square with elementary school kids.

I can guess that my parents were grateful, too, for time off from me, and time to talk with other grown ups with no agenda, no pressure.

If you remember such evening times in neighborhoods -- if you even remember neighborhoods! -- then I invite readers of different generations to join us Wednesdays at St. James and make that kind of experience available again.