The Party at Columbia Station
Following the church service June 2, the congregants drove to Columbia Station, where the party was being held. By the time Susan and I arrived there, the place was packed by members of the Church, family, friends, and the leaders of community organizations. They came from far and near. Following cocktails (yes, on Sunday at noon) in the reception hall, people took their seats in the main function hall spectacularly decorated by Ron Druckenmiller. The place was humming with music and people talking. As Mike Logar came to the podium to assume his role as the emcee, the hall became silent. It reminded me of the old commercial, 'When E. F. Hutton talks, everyone listens." Mike promptly called the gathering to its agenda, which is to give God thanks for our thirteen years of ministry together at St. Peter's.
It began with Deacon Joe offering a beautiful prayer. Ordained a Deacon in 1994, Joe served St. Peter's most of his tenure. I had the privilege of serving with him during most of my years at St. Peter's. He is a fixture at St. Peter's. He offers his uncanny ability to be calm, and be the still point when all-around at St. Peter's goes astir. People saw him as a confidante and as a spiritual person to look up to, especially when they go through turmoil in their life. I'm grateful to God for Deacon Joe and for the years of joint ministry with him.
Gifted in speaking, public relations, and leadership skills, Mike was the appropriate choice to fill this role. He took the audience on a trip down memory lane giving me and Susan undue credit to our successes. Suffice to say it made Susan, and I feel quite embarrassed. He and his young family were already members when I first came to St. Peter's. Serving in the vestry, Mike served a crucial role in linking the immediate past to my new tenure. Later he served the positions of Junior and Senior Warden and the Chair of Capital Campaign. I thank God for Mike and Erica for their leadership in the Church and its mission in El Salvador.
Whatever success of my tenure at St. Peter's is a testament to the ministry of an empowered laity. Among whom stood tall is Gary Russell, a man with a heart of gold. It was his turn to speak at the party. Gary highlighted a few instances from our times at St. Peter's, especially the ones about the Church's ministry and mission among the most vulnerable of God's people. His light-hearted and most dramatic portrayal of our flight to El Salvador for mission work during a storm kept the audience in good spirits. Gary was the one I came back to, again and again, to talk about how the Church can meet and fulfill the local needs of the community. His is the face of the Church to many in Phoenixville. His wide-ranging engagement in the community earned him the much-coveted Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. I thank God for his deep spirituality that is fully engaged in the Church and in the community.
Next to speak at the function was the Very Rev. Kathy Andonian, the Dean of Valley Forge Deanery. Currently, she is the longest-serving priest in the deanery and the only remaining priest with longer years of service than I had, and she succeeded me as the dean. At events like this, it is usually the dean who stands-in for the bishop. I'm very grateful for her eloquent words recognizing my service as the dean and my involvement in the diocese and as a deputy to the General Convention. Rev. Andonian and I had a close working relationship. We agreed on so many issues about the deanery and diocese. I missed the collegiality and comradery we had among us in the deanery and diocese.
My time at St. Peter's would not have been as productive as it was if it weren't for the quiet and unassuming relationship-building nature of Susan. People at St. Peter's loved her. However, it was a surprise for Susan and me when Liz Fifer, Anne Atlee, and Mona Chylack recognized Susan at the party with glowing words of praise and an elegant gift. Though there is no formal and ongoing Women's Group at St. Peter's, women provide leadership for many of its initiatives. As I said earlier in one of the blogs, it was the St. Peter's women who planned, organized, and made happen this party. We thank God for Peter and Liz Fifer for their love and stewardship of the Church. And for their unwavering support of our ministry in the Church. Anne Atlee is another pearl of the Church that we give God thanks for. Her ministry goes beyond St. Peter's as she holds leadership on diocesan committees and commissions. Her quiet but very effective leadership is a boon to the Church. Soon after joining the Church, Mona, along with her family, began to engage themselves in the ministries of the Church. She took on the responsibility of stewardship. She very capably ran it for the last three years, taking it to a higher level of congregational participation. These are but a few among the many women leaders of St. Peter's.
Next in line to talk was Judi Hans, the senior warden. Being long-term members of the Church, Judi and Don Hans is a repository of the institutional memory of St. Peter's. Over the years, they both have held many positions of leadership in the Church and helped it moved forward in its missions. Judi's meticulous attention to the details and no-nonsense approach to dealing with issues were particularly helpful, especially in the last three years. The Church was simultaneously facing clergy leadership change, a Capital Campaign, and significant structural renovations. Judi presented a check on behalf of the parishioners. Following Judi's remarks, it was Retta Sparano's turn to speak.
I must tell you that Retta was the primary reason that I came to St. Peter's. Of course, it was the Holy Spirit, but spirit works through people. Retta, who chaired the discernment/ search committee, sought me out and encouraged me to apply for the clergy position at St. Peter's. However, the diocese of PA was not on my list of places to look for a call. Her continued prodding eventually succeeded in making me land here. From the podium, she called Susan and me to stand next to her, and then she gave an emotionally stirring speech making our eyes well up.
Whatever I had prepared to say just escaped me, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything coherently. I was too overwhelmed by the love of the people. In a show of support, Gary Russell, Mike Logar, Retta Sparano, and Judi Hans, all senior wardens, whom I've worked with during my tenure, stood with Susan and me.
Indeed, it was a love feast. However, a gathering of this nature, saying goodbye at the end of a cure, wouldn't be complete without an appropriate bidding prayer. Father David Hyatt, a retired Episcopal priest and member of the Church wrote this most meaningful and touching prayer given below for the occasion. Father Hyatt began the prayer, and the vestry concluded it.
Fr. Hyatt is a person of high integrity. He is one of the most progressive and theologically cogent and consistent people I ever had the pleasure of working with. I considered him my mentor. Throughout my time at St. Peter's, he helped me carry out the sacred duties of the Church, which only a priest can do. I thank God for Fr. David for his life and ministry. It was so lovely and heart-warming to see and hear Fr. David and all the members of the vestry reading the prayer.
Prayer of Blessing for Koshy and Susan Mathews
June 2, 2019
O God of Heaven and Earth, you have sought to be in relationship with your creation from its beginning. We have responded to your deepest desire for us to be in relationship with you and with each other. Drawn by your great love for humanity and creation, we have gathered today to acknowledge the deep and loving relationship that has grown between the people of this parish, this community and Koshy and Susan Mathews.
We thank you, especially for Koshy's embrace of the priesthood of the Church.
We thank you for his unfailing kindness;
We thank you for his warm acceptance and nurture of children;
We thank you for his global vision of servanthood for all who are suffering;
We thank you for his faithfulness in comforting and ministering to the sick.
We thank you for his deep faith in renewed life to those who are dying;
We thank you that he has transformed our buildings to be more inviting and accepting of those with physical challenges;
We thank you for both Susan and Koshy for transforming their home into a haven of hospitality and place of learning.
And now, O God, we reflect the rhythms of life that have brought us to this place of profound gratitude and blessing. On behalf of this deeply grateful parish and community, we ask you to abundantly bless Koshy, Susan, and their family in the days to come. Enable them to carry with them the multitude of memories of quiet growth in faith and love that they have nourished in each one of us.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son, and our Lord. Amen
Please see below some of the pictures from the event. I am forever thankful to Richard Green, who took on the job as the chronicler.
Following the church service June 2, the congregants drove to Columbia Station, where the party was being held. By the time Susan and I arrived there, the place was packed by members of the Church, family, friends, and the leaders of community organizations. They came from far and near. Following cocktails (yes, on Sunday at noon) in the reception hall, people took their seats in the main function hall spectacularly decorated by Ron Druckenmiller. The place was humming with music and people talking. As Mike Logar came to the podium to assume his role as the emcee, the hall became silent. It reminded me of the old commercial, 'When E. F. Hutton talks, everyone listens." Mike promptly called the gathering to its agenda, which is to give God thanks for our thirteen years of ministry together at St. Peter's.
It began with Deacon Joe offering a beautiful prayer. Ordained a Deacon in 1994, Joe served St. Peter's most of his tenure. I had the privilege of serving with him during most of my years at St. Peter's. He is a fixture at St. Peter's. He offers his uncanny ability to be calm, and be the still point when all-around at St. Peter's goes astir. People saw him as a confidante and as a spiritual person to look up to, especially when they go through turmoil in their life. I'm grateful to God for Deacon Joe and for the years of joint ministry with him.
Gifted in speaking, public relations, and leadership skills, Mike was the appropriate choice to fill this role. He took the audience on a trip down memory lane giving me and Susan undue credit to our successes. Suffice to say it made Susan, and I feel quite embarrassed. He and his young family were already members when I first came to St. Peter's. Serving in the vestry, Mike served a crucial role in linking the immediate past to my new tenure. Later he served the positions of Junior and Senior Warden and the Chair of Capital Campaign. I thank God for Mike and Erica for their leadership in the Church and its mission in El Salvador.
Whatever success of my tenure at St. Peter's is a testament to the ministry of an empowered laity. Among whom stood tall is Gary Russell, a man with a heart of gold. It was his turn to speak at the party. Gary highlighted a few instances from our times at St. Peter's, especially the ones about the Church's ministry and mission among the most vulnerable of God's people. His light-hearted and most dramatic portrayal of our flight to El Salvador for mission work during a storm kept the audience in good spirits. Gary was the one I came back to, again and again, to talk about how the Church can meet and fulfill the local needs of the community. His is the face of the Church to many in Phoenixville. His wide-ranging engagement in the community earned him the much-coveted Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. I thank God for his deep spirituality that is fully engaged in the Church and in the community.
Next to speak at the function was the Very Rev. Kathy Andonian, the Dean of Valley Forge Deanery. Currently, she is the longest-serving priest in the deanery and the only remaining priest with longer years of service than I had, and she succeeded me as the dean. At events like this, it is usually the dean who stands-in for the bishop. I'm very grateful for her eloquent words recognizing my service as the dean and my involvement in the diocese and as a deputy to the General Convention. Rev. Andonian and I had a close working relationship. We agreed on so many issues about the deanery and diocese. I missed the collegiality and comradery we had among us in the deanery and diocese.
My time at St. Peter's would not have been as productive as it was if it weren't for the quiet and unassuming relationship-building nature of Susan. People at St. Peter's loved her. However, it was a surprise for Susan and me when Liz Fifer, Anne Atlee, and Mona Chylack recognized Susan at the party with glowing words of praise and an elegant gift. Though there is no formal and ongoing Women's Group at St. Peter's, women provide leadership for many of its initiatives. As I said earlier in one of the blogs, it was the St. Peter's women who planned, organized, and made happen this party. We thank God for Peter and Liz Fifer for their love and stewardship of the Church. And for their unwavering support of our ministry in the Church. Anne Atlee is another pearl of the Church that we give God thanks for. Her ministry goes beyond St. Peter's as she holds leadership on diocesan committees and commissions. Her quiet but very effective leadership is a boon to the Church. Soon after joining the Church, Mona, along with her family, began to engage themselves in the ministries of the Church. She took on the responsibility of stewardship. She very capably ran it for the last three years, taking it to a higher level of congregational participation. These are but a few among the many women leaders of St. Peter's.
Next in line to talk was Judi Hans, the senior warden. Being long-term members of the Church, Judi and Don Hans is a repository of the institutional memory of St. Peter's. Over the years, they both have held many positions of leadership in the Church and helped it moved forward in its missions. Judi's meticulous attention to the details and no-nonsense approach to dealing with issues were particularly helpful, especially in the last three years. The Church was simultaneously facing clergy leadership change, a Capital Campaign, and significant structural renovations. Judi presented a check on behalf of the parishioners. Following Judi's remarks, it was Retta Sparano's turn to speak.
I must tell you that Retta was the primary reason that I came to St. Peter's. Of course, it was the Holy Spirit, but spirit works through people. Retta, who chaired the discernment/ search committee, sought me out and encouraged me to apply for the clergy position at St. Peter's. However, the diocese of PA was not on my list of places to look for a call. Her continued prodding eventually succeeded in making me land here. From the podium, she called Susan and me to stand next to her, and then she gave an emotionally stirring speech making our eyes well up.
Whatever I had prepared to say just escaped me, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything coherently. I was too overwhelmed by the love of the people. In a show of support, Gary Russell, Mike Logar, Retta Sparano, and Judi Hans, all senior wardens, whom I've worked with during my tenure, stood with Susan and me.
Indeed, it was a love feast. However, a gathering of this nature, saying goodbye at the end of a cure, wouldn't be complete without an appropriate bidding prayer. Father David Hyatt, a retired Episcopal priest and member of the Church wrote this most meaningful and touching prayer given below for the occasion. Father Hyatt began the prayer, and the vestry concluded it.
Fr. Hyatt is a person of high integrity. He is one of the most progressive and theologically cogent and consistent people I ever had the pleasure of working with. I considered him my mentor. Throughout my time at St. Peter's, he helped me carry out the sacred duties of the Church, which only a priest can do. I thank God for Fr. David for his life and ministry. It was so lovely and heart-warming to see and hear Fr. David and all the members of the vestry reading the prayer.
Prayer of Blessing for Koshy and Susan Mathews
June 2, 2019
O God of Heaven and Earth, you have sought to be in relationship with your creation from its beginning. We have responded to your deepest desire for us to be in relationship with you and with each other. Drawn by your great love for humanity and creation, we have gathered today to acknowledge the deep and loving relationship that has grown between the people of this parish, this community and Koshy and Susan Mathews.
We thank you, especially for Koshy's embrace of the priesthood of the Church.
We thank you for his unfailing kindness;
We thank you for his warm acceptance and nurture of children;
We thank you for his global vision of servanthood for all who are suffering;
We thank you for his faithfulness in comforting and ministering to the sick.
We thank you for his deep faith in renewed life to those who are dying;
We thank you that he has transformed our buildings to be more inviting and accepting of those with physical challenges;
We thank you for both Susan and Koshy for transforming their home into a haven of hospitality and place of learning.
And now, O God, we reflect the rhythms of life that have brought us to this place of profound gratitude and blessing. On behalf of this deeply grateful parish and community, we ask you to abundantly bless Koshy, Susan, and their family in the days to come. Enable them to carry with them the multitude of memories of quiet growth in faith and love that they have nourished in each one of us.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son, and our Lord. Amen
Please see below some of the pictures from the event. I am forever thankful to Richard Green, who took on the job as the chronicler.
