'Spirits Soar' at St. Margaret's Episcopal The approximately 45 families that make up St. Margaret’s Episcopal congregation were displaced from their historic church on Church Hill Drive in Woodbridge after the majority of the congregation voted to leave the Diocese and The Episcopal Church to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). The St. Margaret’s Episcopal parishioners found a temporary home at the former Christ Our Lord church building on Omisol Road, which they share with a Hispanic congregation. The work day included painting the hallway, bathrooms and classrooms. St. Margaret’s parishioners provided the PYM workers with lunch and dinner, and the group celebrated by worshipping together.
Manual labor hasn’t been the only contribution. Region VI is taking steps to support St. Margaret’s by exploring a financial contribution. “The response or reaction from members of the Diocese and of The Episcopal Church has been one of abundance” said Senior Warden Dr. Alton Tucker. “Abundance of support, from near and far and from the beginning; abundance of words, prayers, hugs . . . and an abundance of deeds.” At an Episcopal visit to St. Margaret’s on Sunday, Feb. 25, Bishop Jones performed one baptism and two reaffirmations. Almost 50 parishioners braved five inches of snow and the threat of freezing rain to join each other in Sunday worship. “I left with my spirits soaring,” said Bishop Jones, who preached about being spiritually ready to return to the parish’s original building. Two other congregations have reconstituted themselves in temporary locations after the majority of their congregations voted to leave the Diocese. St. Stephen’s Episcopal, Heathsville currently worships at Heathsville United Methodist while Falls Church Episcopal meets at Falls Church Presbyterian. Bishop Jones visited St. Stephen’s on Feb. 17 and will visit Falls Church on April 1. All three congregations have witnessed a great outpouring of help from the Diocese and the greater Church. “I must have 35 e-mails from different rectors, different parishes, from all over the Diocese . . . offering support,” said Falls Church Episcopal Senior Warden Bill Fetsch. “Any material thing that we have said that we need, someone is willing to figure out how to give it to us” said Sandra Kilpatrick, senior warden of St. Stephen’s Episcopal. “The Episcopal Church has a big heart and the response that we have been privileged to receive is one that one would want to see from its family,” said Dr. Tucker. If you would like to contribute to one of the congregations, please contact them directly at the following e-mail addresses: The Falls Church Episcopal: tfce@thediocese.net Visit St. Margaret’s Episcopal on the Web at http://www.stmargaretsepiscopalva.org/.
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rent faces from across the Diocese banded together to improve St. Margaret's temporary home. 