'The Episcopal Church Welcomes You' By Emily Cherry
After the majority of the congregation at St. Stephen's voted to leave The Episcopal Church and The Diocese of Virginia in December to join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, about 60 parishioners reorganized themselves as St. Stephen's Episcopal, temporarily worshipping at Heathsville United Methodist Church. Last week, the Methodist Chair of the trustees, Bob Holley, and St. Stephen's junior warden, Bill Kirby, jointly picked out a spot on the grounds of the Methodist Church where the Episcopal sign would be displayed, declaring not only the Church's message of welcome but also the 8 a.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Thursday worship times.
"Beautiful as [the signs] are," said Senior Warden Sandra Kirkpatrick, "[They] won't be necessary forever. We're hoping to be back in our own buildings by next Easter, at the latest. Christmas would be better." Plans are underway for similar signs to be erected at the highway approaches to Heathsville. Though the sting of being turned out of their own church hasn't faded, one of the benefits gained from their temporary relocation has been their new-found friendship with the Methodist congregation, noted 11-year parishioner Lea Tilbury. So while the Episcopalians are learning to drink grape juice at Eucharist, "they're learning to drink wine," said Ms. Tilbury. The two groups held joint Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, using an Episcopal liturgy for one and a Methodist liturgy for the other. "We are deeply grateful to the Methodists who have been so kind to us over the last three months and are willing to share their chapel while we wait for the lawsuits to play out in the courts," said Ms. Kirkpatrick. The congregation is also thankful for the three "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" signs donated by Ware Church, Gloucester. St. Margaret's Episcopal, Woodbridge and The Falls Church Episcopal, Falls Church also continue to worship in their temporary homes. St. Margaret's gathers at an Episcopal property on Omisol Road in Woodbridge while The Falls Church worships at Falls Church Presbyterian. Bishop Jones joined Falls Church parishioners in worship on Palm Sunday. "I arrived to find a faithful, dedicated congregation intent on fully experiencing the drama of Holy Week and Easter," he noted. "I left with great joy knowing that the Episcopal congregation in Falls Church is thriving!" Bishop Jones celebrated baptism, confirmation, reception and reaffirmation for 14 members of the congregation. "We were so honored to have the Bishop with us," said parishioner J.D. Callander. "He fully validated our experience as members of The Falls Church Episcopal. As we go forward in our faith as a newly bonded group of parishioners, we recognize the significance of his visit. The Falls Church is on its feet and functioning in rich spiritual tradition, and it feels great." To learn more about St. Margaret's, read the March 2 Virginia Episcopalian Special Edition found online here. If you have contributions of material goods you would like to make to these churches, they can be posted at the diocesan e-Bazaar online at http://www.thediocese.net/News_services/ebazaar.shtml. To contact the leadership of these congregations directly, write them at: |
