[NOTE: This is the third of a series of three reports in preparation for the annual Parish Meeting on May 25th.]
It is fervently to be hoped that in the coming year the two priests who serve the parish will both be able to remain perpendicular at the same time.
This, lamentably, was not the case in the year 2013/14. No sooner had the hospital and dialysis center managed to get my kidneys working again than Father Kerouac, our vicar, fell and broke his thigh.
Nevertheless, in all other respects, 2013/14 was an excellent year for St Stephen’s. Not least, it saw the ordination of two deacons—The Rev’d Mr Michael Belt and The Rev’d Mr John Novicki—and the setting apart of a sub-deacon, Mr Wiley Hawks.
This coming September, our bishop, The R. Rev’d John Vaughan, plans to be here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the dedication of our parish church and the 25th anniversary of my call to the rectorship of St Stephen’s.
During his visit, Bishop Vaughan, God willing, will ordain Deacons Belt and Novicki to the priesthood and Mr Hawks to the diaconate.
Meanwhile our two deacons and Mr Hawks have measurably increased our ability to minister to the parish and the community. The deacons have enhanced the liturgy, while Mr Hawks, together with Happy Riley, our Director of Pastoral Care, have greatly expanded the parish’s ministry in our local health care facilities and retirement communities.
St Stephen’s provides chaplains for organizations including the U.S. Navy League, the Ancient & Honorable Mechanical Company of Baltimore and the St George’s Society. We also offer pastoral care and support at The Joseph Richey Hospice, Union Memorial Hospital and The Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Our clergy and pastoral care staff conduct regular church services at retirement communities and nursing homes, including Glen Meadows, Mays Chapel Ridge, Powerback at Brightwood, Genesis at Mays Chapel, Lorien at Mays Chapel, Broadmead, College Manor and Roland Park Place, as well as occasional services at other communities including Heart Homes, Blakehurst, Edenwald and Keswick.
The parish continues its monthly collections of non-perishable foodstuffs and household goods for At Jacob’s Well, a charity that helps Baltimore’s mentally ill homeless population.
I am also very glad to report that Anne Hawkins, who retired last year after 15 years as a much loved Director of Pastoral Care, still helps out—and not just with pastoral care. Annie’s culinary talents are legendary and, thankfully, she continues to share them generously.
The Parish Life Committee has gone from strength to strength under the joint chairmanship of Priscilla and Dick Huffman. The remarkable success of both the 2013 Cookie Walk and the 2014 Garden Party are, largely, a testament to their organizing ability.
Happily, Donna Szper, who retired in 2012 as Cookie Walk and Garden Party organizer, appears well on the road to recovery from her bout with illness. The diocesan synod would not be the same without the delegate duo of Donna and Rosa Halbert, a/k/a “Trouble One and Trouble Two.”
On a rather less cheerful note, Fr Rhae Kelley and his wife, Molly, departed St Stephen’s in the fall for a new home—and a new calling—in South Carolina. Bishop Vaughan has appointed Fr Rhae to be Dean of the Carolinas.
The Friday morning Bible Study is led by Fr Kerouac and Brock Johnson, who also does sterling service as Director of Adult Education, lay reader, Sunday School teacher and catechist.
The Knitting Circle—mentored by Karen Ruthig and Cindie Baker—meets in the parish hall on Thursdays at 10 AM to produce beautifully crafted comforts for the patients at local health care facilities, retirement communities and folks on the parish sick list. New members are always welcome.
The newsletter now has a new editor—Don Ruthig—and comes to you courtesy of the hard-working mailroom team: Donna Szper, Joyce Perlberg (and Misty), Mar Bopst and Jim Halbert. (If you change your address or if you’re going away for few days, please let them know so they can make the necessary adjustments to the mailing list.)
The Parish Life Committee organized a host of other events, including a diet-busting Shrove Tuesday Pancake & Sausage Supper and an extraordinarily successful Gourmet Dinner and Auction.
The committee’s Silly Summer Suppers ran through the summer and into the fall, attracting an enthusiastic following not only among parishioners, but among folks in the neighborhood.
The parish owes a considerable debt of gratitude to the Vestry for its work in overseeing the parish’s affairs. They are John Cobb, Rector’s Warden; Don Ruthig, People’s Warden; Gordon Turner, People’s Warden Emeritus, and Paul Douglas, warden’s assistant; William Hawkins, treasurer; Dr. Kirby von Kessler, registrar; Sev Miller; Brock Johnson, Donna Szper, and J. Brice Richardson, who is a member of the diocesan Standing Committee.
At this year’s annual meeting, we shall be filling three vestry postions. The nominees are: William Hawkins, Brock Johnson and Dr. von Kessler, all retiring vestrymen.
The building and grounds have never looked better thanks to Grounds Chairman Martha Miller, Buildings Chairman Don Ruthig and Brock Johnson (a.k.a. “Sparkles”), who lead a team of enthusiastic volunteers, including Colby Hawks, Judy Elliot, Sev Miller and Bill Hawkins.
Thanks to the creativity of Adric, Organist & Choir Master, the Choir of Men & Boys has maintained a remarkably high standard despite an acute shortage of trebles.
We are always on the lookout for trebles, experienced singers, as well as probationers and learners. If you know a boy who would enjoy singing and who would appreciate a splendid musical education—all for free—please let us know his name. We’d love to recruit him.
Adric and the choir have also maintained their splendid Choral Evensong program. These services are generally sung on the first Sunday of the month.
The choir sings only Evensong on the first Sunday of the month as well as regular services of Choral Eucharist and Mattins. The officiant at Mattins and Evensong is usually Peter Threadgill, our head lay reader and resident composer.
Our lay readers are Gordon Turner, Paul Douglas, Dan Bursi, J. Brice Richardson, Bob Reynolds, Dr. Kirby von Kessler, and Chris Browne.
St Stephen’s Ladies Who Lunch, under the leadership of Joyce Pearlberg, have enjoyed another year of fellowship and fine dining.
The Altar Guild, led by Ellen Reather and assisted by Judy Kight, Anne Hawkins, Colby Hawks, Priscilla and Dick Huffman, John and Diane Novicki and William Spicer, has had another busy year. Membership is open to both men and women. If you are interested in this vital work, please contact the parish office or an Altar Guild member. We are also looking for more ushers—particularly for the 11:15 AM Sunday service.
Our thanks goes to Sunday School teachers Diane Novicki, Tracey Gushue, Tracey Collins, Alison Belt, and Brock Johnson. Diane also leads the Junior Altar Guild.
Our talented Flower Guild continues to deck the sanctuary with spectacular floral arrangements. It was hard to imagine the church appearing more beautiful than it did at Christmastide until we saw the Easter flowers.
Almost last, but very far from least, our long suffering treasurer Bill Hawkins would like to remind you that finances always get tight as summer approaches.
Family vacations tend to play havoc with church cash flow. If you are planning a trip, Bill would very much appreciate it if you paid your pledge before you went away, rather than upon your return.
Meanwhile, if you would like to keep abreast of parish affairs, check a date, read a sermon, hunt through ancient newsletters or just browse generally, our website is the place to do it. You will find it at our web address: www.ststeve.com. GPH✠
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