“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Dear Friends:
Experts tell us change creates opportunity. With change comes new ways of doing things, and perhaps even solutions to challenges. Change promotes flexibility, visioning, an openness to uncertainty that enables us, with courage, to grow! As the writer of Ecclesiastes teaches, “there is a time for everything” and now is the time for change with your leadership.
Last Monday evening your vestry, including the exiting vestry class and the newly elected vestry class, unanimously elected Susan Buckner as your new senior warden and Susan Forbes as your new junior warden. This change continues the excellence in leadership established by previous wardens, including most recently Elaine Perry as senior warden and Richard Durkin as junior warden. We’re grateful for the outstanding leadership of Elaine and Richard in their final year on the vestry. We’re especially grateful that they are succeeded by Susan and Susan.
Susan Buckner has served faithfully initiating the Lenten discipline 40 bags in 40 days, the Community dinners, mission trips to Haiti, all the while first serving as registrar and then Outreach vestry liaison, just to name a few. With the role of senior warden now at a level of superior organization, Susan’s gifts compliment the ministry of service. As senior warden Susan checks in on the rector, leads other vestry in their various responsibilities, and along with the entire vestry, serves as a legal agent to the workings of the parish. Susan writes the following concerning her role as being called to serve as senior warden…
“When I listen to what God has to say to me, I realize that what He has to say points me in the right direction. Whenever I have doubts or questions, He answers them. He has not shown me the wrong way, for He is good and He is right and I feel His love. I felt called to be Senior Warden because I want to see Epiphany grow. Growth means that more people have found their way to God and will also feel His love and my hope is that through Epiphany they will also find a community that will support their relationship with Him. There is nothing better than that.”
Susan Forbes will serve as Epiphany’s junior warden. Susan also follows in the footsteps of outstanding junior warden leadership. Junior wardens are largely responsible for the workings of the church building. In the life of Epiphany, this is no small task. Over the years, Susan and her family have graciously led the Hypothermia Shelter, where she has come to truly understand the workings of our facility. Among the many other ways Susan serves, she faithfully oversees the fellowship ministry while also serving on altar guild. Susan has discerned her call through prayerful study of Proverbs 16:3, “commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.” Susan writes the following regarding her role as being called to serve as junior warden…
“This year will be my family’s 5th year with Epiphany and my final year of a 3 year commitment as a vestry member. I prayed, pondered and even spoke to a few friends about how I might serve my last year on the vestry and Junior Warden came to mind. It’s an opportunity to continue the work that our last Junior Wardens have done. My responsibility will be to oversee the upkeep of our parish building and grounds to assist our Senior Warden, Susan Buckner and our Priest, Rev Hillary West. My hope is to attend most of the Congregational Events in 2020, be available for any issues that may come up, take steps to resolve them, and be a leader and model for Christ and seek positive solutions. With your support, love and prayers and as your Junior Warden also known as the “Peoples’ Warden” I know we can continue to make Epiphany a great place for all to come worship and fellowship.“
“The Susans” begin their leadership leading Epiphany through the Ordination to the Diaconate this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. We’re expecting three bishops, ten ordinands and some 600+ folks in attendance to witness the glorious celebration. Please, if you’re free on Friday afternoon to help set up, or Saturday anytime before, during or especially after to help clean up, let me know at: clergy@epiphanyec.org. This is truly an all hands-on deck time to serve. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Before the weekend, please, plan to attend the White Fragility book group tonight at 7:00. Tomorrow night, come to the Interfaith Potluck Dinner and Dialogue from 6:00-7:30 with babysitting provided. Then, on Sunday, we’ll install our new vestry. We’ll resolute our exiting class and we’ll continue our journey through Lent as we dive into the story of Nicodemus who musters up the courage to embrace the opportunity to grow in his relationship with God through Christ. Following worship, we’ll once again pack 200 meals for Fairfax County school kids. Sunday afternoon, from 4:00-5:30, come learn about The Episcopal Church through Episcopal 101.
As always, the life of Epiphany is full and always in motion, bringing about change for all to know Christ, follow Christ, and serve in Christ’s name. God gifts us over and over again in our worship and ministry of serving. So, of course, we’re going to change…change for the better!
See you throughout the week and weekend!
Blessings,
Hillary