Dear Calvary family,
Last Sunday was our pulpit exchange with St. Mary’s – Middlesboro. My experience there was a pleasant one. The Junior Warden and his wife met me when I arrived and showed me around the church campus and the rectory. St. Mary’s is on the National Register of Historical buildings. It was built in 1890 and modeled after its sister church in Middlesborough, England. The main stained glass Tiffany window, the hand carved eagle lectern stand, and the communion rail were gifted by the parish in England when the church was consecrated. The church itself is warm, well-maintained, and strikingly beautiful inside and out. They have an exceptional prayer garden between the main church building and the rectory. If you are ever in the Middlesboro area, please take a few minutes to visit St. Mary’s.
Worship on Sunday was with a smaller but hearty crowd of twenty-four. They usually have between 40-50, but several people including most of the choir, the organist, the acolytes, and a few others had come down with Covid. I am glad they stayed home out of the care for the rest of us, but I would have enjoyed meeting the whole congregation. Worship went well, and several of their members stayed after the service to chat over coffee and donuts. I missed being here, but it was well worth the trip for both of us with this pulpit exchange. Plus Izak, Natalie, and Levon were able to see their moms for Mother’s Day. Izak also shared with me that Levon has just started taking his first steps and so his family here was able to see him walk and cheer him on in person.
Thank you for your hospitality to them, especially since Calvary was Izak’s supporting parish as he prepared for seminary.
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday! We celebrate the ‘birthday of the Church” when the Holy Spirit came and filled the hearts and minds of those first disciples and who birthed the early Church. Come this Sunday to hear more about how the Spirit is moving here at Calvary! Wear red and invite someone!
Blessings, Fr. Jon
