Welcome in the name of Jesus Christ!
We would like to welcome you to the web site of Calvary Episcopal Church in Underhill, VT. On it is information about who we are, when we hold our services, and some of the activities that we undertake at Calvary and in the community.
Our mission statement seeks to capture who we are:
"The mission of Calvary Episcopal Church is to be a loving, caring Christian community, living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our neighbors."
Announcements
•Calvary's Annual Rummage Sale will be held on Friday, May 9 from 9:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Saturday, May 10 from 9:00 a.m. until noon in the Undercroft.
•On Sunday, May 11, we will joyfully baptize Jenaya D'Amico.
•On Sunday, June 1, during the coffee and fellowship hour, there will be a baby shower in celebration of the birth of Caroline Grace Hill, daughter of Jeff and Laura hill.
Thoughts from Fr. Harrison
Calvary
April 3, 2008
Dear Friends,
I take the time to read the newsletters of our area churches that make their way to Calvary’s mailbox. I make note of their activities, make announcements about their doings folks may be interested in, and prayerfully give thanks for the fellowship and enthusiasm of the people of our worshipping communities. I’m especially interested in the letters or “thoughts” from the pastors, ministers, and priests contained in the newsletters. We write to encourage, educate, evangelize, inspire, get the word out about what is on our mind, but few write about what they “do” in their community, or how they “be” other than be the minister in the church.
Yes, of course, I remember my “preacher teacher” reminding us fledging preachers to leave the word “I” out of our writings and sermons. But I also remember wondering how will folks ever know who we really are, how we tick, what we think, if we are only telling them what we think they ought to do, how they ought to be, wagging our fingers and our tongues from the pulpit our in our letters.
In a recently published essay Craig Dykstra, vice president for religion at the Lily Endowment, Inc. said, “Pastors must have a broad awareness and understanding of the world that the church exists to serve, both in its scope and contemporary need and in relationship to the specific environment in which the pastor and a congregation operate. All this requires continuing study and reflection, but also experienced, practical know-how that has been tested and developed through broad experience, struggle and sustained engagement. Finally, and above all, pastors must have clarity of mind and spirit about what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth.” Good grief! As true as it is, his would not be a magnet statement for a seminary recruitment poster, but it is a fair statement about living fully in community, inside and outside the church.
Truth be said, my days aren’t much different than yours. You do the above as well as I, and that can make you a “minister.” I’m absorbed in ongoing and chaotic exchanges in meaningful relationships and personal demands. I struggle to discern my life as Christian yet sinner. I make unreasonable demands on my self and others. I respond to requests for help by saying “I can do that” too often, or “no” too soon. And then there are personal issues. Our days are pretty much alike, am I right? Yeah, I know, there’s more, but this is a “pastoral letter.”
The vestry, some other interested folks, and I took on our Mutual Ministry Review this past week. We shared a look back over the soon to be one year since my arrival as priest. It was a quintessential “love-fest.” It was like being a nine-year old locked in a room full of heavily lip-sticked great-aunts. I wanted to run for the door lest I become a balled-up, cringing heap covered in kiss marks. Indeed, you love me and I love you, but thank goodness the conversation became, “what are we going to do with all this love.” How are we going to react to answered prayer? What happens next when God says, “here, here is just what you prayed for…its all yours.” Happy days are here again, but how do we take care of each other and our community outside the church’s doors other than just throwing kisses?
I recently said in a sermon: “Any doubt for a new life at Calvary you may have had about a year ago should be far from you by now. The proof can be seen and touched, and I believe there is more of this in our future.” And I wasn’t talking about me! I also believe that Calvary has everything it needs to minister; to do and be, grace to its communities. Calvary has you and it has me, and it was made clear this week we find that irresistible. That has and will continue to draw people looking for something new in their lives or seeking a good start for their children’s life as a future Christian yet sinner….but what are we going to do when that happens?
The ministry of shared love, reaching out by being present, has a beauty and appeal that most cannot resist. It duplicates itself and draws others in, potentially healing and shaping their lives, and the church grows quite by accident and with little to no effort. But it takes more than a minister in a church.
I hope I get to see you soon!
Fr. Harrison †