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Both Giving and Receiving
When Tod and I arrived
at Calvary Church in 1976, we had come from Kobe, Japan, where we had been
attending Kobe Union Church. Meaningful as that union church was, it felt
good to be back in the arms of a traditional Episcopal church. After a few
weeks the Reverend Strain came to call bearing a pictorial directory and
we were hooked. I joined Bob Morris' Wednesday class and started teaching
church school.
One daughter was married at Calvary in 1982 and the other in 1983. Both
were beautiful ceremonies, though the first had 28 participants and the
second 150. Tod was elected to the vestry in 1984 and served four years.
And he has been a faithful usher. We both became early supporters of
Interweave. In 1994 Tod became dangerously ill with Guianne-Barre
syndrome, and well appreciated were the visits to the neurological
intensive care unit by Greg Cole, Kay Locke, and then the newly arrived
Chris Brdlik.
We
both retired from our jobs and worked at Tod's recuperation. Later I took
the EFM four year course under the mentorship of the Rev. Peggy Hodgkins,
and learned even more about ministry through the Stephen Ministry course.
Having been on the receiving end of so much pastoral care and learning,
and inspired by the church services and fine music, it spurred us on to
continually increase our pledge each year. We are aiming for the tithe
that gives 5% of our income to the church and 5% to other charities. It
makes us feel good to give.
After a stint on the vestry myself, I fell into the role of Clerk of the
Vestry, and Tod and I share a box at the church office as he is now the
church Registrar. We recently arranged for an Episcopal Church Foundation
annuity with David Farrand's help, and when we downsize, you can be sure
we will stay within a short distance of our beloved Calvary Church and its
people. Many of our dearest friends we met at Calvary.
Barbara
Packer
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