[Magdalen] Last Sunday as Senior Warden

[Eleanor Braun]

Congratulations for all your work - your own and that of all the
Episcopalians working together.  I can't think of a more appropriate
recognition of your work that a beautiful baptismal font.  Looking forward
to seeing the picture.

Blessings on Good Shepherd, its new leadership, and its new lay ministry
coordinator!

Eleanor

On Sun, Feb 14, 2016 at 2:10 PM, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> Today was my last Sunday as organizing Senior Warden of The Episcopal
> Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville, SC.  What a day it was!
>
>
>
> Forty months ago, on October 21, 2012, a letter from Bishop Mark Lawrence
> was read in Episcopal churches across the Diocese of SC stating
> (erroneously) that we were no longer associated with The Episcopal Church.
> After years of intentional fracture, schism had finally come to the
> Episcopal Diocese of SC.  You all know what a grief that was to John and me
> and other faithful Episcopalians in SC.
>
>
>
> That very afternoon, seven Summerville Episcopalians gathered on friends’
> back porch and committed ourselves to reorganizing an Episcopal
> congregation from the local remnant.  And, we have done just that…not just
> me, not any one person, but the Body of Christ in this place, in this
> time.  My grief was morphed by my passion to reorganize an Episcopal
> congregation.  I was named senior warden.  All of us, the original seven,
> plus those who have joined us in those months to reform, rebuild,
> reestablish an Episcopal Church, now known as The Episcopal Church of the
> Good Shepherd, Summerville.   Good Shepherd is a mission church of The
> Episcopal Church in SC.
>
>
>
> Lots of gift-giving today.  During worship, John and I presented a new
> banner that we had commissioned, a banner that speaks visually where Good
> Shepherd is today.  Then, I was stunned more than I have ever been in my
> entire life.  The congregation presented the church a hand crafted
> baptismal font in my honor.  Dave Comer, an architect and gifted furniture
> maker from our parish, made the mahogany stand and a glass artisan crafted
> the glass bowl.  The bowl has an amazing design…one can see the holy spirit
> moving in it.  I am blown away and unworthy and thankful beyond words and
> want to share that with you.  Photos will be posted on our webpage as soon
> as possible.
>
>
>
> Rejoice with me that God has brought The Episcopal Church of the Good
> Shepherd to this day and has shed a light on the way into our future.  We
> have wonderful new leadership coming on board.  The priest in charge has
> asked me to serve going forward as lay ministry coordinator.
>
>
>
> Thanks be to God!
>
> Ginga
>