[Magdalen] Last Sunday as Senior Warden

[Grace Cangialosi]

Thanks be to God, indeed, Ginga. And especially for the faithful ministry of leadership you have provided.
I can't wait to see pictures of the font! 
(Since I'm not on FB right now, could you please send me the web address?)

> On 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