[Magdalen] decline of this list

[Robert Counselman]

Rick Mashburn and I just had a brief visit over lunch in San Antonio and
caught up a bit. Even though we are not that far apart, we never seem to
meet that often, so it was good to have a visit with him and talk about the
old times on the list.

I’m in San Antonio more often these days with Drs appointments and church
business (I’m currently out of retirement for a while as I serve as interim
rector of St Philip’s Church, in Uvalde TX). So perhaps we will be able to
meet occasionally in the future once again.

Thanks for the good visit, Rick!!  Maybe next time we can include some
other list members?

Fr. Robert L Counselman,
Retired (sort of)


On Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm pretty much an email person, too.
>
> Some of you followed our daughter Ginny Wilder while she was in seminary at
> VTS.  Some even attended her ordination in 2013 at Trinity, Old Swedes
> Church in Wilmington, DE. For the past 8 years, Ginny has served as rector
> of St. Anne's Episcopal, Winston-Salem, NC.  She has been called as rector
> of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Bristol, RI and will begin serving there
> in February.
>
> Ginga Wilder
>
> On Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com
> >
> wrote:
>
> > I live through email, my go-to..  My fellow warden sends texts which I
> may
> > see days later sometimes.  I do not carry my phone around....  I am
> trying
> > to bridge the generational gap.  Sigh.
> >
> > Oh dear!  There is a family wedding in Toronto this w/e and I have just
> > found a cache of important family messages, dated last Thursday, on
> > WhatsApp.  Ooops, my bad!  No wonder I hadn't heard who can't make it
> after
> > all.
> >
> > On Tue, 30 Sept 2025 at 14:47, Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Just saw this, and see the last post was 4 days ago. I'm still here as
> > > well. Pretty fully retired, but doing an extended supply gig for a
> > parish I
> > > love here near Buffalo. They're looking for someone half time, and ten
> > > years ago I would have loved to do it! But now I don't have the energy
> > that
> > > it takes to be a "real" parish priest. I do love supply work, though,
> as
> > > liturgy, preaching, and sacraments are the really fulfilling parts of
> > > priestly ministry for me. And their strong and excellent laity have to
> do
> > > all the hard stuff!
> > >
> > > I still have my trailer by Lake Erie, though it's a new(er) one that I
> > got
> > > a couple of years ago. My last travel (besides to the Midwest to see
> > family
> > > and old friends) was 2 weeks in London in 2023. I do seem to be running
> > out
> > > of steam for travel, but still think about a week in Barcelona for my
> > 75th
> > > birthday. I did a week in Paris for my 70th, and it was delightful.
> > >
> > > Rick, so sorry to hear your news, but happy to see old friends. I must
> > > remember to check email more often. Usually friends have to text me to
> > tell
> > > me they sent me an email!
> > >
> > > Ann
> > >
> > > The Rev. Ann Markle
> > > Buffalo, NY
> > > ann.markle at aya.yale.edu
> > >
> > > On Fri, Sep 26, 2025, 4:56 PM Marion Thompson <
> marionwhitevale at gmail.com
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi, Jay,
> > > >
> > > > 'Twas I who mentioned Lynn.  However, I now see that I was responding
> > to
> > > a
> > > > very old entry (Jan. 7th) in the chain.  Sorry to mislead you.  I
> wish
> > > she
> > > > would pop up, too.
> > > >
> > > > Marion, a pilgrim
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, 26 Sept 2025 at 16:42, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi everyone!
> > > > >
> > > > > Still here in Virginia. Orthodox Christian since 2015 but still
> > > > > Episcopaliani-ish. I attend the same church as Kate now, driving in
> > > with
> > > > my
> > > > > friend Dena who is the widow of our former priest.
> > > > > Completely retired but busier than ever. Still making jewelry and
> > just
> > > > got
> > > > > done with our biggest show of the year but not done for the year,
> > and I
> > > > > think I'll be tired for a month! Another
> > > > > show a week from Saturday but it's smaller. I also volunteer at the
> > > local
> > > > > humane society shelter two days a week with the stray cats and I
> was
> > > > > fostering cats in my studio until my husband
> > > > > put his foot down. We have two barn cats, Josie and Meg, who keep
> the
> > > > > rodent population down outdoors and try to keep it from coming
> > indoors.
> > > > > Rick, I'm sorry to hear about your upcoming divorce. It's never
> easy
> > > for
> > > > > either party. I'm glad you have Milo, though. Many blessings from
> one
> > > who
> > > > > has been through it.
> > > > > Did I see someone mention Lynn? I didn't see her. Perhaps on
> another
> > > > > thread.
> > > > > In personal threads, I had multiple abdominal surgeries in 2012
> and a
> > > > heart
> > > > > attack complete with cath and stent in 2024 (which revealed I'd
> had a
> > > > > bigger one earlier), but I'm okay. I also had Covid
> > > > > before It was a thing. Takes a lot to keep this old broad down! I
> now
> > > > have
> > > > > not only 11 grandkids but two great-granddaughters, all of whom are
> > > > > in Tennessee. My two brothers are both alive and
> > > > > kicking as well, though the next youngest to me gave us a frightful
> > > scare
> > > > > about 4 years ago by suddenly developing what turned out to be
> > > autoimmune
> > > > > limbic encephalitis. Turns out it's a good thing
> > > > > to have a younger brother who has all kinds of contacts in the
> > medical
> > > > > world *and *to be in Stanford Medical Center!
> > > > > I miss you all. It would be nice to get this list up and running
> > again.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jay
> > > > >
> > > > > On Fri, Sep 26, 2025 at 10:02 AM Ginga Wilder <
> gingawilder at gmail.com
> > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Rick,
> > > > > > I am sorry to read your news about your marriage.  You are dear.
> > May
> > > > you
> > > > > > be comforted as you grieve this enormous loss.  Blessings and
> hugs
> > > from
> > > > > me
> > > > > > to thee.
> > > > > > Ginga Wilder
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM Rick Mashburn <
> > > ricklmashburn at gmail.com
> > > > >
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I'm still here as well but much has changed. Alex told me we
> were
> > > > > > getting a
> > > > > > > divorce in May. We sold our house together and the divorce will
> > be
> > > > > final
> > > > > > in
> > > > > > > November. I'm busy at work for which I'm very grateful. Milo
> > seems
> > > > > > settled.
> > > > > > > He didn't like the new place at first but he has learned to
> enjoy
> > > the
> > > > > > > backyard. I've slowly started cooking again but I'm sticking to
> > > very
> > > > > > simple
> > > > > > > recipes for now. If the weather ever turns cool, I know I'll be
> > > > > craving a
> > > > > > > big pot of gumbo. I think I'll go to one of the great Cajun
> > > > restaurants
> > > > > > we
> > > > > > > have here. There is one owned by a mother/daughter duo that
> > > relocated
> > > > > > here
> > > > > > > after Katrina. I think I'll just go there instead of making it
> > > > myself!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > After 10 years of marriage, I'm struggling with being single
> > again.
> > > > > But,
> > > > > > > I've lived alone most of my adult life so I know I will figure
> it
> > > out
> > > > > > > again!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Peace, Rick and Milo
> > > > > > > San Antonio
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Rick
> > > > > > > 210-618-5096
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM Marilyn Cepeda <
> > > > mcepeda514 at gmail.com>
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am indeed still here. At age 72, I am finding it a curious
> > > time.
> > > > I
> > > > > > have
> > > > > > > > become the oldest remaining in my immediate family with only
> > one
> > > > > first
> > > > > > > > cousin remaining. Many of my friends including my two best
> > > friends
> > > > > have
> > > > > > > > passed on as have my parents in law.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I cannot say it is lonely as we have three of our five kids
> > > local.
> > > > > One
> > > > > > > > lives around the corner from us with the youngest grands.
> They
> > > come
> > > > > > here
> > > > > > > > after school. One pops in for coffee weekly. One texts off
> and
> > on
> > > > > > during
> > > > > > > > the day.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I have slacked off much of my church activity remembering
> words
> > > of
> > > > my
> > > > > > > > spiritual director that there is nothing wrong with sitting
> in
> > a
> > > > pew
> > > > > > > that I
> > > > > > > > did not always have to be busy.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am pretty healthy as far as I know. Given the state of many
> > > > around
> > > > > > me I
> > > > > > > > am grateful. I do sometimes wonder what will eventually
> befall
> > me
> > > > and
> > > > > > if
> > > > > > > I
> > > > > > > > will handle with any grace or be an ill tempered old lady or
> a
> > > > total
> > > > > > > baby.
> > > > > > > > For the sake of the kids, I hope it is not the latter
> options!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Always nice to hear from you all as a very important part of
> my
> > > > > > > transition
> > > > > > > > from Methodist to Episcopalian.
> > > > > > > > 😀
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Marilyn (Owens, Palmero) Cepeda
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM Simon Kershaw <
> > > > simon at kershaw.org.uk
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I guess most of us are still here. Life in retirement is
> busy
> > > > > though.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Current agenda...
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Just finishing compilation of my annual calendar for the
> > Church
> > > > of
> > > > > > > > > England, used by a few thousand clergy and parishes. At
> least
> > > 25
> > > > > > years
> > > > > > > > > since I first did this.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Trying to read through documents of the long-listed
> > candidates
> > > to
> > > > > be
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > next Bishop of Ely. For each candidate there are some five
> > > > > documents
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > plough through and to give a preliminary assessment and
> > > > > justification
> > > > > > > of
> > > > > > > > > whether they should be shortlisted. The 14 members of the
> > > > selection
> > > > > > > > > panel (the Crown Nominations Commission) meet next week to
> > > decide
> > > > > on
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > shortlist. Two days of interviews and decision-making will
> > > follow
> > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > November.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Bishop's Council meeting tomorrow night -- papers still to
> be
> > > > read
> > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > preparation.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The Saturday after next (4 October) I will be admitted and
> > > > licensed
> > > > > > as
> > > > > > > a
> > > > > > > > > Lay Reader (or Licensed Lay Minister). The good news there
> is
> > > > that
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > two years of training are completed!
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The Saturday after that is diocesan synod -- of which I am
> > the
> > > > lay
> > > > > > > > > chair. Nothing much on the agenda (ha ha), just budget and
> > such
> > > > > like.
> > > > > > > > > And a debate on where the Church of England goes on
> same-sex
> > > > > > > > > relationships. And my co-chair, the clergy chair, who would
> > > > > normally
> > > > > > > > > share the role with me, is undergoing treatment for breast
> > > > cancer,
> > > > > > so I
> > > > > > > > > might be on my own.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I also have a two-day meeting of the Church of England
> > > Liturgical
> > > > > > > > > Commission at the end of October.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > And then there's the important stuff like helping to look
> > after
> > > > our
> > > > > > two
> > > > > > > > > young granddaughters. And helping deal with my two elderly
> > > > > > > > > parents-in-law who live a couple of hundred miles away: my
> > > > > > > mother-in-law
> > > > > > > > > is suffering from dementia, and my father-in-law is finding
> > it
> > > > > harder
> > > > > > > > > and harder to cope.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > And that's just the highlights from my diary!
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > simon
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On 23/09/2025 21.48, Kate Conant wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > Has the list died? I haven't received anything since
> March.
> > > Of
> > > > > > > course,
> > > > > > > > I
> > > > > > > > > > hadn't written anything either.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > > Simon Kershaw
> > > > > > > > > simon at kershaw.org.uk
> > > > > > > > > Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>