Faith

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

 

St. John’s Lafayette Square

This is where I started really living as a disciple of Jesus. My family took me to church while I was growing up and my dad stressed the importance of finding a local church when I moved to Washington, DC after college. I went there to “save the world” so he knew I would need a place to stay grounded and guided.

When a friend from college was killed tragically in an accident, I found myself at the 12:10 weekday service at the little yellow church around the corner from my internship. In the side chapel, I fell apart and the priest gently helped to put me back together.

I didn’t have any money so I volunteered where I could: Sunday School teacher, teller, usher, coffee hour host, and member of the new 20s&30s ministry - where I met my husband. Chris was going to grad school nearby and we did a lot of mission projects together (and maybe a Happy Hour or two). But it took being on a committee, orchestrated by the rector, that got us dating. We married in 2020 - just a couple of months after the committee was finished!

Washington National Cathedral

Doing my seminary field education at the National Cathedral was not as glamourous as some might imagine! While I was there I had three deans (the Reverends Sam Lloyd, Frank Wade, and Gary Hall), worshipped in five different locations (two high school gymnasiums, a Jewish temple, a nearby parish, and in the cathedral itself - I started just after the earthquake!), and five separate spaces in the cathedral (Bethlehem Chapel, Resurrection Chapel, St. Mary’s Chapel, St. Joseph’s Chapel, and the main sanctuary). Eventually, I even baptized a baby in the Children’s Chapel!

My work at the Cathedral was to build up the new 20s&30s ministry and strengthen the brand-new family ministry. The Cathedral was just beginning to have its own congregation and I was able to grow these important groups trying to find their way in a “new” parish.

I was lucky enough to be hired by the Canon for Programs to work on a Creation Care curriculum that invited distinguished speakers to share their stories of stewardship and renewal. They included:

Church of the Epiphany

Just four blocks from the White House, Epiphany is both a thriving mission center and a lovely church. People from all over Washington go to Epiphany to find the peace of God that passes all understanding. Whether you are a powerful government employee, homeless by choice or circumstance, recovering from addiction(s), moved by glorious music, or all of the above, there is something for you at Epiphany.

Diocese of Washington

As the Interim Missioner for Young Adults and College Chaplains, I worked with seekers, believers, and faith leaders throughout the diocese to help folks between the ages of 18 and 30 find a home in the Episcopal church. It was AWESOME! The diocese, at the time, had close to 80 parishes, 11 schools, and 7 college programs so I was busy. What a wonderful opportunity to grow groups of young adults throughout the diocese at the parish level and also on campuses.

I was also a guest preacher on behalf of Bishop Mariann while doing parish visits with vestries. Our team, Congregational Vitality, worked directly with clergy and lay leadership to strengthen parish life. The results were evident in stronger stewardship campaigns, growing small groups, and deeper parish involvement on the diocesan level.

Street Church

I think it was Chuck Colson who would say, “If you give someone a sandwich then wrap it in the Gospel. If you give someone the Gospel, then wrap it in a sandwich.” At Epiphany, we did just that. Every Thursday we would make sandwiches, pack supplies for a picnic lunch, and then roll full shopping carts to Franklin Park a couple of blocks away. After setting up a 6’ table we would host Holy Eucharist in the park for anyone who wanted to join. We had tourists, lawyers, lobbyists, and locals join us for a quick service and then lunch together by the (usually not working) fountain. Every service was a powerful reminder of just how much God loves each of us.