The Chronicle - St Andrew`s Episcopal Church

May-June, 2016
TheChronicle
The magazine of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Yardley, PA
A celebration of
ministry and a
fond farewell
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
Founded 1835
47 West Afton Avenue
Yardley, PA 19067
Tel: 215.493.2636; Fax: 215.493.3092
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.standrews-yardley.org
The Rev. Canon Daniel G. P. Gutierrez,
Bishop-Elect of Pennsylvania
Parish Staff
The Rev. Dr. Daniell C. Hamby, Rector
(Retired May 22)
The Rev. Lloyd H. Winter, Jr.,
Priest Associate
Mark Dolan, Music Director
TITAR Commercial, Cleaning Service
Bob Ebert, Sexton
Office of the Rector
Accounting Warden
Jennifer Duffield 917-846-1120
Rector’s Warden
Joan Thomas 215-369-8141
The Vestry
Angela Grady 215-860-8268
Porter Hibbitts 215-550-6791
Dave Richardson 215-295-3235
Steve Rupprecht 215-428-9568
Kathleen Johnson 215-321-0555
Dorothy Schrandt 215-337-9025
Doug Riblet 215-321-7920
Beryl Moore 215-736-3608
Gerry Yarnall 215-295-1589
Marilyn Slivka 215-321-3524
Write to The Chronicle:
Reviews, Voices: Maximum 500 words.
Letters: Maximum 200 words.
News: Maximum 200 words.
Send via e-mail to editor Robin Prestage at
[email protected]
or call 215-295-7346.
2
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
June
1: Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, 2:50pm.
6: Gift of Years, RCR
7: Camera Club, 7:00pm, PH
14: Property Committee, RCR
18: Aid for Friends, 8:00am, PH
20: Gift of Years, RCR
21: Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, 2:50pm.
22: GRACE book club, 2:00pm.
28: Prayer Shawl Ministry, 1:00pm, RCR
Now you can get home delivery
of The Chronicle
Do you want to receive a printed copy of The
Chronicle sent by mail to your home address? With
effect from the September-October edition, an
annual subscription including five bi-monthly
issues is priced $20 to cover the costs of paper, ink,
printing and mailing. There is no form to complete,
simply write a tax-deductible check for $20 made
out to “St. Andrew's Episcopal Church” and
indicate "The Chronicle" on the memo line. Place
your check in the offertory basket at church on
Sunday or take it or mail it to the church office.
Any questions contact the editor, Robin Prestage
at 215-295-7346 or e-mail:
[email protected].
Photo Credits:
To those who contributed photographs featuring
Daniell’s last Sunday at St. Andrew’s and his
ministry of the past 18 years, as well as other articles
in this edition: Peace Baxter, Sara Grady, Bud
Holland, Tom Oram, Celia Apalategui Pilkington,
John Sherrard, and Derek White.
Thank you, Robin Prestage.
Cover: Daniell delivering his final homily as Rector of St.
Andrew’s on May 22, Photo: Robin Prestage.
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF MINISTRY
Special thanks to those who
worked so hard to make the
celebration party on May 22
such a success: Jennifer
Duffield, Joanne Smith, Liz
Lapiska, Amanda Drobac,
Michael Drobac, Lisa
O’Donnell, Mark Dolan, Sara
Sensenig, Randy Hill, Bob
Ebert, Pete Morris, Doug Riblet,
Cindy and Bill Vallier, Angela
Grady and Sara Grady.
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
3
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF MINISTRY
Tweets for #GodspeedDaniell
Father Daniell has always been there for me when I
needed to talk about things and offered comfort and
advice and help. Earl Brommer.
I will miss your warmth, your sensitivity, your humor,
and your sermons. Enjoy your retirement. Gloria
Levitt.
Always be remembered for
"Listen to the ears of your
heart", which has become
one of my favorites
phrases. And loved, loved,
loved your sermons.
Valerie Beirne.
Dear Daniell, thank you for
all you have done for us. I
will always remember and
appreciate you. Elliott
DeForrest.
Gonna miss you. You’re
the man Dan. Spencer
DeForrest.
Hands down Daniell, you
are the best. One of a kind
who will be missed and never
forgotten. I am forever grateful that our paths have
crossed. Liz DeForrest.
We love traveling in the South, so it is a special
pleasure to visit Georgia vicariously each Sunday
morning. Daniell has been an inspiration and an
excellent teacher. Don & Patti Conover.
What can we say to the Rector who baptized our son,
directed our daughter and son through confirmation,
gave us countless creative and stimulating homilies,
and strengthened our parish during some difficult
times? Thank you, Daniell, and Godspeed! Louise,
Doug, Sarah, and Andrew Riblet.
I was lost and you found me wandering. You
welcomed me and showed me the meaning of The
ALLEMANDE LEFT AND A GRAND RIGHT AND Holy Spirit. I am forever grateful and will never
LEFT. Marcie White.
forget. Jennifer Duffield.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and kind words
over the years and that special way that you have
when connecting with people. We wish you much
love, health and happiness in the future. Linda and
Joe Lowe.
We are grateful for the opportunity to worship with
you over the years. Your untiring support of our
family events is especially appreciated. Wishing you
good health and an enjoyable retirement. Bernie and
Soozie Myers.
Best wishes on your retirement! We spent a lot of time
together working for St. Andrew's. We were a good
team. Now enjoy this new life of leisure. Kick back
and relax! Life is good! Cheri Peters.
Resplendent in robes, faithfully bearing gifts every
Sunday: Burnished homilies to start us on our week,
words calling up God’s unending love for us, the Holy
Spirit’s care for us (with “sighs too deep for words”)
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THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF MINISTRY
and Jesus, always Jesus, beckoning us to follow. And
sometimes he sang to us; sometimes he reminded us
that when our hearts are broken, they are also broken
open; and sometimes, in a Georgia cadence not heard
enough in these parts, he told us stories that made us
laugh out loud. Thank you, Daniell, for all you’ve
given us. Joan Thomas.
Dependable, Amazing, Nice, Interesting, Educated,
Loving, a Leader. These words and so many others
describe our amazing and one of a kind priest. Rowan
O’Donnell.
Good luck in ‘Bama, don’t have too much fun without
us! #Godspeed. Mitch Demmler.
Technology at the 4:00 children's service with Daniell May God and Jesus Christ protect you and bless you
and "the Mr. Frankievich's". Can you find the blinking as you have done so much for every member of St.
pointer! Cindy Shaw and Bob Frankievich.
Andrew’s. Hope you enjoy ‘Bama! #Godspeed.
Bobby White.
Thank you Daniell for all you’ve done for our St.
Andrews family and the spiritual formation of our
Have a great time in ‘Bama! You were a great priest
children. Love and best wishes. The Rupprecht
and have a great sense of humor and personality. We
family.
will all miss you. #Godspeed. Brody Ambroggio.
Gospel and grits go together. Daniell fed our hunger
I hope that you have a great time in Alabama and
for both. May he keep on cooking in faith and with
know that the church will miss you. #Godspeed.
hope and love and may every day be a feast day in the Isabel Taylor.
Hamby household. Bob & Peggy Anderson.
I hope that your moving experience goes great and
We are most grateful to have had you be a presence in that you have a fabulous time in ‘Bama! Best wishes!
our lives. You will forever be entwined in the
#Godspeed. Miles Ambroggio.
memories and history of our family. We are indebted
to you for your wisdom, love, and caring. Gerry and It’s been a great eight years! We’ll miss you. Have fun
Beth Yarnall.
in AL! #Godspeed. Emmy Evans.
May the return to your beloved southern roots bring
all that your heart desires. Peace Baxter.
Love, joy, excitement, giggles, wine, cheesecake, and
chocolate! #Godspeed. Laura Evans.
May you have a long, fulfilling and healthy
retirement. Robin & Laura-Jean Prestage.
You made church a great experience for me.
#Godspeed. Jake Rea.
I will think of you when I play Bach or drink a latte.
Thank you for the words of wisdom in your sermons
and outside of the sanctuary. Your spiritual and
general life guidance has helped me tremendously and
will continue to stay in my life going forward.
Thanks also for making me smile. You're an
all-around good guy and will be missed. Meredith
Twardowski.
Thank you for all that you brought to our church for
the last 18 years! You have helped us grow in many
ways. We are better off for the time we have had with
you. #Godspeed. Sara Grady.
Spiritual leader par excellence and good at making me
LOL at church. Will miss your gentle guidance and
great good sense. Expect dulce de leche @ xmas. Alex
Villasante.
You welcome. You inspire. You love. You are
everything religion was meant to be. Our family has
been blessed by your ministry. We wish you a happy
retirement! The O’Donnells
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
Cheers to the Hambys! May your Alabama gardens
grow abundantly and your pantries be filled with pie.
#Godspeed. Jon Rea.
5
FAREWELL
Reflecting on ministry at ‘remarkable parish’
HE calls himself a “simple
Andrew’s? “Ongoing
parish priest. “ And he says,
development of our parish life,
on greeting people, “Call me
including the growth of our
Daniell,” with a soft Georgia
outreach and youth programs.
accent. He likes southern
“This is a remarkable parish,”
stories, wine, desserts and
Daniell said. “We have a wellbarbecue, not necessarily in
educated group of parishioners
that order. His wife and two
who are holding elected
daughters—and now a
officials at the state and federal
son-in-law—are special
levels accountable to legislapeople in his life. But he is
tion to feed the hungry. It takes
Daniell looks back on his nearly two decades as
much more than that.
a lot to go to their offices in
rector at St. Andrew’s in an interview with
He is the Very Rev. Dr.
Harrisburg and Washington and
Art Mayhew.
Daniell C. Hamby and his
sit down and tell them
list of accomplishments runs
(legislators) that they are being
two full pages, single-spaced. He has been involved in watched and being held accountable for legislation
parish, diocesan, state, national and international
dealing with this issue. They tell them ‘We are
church activities for years. He loves music and has
watching how you vote.’ And we are training the
been a musician for most of his life.
young adults to do the same thing,” he said. And our
After almost 18 years as rector of St. Andrew’s
church, like many, is beset with financial problems.
Episcopal Church, Daniell has retired, effective at the “Our biggest challenge is our physical plant. It costs
end of May. His wife, Virginia, will retire from her
us $90,000 per year for upkeep on five Victorian
social work job at the end of August and they will
buildings owned by the parish. And we always need
return to their native South to start a new life story.
repairs. A ramp collapse at the parish house will cost
Daniell is the longest-serving rector in this church’s
$20,000 to fix and we don’t have the money to do it.
history, dating to 1835. There have been 27 rectors
We’ve had two capital campaigns that raised about $1
since the church’s beginning, according to parish
million but that doesn’t cover ongoing costs. It costs
records. He succeeded the Rev. Sharline Fulton, who another $90,000 a
served as rector from 1988 to 1997.
year for costs such
What are some of the highlights of his career at St.
as heating, cooling
and salaries. How
will this parish—the
people, vestry and
A snapshot of our world when
the new rector—
Daniell became rector in 1998…
deal with this?” he
Bill Clinton was in his second term as President.
asks. “We have not
The movie, Titanic, won 11 Oscars, including
recovered from the
Best Picture.
2008 financial bust.
Animal Kingdom opened in Disney World in
We were doing well
Orlando.
until then. Also, our
Google was founded.
parish is growing
Average gas price: $1.06 a gallon.
older, with some
Gallon of milk: $3.16
passing away and
Dozen eggs: $1.09
others moving from
Median income: $38,500
the area. We need
Cost of new house: $181,900.
(Continued on page 7)
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THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
FAREWELL
(Continued from page 6)
leadership from parishioners in their 40s and 50s; it is
time for them to step forward. But, we know people
are busy today and it’s hard to get them to step up.
“We have about 400 to 450 on our rolls and we need
to grow but that’s difficult to do with the size of our
church and the size of the parking lot.
“In addition to our parish family, we are the unofficial
church of Yardley Borough. We provide pastoral care
to local non-parishioners, have four AA classes, and
offer pre-school l program.
“We have never not responded to a local need.”
Daniell was born May 8, 1950, in Atlanta, GA, and
spent his early years in Atlanta and Marietta, GA,
Chattanooga, TN, Palatka, FL and Gainesville, GA
where he graduated from high school.
His father, Joe, was a salesman and later a
manufacturers’ rep who at one time raised chickens
for sale. Daniell said his father wanted to be a
veterinarian “but World War II stopped that.” His dad
also told stories about his relatives, some of which
Daniell worked into his
homilies.
Like most men at that time,
Daniell said his dad “always
wore a hat. I wish I had his
hats today, they were nice
ones.”
His mother, Hellen may have
been labeled a “homebody”
but she was often out of the
house and involved in a
variety of civic projects and
clubs.
“She was in the garden club,
the country club, the flower
club, and of course, the
church.”
To many Southerners of the
(Continued on page 8)
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
7
FAREWELL
his first job as an intern pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church
time, church was a major part of
in Opp, AL (1975-76). They
life. “I wore a coat, tie and shined
moved on to the First
shoes to church every Sunday.
Presbyterian Church in High
Part of [my] Saturday night ritual
Point, NC from 1977 to 1981,
was shining my shoes for the next
where their first daughter,
day. Sunday lunch at home
Elizabeth Lee Hamby, was
included critiquing that day’s
born on October 23, 1980.
sermon and the pastor.”
Daniell became pastor of St.
In the 1960s in church, Daniell’s
Andrews Presbyterian Church
love of music bloomed. His
in Macon, GA in 1981. His
family and church members
second daughter, Hannah
encouraged him to attend college
Sonnen Hamby, was born
and concentrate on music. With
there February 16, 1984. Five
the help of scholarships, he
years later, the family of four
attended Presbyterian College in
would leave the South for Notre
Clinton, SC, graduating in 1973
Dame University in South
with a B.A. in Music. “I was the
Bend, IN, where major
first member of my family to
academic and professional
graduate from college, earn a
changes would take place.
At the Mardi Gras party.
doctorate, be published and
He earned his master’s degree
ordained. “
in liturgical studies from Notre
Another major personal event
Dame in 1990 and his doctor of ministry from
occurred in 1973. Daniell married Virginia Sonnen
Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. In
on June 16, 1973 and she was with him when he took his career, he has completed a variety of
post-graduate and continuing education courses.
Below: Pictured during Daniell’s tenth anniversary garden
While at Notre Dame (and still a Presbyterian), he
(Continued from page 7)
party, left to right, his mother Hellen, daughter Hannah and
sister Meredith.
8
(Continued on page 9)
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
FAREWELL
(Continued from page 8)
paired his love of music with the
ministry of the word as organist
and choirmaster at St. Michael’s
Episcopal Church in South Bend.
Influenced by his work at that
church, he became an
Episcopalian and was ordained
an Episcopal priest in 1994. Later
that year, he made a major move
and took a job as General
Secretary of the Consultation on
Church Union at Princeton
University. The organization
focuses on exploring the
formation of a united church. It is
still a work in progress.
At Princeton and its expensive housing market, the
Hambys looked for—and found—more affordable
housing in Yardley. Earlier, while commuting to
Princeton, he served as priest in charge of All Saints
Episcopal Church in Fallsington and assistant priest to
the rector, Sharline Fulton, at St. Andrew’s. He
became rector on September 1, 1998.
In addition to being a mother of two and the rector’s
wife, Virginia has had a busy and interesting life as a
social worker, including commuting daily by train to
Philadelphia. She works for Health Partners of Pennsylvania, which assists families with medically fragile
children to receive insurance benefits. She will retire
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
around Labor Day and with Daniell will move to
Eufaula, AL, a 13,000-population city “on the banks
of the Chattahoochee River” as Daniell defines it.
In moving south, Virginia and Daniell will be closer to
family. His mother, Hellen, and his sister, Meredith,
who both live in Albany, GA, where Meredith teaches
physical education; and to their younger daughter,
Hannah, a clinical social worker at Emory University
Hospital in Atlanta, where she lives.
Remaining above the Mason-Dixon Line will be their
recently married elder daughter, Elizabeth Hatuey
Ramos-Fermin, who lives in New York City and
works as an urban planner for the city’s health
department.
After hundreds of baptisms—“I am
now baptizing children of parishioners who were children themselves when I came here”—
confirmations, weddings, funerals,
sermons and myriad other liturgical
tasks, Daniell is stepping into a new
life. What will Daniell miss most
about St. Andrew’s?
“Working with children and
attacking issues such as hunger and
social justice. We have wonderful
outreach programs that must be
continued and expanded where
possible.”
Art Mayhew
9
FAREWELL
Looking for a story of fate:
HOW about being born one month later than your
future husband…in the same hospital?
Virginia Sonnen Hamby was born June 6, 1950, in
an Atlanta hospital where her future husband, Daniell,
was born May 8, 1950. “Daniell’s family lived in
Atlanta and my family lived in Forsyth, GA, which
had no hospital. When our mothers met, we
discovered we had been born at the same hospital.”
This fall, Virginia will accompany Daniell back to
Eufaula, AL, a
small city where
she spent her high
school years. They
will live ten miles
outside of town in
a home her parents
built for their retirement. Both are
gone now.
They will move
from a home next
door to a fire house
to a quiet country
place. She has
grown use to the
fire alarm. When
she and Daniell
moved here, the siren was of World War II vintage.
“Every pet we had has gone deaf,” she jokes.
VIRGINIA was one of three children of Don and
Barbara Sonnen. “My dad was a forester who
worked for a paper company and my mom was a
homemaker who also enjoyed helping in middleschool classrooms.” She has a brother, David, who is
a semi-retired software developer living in Ft. Collins,
CO, and a sister, Laura, a florist who lives in Eufaula.
Virginia moved to Eufaula as a high school junior
when her father was transferred from Forsyth, GA, to
a paper mill in the Alabama town. She graduated from
Eufaula High School and went to Presbyterian College
in Clinton, SC.
That’s where she met Daniell and earned her
bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology in
1973. They married the same year and began their
10
lives together, including having two daughters
(Elizabeth and Hannah) and moving several times
before settling in Yardley in 1994.
Along the way, Virginia carved out a career of social
work. She has worked in welfare, mental health, early
intervention of children with special needs, hospice,
residential care for adults and children with special
needs and now with a not-for-profit Medicaid and
Medicare insurance provider in Philadelphia. (Her
boss is fellow
parishioner Leah
French.)
Oh, and by the
way, she found
time to earn a
master’s degree in
social work from
Temple University.
For 22 years of
riding the train
from Yardley to
Philly for work and
college, she has
developed another
set of friends who
ride the same 6:40
a.m. inbound train
and the 5:44 p.m. train home. “We have our own little
social circle. Our train ladies even go to dinner
together from time to time.”
What will she miss about leaving Yardley?
“I will miss friends in Yardley, at work, on the train
and at St. Andrews. I also love the beauty and history
of the area and the proximity to our daughter
(Elizabeth) and son-in-law in NYC,” she said.
Oddly enough, for a Southerner, she will miss
shoveling snow. “I love cold weather; I send pictures
to my sister of me shoveling snow. She doesn’t
understand it. “But I do look forward to being closer
to family in the South, including our daughter Hannah
in Atlanta.”
That Southern family includes her sister in Eufaula;
and Daniell’s sister, Meredith and mother, Hellen,
who live in nearby Georgia along with other relatives.
Art Mayhew
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
VESTRY NOTES
Our Journey Together Continues
WHAT a great celebration of
Daniell’s ministry with us it was:
On May 22, Daniell’s last Sunday
with us as Rector, we did what St.
Andrew’s does so well: from the
beautiful music arranged by Mark
Dolan and the heavenly choirs to
the amazing feast prepared by so
many wonderful St. Andrew’s
chefs, it was all that it should be in
thanksgiving for Daniell’s time
with us. Multitudes were fed. And,
to celebrate the Eucharist,
Episcopal priests Bud Holland,
Lloyd Winter, Nancy Dilliplane,
Sharline Fulton and Nancy Stroh,
and our former Deacon Pam Nesbit
and current member and priest
Megan Sutker stood with Daniell
in the crossing (beautifully
prepared by the Altar Guild) and
affirmed that we are the heart of St.
Andrew’s. We were also honored to
have Lucy Ammerman of the
Diocese of Pennsylvania
celebrating with us.
rector, once
called, get to
know St.
Andrew’s
during the
summer.
The wardens
and the Vestry
continue to
look ahead to
the beginning
of the program year in
September
when we hope
to have the
interim rector on board. (And, yes,
we will celebrate with a
welcome picnic!) We will plan for
a Vestry Town Hall to keep you all
informed of where we are in our
journey together and a “Mission
Sunday” where you will have the
opportunity to engage, ever more
deeply, in the amazing ministries of
this parish. While a parish profile
committee and a discernment
committee to find our new spiritual
What’s next
The wardens and the Vestry have
leader will be convened only after
been blessed to have Bud Holland the interim is here, during the
to help us in managing this
summer the Vestry will be
transition and working with the
considering the many gifts all of
Diocese. We now have priests
you bring to the life of this parish,
scheduled to celebrate most sumand we hope that you will serve and
mer Sundays, and we also know
participate in whatever way is
that there are at least four people at needed.
St. Andrew’s who can lead us in
morning prayer when needed. The On that note…
wardens are meeting with a candi- As we’ve said before, we all need
date for the important position of
to remember that we are the heart
parish administrator.
of this parish. And it’s up to all of
The Vestry interviewed a promising us to step forward to continue the
candidate for interim rector, and we great ministries of this place, to do
will let you all know when that
the work God has given us to do –
process is complete. We will look even in the quiet of summer. Please
for opportunities to have the interim continue to serve as ushers,
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
Daniell attending his final Vestry meeting.
Photo: Bud Holland
acolytes, Christian Formation
teachers, nursery parents, altar
guild members, lay pastoral care
givers, prayer shawl makers,
participants in Aid for Friends and
outreach ministries. Continue the
great work of the property
committee. Help our common life
to be energized, even as we will
greatly miss Daniell. Sign up for
Coffee Hour as we gather between
the two services and for potlucks on
the occasional Tuesdays, and the
great feasts that St. Andrew’s does
so well. And please continue with
your stewardship. (We cannot seek
a new rector if our finances are not
stable.) If you’ve been sitting back
for a bit, now is the time to step
forward. As you continue to pray
for St. Andrew’s, please remember
the Vestry. We are mindful of the
great responsibility we have, and
we need your prayers.
Joan Thomas, Rector’s Warden
Jennifer Duffield,
Accounting Warden
11
OUTREACH
Campaigns help local families, kids
THE Christmas in June campaign
continues until June 12 and St.
Andrew’s is hoping to provide
grocery gift cards for each of the
families living in transitional
housing at the Robert Morris
Apartments. This project helps to
assist each family’s food budget
mid-year. The goal is to provide a
$10 grocery gift card from Giant
for the 101 members of the 39
families. Please take one of the
ornaments for a family from the
Christmas Tree Poster. Purchase a
Giant $10 gift card for each
individual in the family you
selected. Place the family
ornament, along with the grocery
gift cards in a pre-addressed
envelope addressed to St.
Andrew's in the church. Place the
envelope in the offering plate, hand
deliver or mail it to St. Andrew’s
church office. Extra $10 gift cards
will also be appreciated for any
additional families who move into
the empty apartments at RMA.
Contact: Mary Winegardner at
[email protected], Ann
Holland, 215-428-3571 or
[email protected] or Doug
Riblet, 215-321-7920 or
[email protected].
DURING Lent our Rite 13 and J2A
teenagers led us in collecting food
to Send Hunger Packing,
providing kits of food for Trenton
schoolchildren to take home on
weekends (see photo below). The
food drive collected 625 pounds of
food to be distributed through the
Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.
Left to right: Mary Winegardner,
Cindy and Bill Vallier and Eric Laird and
his son James help load unsold garage sale
items into a truck to be taken to Habitat for
Humanity..
team home building in Trenton or
Lower Bucks County, or if you are
interested in providing needed help
at Habitat’s new Re Store in
Langhorne, please sign up on the
sheet at the back of the church or
ST. ANDREW’S has a history of
contact John Poole at
helping Habitat for Humanity
[email protected], or 215build homes for people who would 8690-3430, or Doug Riblet (see
otherwise not be able to afford
above). John and Doug are also
them. If you are
happy to answer any questions you
either 16 or 17 years may have about Habitat’s work.
of age who can
work with a parent, THE garage sale in the parish house
or older, can wield a on April 30 netted $1,726 which
hammer or a paint
will help fund a July 30-August 6
brush, and would
trip to Guatemala for 14
like to participate
parishioners, including six
with a St. Andrew’s teen-agers, where they will build
Alex Evans (left), Rowan two homes in partnership with
O'Donnell and Jacob From Houses to Homes. Unsold
Rea at the food pyramid items were donated to Habitat for
for Mercer Street
Humanity (see photo above).
Friends.
12
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
ADVOCACY
St. Andrew's call: Hunger, Safety, and Peace
EVERY time we baptize a baby, a
child, or an adult, we recite the
baptismal covenant and promise
God that we will "strive for justice
and peace among all people, and
respect the dignity of every human
being." Now what does that mean?
Striving for justice and peace
means seeking to establish God's
realm on earth as it is in heaven. In
God's realm, all hungry people are
fed and all lions and lambs lie down
together peaceably.
We are engaged in two advocacy
efforts focused on hunger and peace
tight now. The first is seeking to
feed hungry children by urging
Congress to support child nutrition
programs, including summer meals
for out-of-school children. The
second is working to find common
ground for making improvements
in gun safety.
Feeding the Hungry
This April, parishioners wrote
letters to our congressional
representatives asking them to
support programs combating child
hunger at home and abroad.
Congress is very near enacting the
Global Food Security Act, as
championed by Bread for the World
and supported by Congressman
Fitzpatrick and Senator Casey.
Congress is now debating domestic
child nutrition programs.
On May 10, I and other representatives of local churches and the
Interfaith Food Alliance met with
Congressman Fitzpatrick to discuss
these child nutrition programs. It
was a good and gracious meeting.
The Congressman embraced the
key point that these programs are a
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
sound investment in our
country's future productivity. Last year he cosponsored a summer
meals act and this year
(with my prayer fingers
crossed) I expect him to
do that same. The Congressman was
especially appreciative of
the 45 letters our kids and
adults wrote to him about
hunger. Way to go, St. A's kids!
On June 7, Leah French and I will
go to Washington D.C. to
participate in Bread for the World's
Lobby Day. We will meet with
Congressman Fitzpatrick and
representatives of Senators Casey
and Toomey and we will have a
great time for a great cause, just as
we did last year. Contact me if
you'd like to go.
Among those who wrote letters to our
representatives seeking support for
programs combating child hunger were
Allyson Youngblood and daughter Nora.
and others to advance this
conversation in constructive ways. I
anticipate having another forum in
the fall.
Peace and Reconciliation
Blessed are the peacemakers for
they will be called children of God
(Matthew 5:9). Please note that in
all our advocacy efforts, we strive
Gun Safety
On Palm Sunday in March, St.
to be peacemakers and to offer an
Andrew's hosted a gun safety forum alternative to the nasty, nameattended by 45 people, including
calling, vilifying ways of our
State representative Steve
political culture. We give credit
Santarsiero, and facilitated by
where credit is due, as with
Barbara Simmons of the Bucks
Congressman Fitzpatrick's sponsorCounty Peace Center. We
ing the summer meals bill and
encouraged people to offer
Representative Santarsiero's spondiffering perspectives in the hopes soring a sensible background check
that a civil and constructive
bill.
conversation could identify
common ground for incremental
An Invitation
reductions in gun violence and
Please join our growing advocacy
improvements in gun safety.
efforts. Contact me at anderbobA key participant in that
[email protected] or 215-968-6216 if
conversation was Dave Sager, the you'd like to help reduce hunger,
president of Pennsylvanians for
promote safety, model peacefulSelf-Protection, a responsible and
ness, and fulfill your baptismal
thoughtful gun rights organization. promises. Don't be a wuss.
Barbara and I are working with him
Bob Anderson
13
POETS CORNER
Poetry Fest: Joy, Rapture and Bow Ties
"PAY attention. Be astonished. Tell
about it."
These imperatives are found in
Mary Oliver's Instructions for
Living a Life. All poets obey them.
God was the first poet. As Genesis I
describes, God made the world,
paid attention to what had been
created, was astonished, and
proclaimed: "My God, this is good,
really good." And see The Prologue
of John's Gospel: "In the beginning
was the Word and the Word was
with God and the Word is God."
ALPHONSE APALATEGUI was
the premier poet of St. Andrew's for
decades. He and his wife Anne
were our exemplars of beauty,
style, and drama. They led poetry
forums, Renaissance Fairs, and
Shakespeare readings. They told
Christmas stories and presented
Easter Vigil skits (who can forget
Anne as one of the glowing skeletal
Markettes singing Dem Bones?).
And they produced plays and
pageants, conjoining kids and
adults in joy and faith.
AT the parish forum on April 24,
we staged a poetry fest in honor of
Alphonse and Anne.
The parish house was packed; the
crowd was riveted. We cried and
we laughed and we led the
abundant life offered by both the
gospels and the best poems.
Ceci Apalategui Pilkington led off
the festivities with poems honoring
her parents, her brother Ben, and
Derek White.
St. Andrew's alumna Hilary
Hudgins returned from New York
14
As many parish members will recall,
Alphonse Apalategui was a regular wearer
of bow ties and in honor of his memory
several distinguished gentlemen attending
the poetry forum were similarly attired.
They are, left to right: Robin Prestage,
Paul Cottone, Bob Anderson, Michael
Grady and Jim Grady.
Photo: Celia Apalategui Pilkington.
Alphonse and Anne Apalategui.
City to wow us with three of her
poems; Fran Leyenberger read
moving tributes from her son Whit
to his late dad Chris and his mom
on Mother's Day; Daniell read the
wedding day ode he wrote for his
daughter Liz; and Tom Conners
recited a poem he wrote on his
desire to stay 18 forever.
Several parishioners then read
favorite poems.
Terry Culleton, George School
teacher and former Bucks County
poet laureate, read a poem from his
new collection, Eternal Life.
Kevin Pilkington closed the show
with several selections from his
new collection, Where You Want to
Be.
TRUST me: if you have any whiff
of poetry in your soul you’ll want
to savor this book. The St.
Andrew's press is preparing a
booklet of the poetry fest readings.
Prepare to go barefoot because this
booklet will knock your socks off.
We paid attention. We were
astonished.
And now we've told you about it.
Come and see next year.
Bob Anderson
THE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
HISTORY CORNER
A look into St. Andrew’s past: Part III
IN 1869 a “neighborly” event unfolded
which was not settled for almost 40
years. It seems that a neighbor, one
apparently living in a house that
occupied the now church parking lot,
fenced in his property but included
within this area land belonging to St.
Andrew’s. In 1870 the Vestry tried to
buy the house. The offer was refused.
In 1906 the church did buy the house
and it became the rectory and stood
until 1964 when it was deemed
unworthy of repair and was torn down.
On October 6, 1875 Abdiel Ramsey
then in Deacon’s orders was called to
take the services at St. Andrew’s. He
was paid $5/week. In April 1879
Ramsey was ordained to the priesthood
and his annual salary was increased to
$250/year. Ramsey was simultaneously serving St. Luke’s in Newtown
and that Vestry presented St. Andrew’s
a bill for half of the taxes and repairs
on the rectory of that church. The
record is not clear as to whether St.
Andrew’s complied.
The 40 years from 1890, when the St.
Andrew’s Church structure we know
today was consecrated, until 1930 were
fraught with disappointment and financial difficulties. In early 1891 Dr.
Osborne who succeeded Ramsey and
had inspired the parish for eight years,
resigned. The office of rector was
vacant for two years. In this period of
uncertainty a young man was elected
to the Vestry and became a stalwart
serving on the Vestry for a continuous
42 years. Jesse Harper is his name and
perhaps St. Andrew’s remains to us
today because of his devotion and
sustained efforts to preserve this House
of God. The Parish House was his
vision and labor. The first Rectory
referred to above was his foresight and
wisdom. Jesse also was a lay reader
and his surviving daughter Gladys
carried on by leading the Christian
education program at St. Andrew’s.
But back to the 1890s. Near ThanksTHE CHRONICLE MAY-JUNE, 2016
Continuing the series in
which Jaf Baxter
recounts the genesis and
history of St. Andrew’s.
in the late1970s. The Sunday School
Building, a picture of which hangs in
the Parish House, was electrified
shortly after Wood’s arrival, and he
initiated the idea of pledge envelopes
and edited a church “paper,” The St.
Andrew’s Call.
In 1907 ivy was planted around the
church. This ivy had its roots at Westminster Abbey from which cuttings
were taken and brought to the Jamestown Colony in1609 by Captain John
Yardley, the master of the ship which
transported the colonists from the old
world to the new. A St. Andrew’s parishioner visiting Jamestown brought
back cuttings from the same plants to
Yardleyville, the settlement named for
William Yardley of the same family as
the Captain. This ivy over time proved
too strong for the handiwork of man,
damaging the stained glass windows as
well as the stone work and was
removed in 1984.
In 1912 plans for the Parish House we
occupy today were being made and
funds were solicited. The contract for
construction was signed in 1914 with
financing from contributions and a
mortgage on the rectory. The total cost
was ca $10,000 with Jesse Harper
contributing $1,000. Because of his
leadership and his generosity the
Parish House was named for his deceased daughter, Gladys Harper’s twin,
Grace Leslie Harper, who died when a
teenager. On February 1, 1917 the
Parish House was dedicated by the
Bishop as well as St. Andrew’s rector
Lloyd Rhodes.
The Vestry minutes of November 29,
1915 records a curious item namely
that the rector Lloyd Rhodes had asked
permission to rent the Rectory! The
Vestry approved the request requiring
Rhodes to pay $10/month plus water
and electric bills. Interesting.
giving 1893 Lewis H. Jackson was
called as “resident rector”. The stipend
was $325/year. In addition the Convocation of Germantown agreed to pay
Jackson at least $200/year as a subsidy
for work at St. Andrew’s plus $25
more for holding services at the
Dolington Mission every two weeks.
An incident is noted about this time
regarding an agreement/disagreement
with a parishioner, Edward Nicholson,
Sr.’s heirs. Nicholson had deeded a
portion of the land for the church
cemetery with the understanding that
he/his heirs received half of the income
from the sale of lots. In 1894 the heirs
agreed to forego the income in exchange for perpetual care for the
family plot. This resolved the situation.
In 1896 Jackson resigned and given the
apparent hard economic times the
Vestry resolved that St. Andrew’s be
adopted as a mission. On the 14th July
1896 Bishop Whitaker appointed the
Rev. Joseph Wood, Jr. as priest to
serve St. Andrew’s as well as St.
James, Langhorne. Wood was responsible for the initiation of a chapter of
the Daughters of the King which chapter was in later years led by Gladys
Next time: The years leading to the
Harper and ceased with her retirement Great Depression.
15
Passages
Moving:
Natalie Baxter Strange, daughter of Jaf and Peace
Baxter, has moved from Norwich, England, to
Graduations:
Amsterdam, Netherlands, where her husband the
Bryan Rupprecht from Providence College on May Rev. Canon Alan Strange is now rector of Christ
15, 2016. Bryan will be starting to work for the
Church, Amsterdam.
General Services Administration in its Emerging
Leaders program in Boston.
Baptisms:
Olivia Duffield from Pennsbury High School with Jonathan Sutker, Bradley Sutker, Bradley
honors and is headed to Elon University in the fall. Newman, Wesley Newman, Michael Wilson,
Sarah Riblet received a degree Masters of Research Elijah Popson, Kieran Bastiste, Kelly McGarth
with distinction from Queen's University, Belfast,
Boland, Adley Whitman Byler
Northern Ireland. Her thesis addressed Irish
immigration to America during the period 1750 to
In Memoria:
1820 and specifically the extent of Irish immigrants' Clayton C. Hayden, Bill French, Derek White,
knowledge of life and conditions in America during Dean Harrison, Ralph Yardley, Jane Leef
those years.
Alexander Baxter, grandson of Jaf and Peace
Prayer:
Baxter, from West Chester University with honors. Your life is not about you. It is about God and about
Mason Sherwood from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, entering allowing Life and Death to “be done unto me,”
the U.S. Army National Guard.
which is Mary's prayer at the beginning and Jesus'
prayer at the end. Richard Rohr.