Community Notes

Home page | About us

COMMUNITY NOTES, FEBRUARY 2008

The Rev Cn Mary Michael Simpson continued her practice of psychotherapy this quarter. Her practice is now of a size that she can take on a few new clients. Mary Michael went to TX at Christmastime for a visit with her family. A move from her upstairs room at Vails Gate to the ground floor facilitated her participation in the Community meetings in January. She says that she continues to learn from lessons offered her by the aging process.

Sr Rosina Ampah was at Ascension Church in Knoxville TN on November 17 & 18, where she conducted a Quiet Day for the Daughters of the King and preached on Sunday. On December 1 & 2, she was in Gunterville AL where she conducted an Advent Quiet Day at Epiphany Church and preached at the Sunday services. While there she received the Rev Jennifer Riddle as an Associate of OSH. On January 20 Rosina was one of the presenters for the Rev Joshua Morgan Thomas' ordination to the priesthood at St Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Atlanta by Bishop V Gene Robinson of the Diocese of NH.

In November Sr Ellen Stephen gave a Quiet Day for the Church of the Ascension in NYC, and during this quarter has given three programs for Christ Church United Methodist, NYC. In December she stayed with Associate Susanne Woods in Key West FL and gave a Quiet Day and preached at St Paul's Church there. In January ES was with the Community of St John Baptist in Mendham as facilitator for their mid-year chapter discussions. She continues revision on her book on the Religious Life which is projected to be published in the autumn or winter.

Sr Linda recently offered Anglican Rosary presentations to two local churches. Her favorite event of the past quarter was attending the OSH spiritual nourishment day in January. Miriam MacGillis, director of Genesis Farm in New Jersey, taught "the new cosmology," which Linda refers to as "the deepest religion I've ever encountered." Linda's second favorite event of the last quarter was partnering with her friend, Tom Portney, in a Native American blessing of the Earth at Augusta's New Year's Eve celebration. On February 1, she began playing a fun ecological game with herself - whenever Linda forgets to take her own bags for shopping, she pays 20 cents per plastic bag toward environmental efforts.

Sr Elsie does quite a lot around the house in Augusta. She washes dishes and bakes her famous chocolate chip cookies. Elsie sets out breakfast in the refectory every morning. She watches over Clare, reads to her every week, and makes sure Clare has her meals and is up in time for her various commitments. She keeps herself fit by walking regularly. It means a great deal to Elsie to be living in the Augusta convent.

Sr Ellen Francis will be co-leading the sixth Fellowship of Reconciliation delegation to Iran in late February and early March. As soon as she returns to the U S, she'll be packing up and moving down to Augusta GA. Some of you may remember that this almost happened two years ago, but it's for real this time.

Sr Mary Lois attended an excellent American Management Association seminar in November in New York. She celebrated Thanksgiving with her son Richard in Columbia SC and made visitations to all three houses with the Leadership Council. In December Mary Lois enjoyed a retreat in a hermitage in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. In January she was present with the entire community for winter discussions.

Sr Magdalene was accepted as a Candidate for Ordination by the Diocese of GA on January 19. She is half-way through her seminary courses at the General Theological Seminary and thoroughly enjoying her classes. Also in January she was able to attend her father's 80th birthday party in Cary NC at her sister Becky Lyman's home. Becky's family of 8 gave a concert in Jim's honor (Trapp family style) which was beautiful and moving.

Sr Benedicta is busy with conducting retreats. She did the Lenten retreat at Vails Gate, followed by a parish retreat this weekend, and is preparing a retreat for young people on methods of meditation, called "Finding Grace at the Center". This last retreat takes its title from an excellent book on centering prayer by Thomas Keating OCSO, Basil Pennington, OCSO, and Thomas Clarke, SJ.

Sr Jean Campbell continues her ministry as Rector of Trinity Church, Fishkill, NY. In January she spent a week at Seabury Western Seminary taking two courses on congregational development.

Sr Barbara Lee continues her recovery from right knee replacement surgery last July and anticipates left knee replacement after Easter. She continues singing with the Chancel Choir, taking food bank reservations, and being part of the New Sanctuary Movement at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle. Other volunteer ministries include participation with the Hispanic Ministries Committee and Colleagues in Children's Ministry in the Diocese of Olympia; the Seattle Wycliffe Bible Translator's Prayer Group; intercessory prayer; gathering clothes and other items for homeless and transitional shelters, and supplies for the Doney Memorial Clinic (a veterinary clinic for companion animals for low income and homeless people).

In mid-November Sr Cintra Pemberton joined the other two members of the Leadership Council, Srs Mary Lois and Ellen Francis, in attending a conference called "The Voice of Leadership" offered by the American Management Association in New York City. At the end of the month she and the Augusta sisters celebrated Sr Clare's 100th birthday with an open house at the convent and luncheon at a local restaurant. Cintra coordinated the now traditional New Year's Eve candlelight celebration at the Augusta convent, attended by over 50 friends from near and far. In January, after participating in the Augusta sisters' retreat at Green Bough Retreat House, Adrian GA, and the Order's Winter Chapter in Vails Gate; she flew to Lexington KY to attend the funeral of Helen Burg, a long-time personal friend and Executive Secretary of the Margaret Hall Foundation from its inception. Following that, Cintra flew to Lafayette LA for the wedding of her granddaughter.

Sr Ann Prentice has the Associates of OSH constantly on her mind and heart, wondering if anyone has fallen through the cracks when she moved into a new office space during the late fall and when some parts of the Associates Ministry were reassigned with Sr Claire Tenny's move to the NYC convent and with updating of the Associates mailing list now being done in the Augusta convent! Ann led both the Autumn Associates Retreat and the Advent Retreat at Vails Gate, using aspects of "the new cosmology", the study of which catapults her into wonder, love and praise. Sr Ruth and Ann attended the 275th anniversary of the congregation at St Andrew's Church in Walden NY, enjoying both the celebratory service and dinner. Ann led three evening Lenten meditations for Zion Church in Wappingers Falls NY. She has enjoyed family visits with Charley, Jayne and Lydia at their home in NYC and at the convent, and with her sister, Evelyn, who came to spend a week at Vails Gate helping her dig out from under some of what has piled up.