Chelsea Bayley
EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.
The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.
This week’s conversation is with parishioner and volunteer Chelsea Bayley.
Chelsea Bayley with flowers she brought to church on Mother’s Day to share with mothers in the Parent Formation Group.
How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
My husband and I have attended the parish for 8 ½ years.
How do you know the time so specifically?
Tim and I have four children: Eleanor, Piper, Luca, and Brooks. I was pregnant with Piper when we started attending.
Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in a non-denominational Bible church. My paternal grandparents were missionaries in Japan.
What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
Lots of things! I am drawn to and very much appreciate the liturgy—the tradition behind it and the depth conveyed by all the scripture. I love the statement of faith and the confession of sin.
I appreciate deeply that the Episcopal church welcomes all people. No matter where someone is on their faith journey, their age or gender—all are welcome. That’s important to me. Each person is a child of God and God loves everyone.
The nursery is something else I am very grateful for. When we first discovered Saint Philip’s, Tim had a full-time job and was working on his Ph.D. That meant he worked a lot of nights and on the weekends. Consequently, I often attended church without him. The nursery—with two trained and paid staff—was a game changer. The nursery made it possible for me to have an hour in my week when I could participate in the service and recharge my batteries. It was a true gift.
Can I keep going?
I’ve had three babies while a Saint Philip’s parishioner. My experience is that the community welcomes and appreciates, including babies and children, as part of the service. I can’t tell you how many men and women have approached me to say they are glad my children are with us.
And one more thing! I really appreciate the formation available to the children. There are some very, very committed people who are dedicated and show enormous love to the kids. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is so beautiful and contemplative. And the theme that Jesus is the Good Shepherd really speaks to the younger children.
That we are all loved children of God is woven throughout all the lessons. I think that’s not only beautiful but very appropriate developmentally.
Right now you’re a full-time mother. What did you do professionally before you had children?
I taught middle-school science. Then I got a Masters degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. I worked in a research lab as a speech pathologist for about 8 years at the University of Arizona.
Is there anything that surprises you about Saint Philip’s?
A lot of the outreach can fly under the radar. I bet there are some people who attend church and don’t know what kind of impact the parish is making in the wider community.
How did you learn about Saint Philip’s outreach efforts?
By meeting people and being engaged. Volunteering on the Vestry helped a lot, too. The members receive an update from the pastoral care team and it’s amazing to see the number of home visits made, the different places where Eucharist is brought to people in assisted living, and the prayers raised up for people. That’s the sort of thing that’s easier to learn about if you volunteer.
How are you involved at Saint Philip’s now that you rotated off the Vestry?
Right now, Tim and I participate in the adult formation group and work together to help organize that.
You’re juggling a lot. How do you take care of yourself?
I recently joined the Jewish Community Center and started weight lifting. A long-time favorite hobby is biking. The entire family takes rides on the Rillito Loop. Tim gifted me a mountain bike when our youngest, Brooks, was born. I put him in a baby seat on my cargo bike and off we go. I did that with all our other kids.
What’s one of your super powers?
I love to learn…about everything. I get excited just thinking about all there is to learn.
What’s one consequence of being so eager to learn?
My world is bigger because of it. And I experience a lot of joy through learning. And then there’s also never being bored.
But the best consequence is that my curiosity carries over to my children and lets them experience a much bigger universe, too.
My oldest, Eleanor, recently said that archaeology is boring. I told her it’s the exact opposite of boring and showed her three examples of fascinating archaeological finds. She was amazed. That happens with all sorts of subjects. Together we enjoy observing the world around us, being curious, and learning.
What is one of your guiding principles?
That our experience is largely driven by the narratives we tell ourselves. We have choices about how we view any situation. So, for example, I’m talking to you on only three hours sleep (because of a sick child) but that doesn’t mean I’m going to have a bad day.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I had a summer job with Samaritans Personnel in El Salvador and part of my job was vaccinating goats. That was a fun challenge!
Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.