How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
I first came to Saint Philip’s in 2002 as an employee and worshiped only occasionally. I wasn’t a churchgoer at the time.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was. My family was Methodist. My dad was an active lay person, so we were all very active (choirs, youth group, etc.). After I moved away from home I let other activities get in the way of church.

What was your role on staff?
I started as a part-time employee but eventually became the full-time Director of Communications. It was a lovely transition from my job as a copy-editor for the University of Chicago.

The bulletin was much larger back then and required two full days of attention. I also created flyers, managed publicity, kept the website up-to-date, and prepared and edited the weekly newsletter.

When did you retire?
In January of 2017. By then I had become a regular worshiper and felt a part of the community.

I’m grateful to Fr Robert and to the church that I was able to continue as a parishioner after having been on staff; it’s not always easy to make that transition.

Did that influence your decision to be confirmed?
It did. I sponsored one of our youth at her confirmation in 2017 and learned as much as she did while preparing for that.

I’d always used the Book of Common Prayer for my work but my familiarity with it was limited to select portions. After being a confirmation sponsor I attended an adult confirmation class and was confirmed in July of 2018.

One of our affiliate clergy, Cliff Blinman, was my sponsor. The date of my confirmation turned out to be the anniversary of his ordination. That was a nice coincidence.

What about the Episcopal liturgy speaks to you?
We didn’t kneel in the church I attended growing up. That posture is very meaningful to me. I also appreciate the formality of the liturgy.

How do you volunteer at Saint Philip’s?
I’m on the Board of the Ministry & Endowment Funds Trust. Our charge is to be good stewards of the endowment funds to preserve the principal while making distributions to the operating budget according to the wishes of the donors.

I finish my second 3-year term this year, so if this ministry calls to someone reading this, please contact Nancy Atherton.

Also, I’m a Lector at the 7:45am Sunday service, and also at the 4:30pm Choral Evensong on Sundays. And at 8:30am on Tuesdays I lead Morning Prayer.

How did that come about?
I’d been attending morning services for a few years already. One morning it was just me and one other person. I told him I would be willing to lead the service if he was ok with that.

A few days later I got a call from the lay person who was recruiting Morning Prayer leaders, asking if I’d like to be on the rota. I discovered I enjoy leading liturgy and have continued ever since.

What makes you feel a part of Saint Philip’s?
The community and the wonderful people who have become dear friends.

Gwen Powell was my flute professor in college. I’ve known her and Dick for more than 50 years now. There are lots of people here who have offered support and friendship for many years.

And I recently learned that Greg Silva and my brother’s wife are cousins. How’s that for an odd, unexpected connection?

How do you spend your time in retirement?
Differently than in my first month! I looked at my calendar and saw something written on every day. I didn’t retire to be that busy.

I like big spaces of empty time so now I’m careful to do only those things which I really want to.

I draw with colored pencils. I love to play sudoku. I do the medium and hard puzzles from The New York Times every day at lunch.

I also belong to Paperworks, an organization that offers educational and creative opportunities for paper enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to the art of paper and book arts.

And then there are different standing social events I have with friends. Life is good.

What’s one of your core values?
I’ll name two. The first is fairness.

I remember my mother telling me as a little girl that the world isn’t fair. While I know that it’s unrealistic to expect life to be fair, it still really bothers me when it isn’t.

Another core value is community.

I love the 7:45am Sunday liturgy because it’s small and quiet. The austerity of it really speaks to me, along with the “old language” I remember from childhood.

But so many of the people interviewed in Bell & Tower are folks I don’t see because they attend the 10:00am Sunday service. So I now attend that liturgy on the First Sunday of each month because I want to be part of that larger community, too.

What’s something you know now that you didn’t as a younger person?
That I don’t get to choose what happens to me. I learned that lesson pretty young because I had ovarian cancer when I was 22 year old.

But while I may not have a choice about what happens to me, I do have the power to choose my response—and how to embrace a situation. I always try to make the most of whatever circumstance I find myself in.

What’s something you’re proud of?
That even though I can feel very shy, whenever I’ve moved somewhere, I’ve done my best to learn about the community, embrace it, and participate.

My mother was also shy so did her best to push my sister and me beyond our comfort zones. We still reference that when we move beyond what’s comfortable. We call them “Mommy would be proud” experiences.

Where did you grow up?
In Stillwater, Oklahoma where Oklahoma State University is. Both my parents were professors and taught there.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
How I was brought up. Education and creativity were valued, and we had a lot of family traditions.

My mother was Canadian and her family had a cottage on Lake Superior. My grandfather built it in 1924 and it didn’t have electricity or running water. The property meant a lot to my mother, even as an adult.

Every summer our parents would drive there with my three brothers, sister, and me. This was pre-interstate so the trip took four days. We’d spend about a week there and then drive back home.

We had a big station wagon and my parents would alternate reading to us. We started with The Chronicles of Narnia and then moved on to The Lord of the Rings series. It was wonderful!

My siblings and I are grateful to our grandparents and parents for their stewardship of the property, and hope to be able to continue their legacy.

What’s something about you that friends say they appreciate?
They often say they like how I bring people together.

What’s one of your superpowers?
The ability to see the steps needed to make things happen. But before I understood how to manage that superpower it was also my kryptonite.

Can you explain that?
If I’m in a brainstorming session, my linear brain isn’t as helpful. I’ve learned to let ideas and conversations bloom. Once a goal has been identified, then I can be useful and apply my superpower.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I love jigsaw puzzles and do them “backwards.”

I start by putting together colors and patterns, join them, and then do the border last. I learned only recently that most people begin by putting the border together.

Looking at what goes together and creating harmony out of the many pieces seems far more interesting to me. I also don’t look at the picture so I can let it develop from the creative process. It’s not a race so I’m not in a hurry to finish the puzzle in any set amount of time.