Dear Friends,

As announced at church on June 8, I will be retiring on June 30. As I near retirement, my thoughts drift to fond memories of my time here at St. Bartholomew’s. It is hard to believe that I’ve been the Director of Children’s Formation for almost 6 years this time (plus 1986–92 the other time). One of the most delightful parts of being here for many years is watching the children grow while they and the adults remain true to their individual natures.

My extended family is fairly small: my brother in California and I are the last of our or any previous generation. I have four children of my own, but no grandchildren. Through my husband, Tom, there are three children and 5 grandchildren, but they live elsewhere. So, the people of St. Bartholomew’s have become my surrogate extended family, my “village.”

I was brought up in a “high church” on the north side of Chicago St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, moved a lot in my first marriage, taught various ages in Sunday School, then became the director of the program in my little church in Raleigh. It had been set up with the help of John Westerhoff, so for 3 years I audited courses with John at Duke Divinity School. In the summer, I attended the Christian Education conferences at Kanuga, where I met and learned from Jerome Berryman. I attended two of Jerome’s training sessions in “Godly Play” in Houston.

The first time I was here at St. Bart’s, my formative religious education training (in addition to Early Childhood Education at the University of Illinois) had been with John Westerhoff and with the Godly Play approach. After leaving St. Bart’s, I worked full time at Peter and Paul, then for 5 years at All Saints. When that job ended I decided to take some training in Montessori education. I taught school for two years, loved the approach and the children, but found I was too old for the drain on my energy.

Then, I found myself at St. Bart’s again! What a wonderful, wonderful gift! To meet again the “oldtimers,” and the children who had grown amazingly, and then all the “new-timers” and the new children who are also growing amazingly! It is wonderful to see that St. Bart’s continues in the quietly courageous tradition of openness, honest communication, respect for varying viewpoints and a wonderfully creative quirkiness, in addition to its excellent liturgy and music. I’ve never known a church I like more.

This time, I’ve been able to add my new knowledge of Montessori and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to our educational mix. It’s been exciting to watch the response of the catechists, children, parents and parishioners as we have begun this program. I sincerely hope it grows and matures. I expect it to change somewhat as it settles down and becomes truly a “St. Bartholomew’s program.”

As I look back on the 47 years since I graduated from college and think of the time I’ve spent raising children, teaching and leading various Sunday School and church programs, I try to think of what are the most important components that I aim for in forming children in the church. First and foremost, the most important and effective religious education we do is through participation in the Eucharist. This is where the child hears, sees, smells, tastes and intuits that he or she is a member of Christ’s body, the church, and considers what that means. He or she can sense that this event is very important and very special to parents and other adults, youth and children. This is our children’s “village” where five times a year, the congregation repeats, “We will do all in our power to raise these baptized in the faith.” It is our mission to work with each child’s unique skills and interests, preferred mode of learning, and life experiences to help him or her better experience and understand our faith, then grow into his or her chosen ministry in the world.

Our most important and effective resources in this endeavor are The Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, and the hearts, minds, interests and creativity of our Sunday School teachers, the child’s parents and other interested adults. As a community, we need to choose and use curricula that enable our children to increase their relationships with God and with other people, to help them learn ways to join in ministry, to feel more comfortable and part of the liturgy and life of the church, to mature into active, creative, lively Christian adults.

I have not been with you as much as I would like as my chemotherapy runs its course, but I hope to see you all in the future. I trust that the Children’s Formation Committee, the teachers and the new Director will continue in St. Bart’s fine tradition. You all remain in my thoughts and prayers. I can’t thank you enough for your many cards, thoughts and prayers. They are lifting me up and sustaining me in this trying time. And thank you so much for your wonderful support these past years. It has been such a privilege to work for and with you.