At Oct. 25 Annual Parish Meeting
The following people were elected or re-elected to the Vestry at our October 25 Annual Parish Meeting:
Frank Anderson
Years at St. Nick’s: 13 years.
Experience, committees, ministries at the church: Sunday School Teacher, Lector, Chalicist, Verger, Diocesan Convention Delegate, Mission Committee Member and Vice Chair, and Seminarian Advisory Committee.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? I was drawn to St. Nick's because it really is a place to belong and to become.
Hopes and dreams: My dream for our life together is that we'll keep on being that and, with God's help, will keep getting better at it.
Heidi Gant
Years at St. Nick’s: Almost 3 years.
(Ironically, my first visit to St Nick’s was the day after the groundbreaking ceremony and I had no idea.)
Experience, committees, ministries at the church: Lector, Sunday School Teacher.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? Initially what drew me to St Nick’s was the geographic proximity… but I stayed because I felt so welcomed from day one. St Nick’s is such a supportive, caring community. This is the church in which I want my children to grow up, as we grow ourselves as a parish. I love the openness here, from the people, to the ministries, to the liturgy itself. We all are different, but we are united in our desire to worship and serve God. And yes, it’s fun to occasionally take your puppy up to the front to Lector during the Blessing of the Animals.
Hopes and dreams: I would like to see us continue to grow and thrive; to support each other, our community, and others; to serve as a foundation for our youth growing up in the church; to offer a safe home for those seeking God. I want to see us continue the spirit we have today as a parish. We have such strength in God and each other; I want that to grow.
Mary Ellen Howey*
Years at St. Nick’s: 12 years.
Experience, committees, ministries at the church: Altar Guild, Lector, Chalicist, and Greeter; Outreach Chair (7 yrs); Vestry Member and Junior Warden (6 yrs total); Capital Campaign Committee; Seminarian Advisory Committee; Hospitality Committee.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? I wanted a faith community in which to raise my son (an only child) but more importantly I wanted to feel more a part of my faith journey. I didn’t feel that was possible as a Roman Catholic. It has been in the Episcopal tradition and specifically at St. Nicholas Church where I have been able to live out my faith in a loving and supportive environment.
Hopes and dreams: My hope is that otherswho come through our doors are able to experience the love and warmth that I have at St. Nicholas. And I hope that as they journey through life with us, they experience a deeper awareness and understanding of their faith and Christ’s love.
Bob McCartin
Years at St. Nick’s: Almost 1 year.
Experience, committees, ministries at the church:
Seminarian Advisory Committee Chair, Hospitality Event Helper (Church Dedication Service and Tailgate Picnic). At my previous church: Vestry, Youth Group, Teaching, Outreach, and Finance.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? I have watched St. Nicks from a distance since it was first started as a mission. I think my former church, Christ Church Rockville, provided some funding early on. My wife, Mindy, and I had been talking about joining St. Nicks once our children age out of the Christ Church youth group. That youth group has been great for our kids. The time was right last year to move to St. Nicks. I had completed my 5 years on the Christ Church vestry and had accomplished what I could. We were frustrated with that church's direction and felt it would be more constructive to get a fresh start at St. Nicks. We had met Father Ken a few times and felt comfortable with him and his spiritual grounding. We had several friends who had been involved in St. Nicks over time, too. What keeps me committed to St. Nicks is the spirit of the parish and leadership and preaching and teaching that Father Ken provides.
Hopes and dreams: I feel that at St. Nicks all of the parishioners are treated as equal and important and valued. I do not see 'interest groups' or 'factions'. If we can continue to treat each other as Jesus has taught us, we will be fulfilling our mission. I hope for this to continue and to strengthen. I want to offer what skills or gifts I have to help.
Karin Remington
Years at St. Nick’s: 4 ½ years
Experience, committees, ministries at the church: Youth Confirmation Program Mentor, Usher, Choir. At my previous church (Prince of Peace Lutheran): Council Member and President.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? My first impression of St. Nick’s was Father Ken, during many joint services with my former church. His story, and his warm and loving manner, told me a lot about St. Nick’s, as did the commitment of the small band of St. Nick’s faithful who always appeared for Lenten services and other shared events. My daughter Maria, after many visits to St. Nicholas Shrove Tuesday pancake supper and the “Passover from the Christian Perspective” events that were held with an open invitation, used to call St. Nick’s “the church with the food at it”. The small, intimate community that I found in regular worship at St. Nick’s – back in 2005 at Darnestown Presbyterian – was welcoming and gave me a sense of safety and peace. That same spirit keeps my commitment renewed. “Belong, Become!” – it is a strong message.
Hopes and dreams: My prayer has been that the growth we have dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve does not come to interfere with the intimacy that drew me to the community. The ability to hold two services is truly a blessing, but also a challenge to keeping the community feeling connected. To add on top of all of that is the challenge of giving each newcomer that sense of intimacy and belonging that is so cherished, and that is something I know we are going to struggle with. My dream is that we find many ways to come together - morning and evening, youth, parents with families, singles, seniors – so that we still feel intimately connected through St. Nick’s, and one in Christ.
Lynette Telford*
Years at St. Nick’s: 6 years+
Experience, committees, ministries at the church: Altar Guild, Vestry Member and Junior Warden, Vestry Liaison to the Outreach Committee, and Choir.
What drew you to St. Nick’s? What keeps you at St. Nick’s? When our church Holy Spirit Episcopal closed, we were invited by St. Nick's and another church to join their congregation. The other church was too far away from my home and therefore I never visited them, but I also visited other churches, but when I visited St. Nick's and on that first Sunday, I found the congregation to be welcoming, warm and friendly. I continue to remain committed to my church because I have found that I have a family, outside of my immediate family. I feel that that I do not have to handle life's challenges alone, and that God has called me to serve and worship here with a wonderful family of Christians.
Hopes and dreams: My hope is that our congregation continues to stay together and grow; that we continue to focus on God's words and live a life of service not only to our congregation, but also to the community and other communities around the world; that we continue to support each other in times of joy and sorrow; and by so doing, live out the life of service to which God has called us.
* an asterisk next to the name means the person was re-elected.
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