Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown, Virginia July 2014

From the Associate Rector

Dear People of Grace,

People have asked me lately "How's it going?" since Carleton has been on sabbatical and I'm having a second prolonged taste of what is normative in churches across denominations: solo minis- try.

Inside This Issue: I've said to several people, I love it when he goes away, and I love From the Associate Rector 1 it when he comes back. Outreach 3 Stewardship 7 I’ve been reflecting, too, on my two careers. When I taught US Children’s Pages 8 & 9 History in the Virginia Community College System, it was very much a solo job. Of course I was surrounded by students, and Book Store 10 there were colleagues and administrators. But there’s an almost

Vestry 10 total “solo-ness” to college teaching. The map of each day’s lecture News 11 and dialogue, the assignments and the grading, were all up to me. Birthdays 12 And however far-ranging the conversations, however different the “feel” of each individual class, there were very few surprises and Prayer List 13 precious little opportunity to have relationships with students

Thank You 14 that went beyond the occasional mutual excitement about sharing Inspiration Corner 14 ideas and rejoicing in achievement.

Calendar 15

I was ready for a change. Ready to respond joyfully to a call I had felt to the priesthood since adolescence. That call is a whole ‘nother story, as they say. Coming Events:

I anticipated that in parish ministry there would be more excite-

July 4 Independence Day ment and more surprises, and that all I’d ever learned from schooling and experience would be called forth from me every day. July 5 Men’s Breakfast This has turned out to be true. July 6, 20 & 27 Concerts in the Churchyard

July 20-25 Vacation Bible School Continued next page July 23 Christmas is Everyday

Continued from previous page

But what didn’t occur to me was the matter of no longer being a single actor on my own stage. That this shift was coming did catch my attention in my ordination vows, when I promised to “obey” my and “share in the councils of the Church.” At a parish, I be- came part of a team, a staff. Notably, as associate rector, I was no longer the chief. What a learning experience this has been! Through working with Carleton and the rest of the Grace Church staff, I have discovered, and I have developed, ways I never knew before of interacting with people I respect and care about. They will probably quickly tell you I could learn more! And the occasional opportunity to “take charge” has made me consciously aware of the difference between those two situations – has allowed me to enjoy both being chief, and being executive officer, so to speak. But on a far deeper level I have seen that in a parish we are never “solo” at all – we are in relationship, ministering together, in a long-term and ever-deepening way, sharing our dis- tinct but interrelated ministries. And happily, you don’t go away at the end of a semester! We are not just engaged together in learning: we are “doing faith” together as we accompany each other in joy and sorrow, questioning, discovering, praying, weeping, feasting and all the rest of it – being vulnerable with each other and before God, in a sort of holy intimacy. As you may have noticed, on Sundays and Wednesdays I enjoy, especially when Carleton is gone, “doing church” with others – sharing the pulpit and the altar. How grateful I am that I’ve ended up in one of the unusual parishes whose generous giving enables the Vestry to support two priests. More still, I give thanks that here at Grace I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as “solo ministry” at all – rather we are a kind of organism that lives in Christ, each of us with a different function, profound mutuality, and a unique relationship with the whole. What a blessing. How could I ever have lived without it? Thanks to all of you. And I’ll be at the head of the pack of all the rest of you to welcome Carleton back when he re- turns in August. Love in Christ,

WHEN DO I CALL THE CLERGY? AN ANNUAL REMINDER. Please do not hesitate to call Carleton or me when you are having a crisis! Or even when you are having elective surgery. We like to offer you and your family prayers, presence and support, and it's about the most important thing we do. We have an active pastoral care committee and a parish nurse who are also able to respond. There's always a contact number on the church answering ma- chine, even in off-hours. People often say, "I didn't want to bother you," or "I know you are busy," but almost nothing takes precedence over being with you when you are in need. Please call. Connie

-2- Help Feed Hungry Children This Summer The backpack ministry needs donations for its pantry from which back- packs will be filled for hungry schoolchildren. Fill a bin in the Parish Hall with tuna, complete meals, mac and cheese, beef jerky, dried fruit, granola bars, pudding cups, peanut butter and crackers, apples and or- anges, juice boxes, powdered milk, oatmeal, Cheerios, applesauce cups, and English muffins. Jesus said, when you feed the hungry, you are feeding him.

Please note that the backpack ministry is in addition to the York County Food Closet donations. Don’t forget to make contributions to the Red Ball Express this summer!

Connie’s sermons can be found on our web- site! Click on this link http:// www.gracechurchyorktown.org/ conniessermons or type it in the URL line of your browser.

Christmas is Everyday There is a date change for the Christmas is Everyday July mailing. Instead of the 3rd Wednesday, we will meet on the 4th Wednesday (July 23rd). Starting July we have three Service members on our list. Come to the Parish Hall at 6:00 p.m. for packing and join us in supporting our Service mem- bers who are deployed. Contact Kathy Michaels (898-1650) if you have any questions.

-3- Why I Made My Teenager Go to Church by Mallory McDuff submitted by Melinda Reed deemed timely by Courtney Kelley

“We are leaving for church in 10 minutes,” I said, summoning my most authoritative voice before the lifeless lump under the covers.

My seven-year-old, Annie Sky, watched the tense exchange between me and my 14-year-old daughter Maya, who made periodic moans from the top bunk. With furrowed brow, my first-grader sat on the couch, as if observing a tiebreaker at Wimbledon with no clear victor in sight.

For a moment, I wondered why I had drawn the line in the Sabbath sand, announcing earlier in the week that Maya would have to go to church that Sunday morning after an all-day trip to Dollywood with the middle school band. Somehow I didn’t want Dolly Parton’s amusement park to sabotage our family time in church. (The logic seemed rational at the time.)

When Maya lifted the covers, I glimpsed the circles under her eyes and sunburn on her skin. But I re- peated my command, with an undertone of panic, since I wasn’t sure if I could uphold the ultimatum. When she finally got into the car, I breathed deeply and turned to our family balm, the tonic of 104.3 FM with its top 40 songs that we sing in unison. As the drama settled, I realized one reason why I made my teenager go to church: I want my daughters to know that we can recover from yelling at each other (which we had) and disagreeing. We can move on, and a quiet, sacred space is a good place to start. In the pew at All Souls Episcopal Church, Maya leaned her head onto my shoulder, either in penitence or fatigue. “You can close your eyes in church,” I whispered. “It looks like you’re praying.” I made her come to church because I want my daughter to know that sometimes you have to show up, even when you are exhausted.

When I opened the bulletin, I realized that Sunday was the “Senior High Service,” that day when a high school senior from the church gives the sermon. With her long brown hair and sincere gaze, Miranda Nolin walked to the pulpit after the Gospel reading and told us that when she reads the , our profession of faith, she often doesn’t believe any of the words she says. (Well, she got our attention.) But she repeats the Nicene Creed each week: “Because they are an act of community, a binding tradi- tion. They have value.”

From the pulpit, Miranda assured us that traditions “allow us to have faith, to show up, to be present when we don’t know what to believe. I might be able to write a creed that said, exactly the right words, what I believed in that moment, but it would probably be outdated by the next week. Instead I come to church.”

Baptized and confirmed last year, Miranda shared that she comes to church with her family because she is welcomed as a questioner in a community where no one hesitates to reveal their doubts. She comes because of the community, the Holy Spirit. “Most of you are here, I’d guess, because you believe this component of the human experience is important and because it is something that is hard to access alone,” she said.

By this point in the sermon, I felt tears welling up in my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. I looked across the church and saw other adults wiping tears from their faces. I made Maya come to church be- cause I want her to know that she can question and feel vulnerable and cry – and she doesn’t always have to do that all alone. continued next page

-4- In her essay, “Why I make Sam go to church,” Anne Lamott writes: “The main reason is that I want to give him what I found in the world, which is to say a path and a little light to see by.” I want Maya to know that those people working to confront poverty, inequality, and environmental injustice in our church are vulnerable souls, but they are acting for the greater good in spite of their questions. I want her to know that church is not a social club, but she has to take actions to ensure it is a foundation of justice for all.

In this age when the “spiritual but not religious” seem to have more relevance than churchgoers, it’s easy to wonder why church attendance matters at all. But I believe that we need common spaces, more grounded than the corner Starbucks, to discern right actions in a world faced with crises like climate change and stark economic disparities.

Our teenagers and our children must shape these sacred spaces where we can grapple with our ques- tions but act in faith through practices of forgiveness, feeding, hospitality, and care of creation. As Diana Butler Bass notes, “Right now, the church does not need to convert the world. The world needs to con- vert the church.”

To that end, after making Maya go to church, I took my daughters to an interfaith creation care vigil that night in downtown Asheville, N.C. (By that point, I had nothing to lose.) When we arrived, one of the volunteers gave Maya a basket of candles, which she helped to distribute to the 250 people gathered for the vigil.

That evening, a film crew was documenting the vigil for a Showtime movie, produced by legendary filmmaker James Cameron. As she passed out candles at dusk, the videographers followed Maya with their cameras and asked her, “Do you know why you are here?”

“I’m not really sure,” she said, laughing. “I’m just the candle person.”

I made Maya go to church because we may not know why we are here, but we can pass along a little light to others on the journey. And maybe that’s what we need to create a little heaven on earth.

Mallory McDuff, Ph.D., teaches environmental education at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. She is the author of Sacred Acts: How Churches are Working to Protect Earth’s Climate and Natural .

Adopt Lackey Free Clinic

2013 was a great year for sponsoring Lackey Free Clinic. A total of 25 families contributed to this great cause. July is sponsored by Sharon and Bill Jones.

Won’t you support the Clinic by “adopting” a month to celebrate events in your life and donate $100 to the continuing operation of this vital service to our community?

If you are interested in sponsoring a month, please contact the office at 898-3261 or e-mail secre- [email protected].

-5- PARKING PASSES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE!

-6- News from Stewardship A Vision for Stewardship at Grace Church

As Stewardship Commissioners to the Vestry of Grace Church, it is our responsibility to think about the present state of Stewardship and what it could be in the future. Stewardship touches every aspect of life at Grace Church. If we define Stewardship as giving of one’s time, talent, and resources to God and his church, then we at Grace excel at Stewardship. But, there is room for improvement. Here are some thoughts for the future: 1) Involve the entire congregation in the Stewardship Pledge Campaign. We have averaged between 187-189 total submitted pledge cards for the past three or four pledge campaigns. Yet, we carry over 600 names on our roster. Based on these numbers, approximately 30% of our membership pledges. We must do a better job at reaching out to all members of our congregation, starting with the 2015 Pledge Campaign! Another idea is to consider adding a children’s stewardship campaign. This cam- paign would help to teach the children of our congregation that all gifts are from God and that it is our responsibility to return a small portion of what is given to us back to God. 2) Look for ways to be more ecologically friendly. As stewards of God’s creation, we have initiated sev- eral programs that are ecologically friendly including the beehive project, recycling, composting, planned cleanup days, and our vegetable garden. But, we could do more. Grace Church could adopt a road, or a portion of the Yorktown beach for regular clean up. We could cut down on the size of church bulletins to save paper and trees. We could work toward earning Energy-Star Certification. These are just a few suggestions to help jump-start the idea process! 3) More involvement. As happens in most every organization, there is often a core group of people who routinely volunteer to support various activities. Our challenge is to expand that group so that all sectors of the congregation feel welcome to participate in the activities and opportunities that are offered by Grace. The best way may be asking someone you know to join you in attending a Grace event. Or, maybe you could offer to pick up an elderly parishioner, who doesn’t feel comfortable driving, to an evening event. You might consider running for the Vestry, or joining Education for Ministry. There are too many opportunities to mention, but the key is involvement in the sponsored activities of the church! Or if you have an idea for a new activity, let us know. These are just a few thoughts on improving Stewardship in the future. If you have additional ideas and would like to get involved, please contact Art Boyce ([email protected]) and/or Karen Jackson ([email protected]).

Blessings to you,

Stewardship Commissioners Art Boyce and Karen Jackson

WHAT HAPPENS WEDNESDAYS AT 10:00 A.M.? Every Wednesday we have a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church. No offering plates are passed, the homily is informal, and the congregation is warm and welcoming. Sometimes we cele- brate the lives of saints; other times we reflect on the readings from the previous Sunday. After re- ceiving Communion, you may wish to remain at the altar rail to receive the laying-on-of hands for healing for yourself or someone else. You may ask for prayers for a particular concern, or just re- ceive a general blessing. You may also simply return to your pew while prayers are being said for others. This is a service open to everybody at Grace Church, and everybody who happens to walk through the doors on a Wednesday morning. Please consider joining us.

-7- C H I L D R E N ’ S P A G E S Vacation Bible School @ Crooks

Everyone is Welcome

You are the God Who works wonders. Psalm 77:14

July 20 - 24 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Everyone is invited to join us on Sunday, July 20 @ 5 pm for a POTLUCK SUPPER!

July 21 -24 SNACK SUPPERS @ 5:30 pm.

VBS Sessions will run 6 – 8:30 every evening.

Children 3 - 12 will enjoy Storytelling, Crafts, Recreation time, Music, and Science/Discovery. Teens are invit- ed to work with us as volunteers in the children's program. There will also be two classes for adults.

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer, please phone or email Ricki Noble at 898-2930 or [email protected]

PRE-Registration forms to attend VBS are in the Breezeway and on Crooks website. Participants who PRE- Register will receive a FREE: WORKSHOP OF WONDERS Music CD!!!

VBS sponsored by Crooks UMC, Grace Episcopal, Yorktown Baptist, & Faith for Living. Turn in Pre-Registration form to one of these church offices. Question? Call 898-6702 Crooks Office

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IT’S SUMMER AT THE PARISH BOOK AND GIFT SHOP For summer reading we recommend:  Everyday Inspiration from God’s Creation--365 devotions inspired by the Great Outdoors  Grace Notes---daily readings with a fellow pilgrim  The Shaman’s Daughter--fiction taking place in NC For gifts for yourself or others: Willow Tree angels, angel bracelets, cross bracelets, gently-used jewelry, Episcopal rosaries, cute doorstops, cross-body bags, garden flags, mug trees and many Grace Church items.

WE NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS If you can help, contact Debbie Hotaling or Jean Liberati. We need volunteers for the following times:

 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays from 11:00 to 2:00  2nd Thursday from11:00 to 2:00  1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays from11:00 to 2:00  1st and 5th Sundays before 9:30 service and after till 11:00

Vestry Nominations If you would like your own name or someone else’s to be considered for our September election of new Vestry members, please get in touch with Senior Warden David Stephens at 898-5079 or Con- nie at 898-3261. Lay leadership at Grace Church is strong, collegial, and an important service in Christ’s name.

Vestry Meeting Summary from June 2014

(full minutes posted in the Parish Hall)

The regular meeting of Grace Church Vestry was held on Monday, June 9. All members were in attendance except the Rector and Karen Jackson. Mason Stoecker presented his Eagle Scout project proposal to construct an outside chapel in the side yard of Riverview. After some discussion, a motion was made to approve the project and it passed. A motion passed approving the Finance Committee’s recommendation to provide staff salary increases at a rate of 4%, effective July 1. The vestry agreed to hire Mason Stoecker for the summer months to help the sexton in cleaning on Monday mornings. Mason will work five hours per week.

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MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY: At this year's Memorial Day ceremony at Grace Church, while I was organizing the readers for prayers, a World War II Marine 4th MARDIV Veteran came up to me and said, "Would you mind if I read a poem about one of my Marine buddies who was lost at Iwo Jima?" He had served with

his buddy through the Marshall Island and Tini- an Campaigns before they hit the sands at Iwo

PARISH NEWS Jima. He read a very sincere and moving poem that affected us all.

We had over 60 participants, including our son

(MACS 24 Marine Reserves SGT '90-96) who YORK COUNTY FOOD CLOSET: With the portrayed a WW II Pacific Marine, and his summer heating up and picnics and outdoor friend who portrayed a WW II 101 ABN activities abounding, don't forget to keep all "Screaming Eagle" D Day paratrooper. In all we foods you are going to use either hot or cold in had eight Grace Church parishioners and visi- appropriate containers to avoid spoilage. Also tors read prayers or related readings. as you shop for your family, don't forget our neighbors in need by purchasing extra non- Thanks to Courtney Kelley for printing the perishable food items for the York County Food drafts and final version of the Memorial Day Closet and place them in the "Red Ball Ceremony program (16 pages) and Kevin James Express" wagon in the Parish Hall. Al Crane for keeping the graveyard grounds cut and 867-8643 trimmed. Don and Garrett Washburn and Gerry and Thomas Lopez also played key roles in the ceremony by handing out programs and carrying the flags. Thomas Nelson, Jr. provided the for- mat and maintains the database used for the FRANCIS PROJECT: If you take program and led the procession to recognize the your pets on trips or have to take them on your 73 known veterans buried in our graveyard and shopping errands, DON'T leave them in your replace flags with "Honors." If anyone wants a car or truck for even a few minutes if the air copy of the program, please contact Al Crane at conditioner is not running. In the heat, 867-8643. temperatures in your vehicle can reach over 100 degrees even if the windows are open a little. Your continued donations of pet food and new bowls and leashes are still needed by the Peninsula Pet Pantry. An article on the Peninsula Pet Pantry will be posted on the Parish Hall bulletin board. The Saint Francis donation box is in the Parish Hall. Al Crane 867-8643

July 21st

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BIRTHDAYS CONTINUED

Jul 24 Joy Phillips

Jack Staton Bonny Ryan

Jul 25 George Sage Jul 26 Sandy Swift

Birthdays and Jul 27 Susan Nixon Jul 29 Susan Powell Jul 31 Walt Milliner Anniversaries Ken Pleasant

BIRTHDAYS Jul 1 Timothy Washburn Jul 2 LeRoy Ludi ANNIVERSARIES Jul 5 Britt & Christy McCarley George Schroeder Jul 11 Nancy & Mike Sullivan Jul 4 Theresa Robertson Jul 14 Don & Jan Phillips Jul 5 Amanda Aldred Jul 17 Bob & Susan Powell Jul 6 David Ludi Jul 18 Clyde & Nancy Adams Melinda Reed Jul 19 Peggy & Frank Lansinger Jul 8 Emma Giesken Jul 21 David & Catherine Miller Scott Markwith Jul 27 Glenn & Anne Markwith Jul 9 Don Kuchenbuch Jul 30 Bill & Janaan Muntean Jul 11 Debra Boyce Jul 12 Jim Adams Garrett Washburn Jul 13 Tom Wash Jul 16 Bob Saunders Jul 17 Carol Romeo Jul 19 Harry Howard Pat Pleasant Jul 20 Laura Etheridge Jul 22 Hugh Brownlee Jul 23 Vance “Tripp” Field, III Missi Rhodes Cindy Speegle

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Please pray today especially for: Walter Milliner, Tom Hodgson, Marielena Singleton, Estelle Butler, Carmelita Dinterman, Kathleen Manley, Theresa Robertson, Shirley Ludi, Betty Terrell, Betty Lauterbach, Bill McAllister, Libby Fisher, Brian Hennessy, Lloyd Butler, David Stephens, Ian Ferguson, Larry Hanson, Ron Graham, Joanna Greaud, Michael Dunaway, Please pray for those who have Mason Fiscella, Mildred Lawson, Sister Claire, Roselyn Washburn, Eino Hirv, Roland McCoy, died and those who mourn Tom Copes, Martha Sim, Lisa, Mary Jane their passing: Massey, Louis Wagner, and Montee Allen.

Please continue to remember in your Mona Goolsky, prayers: Tami and Rob, Brian Hallmark, June Curtis, Birdie Burcher, Laurie Blanton Coleman, sister of Gail King Maribeth Mills, Gary King, Howard Griffith, Reinhold Beuer-Tajovsky, Donald Markwith, Larry Kline, Amy Fuchs, Brian Smythe, Nancy Beverly Tucker, Fuchs, Rose Warner-Ballard, Nicole Odom, Jennifer Carsten, Clare Raymond, Marie Loomis, Priest Ferne Gapcynski, Martha Dowling, and Leland Barnett. We pray for others in the military and/or family and friends of parishioners serving overseas: especially IT2 Eric Brownlee, T. Mace Langston, Bradley Fellows, Capt. Todd W. Blanchette, Petty Officer Second Class Joshua Kline, Joseph Swartout, SSgt. Michael Douglas Brown, Coley Newton, Lt. James Gouger, Carlette Carter, Jacob Edwards, Michael Loveland, and Laura and John Roy.

Martha Knight Jane Moreland to Kingston Parish from St. Mark’s Mathews, Virginia Hampton, Virginia

-13- INSPIRATION CORNER

ABC’s of Thankfulness by Tami Stephens from the book For Simple Living

Air and autumn and animals Babies and breath and beauty Children and compassion and creativity Once again, Jean, I want to sincerely thank you on behalf of everyone at Riv- Daylight and dew and daffodils erside Behavior Health Center for your Emotions and energy and enthusiasm congregation’s generous giving of sup- plies for our art therapy department. Faith and family and friends WOW!!! I am amazed at all of the won- Grandparents and grandchildren and God derful items -- fabric, magazines, beads…. They will all be put to good use Hands and health and hope as our residents use the art process to Ice cream and intelligence and intuition heal. What a blessing you and your church are!!! Much, much thanks!!! Joy and journeys and jokes

Kindness and kisses and kittens Sonia Purkey Love and laughter and leaves

Mothers and music and memories (This was sent to Jean Kirkham, who Night and nature and neighbors headed up a group of Grace members Order and oranges and oceans who have gathered up art supplies for Peace and patience and prayer these young people.) Quiet and quality and questions Rain and rest and romance

Sunshine and smiles and stars Crooks Memorial UMC gratefully Time and teachers and trees acknowledges the receipt of your gener- ous contribution of $200 to help further Unity and understanding and uniqueness the outreach of our 2014 Vacation Bible Vision and values and vacations School. We are so thankful to have Grace as our partner. Winter and water and wisdom

Xcitement and expression and experience Sincerely, Youth and yearning and yesterday

Zest and zip and zeal Andrea Ley,

Administrative Assistant Submitted by Roselyn Washburn

-14- Please visit Grace Church’s Website for the most up-to-date calendar listings at www.gracechurchyorktown.org and click on “Calendar.”

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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID AT

YORKTOWN, VA 23690

PERMIT NUMBER 1672 A monthly publication of Grace Episcopal Church Editor: Courtney Kelley ADDRESS Grace Episcopal Church 111 Church Street SERVICE P.O. Box 123 Yorktown, VA 23690 Yorktown, VA 23690 office: (757) 898-3261 REQUESTED [email protected] or (757) 989-5241

We’re on the web: gracechurchyorktown.org

THE STAFF SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE THE VESTRY The Rt. Rev. Herman Hollerith, Sunday David Stephens, Senior Warden Bishop 7:45 AM - Holy Eucharist Rite I Diocese of Southern Virginia Jerry Twigg, Junior Warden & *10:00 AM - Holy Eucharist Rite II Properties/Administration

The Rev. Carleton B. Bakkum, Rector

Wednesday Art Boyce, Stewardship The Rev. Constance M. Jones, 10:00 AM - Holy Eucharist Karen Jackson, Stewardship Associate Rector

& Healing Service Donna Hines, Outreach/Environ. Carol Romeo, Parish Administrator Lynn Grimsley, Outreach/Environ. Cornelia Taylor, Director of Children’s

& Youth Ministries CELTIC EUCHARISTS Gerry Lopez, Parish Life

WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER Nancy Pendleton, Parish Life Suzanne Daniel, Organist/Choir Dir.

Elizabeth O’Brien, Christian Form. Courtney Kelley, Secretary Diane Garrison, Nursery Supervisor Hugh Brownlee, Evangelism/Comm. Kevin James, Sexton *Nursery Provided David Douglas, Evangelism/Comm. Bob Frady, Financial Director Gerry Smelt, Worship Nancy Sullivan, CFNP, Parish Nurse DAY SCHOOL

Brenda Moore, Archivist Jean Grinnell, Director Resident Spiritual Director

Mrs. Elsa Bakkum, M.Div.