St. Andrew’s Notables: Charlie and Katie Weiss

If you have followed the series this Lent on Facebook and Instagram presenting a daily meditation and beautiful images of St. Andrew’s Stations of the Cross, you may wonder how these crosses were created.

For many years, the Good Friday Stations of the Cross at St. Andrew’s has been a joint midday service with the Hilton-area churches.  It is a solemn and meaningful experience for anyone who attends.  A talented woodworker, Charlie Weiss created each cross for St. Andrew’s Stations of the Cross.   A stark paper illustration was mounted to each cross.  After Charlie’s death on June 4, 2007, the paper pictures were replaced with professionally carved images made in Catalonia, Spain.  These new Stations of the Cross were dedicated on April 5, 2009 and used for the first time on Good Friday, April 10, 2009. These crosses are a fitting tribute to Charlie and Katie and their many years of faithful service to our church’s worship life.

After Charlie and Katie Weiss transferred their membership from Grace Episcopal to St. Andrew’s in 1968, they became an integral part of the worship team. Charlie trained and mentored the acolytes from their earliest years as candle bearers through their time in service at the altar. The acolytes and lay readers knew they could depend on him for direction and the clergy knew he would always be there to make the services run smoothly. This was especially noticeable on special occasions when the Bishop presided, for funerals and baptisms, or when incense was incorporated into the worship. Charlie and Katie worked together on the Altar Guild. It was evident that their faith and their love of worship motivated their service to God and St. Andrew’s.

I remember Charlie with affection for his work with the acolytes. My son, Brice, who became an acolyte at age five, remembers Mr. Weiss as being very nice and straightening his robes for him.  Charlie taught the children the proper way to perform their jobs and a respect for what they were doing. Brice served under his leadership through his senior year of high school.  When I served as a lay reader, Charlie straightened the back of my robe to get the pleats right. The details mattered.

Butch and I will never forget when Charlie served as crucifer at Mrs. Woodall’s funeral.  After the church service, mostly the family went to the graveside for the final internment.  An earlier ice storm had left the cemetery slippery and freezing.  Charlie carried the cross and stood by the grave during the service without wearing a coat over his vestment. We were wearing our heavy coats and huddled under blankets, but Charlie never let on how cold he must have been.

When Charlie had a serious heart attack many years ago, we were told he was about to die. Many of our St. Andrew’s prayer angels practically camped at the hospital praying and supporting the family. For days the news was grim.  The Reverend Doug Burgoyne’s wife Joanie started the St. Andrew’s prayer chain which continues to this day.  Its first members included Joanie Burgoyne, Betsy Wolak, Jean Harrell, and Marie Harrison.  In an answer to prayer and a miracle of God, Charlie awoke and recovered.  Evidently God had more work for Charlie to do. And so, he continued his duties at St. Andrew’s for many more years.

Charlie and Katie Weiss were among the many dedicated members of St. Andrew’s whose quiet, faithful service made and continues to make our worship experiences rich and reverent.

Peggy Woodall