Greetings from our new Associate Rector!

Dear St. Andrew’s family, 

With great joy, and gratitude to God, I have accepted the call to be your Associate for Children and Youth at St. Andrew’s.  I will begin on Sunday, October 1, and I am very much looking forward to meeting you all in person and joining in ministry with you.

What drew me the most to the faith community of St. Andrew’s is the fact you take the ministry for and with children and youth very seriously, just as genuinely as I do.  I look forward to putting my years of experience with young people to work, sharing with them the reality of the great love of God and the many ways in which they can express and share their faith, that hope which is within all Christians. 

I am from a large family, which immigrated to the United States from the island of Jamaica, and who are also proud citizens of our adopted country.  I am a joyous aunt of Alana (Maryland) and loving godmother of Gabe and Jamie (Massachusetts).  I enjoy knitting, quilting, reading, and weaving and learning how to sew clothing.

I also look forward to serving St. Andrew’s with your Rector, Anne, and the rest of the staff and others who give so much of their time and talents.  I want to thank Anne, and the rest of the Search Advisory Team, all of whom were so welcoming to me throughout the whole interview process. 

I can’t wait to see you all on October 1 and may God bless us in our ministry together.

Peace, 

Lorna+

Announcing our new Associate Rector, The Rev. Lorna H. Williams

Dear friends,

 

Tidings of great joy:  I am delighted to announce that the Rev. Lorna H. Williams has accepted my call to be St. Andrew's Associate Rector for Children and Youth, beginning on October 1.  I can't wait for you to meet her!

 

Lorna comes to us from the Diocese of Pennsylvania.  Ordained in 1999, she has served parishes and schools in New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Florida.  Lorna is a team player who has always worked in multi-clergy parishes, frequently combining those responsibilities with chaplaincies at Episcopal schools and a university.  Her passion is serving children and youth, and it shows. 

 

Lorna graduated from Seabury-Western Seminary (my alma mater!!) in Evanston, Illinois, where she won a coveted preaching award.  Her references describe her as well-respected, diplomatic, patient, and pastoral.  As we proceeded through the lengthy and sometimes tedious steps of the search process, Lorna was consistently on top of details and responsive to all communications, attributes that bode well for communicating with us here at St. Andrew's.  In person she is warm and candid and funny. 

 

One of Lorna's references said that Lorna is very picky about where she applies to work.  That observation echoed our experience of Lorna.  When we asked why she was interested in coming to St. Andrew's, Lorna noted that many churches say that children and youth are important to them, but in her experience few churches actually treat children and youth as if they are important.  Yet it was clear to her from our website and from meeting us that St. Andrew's really is committed to our children and youth, and that made her want to be part of us.  Lucky us!

 

Lorna was born and raised in Jamaica and emigrated to the United States at the age of 16 to re-join her parents, who had come here five years earlier, seeking a better life for themselves and their children.  She has a twin sister and several brothers, and an amazing life story to share with us. 

 

You may have noticed that my earlier articles about our search talked about finding an assistant rector and that now I am using the term associate rector.  "Assistant" is the title often given to someone who is fresh out of seminary.  Lorna has been ordained longer than I have and comes to us with a wealth of experience, and therefore I have called her to be our Associate Rector.  According to our letter of agreement, one of her responsibilities is to be "a counselor to, and a confidant of, the rector."  She is eminently qualified to be both, and I feel very blessed to be able to partner in ministry with her.

 

I am extremely grateful to the members of my search advisory team:  John Whitley, Doug Vaughan, and David Lilley; and also to Audre'ana Ellis, Cassie Jones, and Allie Wittkamp, who assisted us with the interview process.  They were unanimous in their approval of Lorna.  I am also grateful to each of you for your patience and prayerfulness during the search; and to Jen, Elizabeth and Travis for their ministry in our midst in the in-between time.  Above all, I am grateful to God for leading us to Lorna and Lorna to us.

 

I know firsthand what a warm and gracious welcome you extend to new clergy, and I look forward to joining you in offering that same blessing to Lorna.  Please continue to hold her in your prayers as she prepares to join us.  May God bless us all in this exciting new relationship!

 

Faithfully,

Anne+

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School - Small by​ ​​ ​Intent

By Janna Outlaw, Head of School

Being​ ​a​ ​small​ ​school​ ​is​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​but​ ​being​ ​a​ ​ small​ ​school​ ​by​ intent​ ​is​ ​another.​ ​The​ ​advantages​ ​are​ ​abundant!​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s​ ​has​ ​one​ ​focus,​ ​filled with​ ​opportunities ​ ​and​ ​life​ ​lessons.

The​ ​most​ ​frequent​ ​question​ ​from​ ​our​ ​families​ ​is,​ ​“Why​ ​don’t​ ​we​ ​expand​ ​to​ ​middle​ ​and​ ​high​ ​school?”​ ​We​ ​pride ​ ​ourselves​ ​on​ ​educating​ ​the​ ​elementary school​ ​aged​ ​child.​ ​ Especially​ ​in​ ​an​ ​age​ ​where​ ​one-stop​ ​shopping​ ​is​ ​convenient​ ​—​ ​and​ ​as​ ​a​ ​parent​ ​of​ ​multiple​ ​children,​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​this ​ ​concept​ ​—​ ​it seems​ ​intuitive​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​“Why​ ​not?”​ ​Still,​ ​I​ ​ would​ ​beg​ ​to​ ​differ​ ​for​ ​many​ ​reasons​ ​that​ ​convenience​ ​is​ ​ not​ ​everything.

Focusing​ ​solely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged​ ​child​ ​allows ​ ​us​ ​to​ ​concentrate​ ​on​ ​a single​ ​area​ ​of​ ​education.​ ​Therefore,​ ​we​ ​spend​ ​all​ ​our​ ​time​ ​refining​ ​our​ ​craft, expanding​ ​our ​ ​knowledge​ ​in​ ​a​ ​circumscribed​ ​area​ ​of​ ​expertise.​ ​We​ ​dedicate ourselves​ ​to​ ​providing​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​foundation​ ​during​ ​the​ ​most ​ ​formative​ ​years​ ​of our​ ​students’​ ​lives.

As​ ​the​ ​world​ ​has​ ​become​ ​fast-paced​ ​and​ ​busy,​ ​with ​ ​both​ ​parents​ ​often​ ​leading demanding​ ​professional​ ​lives,​ ​our​ ​ small​ ​focus​ ​has​ ​become​ ​even​ ​more intentional.​ ​Small​ ​class​ ​sizes​ ​allow​ ​for​ ​more​ ​one-on-one​ ​attention​ ​and individualized ​ ​instruction.

At​ ​St.​ Andrew’s,​ ​our​ ​teachers​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​hone ​ ​in​ ​on​ ​a​ ​student’s​ ​special​ ​gifts, talents,​ ​creativity​ ​and​ ​individuality.​ ​This​ ​builds​ ​close​ ​student-teacher relationships​ ​that ​ ​foster​ ​trust,​ ​courage​ ​and​ ​confidence​ ​at​ ​an​ ​early​ ​age.​ ​Students can​ ​face​ ​challenges​ ​in​ ​a​ ​safe​ ​environment​ ​where​ ​their​ ​teachers​ ​and​ ​peers​ ​are ready​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​them​ ​up,​ ​dust​ ​ them​ ​off​ ​and​ ​encourage​ ​them​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​trying.

Expectations​ ​are​ ​high,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​right​ ​amount​ ​of ​ ​nurturing​ ​along​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​Our teachers​ ​easily​ ​adapt​ ​lesson​ ​ plans​ ​and​ ​tailor​ ​their​ ​teaching​ ​styles​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the varied​ ​ learning​ ​styles​ ​of​ ​their​ ​students.

The​ ​leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​available​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small ​ ​school,​ ​especially​ ​one​ ​that​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged​ ​ child,​ ​allow​ ​for​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​at​ ​an early​ ​age.​ ​Throughout​ ​a​ ​child’s​ ​time​ ​​at​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s,​ ​beginning​ ​as​ ​ early​ ​as​ ​PreK3,​ ​students​ ​share​ ​leadership​ ​responsibilities. ​ ​From​ ​year​ ​to​ ​year, students’​ ​leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​increase​ ​as​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​developmentally.

Students​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​publicly​ ​at​ ​a​ ​very ​ ​early​ ​age​ ​both​ ​within​ ​and​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​classroom.​ ​Every​ ​student​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​a​ ​community​ ​service project​ ​with​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​class​ ​each​ ​year.​ ​Leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​include ​ ​public​ ​speaking,​ ​community​ ​service,​ ​technology​ ​projects,​ ​various performances,​ ​solos,​ ​patrol​ ​duties,​ ​assisting​ ​little​ ​ones,​ ​making school​-wide​ ​announcements​ ​and​ ​much​ ​more.

One​ ​extremely​ ​important​ ​life​ ​lesson​ ​is​ ​that​ ​of ​ ​transition.​ ​Because​ ​we​ ​focus​ ​solely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged ​ ​child,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​distinct​ ​advantage​ ​to changing​ ​schools​ ​as​ ​ children​ ​develop.​ ​Learning​ ​to​ ​make​ ​new​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​adjusting ​ ​to​ ​a​ ​new​ ​environment​ ​are​ ​lessons​ ​we​ ​all​ ​need​ ​to​ ​acquire ​ ​before heading​ ​off​ ​to​ ​college.​ ​Transitioning​ ​is​ ​a​ ​life​ ​lesson ​ ​that​ ​can​ ​only​ ​be​ ​learned​ ​hands-on.

Making​ ​those​ ​transitions​ ​multiple​ ​times​ ​in​ ​life ​ ​gives​ ​a​ ​child​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​accustom​ ​himself​ ​or​ ​herself​ ​to​ ​new​ ​surroundings,​ ​socialize with​ ​a​ ​widening​ ​ circle​ ​of​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​figure ​out​ ​which​ ​techniques​ ​work​ ​for​ ​ new​ ​environments.​ ​Transitioning​ ​also​ ​takes​ ​the​ ​child​ ​out​ ​of​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​comfort zone,​ ​thus encouraging​ ​risk-taking​ ​—​ ​both​ ​ of​ ​which​ ​create​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​independence.

Working​ ​to​ ​educate​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​child​ ​during​ ​the ​ ​formative​ ​years​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​solid​ ​foundation​ ​that​ ​is​ ​challenging,​ ​without​ ​distractions,​ ​is​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​from​ ​which every​ ​ child​ ​benefits.​ ​Although​ ​our​ ​school​ ​is​ ​small,​ ​our​ ​students ​ ​are​ ​successful​ ​in​ ​their​ ​next​ ​life​ ​phases.​ ​They​ ​have ​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​without​ ​the influence​ ​of​ ​older​ ​students​ ​ whom​ ​younger​ ​students​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​ready​ ​quite​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​ encounter​ ​developmentally.​ ​Our​ ​adult​ ​world​ ​is​ ​sufficiently ​ ​fast-paced that​ ​we​ ​remain​ ​small​ ​at​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s​ ​by​ ​intent ​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​confidence,​ ​independence,​ ​leadership,​ ​individuality​ ​and ​ ​risk-taking​ ​with​ ​one​ ​focus,​ ​preparing elementary​ ​students​ ​for ​ ​all​ ​the​ ​successive​ ​phases​ ​of​ ​life.

Learn more here: ​​​ ​www.standrewsepiscopalschool.com/blog/

Thank you, St. Andrew's!

Dear St. Andrew’s,

Thank you so much for a wonderful three years on your staff as part time Assisting Priest.  Being at St. Andrew’s has been a great blessing.  St. Andrew’s is truly a wonderful community of faithful Christ followers.

Many of you might not know that I was hired to work as an interim for six months by Rob.  Fr. Rob is one of the finest clergy persons I have ever had the privilege of working with.  Then I stayed and supplied every Sunday until our interim, Fr. David, arrived.  Fr. David asked that I stay and assist him.  I learned so much about Interim Ministry and Hospitality from David – another great blessing!  And then our team of part timers until Anne arrived.  What a pleasure it has been to serve with Anne as she has begun her tenure at St. Andrew’s.  So, what began as a six-month interim has grown into a little over three years.  Kathy Gray, Jen Kimball, Carol Chamberlain, Dick Holley, and Rob, David, and Anne are some of the most exceptional clergy I have known – and then to be able to team up with them in ministry!

St. Andrew’s has also assembled the greatest lay staff in the world: Matt, Janna, Brad, Bill, Bill, Rachel, Harper, and Elizabeth.  What an exceptional group to have the opportunity to work with and to know!  And, when you add these fine professionals to a truly remarkable congregation with such fabulous vestry and lay leadership – these three years have been blessing upon blessing!  Thank you for receiving Hall and me with such open arms and open hearts.  Thank you for the beautiful print of the Christus Victor window by Alison Clock.  I will treasure it always.

The last few Sundays I’ve been getting a bit teary eyed as we have distributed communion.  You may have noticed that when I give you the bread, as I say “The Body of Christ”, I touch your hand with mine before I place the bread in your hand.  I do this to remind myself that you are the Body of Christ, and it is in our interactions together that we are the Body of Christ, the Light of Christ in the world.  So, these last few Sundays, as I’ve looked at your hands and faces, so familiar now, I’ve been very deeply moved.  We have shared much of life together: births, baptisms, Holy days, deaths, and, of course, these transitions in St. Andrew’s.  And you have done all of this as a community with such authenticity and grace.

St. Andrew’s will continue to our home church as I move from four days a week to five days a week as Chaplain at Patriots Colony at Williamsburg.  And I’m very grateful that Anne will schedule me occasionally at St. Andrew’s.  But, you won’t see us every week.  I will supply at area churches as needed.  I am scheduled to teach dementia awareness at Abingdon for six weeks in September and October.  Also, Hal and I are hoping for some weekends away.  Perhaps you all could help me out by emailing me ideas for my “fun jar.”  We moved here from Florida, and I’ve been working six or seven days a week for quite some time and have not visited Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, or most of the sites in the area.  If you have a chance, email me your favorite spot(s) for day trips and weekend trips: etravisgreenman@yahoo.com.  I will put them in a jar, draw them out, and Hal and I will explore the area.  Thank you.  Thank you for the privilege of serving in this sacred place.  I am forever grateful for this time.

Faithfully,

Travis+

Vestry Liaison Report: Outreach Team

“I was raised in a family where helping others was a priority.”

“I feel I have been so fortunate in my life and want to be able to give back to others.”

“We as Christians are called to go outside of our walls to do God’s work."

These sentiments are but a sample of those expressed at our recent Outreach Team meeting held in July as to why Outreach is important to each member.  My name is Elise Wall and I am the Vestry liaison to our Outreach Team and these statements express some of my reasons as well as to why I believe outreach is important.  St. Andrew’s, as a church community, has been earnest in its attempt to go out into our community and serve others in need.  Presently as a church community we participate in the following identified Outreach ministries: PORT, THRIVE Peninsula, St. Paul’s, LINK, Kairos Prison Ministry, Turkey Bag Lunches, Halloween, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Warm Fuzzies, Basketball, Newsome Park, and Scouts.  As wonderful as this list is, it doesn’t begin to acknowledge the many individual efforts of service to our community by our individual church members.  Those would be just too many to mention. 

For our parish profile and from many discussions with members, outreach is a priority for St. Andrew’s.  As our efforts are good, the need still in our community is great.  My hope as Vestry liaison is that we can increase our efforts and become an even larger presence in our community serving those within our walls, within our neighborhood, and within the greater community.  This will take organization, communication, and leadership.  I am happy to report that Lindsey Nicolai has agreed to be the new Outreach Team leader.  Thank you, Lindsey!

In closing I would encourage anyone interested in serving with any of the above ministries or has any information that they would like to share with the committee about a need in our community, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 880-2769 or elise.b.wall@gmail.com or Lindsey at lcnico@email.wm.edu.

Elise Wall

Vestry Liaison - Outreach