TLDR: Thank you.
At the potluck, I saw a fantastically decorated room, filled with delicious dishes made by people that love our family here at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church.
There was one feeling that overtook me as I celebrated with all of you last week: gratitude. The generosity of St. Dunstan’s is truly unmatched; it is unlikely that any church has given their curate a send off with such a huge Anglican Purse. I was left speechless at your kindness. I should not have been surprised, because St. Dunstan’s has consistently showed themselves to be a church bent on multiplying blessings. Thank you for your incredible support of my family as we transition.
I appreciate the way that all of you have checked with me about foods that I eat and wanted me to prepare a dish for me.
This week, as I said goodbye to the vestry, which was an appropriate way for me to end my curacy. Without the leadership that supports Fr. Roldan, the position of curacy would not have been available for me to be called. In this diocese, there are many opportunities to learn, however, few are as rich as this church in Northwest Houston.
The gratitude that I have felt for being able to stay at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church for two years is immense. My first impression of this church is that it is a place of abundance and love for each other: a family church. As the church has grown in numbers over the past two years: with an average Sunday Attendance of just over 300, the church is thriving. Still, people greet each other with love and compassion. I have watched as over the past two years all of you have embraced new members and made them a part of your family.
Last week, on June 15, the potluck supper was a lovely opportunity to remember the fun that we have had over the past two years. I remembered the worship, the visits, the meals, running, the vestry meetings, the Invite-Welcome-Connect meetings, Mothers of Preschoolers, Momtourage, Hope Center, The Altar Guild, all of this and much made the curacy a wonderful training ground. I appreciated how Fr. Roldan created a broad range of activities to be involved with throughout the curacy. I have learned enough to manage a well funded campus ministry and amplify the ministry.
Throughout the curacy I received feedback on my teaching, preaching, celebrating, and general leadership. The church has been incredibly generous with your time and resources. This past Thursday was another example of your gracious nature. Dede decorated the hall as if it were fit for a princess at a picnic. The menu was, of course, scrumptious. Every part of the day was perfect!
What moved my heart about the beginning of the curacy was the same thing that moved my heart at the end of the curacy. Each of you went out of your way to bless and care for my family and I. There is no doubt that I will miss St. Dunstan’s, the lessons I have learned, and the community gathered. Still, I know that I was merely a caretaker for this position as curate. The goal of my curacy was for me to be able to lead a group at the end of it. With incredible guidance from Fr. Roldan, and all of you, that goal was met.
Therefore, I wanted to take one more moment to say thank you. For the past two years of learning, for the fun, for the wonderful farewell, and for letting me be a part of the St. Dunstan’s community: thank you.
For His Sake,
Mtr. Beth Anne +
