Deanery of Appalachia
News & Commentary
27 July 2010
Dear Members of the Deanery,
Congratulations to Fr. Gordon & Valerie Anderson on the Birth of a Son!
Valerie Anderson gave birth to her first child, a son, named Evan Fraser Anderson. Mother and baby are doing well. Congratulations to the Andersons! Fr. Gordon thanks everyone for their prayers.
Fr. Don Sackett ordained Priest this past Saturday
Before a full Church Fr. Don Sackett was ordained to the ancient and Sacred Order of Priests this past Saturday at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Weaverville, NC. Thad Osborne, from Holy Cross, Knoxville, describe it this way. "If you have never attended a traditional Anglican ordination, simply said, it is one of the most beautiful rituals of our church...The sermon was preached by our diocesan bishop, the Most Rev. Walter Grundorf. The Rev. Ray Unterberger, who presented the ordinand, read the Litany for Ordinations from the Prayer Book. The Rev. Frank O'Donnell read the Epistle, Ephesians IV:7, and the Rev. Nick Henderson, the Gospel from St. Matthew IX:36. The bishop then examined the candidate and prayed. All clergy present then stood with Don as the Bishop laid hands on him, continuing a lineage that dates back to the time of Christ and His Apostles. Don was presented with a stole and chasible, then a chalice and paten, and a Bible signifying his role as a minister of God's word and sacraments." Don's hands were also anointed with Holy Oil and bound by the bishop signifying that he in under obedience to Jesus Christ, His Church and to the bishop. A wonderful ordination lunch followed.
Deanery Confirmation Service, Sunday, August 29, at All Saints, Mills River
Bishop Grundorf will be making his annual visitation to All Saints Anglican Church, Mills River, the weekend of August 29. At the 11:00 a.m. Sunday service, he will Confirm all those from the Deanery who will be presented to him. We expect to have seven candidates for Confirmation or Reception from St. Matthew's. As we get closer to the date, please let Fr. Bill Martin at All Saints know how many persons you will be presenting.
India Mission work moves ahead
Fr. Johann is in constant email contact with Bishop elect Jaya Rao and has been sending each of our Deanery Churches information on their partner Churches there. Also, Fr. Johann tells me that he has just received a pledge of $25,000 towards the cost of building the diocesan school there. That, plus the $2000 in hand, should be enough to build the school building. Praise God for that!
Pray for growth in each one of your congregations,
Fr. John Lathrop, Dean
