Our Anglican Heritage

Pentecost Comes
A Week Early

This past Sunday June 5 was a great day to be Anglican in my world. At our eight and ten-thirty services we were blessed to hear the Rt. Rev. Rob Martin, Suffragan Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Marsabit in the far north of Kenya, preach God’s Word and pronounce God’s blessing in Swahili. Within this new diocese is the town of Sololo. Our parish, St. David’s, has provided funds for a water tower and water system for the new Anglican school located there. Sololo is about 90% muslim and/or tribal religions so they are really in missionary territory. The Rev. Deb Carr, who recently stepped down as assistant rector of St. David’s to fulfill a missionary calling, visited Sololo this past January and will return to minister for an extended stay at the end of August through early October. It was joy to hear Bishop Rob converse with our member Antony Irungu in Swahili. At our ten-thirty service our long time friend, Archbishop of the Southern Cone and Bishop of Chile, the Most Rev. Tito Zavala, attended, served with our altar prayer team and pronounced God’s blessing in Spanish. Bishop Tito was accompanied by the President and Mission Director of SAMS, Stewart Wicker, who addressed the congregation. Reflecting their global reach, SAMS now stands for Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders rather than their original name South American Missionary Society. Deb Carr will be going to the mission field as a SAMS Bridger.

After worship I attended a golf outing to benefit the Youth Ministry of Christ’s Church Greensburg at Hannastown GC. Our four man team from St. David’s finished tied for second in low gross score resulting in each of us receiving a $50. gift certificate from the pro shop. In a typical golf performance for me, I stunk out the joint but I did make a couple birdie putts for our foursome. It was very nice tract, beautiful weather, delicious BBQ ribs and chicken, great fellowship and it helped fund a well deserved need.


When I returned home, I went online and saw this great photo of a gathering in Albuquerque of the forming ACNA Diocese of the SouthWest. In the photo are old friends and former Pittsburgh clergy, Stephen Tighe, Stan Burdock, and Tom Finney as well as clergy Dan Klooster, Bishop Terence Kelshaw and Michael Kelshaw. What a joy to see the work God is doing in West Texas and New Mexico.