View Diane’s CV

The canons of the Diocese of Albany state that interim priests can only serve on a part-time basis and that suited me because I have a lot going on in my own life in Vermont. I live with my husband in Middlebury VT about an hour away, across Lake Champlain. Although I could take the ferry across the lake from Charlotte, VT I prefer the rhythm of the drive around the lake. It gives me reflection time; time to hone my homily on Sundays and time to review the business the Vestry and other ministries are about. Then the homeward trip is unwinding time.

This vibrant parish belies any expectations of a small, sleepy, complacent church filled with retirees. The majority of parishioners are retired and free of former professional obligations, and they engage enthusiastically in the life of the parish. Almost every member of the parish is involved in some form of ministry and/or church centered activity. They participate and serve in every aspect of the Sunday service and there is a mid-week lay led bible study, a meditation group, a weekly community supper, and an AA weekly meeting. The parish is also engaged in outreach to a local refugee and immigrant organization, an outreach endeavor that assists those in financial distress, and several food shelves and other entities that provide food to the hungry.

We are in the process of establishing a lay Pastoral Care Committee that will meet with me monthly to share ways of reaching out to parishioners who are house-bound or otherwise incapacitated. And, we sponsored a Soiree this past summer that brought together members of the parish and the wider community for a fabulous evening of dinner, dancing to a live band, and a silent auction which raised funds for our community outreach.

As part of the search process for a new rector the St. John’s Vestry has just put together a carefully drafted Parish Profile which beautifully describes the parish. It has been sent to the Diocese Office of Transition Ministry which will lead the vestry through the next stage of their search.

I have a very light hand on the tiller of this vehicle of God’s love and Grace and all who know St. John’s recognize a lovely church building holding deeply committed people who long to grow their faith and their lives in ministry.