My Last Day

By Leanne Shawler

Today is my last day as Communications Director at Good Sam. It's both an exciting day and a sad one. It's been an incredible journey with y'all over these past five years. 

As your fellow sister in Christ, I am proud of all that we have done together, and not just in the field of communications, although I am also proud of what we've done: not just the new brand but the way our language has evolved so that we don't cling so tightly to Episcopal and Christian words that may mystify one unfamiliar with church. (Please, please keep using "lobby" instead of "narthex". I'll be eternally grateful.)

If I may toot my horn for a moment, I'd like to reflect on how far we've come:

• the brand: giving us the "love. be loved." hook on which to hang our strategic plan, be recognizable as us in all our materials 
• a redesigned website (twice) aimed at people new to church (with a section with all the stuff members need to know)
• we entered the social media sphere with Facebook and kinda Twitter
• we can now RSVP for events online (yes, it's okay to click the link to say you can't make it!)
• we went from monthly to quarterly in our newsletter to help us to look ever forward and upward, as well as being reflective of our brand.

Oh, that'll do. It's weird singing my own praises. Much better to be singing God's.

God is and has been calling me to something new and I need to sit in the pews (ok, the choir loft. I'm not giving up that or being a mentor for our confirmation program) to answer that call. This new call started last October, during a retreat, and I partially answered it by refocusing my blog, but I always knew God wanted me to do something more.

Both Chris and I discerned that I had to clear the decks to answer that call: to ask, to listen, to obey. I know I am incredibly privileged to not have to work and be able to spend this time in discernment. (We shall see how soon I go stir crazy.)

Something one of the bloggers I read said the other day, really spoke to me: "Saying no allows us to say yes to what is most true" (Christianne Squires). It is hard to say no. It is hard not to justify why I should do something. But saying no is what I'll be doing for the time being, until what is most true is discerned.

I know I'm leaving you in the excellent hands of Kieu and the rest of the staff. I am excited about Good Sam's future and to see what unfolds, walking with you in that journey.

See you Sunday.

Why we enjoy the High Tea...

Here is our third in our series of stories from our 3rd annual High Tea. The two posts prior to this are also about the high tea. Stay tuned for more in the September tidings.

Today are two stories from Penny Powell and Barbara Theiss who hosted a table together.

Penny Powell writes:

I look forward to our High Tea every year and hope it stays a Good Sam tradition for many years to come so I can one day share it with my granddaughter, Alex.    

What I love about the event is that it makes us feel pampered for a few hours, it's an occasion to dress-up, our selves and our tables, relax and catch-up with old friends as well as make new friends.  

It also gives me an opportunity to use and share with others the beautiful bone china tea cups I display in my china cabinet but never use.  My adoptive mother collected English bone china cups & saucers, sugar and cream sets.  When she died in 1978, she left several dozen collectable pieces that I never, ever thought I'd use. Growing up I was very disinterested in her collection and thought it as an odd hobby; not "my cup of tea." Since her death, however, I have come to see the beauty in each piece and  love the memories some of the pieces have for me.

(c) Savoring the Sweet Life

Barbara Theiss writes:

I love participating in our beautiful Women's Tea!  I am always struck by the number of generations enjoying themselves together!  This year there was even a table of little girls; our 6 year old Sophia was one of them. She had a ball!  Our good hearted men serving the delicious food was like icing on the cake. 

Penny and I enjoyed combining our family heirlooms at our table. My contributions included my Grandmother' s Rosenthal china, some crystal bowls from my husband' s mother and some from my mother, and the napkin rings. They came from my collection that I have acquired from antique stores in my travels.  They are all at least 80 years old, some over 120 years old, and I love to imagine who used them and in what type of a setting.

These photos are all used with permission from the photographers from Savoring the Sweet Life who attended the feast. The photo of Penny and Barb was taken by Ruth Lim, our roving reporter.

Our High Tea in May...

(c) Savoring the Sweet Life

At the High Tea, women invite their friends and relations to enjoy this special event. The Tea always sells out the first day tickets go on sale and there’s a waiting list. As in past years, the men were generous enough to serve as waiters and food organizers, including our rector, Chris Chase (pictured right)!

These photos are all used with permission from the photographers from Savoring the Sweet Life who attended the feast. 


Last week we shared a story from Jennifer Burgess about the china used at her table. Today, we share another story. Stay tuned for more in the September tidings.

(c) Savoring the Sweet Life

From Michelle Dicks: 

My maternal grandparents, Theresa and Marshall, were married for fifty years.  They loved to entertain and cook.  Grandma was born and raised in New Orleans, and would cook all of the Creole specialties in abundance; nothing was better than going to grandma’s house to eat!  

For some gatherings, they used their china, which grandpa carefully maintained. After grandpa died in 1991, grandma moved into a condo.  I was away at college for the move, but grandma had “Auntie” Nani pack all of the china into sturdy boxes and put my name on them.  Grandma told Nani that one day I would have my own house and would enjoy it.  The boxes took up half of a closet in grandma’s condo, and in all the years she lived there, she never opened them. Grandma died in the fall of 2006. A month after I purchased my townhouse in 2007, Nani’s husband made a special trip from LA to deliver the china. 

Michelle's table
(c) Savoring the Sweet Life

Last year, when I heard Good Sam needed table hostesses for the annual Women’s High Tea, I decided to host a table and use grandma’s china.  Before I started, I said a lot of prayers, asking God to draw my grandparents close to me, and to help me avoid dropping anything because I had to traverse stairs and travertine to get to the dishwasher, which thankfully has a special china setting.  

The experience was unforgettable; I laughed and cried and felt an enormous sense of connection to them.  This year I had a similar experience preparing for the tea.  I am so thankful to my grandparents – my gutsy, gumption-filled Southern grandma and my kindhearted, calm and resilient grandpa – for leaving such a legacy for me for enjoy, and to share with others.