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Rector’s Award 2009
For
Outstanding Service To Christ and His Church
It was the late Fr.
James Law who in 1991 began the yearly tradition of honoring a
parishioner or parishioners at our parish annual meeting in
recognition of their exemplary contribution to the life of our
congregation. This year we give thanks for two individuals, husband
and wife, whose dedication to and participation in our parish are
remarkable.
He is a lifelong
Episcopalian who came to All Souls’ in his childhood and was
confirmed here in 1963. He served as an acolyte, later as acolyte
master, and continues now as a faithful layreader, chalice bearer
and usher. He has also shown himself to be an effective (and
romantic) evangelist in
that, eleven days after their marriage here, his wife was confirmed
an Episcopalian and a member of our parish.
He has served on the
Vestry, and as Junior and Senior Warden, and during his term he
provided strong leadership in a time of financial stress for the
parish. He is also an active member of the Anglican Foundation and
has helped in the organization of a number of Theological
Conferences. She is an
active member of the parish Episcopal Church Women, and our Altar
Guild, and has served both as ECW President and as Directress of the
Guild. She is also a
faithful participant in
the Thursday Women’s Bible Study, and has been a delegate to
numerous Diocesan Conventions. She is to be commended, as well, for
her civic work with the Arts and the Metropolitan Library
Commission.
 The
British novelist, Charlotte Bronte is credited with having said that
“consistency is the first of Christian duties.” If such is the
case, then the two parishioners we honor this day are exemplary in
the primacy of their consistence in the life of All Souls’ Church.
Consider how constant they are in their service at the altar, seated
side by side in the pew virtually every Sunday (second from
the front on the Epistle side!), helping at and attending our Lenten
dinners, assisting with the annual Advent Event, and, most
especially, in their expression of Christian friendship and concern
for others.
It is then, with deep
respect that this year’s
Layman of the Year Award
is presented to John
and Penny McCaleb in sincere gratitude for their faithful,
consistent, and joyful Christian witness.
In Testimony whereof,
We the congregation of All Souls’ have caused this instrument to
have attached to it the seal of our Parish, and the signature of the
Rector, at the sixty-second Annual Parish Meeting duly convened on
this twenty-fourth day of January in the year of Our Lord two
thousand and ten.
-Fr. Bright
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