Carlos--thanks for your response. I was pleased some time ago to look at the Christ Church website--sometimes in some places that doesn't work out very well--but it did with Christ Churches. The exterior looks great as does the landscaping and it was a great view of the organ. I'm sure that many of the folks who were there duing my time are gone, dead, whatever and I am glad for the new vitality that appears obvious. We love living in Oregon. I turned 71 on this last Saturday, but an doing a priest-in-charge job at a small parish in a Portland burb. Nice people. The Cathedral was a dream job for me and as I look back, I don't know why I decided to retire, except a large church can be exhausiting after 13 years as Dean. We have moved to a townhouse, no grandchildren, only granddogs, and it most likely will stay that way. Blessins on all of you and best wishes for a wonderful new year coming up. Bud

Dear Bud: Great to read your post. Trina and I have been in the Netherlands watching Kathy's two children whle she was on some short concert tours, so I'm late responding. Hard to believe it's been so many years since you, Chris, Trevor, and Susanna were "at the helm" and yes they were not easy years starting that long revival that continues to this day. Hopefully, you will be back in this area and can visit us. We see John & Gerry Docker every so often. Now the Old Guard are folks like Trina & me, the Talleys, Hunts, Bo Clark, but not too many who knew you or The Dean. That's good really. We have a wonderful Rector in Ruth Ferguson - maybe a decade before I thought we'd even consider the leadership of a woman. And that partnership with Eastman, that you began and Linnwood Garrenton nurtured has not only brought musical greatness to our nave, a second organ will be added to the chancel, to replace that old disaster with an organ of the same vintage as the original. So much you will instantly recognize and many tings you'll find hard to believe. Glad you are in touch via this web page. God's blessing to you and your family - heck you must be a granpa too by now!!!

It is wonderful for me to see the vitality and progress of Christ Church. Back in 1974 or so when I was the rector--my first rectorship--there were many difficult days. The building was in need of a lot of work. The organ was a disaster. There was very little money. The Mayfair in June began as a project to raise money. Parish volunteers began the painting of the interior of the church. My wife and several others started the Meal and More program. We had a number of seminary faculty that attended services and sometimes assisted. That time has been described as a "new beginning" for Christ Church. Russel and I began some beginning talks about an organ built by Eastman for parish use and for a student practice instrument. The choir was made up of volunteers, supplimented by Eastman students for major church holidays. We had a few children in those days for church school.

Thanks for everything that has been done to revew, revitalize and rebuild this parish. It's a joy for me to see all that is happening at Christ Church.

Don, thank you for your kind comments about our Tuesday morning study group. If you still attend, you have met my wife Katrina who regularly participates. We have always tried to approach the Christian Faith from both an intellectual point-of-view while keeping the willingness to accept God's Kingdom "as a little child." Or as that great Episcopalian, Robin Williams, is fond of saying, "You don't have to check your brain at the door!" While we respect your participation in another faith community, we do invite you to our Sunday Eucharist whenever you are able.

Susan, I apologize for not getting back to you immediately. You will find that there is a variety of liturgical styles in the Episcopal Church. Our parish has long emphasized the historic Catholic/catholic nature of the Anglican Communion as distinct from classic Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. We are a specific branch of Christianity. May I recommend that you come to our 11am Eucharist for a few weeks to get a good understandign our our life as a Christian family and a worshipping community. We have a more "high church" style than St. Paul's, and we certainly emphasize good preaching. I think you will be very taken with our Rector's abilities as a preacher. The choir is off this Sunday (May 1st) as our annual reward for its five straight days of singing during Holy Week, but they'll be back for the rest of Eastertide and the Day of Pentecost.

I would like to know more about your priest/minster. I come from a Dutch Reformed background and became disgusted with our local church when they went both "happy clappy" and with a minister who thinks graphic novels are literature. I have been splitting my time since (4 years) between St Paul's and 3rd Presbyterian. I get the music and liturgy I want from St Paul (i have always been a closet Anglican), but I miss the preaching so go to 3rd for a first-rate sermon. I work downtown and have walked past your church many times. Some of my friends said they really liked it except it is very high church. I don't mind that, and I love liturgy and music, but I am most concerned about the emphasis on preaching. I am seeking a church which blends both my background of strong Biblical AND academic preaching (I know the Bible, feed me something that is thought-provoking), and liturgy with music. Maybe I am seeking the impossible!

Susan Dykstra
1154 Monroe Ave

I would like to know more about your priest/minster. I come from a Dutch Reformed background and became disgusted with our local church when they went both "happy clappy" and with a minister who thinks graphic novels are literature. I have been splitting my time since (4 years) between St Paul's and 3rd Presbyterian. I get the music and liturgy I want from St Paul (i have always been a closet Anglican), but I miss the preaching so go to 3rd for a first-rate sermon. I work downtown and have walked past your church many times. Some of my friends said they really liked it except it is very high church. I don't mind that, and I love liturgy and music, but I am most concerned about the emphasis on preaching. I am seeking a church which blends both my background of strong Biblical AND academic preaching (I know the Bible, feed me something that is thought-provoking), and liturgy with music. Maybe I am seeking the impossible!

Susan Dykstra
1154 Monroe Ave

Although members of another faith community, my wife and I have been welcomed into the dynamic fellowship of the Tuesday early morning Book Discussion Group. In the time I have participated in these discussions, we have read a remarkable variety of books, such as mighty spiritual classics such as St. Augustine's Confessions, Autobiography of Teresa of Avila, and church history by Henry Chadwick. We have read books by, for example, C. S. Lewis, N. T. Wright, Bruce Feiler, Anne Lamott, Joan Chiittister, and Teilhard de Chardin. We have enjoyed the friendship of all the members ofthe group who are also members of Christ Church. We have experienced the wonderful hospitality of the Christ Church community and we thank them for embracing us in this group.

So - anyone who reads this should consider joing the group for discussion of wonderful books. And bring a friend, even one who might not be a member of this church.