In this Issue:

Nativity, Maysville, moves forward undr Kibler, Kilbourn-Huey

Episcopal Church Breaks ground for a new building

Lewis and Narnia: Episcopal Heritage

Seed Planting

Out of Deep Waters: Second line brings new life to New Orleans

Commentaries

From the Bishop: The Yearnings of our hearts

Reflection: ...and Christmas comes once more

X-ercizing: Packing and unpacking Christmas

Diocesan Calendar

Past Issues

Episcopal Church Breaks ground for a new building

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, Richmond, broke ground at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, for a new building at 2323 Lexington Road. Carol Dismukes, senior warden, called this a triumph of “faith and perseverance.”

The groundbreaking was actually part of the morning worship service, which began in the house where the congregation has been meeting for a decade. From the house, the congregation and special guests processed to the building site. The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, offciated, assisted by the Rev. Birch Rambo, the congregation’s priest-in-charge. Several long-time members and leaders of the governing board of Our Saviour also participated in the service.

Fr. Rambo has led the congregation for more than a year. He said, “I am truly thankful to be a part of the Church of Our Saviour during this time of growth and faith. Although the church is more than its building, the building still helps to shape the church. The New Testament church met secretly in houses to avoid persecution. We have the privilege of meeting openly and proclaiming to the world that we are part of the Kingdom of God. My prayer is that our new building will help this church to reach out boldly to others and show the love of God to all our neighbors.”

The site of the new building, which has seating for 125 persons, is on an 11-acre tract that the church purchased from the Carrier family in 1992. The project will be built by C &W Builders, which has constructed several other churches in Madison County. The firm’s president is Wayne Wilson of Boonesville, Ky. A long-time member of the church, Dan Evans, served as chairman of the building committee.

The Church of Our Saviour was formed as a mission church on Sept. 20, 1992. The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, who was bishop of Lexington at the time, blessed the church and gave it the name. The core group of the congregation had come from the former Christ Episcopal Church in Richmond, the building that now houses the Richmond Area Arts Council.

Grace Sears of Berea was present at the first worship service in the former Carrier home. She recalls that members of the congregation had been working hard, remodeling, painting and cleaning the house to prepare for the service. As the work was finished and the deacon began to put in place the lectern and the candles to prepare for the service, “I saw it as a sacred place for the first time. It was a beautiful transformation.” She remembers vividly that the fi rst worship service was celebrated on her birthday.

The Rev. Phillip Haug served as priest in charge of the church from 1994 until his retirement in 2002. Sears recalls, “It was under his leadership that we began a capital campaign for a new building.”

Stephan Locke served as senior warden of the Church of Our Saviour during the two years it was without full-time clergy. “It changed my perception about everything. I pictured a church as a building. Now I know that a church is a gathering of the faithful.” Locke gives much credit to Ranay Chula, the long time church secretary. Though not a member of the Episcopal Church, she is a devoted Christian, and Locke credits her as “indispensable” to the life and strength of the congregation.

Everyone is invited to come and worship at the Church of Our Saviour. The Sunday services include Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m and 11 a.m. At 5:30 p.m. each Sunday there is a celebration of the Eucharist in Spanish. There is a Men’s Bible study each Monday at 6:30 p.m. and a Women’s Bible study each Tuesday at 7 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (859) 623-1226. Or you can visit the church’s web site at www.diolex.net/oursaviour.

Advocate Online Staff:

© 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington

The Advocate is mailed free to all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Lexington. The Advocate is published 10 times a year (monthly Sept.-Mid-Summer, bi-monthly Mid-Summer-June, July-Aug.) by the Diocese of Lexington, a non-profit organization.

Additional subscriptions: $10 per year and address changes should be sent to: The Advocate, P.O. Box 610, Lexington, Ky. 40588-0610.
The deadline for submitting articles, photographs, announcements, and letters is the last Friday of the month prior to publication. These should be sent to:
The Advocate, Kay Collier McLaughlin, Ph.D., Editor, P.O. Box 610, Lexington, Ky.
40588-0610 (Kcollierm@diolex.org).

Member: Episcopal Communicators; Associated Church Press Office: The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Lexington, Mission House, 203 East Fourth Street, Lexington, Ky. 40508-1515. For information call (859) 252-6527.

All rights reserved. The Advocate reserves the right to refuse publication and to edit all contributions. Permission required for reprinting.