Fall 2012

Too dry this summer and now its pouring with warm rain fresh from the southern states. Puddling around in the mud or the dry earth has a wholesome, focused and consuming quality. The garden is always astonishing, to all our senses; and then there’s the joy of eating the fruits of our labor. Since we are of the earth it’s perhaps not surprising that the garden represents a microcosm of our human existence and the miracle of God’s creativity; how does a tiny, seemingly indistinguishable seed turn into a carrot or beet or tomato of such glorious taste except by the gift of God in its DNA, nurtured by us and the sun and rain. Maybe it’s not surprising that doctors in the UK are prescribing gardening as a route to greater health and wholeness! Maggie Durran

Over 20 years after being abandoned, the derelict Rowhouses on Spring Street just opposite our property were finally torn down, clearing the way for the growing community enterprise, Spring Street Farm, organized by Companion and Rowhouse tenant Dean Baldwin, working through the Uncommon Grounds Café. In addition to the beginnings of fruits and veggies, there is a fledgling bee colony on the farm. The farm will continue under new leadership as Dean moves on to a full-time position at Edgewood Children’s Ranch in Orlando, Florida. Before After

James and Maggie planting a Service Berry tree, a flowering tree with edible berries, native to Pennsylvania.

Dean at the farm, All Saints’ House, Celebration office in the background

After spending last winter in Texas as a “snow bird” Mary von Minden came back to Aliquippa in the spring and is pictured with her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Mike Lee (with James) celebrating her birthday in September. 89 years young!

Pastor Hyungwon Kim and his wife, Sunkyu Kang spent time with us in September. They are embarking on an expression of intentional community in conjunction with their urban church, Hanaui Church, in Seoul, Korea.

Icon: The Annunciation A second icon by Pittsburgh iconographer Randi Sider-Rose is added to our collection, with special focus on Advent.

James’ New Year got off to an unusual start with a fall that resulted in a broken ankle, surgery, and 3 months of rehabilitation. He has made a good recovery and is now back in the garden.

In May, Mimi and Bill were in Millport, Scotland, to share worship leadership at a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Patricia Allen, former Community member who died last year. Many friends from as far away as Sweden, Germany, and even Dubai gathered at the Cathedral of the Isles to celebrate. A commemorative CD of Patricia’s music “The Snare Is Broken” was produced to mark the occasion. It is available from Celebration’s website.

St. Mark’s gospel is the first written gospel and, as such, the most bare bones, even “raw” telling of the Jesus story. After introducing the gospel, we will explore the Evangelist’s view of discipleship as it relates to Jesus’ radical teaching about the individual’s life in community. What does it mean for our wallets, bodies and family life to be called a disciple?

Bonnie has written or edited 17 theological books and many articles, has contributed to reference works in New Testament and taught at the university level for 30 years. In 2002 she resigned from a NT chair and professorship at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and lives as a solitary near Wheeling, WV.

Annual Conference June 21 - 23, 2013 The Practice of Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark

Steven began his Christian journey at a very young age by attending Sunday School at one of the many Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) churches in Glasgow, Scotland.

After a few years gap, he was recruited to the local Methodist Church by a school friend and became involved in The Order of Saint Andrew. Working his way through the various Sunday School Departments, he soon became a Sunday School teacher, youth club leader, and Local (Lay) preacher, eventually conducting worship services in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

His calling with May and their children, Stephanie and Christopher, to the Community of Celebration was some years later in 1981 when they all moved to Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. There May worked in the bakery and Steven served as office manager, covering the phones, mail, and showing visitors around the Cathedral.

In 1986 the call to ordained ministry was confirmed by the Community’s Chapter and he was ordained Deacon in the Scottish Episcopal Church at St. John’s Cathedral in Oban, followed by ordination to the Priesthood in 1992 at All Saints’ Church in Aliquippa. He maintains his canonical residence in the Scottish Episcopal Church and presently serves as part-time clergy at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church , Steubenville, OH.

A celebratory jig at the dedication of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit

Chaplaincy programs seem to be the door the Lord has been opening from the time of his immigration to Aliquippa, serving with organizations such as the Aliquippa Police, Fire Department and City staff; the FBI Office and Federal Air Marshals in Pittsburgh; the Civil Air Patrol of Beaver County. Steven is grateful to share God’s love in service to these agencies.