Spring 2008

This year’s early Easter meant we were seeing only the first glimmer of spring bulbs as we celebrated the glory of resurrection. But even as we recalled all our alleluias, we learned that Granville Hawkes, a former member and longtime Companion of the Community, died at the ripe old age of 79. We remember the joys and sorrows we have shared with him, Sylvia, Rachel and Martyn, but mostly the music, the laughter and so many stories of our living together in Wargrave, England. Daily tasks pick up pace with Spring in the air: uncovering the grounds from the winter detritus of fallen leaves, preparing guest spaces, completing renovations in time to house summer ministry teams, booking summer guests and conference visitors. And, of course, preparing the Earth Oven for summer activity. But the common round of daily liturgies is what forms us, shapes the clay of our ordinary lives into the vessels that deliver grace. Thank God for everyday nurture.

We rejoice with Norman and Deb Erb-White, Companions and members of our Saturday congregation, at Norman’s ordination to the priesthood. Celebration provided worship leadership for the service at Church of the Atonement, Carnegie.

UK News Phil and Margaret Bradshaw are planning to join us for the annual conference in June. It is several years now since they were able to visit at this time of year, and they are looking forward to meeting up with old friends. Since Margaret joined the pastoral team at their home church in England, they have had a variety of parish commitments to keep them busy. Many people around the world continue to connect to them through their UK Celebration website. Recently there was an opportunity to meet old Community friends at the 90th birthday party of Ken Ramsay, a former member of the Community in the days when it was based in the UK.

Granville Hawkes, 1929 - 2008 Granville Hawkes attended the first ministry conference of Graham Pulkingham and Bill Farra in England in 1971. He went home and told his wife Sylvia, “This is it!” It was before the Fisherfolk got their name and before the UK community formed, before most anything. When the time came a couple of years later the family sold their home and moved to Yeldall Manor and the rich cacophony of the fledgling community. For most of the years since, Granville worked for St. Mary’s Church in Wargrave as a lay minister, living in the school house and acting as Parish Secretary and succeeding Gary Miles as church organist. Until last year when his immobility became too great, Granville and Sylvia spent many summers here with us on Franklin Avenue.

AIM (Aliquippa Impact Ministry) AIM has grown from small beginnings just a couple of years ago. (Fall 2006) It’s about young adults helping the children in the poorest parts of our city have a chance in life. The most effective and perhaps the only effective method of developing hope is through education and mentoring. The one-to-one relationship between at-risk children and selected mentors brings engagement and experience that is otherwise impossible; they meet people with jobs, aspirations, motivation, life-balance, and stability and realize that these same qualities are within their reach as they grow. During the summer, an intensive 8-week program has tackled literacy, world education and arts. Volunteer workers are recruited – this year two programs will be running simultaneously in different areas. Several permanent team members already live in Celebration’s row houses and one of the summer teams will be moving into our last vacant row house at the end of May. Life will undoubtedly be busy but refreshingly lively!

Joe Beckey has moved into the ground floor in 813 Franklin Avenue. When ones knees are no longer what they were, the stairs of our row houses are a serious challenge. At 813 the small rear extension allowed for remodeling the ground floor to be a self-contained apartment, neatly fitting shower/bathroom, kitchen/laundry, dining/lounge and bedroom that allows Joe to be a single story dweller. Sylvia and Granville, Summer 2006

We are pleased that Abbot Andrew Marr, OSB, from St. Gregory’s Abbey, Three Rivers, Michigan, has agreed to be the Community’s Spiritual Advisor. We are grateful to The Rev. Daphne Grimes who served us in that capacity for many years.

Lisa Tegby and Lars-Gunnar Frisk stopped by for a few days during their recent visit to the States. Lisa, a priest in the Church of Sweden, lived with the Community in the early days in Scotland.

Companion and Bookkeeper Dennis Wilson is recovering nicely after 3-way bypass surgery to remedy major arterial blockage, before suffering any heart damage. We all await his return to Celebration’s financial desk.

Joe grew up in Iowa and spent his first 18 years as an active member of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as an altar boy for 12 years and singing in the choir. During the 13 years after high school he bounced from 2 years in junior college to 4 years in the Air Force, back to college, then another 2 years as part of a Vaudeville Tent Theatre Troupe touring the Mid-west, and finally as a lounge singer and bar manager before returning to his hometown of Muscatine to pursue a career as a commercial printer.

In the late ’80s Joe started attending an Episcopal Church because he and the rector were part of a music group. After years of heavy drinking, Joe sought help from the rector, and in November, 1990, he joined AA and has been sober for the past 18 years. In 1996 Joe was confirmed by Iowa’s bishop, Christopher Epting—now the Community’s Visitor. During the service, Joe responded to Bishop Epting’s invitation to the congregation to come for prayer and laying on of hands. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and knew he wanted to serve God with everything he had.

Joe’s rector knew of the Community of Celebration and its emphasis on worship and music, and thought it might be a good fit for him. Two visits to Celebration and three years later, Joe joined the Community in 2000 and made his life vows in 2004. He currently serves as office receptionist, Saturday night worship leader, handles CD production and retail mail orders, and is a member of the GOAL Board (Global Outreach for Addiction Leadership).