Grace Episcopal Church of St. George calls new rector
The Independent
Grace Episcopal Church of St. George is pleased to welcome The Reverend Timothy D. Raasch as the new rector. Father Timothy comes to Grace with 30 years of experience as an ordained Episcopal priest, most recently serving at Christ Episcopal Church in Kensington, Maryland. A California native and graduate of UC Davis in religious studies, he attended seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and was ordained in 1984.
Father Timothy will begin his rectorship on Sunday, May 24, celebrating and preaching at the 10:30 a.m. worship service. All are welcome to attend this service to meet Father Timothy and extend well wishes to him at his new church and to St. George. A luncheon will follow the service.
“The members of our review committee and vestry were impressed by Tim’s energy and enthusiasm, his spirituality and love of people, and the variety and depth of his experience,” said senior warden Linda Watt. “He combines intellect and faith in a beautiful and expansive way that invites people to walk the way of Jesus. We feel he will be appreciated by our entire congregation and will help us reach out to newcomers and others in our community.”
In a letter to the members of Grace Episcopal Church, Father Timothy expressed his feelings for his new calling.
“I’m excited and thrilled to walk a journey of faith with the good people of Grace Church! Many depths of emotion are stirred up by this call—and much silence and gratitude. I think more and more of us come to worship looking not for Church but for an experience of Kingdom—a new consciousness and new way of thinking and feeling, seeing and hearing, being and becoming grounded in justice, compassion and mystery. A call to Kingdom is finally not about you or me, it’s about loving God and neighbor in all times and all places.”
Father Timothy’s formal installation will be held at Grace Episcopal Church at a date still to be determined and will be officiated by The Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, Bishop of the Diocese of Utah.
Grace Episcopal Church is a reconciling, affirming, and inclusive Christian community striving to welcome all people through worship, love, and service. The Church has discerned that “grace in action” is to be committed to three primary ministries: feeding the hungry, welcoming the marginalized, and stewardship of the resources of the earth.
Grace Episcopal Church is located at 1072 East 900 South in St. George. For those who are familiar with Grace’s schedule of worship, please note that there will not be a worship service on Saturday evening, May 23. Full information on dates and times of services, program offerings for women, men, and children, and community outreach ministries can be found at http://gracestgeorge.org. For more information, please contact Carolyn Barnett, parish office administrator, at (435) 628-1181 or via email at [email protected].
