Redeemer Review
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
A caring community offering opportunities for spiritual growth
by knowing, loving and serving God through each other
June, 2005
FROM THE VICAR
My days at the moment are full of remembering Gil Taylor. Sallie Garbarino sent me a copy of a note she sent to
Mollie that expresses it so well:
Dear Mollie;
How can we convey to you how much we thought of you and Gil? We had been members of our Church for
a while and I was working as an Altar Guild person when in came a very energetic man ready to take over.
(I thought WOW! we really need a man.) And take over he did. When Gil was there, all was in order. This
man of yours was a Pillar of our Church. He was part of everything going of in the Church, You were our
idea of the perfect couple, Gil will always stay in our minds along with Asa Churchill, Charlie Neal, and
John Westmoreland as one who keeps the engines running.
We love you Mollie and wish you much love and peace.
Sally & Joe Garbarino
Sam Fletcher, himself a master builder, recalls how when he and Gil were parishioners at Our Savior in Mill Valley,
Gil organized fundraising efforts to purchase a rectory for the Hammonds, rebuild the old Our Savior as a new,
modern church, and get them a new organ. “He was always doing something for the church,” Sam reminisced.
With Gil’s homegoing to God, I pause also to reflect on how important the ministry of elders is to all of us. Having
lived through time, elders bring a perspective, a breadth and a grace to life that is often elusive during the more
hectic years of householding and career building. They’ve lived long enough to see the dreams and challenges of
their times come to fruition or frustration. As frailty becomes a fact of life, they discover a new kind of strength
and become living examples of the interconnected web of life. The loss of short-term memory often gives birth to
incredible historical perspective. They’ve kept a faith. Only in the United States with our frantic need to possess
eternal youth have we lost sight of the wisdom and wonder of age and the privilege of being a caregiver to those
we love as they journey toward life’s end. Fortunately, since we are built on a foundation of ages, nations and
sages, the Church knows better. Nowhere is this truer than at Redeemer. I’ve served in five different churches. I’ve
known elders who were magnificent characters, splendid orators, divine eccentrics, but it wasn’t until I arrived at
Redeemer that I met elders who had the time, the patience and the love to be my teachers. In worship, in Bible
study, in walking the grounds and telling the history of the community, our elder generation has shown themselves
to be deeply people of God. Thank you.
Blessings,
UPDATES – we are updating the Parish Directory and list of Birthdays and Anniversaries..
Help us to recognize your special days and communicate with you readily.
Please check the sheets at the church – or send any changes or additions to: sueclarkca@aol.com
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