Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2012 Issue | Page 29

RESURRECTION MAINSTAY RETIRES
KAT TURNER

In the liturgy for Holy Baptism, the celebrant asks the question, “Will
you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these
persons in their life in Christ?” and the congregation answers, “We
will.” At Church of the Resurrection, Alexandria, no one has taken this
commitment to the newly baptized more seriously than Emily Ewing,
who has been a mainstay of the church school for 32 years.

Like many Sunday School teachers,
Ewing got involved when her own
children were young enough to be
students, and the rector asked her to
become a teacher. “You didn’t say no
to Jim Green!” said Ewing. But unlike
other teachers who moved on when
their children grew older, Ewing stayed
on. “I enjoyed the kids,” said Ewing. “I
loved working with them. I probably
learned more from them than they
learned from me.”

Peggy Tiedemann, who taught
with Ewing in the 1980s, remembers
her dedication. Gay Colyer, a current
teacher colleague, is impressed by
how Ewing is able to gently guide her
charges when the children join the
congregation for the Eucharist. “She
always manages to help them learn
the right way to do things in church,”
said Colyer