Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2013 Issue | Page 35

A regular feature in the magazine where Virginia Episcopalians can share their voices. For this issue, we
asked our contributors to respond to one question:

readers’ page

How has the Church Changed Your Life?

Ashley Cameron, Intern for Mission & Outreach, The
Diocese of Virginia

Steve Walker – Senior Warden, past Treasurer and
Historian of Cople Parish

The Church has not necessarily changed my life at a specific point in
time. I have grown up in the Church and therefore it has constantly
been changing and influencing me. First, it has become a second
family and a community that I can always rely on. Second, it has
comforted and supported me in my time of questioning my faith and
God’s role in my life. And with my faith journey being everlasting,
the church will never cease to have a positive impact.

As an amateur historian, I became a parishioner on the 300th
anniversary of the 1706 Yeocomico Church because of my fascination
with a special building. I quickly became an active leader because
the wonderful people of the Northern Neck's Cople Parish in
Westmoreland County became my extended family. I developed
feelings of devotion to Cople's other churches: the 1855 Nomini
Church and the 1895 St. James Church. My rector's sermons inspired
my thinking. The Catechism answered a special question: What is
Grace? Grace is God's favor towards us, unearned and undeserved;
by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts
and strengthens our wills. To me, that says it all. Plus, I am able to
help take care of three beautiful churches, give frequent history
lessons and tours to a variety of visitors, hear thoughtful sermons
and worship in sacred places every Sunday. And Bishop Shannon and
Canon Pat can share with me our mutual 'Roll Tide' enthusiasm.

Paris Ball, Director of Christian Formation and
Shrine Mont Camps
Ever since I was a camper at St. George’s Camp at Shrine Mont, the
Church has shaped my life choices. From my involvement in the
Parish Youth Ministries committee in high school to my joining the
Young Priests Initiative following college, the Church has been an
ever-present part of my journey. And today, it’s my career, too.

Kris Boyd, Grace and Holy Trinity, Richmond

In the photo above, Paris (center) is the director of diocesan
camps at Shrine Mont this past summer. In the photo below,
Paris (center, in red shirt) is a camper at St. George’s at Shrine
Mont in 1990.

From my birth, I have been molded and shaped by the Church. As
a child I felt those promises made by the congregation at baptism.
Sometimes it came from a whack on the back of the head, if I was
talking too much in church. Other times it was felt by the arms of
someone showing me Christ in them. In college, the church was
where I felt loved and accepted. Through my life, I have faced many
trials and tribulations. What I have come to realize over the years
is that these trials have made me a much stronger Christian and
my relationship has grown with God. As I write this I am waiting for
my husband to come out of the recovery room after major surgery.
Today I have been thankful for the many ways that the church and
our church family have held my family up in prayer and support
being a tangible presence of Christ. So the church has not only
changed my life, but it has made me the person whom I am today.

Share your voice with the Reader’s Page. We invite your
thoughts, poems, prayers and artwork in response to a
different subject for each issue. For the Spring issue, we’re
asking our readers: When did you know that you had found a
church home?

Send your responses to Emily Cherry at echerry@
thediocese.net.