Verger Installation in Essex, CT January 30, 2011

Richard F. Lammlin was installed as Verger of St. John's Church in Essex, CTon Sunday January, 30, 2011 at the Holy Eucharist beginning at 10:45am.

A reception immediately followed the service. Vergers were invited to attend and vest to take part in the processional. Please contact Richard at 860.759.4436 or[email protected] for more information.

Vergers Celebrate Mikrut Installation at Philadelphia Cathedral

Robert Mikrut was installed as Cathedral Verger and as Diocesan Verger for the Diocese of Pennsylvania on Sunday November 14, 2010. The installation was part of the Solemn Choral Evensong lead by the Youth Chamber/Tour Choir of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA.

Vergers from the VGEC in attendance included Sandy Burrell, Bart Evans, Patrick Mulhall, Kate Pendzuk, Eric Petersen, Scott Smith, John Townsend, and Richard Walther.

According to the Very Rev. Judith A. Sullivan, Dean of the Cathedral, “Bob’s ministry among us is a great blessing. We are so fortunate and thankful that God has led him to this service at the Cathedral.”

St. John’s, Robertsdale Installs New Verger

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama

On Sunday, October 24, John Loeffler was installed as Verger at St. John the Evangelist, Robertsdale.

George Campbell,who retired as Verger last year, passed the Verge to John in a special ceramony during the church service.

See the article at The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast web site.

Three Vergers Installed at Saint Paul et Les Martyrs d'Haiti Episcopal Church, Miami, Florida

Saint Paul et Les Martyrs d'Haiti Episcopal Church, Miami FL, in the Diocese of Southeast Florida celebrated the birth of their verger's ministry on October 24, 2010, with the installation of three vergers. The new vergers are Oslyne Gaston,Gregory Seme, and Armide Bastien.

An online photo album of the service of installation is located here.

 

Other vergers in attendance were Paul Dexter, Trinity Cathedral Verger; Harold Meadows, Verger Instructor, Raleigh K. Rollason Convocation of Vergers, Diocese of Southeast Florida and verger at St. Agnes, Miami; and Char Vinik, President, Raleigh K. Rollason Convocation of Vergers, Diocese of Southeast Florida and Head Verger, St. Gregory's, Boca Raton.

The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church celebrates the new ministry of these three vergers in the Diocese of Southeast Florida.

2010 National Eucharist and Conference held in Washington, DC

The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church gathered for the 2010 annual conference and Eucharist on Thursday October 7th through Sunday October 10th at National Cathedral in Washington, DC. This was the 23rd annual meeting of the Guild since its founding in 1989.

Over 150 people attended the conference and it was held in conjunction with the National Acolyte Festival also being hosted by the National Cathedral during the same weekend.

Complete information is available online atwww.vergers.org/conference/2010 including links to photos, conference videos, and several presentations and other conference materials.

Summer 2010 Verger's Voice is hot off the press

The summer edition of the Verger's Voice newsletter is now available. Over two thousand copies were mailed to VGEC members, bishops, and rectors across the USA and around the world.

Contents include:

Join us for the 2010 Conference of the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church

Message from the Guild President

The VGEC Board Meeting in April in Washington, DC

Results of the Spring VGEC Online Survey

New on www.vergers.org

Board Elections and Appointments at the Annual Conference

VGEC Membership Update

Chapter Report

From the Verger’s Voice Archives

From the Training Registrar

CEGV – Vergers in the Church of England

If you would like to receive copies of the Verger's Voice in the mail, please join the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church today. 

An online copy is also available at www.vergers.org/resources/newsletters.

Bill Swinford Honored in Lexington, Kentucky

C. W. "Bill" Swinford, retired from his ministry as a Verger on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Bill had served Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky for ten years. For the past six years, he has been responsible for recruiting, training, and scheduling lectors and intercessors.

Bill and his wife Anne plan to do some extra traveling now that they have an "empty nest."

 

Bill received a clock as a remembrance of his time served and also as a reminder of the time he now has to pursue other interests! 

Verger Invested at St. Bartholomew's Hempstead, Texas

Susan Lafitte was invested as the first Verger at St. Bartholomew's parish in Hempstead, Texas on Sunday June 27th at 10am. Dick Evans, the president of the Mace Chapter of the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church and Dick Johnson, Susan's mentor from Trinity Episcopal Churchin The Woodlands, Texas assisted with the investiture service.

According to Mr. Johnson, "Having been Acolyte Warden and a licensed LEM, Susan is prepared to do a great job as Verger for the Rector and people of St. Bartholomew's. We look very much enjoyed taking part in the service and celebration in Hempstead."

Please contact Dick Johnson at [email protected] for more information.

Verger Leads President Obama at National Cathedral

National Cathedral Head Verger, Duke DuTeil, leads President Obama during the Memorial Service

for civil and women’s rights leader Dorothy Height. Source: The New York Times

Vergers Honored at St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville

On June 1, 2010, Sheila and Tom Burrell retired as members of the Vergers’ Guild of St. John’s Cathedral and the VGEC. Both were charter members of the VGSJC and were installed as Vergers in 1995 by Dean Gus Welseck.

 

The Burrells recently recalled that In 1994, when they were asked by a member of the Cathedral if they would like to be Vergers, their response was, “What is a Verger?” They were given a pamphlet and started right away,

 

That summer the Burrells, along with 13 other new Vergers attended the National Verger’s Guild Conference in Clearwater, Florida. Over the years they trained and mentored Vergers, Acolytes, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers. The Burrells enjoyed their years in the various servant ministries and have found them to be challenging, meaningful, joyful, and deeply spiritual.

 

According to Kirk Altman, Head Verger of St. John's, "We wish to honor and celebrate their sixteen years as Vergers of  St. John’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Florida and we are grateful for their dedicated service." A special service was held in their honor on June 6, 2010.

Trinity Episcopal Church in Wheaton, Illinois Mourns Verger Russ Fox

Russell C. "Russ" Fox, a long-time member and friend of the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church died on Monday February 22, 2010 at his home in Wheaton, IL following a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 91. Russ has been a member of the Guild since 1999 and has attended many Guild conferences and meetings over the years.

According to the family, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in July of this year and his last activities as a verger were in September before he went into treatment.

A memorial service celebrating his life is planned for Saturday March 20, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. atTrinity Episcopal Church, 130 N. West Street, Wheaton, IL 60187. Interment will be in Trinity's columbarium. Contributions in his memory may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church with the notation "Russ Fox Memorial Fund."

May he rest in peace from his labors.

2010 Vergers' Guild conference details and online registration are now available

The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church will gather for the 2010 annual conference and Eucharist on Thursday October 7th through Sunday October 10th at National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

This will be the 22^nd year that the Guild will come together for fellowship, training, business, and worship and we will be hosted and coordinated this year by Cathedral Head Verger Duke DuTeil and his wonderful staff and volunteers. This year's event will coincide with the National Acolyte Festival held annually at the Cathedral. This is a wonderful and festive celebration and re-dedication of Acolytes from around the country. This certainly will be a Vergers' Guild weekend not to be missed!.

Online registration is available at the Washington National Cathedral ticket office using Visa or MasterCard.

Complete information is available at www.vergers.org/conference/2010.

Support for our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti

In an effort to provide support and assistance to our brothers and sisters in Haiti, the Board of the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church has approved a contribution $500 to the Episcopal Relief and Development's Haiti Relief Fund.

This gift exemplifies one of the stated purposes of our organization, which is "...to be open to the needs and concerns of the laity." As ours is a ministry of service and hospitality, we are deeply saddened by the devastation that has occurred. Our prayers are with all of the people in Haiti, their families abroad, and with the many relief workers already on the ground.

The Guild hopes that all its members will find a way to contribute to this great need.

John Borland dies in North Dakota at age 65

John Borland, a Verger at Gethsemane Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota and member of the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church, died on January 9, 2010. He had became ill suddenly and died while undergoing emergency surgery.

For additional information, please contact:

Chris Golding, Head Verger
Gethsemane Cathedral
3600 25th Street South

Fargo, ND 58104-6861 

(701) 232-3394 

[email protected]

January 4, 2010 - vergers.org gets facelift

The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church celebrated the start of the second decade of the twenty-first century with the launch of their brand new web site at www.vergers.org.

According to Scott Smith, Guild Web Master, "This is a significant step forward for the Guild's communication abilities from where we have been in the past. Along with our new V-Happenings e-mail news distribution service, the new site will keep our membership and interested parties up to date about Guild activities in a timely, informative, and fun way." The new site has a new "Guild Shoppe Online Store" that features many products and services from the Guild that were previously unavailable for purchase online.

Guild President Margaret McLarty added, "The new web site brings a fresh face to the Vergers' Guild as we enter the new year. We have added some pretty innovative features to the site like V-Happenings and our new VergerTV video service on YouTube. Also, we have added a 2010 online membership map that shows our growing numbers as our total membership approaches 1,000 members."

In addition, all site content has been updated and re-edited for accuracy to be aligned with the current nature of the Vergers' Guild.

The Guild joins their sister organization The Church of England Guild of Vergers who last fall launched their new site as well at www.cofegv.org.uk.