Dear
Parishioners and Friends of St. Ann’s By-the-Sea,
We
have joyful news indeed!
Bishop
Wolf has appointed The Rev. Daniel W. Barker as Priest-in-Charge
at
St. Ann
’s
By-the-Sea. A letter of agreement between The Rev. Barker and our
mission was signed at the end of January, and we now prepare to
welcome Dan and his wife, Meg, to commence their ministry among
us. Dan’s first Sunday here will be April 6, the second Sunday
after Easter.
Dan’s
appointment comes after an extensive interview process with Bishop
Wolf and Deployment Officer Betsy Fornal. The Bishop and Betsy are
very excited that Dan and Meg were interested in, and have
accepted, ministry with us on
Block
Island
. Dan’s gifts and experience are a great fit
for
St. Ann
’s and, as
the Bishop and Betsy have agreed, “seem to be just what is
needed at this time to gather you as community and to move
forward.”
We welcomed the Barkers to
St. Ann
’s on the
weekend of January 12-13. They attended the potluck hosted by
Doris and Herman Hassinger, and Dan celebrated the Eucharist at
St. Ann
’s. The
Transition Team met with Dan and Meg on Sunday afternoon; later
that day, due to weather, the Barkers had to return to the
mainland. We had short notice of their visit, due to Dan’s busy
schedule at his own parish.
Dan
is currently rector at St. David’s in
Agawam
,
Massachusetts
. He has
served St. David’s first as priest-in-charge and then as a
rector, for four years. He feels that St. David’s is ready for
newer, younger leadership, and he is planning to retire in
October. Dan would like to continue an active ministry in
retirement; he has lots of energy, and has specialized in parishes
in transition. He and Meg both feel that
St. Ann
’s By-the-Sea is the door that was opened to them.
One opener of
that door was The Rev. Bob Anthony, who has spent much time among
us and knows us well. It was he who first told Dan about
St.
Ann
’s, and suggested that Dan
might initiate a discussion with Bishop Wolf.
Dan has also
worked with The Rt. Rev. David Joslin, who has spent much time at
St.
Ann
’s and who confirmed our
Confirmation Class members last June 17th here on the
Island
.
We share
Bishop Wolf’s sense of excitement and anticipation at Dan and
Meg’s ministry here, and we look forward to welcoming them in
every way that we can, as they meet our
St.
Ann
’s community and become part
of the larger
Block Island
community as well.
In
peace and thankfulness for God’s grace among us,
St.
Ann
’s By-the-Sea Transition Team
Fran Migliaccio, Chair; Barbara MacMullan,
Treasurer; Al Starr, Sue Black, Theresa Sisto, N
