Fr. Bob Anthony, Interim Priest

The Reverend Robert Anthony was recently called by St. Peter’s Vestry to be our Interim Rector.
Father Bob has been an Episcopal priest for forty three years, serving parishes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, most recently as interim vicar of St. Ann’s-By-the-Sea on Block Island, where his term ended in mid-August.

He is involved in Diocesan work in Rhode Island and currently a chaplain of the C.O.M.M. fire department. Personal interests include sailing, tennis, golf, music (he’s a member of the Chatham Chorale), creative writing, and model railroading. He lives with his wife
Mary Ann in Centerville. They have two sons and four lovely grandchildren.

From our Interim Rector, Rev. Robert Anthony

I am looking for a number of parishioners to share and extend the ministry of intercessory prayer here at St. Peter’s Church. Called the “Circle of Prayer”, a group of volunteers, at home each day, agree to pray for a discreet list of people provided each week through the mail or at church.

It is a comfort to people to know that they are enveloped each day, not only by the clergy, but by others who actively raise names (even just the first names) of persons needing our daily thoughts and energy. Intercessory prayer is, of course, at the heart of the church and is clearly part of the commission given all Christians by our Lord.

As I am getting to know many of you, if you would like me to make a home visit at your convenience, please let me know. I’ll be glad to call you and arrange a time soon.

Please call the parish office or speak to Fr. Bob soon so that we can activate the “Circle of Prayer”.

Rev. Russell H. Allen, Associate

The important fact about Russell Allen personally is that his greatest joy is to walk along an ocean beach or watch the sunset across Cape Cod Bay with Louisa, his wife of 38 years and a Hospice nurse, talking about music, sports, ideas and issues; or what we have recently read, with his son, Joshua, 34, who with his wife Rebecca and newborn son, Luke, lives and works in Boston, or spending a day with his married daughter, Dr. Erica Gelven, 36, her husband, Marc, a Trooper in the Connecticut State Police and their two daughters, Rachel, 4 and Sara who is 18 months old. A warm afternoon spent on the beach, a winter day on cross country skis, a new science fiction movie or a novel or humor collection by one of his eclectic group of favorite authors, all number among his renewing activities.

Academically, Russ is a graduate of Bard College (1965) and the General Theological Seminary (1968) and received his MA in History from Northern Michigan University (1990). More recently, he participated in courses on intellectual history of the Christian Church's involvement with society and its issues, and more recently, the religious aspects of the American Civil War and of Abraham Lincoln and other people involved in that period. He has written several book reviews and conducted research on an article examining Episcopal clergy who were spies during the Civil War. He is also interested in Mark Twain (and his pastor/friend, Joseph Twitchell) and the writing of fiction, especially short stories.

Russ is rooted spiritually in the Episcopal Church as that has changed over the past half-century. He was raised in the Episcopal Church and found support for his educational and personal development in his local congregation. From this experience, came a sense of gratitude with an awareness of living in the presence of God. Traditionally rooted yet often reexamined, his spiritual journey to an unknown destination has contained many stops, each one of which he has sought to experience fully before moving on. He manifests his Christian vocation as a person, husband, father, priest, student and member of the human community.

Professionally, Russ has retired having led mission and parish congregations in rural, suburban and urban areas in New England and the Mid-West and after serving in academic ministries in Connecticut, West Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin. He has also participated in the oversight of ecumenical and judicatory ministry in higher education and served as the Chaplin of the Clinton Police and Volunteer Departments. He now assists at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Osterville, MA, having relocated to Harwich on Cape Cod, where both he and Louisa will continue their current careers and explore new activities before finally officially retiring.

Rev. Doctor Eugene Goetchius, Associate

Dr.Goetchius taught Greek at Episcopal Divinity School for many years. He earned two PhDs, two Masters Degrees and two Bachelor's Degrees. He is the author of many books and is now coordinating the adult education curriculum.

Rev.Paul Thompson,Interim Associate

Born in Spartanburg, S.C., Paul and his mother were active members of the Presbyterian church there until they moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and were both attracted to the Episcopal Church. Attending Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., Paul felt drawn to the ordained ministry and after graduation in 1958 attended the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA., where he graduated with an M. Div. in 1962.

In his final year at ETS he met “Bunny” (Sallie) McClenahan, who was working as a medical secretary at Massachusetts General Hospital. After their marriage in 1963, Bunny joined him in Mississippi where Paul had begun his ministry. In the next several years he served congregations in the Mississippi Delta, where he and Bunny shared the challenges and excitement of the Civil Rights movement.

After a year of study at Oxford University, Paul became vicar of a small mission congregation in Bowie, Maryland, in the Diocese of Washington.  Located in a “mixed” neighborhood, St. James had a strong social ministry to its surroundings, as well as a positive Eucharistic attraction within the wider community. During the “Bowie years”, Sallie and Ian were adopted and Paul and Bunny entered the joyful role of parenthood.  Sallie was 5 years old and Ian a year old when Paul was called to become rector of St. Michael’s, Brattleboro, VT  in 1974.

The 70’s were years of great challenge and change for the Episcopal Church  - ordination of women, new Prayer Book, new Hymnal etc. – but with great spirit and faith St. Michael’s thrived as a congregation. Paul and Bunny shared the  joys and travail of walking with Sallie and Ian on their journey of change and growth into young adulthood.

When their children were old enough, Bunny went back to work in her chosen medical secretary field. She worked at Eden Park Nursing Home in Brattleboro for 19 years.

Over the years, Paul was deeply involved both in the life of his community and in the life of the Diocese. Local highlights were: The Brattleboro Hockey Association, the Brattleboro Union High School Board, the Alana Community Action Organization  and the Brattleboro Area Clergy Association.  Diocesan highlights include: involvement with Diocesan Council, the Bishop Booth Conference Center, Brookhaven Home for Boys, the Clergy Compensation and Communications Committees, the clergy and laity of the S.E. Deanery and the Vermont Episcopal Cursillo.  He and Bunny especially enjoyed working together on Cursillo weekends and participating in the annual Province I Conferences at the Mont Marie Center in Holyoke, MA.

After 24 years as Rector of St. Michael’s, Paul retired and they moved to their home in Cummaquid in 1998.  It didn’t take long for Bunny to plug back into the work force as a part-time medical secretary and Paul found part time ministry in several Cape parishes, finally being called to be the “junior” associate at St. Peter’s, Osterville.

Paul continues to find nurture in gardening, reading, cooking, Celtic studies and involvement with things Scottish. Other interests include participating in the Osterville Men’s Club, the Highland Light Scottish Society and working with Bunny on the Board of Opera New England of Cape Cod. He and Bunny delight in their Scottie, “MacTavish” and white cat “Sophie”, as well as in their family and friends and in their church relationships old and new.

A Message from our Interim Rector

"The Autumnal Paradox”

Weather-wise, it has certainly been a wonderful summer, though now we begin my favorite time
of year-- “fall” -- as it is called. Sweaters come out of storage. The old (and worn) Harris Tweed
jacket that I bought years ago at Puritan’s in Hyannis comes out of the attic, looking just as good as ever! We all appreciate the magnificent colors of fall foliage, the crisp cool air, the hope that we won’t have to mow or water the lawn so much.

However, within the joy and “upside” of autumn there is a deep paradox, a “downside.” For just as
we begin a new year at school and certainly in church when we gather and empower parish ministries for a busy year of service, we realize as the days get shorter and sunsets come earlier, that autumn is profoundly a time of dying and diminishment. Leaves fall and clutter lawns and sidewalks. Roses so responsive in bloom to cooler weather will soon need to be cut back, mulched and even covered to withstand winter. Trees appear to lose their charm though now we can better appreciate the strength and beauty of branches and cross arms in their nakedness.

We also sense within the inevitable cycle of growth and decline each year that there is a “deep
within the sod” the powers of rejuvenation and resurrection already at work though largely unseen.

This fact came home to me a half-century ago, when in the depths of winter over at Lake Wequaquet, in February, my aged grandfather and “little” me were cutting wood. I was not happy at all; it was freezing and though I enjoyed the companionship, I didn’t like the work and cold feet, gnawing at me. Finally, I blurted out my discontent with “WINTER.” “It isn’t winter, Bobby,” my grandfather chirped, “it’s springtime!” “Springtime in February?” I gasped out loud, wondering if grandpa, well nigh 90 had lost his senses. “Sure it is and I’ll prove it,” he exclaimed, beckoning me over to a nearby, stately beech tree. Slowly, carefully, with his gnarled hands, he broke off a leaf from the beach tree and carefully unrolled it to its full extent. “See, that is a leaf; it’s always
springtime,” he concluded. Lesson learned and that, by way of allegory, is the way we can regard our life and our faith in a loving, provident God who stands by His promises of hope, renewal and newness of life amidst all our uncertainties, fears and concerns.

Yours faithfully,

The Rev’d Robert W. Anthony
Interim Priest