Why St David's by Valerie Clapp

WHY ST. DAVID’S: by Valerie Clapp
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The Women of the Episcopal Church
This is my third Episcopal Church. Let me take you back to about forty years ago. After not attending Church for several years, I met a woman at work, her name was Terry, and at lunch one day she announced that she had found a new Church, it was ST. LUKES, in Springfield. Terry invited me to her new Church, which she was really promoting. Well, this conversation went on for about three years.

One Sunday morning while I was sleeping, I heard a man's voice say to me, " VALERIE, GO TO CHURCH TODAY!!!" I shot up in bed, told my Roger what I heard. He said "You better go to Church” This coming from a man who was not religious, never Baptized (I’ll get to that story later ). I called my friend Terry and said that I will be at church today. She told me, I' m in the choir, but I will be watching out for you". I drove to SAINT LUKE'S that morning, sitting by myself, taking in all the new surroundings, and by the end of service I said " I' m home." ST. LUKES was a good church; Fr. Baldwin was the priest in charge at that time. A man so crippled, hard for him to walk, never a cane, never complained. I was there for about 32 years.

THANK YOU, TERRY NUNES! My next Church was SAINT CHRISTOPHERS in Fairview. It was a small and cozy church compared to SAINT LUKE'S. It felt that the church surrounded you with love. The priest at that time was Father Scott Seabury, quite a change from Fr. Baldwin. Scott as he was called, put humor in some of his sermons. Then there was Linda Seabury, that woman is an amazing human being. Not only is she so talented, but she has also mastered every musical instrument, she is kind and loved by all.

THANK YOU, LINDA! Then I met Lin Paquette, one Sunday morning she approached me and asked, " Would you like to join the choir?" I answered, "I don't think I have a good voice" Lin "Oh I think you do. O. K. I'M IN THE CHOIR!!!!!!!! At that time Lin and her husband Dan Paquette, Dixie and Marcel Lauzon were in the choir and I can't remember who else at the time. Then there was the choir director, Pam Bradshaw, born in England, and had the sweetest British accent. This woman could play piano, organ and a couple of other instruments. Pam was a special woman in my life, so talented, kind, funny, a very giving woman. Pam had an accident at church, through no fault of her own, and ended up at a nursing home. She passed months later, and her beloved husband Charles, passed shortly after her. Pam, you will never be forgotten. Love You, always. Lin, Dixie & Val
Now to get back my friends, Lin and Dixie, these women have been in my life for about 8 years. I am so very grateful for their friendship, they are always ready to listen, to help, to support, they are my BEST FRIENDS!!! I am very thankful for the women of SAINT DAVID'S CHURCH. It took a while for them to get to know those women from Chicopee. If memory serves, Carol Fab. (And she is Fabulous!) was the first to greet us. We took our time, getting the lay of the land (Church) and before you knew it, we were working the Dinners, Tag Sales, the Craft Shows and then Coffee hour.

The women of St. David's Church are a special breed. They are always ready to help you with whatever project is at hand. They are kind, magnanimous, talented, generous, grateful, smart, funny, intelligent, wonderful cooks, and excellent bakers. I am impressed with these women. We have a group of women who have joined us dine out every Tuesday, I know how special it is to have friends, good friends. I am blessed!

My best friend of 56 years passed away three years ago; I was devastated. I am thankful for Lin and Dixie who were always there for me. I treasure their friendship. I am impressed with these wonderful women of our Church, where can you go and meet forty- something women, who will turn out to be your friends, listen to your woes, laugh with you, cry with you, be happy for your accomplishments? I did, and the women were at church!
THANK YOU LIN AND DIXIE, LOVE YOU,
And all the people at St. David’s love you too