Good morning,
My name is Charisse Rodgers and I am a cradle Episcopalian. I was Father (now Canon) Casson’s first baptism at St. Matthew’s!
I enjoyed growing up at St. Matthew’s and remained active in Episcopal Church activities even while in college. I picked a college house at the University of Pennsylvania that was close enough to St. Mary’s, Hamilton Village – the Episcopal Church at Penn — that I could hear the church bells when they rang. When I came home on the weekends, I went to St. Matthew’s and remained an active member, even joining the Vestry after I graduated from college.
I left St. Matthew’s and joined the Cathedral Church of St. John prior to the consolidation of St. Matthew’s with St. Andrew’s. Even after leaving, I always felt welcome at SsAM’s activities and regularly attended the adult education sessions that occurred on Sunday mornings. I even led one of the sessions using John Danforth’s book: “Faith and Politics: How the ‘Moral Values’ Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together”.
When the Cathedral closed and I had to pick a new church, it was easy to come back to SsAM since my mother, Marion E. Gibbs, and grandmother, Juanita Gibbs, were still members of SsAM and I had remained involved with SsAM even while at the Cathedral.
I have always enjoyed meeting and getting to know the members and visitors at SsAM and am grateful for the many opportunities I have received as a member of SsAM including serving on the Diocesan Nominating Committee, Diocesan Council, Diocesan Program Committee, as an alternate delegate to General Convention, and as a member of SsAM’s Finance Committee. I have always valued the three legs of the Episcopal stool — Scripture, Tradition and Reason — with each leg of the stool contributing equally to our balanced approach as a church.
—Charisse Rodgers
As of January 27, 2023…
… 116 pledges had been made for 2023, two more than were made the previous year! To make a pledge, click here.
Other Stewardship Posts
Click here to see more witnesses by SsAM members.
