Girvin Farewell

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, the entire Mission congregation gathered for a single service at St. Paul's Church, Brant Lake. Following the service, a pot luck lunch and celebration recognized the many talents and contributions of Margaret and Allen Girvin to the life of the Mission.

Since September of 1959 Allen and Margaret Girvin have been a vital part of the Adirondack Mission ministry team. They came to tend to Barry House but in doing so they tended to us. In taking care of Barry House they took care of our parish center and made it a wonderful welcoming place for our meetings, celebrations, and days for prayer.

But it's all bigger than that. Allen has often served as engineer, maintenance man, carpenter and creative consultant for the Adirondack Mission churches. His touch can be see all over the place. Timers for the furnaces, a Paschal Candle holder, a theater for puppet plays and countless other things all testify to Allen's ministry to us.

Margaret has made vestments, shortened vestments, come up with things needed for Christian education programs, served on the altar guild, served as treasurer, and cooked countless food items to help us keep feasts and mark celebrations. This ministry for Allen and Margaret has continued full force since their retirement from Barry House. NO isn't in their vocabulary. Glory isn't a part of their vocabulary, either. Many have no idea how dependent we are upon them.

The time has come for Allen and Margaret to sell their home on Valentine Pond Road and move into an apartment in Glens Falls. There will be many holes to be filled when they leave.

"Personally, Allen and Margaret have served as a support (physical, material, emotional) to me as I have served as priest in the Adirondack Mission that I treasure deeply. There is part of me that wonders if there is survival after they leave." --Fr. Limpert