A wonderful and exciting tradition has been going on among the Episcopal Churches of All Saints in Union, Church of the Incarnation, St. James in Lewisburg and St. Thomas in White Sulphur Springs for the past eight years when a fifth Sunday occurs in a month. The late Father Keith Butler who was the Missioner of the churches in White Sulphur Springs and Ronceverte started this celebration approximately eight years ago.
It was begun to foster relationships among the parishioners and it has indeed accomplished this over the years. The lasting friendships are so very rich and rewarding. The fifth Sunday services rotate among the parish churches except for the Church of the Incarnation in Ronceverte because the nave and parish hall are too small. Two families of Incarnation offer their homes for the service. One is the Greenbrier River front home of Rachel and John Williamson and the home of Shelia and Charlie Callison.
Over a 100 Episcopalians gathered on Sept. 29 at the bucolic setting of the home of the Callisons. Lunch is always a delightful potluck under tents on expansive lawns.
The histories of these congregations date from the 1800s and because all are small, they are blessed to be able to gather in one place several times per year to enjoy worship and fellowship. These are the only churches in the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia who presently come together to worship consistently on a 5th Sunday.
The Episcopal Church is open, inclusive and welcomes all to worship with us at St. James in Union at 10 a.m., St. James in Lewisburg at 8 and 10:30 a.m., Incarnation in Ronceverte at 9 a.m. and St. Thomas in White Sulphur Springs at 11 a.m.
