Your Anglican Church Body Affiliation (CofE, TEC, AMiA...) - Leave blank if not applicable

The Episcopal Church of the USA

Your Parish

Ridgefield, CT

Your parish website

http://ststephens-ridgefield.org

Your Anglican 'Species'

Lay person

Your 'Day Job'

Home maker/church volunteer/ gardener

What you do for fun and re-creation?

I garden, mostly for the church, and cook, mostly for my family, and love to meet friends, mostly from my church. I enjoy web surfing, emailing, etc and especially discussing anything and everything with my adult children and my very young grandchildren. I like to go to the beach and enjoy a good English pub...and sharing time over a glass of wine, or beer with friends anywhere, and walking in woods with my husband and little dog. And all the usual things...books, movies, and painting

What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing Anglicans today?

Unity, new thinking, a desire to actually let God make all things new, church seems somewhat moribund and needs fresh liturgies , attracting new members, reading the Bible with an open readyness to think for oneself and not just tow the traditional line, questioning everything. .

What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities for Anglicans today?

Reaching out to those who are marginalized. Sending a new message of faith, hope and love for the world. Being inclusive, strengthening bonds of understanding with other faiths and religions. Spreading a friendlier and more inclusive message everywhere. Equal rights for women, and all genders. A greater care of and for all creation.

What do you want Anglimergent to be? and what other Anglimergent resources, gatherings, activities or events would you find helpful for your ministry?

I am still very unsure what to look for, or hope for! I want to serve God's creation and speak about God and Jesus in newer ways...Im not certain quite how...or what it all looks like....but I do think there is a new way out there, and I want to be part of it. I feel sometimes that the ECUSA is stuck ... the services need to offer new and original ways of worship...I think our Bishops need to wake up, be more in touch and more open to new ways to worship. and be more available and inventive ., I want my church to be a more spiritual, uplifting, worshipful place...and more welcoming to young , and older! questioning minds. I feel stultyfied at this time and so am looking for some way to worship and believe that is in line with newer knowledge and science etc. I hope Anglimergent will show me a way forward, and teach me what is out there and who also feels like I do, and what we can do about it!