Cathy Morgan, rest in peace - Rector's Rambling for August 18, 2024

     Yesterday we had the funeral for Cathy Morgan.  Cathy transferred to St. John’s shortly after I arrived, and with the exception of a short stint living in New Jersey, she had been a wonderful and active member of the parish.  She served on the vestry and as treasurer and assistant treasurer.  She was very active in the Daughters of the King as well. 

But it was after returning from that time living in New Jersey that Cathy brought to us what has been a most impactful ministry at St. John’s.  While at St. George’s by the River in Rumson, Cathy became involved in their outreach committee.   

After returning to Metro Detroit she once again joined the vestry as we were negotiating our development lease with Olympia Development. The Vestry prayerfully discerned that it was a good thing for the parish, and Cathy also prayerfully discerned that this was our opportunity to copy the idea of an Outreach Ministry Committee at St. John’s!  After all, if we were going to receive a windfall from a yearly lease on property Henry Porter Baldwin purchased for the Church in 1858, the LEAST we should do is TITHE the first 10 percent of it to support ministries here in Detroit!

By the time the first check for the lease was received a Committee had already been formed.  Using the documents from the committee at St. George’s in Rumson, NJ,  we started soliciting local ministries to apply for grants from St. John’s. 

 In honor of Cathy’s love and motivation to help others, from this time forward one of the grants will be designated as the Cathy Morgan grant.  She has left us a wonderful legacy here at St. John’s, and it is most fitting to attach her name to one of the grants!