St. Augustine - History


	The Church of St. Augustine
Our Parish was formed in February of 2004, with Fr. David Kenney as founding Pastor. A small group had been meeting in homes, and yearning to come together in a more public and welcoming form. In careful discernment, we explored the possibilities and sought a place we might call home. We found that place in a small Evangelical Christian church near Washington Park. For over three years, the Washington Park Chapel was our spiritual home. Pastor Gary Belk and his family provided extraordinary ecumenical hospitality for us, and we thrived. Our community was small, of course, at the outset. Within a couple of years, we had over forty members on our rolls, and on a given Sunday, perhaps 15 would join for Eucharist. As do many ECC communities, we found ourselves welcoming a rich diversity of curious and hopeful worshippers. Some had felt hurt or excluded in their former parishes. Perhaps they had been divorced, or were living with a partner outside of marriage. Some were gay. Many were in marriages of mixed faiths. Often, our visitors told us how they had been made to feel ashamed, or guilty, or unwelcome in their church. It was a very difficult step for them to take, visiting us – a courageous step. It gave us great joy to realize that we were called to be a safe haven for the modern anawim – those wandering without a spiritual home. Our music, under the gifted leadership of choir leaders Laura Strom and Sharon Friedman, and the talented hands of pianist Obadiah Ariss, was soon a centerpiece of liturgy. In time, Fr. Stan Manickam came to us from Holy Family Parish, and became Assistant Pastor, alternating as Presider with Fr. David. Members all took part in the liturgy, as greeters, readers, intercessors, altar servers. Our experience each Sunday was warm and gladdening. And the stream of visitors – some who sojourned a short while, others who stayed with us – has continued unbroken to this day. From the beginning, we had established a Parish Council for leadership. To this day, the Council is our strong, guiding, wisdom group. Regularly, we invited the whole parish for brunch after Mass to talk about the life and times of St. A's. Our leaders have always been willing to lead our discussion and discernment of important issues. A great example is our move to a new location. Over time, our host Pastor Belk had welcomed other groups to the Washington Park Chapel as well, and one of these – an evangelical community, was growing much faster than we were. We began to feel a bit squeezed, sharing limited facilities, and we knew it was time for us to seek a new home. It was a bit nerve-rattling – where would we go? But word came through one of our Council members that Fairmount Cemetery in East Denver was actually seeking a faith community to worship in their historic Ivy Chapel, the centerpiece of their gorgeous, 280 acres of forested greenery, meandering pathways, abundant wildlife and gracious tranquility. Over 100 years old, the Chapel is a designated historic landmark, and Fairmount folks were concerned that it was not being used more often. It was a musty, dusty place, creaky and cold. On our first visit, many of us were dismayed. "Mass in the cemetery? Hmmmm." But some of our members saw the potential, and were persistent, urging all toward a spiritual discernment of the decision. In time we all agreed that we should see this as a wonderful offer – yet another instance of ecumenical hospitality being extended to us. We decided to accept this gift, and we moved to the Ivy Chapel. No longer musty or dusty, but shining bright and warm, the Ivy Chapel felt like home almost immediately. As you can see from our website pictures, it truly is a lovely, miniature French gothic church. The light streams through the colored glass of the large windows, bringing a marvelous, ever–changing quality of warmth and readily stirring the heart to thoughts of God. A beautiful electronic pipe organ had been donated many years earlier, and we moved a donated piano in as well. Our family of faith began to grow after we moved. We now have about 80 registered members and our lively Sunday Eucharist has grown, with over 25 usually taking part. St. Augustine’s is at a turning point as 2009 begins. We are reckoning with ways of reaching out to the community and the world with helping works and ministries. Our marriage ministry is thriving. The Parish donates regularly to various charities. Both Fr. David and Fr. Stan are active health care chaplains, and through them we have developed a very special outreach to patients, their loved ones, and those who care for them. We offer Spiritual Direction. We provide compassionate pastoral care, including hosting receptions for our members at both tender and joyful moments. We continue to take a very active role in the ECC, attending national Synods and Retreats. Two of our members serve on the Rocky Mountain ECC Regional Council. Come to St. Augustine’s and see for yourself what makes us tick! We hope you’ll never feel so welcome as when you come among us. And before long, you too will be welcoming others.
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Our Parish was formed in February of 2004, with Fr. David Kenney as founding Pastor.

A small group had been meeting in homes, and yearning to come together in a more public and welcoming form. In careful discernment, we explored the possibilities and sought a place we might call home. We found that place in a small Evangelical Christian church near Washington Park. For over three years, the Washington Park Chapel was our spiritual home. Pastor Gary Belk and his family provided extraordinary ecumenical hospitality for us, and we thrived.

Our community was small, of course, at the outset. Within a couple of years, we had over forty members on our rolls, and on a given Sunday, perhaps 15 would join for Eucharist. As do many ECC communities, we found ourselves welcoming a rich diversity of curious and hopeful worshippers. Some had felt hurt or excluded in their former parishes. Perhaps they had been divorced, or were living with a partner outside of marriage. Some were gay. Many were in marriages of mixed faiths. Often, our visitors told us how they had been made to feel ashamed, or guilty, or unwelcome in their church. It was a very difficult step for them to take, visiting us – a courageous step. It gave us great joy to realize that we were called to be a safe haven for the modern anawim – those wandering without a spiritual home. choir

Our music, under the gifted leadership of choir leaders Laura Strom and Sharon Friedman, and the talented hands of pianist Obadiah Ariss, was soon a centerpiece of liturgy.

In time, Fr. Stan Manickam came to us from Holy Family Parish, and became Assistant Pastor, alternating as Presider with Fr. David.

Members all took part in the liturgy, as greeters, readers, intercessors, altar servers. Our experience each Sunday was warm and gladdening. And the stream of visitors – some who sojourned a short while, others who stayed with us – has continued unbroken to this day.

From the beginning, we had established a Parish Council for leadership. To this day, the Council is our strong, guiding, wisdom group. Regularly, we invited the whole parish for brunch after Mass to talk about the life and times of St. A's. Our leaders have always been willing to lead our discussion and discernment of important issues.

A great example is our move to a new location. Over time, our host Pastor Belk had welcomed other groups to the Washington Park Chapel as well, and one of these – an evangelical community, was growing much faster than we were. We began to feel a bit squeezed, sharing limited facilities, and we knew it was time for us to seek a new home. It was a bit nerve-rattling – where would we go? our people 2

But word came through one of our Council members that Fairmount Cemetery in East Denver was actually seeking a faith community to worship in their historic Ivy Chapel, the centerpiece of their gorgeous, 280 acres of forested greenery, meandering pathways, abundant wildlife and gracious tranquility. Over 100 years old, the Chapel is a designated historic landmark, and Fairmount folks were concerned that it was not being used more often. It was a musty, dusty place, creaky and cold. On our first visit, many of us were dismayed. "Mass in the cemetery? Hmmmm." But some of our members saw the potential, and were persistent, urging all toward a spiritual discernment of the decision. In time we all agreed that we should see this as a wonderful offer – yet another instance of ecumenical hospitality being extended to us. We decided to accept this gift, and we moved to the Ivy Chapel.

No longer musty or dusty, but shining bright and warm, the Ivy Chapel felt like home almost immediately. As you can see from our website pictures, it truly is a lovely, miniature French gothic church. The light streams through the colored glass of the large windows, bringing a marvelous, ever–changing quality of warmth and readily stirring the heart to thoughts of God. A beautiful electronic pipe organ had been donated many years earlier, and we moved a donated piano in as well.

Our family of faith began to grow after we moved. We now have about 80 registered members and our lively Sunday Eucharist has grown, with over 25 usually taking part.

St. Augustine’s is at a turning point as 2009 begins. We are reckoning with ways of reaching out to the community and the world with helping works and ministries. Our marriage ministry is thriving. The Parish donates regularly to various charities. Both Fr. David and Fr. Stan are active health care chaplains, and through them we have developed a very special outreach to patients, their loved ones, and those who care for them. We offer Spiritual Direction. We provide compassionate pastoral care, including hosting receptions for our members at both tender and joyful moments. We continue to take a very active role in the ECC, attending national Synods and Retreats. Two of our members serve on the Rocky Mountain ECC Regional Council.

Come to St. Augustine’s and see for yourself what makes us tick! We hope you’ll never feel so welcome as when you come among us. And before long, you too will be welcoming others.