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The Rev. Deacon Clara M. Hewis begins her new ministry at Azalea Trace Retirement Community with Episcopalians in residence who may not have a connection to a local parish.
Over the past several weeks, Deacon Clara has met with some of the clergy who are residents at Azalea Trace, and has been invited to serve with Fr. Walter Kindergan (Christ Church) as he celebrates Holy Eucharist on Wednesday afternoons. She says, "I have had the opportunity to connect...and re-connect with folks from several parishes (in Pensacola area) that I have come to know over the past 20 years."
Deacon Clara tells us that her experience in the Church, as a “cradle Episcopalian” includes joining the Children’s Choir, at eight years-of-age, at her home parish in suburban Boston, and graduating to the Adult Choir; followed by training to be a parish pastoral visitor. During the 1980’s, Clara served the Diocese of Massachusetts at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston in several capacities, as lector, chalice bearer, Altar Guild member, lay Eucharistic visitor, and member of the Cathedral Chapter. For some thirty years she served several churches as parish administrator, in both Massachusetts and Florida. In 2004 Clara completed the Education for Ministry course at Christ Church, Pensacola, and in 2009 while a member and parish administrator of St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze, she joined the first class of candidates in the newly formed Diocesan School for Deacons. After completion of the course (December 2010) the class of eight candidates was ordained at Diocesan Convention in February of 2011. Deacon Clara was assigned by Bishop Duncan to serve at Holy Cross, Pensacola where she served until December of last year. Prior to the assignment to Azalea Trace, Bishop Kendrick sent Deacon Clara, for a short term, to the people of St. John’s, Warrington, following the unexpected death of their priest, the Rev. Marie Butterbugh.
You can contact Deacon Clara directly by phone, at 850-304-3083, or via email at cmhii@aol.com if you would like to arrange to meet with her.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...” (Rev. 3:20)