25 Years of Celebrating and Sharing God's Love with Everyone!
@ St. Gabriel'sOn May 21, 2023, St. Gabriel’s members, past and present, gathered for a combined service and picnic at the church to officially celebate the 25th anniversary of our church. Below, you can watch the sermon preached by Marycelis Otero commemorating the anniversary, you’ll find letters and other well-wishes from former priests at St. Gabriel’s, and we share a few of the photos from the gathering itself. We’re grateful for the role our church has had in sharing God’s love with those in Hall County and beyond.
25th Anniversary Sermon
We were blessed to have Marycelis Otero join us on May 21st to help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary. Marycelis began her journey to the priesthood here at St. Gabriel’s and is now serving at Sts. Mary & Martha as she continues that journey. We invited her to preach the sermon on our Anniversary Sunday and are pleased to include it here.
A Letter from Rev. Bill Combs on our 25th Anniversary
Many at St. Gabe’s will remember our former rector, Rev. Bill Combs, who served this church for about eight years up until 2015. We had hoped he could join us for our 25th Anniversary picnic on May 21st, but he was unavailable at that time. He did, however, write a letter of encouragement and congratulations that we are pleased to share here:
May, 2023
My Dear St. Gabriel’s Family
Oh, how I wish I could be with you today as you celebrate a quarter of a century of incarnating the love of God in Oakwood!!!
I think about you frequently, and pray for – and with – you every day. I could not be more grateful for you and your existence. As a somewhat newly minted priest in 2007, you welcomed me into your midst with excitement and joy. We journeyed together for eight years, and that season of my life and ministry will always be precious to me. You taught me so much. You gave me so much. You lived out of a heart that had no limit. In every way you were a people who found, fed, and filled my mind, heart, and spirit. You were and continue to be beloved to me.
So celebrate! Celebrate your 25 years of ministry! Celebrate the loveliness of the life you have lived, and the lives you have transformed! Celebrate the tremendous gift of your warmth and welcome – I have not seen its like before or after our time together! Celebrate the hearts you have opened, the stomachs you have filled, the hands you have consecrated, the spirits you have freed!
And do not be afraid. Christianity as a whole is going through a tremendous challenge, and it affects us all. But do not be afraid. Be yourselves. Be that nourishment. Be that warmth. Be that loving heart that has characterized St. Gabe’s from our very beginning. Be that home where feline and felon, professor and plumber, saint and sinner has found sanctuary, healing, and purpose. Be St. Gabriel’s. That is what our world yearns for beyond all else: a community that incarnates Christ with faith, hope, love, and heart.
Lovingly yours,
Bill
A Note from Fr. Rich Sanders
Our Senior Warden, Regina Grisham, was able to speak to Fr. Rich Sanders in the weeks leading up to our 25th Anniversary. He sent the following message:
Great to hear from you, Regina, and thanks for the invitation! We are moving to Florida the week after next, so we will have our hands full of packing and getting ready for the moving trucks next weekend!
Congratulations to St. Gabriels!
Rich
A Note from Fr. Peter Wallace
We also heard from others who have served at St. Gabe’s over the years, including Fr. Peter who sent the following:
I so wish I could be there, but I am gone that week (next week) for a preaching conference and just cannot make it work. I hope you understand. I send my love and best wishes to all. And Marycelis will be an awesome preacher!
All my best,
Peter+
A Note from Fr. Mike Freeman
We had also hoped to see Fr. Mike but he, too, was unavailable. However, he sent his well-wishes:
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the church! Pat and I are traveling and will be out of town that weekend.
Mike
Some Kind Words from Fr. Samuel Porras
Our Senior Warden, Regrina Grisham, also had an opportunity to speak with Fr. Samuel Porras, who headed up a vibrant ministry to the Latin community in Hall County during his time at St. Gabriel’s. He asked that we pass on the following:
He has fond memories of the time he spent at Saint Gabriel’s when he was the priest in charge of the hispanic ministry. He congratulates the church for celebrating 25 years in the Oakwood community.
St. Gabe’s 25th Anniversary Picnic at Success!
On Sunday, May 21st, both old and new friends of St. Gabriel’s gathered to celebrate the church’s 25th Anniversary with a picnic at the church following the 10:30am Rite II Service. Marycelis Otero, who began her journey to the priesthood at St. Gabe’s, preached at our combined worship service. Great food was on hand as was a birthday cake for our church. Here are a few photos from the gathering:
A Letter from Rev. Bill Combs on our 25th Anniversary
Many at St. Gabe’s will remember our former rector, Rev. Bill Combs, who served this church for about eight years up until 2015. We had hoped he could join us for our 25th Anniversary picnic on May 21st, but he was unavailable at that time. He did, however, write a letter of encouragement and congratulations that we are pleased to share here:
May, 2023
My Dear St. Gabriel’s Family
Oh, how I wish I could be with you today as you celebrate a quarter of a century of incarnating the love of God in Oakwood!!!
I think about you frequently, and pray for – and with – you every day. I could not be more grateful for you and your existence. As a somewhat newly minted priest in 2007, you welcomed me into your midst with excitement and joy. We journeyed together for eight years, and that season of my life and ministry will always be precious to me. You taught me so much. You gave me so much. You lived out of a heart that had no limit. In every way you were a people who found, fed, and filled my mind, heart, and spirit. You were and continue to be beloved to me.
So celebrate! Celebrate your 25 years of ministry! Celebrate the loveliness of the life you have lived, and the lives you have transformed! Celebrate the tremendous gift of your warmth and welcome – I have not seen its like before or after our time together! Celebrate the hearts you have opened, the stomachs you have filled, the hands you have consecrated, the spirits you have freed!
And do not be afraid. Christianity as a whole is going through a tremendous challenge, and it affects us all. But do not be afraid. Be yourselves. Be that nourishment. Be that warmth. Be that loving heart that has characterized St. Gabe’s from our very beginning. Be that home where feline and felon, professor and plumber, saint and sinner has found sanctuary, healing, and purpose. Be St. Gabriel’s. That is what our world yearns for beyond all else: a community that incarnates Christ with faith, hope, love, and heart.
Lovingly yours,
Bill
A Note from Fr. Rich Sanders
Our Senior Warden, Regina Grisham, was able to speak to Fr. Rich Sanders in the weeks leading up to our 25th Anniversary. He sent the following message:
Great to hear from you, Regina, and thanks for the invitation! We are moving to Florida the week after next, so we will have our hands full of packing and getting ready for the moving trucks next weekend!
Congratulations to St. Gabriels!
Rich
A Note from Fr. Peter Wallace
We also heard from others who have served at St. Gabe’s over the years, including Fr. Peter who sent the following:
I so wish I could be there, but I am gone that week (next week) for a preaching conference and just cannot make it work. I hope you understand. I send my love and best wishes to all. And Marycelis will be an awesome preacher!
All my best,
Peter+
A Note from Fr. Mike Freeman
We had also hoped to see Fr. Mike but he, too, was unavailable. However, he sent his well-wishes:
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the church! Pat and I are traveling and will be out of town that weekend.
Mike
Some Kind Words from Fr. Samuel Porras
Our Senior Warden, Regrina Grisham, also had an opportunity to speak with Fr. Samuel Porras, who headed up a vibrant ministry to the Latin community in Hall County during his time at St. Gabriel’s. He asked that we pass on the following:
He has fond memories of the time he spent at Saint Gabriel’s when he was the priest in charge of the hispanic ministry. He congratulates the church for celebrating 25 years in the Oakwood community.
St. Gabe’s 25th Anniversary Picnic at Success!
On Sunday, May 21st, both old and new friends of St. Gabriel’s gathered to celebrate the church’s 25th Anniversary with a picnic at the church following the 10:30am Rite II Service. Marycelis Otero, who began her journey to the priesthood at St. Gabe’s, preached at our combined worship service. Great food was on hand as was a birthday cake for our church. Here are a few photos from the gathering: