Hi! My name is Lyn Lawyer and I live in the Terrace with my husband, John. We moved in November of 2017. I love living here for many reasons. There are so many options for things to do and learn that keep me busy and happy, and I love that there are so many people with wonderful life stories to get to know.
I was ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1984 which means that I was a member of the second group of ordinands after the 1976 convention decided women could be ordained. As a cradle Episcopalian I have always been attracted to the rituals and practices of The Episcopal Church. My father was a U.S. Naval Officer, so I grew up all over the world. The Book of Common Prayer was what held my life together amidst all the moves and changes that are a part of military life. But because I was a girl I never thought in terms of being ordained, until that convention, which changed everything. Sister Pascaline at St. Odelia’s church where my son was going to school sort of pushed me into exploring the possibilities which ended up with my becoming a deacon. What a wonderful example of women inspiring and mentoring other women in the Church!
During the 1980s I coordinated the refugee resettlement program for the Diocese. Then, in the 1990s, I became the assistant chaplain here at Episcopal Homes working with The Rev. Bob Hardman; all the while, I was also deacon at St. Matthew’s Church in St. Anthony Park. I loved all three jobs and really felt like I was doing good work for the community.
Lent and Advent are my favorite seasons of the Church year. I like stepping back from the hubbub and examining my relationship with God, with the church and with the community. This year, especially, I need to process what we have learned these past Covid years. How do we move forward in a very different world from what we knew before? How can I best LOVE MY NEIGHBOR while wearing a mask and keeping my distance? There is much to ponder.
As chaplain here in the 1990s when there was just ECH and IPC I discovered how easy it was to fall in love with older people. I learned Bible interpretation from folks with much more life experience than I had. As a result of that experience, I started an in-depth Bible Study here on campus, which I continued even after I retired. The primary lesson that came out of my experience working with elders was about the holiness of dying. I came to believe that to die is as holy as to be born. I have felt very blessed by the time I spent here before we moved, and now that I am a resident I couldn’t be happier.