Fw: Stories of St. Paul's - Archive Notes

We were asked to send out--via e-mail--our memories of St. Paul's to Tim Elliott about our time at St. Paul's.  Below are my thoughts in the e-mail thread at the bottom.

Regards,

I have sent this e-mail at a time that works for me.  Please reply at a time that works for you.  You have the right to disconnect.

Email

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----- Forwarded Message -----

From: William Ramier <wramier@yahoo.com>

To: Timothy Elliott <rtimothyelliott@gmail.com>

Cc: Nancy Adams <nancyadams@diohuron.org>; Cindy Ramier <cindyramier@yahoo.com>; Chandra Ramier <chandraramier@hotmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 04:58:45 PM EST

Subject: Stories of St. Paul's - Archive Notes

Good Afternoon:

I see the hand of God in how I arrived at St. Paul's.  In my 20s, I used to love reading my Bible and arguing, which is how I ended up mixed up with the Jehovah's Witnesses.

• I was open and up front with them from the beginning that I wouldn't be converted, and

• I studied with them for a year until they gave up on me

• When they got into anti-Trinitarian doctrine I consulted my father, and

• On one such occasion Dad sent me to a fellow Freemason of his--the then Rector of St. Paul's--for answers

• I loved the liturgy, the structure, the comfort of the familiarity of the service, the reverence, all of it 

• Tanya put me on Parish Council in my late 20s as a young person 

• I volunteered with Cindy in running the food bank for ten years, and we received the Bishop's award

• I set up St. Paul's first web page, updating it again when Andreas Thiel was a student at St. Paul's

• I set up the first online services on YouTube, dedicating hours to editing and uploading on DSL internet

• The late Mac Simpson gave me encouragement as I sought to fit on Parish Council

• (Probably) Cathy and Joyce got us groceries (left a store voucher in the Church office) in 2007 when I lost my job

• Barb Dyson (our AFP rep.) got me involved in the AFP with Andreas, where I sat on the BOD for Huron

• Fr. Ted pointed me to the Anglican Holy Orders, and I've became friends with several brothers

• I miss my long talks with our old parish secretary Vivian Jarvis ➡ spiritual warfare, doctrine, theology, etc...

• I owe a great debt to Craig Love, for reaching out while I was estranged from the Church (not easy for him), and

• Also to Allie, who listened (as did Craig too) and brought me back in, included me when I didn't fit

• They didn't give up on me, and both of them made Church easier for me, as did people like Megan

• Allie healed an old wound when she asked me to sit as a warden

• I feel a guilt that I have betrayed the generations before me at St. Paul's, but

• It was time and had to happen

• I love the building, in a Psalms 69 kind of way, and

• It pained me to see the building literally falling apart, and so

• It was time and had to happen

If only Nixon could go to China, maybe God placed me here as the last Warden, loving this thin place which is Holy and special, worshiped in by the communion of saints before me.

I have always hated the phrase the Church is the people not the building as I cherished the dark stain of the carved hardwood, the Easter Window, the Christmas Window, the painted words over the chancel arch, the pews solid arch and dark stain, the grey stone, the stone cross at the peak of the roof, the purple stone of the South stained glass windows, the sound of a voice in the nave, etc...  of this Holy place.

Although, I understand that expressing these thoughts is counterproductive as we move forward.  I grieve. 

Cindy and Chandra have their own stories.  And, I hope they share their memories too.

Regards,

Email

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