May 13, 2025

Dear Philippians,

It is with deep joy and gratitude that I announce the calling of our new Associate Rector, The Rev. Marie Smith. Below you can read about her and the gifts she brings with her. I have known Marie and her husband Brandon for a decade or so and overlapped with Marie at Sewanee my last year, her first. I have admired her dynamic ministry and enjoyed collaborating with her from time to time over the years since then. 

As you know, the last Parish Profile prioritizes: pastoral care, community engagement, and growth (especially among young adults and families). Marie will share in the preaching, teaching, and pastoral care responsibilities, with a focus on enrichment of and creation of programs and ministries for young adults, parents, and those who work. Marie is a great preacher, teacher, and pastor, and has special gifts in the areas of engagement utilizing social media and in the creation of innovative programs and ministries. The hope is that with her dedicated efforts we better minister to young adults, families, and those who work, while attracting people from the community to these new and improved programs. 

That Marie and I will be sharing in the pastoral care and other priestly duties will allow each of us to focus more efficiently on planning and implementation of projects that address the Parish's desire to grow in our community engagement, pastoral care, and congregational growth of the younger demographic. 

Please join me in praying for Marie and Brandon as they move back to the area. Marie will begin her ministry among us July 1.

Peace,

Les+

Letter from Marie:

Dear St. Philip’s family, 

With gratitude and an overflowing heart, I greet you from sunny (and not too hot) Minnesota!  I am honored and grateful to be called as Associate Rector to such a special place, which has a special place in my heart and journey. 

When my sponsoring church, St. Mark’s in Raymond, could not field a discernment committee for me due to their size, St. Philip’s graciously offered me a place and people to pray and discern my calling. St. Philip’s also became a home for me to work towards completing EfM (Education for Ministry) and connect with my new Cursillo family. St. Philip’s played many roles in my life before seminary, even though it wasn’t my parish. Because of this unique view, I saw how loving, welcoming, and Christ-filled this parish is and how much you care for each other and those in your community. It’s something I never forgot as I’ve moved through my early years of ordination, and it has become a model for me of what the church can look like. 

My husband, Brandon, our CousinKid, Hailey, and I look forward to learning and growing together with Fr. Les, the Vestry, Staff, and all of you as we try to show the light of Christ to the world and each other. Though I know some of you, I can’t wait to meet all of you and get to know you better on this journey. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve St. Philip’s as your Associate Rector. Please pray for my family as we make this transition in our lives. I will also hold you in prayer in the days and weeks to come.  Together, let us show the beautiful love of Christ to all we meet. 

Grace and Peace, 

Marie

PS - Heads up: I have tattoos. All of them have stories and I’m always willing to share.