Like many of our parishioners, Dave Vanneman had visited several other parishes before settling at St. Thomas’ nine years ago. He was attracted to St. Thomas’ community outreach mission and the intimate feel of the worship space. “This is where I felt most welcomed,” he says. Raised in the United Church of Christ, Dave was drawn into the Episcopal Church as a music student at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, and later as a paid chorister at Christ Episcopal Church.

“Nestled among the trees around the foot of the Great North Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley rests the serene community of Orkney Springs. Since the days when the Orkney Spring Hotel was host to 100’s of guests, Orkney Springs has been a place to get away. Since the 1920’s, it has also been a home to a respite of a different sort. Shrine Mont…is a place where people are more important than things, where prayer and reflection, rest and relaxation are more important than appointment and tasks. It’s a place where people give thanks to God for creation.”

Jaye Lopez was born and raised in a large family in suburban Los Angeles, CA – she has over 20 first cousins! With degrees in English and Gender Studies from the University of Southern California, Jaye has worked as a fundraiser with several progressive not-for-profit organizations for nearly 12 years. She and her partner Anne own and maintain an 80+-year-old bungalow in NE Washington which is framed by two towering European Beech trees that are over 200 years old.

Fourteen St. Thomas' hikers, two dogs, and another St. Thomas' parishioner (let's call him a wine drinker) headed westward on Saturday, May 3rd for our venture to Massanutten Mountain and the Shenandoah Valley. It was a great day. A beautiful hike. Wonderful comradery. Everyone on our trip met a person they had not met before. For some, nearly everyone was a new person to meet!