Father Earl Gibson

You can reach him at (949) 661-0110 (ext. 308)

or

frearl@stmarg.org

New to St. Margaret’s is Reverend Phil DeVaul.

You can reach Reverend DeVaul at (949) 661-0110  ext. 306

or by e-mail

Philip.DeVaul@smes.org

Philip DeVaul comes to St. Margaret’s most recently from Alexandria, Virginia where he was

a student at Virginia Theological Seminary.  Philip has called many places home in his life, including North Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Los Angeles, but he is an Orange County native, having spent the first 16 years of his life here.

He is thrilled to be back in the Southland where he can enjoy time with his family, the perfect weather, Mexican food done right, and In-N-Out.

Philip is married to Krista DeVaul, and they will be celebrating their 2^nd anniversary

on the 19^th of July.  Krista and Philip enjoy going to the movies, taking road trips,

hanging out with their family, and walking their dog, Django.

Philip was recently ordained to the transitional diaconate.  He is passionate about evangelism, about Biblical studies and languages, and about all varieties of music,

from bluegrass to swing, from blues to funk and grunge.  He especially likes strumming on his ukulele, reading Karl Barth, and hazy Orange County mornings.

New to St. Margaret’s is Reverend Mary Marjorie Bethea.

She can be reached at      (949) 661-0110 ext. 422

Mary.bethea@smes.org

Mary Marjorie Bethea is a South Carolina native, but ventured west to attend college at Pepperdine University. After college, she earned her Masters of Divinity and

Masters of Cross-cultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary where she had the opportunity to serve as a Teacher’s Assistant for Old Testament Studies and as co-chair for the Peace and Justice Concerns Committee.

Recently ordained into the transitional diaconate this past June,

Mary Marjorie is also coming from three years of ministry

with St. John’s Cathedral Los Angeles where she worked with children, youth, young adults, families, and newcomers. Mary Marjorie loves to listen to music (especially world music), study Spanish, read, dance, hike and hang out by the beach.

She is very excited to be a new addition to the great team of chaplains at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School and looks forward to getting to know and work with the parish community.

]]> http://www.stmarg.org/reverend-mary-marjorie-bethea/feed/ 0 http://www.stmarg.org/welcome/ http://www.stmarg.org/welcome/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 16:42:02 +0000 admin http://www.stmarg.org/?p=631 We believe that anyone who walks in our door has been sent by Christ. Therefore, the goals of St. Margaret’s Church … a center of grace, and all of its related ministries are to build our relationships with God  through Christ, and to build relationships with the people Christ has sent to us. We know that the greatest gift we can offer individuals is the knowledge that they are loved by God, through Jesus Christ.

Reverend Doran Tregarthen

Father Bill Garrison

I come to ordained ministry later in life, but I have felt the call since my early twenties. For the last thirty years or so, prior to ordination, I have been involved in the commercial floor covering and ceramic tile business, owning my own company for the last twelve of those years. I never felt that I was worthy, or smart enough, or holy enough to become an ordained person. Well, God kept tugging at my heart strings, and I finally ventured down the discernment path, went back to school, and I joyfully find myself at St. Margaret’s today.

Favorite place outside of church: I love northern New Mexico. I am awed by the bigness of it, and the beauty of the light and the mountains. I also love the food. It is a very spiritual place for me.

My time off: I have been going to school for years so the idea of time off is a little strange, but I enjoy reading and I try to get to the gym several times a week.

First Job: I worked as a plumber’s helper for a summer before my senior year in high school and then found a job selling shoes after that.

What I will ask Jesus when we meet: I know you have a good sense of humor, so why wasn’t more of that reported in the Bible?

My most prized possessions: My trophies and pictures from coaching football.

My time closest to God: The same thing has happened twice in my life. Once when I was a child in the fourth grade and again when I was a sophomore in college. I was in bed as a child the first time, and in the chapel at church the second time, when I felt keenly the presence of God. The second time is also when I would say I became a Christian.

The person I’d like most to meet: I have a hard time picking between Plato, Newton, or Socrates.

My responsibilities: This is a simple one; whatever Father Edwards wants me to do. I will be teaching in the school and ministering in the church, and aiding Father Edwards in achieving his vision for the parish and the school.

My Family: My wife Sherry and I have been blessed with five children, and seven grandchildren. We are empty nesters and enjoying the blessings of the freedom to be with each other, and the opportunity to enjoy our grandchildren when they are around.

Nobody knows: I coached Pop Warner football for 19 years in Yorba Linda, 13-15 year olds, and have won seven Orange County Championships, and a couple of regional championships, with our team, The Aztecs.

My Education: I went to the University of New Mexico, and returned to school a few years ago, graduating from the University of Phoenix with a Degree in Business Management. I also hold a Masters in Divinity from the Claremont School of Theology.

My favorite movie: Again this is a hard choice, but I love Field of Dreams, and Gladiator.

The best thing about being a Christian: God’s overflowing nature gives us a window to God’s self, in the life of Jesus, so that we might see and know God better.

Being here at St. Margaret’s: I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this parish, and school, under the direction of Father Edwards. The atmosphere here is refreshing and life giving.

Reverend Anna Carmichael

                Never in a million years would I have believed that I would be an ordained person.  When I first considered going back to school to get a degree in Theology, my goal was to be a college professor.  But I kept getting pushed to consider ordained ministry.  Six years later, I find myself in a collar.  Before going back to school I worked first at Southwest Texas State University and then at Virginia Tech in Housing and Residence Life.   I primarily worked with first year students and taught intro to university type classes. 

                Favorite place outside of church:  There’s so many!  I love the ocean, I love a good sushi restaurant, I love to be home playing with my kitty (Ted), I love to hang out in the Bay Area with friends, I love going to my in-laws in Oregon.  There’s no one place that is my favorite.

                My time off:  It’s been so long since I’ve had time off, that this is a new concept for me.  But what I’ve discovered is that I really enjoy hanging out with my husband and friends, and I enjoy checking out new places I’ve never been.  Matt & I are huge movie buffs so we try to get in a couple of movies a week.

                First job:  Well, I was a receptionist at a hair salon, but that’s not exciting.  For many summers I was a waitress at Friendly’s restaurant (which is a East Coast chain), and one summer I sold kitchen knives door to door…that lasted about 3 days.

                What I will ask Jesus when we meet:  Were the disciples really that clueless?

                My most prized possessions:  I have a couple of handmade quilts from both my grandmother and mother, a Bible that belonged to my grandfather, and old family photos.

                My time closest to God:  That’s a complicated question.  It’s like being asked “when did you first know you were a Christian”.  The answer for me is every day.

                The person I’d like most to meet:  Hmmm…right now I’d love to sit down and have a really good conversation with Al Gore.  And if I could “do over” a meeting with a person, I’d like to spend some more time with my grandmother.

                My responsibilities:  That’s the easiest question ever!  Be part of the team here at St. Margaret’s, be a good partner to Matt, and live every day as a gift.

                My family:  I’ve recently married my long time partner, Matt Carmichael.  We had our first date on the night of my first discernment committee meeting, so he knew from the start this was a path I was exploring.  He’s a fantastic supporter, encourager, and best friend.  My family also includes Ted the Tiger Kitty.  I talk to my parents on the phone (they’re back east) at least once a week, and my sister about once a month.

                Nobody knows:  I’m addicted to flip flops.  I wore the same pair of flip flops almost every day during seminary.  I wore them until they got a hole in them.  At the senior class retreat, I used them as a sacred object because they had carried me on my journey.  I graduated seminary wearing flip flops and got married in flip flops.  I LOVE flip flops!

                 My education:  I graduated from Barton College in Wilson, NC in 1997 with a BA in English.  I immediately started graduate school that June at Longwood College in Farmville, VA and graduated in Dec. 1998 with a MS in Community & College Counseling.  After a few years working, I went back to school and graduated from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA in 2005 with a Master’s in Theological Studies.  That fall I started seminary at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley and graduated in May 2008 with a Master’s in Divinity.  I hope to eventually go back to pursue PhD studies in Liturgics.

                My favorite movie:  Like I said before, Matt & I are movie buffs, so it’s hard to pick one movie that is my favorite.  As a child of the 80s I like things like “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” and “Sixteen Candles”, but I also love a good horror movie.  Matt introduced me to silent films and while I’m no buff in that genre, Cecil B. DeMill’s original “10 Commandments” is kinda funny.

                The best thing about being a Christian:  Knowing that I’m not alone.  That there’s something greater than anything I can imagine looking over me.  Like the Psalm says, God knows my coming in and my going out.  And that’s really comforting to me.

                Being here at St. Margaret’s:  I am really lucky to work with such incredible people.  I have been warmly welcomed and made to feel a part of the family here.  The clergy are loving, friendly, and full of laughter.  I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start out my ordained ministry.

The Rev. Canon Robert Edwards

I have felt a call to priesthood since before I can remember.  I tried for the longest time to do anything but this however I just couldn’t shake my call.  I finally had it out with God one night when I was doing church work in Argentina.  From that point forward I haven’t looked back.  I love the fact that I get a chance to wake up everyday and make a difference.  I have days when I want to get on a boat and drift with the tides but the rest of the time I love coming to work and doing what I do.  I am a third generation priest so sometimes this job feels like second nature.  My formula for healthy ministry is God first, family second and vocation third.

My responsibilities include:
I am the guy who is charged with creating the vision for this place.  I am the Head Chaplain for the school

Family stats:

My father is a retired Episcopal Priest who grew up in NYC.  My mother is a California girl.  She grew up in Ramona and is a retired RN.  My parents meet at Norwalk Mental Hospital. When my Mom first met my Dad she thought he was one of the patients!  I am the oldest of three boys.  I am married to a wonderful woman Michele and we have been blessed with four children, Christina, Josiah, Davis and Jameson

How I met my wife:

I was coaching football at the school and we used to go over to the Denny’s Bar for a beer after some of the practices.  The bartender took a liking to us and set me up with her best friend Michele.  Our first blind date/meeting happened in the Denny’s Bar.  It was love at first sight.

Nobody at St Margaret’s knows that:

When I was in eighth grade I sank on a deep sea party boat named the Westerner out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach .

Education:

BA in International Relations for CSU Chico.  I have a Masters of Divinity from The General Seminary NYC.

How I became a Christian:

No matter what I did or where I went God tracked me down and wouldn’t let go of me.  God graced me into Christianity.

How I came to be at St. Margaret’s:

Out of seminary  I was the first Chaplain of the school.  After a three year stint I left to become Rector of Christ Church Redondo Beach.  I returned to St. Margaret’s in 1999 as Priest in Charge under Special Circumstances and I was made Rector in September of 2000.

The best thing about being a Christian:

Grace and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Favorite movie:

The Shawshank Redemption

Favorite food:

Wood fired pizza and a big salad

Favorite place in the world:

Any beach on the Sea of Cortez

Pets:

Murphy our miniature Dachshund

How I spend my days off:

Fishing when I can and dreaming about fishing when I can’t.  I also go out and see movies with my wife Michele

A PERSONAL project I can’t wait to finish:

Writing my first book

My first job:

Warehouse worker at Parnelli Jones

Favorite joke:

Excuse me Father I think we’d like the more traditional Ceremony

Most powerful book I’ve ever read (besides the Bible) and why:

The Grapes of Wrath.  It was my first experience of experiencing a Biblical story being applied to contemporary American life.

What I’ll ask Jesus when we meet:

Why there is so much misery in the world.

My prized possessions are:

My fishing poles.

A time when I felt very close to God:

Worshipping with the Aracarian Indians on an island outside Temuco, Chile.

I’d most like to meet:

My grandfather who was an agnostic and got healed by Sam Shoemaker.  He left Wall Street and was ordained.

What I’d like to say to the people of St. Margaret’s:

I am so blessed to be part of your family, thank you for all your love. It is an honor to serve here.

Vestry Members