Meet the Deacon BILL GILMORE, ST. MARY'S

Current and former clergy at St. Mary, Bonita Springs. From left, the Rev. Bob Douglas, rector of St. Mark Tampa, with the Rev. Bill Fauple, current priest-in-charge; Gilmore and the Rev. Michael Rowe, recently retired from the parish as rector.

The Rev. Bill Gilmore moved to Southwest Florida in 2000, and for the next 15 years he worked with his brother in the construction materials supply field. They built a house, and began attending St. Mary’s. He later began the discernment process for ordination to the diaconate of the Episcopal Church. After the attending diocesan School for Ministry, he spent an 18-month internship at St. Hilary’s in Ft. Myers. He was ordained in December of 2018 and was assigned back to St. Mary’s. In addition to his duties there, he also performs services once a month at Church of the Good Shepherd in Labelle. He began working at First Presbyterian, next door, after he began attending St. Mary’s; creating a partnership between the two churches and becoming one of a rare breed of neighboring churches where there are no parking disputes.

Q: Did you grow up in the Episcopal Church?

A: I was very young when my family moved to California. I was baptized in a small Episcopal church in Palmer Springs, Virginia, but I do not remember anything about the church. My parents and grandparents are buried there.

Q: When you moved to California, where did you attend church?

A: The Church I remember best was St. Elizabeth, located in Linda Vista, San Diego. 10 Q: How did you meet your wife Susan?

A: My wife and I both served in the Army and were stationed on a small base in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, called Dolan Barracks. I was assisting on a rifle range and was responsible for picking up an ambulance and a medic each morning. Sue was the medic and we got to know each other driving to and from the rifle range.

Q: How did you find and join St. Mary's when you moved?

A: My mother-in-law moved to Bonita Springs in the ‘80s and we would take our military leave (vacations) in Bonita Springs and would occasionally visit St. Mary’s when we were here. After I retired from the Army, we built a house in Bonita in 2006 and started attending St. Mary’s.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to take the next step and become a deacon?

A: I don’t know if I could give a specific date. There had been a desire for a deeper service in Christ for several years. Interest in ordination in the diaconate started when Father Durning visited Saint Mary’s in 2015 and spoke to a group of us about Deacons in the Episcopal Church. It was strengthened during discernment, and by the second year in the School of Ministry, it was truly imprinted in my heart.

Q: How have you managed the increased preaching and activities since Fr. Rowe retired from the parish?

A: I have not had to face that much of an increase yet, mostly because of the stay-at-home orders. Thankfully, I was already experiencing an increase in preaching as we prepared for Father Rowe’s retirement.

Q: How have you adapted to the technology needs at the church during this time?

A: It is a continual learning curve. I feel that we have adapted well with live streaming and posting services online. I am fortunate to have many very adept technicians around me that can provide me sound advice and guidance in the use of technology.

Q: You manage the Presbyterian church facilities next door. How do you manage both?

A: The Presbyterian Church and Saint Mary’s share a wonderful working relationship as brothers and sisters in

MEET THE DEACON (continued from page 10)

Christ. This relationship predates my employment at the Presbyterian church. My office is literally 300 feet from my office. When I am needed at St. Mary’s, the Presbyterian church allows me as much time as I need. Saint Mary’s respects my responsibilities next door and does not encroach on them. It’s all about time management, boundaries, and being centered in Christ. I also have a fantastic staff.

Q: What needs does the Bonita Springs community rely on the church for?

A: There is a large migrant community in Bonita Springs. Helping that community includes tutoring programs, food assistance and affordable housing.

Q: What do you see as the potential of the Episcopal Church?

A: The Episcopal Church offers a beautiful and rich heritage of worship and liturgy that can fill the heart with joy. The church is welcoming and loving and inclusive for all. If we stay true to ourselves and to Christ moving forward, the Episcopal Church can be a shining example of Christ’s love, bringing people together and providing a foundation for a caring and loving community.

Which hymn is most important to you? What church leader should we get to know? Tell us! We would love to hear your recommendations for our regular features in Southern Cross. send submissions via email at

eeditor@episcopalswfl.org

MY FAVORITE Hymn

Above, Reive as a baby with her father, the late Robert Setzer.

Mari Reive | "For the Fruit of All Creation"

Mari Reive retired from active church work as an organist and choirmaster at the end of 2018, and is now full time with The Florida Orchestra. However, she hasn’t thrown in the musical towel completely as she’s an active chorister in the Cathedral Chamber Choir which sings a monthly Evensong through “the season” under the direction of Dwight Thomas. She has come home as well to the Cathedral, as her father was the late Robert Setzer, who led the Cathedral Choir for 35 years. Mari has chosen “For the Fruit of All Creation,” #424, set to the tune East Acklam. It is a perfect marriage of tune and text.

About the Hymn

"The three-stanza text was written by F. Pratt Greene in 1970. He was a well-known hymn writer and wrote many of the hymn texts we are familiar with. He was an ordained Methodist minister. The tune, East Acklam, was written in 1957 during his tenure at York Minster. It wasn’t originally composed for this text, but was later paired with it."

Why this hymn?

I love this hymn for a number of reasons. For a start, it’s in the key of D, which always has such a bright sound. The text is very “Fall,” i.e., on the theme of harvest, and Thanksgiving. I loved using it as the Hymn at the Presentation all through the fall months. At St. Bartholomew’s, the congregation sang it well. Particularly thrilling for me was the build-up both musically and text-wise, to the last verse and the phrase “most of all that love has found us, Thanks be to God.” 11