Two longtime best friends, Grace Peters, 17, and Kate Crawley, 18, of Holy Trinity, Melbourne, have now been appointed as the two youngest vergers in the Diocese of Central Florida.
“That fact is pretty amazing!” Peters said. “And it feels good to know that I can help my church.”
“I think it is such a blessing that I have the opportunity to be the second youngest verger in the Diocese of Central Florida because I will be able to serve in this ministry for a long time,” Crawley added.
Grace Peters, 17, the diocese’s youngest verger, with Holy Trinity Head Verger Vern Lester. Photo Credit: Amanda Kilps Peters
Peters celebrated her new ministry on June 20, and Crawley celebrated hers on Aug. 8.
“Grace and Kate were asked if they would accept the ministry as a verger on the same Sunday,” said Head Verger Vern Lester. “They both qualified at the same time. We gave them separate days to be installed because of scheduling conflicts.”
The Holy Trinity clergy, along with Lester, chose Peters and Crawley for their new positions.
“The process is watching the young adults serve,” Lester said. “Are they leaders? Do they serve at special services? Kate and Grace are master acolytes. They can serve in any capacity needed and teach all acolyte positions. I am looking for a person to whom I can give an assignment, then complete what I am doing without worry. Kate and Grace have fulfilled their assignments and have been dedicated to the acolyte ministry for several years.”
In addition to being an acolyte and now a verger, Peters serves her church as a lector; a lay eucharistic minister; Camp Wingmann ambassador; member of the youth group, bell choir and Chapel Dedication Committee; and Vacation Bible School worker.
Crawley is also active at Holy Trinity. She works in the parish nursery; is involved in the youth group; is a lector and lay eucharistic minister; and has been both a junior and senior counselor at Camp Wingmann. She has also volunteered at New Beginnings, Camp Wingmann’s winter retreat.
Both have sensed the call of God on their lives. “I felt the call when I became an acolyte,” Peters said. “The first time I felt a calling was when Vern asked me to be a verger,” Crawley said.
New Holy Trinity Verger Kate Crawley receives her verger’s certificate from The Rev. Dave Newhart, associate rector, Holy Trinity, Melbourne, as best friend and fellow verger Grace Peters looks on. Photo Credit: KC Crawley
During their appointment service, both young women contemplated the tremendous opportunity bestowed upon them. “I was thinking about how I could serve my church and the fact that I’m one of the youngest ever to do this,” Peters said. Crawley said, “I was thinking about what a unique opportunity this is to take on at my age. I am thrilled that I will be able to serve in this ministry for many years to come.”
The two are in the process of completing the national course of study for vergers, which includes assignments on the history of The Episcopal Church and the local parish as well as a project in which they plan a funeral. “I am grateful to have gone through most of the verger process alongside my best friend,” Crawley said.
Both Crawley and Peters are eager to minister alongside others who are also focused on serving God. “I’m really excited to start this new ministry,” Peters said. “I think it’ll be really good for me and help me grow, which is extremely exciting.”
“When I was invited to be a verger, I initially thought that it was right up my alley!” Crawley added.
At the time of writing, Crawley had not yet experienced her first worship service in the verger role, but Peters’ first service as verger was Crawley”s celebration of new ministry. “It was great to serve at my first service,” Peters said. “To be on the altar for Kate and to make sure everything went well during the service was so special.”