Church of the Holy Spirit - Belmont, Michigan

Reverend Sue S. York - Vicar

Susan Spence York: I am the oldest of four children, born in Akron Ohio in l943, lived in suburban Cleveland until I was l8, attended St. Luke's School of Nursing, and married Roger York, moved to Kalamazoo and lived there while he finished his teaching degree. Moved to Jenison Michigan in l965; Roger taught 5th grade and Junior High Geography and Phys Ed, and coached football and was Jenison's first athletic director. I went back to school after our third child was born and finished my nursing degree, had our 4th child, finished a bachelors degree from Detroit Mercy, all the time working as a critical care nurse at Butterworth Hospital. After completing a Bachelors degree in Nursing and 3/4 of a Masters in Management at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, I went off to seminary as our last child left for college. My discernment of call to the priesthood began in the late 80s, but all the pieces did not fall into place until l993. After Graduation from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston Illinois in May of l996, I returned to Butterworth Hospital which soon became Spectrum Health in the merger of two local hospitals. I was called there to be the first Director of Pastoral Care and remained in that position for seven years. I was also called to be the Assistant Rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. When Bishop Robert Gepert asked me to come to Sparta early in 2003 and become the full time vicar of a new church to be planted in the former St. Matthews Episcopal Church, I was overwhelmed but joyful. St. Andrews was to be a covenanting parish, and six families came with me as covenanted missioners who promised to work, pray and give to this new congregation for the next two years.

The challenges and joys of this new and growing congregation have helped to make this year the fastest on record, but full of wonder as God works in and through the people of Holy Spirit Church, bringing the message of Hope, Joy and Healing to this place and to the communities in which we serve.

Charlene Crean has been a deacon for many years, serving with her husband, Fr. John Crean, rector of St. Paul’s , our sister parish in Northwest Grand Rapids. She is the director of Social Work at Forest View Hospital and has an extensive background as chaplain to an Episcopal school in Hawaii where she and John lived , and as a therapist/social worker at Pine Rest Mental Health Services . She is not paid for her service here at Church of the Holy Spirit. She will be sharing her warmth, wisdom and many gifts with us. To help her in her role as deacon, we will be establishing a discretionary fund for her, The Holy Spirit Deacon's Discretionary Fund. Donations to it and to the Vicar's Discretionary Fund will continue to be taken on the first Sunday of the month. Specific gifts to establish this fund can be given to me at any time. This will enable Charlene to answer such needs as they become known.

Reverend Charlene Crean - Deacon

	Church of the Holy Spirit 1200 Post Drive NE Belmont, MI 49306 616-784-1111 Phone 616-784-1335 Fax Reverend Sue S. York - Vicar Reverend Charlene Crean - Deacon email: belmontmichurch@sbcglobal.net

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