I went to a number of churches when I was growing up, but my mother often took us to a Methodist Traditional. Cards were evil. Dancing was evil. Things that I thought were kind of fun were evil. So I left the church.

When I came back from service in Korea, I had quite a different perspective, and I returned to church again in a little Episcopal mission. Later when I came to Cornell, I continued in the chaplaincy there with Gurdon Brewster for 34 years.

When the Bishop decided that the chaplaincy was for students only, everyone else had to leave and I started looking for a place where I fit in. I knew there were a couple of Episcopal churches here: Saint John’s in Ithaca and St. Thomas in Slaterville Springs. I went to both churches and found I was a better fit at St. Thomas. St. Thomas is welcoming, and it does not emphasize ritual. If you want to sit, it’s all right to sit. For dress you can come as you are or however you’d like to dress for church.

The people at St. Thomas are wonderful!